cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advances in Mechanisms of Activation and Deactivation of Environmental Chemicals

Environmental chemicals are both activated and detoxified by phase I and phase II enzymes. The principal enzymes involved in phase I reactions are the cytochrome P-450s. The phase II enzymes include hydrolase and the conjugative en? zymes such as glucuronyltransferases, glutathione transferases, iV-acetyltransferase, and sulfotransferase. Although other phase I and phase II enzymes exist, the present review is limited to these enzymes. Once thought to be a single enzyme, multiple cytochrome P-450 enzymes have been purified and characterized from many different species across the evolutionary tree. The application of molecular biology techniques to this field has identified more than 150 cytochrome P-450 genes to date. At least 20-30 cytochrome P-450 enzymes appear to exist in each mammalian species, and many polymorphisms in these enzymes are being identified. The cytochrome P-450 enzymes can now be expressed in recombinant form using cDNA expression systems. The phase II conjugative enzymes add a hydrophilic moiety such as sulfate, glucuronide, or acetate to compounds, which increases their water solubility and facilitates their excretion. However, conjugates ofa number of compounds also result in more reactive electrophilic species, which appear to be the ultimate carcinogens. Many of these phase II enzymes also represent families of enzymes, and polymorphisms can affect the ability of these enzymes to metabolize chemicals. Whenever possible, we have reviewed knowledge ofthe human enzymes involved in particular pathways.
Alloy design strategies for promoting protective oxide-scale formation

This article discusses general strategies for designing alloys to form protective oxide scales. Approaches based on classical alloyoxidation theories work reasonably well for single-phase alloys. However, high-temperature alloy development has been and will increasingly be based on multiphase microstructures in order to achieve many of the needed, but usually opposing properties, such as high-temperature strength and room-temperature toughness. No theoretical-based, well-defined strategies exist for the design of oxidation-resistant multiphase alloys. Still, key factors are beginning to emerge, which can provide guidance for promoting the formation of protective scales on multiphase alloys and for taking advantage of some unique mechanisms that are operative in multiphase alloys but not in single-phase alloys.
A nonlinear manifold learning strategy for lighting and orientation invariant pattern recognition

The human brain processes enormous volumes of high-dimensional data for everyday perception. To humans, a picture is worth a thousand words, but to a machine, it is just a seemingly random array of numbers. Although machines are very fast and efficient, they are vastly inferior to humans for everyday information processing. Algorithms that mimic the way the human brain computes and learns may be the solution. We present a theoretical model based on the observation that images of similar visual perceptions reside in a complex manifold in a low-dimensional image space. The perceived features are often highly structured and hidden in a complex set of relationships or high-dimensional abstractions. To model the pattern manifold, we present a novel learning algorithm using a recurrent neural architecture. The brain memorizes information using a dynamical system made of interconnected neurons. Retrieval of information is accomplished in an associative sense. It starts from an arbitrary state that might be an encoded representation of a visual image and converges to another state that is stable. The stable state is what the brain remembers. In designing a recurrent neural architecture, it is usually of prime importance to guarantee the convergence in the dynamics of the network. We propose to modify this picture: if the brain remembers by converging to the state representing familiar patterns, it should also diverge from such states when presented with an unknown encoded representation of a visual image belonging to a different category. That is, the identification of an instability mode is an indication that a presented pattern is far away from any stored pattern and therefore cannot be associated with current memories. These properties can be used to circumvent the plasticity-stability dilemma by using the fluctuating mode as an indicator to create new states. We capture this behavior using a novel neural architecture and learning algorithm, in which the system performs self-organization utilizing a stability mode and an instability mode for the dynamical system. Based on this observation we developed a self-organizing line attractor, which is capable of generating new lines in the feature space to learn unrecognized patterns. Experiments performed on various databases show that the proposed nonlinear line attractor is able to successfully associate patterns and it provides better association when compared to other state of the art techniques. It shows that the proposed model is able to create nonlinear manifolds in a multidimensional feature space to distinguish complex patterns.
Optimal network design for spatial prediction, covariance parameter estimation, and empirical prediction

Inferences for spatial data are affected substantially by the spatial configuration of the network of sites where measurements are taken. In this article, criteria for network design that emphasize the utility of the network for prediction (kriging) of unobserved responses assuming known spatial covariance parameters are contrasted with criteria that emphasize the estimation of the covariance parameters themselves. It is shown, via a series of related examples, that these two main design objectives are largely antithetical and thus lead to quite different "optimal" designs. Furthermore, a hybrid design criterion that accounts for the effect that the sampling variation of spatial covariance parameter estimates has on prediction is described and illustrated. Situations in which the hybrid optimal design resembles designs that are optimal with respect to each of the other two criteria are identified. An application to the optimal augmentation of an acid deposition monitoring network in the eastern US is presented.
Magnetic short-range order in Gd

The magnetic short-range order in a ferromagnetic, isotopically enriched /sup 160/Gd metal single crystal has been investigated by quasielastic scattering of 81-meV neutrons. Since Gd behaves as an S-state ion in the metal, little anisotropy is expected in its magnetic behavior. However, the data show that there is anisotropic short-range order present over a large temperature interval both above and below T/sub C/. The data have been analyzed in terms of an Ornstein-Zernike Lorentzian form with anisotropic correlation ranges. These correlation ranges as deduced from the observed data behave normally above T/sub C/ but seem to remain constant over a fairly large interval below T/sub C/ before becoming unobservable at lower temperatures. These observations suggest that the magnetic ordering in Gd may be a more complicated phenomenon than first believed.
Pressure-induced phase transition of MyTAB micelles in water

The phase boundary between hydrated crystals and micelles in water has been examined for the surfactant myristyltrimethylammonium bromide (MyTAB) as a function of pressure (1–4000 bar) at several isotherms (15, 23, 32, and 41°C). The phase separation is characterized by a large pressure hysteresis, a linear slope dTdP = 0.015 K bar−1 and a transition temperature of 10.0°C at atmospheric pressure. The dTdP magnitude is similar to that measured for phospholipid bilayers and n-alkanes.
Second Hazards Assessment and Sustainable Hazards Mitigation: Disaster Recovery on Montserrat

An important recommendation of the Second Assessment of Hazards in the United States is the concept of sustainable hazard mitigation. Building on the foundation of sustainable development principles, the sustainable hazard mitigation concept seeks to link wise management of natural resources with local economic and social resiliency. When attempting to achieve sustainability as a result of disaster recovery efforts, people concerned with hazards in developed nations can learn much useful information from the experiences of dealing with disasters in developing countries. Therefore, this paper will focus on the case of the volcanic disaster in Montserrat, British West Indies. Topics concerning the events of the volcanic catastrophe, the physical reconstruction of the island's infrastructure, and the factors impacting the social reconstruction of the island's communities will be discussed. By recognizing the relationships between the physical and social aspects of postdisaster reconstruction, it will be easier to recognize and avoid potential negative unintended consequences of disaster recovery activities. One of the greatest opportunities coming out of the Montserrat volcanic crisis lies in the possibility of creating sustainable postdisaster new towns.
The role of degradant profiling in active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug products

Forced degradation studies are used to facilitate the development of analytical methodology, to gain a better understanding of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and drug product (DP) stability, and to provide information about degradation pathways and degradation products. In order to fulfill development and regulatory needs, this publication provides a roadmap for when and how to perform studies, helpful tools in designing rugged scientific studies, and guidance on how to record and communicate results.
Experimental and Conceptual Innovators in the Sciences: The Cases of Darwin and Einstein

Abstract During the past decade, analyses of artistic creativity have demonstrated the contrast in creative life cycles between experimental old masters and conceptual young geniuses. This article extends the analysis to scientists. Charles Darwin was a great experimental innovator, who spent decades accumulating evidence on evolution and its mechanisms, and made his greatest contributions late in his career. In contrast, Albert Einstein was a great conceptual innovator, who made discoveries through highly abstract reasoning, and made his greatest contributions early in his career. The careers of these two great scientists are thus consistent with the thesis that, as in the arts, conceptual creativity is associated with youth, but experimental creativity increases with age.
X-ray beam line at the NSLS for X-ray absorption studies in material science

Abstract The development of the Material Science EXAFS line which covers the energy range of 4 keV to > 25 keV is described. The general design parameters of the line have been developed specifically for the application of X-ray absorption spectroscopy to problems in material science. The optics systems consisting of a vertically collimating SiC mirror and a unique four crystal monochromator are described along with the results of extensive ray tracing studies. The two backend configurations to be used on this line will also be discussed.
The Kinetics of Lymphoid Cell Proliferation in the Tuberculous Mouse Spleen

Abstract Cell proliferation in the spleen and delayed hypersensitivity to tuberculin are maximum on Day 12 of a virulent tuberculous infection in mice. At this time, cytokinetic analysis of the small- to medium-sized lymphocytes arranged in clusters in the red pulp of the spleen yielded a mean generation time of 11 hr with evidence of at least four successive divisions. Some of the proliferating cells subsequently died in situ or migrated into the peripheral blood. The localization of labeled spleen cells after transfer from M. tuberculosis -or Listeria -sensitized mice was not related to the antigen concentration in the organs of tuberculous recipients. Compared with normal spleen cells, those from mice sensitized with either organism accumulated more rapidly in spleens of tuberculous recipients. Their initial intravascular localization in the liver was influenced by specific sensitization, but localization in granulomas was comparable for cells sensitive to either organism; and in each case was significantly greater than for cells from nonsensitive donors. Proliferating bone marrow cells from specifically sensitized mice aggregated in the livers of recipients in numbers two to three times greater than did sensitized spleen cells. Initially, most labeled bone marrow cells were located intravascularly in recipient livers. Within 24 hr, they had disappeared from this location, but labeled cells persisted within granulomas. Over 85% of the labeled cells in recipients of spleen cells were identified as lymphocytes, whereas 26–52% of those found in recipients of bone marrow cells were macrophages. Only the latter were retained at granulomas in conspicuous numbers.
Exploring the dimensionality and social bases of the public's timber harvesting attitudes

We measured timber harvesting attitudes (THA) of the American public and explored the social bases of these THA by conducting a national random digit dial telephone survey over 2 years (2003 and 2004). We developed three reliable subscales to measure timber harvesting attitudes. Results of this study indicate that, in general, the public is not opposed to timber harvesting, particularly for economic and utilitarian reasons and as a management tool. Analyses of the social bases of THA revealed that the effects of individual demographic characteristics on timber harvesting attitudes varied with motivations for the harvest. While support for harvesting for present benefits differed across categories of income, education, and between republicans and democrats, support for timber harvesting for economic reasons differed across income classes. Support for harvesting as a management tool differed between those who are religious and those who are not. Congruent with previous research, attitudes of the general public do not differ from those of forestland owners. This research provides key findings regarding the public's THA and offers a novel framework through which public attitudes toward timber harvesting may be assessed.
Low Cycle Fatigue of Electrodeposited Pure Nanocrystalline Metals

The fatigue behavior of metals is strongly governed by the grain size variation. As the tensile strength, the fatigue limit increases with decreasing grain size in the microcrystalline regime. A different trend in mechanical properties has been demonstrated in many papers for metals with ultrafine (
A method for the preparation of Vicia villosa lectin and a rosette procedure for fractionation of lectin-binding lymphocytes.

Abstract We describe a simple procedure for isolation of Vicia villosa lectin with binding specificity for N-acetyl- D -galactosamine > D -galactose. Also, a rosette assay using V. villosa lectin coupled-SRBC is described which enables us to both visualize lectin binding cells and to fractionate lymphocytes from in vitro primary mixed lymphocyte cultures on the basis of ability to bind V. villosa lectin.
Sexual Calling Behavior in Primitive Ants

The wingless virgin females of the ponerine ant Rhytidoponera metallica attract males by the release of a pheromone from the tergal gland, a hitherto unrecognized exocrine gland located between the last two abdominal segments. This is the first evidence for sexual chemical communication in the large and primitive subfamily Ponerinae.
Audiences and Outcomes in Online and Traditional American Government Classes: A Comparative Two-Year Case Study

The objective of this article is to report differences we have found in teaching “American National Government” via the web and in a traditional lecture/discussion format. Since beginning this quasiexperimental field study in late 1997, we have gathered a variety of comparative data concerning students' characteristics and their changes in political knowledge and attitudes—things that are important to all of us who labor teaching American government in hopes of nurturing healthy citizens.
Low-density repulsive Fermi gas in two dimensions: Bound-pair excitations and Fermi-liquid behavior.

We study the dilute-gas expansion for a two-dimensional Fermi system with arbitrary short-range repulsive interactions. In contrast with the three-dimensional case, we find an unusual pole in the vertex part in the particle-particle channel, for all center-of-mass momenta q2${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{F}}$. We show that this represents an excitation consisting of bound hole pairs, which disperses down to zero energy at q=2${\mathit{k}}_{\mathit{F}}$. We study the effect of these bound states on the single-particle self-energy and find that the quasiparticles are well defined. Thus in the low-density regime, there is no breakdown of Fermi-liquid theory. In the Appendix we discuss the two-particle phase shift in the dilute Fermi gas, its connection with bound states, and the analogy with the potential scattering phase shift.
Ordered interstrand and intrastrand DNA transfer during reverse transcription

Retroviruses contain two copies of the plus stranded viral RNA genome. As a means of determining whether both of these RNA's are used in the reverse transcription reaction, cells were infected with heterozygous virus particles that varied in nucleotide sequence at two separate locations at the RNA termini. The DNA proviruses formed from a single cycle of reverse transcription were then examined. Of the 12 proviruses that were characterized, all exhibited long terminal repeats (LTR's) that would be expected to arise only if both RNA templates were used for the generation of minus strand DNA. In contrast, only a single minus strand DNA appeared to be used as template for the plus strand DNA in the generation of fully double-stranded viral DNA. These results indicate that the first strand transfer step in reverse transcription is an intermolecular event while that of the second transfer is intramolecular. Thus, retroviruses contain two functionally active RNA's, and both may be required for the generation of a single linear DNA molecule. Formation of heterozygotes during retrovirus infection would be expected to result in the efficient generation of LTR recombinants.
Fixation of cellular aging processes by SV40 virus transformation

Abstract Human fibroblasts (IMR90 and WI38) have a finite life span and provide a model system for studying cellular aging. In contrast to normal fibroblasts, SV40 transformed fibroblasts do not exhibit aging phenomena. We have examined the population doubling time, protein concentration, arginyl-tRNA transferase activity, and arginyl-tRNA transferase-directed modification of chromosomal proteins in nontransformed and SV40 virus transformed cells. From these studies it was found that the population doubling time and cellular protein content increase as the cells enter phase III, whereas the activity of arginyl-tRNA transferase and the ability of chromosomal proteins to accept arginine at the NH 2 -terminal end diminished progressively during cellular senescence. Furthermore, the above-mentioned parameters, which are associated with cellular aging in nontransformed cells, remained fixed at the time when the cells were exposed to SV40 viruses. In other words, the relative age of the culture determines the point at which fixation of age-associated parameters occurs. The transformed cells are then refractory to any subsequent aging phenomena.
Challenges to wastewater reuse in the Middle East and North Africa

Faced with increasing water scarcity, policy makers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are increasingly interested in tapping non-conventional water resources, such as recycled wastewater, to meet demands for water. Yet despite its perceived advantages, few countries have succeeded in developing extensive, successful, and safe reuse, despite considerable innovation in the water sector. This paper argues that much of the relative failure to expand reuse in MENA can be linked to incentive problems in wastewater management. A simple conceptual model is applied to explore how demand among different users interacts with water supply to produce different reuse cases. The economics of these cases are discussed with reference to data on water pricing and wastewater management. The analysis shows that a variety of constraints inhibit formal reuse of wastewater in MENA, including problems related to the cost of reuse, problems associated with low demand for reclaimed wastewater, the widespread lack of effec...
CORRECTIONS TO TWO PREVIOUS ARTICLES ON EXTRAGALACTIC GAMMA RAYS AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE CORRECTED RESULTS.

Corrections to Two Previous Articles on Extragalactic Gamma Rays and Implications of the Corrected Results
An empirical test of monopoly behaviour: an application to the Hardwood case: a comment

A recent article in this journal, Alexander (1988), tests whether the exchange of price information in the 1921 Hardwood case was a means of fixing prices or a way of coping with costly information. Alexander makes two serious errors. Both errors involve the incorrect use of a technique used to measure price-cost margins to determine the extent to which an industry is monopolistic, competitive, or somewhere in between. I reestimate Alexander's model correcting his two errors. In addition, I improve his data set. Alexander's conclusion that the price association was pro-competitive, although drawn incorrectly, is shown to be correct.
A heuristic with tie breaking for certain 0–1 integer programming models

A heuristic for 0–1 integer programming is proposed that features a specific rule for breaking ties that occur when attempting to determine a variable to set to 1 during a given iteration. It is tested on a large number of small- to moderate-sized randomly generated generalized set-packing models. Solutions are compared to those obtained using an existing well-regarded heuristic and to solutions to the linear programming relaxations. Results indicate that the proposed heuristic outperforms the existing heuristic except for models in which the number of constraints is large relative to the number of variables. In this case, it performs on par with the existing heuristic. Results also indicate that use of a specific rule for tie breaking can be very effective, especially for low-density models in which the number of variables is large relative to the number of constraints.
Surgical outcomes after endoscopic management of cholesterol granulomas of the petrous apex: a systematic review.

Object Endoscopic endonasal treatment of petrous apex cholesterol granulomas allows for a natural drainage pathway into the nasopharynx. Because of the limited number of case series in the literature, there is limited evidence of recurrence rates and outcomes following endoscopic endonasal management. The purpose of this study was to determine the surgical outcomes of endoscopic endonasal approaches in the treatment of cholesterol granulomas of the petrous apex. Methods A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed for articles published from January 1980 to April 2014 to identify all studies reporting outcomes for endoscopic endonasal surgical management of cholesterol granulomas of the petrous apex. Operative approach, use of a stent, symptom outcome, restenosis, cyst recurrence, reoperation, and complications were extracted from included studies. Results A total of 53 patient cases were included from 22 relevant studies. The mean age was 41 years, and 26 patients (49%) were female. Stents w...
Snow-to-Liquid Ratio Variability and Prediction at a High-Elevation Site in Utah's Wasatch Mountains

Abstract Contemporary snowfall forecasting is a three-step process involving a quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF), determination of precipitation type, and application of a snow-to-liquid ratio (SLR). The final step is often performed using climatology or algorithms based primarily on temperature. Based on a record of consistent and professional daily snowfall measurements, this study 1) presents general characteristics of SLR at Alta, Utah, a high-elevation site in interior North America with frequent winter storms; 2) diagnoses relationships between SLR and atmospheric conditions using reanalysis data; and 3) develops a statistical method for predicting SLR at the study location. The mean SLR at Alta is similar to that observed at lower elevations in the surrounding region, with substantial variability throughout the winter season. Using data from the North American Regional Reanalysis, temperature, wind speed, and midlevel relative humidity are shown to be related to SLR, with the strongest corr...
CHARACTERISTIC ENERGY LOSS SPECTRA OF COPPER CRYSTALS WITH SURFACES DESCRIBED BY LEED.

Abstract Energy distributions of electrons back-scattered from copper (100) and (110) surfaces have been obtained for incident electron energies in the range 30 to 350 eV. The relations between optical measurements and the characteristic energy losses, as well as the effect of interband transitions on the bulk and surface plasmon frequencies in metals which do not have ideally free electron plasmas are discussed. By chemisorbing increasing amounts of oxygen on the clean surface, the surface plasmon loss peak was identified in the copper energy loss spectrum from its intensity dependence on the dielectric constant at the surface. This peak has been identified by previous authors as the bulk plasmon loss of a single s-electron plasma oscillation. Our identification of the surface plasmon loss peak implies that the d-electrons in copper do participate in the plasma oscillation and that the bulk plasmon frequency is shifted from its free electron value because of interband transitions.
The Power of Cyberlearning: An Empirical Test.

THE CONTROVERSY OVER CYBERLEARNING, as an integral part of the teaching and learning process in higher education, is growing almost as fast as the technology itself. Unfortunately, there are relatively few empirical studies that provide a comprehensive test of the effectiveness of cyberlearning. This exploratory study compares Cyberlearners with Traditional Learners in a graduate-level MBA course in introductory macroeconomics. The findings appear to provide evidence that cyberlearning can be as effective as traditional classroom learning.
Eddy correlation measurements of the air/sea flux of dimethylsulfide over the North Pacific Ocean

Shipboard measurements of air/sea fluxes and sea surface concentrations of dimethylsulfide (DMS) were made over the tropical and midlatitude North Pacific Ocean. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry was used to measure DMS levels in ambient air and in air equilibrated with surface seawater drawn from a depth of 5 m. Air/sea fluxes were obtained using eddy covariance. Corrections and uncertainties involved in the calculation of fluxes from shipboard data are discussed. The surface ocean DMS concentrations measured during this study ranged from 1 to 10 nM, and atmospheric mixing ratios ranged from 20 to 1000 ppt. Air/sea fluxes ranged from 0.47 to 39 mu mol m(-2) d(-1). Most of the variance in the fluxes can be accounted for by variations in sea surface concentration (37%) and wind speed (19%). Gas transfer coefficients derived from the measurements are generally consistent with those derived from deliberate inert gas tracer experiments and eddy covariance measurements of CO(2). The gas transfer coefficients exhibit wind speed dependence, but the variance in the data is sufficiently large that they do not constrain the functionality of the wind speed dependence of gas exchange.
COTS clusters vs. the Earth simulator: an application study using IMPACT-3D

In 2002, Japan announced the Earth Simulator - a supercomputer based on low-volume vector processors and a custom network - and reported that computational scientists had used it to achieve 14.9 TFLOPS with the IMPACT-3D code, which is written in high performance Fortran (HPF). Of particular interest was that they had achieved this level of performance using a high-level parallel programming model. There has been considerable concern in the U.S. about the appropriateness of its hardware and software investments in super computing technology. To help assess the U.S. strategy of building systems from commodity-off-the-shelf (COTS) components, we explored using a combination of HPF and scalar compiler technology to tailor IMPACT-3D to microprocessor-based supercomputers and evaluated its performance and scalability on the AlphaServer-based Lemieux cluster at the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center (PSC). On the Earth Simulator, IMPACT-3D achieved 45% of peak performance on 4096 processors; on 1024 processors of PSC's Lemieux, we achieved 17.29% of peak performance.
Three-Dimensional Turbulent Bottom Density Currents from a High-Order Nonhydrostatic Spectral Element Model

Overflows are bottom gravity currents that supply dense water masses generated in high-latitude and marginal seas into the general circulation. Oceanic observations have revealed that mixing of overflows with ambient water masses takes place over small spatial and time scales. Studies with ocean general circulation models indicate that the strength of the thermohaline circulation is strongly sensitive to representation of overflows in these models. In light of these results, overflow-induced mixing emerges as one of the prominent oceanic processes. In this study, as a continuation of an effort to develop appropriate process models for overflows, nonhydrostatic 3D simulations of bottom gravity are carried out that would complement analysis of dedicated observations and large-scale ocean modeling. A parallel high-order spectral-element Navier‐Stokes solver is used as the basis of the simulations. Numerical experiments are conducted in an idealized setting focusing on the startup phase of a dense water mass released at the top of a sloping wedge. Results from 3D experiments are compared with results from 2D experiments and laboratory experiments, based on propagation speed of the density front, growth rate of the characteristic head at the leading edge, turbulent overturning length scales, and entrainment parameters. Results from 3D experiments are found to be in general agreement with those from laboratory tank experiments. In 2D simulations, the propagation speed is approximately 20% slower than that of the 3D experiments and the head growth rate is 3 times as large, Thorpe scales are 1.3‐1.5 times as large, and the entrainment parameter is up to 2 times as large as those in the 3D experiments. The differences between 2D and 3D simulations are entirely due to internal factors associated with the truncation of the Navier‐Stokes equations for 2D approximation.
An exact algorithm for a workforce allocation problem with application to an analysis of cross-training policies

The evaluation of workforce staffing and scheduling policies is of paramount importance for meeting the challenge of simultaneously providing good customer service and low operational costs. Policy studies are particularly critical in workforce environments plagued by staffing shortages. The cross-utilization of employees among different departments or work centers is a well-recognized staffing policy for coping with shortages. We revisit a non-linear assignment problem for allocating cross-trained workers so as to maximize overall utility, which is measured using a quadratic function of labor shortages. We develop a branch-and-bound algorithm that efficiently provides optimal solutions for problems of practical size. This algorithm is then used to conduct a computational investigation of cross-training policies. Among the most critical factors affecting utility improvement are the coefficient of variation for demand, worker absenteeism, the percentage of cross-trained workers and cross-training breadth. ...
Optimal Routing in Binomial Graph Networks

A circulant graph with n nodes and jumps j1, j2,..., jm is a graph in which each node i, 0 les i les n-1, is adjacent to all the vertices i plusmn jk mod n, where 1 les k les m. A binomial graph network (BMG) is a circulant graph where jk is the power of 2 that is less than or equal to n. This paper presents an optimal (shortest path) two-terminal routing algorithm for BMG networks. This algorithm uses only the destination address to determine the next hop in order to stay on the shortest path. Unlike the original algorithms, it does not require extra space for routing tables or additional information in the packet. The experimental results show that the new optimal algorithm is significantly faster than the original optimal algorithm.
Income Averaging Benefits From Income Growth: the Gradual Elimination of an Inequity

Previous research of the income averaging provision has suggested that individ-uals outside the targeted population are eligible for averaging and that the provision has introduced new sources of inequity. This study investigates the tax savings to the unintended population over the last several years and finds that the inequity has effectively been eliminated. The results demonstrate that recent changes to the tax rate structure have reduced the tax savings to those eligible to income average. In addition, income averaging eligibility through income growth is much more difficult to achieve under a recent change in the averaging provisions.
Modeling study of a Central Pattern Generator in the Melibe seaslug.

Behaving animals show correlated neuronal activities in their nervous system. These observations lead to the question, how are the specific patterns of activities generated and used to control behaviors? Central Pattern Generators (CPGs) are small networks of neurons that are experimentally identified as necessary for expressions of behaviors, and the core group capable of controlling various aspects of the behavior. Mechanistic understanding of CPG functions is under intense investigation [1]. In this study, we investigate the role of network configurations of an experimentally based CPG for swimming behavior in the marine invertebrate Melibe leonine [2]. Repetitive nature of activity patterns of CPGs can be examined through the relative phase relations between bursting interneurons. Experimentally and computationally, such phase-lags are measured with respect to a reference neuron, thus allowing for an analysis of various activity patterns in a systematic way. For the Melibe CPG model under consideration, we consider four HodgkinHuxley type square-wave bursters, connected via fast nondelayed inhibitory synapses represented by fast threshold modulating function. Due to intrinsic symmetry, the network can be treated as two pairs of half center oscillators (HCOs). In a HCO both neurons reciprocally inhibit each other, leading to alternate, anti-phase bursting patterns, which can coexist with in-phase bursting when the HCO is inhibited externally [3,4]. In the given model, one HCO inhibits the other one and gets ap ositive feedback in the form of excitatory drive. We will further enhance the CPG model by including additional interneurons to reflect physiological fine details observed in-vitro. The exploration of stable phase-locked states, perturbed externally by applied current pulses, allows us to suggest plausible mechanisms of the CPG and come up with predictions that may be verified by electrophysiological experiments. The phase-locked pattern, observed in the experiment, is identified as an attractor in numerical simulations. We find that specific distributions of synaptic conductance shift the attractor so that it merges with a saddle corresponding to unstable phase-locked state. Investigation indicates that weak excitatory connections play no significant role in the generation of the pattern but may have stabilizing effect. Electrical coupling, which appears to be very weak and negligible in the physiological context, may play a critical role in altering the behavior of the network. Conclusions We conclude that the idiosyncratic phase-locking seen in the experimental setup is due to a specific network configuration of the CPG model where a driving HCO uni-directionally inhibits a nearly identical one, provided that coupling strengths stay rather weak. Future investigations will be focused on enhanced realistic CPG models with additional connections and participating interneurons.
Guilty Feelings, Targeted Actions

Early investigations of guilt cast it as an emotion that prompts broad reparative behaviors that help guilty individuals feel better about themselves or about their transgressions. The current investigation found support for a more recent representation of guilt as an emotion designed to identify and correct specific social offenses. Across five experiments, guilt influenced behavior in a targeted and strategic way. Guilt prompted participants to share resources more generously with others, but only did so when those others were persons whom the participant had wronged and only when those wronged individuals could notice the gesture. Rather than trigger broad reparative behaviors that remediate one’s general reputation or self-perception, guilt triggers targeted behaviors intended to remediate specific social transgressions.
Timing Effects on Divorce: 20th Century Experience in the United States

Period divorce measures can misrepresent the underlying behavior of birth cohorts as changes in cohort timing produce changes in period probabilities of divorce. Building on methods used to adjust period fertility and marriage measures, we adjust U.S. period divorce rates for timing effects, calculating a timing index for every year between 1910 and 2000. The adjusted probability of divorce, PMED*, increases nearly linearly from 1910 through 1990, remaining at about that level through 2000. Period measures greatly exaggerate divorce risks from the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, but understate them at other times. Adjusted values for recent years do not suggest a decline in the likelihood of divorce, with year 2000 values indicating a divorce probability of 0.43 - 0.46.
The Reaction-Limited Kinetics of Membrane-to-Surface Adhesion and Detachment

Biological adhesion is frequently mediated by specific membrane proteins (adhesion molecules). Starting with the notion of adhesion molecules, we present a simple model of the physics of membrane-to-surface attachment and detachment. This model consists of coupling the equations for deformation of an elastic membrane with equations for the chemical kinetics of the adhesion molecules. We propose a set of constitutive laws relating bond stress to bond strain and also relating the chemical rate constants of the adhesion molecules to bond strain. We derive an exact formula for the critical tension. We also describe a fast and accurate finite difference algorithm for generating numerical solutions of our model. Using this algorithm, we are able to compute the transient behaviour during the initial phases of adhesion and detachment as well as the steady-state geometry of adhesion and the velocity of the contact. An unexpected consequence of our model is the predicted occurrence of states in which adhesion cannot be reversed by application of tension. Such states occur only if the adhesion molecules have certain constitutive properties (catch-bonds). We discuss the rational for such catch-bonds and their possible biological significance. Finally, by analysis of numerical solutions, we derive an accurate and general expression for the steady-state velocity of attachment and detachment. As applications of the theory, we discuss data on the rolling velocity of granulocytes in post-capillary venules and data on lectin-mediated adhesion of red cells.
Improving blood pressure control in a pharmacist-managed hypertension clinic.

Objective. To determine whether pharmaceutical care provided by a pharmacist-managed hypertension clinic results in better treatment outcomes when compared with traditional health care from a primary care physician. Design. Prospective, controlled study. Setting. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Patients. Fifty six patients with essential hypertension; 27 were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 29 to the control group. Intervention. Patients in the intervention group were scheduled monthly to meet with a clinical pharmacist who made appropriate changes in prescribed drugs, adjusted dosages, and provided drug counseling in accordance with the hypertension guidelines in the sixth report of the Joint National Committee on the Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VI). Patients in the control group received standard care from their physicians. The study period was 6 months. Measurements and Main Results. Treatment outcomes were measured by changes in compliance, blood pressure, and patient satisfaction. The Short Form-36 health survey and a patient satisfaction survey were used to measure changes in patient satisfaction, and a compliance evaluation survey measured compliance. Twenty-one (81%) patients in the intervention group attained their blood pressure goal of below 140/90 mm Hg at the completion of the study versus only eight (30%) in the control group (p<0.0001). Of 11 patients with diabetes in the intervention group, 10 (91%) attained their blood pressure goal (< 130/80 mm Hg) versus only two (12 %) of 16 patients with diabetes in the control group (p<0.0001). No significant differences in patient satisfaction or compliance were reported between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions. Pharmaceutical care improves blood pressure control and results in more patients with hypertension reaching their blood pressure goal.
Why the Paraphilias? Domesticating Strange Sex:

Paraphilias (e.g., pedophilia, fetishism) are said to be virtually ineradicable once established. The authors propose that the motivational state known as the Zeigarnik effect, according to which interrupted tasks are better recalled than completed tasks, may provide understanding of this process, especially its later addictive-compulsive quality. Reasoning from Zeigarnik-type research, the authors predict a relation between early sexual arousal, its frustration, and subsequent events associated with such arousal. The paraphilias are thus seen as an unusual by-product of a normal adaptive process, that is, a tendency to privilege the recollection of unfinished over finished activities. The authors discuss why paraphilias are associated nearly exclusively with males, and why paraphilic tendencies are apparently quite rare in traditional societies. They also propose new research on the processes and outcomes entailed by the Zeigarnik effect, such research including, but not being limited to, sexuality.
A simple and efficient method to reduce nontemplated nucleotide addition at the 3 terminus of RNAs transcribed by T7 RNA polymerase.

DNA templates modified with C29-methoxyls at the last two nucleotides of the 59 termini dramatically reduced nontemplated nucleotide addition by the T7 RNA polymerase from both single- and double-stranded DNA templates. This strategy was used to generate several different transcripts. Two of the transcripts were demonstrated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to be unaffected in their sequence. Transcripts produced from the modified templates can be purified with greater ease and should be useful in a number of applications.
An improved method of including detailed synchronous machine representations in large power system models for fault analysis

An efficient approach for combining time- and frequency-domain analysis techniques to produce improved fault analysis results is presented in this paper. The developed approach is applied to fault analysis to determine the time-domain solutions for synchronous machine terminal variables while utilizing frequency-domian techniques to model the transmission network. In general, the transmission network is modeled using steady-state AC circuit theory to form a constant impedance network description, while the rotating machines are represented by sets of coupled differential equations. The interface between the time-domain machine models and the frequency-domain transmission network model transforms the differential equation solutions into the appropriate frequency-domain phasors using time series analysis to obtain least-square-error approximations of the phasor magnitudes and angles. The combination of time and frequency-domain analysis allows the total number of calculations required for a solution to be considerably less than the number required for a complete time-domain solution. >
Metagenomic data of the bacterial community in coastal Gulf of Mexico sediment microcosms following exposure to Macondo oil (MC252)

The data in this article includes the sequences of bacterial 16S rRNA gene from metagenome of Macondo oil (MC252)-treated and non-oil-treated sediment microcosms, collected from coastal Gulf of Mexico and Bayou La Batre, USA. Metacommunity DNA was PCR amplified with 341F and 907R oligonucleotide primers, targeting V3–V5 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Data were generated by using bacterial tag-encoded FLX-amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) methodology and then processed using bioinformatics tools such as QIIME. The data information is deposited to NCBI׳s BioProject and BioSample and raw sequence files are available via NCBI׳s Sequence Read Archive (SRA) database.
Wavelet‐based time series bootstrap model for multidecadal streamflow simulation using climate indicators

It is increasingly evident that large scale climate forcings such as El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) are known to modulate the hydro climatology of Western United States at multi-decadal time scales. We developed a wavelet-based time series bootstrap simulation model to generate streamflow projections conditioned on climate indices of the aforementioned large scale climate forcings. These indices are based on sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies. The wavelet analysis is performed on each climate index and significant periodicities (components) are identified that pass the 95% significance test. Then a K-nearest neighbor (K-NN) Block bootstrap method is employed to generate ensembles of the identified significant components. The components being orthogonal by construction are summed to obtain sequences of the 'climate signal'. This is performed on each climate index separately, thus obtaining a climate signal vector,ඃ烜 ! , at each time step, t. Conditioned on ඃ烜 ! , a K-NN bootstrap is applied to simulate streamflow ensembles. We demonstrated this method by applying it for simulation of streamflow at Lees Ferry gauge on the Colorado River using two large scale climate forcings Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) which have been known to modulate the upper Colorado River Basin hydrology at multi-decadal time scales. The simulations reproduce skillfully all the distribution and nonstationary spectral properties in addition the method also provides good projections of decadal mean flow. All of these are crucial for water resources management.