cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive tools, individual differences, and group processing as mediating factors in a hypermedia environment

Much research exists on how problem-solving in hypermedia is assisted through the use of navigational aids. However, as hypermedia becomes more pedagogically rich, the structural characteristics of hypermedia no longer serve merely as navigational aids, but often as cognitive tools. When cognitive tools are embedded in problem-solving hypermedia environments, the objective is the continuous active manipulation of cognitive tools in the problem space in order to gather information, test hypotheses, and develop a solution. The purpose of this study was to investigate cognitive tools, individual differences, and group processing as mediating factors when learners were engaged in problem-solving in a hypermedia environment. We specifically examined group patterns of cognitive tool use to determine in what ways the group patterns of tool use may affect students' individual performance and experience of the problem-solving process. The findings provided some evidence to support a more contextual approach to individual cognition and learning; and emphasized the notion that a system of instructional variables interact to create optimal conditions for learning.
Expectation modulates neural representations of valence throughout the human brain

Abstract The brain's sensitivity to unexpected gains or losses plays an important role in our ability to learn new behaviors (Rescorla and Wagner, 1972; Sutton and Barto, 1990). Recent work suggests that gains and losses are ubiquitously encoded throughout the human brain (Vickery et al., 2011), however, the extent to which reward expectation modulates these valence representations is not known. To address this question, we analyzed recordings from 4306 intracranially implanted electrodes in 39 neurosurgical patients as they performed a two-alternative probability learning task. Using high-frequency activity (HFA, 70–200 Hz) as an indicator of local firing rates, we found that expectation modulated reward-related neural activity in widespread brain regions, including regions that receive sparse inputs from midbrain dopaminergic neurons. The strength of unexpected gain signals predicted subjects' abilities to encode stimulus–reward associations. Thus, neural signals that are functionally related to learning are widely distributed throughout the human brain.
Measurement of person-environment fit and prediction of satisfaction in the theory of work adjustment☆

Abstract The measurement of person-environment (P-E) fit and the relationship of fit and job satisfaction are described, illustrated, and evaluated from the perspective of the Theory of Work Adjustment. The construct of correspondence is explicated in terms of statistical measures and applied to the prediction of job satisfaction. Two studies are reported. Using 19 statistical indices across six occupational groups, study 1 examined the issues of commensurate measurement and representations of the correspondence and satisfaction relationship. Results provided evidence for commensurate structures and directional interpretations of needreinforcer correspondence. Study 2 evaluated the relationship of four correspondence indices and job satisfaction with 225 adult vocational counseling clients in 98 different occupations 1 year after initial contact. The findings indicated that the correspondence and satisfaction relationship was moderated by profile component, type of reinforcer profile, and client's sex. Overall, the results show that the best statistical indices for assessing correspondence seem to be measures of profile shape, which explain 3 to 30% of the variance in satisfaction. Implications for commensurate measurement and for the operational and theoretical development of the concept of correspondence are discussed.
Fungal hyphal dynamics in a western oregon douglas-fir stand

Summary-Total length and biomass of fungal mycelium in the soil of a young stand of second-growth Douglas-fir in the central Oregon Coast Range were estimated over 27 months with the agar-film technique. Mycelial mass was at maximum in fall and spring and significantly lower in summer. Melanized hyphae dominated other colors, averaging 66% of monthly litter and 73.7% of soil hyphal weight. The mycorrhizal fungus Cenococcum geophilum Fr. had significantly larger average diameter than other hyphae and contributed from 1.2 to 64.8% of the monthly hyphal volume. Multiple regression analyses with temperature, moisture, and litterfall produced no adequate predictive equations for monthly fungal biomass. Large biomass fluctuations over short periods necessitate frequent sampling and long-term study to fully assess the importance of fungal hyphae in ecosystems.
On design of bandwidth scheduling algorithms for multiple data transfers in dedicated networks

The significance of high-performance dedicated networks has been well recognized due to the rapidly increasing number of large-scale applications that require high-speed data transfer. Efficient algorithms are needed for path computation and bandwidth scheduling in dedicated networks to improve the utilization of network resources and meet diverse user requests. We consider two periodic bandwidth scheduling problems: multiple data transfer allocation (MDTA) and multiple fixed-slot bandwidth reservation (MFBR), both of which schedule a number of user requests accumulated in a certain period. MDTA is to assign multiple data transfer requests on several pre-specified network paths to minimize the total data transfer end time, while MFBR is to satisfy multiple bandwidth reservation requests, each of which specifies a bandwidth and a time slot. For MDTA, we design an optimal algorithm and provide its correctness proof; for MFBR, we prove it to be NP-complete and propose a heuristic algorithm, Minimal Bandwidth and Distance Product Algorithm (MBDPA). Extensive simulation results illustrate the performance superiority of the proposed MBDPA over a greedy heuristic approach and provide valuable insight into the advantage of periodic bandwidth scheduling over instant bandwidth scheduling.
Enhancing Protein Stability by Adsorption onto Raftlike Lipid Domains

We demonstrate that the stability of adsorbed proteins can be enhanced by controlling the heterogeneity of the surface—by creating raftlike domains in a soft liposomal membrane. Recent work has shown that enzymes adsorbed onto highly curved nanoscale supports can be more stable than those adsorbed on flat surfaces with nominally the same chemical structure. This effect has been attributed to a decrease in lateral interenzyme interactions on a curved surface. Exploiting this idea, we asked if adsorbing enzymes onto “patchy” surfaces composed of adsorbing and nonadsorbing regions can be used to reduce lateral interactions even on relatively flat surfaces. We demonstrate that creating domains on which an enzyme can adsorb enhances the stability of that enzyme under denaturing conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the size of these domains has a considerable effect on the degree of stability imparted by adsorption. Such biomimetic raft-inspired systems may find use in applications ranging from biorecog...
BV-norm convergence of interpolation approximations for Frobenius-Perron operators

Let S be a chaotic transformation from an interval into itself and let P be the corresponding Frobenius-Perron operator associated with S. In this paper we prove the convergence under the variation norm for a piecewise linear interpolation method that was recently proposed by the authors for computing a stationary density of P.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating receptor promotes β1-integrin-mediated adhesion and invasion of bladder cancer cells

Abstract Objectives To determine whether granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR) autocrine signaling promotes endothelial cell adhesion and invasion of bladder cancer cells through a β 1 -integrin-mediated pathway. A significant fraction of invasive bladder carcinomas express both G-CSF and G-CSFR. Bladder carcinoma cell line 5637 constitutively secretes G-CSF but lacks G-CSFR expression. Thus, we studied the effects of G-CSFR expression on cell adhesion and invasion in this unique model system. Methods Flow cytometry and adhesion assay were performed to detect expression of β 1 -integrin in G-CSFR-expressing 5637 cells and adhesion of these cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cell, respectively. Furthermore, an invasion chamber assay was done with the 5637 cells. Next, we used the G-CSF-specific antibody, siRNA, and a truncated version of G-CSFR (GR19) to block G-CSFR autocrine loop in these cells. We also used a β 1 -integrin-specific neutralizing antibody in the adhesion and invasion assays with the 5637 cells. Results G-CSFR-mediated increased expression (approximately threefold) of β 1 -integrin is significantly abrogated by G-CSF specific antibody or siRNA in 5637 cells. GR19 also completely blocked β 1 -integrin expression. G-CSFR signaling increased adhesion (∼2.5-fold) of 5637 cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which are potently blocked by β 1 -integrin-specific antibody. G-CSF/G-CSFR autocrine signaling significantly increased the invasiveness of 5637 cells (∼10-fold), which was reduced by either attenuating G-CSF production (G-CSF-specific antibody and siRNA) or interfering with G-CSFR signaling (GR19). Furthermore, β 1 -integrin-specific antibody completely blocked G-CSFR-mediated invasion of 5637 cells. Conclusions Autocrine G-CSF/G-CSFR signaling in bladder cancer can significantly contribute to cancer cell adhesion and invasion in a β 1 -integrin-dependent manner.
Exposure of white mice and guinea pigs to the nuclear-polyhedrosis virus of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni.

Abstract White mice and guinea pigs were exposed to the freed virus and to a polyhedral suspension of the nuclear-polyhedrosis virus from the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni . All of the conventional routes of virus introduction were used in these experiments. Most animals in the test and control groups gained weight during the 2 months of observation except one that died of nonviral causes. The virus is innocuous for the mammals tested.
Effect of uterine artery insulin infusions on umbilical glucose uptake in sheep.

Summary: Although glucose is an important fuel for fetal oxidative metabolism, regulation of its availability to the mammalian fetus is poorly understood. This study was performed to determine the effect of infusions of insulin into the uterine arterial circulation on umbilical uptake of glucose in chronically instrumented, unstressed sheep. Twenty-eight determinations of umbilical glucose uptake and diffusion clearance of glucose by the placenta were made in four ewes. Immediately following a control study during which saline was infused into the uterine artery, porcine regular insulin diluted in saline was infused at 0.05 to 8.1 mU/min · kg uterine weight for 20–30 min and the determinations were repeated. Subsequent studies were performed at the conclusion of additional infusions of insulin to a maximum of 21.6 mU/min · kg. There was a significant increase in umbilical glucose uptake during initial insulin infusions (4.47 ± 0.6 mg/min · kg fetus) compared to the control studies (3.08 ± 0.6 mg/min · kg) associated with an increase in diffusion clearance (13.8 ± 1.9 ml/min · kg fetus vs. 8.99 ±1.8 ml/min · kg). When the total cumulative dose of exogenous insulin, It, was 162 mU/kg uterine weight or less, the umbilical uptake of glucose, Q, may be expressed as a function of maternal arterial blood glucose concentration in milligrams per dl, [A], and of It. Speculation: Exogenous insulin infused at physiologic rates into the ovine uterine artery increases the permeability of the placenta to glucose by increasing the initial rate of glucose transport by a carrier system into cells which comprise the placenta until insulin receptor sites are saturated.
A novel ultrathin collagen nanolayer assembly for 3-D microtissue engineering: Layer-by-layer collagen deposition for long-term stable microfluidic hepatocyte culture

The creation of stable hepatocyte cultures using cell-matrix interactions has proven difficult in microdevices due to dimensional constraints limiting the utility of classic tissue culture techniques that involve the use of hydrogels such as the collagen "double gel" or "overlay". To translate the collagen overlay technique into microdevices, we modified collagen using succinylation and methylation reactions to create polyanionic and polycationic collagen solutions, and deposited them layer-by-layer to create ultrathin collagen nanolayers on hepatocytes. These ultrathin collagen layers covered hepatocytes in microdevices and 1) maintained cell morphology, viability, and polarity, 2) induced bile canalicular formation and actin reorganization, and 3) maintained albumin and urea secretions and CYP activity similar to those observed in hepatocytes in collagen double gel hepatocytes in plate cultures. Beyond the immediate applications of this technique to create stable, in vitro microfluidic hepatocyte cultures for drug toxicity testing, this technique is generally applicable as a thin biomaterial for other 3D microtissues.
Psychosocial and behavioral characteristics among subgroups of nondaily college student smokers.

Nondaily smoking is becoming common in young adults and there appear to be different characteristics associated with past month smoking frequency among nondaily smokers. The present study examines behavioral and psychosocial correlates of smoking among subgroups of nondaily college student smokers (N = 80; 18–25 years of age) attending a large, public university. Nondaily smokers were categorized based on the frequency of days smoked in the past month and were divided into two subgroups: 1–5 days and 6–29 days. A quarter of nondaily smokers considered themselves as a smoker and significantly more 6–29 nondaily smokers were identified as a smoker and smoked more cigarettes per day (CPD). Almost half (45%) of nondaily smokers have attempted to quit smoking completely and 71% of the 6–29 nondaily smokers reported significantly higher quit attempts. The 6–29 nondaily smokers had significantly higher perceived risk related to smoking. Self-efficacy to abstain from smoking was significantly higher for 1–5 nondaily smokers. These results suggest heterogeneity among subgroups of nondaily college student smokers exists in a number of behavioral and psychosocial factors. Prevention and cessation strategies may be improved by considering frequency of nondaily smoking and targeting subgroups differently.
Domain Decomposition Preconditioners for Elliptic Problems in Two and Three Dimensions

In this talk, we shall describe some techniques for developing domain decomposition preconditioners for elliptic boundary value problems in two and three dimensions. We consider the case where more than two subdomains meet at an interior point of the original domain; this allows a subdivision into an arbitrary number of subdomains without the deterioration of the iterative convergence rates for the resulting algorithm. We set up a general framework for the development of preconditioners by domain decomposition. As examples of the application of these techniques, we derive domain decomposition preconditioners for elliptic problems in two and three dimensions.
Burkholderia pseudomallei kills the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans using an endotoxin-mediated paralysis

We investigated a non-mammalian host model system for fitness in genetic screening for virulence-attenuating mutations in the potential biowarfare agents Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei. We determined that B. pseudomallei is able to cause 'disease-like' symptoms and kill the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Analysis of killing in the surrogate disease model with B. pseudomallei mutants indicated that killing did not require lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-antigen, aminoglycoside/macrolide efflux pumping, type II pathway-secreted exoenzymes or motility. Burkholderia thailandensis and some strains of Burkholderia cepacia also killed nematodes. Manipulation of the nematode host genotype suggests that the neuromuscular intoxication caused by both B. pseudomallei and B. thailandensis acts in part through a disruption of normal Ca2+ signal transduction. Both species produce a UV-sensitive, gamma-irradiation-resistant, limited diffusion, paralytic agent as part of their nematode pathogenic mechanism. The results of this investigation suggest that killing by B. pseudomallei is an active process in C. elegans, and that the C. elegans model might be useful for the identification of vertebrate animal virulence factors in B. pseudomallei.
Aqueous two-phase metal affinity extraction of heme proteins

An iminodiacetic acid derivative of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-IDA) that chelates metal cations has been synthesized and used to extract proteins in metal affinity aqueous two-phase PEG/dextran systems. With less than 1% of the PEG substituted with chelated copper, partition coefficients are shown to increase by factors of up to 37 over extraction with unsubstituted PEG. The proteins studied are preferentially extracted into the Cu(II)PEGIDA phase in proportion to the number of accessible histidine residues on their surface. The affinity contribution to partitioning is proportional to the number of exposed histidine over a very wide range. The partition coefficients of heme-containing proteins measured in the Cu(II)PEG-IDA/dextran systems increase with the pH of the extraction mixture from pH 5.5 to pH 8.0, while partition coefficients in the unsubstituted PEG/dextran systems are very nearly independent of pH. The strong pH dependence of the metalaffinity extraction can be utilized in the recovery of the extracted protein.
Landowner characteristics, attitudes and opinions toward producing biomass for energy Feedstocks on marginal land in the Great Lakes Region, USA

Abstract Owners of rural land in the Great Lakes region of the United States were interviewed by telephone to determine landowner attitudes and existing or perceived barriers toward producing biomass for energy feedstocks on marginal agricultural land. Fifty-two percent of all landowners surveyed, and 71% of landowners who would consider producing biomass for energy, favored increasing the use of plant materials as a source of energy in the USA. Among most landowner groups, the selling price of biomass was cited as most discouraging. Exceptions included landowner-landlords who cited the need to change current farming practices as most discouraging, while landowners who would consider producing biomass for energy cited equipment needs as most important. The perceived barrier most frequently mentioned as second most discouraging was the unavailability of technical advice. The beliefs that biomass energy production requires too much extra work, is too time consuming or inconvenient, were also discouraging to landowners. Some landowners simply felt that they were too old to begin something new.
Prevalence and characterization of pulmonary regurgitation in normal adult dogs.

SUMMARY Prevalence of pulmonary regurgitation in normal adult dogs (n=30) was established by color Doppler echocardiographic evaluation. Pulmonary regurgitation was detected in 93% of dogs. Most dogs had regurgitation jets subjectively classfied as “trace” or “mild”. Objective methods of classification of the regurgitation jets based on absolute measurements (mm; mm 2 ) or measurements normalized to bodyweight (mm/kg; mm 2 /kg) did not agree completely with subjective classification. Most dogs (97%) had regurgitation jets 2 in area.
Concentration‐Dependent Variation of 1H‐NMR Chemical Shifts of Aromatic Protons in Sampangine Derivatives

A concentration dependence of the 1H‐NMR chemical shifts of the aromatic protons in sampangine derivatives with a fused imidazole ring is observed. This variation is probably ascribable to self‐association of the molecules through an intermolecular π‐stacking interaction of the aromatic rings. The quantitative variation is correlated with the calculated electrostatic potential for these derivatives. The concentration variation appears to be independent of the nature of the substitution in the imidazole ring.
How to serve soup: interleaving demonstration and assisted editing to support nonprogrammers

The Adept Task Learning system is an end-user programming environment that combines programming by demonstration and direct manipulation to support customization by nonprogrammers. Previously, Adept enforced a rigid procedure-authoring workflow consisting of demonstration followed by editing. However, a series of system evaluations with end users revealed a desire for more feedback during learning and more flexibility in authoring. We present a new approach that interleaves incremental learning from demonstration and assisted editing to provide users with a more flexible procedure-authoring experience. The approach relies on maintaining a "soup" of alternative hypotheses during learning, propagating user edits through the soup, and suggesting repairs as needed. We discuss the learning and reasoning techniques that support the new approach and identify the unique interaction design challenges they raise, concluding with an evaluation plan to resolve the design challenges and complete the improved system.
Re-entrant lines

Traditionally, manufacturing systems have mainly been treated as either job shops or flow shops. In job shops, parts may arrive with random routes, with each route having a low volume. In flow shops, the routes are fixed and acyclic, as in assembly lines. With the advent of semiconductor manufacturing plants, and more recently, thin film lines, this dichotomy needs to be expanded to consider another class of systems, which we call “re-entrant lines”. The distinguishing feature of these manufacturing systems is that parts visit some machines more than once at different stages of processing. Scheduling problems arise because several parts at different stages of processing may be in contention with each other for service at the same machine. There may be uncertainties in the form of random service or set-up times, as well as random machine failures and repairs. The goal of scheduling is to improve performance measures such as mean sojourn time in the system, which is also known as the mean “cycle-time”, or the variance of the cycle-time. In this paper we provide a tutorial account of some recent results in this field. We describe several scheduling policies of interest, and provide some results concerning their stability and performance. Several open problems are suggested.
Database operating efficiency in fragmented databases in mainframe, mini, and micro system environments

Abstract Vertical fragmentation in database design is the process of assigning attributes to physical segments to improve the database performance. Experiments were conducted to measure the performances of four Fragmentation design methods in the three hardware environments with six transaction mixes, using simulation and quantitative modelling. Some hypotheses are laid down regarding database performance and are validated. The MRGB design method which considered the hardware characteristics produced highest fragmentation in micro (IBM AT), and lowest in mini (Prime), with mainframe (IBM) in between. MRGB design performed the best in the three systems. The Hammer & Niamir's design did its best in mini (61%), and better in mainframe (50%) than in mini (41%) in low update environment. While the fully fragmented design performed the best in micro and the worst in mainframe, the unfragmented design performed the best in mini and the worst in micro.
Software Architecture for Dynamic Thermal Management in Datacenters

Minimizing the energy cost and improving thermal performance of power-limited datacenters, deploying large computing clusters, are the key issues towards optimizing their computing resources and maximally exploiting the computation capabilities. In this paper, we develop a unique merger between the physical infrastructure and resource management functions of a cluster management system to take a holistic view of datacenter management, and make global (at the level of a datacenter) thermal-aware job scheduling decisions. A software architecture is presented in this regard and implemented in a fully operational computational cluster in the ASU datacenter. The proposed architecture develops a feedback-control loop, by combining information from ambient and on-board sensors with the node allocation and job scheduling mechanisms, for managing the system load depending on the thermal distribution in the datacenter.
ENSO’s Modulation of Water Vapor Transport over the Pacific–North American Region

AbstractThe vertically integrated water vapor transport (IVT) over the Pacific–North American sector during three phases of ENSO in boreal winter (December–February) is investigated using IVT values calculated from the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR) during 1979–2010. The shift of the location and sign of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical Pacific Ocean leads to different atmospheric responses and thereby changes the seasonal mean moisture transport into North America. During eastern Pacific El Nino (EPEN) events, large positive IVT anomalies extend northeastward from the subtropical Pacific into the northwestern United States following the anomalous cyclonic flow around a deeper Aleutian low, while a southward shift of the cyclonic circulation during central Pacific El Nino (CPEN) events induces the transport of moisture into the southwestern United States. In addition, moisture from the eastern tropical Pacific is transported from the deep tropical eastern Pacific into Mex...
Hospitalists and the hospital medicine system of care are good for patient care.

H OSPITALISTS, ALONG with the evolution of the specialty of hospital medicine, are improving the delivery of care to hospitalized patients and are poised to revolutionize the system of hospital care delivery. Initial research indicates that hospitalists reduce inpatient mortality while demonstrating consistent reductions in health care costs. Not only are adult inpatients benefiting, but pediatric hospitalists seem to have a similar impact. With probably 20 000 or more hospitalists currently in the United States, this increasingly evidencebased intervention has experienced remarkable growth since the mid 1990s and has become part of the mainstream of health care delivery. The Society of Hospital Medicine aptly defines hospitalists as “physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients,” reflecting how they focus mainly on hospital care delivery and how to improve it. Hospital medicine continues to evolve and to meet the needs of hospitalized patients as well as providing multiple solutions to the hospital system of care delivery. There are many ways in which hospitalists can benefit patients:
CD4-Independent, CCR5-Dependent Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Chemotaxis of Human Cells

Most simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2), and HIV-1 infection of host peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) is CD4 dependent. In some cases, X4 HIV-1 chemotaxis is CD4 independent, and cross-species transmission might be facilitated by CD4-independent entry, which has been demonstrated for some SIV strains in CD4− non-T cells. As expected for CCR5-dependent virus, SIV required CD4 on rhesus and pigtail macaque PBMCs for infection and chemotaxis. However, SIV induced the chemotaxis of human PBMCs in a CD4-independent manner. Furthermore, in contrast to the results of studies using transfected human cell lines, SIV did not require CD4 binding to productively infect primary human PBMCs. CD4-independent lymphocyte and macrophage infection may facilitate cross-species transmission, while reacquisition of CD4 dependence may confer a selective advantage for the virus within new host species.
The crescent and the rising sun : Indonesian Islam under the Japanese occupation, 1942-1945

This book, first published as a revised edition of Dr. Benda's dissertation in 1958, was the first systematic political history of Indonesian Islam. It Still is an authoritative and invaluable guide to modern Indonesia history today. Part one of the book surveys the history of Indonesian Islam under Dutch colonial rule, with special emphasis on the twentieth century. It analyzes Muslim reactions to Dutch Islamic policies, as well as the part played in Indonesian politics by Islamic groups during the last decades of Dutch rule. This analysis culminates in a significant reinterpretation of pre-war Indonesian Islam. Part two carries the analysis into the period of the brief Japanese interregnum (1942-1945). The successes and failures of Japan's Islamic policies and the Indonesian Muslim community's rise to political prominence in these crucial and formative years are traced in detail.
Efficient parallel processing of range queries through replicated declustering

A common technique used to minimize I/O in data intensive applications is data declustering over parallel servers. This technique involves distributing data among several disks so as to parallelize query retrieval and thus, improve performance. We focus on optimizing access to large spatial data, and the most common type of queries on such data, i.e., range queries. An optimal declustering scheme is one in which the processing for all range queries is balanced uniformly among the available disks. It has been shown that single copy based declustering schemes are non-optimal for range queries. In this paper, we integrate replication in conjunction with parallel disk declustering for efficient processing of range queries. We note that replication is largely used in database applications for several purposes like load balancing, fault tolerance and availability of data. We propose theoretical foundations for replicated declustering and propose a class of replicated declustering schemes, periodic allocations, which are shown to be strictly optimal for a number of disks. We propose a framework for replicated declustering, using a limited amount of replication and provide extensions to apply it on real data, which include arbitrary grids and a large number of disks. Our framework also provides an effective indexing scheme that enables fast identification of data of interest in parallel servers. In addition to optimal processing of single queries, we show that this framework is effective for parallel processing of multiple queries. We present experimental results comparing the proposed replication scheme to other techniques for both single queries and multiple queries, on synthetic and real data sets.
Performance-based system design education

This paper describes an integrated performance based modeling tool (PBMT) developed to facilitate the performance-based design of hardware/software systems. It is used to aid in a senior level design project and other design exercises. Task graphs are specified as control flow and/or dataflow with the ability to model real-time applications. The application model is executed on a variety of SystemC architectures for performance analysis.
Applying cognitive load theory to the design of web-based instruction

Cognitive load theory can inform the design of web-based instruction. The basic premise of cognitive load theory is that the focus of an instructional module must be the instruction itself. Information that is adjunct to the instruction must be designed to minimize cognitive load and enhance working memory. Because the mental resources of working memory can be overloaded, any information that ignores cognitive load may interfere with the process of acquiring knowledge and skills. Instruction that effectively presents the learning to our working memory has an impact on our ability to store knowledge and skills in our long-term memory. Everything that we "know" is held in our long-term memory. Our team applied the principles of cognitive load theory to the design our instructional web site and discovered that cognitive load theory provides a sound baseline for the design of effective web-based instruction. Further, to effectively enhance web-based instruction, the graphical user interface and multimedia formats must be developed in consideration of cognitive load principles.
Determination of Ureter Stent Appearance on Dual-energy Computed Tomography Scan

Objective To examine the dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) properties of 7 commonly used ureteral stents to optimize stent selection for calculi monitored using DECT. The use of DECT to evaluate renal and ureteral calculi has recently increased. Methods Seven stents were individually placed in a fish bowl phantom and imaged using a Siemens Somatom Definition Flash CT scanner. DECT peak tube potentials of 80 and 140 kVp and 100 and 140 kVp were used, reflecting our current dual-energy protocols. These were compared to 31 in vivo stents of known composition. The data were reconstructed on a multimodality WorkPlace (Siemens) using CT syngo Post-Processing Suite software. Results The average patient age was 64 years (range 27-90). The average body mass index was 31.9 kg/m 2 (range 24-51.6). Of the 27 patients, 4 had uric acid stones and 22 had calcium-based stones; 1 patient had undergone renal transplantation. No difference was seen in the dual-energy characterization of stents from the same manufacturer. All imaged Cook and Bard stents had a dual-energy characterization that approached that of calcium stones (blue). All Boston Scientific and Gyrus ACMI stents had a dual-energy characterization resembling that of uric acid stones (red). Conclusion The present study evaluated the stent appearance on DECT for various stent manufacturers. This information will aid in the optimal stent selection for patients undergoing treatment of renal calculi and followed up with DECT.
Severe Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure: Part 2—Nonventilatory Strategies

Approximately 16% of deaths in patients with ARDS results from refractory hypoxemia, which is the inability to achieve adequate arterial oxygenation despite high levels of inspired oxygen or the development of barotrauma. A number of ventilator-focused rescue therapies that can be used when conventional mechanical ventilation does not achieve a specific target level of oxygenation are discussed. A literature search was conducted and narrative review written to summarize the use of high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure, recruitment maneuvers, airway pressure-release ventilation, and high-frequency ventilation. Each therapy reviewed has been reported to improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS. However, none of them have been shown to improve survival when studied in heterogeneous populations of patients with ARDS. Moreover, none of the therapies has been reported to be superior to another for the goal of improving oxygenation. The goal of improving oxygenation must always be balanced against the risk of further lung injury. The optimal time to initiate rescue therapies, if needed, is within 96 h of the onset of ARDS, a time when alveolar recruitment potential is the greatest. A variety of ventilatory approaches are available to improve oxygenation in the setting of refractory hypoxemia and ARDS. Which, if any, of these approaches should be used is often determined by the availability of equipment and clinician bias.
Oculoleptomeningeal amyloidosis in a patient with a TTR Val30Gly mutation in the transthyretin gene.

Objective To describe a patient with oculoleptomeningeal amyloidosis associated with infiltration of the vitreous, elevated intraocular pressures (IOPs), and seizures caused by a TTR Val30Gly mutation in the transthyretin gene. Design Interventional clinicopathologic report. Participant A 44-year-old man with refractory bilateral intermediate uveitis, elevated IOPs, and seizures. Intervention The patient underwent diagnostic pars plana vitrectomy in both eyes. Intraocular and intracerebral pressures were controlled by trabeculectomy and cerebroventricular shunt placement, respectively. Main Outcome Measures Visual acuity, histopathologic analysis of vitreous and leptomeningeal tissue, genetic testing, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Results After failure of the patient to respond to topical and periocular corticosteroid therapy, a pars plana vitrectomy was performed and revealed amorphous material that showed green birefringence and dichroism on Congo red staining, establishing the diagnosis of vitreous amyloidosis. A full medical workup, including genetic testing, revealed a TTR Val30Gly mutation in the transthyretin gene. The patient subsequently developed elevated IOPs requiring bilateral trabeculectomy surgery and episodic seizures associated with leptomeningeal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging. Histopathological analysis of a leptomeningeal biopsy taken at the time of surgery revealed amyloid infiltration, confirming the diagnosis of oculoleptomeningeal involvement by his amyloidosis. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. Conclusion Amyloidosis should be considered in patients who present with vitritis that is unresponsive to corticosteroid therapy. Vitreous biopsy with histopathological analysis is recommended in these cases. Additionally, sequencing of the transthyretin gene should be considered in patients with vitreous amyloidosis to help establish known genetic syndromes and predict both ocular and systemic comorbidities. Although not described previously, elevated IOP may develop in patients with vitreous amyloidosis due to a TTR Val30Gly mutation in the transthyretin gene.
The moral accountability of a personified agent: young adults' conceptions

This paper describes the preliminary results of a study conducted to answer the question: Do users attribute moral accountability to personified agent technologies? A pilot study was conducted in which 20 college students interacted with a personified agent, were insulted by the agent, and observed a researcher interacting and insulting the same agent. A semi-structured interview was conducted to investigate the participants' judgments of the observed interactions. Results suggest that most users will hold a designer, programmer or creator responsible for moral violations enacted by the personified agent, rather than attributing accountability to the agent itself.
Magnetically engineered spintronic sensors and memory

The discovery of enhanced magnetoresistance and oscillatory interlayer exchange coupling in transition metal multilayers just over a decade ago has enabled the development of new classes of magnetically engineered magnetic thin-film materials suitable for advanced magnetic sensors and magnetic random access memories. Magnetic sensors based on spin-valve giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sandwiches with artificial antiferromagnetic reference layers have resulted in enormous increases in the storage capacity of magnetic hard disk drives. The unique properties of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices has led to the development of an advanced high performance nonvolatile magnet random access memory with density approaching that of dynamic random-access memory (RAM) and read-write speeds comparable to static RAM. Both GMR and MTJ devices are examples of spintronic materials in which the flow of spin-polarized electrons is manipulated by controlling, via magnetic fields, the orientation of magnetic moments in inhomogeneous magnetic thin film systems. More complex devices, including three-terminal hot electron magnetic tunnel transistors, suggest that there are many other applications of spintronic materials.
Wall effect for the fall of single drops

Measurements were made of the rate of fall of drops of five organic liquids through an aqueous phase contained in eight vertical cylinders of various diameters. Newton's equation for the wall proximity effect for rigid spheres or cylinders predicts values somewhat in excess of the observed. A correction factor equation with the more convenient equivalent spherical diameter is presented. Its use is limited to d/D ratios less than one half. The ultimate velocity of a drop of specific size in an infinite medium can be calculated from that measured in a small tube by multiplying the latter by the ratio of the tube cross-sectional area to the area of the annular space between tube wall and drop.
The Education Service Encounter: The Socialization of Students

The purpose of this article is to examine and discuss the organizational socialization process as it applies to students. An organizational stage model is presented and tested empirically in the context of marketing education using a sample of students. Implications for marketing educators are presented and discussed.
An Integrated Formalization of Organization-Environment Interdependencies

A formal model is developed facilitating (1) an integration of theories dealing with organization-environment interaction, and (2) an explanation of how an organization's boundaries become increasingly permeated by the environment. It is argued that rates of change per se represent the principal impetus in promoting adaptive exchanges between an organization and its environment, both for long-term (evolutionary) and short-term (mutational) changes in the environment. The model reveals that a key variable in organization-environment interdependencies is the ratio of legitimate demands placed upon the organization by the environment to either the capacity or minimum performance levels of the organization.
Dose-dependent reduction of hazardous alcohol use in a placebo-controlled trial of naltrexone for smoking cessation.

The opiate antagonist naltrexone has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of alcohol dependence and as a component of treatment to reduce heavy drinking. At present, there are no published dose-ranging clinical trials of the oral preparation for treatment of problem drinking. The present study evaluated the effects of naltrexone on alcohol use among the subset of hazardous drinkers (N = 102) who participated in a placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial of oral naltrexone (25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg doses) combined with open-label transdermal nicotine patch for enhancing smoking cessation. On the primary outcome—no hazardous drinking (drinking that exceeded weekly or daily limits) during treatment—25 mg and 50 mg naltrexone were superior to placebo (each p < 0.05). These findings remained after controlling for baseline predictors or smoking abstinence during treatment. Time to remission of hazardous drinking was examined as a secondary outcome with definitions of hazardous drinking based on weekly limits, daily limits and the combination of weekly and daily limits and the results were consistent with the primary findings. In conclusion, the findings suggest that naltrexone can reduce the risk of hazardous drinking in smokers who are not seeking or receiving alcohol treatment, providing strong evidence for the pharmacological effects of naltrexone on drinking. This effect appears to favor lower doses that may be better tolerated and less expensive than the higher 100 mg dose. Given its efficacy and favorable side effect profile, the 25 mg dose should be considered for future studies of combination therapy.
Fault tolerance analysis and measurement of a spatial power amplifier

The performance degradation due to device failures in a spatial power combining system is presented in this paper, including analysis and measurement. For this study, a 5/spl times/5 amplifier array, employing 17 dBm (P1 dB) MMIC amplifiers, has been designed and tested. Individual unit cells have been turned off in order to represent a system with device failures. Results for both simulated and measured array performance versus device failures are given.
Cell Cycle in Vasculoproliferative Diseases Potential Interventions and Routes of Delivery

Atherosclerosis and restenosis of epicardial vessels are among the greatest challenges facing the clinical cardiologist, and phenotypic modulation and proliferation of smooth muscle cells are major components of the vasculoproliferative response. Proliferation is regulated by the interplay of regulatory proteins at checkpoints in the cell cycle that alter cellular growth. Activation of the cell cycle and the genetic control of its progression are final common pathways in this process. Investigators have postulated that cell-cycle inhibition using drugs and genetic or physical methods has the potential to reverse or prevent the vasculoproliferative process. The current challenge is to translate in vitro data demonstrating the efficacy of cell-cycle inhibition to clinical trials. At present, the steps that must be taken to meet this goal are (1) to design methods of delivery of these agents to specific sites, (2) to identify appropriate cellular targets to elicit cell-cycle arrest, and (3) to improve the therapeutic ratio by minimizing potential side effects. This review discusses current concepts of the cell cycle, target-regulating mechanisms, and possible interventions in vasculoproliferative diseases. We also discuss ongoing clinical trials that use antiproliferative agents in the hope of limiting the course of these diseases, as well as the promise that antiproliferative therapy holds in the coming decade.
Multi-coefficient Dirichlet Neumann type elliptic inverse problems with application to reflection seismology

Peeter Akerberg Recent Ph.D. graduates are invited to submit abstracts of their dissertations by completing and submitting the submission form 〈http://www.seg.org/SEGportalWEBproject/prod/SEG-Publications/Pub-Geophysics/Documents/dissertationform.pdf〉 at http://seg.org/dissertationabstracts. Abstracts are reviewed and accepted or rejected based on their relevance to the readers of Geophysics. Abstracts must be written in English and defended …
Wide-band analog-digital photonic link with third-order linearization

A photonic analog-digital link with third-order distortion suppression is proposed and demonstrated. 1 GSPS photonic sampling and digitization of singleand two-tone signals with digital linearization resulting in >25 dB distortion suppression with a 500 MHz instantaneous bandwidth is achieved.
Fibronectin and stem cell differentiation – lessons from chondrogenesis

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an intricate network of proteins that surrounds cells and has a central role in establishing an environment that is conducive to tissue-specific cell functions. In the case of stem cells, this environment is the stem cell niche, where ECM signals participate in cell fate decisions. In this Commentary, we describe how changes in ECM composition and mechanical properties can affect cell shape and stem cell differentiation. Using chondrogenic differentiation as a model, we examine the changes in the ECM that occur before and during mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. In particular, we focus on the main ECM protein fibronectin, its temporal expression pattern during chondrogenic differentiation, its potential effects on functions of differentiating chondrocytes, and how its interactions with other ECM components might affect cartilage development. Finally, we discuss data that support the possibility that the fibronectin matrix has an instructive role in directing cells through the condensation, proliferation and/or differentiation stages of cartilage formation.