cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast Hetero-Diels-Alder Reactions Using 4-Phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) as the Dienophile

A hetero-Diels−Alder reaction that proceeds rapidly and only requires a simple filtration to purify the product is presented. The dienophile, 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD), is prepared by the heterogeneous oxidation of 4-phenylurazole by the bromenium ion, Br+, generated in situ by the oxidation of potassium bromide by Oxone. PTAD is reacted with both cyclopentadiene and 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene, and the resulting products are analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. PTAD reacts with cyclopentadiene in the expected fashion; however, it reacts exclusively with the norcaradiene valence tautomer of 1,3,5-cycloheptatriene to form a single cycloadduct. The speed of these reactions allows for more of a three-hour laboratory period to be devoted to spectral characterization and data analysis than in similar experiments. This laboratory experiment is suitable for second- or third-year organic chemistry courses.
Earthquake Impact on Miami Haitian Americans: The Role of Family/Social Connectedness

Individuals who are indirectly exposed to disasters may be affected psychologically. The impact of the 2010 Haiti earthquake reverberated throughout the Haitian American community in Miami, Florida. Many within the community held strong transnational family and friendship bonds to their homeland. We examined associations between indicators of family and social connectedness and symptom levels for generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, and physical and mental health status for Haitian Americans and non-Haitian Americans who were living in Miami at the time of the earthquake. Results showed that family and social connectedness to earthquake victims strongly predicted symptom levels for Haitian American survey participants.
Productivity and quality of statice (Limonium sinuatum cv. Soiree Mix) and cockscomb (Celosia argentea cv. Chief Mix) under organic and inorganic fertilization regiments

Abstract Very little information is available on organic specialty cut flower production, especially fertilization requirements. In order to better understand organic fertilization requirements of two specialty cut flower crops, Limonium sinuatum and Celosia argentea, we initiated a field and greenhouse experiment to study the effect of compost (organic) and conventional (inorganic) fertilization treatments on the growth and productivity of these crops. Optimum yields in the field, expressed as fresh weight per plot, were achieved at compost applications of 98.8 t ha−1 for both Limonium and Celosia. However, when number of stems, height of the stems, and the environmental impacts of such compost applications are considered we concluded that the optimal organic fertilizer amounts were 12.4 and 24.7 t ha−1, for Limonium and Celosia, respectively. Limonium and Celosia plants in the greenhouse experiment were fertilized with 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg L−1 nitrogen, combined with 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 60 mg L−1 phosphorus. The generation of response surfaces for total weight per pot, number of stems per pot, average weight per stem, and average stem length were attempted for each species. The results showed that nitrogen did not significantly contribute to any of the models, except for Celosia average weight and length per stem models. Total weights per pot on the other hand showed both a linear and quadratic relationship over the range of phosphorus applications we tested. Maximum number of stems and total weight per pot were observed between 30 and 46 mg L−1 P in both Limonium and Celosia. Our results suggest that organic fertilizer recommendations, in the form of animal manure composts should be based on phosphorus content of the compost rather than nitrogen content especially for soils high in initial phosphorous content.
What Doesn’t Work: The Challenge and Failure of the What Works Clearinghouse to Conduct Meaningful Reviews of Studies of Mathematics Curricula

An early version of this article, discussing curricular interventions in mathematics, was written for the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC). The Institute of Education Sciences (IES), which funds WWC, instructed WWC not to publish it. An expanded version, written at WWC’s invitation for a special issue of an independent electronic journal and a book to be published by WWC, argued that methodological problems rendered some WWC mathematics reports potentially misleading and/or uninterpretable. IES instructed WWC staff not to publish their chapters—thus canceling the publication of the special issue and the book. Those actions, chronicled here, raise important issues concerning the role of federal agencies and their contracting organizations in suppressing scientific research that casts doubt on current or intended federal policy.
The development of daily changes in serum corticosterone in pre-weanling rats

Abstract The development of daily changes in serum corticosterone (B) values was followed in maturing Sprague-Dawley derived rats raised from birth on a 14 hour light:10 hour dark cycle or received from the breeder on the day of weaning, and placed in a 14:10 cycle, In shipped rats., initial values of B were high at 8 AM on day 22 but had dropped by day 26. Evening values of B(8 PM) were similar in 22 and 26 day old rats. A significant difference between the noon and 8 pm values of B was obtained at 18 days of age in females and 19 days of age in males. Samples taken every 4 hours on days 19 and 20, before weaning, revealed a daily pattern similar to that of adults except that high values were obtained at 8 AM on day 19 and on day 20 at the time of a trough period in older rats. The evening peak was also longer in duration, failing to fall at midnight as in 26 day old rats. It is concluded that the pattern of the adrenal rhythm matures over a three or four day period in the preweanling rat.
The Relationship of Some Intracellular Protein Characteristics to Beef Muscle Tenderness a,b

SUMMARY A procedure developed to fractionate the major nitrogen-containing components of muscle was utilized to study the relationship of intracellular muscle proteins to tenderness. The study was performed on a group of 20 yearling bulls from two lines of cattle that had been selected for differences in tenderness. The longissimus dorsi muscle contained more total nitrogen per unit of muscle tissue and almost twice as much sarcoplasmic protein as the infra-spinatus muscle. The longissimus dorsi contained less fibrillar protein and non-protein nitrogen than the infraspinatus. The following factors were correlated with tenderness as measured by shear and panel: sarcoplasmic protein nitrogen/total fibrillar protein nitrogen; soluble fibrillar protein nitrogen/ total fibrillar protein nitrogen; water released/total water. Fibrillar protein solubility was highly correlated with tenderness (r.=−0.69 for shear and r= 0.59 for panel). An r value of 0.49, significant at the 5% level, was found between water-holding capacity and tenderness as measured by the shear.
Transmembrane calcium flux regulates LDL oxidation by arterial smooth muscle cells.

Abstract Although clinical and experimental studies have supported a role of calcium in atherogenesis, the nature of this relationship has not been determined. The following investigation was performed to examine the effect of transmembrane calcium flux on the oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC). Confluent SMC were incubated in basal medium alone or in medium containing either nifedipine (0.25 μ M ), a calcium channel blocker, or dantrolene (10 μ M ), a blocker of calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum. Cells were then suspended in medium with either physiologic (1.25 m M ) or supraphysiologic (2.5 m M ) calcium concentrations ([Ca 2+ ] e ) and were exposed to oxidized LDL (20 μg/protein/ml; 4.96 ± 0.76 nmole malondialdehyde/mg LDL protein). Changes in cytosolic calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) were measured by spectrofluorometric analysis using a Fura 2-AM indicator. In similar studies, the cellular oxidation of native LDL was determined by fluorometric measurement of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the media. Nifedipine and, to a lesser extent, dantrolene lowered steady-state [Ca 2+ ] i at supraphysiologic [Ca 2+ ] e (2.5 m M; P 2+ ] i ( P −7 ), which was further augmented by increasing [Ca 2+ ] e ( P −7 ). Nifedipine significantly reduced the calcium response to Ox-LDL proportionate to [Ca 2+ ] e ( P 2+ ] i vs control was seen with dantrolene, but was independent of [Ca 2+ ] e . TBARS assays revealed a significantly greater degree of cellular oxidation of native LDL following preincubation of SMC with Ox-LDL ( P −8 ). This effect was markedly inhibited by both nifedipine ( P −8 ) and dantrolene ( P −8 ), which showed some degree of synergism. These results indicate that the increase in cytosolic calcium in SMC exposed to Ox-LDL may occur through both membrane channels and reticular release. Inhibition of transmembrane calcium flux severely limits the cellular oxidation of low-density lipoprotein. These alternate means of calcium signal generation may allow a more varied response of the SMC to atherogenic stimuli and provide an opportunity for specific therapeutic intervention.
Piezoelectric air transducer for active noise control

A new type of piezoelectric air transducer has been developed for active noise control and other air acoustics applications. The transducer is based on the composite panel structure of a bimorph-based double amplifier, that is, two parallel bimorphs or bimorph arrays with a curved cover plate as an active face attached to the top of the bimorphs. The electro- mechanical and electro-acoustic properties of the double amplifier structure and the transducer are investigated in this paper. The displacement of the cover plate of the double amplifier structure can reach millimeter scale with a relatively low driving voltage, which is more than ten times larger than the tip displacement of bimorphs. The sound pressure level (SPL) of the transducer can be larger than 90 dB (near field) in the frequency range from 50 to 1000 Hz and be larger than 80 dB (far field) from 200 Hz to 1000 Hz, with the largest value more than 130 dB (near field). Because of its light weight and panel structure, it has the potential to be used in active noise control.
Designing 3D photopolymer hydrogels to regulate biomechanical cues and tissue growth for cartilage tissue engineering.

Purpose Synthetic hydrogels fabricated from photopolymerization are attractive for tissue engineering for their controlled macroscopic properties, the ability to incorporate biological functionalities, and cell encapsulation. The goal of the present study was to exploit the attractive features of synthetic hydrogels to elucidate the role of gel structure and chemistry in regulating biomechanical cues.
The influence of cobalt on canine adrenocortical function.

Abstract Cobalt was studied in vivo and in vitro with respect to its effect on adrenocortical output. In the intact dog, cobalt produced an increase in adrenal effluent corticoid concentration and minute corticoid output. This increment in cortical output was partially masked by concomitant changes in adrenal venous blood flow (decreased) and hematocrit (increased). The action of exogenous ACTH was unaffected by administration of 30 μM/kg of cobalt, but was inhibited when the dose of cobalt was doubled. Cobalt, in the amounts of 10 −8 and 10 −5 micromoles, stimulated corticoid production in vitro while one micromole caused inhibition. The latter concentration of cobalt also inhibited the in vitro stimulatory action of ACTH, glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) plus TPN and reduced TPN. The response to ACTH was enhanced in the presence of 10 −8 micromoles of cobalt. These findings suggest that cobalt exerts a direct action on the adrenal cortex of the dog.
Validity of Forced Responses in a Randomized Response Model

An empirical test was conducted to determine the degree to which respondents would follow the directions of the randomizing device in the directed response model of the randomized response technique (RRT). The results showed that a sizable percentage of the respondents would not give the directed response to a question if that response was a socially undesirable one and the question was sufficiently sensitive.
Theory of minimum spanning trees. II. Exact graphical methods and perturbation expansion at the percolation threshold

Continuing the program begun by the authors in a previous paper, we develop an exact low-density expansion for the random minimum spanning tree (MST) on a finite graph and use it to develop a continuum perturbation expansion for the MST on critical percolation clusters in space dimension d. The perturbation expansion is proved to be renormalizable in d=6 dimensions. We consider the fractal dimension D{sub p} of paths on the latter MST; our previous results lead us to predict that D{sub p}=2 for d>d{sub c}=6. Using a renormalization-group approach, we confirm the result for d>6 and calculate D{sub p} to first order in epsilon=6-d for d<6 using the connection with critical percolation, with the result D{sub p}=2-epsilon/7+O(epsilon{sup 2}).
Sign of the Electric Field Gradient Tensor and the Nature of the Low Temperature Phase Transition in Fe(Pyridine) 2 Cl 2

Abstract Mossbauer spectra of Fe(pyridine)2Cl2 have been determined in large external magnetic fields at room temperature and 78 K. The principal component of the electric field gradient tensor is positive and consistent with an electron in the dxy orbital. The results indicate no change in orbital ground state for the low temperature phase transition of this material.
Pulmonary complications of dermatological disorders.

Systemic diseases often manifest with cutaneous findings. Many paediatric conditions with prominent skin findings also have significant pulmonary manifestations. These conditions include inherited multisystem genetic disorders such as yellownail syndrome, neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber (KTW) syndrome, cutis laxa, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), and dyskeratosis congenita and reactive processes such asmastocytosis. This reviewdiscusses the common presentations and pulmonary manifestations of these disorders.
Narrative Review: The Enigma of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: New Insights from Genetic Studies

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) occurs as an idiopathic disease (formerly called primary pulmonary hypertension) and as a consequence of other illnesses. These illnesses include connective tissue diseases, portal hypertension, diet and stimulant drug use, HIV infection, and congenital heart disease. Inherited susceptibility to PAH occurs in families and is almost always due to mutations in genes of the TGF-beta family of receptors. The most common mutation leading to PAH is in bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2 (BMPR2), originally discovered to be involved in bone healing. Mutations in BMPR2 have also been found in patients with idiopathic PAH, although the true prevalence of this susceptibility has not been determined. About 20% of individuals with a BMPR2 mutation develop symptomatic pulmonary hypertension. Evidence is growing that imbalanced activation of other TGF-beta receptors coupled with reduced activity of mutated BMPR2 increases the likelihood of development of PAH. Many signaling systems have been found to participate in PAH, including K channels, serotonin, angiopoietin, and cyclooxygenases. An interaction of these signaling systems with BMPR2 is a focus of research in PAH. Approaches to altering the imbalance of activation of BMPR2 and other TGF-beta receptors may yield future therapies for PAH.
siMacro: A Fast and Easy Data Processing Tool for Cell-Based Genomewide siRNA Screens

Growing numbers of studies employ cell line-based systematic short interfering RNA (siRNA) screens to study gene functions and to identify drug targets. As multiple sources of variations that are unique to siRNA screens exist, there is a growing demand for a computational tool that generates normalized values and standardized scores. However, only a few tools have been available so far with limited usability. Here, we present siMacro, a fast and easy-to-use Microsoft Office Excel-based tool with a graphic user interface, designed to process single-condition or two-condition synthetic screen datasets. siMacro normalizes position and batch effects, censors outlier samples, and calculates Z-scores and robust Z-scores, with a spreadsheet output of >120,000 samples in under 1 minute.
Acoustic Patterns of Apraxia of Speech

Apraxia of speech (or verbal apraxia) is a controversial disorder, considered by some to be an impairment of the motor programming of speech. Because the disorder is characterized by "higher order" errors such as metathesis and segment addition as well as by errors of apparent dyscoordination of articulation, it seems to reflect a relatively high level of damage to the nervous system. This report presents acoustic descriptions of the speech of seven persons diagnosed as having apraxia of speech but without severe aphasic impairment, especially agrammatism. The acoustic results indicate a variety of segmental and prosodic abnormalities, including slow speaking rate with prolongations of transitions, steady states, and intersyllable pauses; reduced intensity variation across syllables; slow and inaccurate movements of the articulators; incoordination of voicing with other articulations; initiation difficulties; and errors of selection or sequencing of segments. These error patterns are discussed with respect to a theory of motor control based on spatial-temporal schemata. In addition, consideration is given to the controversy about phonologic versus motor programming impairment in apraxia of speech.
Rating Threat Mitigators: Faith in Experts, Governments, and Individuals Themselves to Create a Safer World

This research explores public judgments about the threat-reducing potential of experts, individual behavior, and government spending. The data are responses of a national sample of 1225 to mail surveys that include measures of several dimensions of public judgments about violent crime, automobile accidents, hazardous chemical waste, air pollution, water pollution, global warming, AIDS, heart disease, and cancer. Beliefs about who can best mitigate threats are specific to classes of threats. In general, there is little faith that experts can do much about violent crime and automobile accidents, moderate faith in their ability to address problems of global warming, and greater expectations for expert solutions to the remaining threats. People judge individual behavior as effective in reducing the threats of violent crime, AIDS, heart disease, and automobile accidents but less so for the remaining threats. Faith in more government spending is highest for AIDS and the other two health items, lowest for the trio of violent crime, automobile accidents, and global warming, and moderate for the remaining threats. For most threats, people are not distributed at the extremes in judging mitigators. Strong attitudinal and demographic cleavages are also lacking, although some interesting relationships occur. This relative lack of sharp cleavages and the generally moderate opinion indicate ample opportunity for public education and risk communication.
The incidence of low eGFR and proteinuria in a large tertiary referral lipid clinic

Introduction The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 to 5, defined as eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 for more than three months, in the United Kingdom (UK) is 8%. We investigated the incidence of low eGFR and proteinuria in patients attending our large tertiary referral lipid clinic in 2008.
Synthetic mucin fragments. Benzyl O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→6)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-d-galactopyranoside and O-α-l-fucopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→6)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-galactopyranose

Abstract Benzyl 2-acetamido-6- O -(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4,6- O -isopropylidene-β- d -glucopyranosyl)-2-deoxy-3,4- O -isopropylidene-α- d - galactopyranoside ( 2 ) was obtained by acetalation of its parent disaccharide with 2,2-dimethoxypropane in hot N,N -dimethylformamide and in the presence of 4-toluenesulfonic acid. Glycosylation of 2 with 2,3,4,6-tetra- O -acetyl-α- d -galactopyranosyl bromide (catalyzed by mercuric cyanide), followed by removal of the protecting groups afforded the title trisaccharide 7 . A second product was also isolated, which was identified as a derivative of 7 having a 2-cyanopropyl group. Glycosylation of diacetal 2 with 2,3,4-tri- O -benzyl-α- l -fucopyranosyl bromide (under catalysis by bromide ion), followed by systematic removal of the protecting groups furnished the title trisaccharide 13 . The structures of both 7 and 13 were established by 13 C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.
HMO Coverage Reduces Variations In The Use Of Health Care Among Patients Under Age Sixty-Five

Variation in the use of hospital and physician services among Medicare beneficiaries is well documented. However, less is known about the younger, commercially insured population. Using data from the Community Tracking Study to investigate this issue, we found significant variation in the use of both inpatient and outpatient services across twelve metropolitan areas. HMO insurance reduces, but does not eliminate, the extent of this variation. Our results suggest that health plan spending to better organize delivery systems and manage care may be efficient, and regulations that arbitrarily cap plans’ spending on administration, such as minimum medical loss ratios, could undermine efforts to achieve better value in health care.
A total patient monitoring system for point-of-care applications

Traditionally, home care for chronically ill patients and the elderly requires periodic visits to the patient's home by doctors or healthcare personnel. During these visits, the visiting person usually records the patient's vital signs and takes decisions as to any change in treatment and address any issues that the patient may have. Patient monitoring systems have since changed this scenario by significantly reducing the number of home visits while not compromising on continuous monitoring. This paper describes the design and development of a patient monitoring systems capable of concurrent remote monitoring of 8 patient-worn sensors: Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electrocardiogram (ECG), temperature, airflow pressure, movement and chest expansion. These sensors provide vital signs useful for monitoring the health of chronically ill patients and alerts can be raised if certain specified signal levels fall above or below a preset threshold value. The data from all eight sensors are digitally transmitted to a PC or to a standalone network appliance which relays the data through an available internet connection to the remote monitoring client. Thus it provides a real-time rendering of the patient's health at a remote location.
$sup 141$Nd AND ITS PRODUCTION IN THE (n,2n) REACTION

Several properties of the production and decay of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{141}$ from the nuclear reactions ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{142}(n,2n){\mathrm{Nd}}^{141g}$, ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{141m}$ have been studied The parameters measured were the isomeric yield ratio, the half-lives of the isomeric state and the ground state, the positron branching ratio of the ground state decay, and the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{142}(n,2n){\mathrm{Nd}}^{141}$ cross section. The values obtained for these quantities are 0.689\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.069, 64.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.3 sec, 2.42\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.09 h, 2.73%\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.27%, and 1650\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}165 mb, respectively. In addition, an upper limit on the ratio of the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{142}(n,\ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{Ce}}^{139}$ cross section to the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{142}(n,2n){\mathrm{Nd}}^{141}$ cross section was determined to be 1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. This leads to an upper limit on the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{142}(n,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ cross section of approximately 2.5 mb. This work was performed using 14.7-MeV neutrons from the $\mathrm{T}(d,n){\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ reaction.
Authors' reply to Quantrill, Benger, Ripley and colleagues, Roach, Rogers, and Haldar and colleagues.

Quantrill’s concern underscores the tension between doing too much versus too little.1 2 Substantial evidence shows, however, that selective imaging based on diagnostic algorithms is not only safe,3 4 but preferable, because it reduces overtesting and overtreatment. Even Anderson and colleagues’ study, where all patients had a moderate to high pretest probability of pulmonary embolism, showed no difference between computed tomography …
A model for the structure of spacetime

Abstract Spacetime at the quantum level is modeled by a surface whose shape is governed by the gravitational field of the experiment. At each finite level of resolution, this surface is a lattice structure which is shaped by the geometry and mass distribution of the experiment. Different deBroglie length particles ‘see’ different lattice structures. The shape of the spacetime structure determines the probalistic motion of the particles passing through it. Computer experiments verify interference effects for particles passing through the spacetime structure when the deBroglie length is large and no interference when the deBroglie length is small.
Influence of carotid denervation on the arousal and cardiopulmonary response to rapidly developing hypoxemia in lambs.

ABSTRACT: Experiments were done on five lambs to determine if carotid denervation influences the arousal and cardiopulmonary responses to rapidly developing hypoxemia during sleep. Each lamb was anesthetized and instrumented for recordings of electrocorticogram, electrooculogram, nuchal and diaphragm electromyograms, and measurements of arterial blood pressure and arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation. The carotid chemoreceptors and baroreceptors were denervated, a tracheostomy was done, and a fenestrated tracheostomy tube was placed in the trachea so that the inspired oxygen mixture could be changed quickly. No sooner than 3 d after surgery, measurements were made in quiet sleep and active sleep during control periods when the animal was breathing 21% oxygen and during experimental periods of rapidly developing hypoxemia when the animal was breathing 5% oxygen. Rapidly developing hypoxemia was terminated during each epoch by changing the inspired gas mixture back to 21% oxygen once the animal aroused from sleep or once the arterial Hb oxygen saturation decreased to 30%. Arousal occurred during only 4 of 11 epochs in quiet sleep and during only 3 of 14 epochs in active sleep before the arterial Hb oxygen saturation decreased to 30%. These data provide evidence that the carotid chemoreceptors and/or carotid baroreceptors play a major role in causing arousal from sleep during rapidly developing hypoxemia in lambs.
Human Resource Management: Meeting the Ethical Obligations of the Function

Effective human resources management (HRM) is focused on the only dynamic asset of the organization, its people; and, behind every business issue ultimately lies a human issue. Thus, the ethical adequacy of responses to all business issues rests on judgments made by individuals. HRM has a role to play as organizations address ethical challenges and as many strive to become ethical organizations. This article outlines three key responsibilities of HRM with regard to supporting an organization's efforts to become an ethical organization: (1) to establish ethical HR practices; (2) to facilitate the change process as all functions move to ethical business practices; and (3) to create cultures that build individual ethical capability and commitment to the goal of becoming an ethical organization.
Two diamictites, two cap carbonates, two δ13C excursions, two rifts: The Neoproterozoic Kingston Peak Formation, Death Valley, California: Comment and Reply

The prima facie evidence for the age of the Proterozoic Kingston Peak Formation cited by [Prave (1999)][1] is the δ13C value of carbonate in metalimestones in the middle and upper parts of the formation. Those data and the C-isotope composition of the overlying Noonday Dolomite were used by [Prave
'Laurel and Hardy' model for analyzing process synchronization algorithms and primitives

The initial software solutions to solve the Process Synchronization problems, which ultimately led to the use of Semaphores are usually hard for a beginner to understand and appreciate. The reason is that one has to do lots of book keeping in tracing these algorithms, which involve multiple processes and variable instances. In order to prove the correctness of any synchronization problem, it has to be tested over the Critical Section conditions which again might be a tough exercise. In this paper we propose a model called "Laurel and Hardy" to understand and prove the (in)completeness of the software solutions to the Process Synchronization problem. A series of dramas is enacted between the two comedians Laurel and Hardy which makes understanding of synchronization problem solutions and testing it over Critical Section conditions very simple. We attempt to convince the readers that Laurel and Hardy model can be used as a potential tool for the analysis of any synchronization algorithms and also in assessing the (in)completeness of it. In addition, Laurel and Hardy model can be used as a teaching aid in beginner's Operating System course.
Integrated Coal Gasification Combined Cycle: Current Experience — Future Promise

Significant progress has been made in the installation and initial operation of several IGCC power plants. At least six IGCC projects are scheduled to enter commercial operation in the USA and in Europe during 1996. Several additional IGCC projects are under construction or under development using many different gasification systems. Gas turbine manufacturers introduced advanced gas turbine technology in 1995, resulting in IGCC efficiency for coal and heavy oil-fired plants of up to 50% (LHV) with plant costs consistent with conventional steam plants. Gas turbine developments specifically aimed at IGCC applications allow the use of environmentally low quality fuels without added impact on the environment.This paper discusses the current operating experience of several of the initial IGCC plants and illustrates the very attractive fuels flexibility with the combined-cycle plants burning naphtha or distillate oils initially with later conversions to IGCC burning lignite, heavy oil or orimulsion. This paper also discusses the heat rate and output performance capabilities of the IGCC with H level gas turbine technology and the resulting impacts on the cost of electricity from IGCC plants.Copyright © 1996 by ASME
Function and Regulation of CREB Family Transcription Factors in the Nervous System

CREB and its close relatives are now widely accepted as prototypical stimulus-inducible transcription factors. In many cell types, these factors function as effector molecules that bring about cellular changes in response to discrete sets of instructions. In neurons, a wide range of extracellular stimuli are capable of activating CREB family members, and CREB-dependent gene expression has been implicated in complex and diverse processes ranging from development to plasticity to disease. In this review, we focus on the current level of understanding of where, when, and how CREB family members function in the nervous system.
Further beyond the society/nature divide: A comment on Freudenburg, Frickel, and Gramling

In 'Beyond the Society/Nature Divide,' William Freudenburg, Scott Frickel, and Robert Gramling (1995) attack dualist thinking in sociology. They want to get beyond the style of thought that makes a clean split between nature and society and then allots explanatory priority to one side or the other. They even want to get beyond an eclecticism that adds up natural and social factors. Instead, they want to help us see that nature and society are products of "conjoint constitution" in which each somehow gives rise to the other (361, 366-369, 372, 387). I strongly support this impulse, not just on technical grounds but disciplinary and political ones, too. It should be a central task of sociology to get clear on the specific contours of contemporary society, and it cannot do so without conceptualizing the intertwining of the social with the technoscientific knowledge, resources, and artifacts that make up much of our engagement with nature in the late 20th century. That said, I wonder if Freudenburg, Frickel, and Gramling (FFG, from now on) have accomplished their purpose. Their parting remark is that "It may be necessary . . . to recognize or to believe in the potential for mutual contingency, or the conjoint constitution of the physical and the social, before it is possible to see the ways in which the two are interrelated. Without progress in achieving such insights ... we run the risk of having our vision distorted by the very taken-for-grantedness of our socially agreed-upon definitions-the risk of being prisoners of our own perspectives" (388). And I am not sure that FFG went as far as they could in helping us escape the prison. In what follows, I explain why I feel that
K+ Uptake of Guard Cells stimulated by Fusicoccin

CONSIDERABLE evidence has accumulated recently indicating that potassium ions are required for stomatal opening in the light1–3. The observation that potassium ion accumulation occurs against a concentration gradient implicates an ion “pump”; ATP derived from photophosphorylation has been suggested as the energy supply. For some years, the metabolic and hormonal regulation of stomatal apertures has been known and used to understand mechanisms of stomatal behaviour4. However, the effect of these hormones and metabolic inhibitors on the potassium balance of guard cells is not known. In some species stomatal opening also occurs in the dark. Much less is known about dark opening than light opening and accumulation of potassium in guard cells during opening in darkness has not been demonstrated.
The chemistry and use of cellulose derivatives for the study of biological systems.

Cellulose chemistry and applications as carrier for proteins, polymers, and organic molecules
Elevation in Brain Temperature during Paradoxical Sleep

During ordinary sleep, the temperature of the rabbit brain tended to drop, but during paradoxical sleep it rose sharply 0.1 degrees to 0.4 degrees C, a greater elevation than was observed during arousal. Changes in body temperature generally did not parallel the alterations in brain temperature. Shifts of direct-current potential in the brain are basically independent of the changes in brain temperature.
Bone regeneration after mandibular resection: Report of two cases

Abstract Bone, unlike soft tissue and nerve healing, comes the closest to actual tissue regeneration during repair. Ossesous tissue, through a series of synthetic and resorptive events, in the presence of various external stimuli achieves a remarkable degree of similarity to the native tissue. Two potential sources of new tissue that operate in bone repair are located at endosteal and periosteal sites. This article focuses on the periosteal response by examining the clinical outcome after mandibular resection in two patients.
Going Critical: Perspective and Proportion in the Epistemology of Rob Kling

One foundational element of Rob Kling's research and writing is his critical perspective on the nature, role, and dynamics of computerization. His main argument was that one should view as dubious any statements that are not grounded in empirical evidence or theoretical analysis. Rob's work was replete with critical refutation, in which he challenged assumptions or statements about computerization and provided alternative interpretations. Much of his work delivered indictments against hyperbolic statements that claimed either utopian or dystopian outcomes from computerization. However, some of his own writings on emerging technologies tended to be dismissive and marginalizing, revealing in his own work some of the weaknesses he pointed out in others' rhetoric and writing. This article identifies intellectual traps inherent in critical perspectives that can catch even the most acute practitioners. The objective is to help elucidate and stabilize the epistemological foundations for Rob's critical perspective on the role of computerization.
A fuzzy logic based approach for modeling quality and reliability related customer satisfaction in the automotive domain

This paper presents an approach to assess quality and reliability related customer satisfaction from field failure data at each individual customer level. The quality satisfaction has been modeled based on number of failures and severity of failures, while, reliability satisfaction has been modeled based on number of visits to dealer and time span between visits. The satisfaction modeled at an individual vehicle (customer) level is further aggregated to a vehicle model level to determine overall satisfaction of customers with that specific vehicle model. A fuzzy logic approach is used to construct the satisfaction model. A grid search technique is used to tune the model parameters such that the output of the model for specific vehicle models matches with survey based ratings assigned to the vehicle models.
A box model of Puget Sound

Abstract A classical two-layer box model has been used to calculate volume transports and vertical exchange coefficients for the Main Basin of Puget Sound. High river flow (January–February) and low flow (August–September) calculations, using salinity and runoff observations, show that basically two estuarine types exist within the basin under both flow conditions. Admiralty Inlet, the north entrance to the Main Basin, is similar to a partially mixed estuary with vigorous tidal mixing, so that horizontal and vertical salinity gradients are similar in winter and late summer. Within the deep main basin, two layer transports are proportional to salinity stratification and the vertical exchanges are low. Calculated summer transports are about a factor of two smaller than winter transports for the Main Basin. Model transports agree quite well with daily net transports estimated from current meters. Flushing times calculated by the model also agree with volume replacement times calculated using current meter data and by methods using oxygen deficits in the lower layer.
A Nested Grid, Nonhydrostatic, Elastic Model Using a Terrain-following Coordinate Transformation: The Radiative-nesting Boundary Conditions

This study presents a nested-grid nonhydrostatic and elastic model using a terrain-following coordinate transformation as well as a unique application of grid-nesting techniques to the time-splitting elastic model. A simulation of the 10-m-high Witch of Agnesi Mountain provides the control to test this new model. The results show that the model produces the same solution as that derived from a simple linear analytic model. It is demonstrated that the new nested-grid model improves model resolution without resorting to the costly method of placing a fine-resolution grid over the entire domain. Since the wave reflection from the boundaries of the fine-grid model is well controlled, the boundary of the nested fine-grid model can be located even at the wave-active region. The model can be used to simulate various weather systems in which scale interactions are important.
Desorption kinetics of LaNi5, LaNi4.7Al0.3, (CFM)Ni5 and MNi4.5Al0.5 hydrides

Abstract A kinetic study was performed on the hydrides of LaNi5, LaNi4.7Al0.3, (CFM)Ni5 (CFM  cerium-free misch metal) and MNi4.5Al0.5 (M  misch metal). In all cases isobaric and nearly isothermal conditions were maintained by intimately mixing a small quantity of hydride-forming material with a large amount of aluminum powder. Some of the desorption kinetics were conducted at temperatures in the 25–45 °C range while others were done at temperatures in the range 70–90 °C. First-order kinetic behavior was observed for all materials studied in the lower range with activation energies in the range 35–40 kJ mol−1. This indicates a probable diffusion-controlled process. In the higher temperature range second-order kinetics occurred with significantly higher activation energies. The second-order process is believed to be recombination of hydrogen atoms at the surface to form molecular hydrogen.
Increase in epicardial fat volume is associated with greater coronary artery calcification progression in subjects at intermediate risk by coronary calcium score: A serial study using non-contrast cardiac CT

Abstract Objective Epicardial fat volume (EFV) is related to calcified coronary plaques. However, it is unknown whether baseline EFV or changes in EFV affect the progression of coronary artery calcification over time. Methods We identified 375 consecutive asymptomatic subjects with an intermediate risk of developing coronary artery disease, who underwent serial non-contrast CT at least 3–5 years apart. Subjects were divided into tertiles of CCS progression (% increase) between the 2 scans. Subjects from the upper tertile (High Progressors) were matched by age and gender to 81 subjects from the lower tertile (Low Progressors). All subjects underwent serial measurements of CCS and EFV. Relationships between EFV and CCS progression, and change in plaque number were examined. Results At baseline, there was no difference in EFV, and EFV indexed to body surface area (EFVi) between the groups. At follow-up, EFV, EFVi and percent increase in EFVi-change were higher in High Progressors than Low Progressors (EFV, 102±38cm 3 vs. 90±35cm 3 , p =0.03; EFVi, 50±16cm 3 /m 2 vs. 46±15cm 3 /m 2 , p =0.03; percent increase in EFVi-change, 15±22% vs. 7±20%, p =0.02). On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for conventional risk factors, EFVi increase≥15% [odds ratio (OR) 2.3, p p p =0.003, OR 1.0] were predictive of being a High Progressor. EFVi increase≥15% ( β =3.0, p =0.02) and hypertension ( β =3.1, p =0.01) were independent predictors of number of new calcified plaques on follow-up. Conclusion Increase in EFV is associated with greater progression of coronary artery calcification in intermediate-risk subjects.
Direct Skin Microscopy as an Aid in the Early Diagnosis of Precancer and Cancer of the Skin in the Elderly

As part of the routine physical examination of the elderly, the skin, especially on the commonly exposed areas of the face, neck, hands and forearms, should be examined for early signs of precancer and cancer. Various lesions are describaed. The early signs of precancerous actinic keratoses usually are missed without a special examination which includes the use of magnifiers or the new skin microscope. This microscope is a long focal-lens stereobinocular instrument that can scan large areas of skin for the early detection of precancer and cancer. As part of the routine examination of elderly patients, it is a valuable aid in the practice of preventive geriatric medicine.
Empirical fluid-elastic models and chaotic galloping: A case study

Abstract To describe the behavior of bluff body fluid-elastic motions, analysts must in practice resort to empirical models based on a limited number of measured fluid-elastic behavior characteristics. To our knowledge the question of whether such models can predict reliably the actual occurrence of chaos has not yet been addressed. With a view to answering this question in a specific case, we present an exploratory experimental and numerical study of two paradigmatic fluid-elastic systems: (1) a single galloping square prism; and (2) a pair of elastically coupled galloping prisms which can exhibit apparently chaotic behavior of interest from a structural engineering viewpoint. We review various conventional empirical models and their capabilities, and develop a model that incorporates information on the dependence on angle of attack of the vortex-induced lift coefficient and the Strouhal number for the stationary prism. For appropriate values of the adjustable parameters and initial conditions, this model appears to be able to describe observed behavior at least qualitatively. However, the predictive capabilities of the model are poor, especially for apparently chaotic behavior. A possible approach to improving the reliability of the numerical detection of such behavior is suggested.
Phosvitin, a phosphoglycoprotein: composition and partial structure of carbohydrate moiety.

The composition and partial structure of the carbohydrate prosthetic group of phosvitin have been investigated, using a glycopeptide preparation obtained from the pronase digest of the parent protein. The composition of the carbohydrate unit, as expressed in nearest integers, is 3 moles of mannose, 3 of galactose, 5 of N -acetyl-glucosamine, and 2 of sialic acid per mole. The structure of the oligosaccharide moiety of the glycopeptide was studied by sequential enzymic hydrolysis using neuraminidase, β -galactosidase, β-N -acetylglucosaminidase, and α -mannosidase and sequential Smith degration. Two moles of sialic acid followed by 2.4 moles of galactose were released per mole of glycopeptide when it was treated sequentially with neuraminidase and β -galactosidase. On treatment of the intact glycopeptide with β -galactosidase, 1 mole of galactose was liberated, thus showing that the carbohydrate has a branched structure in which two sialic acids and one galactose are terminal residues. In the first cycle of the sequential Smith degradation, one N -acetylglucosamine residue was oxidized and removed, in addition to 2 moles of sialic acid and 3 moles of hexose. This is followed by oxidation of 2 N -acetylglucosamines (2nd cycle of Smith degradation) and one residue each of mannose and N -acetylglucosamine (3rd cycle of Smith degradation). From these pieces of evidence and those of the enzymic studies a tentative partial structure is proposed for the carbohydrate moiety of phosvitin.
Integration of computer simulation and visualization research into undergraduate degree programs

Faculty from several departments in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at IUP have engaged in interdisciplinary projects involving the simulation and visualization of neural networks and material science research. The existing Computer Science degree programs at IUP, however, contain no courses in computer simulation. It has been felt by all the researchers involved in the projects that a degree program focusing on computer simulation is needed to, among its other missions, cultivate students with sufficient knowledge and skills to participate in the projects. This paper starts with an analysis of the knowledge and skills required of the students, followed by identification of existing and new courses that may be taken to acquire the knowledge and skills. The paper concludes with a proposal to establish a degree program in computer simulation and visualization, and an approach in integrating the research projects with the proposed degree program.