cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A METHODOLOGY TO DETERMINE THE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF AN EXISTING URBAN RESIDENTIAL AREA FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF ITS INHABITANTS

This paper presents a methodology which permits the analysis of existing urban areas for the purpose of determining requirements for growth and change from the point of view of the areas' residents.
Neuraxial anesthesia and nintedanib use: a word of caution.

To the Editor, Providers should be vigilant when planning a neuraxial or peripheral nerve block in patients taking a new medication for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease. Nintedanib (Ofev, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield
Durability of response in metastatic melanoma patients after combined treatment with radiation therapy and ipilimumab.

Aim We previously reported a prospective trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of combining ipilimumab and radiation therapy in patients with metastatic melanoma. Herein, we provide a long-term update on patients with complete response (CR) or partial response (PR). Patients & methods We continued to follow these patients with serial imaging including computed tomography, PET or MRI. Results Two of the three patients with CR are still alive and without evidence of melanoma but with chronic treatment-induced hypophysitis. The third patient died of hepatocellular carcinoma, but with no evidence of melanoma. Among the three patients with PR, two achieved CR after pembrolizumab monotherapy. Conclusion This long-term follow up reveals the striking durability of the CRs, which appears to correlate with a grade 2-3 hypophysitis.
Multiple financial stressors and serious psychological distress among adults in the USA.

Financial stress has adverse consequences for health. However, the association between individual and cumulative associations of multiple financial stressors and serious psychological distress (SPD) is unclear. Using data from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey, we examined cross-sectional associations between perceived financial worries, healthcare insecurity, food insecurity, and SPD among 23,317 US adults. Associations were examined using logistic regression. Among US adults in 2017, the overall prevalence of SPD was 3.6%. Among those with SPD, 85.5% were financially worried, 50.3% were food insecure, and 51.2% were healthcare insecure. Financial worries (OR 4.27; CI 3.31, 5.52), food insecurity (OR 2.34; CI 1.92, 2.85), and healthcare insecurity (OR 2.26; CI 1.85, 2.76) were each associated with higher odds of SPD. A dose–response association was found between the number of stressors and SPD. Each financial stressor was adversely associated with SPD both individually and cumulatively, indicating the adverse effects of the accumulation of these stressors. Additional studies are needed to understand the longitudinal effects of multiple financial stressors on mental health outcomes.
Modification of cellulose microfibers by polyglutamic acid and mesoporous silica nanoparticles for Enterovirus 71 adsorption

In this study, we synthesized a novel kind of cellulose-based microfibers for efficient adsorption of Enterovirus 71 (EV71), the leading causative agent of life-threatening hand, foot and mouth disease. The initial cellulose microfibers (CEL) were activated by (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), and then covalently modified by polyglutamic acid (PGA) and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN), obtaining the microfibers CEL-PGA-MSN. Owing to the electrostatic interaction between the negatively charged components (i.e., PGA and MSN) and positively charged amino acids of the epitope of EV71 capsid protein VP2 (VP2-ep), the obtained microfibers strongly adsorbed the epitope, and exhibited high EV71-adsorption capacity. This study sheds a novel light on development of cellulose-based materials for application in virus-capturing equipment.
Quantifying Sample Collection and Processing Impacts on Fiber-Based Tear Fluid Chemical Analysis.

Purpose Noninvasive analyses of tear fluid from humans and animal models in clinical and research settings most commonly use absorbent material for collection and processing. Still, the impact of these analytical techniques on tear chemical analyses remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to quantify the impacts of phenol red thread fiber-based tear sample collection and processing on the primary amine content. Methods Human tears were collected by placing the folded end of phenol red thread on the palpebral conjunctiva of the right eye for 20 seconds. The wetted thread was then processed using elution or extraction, and capillary electrophoresis with light-emitting diode-induced fluorescence detection was used for analysis and quantitation. Results Distinct processing methods impacted tear analysis differently. Primary amines adsorbed onto the thread partitioned in a chromatographic manner and thus any single portion of the wetted thread might not be representative of the whole sample. Quantitative assessment of five small molecule standards after on-thread processing showed significant overestimation of the actual concentration, with increased accuracy for larger volume samples. Yet collection of larger tear volumes introduced error in volume determination owing to evaporation and reduced small molecule separation resolution. Conclusions These results indicated that absorption-based tear fluid collection and processing significantly alter chemical content analysis, suggesting that the impacts of methods used should be regularly evaluated to standardize results drawn from different studies. Translational relevance This study identifies potential inconsistencies and inaccuracies in tear analyses that are widespread across the published literature and clinical care.
Can financial incentives help with the struggle for security policy compliance

Abstract This study examined the effects of financial incentives on security policy compliance. Participants were recruited for a computerized in-basket job simulation and randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) control group with no financial incentives for compliance; (2) positive frame (gain) group where participants could gain up to $5 for compliance; (3) negative frame (loss) group where participants were awarded $5, but would lose a portion with each compliance failure. Incentives increased individuals’ vigilance toward phishing emails and decreased likelihood of clicking on links, with the negative frame incentive having the strongest effects. Incentives worked better for non-contextualized emails.
Challenges and Barriers to HIV Care for Mexican Born Men Living in Chicago

Background: Latinx men are disproportionately impacted by HIV. Research often looks at Latinx people as a heterogeneous population. This paper describes baseline characteristics and barriers to HIV care among Mexican born men enrolled in an HIV care engagement intervention at a public health clinic in Chicago. Methods: Survey and medical chart data were collected. Results: 66 Mexican born men enrolled in the project. Over half (60%) were newly diagnosed; 40% were reengaging in care or establishing care for the first time. Participants reported significant pre and postmigration concerns including poverty, social stigma, late entry to care, and concurrent health concerns, including 47% screening positive for depression. Barriers to care and mental health concerns were significantly related to Stage 3 HIV. Discussion: More prevention and intervention research is needed to ameliorate the negative socioeconomic and health ramifications of immigration and bolster mental and sexual health, reduce HIV transmission, and increase testing, linkage and care retention.
Novel Implementation of Virtual Interviews for Otolaryngology Resident Selection: Reflections Relevant to the COVID-19 Era

To address financial and scheduling conflicts associated with residency interviews for otolaryngology candidates, our residency program implemented virtual interviews as an alternative to the traditional in-person format for our visiting subinterns during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 interview cycles. Applicants then completed an anonymous survey about their interview experience. We found that, overall, positive attitudes toward virtual interviews increased among 2019-2020 candidates as compared with the year prior. Our results demonstrated an average cost savings per interview of $500 to $1000 when virtual technology was utilized. Based on feedback, improvements may be considered regarding eye contact, minimizing distractions, and providing the option to extend the interview length. Our experience provides a preliminary framework for transitioning to virtual interviews in the upcoming 2020-2021 otolaryngology residency selection process during the COVID-19 era, as well as for future studies assessing the utility of this method and its impact on overall match statistics.
Pan-cancer proteogenomic investigations identify post-transcriptional kinase targets.

Identifying genomic alterations of cancer proteins has guided the development of targeted therapies, but proteomic analyses are required to validate and reveal new treatment opportunities. Herein, we develop a new algorithm, OPPTI, to discover overexpressed kinase proteins across 10 cancer types using global mass spectrometry proteomics data of 1,071 cases. OPPTI outperforms existing methods by leveraging multiple co-expressed markers to identify targets overexpressed in a subset of tumors. OPPTI-identified overexpression of ERBB2 and EGFR proteins correlates with genomic amplifications, while CDK4/6, PDK1, and MET protein overexpression frequently occur without corresponding DNA- and RNA-level alterations. Analyzing CRISPR screen data, we confirm expression-driven dependencies of multiple currently-druggable and new target kinases whose expressions are validated by immunochemistry. Identified kinases are further associated with up-regulated phosphorylation levels of corresponding signaling pathways. Collectively, our results reveal protein-level aberrations—sometimes not observed by genomics—represent cancer vulnerabilities that may be targeted in precision oncology. Elmas et al. develop an algorithm, OPPTI, to identify overexpressed kinase proteins across 10 cancer types using global mass spectrometry proteomics data from over 1000 cases. They reveal that protein-level aberrations, which are sometimes not observed using genomics, represent cancer vulnerabilities that may be targeted in precision oncology.
Optical Pumping and Spin Exchange in Gas Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter reflects on the current status of optical pumping and spin exchange in gas cells. Optical pumping is a method to produce population imbalances among the ground or excited state sublevels of atoms, and molecules by the interaction between the atomic system and light. In the preceding examples, any spin polarization of the atomic vapor generated by the pumping light is along the direction of the static magnetic field. This is called “longitudinal pumping.” Transverse optical pumping occurs when the pumping light generates an atomic polarization along a direction perpendicular to the static magnetic field. As depopulation pumping relies on the different pumping rates out of different sublevels, the efficiency of depopulation pumping depends on the polarization and spectral profile of the pumping light. In addition to directly polarizing an atom by optical pumping, it is possible to polarize atoms by spin-transfer collisions. Spin-exchange collisions will always be present in any polarized vapor and can be very important, especially for paramagnetic atoms such as alkali atoms.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vpr gene arrests infected T cells in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection causes profound immunological defects in afflicted patients. Various mechanisms have been proposed to account for the immune dysfunction in AIDS ultimately leading to loss of CD4+ T cells, including HIV-1 envelope-mediated syncytium formation, apoptosis, and cytokine modulation. Here we present results which suggest a novel hypothesis for T-cell dysfunction. We show, using HIV-1 bearing a novel cell surface reporter gene, that infected cells are unable to progress normally through the cell cycle and became arrested in the G2 + M phase. Furthermore, we identify the HIV-1 vpr gene product as being both necessary and sufficient for eliciting this cell cycle arrest. Cell cycle arrest induced by Vpr correlates with an increase in the hyperphosphorylated (inactive) form of the cyclin-dependent serine/threonine kinase CDC2, consistent with an arrest of cells at the boundary of G2 and M.
Why is Bank Debt Senior? A Theory of Priority Among Creditors

Theories of banks as efficient monitors would suggest that bank debt should be junior to other creditors in order to precipitate bankruptcy when other creditors are still in- the-money. This paper provides an explanation why bank debt is usually senior: banks would more strongly contest the priority structure in financial distress if they were junior, because they are both better organized than public debt and more appreciative of a toughness reputation in repeat relationships with other clients. This paper identifies the conditions under which it can be efficient to award the ex-post stronger litigant ex-ante priority, because it reduces the creditors' expenses associated with a priority contest. For equivalent reasons, the theory can advise when public debt should be senior to trade credit and/or implicit contracts, and even suggests one rationale for the absolute priority rule (APR). This paper is available for print via anonymous ftp: Postscript: next.agsm.ucla.edu: ~/academic.finance/bankdebt.ps HP LJ (binary/no figures): next.agsm.ucla.edu: ~/academic.finance/bankdebt.hp
The Model of Rules

Lawyers lean heavily on the connected concepts of legal right and legal obligation. We say that someone has a legal right or duty, and we take that statement as a sound basis for making claims and demands, and for criticizing the acts of public officials. Day in and day out we send people to jail, or take money away from them, or make them do things they do not want to do, under coercion of force, and we justify all of this by speaking of such persons as having broken the law or having failed to meet their legal obligations, or having interfered with other people’s legal rights. Rules about forming contracts and executing wills are also secondary rules because they stipulate how very particular rules governing particular legal obligations (i.e., the terms of a contract or the provisions of a will) come into existence and are changed.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE 5'-FLANKING SEQUENCE OF RAT CLASS I ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE GENE

Abstract Expression of the rat class I alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) gene is highest in the liver and regions of the intestine. We characterized over 3 kilobases of the gene's 5'-flanking region by sequencing and transient transfection. Alignment of the flanking sequence of the rat gene with those of the mouse and human class I genes revealed a cis-acting element, known to be a functional glucocorticoid response element in the human gene and conserved in the mouse, is interrupted in the rat promoter by a 490-base pair processed retropseudogene of the ribosomal protein S25. Southern analysis indicated that this inserted element is present in the class I ADH promoters of multiple strains of rat. Transfection analysis of the rat and mouse promoters showed that the mouse, but not the rat promoter, is inducible by dexamethasone. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using nuclear extracts from dexamethasone-treated cells confirmed that the mouse's element interacts with the glucocorticoid receptor. Transient transfection of the 5'-flanking region of the rat gene linked to a human growth hormone reporter demonstrated the liver and intestinal specificity of the rat promoter. Two positive elements, one from nucleotides -1,327 to -977 and the other from -241 to -12, were shown to support high levels of reporter activity. In addition, a suppressive element was localized between nucleotides -403 and -241, a region of DNA situated within the domain of the S25 ribosomal protein pseudogene.
METHODS FOR MYOBLAST TRANSPLANTATION

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the techniques of transplanting myoblasts derived from primary cultures of mouse muscle. Myoblast transplantation provides a unique means to effect in vivo gene transfer because of the ability of implanted myoblasts to fuse with host myofibers. Among the limitations to more widespread use of myoblast transplantation is the time required for growth, purification, and labeling of cells and for detailed transplant analysis. For most applications of myoblast transplantation, it is essential to have a method of differentiating the donor cells from the host cells, whether to determine the fate of the transplanted cells, to assess the effect on host fibers of the incorporation of donor cells, or simply to assess the efficiency of the transplantation procedure. Retroviral-mediated gene transfer offers a rapid and efficient method of introducing a hereditable marker into dividing cells.
Human Immunodeficiency Viral Infection and Status Epilepticus in United States (2002-2009).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and status epilepticus and compare the outcomes of patients with status epilepticus with or without underlying HIV infection. METHODS: Patients with primary diagnosis of status epilepticus (cases) and status asthmaticus (controls) were identified from the 2002-2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) which is representative of all admissions in the United States. We performed logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, gender, co-morbid conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), renal failure, alcohol use, and opportunistic infections. We compared the in hospital outcomes among patients admitted with status epilepticus in strata defined by underlying HIV infection. RESULTS: The rate of concurrent status epilepticus and HIV has increased over the last 7 years in hospitalized patients with status epilepticus in United States (0.14%-0.27% p<0.0001). The HIV infection was significantly associated with status epilepticus (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8-2.6; p<0.0001)) after adjusting for age, gender, opportunistic infections, and cardiovascular risk factors. The in-hospital mortality was significantly higher while discharge with none or minimal disability was significantly lower in status epilepticus patients with underlying HIV infection (17.5% vs. 9.9%, p<0.0001) and (50.4% vs. 63.3%, p<0.0001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that there is a direct association between HIV infection and status epilepticus. The proportion of patients admitted with concurrent status epilepticus and HIV infections is increasing and such patients have higher rates of poor discharge outcomes.
Polynomial Time-Marching for Three-Dimensional Wave Equations

As a continuation of the efficient and accurate polynomial interpolation time-marching technique in one-dimensional and two-dimensional cases, this paper proposes a method to extend it to three-dimensional problems. By stacking all two-dimensional (x, y) slice matrices along Z direction, three-dimensional derivative matrices are constructed so that the polynomial interpolation time-marching can be performed in the same way as one-dimensional and two-dimensional cases. Homogeneous Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions are also incorporated into the matrix operators in a similar way as in one- and two-dimensional problems. A simple numerical example of scalar wave propagation in a closed-cube has validated this extended method.
Statistical modeling of plasmaspheric hiss amplitude using solar wind measurements and geomagnetic indices

[1] Plasmaspheric hiss plays a major role in the scattering and loss of electrons from the Earth's radiation belts, thereby contributing to the maintenance of the slot region between the inner and outer electron belt. As such, models of radiation belt dynamics require accurate estimates of hiss amplitudes. We present a straightforward empirical model, based on THEMIS data from June 2008 through December 2010, which uses multiple regression to predict observed equatorial hiss amplitudes on the three magnetospheric THEMIS probes as a function of L and MLT. The model utilizes solar wind measurements (e.g., dynamic pressure and IMF) and geomagnetic indices (e.g., AE and SYM-H) as model inputs. This model explains on average 26% of the variance of hiss amplitude observed on THEMIS. We present example output of the model for a minor geomagnetic storm that reveals, for the first time, the evolution of plasmaspheric hiss amplitude as a function of storm phase.
Plasma Sclerostin in HIV-Infected Adults on Effective Antiretroviral Therapy

Sclerostin is linked to bone physiology and cardiovascular disease through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The goal of this study was to determine if sclerostin is related to bone physiology and cardiovascular disease during antiretroviral treatment in HIV-infected persons. This was a cross-sectional analysis from study entry into the Stopping Atherosclerosis and Treating Unhealthy bone with RosuvastatiN in HIV (SATURN) trial, an ongoing randomized trial comparing rosuvastatin to placebo in HIV-infected adults on antiretroviral therapy. Plasma sclerostin was measured at study entry by ELISA from participants with available samples. Spearman correlation and multivariable linear regression were used to test relationships between sclerostin and bone density or bone turnover and cardiovascular disease. Among 139 HIV-infected participants (median age 46 years, CD4 lymphocyte count 614 cells/μl), the median plasma sclerostin level was 444.1 (IQR 330.3, 570.1) pg/ml. Correlations were detected between sclerostin and age (r=0.26), lumbar spine Z-score (r=0.31), RANKL (r=-0.21), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT, r=0.19), and sVCAM-1 (r=0.27), p<0.05. No significant correlations were detected between sclerostin and current (r=0.006) or nadir CD4 count (r=0.11). While associations between sclerostin, lumbar spine Z-score, and sVCAM-1 were robust to covariate adjustment (p<0.01), association with CIMT was no longer significant (p=0.08). Our findings provide preliminary support for a relationship between sclerostin and bone mineral density in HIV-infected persons. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway should be investigated as a potential mechanism for loss of bone mineral density in treated HIV infection.
Order in molecular liquids near solid–liquid interfaces

Abstract Much less is known about structure at solid–liquid interfaces than at solid or liquid surfaces, largely because it is more difficult for experimental probes to penetrate into an interface. In recent years, the availability of synchrotron radiation (which is intense and collimated, and whose energy and thus penetration depth can be varied) has made scattering experiments at such interfaces possible. This article reviews some recent studies of ordering at the liquid side of a solid–liquid interface.
5‐Hydroxytryptamine in frog's skin

The amounts of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the skin of nine species of anurans were estimated by the fluorescence method. Relatively large quantities of 5-HT were found in the dorsal skin of five species of semi-terrestrial frogs, while in the skins of four highly aquatic species none, or only a trace, was found. Using the histochemical fluorescence method of Falck, 5-HT was located in the granules of the venom glands of Rana pipiens, a semi-terrestrial species, while no fluorescing glands were found in R. catesbeiana, a highly aquatic species. The results of Erspamer and others are discussed. It is suggested that the most probable role of 5-HT in frog skin is that of defense against land predators.
SAMS Stochastic analysis with minimal sampling- : A fast algorithm for analysis and design under uncertainty

Design of processes and devices under uncertainty calls for stochastic analysis of the effects of uncertain input parameters on the system performance and process outcomes. The stochastic analysis is often carried out based on sampling from the uncertain input parameters space, and using a physical model of the system to generate distributions of the outcomes. In many engineering applications, a large number of samples-on the order of thousands or more-is needed for an accurate convergence of the output distributions, which renders a stochastic analysis computationally intensive. Toward addressing the computational challenge, this article presents a methodology of Stochastic Analysis with Minimal Sampling (SAMS). The SAMS approach is based on approximating an output distribution by an analytical function, whose parameters are estimated using a few samples, constituting an orthogonal Taguchi array, from the input distributions. The analytical output distributions are, in turn, used to extract the reliability and robustness measures of the system. The methodology is applied to stochastic analysis of a composite materials manufacturing process under uncertainty, and the results are shown to compare closely to those from a Latin hypercube sampling method. The SAMS technique is also demonstrated to yield computational savings of up to 90% relative to the sampling-based method.
The sound of the life-world

Husserl's investigations of internal time-consciousness take sound as the primary temporal object. However, in these investigations, the structure of the flux of temporal subjectivity is established to the detriment of the rich tonal content of sound. Just as Husserl has enlarged the significance of the spatial object of mathematical physics to include the historically-sedimented layers of its appearance, so the temporal object will receive additional intelligibility if the rich texture of musical sound is taken into consideration. Particularly useful for this task is Bergson's philosophy of the listening experience.
Trazodone and valproate in patients discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine therapy: effects on withdrawal symptoms and taper outcome

Recent uncontrolled research suggested that trazodone and sodium valproate may be helpful in benzodiazepine (BZ) discontinuation. We therefore undertook a double-blind study to assess whether trazodone and valproate, as compared to placebo, would attenuate withdrawal and facilitate discontinuation in BZ-dependent patients with a minimum of 1 year daily BZ use. Seventy-eight patients, taking a mean dose of 19 ± 17 mg/day of diazepam (or its equivalent), were stabilized for several weeks on their BZ (16 diazepam, 25 lorazepam, 37 alprazolam) and then for 1–2 weeks, pretreated with trazodone, sodium valproate or placebo before being tapered at 25% per week. All treatments were continued for 5 weeks post-taper. BZ-free status was assessed after 5 and 12 weeks post-taper. Neither trazodone nor valproate had any significant effect on withdrawal severity. Peak physician withdrawal checklist change from baseline to peak severity was 16.4 for trazodone, 18.04 sodium valproate and 18.24 placebo (F = 0.10; NS). Taper success rates were significantly effected by both active agents at the 5-week, but not 12-week, assessment. At 5 weeks post-taper, 79% of sodium valproate and 67% of trazodone, but only 31% of placebo patients were BZ-free (χ2 = 7.34; df 2; P < 0.03). Major adverse events for trazodone were sedation and dry mouth, and for valproate, diarrhea, nausea and headaches.
Chromium-aluminium orthophosphates, III. Acidity and catalytic performance in cyclohexene and cumene conversions on CrPO 4 −AlPO 4 (20–50 wt.% AlPO 4 ) catalysts obtained in aqueous ammonia

The modification of CrPO4-A catalyst with AlPO4 leads to CrPO4−AlPO4 (CrAlP-A) catalysts exhibiting not only an increased total acidity but also an increased number of strongest Lewis acid sites as compared to CrPO4 and AlPO4 catalysts. Besides, surface acidity is slightly influenced by AlPO4 loading (5–50 wt.%). This increased surface Lewis acidity is responsible for the improved catalytic activity in cyclohexene skeletal isomerization and cumene dehydrogenation processes. Moreover, the catalytic activity results can be well interpreted through differences in the number and strength of acid sites, measured gas-chromatographically, in terms of pyridine and 2,6-dimethylpyridine chemisorbed at different temperatures (573–673 K).
The pure rotational spectrum of 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluorocyclobutane and applications of singular value decomposition signal processing

Abstract A total of 608 pure rotational transitions for 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluorocyclobutane have been recorded and analyzed for the first time. Data analysis shows a dihedral angle for C 4 H 3 F 5 which is intermediate between those of C 4 H 8 and C 4 F 8 . The strong free induction decay (FID) collected has allowed for a singular value decomposition (SVD) signal processing method to be further examined in time domain rotational spectroscopy. Hankel matrices formed from the first 15 000 data points of the FID are capable of reproducing the parent molecules transition frequencies to an accuracy approaching that of the fast Fourier transformation. In addition to the FFT method the SVD method more readily produces information on transition phase, amplitude, and signal damping but at a significantly increased computational cost.
A multiple associative memory organization for pipelining a directory to a very large data base

The limitation of the existing class of sequential computers in the management of large data bases is well known. This has led to investigations of Associative/Parallel devices, working alone or in conjunction with sequential devices, as possible tools for Data Base Management (DBM). Associative Memories have been shown to be an attractive tool for DBM when the data base is sufficiently small; however, their usefulness in the management of large data bases has not yet been established.The research that we are presently undertaking addresses itself to data retrieval and update in an environment of a large, general data base with substantial activity. A hierarchical directory to the data base is utilized that permits both single and multiple-attribute retrievals. A series of Associative Memories is used to pipeline the searches at various levels of the directory. The performance of this system is being compared with both sequential and other organizations utilizing Associative Memories. The criteria for comparison are retrieval and update performance, storage utilization and flexibility.
The Impact of Information System Personnel Skill Discrepancies on Stakeholder Satisfaction

System development efforts depend to a large degree upon how well information systems (IS) managers, IS specialists, and IS users work together in a project team structure. Yet, these individuals frequently work under different perceptions about matters of importance to development, management, and success. This paper introduces a framework for examining IS specialists' skill requirements from a multiple-stakeholder perspective. Derived from discrepancy theory, the framework concedes that different stakeholders hold a variable set of expectations for IS personnel skill levels as well as a perception of skills held by IS personnel. We examine differences in expectation and performance expressed by each group and describe the impact of the discrepancy on user satisfaction, career satisfaction of IS specialists, and on job performance evaluations by IS managers. Results confirm that a discrepancy between an IS specialist's expectations of skill and their perceived skill self-proficiency impacts career satisfaction. Similar relations hold for IS managers and users. Since different stakeholders may hold different perceptions, satisfaction of all parties becomes problematic unless a common frame of reference can be determined.
Muscle weakness and speech in oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Purpose We documented speech and voice characteristics associated with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). Although it is a rare disease, OPMD offers the opportunity to study the impact of m...
Lp contractive projections and the heat semigroup for differential forms

Abstract A projection operator that is contractive on Lp for two distinct values of p is shown to be contractive for all values of p, and the range must be of a special form. This result is used to show that the heat semigroup for k-forms on many manifolds with nontrivial cohomology in dimension k cannot be contractive on any Lp for p ≠ 2.
A Multi-Stage Aerosol Sampler for Extended Sampling Intervals

The design and laboratory evaluation of a new multi-stage aerosol sampler, incorporating an array of six 10-mm diameter cyclones operated in parallel at varying flow rates is described. Each cyclone samples from a common axial inlet tube at a different flowrate, and therefore, has a different characteristic particle size cut-off. The undersized particles are collected on filters. The particle size distribution of the ambient aerosol is determined from the sample masses on the back-up filters and a parallel filter which has no pre-collector. Since the cyclone efficiencies do not vary with loading, the sampling Intervals can be as long as necessary to obtain the desired sample masses.
Holding Company Cost Economies in the Global Advertising and Marketing Services Business

We assess size and scope-related economies in the global advertising and marketing services business. A translog cost function is employed wherein a firms costs vary according to its scale and two dimensions of the scope of its operations. One dimension of firm scope relates to how its output is distributed across the global markets it serves (domestic vs. overseas) and the other to how its output is distributed across the line of services it offers (advertising-related vs. other marketing services). Parameters of the model are estimated via three stage least squares using annual data (1989-2001) for an unbalanced panel consisting of the eight largest holding companies in this industry.A firms total variable costs are affected by its scale, scope (mix of services and markets served), and by the interaction of the two dimensions of scope. The latter effect suggests that cost economies may accompany the dual diversification strategy of jointly offering advertising and marketing services globally. Estimates indicate that the industrys long-run cost function is subject to very slight economies of scale, i.e., total variable costs increase less than proportionally as outputs increase. Consistent with the presence of modest global scale economies, product-specific diseconomies of scale accompany growth in volume obtained by extending either breadth of service offerings or market coverage. Scope economies arise when cost savings can be realized by a single firm jointly producing several services or jointly serving multiple markets as compared to splitting up the firm into smaller, stand-alone entities, each one producing just one service or serving a single market. A small cost advantage, typically of approximately two percent, is uniformly associated with joint production of services for both the domestic and overseas markets. Cost savings of a similar magnitude arise consistently from the joint production of advertising as well as other marketing services.
P-Wave Phase Shifts at 210 Mev and the Photodisintegration of the Deuteron

Recently it was shown that the cross section for photodisintegration of deuterons can give useful information about the nuclear force in the /sup 3/P state if certain assumptions are made: (1) the ground-state wave function is known; (2) the electric dipole process, /sup 3/S/sub 1/ + /sup 3/D/sub 1/ yields /s up 3/P/sub 0/, /sup 3/P/sub 1/, /sup 3/P/sub 2/ + /sup 3/F/sub 2/, is dominant; and (3) virtu al meson effects can be neglected.D) were obtained when MacGregor et al., applied the modified phase-shift analysis program to the Rochester p-p scattering data at 210 I(Mev. The A and D solutions were excluded because neither corresponds to an acceptable phase-shift solution at 31O Mev. Depolarization parameter data show that the A and D solutions are excluded by measurements at 210 Mev alone and indicate a preference for solution B over C. MacGregor's values are tabulated for phase shifts of the sets A, B, C, and D converted to phase shifts as defined by Blatt and Biedenharn. The experimental data for gamma energies of 60 to 15O Mev are shown graphically. The values predicted for the total cross section, sigma /sub t/, for the four sets are 26 mu b, 48more » mu b, 41 mu b, and 56 mu b, respectively, whereas the measured value at E/sub gamma / = 105 Mev is (60 plus or minus 10) mu b. This shows that the dipole process yields the largest contribution for all sets of phase shifts. The smaller contribution for A, C, nnd D compared to the value for B indicates a further preference for set B. (B.O.G.)« less
Hydroxyl radical formation resulting from the interaction of nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide

The highly reactive and cytotoxic hydroxyl radical (OH) was found by electrochemical detection to be produced in reactions involving hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the nitric oxide (NO) donor diethylamine- NO complex. Using aromatic hydroxylation of salicylate as a specific indicator of OH, three salicylate hydroxylation products were identified; catechol, 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid. Four additional compounds were detected but not identified. The interactions of H2O2 and NO represent a biologically feasible reaction mechanism that can account for OH-induced damage in cellular environments where transition metal ions are unavailable for participation in the superoxide-mediated Fenton reaction. The ability of the NO/H2O2 complex to generate OH independently of iron or other transition metals provides a new focus for studies concerned with the origin of tissue-specific damage caused by oxygen-derived species.
Critical frequencies of a dynamically loaded viscoelastic rod

Abstract The thermal response of a viscoelastic rod subjected to cyclic loading is studied. The material considered models a solid rocket propellant. The mathematical model is a set of nonlinear coupled partial differential equations. The nonlinearity is due to the temperature sensitivity of the viscoelastic material. The equations are coupled since the dissipation of energy is stress dependent. The governing equations are solved numerically using a finite difference procedure. The solution is found to be unstable at resonance frequencies. A weighting technique is employed to improve accuracy. Comparisons are also made with perturbation methods. The results show that thermomechanical failure could occur even at low stress amplitudes if the frequency is close to the resonant frequency.
Tool path modification for optimized pocket milling

Many operations in CNC milling tasks are performed using pocket milling which has two main types of tool path trajectories, contour parallel path and direction parallel path. Hence there have been a lot of works on geometrically efficient algorithms to generate tool paths. Although the conventional tool path obtained from geometric information has been successful to make a desirable shape, it seldom considers physical process concerns like cutting forces and chatters. In order to cope with these problems, an optimized tool path, which maintains as constant MRR as possible in order to achieve constant cutting forces and to avoid chatter vibrations at all time, is introduced and the result is verified. Additional tool path segments are appended to the basic tool path obtained by geometric shape by using a pixel-based simulation technique. The algorithm has been implemented for two-dimensional contiguous end milling operations, and cutting tests are conducted by measuring spindle current, which reflects mach...
Colored glazes on silver-gilded surfaces

AbstractColored glazes derived from vegetable and animal sources and applied over silver leaf have been used in many eras and regions of the world to adorn sculpture and decorative art objects. Examples from Latin America during the Viceregal period are examined and compared, with reference to literature sources and to FTIR analysis. Attention is drawn to the use of native American materials in some instances, such as the varnish of Pasto, Colombia, and the lacquer of Patzcuaro, Mexico.
Robust linear algorithms for cutsets

Abstract Shamir's algorithm for finding a minimum cutset in a (quasi)reducible graph runs in linear time and aborts if it discovers nonreducibility. A slight modification of the algorithm is more useful in contexts where valid input graphs may fail to be (quasi)reducible. The modified algorithm never aborts, always finds a cutset in linear time, and comes close to finding a minimum cutset when the input graph is close to being an acceptable input for the original algorithm. We study the size of the cutset as a function of the choices made in the search order. Examples suggest that the modified algorithm will do well in practice, especially if it is followed by another linear algorithm that scans a given cutset and removes any obviously unnecessary nodes. Detecting and breaking deadlocks in multiprogramming is one of the applications. In particular, the periodic centralized detect-and-break strategy can be implemented with linear time and space bounds and without any risk of starvation. Previous proposals for this strategy have exponential bounds.
Hydrothermal Vent Clam and Tube Worm 13C/12C: Further Evidence of Nonphotosynthetic Food Sources.

The stable carbon isotope ratios in clam mantle tissues taken from both Galapagos and 21 ° N hydrothermal vent sites were similar to the unusually low ratios of carbon-13 to carbon-12 previously reported for a Galapagos hydrothermal vent mussel. In marked contrast to these bivalves, vestimentiferan worm tissues from a Galapagos vent had isotope ratios that were higher than those of open ocean biota. These observations suggest that more than one nonpelagic and nonphotosynthetic carbon fixation pathway is of nutritional importance to vent animals, and that at least one of these pathways is common to two geographically separated vent sites.
Analysis of nmr lineshapes of rigid-lattice multispin systems. III. Bond length and 19F chemical shielding in SF6, SeF6, and TeF6☆

Abstract Low-temperature 19 F NMR lineshapes were recorded for the clathrate deuteriohydrates of SF6, SeF 6 and TeF 6 , the formation of a TeF6 clathrate being reported for the first time. Analysis of the rigid-lattice lineshapes of these six-spin systems gave the following bond distances (±0.01 A) and 19 F chemical shielding anisotropies: 1.58 A, 310±30 ppm for SF 6 ; 1.68 A, 370±20 ppm for SeF 6 ; 1.84 A 215±25 ppm for TeF 6 . The corresponding spin-rotation tensors were calculated by the method of Flygare.
A probabilistic model for predicting diameters of lung airways

The accurate characterization of pulmonary airways on CT is potentially very useful for diagnosis and evaluation of lung diseases. The task is challenging due to their small size and variable orientation. We propose a probabilistic modeling technique and a set of measurement tools to quantitate airway morphology. We extract the airway tree structure from high resolution CT scans with a seeded region growing algorithm. Individual airway branches are identified by reducing the airway tree to a set of central axes. Properties such as lumen diameter and branch angle are measured from these central axes. The structure of the Bayesian model is inferred from a set of equations representing the parent-daughter relationships between branches, such as equations of air flow ratio and flow conservation. The CT measurements are used to instantiate the conditional probability tables of the Bayesian model. To evaluate the model, it was used to predict the airway diameter for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th generations of the airway tree. We show that the model can reasonably predict the diameter of a particular airway branch, given information of its parent.
The genus Episymploce Bey-Bienko. I. Species chiefly from Java, Sumatra and Borneo (Kalimantan, Sabah, Sarawak). (Dictyoptera: Blattaria, Blattellidae)

Generic characters for the genus Episymploce are presented. The following 5 known species are redescribed: javana (Hebard) (Java); mjoebergi (Hanitsch) (Sumatra); simplex (Hanitsch) (Sumatra); sundaica (Hebard) (Java, Kalimantan, Laos, North Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Okinawa, Philippines, Sabah, Sarwak, Sumatra, Taiwan, Thailand); ridleyi (Shelford) (Singapore, Sumatra). A key is given for the 5 taxa treated in this paper.
24 Evolutionary dynamics of inteins in bacteria

Inteins are protein sequences that autocatalytically splice themselves out of protein precursors – analogous to introns – and ligate the flanking regions into a functional protein. Inteins are present in all three kingdoms of life, but have a sporadic distribution. They are found predominantly in proteins involved in DNA replication and repair such as helicases. The distribution of inteins suggests an adaptive function. The evolutionary forces which shaped the observed distribution of inteins are generally unknown. Some authors view inteins only as the selfish elements and argue that frequent horizontal transfer is behind inteins sporadic dissemination (Gogarten et al., 2002). On the other hand, the ancient nature of the inteins and the process of gain/loss could lead to the scattered distribution of inteins among species (Pietrokovski, 2001). It is necessary to note that the exclusively selfish nature of inteins is questionable; recent findings support the hypothesis of possible functional roles of intei...
Fluctuation and Seasonality of Hourly Traffic and Accuracy of Design Hourly Volume Estimates

The measurement of traffic volumes is one of the most basic functions of highway planning and management. The most accurate measurements of highway demand and highway capacity are calculated at automatic traffic recorder sites, which yield the average daily traffic and design hourly volume for the segment of roadway on which it is located. Because of monetary constraints, the majority of roadway segments do not have automatic traffic recorders. For these sites, highway demand and highway capacity must be estimated from short-term traffic counts. A group of Delaware automatic traffic recorders was used to determine the fluctuation and seasonality of hourly traffic using statistical techniques. With the use of short-term traffic counts and an understanding of traffic volume fluctuation, the accuracy of design hourly volume estimates was compared with the true values reported from nearby automatic traffic recorder sites. The study found that design hourly volume estimates were less accurate for roads with gr...
A consortium of secure remote access Labs for information technology education

The information technology (IT) field is perhaps one of the most dynamic professions in modern history. Rapid advances in technology, along with dynamic nature of IT content have placed colleges and universities in a major predicament relative to procuring needed equipment and maintaining currency. On one hand, there is an increased need for trained IT professionals with current skills; on the other hand there is a major threat as academic institution are unable to meet the market demands due to limitation of available resources. Our solution to this challenge was to create an avenue for institutions to share resources in very innovative and mutually beneficial ways. In the wake of budget cuts and shrinking resources, our solution will ultimately allow schools to capitalize on the technologies available at each institution by pooling them into a large network of heterogeneous facilities that can be accessed over the Internet. A key feature of this process is the fact that everything is handled automatically by our locally developed in-house solution, thus freeing instructors of the burden of trying to locate needed resources for their student.
Nano-focused ultrafast spectroscopy and imaging reaching the single quantum level

The near-field tip-antenna enhanced signal transduction with femtosecond laser pulses allows for spatio-spectral and spatio-temporal imaging and quantum coherent control with the perspective to reach the single electronic or vibrational quantum level.