cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Callisto: co-scheduling parallel runtime systems

It is increasingly important for parallel applications to run together on the same machine. However, current performance is often poor: programs do not adapt well to dynamically varying numbers of cores, and the CPU time received by concurrent jobs can differ drastically. This paper introduces Callisto, a resource management layer for parallel runtime systems. We describe Callisto and the implementation of two Callisto-enabled runtime systems---one for OpenMP, and another for a task-parallel programming model. We show how Callisto eliminates almost all of the scheduler-related interference between concurrent jobs, while still allowing jobs to claim otherwise-idle cores. We use examples from two recent graph analytics projects and from SPEC OMP.
Spectropolarimetric imaging using a field-portable imager

The Army Research Laboratory has a program to develop and characterize compact field-portable hyperspectral and polarization imagers using electronically tunable spectral filters—acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs)—that are polarization sensitive. A spectropolarimetric imager has been designed that combines a liquid-crystal retardation plate with an AOTF and an off-the-shelf charge coupled device (CCD) camera. The imager uses a tellurium dioxide (TeO2) AOTF that operates from the visible to the near-infrared region. The imager is relatively compact, lightweight, and programmable. We used this imager to collect spectral and polarization data from various objects and backgrounds, both in the laboratory and in field tests. The spectral images were collected from 450 to 1000 nm at 10- or 20-nm intervals, at two or four polarization settings for each spectral interval. We analyzed a portion of these data to assess the effectiveness of this system for target detection and identification. Here we present and discuss our measurements and analysis results.
Corrigendum to “Should we tax or cap political contributions? A lobbying model with policy favors and access” [Journal of Public Economics (Volume 93/7–8 — pages 831–842)]

On page 833 paragraph 12 when describing the game order, the published version of the paper states: “The politician chooses whether to sell access or a policy favor at the beginning of the game. Denote this choice by α, where α=1 if the politician sells access and α=0 if he sells a policy favor.” Elsewhere in the paper, the variable a indicates this choice by the politician, and α (including αL, αR, α⁎, α –, α) represents the costs and benefits to the politician of alternative policies. This error arose during the typesetting process, and is only present when first introducing the model and only in the published version of the paper. It does not affect any of the subsequent analysis or results. The author regrets any confusion caused.
Intracellular flux analysis applied to the effect of dissolved oxygen on hybridomas

Quantitative estimates of intracellular fluxes and measurements of intracellular concentrations were used to evaluate the effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on CRL 1606 hybridoma cells in batch culture. The estimates of intracellular fluxes were generated by combining material balances with measurements of extracellular metabolite rates of change. Experiments were performed at DO levels of 60% and 1% air saturation, as well as under oxygen-limited conditions. Cell extracts were analyzed to evaluate the effect of DO on the intracellular concentrations of the glutamate dehydrogenase reactants, as well as the redox state of the pyridine nucleotides in the cytosol and mitochondria. The relationship between cell density and pyridine nucleotide redox state was also investigated. Dissolved oxygen concentration had a significant effect on nitrogen metabolism and the flux through glutamate dehydrogenase was found to reverse at low DO, favoring glutamate formation. The NAD in the cytosol and mitochondria was more reduced under low DO conditions while the cytosolic NAD was more oxidized at low DO. Cytosolic NAD was reduced at higher cell densities while the redox states of cytosolic NADP and mitochondrial NAD did not exhibit significant variation with cell density. These results point to the fundamental role of the intracellular oxidation/reduction state in cell physiology and the possibility of controlling physiological processes through modulation of the dissolved oxygen level or the oxidation/reduction potential of the culture.
SOD2 deficiency in hematopoietic cells in mice results in reduced red blood cell deformability and increased heme degradation

Among the three types of super oxide dismutases (SODs) known, SOD2 deficiency is lethal in neonatal mice owing to cardiomyopathy caused by severe oxidative damage. SOD2 is found in red blood cell (RBC) precursors, but not in mature RBCs. To investigate the potential damage to mature RBCs resulting from SOD2 deficiency in precursor cells, we studied RBCs from mice in which fetal liver stem cells deficient in SOD2 were capable of efficiently rescuing lethally irradiated host animals. These transplanted animals lack SOD2 only in hematopoietically generated cells and live longer than SOD2 knockouts. In these mice, approximately 2.8% of their total RBCs in circulation are iron-laden reticulocytes, with numerous siderocytic granules and increased protein oxidation similar to that seen in sideroblastic anemia. We have studied the RBC deformability and oxidative stress in these animals and the control group by measuring them with a microfluidic ektacytometer and assaying fluorescent heme degradation products with a fluorimeter, respectively. In addition, the rate of hemoglobin oxidation in RBCs from these mice and the control group were measured spectrophotometrically. The results show that RBCs from these SOD2-deficient mice have reduced deformability, increased heme degradation products, and an increased rate of hemoglobin oxidation compared with control animals, indicative of increased RBC oxidative stress.
Clinical decision making in nursing

In this paper, the author reflects on the new practitioner envisaged by developers of the Project 2000 curriculum in Scotland, and focuses on the need to develop critical thinking ability, in particular in relation to clinical decision making. Two approaches to decision making are outlined: the rationalist perspective and the phenomenological perspective, and a model illustrating each is discussed. The models examined are, respectively, decision analysis and hypothetico-deductive reasoning, and their relevance to nursing outlined. The author concludes by discussing the nursing process model from both perspectives; and by recommending that nurses learn from the work done by other disciplines on professional judgement. The suggested role of the nurse teacher in preparing the new practitioner is outlined.
Pseudo-octahedral cobalt(III) complexes of three flexible “tripod-like” tetradentate triarsine ligands☆

Abstract Three series of six-coordinate cobalt(III) complexes have been isolated with the flexible tetradentate triarsine ligands D[CH2CH2CH2AS(CH3)2]3(D = P, As, Sb). As a result of the “tripod-like” structure of the tetradentate ligands, the cobalt complexes [Co(ligand)-X2]+ possess a cis-octahedral structure. The electronic absorption spectra produce the spectrochemical series P > As > Sb for the effect of the apex donor atom in the three ligands. Mixed ligand complexes of the type [Co(ligand)XY]n+ (X = Cl, Y = NCS; n = 1; X = Cl, Y = DmF or H2O, n = 2) were isolated in an attempt to evaluate the trans electronic effect in these CoIII complexes. The Sb[CH2CH2CH2As(CH3)2]3 complexes give the first example of stable CoIIISbR3 coordinate bonds.
Suppression of transmission at foreign synapses in adult newt muscle involves reduction in quantal content

IN the search for the principles underlying the orderly development of the nervous system, it is interesting to know whether vertebrate neurones or muscle fibres can distinguish synaptic contacts of the axons which normally innervate them from the input of incorrect (or foreign) nerves. This possibility has been considered by asking whether foreign synapses induced on a denervated muscle fibre are displaced or suppressed when the muscle is reinnervated by its normal nerve. Observations of oculomotor reflexes in goldfish after experimental cross innervation of extraocular muscles led to the proposal that correct reinnervation suppressed foreign synapses1. Attempts to reproduce these results in the same system2, however, led to the opposite conclusion—that foreign transmission continued unabated after reinnervation by the correct nerve. A similar persistence of foreign synaptic function was found in reinnervated perch gill muscle3, frog fast muscle4, mammalian skeletal muscle5,6 and sympathetic ganglion cells7. Adult salamander muscle is the one other system in which suppression of incorrect synapses has been indicated; by the criterion of muscle fibre contraction monitored during foreign innervation and correct reinnervation, Cass et al.8 concluded that return of the correct nerve caused inactivation of foreign synaptic input. The present investigation examines this phenomenon at the level of transmitter release from individual synapses, and provides evidence that transmission by foreign nerve terminals declines in quantal content when adult newt muscle is reinnervated by its correct nerve.
Yolk-sac–derived macrophages regulate fetal testis vascularization and morphogenesis

Organogenesis of the testis is initiated when expression of Sry in pre-Sertoli cells directs the gonad toward a male-specific fate. The cells in the early bipotential gonad undergo de novo organization to form testis cords that enclose germ cells inside tubules lined by epithelial Sertoli cells. Although Sertoli cells are a driving force in the de novo formation of testis cords, recent studies in mouse showed that reorganization of the vasculature and of interstitial cells also play critical roles in testis cord morphogenesis. However, the mechanism driving reorganization of the vasculature during fetal organogenesis remained unclear. Here we demonstrate that fetal macrophages are associated with nascent gonadal and mesonephric vasculature during the initial phases of testis morphogenesis. Macrophages mediate vascular reorganization and prune errant germ cells and somatic cells after testis architecture is established. We show that gonadal macrophages are derived from primitive yolk-sac hematopoietic progenitors and exhibit hallmarks of M2 activation status, suggestive of angiogenic and tissue remodeling functions. Depletion of macrophages resulted in impaired vascular reorganization and abnormal cord formation. These findings reveal a previously unappreciated role for macrophages in testis morphogenesis and suggest that macrophages are an intermediary between neovascularization and organ architecture during fetal organogenesis.
Noise avoidance in the C57BL/6J mouse

Noise was evaluated as an aversive stimulus in the C57BL/6J mouse, using a simple escape/avoidance procedure in which mice could terminate noise by entering and remaining in a designatedsafe area (corner or side) of a square apparatus. Exposed to pulsed noise of 87.5–90 dB, mice spent 45%–50% of total corner time in the safe corner or approximately 80% of total time in the safe side. Acquisition was significantly faster with moderate intensities of pulsed noise (87.5–90 dB) than it was with high-intensity pulsed noise (100 dB). In comparisons of continuous as opposed to pulsed noise, acquisition was significantly faster with continuous (87.5-dB) noise than it was with pulsed noise, and continuous noise was shown in a choice procedure to be more aversive. Continuous noise caused significant, though not severe, suppression of activity, but pulsed noise caused virtually none. Thus, pulsed noise is a mildly aversive stimuhis for C57BL/6J mice and may have promise for the study of stress-induced behaviors in freely moving animals, but continuous noise is clearly more effective for rapid short-term conditioning.
What is the Role of Tubular Epithelial Cell Apoptosis in Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

Tubular epithelial cell apoptosis occurs in most animal models of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and in kidneys from humans with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Induction of apoptosis in cultured tubular epithelial cells results in cyst formation. Induction of apoptosis in the kidney in Bcl-2 deficient mice results in increased proliferation of tubular epithelium and cyst formation. Caspase inhibition reduces tubular apoptosis and proliferation and slows disease progression in the Han:SPRD rat model of PKD. Thus, there is evidence that both epithelial cell apoptosis and proliferation are dysregulated in ADPKD and may represent a general mechanism for cyst growth.
In vitro evaluation of cefepime and other broad-spectrum β-lactams in 22 medical centers in Japan: a phase II trial comparing two annual organism samples

An antimicrobial resistance surveillance study in Japan is presented representing the second year (Phase II) results from 22 medical centers. Each participant laboratory tested (Etest, AB BIODISK, Solna, Sweden) 100 organisms, 10 strains each from 10 species groups including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., indole-positive Proteae, Serratia spp., Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci. Generally only modest variations in the activity of the studied broad-spectrum beta-lactams was observed compared to the study a year before. Specifically, extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) rates in E. coli increased (2.9 to 8.1%), but the ESBL rate in Klebsiella spp. fell (8.6 to 5.0%). Overall the resistance to the beta-lactams varied from a 4.7% decrease (ceftazidime as a consequence of a modified staphylococcal breakpoint criteria) to a 1.0% increase (cefepime, not significant). The rank order of spectrums in 1998 only changed for cefoperazone-sulbactam (6.1% resistance) that was active against more strains than cefpirome (6.8% resistance). The overall spectrum rank order for the 1998 Japan sample (% resistance) was: cefepime (3.2%) > imipenem (4.1%) > cefoperazone-sulbactam (6.1%) > cefpirome (6.8%) > ceftazidime (8.4%) > piperacillin (19.9%). As with a similar study in 1997, imipenem-resistant isolates of P. aeruginosa and Serratia spp. were discovered with metalloenzymes, usually found in the same medical centers. These results demonstrate the continued in vitro activity and potential sustained clinical efficacy of several broad-spectrum beta-lactams in Japan. Rapid emergence of new or novel resistance were not wide spread using a precise quantitative MIC system. Continued surveillance in this nation would be prudent to document the activity of this clinically valuable class of safe, antimicrobial agents.
Consumers' Apparel and Home Furnishings Inshopping Behavior in Rural Communities:

Rural consumer shopping behavior research has traditionally focused on factors influencing consumers to leave their community and outshop rather than on factors influencing inshopping behavior. Thi...
The logarithmic distribution of leading digits and finitely additive measures

When the ‘1’ key on my old computer gave out I was not surprised. That this particular key was first to break was just another manifestation of the long observed phenomenon, namely that more numbers begin with digit 1 than with any other digit. The empirical logarithmic distribution law states that for a ‘randomly chosen’ number, the leading digit will be 1 with probability log,,,2. In general, the leading digit d occurs with probability log,,,(l + l/d), and in fact for any positive integer k, the probability that the decimal expansion of a number begins with k is log,,,(l + l/k). This empirical logarithmic law was first observed and formulated by Simon Newcomb in 1881 [8]: ‘That the ten digits do not occur with equal frequency must be evident to any one making much use of logarithmic tables, and noticing how much faster the first pages wear out than the last ones.’ ‘The law of probability of the occurrence of numbers is such that all mantissae of their logarithms are equally probable.’ A number of papers have been written to deal with this ‘first digit phenomenon’, giving explanations using various summation methods or definitions of probability. On close inspection, all these methods attempt to introduce a (finitely additive) probability measure for which the distribution of leading digits satisfies the logarithmic law. In this paper we state necessary and sufficient conditions for a probability measure to satisfy the first digit law, and discuss various results and proposed explanations in the light of these conditions.
Sialyltransferase STX (ST8SiaII): A novel molecular marker of metastatic neuroblastoma

Polysialic acid (PSA) is highly expressed in many human cancers, including neuroblastoma (NB), and is critical for cellular adhesion, neuronal migration and tumor metastasis. The key enzyme responsible for PSA synthesis is sialyltransferase STX (ST8SiaII). Using quantitative RT-PCR we (i) studied STX expression in 39 NB tumors and 8 cell lines and (ii) examined its potential clinical utility as an early response marker in the bone marrows of the entire cohort of 136 high-risk NB patients treated with an immunotherapy protocol utilizing anti-GD2 antibody 3F8 and GM-CSF. Based on the quantitation of 24 normal marrow and peripheral blood samples, a normalized STX transcript value below the mean + 2SD was defined as negative. Sensitivity of this assay was 1 NB cell in 10(6) normal mononuclear cells. STX expression was high among NB tumors of all stages, as well as NB cell lines of different phenotypes. Evaluation for early (2.5 months from protocol entry) marrow response by univariate Cox model indicated that STX marker status (positive versus negative) was strongly associated with both progression-free and overall survival (p < 0.0005 for both). Similarly, the STX transcript level of posttreatment marrows was also highly prognostic of outcome (PFS, p = 0.001; OS, p < 0.0005). We conclude that STX mRNA has potential clinical utility as a molecular marker of metastatic NB.
Apparent proton affinities of highly charged peptide ions

The apparent proton affinities (PA) of various charge states of three highly basic peptides [(KAP)10, (KAP)8, (KAA)8] were measured by the “bracketing” method. For all three peptides the apparent PA decreases as the charge state increases and the magnitude of the decrease is consistent with an increase in coulombic repulsion in the highly protonated species. Based on a simple electrostatic model, theoretical PAs were predicted for each charge state and the values for (KAP)10 and (KAP)8 were within 10 kcal/mol of the experimental values. The maximum charge state of these peptides was observed in all cases even when the most volatile solvent was sufficiently basic to deprotonate that charge state in the gas phase. In solution (KAP)8 exhibits a random coil secondary structure while (KAA)8 exhibits an α-helix structure. Comparison of measured and calculated apparent PAs suggests that (KAP)8 retains its solution random coil structure in the gas phase and (KAA)8 retains the solution compact α-helix structure in the lower charge states but opens up to a β structure in the gas phase to minimize electrostatic repulsions in higher charge states.
Interpretation of Early Lesions in the Mouse Lung: Fibrogenesis and Tumorigenesis

Up to the late 1960s, there was only a limited amount of information available on cytodynamics in the lung parenchyma. Morphometry provided insights on qualitative and quantitative changes in lung injury and repair, but was technically demanding and time-consuming. Nevertheless, the role of the alveolar type II epithelial cell in repairing damaged pulmonary epithelium became apparent (41). Autoradiography allows the study of cell renewal in airways and lung parenchyma. With the advent of plastic sections, the technique became a powerful tool. Embedding lung tissue in glycol methacrylate enabled one to cut sections thin enough (1 µm or less) to permit identification of individual cell types with much more precision than can be done with conventional paraffin sections. In addition, entire mouse lung lobes can be sectioned; this allows the examination and sampling of many more lung cells than can be done on Epon sections usually cut prior to electron microscopy. As a result of these developments there is now a considerable body of data available on cell injury and tissue repair in lungs damaged by toxic inhalants and by bloodborne agents (1,10,20).
Pharmacokinetics of Methylprednisolone after Intravenous and Intramuscular Administration in Rats

Methylprednisolone (MPL) pharmacokinetics was examined in adrenalectomized (ADX) and normal rats to assess the feasibility of intramuscular (i.m.) dosing for use in pharmacodynamic studies. Several study phases were pursued. Parallel group studies were performed in normal and ADX rats given 50 mg/kg MPL (i.v. or i.m.) and blood samples were collected up to 6 h. Data from studies where normal rats were dosed with 50 mg/kg MPL i.m. and killed over either 6 or 96 h were combined to determine muscle site and plasma MPL concentrations. Lastly, ADX rats were dosed with 50 mg/kg MPL i.m. and killed over 18 h to assess hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) dynamics. MPL exhibited bi-exponential kinetics after i.v. dosing with a terminal slope of 2.1 h−1. The i.m. drug was absorbed slowly with two first-order absorption rate constants, 1.26 and 0.219 h−1 indicating flip-flop kinetics with overall 50% bioavailability. The kinetics of MPL at the injection site exhibited slow, dual absorption rates. Although i.m. MPL showed lower bioavailability compared with other corticosteroids in rats, TAT dynamics revealed similar i.m. and i.v. response profiles. The more convenient intramuscular dosing can replace the i.v. route without causing marked differences in pharmacodynamics. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nonnegative solutions to a semilinear dirichlet problem in a ball are positive and radially syhhetric

We prove that nonnegative.so1utions to a semilinear Dirichlet problem in a ball are positive, and hence radially symmetric. In particular this answers a question in [3] where positive solutions were proven to be radially symmetric. In section 4 we provide a sufficient condition on the geometry of the .domain which ensures that nonnegative solutions are positive in the interior.
Choice of blind methadone dose increases by methadone maintenance patients.

In the present study, a choice procedure was used in an outpatient methadone maintenance clinic to examine preferences for different double-blind methadone dose increases in 5 male patients. Subjects chose between 50 mg vs. 50 mg, 60 mg, 75 mg and 100 mg of methadone. In the 50 mg vs. 50 mg condition, each alternative was selected equally often. Percent selection of the higher doses (60, 75 and 100 mg) over the 50 mg dose of methadone increased in a dose-related fashion. Subject self-reports were consistent with methadone's opiate-like properties with dose-related trends being noted in most scales (e.g. opiate effects, drug liking). Overall, the results show that a choice procedure can be used successfully to assess the reinforcing properties of drugs in methadone maintenance patients and that methadone dose increases can function as a reinforcer in this population even under blind dosing conditions.
Characterizing the relative calibration of Landsat-7 (ETM+) visible bands with Terra (MODIS) over clear waters: The implications for monitoring water resources

Abstract Since its launch, the Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) onboard Landsat-7 has been continuously monitored via different calibration techniques to ensure it maintains the science requirements for demanding application areas. The majority of its applications, including agriculture and forestry, require a robust calibration for medium to high reflective targets. However, when imaging water resources, then the question becomes whether the calibration coefficients are valid for the dark end of the sensor's responsivity curve. Motivated by the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) and its potential for providing long-term, robust water studies, in this effort, the calibration status of ETM+ visible bands are examined using a cross-calibration technique. The well-calibrated Terra-MODIS scenes (collection 5) of the past decade over relatively optically stable waters were chosen to evaluate ETM+ stability. The cross-comparison showed that the calibration instability of ETM+ reflective bands lie well within its radiometric uncertainty. The slight calibration differences were found to be less than 1.6%, 0.93%, and 3.2% for the blue, green and the red bands obtained for the period when the MODIS had been radiometrically stable. The NIR band of ETM+, however, exhibits, on average, 4.8% higher signals than those of MODIS. The error budget analysis for the calibration differences showed that 1.2%, 1.6%, 3.5%, and 6.5% errors are associated with the Visible-Near-Infrared (VNIR) bands, respectively. Using the results from the calibration study combined with simulations, it was demonstrated that ETM+ underestimates the retrieved diffuse surface reflectance ( R d ) in the blue and the green bands as much as 12.2% and 4.4%, respectively, while the red band is overestimated 37%, on average, when studying slightly/moderately turbid. The uncertainties in the retrieval of R d were applied in a water constituent retrieval framework where a physics-based model was utilized to obtain concentrations of chlorophyll-a (CHL) and total suspended solids (TSS) from a Landsat-7 dataset in slightly/moderately turbid waters. It was found that the calibration-induced errors in the retrieval of R d yield, on average, 20% error in retrieval of these components. The results indicate that although ETM+ is well calibrated, its calibration status should be quantified rigorously for water studies when physics-based methods are employed for the removal of atmospheric effects. The over-water characterization of Landsat satellites will become more crucial when the LDCM becomes operational due to its increased capabilities for water resource studies.
Oral fish oil supplementation raises blood omega-3 levels and lowers C-reactive protein in haemodialysis patients—a pilot study

Background. We previously reported that haemodialysis patients have suboptimal blood levels of the cardioprotective omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. In the present pilot study, we tested the hypothesis that supplementing haemodialysis patients for 12 weeks with the American Heart Association (AHA)-recommended fish oil dose would be well tolerated and efficacious in boosting blood n-3 PUFA levels and improving cardiovascular risk biomarkers. Methods. Twenty-seven subjects were randomized in a 2 : 1 ratio to either 1.3 g of EPA þ DHA daily or placebo. Results. At baseline, 83% of subjects consumed inadequate dietary fish and had the following erythro
The β-tail domain (βTD) regulates physiologic ligand binding to integrin CD11b/CD18

Crystallographic and electron microscopy studies revealed genuflexed (bent) integrins in both unliganded (inactive) and physiologic ligandbound (active) states, suggesting that local conformational changes are sufficient for activation. Herein we have explored the role of local changes in the contact region between the membrane-proximal β-tail domain (βTD) and the ligand-binding βA domain of the bent conformation in regulating interaction of integrin CD11b/CD18 (αMβ2) with its physiologic ligand iC3b. We replaced the βTD CD loop residues D658GMD of the CD18 (β2) subunit with the equivalent D672SSG of the β3 subunit, with AGAA or with NGTD, expressed the respective heterodimeric receptors either transiently in epithelial HEK293T cells or stably in leukocytes (K562), and measured their ability to bind iC3b and to conformation-sensitive mAbs. In the presence of the physiologic divalent cations Ca2+ plus Mg2+ (at 1 mM each), the modified integrins showed increased (in HEK293) or constitutive (in K562) binding to iC3b compared with wild-type receptors. K562 expressing the βTD-modified integrins bound in Ca2+Mg2+ to the βA-directed high-affinity reporter mAb 24 but not to mAb KIM127, a reporter of the genu-straightened state. These data identify a role for the membrane proximal βTD as an allosteric modulator of integrin activation.
Longitudinal changes in spouses' HPA responses: Convergence in cortisol patterns during the early years of marriage.

Objective Drawing on theories of bidirectional influence between relationship partners (Butler, 2011; Diamond & Aspinwall, 2003), the authors applied dyadic analytic methods to test convergence in cortisol patterns over time in newlywed couples. Method Previous studies of bidirectional influence in couples' cortisol levels (Liu, Rovine, Klein, & Almeida, 2013; Papp, Pendry, Simon, & Adam, 2013; Saxbe & Repetti, 2010) found significant covariation in couples' daily cortisol levels over several days, but no studies have tested whether cortisol response similarity increases over time using a longitudinal design. In the present study, 183 opposite sex couples (366 participants) engaged in a conflict discussion in a laboratory visit about 6 months after their marriage, and again about 2 years into the marriage. At each visit, spouses provided saliva samples that indexed cortisol levels before, during, and after the discussion. This multimeasure procedure enabled modeling of spouses' cortisol trajectories around the conflict discussion. Results Findings showed significant convergence in couples' cortisol trajectories across the early years of marriage; couples showed significantly greater similarity in cortisol trajectories around the conflict discussion as their relationship matured. Cohabitation length predicted stronger convergence in cortisol slopes prior to the conflict discussion. Couples' relationship dissatisfaction was associated with a greater degree of convergence in spouses' acute cortisol levels during the conflict discussion. Conclusions Findings suggest that spouses increasingly shape each other's cortisol responses as their relationship matures. Findings also indicated that increased similarity in acute cortisol levels during conflict may be associated with poorer relationship functioning.
Hispanic Versus White Smoking Patterns by Sex and Level of Education

Although past studies have compared cigarette smoking patterns in Hispanics and whites, few have examined differences within sex and educational subgroups. Data are presented for 1,088 Hispanic women and men (89% Mexican-American origin) and pairwise matched white women and men (544 pairs), aged 25-74 years, who participated in population-based cross-sectional surveys in California in 1979-1990. Each pair was matched on age, sex, educational level, city of residence, and survey time period. There were large differences in smoking prevalence rates between Hispanic and white pairs with low educational attainment. White women and men with less than a high school education were approximately twice as likely to be current daily cigarette smokers as were similarly educated Hispanic women and men (46.1 vs. 20.6% for women and 52.7 vs. 30.1% for men). As the level of education increased, these ethnic differences in smoking decreased and became negligible among those who completed college. Virtually all low-educated white men (92.5%) and most low-educated white women (73.1%) were either current or former daily smokers. There were large ethnic differences in rates of smoking cessation advice from a physician ; only 8.3% of low-educated Hispanic men who were current daily smokers had ever been advised by a physician to stop smoking, compared with 59.6% of low-educated white men. These data confirm ethnic differences in smoking behavior and identify the high smoking rates of white men and women with low educational attainment, thus delineating an often unrecognized group toward whom tobacco prevention and cessation activities should be directed. Am J Epidemiol 1995 ;142 :410-18.
Target classification based on micro-Doppler signatures

In this paper, we propose a Gabor filtering method to extract localized micro-Doppler signatures represented in the time-frequency domain. The dimensionality of the extracted Gabor features is further reduced by using the principal component analysis (PCA) method. Therefore, a suitable classifier can be used for target classification based on their different motion dynamics. In our study, we use simulated radar data. Three different classifiers (Bayes linear, k-nearest neighbor, and support vector machine) are compared and tested. Our experiments show that Gabor features are robust in discriminating micro-Doppler effects of different types of micro-motions, and SVM classifier provides the best performance.
An online experiment of privacy authorization dialogues for social applications

Several studies have documented the constantly evolving privacy practices of social networking sites and users' misunderstandings about them. Researchers have criticized the interfaces to "configure" privacy preferences as opaque, uninformative, and ineffective. The same problems have also plagued the constant growth of third-party applications and their troubling privacy authorization dialogues. In this paper, we report the results of an experimental study examining the limitations of current privacy authorization dialogues on Facebook as well as four new designs which we developed based on the Fair Information Practice Principles (FIPPs). Through an online experiment with 250 users, we study and document the effectiveness of installation-time configuration and awareness-enhancing interface changes.
The Outcome of Renal Transplantation in Children Without Prolonged Pre-Transplant Dialysis

Controversy in the literature exists over whether or not it is beneficial to maintain a patient on dialysis for a prolonged time before transplantation. Because no data exist comparing children who have had prolonged dialysis before transplantation to those who have none, we reviewed the charts of all children transplanted at the Children's Hospital of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Of those, we selected three groups for analysis: group one (n = 12) consisted of patients who had had less than or equal to 10 weeks of dialysis before transplantation (6.8 +/- -2.2 weeks, +/- = SD); group two (n = 21) were patients who had had more than 10 weeks of dialysis (142 + +/- -148 weeks). Both groups had two years of follow-up data. Group three (n = 13) consisted of patients who had had less than two years of follow-up (18.7 +/-/-7 months) but no dialysis before transplantation. There were no differences in mode of dialysis between groups one and two nor in the type of transplant (living-related donor vs. cadaveric). Significantly, the patients in group three received more cyclosporine A and less anti-lymphocyte globulin than the other two groups (p less than 0.05). Patients in group two received more transfusions (11.9 +/- 14.3) than patients in group one (4.0 +/- 2.7) and group three (3.5 +/- 7.3). There were no differences in number of patients who experienced at least one rejection episode among the three groups. Although the mean serum creatinine concentration at two years of follow-up was higher in group two (3.6 +/- -3.9 mg/dl), this was not significantly different from group one (1.7 +/- -0.7 mg/dl) or group three (1.9 +/- -0.5, n = 7). Sixty-three percent of patients in group one, 60% of patients in group two and 91% in group three had functioning allografts at two years follow-up. Although there may be other considerations, our data do not indicate any increase in rejection or decrease in graft survival in children who do not receive prolonged dialysis.
Design Criteria for the Magnetized Dusty Plasma eXperiment

This paper discusses the design of the new Magnetized Dusty Plasma eXperiment (MDPX) device that is currently under construction at Auburn University. This device, which is envisioned to be operated as a multiuser facility, has incorporated many of the features of current dusty plasma experiments that make use of strong magnetic fields while adding new features-such as an extended plasma volume, programmable linear magnetic field gradients, and variable magnetic field geometries-that will greatly extend the operating space of the new device. This paper discusses the physics criteria used to define the operating parameters of the MDPX device and presents a discussion of the initial configuration of the experiment.
Loyalty intelligence and price discrimination in a duopoly

Business intelligence tools have enabled novel and relatively low-cost capabilities to collect and analyze vast amount of customer information. Accumulation of customer specific information along with transactional data empowers firms to categorize customers into segments and offer customized prices. We study the impact of price discrimination and market segmentation on competition and consumer purchase behavior in a game-theoretic model with two asymmetric firms. At equilibrium, both firms price discriminate and segment the market. Contrary to previous price discrimination and market segmentation findings, the game is not necessarily a prisoner's dilemma. The firm dominating the industry is likely to improve its profits at the expense of the rival firm, and consumer welfare will increase with segmentation. We define two fundamental parameters, market dominance and the technology cost to industry dominance ratio, to drive segmentation technology adoption decisions, as a basis for our analytical approach.
Symbolic Analysis in the PROMIS Compiler

PROMIS is a multilingual, parallelizing, and optimizing compiler which is being developed at the Univ. of Illinois with its optimizing ILP backend developed at Univ. of California at Irvine[4]. In PROMIS, symbolic analysis is performed through an abstract interpretation[2] of the input program. Abstract interpretation is a technique for approximating the execution of the program by mapping symbolic (closed form) values computed at compile time to the actual values computed at runtime. This paper describes the symbolic analysis framework in the PROMIS compiler, and its application to Java program optimizations.
Local Diversity, Human Creativity, and Technological Innovation

The purpose of this paper is to point out some shortcomings of traditional approaches to the study of "knowledge spillovers" and to suggest an alternative based on how knowledge is actually created and exchanged by individuals. Which regional setting is the best incubator of technological change and economic growth? Is this promoted by regional diversity or specialization of economic activity? This study will include economic analyses of geographically localized "dynamic knowledge externalities, Jacob's externalities, or adding new work to old, industrial classification and technology combination, human creativity, and technology combination through human action and imaginative use of resources. Employees add to, or switch their product line; individuals move from one type of production to another; individuals observe a product/process in another setting and incorporate it; individuals possessing different skills and working for different firms collaborate; and urban diversity and resource collaboration are utilized. It is concluded that problems are solved through the combination of previously unrelated things and that promoting regional specialization at the expense of spontaneously evolved local diversity might be a counter-productive policy.
Pragmatic Development as a Dynamic, Complex Process: General Patterns and Case Histories

This longitudinal study asks 2 questions. The first one is: What patterns of pragmatic development can we observe among different pragmatic functions and attributes in a second language (L2)? The second question is: In what ways do individual differences and learning context affect the course of pragmatic development? Forty-eight Japanese college students studying English in an immersion setting in Japan participated in the study. They completed a pragmatic speaking task ( k= 12) that measured their ability to produce 2 speech acts, requests and opinions, in 2 situation types: low-imposition and high-imposition. The task was administered 3 times over 1 academic year. Gains in the appropriateness of the speech acts and fluency of production were analyzed. In addition, a subset of the participants was interviewed to seek the relationship between pragmatic gains and types of sociocultural experiences available on campus. Results revealed that appropriateness showed a profound increase for the low-imposition speech acts, but the production of high-imposition speech acts was slow developing. There was a large increase in speech rate at the initial stage for both situation types, but it showed stagnation at the later stage. Qualitative data revealed an interesting portrayal of the learners' history of participation and socialization related to pragmatic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Cloning, nucleotide sequence determination and expression of the genes encoding cytochrome P-450soy (soyC) and ferredoxinsoy (soyB) from Streptomyces griseus

Summary Xenobiotic transformation by Streptomyces griseus (ATCC13273) is catalysed by a cytochrome P-450, designated cytochrome P-450soy A DNA segment carrying the structural gene encoding P-450soy (soyC) was cloned using an oligonucleotide probe constructed from the protein sequence of a tryptic peptide. Following DNA sequencing the deduced amino acid sequence of P-450soy was compared with that for P-450cam, revealing conservation of important structural components including the haem pocket. Expression of the cloned soyC gene product was demonstrated in Streptomyces lividans by reduced CO:difference spectral analysis and Western blotting. Downstream of soyC, a gene encoding a putative [3Fe-4S] ferredoxin (soyB), named ferredoxinsoy, was identified.
Towards optimal operation of sequential NOx storage and reduction and selective catalytic reduction

Abstract Combined NO x storage and reduction (NSR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) were conducted in a bench flow reactor comprising a Pt/Rh/BaO/Al 2 O 3 lean NO x trap (LNT) catalyst and either Fe-ZSM-5 or Cu-SSZ-13 SCR catalyst. Simulated exhaust gas containing C 3 H 6 or CO reductant was used to evaluate catalyst performance in terms of cycle-averaged NO x conversion and product selectivities over a range of feed concentrations and temperatures, and gas hourly space velocities (GHSV). Instantaneous concentration and temperature measurements reveal strong coupling of mass and energy between the LNT and SCR. The data show the importance of NH 3 generation by the LNT for effective use of the downstream SCR. Operating conditions are identified that maximize utilization of the downstream SCR. A non-NH 3 SCR pathway is found to be significant for Cu-SSZ-13 at intermediate temperature and high space velocity. The post-LNT NH 3 to NO x ratio (ANR) correlates with the incremental NO x conversion achieved for Fe-ZSM-5, noting that ANR ∼1 favors NH 3 -based standard SCR at high conversion. A reactor system productivity metric for N 2 generation (space-time yield analog) is used to rank-order the LNT + SCR systems and together with the propylene conversion are used to identify conditions giving the best performance. The combination of an overall GHSV of 135 k h −1 and 350 °C feed temperature generates a SCR feed from the LNT that results in the highest incremental cycle-averaged NO x conversion in the SCR (∼30% with Cu-SSZ-13) and high cycle-averaged conversions of NO x (∼90%) and propylene (∼80%). The Cu-SSZ-13 out-performs the Fe-ZSM-5 catalyst under most conditions.
Integral Models Of Physical Systems

Integral equations represent a more general tool for solving applied engineering problems as compared with differential equations. An integral equation “represents the entire physics of the problem in a very compact form and, in many instances, a more convenient form than the more conventional differential equation” ( Morse and Feshbach, 1953, p.896). Generally speaking, integral equations (IEs) can describe global situations that cannot be modeled by differential equations. On the other hand, all models based on DEs may be converted to IEs. The corresponding applications include many problems of viscoelasticity ( Renardy et al, 1987) and creep theory ( Arutjunian and Kolmanovskii, 1983), superfluidity ( Miller, 1973) and aeroelasticity ( Belotserkovskii et al, 1980), coagulation and meteorology (Galkin and Dubovskii, 1982), electromagnetism ( Bloom, 1981), radiation transfer ( Cergignani, 1975; Colton and Kress, 1983), radiophysics ( Ramm, 1980), electronic lithography, astronomy, and so on.
Early Visual Processing: Feature Detection or Spatial Filtering?

The visual system has been extensively studied for more than a century with both psychophysical and physiological techniques. This research has provided us with detailed knowledge concerning many aspects of how the early stages of the system operate. We understand (in considerable detail) the optics of the eye, the nature of the transformation of light into neural activity, and the first stages of the processing of this neural information. Not only do we now have much information on retinal processing, but also on the nature of the transformations at the first two central levels (the lateral geniculate nucleus and the striate cortex), although what happens to visual information beyond that in later cortical areas is still only dimly understood.
DYNAMICS OF WIND IN THE VICINITY OF PROGRESSIVE WAVES

This paper presents a fundamental study of the dynamics of wind in the vicinity of progressive water waves. The normal pressure distribution and the structure of the velocity profile immediately above progressive water waves are investigated. A wind-wave facility 115 feet long, 74J4 inches high, and 35^ inches wide is used which is equipped with an oscillatmg-plate wave generator. Velocities up to 80 fps can be obtained at a nominal water depth of 3 feet. An oscillating device (or wave follower) was designed and built, on which a pressure sensor could be mounted and could be held at a fixed distance (within % inch) above progressive water waves at all times. The results indicate that a pressure shift does exist as predicted by Miles [1957] within the assumptions of the theory. Furthermore, the results demonstrate clearly the importance of using a pressure sensor which follows the water surface in obtaining meaningful pressures at the air-water interface. Mean velocity profiles with and without mechanically generated waves were obtained. Contrary to what is normally assumed, the results indicate that the boundary layer in the vicinity of water waves is affected by the presence of waves.
Autoradiographic Distribution of Binding Sites for Iodinated Tachykinins in the Rat Central Nervous System

Tritiated and iodinated tachykinin peptide ligands bind to distinctly different types of sites in the CNS. Iritiated substance P (SP) and 125I-Bolton-Hunter reagent-labeled SP bind specifically to sites with higher affinity for SP and physa1aemin (PHYS) than for other tachykinins which has led to these being designated P-type sites. The biochemical regu1ation 0f these sites, their specificity, and their localization to CNS regions that are sensitive to the biological effects of SP suggest that the sites are SP receptors [see 1,2].
Exact calculation of minimum sample size for estimating a Poisson parameter

AbstractWe develop an exact approach for the determination of the minimum sample size for estimating a Poisson parameter such that the pre-specified levels of relative precision and confidence are guaranteed. The exact computation is made possible by reducing infinitely many evaluations of coverage probability to finitely many evaluations. The theory for supporting such a reduction is that the minimum of coverage probability with respect to the parameter in an interval is attained at a discrete set of finitely many elements. Computational mechanisms have been developed to further reduce the computational complexity. An explicit bound for the minimum sample size is established.