cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementing imprecision in information systems

Abstract The aim of data base management system designers is to provide the user with the ability to store data that can be used in deriving information satisfying the user's information needs. Information provided by data bases is frequently used as an input in decision making and problem solving in uncertain environments. Human beings deal with uncertainty by applying approximate reasoning which enables them to deal with uncertainty and imprecise, incomplete, or vague information. Therefore, there is a need for information systems and expert systems that allow representation and manipulation of imprecise information in order to model human reasoning. Furthermore, it is desirable that such systems provide means for “individualization” to reflect the user's perception of data and the information requirements. The fuzzy relational data base (FRDB) model presented in this paper is based on research in the fields of relational data bases and theories of fuzzy sets and possibility. It is designed to satisfy the need for individualization and imprecise information processing. After introduction to the underlying theory, the FRDB model architecture and query language are presented. Finally, the possible applications of the FRDB in imprecise information processing are discussed.
One cell: The thin slice of profit

Calculations based on average parenchyma cell diameters of 160 to 240 μ in potatoes show that for chips expected losses range from 8 to 12% at 2 mm slice thickness, and from 16 to 24% at 1 mm thickness. Similar calculations for different size and thickness of dice used in dehydrated and frozen potato products show losses ranging from 4 to over 13% per piece. These calculated losses are due entirely to cut cells, the contents of which are washed out before processing. It is assumed that clean, sharp cuts are made without tearing of additional cells. These calculations do not take into account losses from peeling, trimming, leaching, irregular pieces, and other sources. Total losses from all potato processing may exceed 750 million pounds of potato solids per year. Relationships of these losses to the economy of potato processing and particularly to potato breeding, growing, and problems of waste reclamation and utilization are discussed.
Condensation on a porous horizontal plate with large suction

Laminar film condensation of a saturated vapor flowing across a horizontal, porous flat is considered. A special case is analyzed in which the condensate is removed through the wall at a rate sufficient to maintain a constant liquid boundary layer thickness far downstream from the leading edge. An exact solution of this case yields expressions for heat flux, boundary layer thickness, and interfacial velocity and shear.
Radioimmunoassay of growth hormone by enzyme partition.

ABSTRACT A reliable and sensitive radioimmunoassay for human growth hormone has been devised in which separation of antibody-bound and free radiohormone (HGH-125I) is accomplished by the principle of enzyme partition. Since the proteolytic enzyme, ficin, rapidly destroys most free HGH-125I, but does not degrade antibody-bound radiohormone, the 2 fractions can be readily distinguished by precipitation of the antibody-bound HGH-125I with trichloroacetic acid solution. With this elementary system, endogenous levels of growth hormone in serum can be conveniently measured in less than 24 hr with results that are comparable in precision and sensitivity with those of longer techniques that are currently in use. The successful application of enzyme partition to the assay of growth hormone, and previously to the measurement of insulin, suggests that the same principle could be employed to assay other hormones or substances that are bound by specific antibodies or nonspecific binding substitutes.
THRESHOLD VARIABLE SELECTION IN OPEN‐LOOP THRESHOLD AUTOREGRESSIVE MODELS

. An open-loop threshold autoregressive model is defined as The main difficulty for building such a model is that the threshold variable Zt is usually unknown. In practice, there may exist many possible candidates for the threshold variable Zt. It is difficult and tedious, if not impossible, to search for the best among all the candidates using standard model selection procedures. In this paper, we introduce a digression concept and propose two simple algorithms to classify the observations without knowing the threshold variable. The classification is then used with several graphical procedures to search for the most suitable threshold variable. Simulated and real examples are included to illustrate the proposed procedures.
Pointing and control technology needs for future automated space systems

Future automated space missions present challenging opportunities in the pointing and control technology disciplines. A NASA-OAST sponsored study at JPL, identified and assessed the enabling pointing and control system technologies for missions from 1985 to year 2000. A generic mission set including earth orbiter, planetary, and other missions which predominantly drive the pointing and control requirements was selected for detailed evaluation. Technology candidates identified in the study are discussed.
Respecting privacy: Ethical and pragmatic considerations

Abstract In keyboarding and coding the linguistic notes collected by J.P. Harrington, the Harrington Database Project has encountered situations in which the increased accessibility to this valuable archive jeopardizes existing indigenous communities or individuals and their descendants. Some considerations have to do with publicizing private or embarrassing information, others have to do with stories and songs considered sacred, others with the protection of sacred sites and village locations. Even for materials already in the public domain, there are both ethical and pragmatic reasons to limit accessibility. The project attempts to balance the interests of both scholars and indigenous communities.
Nurses and dietitians differ in food safety information provided to highly susceptible clients.

Abstract Objective To determine content, education channels, and motivational factors that influence what health professionals teach about safe food handling to populations who are highly susceptible for foodborne illnesses. To assess the differences in information provided by health professionals to highly susceptible populations. Design Descriptive, cross-sectional, Web-based survey. Setting National convenience sample from across the United States. Participants Registered nurses (RNs; n = 232) and registered dietitians (RDs; n = 267). Main Outcome Measure(s) Content, motivation, and education channels used to educate highly susceptible populations. Analysis Various nonparametric tests were applied to measure differences. Significance was declared at P Results Although both RDs and RNs were providing some food safety information to their high-risk clients, RDs had more training than RNs in safe food handling and were more likely to provide comprehensive food safety messages to their highly susceptible clients; however, neither professional type provided consistent food safety information to patients at high risk for foodborne illness. Conclusions and Implications There is a need for more information about what motivates the health professional to teach safe food handling and a need for a universally adopted, evidence-based practice for teaching safe food handling to patients at high risk for foodborne illness.
The effects of multiple antimicrobial interventions on processing, lipid, textural, instrumental color and sensory characteristics when used in a ground beef patty production system

The impact of multiple antimicrobial interventions on ground beef processing, lipid, textural, instrumental color and sensory characteristics were evaluated. Beef trimmings were treated with 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride followed by 10% trisodium phosphate (CT), 200-ppm chlorine dioxide followed by 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride (CLC), 200-ppm chlorine dioxide followed by 10% trisodium phosphate (CLT), or 2% lactic acid followed by 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride (LC) and compared to an untreated control (C). Sensory panelists found LC and CT treatments similar (P>0.05) in grinding ability to C. By day 2 of display, CT, CLT and LC patties were redder (a∗; P<0.05) than C. Sensory panelists found CT patties redder (P<0.05) than C by day 2 of display. Sensory panelists found CT and CLT juicier than C. Therefore, the use of these multiple antimicrobial intervention agents on beef trimmings may improve sensory characteristics and shelf-life of ground beef patties.
An algebraic method for simulating legal systems

A primarily algebraic technique for simulating social systems has been developed for combined use by engineers and lawyers and has been applied exten sively to studies of felony processing times in the criminal justice system of two counties in the State of Indiana. As a method of non-Monte-Carlo simulation, the present approach overcomes tradi tional impediments such as determination of loops and multiple-function concatenation. preliminary evidence suggests that the simulator has useful capabilities in initial screening of data and in early qualitative studies of systems in which a priori data is not plentiful .
Peristaltic Transport of a heat-conducting viscous fluid as an application of abstract differential equations and semigroup of operators

Abstract A recent abstract result of Rankin ( Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. , to appear) is applied to the peristaltic transport of a heat-conducting fluid in a flexible tube. The Oberbeck-Boussinesq equations are used as the governing equations, a pressure drop over a wavelength of the tube is prescribed to ensure uniqueness, and Newton's cooling law for the temperature is imposed on the boundary. With the notion of a weak solution introduced, local existence, uniqueness, regularity, and continuation of solutions are considered; in particular, W r 2 (Ω) regularity of the solutions is established.
Localization of a critical interface for helical rod formation of bacterial adhesion P-pili.

Pyelonephritic Escherichia coli cause urinary tract infections that involve the kidneys. Initiation of infection is dependent on P-pili expressed on the bacterial surface. In this work, an essential interface for assembly of the helical rod structure of P-pili has been located on the major pilin subunit, PapA. Based on primary sequence alignment, secondary structure analysis, and quaternary structure modeling of the PapA subunit, we predicted the location of a site that is critical for in vivo assembly of the native macromolecular structure of P-pili. A rigid helical rod of PapA subunits comprising most of the pilus length is stabilized by n to n+3 subunit–subunit interactions, and is important for normal function of these pili. Using site-directed mutagenesis, ultrastructural analysis by electron cryomicroscopy, immunocytochemistry, and molecular modeling we show that residues 106–109 (Asn, Gly, Ala, Gly) are essential for assembly of native P-pilus filaments. Mutation of these residues disrupts assembly of the native P-pilus helix. Extended fibrillar structures do still assemble, verifying that n to n+1 subunit–subunit interactions are maintained in the mutant fiber morphology. Observation of this fibrillar morphology in the mutant fiber was predicted by our modeling studies. These mutant P-pili data validate the predictive value of our model for understanding subunit–subunit interactions between PapA monomers. Alteration of the pilus structure from a 7–8 nm helical rod to a 2 nm fibrillar structure may compromise the ability of these bacteria to adhere and remain bound to the host cell, thus providing a possible therapeutic target for antimicrobial drugs.
Theory of spin Coulomb drag in spin-polarized transport

We introduce a distinctive feature of spin-polarized transport, the spin Coulomb drag: there is an intrinsic source of friction for spin currents due to the Coulomb interaction between spin ``up'' and spin ``down'' electrons. We calculate the associated ``spin trans-resistivity'' in a generalized random-phase approximation and show that, to the leading order in the interactions, it has no contribution from correlated impurity scattering. We show that, in an appropriate range of parameters, such resistivity is measurable, and we propose an experiment to measure it.
Prospects and Some Policy Problems of Agricultural Development in China: Discussion

As the paper by Niu and Calkins clearly outlines, the change in China's rural economy since 1978 has been substantial. On this point, they and Lardy are in agreement. The two papers diverge, however, in two respects: first, in the relative importance they assign to various factors underlying recent growth, and second, in their views about the potential for future growth under the present policy regime. My discussion will focus on these two issues. Niu and Calkins' paper covers a considerably broader set of topics than those I shall discuss here. In addition to outlining recent change, discussing the factors underlying that change, and giving projections for future growth, they also discuss as yet unsolved problems in China's rural economy and the response of Chinese agricultural economists to the current challenging policy and research environment. Their paper is further distinguished in that it combines the views of a Chinese and a North American agricultural economist. As such, it reflects the growing common ground between agricultural economists in China and the West and so constitutes
Curling iron-related injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments.

Abstract. Objective: To describe curling iron-related injuries reported to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 1996. Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed data from NEISS, a weighted probability sample of emergency departments (EDs) developed to monitor consumer product-related injuries. The information reported includes patient demographics, injury diagnosis, body part injured, incident locale, patient disposition, and a brief narrative description. The authors reviewed the narrative in the hair care products category and abstracted records indicating the injury was caused by contact with a curling iron. Also analyzed were the design features of commonly available curling irons purchased from national discount department stores. Results: There were an estimated 105,081 hair care product-related injuries in the five-year period, of which 82,151 (78%) involved a curling iron. Seventy percent of injuries were to females. The patient's median age was 8 years (range 1 month to 96 years). The most commonly occurring injury was thermal burns (97%; 79,912/82,151). Ninety-eight percent of the injuries occurred in the home and 99% of the patients were discharged home from the ED. In patients <4 years old, 56% of burns occurred by grabbing or touching, while in those ≥10 years the burns occurred by contact while in use. In the older group 69% of burns were of the cornea. Most curling irons use small amounts of power, yet there are no standards for temperature settings or control. The cylinder containing the heating element is mostly exposed, and many irons do not have a power switch. Conclusions: The most common injury resulting from curling irons is thermal burns. The mechanisms and patterns of injury in developmentally distinct age groups suggest that many of these injuries could be prevented by public education and the re-engineering of curling irons.
PhenoChipping of psychotic disorders: A novel approach for deconstructing and quantitating psychiatric phenotypes†

Psychiatric phenotypes as currently defined are primarily the result of clinical consensus criteria rather than empirical research. We propose, and present initial proof of principle for, a novel approach to characterizing psychiatric phenotypes. We have termed our approach PhenoChipping, by analogy with, and borrowing paradigms and tools from, gene expression microarray studies (GeneChipping). A massive parallel profiling of cognitive and affective state is done with a PhenoChip composed of a battery of existing and new quantitative psychiatric rating scales, as well as hand neuromotor measures. We present preliminary data from 104 subjects, 72 with psychotic disorders (bipolar disorder-41, schizophrenia-17, schizoaffective disorder-14), and 32 normal controls. Microarray data analysis software and visualization tools were used to investigate: 1. relationships between phenotypic items ("phenes"), including with objective motor measures, and 2. relationships between subjects. Our analyses revealed phenotypic overlap among, as well as phenotypic heterogeneity within, the three major psychotic disorders studied. This approach may be useful in helping us move beyond current diagnostic classifications, and suggests a combinatorial building-block (Lego-like) structure underlies psychiatric syndromes. The adaptation of microarray informatic tools for phenotypic analysis readily facilitates direct integration with gene expression profiling of lymphocytes in the same individuals, a strategy for molecular biomarker identification. Empirically derived clusterings of (endo)phenotypes and of patients will better serve genetic, pharmacological, and imaging research, as well as clinical practice.
Neogene non‐marine sedimentation and tectonics in small pull‐apart basins of the San Andreas fault system, Sonoma County, California

The San Andreas fault system in northern California forms an 80–90 km wide zone of right-lateral shear. Extensional tectonism within this broad shear zone is indicated by both Neogene silicic volcanic rocks that gradually young in the direction of shear propagation to the north-west and by numerous Neogene faultbounded structural basins filled with thick non-marine sequences. The Little Sulphur Creek basins, three well-exposed 1·5–2 km wide pull apart basins within this shear system, have sedimentation patterns analogous to those of much larger pull-apart basins. They were formed and subsequently deformed by east-west extension and by north-west to south-east-orientated right-slip concurrently with basin filling. Palaeocurrent and maximum-clast size data indicate both lateral sediment transport from fault-bounded basin margins and longitudinal transport down the basin axes. The basins are filled primarily with coarse alluvial-fan and streamflow deposits derived from a surrounding igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic provenance. Two of the basins contain basin-plain-type lacustrine turbidites that grade laterally into distal alluvial fan, fan-delta, and sublacustrine delta deposits. Talus deposits along the south-west margin of the basins contain megabreccia indicative of active uplift. Structures indicative of dewatering, liquefaction, and slumping suggest penecontemporaneous tectonism.
Murine SR-BI, a high density lipoprotein receptor that mediates selective lipid uptake, is N-glycosylated and fatty acylated and colocalizes with plasma membrane caveolae.

The class B, type I scavenger receptor, SR-BI, was the first molecularly well defined cell surface high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor to be described. It mediates transfer of lipid from HDL to cells via selective lipid uptake, a mechanism distinct from receptor-mediated endocytosis via clathrin-coated pits and vesicles. SR-BI is expressed most abundantly in steroidogenic tissues (adrenal gland, ovary), where trophic hormones coordinately regulate its expression with steroidogenesis, and in the liver, where it may participate in reverse cholesterol transport. Here we have used immunochemical methods to study the structure and subcellular localization of murine SR-BI (mSR-BI) expressed either in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells or in murine adrenocortical Y1-BS1 cells. mSR-BI, an ∼82-kDa glycoprotein, was initially synthesized with multiple high mannose N-linked oligosaccharide chains, and some, but not all, of these were processed to complex forms during maturation of the protein in the Golgi apparatus. Metabolic labeling with [3H]palmitate and [3H]myristate demonstrated that mSR-BI was fatty acylated, a property shared with CD36, another class B scavenger receptor, and other proteins that concentrate in specialized, cholesterol- and glycolipid-rich plasma membrane microdomains called caveolae. OptiPrep density gradient fractionation of plasma membranes established that mSR-BI copurified with caveolin-1, a constituent of caveolae; and immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that mSR-BI colocalized with caveolin-1 in punctate microdomains across the surface of cells and on the edges of cells. Thus, mSR-BI colocalizes with caveolae, and this raises the possibility that the unique properties of these specialized cell surface domains may play a critical role in SR-BI-mediated transfer of lipids between lipoproteins and cells.
Effectiveness of temporal pattern in the input to a ganglion: inhibition in the cardiac ganglion of spiny lobsters.

(1) The single inhibitor axon of one side, going to the cardiac ganglion of Panulirus in a preparation with the central nervous system removed, was stimulated at a constant mean frequency but with different temporal fine structure. In particular, inhibitory trains with uniform intervals are compared with trains of alternately short and long intervals (“paired pulses”). Different ratios of short to long interval were used and, besides pairs, groups of up to 8 shocks. (2) Sixteen different measures of the inhibitory effect upon various aspects of the electroneurogram of the heart beat are compared. Some are more sensitive, others are more consistent. (3) Pattern sensitivity is found, that is the heart beat slows to different extents for different temporal structures. Trains of uniform intervals were generally more effective than any other pattern. Bursts of 7 or 8 are less effective than shorter bursts with the same minimum and mean interval. (4) The same burst has a different effect according to the phase of the heart cycle at which it arrives; the later the arrival the greater the effect. At the optimal phase and impulse interval, the minimum number of impulses for a just noticeable inhibitory effect (5–10%) is about 4. (5) In some preparations aging was associated with a reversal from inhibition to acceleration and such changes were not necessarily in parallel for different stimulus patterns. (6) On present evidence it cannot be said that the pattern sensitivity is explained by the effect of conditioning shock-test shock interval on the synaptic response to the test shock. (7) Evidence does not yet permit evaluation of the possible role of pattern sensitivity under normal conditions. The significance at presetn is the finding that in a nearly ideal preparation for testing, a postsynaptic neuron can “read,” i.e., respond differently to the same mean frequency according to temporal fine structure.
Don't Fear the Social Relations Model: Reply to Piper, Ogrodniczuk, Lamarche, and Joyce

Abstract By studying actual therapy groups and using a sophisticated design to determine that clients who are held in higher esteem by their fellow group members show greater improvement over the course of therapy, Piper, Ogrodniczuk, Lamarche, and Joyce (this issue) have made a significant contribution to the group psychotherapy literature. Unfortunately, Piper et al. focused much of their discussion on the difficulties they faced using the social relations model (SRM) and the statistical program SOREMO. Although the SRM is not simple and it takes practice to run SOREMO, the analytic alternative proposed by Piper et al. has a number of serious limitations that prevents it from being a viable alternative. There is much to be gained from learning the SRM; for those group therapists and researchers who do not want to learn the SRM, they can always consult or collaborate with SRM researchers.
Trading through Islam: the interconnections of Sijilmasa, Ghana and the Almoravid movement

(2001). Trading through Islam: the interconnections of Sijilmasa, Ghana and the Almoravid movement. The Journal of North African Studies: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 29-58.
Cell and Nest Construction Costs in Two Cavity-Nesting Bees (Osmia lignaria propinqua and Osmia ribifloris biedermannii) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Cell-partition and nest-plug material collecting and construction costs are measured for two populations of two species of cavity-nesting bees ( Osmia lignaria propinqua Cresson and Osmia ribifloris biedermannii Michener). Construction costs were slightly less for O. r. biedermannii using leaf material versus mud used by O. l. propinqua . The per-cell cost of collecting and construction indicates that nests of either species should contain four or more cells to equalize the cost of the nest plug. These collecting and construction costs must be combined with the pollen-nectar cost of offspring production if an accurate measure of parental investment is expected.
Achilles Tendon Rupture

A 60-year-old man presented to the emergency department complaining of acute onset posterior ankle pain. He reported playing tennis earlier in the afternoon when he suddenly stopped and pivoted, noting a “pop” sensation and pain to the right posterior ankle. The pain was sharp and increased with movement. The patient also experienced difficulty weight bearing and ambulating. There was a palpable defect at the distal end of the expected course of the Achilles tendon and lack of plantar flexion with squeezing the affected calf (Figure A). Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) was performed for further evaluation, and noted a discontinuity of the Achilles tendon with retracted proximal and distal ends, consistent with rupture (Figure B; Video). Orthopedics was consulted, and the patient was admitted for operative repair. Figure A and B (A) Comparison of both posterior ankles in patient with right posterior Achilles tendon rupture. (B) Longitudinal ultrasound image of the area of pain to the posterior right ankle, noting retracted ends of the Achilles tendon (arrows) and hematoma in-between ... Video Ultrasound video of the Achilles tendon using a linear transducer demonstrating retracted proximal and distal tendon ends, separated by a mixed echogenic focus (hematoma), consistent with complete tendon rupture. Achilles tendon rupture typically occurs by pushing off the weight-bearing foot with knee extended, sudden dorsiflexion of the ankle, or forceful dorsiflexion of a plantar-flexed foot.1,2 Physical examination may reveal a palpable defect at the tendon injury site, loss of strength with voluntary plantar flexion, increased passive dorsiflexion, and loss of plantar flexion with squeezing of the calf when the patient is lying prone (Simmonds-Thompson test).3–5 POCUS using a high-frequency transducer has been shown to be effective at visualizing Achilles tendon rupture, noting loss of the tightly arranged fibrillar pattern of the tendon fibers and an area of hypoechogenicity at the site of tendon defect.6,7 Additional ultrasound findings of tendon rupture include hematoma formation at the site of rupture and posterior acoustic shadowing at the retracted rupture margins.8 To avoid misdiagnosis of tendon injury due to the effect of anisotropy as the tendon fibers insert on the calcaneus, one should completely scan through the tendon course and insertion point in different planes.7
Thermal-mechanical stimulus interactions in low-threshold C-fiber mechanoreceptors of cat

Abstract Fatiguing by mechanical and by cool stimulation was measured in single-unit recordings from low-threshold C-fiber mechanoreceptors. The effects of simultaneous mechanical and thermal stimulation were also examined. Cross-fatigue between the two types of stimulation occurred, but was much less than the fatigue produced by a preceding stimulus of the same type as the test stimulus. The correlation was moderately low between susceptibilities to fatigue by mechanical and by thermal stimulation. Simultaneous cool and mechanical stimulation yielded somewhat less than complete summation of the responses to the individual stimuli. It was concluded that mechanisms involved in responding to the two types of stimulation are moderately but not completely independent, and that the poor accuracy with which the temporal and intensitive aspects of a mechanical stimulus are reported by these units is further degraded by their responsiveness to and fatiguability by cool stimulation.
Adaptive multiscale modeling of polymeric materials with Arlequin coupling and Goals algorithms

In this work, the notion of a posteriori estimation and control of modeling error is extended to large-scale problems in molecular statics. The approaches developed here involve systematic methods for multiscale modeling in which sequences of hybrid particle–continuum models are generated using an adaptive goal-oriented algorithm designed to control modeling error. We focus on a particular class of problems encountered in semiconductor manufacturing in which a molecular model is used to simulate the deformation of polymeric materials used in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. Algorithms are described which lead to a complex molecular model of polymer materials designed to produce an etch barrier, a critical component in imprint lithography approaches to semiconductor manufacturing. The surrogate model involves a combination of the molecular model of the polymer and a coarse-scale model of the polymer as a nonlinear hyperelastic material. This coupled model is based on the so-called Arlequin method. Coefficients for the nonlinear elastic continuum model are determined using numerical experiments on representative volume elements of the polymer model. Furthermore, a simple model of initial strain is incorporated in the continuum equations to model the inherent shrinking of the material. Three-dimensional numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the coupled model, the error estimates, and the adaptive modeling procedure.
Applications of high-performance mass spectrometry to the surface analysis of materials

Revue bibliographique (275 references) sur les appareillages utilises en spectrometrie SIMS (spectrometrie de masse a ion secondaire) a bombardement par ion rapide (FIB) ou atome rapide (FAB) et sur leurs applications: analyse en surface et dans la masse pour les polymeres, les dispositifs electroniques, les interfaces entre materiaux, les substrats metalliques, les surfaces de verre et de ceramique, les surfaces modifiees chimiquement. Progres recents dans le laboratoire des auteurs
Distributed reconfiguration and recovery in the advanced architecture on-board processor

The reconfiguration and recovery approach employed in the advanced architecture on-board processor (AAOP), a fault-tolerant multiprocessor for space applications, is presented. The AAOP is designed to accommodate large numbers of processing elements organized in a distributed fault-tolerant system. The operation of distributed reconfiguration is discussed, and the recovery time is analyzed. Performance of the reconfiguration algorithm under inconsistent observer conditions and against multiple faults is considered. the chordal skiplink ring topology employed in the AAOP is analyzed with respect to its node-pair distance distribution as a function of the number of faults injected. Extensions of this topology are also considered. These would reduce the network diameter and increase fault robustness but also increase the network management overhead. >
Decentralized techniques for the analysis and control of Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems

This paper discusses decentralized parallel distributed compensator design for Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems. The fuzzy system is viewed as an interconnection of subsystems some of which are strongly connected, while others being weakly connected. The necessary theory is developed so that one can associate this fuzzy system with another one in a higher dimensional space, the so-called expanded space, design decentralized parallel distributed compensators in the expanded space, then contract the solution for implementation on the original fuzzy system. In this respect, connective stability of the open loop and closed loop of the interconnected system is analyzed via the concepts of vector Lyapunov functions and M-matrices. Different Lyapunov functions generate different results for the discrete-time fuzzy system, quadratic Lyapunov generating the superior of the two. Following a similar approach, stabilization of the closed-loop fuzzy system using local parallel distributed compensators is investigated.
Ammonium and Salt Inhibition of Some Physiological Processes Associated with Seed Germination

Seed germination was totally inhibited by high (0.1 N) concentrations of potassium or ammonium salts. Partial inhibition of germination occurred with low (< 0.01 N) concentrations of ammonium salts, but low concentrations of potassium salts did not affect germination. Except with extreme salt or ammonium injury, the inhibition of germination was at least partially reversible. Respiration of germinating seeds was inhibited by both species of salts. Seedling development was severely impaired by ammonium salts, but not by potassium salts.
Enhancing Negotiators' Successfulness Self-help Books and Related Empirical Research

This article offers synopses of six books recently written by negotiation trainers. It pulls together common guidelines, and focuses on three particular prescriptions. The recommendation that negotiators concentrate on needs is considered in light of empirical research on intangible issues, the nature and formulation of goals, and integrative processes. The recommendation that appropriate bargaining tactics be employed is examined with regard to research on overall strategies, extreme initial offers, concession making, and use of threats. Finally, emphasis on adroit communication is considered in light of research on bilateral focus, information gathering, phases of interaction, and styles of verbal expression. There are both matters on which trainers and researchers differ and matters on which they concur, but the juxtaposition of their perspectives appears valuable for the purposes of each group.
The Travesty of Human Trafficking: A Decade of Failed U.S. Policy

The author comments on the problems confronting the human trafficking policy of the United States -- policy that is littered with political and ideological partiality made worst by a lack of transparency or accountability in implementation. He suggests that in the process of the 2011 re-authorization of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, social workers need to call for more rational, evidence-based, transparent, and accountable policy and procedures. Keywords: Human trafficking Language: en
Scanning memory for multidimensional stimuli with extended practice

Memory load and the similarity between positive and negative sets were varied orthogonally in an information-reduction task which required S to respond either “yes” or “no” to the question of whether or not a visually displayed two-dimensional pattern had been contained in a previously memorized set of patterns. Six Sa were given 8 days of practice. The results showed that throughout practice, there was a significant increase in reaction time with increaaes in the similarity of positive and neptive sets. The memory load differences sipificantly decreaaed to zero with practice, and this drop was independent of the similarity effect.. It was concluded that extended practice influences memory load differences and effects that reflect the complexity of the memory comparison process differentially.
The Separation of State and Religion in the Development of Early Islamic Society

Islamic studies progress. In recent years a great deal of work has been done on the Umayyad period, on the early history of Shi‘ism, and on the origins of the Muslim schools of law. A broader current of research has yielded numerous studies of the ‘ulamâ’ and their place in Muslim religious and communal life. New historical information and new points of view are gradually modifying received perspectives on Muslim religious movements and on the nature of Muslim religious elites.
Career activities of physicians taking the subspecialty board examination in blood banking/transfusion medicine.

BACKGROUND: Changes in blood banking and transfusion medicine (BB/TM) in the past 15 years may have made BB/TM a less attractive career choice than previously for physicians. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To evaluate this, we developed a survey of professional activities and sent it to all physicians who took the BB/TM specialty examination offered by the American Board of Pathology (ABP) between 1995 and 2004. RESULTS: The examination was taken by 390 physicians (range, 25-68/year). Responses to the survey were received by 151 (39%). The number of candidates did not appear to be declining during the 10 years. All physicians who responded had practiced BB/TM and 94 percent were still doing so. Forty-three percent were engaged in BB/TM full-time and another 10 percent for at least 75 percent of the time. Most of the remaining time was devoted to pathology. Forty-three percent practiced in a university hospital, 22 percent in a community hospital, and 21 percent in a blood center. Examples of practice activities included transfusion service (85%), therapeutic apheresis (63%), stem cell collection (46%), stem cell laboratory (32%), and coagulation laboratory (29%). Sixty-six percent are involved in research. DISCUSSION: Interest in BB/TM careers is not decreasing as evidenced by the number of physicians taking the ABP specialty examination. Most currently practice BB/TM, many in an academic environment. Their activities are diverse. Many are involved in research and have presented abstracts at professional meetings. Approximately 60 percent combine the practice of BB/TM with pathology, but only a few (6%) practice hematology.
Monocyte cellular function in asthmatic patients on alternate-day steroid therapy

Abstract Monocyte cellular function in 15 asthmatics on alternate-day steroid therapy (mean dose of prednisone, 45.4 ± 17.45 mg qod) was studied at 8 a.m. and noon after receiving an 8 a.m. steroid dose and at 8 a.m. the following day, and was contrasted to function in 16 healthy controls. Monocyte chemotaxis, bacterial killing and phagocytosis, and oil phagocytosis were not significantly altered by the steroid dose. On the other hand, all the patients experienced monocytopenia, lymphopenia, and neutrophilia 4 hr following the administration of steroid. The lack of functional impairment on this clinically relevant steroid regimen is consistent with the lack of serious infections seen in patients on such regimens. This study re-enforces the need to differentiate the effect of even small doses of steroid on circulating cell populations from direct effects on cell function which occur only with very high or frequent steroid dose regimens.
Five Years with the High Productivity Computing Systems Program A Perspective

Summary form only given. For the past five years, I had the very enviable task of leading IBM's effort in DARPA's High Productivity Computing Systems (HPCS) program. IBM competed successfully with other contestants in and survived two down-selects, producing along the way ground-breaking research for peta-scale systems aimed at changing the status quo in high end computing. The HPCS program is unique in that it states productivity as a broader definition of the system value than just performance. Commercial viability is another goal, meant to add realism and produce usable systems at the end of the program with productivity and performance goals that well exceed the projected improvements using today's technology. This unprecedented mix adds interesting and challenging constraints on the research program, and the traditional ways of approaching the problem do not apply. This talk will give an overview of the challenges of running projects of this kind, and gives a forward looking statement about the future of the program and its projected impact on the industry and the academic communities.
Defect-mediated curvature and twisting in polymer crystals

Crystalline polymer solids almost inevitably exhibit defects due to chain ends, chain folding and the limited molecular mobility. The defects result in local (dislocations, grain boundaries) or global (bending, twisting) distortions of the molecular symmetry with pronounced implications on materials properties. Depending on the localization of the deformation, continuous molecular distortions or chain scission are expected, resulting in distinct differences for the mechanical (crack formation) and optoelectronic properties (charge transport and delocalization), which become especially important in the light of the recent extraordinary developments in molecular electronics. Further studies of defect structure and properties in polymers are expected to result in an increasingly sophisticated understanding of the microstructure and microstructural evolution during processing necessary to control and optimize the nano- and micrometerscale structure of organic materials. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Masses and Radii of the Eclipsing Binary F Aurigae

We present a full determination of the fundamental stellar and orbital parameters of the eclipsing binary ζ Aurigae (K4 Ib + B5 V) using recent observations with the Hubble Space Telescope Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) and the Mark III long-baseline optical interferometer. The information obtained from spectroscopic and interferometric measurements is complementary, and the combination permits a complete determination of the stellar masses, the absolute semimajor axis of the orbit, and the distance. A complete solution requires that both components be visible spectroscopically, and this has always been difficult for the ζ Aur systems. The ζ Aur K star primary presents no difficulty, and accurate radial velocities are readily obtainable in the optical. However, the B star secondary is more problematic. Ground-based radial velocity measurements are hampered by the difficulty of working with the composite spectrum in the blue-violet region, the small number of suitable lines in the generally featureless optical spectrum of the B star, and the great width of the few available lines (the Balmer lines of hydrogen and a few weak He I lines) due to rapid rotation. We avoid the worst of these problems by using GHRS observations in the ultraviolet, where the K star Flux is negligible and the intrinsic B star spectrum is more distinctive, and obtain the most accurate determination of the B star radial velocity amplitude to date. We also analyze published photometry of previous eclipses and near-eclipse phases of ζ Aur in order to obtain eclipse durations, which fix the length of the eclipse chord and therefore determine the orbit inclination. The long-baseline interferometry (LBI) yields, in conjunction with the spectroscopic solution, the distance to the system and thus the absolute stellar radius of the resolved K supergiant primary star, ζ Aur A. The secondary is not resolved by LBI, but its angular (and absolute) radius is found by Fitting the model stellar flux plus an interstellar extinction model to the flux-calibrated GHRS data. We Find MK = 5.8 ± 0.2 M☉, MB = 4.8 ± 0.2 M☉, RK = 148 ± 3 R☉ and RB = 4.5 ± 0.3 RB for the masses and radii of the ζ Aur stars. We determine the distance to ζ Aur to be 261 ± 3 pc. Additionally, we refine the stellar parameters of the B star secondary presented in the 1995 spectroscopic study of Bennett, Brown, & Linsky. We also determine the effective temperature of the K star primary using values of the bolometric flux, angular diameter, and interstellar extinction derived in this study. The positions of the ζ Aur stars on the theoretical H-R diagram are compared to current evolutionary model tracks, and the resulting good agreement provides a strong check of the internal self-consistency of this analysis and the accuracy of the theoretical models. The ζ Aurigae stars are confirmed to be coeval with an age of 80 ± 15 Myr.
Limitation of One-Dimensional Ocean Models for Coupled Hurricane–Ocean Model Forecasts

Abstract Wind stress imposed on the upper ocean by a hurricane can limit the hurricane’s intensity primarily through shear-induced mixing of the upper ocean and subsequent cooling of the sea surface. Since shear-induced mixing is a one-dimensional process, some recent studies suggest that coupling a one-dimensional ocean model to a hurricane model may be sufficient for capturing the storm-induced sea surface temperature cooling in the region providing heat energy to the hurricane. Using both a one-dimensional and a three-dimensional version of the same ocean model, it is shown here that the neglect of upwelling, which can only be captured by a three-dimensional ocean model, underestimates the storm-core sea surface cooling for hurricanes translating at <∼5 m s−1. For hurricanes translating at <2 m s−1, more than half of the storm-core sea surface cooling is neglected by the one-dimensional ocean model. Since the majority of hurricanes in the western tropical North Atlantic Ocean translate at <5 m s−1, the...
Culture and Status as Influences on Account Giving: A Comparison Between the United States and Japan1

Being accused of breaking a social norm often forces the accused person to offer an explanation, or an account, for the alleged misdeed. In the present study, American and Japanese participants rated the appropriateness of 4 account types as a function of status of the transgressor and status of the victim. A vignette described a situation in which a person was accused of breaking a promise at work and asked to give an account. While Japanese participants rated apology as significantly more appropriate than did American participants, the Americans rated justification as significantly more appropriate than did the Japanese. Status did not influence Americans' ratings of account appropriateness, but the status of the victim did influence the Japanese participants' ratings. An attributional analysis of the data revealed the same underlying motivational pattern for the two cultures.
Apolipoprotein B genetic variants modify the response to fenofibrate: a GOLDN study

Hypertriglyceridemia, defined as a triglyceride measurement > 150 mg/dl, occurs in up to 34% of adults. Fenofibrate is a commonly used drug to treat hypertriglyceridemia, but response to fenofibrate varies considerably among individuals. We sought to determine if genetic variation in apolipoprotein B (APOB), an essential core of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein formation, may account for some of the inter-individual differences observed in triglyceride (TG) response to fenofibrate treatment. Participants (N = 958) from the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network study completed a three-week intervention with fenofibrate 160 mg/day. Associations of four APOB gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) (rs934197, rs693, rs676210, and rs1042031) were tested for association with the TG response to fenofibrate using a mixed growth curve model where the familial structure was modeled as a random effect and cardiovascular risk factors were included as covariates. Three of these four SNPs changed the amino acid sequence of APOB, and the fourth was in the promoter region. TG response to fenofibrate treatment was associated with one APOB SNP, rs676210 (Pro2739Leu), such that participants with the TT genotype of rs676210 had greater TG lowering than those with the CC genotype (additive model, P = 0.0017). We conclude the rs676210 variant may identify individuals who respond best to fenofibrate for TG reduction.