cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the configuration of the US Western Interconnection voltage stability boundary

Stability limits are considered in power system planning and operations to estimate the available stability margins and, if possible, to maximize the use of transmission facilities. These important tasks are influenced by configuration of the voltage stability boundary. This paper first propose a new method to explore static voltage stability conditions in Cartesian coordinates instead of polar coordinates. In this way, the formulated singularity problem can be reduced to solving a set of linear equations with respect to real and imaginary components of nodal voltages. Using the proposed method, several case studies were performed for 17939-bus U.S. Western Interconnection planning model. Significant peculiarities of the boundary configuration were identified, including its non-convexity, discontinuity, branching and internal singularities (“holes”) that were not known before and could not be found by traditional methods.
Validity and reliability of judgments of authentic and simulated stuttering.

This exploratory study was undertaken to determine if the concept has merit that the information by which a stutterer identifies stuttering at time of occurrence is qualitatively different from tha...
Modeling the structure of amorphous tetrahedrally coordinated semiconductors. I

A continuous random network (CRN) consisting of 238 tetrahedrally coordinated atoms has been constructed so as to contain only even-membered rings. The structural properties of the model (density, bond-length distribution, bond-angle distribution, dihedral-angle distribution, radial distribution function) are in satisfactory agreement with experimental results for amorphous Ge, Si, and the III-V compounds. The present model eliminates the conflict between the Polk CRN model, which contains approximately 50% of odd-membered rings, and experimental photoemission, optical, and heat-of-crystallization results for the amorphous III-V's, which indicate the absence of a significant number of such rings. Comparison of the CRN models suggests that a determination of the experimental dihedral-angle distribution of each material is very important for a unique definition of its structure.
Apparent activation of bovine erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase by saponin

Abstract The intravenous administration of saponin to cows caused an appreciable rise in the AChE activity of erythrocytes of blood taken from animals showing certain signs of bloat. The in vitro addition of saponin to bovine erythrocytes likewise produced an increase in AChE activity, but inhibited the activity of a purified preparation of the enzyme. Other surface-active agents, namely sodium dodeyl sulfate, sodium taurocholate, Tween 20, and n-butanol, had a greater inhibitory effect on the purified enzyme than on the activity of bovine erythrocytes. At low concentrations, butanol had an activating effect similar to that of saponin. Experiments are described which indicate that the apparent activation of AChE of bovine erythrocytes by saponin is due to the release of the enzyme from the stroma, an effect which obscures the true inhibitory nature of this substance.
Protection from light damage by ocular pigmentation: Analysis using experimental chimeras and translocation mice*

Experimental mouse chimeras and Cattanach's translocation mice, both with alternating pigmented and non-pigmented cells of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), have been exposed to various periods of constant fluorescent light. Photoreceptor degeneration was always more severe in the central retina than in the peripheral retina, and it was independent of the pigmentation phenotype of the immediately overlying RPE. The findings suggest that although RPE melanosomes lower total retinal irradiance by absorption of light, they do not provide direct protection from light damage for the immediately underlying photoreceptor cells by a biochemical mechanism as previously suggested.
Estimation of vaccine efficacy from epidemics of acute infectious agents under vaccine-related heterogeneity

Abstract A stochastic model is formulated for the study of the protective effects of vaccination in a population that is stratified by vaccine-related factors. The epidemic model is transformed into a counting process, and then martingale-based methods are used to provide estimators of vaccine efficacy and their variances. following an example, various extensions of the model are discussed.
Respiratory mycotic infection

Abstract Clinging to outmoded World War II (when they first came into prominence) concepts of the respiratory mycoses is in this age of concern over air pollution and environment not only paradoxical, but dangerous. The respiratory mycoses are infrequently differentiated from man-to-man transmitted flu-like illnesses. Their incidence and cost in terms of hospitalization and/or productive time lost are, therefore, simply unknown. Arguments are presented that the respiratory mycoses are the “sleeping giants” of all infectious diseases if for no reason other than their continued neglect. Dangers from them increase for compromised hosts. These comprise an ever-increasing number of U. S. citizens. Available drugs are so poor they are rarely used except in advanced disease and life-threatening situations. Suggestions are offered of ways to correct this unfortunate “trend” of overlooking the mycoses until they themselves command attention by long-term, incapacitating illness and death—often negating some of medicine's most significant and sophisticated advances in other fields.
A confidence interval for the median of a finite population under unequal probability sampling: A model-assisted approach

Abstract This paper presents a method for constructing confidence intervals for the median of a finite population under unequal probability sampling. The model-assisted approach makes use of the L 1 -norm to motivate the estimating function which is then used to develop a unified approach to inference which includes not only confidence intervals but hypothesis tests and point estimates. The approach relies on large sample theory to construct the confidence intervals. In cases when second-order inclusion probabilities are not available or easy to compute, the Hartley–Rao variance approximation is employed. Simulations show that the confidence intervals achieve the appropriate confidence level, whether or not the Hartley–Rao variance is employed.
Structured data retrieval using cover density ranking

Keyword search in structured data is an important problem spanning both the database and IR communities. As social networking, microblogging, and other data-driven websites store increasing amounts of information in relational databases, users require an effective means for accessing that information. We present structured cover density ranking (a generalization of an unstructured ranking function) as an effective means to order search results from keyword search systems that target structured data. Structured cover density ranking was designed to adhere to users' expectations regarding the ranking of search results---namely, results containing all query keywords appear before results containing a subset of the search terms. Our evaluation shows that our ranking function provides better results than other state-of-the-art ranking functions across 3 different datasets and 150 distinct information needs.
Closed-Form Fragility Estimates, Parameter Sensitivity, and Bayesian Updating for RC Columns

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns are the most critical components in bridges under seismic excitation. In this paper, a simple closed-form formulation to estimate the fragility of RC columns is developed. The formulation is used to estimate the conditional probability of failure of an example column for given shear and deformation demands. The estimated fragilities are as accurate as more sophisticated estimates (i.e., predictive fragilities) and do not require any reliability software. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to identify to which parameter(s) the reliability of the example column is most sensitive. The closed-form formulation uses probabilistic capacity models. A Bayesian procedure is presented to update existing probabilistic models with new data. The model updating process can incorporate different types of information, including laboratory test data, field observations, and subjective engineering judgment, as they become available.
Political and Technical Moments in Development: Agropolitan Development Revisited:

The problem addressed is one of strategy and practice: how to promote agricultural and rural development in peasant societies in ways that will benefit the large majority of the people. In a number of earlier essays, the author had proposed what he called a strategy of agropolitan development which would stress the importance of linking a self-generated process of dynamic change from within agricultural communities to the larger processes of central guidance by the state. The strategy involved a substantial devolution of power to small territorial units within the overall system of societal guidance. In the present paper the desirability of such a devolution is considered in terms of political, ecological, and technical–administrative arguments. As a political strategy, agropolitan development requires a commitment on part of national elites, and this may be difficult to obtain. Alternative strategies, on the other hand, although possibly successful when measured in terms of production, are unlikely to in...
Centralization of care for patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of centralized referral of patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS. A decision-analysis model was used to compare 2 referral strategies for patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer: 1) referral to an expert center, with a rate of optimal primary cytoreduction of 75% and utilization of combined intraperitoneal and intravenous adjuvant chemotherapy, and 2) referral to a less experienced center, with a rate of optimal primary cytoreduction of 25% and adjuvant treatment that consisted predominantly of intravenous chemotherapy alone. The cost-effectiveness of each strategy was evaluated from the perspective of society. RESULTS. A cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that the strategy of expert center referral had an overall cost per patient of $50,652 and had an effectiveness of 5.12 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The strategy of referral to a less experienced center carried an overall cost of $39,957 and had an effectiveness of 2.33 QALYs. The expert center strategy was associated with an additional 2.78 QALYs at an incremental cost of $10,695 but was more cost-effective, with a cost-effective ratio of $9893 per QALY compared with $17,149 per QALY for the less experienced center referral strategy. Sensitivity analyses and a Monte Carlo simulation confirmed the robustness of the model. CONCLUSIONS. According to results from the decision-analysis model, centralized referral of patients with ovarian cancer to an expert center was a cost-effective healthcare strategy and represents a paradigm for quality cancer care, delivering superior patient outcomes at an economically affordable cost. Increased efforts to align current patterns of care with a universal strategy of centralized expert referral are warranted. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Agricultural research and cereal technology introduction in Burkina Faso and Niger

Abstract This paper proposes a strategy of technology development for the semi-arid regions of two Sahelian countries. Improved agronomic practices, especially water conservation and increased soil fertility, are principal constraints in the semi-arid Sahel to increasing cereal yields. Previous concentration upon breeding rather than the dual constraints of water availability and soil fertility appears to be one explanation for the failure to date to develop new agricultural technologies in the Sahelian semi-arid region. Other requirements for these agronomic technologies are discussed and the interactions between the principal agroclimatic zones within the region are considered. Finally, the issue of the substitution between organic and inorganic fertilizers is evaluated with data on comparative costs.
Review of in situ fabrication methods of piezoelectric wafer active sensor for sensing and actuation applications

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is important for reducing maintenance costs while increasing safety and reliability. Piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) used in SHM applications are able to detect structural damage using Lamb waves. PWAS are small, lightweight, unobtrusive, and inexpensive. PWAS achieve direct transduction between electric and elastic wave energies. PWAS are essential elements in the Lamb-wave SHM with pitch-catch, pulse-echo, and electromechanical impedance methods. Traditionally, structural integrity tests required attachment of sensors to the material surface. This is often a burdensome and time-consuming task, especially considering the size and magnitude of the surfaces measured (such as aircraft, bridges, structural supports, etc.). In addition, there are critical applications where the rigid piezoceramic wafers cannot conform to curved surfaces. Existing ceramic PWAS, while fairly accurate when attached correctly to the substance, may not provide the long term durability required for SHM. The bonded interface between the PWAS and the structure is often the durability weak link. Better durability may be obtained from a built-in sensor that is incorporated into the material. An in-situ fabricated smart sensor may offer better durability. This paper gives a review of the state of the art on the in-situ fabrication of PWAS using different approaches, such as piezoelectric composite approach; polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) approach. It will present the principal fabrication methods and results existing to date. Flexible PVDF PWAS have been studied. They were mounted on a cantilever beam and subjected to free vibration testing. The experimental results of the composite PWAS and PVDF PWAS have been compared with the conventional piezoceramic PWAS. The theoretical and experimental results in this study gave the basic demonstration of the piezoelectricity of composite PWAS and PVDF PWAS.
Asymmetry of the olfactory system in the brain of the winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Adult flatfishes exhibit grossly asymmetric external morphology. Even the olfactory apparatus is asymmetric, being larger on the upward-facing side. We undertook the present study on the winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, to examine whether the asymmetry of the peripheral olfactory system is maintained in its central organization. In winter flounder, the right olfactory organ, nerve, and bulb are larger than the contralateral counterparts. In addition, the right telencephalon is about 8% larger than the left. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and degeneration techniques were used to trace the central connections of the olfactory bulbs. Neurons afferent to the olfactory bulb occur bilaterally in the telencephalon and mesencephalic tegmentum. Afferent neurons are also present at the junction between the posterodorsal bulb and telencephalon, in the basal preoptic region, nucleus of the posterior tuber, locus coeruleus, raphe nucleus, and the contralateral bulb. Each olfactory bulb projects bilaterally to several restricted areas of the telencephalon, the posterodorsal neurons of the nucleus preopticus and the tuberal region, with ipsilateral connections being heavier in all areas. Corresponding to the differences in the peripheral olfactory apparatus, the central olfactory projections were also asymmetric. The right olfactory bulb projects to 2.6% of the ipsilateral telencephalon and 1.99% of the contralateral telencephalon. The left bulb projects to 1.8% of the ipsilateral and 0.6% of the contralateral telencephalic hemisphere. Thus the left telencephalon receives roughly equal olfactory input from the two sides, while the right telencephalon receives vastly more input from the right olfactory system. The asymmetry in the projections of the right and left bulbs may be due to differential postmetamorphic growth of the olfactory system on the two sides.
The relationship between credibility of therapy and simulated therapeutic effects

The effect of variable credibility of treatment procedures on avoidance behavior was assessed in three studies. Snake-fearful Ss were pretested and then presented with descriptions of, and rationales for, various therapy and placebo conditions. Subsequently, the Ss were asked to assume that they had received 5 weeks of therapy by the described treatment, to simulate its effects on the posttest, and to rate its credibility. While one experiment demonstrated that Ss will simulate more positive treatment outcome under preferred treatment conditions, no mean differences in outcome were found among placebo and therapy rationale conditions in the two other experiments. Simulated therapy response and rated credibility were, however, significantly correlated in all three studies.
k-means++: the advantages of careful seeding

The k-means method is a widely used clustering technique that seeks to minimize the average squared distance between points in the same cluster. Although it offers no accuracy guarantees, its simplicity and speed are very appealing in practice. By augmenting k-means with a very simple, randomized seeding technique, we obtain an algorithm that is Θ(logk)-competitive with the optimal clustering. Preliminary experiments show that our augmentation improves both the speed and the accuracy of k-means, often quite dramatically.
On Pareto-improving redistributions of aggregate economic gains

Abstract This paper considers the existence and characterization of directions of tariff, commodity tax, and transfer payment reforms to ensure a Pareto improvement following a change in the economy's endowments, technology, preferences, or trading possibilities. Motzkin's theorem on the existence of solutions to dual sets of linear inequalities is extended to the case of non-homogeneous systems, and is applied to the comparative statics of the general equilibrium of a large trading economy. By allowing free disposal of commodities to the government, the problem of temporary inefficiency is eliminated.
Behavioral characterization of the Tg2576 transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease through 19 months.

Behavioral characterization of Alzheimer's disease (AD) transgenic models over multiple time points during aging has been largely inadequate, usually being limited to one or two cognitive-based tasks. In this context, the present study utilized a comprehensive 6-week behavioral battery to characterize sensorimotor and cognitive performance of Tg2576 AD transgenic (Tg+) mice and nontransgenic (Tg-) controls aged 3, 9, 14, and 19 months. Compared collectively to Tg- mice over all four time points, Tg+ mice were impaired in Y-maze spontaneous alternation, visible platform recognition, and several sensorimotor tasks; Tg+ mice also showed an overall increase in activity measures. The deficits in visible platform became evident by 9 months of age, while those in sensorimotor tasks became clearly manifest by 14 months. Although the behavioral impairments exhibited by Tg+ mice were usually progressive through 19 months, Tg- animals also showed similar progressive decline in the same behavioral measures; thus, no task revealed a progressive behavioral decline exclusive to Tg+ mice. Moreover, although the 6-week behavioral battery included six cognitively based tasks (i.e., Y-maze, visible platform, Morris water maze, circular platform, passive avoidance, and active avoidance), behavioral analysis through 19 months revealed Tg+ mice to be impaired in only the Y-maze and visible platform tasks. Consequently, Tg2576 mice do not exhibit widespread, profound cognitive impairment, even into old age. This may reflect their predominant C57BL/6 background and an apparent inability of the mutant transgene to profoundly alter performance therein.
Structural basis for nucleotide binding and reaction catalysis in mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase.

Mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase (MDD) catalyzes the final step of the mevalonate pathway, the Mg{sup 2+}-ATP dependent decarboxylation of mevalonate 5-diphosphate (MVAPP), producing isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP). Synthesis of IPP, an isoprenoid precursor molecule that is a critical intermediate in peptidoglycan and polyisoprenoid biosynthesis, is essential in Gram-positive bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus spp.), and thus the enzymes of the mevalonate pathway are ideal antimicrobial targets. MDD belongs to the GHMP superfamily of metabolite kinases that have been extensively studied for the past 50 years, yet the crystallization of GHMP kinase ternary complexes has proven to be difficult. To further our understanding of the catalytic mechanism of GHMP kinases with the purpose of developing broad spectrum antimicrobial agents that target the substrate and nucleotide binding sites, we report the crystal structures of wild-type and mutant (S192A and D283A) ternary complexes of Staphylococcus epidermidis MDD. Comparison of apo, MVAPP-bound, and ternary complex wild-type MDD provides structural information about the mode of substrate binding and the catalytic mechanism. Structural characterization of ternary complexes of catalytically deficient MDD S192A and D283A (k{sub cat} decreased 10{sup 3}- and 10{sup 5}-fold, respectively) provides insight into MDD function. The carboxylate side chain of invariant Asp{sup 283} functionsmore » as a catalytic base and is essential for the proper orientation of the MVAPP C3-hydroxyl group within the active site funnel. Several MDD amino acids within the conserved phosphate binding loop ('P-loop') provide key interactions, stabilizing the nucleotide triphosphoryl moiety. The crystal structures presented here provide a useful foundation for structure-based drug design.« less
Stable conformations of a magnesium ion-icosahedral borane complex

Abstract The stable positions of a magnesium ion relative to an icosahedral borane ion, B 12 H 12 , with the complex Mg+B 12 H 12 neutral are investigated. Configurations in which the Mg is inside the boron cage have been included. Using a self-consistent molecular-orbital calculational technique, it is established that the center of the boron cage is a stable energy minimum position, probably the global minimum, for the Mg ion.
Evaluation of Packed GLC Columns for Nanomolar Analysis of Unknowns Lincluding a New Type of Packed Column

Abstract Fatty acid methyl esters, 2,6-dimethylaniline, and 2,6-xylenol were used for rapid evaluation of the usefulness of packed GLC columns for analysis of unknowns at the nanomolar level. Three types of column construction with three liquid phases of widely varying polarity were tested by the above procedure. A new type of GLC column, a dynamically coated packed column prepared with a surface active agent, was found to yield better overall performance for less polar liquid phases than packed silanized glass or packed stainless steel columns.
Excitation energy transfer and chlorophyll orientation in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardi

We have investigated the process of intermolecular excitation energy transfer and the relative orientation of the chlorophyll molecules in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardi. The principal experiments involved in vivo measurements of the fluorescence polarization as a function of the exciting-light wavelength in the presence and in the absence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. We found that as the fluorescence lifetime increases upon the addition of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea that the degree of fluorescence polarization decreases over the excitation region from 600 to 660 nm. This result, we argue, implies that a Forster mechanism of excitation energy transfer is involved for Photosystem II chlorophyll molecules absorbing primarily below 660 nm. We must add that our results do not exclude the possibility of a delocalized transfer process from being involved as well. Fluorescence polarization measurements using chloroplast fragments are also discussed in terms of a Forster transfer mechanism. As the excitation wavelength approaches 670 nm the fluorescence polarization is nearly constant upon the addition of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Experiments performed using either vertically or horizontally polarized exciting light show that the fluorescence polarization increases as the exciting light wavelength increases from 650 to 673 nm. This suggests the possibility that chlorophyll molecules absorbing at longer wavelengths have a higher degree of relative order. Furthermore, these studies imply that chlorophyll molecules exist in discrete groups that are characterized by different absorption maxima and by different degrees of the fluorescence polarization. In view of these results we discuss different models for the Photosystem II antenna system and energy transfer between different groups of optically distinguishable chlorophyll molecules.
Advantages of Isotopic Depletion of Proteins for Hydrogen/ Deuterium Exchange Experiments Monitored by Mass Spectrometry

Solution-phase hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) monitored by mass spectrometry is an excellent tool to study protein−protein interactions and conformational changes in biological systems, especially when traditional methods such as X-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance are not feasible. Peak overlap among the dozens of proteolytic fragments (including those from autolysis of the protease) can be severe, due to high protein molecular weight(s) and the broad isotopic distributions due to multiple deuterations of many peptides. In addition, different subunits of a protein complex can yield isomeric proteolytic fragments. Here, we show that depletion of 13C and/or 15N for one or more protein subunits of a complex can greatly simplify the mass spectra, increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the depleted fragment ions, and remove ambiguity in assignment of the m/z values to the correct isomeric peptides. Specifically, it becomes possible to monitor the exchange progress for two isobaric fragments ...
Body composition and gonadal steroids in older white and black women.

Obesity offers protection against osteoporosis in older women. The mechanisms are not well understood, but relate in part to increased aromatization of adrenal androgens to estrone in peripheral fat and muscle tissue. Two hundred and one white and 77 black women previously reported to be free of skeletal disease and to have normal bone mass had measurements of total body bone mineral (TBBM), fat mass (TBFM), and lean mass (TBLM) performed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Serum estrone, androstenedione, and dihydroepiandrostenedione sulfate were measured on the same day. Body weight, body mass index, TBFM, and TBLM were all significantly higher in the black women. However, proportionately, there were no differences in body composition between the two groups. This suggests that the black women were not more obese despite their greater body mass index, and that future studies on the health impact of obesity in older black women should take this into consideration. Despite the greater TBFM and TBLM in the...
The synthesis and turnover of rat liver peroxisomes. V. Intracellular pathway of catalase synthesis.

The subcellular distribution of the biosynthetic intermediates of catalase was studied in the livers of rats receiving a mixture of [3H]leucine and [14C]δ-aminolevulinic acid by intraportal injection. Postnuclear supernates were fractionated by a one-step gradient centrifugation technique that separates the main subcellular organelles, partly on the basis of size, and partly on the basis of density. Labeled catalase and its biosynthetic intermediates were separated from the gradient fractions by immunoprecipitation, and the distributions of radioactivity were compared with those of marker enzymes. The results show that catalase protein is synthesized outside the peroxisomes, but rapidly appears in these particles, mostly still in the form of the first hemeless biosynthetic intermediate. Addition of heme and completion of the catalase molecule take place within the peroxisomes. During the first 15 min after [3H]leucine administration, more than half of the newly formed first intermediate was recovered in the supernatant fraction, where it was found to exist as an aposubunit of about 60,000 molecular weight.
Boosting Enterprise Agility via IT Knowledge Management Capabilities

In response to rapid changes in business environment, enterprises deploy knowledge management technologies to improve adaptability and increase their chances of survival. This paper theorizes the causal relationship between a firms agility and its IT knowledge management capacities. We posit that the prerequisite to agility is the ability of the firm to reconfigure processes, resources, and routines-in other words its dynamic capabilities. On the other hand, the building of dynamic capabilities is only possible if the firm has the ability to sense and response to the dynamic of the environment. Knowledge management technology and social structure are postulated to influence the absorptive capacity, which in turn is considered an antecedent to dynamic capabilities of the firm. We also identify the intellectual assets necessary to sense and respond to the environment and IT capabilities required to support and implement change initiatives.
Adaptive robust repetitive control of a class of nonlinear systems in normal form with applications to motion control of linear motors

In this paper, the idea of adaptive robust control is integrated with a repetitive control algorithm to construct a performance oriented control law for a class of nonlinear systems in the presence of both repeatable and non-repeatable uncertain nonlinearities. All the uncertainties are assumed to be bounded by certain known bounding functions. The repetitive control algorithm is used to learn and approximate the unknown repeatable nonlinearities, but with physically intuitive discontinuous projection modifications ensuring that all the function estimates are within the known bounds. Robust terms are constructed to attenuate the effect of various uncertainties including non-repeatable uncertainties effectively for a guaranteed transient performance and a guaranteed final tracking accuracy in general. Theoretically, the asymptotic output tracking is also achieved without using an infinite fast switching control law or an infinite-gain feedback. The motion control of a linear motor drive system is used as an application example, and experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness of the scheme.
Nucleolar size in lymphocytes and haemocytes of different species

The number of nucleoli in a cell and nucleolar area vary according to the cell. We compared nucleoli in mammalian circulating lymphocytes and insect circulating haemocytes. An increased nucleolar coefficient correlated with a lowered nucleoli size. The smaller nucleolar size in mammalian lymphocytes indicates a lower proteosynthetic cellular activity in both mammalian lymphocytes and insect haemocytes. Moreover, in insect haemocytes, the smaller size of the nucleoli may reflect a lowered potential to transform into another cell type.
Lessons from giant-scale services

Web portals and ISPs such as AOL, Microsoft Network, and Yahoo have grown more than tenfold in the past five years (1996-2001). Despite their scale, growth rates, and rapid evolution of content and features, these sites and other "giant-scale" services like instant messaging and Napster must be always available. Many other major Web sites such as eBay, CNN, and Wal-Mart, have similar availability requirements. The article looks at the basic model for such services, focusing on the key real-world challenges they face (high availability, evolution, and growth), and developing some principles for attacking these problems. Few of the points made in the article are addressed in the literature, and most of the conclusions take the form of principles and approaches rather than absolute quantitative evaluations. This is due partly to the author's focus on high-level design, partly to the newness of the area, and partly to the proprietary nature of some of the information (which represents 15-20 very large sites). Nonetheless, the lessons are easy to understand and apply, and they simplify the design of large systems.
Evaluation of the addition of rituximab to CODOX-M/IVAC for Burkitt's lymphoma: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that may be cured with intensive chemotherapy. The addition of the CD20-directed monoclonal antibody rituximab to CODOX-M/IVAC (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate, alternating with ifosfamide, etoposide, and cytarabine) has not been studied despite efficacy in other aggressive CD20-positive NHLs. Patients and methods: Eighty adult BL patients treated with or without rituximab were identified at our institutions. Response rate, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) are calculated. Results: There were fewer relapses in rituximab-treated patients (3 of 40 versus 13 of 40, P = 0.01). There was a trend for improvement in outcome favoring rituximab-containing therapy, with 3-year PFS (74% versus 61%) and 3year OS (77% versus 66%), although these did not reach statistical significance. Advanced age and central nervous system involvement were associated with poorer OS on multivariable Cox regression analysis, adjusting for treatment, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) involvement, and risk group. Conclusions: CODOX-M/IVAC, with or without rituximab, is a highly effective regimen for the treatment of adult BL. Rituximab decreased the recurrence rate and showed a trend in favor of improvement in PFS and OS. HIV-infected patients achieved outcomes comparable with those of their non-HIV-infected counterparts.
Ice Cores and Global Change

For scientists interested in global change problems, ice core records provide a unique and invaluable medium for studying the past. These records yield both direct and proxy links to the paleoenvironment over periods potentially as long as hundreds of thousands of years with resolution down to seasonal scale for time-series on the order of hundreds to thousands of years. In addition, the fact that most ice core records are retrieved from locations rarely, if ever, occupied by observers, adds to the value of these data sets. In response to the growing importance of such records, the National Science Foundation's Division of Polar Programs recently sponsored the U.S. Ice Core Research Workshop in Durham, N.H. At the workshop, 45 U.S. scientists actively involved in ice core research together formulated a globally based strategy planned through the 1990s that would result in the development of an ice core program integrally tied to global change issues. Representatives from the European ice core research community also attended, to aid in discussions of anticipated joint international efforts.
Rapid detection of defects in fuel-cell electrodes using infrared reactive-flow-through technique

Abstract As fuel cells become more prominent, new manufacturing and production methods will need to be developed to deal efficiently and effectively with increased demand. One necessary component of this industrial growth is the accurate measurement of the variability in the manufacturing process. In this study, we present a diagnostic system that combines infrared thermography with a reactive-flow-through technique to detect catalyst-loading defects in fuel-cell gas-diffusion electrodes accurately with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Experimental results are compared with model predictions of thermal response with good agreement. Data analysis, operating-condition impacts, and detection limits are explored using both experiments and simulation. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of this technique to measure defects on the millimeter length scale with temporal resolutions appropriate for use on a web-line. Thus we present the first development stage of a next-generation non-destructive diagnostic tool, which may be amenable to eventual use on roll-to-roll manufacturing lines.
Effects of prior CS presentations on classical conditioning of the skin conductance response.

The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the effects of prior CS presentations (habituation) on the acquisition of a CR during classical conditioning of the SCR. Six groups of Ss received either 1, 4, or 16 habituation trials. Each of the habituation conditions was divided into two groups during acquisition with one receiving 16 paired trials and the other receiving 16 unpaired trials. (1) The paired groups made significantly larger CRs across acquisition trials than the unpaired groups, (2) mean CR differences between the paired and unpaired groups increased directly as a function of habituation trials, and (3) while attenuation of the CR occurred for all groups, Ss who received 16 habituation trials in the paired CS-UCS condition showed the least amount of response decrement. It was concluded that increased numbers of prior CS-alone trials led to stronger conditioning. Differences between the results of this study and previous ones using skeletal response measures (latent inhibition) were noted.
An Illness Perception Model of Primary Care Patients’ Help Seeking for Depression:

Many people with depression recognize their symptoms as depression, but fail to seek treatment for a number of years. We aimed to explore the reasons for this. Thirty primary care patients who screened positive for depression participated in semistructured, face-to-face interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using grounded thematic analysis. Patients who sought depression treatment emphasized their understanding of depression, their belief that treatment would work, and the negative consequences that would ensue if they did not seek treatment. Patients who did not seek treatment emphasized that treatment would not be effective, thought that depression would not last very long, and believed that depression did not affect their everyday lives. Patients' illness perceptions of depression were represented by and organized using the framework of the Self-Regulation Model of Illness Behavior. This model might be useful for planning patient activation intervention studies to increase the uptake of depression treatment in primary care.
Meteorological perspective on the initiation of the Laurentide Ice Sheet

The 50+ years National Centers for Environmental Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis data set is used to locate distinct atmospheric circulation patterns favoring glacial initiation over northeastern North America (50–801N, 60–901W). These patterns yield abundant winter snowfall and anomalously cool summer temperatures. We assume that atmosphere/ ocean boundary conditions during the last interglacial and today are similar. Atmospheric circulation patterns inferred from composite mean sea level pressure (MSLP) anomaly fields for the extreme cold summers and wet winters are consistent with the respective composite summer 2-m temperature and winter precipitation anomaly patterns. Summer 2-m temperatures (winter precipitation rate) are strongly (weakly) correlated with North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SST). Extreme season MSLP anomalies and associated wind stress may augment the SST anomalies via Ekman transport. The contemporary climate record over the study region shows substantial interannual variability, consistent with the lack of glaciation. The extreme cold summer/wet winter criteria for glaciation occur in the contemporary record, but are rare. Mass balance calculations using NNR demonstrate that a perennial snowfield is possible in the study region, but glacial onset requires a change in the frequency distribution of climatic events to yield a sustained (decadal) period of cold summers that preserve the winter accumulation. r 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.
An extended data mining method for identifying differentially expressed assay-specific signatures in functional genomic studies

Background: Microarray data sets provide relative expression levels for thousands of genes for a small number, in comparison, of different experimental conditions called assays. Data mining techniques are used to extract specific information of genes as they relate to the assays. The multivariate statistical technique of principal component analysis (PCA) has proven useful in providing effective data mining methods. This article extends the PCA approach of Rollins et al. to the development of ranking genes of microarray data sets that express most differently between two biologically different grouping of assays. This method is evaluated on real and simulated data and compared to a current approach on the basis of false discovery rate (FDR) and statistical power (SP) which is the ability to correctly identify important genes. Results: This work developed and evaluated two new test statistics based on PCA and compared them to a popular method that is not PCA based. Both test statistics were found to be effective as evaluated in three case studies: (i) exposing E. coli cells to two different ethanol levels; (ii) application of myostatin to two groups of mice; and (iii) a simulated data study derived from the properties of (ii). The proposed method (PM) effectively identified critical genes in these studies based on comparison with the current method (CM). The simulation study supports higher identification accuracy for PM over CM for both proposed test statistics when the gene variance is constant and for one of the test statistics when the gene variance is non-constant. Conclusions: PM compares quite favorably to CM in terms of lower FDR and much higher SP. Thus, PM can be quite effective in producing accurate signatures from large microarray data sets for differential expression between assays groups identified in a preliminary step of the PCA procedure and is, therefore, recommended for use in these applications.
MSK1 and JNKs Mediate Phosphorylation of STAT3 in UVA-irradiated Mouse Epidermal JB6 Cells *

Abstract Phosphorylation of Tyr705 and Ser727 of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) are known to be required for maximal activation by diverse stimuli. Tyr705 phosphorylation is generally accepted to be mediated by the Janus kinase family. But the mechanism for STAT3 (Ser727) phosphorylation is not well understood. Here, we provide evidence that UVA-induced phosphorylation of STAT3 at Ser727 is inhibited by pretreatment of JB6 cells with PD98059 or SB202190. Phosphorylation of STAT3 (Ser727) is also markedly prevented by a dominant negative mutant of ERK2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), or p38 kinase and in knockoutJnk1 −/− or Jnk2 −/−cells. Furthermore, STAT3 (Ser727) phosphorylation is suppressed by C- or N-terminal “kinase-dead” mutants of mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1), a downstream kinase of ERKs and p38 kinase, and H89, a potential MSK1 inhibitor. In vitro experiments showed that active MSK1 and JNKs, but not ERKs or p38 kinase, phosphorylate STAT3 (Ser727). Additionally, the role of MAPKs in mediating UVA-stimulated DNA binding activity of STAT3 was investigated. Overall, these results suggest that UVA-induced Ser727 phosphorylation of STAT3 may occur through MSK1 and JNKs.
Multilevel longitudinal impacts of incivilities: Fear of crime, expected safety, and block satisfaction

Several aspects of the incivilities thesis, or the role of social and physical disorder in encouraging crime and fear, deserve further testing. These include examining individual- and streetblock-level impacts on reactions to crime and local commitment over time, and testing for lagged and co-occurring impacts at each level. We model these four types of impacts on three reactions to crime and community satisfaction using a panel study of residents ðn ¼ 305Þ on fifty streetblocks, interviewed two times a year apart. At the individual level, incivilities showed unambiguous, lagged impacts on satisfaction, fear, and worry; furthermore, changes in perceived incivilities accompanied changes in resident satisfaction and fear. At the streetblock level: incivilities failed to demonstrate expected lagged impacts on either of the two outcomes where data structures permitted such impacts; changing incivilities, however, were accompanied by changing community satisfaction and changing perceptions of relative risk. Before we conclude that lagged ecological impacts of incivilities are weaker than previous theorizing suggests, we must resolve some outstanding theoretical and methodological issues.
Variation in Somatic Cell Counts in Dairy Herd Improvement Milk Samples

Abstract Information on variability of somatic cell numbers in Dairy Herd Improvement samples analyzed by the Filter-DNA method came from two field studies. Data consisted of 13,733 samples taken in 16 herds monthly for 2 yr in one survey and 6285 observations in 134 herds each sampled once in the other. Mean cell numbers in the studies were 692,000 and 625,000 cells per ml. Median cell number in the 16 herds was 390,000 cells per ml. Herd percentages of cows over 1million, between 500,000 and 1million, and below 500,000 cells per ml averaged 17.9, 20.5, and 61.6 with wide ranges. Data were transformed to a log scale and analyzed with two models, one involving herd, year, season, and age and another involving management practices. Mean differences among herds, years, seasons, age of cows, and stages of lactation were large in the 16-herd study. The model of management practices found no association of herd size and cell numbers. Herds with parlor milking systems that dipped teats and practiced selective dry cow treatment had the lowest mean cell numbers.
Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse

In this chapter, we will discuss some of the risk factors for opioid dependence and abuse. Some of these risk factors relate to environment, genetics, age, and even employment status. Having a personal history of either substance abuse or mental disorder has been correlated with higher risk for opioid abuse, as supported by findings from the TROUP study. We will strive to identify signs of opioid abuse to facilitate vigilance among clinicians working with chronic pain patients.
Low Reincarceration Rate Associated with Ananda Marga Yoga and Meditation

Ananda Marga (AM) Yoga was taught to male inmates at Wake Correctional Center in Raleigh, NC. A five-year study of 190 inmates found that those who were taught Ananda Marga (AM) Yoga were significantly less likely to be reincarcerated upon release. Subjects were divided into two groups, those who attended at least one, but less than four classes, and those who attended more than four classes. Di!erences in reincarceration rates between these two groups during a two-year post -release period were striking. Of those who attended more than four classes, 8.5% were reincarcerated, while 25.2% of those who attended fewer than four classes were reincarcerated during this same period. "is di!erence was found to be statistically significant at the 0.025 level.