cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Your Money or Your Life: A Prescriptive Model for Health, Safety, and Consumption Decisions

In this paper we develop a conceptual framework and model for valuing risks to an individual's health and life and to support decision making about investments in health, quality of life, and safety. Our treatment of health risks in the model builds on the popular quality-adjusted-life-year (QALY) framework that balances health quality and length of life issues. We extend this framework to consider financial concerns as well as health quality and length of life. Our model considers uncertainty in income and health and incorporates the decision maker's ability to adjust consumption over time in response to changes in expectations about health and income. We use this model to study the optimal tradeoffs between financial gains or losses and improvements or reductions in health or longevity and apply it in two example medical decision problems.
Factors influencing staff nurses' decisions for non‐documentation of patient response to analgesia administration

Summary • The purpose of this descriptive field study is to determine what factors influence staff nurses' decisions for non-documentation of patients' response to analgesic administration. • The study, based on Herbert Simon's descriptive model of decision making, has two components: (a) to determine staff nurses' perceptions of the factors that influence their documentation as well as how frequently they document analgesic administration and (b) to determine the actual frequency of nurses' documentation. • Data collected from 67 staff nurses using a questionnaire designed for this study and through an audit of 65 patients' charts allowed comparison of nurses' perceptions with their actual practice. • Analysis involved both quantitative and qualitative approaches. • The results of the study have implications for nurse educators and nurse administrators.
Tempura: temporal dimension for IDEs

Modern integrated development environments (IDEs) make many software engineering tasks easier by providing automated programming support such as code completion and navigation. However, such support -- and therefore IDEs as a whole -- operate on one revision of the code at a time, and leave handling of code history to external tools or plugins, such as EGit for Eclipse. For example, when a method is removed from a class, developers can no longer find the method through code completion. This forces developers to manually switch across different revisions or resort to using external tools when they need to learn about previous code revisions.We propose a novel approach of adding a temporal dimension to IDEs, enabling code completion and navigation to operate on multiple revisions of code at a time. We previously introduced the idea of temporal code completion and navigation, and presented a vision for how that idea may be realized. This paper realizes that vision by implementing and evaluating a prototype tool called Tempura. We describe our algorithm for processing and indexing historical code information from repositories for Tempura, and demonstrate Tempura's scalability with three large Eclipse projects. We also evaluate Tempura's usability through a controlled user study. The study participants learned about the code history with more accuracy when using Tempura compared to EGit. Although the sample size was not large enough to provide strong statistical significance, the results show a promising outlook for our approach.
Brane inflation is attractive

We study the phase space of initial conditions for brane inflation, and find that including the effects of the Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) kinetic term dramatically improves previous estimates on the amount of fine-tuning of initial conditions necessary for inflation, even for models dominated by slow roll. Two effects turn out to be important for the phase space analysis: restrictions on the total available phase space due to UV effects in brane inflation, and the extension of the inflationary attractor to the DBI inflationary regime. We compare the amount of initial conditions fine-tuning required for a brane-inflation model and its standard field theory counterpart and find that brane inflation decreases the required tuning by several orders of magnitude.
Selective Blockade of DCAMKL-1 Results in Tumor Growth Arrest by a Let-7a MicroRNA-Dependent Mechanism

Background & Aims MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. The tumor suppressor miRNA let-7a has been reported to be inhibited posttranscriptionally in embryonic stem cells and in human cancers. Microtubule-associated kinase DCAMKL-1 is a putative intestinal stem cell marker that is expressed in Apc Min/+ adenomas. We investigated the role of DCAMKL-1 on expression of let-7a miRNA and the oncogene c-Myc and in tumorigenesis. Methods Human tissue microassay slides were immunostained for DCAMKL-1. HCT116 and SW480 cells were transfected with DCAMKL-1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) (si-DCAMKL-1) and analyzed for DCAMKL-1, c-Myc (using immunoblot and real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]), and pri-let-7a miRNA (using real-time RT-PCR) levels. A liposomal preparation of si-DCAMKL-1 was administered into HCT116 xenografts in nude mice, and tumor volumes were measured. A luciferase reporter assay, with a plasmid containing a let-7a -binding site at the 3′ untranslated region, was utilized to measure let-7a in cell lines. Cells were isolated from normal mouse intestine using DCAMKL-1 and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and subjected to pri-let-7a miRNA analysis. Results Expression of DCAMKL-1 was increased in human colorectal cancers. siRNA-mediated blockade of DCAMKL-1 resulted in H tumor xenograft growth arrest, increased pri-let-7a miRNA, a corresponding decrease in luciferase activity, and decreased expression of the oncogene c-Myc. DCAMKL-1 + cells isolated by FACS demonstrated a significant decrease in pri-let-7a miRNA, compared with more differentiated cells. Conclusions DCAMKL-1 is a negative regulator of let-7a miRNA biogenesis in intestinal stem and colorectal cancer cells; it could represent a novel target for anti-cancer stem cell-based strategies.
Squamous carcinoma of the endometrium with ultrastructural observations and review of the literature

Abstract Epithelial malignancies of the endometrium are almost always adenocarcinomas. Up to 50%, though, contain foci of benign or malignant squamous epithelium; but a primary malignancy with only squamous differentiation is extremely rare. We present the 17th case with, for the first time, ultrastructural observation. The tumor, confined to the fundus, was composed of sheets of squamous cells with focal pearl formation. Ultrastructural examination of the curettings revealed tonofilaments and keratohyaline granules characteristic of squamous cells, but failed to reveal attempts at luminae or acinar formation, or microvilli. The literature to date is reviewed with comments on prognosis, treatment, and histogenesis.
Solute binding and catalysis by poly(vinylbenzo–18–crown–6)

Poly(vinylbenzo–18–crown–6), abbreviated as P18C6, and a polymer endowed with the cation binding crown ether ligand benzo–18–crown–6 as pendent groups, exhibits in water strong hydrophobic interactions with organic solutes such as picrates and methylorange. The binding can be modified by addition of crown ether complexable cations which superimposes an electrostatic component on the hydrophobic interaction forces. Thermodynamic parameters for the picrate binding have been determined, ΔH being –11.9 kcal/moleand ΔS = –16.8 e.u. This type of binding was utilized to catalyze reactions which are known to be sensitive to the polarity of their micro environment. The P18C6 catalyzed decarboxylation of sodium–6–nitrobenzisoxazole–3–carboxylate in water was studied in detail, and the kinetics were found to resemble that of a micellar catalyzed reaction. The hydrophobic interaction of the carboxylate with P18C6 is weak, but the binding can be greatly enhanced by addition of KCl. The rate constant of decarboxylation of the substrate in the polymer domain was found to be between 2000 to 5000 times larger than that in water, depending on the charge density on the polymer. Finally, the interaction of P18C6 with polyanions such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose is discussed. Formation of insoluble polysalt complexes can be observed in the presence of KCl and CsCl.
Mutations in a gene encoding a midbody protein in binucleated Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a cancer in which malignant "Reed-Sternberg" cells comprise just a fraction of the bulk of the tumor and are characteristically binucleated. We recently identified a novel gene, KLHDC8B, which appears responsible for some familial cases of cHL. KLHDC8B encodes a midbody kelch protein expressed during cytokinesis. Deficiency of KLHDC8B leads to binucleated cells, implicating its involvement in Reed-Sternberg cell formation. Interestingly, other cancer genes, such as BRG41 and BRCA2, also encode proteins locating to the midbody during cytokinesis, even though their participation in other pathways has received greater attention. Midbody components may be an over-looked source of tumor suppressor genes.
Integrity of Evidence-Based Practice: Are Providers Modifying Practice Content or Practice Sequencing?

This study examined patterns of evidence-based treatment (EBT) implementation within community settings by evaluating integrity along separate dimensions of practice content (PC; a session included the prescribed procedure) and practice sequencing (a session occurred in the prescribed sequence) within a recent randomized effectiveness trial. We measured whether sessions showed integrity to PC and to flexible or linear practice sequences. Findings revealed that providers tended to incorporate content from the EBT protocol in most treatment sessions, but that the sequencing of the sessions was often modified, suggesting that providers are amenable to evidence-based procedures, but not necessarily their prescribed arrangement.
Orthostatic hypotension of prolonged weightlessness: clinical models.

Abstract Orthostatic intolerance on return from space is a widely known consequence of space travel. Development of countermeasures against this problem is a major priority of the field of space physiology and medicine. The bedrest model is widely used in the investigation of this phenomenon, and has provided important data, but questions remain. In this article, we suggest that the disorders that produce chronic orthostatic hypotension have significant potential as models of microgravity-induced orthostatic intolerance. Understanding the pathophysiology of these syndromes may be useful to those involved in improving the operational aspects of manned space flight; four such syndromes and their possible relevance to space flight are described.
Drug abuse: A comparison of attitudes

Abstract Attitudes toward police, amphetamine user, marijuana user, heroin user, LSD user, and pusher were examined in 52 staff, 24 social work students, and 36 drug users. Osgood's Semantic Differential was used to measure concepts. Overall attitudes of the three groups were found to be significantly different. Results showed that the amphetamine user was viewed more negatively, at a significant level, by the drug users as opposed to either the staff or student groups. Furthermore, both the student and drug user groups had more negative attitudes toward the police than staff.
Classic Studies of Cultured Cardiac Myocyte Hypertrophy: Interview With a Transformer

Differentiation of Rat Myocytes in Single Cell Cultures With and Without Proliferating Nonmyocardial Cells Simpson, P. and Savion, S. Circ Res. 1982;50:101–116 Myocyte Hypertrophy in Neonatal Rat Heart Cultures and Its Regulation by Serum and by Catecholamines Simpson, P., McGrath, A., and Savion, S. Circ Res . 1982;51:787–801 Stimulation of Hypertrophy of Cultured Neonatal Rat Heart Cells Through an α1-Adrenergic Receptor and Induction of Beating Through an α1- and β1-Adrenergic Receptor Interaction Simpson, P. Circ Res . 1985;56;884–894 By way of these publications, Paul Simpson transformed how we think about the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy. At my institution, I teach a course entitled The Molecular Basis of Heart Disease. Among the topics covered in the course is the cellular and molecular basis of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. The reading list for the course includes many of what I believe to be classic articles on cardiac myocyte growth. Among the articles that have strongly influenced our understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of the pathology are 3 that were published by Dr Paul Simpson in Circulation Research in 19821,2 and 1985.3 I became aware of these articles when they were published because my laboratory was examining the secretion of endocrine and paracrine factors by the heart, and our focus was on the peptide hormone, atrial natriuretic factor. In part, our studies required that we prepare separate cultures of rat atrial and ventricular myocytes, and that we maintain them in serum-free medium to test the effects of various adrenergic agonists on atrial natriuretic factor expression, post-translational processing, and secretion. Thankfully, the articles of Paul Simpson described with clarity and completeness how to not only isolate neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, but also how to maintain them …
Crystallization of Bidisperse Repulsive Colloids in Two-Dimensional Space: A Study of Model Systems Constructed at the Air−Water Interface

We report the structural behavior for mixtures of two differently sized (“bidisperse”) silica microspheres at the air−water interface under three different size ratio conditions (α (≡ RS/RL) = 0.37...
The General Agreement on Trade in Services: Doomed to Fail? Does it Matter?

Little progress has been made to date in using the GATS framework to lock-in already implemented unilateral reforms, let alone in inducing new liberalization. The same is true for rule-making efforts. A number of potential explanations for the lack of traction are identified and assessed. These include limited feasibility of using the reciprocity mechanism to mobilize domestic export interests; less need for reciprocity to achieve global welfare improvements in policy; weaknesses in domestic regulatory capacity; and uncertainty/asymmetries regarding the magnitude and distribution of costs and benefits of policy reforms. All these factors play a role in reducing the scope for the GATS to be an effective instrument to help governments overcome domestic and international policy externalities. Changes in negotiating modalities and focus could help strengthen the relevance of the GATS as an instrument of multilateral cooperation.
Propriety of intrinsic priors in invariant testing situations

Abstract The Theory of Intrinsic Priors, developed by Berger and Pericchi (1996a, Bayesian Statistics, vol. 5, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 25–44; J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 91, 109–122) is a general method of constructing objective priors for testing and model selection when proper priors are considered for the simpler null hypotheses. When this prior distribution is improper, as is typically the case for Objective Bayesian testing, they suggest approximating the (improper) prior by a sequence of proper priors on compacts. This “limiting procedure” was formalized by Moreno et al. (1998, J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 93, 1457–1460) who showed that the limiting Bayes factor is unique. Still, the natural question of whether some component of the intrinsic prior on parameters in the full model is proper in the limit (Sanso, 1997, Special Issue of Rasegna di Metodici Statistici ed Applicazioni, pp. 149–151), remained to be answered. We develop a method here to partially answer this question for testing problems involving group invariance structures. We give a sufficient condition, which is easily verified, which implies that the conditional intrinsic prior under the full model is proper. This hitherto had to be verified by direct calculation. This paper also complements Berger et al. (1998, Sankya Ser. A 60, 307–321), who develop methods, under group invariance situations, for non-nested models. For nested models, we give a class of initial non-informative priors and identify component parameters in the full model for which the default analysis results in a proper prior for these parameters. The proper prior is also identified as being the intrinsic prior arising from the use of the arithmetic intrinsic Bayes factor (AIBF) methodology for the default analysis.
Successful White Female Teachers of Mexican American Students of Low Socioeconomic Status

This research project is a qualitative study of 4 White female elementary school teachers working in an urban school district populated by primarily Mexican American students. The data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documents. This study examines the perceptions, beliefs, and life experiences of White female teachers and the practices they bring to their classrooms. An important component of this study is an attempt to understand not only pedagogy but also how White, middle-class, female teachers have come to see their role in social justice as it relates to equity and excellence for all children.
Tetra­kis[2-(2-pyridyl)pyridinium] tetra-μ3-iodo-hexa-μ2-iodo-dodeca­iodo­hexa­bismuthate and bis­[tris­(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)] di-μ4-iodo-octa-μ2-iodo-dodeca­iodo­hexa­bismuthate

Crystals of the title compounds were grown solvothermally in an ethanol–water solvent mixture using ruthenium triiodide, 2,2′-bipyridine and bismuth triiodide as starting materials. Tetra­kis[2-(2-pyridyl)pyridinium] tetra-μ3-iodo-hexa-μ2-iodo-dodeca­iodo­hexa­bismuthate, (C10H9N2)4[Bi6I22], crystallizes in the triclinic space group P\overline{1} and is the major reaction product. The asymmetric unit of this compound consists of half a centrosymmetric [Bi6I22]4− anion and two independent 2,2′-bipyridinium cations. The minor product of the reaction is bis­[tris­(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)] di-μ4-iodo-octa-μ2-iodo-dodeca­iodo­hexa­bismuthate, [Ru(C10H8N2)3]2[Bi6I22], which also crystallizes in the triclinic space group P\overline{1}. For this compound, the asymmetric unit consists of one full [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)3]2+ cation and half a centrosymmetric [Bi6I22]4− anion. Although both compounds contain a centrosymmetric [Bi6I22]4− anion, the polyhedral arrangement of the distorted BiI6 octa­hedra in the two compounds is quite different, and the anion of the latter compound has not previously been observed in iodo­bismuthate chemistry.
Perception of Dialect Variation in Noise: Intelligibility and Classification:

Listeners can explicitly categorize unfamiliar talkers by regional dialect with above-chance performance under ideal listening conditions. However, the extent to which this important source of variation affects speech processing is largely unknown. In a series of four experiments, we examined the effects of dialect variation on speech intelligibility in noise and the effects of noise on perceptual dialect classification. Results revealed that, on the one hand, dialect-specific differences in speech intelligibility were more pronounced at harder signal-to-noise ratios, but were attenuated under more favorable listening conditions. Listener dialect did not interact with talker dialect; for all listeners, at a range of noise levels, the General American talkers were the most intelligible and the Mid-Atlantic talkers were the least intelligible. Dialect classification performance, on the other hand, was poor even with only moderate amounts of noise. These findings suggest that at moderate noise levels, listeners are able to adapt to dialect variation in the acoustic signal such that some cross-dialect intelligibility differences are neutralized, despite relatively poor explicit dialect classification performance. However, at more difficult noise levels, participants cannot effectively adapt to dialect variation in the acoustic signal and cross-dialect differences in intelligibility emerge for all listeners, regardless of their dialect.
A mRNA signal for the type III secretion of Yop proteins by Yersinia enterocolitica

Pathogenic Yersinia species have a specialized secretion system (type III) to target cytotoxic Yop proteins during infection. The signals of YopE and YopN sufficient for the secretion of translational reporter fusions were mapped to the first 15 codons. No common amino acid or peptide sequence could be identified among the secretion signals. Systematic mutagenesis of the secretion signal yielded mutants defective in Yop translation; however, no point mutants could be identified that specifically abolished secretion. Frameshift mutations that completely altered the peptide sequences of these signals also failed to prevent secretion. Thus, the signal that leads to the type III secretion of Yop proteins appears to be encoded in their messenger RNA rather than the peptide sequence.
Systemic and pulmonary immune response to intrabronchial administration of ovalbumin in calves

Abstract Local immunization of the respiratory tract may be the best way to achieve protection against respiratory pathogens. In order to do so successfully, it is important to fully understand how the immune response to antigen administered via the respiratory route develops. We studied the respiratory and systemic immune response after subcutaneous (SC) and intrabronchial (IB) inoculation of calves with ovalbumin (OVA). Eight calves received two SC inoculations of OVA and eight other calves received two SC and three additional IB inoculations of OVA. The occurrence of OVA-specific antibodies and antibody-secreting cells (ASC) was measured over time using isotype-specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ELISPOT. SC immunization of calves did not result in OVA-specific IgA in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Subcutaneous priming followed by intrabronchial challenge caused an initial IgG1 response in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, followed by a large IgA response. The presence of IgG1-ASCs indicated that the IgG1 was at least partially locally produced. Most of the OVA-specific IgA in the BAL fluid was secreted by pulmonary ASCs as indicated by the large number of IgA-ASCs in BAL samples and the low serum level of OVA-specific IgA. Antigen-specific IgG1 ASCs were detectable among peripheral blood mononuclear cells after culture with OVA.
Advances in surface-enhanced fluorescence

We report recent achievements in metal-enhanced fluorescence. Several fluorophore systems have been studied on metal particle-coated surface and in colloid suspensions. In particular, we describe a distance dependent enhancement on silver island films (SIFs), release of self-quenching of fluorescence near silver particles, and the applications of fluorescence enhancement near metalized surfaces to bioassays. We discuss a number of methods for various shpae silver particle deposition on surfaces.
A page allocation strategy for multiprogramming systems

In a multiprogramming, virtual-memory computing system, many processes compete simultaneously for system resources, which include CPU's, main memory page frames, and the transmission capacity of the paging drum. (We define a “process” here as a program with its own virtual memory, requiring an allocation of real memory and a CPU in order to execute). This paper studies ways of allocating resources to processes in order to maximize throughput in systems which are not CPU-bound.As is customary, we define the multiprogramming “set” (MPS) as the set of processes eligible for allocation of resources at any given time. Each process in the MPS is allocated a certain number of page frames and allowed to execute, interrupted periodically by page faults. A process remains in the MPS until it finishes or exhausts its “time slice”, at which time it is demoted. We assume the existence of two resource managers within the operating system: The Paging Manager and the Scheduler. The function of the Paging Manager is to control the size of the MPS, and to allocate main storage page frames among those processes in the MPS. The function of the Scheduler is to assign time-slice lengths to the various processes, and to define a promotion order among those processes not currently in the MPS. The Scheduler must ensure that system responsiveness is adequate, while the Paging Manager is primarily concerned with throughput. This paper studies possible strategies for the Paging Manager. A strategy for the Scheduler is proposed in (2).
Manifolds obtained by surgery on an infinite number of knots in S3

The construction of 3-manifolds via Dehn surgery on links in S3 is an important technique in the classification of 3-manifolds. This paper describes a method of constructing infinite collections of distinct hyperbolic knots in S3 which admit a longitudinal surgery yielding the same manifold. In one case, the knots constructed each admit a longitudinal surgery yielding the same hyperbolic manifold; in another case, the knots admit a longitudinal surgery yielding the same toroidal manifold. This answers a question formulated by Kirby in the Kirby problem list [R. Kirby (Ed.), Problems in low-dimensional topology, in: Geometric Topology, American Mathematical Society/International Press, 1997] in the affirmative, which asks if there is a homology 3-sphere, or any 3-manifold, that can be obtained by n surgery on an infinite number of distinct knots.
MrsRF: an efficient MapReduce algorithm for analyzing large collections of evolutionary trees

Background MapReduce is a parallel framework that has been used effectively to design large-scale parallel applications for large computing clusters. In this paper, we evaluate the viability of the MapReduce framework for designing phylogenetic applications. The problem of interest is generating the all-to-all Robinson-Foulds distance matrix, which has many applications for visualizing and clustering large collections of evolutionary trees. We introduce MrsRF (MapReduce Speeds up RF), a multi-core algorithm to generate a t × t Robinson-Foulds distance matrix between t trees using the MapReduce paradigm.
Isomeric State of Platinum-199

An isomeric state of platinum-199 has been produced by thermal-neutron irradiation of normal and enriched platinum samples. The isomer decays with a half-life of 14.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 seconds by the emission of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays of 32\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 and 393\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 kev energy. The thermal-neutron activation cross section of ${\mathrm{Pt}}^{198}$ for the formation of the isomer is 0.028\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003 barn. Tentative level assignments are made, consistent with systematics and shell theory.
The value of communication during a crisis: Insights from strategic communication research

Abstract The field of strategic communication encompasses a burgeoning crisis communication literature that seeks to identify effective and ineffective crisis communication efforts. Strategic communication has identified an array of crisis response strategies and the factors that determine when these response options are effective or ineffective. This article extracts key lessons from the crisis communication research to develop a set of guidelines managers can use to inform their crisis communication efforts. The analysis includes an examination of the crisis response strategies and their desired outcomes, the timing of crisis responses, and the situational factors that have proven to affect the effectiveness of crisis response strategies. The research results provide the foundation for evidence-based crisis communication. The guidelines help managers to understand how their communicative choices will impact the corporate reputation and other important crisis outcomes, and will help managers to make informed choices about crisis communication.
Early decisions in perforated appendicitis in children: lessons from a study of nonoperative management.

Abstract Background In nonoperative management of perforated appendicitis, some children do not respond to treatment. This study sought early identifiers of failure to help in surgical decision making. Methods Fifty-eight patients with computed tomographic (CT)-proven perforated appendicitis were treated according to a nonoperative protocol. Patients who recovered were considered “successes;” those who did not improve underwent appendectomy and were scored as “failures” of nonoperative treatment. Results Thirty-six (62%) of 58 patients responded to treatment and 22 (38%) failed. Three parameters distinguished the 2 groups: the number of band forms on the admission white blood cell count, the body temperature response after 24 hours of treatment, and the areas of the abdomen involved in the CT scan. Patients in whom nonoperative treatment failed stayed in the hospital longer (17 vs 9 days) and had more complications (46% vs 0%). Conclusions Because failure of nonoperative management is associated with a high complication rate, it is important to make an early decision about appendectomy. Persistence of fever after 24 hours of treatment, bandemia on admission, and multisector involvement on CT scan identify most patients who fail nonoperative management. When combined with clinical judgment, these are useful indicators to guide early decisions.
High-temperature miscibility of iron and rock during terrestrial planet formation

Abstract The accretion of a terrestrial body and differentiation of its silicate/oxide mantle from iron core provide abundant energy for heating its interior to temperatures much higher than the present day Earth. The consequences of differentiation on the structure and composition of planets are typically addressed considering only the interaction of molten iron with an immiscible ‘rocky’ phase. We demonstrate that mixing in a representative system of liquid or solid MgO and liquid iron to a single homogeneous liquid occurs at sufficiently low temperature to be present in the aftermath of a giant impact. Applying the thermodynamic integration technique to density functional theory molecular dynamics simulations, we determine the solvus closure temperature for the Fe–MgO system for pressures up to 400 GPa. Solvus closure occurs at ∼4000 K at low pressure, and has a weak positive pressure dependence, such that its gradient with respect to depth is less steep than an adiabatic temperature profile. This predicts a new mode of core–mantle differentiation following the most energetic giant impacts, with exsolution of iron from the mixture beginning in the outer layers of the planet. We demonstrate that high-temperature equilibration results in delivery of nominally insoluble Mg-rich material to the early core. Since MgO is the least soluble major mantle component in iron at low temperatures, these results may represent an upper bound on temperature for mixing in terrestrial planets.
Choosing Among Alternative Complex Systems When Input Characteristics Are Uncertain

Planning for economic and social purposes often requires choosing among alternative proposed systems to fulfill particular needs. In order to make such choices, planners or decision makers must be able to predict and evaluate the performance of each alternative system. For complex systems, methods are often available for doing this when system inputs, such as system user characteristics, can be specified deterministically. The more general situation, of course, is that input characteristics are not known with certainty, but may be described by probability distributions. It is the latter case that is discussed here. A Bayesian method for choosing among alternative systems when input characteristics are uncertain is presented. The method involves generating ``sample best choices'' among alternative systems. This is accomplished by selecting random input values, converting these to sample outputs for each system, and determining the sample best choice on the basis of the sample output values. The random input values are drawn from a probability distribution that encodes the uncertain state of information on inputs. The sample best choices are viewed as random samples of a multinomial random process whose parameters are also not known with certainty. The generation of random sample choices improves the state of knowledge of the uncertain multinomial parameters and permits a better decision. An optimal sampling policy may be found by executing a dynamic programming computation that balances the cost of sampling against the expected gains from improving the state of information.
Decreased Medical Expenditures for Care of HIV-Seropositive Patients

Objective: To identify any changes in expenditures and in morbidity and mortality with the progression of treatment of the HIV-seropositive population from monotherapy with a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) [1993] through dual NRTI therapy (1995) to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) [1997].
Impact of harvesting and atmospheric pollution on nutrient depletion of eastern US hardwood forests

The eastern hardwood forests of the US may be threatened by the changing atmospheric chemistry and by changes in harvesting levels. Many studies have documented accelerated base cation losses with intensive forest harvesting. Acidic deposition can also alter nutrient cycling in these forests. The combination of increased harvesting, shorter rotations, and more intensive harvesting, along with the potential for N and S saturation due to changing atmospheric chemistry in the eastern US, raises concerns about the long-term productivity of these commercially important eastern hardwood forests. We review the literature describing the effects of intensive harvesting and acidic atmospheric deposition on budgets of base nutrients which presents evidence that the ambient levels of N and S deposition are leading to N and S saturation and elevated base leaching from the soil in some eastern forests, and we discuss potential concerns for long-term productivity. We also discuss criteria and indicators for monitoring sustainability of the soils of these forests.
Use of thermal analysis in the hydration studies of a type 1 portland cement produced from mineral tailings

Abstract A high-strength Type 1 cement produced from raw taconite and copper-nickel tailings of Minnesota is the subject of hydration studies by using thermal methods such as TGA and DTA. Hydration is measured in terms of hydration product formation and the amount of bound water and free calcium hydroxide incorporated in them. When cured under identical conditions, the Type 1 “tailing” cement, compared to an ordinary Type 1 Portland cement, exhibits better hydration properties. This is attributed to its higher tricalcium silicate content, a component that hydrates faster and also contributes much to the strength development. Correlation between the degree of hydration and strength is suggested and a simple mathematical expression relating these parameters proposed.
On L/sup 1/ optimal control

It is shown that the problem of minimizing the effect of the worst disturbance on the output, where the signals have finite one norms, is equivalent to the same problem with bounded disturbances. The following situations provide the motivation to study such a problem. (1) Disturbances are generated by a fixed bounded-input, bounded-output (BIBO) stable, linear time-invariant (LTI) system with unknown initial conditions and zero input. (The output of this fixed system is the disturbance input to the original control system). (2) Disturbances are generated by an unknown BIBO stable LTI system whose fixed input consists of the unit impulse (this is the dual of (1)). In both of these situations, the disturbances will have a finite one norm. >
Racism and Identity in Onwueme's Riot in Heaven

In her article "Racism and Identity in Onwueme's Riot in Heaven" Onyeka Iwuchukwu explores Tess Osonye Onwueme's acclaimed play in the context of the Black diaspora in the U.S. Iwuchukwu posits that because of Onwueme's exploration of the theater of the absurd in the play, audience's attention is directed to the illogical presentation of dialogue and action. However, the technique with textual properties suggesting unmotivated and meaningless references in fact carries profound meaning. Further, the said "absurd" presentation and narration results in a strong ideological and political message akin to the practice of litterature engagee. Iwuchukwu's analysis of Riot in Heaven is an attempt to illuminate Onwueme's projection against the condition of racial discrimination resulting in Blacks' self-effacing complexes of inferiority. Iwuchukwu reads Onwueme's play as a call for change in the attitudes and practices of US-American Blacks and agrees with the playwright's intention to encourage Blacks to re-discover their culture and origins in order to displace the said reign of inferiority. Onyeka Iwuchukwu, "Racism and Identity in Onwueme's Riot in Heaven" page 2 of 7 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 15.1 (2013): Thematic Cluster Black African Literatures and Cultures
A survey of customization support in agent-based business process simulation tools

Agent-based business process simulation has grown in popularity, in part because of its analysis capabilities. The analyses depend on the kinds of simulations that can be built, adapted, and extended, which in turn depend on the underlying simulation framework. We report the results of our analysis of 19 agent-based process simulation tools and their simulation frameworks. We conclude that a growing number of simulation tools are using component-based software techniques. Nevertheless, most simulation tools do not directly support requirements models, their transformation into executable simulations, or the management of model variants over time. Such practices are becoming more widely applied in software engineering under the term software product line engineering (SPLE). Based on our analysis, agent-based process simulation tools may improve their customization capacity by: (1) supporting object modeling more completely and (2) supporting software product line engineering issues.
The Oprah Factor: The Effects of a Celebrity Endorsement in a Presidential Primary Campaign

In 2007, popular daytime talk show host Oprah Winfrey endorsed Barack Obama, a candidate for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. This study uses data from an experiment to examine the impa...
Transient latchup in bulk CMOS with a voltage-dependent well-substrate junction capacitance

Transient latchup in bulk CMOS with a voltage-dependent well-substrate junction capacitance under a voltage ramp is analyzed. It is found that even when the external voltage is ramping up, α 1 + α 2 > 1, and both bipolar transistors are biased in the forward-active region, the circuit can still dynamically recover internally due to the inherently nonlinear character of the voltage-dependent substrate-well junction capacitance. Numerical results for the cases of linearly graded and step junctions are presented and some optimal conditions for preventing transient latchup are briefly discussed.
The impact of supply‐chain management capabilities on business performance

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to empirically test the impact of supply‐chain management (SCM) capabilities on business performance so as to determine to what degree customer‐oriented SCM issues influence competitive position and organizational performance.Design/methodology/approach – A rigorous methodology is employed to generate a reliable and valid measurement instrument. Responses from 474 manufacturing managers are then utilized to test a causal model using LISREL®.Findings – The results indicate significant positive relationships exist among three types of SCM capabilities (outside‐in, inside‐out, and spanning) and business performance (perceived customer value, customer loyalty, market performance, and financial performance).Practical implications – The article demonstrates that strategically developing SCM capabilities such as efficient inbound and outbound transportation, warehousing, and inventory control, production support, packaging, purchasing, order processing, and information di...
A Minisuperspace Example: The Gowdy T 3 Cosmology

The Gowdy ${T}^{3}$ inhomogeneous cosmology is an exact vacuum solution of Einstein's equations representing gravitational waves propagating in an expanding closed universe. As shown by Berger, it provides an example showing graviton pair creation as a quantum effect near the initial singularity, together with the reaction this induces in the cosmological expansion. The truncated quantization given here by superspace methods develops the "single residual constraint" quantization method proposed by Moncrief. The quantum wave equation is soluble by separation of variables, and shows that graviton number is a concept unsuited to the description of the initial (velocity-dominated) singularity. Thus a good description of the pair creation occurring in even this soluble model has not yet been developed.
Diffusion of temporal field correlation with selected applications

We consider the transport of the electric field temporal autocorrelation in heterogeneous, fluctuating turbid media. Experiments are performed in strongly scattering media with spatially separated static and dynamic components, and low resolution `dynamical' images of such media are obtained using autocorrelation measurements of the emerging speckle fields taken along the sample surface. Our analysis, based on a diffusion approximation to the field correlation transport equation, reveals that the field correlation scatters from macroscopic dynamic heterogeneities within turbid media. Demonstrations using heterogeneous samples containing particles undergoing Brownian motion and shear flow are described.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthesis of an indole analog of folic acid

The authors study the replacement of the p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) moiety. The authors synthesized an indole analog of folic acid, namely dimethyl N-(5-(2'-amino-4'-oxo-6'-pteridinyl)methylaminoindol-2-yl)glutamate. The physicochemical properties and the chemical shifts in the PMR spectra of the compounds obtained are shown. The examination of the compound for antitumor activity was carried out using rats and mice.
"In the Last Stages of Irremediable Disease": American Hospitals and Dying Patients before World War II

After a brief discussion of early- and mid-nineteenth-century hospitals, this article focuses on the years between 1880 and 1939, when those facilities underwent a major transformation and the proportion of hospital deaths steadily increased. During both periods, private hospitals refused admission to many seriously ill people and discharged others when death approached. City hospitals dumped poor patients with advanced disease on chronic care facilities and especially on almshouses. With each transfer, the quality of care sharply declined. And trips from one institution to another often inflicted additional suffering; some accelerated death.
Proper tail recursion and space efficiency

The IEEE/ANSI standard for Scheme requires implementations to be properly tail recursive. This ensures that portable code can rely upon the space efficiency of continuation-passing style and other idioms. On its face, proper tail recursion concerns the efficiency of procedure calls that occur within a tail context. When examined closely, proper tail recursion also depends upon the fact that garbage collection can be asymptotically more space-efficient than Algol-like stack allocation.Proper tail recursion is not the same as ad hoc tail call optimization in stack-based languages. Proper tail recursion often precludes stack allocation of variables, but yields a well-defined asymptotic space complexity that can be relied upon by portable programs.This paper offers a formal and implementation-independent definition of proper tail recursion for Scheme. It also shows how an entire family of reference implementations can be used to characterize related safe-for-space properties, and proves the asymptotic inequalities that hold between them.
Aircraft Engine Simulation Project for Undergraduate Propulsion Course

This paper describes a jet engine simulation project assigned to mechanical engineering students in a senior level course in aircraft propulsion systems. The project introduces the students to the methods of engine system analysis and design based on computer simulation. The project statement provides the students with the design point operating characteristics such as engine inlet conditions, pressure ratios, and static thrust developed, which are necessary to develop a design point thermodynamic model. After topics in cycle analysis and engine component performance are introduced the students can develop the system of equations necessary to model the engine system and use this model to predict the off-design performance (speed, thrust, efficiency, etc.) of the engine. Off-design conditions resulting from changes in throttle setting, aircraft speed, altitude, and environmental conditions are considered.© 2006 ASME
Tuning the Surface Properties of Elastomers Using Hydrocarbon-Based Mechanically Assembled Monolayers

We use static contact angle measurements and near-edge absorption fine structure to elucidate the surface structure and molecular orientation of hydrocarbon-based mechanically assembled monolayers (H-MAMs), structures formed by combination of assembly of alkyl moieties onto flexible elastomeric substrates and mechanical manipulation of the substrates. Specifically, we report that the organization of the grafted molecular array (“liquid”-like vs. solid-like) can be tailored by varying the degree of stretching of the elastomeric substrate. We also show that the H-MAM surfaces exhibit excellent stability.
Reply to J. Kopp's critique of "Levels of selection: An alternative to individualism in biology and the human sciences" *

I welcome the opportunity to clarify some of the issues raised by Kopp in his critique of my paper (Wilson 1989). (1) Kopp’s main point concerns the relative frequency of altruists when the local groups are allowed to persist in their isolated state without mixing. He shows (and I agree) that the ultimate fate of ahruists within each group, and therefore for the whole system, is extinction. Unfortunately, he fails to mention my footnote on page 260: “Adding the contents of both groups is justified biologically only if the occupants of the groups physically mix during a dispersal stage or compete for the colonization of new groups”. Kopp also evidently failed to read the papers I cited that discuss this matter in detail. Nevertheless, in retrospect the topic deserves more than a footnote and I shall expand upon it now. Altruism succeeds by causing groups of altruists to outperform groups of selfish types, while selfishness succeeds by causing selfish types to outperform altruists within groups. The global spread of altruism requires that altruistic groups somehow “export” their productivity to other existing groups or to the creation of new groups. All of the biological examples that I present in my original paper illustrate the dual requirements of isolation and periodic mixing: Parasites exist in ~e~~~r~~ groups f = hosts). The progeny of both avirulent ( = “altruistic”) and virulent ( = “selfish”) groups com
Visibility maps and spherical algorithms

Abstract By the extraction of ideas from computer vision, geometrical design and complexity analysis, a structure called visibility emerges. The paper describes a way in which a 3D workpiece is mapped onto the unit sphere, and its visibility is determined. For applications, manufacturing machines are classified by their degrees of freedom into point, line and surface visible processes Algorithms for optimal workpiece orientation are then formulated as simple intersections on the sphere.