cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Injury and death of Streptococcus lactis due to freezing and frozen storage.

Cells of Streptococcus lactis were harvested in the early stationary phase, washed, and resuspended in either skim milk (10% nonfat milk) or buffered distilled water (0.0003 m dipotassium phosphate, pH 7.2). Samples of each suspension were frozen and stored at -20 C for intervals up to 28 days. Colony counts of the frozen culture were made using lactic agar and a “restricted” lactic agar medium (Tryptone reduced to 0.5%) to determine injury and death. Death was determined by the difference in plate counts on lactic agar before and after freezing. Injured cells were determined by the difference in plate counts on the two plating media. Greatest injury of the cells occurred during early stages of frozen storage and decreased with time, and death continuously increased. Injury and death were more pronounced when cells were frozen in water than when frozen in 10% nonfat milk solids. Certain cultures survived better when frozen rapidly, whereas with others survival was greater when freezing was slow. Successive freezing, thawing, and propagation of the culture gradually eliminated cells which showed injury by freezing.
Incomplete markets, intra-industry firm heterogeneity and investment

Abstract We argue that as a result of incomplete factor markets, firm-specific variables representing selected characteristics of firms may influence and differentiate firms' investment behavior within industries. This paper operationalizes and test the framework with a simple, institutionally motivated model of investment in uranium exploration. Our results suggest that cash flow and firm-specific expertise influence and differentiate firms' exploration investment behavior in the uranium industry. These findings imply that the ways in which incomplete factor input markets distinguish firms also influence and differentiate their investment behavior.
Human bone cells in vitro.

Human bone cell cultures were established by maintaining collagenase-treated, bone fragments in low Ca++ medium. The resulting cell cultures exhibited a high level of alkaline phosphatase activity and produced a significant increase in intracellular cAMP when exposed to the 1-34 fragment of human parathyroid hormone. With continued culture, the cells formed a thick, extracellular matrix that mineralized when cultures were provided daily with normal levels of calcium, fresh ascorbic acid (50 μg/ml) and 10 mM β-glycerol phosphate. Biosynthetically, these cells produced type I collagen (without any type III collagen), and the bone-specific protein, osteonectin. In addition, the cells produced sulfated macromolecules electrophoretically identical to those positively identified as the bone proteoglycan in parallel cultures of fetal bovine bone cells. This technique provides a useful system for the study of osteoblast metabolismin vitro.
Resolved Calabi–Yau cones and flows from Labc superconformal field theories

Abstract We discuss D3-branes on cohomogeneity-three resolved Calabi–Yau cones over L a b c spaces, for which a 2-cycle or 4-cycle has been blown up. In terms of the dual quiver gauge theory, this corresponds to motion along the non-mesonic, or baryonic, directions in the moduli space of vacua. In particular, a dimension-two and/or dimension-six scalar operator gets a vacuum expectation value. These resolved cones support various harmonic ( 2 , 1 ) -forms which reduce the ranks of some of the gauge groups either by a Seiberg duality cascade or by Higgsing. We also discuss higher-dimensional resolved Calabi–Yau cones. In particular, we obtain square-integrable ( 2 , 2 ) -forms for eight-dimensional cohomogeneity-four Calabi–Yau metrics.
Statistical inquiry into the causes of global temperature changes

Observed changes in average global temperatures over time have led to two general avenues of discussion in the environmental literature. The scientific community has concentrated on the statistical detection of global warming and the determination of biological and industrial factors causing average world temperatures to rise. A second avenue of thought considers the issue of economic abatement by attempting to measure the pecuniary costs of global warming and the elimination of factors influencing this problem. This paper concentrates not on developing an economic model of global warming and environmental damage, but rather on examining the problem from a purely statistical vantage point. Utilising annual data from 1950 to 1991 and optimally determined vector auto regression specifications, it is shown that general industrial growth and greenhouse gas emission levels statistically cause a persistent increase in average global temperatures. In addition, this analysis shows that increasing average world temperatures have a statistically significant negative causal impact on agricultural productivity. Given that global warming is a long–term process culminating from decades of industrial activity, statistically significant causal results derived in this paper using short term data are interesting. Statistical results suggest that trends in average temperatures respond to short–run fluctuations in industrial activity and population growth.
Ideas and Institutions in Race Politics

The politics of race is generally viewed as a conflict among ideas about color blindness and race politics. By contrast, analysts of policymaking generally consider political institutions to be the primary factor behind policy outcomes. Recent developments in American race policy, particularly the evolution and political career of affirmative action, defy both ideational and institutional characterizations. A perspective that incorporates both ideas and institutions provides a more accurate and nuanced account of American race policy.
Evolution and function of the upper molar talon and its dietary implications in microbats

The evolution of mammalian molars has been marked by transitions representing significant changes in shape and function. One such transition is the addition and elaboration of the talon, the distolingual region of the ancestral tribosphenic upper molar of therian mammals and some extinct relatives. This study uses suborder Microchiroptera as a case study to explore the adaptive implications of the expansion of the talon on the tribosphenic molar, specifically focusing on the talon's role in the compression and shear of food during breakdown. Three-dimensional computer renderings of casts of the upper left first molars were created for microbat species of a variety of dietary categories (frugivore, etc.) and physical properties of food (hard and soft). Relief Index (RFI) was measured to estimate the topography and function of the whole tooth and of the talon and trigon (the remaining primitive tribosphenic region) individually, in order to examine 1) how the shape of the whole tooth, trigon, and talon reflects the compromise between their crushing and shearing functions, 2) how whole tooth, trigon, and talon function differs according to diet, and 3) how the presence of the talon affects overall molar function. Results suggest that RFI of both the whole tooth and the trigon varies according to dietary groups, with frugivores having greater crushing function when compared with the other groups. The talon, however, consistently has low RFI (a flatter topography), and its presence lowers the RFI of the whole tooth across all dietary categories, suggesting that the talon is primarily functioning in crushing during food breakdown. The potential benefits of a crushing talon for microbats of various dietary groups are discussed.
Multiphysics modeling for current carrying capability of a power package

In this paper, the impact of the lead frame design on the current carrying capability of the a power package is investigated. The coupled electrical-thermal and mechanical stress simulations are conducted, with the transient characteristics captured. The DoE simulations with regard to different lead frame design, different currents, and micro crack impact are studied to find the impact on current carrying capability. The simulation results show that the twisted Z shape lead design induces the highest stress level when the initial crack was induced by the assembly process, which could speed up the failure and reduce the current carrying capability.
Anabolic-androgenic steroid therapy in the treatment of chronic diseases

The purpose of this study was to review the preclinical and clinical literature relevant to the efficacy and safety of anabolic androgen steroid therapy for palliative treatment of severe weight loss associated with chronic diseases. Data sources were published literature identified from the Medline database from January 1966 to December 2000, bibliographic references, and textbooks. Reports from preclinical and clinical trials were selected. Study designs and results were extracted from trial reports. Statistical evaluation or meta-analysis of combined results was not attempted. Androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) are widely prescribed for the treatment of male hypogonadism; however, they may play a significant role in the treatment of other conditions as well, such as cachexia associated with human immunodeficiency virus, cancer, burns, renal and hepatic failure, and anemia associated with leukemia or kidney failure. A review of the anabolic effects of androgens and their efficacy in the treatment of these conditions is provided. In addition, the numerous and sometimes serious side effects that have been known to occur with androgen use are reviewed. Although the threat of various side effects is present, AAS therapy appears to have a favorable anabolic effect on patients with chronic diseases and muscle catabolism. We recommend that AAS can be used for the treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome wasting and in severely catabolic patients with severe burns. Preliminary data in renal failure-associated wasting are also positive. Advantages and disadvantages should be weighed carefully when comparing AAS therapy to other weight-gaining measures. Although a conservative approach to the use of AAS in patients with chronic diseases is still recommended, the utility of AAS therapy in the attenuation of severe weight loss associated with disease states such as cancer, postoperative recovery, and wasting due to pulmonary and hepatic disease should be more thoroughly investigated.
Strong valid inequalities for the resource-constrained scheduling problem with uniform resource requirements

We consider the resource-constrained scheduling problem when each job's resource requirements remain constant over its processing time. We study a time-indexed formulation of the problem, providing facet-defining inequalities for a projection of the resulting polyhedron that exploit the resource limitations inherent in the problem. Lifting procedures are then provided for obtaining strong valid inequalities for the original polyhedron. Computational results are presented to demonstrate the strength of these inequalities.
Sodium Borohydride Reduction of Aqueous Silver-Iron-Nickel Solutions: a Chemical Route to Synthesis of Low Thermal Expansion–High Conductivity Ag-Invar Alloys

Thermal management is a critical concern in the design and performance of electronics systems. If heat extraction and thermal expansion are not properly addressed, the thermal mismatch among dissimilar materials may give rise to high thermal stresses or interfacial shear strains, and ultimately to premature system failure. In this article, we present a chemical synthesis process that yields Ag-Invar (64Fe-36Ni) alloys with a range of attractive properties for thermal management applications. Sodium borohydride reduction of an aqueous Ag-Fe-Ni metal salt solution produces nanocrystalline powders, and conventional powder processing converts this powder to fine-grained alloys. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, thermomechanical analysis, and electrical conductivity measurements; thermal conductivity is estimated using the Wiedemann–Franz law. Sintering of Ag-Fe-Ni powders leads to the formation of two-phase silver-Invar alloys with low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) and relatively high electrical conductivities. A sample of 50Ag-50Invar exhibits a CTE of 8.76 μm/(m· °C) and an estimated thermal conductivity of 236 W/(m·K). The Ag-Invar alloys offer thermodynamic stability and tailorable properties, and they may help address the need for improved packaging materials.
The management of acute abdominal pain in children.

Objective: Acute abdominal pain is a common problem in childhood, and appendicitis is frequently diagnosed by general practitioners and doctors working in emergency departments. The objective of the present report was to determine the frequency of appendicitis in a group of children with acute abdominal pain presenting to the emergency department of a general hospital, as well as attempting to analyse the manner in which these patients were managed. Methodology: The initial assessment in hospital (by resident hospital staff) of the study group of patients was analysed and their subsequent clinical progress documented. Results: The present report shows that the vast majority of children with acute abdominal pain do not have appendicitis and that appendicitis is significantly over-diagnosed by junior hospital doctors. Conclusions: Appendicitis is a clinical diagnosis, best made by an experienced member of the paediatric surgical team. Frequent review, with a minimum of investigations, provides the best means of making a rational decision regarding surgery.
The smoked plastic screen: An alternative to the one-way mirror

Abstract A double thickness, smoked plastic screen is presented as an alternative to the one-way mirror. Relative to the glass mirror, the use of the plastic screen provides a safe, nondistracting, durable, light weight, and inexpensive method for unobserved viewing without an appreciable loss in light transmission.
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SHARED GOVERNANCE PROVISIONS OF AB 1725 (1988) AT SELECTED CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES

In 1988 California adopted Assembly Bill 1725, which mandated shared governance for the state's 107 community colleges. This study is the first large‐scale review of the colleges’ reaction to the legislation, as reported by college, academic senate, and faculty union presidents, plus selected faculty members. Although much progress has been made, full implementation has yet to be achieved.
Expectancy, demand characteristics, and contact desensitization in behavior change

Contact desensitization, attention placebo, and instructions to simulate the effects of attention placebo were compared in their ability to alleviate fears of rats in college students under brief group therapy conditions. The results were: (a) contact desensitization was highly effective and superior to the groups controlling for expectancy and demand characteristics and to a no-treatment control group; (b) although not performing as well as Ss receiving contact desensitization, role playing Ss effectively simulated improvement on the behavioral approach test; and (c) the expectancy manipulation did not result in significant improvement.
ANESTHESIA FACTORS AFFECTING SURGICAL MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN THE ELDERLY MALE

This study concerns the relationship of anesthesia and related factors to surgical morbidity and mortality in 178 males over the age of 70 who underwent 204 operations. Of the 110 complications during anesthesia, arterial hypotension was the most common. Postoperatively there were 139 complications, and 16 deaths. The influences of age, pre-anesthetic risk, type and duration of surgery, type of anesthesia, and the occurrence of hypotension during surgery are discussed in relation to the postoperative course. Adequate preoperative preparation of elderly patients is extremely important. This includes complete examination, replacement of any blood volume deficits, and possibly prophylactic digitalization. Epidural block anesthesia resulted in higher operative and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Hypotension during anesthesia was more common when halothane was the main anesthetic. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were higher in patients anesthetized by a combination of nitrous oxide, muscle relaxants and intravenously administered sedation.
On measuring rural unemployment

The currently used measures of rural unemployment or underemployment often ignore the very important phenomenon of involuntary withdrawal from the labour force by potential job‐seekers, particularly women, discouraged by bleak job prospects. This note devises an alternative measure which might go towards correcting this underestimation bias in unemployment measures. Using detailed household survey data for rural West Bengal, 1972–73, it shows how this alternative measure indicates a substantially higher unemployment rate for different occupational groups than that currently used.
25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, vitamin D binding protein gene polymorphisms and incident coronary heart disease among whites and blacks: The ARIC study

Abstract Background In observational studies, low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), and this association may vary by race. Racial differences in the frequency of vitamin D binding protein (DBP) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) might account for similar bioavailable vitamin D in blacks despite lower mean 25(OH)D. We hypothesized that the associations of low 25(OH)D with CHD risk would be stronger among whites and among persons with genotypes associated with higher DBP levels. Methods We measured 25(OH)D by mass spectroscopy in 11,945 participants in the ARIC Study (baseline 1990–1992, mean age 57 years, 59% women, 24% black). Two DBP SNPs (rs7041; rs4588) were genotyped. We used adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to examine the association of 25(OH)D with adjudicated CHD events through December 2011. Results Over a median of 20 years, there were 1230 incident CHD events. Whites in the lowest quintile of 25(OH)D ( Conclusions Low 25(OH)D was associated with incident CHD in whites, but no interactions of 25(OH)D with key DBP genotypes was found.
Aaron Lerner: the quiet promoter.

I never worked with Aaron Lerner, nor did I train with him. But, as did many others, I learned from him in many ways and considered him a very close friend and confidant.
Adaptive and scalable comparison scheduling

The Shortest Remaining Processing Time (SRPT) scheduling disciplineis optimal and its superior performance, compared with the policies that do not use the knowledge of job sizes, can be quantified using mean-value analysis as well as our new a symptotic distribution allimits for the relatively smaller heavy-tailed jobs. However, the main difficulty in implementing SRPT in large practical systems, e.g., Web servers, is that its complexity grows with the number of jobs in the queue. Hence, in order to lower the complexity, it is natural to approximate SRPT by grouping the arrivals into a fixed (small) number of classes containing jobs of approximately equal size and then serve the classes of smaller jobs with higher priorities. In this paper, we design a novel adaptive grouping mechanism based on relative size comparison of a newly arriving job to the preceding m arrivals. Specifically, if the newly arriving job is smallerthan k and larger than m-k of the previous m jobs, it isrouted into class k. The excellent performance of this mechanism,even for a small number of classes m+1, is demonstrated using both the asymptotic queueing analysis under heavy tails and extensive simulations. We also discuss refinements of the comparison grouping mechanism that improve the accuracy of job classification at the expense of a small additional complexity.
The geometric phase in molecular systems

The fundamental theory of the geometric phase is summarized in a way suitable for use in molecular systems treated by the Born-Oppenheimer approach. Both Abelian and non-Abelian cases are considered. Applications discussd include the Abelian geometric phase associated with an intersection of two electronic potential-energy surfaces; screening of nuclei by the electrons from an external magnetic field; non-Abelian gauge potentials in molecular systems with Kramers degeneracy; and the coupling between different electronic levels (Born-Oppenheimer breakdown) represented as a gauge potential. Experimental tests for these systems are discussed, as well as a number of experiments on spin systems.
One-step synthesis of a multi-functional anti-oxidation protective layer on the surface of carbon/carbon composites

Abstract A multi-functional anti-oxidation (AO) protective coating is produced in one-step synthesis on the surface of the carbon/carbon (C/C) composite by a novel electrically induced liquid infiltration (EILI) method. The AO coating involves several protective layers which have different anti-oxidation mechanisms. In this study phosphorus acid is applied as active-site poisoning agents to inhibit oxidations by forming stable glassy complex barriers that decrease oxygen diffusion. Simultaneously silicon carbide (SiC) or SiC/silica layers are formed on the surface of C/C composites that act as physical protection barriers for oxygen penetration. It is proved that under the optimum conditions the acid groups survive the high temperature EILI process. Oxidation tests reveal that formed coatings effectively protect C/C composite from oxidation: average percent of weight losses decrease from 30 to 1 wt.% and from 69 to 5 wt.% for the thermal (1150 K) and catalytic (920 K) oxidation tests, respectively.
Biomimetic nanowire coatings for next generation adhesive drug delivery systems.

Without bioadhesive delivery devices, complex compounds are typically degraded or cleared from mucosal tissues by the mucous layer.1−3 While some chemically modified, microstructured surfaces have been studied in aqueous environments,4,5 adhesion due to geometry alone has not been investigated. Silicon nanowire-coated beads show significantly better adhesion than those with targeting agents under shear, and can increase the lift-off force 100-fold. We have shown that nanowire coatings, paired with epithelial physiology, significantly increase adhesion in mucosal conditions.
Topology Optimization of Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Skin Using Hybrid Cellular Automata

An earlier study introduced the concept of piezoelectric energy-harvesting skin (EHS) to harvest energy by attaching thin piezoelectric patches onto a vibrating skin. This paper presents a methodology for the optimum design of EHS with the use of an efficient topology optimization method referred to as the hybrid cellular automaton (HCA) algorithm. The design domain of the piezoelectric material is discretized into cellular automata (CA), and the response of each CA is measured using high-fidelity finite-element analysis of a vibrating structure. The CA properties are parameterized using nonlinear interpolation functions that follow the principles of the SIMP model. The HCA algorithm finds the optimal densities and polarizing directions at each CA that maximize the output power from the EHS. The performance of this approach is demonstrated for the optimal design of EHS in two real-world case studies.
Response of the premature fetus to stimulation by speech sounds

Abstract The response of the premature fetus to speech stimuli was studied in 41 healthy pregnant patients at 26–34 weeks gestation. Speech stimuli consisted of repeated syllables (‘ee’ and ‘ah’) presented externally over the maternal abdomen at either 100, 105, or 110 decibels (dB). Sound stimuli were delivered during periods of both high and low fetal heart rate variability. During periods of low FHR variability, a decrease in fetal heart rate and an increase in the standard deviation of heart rate were found. During periods of high FHR variability, no significant change in either of these measures was observed. This is the first clear demonstration of heart rate responses to speech stimuli in the premature fetus. As is the case in the term fetus, this response is dependent on baseline heart rate variability which is the primary determinant of fetal state. The clinical usefulness of this finding may be limited by the magnitude of the response.
Toward improved traceability of non-functional requirements

This position paper examines current practices and challenges for tracing non-functional requirements (NFRs). Anecdotal evidence suggests that many organizations do not effectively trace NFRs and that functional changes are often implemented with very little understanding as to how system qualities such as safety, security, and performance will be impacted. The tendency for NFRs to have broad ranging impact upon a software system, and the strong interdependencies and tradeoffs that exist between NFRs and the software architecture leave typical existing traceability methods insufficient for tracing NFRs. This paper focuses on post-requirements traceability of NFRs. It first identifies three critical areas in which NFRs require traceability support, it then evaluates existing traceability methods, and finally proposes a more holistic traceability environment named Goal Centric Traceability that supports impact analysis of NFRs within the context of the software architecture in which they are deployed.
21.4 A microfluidic-CMOS platform with 3D capacitive sensor and fully integrated transceiver IC for palmtop dielectric spectroscopy

Quantitative measurement of the complex relative dielectric permittivity (e r ) of a material vs. frequency (i.e., dielectric spectroscopy, or DS) is a powerful monitoring technique that extracts key information on molecular characteristics of the material-under-test (MUT) via its interactions with electromagnetic waves in a broad frequency range. Despite its potential as a label-free, nondestructive, real-time and fully electrical monitoring modality for myriad applications, including structural biology, fermentation monitoring for alcoholic beverages, food safety control and clinical diagnostics, DS is still underutilized as an analytic tool in scientific research or clinical settings. This is due to the dearth of an autonomous, small-sized, low-power and portable instrument to conduct MHz-to-GHz DS measurements without requiring a microwave probe station, benchtop vector network analyzer (VNA) equipment, or large (100's of ml) sample volume.
Fluorescence microstructure using a laser/fiber optic profiler

Field tests were conducted during Aug/Sept 1989 of the second generation of a laser/fiber optic fluororneter attached to a microstructure proffling instrurnent (Rapid Sampling Vertical Profiler - RSVP). This instrumentation is designed to provide centirneter-scale biological measurements coincident with and at the same sampling frequency as those for temperature, conductivity, and horizontal velocity microstructure. The instrument used during the summer of 1989 employed a 200m dual fiber system, SMA optical fiber connectors used underwater, and an optrode (12mm diameter) containing two fibers, GRIN lenses, and filters. Shipboard laser excitation (488nrn or 514nm) was transmitted down a 2OOtm core excitation fiber, and the fluorescence emission spectrum returned via a 400pm core detection fiber to a shipboard multichannel array detector. Fluorescence emission spectra were acquired 30 times per second at an instrument drop rate of approximately 60 cm per second.
In vitro exposure parameters with linearly and circularly polarized ELF magnetic fields.

A comparison is made of induced current densities, electric fields, and rates of energy deposition during in vitro studies with linearly and circularly polarized, extremely low frequency magnetic fields for a cylindrical volume of culture medium.
A Medicare database review found that physician preferences increasingly outweighed patient characteristics as determinants of first-time prescriptions for COX-2 inhibitors.

Abstract Objective Although innovative drugs may be underprescribed by some physicians, it is possible that rapid adoption after market introduction may lead to prescribing such drugs to patients without a clear indication. We sought to quantify the relative contributions of patient vs. physician factors to the decision to prescribe selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors during the first 2 years of their availability. Methods A cohort of 37,957 Medicare beneficiaries who were enrolled in the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly in Pennsylvania was identified. All patients had started using nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or selective COX-2 inhibitors between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2000, and had no prior NSAID use. All had full prescription drug coverage, including NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitors. Subsequent prescriptions were not considered. We quantified the amount of variation in first-time COX-2 prescribing that could be explained by predictors of gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity, other patient characteristics, or physician preferences. Explained variation was calculated as the R 2 (standardized to range from 0 to 1) from unconditional logistic regression and random intercept mixed effects logistic regression, fitted separately in each of eight consecutive 3-month periods. Results COX-2 inhibitors were adopted as the preferred NSAID by 55% of physicians within 180 days after they were marketed. In new NSAID users, COX-2 prescribing was twice as dependent on physician prescribing preferences ( R 2 =60%) as on the combined predictors of GI toxicity ( R 2 =3%) and other patient factors ( R 2 =30%). The ratio of COX-2 prescribing explained by physician preferences over the contribution of patient factors increased from 2 to more than 10 over a 24-month period. Conclusions First-time COX-2 inhibitor prescribing was somewhat dependent on patient factors in the first quarter of marketing, but the proportional influence of physician preferences increased substantially over the following 2 years, raising the question of why physician factors and not patient risk factors influence COX-2 inhibitor prescribing.
Comment [on “Science in the political arena: Taking fire from the right and the left”]

The points made in “Science in the Political Arena: Taking Fire From the Right and the Left” [Eos, Nov. 21, 1995, p. 480] are well taken. However, I disagree strongly with the implication that assaults on science from the right and left are of equal gravity. While the assault from the left disrupts certain scientific projects, the assault from the right, I believe, risks America's preeminence in science and the development of significant benefits to society. Although environmentalists and animal-rights activists have certainly impeded research in some cases, their activism has also spurred many other fields of research including global change and biodiversity, and encouraged the development of fresh water supplies and alternative fuel sources.
Global optimum search for nonconvex NLP and MINLP problems

Abstract Nonconvex nonlinear programming problems (NLPs) and mixed-integer nonlinear programming problems (MINLPs) abound in the synthesis, design and control of chemical processes. The presently available mathematical programming techniques very often do not lead to the global solution of these classes of problems. A new approach for global optimum search is presented in this paper which involves a decomposition of the variable set into two sets—complicating and noncomplicating variables. This results in a decomposition of the constraint set leading to two subproblems. The decomposition of the original problem induces special structure in the resulting subproblems and a series of these subproblems are then solved to determine the optimal solution. Appendix A presents a systematic approach, based on graph theory, for determining the various possibilities of decomposing the variable set. The key idea is to combine a judicious selection of the complicating variables with suitable transformations leading to subproblems which can attain their respective global solutions at each iteration. Mathematical properties of the proposed approach are presented and its effectiveness is illustrated through a number of nonconvex NLP and MINLP example problems.
Cultural factors and attrition in drug abuse treatment.

The present study examined how race related to attrition in drug abuse treatment. 165 male voluntary admissions to an inpatient Substance Abuse Unit were tested at admission on functioning, motivation, attitudes, symptoms, and mood-using reliable and valid scales. One week later they completed a 12-factor scale measuring perception of the treatment milieu. Data were analyzed in a 2 × 2 factorial design of analysis of variance. There were 106 White subjects and 59 Blacks. The dropout rate for Blacks and Whites was 63%. Two factors measured at intake, motivation and social functioning, showed statistically significant interactions between race and attrition. Four ward perception factors showed a differential effect related to race and attrition. The White dropout and completer did not differ in how they perceived the ward. Blacks, however, who perceived the environment as being more insightful, spontaneous, autonomous, and practical remained. Although Blacks and Whites differed on many variables, only six s...
Use of smoke samples in diamond-anvil cells to measure pressure dependence of optical spectra: Application to the ZnO exciton

Abstract We present measurements of ZnO exciton peak energies, E 0 , at pressures up to 107.3 kbar. Smoke samples consisting of randomly oriented single crystal particles were prepared by oxidizing metallic zinc in air and were collected on one diamond face of a Merrill-Bassett pressure cell. Pressures were measured by the ruby fluorescence technique. In the pressure range between 5 and 90 kbar, our results indicate a consistent linear dependence with d E 0 /d P = 2.33 × 10 −3 eV kbar −1 for both increasing and decreasing pressures. A mixed phase structure is suggested by the observed irregular peak shapes and measured pressure dependence for the sample that had been taken beyond ⋍ 90 kbar where the transformation to the NaCl structure has been reported.
Quantitative variation of grindelane diterpene acids in 20 species of North American Grindelia

Abstract The distribution and quantitative significance of 14 resin acids from 20 species of Grindelia (Asteraceae) in 50 populations from the western U.S. have been determined. Variations in resin acid composition were found between species and between populations within species. Two distinct patterns of resins were obtained, one with grindelic acid as the main component and another with 17-acetoxygrindelic acid. Rocky Mountain populations showed greater variability in resin acid composition than those of the Pacific Coast states.
Immunochemical Reactions of Conalbumin and its Metal Complexes

IMMUNOCHEMICAL methods have been extensively used in protein chemistry for the elucidation of structural changes in proteins. More recently, this method has been successfully used to demonstrate possible conformational and configurational changes in the protein molecule as a result of its interaction with small molecules and prosthetic groups1,2. Immunochemical differences, for example, have been reported for horse oxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin, as well as for metmyoglobin and apomyoglobin1,2.
General circulation of Lake Superior: Mean, variability, and trends from 1979 to 2006

[1] Previous observations and modeling studies of Lake Superior have only partly elucidated its large-scale circulation, in terms of both the climatological state and interannual variability. We use an eddy resolving, three-dimensional hydrodynamic model to bridge this gap. We simulate Lake Superior circulation and thermal structure from 1979 to 2006 and consider the mechanisms responsible for the flow. Model results are compared to available direct observations of temperature and currents. Circulation in the lake is primarily cyclonic during all seasons, and a two-gyre structure is sometimes present. Surface circulation patterns in winter mimic wind directions but become organized in summer by the presence of thermal gradients. On the annual mean, nearshore currents are controlled by thermal gradients, while offshore flow is primarily determined by the wind. From a uniform bathymetry simulation, we determine that topographic variations cause small-scale structures in the open lake flow and are critical to the development of nearshore-offshore temperature gradients. The lake exhibits significant variability in current speed and direction on synoptic time scales, but coherent patterns of interannual variability are not found. Long-term trends due to changing meteorological forcing are found. Model results suggest the increase in lake surface temperature (0.37°C/decade) is significantly correlated to increases in wind speed above the lake (0.18 m/s/decade), increased current speeds (0.37 cm/s/decade), and declining ice coverage (−886 km2/yr).
The quotient rings of a class of lattice-ordered Ore domains

Let R be a lattice-ordered ring and a commutative domain. It is shown that if R is algebraic over a subring which is totally ordered and whose positive elements are d-elements of R, then the quotient field of R can be made into a lattice-ordered ring extension of R.
Integrating Training into Human Factors Implementation

The Airline Safety Summit, held in January, 1995 in Washington, D.C. had two important outcomes for human factors. First, it set a goal of zero accidents for future airline operations. Second, it emphasized the role of the human and specifically human factors, in accident causation. As a response to these outcomes, the interest in human factors has increased in all aviation domains: flight operations, the air traffic system, and maintenance/inspection. A preferred response to the new demands for implementing human factors has been one of training, in either awareness of human factors or in the modification of interpersonal relations through a process analogous to Crew Resource Management (CRM). Such programs have used group problem-solving techniques to help locate and reduce sources of error and systems problems, using models of the human as interacting with other humans in the system. Within such a framework, is there a role for the more traditional models of human functioning used by human factors engi...
The demand for higher education facing an individual institution

The purpose of this paper is to provide an estimate of the elasticity and cros-selasticities of demand for higher education facing an individual institution. The utility which a high school graduate derives from each educational option open to him is assumed to be a stochastic function of the attributes of that option. For certain types of utility functions the maximization of utility results in the logit probability model. This model is used to analyze the choices made by a sample of high school graduates in Hawaii. Estimates of the price elasticity and the cross-price elasticities of demand for enrollment at the University of Hawaii are obtained. It is found that the demand is quite inelastic with respect to both tuition and total cost of education. These estimates imply that changes in tuition will not affect enrollment appreciably.
The Effects of Moisture on the Flammability Characteristics of Textile Materials

The TRI Flammability Analyzer has been used to determine the effects of moisture on the flammability characteristics of textile materials. Both moisture in the fabric and in the test environment have been considered for a number of un treated and flame-retardant-treated fabrics. The results are reported and interpreted in terms of several measurable quantities: mass transformation rate (MTR), oxygen sensitivity (ΔMTR/Δ% O2), and extrapolated oxygen index (O. I.)0. Variations in fabric moisture content appear to have a greater effect on the behavior of relatively hydrophobic fibers (such as polyester), as compared to cotton or nylon.
Gonadal steroids in the treatment of mood disorders.

Increased interest in the complex interplay between gonadal steroids and neurotransmitter systems involved in mood has led investigators to question the role of gonadal steroids in the treatment of affective disorders, especially in women. Objectives The purpose of this article is to provide a rationale for using gonadal hormones in the treatment of depression in women. Methods The literature is reviewed regarding 1) sex-specific phenomenologic and epidemiologic differences in the manifestation of psychiatric illness, 2) sex-specific differences in the therapeutic and adverse effects of psychotropic medications, 3) the complex interplay between gonadal steroids and neurotransmitter systems implicated in psychiatric disorders, and 4) the growing literature regarding the use of estrogen and progesterone in the treatment of mood disorders in women and androgens in the treatment of depression and sexual dysfunction in both men and women. Results Findings from pharmacologic trials of estrogen and androgens are encouraging, albeit mixed, in the treatment of mood disorders and decreased libido in women, respectively. Controlled studies have failed to confirm early open-label reports of the effectiveness of progesterone in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome. Conclusions Pending replication, estrogen may become an important pharmacologic agent in the treatment of postnatal and perimenopausal depression, whereas androgens have been shown to improve libido in postmenopausal women and hypogonadal men. Progesterone cannot be recommended as a treatment for premenstrual syndrome or postnatal depression.
Estimating the degree of saturation in mutant screens.

Large-scale screens for loss-of-function mutants have played a significant role in recent advances in developmental biology and other fields. In such mutant screens, it is desirable to estimate the degree of “saturation” of the screen (i.e., what fraction of the possible target genes has been identified). We applied Bayesian and maximum-likelihood methods for estimating the number of loci remaining undetected in large-scale screens and produced credibility intervals to assess the uncertainty of these estimates. Since different loci may mutate to alleles with detectable phenotypes at different rates, we also incorporated variation in the degree of mutability among genes, using either gamma-distributed mutation rates or multiple discrete mutation rate classes. We examined eight published data sets from large-scale mutant screens and found that credibility intervals are much broader than implied by previous assumptions about the degree of saturation of screens. The likelihood methods presented here are a significantly better fit to data from published experiments than estimates based on the Poisson distribution, which implicitly assumes a single mutation rate for all loci. The results are reasonably robust to different models of variation in the mutability of genes. We tested our methods against mutant allele data from a region of the Drosophila melanogaster genome for which there is an independent genomics-based estimate of the number of undetected loci and found that the number of such loci falls within the predicted credibility interval for our models. The methods we have developed may also be useful for estimating the degree of saturation in other types of genetic screens in addition to classical screens for simple loss-of-function mutants, including genetic modifier screens and screens for protein-protein interactions using the yeast two-hybrid method.
The detection of cytochrome P450 2E1 and its catalytic activity in rat testis.

Abstract Cytochrome P450 2E1 participates in the bioactivation of a wide variety of environmental and occupational pollutants. Such reactions may lead to the production of active carcinogenic metabolites. The presence of P450 2E1 in the testis and prostate has not yet been reported. In the present study, cytochrome P450 2E1 mRNA has been identified in the rat prostate and testis by reverse transcription PCR, southern blotting, and DNA sequencing. P450 2E1 protein from rat testis could be detected with immunoblot analysis, but was not detected in the prostate. The hydroxylation ofp-nitrophenol, known to be mediated by P450 2E1, was demonstrated by HPLC measurement of product formation in microsomal fractions from the rat testis, but again not from prostate. Exposure of rats to pyridine resulted in a 2.9-fold increase ofp-nitrophenol hydroxylation by testicular microsomes. Diethyldithiocarbamate, a selective mechanism-based inhibitor of P450 2E1, or a P450 2E1 monoclonal antibody, caused marked inhibition of testicular microsomalp-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity. These results indicate that cytochrome P450 2E1 is present in the rat testis, and that it is elevated by treatment of the animals with pyridine. Thus, the presence and inducibility of cytochrome P450 2E1 in the testis may be of significance in the bioactivation of environmental chemicals to genotoxic metabolites.
Trade Show/Fair Piracy and Industrial Espionage

ABSTRACT This article raises the concern that piracy and industrial espionage at trade shows and international fairs can adversely affect a firm's competitive advantage. Trade shows are one of the premier opportunities for market intelligence gathering. Corporate intellectual property owners paint a dark picture of lost sales, lowered profits, and damaged brand reputations. Initial discussion examines the unique impact of trade events as a promotional medium while exposing companies to the theft of proprietary and intellectual property. Staff training for those manning the organization's booth or stand is crucial along with a vigilant eye for those auditing the trade event to obtain competitive information. This article is intended to open the discussion and alert corporate managers of the need to be vigilant and to improve the training of personnel representing the firm at exhibitions.
Hospital-Acquired Acute Kidney Injury and Hospital Readmission: A Cohort Study

Background Hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with increased mortality and resource consumption. Little is known about the association of AKI with short-term hospital readmissions. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants We investigated whether adult survivors of hospital-acquired AKI were at increased odds for early hospital readmission. Predictor The peak-to-nadir serum creatinine difference during the index hospitalization was used to define AKI according to the KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) classification and staging system. Measurements Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the association of AKI with 30-, 60-, and 90-day hospital readmission, adjusting for age, sex, race, Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index score, acute hospital-related factors, common causes of hospitalization, and baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate. Results 3,345 (15%) of 22,001 included patients experienced AKI during the index hospitalization. Compared to the non-AKI group, the AKI group had a significantly higher 30-day hospital readmission rate (11% vs 15%; P Limitations Single-center study of mild forms of AKI; ascertainment bias and outcome misclassification due to the use of administrative codes. Conclusions Our results suggest that survivors of hospital-acquired AKI experience higher odds of early hospital readmission. Transitions of care services may be warranted for such patients to prevent readmissions and reduce health care costs.