cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and analysis of a strip-coated parallel-slab beamsplitter for the equipartition of infrared input power

Several recent applications in ellipsometry, spectropolarim- etry, and multiplexed galvanometric scanners require a single compact beamsplitter capable of splitting an input beam of light into four or more components. Of special interest is the design of a single beam splitter to produce multiple components of equal power for incident unpolarized or circularly polarized light. We present a specific infrared design of a parallel-slab beamsplitter that uses a fused silica, which is strip-coated with a Ge thin film on the front and a uniform Ag coating on the back. Equal powers among the first four components can be achieved when the unpolarized reflectance levels on the first, second, third, and fourth strip are ?20, 68, 54, and 18%, respectively. Specific designs at wavelengths of 1.55, 2.02, and 5.0 ?m are presented. At a wavelength of 5.0 ?m, glass shows some absorption and is replaced by another transparent slab material. The choice of optical materials and thicknesses of the strips provide sufficient flexibility in the design and operation of the beamsplitter.
Silicon Photonics for Exascale Systems

With the extraordinary growth in parallelism at all system scales driven by multicore architectures, computing performance is increasingly determined by how efficiently high-bandwidth data is communicated among the numerous compute resources. High-performance systems are especially challenged by the growing energy costs dominated by data movement. As future computing systems aim to realize the Exascale regime—surpassing 1018 operations per second—achieving energy efficient high-bandwidth communication becomes paramount to scaled performance. Silicon photonics offers the possibility of delivering the needed communication bandwidths to match the growing computing powers of these highly parallel architectures with extremely scalable energy efficiency. However, the insertion of photonic interconnects is not a one-for-one replacement. The lack of practical buffering and the fundamental circuit switched nature of optical data communications require a holistic approach to designing system-wide photonic interconnection networks. New network architectures are required and must include arbitration strategies that incorporate the characteristics of the optical physical layer. This paper reviews the recent progresses in silicon photonic based interconnect devices along with the system level requirements for Exascale. We present a co-design approach for building silicon photonic interconnection networks that leverages the unique optical data movement capabilities and offers a path toward realizing future Exascale systems.
Research Note. Philosophical Worldview Determines Attitudes toward Using Background Music before, during, and after Counselling

The present study examined the degree to which counsellors' philosophical worldviews affect their attitudes toward using background music and natural sounds before, during, and after counselling. S...
Role of PON in anoxia-reoxygenation injury: a Drosophila melanogaster transgenic model.

Background: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a protein found associated with high density lipoprotein (HDL), thought to prevent oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This enzyme has been implicated in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease. Anoxia-reoxygenation and oxidative stress are important elements in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. However, the role of PON1 in anoxia-reoxygenation or anoxic injury is unclear. We hypothesize that PON1 prevents anoxia-reoxygenation injury. We set out to determine whether PON1 expression in Drosophila melanogaster protects against anoxia-reoxygenation (A-R) induced injury. Methods: Wild type (WT) and transgenic PON1 flies were exposed to anoxia (100% Nitrogen) for different time intervals (from 1 to 24 hours). After the anoxic period, flies were placed in room air for reoxygenation. Activity and survival of flies was then recorded. Results: Within 5 minutes of anoxia, all flies fell into a stupor state. After reoxygenation, survivor flies resumed activity with some delay. Interestingly, transgenic flies recovered from stupor later than WT. PON1 transgenic flies had a significant survival advantage after A-R stress compared with WT. The protection conferred by PON1 expression was present regardless of the age or dietary restriction. Furthermore, PON1 expression exclusively in CNS conferred protection. Conclusion: Our results support the hypothesis that PON1 has a protective role in anoxia-reoxygenation injury, and its expression in the CNS is sufficient and necessary to provide a 100% survival protection.
Exceedance Control of the False Discovery Proportion

Multiple testing methods to control the false discovery rate, the expected proportion of falsely rejected null hypotheses among all rejections, have received much attention. It can be valuable to control not the mean of this false discovery proportion (FDP), but rather the probability that the FDP exceeds a specified bound. In this article we construct a general class of methods for exceedance control of FDP based on inverting tests of uniformity. The method also produces a confidence envelope for the FDP as a function of rejection threshold. We discuss how to select a procedure with good power.
Momentum, heat, and mass transfer to a continuous cylindrical surface in axial motion

The transport equations for the region exterior to a cylindrical jet issuing continuously from an orifice are solved through the introduction of a similarity transform. The possibility of mass transfer normal to the jet is allowed. Of particular interest are the local transport coefficients (Cf, NNu, NSh) and their dependence on the rate of transfer from the jet.
Mini Cogeneration Schemes in Mexico

A new barrier optimization technique is developed for general optimization purposes and applied for power system optimization problems.
Numerical methods for three-dimensional models of the urine concentrating mechanism

We recently formulated and solved a successful model of the renal concentrating mechanism, a problem of long-standing interest in mathematical biology [33, 34]. The model is a 39th-order nonlinear two-point boundary-value problem with separated linear boundary conditions. Although quasilinearization and superposition with Gram-Schmidt orthonormalization successfully solved the equations, these methods will probably not be sufficient to solve more detailed models of the urine concentrating mechanism. In this paper we review the current literature on solving two-point boundary-value problems and find a number of promising alternatives and improvements to our current methods. In addition we derive a new numerical method for calculating the parameter sensitivity of the solution to a nonlinear two-point boundary-value problem coupled to a system of algebraic relations. This new method is faster and more accurate than the method previously employed.
THE EFFECT OF ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT ON ARRESTED HUMAN DIPLOID CELL POPULATIONS

— The results of experiments to determine an effect of UV (254 nm) on human diploid fibro-blasts (HDF) arrested with respect to division by using 0.5% fetal calf serum in the culture medium are reported. A fraction of cells from irradiated arrested populations, maintained in the arrested state post-irradiation, is lost from the populations. The extent of cell loss is hence-dependent and cell strain specific. A Xeroderma pigmentosum cell strain is more sensitive to UV than are normal HDF. No differences in sensitivity were observed when arrested populations established from normal HDF populations of various in vitro ages were used. The length of the pre-irradiation arrested period affects the sensitivity of normal HDF, which appear more resistant at longer arrested periods, but not the sensitivity of arrested Xeroderma populations. These results suggest that DNA repair processes play a role in maintaining irradiated cells in the arrested state. The suggestion is made that the lethal event caused by UV is an effect on transcription leading to an inhibition of required protein synthesis.
Changes in Ovarian Circulation Following FSH Administration to HCG-Primed Adult Rats

The effects of FSH on the circulatory system of the adult rat ovary were investigated by histological examination and by residual blood volume studies of the unprimed and HCC-primed rat. Morphological changes in the ovarian vasculature were studied in tissue from adult rats injected intravenously with ovine or rat [‘#{176}‘I]FSH, [‘3’I]-labeled albumin, or “iodine. Results indicated that FSH in HCG-primed adult rats caused leukocyte accumulation in veins and capillaries throughout the ovary and that this change correlated with ovarian [“IJFSH uptake by the ovary. FSH also caused a reduction in ovarian residual blood volume beginning 3 h after injection.
Errata for “Special Issue on Design and Analysis of Structures with Seismic Damping Systems” by Michael D. Symans

The “Introduction” of the Special Issue on Design and Analysis of Structures with Seismic Damping Systems inadvertently did not include some final corrections that were submitted. These corrections included listing Dr. Finley A. Charney and Dr. Andrew S. Whittaker as co-editors of the special issue. The Special Issue Editor, Michael Symans, would like to gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Finley and Andrew with the early development of the special issue and their assistance with the review of manuscripts. Their omission as co-editors of the special issue by the publisher is deeply regretted.
Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide on the Nesting Behaviour of Male Pigeons

PRESENT-DAY advances in psychotherapy have added impetus to investigations into the actions of drugs which affect the central nervous system and thus cause changes in behaviour patterns. One such psychomimetic agent, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25), exerts both peripheral and central actions1. Some of these effects in various animals and humans are nausea, vertigo, hyperhydrosis, hypersalivation, mydriasis, vasodilation or vasospasm, hypotension or hypertension, bradycardia or tachycardia, and changes in the white blood cell count2.
Magnetointersubband oscillations of conductivity in a two-dimensional electronic system.

Magnetoconductivity of the two-dimensional electron gas occupying two size-quantization subbands is studied theoretically. When the bottoms of subbands are separated by an integer number of Landau levels, the staircases of Landau levels in both subbands are completely aligned. For such values of magnetic field the intersubband scattering is enhanced. As it was pointed out by Polyanovsky, this results in additional Shubnikov--de Haas oscillations of conductivity with magnetic field, with period depending on subband separation, and amplitude depending weakly on temperature, provided that a large number of Landau levels in each subband are occupied. In the calculation of conductivity we make use of the self-consistent Born approximation generalized to the case of two subbands. An analytical theory for the case of strong disorder and numerical results for the case of weak disorder are presented.
On bounded real matrix inequality dilation

We discuss a variation of dilated matrix inequalities for the conventional Bounded Real matrix inequality and other similarly structured inequalities. Here, system matrices are separated from Lyapunov matrix to allow the use of different Lyapunov matrices in multi-objective and robust problems. The search involves a bounded scalar parameter that enters the problem nonlinearly and is dealt with a line search. To demonstrate the benefits of the new dilated matrix inequalities over the conventional ones, an example of controller synthesis with ℒ2-gain performance measure (ℋ∞ control) for a system with polytopic uncertainty (robust problem) has been studied. It is shown that for the resulting robust problem the performance obtained via the dilated form is at least equal to that of the conventional one. Also, the connection between the proposed dilated form and the Full Block S-procedure is discussed.
Amplification by magnetic control of skin depth

Abstract This paper is concerned with modulation of the r.f. skin depth in high-purity bismuth at 4.2°K by an applied magnetic field. A disk or cylinder of bismuth is placed so as to affect the coupling between two coils, one of which is excited with an a.c. carrier signal. The skin depth associated with this carrier signal in the bismuth element is then modulated by a quasistatic or low-frequency a.c. magnetic field. The signal appearing across the secondary coil is thus a function of the applied magnetic field. With the purest bismuth elements, large changes in secondary voltage are achieved with magnetic field excursions of less than 100 G. This effect is shown to result mainly from magnetoconductivity for which high-purity bismuth at low temperatures is ideally suited, since carrier mobilities are quite high (on the order of 107 cm2/V-sec).
New taxa and distribution records of Tylopilus from Dicymbe forests of Guyana

Morphological and habitat descriptions, illustrations, and taxonomic commentary of five species of Tylopilus occurring in the Pakaraima Mountains of Guyana, South America, are presented. These fung...
Turbulent Condensation on a Cold Wall in the Presence of a Noncondensable Gas

A condensation model for forced and natural convection is derived by extending the Reynolds-Colburn analogy for heat and momentum transfer to mass and momentum transfer. The model is compared to the steady-state data of Uchida and Tagami and found to be in reasonable agreement with the forced convection data when an imposed velocity of 2 m/s is assumed. The natural convection model has the same functional dependence on Grashof number (h /SUB tot/ aboutGr /SUP -0.37/ ) as the data of Akers.
The familial image in rhetoric

The purpose of this essay is to extend Michael Osborn's concept of the archetypal metaphor to include what may be called “familial images.” It argues that relational imagery is conjured by rhetors in order to entangle their listeners in familial unity. Relational images appear to provide powerful bases of motivation that act to bond audiences together by arousing in them a familial orientation. The familial orientation toward speakers and issues is rooted in the norms and mores associated with the modes of relationship constituting the cultural construct “family” and may evoke lines of action, attitudes, and emotions that are consistent with them. Essentially, relational images are oriented toward decreasing the affectual distance among members of an audience by widening the scope of the terms of family to fit the public context. However, it is the changing cultural presuppositions concerning what is right to do in familial relationships that determine the quality of our conjoinment and the meaning of pol...
Parametrization procedure for open-pit pipeline transportation with an allowance for slurry formation

The article describes a design procedure for open pit pipeline transportation parameters and operating regimes with allowance for characteristics of pipes and pumps of water supply and hydraulic transport, slurry formation, as well as polydispersity and different fraction of a material to be transported.
Tetrodotoxin-resistant sodium channels Nav1.8/SNS and Nav1.9/NaN in afferent neurons innervating urinary bladder in control and spinal cord injured rats

Tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) sodium channels Na(v)1.8/SNS and Na(v)1.9/NaN are preferentially expressed in small diameter dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. The urinary bladder is innervated by small afferent neurons from L6/S1 DRG, of which approximately 75% exhibit high-threshold action potentials that are mediated by TTX-R sodium channels. Following transection of the spinal cord at T8, the bladder becomes areflexic and then gradually hyper-reflexic, and there is an attenuation of the TTX-R sodium currents in bladder afferent neurons. In the present study, we demonstrate that Na(v)1.8 is expressed in both bladder and non-bladder afferent neurons, while Na(v)1.9 is expressed in non-bladder afferent neurons but is rarely observed in bladder afferent neurons. In spinal cord transected rats 28-32 days following transection, there is a decreased expression of Na(v)1.8 sodium channels in bladder afferents, but no change in the expression of Na(v)1.8 in non-bladder afferent neurons. Both bladder and non-bladder afferent neurons exhibit limited increases in Na(v)1.9 expression following spinal cord transection. These results demonstrate that the expression of TTX-R channels in bladder afferent neurons changes after spinal cord transection, and these changes may contribute to the increased excitability of these neurons following spinal cord injury.
QRS complex detection based on Symmlets wavelet function

Wavelet theory is inspired the development of a strong methodology for signal processing and can be used as a good tool for non-stationary electrocardiogram (ECG signal) detection. In this paper a QRS complex detection method is proposed based on wavelet transform (WT) with Symmlets function. The proposed method show sharp results for ECG detection parameters. The fiducial points are easily detected and the results show that the sensitivity of the proposed detector is 99.8% and the specificity is 98.6%. The results obtained in this paper are based on real ECG signal.
Reduced dopamine transporter functioning induces high-reward risk-preference consistent with bipolar disorder

Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) exhibit deleterious decision making, negatively impacting their lives. Such aberrant decision making can be quantified using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), which requires choosing between advantageous and disadvantageous options based on different reward/punishment schedules. The mechanisms underlying this behavioral deficit are unknown, but may include the reduced dopamine transporter (DAT) functioning reported in BD patients. Using both human and mouse IGTs, we tested whether reduced DAT functioning would recreate patterns of deficient decision making of BD patients. We assessed the IGT performance of 16 BD subjects (7 female) and 17 healthy control (HC) subjects (12 female). We recorded standard IGT performance measures and novel post-reward and post-punishment decision-making strategies. We characterized a novel single-session mouse IGT using C57BL/6J mice (n=44). The BD and HC IGT performances were compared with the effects of chronic (genetic knockdown (KD; n=31) and wild-type (n=28) mice) and acute (C57BL/6J mice (n=89) treated with the DAT inhibitor GBR12909) reductions of DAT functioning in mice performing this novel IGT. BD patients exhibited impaired decision making compared with HC subjects. Both the good-performing DAT KD and GBR12909-treated mice exhibited poor decision making in the mouse IGT. The deficit of each population was driven by high-reward sensitivity. The single-session mouse IGT measures dynamic risk-based decision making similar to humans. Chronic and acute reductions of DAT functioning in mice impaired decision-making consistent with poor IGT performance of BD patients. Hyperdopaminergia caused by reduced DAT may impact poor decision making in BD patients, which should be confirmed in future studies.
Looking, laughing, and smiling in dyads as a function of intimacy motivation and reciprocity

Eighty college students (40 females and 40 males) were administered the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) and interviewed in either a one-way (interviewer asks questions) or reciprocal (interviewer asks questions and discloses information about him- or herself) condition by a same-sex interviewer. The TATs were scored for intimacy motivation. In this 2 (Female vs. Male) × 2 (High vs. Low Intimacy Motive) × 2 (Reciprocal vs. One-Way Condition) experiment, intimacy motivation was positively associated with greater levels of laughter, smiling, and eye contact for the entire sample, as hypothesized. Furthermore, women showed significantly higher scores than men on laughter, smiling, and eye contact. Contrary to a second hypothesis, high intimacy motivation combined with reciprocal condition did not yield the highest levels of laughter, smiling, and eye contact. The results extend the construct validation literature for intimacy motivation into the domain of nonverbal behaviors considered to be indicative of positive interpersonal regard in cordial human interactions.
Innovation through Initiatives -- A Framework for Building New Capabilities in Public Sector Research Organizations

Abstract The accelerating pace of change in science and technology has resulted in new attention to the process of identifying and developing ideas that ultimately lead to new scientific capabilities and business opportunities for an organization. The need to refresh research programs and capabilities is as important in federally funded research institutions as it is for industry. This paper explores the critical success factors for new initiatives at a federal laboratory, and building on lessons learned through this study and in private industry, identifies a more systematic process that could potentially improve the effectiveness of these initiatives in achieving results.
Effect of steroid hormones on the metabolism of human spermatozoa.

Abstract Information relating to the effect of steroids on the metabolism and motility of human spermatozoa is limited despite the increasing interest in the use of these hormones for the purpose of contraception. In the present study it was shown that progesterone, testosterone, and 11-β-OH-progesterone significantly inhibit the CO 2 production of human spermatozoa. Estrone was ineffective. Progesterone and testosterone, but not estrone, also significantly depressed O 2 uptake. In contrast to CO 2 production and O 2 uptake, lactic acid production was not significantly affected by any of the steroids studied. The inability of estrone to inhibit sperm metabolism was not due to its lower solubility relative to the other steroids tested. The data indicate that the effective steroids inhibit sperm respiration, but not the sperm glycolytic pathway.
The role of the hyporheic zone across stream networks

Many hyporheic papers state that the hyporheic zone is a critical component of stream ecosystems, and many of these papers focus on the biogeochemical effects of the hyporheic zone on stream solute loads. However, efforts to show such relationships have proven elusive, prompting several questions: Are the effects of the hyporheic zone on stream ecosystems so highly variable in place and time (or among streams) that a consistent relationship should not be expected? Or, is the hyporheic zone less important in stream ecosystems than is commonly expected? These questions were examined using data from existing groundwater modelling studies of hyporheic exchange flow at five sites in a fifth-order, mountainous stream network. The size of exchange flows, relative to stream discharge (QHEF :Q), was large only in very small streams at low discharge (area ³100 ha; Q 0·7) and in all larger streams, QHEF :Q was small. These data show that biogeochemical processes in the hyporheic zone of small streams can substantially influence the stream’s solute load, but these processes become hydrologically constrained at high discharge or in larger streams and rivers. The hyporheic zone may influence stream ecosystems in many ways, however, not just through biogeochemical processes that alter stream solute loads. For example, the hyporheic zone represents a unique habitat for some organisms, with patterns and amounts of upwelling and downwelling water determining the underlying physiochemical environment of the hyporheic zone. Similarly, hyporheic exchange creates distinct patches of downwelling and upwelling. Upwelling environments are of special interest, because upwelling water has the potential to be thermally or chemically distinct from stream water. Consequently, micro-environmental patches created by hyporheic exchange flows are likely to be important to biological and ecosystem processes, even if their impact on stream solute loads is small. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of activated sludge-derived colloidal organic carbon on behavior of estrogenic agonist recombinant yeast bioassay.

The impact of size-fractionated colloidal organic carbon (COC) originating from a biological wastewater treatment facility on the sensitivity of the yeast estrogen screen (YES) bioassay containing the human estrogen receptor (hER) gene was evaluated. Dose-response curves of serially diluted 17β-estradiol (E2), both in the presence and absence of COC, were generated by the YES bioassay. The concentration of E2 leading to a 50% YES response (effective concentration 50%, or EC50) was used to evaluate quantitatively the estrogenic activity of the different COC-E2 mixtures. The EC50 values for all COC size fractions, including COC-free samples ( 0.22 μm), but were not significantly affected by smaller COC material at environmental levels (1–5 mg/L), while both colloidal polysaccharide concentrations and colloidal fluorophores (measured at an excitation/emission wavelength pair of 350 nm/450 nm) appear to have an important role in the sensitivity of the YES bioassay. Estimates of the colloid-associated E2 fraction did not predict accurately increases in EC50 values. Matrix effects of the specific environment being tested with the YES bioassay need to be evaluated closely due to the sensitivity of the hER and reporter plasmid.
The case for percutaneous endopyeloplasty.

in the treatment algorithm for UPJ obstruction. Factors that define the optimal choice of surgical approach in the individual patient include ipsilateral renal function, degree of hydronephrosis, length of stricture, previous surgical intervention on the UPJ, presence of ipsilateral renal calculi, presence of a crossing vessel at the UPJ, and individual surgeon comfort level and experience. Management Relevant facts in the case scenario include a history of open pyeloplasty and presence of a 1.5-cm lower-pole calculus. Additional variables that need to be assessed before deciding the optimal management include length of stricture, anatomy of the UPJ and proximal ureter, and ipsilateral renal function. Therefore, the initial step in management would be to quantify differential renal function via a radionuclear renal scan and obtain anatomic evaluation via excretory urography. Anatomic delineation of the UPJ and proximal ureter is further defined by performing retrograde pyelography. Because the length of stricture and anatomy of the UPJ play a significant role in determining type of therapy, we typically perform the retrograde pyelography as a separate procedure in patients who have undergone pyeloplasty previously, especially if the anatomic delineation is suboptimal on excretory urography. This approach helps plan the appropriate procedure and enables us to counsel patients appropriately. This is an important issue, because many patients in whom an open pyeloplasty has failed may need a complex salvage reconstructive procedure. We assume in this debate that the segment of obstruction is short and there is no significant tortuosity of the proximal ureter. In general, endopyelotomy is a reasonable alternative for patients in whom pyeloplasty has failed, and pyeloplasty is the preferred approach for patients in whom endopyelotomy has failed. Because this patient also has a 1.5 cm calculus, the percutaneous approach would be preferred. We believe endopyeloplasty to be functionally superior to endopyelotomy, and it would therefore be our procedure of choice for this patient. This approach would effectively remove the calculus and simultaneously manage the UPJ obstruction. A crucial factor in this case is that the pyeloplasty was performed 13 years ago. We believe that the periureteral scarring is less dense if the surgical intervention was performed in the remote past as opposed to recently. It therefore would not technically prohibit performance of an endopyeloplasty.
Sld2 binds to origin single-stranded DNA and stimulates DNA annealing

Sld2 is essential for the initiation of DNA replication, but the mechanism underlying its role in replication is not fully understood. The S-phase cyclin dependent kinase (S-CDK) triggers the association of Sld2 with Dpb11, and a phosphomimetic mutation of Sld2, Sld2T84D, functionally mimics the S-CDK phosphorylated state of Sld2. We report that Sld2T84D binds directly to the single-stranded (ss) DNA of two different origins of replication, and S-CDK phosphorylation of Sld2 stimulates the binding of Sld2 to origin ssDNA. Sld2T84D binds to a thymine-rich ssDNA region of the origin ARS1, and substitution of ARS1 thymines with adenines completely disrupts binding of Sld2T84D. Sld2T84D enhances the ability of origin ssDNA to pulldown Dpb11, and Sld2 binding to origin ssDNA may be important to allow Sld2 and Dpb11 to associate with origin DNA. We also report that Sld2T84D anneals ssDNA of an origin sequence. Dpb11 anneals ssDNA to low levels, and the addition of Sld2T84D with Dpb11 results in higher annealing activity than that of either protein alone. Sld2-stimulated annealing may be important for maintaining genome stability during the initiation of DNA replication.
Fluctuation correlation spectroscopy in cells. Determination of molecular aggregation

The determination of molecular interactions in cells has become a field of great interest in the post-genomic era. Ideally, we will like to know which protein is interacting with which, the migration and the localization of the proteins in the cell. During the past years very powerful optical methods have been developed that have the sensitivity to detect single molecules and molecular interactions. Although most of these methods have been demonstrated in solutions or on molecules immobilized on a surface, we will like to extend this methodology to the cell environment. Fluctuation correlation spectroscopy has been proposed as a method to detect single molecules, determine some of the chemico-physical parameters such as local diffusion and molecular brightness. Finally, advances in the determination of spatio-temporal correlations in a cell will be discussed.
Fully symmetric interpolatory rules for multiple integrals over infinite regions with Gaussian weight

Fully symmetric interpolatory integration rules are constructed for multidimensional integrals over infinite integration regions with a Gaussian weight function. The points for these rules are determined by successive extensions of the one-dimensional three-point Gauss-Hermite rule. The new rules are shown to be efficient and only moderately unstable.
The Arno River flood study (1971–1976)

The Arno River in Italy intermittently inundates large areas of the Arno River basin. This paper investigates flood phenomena and evaluates some of the proposals that have been made to alleviate the flood hazard using procedures developed at the IBM Pisa Scientific Center. On the morning of November 4, 1966, the residents of Florence, Italy, awoke to find themselves the victims of a major flood. Thirty-six people were drowned in Florence, and replaceable real property damage has been estimated at $640,000,000 (C. Pandolfi, personal communication, 1977). In addition, art treasures of inestimable value were lost, and the cleanup operation attracted worldwide attention, sympathy, and help [Judge, 1967]. As an illustration of the amount of damage caused by this catastrophic flood, we have reproduced a photograph of Ponte Vecchio (Figure 1) taken on the morning of November 5, 1966.
In situ ultra-high vacuum transmission electron microscopy studies of the transient oxidation stage of Cu and Cu alloy thin films.

Because environmental stability is an essential property of most engineered materials, many theories exist to explain oxidation mechanisms. Yet, nearly all classical oxidation theories assume a uniform growing film, where structural changes were not considered because of the previous lack of experimental procedure to visualize this non-uniform growth in conditions that allowed for highly controlled surfaces and impurities. With the advent of vacuum technologies and advances in microcopy techniques, especially in situ, one can now see structural changes under controlled surface conditions. Here, we present a review of our systematic studies on the transient oxidation stages of a model metal system, Cu, and its alloys, Cu–Au and Cu–Ni, by in situ ultra-high vacuum transmission electron microscopy (UHV-TEM). The dependence of the oxidation behavior on the crystal orientation, oxygen pressure, temperature and alloying is attributed to the structures of the oxygen-chemisorbed layer, oxygen surface diffusion, surface energy and the interfacial strain energy. Heteroepitaxial concepts, developed to explain thin film formation on a dissimilar substrate material (e.g., Ge on Si), described well these initial oxidation stages.
A comparison of the effects of hormones upon beta-glucuronidase and alkaline phosphatase activities in mammary gland and liver.

A study was made of the effects upon β-glucuronidase and alkaline phosphatase activities of hypophysectomyoophorectomy, followed by treatments with: a) prolactin, b) prolactin +growth hormone +estrone b)progesterone, and c) prolactin +growth hormone +estrone +progesterone +hydrocortisone. The effects in the liver were compared with those in the mammary gland, and the effects of the mammogenic and the lactogenic hormones appeared to be specific for the mammary gland.
Screening and Brief Alcohol Counseling of College Students and Persons Not in School.

Associated with the top 3 causes of adolescent death (unintentional injuries, homicides, and suicides), underage drinking is annually responsible for 4000 to 5000 deaths and contributes to unprotected sex, social problems, and poor academic performance.1 A substantial body of experimental research indicates screening and brief intervention for risky alcohol use conducted in adult primary care settings is effective in reducing alcohol misuse and related problems.2 Evidence concerning effectiveness among young adults and adolescents is also accumulating.3,4 Unfortunately, screening and brief alcohol counseling for adolescents and college-aged emerging adults is not routine.5 College students more often drink 5 or more drinks on an occasion and drive under the influence of alcohol more than same-age, noncollege peers.6 Important unanswered questions are whether college students are (1) more or less likely than same-age peers to be asked about their substance use, (2) given advice about related health risks, and (3) encouraged to reduce or stop substance use.
Reliability-based hybrid ARQ as an adaptive response to jamming

We consider the use of selective-retransmission automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocols to improve communication performance on partial-time jamming channels. The schemes that we propose are based on reliability-based hybrid ARQ (RB-HARQ), in which the set of bits to be retransmitted is adaptively selected based on the estimated a posteriori probabilities at the output of a soft-input, soft-output decoder. For channels with bursty partial-time jamming, the RB-HARQ techniques are particularly appropriate because these techniques can identify which symbols need to be retransmitted, and the bursty nature of the jamming reduces the overhead required to relay this information to the source. We extend our reliability measure to incorporate not only a posteriori probability information but also estimates of the probability that a bit was jammed. We compare the performance of the proposed scheme with that of conventional approaches, in which a predetermined set of bits is retransmitted in response to a packet failure. The results show that RB-HARQ schemes can achieve higher throughput than these conventional approaches in several scenarios.
Threshold query optimization for uncertain data

The probabilistic threshold query (PTQ) is one of the most common queries in uncertain databases, where all results satisfying the query with probabilities that meet the threshold requirement are returned. PTQ is used widely in nearest-neighbor queries, range queries, ranking queries, etc. In this paper, we investigate the general PTQ for arbitrary SQL queries that involve selections, projections and joins. The uncertain database model that we use is one that combines both attribute and tuple uncertainty as well as correlations between arbitrary attribute sets. We address the PTQ optimization problem that aims at improving the efficiency of PTQ query execution by enabling alternative query plan enumeration for optimization. We propose general optimization rules as well as rules specifically for selections, projections and joins. We introduce a threshold operator (τ-operator) to the query plan and show it is generally desirable to push down the τ-operator as much as possible.
New analogs of human growth hormone-releasing hormone (1-29) with high and prolonged antagonistic activity

Based on our previous results, in conjunction with various structural considerations, 19 new analogs of the GHRH antagonist [PhAc-Tyr1,D-Arg2,Phe(pCl)6,Abu15,Nle27,Agm29]++ +hGHRH(1-29) (MZ-5-156) were synthesized by the solid-phase method. These compounds were designed to develop further analogs of this class with increased receptor-binding affinity. All analogs had Abu15 and Nle27 modifications and were acylated with phenylacetic acid at the N-terminus. Most of the analogs had D-Arg2 and Phe(pCl)6 substituents and Agm29 or Arg29-NH2 at the C-terminus. Additional single substitutions consisted of the incorporation of D- or L-Tic1, D-Tic2, Tic6 or Phe(pNO2)6 and Arg29-NH2. The Arg29-NH2 analog of MZ-5-156 (KT-48) was further modified by single substitutions using Pal1; D-Tpi2; D- or L-Phe4; Phe(pX)6 X = F, Cl, I; Tyr7; Aib8; Tyr(Me)10 or Phe(pCl)10. Four peptides had multiple substitutions. All the analogs were evaluated for their ability to inhibit GH release induced by hGHRH(1-29)NH2 in vitro and some were also tested in vivo. Peptides [PhAc-Tyr1,D-Arg2,Phe(pI)6,Abu15,Nle27]hGHRH(1-2 9)NH2 (KT-30), [PhAc-Tyr1,D-Arg2,Phe(pCl)6,Aib8,Abu15,Nle27] hGHRH(1-29)NH2 (KT-50) and [PhAc-Tyr1,D-Arg2,Phe(pCl)6,Tyr(Me)10,Abu15,Nle27]h GHRH(1-29)NH2 (KT-40) with Phe(pI)6, Aib8 or Tyr(Me)10 modifications, respectively, showed high and prolonged inhibitory effect in superfused rat pituitary system. Analog KT-50 also exhibited a strong and long-term inhibitory activity in vivo in rats. Most of the new analogs showed high binding affinities to rat pituitary GHRH receptors.
Efficient system design space exploration using machine learning techniques

Computer manufacturers spend a huge amount of time, resources, and money in designing new systems and newer configurations, and their ability to reduce costs, charge competitive prices and gain market share depends on how good these systems perform. In this work, we develop predictive models for estimating the performance of systems by using performance numbers from only a small fraction of the overall design space. Specifically, we first develop three models, two based on artificial neural networks and another based on linear regression. Using these models, we analyze the published Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC) benchmark results and show that by using the performance numbers of only 2% and 5% of the machines in the design space, we can estimate the performance of all the systems within 9.1% and 4.6% on average, respectively. Then, we show that the performance of future systems can be estimated with less than 2.2% error rate on average by using the data of systems from a previous year. We believe that these tools can accelerate the design space exploration significantly and aid in reducing the corresponding research/development cost and time- to-market.
EXTRACELLULAR MODIFICATIONS TO MUSCLE COLLAGEN : IMPLICATIONS FOR MEAT QUALITY

The extracellular matrix (EMC) of muscle is composed mostly of the protein collagen with lesser quantities of other constituents such as proteoglycans also present. The focus of this brief review is the extracellular modification of collagen, critical to forming a stable matrix, called crosslinking. Enzyme-mediated covalent collagen crosslinks are largely lysine-derived. Their formation is absolutely essential for stabilization of the EMC and a functional muscle. In cooked meat, the presence of crosslinks contribute to the shrinkage and tension development of collagen as it denatures with a subsequent increase in the toughness of meat. Both crosslink and collagen concentrations vary with differing muscle type, producing a wide range of textural differences among muscles. Furthermore, within a given muscle type, a wide range of conditions, often dependent on management choices, influence crosslinking patterns. Although information regarding the chemical structure, specific location, and quantity of collagen crosslinks is available, mechanisms that control and regulate their formation remain elusive. Recent studies, however, suggest a potential role for the proteoglycan decorin in regulating collagen fibrillogenesis, ordering the spatial arrangement of collagen molecules and, thus, influencing crosslinking patterns.
Role of Circulating S-Nitrosothiols in Control of Blood Pressure

The biological effects of nitric oxide (NO) are in large part mediated by S -nitrosylation of peptides and proteins to produce bioactive S -nitrosothiols (SNOs).1–3 The observation of abnormal SNO levels in numerous pathophysiological states2 suggests that dysregulation of SNO homeostasis may contribute to disease pathogenesis. For example, the hypotension of human sepsis is accompanied by increases in circulating levels of vasodilatory SNOs.3 Although such altered SNO levels may simply mirror NO production (eg, induction of inducible NO synthase in sepsis), they may also reflect changes specific to SNO biosynthesis and metabolism. Indeed, mice lacking a SNO-metabolizing enzyme are profoundly hypotensive under anesthesia.3 Thus, blood pressure is evidently regulated by both synthesis and turnover of SNOs. In this issue of Hypertension , Gandley et al4 extend this paradigm by proposing that a defect in SNO turnover contributes to the hypertension of preeclampsia. In the blood, S- nitrosoalbumin (SNO-albumin) and S -nitrosohemoglobin (SNO-Hb) constitute the major conduits for circulating NO bioactivity. Although both SNOs may influence blood pressure, they operate within distinct signaling circuits. SNO-Hb can be viewed as a principal regulator of SNO homeostasis, adaptively modulating NO chemistry to control NO bioactivity. SNO-Hb is formed by transfer of NO from heme-iron to Cysβ93 thiol on T to R structural transition (oxygenation) of the hemoglobin tetramer.5 SNO-Hb associates with the red blood cell (RBC) membrane via an interaction with the cytoplasmic domain of anion-exchanger 1 protein (CDAE1, Band 3); on deoxygenation (R→T) transfer of the NO group from SNO-Hb to a cysteine thiol within CDAE1 supports export of RBC vasodilatory activity.6 SNO-Hb thus serves as an O2 sensor and O2-dependent transducer of NO bioactivity. In contrast, it appears that rather than transducing a specific signal, albumin operates as a buffer to …
The significance of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in pelvic pathology

Abstract Two hundred and nine erythrocyte sedimentation tests were performed on two hundred and five patients as a diagnostic aid in pelvic pathology. Of the two hundred and five patients, one hundred and thirty-nine had benign lesions and sixty-six had malignant tumors. Among the benign lesions, pregnancy and infection increased the sedimentation rate. Ninety-seven per cent of malignant tumors showed a rapid sedimentation rate. Persistence of the rapidity of the sedimentation rate at the end of twenty-four hours in vitro does not differentiate malignant tumors from inflammatory processes. The test is a definite aid in differential diagnosis in pelvic pathology. As in nonspecific laboratory procedures, the result must be interpreted in conjunction with clinical history and findings. It is also important to have uniform technique before a comparison of results from various clinics can be made.
Rates of glucose utilization in brain of active and hibernating ground squirrels

Rates of glucose utilization (CMRGlc) were determined in some cerebral structures of active warm- and cold-adapted ground squirrels and hibernating ground squirrels with [14C]deoxyglucose (DG) by direct chemical measurement of precursor and products in samples dissected from funnel-frozen brain. The rate of supply relative to demand of glucose and [14C]DG in brain of hibernating animals was similar to or greater than that of controls. [14C]DG cleared from the plasma in hibernators much more slowly than in active animals, and the level of unmetabolized [14C]DG in brain and the integrated specific activity of the precursor pool in plasma exceeded those of the active animals by 4- to 10-fold. At 45 min after an intravenous pulse of [14C]DG, the unmetabolized [14C]DG remaining in the brains of the hibernators accounted for approximately 96% of the total 14C compared with approximately 10-15% in the active animals. The value of lambda, a factor contained in the lumped constant of the operational equation of the [14C]DG method, was estimated for each animal and found to be relatively constant over the sixfold range of glucose levels in the brains of all animals. Calculated CMRGlc in squirrels in deep hibernation was only 1-2% of the values in active animals.
Determination of the fire hazards of mine materials using a radiant panel

The objective of this study was to develop a laboratory-scale method to rank the ignition and fire hazards of commonly used underground mine materials and to eliminate the need for the expensive large-scale tests that are currently being used. A radiant-panel apparatus was used to determine the materials' relevant thermal characteristics: time to ignition, critical heat flux for ignition, heat of gasification, and mass-loss rate. Three thermal parameters, TRP, TP1 and TP4, were derived from the data, then developed and subsequently used to rank the combined ignition and fire hazards of the combustible materials from low hazard to high hazard. The results compared favorably with the thermal and ignition hazards of similar materials reported in the literature and support this approach as a simpler one for quantifying these combustible hazards.
Long range outcome of prenatal treatment.

Prenatal diagnosis and treatment has been carried out since 1986. The prenatal diagnosis is based on DNA analysis of fetal tissue obtained by amniocentesis or chorionic villus biopsy. Because the genetic analysisis usually not available before treatment with low-dose dexamethasone, all fetuses are treated until the diagnosis of CAH is genetically secured. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait; both male and female fetuses are at risk. As only affected female fetuses require treatment and male fetuses and unaffected female fetuses do not require treatment, seven out of eight fetuses are temporarily treated unnecessarily. We have evaluated the long-range effect of prenatal low-dose dexamethasone treatment in male and female fetuses who are now 12 years and older. The data include male and female fetuses treated or not treated with low-dose dexamethasone treatment. The following parameters were evaluated: (1) medical outcome including diabetes, hypertension, and fractures and (2) psychoendocrine outcome including cognition, gender, behavior, and performance. This was a collaboration between the USA (indicated as A) and France (indicated as Fr). The number of patients with CAH both males and females who were studied, including patients salt wasting CAH (SW), patients with the simple virilizing form of CAH (SV), and patients with non-classical CAH (NC), and patients not affected with CAH (no CAH) is depicted in this chapter. There were 78 patients who were not treated, 4 who were partially treated, and 14 who were treated throughout pregnancy for a total of 136 patients