cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ANOLE: A Profiling-Driven Adaptive Lock Waiter Detection Scheme for Efficient MP-guest Scheduling

In today's data center, there is a growing virtualization evolving trend to consolidate multiple servers into a single physical system. New architecture design that couples more and more cores into one processor furthers this trend. However, virtualization also poses new challenges such as lock holder preemption. In this work, we first demonstrate that lock holder preemption could bring dramatic performance degradation in virtualization environment. Then we propose ANOLE, a runtime adaptive lock waiter detection approach for lock holder preemption overhead reduction of MP guests. It leverages the modern hardware feature without any modification to spin lock implementation. ANOLE implements a hyper visor framework to preempt virtual CPUs adaptively and a user agent for guest spin lock profiling on KVM. We present in-depth performance evaluation under different scenarios, covering simple OS workloads, SPECvirt, and windows guest workloads. The experiment results demonstrate the solid performance benefit of ANOLE, it brings up to 50% performance improvement under different usage scenarios, with better lock waiter detection and load balance.
Global vertex operators on Riemann surfaces

We develop an approach towards construction of conformal field theory starting from the basic axioms of vertex operator algebras.
Quantitative in situ hybridization evidence for differential regulation of proenkephalin and dopamine D2 receptor mRNA levels in the rat striatum: effects of unilateral intrastriatal injections of 6-hydroxydopamine.

Nigrostriatal (NS) dopaminergic (DA) neurons are thought to exert an inhibitory influence on striatal enkephalinergic systems through their DA D2 receptors. In order to investigate the effects of partial lesions of the NS DA on striatal proenkephalin (PEK) and D2 receptor mRNAs, animals were allocated to High, Intermediate, and Low rotators on the basis of amphetamine-induced rotation observed after intrastriatal injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). On the ipsilateral side of the lesions, there were significant increases in PEK mRNA in the total aspect of the caudate-putamen (CPu) of the High (+204%),the Intermediate (+125%), and of the Low (+67%) rotation groups in comparison to controls; these changes correlated positively with increases in rotation rate. Unexpectedly, there were also significant increases in striatal PEK mRNA on the contralateral side although these changes were much less prominent than those observed on the side of the lesions. Conversely, only the High rotation group showed significant increases (+112%) in D2 receptor mRNA which occurred only on the lesioned side. Interestingly, the low rotation group actually showed some non-significant decreases (−25%) on the side of the lesions. These results indicate that partial lesions of the NS DA projections are sufficient to cause substantial increases in PEK mRNA but not in D2 receptor mRNA. These data also provide evidence that the two nigrostriatal DA projections and the systems which they modulate might be under interdependent sets of controls. Since unilateral lesions of DA neurons cause bilateral changes in striatal DA turnover, the present experiments suggest that the striatal enkephalinergic molecular machinery may actually be under a set of controls that are more complex than a simple inhibitory influence by DA acting via its D2 receptors.
Experimental investigation of positron self-trapping near the vapour-liquid critical point of hellium-4☆

Abstract Positron self-trapping in helium near the vapor-liquid critical point is investigated using the positron annihilation lifetime technique. A 13% decrease in the slowing-down time for positrons to reach the self-trapped state is observed at the critical temperature 5.190 K relative to the slowing-down time at 5.200 K.
Sodium Salicylate Potentiates Neurohumoral Responses to Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia*

Prostaglandin E (PGE) has been shown to modulate the release of norepinephrine (NOREPI), epinephrine (EPI), and glucagon (IRG) in animal studies in vitro, but a physiological modulatory role has not been demonstrated in vivo in humans. Since our previous studies suggested that PGE selectively alters insulin responses to glycemic stimuli, we examined the NOREPI, EPI, and IRG responses of six normal male subjects to a glucose signal (insulin-induced hypoglycemia) before and during infusions of sodium salicylate (SS), an inhibitor of PGE synthesis. Peak EPI levels (control, 338 ± 122; SS, 687 ± 115 pg/ml; mean ± SEM, P ¼ 0.01) and EPI areas from 0–120 min (control, = 8.4 ± 3.1; SS, 18.7 ± 3.3 ng/ml-2 h; P ¼ 0.02) were more than doubled during SS. NOREPI areas were augmented, but only in the first 45 min (2.74 ± 0.74 vs. 5.35 ± 0.49 ng/ml·45 min; P ¼ 0.05). These differences were found despite the fact that the mean of the individual glucose nadirs (34 ± 3 vs. 32 ± 2 mg/dl) and the rate of fall of glucose wer...
Skeletal muscle lipid content and insulin sensitivity in black versus white obese adolescents: is there a race differential?

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that skeletal muscle lipid content (SMLC) is higher in obese black adolescents compared with their white peers and assessed the relationship between SMLC and insulin sensitivity (IS). Methods: Subjects were healthy obese black (n = 42) and white (n = 38) adolescents. Measurements included an oral glucose tolerance test, IS by a 3-h hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, abdominal adipose tissue (AT) by magnetic resonance imaging and midthigh SMLC by computed tomography. Results: All measures of SMLC including intermuscular AT (IMAT), low-density muscle, and thigh sc AT increased (P < 0.05) with increasing total adiposity independent of race. For a given total body adiposity or thigh circumference, SMLC did not differ between black and white adolescents; however, for a given visceral adipose tissue, IMAT was higher in blacks. Consistent with prior observations, IS did not differ between black and white obese adolescents despite lower visceral fat in blacks. In whites, all ma...
Learning to Teach Hard Mathematics: Do Novice Teachers and Their Instructors Give Up Too Easily?

This article analyzes from several vantage points a classroom lesson in which a student teacher was unsuccessful in providing a conceptually based justification for the standard division-offractions algorithm. We attempt to understand why the lesson failed, what it reveals about learning to teach, and what the implications are for mathematics teacher education. We focus on (a) the student teacher's beliefs about good mathematics teaching, her knowledge related to division of fractions, and her beliefs about learning to teach; and (b) the treatment of division of fractions in the mathematics methods course she took. The student teacher's conception of good mathematics teaching included components compatible with current views of effective mathematics teaching. However, these beliefs are difficult to achieve without a stronger conceptual knowledge base and a greater commitment to use available resources and to engage in hard thinking than she possessed. Further, the mathematics methods course did not require the student teacher to reconsider her knowledge base, to confront the contradictions between her knowledge base and at least some of her beliefs, or to reassess her beliefs about how she would learn to teach. These findings suggest that mathematics teacher education programs should reconsider how they provide subject matter knowledge and opportunities to teach it, and whether and how they challenge student teachers' existing beliefs.
Evaluation of acute fixation strength of absorbable and nonabsorbable barrier coated mesh secured with fibrin sealant

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute fixation strength of fibrin sealant as an alternative fixation method for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) when utilized with absorbable and nonabsorbable barrier meshes. Representative mesh types for LVHR included one nonabsorbable barrier mesh (Bard®Composix™) and three absorbable barrier meshes (Sepramesh™, Proceed™, and Parietex™ Composite Mesh). Macroporous polypropylene mesh (Prolite Ultra™) served as a control. An associated pilot study demonstrated that acute fixation was not achieved with C-Qur™ or Dualmesh®, thus these meshes were not subjected to further analysis. Two fibrin sealants varying in thrombin concentration (TISSEEL™ 500 IU/ml or ARTISS™ 4 IU/ml) were each utilized to secure a 3 × 4 cm piece of mesh to the peritoneal surface of harvested abdominal wall from New Zealand white rabbits. Ten samples were prepared for each mesh and fibrin sealant combination. The resulting mesh-tissue interface (3 × 3 cm) underwent lap shear testing at a rate of 0.42 mm/s using a tensiometer (Instron 5542, Norwood, MA). The maximum load sustained by the construct was recorded as the acute fixation strength in units of Newtons (N). Data are given as means ± SEM. Statistical significance (P 0.05) in the acute fixation strength achieved by ARTISS™ versus TISSEEL™ with Composix™, Sepramesh™, Proceed™, and Parietex™ Composite Mesh. However, Prolite Ultra™ fixed with ARTISS™ (7.099 ± 1.01 N) had a significantly higher tensile strength (P < 0.001) than Prolite Ultra™ fixed with TISSEEL™ (3.405 ± 0.72 N). Among meshes fixed with TISSEEL™, Parietex™ Composite (3.936 ± 0.73 N) was significantly stronger than Sepramesh™ (1.760 ± 0.33 N) (P < 0.05). Acute fixation strength is equivalent for TISSEEL™ and ARTISS™ fibrin sealants for selected nonabsorbable (Composix™) and absorbable barrier-coated (Sepramesh™, Proceed™, and Parietex™ Composite Mesh) meshes. Previous evaluations in this model indicated fibrin sealant alone did not appear to be a suitable method of fixation with C-Qur™ or DualMesh® against the peritoneum. Long-term evaluation is needed to evaluate the efficacy of this method of fixation using absorbable and nonabsorbable barrier-coated meshes in a model of LVHR.
Oligonucleotide Conjugates: Alteration of the Pharmacokinetic Properties of Antisense Agents

Abstract Cholic acid, cholesterol, several polyamines and polyethylene glycols were conjugated to antisense oligonucleotides targeted to human or murine intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA to study their effects on cellular absorption.
Metabolic syndrome: Connecting and reconciling cardiovascular and diabetes worlds

The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors of metabolic origin that are accompanied by increased risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. These risk factors are atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, elevated plasma glucose, a prothrombotic state, and a proinflammatory state. The two major underlying risk factors for the metabolic syndrome are obesity and insulin resistance; exacerbating factors are physical inactivity, advancing age, and endocrine and genetic factors. The condition is progressive, beginning with borderline risk factors that eventually progress to categorical risk factors. In many patients, the metabolic syndrome culminates in type 2 diabetes, which further increases risk for cardiovascular disease. Primary treatment of the metabolic syndrome is lifestyle therapy—weight loss, increased physical activity, and anti-atherogenic diet. But as the condition progresses, drug therapies directed toward the individual risk factors might be required. Ultimately, it might be possible to develop drugs that will simultaneously modify all of the risk factors. At present such drugs are in development but so far have not reached the level of clinical practice.
The Valence Bond Approximation in Crystals — Application to an Analysis of the Ultraviolet Spectrum in Quartz

A simple band model analogous to the tight binding approximation is presented which is applicable to valence crystals. This model is applied to an analysis of the ultraviolet reflectivity data for quartz recently obtained by Loh and Philipp. It is demonstrated that the observed peaks can be understood in terms of the elementary processes of the breaking of Si-O bonds, the promotion and demotion of atomic states, and the interaction with the crystal of electrons freed by these processes. Ein einfaches, der tight-binding-Naherung analoges Bandermodell wird vorgeschlagen, das auf Valenzkristalle anwendbar ist. Dieses Modell wird zu einer Analyse der ultravioletten Reflexionsdaten fur Quarz, die kurzlich von Loh und Philipp erhalten wurden, benutzt. Es wird gezeigt, das die beobachteten Maxima durch die Elementarprozesse des Aufbrechens der Si-O-Bindung, Anregung und Abregung der Atome und Wechselwirkung der in diesen Prozessen freigesetzten Elektronen mit dem Kristall verstanden werden konnen.
Redistribution of As during Pd2Si formation: Ion channeling measurements

We have investigated the redistribution of As during Pd2Si formation with ion channeling technique. The results show that both interstitial As and substitutional As in the Si are pushed ahead by the moving silicide‐silicon interface during the growth of Pd2Si at 250 °C. This effect increases the As concentration in a region of about 100 A beyond the interface. A model for the mechanism of As redistribution during silicide formation is suggested and implications of the effect on electrical characteristics of Schottky diodes and shallow junction devices are discussed.
Reputation Work in Selling Film and Television: Life in the Hollywood Talent Industry

Reputation is an important feature in the interactional contexts of work in “culture industries” such as film and television production. But few accounts have examined how reputations are produced in the everyday worlds in which cultural producers live and work. This paper introduces the concept of “reputation work” to describe the front stage and back stage interactional processes through which cultural producers continuously strive to produce their reputations. Drawing on participant observation data gathered at a Hollywood talent management company and a business school course on the talent industry, this paper shows how Hollywood agents and managers perform four types of reputation work. These include how Hollywood talent representatives work to adhere to institutionalized conventions for reputable physical settings, group contexts, giftgiving practices, and selfhoods. Such reputation work performances are done for the sake of “impression management,” but show how this strategic interaction is governed by industry-wide institutions that govern legitimacy.
The borderline between classical physics and quantum theory: Towards a theory of the Planck's constant

A dynamical mechanism is discussed to account for the numerical value of the Planck's constant ℏ.
The MODE Model and Its Implications for Studying the Media

Attitude and norm accessibility influence social behavior and how messages are processed. The Motivation and Opportunity as DEterminants (MODE) model is offered as a framework for understanding when attitude and norm accessibility should play an important role in social behavior. In this article, we outline the MODE model and consider the implications of the MODE model for both how people process media messages and the consequences of media messages.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, Intraoperative Cholangiograms, and Common Duct Injuries

In the late 1980s, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was quickly adopted because it reduced the morbidity associated with the operation and had a relatively straightforward learning curve. However, compared with the open procedure, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was also associated with an increased incidence of common duct injuries, generally due to misinterpretation of the biliary anatomy during the operation. Common duct injuries can have devastating consequences. Although common duct injury rates have decreased slightly through the years, they have not been eliminated and remain a serious risk. 1-3 Observational studies of intraoperative cholangiography (which involves placing a catheter into the cystic duct, injecting contrast material, and obtaining radiographs) have examined whether intraoperative cholangiography may reduce the risk of common duct injury during cholecystectomy, but the results of these studies have not been consistent. 4-7 In this issue of JAMA, Sheffield and coauthors 8 used an instrumental variable analysis to estimate the association between intraoperative cholangiography use and common duct injury. Examining Texas Medicare data, they found 40.4% of 92 932 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy had an intraoperative cholangiogram. Common duct injury occurred in 0.21% of patients who underwent intraoperative cholangiography and in 0.36% of patients who did not. After adjustment for the variables available in the database using multilevel logistic regression, the risk of common duct injury for cholecystectomies performed without intraoperative cholangiography was increased compared with those performed with it (odds ratio [OR], 1.79 [95% CI, 1.35-2.36], P < .001). After further adjustment for unmeasured confounders using instrumental variable analysis, the association between cholecystectomy performed without intraoperative cholangiography and common duct injury was no longer significant (OR, 1.26 [95% CI, 0.81-1.96]; P = .31). Estimating treatment effects in observational studies (ie,
Effect of induction of parturition on immunoglobulin content of colostrum and calf serum.

Thirty-four pregnant crossbred beef cows were injected with prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF group, n = 11), dexamethasone (DEX group, n = 11), or saline (control group, n = 12) on Day 270 of gestation. Immediately after calving, all colostrum was milked from each cow. A sample was taken, and the remainder was fed to that cow's calf within one hour of birth. Serum was collected from each calf at 0 and 24 h of age. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) content of colostrum and serum was determined with commercial radial immunodiffusion plates. The data from four PGF cows that did not calve until after 140 h post injection were excluded from the results. Mean (± SD) volumes (ml) of colostrum were 2086 (±1148.4) for the PGF group, 1336 (±583.7) for the DEX group, and 2404 (±1140.7) for the control group. Mean (± SD) concentrations (mg/dl) of IgG in colostrum were 6017 (±3351.2) for PGF, 10285 (±5370.7) for DEX and 10766 (±5098.3) for the control group. Mean (± SD) total quantities of IgG (g) in colostrum were 133.9 (±120.03) for PGF, 134.1 (±96.67) for DEX and 235.6 (±147.22) for the control. IgG concentrations were very low or were not detectable in serum of all calves prior to administration of colostrum. Mean (± SD) concentrations (mg/dl) of IgG in serum of calves at 24 h of age were 1469 (±905.8) for calves from PGF cows, 1819 (±1289.8) for calves from DEX cows, and 3317 (±1888.2) for calves from control cows. Calves from control cows had significantly more IgG at 24 h than calves from PGF cows or DEX cows (p<0.05). Calves born to cows induced to calve early may be at an increased risk of failure of passive transfer and so should be monitored for IgG concentrations.
Associations between nonparental care experience and preschooler's emotion regulation in the presence of the mother

Abstract This study tested predictions concerning the associations between children's nonparental care experiences and emotion regulation. It involved 53 participants (21 girls and 32 boys) of preschool age and their mothers. The children's care experiences ranged from those who were raised exclusively at home to those who had nonparental care experience beginning in early infancy. The participants were observed in a laboratory playroom, and their mothers were asked to complete questionnaires regarding their children's care histories and their current care situations. The children with extensive nonparental care backgrounds were found to be more likely to use self-directed emotion regulation behaviors when faced with a mildly frustrating situation. In the same situation, the children who had experienced minimal nonparental care were found to be more likely to use other-directed emotion regulation behaviors. Additionally, the children who had experienced care settings with large numbers of children in each care group or who had experienced many caregiver changes were more likely to use self-directed emotion regulation behaviors, whereas those who had experienced settings with smaller care groups and fewer caregiver changes were more likely to use other-directed emotion regulation behaviors.
High-energy pion-nucleus elastic scattering.

We investigate theoretical approaches to pion-nucleus elastic scattering at high energies (300\ensuremath{\le}${\mathit{T}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}$\ensuremath{\le}1 GeV). A ``model-exact'' calculation of the lowest-order microscopic optical model, carried out in momentum space and including the full Fermi averaging integration, a realistic off-shell pion-nucleon scattering amplitude and fully covariant kinematics, is used to calibrate a much simpler theory. The simpler theory utilizes a local optical potential with an eikonal propagator and includes the Coulomb interaction and the first Wallace correction, both of which are found to be important. Comparisons of differential cross sections out to beyond the second minimum are made for light and heavy nuclei. Particularly for nuclei as heavy as $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$, the eikonal theory is found to be an excellent approximation to the full theory.
Infusing research into practice to promote quality care

This article describes the Iowa Model of Research in Practice, a heuristic model used at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for infusing research into practice to improve the quality of care. The components of the model are presented with examples. The impact of the model on patient, staff, and fiscal outcomes is delineated.
Reciprocal-space and real-space neutron investigation of nanostructured Mo2C and WC

Abstract As possible substitute materials for platinum group metal heterogeneous catalysts, high surface area carbides of the early transition metals Mo and W are of great interest. Here we report nanostructured, high surface area Mo2C and WC prepared by decomposing and carburizing ammonium paramolybdate [(NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O] and ammonium paratungstate [(NH4)10W12O41·5H2O] in flowing 50%CH4/50%H2. Surface areas as high as 52 m2/g for Mo2C and 24 m2/g for WC were obtained, with both structures crystallizing in structures appropriate for catalytic activity. We have studied these materials using a combination of neutron diffraction Rietveld refinement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface area measurements, and scanning transmission electron microscopy. In addition, we have used pair-distribution function (PDF) analysis of the neutron total scattering data as a means of establishing the presence of graphitic carbon in the as-prepared materials.
Risk of Winding Insulation Breakdown in Larce AC Motors Caused by Steep Switching Surges Part 1.???Computed Switching Surges

The research reported here and sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute was initiated to demonstrate the applicability and use of the finite element method for probabilistic assessment of the risk of turn insulation breakdown in large AC motors. Computer models were developed for computation of the electromagnetic transients in the AC motor windings. Mathematical models were developed to compute the risk of turn insulation breakdown. The application of the proposed approach was demonstrated for a typical installation. This allowed evaluation of the advantages of using the finite element method in terms of accuracy, efficiency, capability and limitations. It also identified the need for further research to facilitate the use of this risk assessment method by utility engineers.
The Influence of Local Ambient Atmosphere on the Electroluminescent Stability of Porous Silicon Diodes

In this work, the influence of surrounding ambient atmosphere on the stability of electroluminescent (EL) porous Si (PS) diodes fabricated from anodic oxidation of epitaxially grown p-type layers on n-type Si substrates is investigated. These structures are characterized using photoluminescence (PL), electroluminescence (EL), and infrared (IR) spectrosopies, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Such structures yield orange emission with maxima near 620 nm upon the application of moderate applied voltages (3-7 V). In strong oxidizing environments, EL intensity degrades completely within 30 minutes; in contrast, the integrated intensity remains essentially unchanged in the same timeframe in the presence of a vigorous flow of inert gases such as nitrogen and argon. Infrared spectroscopic studies strongly suggest that electroluminescence degradation is related to porous silicon surface oxidation.
Aggravation and Stress in Parenting: Associations with Coparenting and Father Engagement Among Resident Fathers

This study uses a sample of 2,139 resident biological fathers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing surveys (baseline and 12-month follow-up), to examine whether paternal aggravation and stress in parenting is associated with father engagement and coparenting and whether this association differs by father’s socioeconomic status. Results of Ordinary Least Squares regression models indicate that paternal aggravation and stress in parenting is significantly associated with lower levels of father engagement and with less supportive coparenting relationships (controlling for mothers’ aggravation and stress in parenting). Findings also indicate a more negative association between paternal aggravation/stress in parenting and father engagement and coparenting for fathers with household incomes below the poverty threshold. Findings suggest that policies aimed at decreasing parenting stress may be especially beneficial to fathers living in poor families.
Previous exposure to amphetamine increases incentive to obtain the drug: long-lasting effects revealed by the progressive ratio schedule.

Abstract The present experiment tested whether previous exposure to amphetamine would enhance rats’ predisposition to self-administer a high dose of the drug under fixed (FR) and progressive ratio (PR) schedules of reinforcement. Rats in different groups were given five injections of either amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline (1.0 ml/kg, i.p.), one injection administered every third day and, starting 10 days later, given the opportunity to lever press for amphetamine (200 μg/kg/infusion, i.v.) on each of several 4 h sessions. When allowed to self-administer up to 10 infusions under first an FR-1 and then an FR-2 schedule, amphetamine and saline pre-exposed rats were indistinguishable and readily acquired the lever press response. However, when tested under the PR schedule of reinforcement, rats previously exposed to amphetamine achieved higher break points than saline pre-exposed rats across six consecutive PR sessions. This difference between groups was long lasting and durable. When compared to saline pre-exposed rats on three separate tests conducted 10, 14 and 21 days following the last PR session, rats pre-exposed to amphetamine also showed (i) greater nucleus accumbens dopamine reactivity to amphetamine (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), (ii) higher break points when retested on the PR schedule, and (iii) a greater locomotor response to amphetamine (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.). On the last test, both groups showed higher levels of locomotion than no drug control animals that received amphetamine for the first time on this test. These findings suggest that previous exposure to amphetamine produces a long lasting enhancement in the incentive motivation animals will exhibit in their effort to obtain the drug. This enhancement appears to parallel sensitization of the drug’s locomotor and nucleus accumbens dopamine activating effects. It may very well be exacerbated by continued exposure to self-administered amphetamine.
Debt Underwriting by Commercial Bank-Affiliated Firms and Investment Banks: More Evidence

We examine underwriting performances by commercial bank-affiliated firms (Section 20's) and traditional investment banks over the period 1995-98. We find that gross spreads are significantly lower in the case of Section 20 underwritings, but that yield spreads are not. Our sample includes a substantial number of observations following changes in Federal Reserve policies that substantially eased restrictions on Section 20 activities in early 1997. Our findings differ somewhat from results in the literature that focused on periods prior to these policy changes. We find, for example, no evidence that a prior commercial-bank lending relationship influences underwriting yields for any type of issue. Our results also fail to confirm earlier evidence that collective Section 20 underwritings produce a favorable competitive effect on gross spreads and yield spreads. We find substantial evidence that both the underwriting mix and the underwriting process are relevant to the behavior of gross spreads and yield spreads over the sample period.
Mid-range voltage dynamics modeling with the load controls present

In this paper a dynamical model relevant for voltage studies is introduced and illustrated on a small study system. The interaction of the natural systems voltage response with the slowly acting, discrete voltage controls is defined leading to a hybrid, nonlinear state space model of the closed loop system. Since such a detailed model is not practical for large scale power systems, a reduced order model is proposed relevant for the mid-range voltage dynamics studies, under the assumption that the mechanical variables are asymptotically stable. The case is illustrated when the instability is purely due to voltage problems.
Melatonin Suppression by Light in Euthymic Bipolar and Unipolar Patients

Background Previous studies have suggested that bipolar patients are supersensitive to light suppression of melatonin and that this may be a trait marker for genetic vulnerability. The present study was an attempt to replicate and extend this observation. Propranolol hydrochloride effects were compared with light effects because of the documented influence of β-adrenergic receptors on melatonin production. Nighttime levels of corticotropin and cortisol were also examined as potential trait vulnerability markers. Methods Melatonin levels in euthymic bipolar patients (n=29) were tested before and after 500-lux light was administered between 2 and 4 AM and on a separate night in the dark. Results were compared with those of a group of patients with unipolar depression (n=24) and with those of a group of non–psychiatrically ill control subjects (n=50). Lithium effects and propranolol effects were tested in subgroups. Results No group differences were seen in light suppression among bipolar patients, unipolar patients, and controls; an analysis of the whole group did not reveal differences in propranolol effect, differences in corticotropin or cortisol levels, or evidence for a lithium effect. However, patients with bipolar I affective disorder showed the following: (1) significantly lower melatonin levels on the light night, at baseline and following light exposure; and (2) a later peak time for melatonin on the dark night. Conclusions The general hypothesis of increased light sensitivity in bipolar patients was not supported. However, melatonin secretion abnormalities were confirmed in the subgroup with bipolar I disorder. Further assessments of circadian rhythm disruption as a vulnerability marker in bipolar illness are indicated.
Electrodiffusive movements of chloride ion in sodium-free solution: a possible calcium activated chloride conductance in cultured heart cells

Objective: The aim was to demonstrate that removal of extracellular sodium (Na+o), a manoeuvre known to increase intracellular calcium (Ca2+i), can activate a chloride ion conductance in cultured embryonic chick heart cells. Methods: Intracellular chloride activity (aiCl) and membrane potentials (Em) were simultaneously measured using chloride selective and 3 M KCl filled microelectrodes. Results: In Na+o-free and K+o-free solutions, a frusemide (0.3 mM) resistant decrease in a of 10 mM was recorded within 10 min, along with a 5 mV hyperpolarisation, and the calculated chloride equilibrium potential (ECl) followed the change of Em, suggesting a possibly enhanced chloride conductance. When cells were exposed to Na+o-free solution, the decrease of aiCl by ∼10 mM was associated with an initial depolarisation, followed by a hyperpolarisation to ∼−60 mV (more negative than ECl). Subsequent removal of K+o depolarised Em to −39 mV (≈ECl), and no further loss of aiCl, occurred. Restoration of K+o caused a hyperpolarisation of Em (more negative than ECl) and a continuing decline of aciCl. Prevention of K+o induced hyperpolarisation by addition of 1 mM Ba2+ stopped the decline of aiCl (Em ≈ECl), suggesting that following Na removal, alteration of the driving force for chloride led to a chloride efflux via an enhanced chloride conductance. When Em depolarised to −50 mV after 3 min exposure to 0.1 mM ouabain, removal of [Cl−]o caused a further depolarisation and readdition of [Cl−]o induced an 18 mV hyperpolarisation. This chloride induced hyperpolarisation was blocked by removal of [Ca2+] (+1 mM EGTA). Conclusions: The increase in chloride conductance observed under conditions that are known to raise Ca2+i supports the presence of a Ca2+i activated chloride conductance in cultured chick heart cells. Cardiovascular Research 1994; 28 :1629-1634
The relation between redundancy and convergence rate in distributed multi-agent formation control

In an earlier paper we had proposed a one step ahead optimization based distributed control law for autonomous agents, modeled as double integrators, that achieves a formation specified by relative position between agents. The law requires minimal information exchange between the agents and minimal knowledge on the part of each agent of the overall formation objective, and is fault tolerant and scalable, being easily reconfigurable in the face of the loss or arrival of an agent, and the loss of a communication link. In this earlier paper we had provided a framework to incorporate redundancy that allows a network to survive faults caused by the loss of agents and communications links. In this paper we consider a different aspect of redundancy: Specifically the impact it has on control performance of the law as quantified by the speed with which a desired formation is achieved.
Prospects and challenges for creating historic virtual environments for museum exhibition

This paper is a companion to ""This old digital city" (2000) one year later, experience gained, lessons learned, and future plans" in this proceedings. Based on our experience, this paper discusses the prospects for widespread use of virtual environments to recreate historic spaces in museum settings. The author also presents what she sees as challenges and potential obstacles to the development of museum exhibits using high fidelity computer graphics technology.
Achieving Goal Congruence in Complex Environments: The Case of Welfare Reform

Public management and implementation scholars suggest that congruence between the formal goals of policy officials and the operative goals of implementing agencies may be a prerequisite for the achievement of policy objectives. Substantial research also suggests that the achievement of goal congruence can be difficult in complex implementation contexts. In this article, we compare aspects of the governance and management of organizations delivering welfare reforms at the local level in three states. Sites were purposively selected to illustrate implementation contexts that vary in policy and institutional complexity. We ask whether and how local welfare organizations have been able to articulate and operationalize goals that are consistent with the substantive policy goals of state officials. Across the three sites, we find varying levels of congruence between formal policy goals, agency priorities, and the operative goals of agency managers and front line staff. Goal congruence appears to be more problematic either when policy goals are complex or when organizational systems are complex; when both are complex, substantial uncoupling of formal and operational goals is observed.
Confronting Serfdom in the Age of Revolution: Projects for Serf Reform in the Time of Alexander I

During the Age of Revolution public-minded people both inside and outside governments across the European world took up the fundamental problem of human freedom. Of course, liberation meant different things in different countries. In the Russian Empire it meant peasant emancipation from serfdom. During the reign of Alexander I (1801-25) the emancipation question was addressed from a number of angles, often with the tsar's encouragement. Although the discussion only rarely appeared in open publication, peasants, policymakers, and political economists all advanced the debate about peasant emancipation. In fact, the record of this conversation that exists in projects for legal reform, in peasant complaints, and in economic treatises demonstrates that by the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth century most of the key elements of the eventual emancipation legislation had been vetted. That the political and social consensus necessary to untie the knot of serfdom did not arise during Alexander's reign can be considered partly, but not entirely, his fault. Alexander I surely vacillated, as the complex matter elicited every kind of conflicting opinion, and his vacillation compares unfavorably with the determination of his nephew, Alexander II. But the second Alexander inherited a political landscape conditioned by six decades of semipublic discussion of how emancipation could be achieved, as well as a state bureaucracy that had vetted a number of schemes for full emancipation and digested the lessons of various partial reforms. While it is traditional to tell the story of the Russian road to emancipation as commencing in the 1840s, doing so produces a fundamental misunderstanding of how the Russian state, landowners, and peasants arrived at 19 February 1861. In fact, the
Women in STEM: The impact of STEM PBL implementation on performance, attrition, and course choice of women

Women are underrepresented in STEM fields, and their attrition from the STEM pipeline begins in high school. In this study, the performance, attrition, and course selection of women in mathematics and science subjects were examined in a school where STEM Project Based Learning was introduced. A four-year longitudinal study was conducted. Data from high-stakes tests, course taking patterns, and retention were examined. Results indicated that these women's scores improved in mathematics and science, and more females opted to take physics than did males. Moreover, female student attrition was lower than that of males and decreased markedly after the introduction of STEM PBL to the classrooms. These results indicate that implementing STEM PBL activities in classrooms is promising for improving female participation in STEM.
Information-theoretic occupancy grid compression for high-speed information-based exploration

We propose information-theoretic strategies for Occupancy Grid (OG) compression to enable high-speed exploration on computationally constrained mobile robots. We first formulate optimal lossy compression for OGs based on the Principle of Relevant Information. The solution to this formulation is a simple compression algorithm that is motivated by rate distortion theory. We then compress OGs to different resolutions and develop a second optimization based on the Information Bottleneck method that chooses a resolution simultaneously maximizing compression and minimizing loss of information from the robot's sensor measurements. On computationally constrained systems, the resulting reduction in computational complexity enables planning over longer predictive horizons, leading to higher-speed operation. Using these techniques to adaptively optimize OG resolution as the robot enters a new area causes it to autonomously slow down in obstacle-dense locations and speed up in open expanses. We simulate and experimentally evaluate mutual information-based exploration through cluttered indoor environments with exploration rates that adapt based on environment complexity, leading to an order-of-magnitude increase in the maximum rate of exploration in contrast to non-adaptive techniques given the same finite computational resources.
Abstract P087: Body Mass Index and Change in Obesity Status over 25 Years: The Relationship within Spouse Pairs in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Introduction: Environmental causes have been a focus of efforts to address the US obesity epidemic. Spouses share a similar environment and should therefore experience similar changes in body mass index (BMI) and obesity status over time. Existing longitudinal studies of spouses have not examined whether associations of BMI change within pairs are similar by gender. Methods: We analyzed spouse pairs from the community-based ARIC cohort, recruited from 1986 to 1989 at ages 45-64. We used linear mixed models to assess the association of changes in spousal BMI with changes in individual BMI assessed at 5 clinic visits during 25 years of follow-up. We used survival models accounting for interval censoring to evaluate the association between one spouse becoming obese (BMI>30 kg/m2) and the other becoming obese. Analyses controlled for time-varying demographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors, pre-existing illness, and spousal CVD risk factors and illness. We assessed similarity of the results by gender. Results: We included 4,003 spouse pairs with information on BMI at more than one visit. Mean BMI in men at baseline was 27.5 kg/m2, increasing to 28.6 in 2011-13. For women, baseline BMI was 27.1 kg/m2, increasing to 28.1 in 2011-13. Baseline BMI correlation within spouses was 0.18 (p Conclusions: Our results suggest that changes in BMI and obesity status in spouse pairs are related, with change in men’s BMI having a somewhat stronger influence on their wives’ BMI. This finding was robust to adjustment for individual and spousal characteristics and suggests weight control strategies might benefit from addressing both spouses.
Does the Inclusion of Data Sampling Improve the Performance of Boosting Algorithms on Imbalanced Bioinformatics Data

Bioinformatics datasets contain many challenging characteristics, such as class imbalance, which adversely impacts the performance of supervised classification models built on these datasets. Techniques such as ensemble learning and data sampling from the domain of data mining can be deployed to alleviate the problem and to improve the classification performance. In this study, we sought to seek whether inclusion of data sampling within the ensemble framework can further improve the performance of classification models. To this end, we performed an experimental study using two newly hybrid ensemble techniques, one integrates feature selection within the boosting process and the other incorporates random under-sampling followed by feature selection within the boosting framework, two learners, three forms of feature rankers, and four feature subset sizes on 15 highly imbalanced bioinformatics datasets. Our results and statistical analysis demonstrate that the difference between the two boosting methods is statistically insignificant. Therefore, as the inclusion of data sampling has no significant positive effect on the performance of ensemble classifiers, it is not required to achieve maximum classification performance. To our knowledge, this is the first empirical study that examined the effects of data sampling, random under-sampling, to enhance classification performance of boosting algorithm for highly imbalanced bioinformatics data.
On the names attributed to Partsch in the family Fasciolariidae (Miocene, Central Europe)

The miocene molluscan species of central Europe attributed to Partsch in the family Fasciolariidae are discussed. Five names remainnomina nuda. Correct citations are given for five others, which are available taxa representing valid species.
Effects of Nitrogen Topdressing Method and Time on Plant Type and Dry Mass Production of Super Early-rice

Two super hybrid early-rice combinations Luliangyou 996 and Ganxin 203 were used to study the effects of nitrogen topdressing method and time on plant type and dry mass production. The results showed that, compared with the treatment of nitrogen top dressed one time at the 5th day after transplanting one time, higher grain yields were obtained in the treatments of fractionalized top-dressing due to the longer top three internodes, stronger stem and ideotype plant, high chlorophyll contents in leaves and dry matter accumulation from heading to maturity. Under the condition of 20% nitrogen top-dressed at the 5th day after transplanting, 30% panicle nitrogen fertilizer applied in the second leaf age from top was beneficial to obtaining a higher grain yield resulting from the reasonable stems-leaves distribution of the plant and the high amount of dry matter production after heading. If the panicle nitrogen fertilizer applied earlier than that time, the grain yield would be reduced because of the too long leaves, too large leaf drop angle, less spikelet number per panicle, low grain-leaf ratio and low dry matter production after heading. Grain yield would be also reduced if the panicle nitrogen fertilizer applied too late because of the low leaf area index and low dry matter production before heading.
Epidemic Status of Syphilis and Gonorrhea in Mianyang City,Sichuan Province in 2013

Objective To understand the syphilis and gonorrhea epidemic characteristics in Mianyang city,Sichuan province in 2013 and provide scientific evidence. Methods The descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze syphilis and gonorrhea epidemic of Mianyang city in 2013. Results A total of 1211 syphilis patients were reported in Mianyang city in 2013,among which primary syphilis patients were 194,the secondary syphilis patients were 136 cases,the tertiary syphilis patients were 9,the congenital syphilis patients were 70 cases and the latent syphilis patients were 802. The total number of gonorrhea patients was 146. Syphilis cases were mainly distributed in Fucheng district,Zitong county,Youxian district,Santai district and Jiangyou,accounting for 70. 02% of all reported cases. Jiangyou,Pingwu county,Youxian district,Beichuan district and Anxian county gonorrhea report cases were the top five areas in the city,accounting for 72. 6% of all report cases. Syphilis cases were most women,accounting for 58. 63%( P 0. 01). Whereas gonorrhea cases weremainly men,accounting for 75. 34%( P 0. 05). The occupation distributions of the diseases were farmer,housework and unemployed. Conclusion The epidemic of syphilis and gonorrhea stays at a low level. Regional distributions of syphilis and gonorrhea epidemic are various. The characteristics of infected population are muchdifferent. It is essential to further strengthen prevention and treatment measures of the syphilis and gonorrhea.