cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Project VIRGO: creation of a surrogate companion for the elderly

The Voice Intelligent Reciprocating Gemutlich Orator (VIRGO) was developed from perceptions of companionship held by persons 65 years of age and older. The knowledge gained from ethnographic interaction with segments of the target population was applied toward the creation of a device. VIRGO is expected to fulfill various companionship needs derived from user-centered research, expert advice and those of the sponsor.A brief review of the data collected is provided and implications toward the operationalization of various features of companionship are described. Important findings of the data include the need for activity to continue as a matter of over all health and as a management tool for recovery from a loss. The importance of continued learning and physical activity is also indicated as a means of maintaining wellbeing. A brief analysis of the findings from design testing and their implications for redesign is also described.
Partial purification and characterization of two soluble c-type cytochromes from Chromatium vinosum

Two c-type cytochromes from Chromatium vinosum have been partially purified and characterized. Cytochrome c550, which appears to function as an electron carrier in the cyclic electron transport chain of this photosynthetic purple sulfur bacterium, has a molecular weight of approximately 15,000 and an oxidation-reduction midpoint potential (Em) of +240 mV at pH 7.4. It has (in the reduced form) an alpha band at 550 nm and a beta band at 520 nm. Cytochrome c551 is characterized by absorbance maxima at 354 and 409 nm in the oxidized form and 418, 523, and 551 nm in the reduced form. The reduced cytochrome reacts with CO. Cytochrome c551 is a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of 18,800 +/- 700 and Em = -299 +/- 5 mV (pH independent between pH 6.3 and 8.0). It appears to lack a methionine axial ligand as indicated by the absence of an absorbance band at 695 nm in the oxidized form.
Physical activity, disability, and mood in the early stage of multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Background Early multiple sclerosis (MS) may constitute a period of particular vulnerability to psychological distress such as anxiety and depression. Physical activity is a potentially modifiable, behavioral correlate of anxiety and depression in the early stages of MS. Objective The present study provides an initial examination of the associations between physical activity and anxiety and depression in early MS. We hypothesized that physical activity might be a correlate of anxiety and depression in early MS and that this association might be indirect and accounted for by disability. Methods The sample included 96 individuals with a mean duration of MS of 3.0 years (SD = 1.5, range = 0.5-5 years). The participants wore an accelerometer for 7 days as an objective measure of physical activity and then completed the Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results Descriptive analysis indicated that 41% and 43% of the sample had elevated levels of anxiety and depression, respectively, based on HADS scores (i.e., score ≥8). Correlation analysis indicated that physical activity was significantly associated with depression (r = −0.25; ρ = −.23), but not anxiety (r = −0.05; ρ = −.02). Path analysis indicated that the association between physical activity and depression was entirely indirect by way of disability (path coefficient = −0.23). Conclusions Such results suggest that physical activity could be an important health promoting behavior for reducing depression in the early stages of MS and this should be the focus of subsequent randomized controlled clinical trials.
A three-dimensional BCGS-FFT method for inhomogeneous anisotropic scatterers with high dielectric and magnetic contrasts

Although computational capabilities have been substantially enhanced over the last few decades, fast and accurate forward solvers for scattering and imaging applications are still attracting much attentions with new advances. To deal with the scattering of dielectric objects, methods involving integral equations are attractive because of reduced number of unknowns. As a conventional way to solve integral equations, the method of moments (MOM) with N unknowns takes about O(N3) CPU time and O(N2) computer memory. This requirement is prohibitively expensive for large problems, especially for volume integral equations where N is proportional to the volume of the 3D inhomogeneous scatterer. CG-FFT method was proposed to reduce the computational complexity by employing the fast Fourier transform to calculate convolution operators in the integral equations. The resulting linear system is then solved by an iterative method, namely conjugate gradient (CG) method. Therefore, the requirements for CPU time and computer memory can be greatly reduced. Furthermore, CG-FFT method is accelerated by the stabilized biconjugate-gradient FFT (BCGS-FFT) method (X. Xu, Q.H. Liu, Z.Q. Zhang, J. Appl. Comput. Electromag. Soc. 17, 1, 97-103, 2002). However, most of the work mentioned above considers only homogeneous anisotropic scatterers and/or scatterers with non-magnetic materials with a low contrast.
Biogeochemical implications of the isotopic equilibrium fractionation factor between the oxygen atoms of acetone and water

Carbonyl oxygens of organic molecules undergo isotopic exchange with water during reversible hydration reactions. The equilibrium isotopic fractionation factors between the carbonyl oxygen of acetone and water at 15°, 25°, and 35°C are 1.028, 1.028, and 1.026 respectively. The differences between the δ18O values of the carbonyl oxygen of acetone and of the water with which it is in equilibrium are similar to the differences that have been observed between the δ18O values of cellulose and the water used in its synthesis by a variety of aquatic plants and animals. Additionally, the identity of the acetone-water fractionation factors at 15° and 25°C parallels the observation that the difference between the δ18O values of cellulose and water shows no temperature dependence for individual species of plants grown over the same temperature range. These results are discussed in relation to the proposal that the oxygen isotopic relationship between cellulose and water is established by isotopic exchange occurring during the hydration of carbonyl groups of the intermediates of cellulose synthesis.
■ FEATURED ABSTRACT Stenting of superior mesenteric artery chronic total occlusions in patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia: technical and clinical outcomes

Purpose While endovascular treatment of chronic mesenteric arterial stenosis is well accepted, management of chronic total occlusions (CTO) remains controversial with historical mainstays of treatment consisting of bypass or endarterectomy. Our goal is to evaluate the clinical and technical outcomes of endovascular recanalization and stenting of CTOs of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Materials and Methods We performed a retrospective review of 46 patients (18 M, 28 F) who underwent endovascular stenting of CTOs of the SMA between February 2008 and July 2012. All patients had symptoms of chronic mesenteric ischemia. Procedural and follow-up data were collected for assessment of technical success, safety and outcomes. Technical success was defined as the ability to traverse and stent the SMA occlusion without significant residual stenosis. Patency and freedom from symptom recurrence were calculated by Kaplan Meier analysis. Results Technical success was achieved in 40 of 46 patients (87%). Twelve patients underwent concurrent stenting of the celiac artery. Of the 6 technical failures, 2 were referred for bypass, 3 underwent celiac artery stenting, and 1 was lost to followup. Within 24 hours of the procedure, complete symptomatic relief was reported by 39 of 40 (97%) patients, while 1 patient (3%) reported partial improvement. No patients reported stable or worsening of symptoms. Imaging followup (22 US, 8 CTA) was obtained in 30 of 40 (75%) patients with a mean followup of 11.2 months. Kaplan Meier analysis revealed a primary patency of 100% at 3mo, 96% at 6mo, 80% at 1yr, and 72% at 2yrs. Symptomatic recurrences, which was observed in 5 patients, correlated to restenosis/reocclusion on imaging. All 5 patients underwent successful assisted or secondary PTA and/or stenting procedures. Kaplan Meier analysis of freedom from symptom recurrence showed primary and assisted rates of 80% and 100% at 1 year, and 77% and 97% at 2 years. There were 3 (7%) minor access-related complications and no major complications. Conclusion Endovascular stenting of CTOs of the SMA is a safe and effective procedure with an acceptable technical success rate and excellent mid-term clinical outcomes.
Comparison of two advanced steam temperature controllers for coal-fired boilers

Abstract A nonlinear process model based control (nonlinear PMBC) algorithm, which is based upon using a nonlinear approximate model, and a state variable control (SVC) algorithm have been tested on a medium fidelity simulation of a drum-type coal-fired boiler. A simple PI controller was also tested as a point of reference. The simulation was based upon the Cromby 2 model and was used to test each controller for 10 different upset scenarios that included soot blowing, load ramps and changes in burner tilts. The simulation had control valve hysteresis, control valve dynamics and temperature sensor dynamics added to it. The nonlinear PMBC controller had the best control performance yielding factors of
Multi-drug and methicillin resistance of staphylococci from canine patients at a veterinary teaching hospital (2006-2011).

Background: Over the past 10 years, an increase in methicillin and multi-drug resistant staphylococcal species has been identified worldwide and anecdotally reported within our veterinary teaching hospital.Objective: To determine the methicillin resistance (MR) and multi-drug resistance (MDR) patterns of staphylococcal species isolated from canine patients between 2006 and 2011.Animals and Methods: Staphylococcal isolates (n = 1069) were cultured from the canine patient population of the veterinary teaching hospital. The susceptibility reports of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, S. aureus, S. schleiferi v. coagulans, S. schleiferi v. schleiferi, and other coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were assessed. Isolates were organized into five site categories. Isolates were scored on a 0–10 scale based on resistance to antimicrobial classes, with MDR classified as an isolate scoring a value ≥3. Statistical analysis included χ2, Fisher's exact test, and ANOVA with mean square and post hoc analysis; p < 0.05...
HyOctane: a HyTime engine for an MMIS

We are interested in the development of distributed multimedia information systems that use the HyTime international standard as the data model and interchange format. We have developed and implemented a prototype system in which interactive multimedia presentations can be stored and retrieved. Sample document instances are externally encoded in HyTime and stored in the database using the HyTime data model. The architecture and operation of our system are presented. Issues related to using a HyTime engine for general multimedia presentation and interchange are discussed.
The particle inflow gun can be used to co-transform Paramecium using Tungsten particles.

A particle inflow gun (PIG) was constructed and tested for its utility to transform Paramecium using tungsten or gold as the DNA carrier particle. In the first set of experiments we transformed Paramecium with a plasmid containing the neomycin-resistance gene, obtaining a transformation efficiency of 0.31 ± 0.14% (mean ± SD) for tungsten particles and 1.30 ± 0.29% for gold particles. Plasmid DNA precipitated upon tungsten was shown to be stable for transformation purposes for up to 1 h prior to use and had no detectable effects on transformation efficiency. In addition, we demonstrated that at high frequency (71 ± 20%) a Paramecium mutant strain could be phenotypically rescued by co-transformation with a second plasmid containing the selectable neomycin-resistance gene. The PIG coupled with tungsten Darticles as the carrier offers a low-cost alternative for biolistic transformation of Paramecium.
Review: Blood pressure–lowering treatments reduce CV morbidity and mortality in patients receiving dialysis

Source Citation Heerspink HJ, Ninomiya T, Zoungas S, et al. Effect of lowering blood pressure on cardiovascular events and mortality in patients on dialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis o...
Implications of the Cancer Stem-Cell Hypothesis for Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Recent research in breast biology has provided support for the cancer stem-cell hypothesis. Two important components of this hypothesis are that tumors originate in mammary stem or progenitor cells as a result of dysregulation of the normally tightly regulated process of self-renewal. As a result, tumors contain and are driven by a cellular subcomponent that retains key stem-cell properties including self-renewal, which drives tumorigenesis and differentiation that contributes to cellular heterogeneity. Advances in stem-cell technology have led to the identification of stem cells in normal and malignant breast tissue. The study of these stem cells has helped to elucidate the origin of the molecular complexity of human breast cancer. The cancer stem-cell hypothesis has important implications for early detection, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer. Both hereditary and sporadic breast cancers may develop through dysregulation of stem-cell self-renewal pathways. These aberrant stem cells may provide targets for the development of cancer prevention strategies. Furthermore, because breast cancer stem cells may be highly resistant to radiation and chemotherapy, the development of more effective therapies for this disease may require the effective targeting of this cell population.
Advances in ICP-MS Technologies for Characterization and Ultra-Trace Speciation as a Tool for the Petroleum Industry

Particular elements can, even at trace levels, impact product quality, deposit formation, and regulatory compliance. Characterization of trace and ultra-trace level constituents in aqueous and/or organic matrices has often required the need to employ more than one analytical technique. In recent years, improvements in ICP-MS technologies have made it a preferred technique for multi-element trace level characterization in a variety of matrices. Coupling ICP-MS with various liquid chromatography techniques has enabled a unique capability to speciate organo-metallics at ppb levels. This paper will show how ICP-MS has been successfully used to measure ppb levels in refinery effluent streams. It will demonstrate how hyphenated ICP-MS techniques assisted in development of bioremediation options for selenium removal in wastewater treatment plants.
Solid-state 13C NMR studies of a large fossil gymnosperm from the Yallourn Open Cut, Latrobe Valley, Australia

Abstract A series of samples taken from the cross section of a 3-m-diameter fossilized gymnospermous log ( Araucariaceae ) in the Yallourn Seam of the Australian brown coals was examined by solid state 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance to delineate chemical changes related to the combined processes of peatification and coalification. The results show that cellulosic materials were degraded and lost on the periphery of the log, however, the degree of such degradation in the central core is substantially less. The lignin is uniformly altered by coalification reactions to a macromolecular substance displaying decreased aryl ether linkages but significantly greater amounts of carbon linkages compared to modern lignin. Changes in the methoxyl carbon contents of lignin in cross section reveal demethylation reactions, but these do not appear to be related to degree of carbon linking. Both the degredation of cellulosic materials and demethylation of lignin appear to be early diagenetic processes occurring during peatification independently of the coalification reactions.
“Appropriate” technology and the Botswana television experience: On the efficacy of waiting

Currently, no national television service exists in the sub‐Saharan African nation of Botswana, despite more than eleven years of official government interest in developing such a service. The sheer length of this delay is confounding in light of Botswana's track record of consistent economic growth and progressive infrastructural development (Harvey & Lewis, 1990; Parson, 1984; Picard, 1987; Valentine, 1993). In seeking to explain this delay, I will examine the economic, sociological, and political factors that have influenced the government's approach toward development projects in general, and the mass media specifically. Additionally, Botswana's approach toward using television as a tool for national development will be discussed.
Effect of endogenous nitric oxide on tumour necrosis factor‐α‐induced leukosequestration and IL‐8 release in guinea‐pigs airways in vivo

1 Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is implicated in the pathogenesis of many pulmonary and airway diseases. TNF-α stimulation may release interleukin-8 (IL-8) in airways mediated via an increase in intracellular oxidant stress. In the present study, we have assessed leukosequestration and IL-8 release in the airways in response to intratracheal administration of human recombinant TNF-α, and examined the modulatory role of endogenous NO by pretreatment with a NO synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). 2 TNF-α (102–104 u) was administered intratracheally in male guinea-pigs which were anaesthetized with urethane and were ventilated artificially. TNF-α induced a time- and dose-related increase in neutrophil numbers and a concomitant increase in human IL-8 equivalent level retrieved from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) with the peak effect at 103 u at 6 h of TNF-α injection (late phase). Intratracheal administration of recombinant human (rh)IL-8 (0.025, 0.25, 2.5 ng) producing a similar range of human IL-8 equivalent levels in BAL as measured in our results induced neutrophil recovery in BAL fluid to a similar extent. Administration of anti-IL-8 antibody prevented the late phase of neutrophil recruitment induced by TNF-α or rhIL-8. 3 Pretreatment with L-NAME significantly enhanced the TNF-α (103 u)-induced neutrophil recruitment and human IL-8 equivalents production at 6 h, but not at 1 h of TNF-α administration (early phase). L-Arginine reversed the responses to L-NAME. Pretreatment with 0.2% DMSO (i.v.) significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced neutrophil recruitment and human IL-8 equivalents release both in the early and late phase of the responses. Pretreatment with DMSO also inhibited the enhancement effect of L-NAME on the late phase of TNF-α-induced responses. DMSO failed to modify exogenous rhIL-8-induced neutrophil recruitment. Neither L-NAME nor DMSO alone induced any significant change in neutrophil numbers or human IL-8 equivalent level in BAL fluid. 4 Neutrophil depletion by cyclophosphamide pretreatment failed to modify TNF-α-induced human IL-8 equivalent release. 5 The expression of β2-integrin, CD11b/CD18 on neutrophils was increased only in the late but not early phase of TNF-α stimulation. L-NAME failed to modify these responses. 6 In conclusion, we demonstrated that NO may be an important endogenous inhibitor of TNF-α-induced leukocyte chemotaxis via inhibition of IL-8 production. Thus, the production of NO in airway inflammatory diseases may play a negative feedback role in self-limiting the magnitude of inflammatory responses. British Journal of Pharmacology (1997) 122, 103–111; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0701338
Negative interaction of orthophosphate with glycolytic metabolism by Streptococcus mutans as a possible mechanism for dental caries reduction.

Abstract Orthophosphate (Pi) interacted in a negative way with the binding of the allosteric activator, fructose-1,6-diphosphate, to the lactate dehydrogenase from all strains of Streptococcus mutans studied The interaction of Pi with the enzyme served markedly to increase the [M]0.5 v value for fructose-1,6-diphosphate. The negative interaction of Pi with the terminal regulatory enzyme in the glycolytic sequence may provide a mechanism by which high Pi levels in the extracellular environment decrease the rate of acid production from exogenous carbohydrates by oral isolates of Strep. mutans and may also explain, at least in part, why increased Pi levels in the diet serve to reduce the incidence of dental caries.
An island mixing effect in the coastal gulf of maine

The analyses of density fields, nitrate and chlorophyll α concentrations, Lagrangian current measurements and remote sensing of sea surface temperatures demonstrated an island mixing effect for Monhegan Island (Gulf of Maine). The island's unique location within the westward flowing arm of a counterclockwise basin gyre and the bathymetry surrounding the island result in a combination of vertical mixing and upwelling to produce chlorophyll maxima on the north and south flanks of the island.
Substance Use Disorder Counselors’ Job Performance and Turnover after 1 Year: Linear or Curvilinear Relationship?

The main goals of the current study were to investigate whether there are linear or curvilinear relationships between substance use disorder counselors’ job performance and actual turnover after 1 year utilizing four indicators of job performance and three turnover statuses (voluntary, involuntary, and no turnover as the reference group). Using longitudinal data from 440 matched counselor-clinical supervisor dyads, results indicate that overall, counselors with lower job performance are more likely to turn over voluntarily and involuntarily than not to turn over. Further, one of the job performance measures shows a significant curvilinear effect. We conclude that the negative consequences often assumed to be “caused” by counselor turnover may be overstated because those who leave both voluntarily and involuntarily demonstrate generally lower performance than those who remain employed at their treatment program.
Optimizing financial effects of HIE: a multi-party linear programming approach

Objective To describe an analytical framework for quantifying the societal savings and financial consequences of a health information exchange (HIE), and to demonstrate its use in designing pricing policies for sustainable HIEs. Materials and methods We developed a linear programming model to (1) quantify the financial worth of HIE information to each of its participating institutions and (2) evaluate three HIE pricing policies: fixed-rate annual, charge per visit, and charge per look-up. We considered three desired outcomes of HIE-related emergency care (modeled as parameters): preventing unrequired hospitalizations, reducing duplicate tests, and avoiding emergency department (ED) visits. We applied this framework to 4639 ED encounters over a 12-month period in three large EDs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, using Medicare/Medicaid claims data, public reports of hospital admissions, published payer mix data, and use data from a not-for-profit regional HIE. Results For this HIE, data accesses produced net financial gains for all providers and payers. Gains, due to HIE, were more significant for providers with more health maintenance organizations patients. Reducing unrequired hospitalizations and avoiding repeat ED visits were responsible for more than 70% of the savings. The results showed that fixed annual subscriptions can sustain this HIE, while ensuring financial gains to all participants. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the results were robust to uncertainties in modeling parameters. Discussion Our specific HIE pricing recommendations depend on the unique characteristics of this study population. However, our main contribution is the modeling approach, which is broadly applicable to other populations.
Why Control Activity? Evolutionary Selection Pressures Affecting the Development of Physical Activity Genetic and Biological Regulation

The literature strongly suggests that daily physical activity is genetically and biologically regulated. Potential identities of the responsible mechanisms are unclear, but little has been written concerning the possible evolutionary selection pressures leading to the development of genetic/biological controls of physical activity. Given the weak relationship between exercise endurance and activity levels and the differential genomic locations associated with the regulation of endurance and activity, it is probable that regulation of endurance and activity evolved separately. This hypothesis paper considers energy expenditures and duration of activity in hunter/gatherers, pretechnology farmers, and modern Western societies and considers the potential of each to selectively influence the development of activity regulation. Food availability is also considered given the known linkage of caloric restriction on physical activity as well as early data relating food oversupply to physical inactivity. Elucidating the selection pressures responsible for the genetic/biological control of activity will allow further consideration of these pressures on activity in today's society, especially the linkages between food and activity. Further, current food abundance is removing the cues for activity that were present for the first 40,000 years of human evolution, and thus future research should investigate the effects of this abundance upon the mechanisms regulating activity.
The Skin of Broilers as a Barrier to Bacterial Invasion During Processing

Abstract THE presence of living bacteria on the skin of poultry during and after processing has been demonstrated by Mountney (1949) and in copious numbers by Gorseline et al. (1951). Nickerson and Fitzgerald (1939) found relatively few or no bacteria in the body cavities and tissues of poultry refrigerated prior to freezing; however, the absorption of water during processing as reported by Cook (1939) and by Gwin (1951) has raised the question as to whether bacteria are carried into the underlying tissues. In this paper, studies bearing on this question are reported. EXPERIMENTAL A total of 176 broilers were processed in the poultry processing laboratory at the University of Tennessee. Birds were scalded at one of three temperatures, 130°F. (54°C.), 140°F. (60°C.) or 176°F. (80°C.), and chilled in tap water at 55°F. (12.8°C.), in iced water at 40°F. (4.4°C.) or in flaked ice, in various combinations of scalding and chilling. All …
the crisis of presence in Italian Pentecostal conversion

Italian anthropologist Ernest De Martino (1908–1965) devoted much of his writing to the analysis of “the crisis of presence,” an existential dilemma evidenced in a disturbed sense of self and often expressed as illness, emotional distress, or “alienation.” This article describes De Martino's conceptualization of the crisis of presence as a problem of consciousness with moral and emotional dimensions and applies it in interpreting the conversion narratives of three Italian Pentecostal Christians. The resolution of the crisis, for these Christians, entails the construction of a new sense of self, and particularly a new relationship to time and history. [De Martino, Pentecostalism, religion, existential crisis, Italy]
Epidermal growth factor augments postpneumonectomy lung growth

Abstract Objective: Epidermal growth factor has been shown to play an important role in prenatal and postnatal lung development, but little is known about its effects on adult lung growth. We hypothesized that postpneumonectomy compensatory lung growth can be augmented by the administration of epidermal growth factor. Methods: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups. Sham left thoracotomy was performed in the first group (group C), left pneumonectomy in the second group (group P), and left pneumonectomy with administration of epidermal growth factor (0.2 μg/g body weight intraperitoneally, at 72-hour intervals) in the third group (group E). The right lung growth was studied in each group 1, 3, 5, 10, and 21 days after the operation. Lung weights (in grams) and volumes (in milliliters) were expressed as a ratio to the total body weight (in kilograms) (lung weight and volume indices). Epidermal growth factor receptor was quantitated by using Western blotting. Results: Using analysis of variance and contrast analysis, we noted a significant increase in lung weight index in group E versus group P rats at 3 days (3.08 vs 2.75; P =.034) and 21 days (4.62 vs 3.61; P =.006). Lung volume index was significantly increased in group E versus group P rats at 5 (16.98 vs 15.09), 10 (24.48 vs 18.81), and 21 (28.54 vs 21.01) days ( P Conclusions: This study demonstrates that administration of exogenous epidermal growth factor has a significant effect on postpneumonectomy lung growth. This process may be mediated by an up-regulation of growth factor receptor expression in the contralateral lung. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;120:916-22)
The Personal Software Process in the classroom: student reactions (an experience report)

Most people would agree that the quality of a product is related to the quality of the process used to develop that product. The quality of a computer program is often measured by the number of defects it contains. The Personal Software Process was developed to help programmers measure and improve their personal productivity. A subset of the Personal Software Process has been suggested as appropriate for beginning college students in introductory programming courses. This subset has been used over the past two years in several sections of a large first- and second-semester programming course with mixed success. Students recorded data during the development of their lab assignments and their major programming project, and submitted these along with their programs. Surveys were taken at the end of each course to determine student attitudes toward the Personal Software Process. Many students failed to recognize the benefits of such a process, and felt that is just took time away from learning the programming language. This paper explores the results of these surveys.
Environmental life style analysis (ELSA)

In this study we connect life styles and spending patterns to environmental impacts and economic implications for people living in the United States. The results show that even the most modest life styles (Buddhist monk, homeless etc) have impacts much larger that the world average.
Online Reinforcement Learning for Dynamic Multimedia Systems

In our previous work, we proposed a systematic cross-layer framework for dynamic multimedia systems, which allows each layer to make autonomous and foresighted decisions that maximize the system's long-term performance, while meeting the application's real-time delay constraints. The proposed solution solved the cross-layer optimization offline, under the assumption that the multimedia system's probabilistic dynamics were known a priori, by modeling the system as a layered Markov decision process. In practice, however, these dynamics are unknown a priori and, therefore, must be learned online. In this paper, we address this problem by allowing the multimedia system layers to learn, through repeated interactions with each other, to autonomously optimize the system's long-term performance at run-time. The two key challenges in this layered learning setting are: (i) each layer's learning performance is directly impacted by not only its own dynamics, but also by the learning processes of the other layers with which it interacts; and (ii) selecting a learning model that appropriately balances time-complexity (i.e., learning speed) with the multimedia system's limited memory and the multimedia application's real-time delay constraints. We propose two reinforcement learning algorithms for optimizing the system under different design constraints: the first algorithm solves the cross-layer optimization in a centralized manner and the second solves it in a decentralized manner. We analyze both algorithms in terms of their required computation, memory, and interlayer communication overheads. After noting that the proposed reinforcement learning algorithms learn too slowly, we introduce a complementary accelerated learning algorithm that exploits partial knowledge about the system's dynamics in order to dramatically improve the system's performance. In our experiments, we demonstrate that decentralized learning can perform equally as well as centralized learning, while enabling the layers to act autonomously. Additionally, we show that existing application-independent reinforcement learning algorithms, and existing myopic learning algorithms deployed in multimedia systems, perform significantly worse than our proposed application-aware and foresighted learning methods.
Exact Science in Antiquity

If history is the study of relations between different cultures and different periods, the history of exact science has a definite advantage over general history. Relations in the field of science can be established in many cases to such a degree of exactitude that we might almost speak of a “proof” in the sense of mathematical rigor. If, for instance, Hindu astronomy uses excenters and epicycles to describe the movement of the celestial bodies, its dependence on Greek astronomy is established beyond any doubt; and the dependence of Greek astronomy on Babylonian methods is obvious from the very fact that all calculations are carried out in sexagesimal notation. However, the fact that the center of interest in the history of science lies in the relationship between methods requires a new classification of historical periods. In the history of astronomy, for instance, concepts such as “ancient” or “medieval” make very little sense. The method and even the general mental attitude of the work of Copernicus is much more closely related to that of Ptolemy, a millennium and a half before, than to the methods and concepts of Newton, a century and a half later. It may seem, therefore, a rather arbitrary procedure in the following report on exact science in antiquity to take into consideration only the period before Ptolemy (ca. 150 A. D.).
Snowpack physics explored at Fall Meeting

A special session, “Snowpack Physics: Processes and Distributions,” was held on December 10 at the Fall 1991 AGU Meeting to survey applications of snow physics spanning scales from millimeters to kilometers, and to tie these in with recent advances in our understanding of the micro- and meso scale processes in a snow cover. The first half of the session involved the relationships between snow physical process and properties and remote sensing, snowgas interactions, and snowmelt chemistry.
Weight gains of meat goat kids on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) pastures fertilized at different nitrogen levels

Abstract Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) pastures are increasingly being used for cool-season forages to complement range-based goat production systems in southern USA. Because goats are more selective than cattle, ideal nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates already established for wheat grazed by cattle may be different for goats. Weight gains of Boer X Spanish doe kids (average 17 kg) as well as forage yields and crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) concentrations were measured for two winter seasons on replicated wheat paddocks fertilized with 0, 56, 112 and 224 kg N/ha per season in split autumn/spring applications at Stephenville, TX, USA. Animals were stocked in the pasture at 20 head/ha from January to April 2003 (478 mm rainfall from September to March) and 2004 (355 mm rainfall). Available forage ranged from 50 to 200 kg/ha in January and from 2300 to 6300 kg/ha in April in the 0 and 224 kg N/ha paddocks, respectively. Crude protein dry matter (DM) concentration ranged from 25 to 34% (0 and 224 kg N/ha, respectively) in January, but down to 13 and 22% across treatments in April. Average daily gains (ADG) over the 90-day trial were similar both years, 68 g per head per day for the 0 N treatment and undifferentiated among the fertilized paddocks, all near 90 g per head per day. Results indicate that N fertilizer rates above 56 kg/ha per season do not increase ADG/kid, but will increase ADG/ha if stocking rates are adjusted for forage production.
Applying software product lines to multiplatform video games

In this paper, we explore the application of Software Product Line (SPL) technology in the video games domain by exploiting differences in various video game platforms to design a variable component-based software product line architecture for a multiplatform video game. Our approach consists of constructing a feature dependency model for describing variability in multiplatform video games. We explored variability in the user interface, input devices, output devices, CPU, as well as other variability in various video game platforms. Then, we designed a variable component-based SPL that is tailored to every video game in the product line. We validated our approach by implementing a SPL of a combat flight-simulator game and by deriving two versions of the game: a Windows desktop version and a Windows Phone version. The derivation process of each version is done by selecting features from the feature dependency model and the corresponding software components and SPL parameters that relate to those features.
The in vivo corrosion of Dispersalloy.

Summary The in vivo corrosion of Dispersalloy amalgam restorations was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. It was observed that the corrosion of CuSn resulted in pitting on the restoration surface. Corrosion of Sn-rich grain boundaries led to intergranular separation of γ1 grains. The tin released through corrosion reacted with Ca, P, Cl and O forming various insoluble complexes on the external surface, at the tooth-amalgam interface, and within the interior of the restoration. The demineralization of the amalgam-adjacent margin has been attributed to corrosion.
Molecular dynamics simulation of thin film interfacial strength dependency on lattice mismatch

Abstract Laser-induced thin film spallation experiments have been previously developed to characterize the intrinsic interfacial strength of thin films. In order to gain insights of atomic level thin film debonding processes and the interfacial strength dependence on film/substrate lattice structures, in this study, molecular dynamics simulations of thin film interfacial failure under laser-induced stress waves were performed. Various loading amplitudes and pulse durations were employed to identify the optimum simulation condition. Stress propagation as a function of time was revealed in conjunction with the interface structures. Parametric studies confirmed that while the interfacial strength between a thin film and a substrate does not depend on the film thickness and the duration of the laser pulse, a thicker film and a shorter duration do provide advantage to effectively load the interface to failure. With the optimized simulation condition, further studies were focused on bulk Au/Au bi-crystals with mismatched orientations, and Ni/Al, Cu/Al, Cu/Ag and Cu/Au bi-crystals with mismatched lattices. The interfacial strength was found to decrease with increasing orientation mismatch and lattice mismatch but more significantly dominated by the bonding elements' atomic structure and valence electron occupancy.
Maintenance of Golgi structure and function depends on the integrity of ER export

The Golgi apparatus comprises an enormous array of components that generate its unique architecture and function within cells. Here, we use quantitative fluorescence imaging techniques and ultrastructural analysis to address whether the Golgi apparatus is a steady-state or a stable organelle. We found that all classes of Golgi components are dynamically associated with this organelle, contrary to the prediction of the stable organelle model. Enzymes and recycling components are continuously exiting and reentering the Golgi apparatus by membrane trafficking pathways to and from the ER, whereas Golgi matrix proteins and coatomer undergo constant, rapid exchange between membrane and cytoplasm. When ER to Golgi transport is inhibited without disrupting COPII-dependent ER export machinery (by brefeldin A treatment or expression of Arf1[T31N]), the Golgi structure disassembles, leaving no residual Golgi membranes. Rather, all Golgi components redistribute into the ER, the cytoplasm, or to ER exit sites still active for recruitment of selective membrane-bound and peripherally associated cargos. A similar phenomenon is induced by the constitutively active Sar1[H79G] mutant, which has the additional effect of causing COPII-associated membranes to cluster to a juxtanuclear region. In cells expressing Sar1[T39N], a constitutively inactive form of Sar1 that completely disrupts ER exit sites, Golgi glycosylation enzymes, matrix, and itinerant proteins all redistribute to the ER. These results argue against the hypothesis that the Golgi apparatus contains stable components that can serve as a template for its biogenesis. Instead, they suggest that the Golgi complex is a dynamic, steady-state system, whose membranes can be nucleated and are maintained by the activities of the Sar1–COPII and Arf1–coatomer systems.
The Cooperative Breeding System of the Red‐cockaded Woodpecker

The breeding system of the red-cockaded woodpecker is described based on data collected over six years from a population of 500 marked individuals in the Sandhills of North Carolina. Male-female pairs were the most common social unit (59%), but 30% of social units contained one or more adult helpers, and 11% consisted of solitary males. Helpers were almost exclusively male: 27% of males remained in their natal group as helpers for at least one year, whereas only four (1%) females did. Most breeding females remained as breeders in the same group from one year to the next (56%), but a surprising number (12%) moved to another group. Many movements were related to incest avoidance or mate death, but 39% involved deserting a mate, usually following successful reproduction. We suggest that females sometimes are forced from groups by immigrants or other group members. The median distance of movements by adult females was only 1.3 km. In contrast to females, no breeding males switched groups. Survival of both breeding (76%) and helper (80%) males was higher than that of breeding females (69%). Males exhibited two distinct life-history strategies. Some remained as helpers on their natal territory for one or more years, and became breeders by inheriting breeding status in the natal group (17% per year) or by replacing a deceased breeder in a nearby group (13% per year, median distance moved 1.0 km). Other males dispersed from their natal group permanently during their first year. Some of these males were floaters at age one year, others were solitary, and a few became helpers in a non-natal group, but many were breeders. In contrast to males that first functioned as helpers, those that dispersed after fledging moved long distances (median dispersal distance 4.5 km), longer even than dispersing female fledglings moved (median distance 3.2 km). The habitat saturation model of the evolution of cooperative breeding is based on selection between the two life-history strategies exhibited by male red-cockaded woodpeckers. The model therefore may be tested directly with this species. Another indication that this model is appropriate for this species is the existence of a resource (cavity trees) that might provide an ecological basis for habitat saturation.
Comparison of instantaneous and locomotor bout sampling methods: A case study of adult male chimpanzee locomotor behavior and substrate use

Currently two methods, instantaneous and locomotor bout sampling, are used most commonly in studies of locomotor behavior. To date, no study has addressed how comparable the results of the two methods are. This paper considers whether different sampling methods of locomotor behavior produce different results. Continuous locomotor bout and instantaneous sampling were carried out simultaneously on each focal animal during a seven month study of chimpanzee positional behavior in the Tai Forest of the Ivory Coast. Results provide two independent sets of data which describe the same events. Results indicate that as locomotor bouts are frequently presented (the percentage of bouts spent in an activity), they overrepresent the frequencies of activities that occur relatively often, but for short distances, and underrepresent activities that have a relatively large mean distance per bout. However, when bouts are weighted with distance, as originally defined by Fleagle (1976b), there are no significant differences in the results obtained by the two methods. Both provide similar results for the frequencies of locomotor activities, frequency of substrate use, and the relationship between substrate and locomotor activity. The advantage of instantaneous sampling is that because it is done at regular intervals, it can easily be carried out in conjunction with sampling other behavioral and ecological data. The advantages of locomotor bout sampling are that it permits the sampling of rare or brief locomotor events and allows for an analysis of sequences of locomotor activities. This paper demonstrates that the two methods can be conducted simultaneously and thus provide the richest return from which the effect of environment and morphology on locomotion can be addressed.
Gap formation and forest regeneration in a Micronesian mangrove forest

Gaps created by the death of one or more contiguous trees are common in mangrove forests but are poorly understood. In Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, where mangrove wood is harvested for local use, most natural gaps were 100 m2. Interior zones, where access is facilitated by roads, were the most heavily exploited. Although the forests contained 11 species, two species were primarily responsible for gap formation. Natural gaps were caused mainly by broken stems and large branches of Sonneratia alba trees, whereas logging gaps were created primarily by harvesting Rhizophora apiculata trees. Most natural gaps were formed by the fall of more than one tree or branch. Seedling densities were higher in logging gaps than in natural gaps and higher in gaps than under intact canopy. Bruguiera gymnorrhiza was the most common seedling species in gaps and under intact canopy. Relative rates of growth in height were faster in gaps than under intact canopy for R. apiculata and B. gymnorrhiza seedlings. Current harvesting practices on the island do not seem to be altering species richness, although R. apiculata may become less common as gaps are increasingly captured by B. gymnorrhiza.
Can Tracing Tools Contribute to Programming Proficiency? The LISP Evaluation Modeler

Abstract Tracing solutions to programming problems is a long‐standing technique used to reveal the details of a solution and to expose bugs in a program. Tracing can also help programmers build a model or representation of how a programming language responds to code. This article describes the LISP Evaluation Modeler (LEM), an on‐line tracing tool designed to (a) help novices form an understanding of and facility with the LISP evaluation process, and (b) assist all programmers in designing and debugging programs. An empirical study of LEM demonstrates its advantages for design, comprehension, and debugging and suggests ways in which LEM can help novices learning LISP.