cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Business Internships on Job Marketability: The Employer's Perspective

Purpose– This paper seeks to report the results of an empirical investigation of the relationship between internship participation and student employment marketability. The study aims to identify the value that employers attribute to internships as a qualification for employment and as a factor in determining compensation.Design/methodology/approach– The study presents the results of a survey of 185 employers of 392 interns enrolled in an AACSB‐accredited business college in a Northeastern US university. The survey examined the perceived value of the internship experience, the effect of intern performance on internship value perceptions, and the relationship between internship participation and employer selection and compensation decisions.Findings– The survey results indicate significantly more full‐time opportunities for undergraduates with internship experience, corroborating earlier published empirical research. Additionally, while even average‐performing interns were significantly more likely to receive full‐time job offers than non‐interns, high‐performing interns were more likely to receive higher starting salaries. Finally, the study shows that high intern performance results in enhanced employer‐perceived value of the internship program.Originality/value– Field internships are endorsed by business schools as an effective way to gain practical experience and enhance employment marketability. However, few studies have provided empirical evidence linking internship participation to success in postgraduation employment. The study confirms the value of an internship in job marketability. In addition, the study provides an estimate of the perceived value of internship experience in employee compensation. Finally, the paper affirms the internship as a component of experiential learning that can enhance the employability development opportunities offered by institutions of higher learning.
Utility and Futility of English Grammar Teaching in India

Grammar is a metaphor in the minds of millions of Indian learners of English that stands for power as well as terror of the English language. One of the reasons for Anglophobia that most Indian learners of English suffer and subsequently drop themselves out from the educational system is the undue importance given to the teaching of grammar in an unprofessional way that excludes the participation of learners. As a result, grammar loses its glamour and learners lose their education. Is something wrong with English grammar per se or is something rotten with grammar teaching? Structuralists see language as a sign system whose conventions are agreed upon by the speakers of a speech community so that communication can take place unhampered. Therefore, learning a language means to participate in these conventions. These conventions may vary in vocabulary and grammar from language to language. Indian teachers of English still entertain a more-than-century-old conceptual understanding of grammar as a set of rules and inadvertently they unleash terror in their classroom instead of exposing its infinite communicative power to the learners. It is, therefore, no wonder that the most preferred method of teaching English in India continues to be Grammar-Translation even though language policy makers, textbook writers, and teachers loudly talk about the importance and relevance of Communicative Language Teaching. Indian teachers/learners of English have internalized the importance of grammar to the extent that much time is spent/wasted on its teaching/learning at all levels. Ironically, their idea of grammar as a set of rules has been strongly fossilized to the extent that they do not see any correlation between these rules and their function in communication. Most of the spoken English institutes, institutes of career advancement, and competitive examinations do highlight the importance of grammar since almost all entrance tests and competitive exams test candidates’ knowledge of English grammar in the English section of question papers. Those who survive Anglophobia at the lower levels of Indian education suffer at the higher level when they face entrances tests. The present study aims at eliciting the views of English teachers at the tertiary level on the effective teaching of English grammar through activities so that learners do participate in these linguistic conventions for communication in their daily life.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES OF FARMERS IN A VILLAGE OF FAYOUM GOVERNORATE

This study aimed to describe the levels of environmental values of the surveyed farmers in the study area, explore the global structure of the environmental values measurement in the surveyed farmers, and determine the relationship between the level of the environmental values of the respondents and some social, economic and personal variables. To achieve these goals, a simple random sample was selected from the lists of the holders of the agricultural society of Qasr al-Jabali village by 5% of the total. The sample consisted of 206 farmers.. Frequency, percentages, arithmetic mean and standard deviation were used to present and describe the data in addition to the reliability coefficient (α) in Kronbach method . Factor analysis was used to identify the global structure.The multiple regression analysis was used to identify the correlative relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variable in the study. The main results were: - The total degree of environmental values of the farmers was medium and low among the majority of farmers (42.1% - 30.8%), while those with a high level of environmental values (27.1%) were farmers. The environmental values of farmers include two main components: A- Factor 1: It can be called the applied side in environmental values, which includes values related to (preservation of the environment, protection of the environment from pollution, rational exploitation of environmental resources, positive participation in improving the environment) and this factor explains about 35.5% of the variation in values Of the farmers. Factor 2: It can be called the moral or emotional aspect of farmers' environmental values and includes values related to (aesthetic taste of the components of the environment, social responsibility towards the environment, awareness of the importance of natural resources) and this factor explains about 19% of the variation in the environmental values of the farmers. There were five independent variables that contributed to explaining the total variation in the environmental values of the respondents. These variables are: the number of years of formal education, the degree of concern for the health of family members, cultural openness, age, and participation in development activities. 2 - Referring to the value of the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.558, it is clear that the previous five independent variables together account for about 58.2% of the variation in the level of environmental values of the respondents. 3- It is clear from the value of (F) of (68.89) the significance of the regression model of the relationship of the study variables with the level of environmental values of the respondents at the probability level 0.01
Automated SmartNIC Offloading Insights for Network Functions

The gap between CPU and networking speeds has motivated the development of SmartNICs for NF (network functions) offloading. However, offloading performance is predicated upon intricate knowledge about SmartNIC hardware and careful hand-tuning of the ported programs. Today, developers cannot easily reason about the offloading performance or the effectiveness of different porting strategies without resorting to a trial-and-error approach. Clara is an automated tool that improves the productivity of this workflow by generating offloading insights. Our tool can a) analyze a legacy NF in its unported form, predicting its performance characteristics on a SmartNIC (e.g., compute vs. memory intensity); and b) explore and suggest porting strategies for the given NF to achieve higher performance. To achieve these goals, Clara uses program analysis techniques to extract NF features, and combines them with machine learning techniques to handle opaque SmartNIC details. Our evaluation using Click NF programs on a Netronome Smart-NIC shows that Clara achieves high accuracy in its analysis, and that its suggested porting strategies lead to significant performance improvements.
Semantics and Syntactic Patterns in Data

This paper examines the semantics and syntactic views of classical association rule mining. A relational table is considered as a (knowledge) representation of a universe (= the set of real world entities). A pattern is said to be realizable, if there is a real world phenomenon corresponding to it. The central two issues are: Why do unrealizable data patterns appear? How could they be pruned away? For this purpose, the semantics of the original schema are considered. In additions, semantic is included into the knowledge representation of the universe. Based on model theory, two new relational structures, functions and binary relations, are added to represent some additional semantics of the given universe. Association rule mining based on such additional semantics are considered.
Anomalous Thermomechanical Properties of Network Glasses

Anomalous thermomechanical behaviors of silica glass, which include negative thermal expansion and the increase of elastic moduli with decreasing density, have been known for some time but no satisfactory explanation has been available. Recent advances in measurement technology and computational means for interpreting the observed behaviors have allowed us to improve our understanding of these phenomena. In this paper we present experimental data showing that anomalous temperature dependences of mechanical properties are common to all strong network glass formers, and that they extend into the liquid state. Furthermore, based on atomic-scale computer simulations we provide an explanation for the anomalous properties of silica.
HIV-1 Infections During Vaccine Trials: Identifying New Peptides for Differential Diagnosis of HIV-1 Infections in the Face of Vaccine-generated Antibodies

Most of the HIV-1 vaccines under development contain multiple viral genes or proteins. As a result, many vaccinerecipients react positive in licensed HIV-1 detection assays. This will have negative impact on future efficacy trials of prophylactic HIV vaccines that require early detection of intercurrent HIV infections. It will also exclude all vaccinees from blood/plasma donations, and may contribute to other social harms. Therefore, it is important to design new strategies for vaccine trial participants that will clearly discriminate between vaccine-induced antibodies and true HIV-1 infection. We identified new HIV-1 epitopes that: 1) Do not contain important neutralizing or CTL epitopes, and can be omitted from future HIV vaccine candidates, 2) Recognized by antibodies from early HIV infected individuals, 3) Highly conserved among HIV-1 clades and subtypes. Using Phage Display libraries constructed from whole HIV-1 genome, combined with panning over antibodies from early seroconvertors, we identified new immunodominant epitopes, in the gp41 intracytoplasmic tail and in p6, which conform to the above criteria.
Mitochondrial Iron Metabolism and Its Role in Neurodegeneration

In addition to their well-established role in providing the cell with ATP, mitochondria are the source of iron-sulfur clusters (ISCs) and heme – prosthetic groups that are utilized by proteins throughout the cell in various critical processes. The post-transcriptional system that mammalian cells use to regulate intracellular iron homeostasis depends, in part, upon the synthesis of ISCs in mitochondria. Thus, proper mitochondrial function is crucial to cellular iron homeostasis. Many neurodegenerative diseases are marked by mitochondrial impairment, brain iron accumulation, and oxidative stress – pathologies that are inter-related. This review discusses the physiological role that mitochondria play in cellular iron homeostasis and, in so doing, attempts to clarify how mitochondrial dysfunction may initiate and/or contribute to iron dysregulation in the context of neurodegenerative disease. We review what is currently known about the entry of iron into mitochondria, the ways in which iron is utilized therein, and how mitochondria are integrated into the system of iron homeostasis in mammalian cells. Lastly, we turn to recent advances in our understanding of iron dysregulation in two neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease), and discuss the use of iron chelation as a potential therapeutic approach to neurodegenerative disease.
Elevated local skin temperature impairs cutaneous vasoconstrictor responses to a simulated haemorrhagic challenge while heat stressed

New findings • What is the central question of this study? Individuals exposed to combined heat stress and simulated haemorrhage show small but insufficient reductions in cutaneous vascular conductance at presyncope in non-heated skin. In the vast majority of skin directly exposed to increases in temperature during whole-body heat stress, the cutaneous vascular response during simulated haemorrhage to presyncope is unclear. • What is the main finding and its importance? During whole-body heat stress followed by simulated haemorrhage to presyncope, cutaneous vasoconstriction is absent/negligible in directly heated skin. These results have important implications for blood pressure control in individuals who are often heat stressed and at a higher risk for experiencing haemorrhage, such as soldiers. During a simulated haemorrhagic challenge, syncopal symptoms develop sooner when individuals are hyperthermic relative to normothermic. This is due, in part, to a large displacement of blood to the cutaneous circulation during hyperthermia, coupled with inadequate cutaneous vasoconstriction during the hypotensive challenge. The influence of local skin temperature on these cutaneous vasoconstrictor responses is unclear. This project tested the hypothesis that local skin temperature modulates cutaneous vasoconstriction during simulated haemorrhage in hyperthermic humans. Eight healthy participants (four men and four women; 32 ± 7 years old; 75.2 ± 10.8 kg) underwent lower-body negative pressure to presyncope while heat stressed via a water-perfused suit sufficiently to increase core temperature by 1.2 ± 0.2°C. At forearm skin sites distal to the water-perfused suit, local skin temperature was either 35.2 ± 0.6 (mild heating) or 38.2 ± 0.2°C (moderate heating) throughout heat stress and lower-body negative pressure, and remained at these temperatures until presyncope. The reduction in cutaneous vascular conductance during the final 90 s of lower-body negative pressure, relative to heat-stress baseline, was greatest at the mildly heated site (−10 ± 15% reduction) relative to the moderately heated site (−2 ± 12%; P= 0.05 for the magnitude of the reduction in cutaneous vascular conductance between sites), because vasoconstriction at the moderately heated site was either absent or negligible. In hyperthermic individuals, the extent of cutaneous vasoconstriction during a simulated haemorrhage can be modulated by local skin temperature. In situations where skin temperature is at least 38°C, as is the case in soldiers operating in warm climatic conditions, a haemorrhagic insult is unlikely to be accompanied by cutaneous vasoconstriction.
Cor triloculare biatriatum. Survival to adult life.

The case of a 41-year-old woman with congenital pulmonary stenosis and single ventricle is reported. This is the fifteenth instance recorded of survival to adult life of a patient with cor triloculare biatriatum. Increased pulmonary resistance may be a reason for her comparative longevity, and the significance of prominent bronchopulmonary anastomoses has been discussed. This patient's course demonstrates the hazards of phlebotomy in congenital heart disease and secondary polycythemia. The mechanism for this adverse effect is not understood and warrants further study. Although others have discussed the problem informally, this appears to be the first documented report of the precipitation of multiple cerebral thromboses following phlebotomies.
Changes in bulk protein of tobacco leaves on aerobic autolysis: Hydrogenation studies and identification of bound quinic acid

Abstract During aerobic autolysis and in commercial curing, the bulk proteins of tobacco leaves become coupled with quinic acid, presumably in consequence of coupling of chlorogenic acid congeners with lysine e-NH 2 groups. Quinic acid derivatives, prepared from acid hydrolysates of such altered proteins, were identified by GC-MS. Such proteins were also hydrogenated over Rh/Al 2 O 3 with a view to stabilizing the hypothetical linkages. Difficulties in removing contaminant Al had to be overcome. Evidence was then obtained (by GLC of derivatives) for several components, in acid hydrolysates of hydrogenated altered proteins, which were neither normal hydrogenation products of the common amino acids nor derivatives of quinic acid. Details of the chromatograms and mass spectra of quinic acid derivatives are provided in a supplementary publications.
Experimental determination of ablation vapor species from carbon phenolic heat-shield materials

The relative concentrations of vapors produced from carbon phenolic composites under thermal loadings approximating those expected at peak heating during vehicle entry into the atmospheres of the outer planets have been determined. The technique of vaporizing the surface of bulk samples by laser irradiation while measuring in situ the vapor species by mass spectrometry is described. Results show that vapor composition varies with irradiance level and with depth of heating (or extent of pyrolysis). Attempts are made to compare these experimental results with the theoretical predictions from computer codes.
Growing degree-days: one equation, two interpretations

Heat units, expressed in growing degree-days (GDD), are frequently used to describe the timing of biological processes. The basic equation used is GDD = [(TMAX + TMIN)2]−TBASE, where TMAX and TMIN are daily maximum and minimum air temperature, respectively, and TBASE is the base temperature. Two methods of interpreting this equation for calculating GDD are: (1) if the daily mean temperature is less than the base, it is set equal to the base temperature, or (2) if TMAX or TMIN < TBASE they are reset equal to TBASE. The objective of this paper is to show the differences which can result from using these two methods to estimate GDD, and make researchers and practitioners aware of the need to report clearly which method was used in the calculations. Although percent difference between methods of calculation are dependent on TMAX and TMIN data used to compute GDD, our comparisons have produced differences up to 83% when using a 0°C base for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Greater differences were found for corn (Zea mays L.) when using a base temperature of 10°C. Differences between the methods occur if only TMIN is less than TBASE, and then Method 1 accumulates fewer GDD than Method 2. When incorporating an upper threshold, as commonly done with corn, there was a greater difference between the two methods. Not recognizing the discrepancy between methods can result in confusion and add error in quantifying relationships between heat unit accumulation and timing of events in crop development and growth, particularly in crop simulation models. This paper demonstrates the need for authors to clearly communicate the method of calculating GDD so others can correctly interpret and apply reported results.
Faking Psychopathy? An Examination of Response Styles With Antisocial Youth

Psychopaths frequently con and manipulate others in an attempt to achieve their own objectives. In the current literature, correlational research has generally found that psychopathy has (a) an inverse relation with social desirability and (b) a positive relation with malingering. Although instructive, these correlational data do not address whether the assessment of psychopathy is vulnerable to specific response styles. This study examined 2 response styles among adolescent offenders in the context of pending adjudication: social desirability and social nonconformity. On 3 measures of psychopathy (i.e., Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version, Psychopathy Screening Device, and Self-Report of Psychopathy-Second Edition), a simulation design was employed with a realistic scenario, incentives for successful deception, and appropriate manipulation checks. Results indicated moderate to large effect sizes for social desirability and large effect sizes for social nonconformity. The implications of these results for the clinical assessment of psychopathy are discussed.
One- and Two-Dimensional Optical Lattices on a Chip for Quantum Computing

We propose a way to make arrays of optical frequency dipole-force microtraps for cold atoms above a dielectric substrate. Traps are nodes in the evanescent wave fields above an optical waveguide resulting from interference of different waveguide modes. The traps have features sought in developing neutral atom based architectures for quantum computing: $\ensuremath{\sim}1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mW}$ of laser power yields very tight traps $150\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ above a waveguide with trap vibrational frequencies $\ensuremath{\sim}1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}$ and vibrational ground state sizes $\ensuremath{\sim}10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. The arrays are scalable and allow addressing of individual sites for quantum logic operations.
Dynamic control of signaling by modular adaptor proteins

Adaptor proteins are composed exclusively of domains and motifs that mediate molecular interactions, and can thereby link signaling proteins such as activated cell-surface receptors to downstream effectors. Recent data supports the notion that adaptors are not simply coupling devices that hard-wire successive components of signaling pathways. Rather, they display highly dynamic properties that direct the flow of information through signaling networks. The binding activity of adaptors can be regulated by conformational reorganization, and by the cooperative association of domains within the same adaptor. Furthermore, an individual adaptor can deliver different outputs by utilizing distinct combinations of binding partners. Adaptors can also control the oligomerization of receptor signaling complexes, and the subcellular location and duration of signaling events, and act as coincidence detectors to enhance specificity in cellular responses.
Electron doping in the honeycomb bilayer superconductors (Zr, Hf)NCl

Based on a virtual crystal treatment, we show that alkali doping introduces electron carriers into a single light mass (m* = 0.6), low density of states band in LixZrNCl and NaxHfNCl (which have superconducting Tc up to 25 K) that is a symmetric interlayer combination of dxy,dx2 − y2 character. Doping leads to simple K-centered three-fold symmetrical cylindrical Fermi surfaces that concentrate low-energy scattering into distinct regions of momentum. The lack of any observed magnetic tendencies, together with our calculation of small electron-phonon strength, suggests a pairing mechanism that is distinct from known superconductors.
When Family Narratives Conflict: An Autoethnography of My Mother’s Secrets

This autoethnography about motherhood investigates secrets in my family which explain why my mother abandoned me when I was a baby. To make sense of long-term anger in my family and family stories which conflict, I use narrative theory and relational dialectics theory to reframe my identity. Moving back and forth through time using a “layered account,” I compare family stories with my memories and contrast my childhood perspective with my adult perspective. Using this method enables me to analyze interpersonal tensions and sociological issues as I explore the complexity of “truth” in family stories, provide insight into the dynamics of the forgiveness processes in family relationships, and problematize the cultural ideology of the “good” mother, particularly for mothers and children who live in poverty.
The clinical and physiological spectrum of interferon-alpha induced thyroiditis: Toward a new classification†

Interferon-alpha (IFNα) is a major treatment modality for several malignant and nonmalignant diseases, especially hepatitis C. Prospective studies have shown that up to 15% of patients with hepatitis C receiving IFNα develop clinical thyroid disease, and up to 40% were reported to develop thyroid antibodies. Some of these complications may result in discontinuation of interferon therapy. Thus, interferon induced thyroiditis (IIT) is a major clinical problem for patients receiving interferon therapy. IIT can be classified as autoimmune type and non-autoimmune type. Autoimmune IIT may manifest by the development of thyroid antibodies without clinical disease, or by clinical disease which includes both autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) and autoimmune thyrotoxicosis (Graves' disease). Non-autoimmune IIT can manifest as destructive thyroiditis or as hypothyroidism with negative thyroid antibodies. Early detection and therapy of these conditions is important in order to avoid complications of thyroid disease such as cardiac arrhythmias. While it is not clear which factors contribute to the susceptibility to IIT, recent evidence suggests that genetic factors, gender, and hepatitis C virus infection may play a role. In contrast, viral genotype and therapeutic regimen do not influence susceptibility to IIT. The etiology of IIT is unknown and may be secondary to immune modulation by IFNα and/or direct effects of interferon on the thyroid. In this review we discuss the clinical and pathophysiological aspects of IIT, and we are proposing a new, etiology-based classification of IIT, as well as an algorithm for diagnosis and treatment of IIT. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;43:661–672.)
Perinatal characteristics and retinoblastoma

Purpose The etiology of retinoblastoma remains poorly understood. In the present study, we examined associations between perinatal factors and retinoblastoma risk in California children.
Inert gas electric heater for elevated temperature testing of small propulsion components

An electric heater for inert gas has been developed to enable safe, nontoxic, indoor, low cost testing of miniature propulsion components which operate on warm gas. High pressure helium regulated to 7 MPa (1000 psi) is passed through in 8-kW electric heating element to raise its temperature to 700{degree}C (1300 {degree}F) at mass flow rates up to 2 grams/sec. The pressure and temperature are independently adjustable to lower values, and the temperature controller rapidly varies the electric power in response to changes in flow rate, so that pulsed-flow as well as be tested. The heating element is a 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) diameter nickel alloy tube, which carries the helium internally and up to 80 amperes of electric current in its wall. A transparent polycarbonate safety shield ensures personnel safety while permitting direct visual and auditory observations. Digital displays of time, pressure, and temperatures are adjacent to the test hardware, to facillitate realtime interpretation of test results and video documentation. Equations for pressure drop, heat transfer, electrical resistance, stress, and thermal response time are presented to facillitate designing similar systems.
Ab initio study of anomeric effect in 2,2-difluoroglycine

Abstract The optimized molecular structures of seven conformations of 2,2-difluoroglycine have been obtained from ab initio calculations. For conformers in which the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen are antiperiplanar to one of the C–F bonds, that C–F bond is longer than the other C–F bond, which is synperiplanar to the lone pair of electrons. Conformers which have these features are the most stable conformers of those examined. This observation is explained in terms of an anomeric effect of the 1p(N)→σ ∗ ( C–F ). At the MP2/6-31G∗ level of calculation, conformers IV and V are 21.5 and 18.7 kJ/mol, respectively, more stable than the least stable conformer, VI, which does not exhibit an anomeric effect. Conformer VII was found to be exceptionally stable, in addition to an anomeric effect, this conformer also exhibits features of a F⋯H–O hydrogen bond.
Resolution of the subunits of Artemia hemoglobins on triton-acid-urea polyacrylamide gels

Abstract 1. 1. The globin subunits of three Artemia hemoglobins (Hb-1, Hb-2 and Hb-X) have been resolved by electrophoresis in polacrylamide gels containing 5% acetic acid, 8 M urea and 0.5% Triton X-100. 2. 2. Hemoglobins of two semispecies of Artemia were isolated on non-denaturing gels in Tris-glycinate buffer. Aliquots of each hemoglobin were then rerun on the Triton-acid-urea gels. 3. 3. Hb-2 contains equal amounts of two electrophoretically distinct subunits: α and β. 4. 4. Hb-1 contains one or more polypeptides with mobility identical to that of the α subunit. Hb-X contains one or more polypeptides with mobility identical to that of the β subunit. 5. 5. Because the bands of Hb-2 always matched the mobility of the bands in Hb-1 and Hb-X from the same shrimp (in shrimps with different α and β alleles), it is probable that bands with identical mobility are biochemically identical. 6. 6. Moens & Kondo (1978), Eur. J. Biochem. 82 , 65–72, concluded that each native molecule contains two polypeptides. We may therefore represent Hb-1, Hb-2 and Hb-X as: αα, αβ and ββ, respectively.
On the benefits of operational flexibility in a distribution network with transshipment

Abstract We consider a centralized distribution network with multiple retailers who receive replenishment inventory to satisfy customer demand of the local markets. The operational flexibility of the network is defined as the opportunity that one retailer's excess inventory can be transferred to satisfy other retailers’ unmet customer demand due to stock-outs. A general modeling framework is developed to optimize retailers’ order quantities under any possible flexibility level of a stylized two-stage distribution network. We apply the framework to formulate and solve the transshipment problem of a distribution network with three retailers. Six typical flexibility levels are investigated to make the comparison study on the firm's profit performance under three ordering quantity policies: average demand, newsvendor order quantity, and optimal order quantity. We find that the operational flexibility and system optimization are complements to the firm's performance. The ordering policy with newsvendor ordering quantity can perform fairly well with moderate flexibility level when compared with the optimized ordering policy with full flexibility.
Empirical comparison of search algorithms for discrete event simulation

Abstract Discrete-event simulation is a significant analysis tool for designing complex systems. In the research literature, several deterministic search algorithms have been linked with simulation for industrial applications; but there are few empirical comparisons of the various algorithms. This paper compares the Hooke–Jeeves pattern search, Nelder–Mead simplex, simulated annealing, and genetic algorithm optimization algorithms on variations of four industrial case study simulation problems. The simulation models include combinations of real variables, integer variables, non-numeric variables, deterministic constraints, and stochastic constraints. The genetic algorithm was the most robust, as it found near best solutions for all 25 test problems. However, it required the most replications of all the algorithms. The pattern search algorithm also found near best solutions to small- and medium-sized problems with no non-numeric variables, while requiring fewer replications than the genetic algorithm.
Z expansions of the total electronic energy for isoelectronic atoms: A method for determining V̄ en and V̄ ee from experimental total electronic energies

The $Z$ dependence of the total electronic energy for an atomic isoelectronic series, was investigated in several different ways, first by the consideration of a Taylor-series expansion of ${\overline{V}}_{\mathrm{en}}$, the average electron-nuclear attractive potential energy, used in conjunction with the virial and Hellmann-Feynman theorems and, secondly, a Taylor-series expansion of ${\overline{V}}_{\mathrm{ee}}$, the average electron-electron repulsive potential energy, used in conjunction with the same two theorems. A direct Taylor-series expansion of the total energy $E$ was also studied. Convergence of these expansions was inferred from the rate of convergence of least-squares fits of tabulated values of the total electronic energies as a function of the increasing number of terms in the expansion. Theoretical nonrelativistic Hartree-Fock energies, accurate theoretical nonrelativistic energies, and experimental total energies, the latter approximately corrected for relativistic and quantum electrodynamic effects, were used in the fits. These expansions were compared with $\frac{1}{Z}$ expansion results. All Taylor-series variants studied showed comparable or superior convergence properties to the $\frac{1}{Z}$ expansion. The choice of a ${\overline{V}}_{\mathrm{en}}$ or a ${\overline{V}}_{\mathrm{ee}}$ expansion forces certain behavior on the total electronic energy $E$ as a function of $Z$. From a least-squares rate-of-convergence criterion and other considerations it appears that the Taylor-series expansion of ${\overline{V}}_{\mathrm{en}}$ offers slightly better results. It is pointed out that by the use of the virial and Hellmann-Feynman theorems it is possible to obtain accurate estimates of ${\overline{V}}_{\mathrm{ee}}$ and ${\overline{V}}_{\mathrm{en}}$ from a knowledge of total electronic energies of isoelectronic series alone. The technique is applied to accurate values for the He isoelectronic series and experimental data corrected for relativistic and radiative contributions for the He through Ne isoelectronic series in order to determine the effect of electron correlation on the quantities ${\overline{V}}_{\mathrm{en}}$ and ${\overline{V}}_{\mathrm{ee}}$. Comparisons are made with available experimental and theoretical results in the case of Ne. The $Z$ expansions for the energy were also used to fit individual ionization potentials across an isoelectronic series. These fits were used to predict electron affinities and improved values for certain ionization potentials.
EmNet: Satisfying The Individual User Through Empathic Home Networks

We consider optimizing the control of the wide-area link of a home router based on the needs of individual users instead of assuming a canonical user. A careful user study clearly demonstrates that measured end-user satisfaction with a given set of home network conditions is highly variable - user perception and opinion of acceptable network performance is very different from user to user. To exploit this fact we design, implement, and evaluate a prototype system, EmNet, that incorporates direct user feedback from a simple user interface layered over existing web content. This feedback is used to dynamically configure a weighted fair queuing (WFQ) scheduler on the wide-area link. We evaluate EmNet in terms of the measured satisfaction of end-users, and in terms of the bandwidth required. We compare EmNet with an uncontrolled link (the common case today), as well as with statically configured WFQ scheduling. On average, EmNet is able to increase overall user satisfaction by 20% over the uncontrolled network and by 12% over static WFQ. EmNet does so by only increasing the average application bandwidth by 6% over the static WFQ scheduler.
Determining the role of geospatial technologies for stigmergic coordination in situation management: Implications of the wireless grid

Geospatial technologies in conjunction with wireless grids will offer a context for locating and coordinating team activities in such a way that the nature of each team member's effort may be known and understood by other members. This constructed group knowledge enables teams to respond to unforeseen and emergent contingencies and act in concert through the active interpretation of shared artifacts alone without prior planning and coordination. Stigmergic or sematectonic coordination refers to how an individual behaves as part of a collaborative team engaged in a complex task, such as emergency response (i.e. where the task is of such complexity that a coordinated team effort is required to accomplish it). Human stigmergic coordination emerges on the basis of how tasks and goals are structured and understood between the members of the team. Geographically coded information, generated and shared dynamically, gives teams maps of each others' activities, plus remotely sensed data. The major function of the geospatial technology repository and interface is to provide dynamic knowledge of group activities in real time. Environmental changes reveal new dependencies for adaptive collaboration as conditions on the ground evolve, enabling participants to track the evolution of each other's work and mutually adjust to it in a timely manner.
GSK-3β and control of glucose metabolism and insulin action in human skeletal muscle

The involvement of the beta-isoform of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) in glucose metabolism and insulin action was investigated in cultured human skeletal muscle cells. A 60% reduction in GSK-3beta protein expression was attained by treatment with siRNA; GSK-3alpha expression was unaltered. GSK-3beta knockdown did not influence total glycogen synthase (GS) activity, but increased the phosphorylation-dependent activity (fractional velocity-FV) in the basal state. Insulin responsiveness of GSFV was doubled by GSK-3beta knockdown (p<0.05). Basal rates of glucose uptake (GU) were not significantly influenced by GSK-3beta knockdown, while insulin stimulation of GU was increased. Improvements in insulin action on GS and GU did not involve changes in protein expression of either IRS-1 or Akt 1/2. Maximal insulin stimulation of phosphorylation of Akt was unaltered by GSK-3beta knockdown. Unlike GSK-3alpha, GSK-3beta directly regulates both GS activity in the absence of added insulin and through control of insulin action.
Administration of a GnRH analog on day 9 of a 14-day controlled internal drug release insert with timed artificial insemination in lactating beef cows.

Many estrus synchronization protocols aim to induce a new follicular wave to improve response and enhance pregnancy rate. Our objectives were to determine the effectiveness of GnRH analog administered d 0 and 9 during an extended controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol to produce 2 follicular waves, induce cyclicity in anestrus cows, and evaluate the efficacy of a single 50-mg dose of PGF2α to initiate luteal regression on CIDR removal. Lactating beef cows (n = 779) at 3 locations (n = 247, location 1; n = 395, location 2; n = 137, location 3) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments. Cows in the 14-d 50 PG treatment received a CIDR (1.38 g progesterone) with 100 μg GnRH analog intramuscularly (i.m.) on d 0, 100 μg GnRH analog i.m. on d 9, and CIDR removal concurrent with 50 mg PGF2α i.m. on d 14. Cows in the 14-d 6-h PG treatment were assigned the same protocol as the 14-d 50 PG treatment except that 25 mg PGF2α i.m. was given on d 14 plus 25 mg PGF2α i.m. 6 ± 1 h later. Cows in the control treatment, 5-d CO-Synch + CIDR (5-d CO-Synch), received a CIDR concurrent with 100 μg GnRH analog i.m. on d 9, CIDR removal concurrent with 25 mg PGF2α i.m. on d 14, and 25 mg PGF2α i.m. 6 ± 1 h after first F2α injection. Cows in all treatments received 100 μg GnRH analog i.m. and timed AI (TAI) 72 ± 3 h after CIDR removal. Pregnancy status to TAI was determined by ultrasonography 37 to 40 d after TAI. Averaged over all locations, pregnancy rates to TAI for 14-d 50 PG, 14-d 6-h PG, and 5-d CO-Synch treatments were 58.2%, 46.8%, and 41.9%, respectively. Pregnancy rates to TAI were greater (P 1 ng/mL at either (or both) bleeding date were considered cyclic. Averaged over the 2 locations, there was a tendency (P = 0.06) for a greater number of cyclic animals to become pregnant to TAI in the 14-d 50 PG treatment (64.4%) than 5-d CO-Synch treatment (50.2%). The 14-d CIDR with GnRH analog on d 0 and 9 and a single 50-mg dose of PG i.m. at CIDR removal was a more efficacious protocol to maximize TAI pregnancy rates than the standard 5-d CO-Synch.
Evaluation of Continuous In Situ Monitoring of Soil Changes with Varying Flooding Regimes

To support investigations of flood tolerance occurring at a field-based research facility, changes in soil volumetric water content, temperature, redox potential, dissolved oxygen content, and pH over the course of flood events were monitored. Electronic sensors connected to dataloggers for continuous monitoring of these parameters were installed, and soil redox potential and pH were also monitored manually for comparison. Soil volumetric water content showed that soils became saturated quickly following inundation. Soil redox potentials revealed a reduction of the soil with inundation; however, stagnant water treatments did not result in lower redox potentials than flowing water treatments. Similarly, dissolved oxygen content was not lower in the stagnant water treatment. The automated and manual systems detected similar trends in redox potential response to flooding; however, redox potentials measured manually were generally higher and significantly different from those obtained with the automated system. Anomalous readings were detected with the automated measurement of soil pH, indicating further need for improvement of this system.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometric Analysis for Particle-Associated Ammonium Sulfate

A commercial Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer, modified for automated analysis of particulate-associated sulfate, was used to obtain the integrated absorbance (635 cm−1 to 595 cm−1) due to sulfate in ambient particulate matter collected onto Teflon® filters. An evaluation of this instrumentation was undertaken to determine its applicability for measuring sulfate and the correlation of results with those of ion chromatography and x-ray fluorescence. Particulate samples from six geographical areas were evaluated in this study. Results from different filter sets, using individual filter blanks, show values of the coefficient of determination of 0.90 or higher, with one notable exception. This exception was due to a skewed shift in the peak wavelength absorption (620 cm−1), and apparently indicates the effect of co-collected compounds in chemically shifting the spectra. For best analytical results, the spectrum of individual Teflon® filters instead of a generic blank should be used for subtracting the contribution of Teflon® absorption. Orientation of the filter in the FT-IR system must be the same during measurement of the blank and the sample to avoid spurious readings. The detection limit for ammonium sulfate is 1.2 μg/cm2, which corresponds to 0.36 μg/m3 sampled over 24 hours at 15.0 L/min for ammonium sulfate.
Relaxation-oscillator detection of optogalvanic spectra.

A neon bulb used in a relaxation oscillator is a sensitive detector for observing optogalvanic spectra of neon. A few percent change in the oscillation frequency was observed with resonant irradiation of tenths of microwatts for some neon lines. The percent change is greater than the corresponding current change in an ordinary optogalvanic detection by 2 orders of magnitude. The new technique, not requiring a lock-in amplifier and a special sample cell, probably provides the simplest and the cheapest method for calibrating wavelengths.
Safety and efficacy of alfentanil and halothane in paediatric surgical patients

Alfentanil, a congener of the opioid fentanyl, possesses properties that make it an attractive choice for use during short operative procedures. Since the phannacodynamic aspects of alfentanil have not been well documented in children, this study was undertaken to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and dose requirements of alfentanil when used with nitrous oxide or halothane in paediatric patients. Eighty unpremedicated patients, ASA physical status I or II and aged 2–12 yr were studied. Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups. After induction of anaesthesia with nitrous oxide, oxygen, and halothane, the groups were treated as follows. In Group I (n = 19), after halothane was discontinued, alfentanil 50 μg · kg−1 was infused over 30 sec. In Group 2 (n = 20), the end-tidal halothane was maintained at 0.5% and alfentanil 25 μg · kg−1 was infused. In Group 3 (n = 20), the end-tidal halothane concentration was maintained at 1% and alfentanil 12.5 μg · kg−1 was infused. In Group4(n = 21), the end-tidal halothane concentration was maintained at 1.5% and no alfentanil was administered. Patients in Groups 1, 2, and 3 received bolus doses of alfentanil 12.5 μg · kg−1 as needed to maintain haemodynamic stability. After alfentanil administration, there were transient decreases in systolic blood pressure in Groups 1 and 2, and in heart rate in Group 2. With surgical stimulation, haemodynamic stability was well maintained except in patients in Group 1, who had an increase in systolic blood pressure. Children Group 1 were alert sooner and their tracheas were extubated earlier than those in Groups 2, 3, and 4. The four groups were similar in postoperative narcotic analgesic administration and incidence of vomiting. In summary, alfentanil (12.5–50.0 μg · kg−1) was a safe anaesthetic, whether combined with nitrous oxide alone or with nitrous oxide and halothane.
Spatial and Visual Maze Learning, and Motivation in Alus Musculus and Peroalyscus:

The present investigation compares performance and learning of 3 groups of adult mice: Mus musculus (wild and C57BL/6J) and Peromyscus maniculatus Bairdii on 2 types of water maze (spatial or visual) under 4 levels of motivation (55, 75, 95, or 115°F water temperature). The wild Mus learned most rapidly, the Peromyscus being the slowest to learn. Extremes of water temperature and the spatial discrimination task facilitated performance and learning.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF GLUTEN‐FREE PANCAKES FROM RICE AND SWEET POTATO FLOURS

Gluten-free pancakes were prepared using rice flour and rice flour replaced with various amounts, at 10, 20 and 40%, of sweet potato flour. Textural properties of the cooked pancakes, such as hardness and chewiness generally increased with time after cooking, whereas they decreased with increased sweet potato flour replacement. On the other hand, cohesiveness decreased with time, but increased with increased sweet potato flour in the pancake. Nutritional properties of the rice-sweet potato pancakes, such as protein content, dietary fiber, total carbohydrate and calories were generally comparable with those of their wheat counterpart. The only significant difference was in the beta-carotene content, which increased from 5.2 to 236.1 μg/g when sweet potato flour was incorporated, from 0 to 40%, into the rice pancake formulation.
The similarity of lower-case letters of the English alphabet

A study was made of the similarity between lower-case letters of the English alphabet by means of a relative discrimination task. Scales of letter similarity were produced which indicate the relative position of such letters to the target letters. Analysis of the scales reveals clearly definable clusters of letters. Implications for discrimination training, for diagnosis of reading readiness, and for studies of the critical features of letters are discussed.
Dynamic optical bistability in resonantly enhanced Raman generation

We report observations of novel dynamic behavior in resonantly enhanced stimulated Raman scattering in Rb vapor. In particular, we demonstrate a dynamic hysteresis of the Raman scattered optical field in response to changes of the drive laser field intensity and/or frequency. This effect may be described as a dynamic form of optical bistability resulting from the formation and decay of atomic coherence. We have applied this phenomenon to the realization of an all-optical switch.