cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron excitation collision strengths for transitions in K II

Aims. Oscillator strengths and electron impact excitation collision strengths for transitions between the 43 fine-structure levels of the 3p 6 ,3 p 5 4s, 3p 5 3d, 3p 5 4p, 3p 5 4d and 3p 5 5s configurations in K II are calculated. Thermally averaged collision strengths are presented as a function of electron temperature for application to astrophysical plasmas. Methods. The B-spline Breit-Pauli R-matrix method is used to investigate the electron impact excitation of forbidden and allowed transitions in singly ionized potassium. The relativistic effects have been incorporated through mass, Darwin and spin-orbit one-body operators in the Breit-Pauli Hamiltonian in the scattering calculation, while in the calculation of oscillator strengths the one-body and two-body relativistic operators are included. Flexible non-orthogonal sets of spectroscopic and correlation radial functions are used to obtain accurate description of K II levels and to represent the scattering functions. The 43 fine-structure levels of the 3p 6 ,3 p 5 4s, 3p 5 3d, 3p 5 4p, 3p 5 4d and 3p 5 5s configurations have been considered in both the radiative and scattering calculations. Results. The present cross sections for the excitation of the lowest 4s and 3d states show reasonable agreement with the previous R-matrix calculations. The calculated excitation energies are in excellent agreement with experiment and represents an improvement over the previous calculation. The oscillator strengths for transitions from the ground state normally compare very well with previous calculations, but for transitions from the metastable state a large discrepancy was found with other calculations. The effective collision strengths are obtained by integrating total resonant and non-resonant collision strengths over a Maxwellian distribution of electron energies and these are presented over a wide temperature range.
Dietary naringenin increases hepatic peroxisome proliferators–activated receptor α protein expression and decreases plasma triglyceride and adiposity in rats

Naringenin, a flavonoid present in grapefruit, has recently been shown to exert hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic effects, which has a particular importance for protecting against chronic diseases. However, the lipid-lowering potential of naringenin at the concentrations in the dietary range and its underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was (1) to investigate the effects of dietary naringenin on plasma and hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol levels and on adipose deposition in rat and (2) to determine the contribution of hepatic peroxisome proliferators–activated receptor α (PPARα) expression to fatty acid oxidation. Male Long-Evans hooded rats were fed a diet supplemented with naringenin (0.003, 0.006, and 0.012%) for 6 weeks. We analyzed plasma and hepatic lipid contents and determined the protein expression of PPARα, carnitine-palmitoyl transferase 1L (CPT-1), and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), all of which are critical genes for fatty acid oxidation. Naringenin supplementation caused a significant reduction in the amount of total triglyceride and cholesterol in plasma and liver. In addition, naringenin supplementation lowered adiposity and triglyceride contents in parametrial adipose tissue. Naringenin-fed animals showed a significant increase in PPARα protein expression in the liver. Furthermore, expression of CPT-1 and UCP2, both of which are known to be regulated by PPARα, was markedly enhanced by naringenin treatment. Our results indicate that the activation of PPARα transcription factor and upregulation of its fatty acid oxidation target genes by dietary naringenin may contribute to the hypolipidemic and anti-adiposity effects in vivo.
Specialized anti-HIV testing : Expediting preclinical drug development

The ultimate goal of a preclinical development program for a potential anti-HIV agent must be to rapidly define the efficacy and toxicity of the candidate compound, as well as its range and mechanism of antiviral action, its activity in combination with other known anti-HIV drugs, and the relative rate at which it selects drug-resistant virus isolates. With this information, appropriate in vivo studies may be designed to further evaluate efficacy, drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity. In the absence of a well-defined animal model to evaluate anti-HIV efficacy in vivo, in vitro studies are of critical importance to the selection and prioritization of compounds for expedited development. A research and development program consisting of both cell-based and biochemical mechanism-based assays will be described which allows the rapid accumulation of data regarding the anti-HIV activity of a candidate compound required to judiciously select a compound likely to be effective in a clinical setting. This preclinical development program has been designed to address points to consider suggested by the Food and Drug Administration for new anti-HIV agents and to direct critical time and resources to the development of appropriate compounds.
A compton upscattering model for soft lags in the lower kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillation in 4u 1608-52

An empirical Compton upscattering model is described that reproduces both the fractional amplitude (rms) versus energy and the soft time lags in the ≈830 Hz quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) observed in 4U 1608-52 on 1996 March 3. A combination of two coherent variations in the coronal and soft photon temperatures (with their relative contributions determined by enforcing energy conservation) gives rise to the QPO's energy-dependent characteristics. All input parameters to the model, save a characteristic plasma size and the fraction of Comptonized photons impinging on the soft photon source, are derived from the time-averaged photon energy spectrum of the same observation. Fits to the fractional rms and phase lag data for this kilohertz QPO imply that the spatial extent of the plasma is in the range from ~4 to 15 km.
Apnea is not prolonged by acid gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants.

Objective. To examine the temporal relationship between apnea and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and to assess the effect of GER on apnea duration. Methods. A total of 119 preterm infants underwent 12-hour cardiorespiratory monitoring studies using respiratory inductance plethysmography, heart rate, oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ), and esophageal pH. The studies were scored for GER (pH <4 for ≥5 seconds) and apnea ≥15 seconds or ≥10 seconds that occurred within 30 seconds of GER. Apnea ≥10 seconds was used to assess whether GER would prolong apnea duration. Results. There were 6255 episodes of GER. Only 1% of GER episodes were associated with apnea ≥15 seconds, and there was no difference in apnea rate before, during, or after GER. There was also no difference in rate of apnea ≥10 seconds before versus during GER; however, there was a decrease in apnea rate immediately after GER. The presence of GER during apnea did not prolong apnea duration, and GER had no effect on the lowest SaO 2 or heart rate during apnea. Conclusion. There is no evidence of a temporal relationship between acid-based GER and apnea in preterm infants. In addition, GER does not prolong apnea duration and does not exacerbate the resultant decrease in heart rate and SaO 2 .
Effective thermoregulation in primates depends upon internal circadian synchronization

Abstract 1. 1. Squirrel monkeys display a prominent circadian rhythm in body temperature (Tco). When entrained to 24-hr light-dark (LD) cycles, Tco is defended against mild 6-hr cold exposures at all circadian phases. In constant light (LL), however, the animals' ability to defend Tco against similar cold exposures is impaired. 2. 2. We have examined the potential roles of internal circadian synchronization and other factors such as LL or chair-restraint in determining the animals' ability to thermoregulate in the cold. 3. 3. Constant light and/or chair-restraint were ruled out as being major contributions to this thermoregulatory response in experiments where an alternate circadian synchronizer (24-hr cycles of food availability) was supplied to animals in LL. These animals were able to maintain Tco at the same levels as comparable controls when they were cold exposed at three different circadian phases. 4. 4. The role of internal circadian synchronization was examined using an adrenalectomized squirrel monkey preparation. These animals, when supplied with replacement cortisol at 24-hr intervals, have the same circadian thermoregulatory characteristics as intact control animals, and when synchronized by LD cycles can maintain Tco during cold exposure. 5. 5. In LL, the adrenalectomized animals, with 24-hr cortisol replacement, become internally desynchronized since a portion of the circadian system is entrained by cortisol and the rest free-runs. In this state, the cold exposures produce significant decreases in Tco. 6. 6. The data indicate that for effective thermoregulation to occur, proper temporal synchronization of the circadian timekeeping system of the squirrel monkey is essential.
Hormone replacement therapy and 24-hour blood pressure profile of postmenopausal women.

Menopause is associated with an increase in blood pressure (BP) and a decrease in physiologic nocturnal BP fall. These factors may play a role in the increased risk of cardiovascular events after menopause. Some studies indicate that transdermal estrogen replacement therapy may help restore the 24-h BP profile, but data on the effect of oral conjugated estrogens are lacking. We compared 24-h ambulatory BP profiles of 42 postmenopausal women not receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and 20 women receiving HRT. HRT was associated with a significant increase in the proportion of dippers (50% in women not receiving HRT and 80% in women receiving HRT, P = .048). Increase in nocturnal dipping may account, in part, for the beneficial cardiovascular effects of HRT.
Composition and conformation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst wall surface macromolecules and their effect on adhesion kinetics of oocysts on quartz surface.

We characterized the composition and conformation of Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) oocyst wall surface macromolecules and studied their effect on interactions between C. parvum oocyst and quartz surface. Proteinase K and mixed glycosidases were used to modify C. parvum oocyst surface macromolecules. The peptides released by proteinase K and carbohydrates hydrolyzed by mixed glycosidases were respectively analyzed with liquid chromatography/nanoelectrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and phenol-sulfuric acid assay to determine the composition of C. parvum oocyst wall surface macromolecules. Surface potential and polarity of the untreated and proteinase treated C. parvum oocysts revealed information about the conformation of oocyst wall surface macromolecules. The results illustrated that C. parvum oocyst wall is covered by a fluffy layer of glycoproteins. Adhesion kinetics of untreated and proteinase K treated C. parvum oocysts on quartz surface were studied in a radial stagnation ...
Sexual Selection: Placentation, Superfetation, and Coercive Copulation

The evolution of placentas in poeciliid fishes is associated with conception of overlapping litters and male mating strategies becoming more coercive. Sperm competition in ovaries of multiply-inseminated females may favor fertilization of immature eggs during ongoing pregnancies.
Detection of tropospheric ozone by remote sensing from the ground

Due to larger multiple scattering effects in the troposphere compared to that in the stratosphere, the optical path of tropospheric ozone is markedly enhanced (as compared with that of stratospheric ozone) in the Huggins bands from 310 to 345 nm. Model study of the direct and diffuse solar fluxes on the ground shows differences between tropospheric and stratospheric ozone. The characteristic signature of tropospheric ozone enables us to distinguish a change in troposheric ozone from that of stratospheric ozone. A simple retrieval algorithm is used to recover the tropospheric column ozone from simulated data.
Describing phase coexistence in systems with small phases

Clusters of atoms can be studied in molecular beams and by computer simulation; 'liquid drops' provide elementary models for atomic nuclei and for the critical nuclei of nucleation theory. These clusters are often described in thermodynamic terms, but the behaviour of small clusters near a phase boundary is qualitatively different from the behaviour at a first order phase transition in idealized thermodynamics. In the idealized case the density and entropy show mathematically sharp discontinuities when the phase boundary is crossed. In large, but finite, systems, the phase boundaries become regions of state space wherein these properties vary rapidly but continuously. In small clusters with a large surface/volume ratio, however, the positive interfacial free energy makes it unlikely, even in states on phase boundaries, that a cluster will have a heterogeneous structure. What is actually seen in these states is a structure that fluctuates in time between homogeneous structures characteristic of the two sides of the phase boundary. That is, structural fluctuations are observed. Thermodynamics only predicts average properties; statistical mechanics is required to understand these fluctuations. Failure to distinguish thermodynamic properties and characterizations of fluctuations, particularly in the context of first order phase transitions, has led to suggestions that the classical rules for thermodynamic stability are violated in small systems and that classical thermodynamics provides an inconsistent description of these systems. Much of the confusion stems from taking statistical mechanical identifications of thermodynamic properties, explicitly developed for large systems, and applying them uncritically to small systems. There are no inconsistencies if thermodynamic properties are correctly identified and the distinction between thermodynamic properties and fluctuations is made clear.
Voting rights and shareholder wealth the issuance of limited voting common stock

This paper investigates the shareholder wealth consequences of the public announcements of the proposed issuance of multiple classes of common stock with disparate voting rights. The evidence suggests that, for our sample of 70 firms which proposed dual-class recapitalizations over the period 1962–86, the creafion of dual classes of common stock, on average, leads to abnormal stock price increases. The data do not lend support to the hypothesis that the concentration of voting power with incumbent management is detrimental to shareholder interests.
Precambrian Cyclic Carbonate Facies, Western Montana: ABSTRACT

At least 5 main carbonate facies are recognizable in the Helena Formation (of the Precambrian Belt Supergroup) and its equivalents of western Montana: (1) stromatolite-"ribbon limestone" beds dominate the shallow-water shelf carbonate facies; (2) dark-gray to black argillaceous "pod carbonate" facies, of slightly deeper water origin; (3) green-gray and green argillite-dolomite and tan dolomite facies; (4) dark shale and platy dolomite facies of the central basin; and (5) a more highly clastic facies derived from a probable western source. The Helena carbonate facies are markedly cyclic, with individual cycles expressed in several ways depending on horizontal and vertical stratigraphic position in the overall depositional complex of the basin. A characteristic cycle in the shelf carbonate belt includes, from base upward, (1) a stromatolitic dark limestone overlying an eroded, scour surface at the top of a dark, brown-weathering massive silty dolomite; (2) a massive "ribbon limestone" bed; (3) a dark argillite or argillaceous "pod carbonate" thinly bedded unit that may be green gray or green in some cycles; and (4) a black or dark-gray, brown-weathering massive dolomite unit, in places containing scattered "ribbon" organic structures. The brown-weathering dolomite in almost all places shows a prominent scour surface of v ried relief at the top and overlain by a prominent stromatolitic structure. Reasonable interpretations for each of these rocks and facies can be made to fit the environmental provinces of a normal epicontinental basin. However, a complete analysis of cycle and basin facies genesis must face the question of marine versus nonmarine origin of Belt sediments. Most, if not all, of the "marine" sedimentary features of the Helena carbonate beds can fit the broad sedimentary patterns of an extensive lacustrine basin. This possibility needs further study, and conceivably could help to explain problems related to Early Cambrian stratigraphy and faunas. End_of_Article - Last_Page 540------------
High summer temperature explains bill size variation in salt marsh sparrows

Physiological factors are rarely proposed to account for variation in the morphology of feeding structures. Recently, bird bills have been demonstrated to be important convective and radiant heat sinks. Larger bills have greater surface area than smaller bills and could serve as more eff ective thermoregulatory organs under hot conditions. Th e heat radiating function of bills should be more important in open habitats with little shade and stronger convective winds. Furthermore, as a means of dumping heat without increasing water loss through evaporation, bills might play a particularly important thermoregulatory role in heat loss in windy habitat where fresh water is limited. North American salt marshes provide a latitudinal gradient of relatively homogeneous habitat that is windy, open, and fresh-water limited. To examine the potential role of thermoregulation in determining bill size variation among ten species or subspecies of tidal marsh sparrows, we plotted bill size against maximum summer and minimum winter temperatures. Bill surface areas increases with summer temperature, which explained 82–89% of the variance (depending upon sex) when we controlled for genus membership. Latitude alone predicted bill surface area much more poorly than summer temperature, and winter temperatures explained 10% of the variance in winter bill size. Tidal marsh sparrow bill morphology may, to a large degree, refl ect the role of the bill in expelling excess body heat in these unbuff ered, fresh-water-limited environments. Th is new example of Allen ’ s rule reaffi rms the importance of physiological constraints on the evolution of vertebrate morphologies, even in bird bills, which have conventionally been considered as products of adaptation to foraging niche.
The relationship among giftedness, gender, and overexcitability.

This study examines the relationship among giftedness, gender, and overexcitability. Previous studies examining these relationships were based on an open-ended questionnaire and small samples. This study uses a new self-rating questionnaire to assess overexcitabilities, the Overexcitability Questionnaire II, and findings are based on a large sample of 562 university students. Giftedness was measured by a student's participation in either a gifted, advanced, or standard curriculum program. Results show that previous findings on the relationship between giftedness and overexcitability can be confirmed; gifted students scored significantly higher on intellectual and emotional overexcitability than students in either of the other two programs. Further, males scored higher overall on intellectual, imaginational, and psychomotor overexcitability, while females scored higher on emotional and sensual overexcitability.
Federal Policy in Educational Research and Development

ology" of dates involving the United States Office of Education's twenty regional educational laboratories. This laboratory program, he pointed out, was authorized on April 11, 1965 with the enactment of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. By August of that year the office had issued guidelines for prospectuses which, in turn, were due in the office on October 15, 1965. By February of 1966 the first contracts for laboratories were negotiated and by September of 1966 twenty such laboratories were under operational or developmental contracts.
The Schrödinger functional running coupling with staggered fermions

Abstract We discuss the Schrodinger functional in lattice QCD with staggered fermions including its order 0(a) boundary counterterms. We relate it, in the classical continuum limit, to the Schrodinger functional as obtained in the same limit with Wilson fermions. We compute the strong coupling constant defined via the Schrodinger functional with staggered fermions at one loop and show that it agrees with the continuum running coupling constant in the Schrodinger functional formalism.
Insulin and insulin-like growth factor resistance with neurodegeneration in an adult chronic ethanol exposure model.

Background: Previous studies linked cerebellar hypoplasia, neuronal loss, and impaired acetylcholine homeostasis to ethanol inhibition of insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling mechanisms in experimental models of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Methods: To determine the extent to which similar abnormalities occur in mature brains, gene expression, ligand binding, and histopathological studies were performed with temporal lobe, hypothalamus, and cerebellar cortex from adult male Long Evans rats that were pair-fed for 6 weeks with liquid diets containing 0% or 37% ethanol by caloric content. Results: Real time quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the chronic ethanol-fed rats had significantly reduced insulin-like growth factors (IGF)-II receptor expression in all 3 regions and reduced insulin receptor expression in the temporal lobe. However, equilibrium binding assays revealed ethanol-associated impairments in insulin and IGF-I receptor binding in all 3 regions and reduced IGF-II receptor binding in the cerebellum. These abnormalities were associated with decreased expression of Hu (neuronal loss) in the temporal lobe and cerebellum, and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the hypothalamus and cerebellum, and increased expression of NADPH oxidase 3 in all 3 regions examined. Ethanol-associated neuronal loss with increased indices of lipid peroxidation and DNA damage were demonstrated by histopathological, immunohistochemical, and enzyme linked immunosorbant assay studies. Conclusions: These results suggest that ethanol-induced neurodegeneration in adults is mediated by insulin/IGF resistance, persistent oxidative stress, and impaired acetylcholine biosynthesis, similar to the findings in FAS. The reductions in ChAT gene expression most likely contribute to the cognitive and motor deficits that occur with chronic alcohol abuse.
Aldose reductase decreases endoplasmic reticulum stress in ischemic hearts

Aldose reductase (AR) is a multi-functional AKR (AKR1B1) that catalyzes the reduction of a wide range of endogenous and xenobiotic aldehydes and their glutathione conjugates with high efficiency. Previous studies from our laboratory show that AR protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, however, the mechanisms by which it confers cardioprotection remain unknown. Because AR metabolizes aldehydes generated from lipid peroxidation, we tested the hypothesis that it protects against ischemic injury by preventing ER stress induced by excessive accumulation of aldehyde-modified proteins in the ischemic heart. In cell culture experiments, exposure to model lipid peroxidation aldehydes-4-hydroxy-trans-2-nonenal (HNE), 1-palmitoyl-2-oxovaleroyl phosphatidylcholine (POVPC) or acrolein led to an increase in the phosphorylation of ER stress markers PERK and eIF2-alpha and an increase in ATF3. The reduced metabolite of POVPC 1-palmitoyl-2-hydroxyvaleroyl phosphatidylcholine (PHVPC) was unable to stimulate JNK phosphorylation. No increase in phospho-eIF2-alpha, ATF3 or phospho-PERK was observed in cells treated with the reduced HNE metabolite 1,4-dihydroxynonenol (DHN). Lysates prepared from isolated perfused mouse hearts subjected to 15 min of global ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion ex vivo showed greater phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2-alpha than hearts subjected to aerobic perfusion alone. Ischemia-induced increases in phospho-PERK and phospho-eIF2-alpha were diminished in the hearts of cardiomyocyte-specific transgenic mice overexpressing the AR transgene. These observations support the notion that by removing aldehydic products of lipid peroxidation, AR decreases ischemia-reperfusion injury by diminishing ER stress.
Endemic Families of Madagascar. XI. A new critically endangered species of Schizolaena (Sarcolaenaceae) from Tapia woodland in south-central Madagascar

Rabehevitra D. & Lowry II P. P. 2009. — Endemic Families of Madagascar. XI. A new critically endangered species of Schizolaena (Sarcolaenaceae) from Tapia woodland in south-central Madagascar. Adansonia, ser. 3, 31 (1): 149-155.
The National Partnership for Maternal Safety.

Recognition of the need to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States has led to the creation of the National Partnership for Maternal Safety. This collaborative, broad-based initiative will begin with three priority bundles for the most common preventable causes of maternal death
Real-time risk of ship structures integrating structural health monitoring data: Application to multi-objective optimal ship routing

The aim of this paper is to develop a risk-informed approach for ship structures that integrates structural health monitoring (SHM) information. As an application, real-time optimal short range routing of ships is presented. Risk is based on the reliability analysis of the midship section of a hull and on its associated failure consequences. Different damage levels, accounting for the propagation of plastification throughout the hull section, are considered. Ship age is also investigated by including the effects of corrosion. SHM data, integrated within the developed decision support tool, provides useful information to be used during the real-time decision process. A novel closed-form solution for short term statistics based on Rayleigh prior distribution and a simulation-based technique are proposed for Bayesian updating. Finally, optimal short range routing of ships is accomplished by solving two- and three-objective optimization problems, in which the objectives to be minimized are the estimated time of arrival, mean total risk, and fuel cost, given sea weather maps and origin and destination points. Weather forecast, associated with different time frames, is also included within the developed framework. The solutions are obtained in the form of Pareto-optimal sets. The proposed approach is illustrated on a Joint High-Speed Sealift.
Dimensions of the impact of cancer pain in a four country sample: new information from multidimensional scaling

We investigated the question of how cultural and linguistic backgrounds affect relationships among ratings (reported by patients with metastatic cancer) of pain's interference with such functions as activity, mood, and sleep. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) was used to analyze ratings of pain interference from a sample consisting of four culturally and linguistically different groups from the US (n = 1106), France (n = 324), the Philippines (n = 267), and China (n = 146). Patients all completed the Brief Pain Inventory, a self-report measure of pain and its interference with function. For each of these samples, MDS solutions consistently revealed two interpretable dimensions. In all samples, one dimension represented affect and the other dimension represented activity. The dimensions were consistently interpretable across all four samples and across three levels of pain severity ('mild', 'moderate', and 'severe'). The dimensions were most prominent when pain was moderate, rather than mild (when little interference was produced) or severe (when all domains were highly interfered with). These dimensions may have utility in the study of the epidemiology of pain and of the effectiveness of pain treatment. They may also be useful in clinical assessment to describe different patterns of pain interference.
Development progress of optics for EUVL at Nikon

Full-field EUV exposure tool named EUV1 integrated and exposure experiments were started with the numerical aperture of the projection optics of 0.25 and conventional partial coherent illumination with the coherence factor of 0.8. 32nm elbow patterns were resolved in full arc field in static exposure. In the central area 25nm line-and-space patterns were resolved. In scanning exposure, 32nm line-and-space patterns were successfully exposed on a full wafer. Wavefront error of the projection optics was improved to 0.4nmRMS. Flare impact on imaging was clarified depend on the flare evaluation using Kirk test. RET fly's eye mirrors and reflection-type SPF are investigated to increase throughput. High-NA projection optics design is also reviewed.
Locality-oblivious cache organization leveraging single-cycle multi-hop NoCs

Locality has always been a critical factor in on-chip data placement on CMPs as accessing further-away caches has in the past been more costly than accessing nearby ones. Substantial research on locality-aware designs have thus focused on keeping a copy of the data private. However, this complicatesthe problem of data tracking and search/invalidation; tracking the state of a line at all on-chip caches at a directory or performing full-chip broadcasts are both non-scalable and extremely expensive solutions. In this paper, we make the case for Locality-Oblivious Cache Organization (LOCO), a CMP cache organization that leverages the on-chip network to create virtual single-cycle paths between distant caches, thus redefining the notion of locality. LOCO is a clustered cache organization, supporting both homogeneous and heterogeneous cluster sizes, and provides near single-cycle accesses to data anywhere within the cluster, just like a private cache. Globally, LOCO dynamically creates a virtual mesh connecting all the clusters, and performs an efficient global data search and migration over this virtual mesh, without having to resort to full-chip broadcasts or perform expensive directory lookups. Trace-driven and full system simulations running SPLASH-2 and PARSEC benchmarks show that LOCO improves application run time by up to 44.5% over baseline private and shared cache.
Children's influence in purchase decisions: a social power theory approach

Abstract To understand children's influence in family decision-making, this research uses social power theory to develop a conceptual model of children's influence. The conceptual model hypothesizes that children's active social power, children's passive social power, preference intensity, and decision history should aid in the explanation of variations observed in children's influence. Empirical tests with a random sample of 987 matched pairs of children aged 8–11 and their mothers support the model.
On ICA of complex-valued fMRI: Advantages and order selection

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data are originally acquired as complex-valued images, while virtually all fMRI studies only use the magnitude of the data in the analysis. Since little is known for devising models for the phase, independent component analysis (ICA) emerges as a promising technique for data-driven analysis of fMRI data in its native complex form. In this paper, we compare the performance of ICA on real-valued and complex-valued fMRI data and show the advantages of the complex approach. We also develop complex-valued order selection scheme to improve the estimation of the number of independent components in complex-valued fMRI data using information-theoretic criteria. Comparisons on order selection using real-valued and complex-valued fMRI data demonstrate the more informative nature of complex data.
Glutamate Dynamics in the PFC-NAC Synapse

A computational model of glutamate dynamics in the PFC-NAc syapse is developed. The mechanisms considered are release of glutamate into the synapse, diffusion of synaptic glutamate into the extracellular space, Glu added by cystine-glutamate exchanger, Glu removal via transporters, and binding to mGluR's. The model will be used to determine the relative impact of the different mechanisms on Glu homeostasis, by using information about Glu levels and ranges for the known parameters and kinetic constants. The model will then be integrated with a PFC cell firing model to investigate the effects of cocaine-induced cellular adaptations in the PFC-NAc glutamatergic pathway.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The Isolation of 4-Thiouridylate Disulfide from Oxidized Transfer Ribonucleic Acid of Escherichia coli

Abstract The formation of disulfide bonds between thionucleotides of transfer RNA has been postulated to occur during oxidation with iodine. In this paper, the actual isolation of 4-thiouridylate disulfide from oxidized transfer RNA is described. The 5'-terminal phosphate is removed from the transfer RNA, oxidation with iodine is carried out, and the resulting product is exhaustively digested with pancreatic ribonuclease and spleen phosphodiesterase. Separation of the larger 4-thiouridylate disulfide fragment from the mononucleotides is carried out with the use of gel filtration followed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Reduction of the isolated disulfide product produces only 4-thiouridylate; no evidence is seen of any other nucleotides, sulfur-containing or not, having been involved in the linkage Chemically synthesized 4-thiouridine disulfide, when digested under conditions used for RNA hydrolysis, is shown to yield an unidentified intermediate which is reducible to 4-thiouridine. Alkaline digestion of 35S-labeled disulfide transfer RNA results in the appearance of the corresponding mononucleotide of this intermediate without any accompanying formation of 4-thiouridylate. Some of the properties of this new intermediate are described.
Myeloproliferative neoplasms 5 years after discovery of JAK2V617F: what is the impact of JAK2 inhibitor therapy?

The watershed discovery of the JAK2V617F mutation in 2005, and the high prevalence of this mutation in the Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), has led to a renaissance in the science and therapy of these disorders. Inhibitors of JAK2 entered clinical trials in 2007 and ushered in an unprecedented era of trials with agents specifically designed for MPNs. Currently 10 different JAK2 inhibitors have been tested in myelofibrosis (MF) with varying degrees of specificity for the JAK2 kinase. In MF these agents have shown near universal ability to decrease pathologic splenomegaly and improve disease-associated symptoms. However, the ability of these agents to significantly impact disease-associated cytopenias, JAK2 allele burden, or bone marrow histologic features remains unclear. JAK2 inhibition in polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) for this class of agents appears promising to reduce myeloproliferations, symptoms, and perhaps prevent thrombohemorrhagic e...
Corporate Bond Trading Costs: A Peek Behind the Curtain

In this paper, I use institutional corporate bond trade data to estimate transactions costs in the over-the-counter bond market. I find average round-trip trading costs to be about $0.27 per $100 of par value. Trading costs are lower for larger trades. Small institutions pay more to trade than large institutions, all else being equal. Small bond dealers charge more than large ones. I find no evidence that trading costs more for lower-rated bonds. Copyright The American Finance Association 2001.
DSM-IV: empirical guidelines from psychometrics.

This commentary addresses the use of psychometric theory and methodology in the development of the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM—IV ). Reliability issues include interdiagnostician reliability, temporally consistent diagnoses, and the relations of diagnostic criteria within categories. Validity issues include content validity of the diagnostic criteria, criterion-related validity (the relation between different criterion sets or their algorithms and alternative diagnostic criteria), and construct validity (the relation between diagnostic categories and external validators). Specific questions and methodology to investigate its utility vary with the different uses proposed for the diagnostic system. Specific psychometric methodologies that may be useful in developing the DSM—IV are noted, as are the limitations of psychometrics and their applicability to DSM—IV .
Nonideal transport of solute and colloidal tracers through reactive zeolite/iron pellets

[1] Solute and colloidal tracer tests were conducted in laboratory columns to examine the hydraulic properties of a foamed zeolite/iron pellet material that was developed for in situ remediation of contaminated groundwater. The colloidal tracer (1 mm polystyrene microspheres) moved through the columns much faster than the nonreactive solute tracer tritiated water, reflecting the interpellet preferential flow paths in the packed material. Flow interruption experiments with tritium and bromide showed concentration rebound of both tracers after the interruption (during elution), indicating the existence of nonadvective zones inside the pellets. Inverse modeling of microsphere data using a physical nonequilibrium transport model yielded immobile water content (qim) equivalent to the intrapellet porosity (0.40), suggesting that the microspheres were excluded from the small intrapellet pores and could only move through the large interpellet pore spaces. Inverse modeling of tritium data using physical nonequilibrium and dual-permeability dualporosity models yielded qim values of 0.1‐0.2, confirming the existence of nonadvective zones inside the pellets as suggested by the flow interruption experiments. The dualpermeability dual-porosity model also indicated that 6‐11% of the total porosity was preferential flow porosity, consistent with the observation of enhanced microsphere transport with respect to tritiated water. Forward modeling with the dual-permeability dual-porosity model suggested that the immobile water in the pellets would not significantly affect the removal efficiency of contaminants subject to sorption and reduction. In contrast, the preferential flow porosity would drastically lower the contaminant removal efficiency. INDEX TERMS: 1829 Hydrology: Groundwater hydrology; 1832 Hydrology: Groundwater transport; 1055 Geochemistry: Organic geochemistry; KEYWORDS: colloid transport, dual-permeability dual-porosity model, nonideal solute transport, perchloroethylene reduction, preferential flow, zeolite/iron pellets
Direct pulp capping in primary molars: Report of two cases

Pulpotomy has been the preferred therapy for carious pulpal exposure in primary teeth. Direct pulp capping (DPC) is considered controversial on these types of cases due to the belief that the pulp may be compromised due to the bacterial invasion with subsequent treatment failure. This case report describes two cases of primary molars effectively treated with DPC after small pulpal exposures during caries excavation.
From Hills to Halls: A Modern Parable of Transitioning to Academia.

This reflective essay tells the story of the transition of a Hollywood director to the professoriate.
NAMD: Biomolecular Simulation on Thousands of Processors

NAMD is a fully featured, production molecular dynamics program for high performance simulation of large biomolecular systems. We have previously, at SC2000, presented scaling results for simulations with cutoff electrostatics on up to 2048 processors of the ASCI Red machine, achieved with an object-based hybrid force and spatial decomposition scheme and an aggressive measurement-based predictive load balancing framework. We extend this work by demonstrating similar scaling on the much faster processors of the PSC Lemieux Alpha cluster, and for simulations employing efficient (order N log N) particle mesh Ewald full electrostatics. This unprecedented scalability in a biomolecular simulation code has been attained through latency tolerance, adaptation to multiprocessor nodes, and the direct use of the Quadrics Elan library in place of MPI by the Charm++/Converse parallel runtime system.
Education Reform And Cognitive Dissonance: The Theory Of The Second Guess

Education reform has been a major issue at both the state and national levels in the last decade, and economists have participated in the debate frequently using traditional statistical tools to assess learning gains and associated costs. (Hanushek, Chubb & Moe etc.) The political debate has, however, relied more on emotional responses than objective economic analysis and outcomes have conformed highly to those predicted by the established models in public choice theory. In addition, the manipulation of cognitive dissonance has become a widely used political tool in this debate. In this paper, we combine elements of dissonance theory and the public choice literature to explain behavior as it relates to education reform. We also demonstrate how dissonance can be managed by educational bureaucrats, legislators, and special interests to their own self-interest.
Guerra, impuestos y reformas financieras: las colonias españolas e inglesas del siglo XVIII

After the Seven Years War ended in 1763, Spain undertook fiscal reforms not only to pay for the costs of the conflict but also to improve imperial defenses. New and increased taxes led to colonial resistance. Meanwhile, the British Parliament imposed new taxes on its American subjects. In the British case, fiscal demands drove the Thirteen Colonies out of the empire, whereas in the Spanish colonies, the resistance provoked by the new fiscal policies did not lead to independence. This paper will examine some of the reasons for the different outcomes in British and Spanish America.
Reducing Environmental Impact: Solvent and PEO Reclamation During Production of Melt-Extruded PCL Nanofibers

An improved subtractive manufacturing process for fabrication of rectangular, high-surface-area poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers is presented. PCL fibers were derived from continuous coextruded tapes of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/PCL with 75% reduction in washing time, while still achieving >99 wt % PCL purity with a quantitative yield of PCL fibers. The fabricated PCL fiber mat had a measured surface area of 3.27 ± 0.53 m2/g. A two-stage distillation process was used to recover methanol and water used in composite solvation to remove PEO. Both methanol and water were recovered at ∼100% purity with a fractional recovery of 87 ± 2% and 95 ± 2%, respectively. Solvated PEO was also recovered at a fractional recovery of 94 ± 4% at ∼100% purity. Gel permeation chromatography and thermal analysis revealed no chain scission, thermal degradation, or cross-linking within the recovered PEO, which suggested the possibility of reincorporating recovered PEO to the multilayer coextrusion process for future composite c...
Immunologic features of erythrocyte sensitization. I. Acquired hemolytic disease.

In the January 1957 issue of BLOOD, the top line of text on page 34 belongs on page 35, top.
Adults' Performance on Formal Operations: General Ability or Scientific Interest

Summary.-Measures of performance on concrete and formal operations from 39 college students were inter-correlated with measures of fluid and verbal intelligence and of interest in physical science. Performance on concrete and formal operations correlated significantly with interest in physical science but did not correlate significantly with either of the measures of intelligence. In apparent contradiction to Inhelder and Piaget's ( 1958) view that formal operations ate universal for normal adolescents, recent studies have usually reported only 50% or less of the adolescents and adults tested demonstrating formal operations (Ross, 1974). Since subjects are tested for formal operations by means of tests having a physical science content, there is a question as to whether subjects who do poorly on such tests have a general intellectual deficit or whether they lack an interest in physical science, as Piaget (1972) believes. In the present study a measure of performance on formal operations is inter-correlated with measures of general intelligence and interest in physical science. Twenty-five female and 14 male college students, dl between the ages of 18 and 30 yr., participated for course credit. The mean IQ on the IPAT Culture Fair Intelligence Test was 113, with a standard deviation of 11. The mean score on the Verbal Scholastic Aptitude Test was 477, with a standard deviation of 92. The two measures of intelligence, the IPAT Culture Fair Scale 3, Form A, and the Verbal Scholastic Aptitude Test, were employed to tap fluid and crystallized intelligence, respectively (Catcell, 197 1 ). The Verbal SAT was looked up, with the student's permission. The Kuder Occupational Interest Survey, Form DD, was used to assess scientific interest. The score for Physical Sciences of the College Major Scales, Male Norms, was the variable of concern on this test. An Inventory of Piaget's Developmental Tasks, developed by the Center for Research in Thinking and Language, Department of Psychology, Catholic University, was used to assess performance on concrete and formal operations. This test is a paper-and-pencil measure of operational thinking in a multiplechoice format. Questions 1 to 44 were used as measures of concrete operations and questions 45 to 72 were used as measures of formal operations. Subjects were tested in groups, and total testing time per subject was about 1% hr. The Peatson product-moment correlation coefficients among scores on all tests were computed. Performance on formal operations correlated significantly (p < .05), with Physical Science Interest (7 = .39), but did not correlate significantly with the
Protracted radiotherapy treatment duration in medulloblastoma.

From 1970 to 1997, 63 patients with medulloblastoma were treated with craniospinal irradiation followed by a posterior fossa boost. There were 38 males and 25 females with a median age of 9 years (range, 8 months to 53 years). Stage was T1-T3a in 50 (79%) and M0 in 38 patients (60%) according to the Chang staging system. Gross total resection of the primary tumor was achieved in 33 (52%) and median posterior fossa dose was 54 Gy, with 55 (87%) receiving > or =50 Gy. Median radiotherapy treatment duration was 49 days (range, 30-104 days) with 35 patients (56%) completing radiotherapy in or =50 days were hematologic toxicity (46%) and use of or =3 years, M0 status, > or =50 Gy PFB dose, radiotherapy treatment duration or =50 days ( p= 0.0026, log-rank test). The 5- and 10-year posterior fossa control rates were 70% +/- 15% and 70% +/- 15%, respectively, for radiotherapy treatment duration or =50 days ( p= 0.0037, log-rank test). In addition to age > or =3 years, M0 stage, use of adjuvant chemotherapy, and posterior fossa dose > or =50 Gy, our findings also reveal that radiotherapy treatment duration <50 days has a favorable prognostic outcome in patients with medulloblastoma.
Application research on vehicle routing problem based on cross-entropy method

Vehicle routing problem has been approved a NP problem and it belongs to classical combination optimization hard problem.A model named WVRPSD with weight coefficients and stochastic demands is built.Due to the complexity of its objective function,an effective algorithm based on cross-entropy is designed.Numerical experiments have been conducted and the results indicate that the method can effectively solve this problem.