cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contingent Incentive Value in Human Operant Performance

It was suggested that “real world” contingencies for humans make both incentive value and delivery of reinforcers response contingent in order to induce behavior change. It was proposed that a number of specialized contingencies fall under the general rubric of contingent incentive value. The main purpose of the present studies was to demonstrate the efficacy of such contingencies within the human operant laboratory context, in some cases with expanded versions of correlated reward where there was not a simple monotonic correspondence between responding and reward magnitude and in others where novel contingencies were tested. Generally, the results showed that contingent incentive value was effective in producing rapid and appropriate changes in performance. It was suggested that these special schedules may allow the laboratory to provide a more valid or faithful representation of contingencies in the “real world.”
Real Options: Experimental Evidence

Empirical testing of the real options theory has been very limited. This is primarily due to various inherent problems with obtaining field data for many components of real options theory. This paper utilizes experimental methodology to generate the data. The advantage of the experimental approach is that it enables the investigator to generate reliable and replicable data in a controlled environment. The results of the experiment indicate that fundamental insights of real options theory are not evident to individual investors. The majority invested too early and thus failed to recognize the benefit of the option to wait. However, when the investors had to compete with others for the right to invest, their bids generally reflected the value of the embedded option. Furthermore, as predicted by the theory, their bids increased with greater uncertainty about future cash flows from the investment.
Idea: Measuring the Effect of Code Complexity on Static Analysis Results

To understand the effect of code complexity on static analysis, thirty-five format string vulnerabilities were studied. We analyzed two code samples for each vulnerability, one containing the vulnerability and one in which the vulnerability was fixed. We examined the effect of code complexity on the quality of static analysis results, including successful detection and false positive rates. Static analysis detected 63% of the format string vulnerabilities, with detection rates decreasing with increasing code complexity. When the tool failed to detect a bug, it was for one of two reasons: the absence of security rules specifying the vulnerable function or the presence of a bug in the static analysis tool. Complex code is more likely to contain complicated code constructs and obscure format string functions, resulting in lower detection rates.
Future of materials and materials research.

The purpose of this paper was to summarize the presentations on porcelain materials, endodontic materials, casting metals, impression materials, armamentarium, amalgam, resins, composites, cements, bonding agents, adhesives, and calcium phosphate materials. Eight series of recommendations for future research are presented and include areas of basic research, animal models, biocompatibility, correlated laboratory and clinical testing procedures, epidemiological studies, workshops and conferences, materials research criteria, and a Dental Research Information Center. These recommendations were subsequently presented to the Programs Advisory Committee for Extramural Research of the National Institute of Dental Research.
Photosynthetic Reaction Center Mimicry: Low Reorganization Energy Driven Charge Stabilization in Self-Assembled Cofacial Zinc Phthalocyanine Dimer−Fullerene Conjugate

By employing well-defined self-assembly methods, a biomimetic bacterial photosynthetic reaction center complex has been constructed, and photoinduced electron transfer originating in this supramolecular donor−acceptor conjugate has been investigated. The biomimetic model of the bacterial “special pair” donor, a cofacial zinc phthalocyanine dimer, was formed via potassium ion induced dimerization of 4,5,4′,5′,4′′, 5′′,4′′′,5′′′-zinc tetrakis(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxatridecamethylene)phthalocyanine. The dimer was subsequently self-assembled with functionalized fullerenes via “two-point” binding involving axial coordination and crown ether-alkyl ammonium cation complexation to form the donor−acceptor pair, mimicking the noncovalently bound entities of the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center. The adopted self-assembly methodology yielded a supramolecular complex of higher stability with defined geometry and orientation as revealed by the binding constant and computational optimized structure. Unlike the previ...
Jeddah City with and without Sewerage: Cost Comparison

Fifty years ago, Jeddah, on the Red Sea Coast of Saudi Arabia, was a very small city. In recent decades it has grown rapidly, but the sewerage system has not. As a result, there is extensive on-site wastewater disposal, which raises the ground-water table, and as this reaches the surface, it damages property and health. The cost falls on private and public sectors. The costs, damages, and losses from the use of cesspools are estimated and compared with the costs of proper sewerage over the next 50 years. The present value cost of the cesspool system exceeds that of sanitary sewerage by an estimated factor of 4.5 in the developed area and 1.1 in the undeveloped. Sanitary sewerage for the whole city should have the highest priority; delay will increase the final cost.
Numerical and experimental study of “tulip” flame formation in a closed vessel

LDA measurements and numerical simulation of the velocity field generated during premixed laminar flame propagation in a closed duct explain the physical processes which cause the flame to form a cusp or “tulip” shape. The numerical model is based on hydrodynamics and does not include the effects of vorticity or pressure waves on the flame propagation. The close agreement between the numerical simulation and the experimental results indicates that the hydrodynamics of the combustion-generated flow is alone sufficient to cause a “tulip” flame.
The Seville Statement on Violence and Why It Is Important

The Seville Statement on Violence, reproduced here, specifically rejects the various myths that war is part of human nature and concludes that "the same species who invented war is capable of inventing peace." It is gaining endorsements by scientists and scientific organizations, mass media, and in school texts and curricula around the world. Its importance is underscored by evidence that many young people erroneously believe the myth that war is intrinsic to human nature and that these young people are less likely to take part in action for peace.
Biological materials transfer agreements.

“Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.”5
S-Nitrosated biodegradable polymers for biomedical applications: synthesis, characterization and impact of thiol structure on the physicochemical properties

A new class of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing biodegradable polymers has been synthesized by derivatizing poly(lactic-co-glycolic-co-hydroxymethyl propionic acid) (PLGH) polymers with structurally unique thiol functionalities followed by nitrosation with t-butyl nitrite to yield pendant S-nitrosothiol moieties. The extent of thiolation was found to be dependent on the thiol moiety itself with the efficiency of incorporation as follows: cysteamine > cysteine > homocysteine. Glutathione and penicillamine were not incorporated to any significant extent. The structure and polymer environment associated with the pendant thiol has been related to the physicochemical properties of the resulting polymers. To quantify the extent of S-nitrosation, chemiluminescence and UV-visible spectroscopy techniques were employed in combination. The cysteamine and homocysteine derivatives were found to have the highest extent of nitrosation at 93 ± 3% and 96 ± 3%, respectively, followed by 43 ± 1% for cysteine. Thermal decomposition led to near-complete recovery of NO based upon the quantification of the RSNO formation for each nitrosated polymer. Our ability to exert control over the thiol structure, extent of incorporation and the subsequent nitrosation is crucial to the resulting range of NO release kinetics that were yielded. The functional utility of these materials is demonstrated in that these non-toxic polymers release NO under physiological conditions, have degradation profiles that are appropriate for tissue scaffolds and can be prepared as electrospun nanofibers, commonly used in tissue and bone regeneration applications.
Ultrafast spectroscopy of GaAs under a magnetic field : Coulomb correlated magnetoexcitons in the 3D to 1D transition

Abstract Using transient four-wave mixing spectroscopy, we study the ultrafast nonlinear optical response of magnetoexcitons in GaAs at 1.6 K. By spectrally and temporally resolving the coherent emission, we measure the magnetic field dependence of Coulomb interactions between magnetoexcitons. Contrary to experiments performed in quantum wells, these interactions persist for field strengths up to 10 T.
Rudiments of an average case complexity theory for piecewise-linear path following algorithms

We examine the efficiency of PL path following algorithms in followingFT-1(0), whereFT is the PL approximation, induced by the simplicial triangulationT, to a mapf:źnźźn-1. In particular, we consider the problem of determining an upper bound on the expected number of pivots made per unit length offź1(0) that is approximated. We show that if the sizes of the simplices ofT are "sufficiently small", where "sufficiently small" is an explicitly given quantity dependent on measurements of how "nice"f is, then the average directional density ofT, as introduced by Todd, really does give a good approximation to the expected number of pivots made, confirming what researchers have believed on intuitive grounds for a decade. Because what constitutes "sufficiently small" is a precisely given quantity, i.e., non-asymptotic, we are able to provide some rigorous justification for the claim that the expected number of pivots grows only polynomially inn, the number of variables. Several other issues are also examined.
The effect of errors in rate constants on non-equilibrium shock layer electron density calculations

Abstract In a study of non-equilibrum ionization in shock layers, the chemical system (1) O2 + X ⇌ O + O + X (2) O + N2 ⇌ N + NO (3) O + NO ⇌ N + O2 (4) N + O ⇌ NO+ + e was adopted as the simplest system which could reasonably be used in calculation of ionization rates and times. Use of the rates of the individual reactions permitted the calculations of the electron density and other concentrations in the plasma sheath as functions of time. Important quantities in such calculations are the reaction rate constants which, together with the concentrations, determine the actual rates. Values of these constants are greatly in doubt. A programme was set up to determine the effect of inaccuracies in these values. Each pair of rate constants was changed individually and the effect on each concentration-time curve was noted. Large effects were found. In one typical case, a change of one order of magnitude in the rate constant of the O2 dissociation changed the electron density after about two msec by a factor of about 200. Changes of other rate constants by an order of magnitude changed the overall rate of ionization by lesser, but still serious, factors. It is therefore concluded that non-equilibrium electron density calculations are extremely dependent on the values of the rate constants and precise values are needed.
Luminescence, Spectroscopy and Composition Fluctuations in (110) Cross Sections of AlGaAs Multilayers

The controlled growth of semiconductor (ternary and quaternary) compound layers and their interfaces is a key concern in epitaxial technology. Ultimately both crystallographic and elemental accuracy on the atomic scale is required. In the analysis of such multilayers, however, large-scale' techniques such as transmission electron microscopy and e:iciton luminescence are usually employed which retrieve their signals from a large number of crystalline unit cells (typically 102 to 104).Therefore their analysis gives averaged data.
The Law and Economics of Conflict of Laws

Review of Policy and Pragmatism in the Conflict of Laws. Michael J. Whincop and Mary Keyes. Foreword by Richard A. Posner. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing, 2001. Copyright 2002, Oxford University Press.
THEORETICAL STUDY OF POSSIBLE PRODUCTS OF THE COMBINATION OF H2O AND HCN

Abstract Twenty-two structures with the empirical formula H 3 CNO are presented. These structures are examined since they have the same formula as the H 2 O…HCN complex. The H 2 O…HCN potential energy surface is of interest to chemists studying the water catalyzed polymerization of HCN. Structures, thermodynamics, and vibrational spectra are examined.
SHELS: OPTICAL SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF WISE 22 μm SELECTED GALAXIES

We use a dense, complete redshift survey, the Smithsonian Hectospec Lensing Survey (SHELS), covering a 4 deg2 region of a deep imaging survey, the Deep Lens Survey (DLS), to study the optical spectral properties of Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) 22 μm selected galaxies. Among 507 WISE 22 μm selected sources with (S/N)22 μm ≥ 3 (S 22 μm 2.5 mJy), we identify the optical counterparts of 481 sources (~98%) at R < 25.2 in the very deep, DLS R-band source catalog. Among them, 337 galaxies at R < 21 have SHELS spectroscopic data. Most of these objects are at z < 0.8. The infrared (IR) luminosities are in the range 4.5 × 108(L ☉) L IR 5.4 × 1012(L ☉). Most 22 μm selected galaxies are dusty star-forming galaxies with a small (<1.5) 4000 A break. The stacked spectra of the 22 μm selected galaxies binned in IR luminosity show that the strength of the [O III] line relative to Hβ grows with increasing IR luminosity. The optical spectra of the 22 μm selected galaxies also show that there are some (~2.8%) unusual galaxies with very strong [Ne III] λ3869, 3968 emission lines that require hard ionizing radiation such as active galactic nuclei (AGNs) or extremely young massive stars. The specific star formation rates (sSFRs) derived from the 3.6 and 22 μm flux densities are enhanced if the 22 μm selected galaxies have close late-type neighbors. The sSFR distribution of the 22 μm selected galaxies containing AGNs is similar to the distribution for star-forming galaxies without AGNs. We identify 48 dust-obscured galaxy candidates with large ( 1000) mid-IR to optical flux density ratio. The combination of deep photometric and spectroscopic data with WISE data suggests that WISE can probe the universe to z ~ 2.
Evolutionary conservation of a testes-specific proteasome subunit gene in Drosophila

Proteasomes are large multisubunit particles that act as the proteolytic machinery for the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway. The core of this complex, the 20S proteasome, is made up of seven alpha-type and seven beta-type subunits, arranged in an (alpha1-alpha7)(beta1-beta7)(beta1-beta7)(alpha1-al pha7) configuration. Previous work had shown that there exist alternative isoforms of the Drosophila melanogaster alpha4-type subunit, encoded by two distinct genes, alpha4t1_dm and alpha4t2_dm, and that these are expressed exclusively in the germline of the testes. We sought to investigate the evolutionary conservation of this phenomenon by screening for orthologs of the alpha4-type gene family in the distantly related Drosophila species, D. virilis. We isolated the D. virilis orthologs of the somatically expressed gene, alpha4_dm, and the testes-specific gene, alpha4t2_dm. We failed to find an ortholog of the other testes-specific gene, alpha4t1_dm. The alpha4_dv gene maps to the X chromosome at 12A-C, its product shares 90% amino acid identity with alpha4_dm, and it is expressed at high levels in both males and females. The other gene, alpha4t_dv, encodes a protein most similar to the testes-specific alpha4t2_dm proteasome subunit (59% a.a. identity), and it maps to position 27 on chomosome 2. The expression of the alpha4t_dv gene is testes-specific, like that of alpha4t2_dm. The existence of testes-specific alpha4-type subunits in two widely diverged subgenera of Drosophila suggests that these subunit isoforms have important functional roles in spermatogenesis.
Specific heat of tantalum and tin near the superconducting critical temperature

An unsuccessful search has been made for a λ-type of singularity in the specific heats of tantalum and tin. For these two metals an upper limit of 1-millijoule/mole/°K has been established for the entropy associated with such a singularity. In the analysis of the data it was found convenient to introduce a model for which it is supposed that a superconductor can be considered as an aggregate of many small, homogeneous volume elements. Each small-volume element is characterized by a critical temperature, T0, and the temperatures T0 are assumed to be distributed around a mean temperature Tc. The fraction of the total volume of a specimen having critical temperature T0 is taken to be N(T0)=(1Δπ)exp[−(Te−T0)2Δ2], where Δ is a measure of the temperature interval over which the transition takes place. For tin of high purity it appears that Δ is a linear function of resistance at 4.2°K, with dΔdϱ = +3.6°K/μohm cm.
Preparation and characterization of an α-amanitin azo derivative with a free carboxyl group and its bovine serum albumin conjugate☆

Abstract α-Amanitin has been diazotized to p -aminobenzoylglycylglycine to form the stable derivative amanitinylazobenzoyl- N -glycylglycine (ABGG) with a free carboxyl group. The ABGG displayed a K I of 6.1 × 10 −9 m to calf thymus RNA polymerase II compared to a K I of 1.8 × 10 −9 m for α-amanitin. The ABGG was coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) with watersoluble carbodiimide to provide a covalent conjugate with 2.9 mol of ABGG per mole of BSA. The conjugation resulted in approximately 80% intermolecular crosslinking of protein, a 66% decrease in the α-helix content of the BSA as estimated by circular dichroism, and in a 21-fold decrease in the affinity of the α-amanitin moiety for calf thymus RNA polymerase II. The ID 50 values toward Chinese hamster ovary cells were 1.5 μ m , 3.0 μ m , and 4.7 μ m for ABGG-BSA, α-amanitin, and ABGG, respectively, indicating that conjugation of ABGG to BSA increased its inhibitory activity 3-fold over the unconjugated derivative. The conditions examined here define a potential with limitations for covalent conjugation via carbodiimide of amanitin to carrier proteins for targeting to mammalian cells.
Applying butylate- and EPTC-impregnated fertilizer to a cover crop for weed control in no-till corn, Zea mays, L

Abstract Herbicides used for weed control in no-till corn are generally restricted to materials that are applied preemergence and postemergence. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of preplant-incorporated herbicides when impregnated on dry fertilizer and surface-applied to a winter cover crop at corn planting. Butylate plus atrazine or EPTC plus atrazine impregated on dry fertilizer and surface-broadcast reduced weeds and produced greater grain and silage yields than did untreated areas. Butylate or EPTC applied alone were not as effective as combinations with atrazine but did increase yield and weed control over untreated areas. When impregnated on dry fertilizer and placed in a standing small-grain cover crop, preplant-incorporated herbicides such as EPTC and butylate, when applied in combination with atrazine, reduced weed populations to levels similar to those with surface-applied herbicide combinations such as metolachlor plus atrazine or alachlor plus atrazine.
Evaluation and Use of Residual Strength in Seismic Safety Analysis of Embankments

Abstract A reevaluation of the performance of the Lower San Fernando Dam during the February 9, 1971 San Fernando earthquake was conducted to evaluate methods of determining the residual shear strengths of liquefied soils. The use of Standard Penetration Test (SPT) N‐value correlations, as proposed by H. B. Seed and his colleagues at the University of California, and laboratory tests to obtain steady‐state strength as proposed by Gonzalo Castro and his colleagues at GEI, Inc., are evaluated. A recommended approach for seismic safety analysis is presented. The approach, which is intended for use by practicing engineers and not for problems of a research nature, generally consists of the techniques developed by Seed and his colleagues and incorporates routine use of a field performance‐based correlation between soil strength and SPT blow counts.
CO2-solubility of oligomers and polymers that contain the carbonyl group

Abstract Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) is miscible with CO 2 over a broad range of molecular weights at 298 K. The cloud-point pressures needed to dissolve ∼5 wt% poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) at 298 K are significantly greater than those needed to dissolve PVAc, even though a PMA repeat group has the same number of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms as in PVAc. This large difference in dissolution pressures is attributed to the lack of accessibility of the carbon dioxide to the carbonyl group in PMA. In addition, experimental data for poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) copolymers with readily accessible side groups suggest that an acetate group is slightly more CO 2 -philic than an acrylate group. PVAc is more CO 2 -soluble than other hydrocarbon homopolymers, including poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) and poly(lactide) (PLA). However, PVAc is significantly less miscible with CO 2 than PDMS and poly(fluoroalkyl acrylate) (PFA).
Occupational diseases in individuals exposed to metal working fluids.

Purpose of review To examine the current occurrence of respiratory and skin disease in workers who do metal machining with metal working fluids (MWFs), a common work process in manufacturing. Recent findings A summary of the 27 recognized outbreaks of respiratory disease in workers exposed to MWFs was published. New studies have identified irritative symptoms among workers with low-level exposures. There were review articles discussing the content, measurement and control of microbial agents in MWFs. Summary The occurrence of work-related asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis appears to have diminished in the last 10 years. This is presumed to be secondary to lower air levels from the use of newer machining equipment, which are enclosed and have local ventilation as well as better control of microbial contaminants. However, clinicians need to be aware that at the minimum irritative symptoms of the upper respiratory tract are still being reported at these lower exposure levels and there remains the possibility of the development of asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Given the widespread use of MWFs in manufacturing facilities, clinicians need to consider the possibility that MWFs are the cause or are aggravating the respiratory and dermatologic conditions of their patients.
Progressive dyspnea and stridor in an elderly woman.

1985;88;773-775 Chest P A Burch and B Varkey woman. Progressive dyspnea and stridor in an elderly http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/88/5/773.citation can be found online on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services ) ISSN:0012-3692 http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/site/misc/reprints.xhtml ( without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. reserved. No part of this article or PDF may be reproduced or distributed Chest Physicians, 3300 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062. All rights of been published monthly since 1935. Copyright1985by the American College is the official journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. It has Chest
A Shortened Version of the MMPI-2:

A psychometrically sound method of prorating scores from a shortened version of the MMPI-2 is presented to approximate the full-scale raw scores on the basic scales. After a brief review of the history of short versions of the original MMPI and their strengths and weaknesses, justifications for developing and publishing this new version are offered. In spite of the risk of abuse by harassed and over-worked clinicians, there are cogent reasons to make this set of procedures available to practitioners and research investigators. These procedures were devised on the data from the 2,600 men and women in the original MMPI-2 restandardization sample and cross-validated on a sample of 632 test records from a psychiatric inpatient service. The dependability of estimated single raw scores as well as of the patterning of the prorated profile patterns is explored.
Abstract 2982: Macrophages modulate adaptive resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy

Targeted anti-angiogenic therapies were a highly anticipated addition to cancer treatment, but their clinical use has been tempered by the development of resistance. To understand the role of immune cells in potentially mediating such resistance, we carried out systematic immune cell profiling in a syngeneic ovarian cancer mouse model following treatment with the B20 anti-VEGF antibody. Following injection of luciferase-labeled cancer cells and initiation of treatment, mice (n=8/group) were divided into B20-sensitive and resistant groups based on longitudinal bioluminescence imaging of tumor burden. Immune cell profiling confirmed a dramatic increase in macrophages with emergence of resistance to B20. Using the syngeneic model, resistance to B20 was documented with bioluminescence imaging as an increase in tumor burden in mice with previously stable disease. Zoledronic acid, a macrophage-depleting bisphosphonate, was then added to B20 treatment. Restoration of sensitivity to B20 with the addition of zoledronic acid was demonstrated by a 68% prolongation of survival in this treatment group as compared to those receiving B20 alone (p Citation Format: Heather J. Dalton, Sunila Pradeep, Guillermo N. Armaiz-Pena, Rebecca Previs, Ashley Davis, Rajesha Rupaimoole, Behrouz Zand, Yared Hailemichael, Willem W. Overwijk, Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, Anil K. Sood. Macrophages modulate adaptive resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2982. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2982
Fossil Cross-validation of the Dated Ant Phylogeny (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract As molecular clock methods become more widely used it has become apparent that careful consideration of fossil minimum calibrations is essential. Not only is it necessary to be certain of the taxonomic identity of the fossils and correct placement within the phylogenetic tree, recent studies have suggested that when multiple fossils are available consideration of whether any of the fossils are in conflict must also be taken into account. In this study we investigate whether any of the 43 fossils used by Moreau, et al. (2006) are “inconsistent” and how this affects the results of molecular clock dating analyses and inferred diversification patterns. After considering each of the 43 fossils in turn, following the methods of Near and colleagues (Near and Sanderson, 2004; Near et al., 2005), we found that five fossils are considered to be “inconsistent.” After removing these fossils and reanalyzing the data, we found that excluding these minimum age fossil calibration points did not have a significan...
Energetics of Cation Radical Formation at the Proximal Active Site Tryptophan of Cytochrome c Peroxidase and Ascorbate Peroxidase

Despite very similar protein structures, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and yeast cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) stabilize different radical species during enzyme turnover. Both enzymes contain similar ...
Selection of an effective mass-density value for meteoric matter.

Meteoroid penetration damage to spacecraft system, showing particle mass density distribution as protection criterion
The two faces of dominance: The differential effect of ingroup superiority and outgroup inferiority on dominant-group identity and group esteem

The present paper provides evidence that dominant-group members distinguish dominance framed as ingroup superiority from dominance framed as outgroup inferiority, and that ingroup superiority enhances esteem for, and thus identification with, the group more than outgroup inferiority. In Experiment 1, Democrats report higher levels of party identification after being told that Democrats won an election than after being told that Republicans lost the election. These effects are attenuated among dominant group members whose values are in conflict with how dominance was achieved. In Experiments 2a and 2b, unearned dominance framed as ingroup superiority resulted in higher levels of White identification than unearned dominance framed as outgroup inferiority among Whites who did not value meritocracy. In contrast, Whites who valued meritocracy did not increase their levels of identification with the group. In Experiment 2b, this interactive effect on racial identification was mediated by esteem for the group.
Author retrospective for anatomy of a message in the alewife multiprocessor

The MIT Alewife project, launched in the Spring of 1988, comprised a dynamic group of researchers who designed and implemented the Alewife multiprocessor [1]. One of the most important and unexpected outcomes of this project was the message-passing interface described in "Anatomy of a Message in the Alewife Multiprocessor," selected for this Retrospective. This interface was essential to the Alewife OS and runtime systems, was important for I/O, and enabled a new and innovative cache-coherence protocol, called Limit-LESS [3]. It also enabled direct comparisons between shared memory and message-passing [4]. Original paper: http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/165939.165970.
Thermo-Optical Analysis of Poly(2,6-disubstituted-1,4-phenylene Oxide) Blends

Abstract Mobility transitions closely related to the glass transitions of three binary polymer-polymer blend systems have been determined by thermo-optical analysis (TOA). TOA in this instance consists of the automated observation of birefringence relaxation in scratched transparent polymer and polymer blend films during their programmed heating. The blend systems studied were: I. polystyrene (PS) + poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PMMPO); II. poly (2-methyl-6-phenyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PMPPO) + PMMPO; and III. PS + PMPPO. Blend Systems I and II display a single TOA transition temperature at each blend composition indicating homogeneity and true thermodynamic compatibility of the polymer pairs. Blend System III displays two TOA transition temperatures at each blend composition indicating incompatibility and resultant liquid-liquid phase equilibration in molten mixtures of PS and PMPPO. The shapes of the transmitted light intensity vs temperature curves for scratched PS + PMMPO films between 90° ...
Computing Cross Associations for Attack Graphs and Other Applications

Applications in information security, data mining, e-commerce, information retrieval and network management require the analysis of large graphs in order to discover homogeneous groupings of rows and columns, called cross associations. We show that finding an optimal cross association is NP-complete. Furthermore, we give a heuristic algorithm with an O(n4) running time for finding good cross associations
Exertion-induced fatigue and thermoregulation in the cold

Cold exposure facilitates body heat loss which can reduce body temperature, unless mitigated by enhanced heat conservation or increased heat production. When behavioral strategies inadequately defend body temperature, vasomotor and thermogenic responses are elicited, both of which are modulated if not mediated by sympathetic nervous activation. Both exercise and shivering increase metabolic heat production which helps offset body heat losses in the cold. However, exercise also increases peripheral blood flow, in turn facilitating heat loss, an effect that can persist for some time after exercise ceases. Whether exercise alleviates or exacerbates heat debt during cold exposure depends on the heat transfer coefficient of the environment, mode of activity and exercise intensity. Prolonged exhaustive exercise leading to energy substrate depletion could compromise maintenance of thermal balance in the cold simply by precluding continuation of further exercise and the associated thermogenesis. Hypoglycemia impairs shivering, but this appears to be centrally mediated, rather than a limitation to peripheral energy metabolism. Research is equivocal regarding the importance of muscle glycogen depletion in explaining shivering impairments. Recent research suggests that when acute exercise leads to fatigue without depleting energy stores, vasoconstrictor responses to cold are impaired, thus body heat conservation becomes degraded. Fatigue that was induced by chronic overexertion sustained over many weeks, appeared to delay the onset of shivering until body temperature fell lower than when subjects were rested, as well as impair vasoconstrictor responses. When heavy physical activity is coupled with underfeeding for prolonged periods, the resulting negative energy balance leads to loss of body mass, and the corresponding reduction in tissue insulation, in turn, compromises thermal balance by facilitating conductive transfer of body heat from core to shell. The possibility that impairments in thermoregulatory responses to cold associated with exertional fatigue are mediated by blunted sympathetic nervous responsiveness to cold is suggested by some experimental observations and merits further study.
Morality and marketing human organs.

Recent break-throughs in surgery and the discovery of an effective immunosupressive drug called cyclosporin, have brought a Renaissance in organ transplants. These medical advances have also heightened concern over the already critical shortage of body organs. Several alternatives have been suggested which may help alleviate the organ shortage. One such alternative is to allow commerce in human organs. This article discusses the morality of commercialization of human organs within the framework of several ethical theories.
Postglacial Landscape Evolution of Northeastern Lower Michigan, Interpreted from Soils and Sediments

In this study, we used spatial data on soils, near-surface stratigraphy, and paleotopography to reinterpret part of the Late Pleistocene history of northeastern (NE) lower Michigan. We determined the relationships between various soil series and their likely sedimentary environments. Maps of these soil series for two counties in NE lower Michigan were then prepared within a geographic information system (GIS) to interpret the spatial patterns of the sedimentary environments on the paleolandscape which had been ‘downwarped’ within a GIS to account for isostatic rebound. Our primary finding centers on the origin and distribution of clayey, lacustrine sediments in the region. These clays are found in swales between drumlins and on ground moraines. They occur, however, at elevations up to 60 m above any previously known paleolake. Although it is widely known that low-lying, clay-dominated areas near the Lake Huron and Lake Michigan basins were inundated by paleolakes in the Late Pleistocene, thick deposits of...
Using WarpPLS in e-Collaboration Studies: Mediating Effects, Control and Second Order Variables, and Algorithm Choices

This is a follow-up on two previous articles on WarpPLS and e-collaboration. The first discussed the five main steps through which a variance-based nonlinear structural equation modeling analysis could be conducted with the software WarpPLS (Kock, 2010b). The second covered specific features related to grouped descriptive statistics, viewing and changing analysis algorithm and resampling settings, and viewing and saving various results (Kock, 2011). This and the previous articles use data from the same e-collaboration study as a basis for the discussion of important WarpPLS features. Unlike the previous articles, the focus here is on a brief discussion of more advanced issues, such as: testing the significance of mediating effects, including control variables in an analysis, using second order latent variables, choosing the right warping algorithm, and using bootstrapping and jackknifing in combination.
An Isolated Structural System Using Localized Vibration Control

This paper describes an approach to actively isolate vibration of a complex structural system by controlling six degrees of freedom in its support areas. The controller attempts to stabilize only localized areas near where the structure is supported rather than attempting to stabilize the entire structure. Actuator/sensor placement and model reduction are discussed, and the specific controller design and performance measure are described. The relative performance levels of different control strategies are evaluated by examining a frequency-dependent disturbance rejection property. Concepts are illustrated by numerically simulating a complex structural system comprising a flat plate supported by two box girders; plant dynamics are obtained from a finite-element model. Conclusions are drawn regarding the mechanisms by which localized vibration control is exerted.
Miscibility of Poly(vinyl chloride) Melts Composed of Mixtures of Chains with Differing Stereochemical Composition and Stereochemical Sequence

Simulations of coarse-grained models of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) on a high coordination lattice have been performed for seven pure melts and 12 binary mixtures composed of chains with seven different stereochemical compositions and stereochemical sequences, at a temperature of 450 K and a density of 1.24−1.26 g/cm3. The same Lennard-Jones parameters are used for all pairs of monomer units in all of the simulations. The chains differ only in their short-range intramolecular interactions, which are controlled by a rotational isomeric state model for PVC. The melt of syndiotactic PVC is unique in that its intermolecular pair correlation functions (pcf) show a greater tendency for the formation of local “structure” than is evident in the simulations of the other polymers, all of which contain meso diads. The effect of stereochemistry on demixing properties is investigated by simulation of 12 equimolar binary mixtures. The seven binary mixtures that do not contain syndiotactic PVC remain miscible throughout ...
Compressive response of tapered curved composite plates based on a nine-node composite shell element

Abstract Tapered laminated structures have considerable potential for creating significant weight savings in engineering applications. The objective of the present work is to investigate the compressive response of curved composite plates with longitudinal internal ply-drop-off configurations. A nine-node tapered curved composite finite element is developed based on six well-established first-order shear deformation shell theories. The buckling loads obtained using Finite Element Method (FEM) are compared with that of the existing analytical and experimental results. A comprehensive parametric study is carried out and design guidelines for the tapered curved plates are established based on this study.
A microscale model of bacterial and biofilm dynamics in porous media.

A microscale model for the transport and coupled reaction of microbes and chemicals in an idealized two-dimensional porous media has been developed. This model includes the flow, transport, and bioreaction of nutrients, electron acceptors, and microbial cells in a saturated granular porous media. The fluid and chemicals are represented as a continuum, but the bacterial cells and solid granular particles are represented discretely. Bacterial cells can attach to the particle surfaces or be advected in the bulk fluid. The bacterial cells can also be motile and move preferentially via a run and tumble mechanism toward a chemoattractant. The bacteria consume oxygen and nutrients and alter the profiles of these chemicals. Attachment of bacterial cells to the soil matrix and growth of bacteria can change the local permeability. The coupling of mass transport and bioreaction can produce spatial gradients of nutrients and electron acceptor concentrations. We describe a numerical method for the microscale model, show results of a convergence study, and present example simulations of the model system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 68: 536–547, 2000.
A parametric study of microencapsulation approach to the preparation of polystyrene shells

Abstract Spherical polystyrene shells for laser fusion experiments were made in a density-matched microencapsulation approach. The yield, diameter, wall thickness, vacuole content, and surface finish were determined for different polystyrene concentrations varied from 5 to 13 wt% in an equivolume mixture of toluene and 1,2-dichloroethane, and an internal water phase containing surfactants, Tween 40 and Brij 30, at concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1 wt%, respectively. The main observations are: (1) The yield of shells is improved with added surfactants, and the effect is more pronounced at a higher polymer concentration; (2) The outer shell diameter increased with added surfactants at a constant polymer concentration. This is attributed to larger droplets being more stable in the first stage of the fabrication process; (3) Thicker shell walls are achieved with higher polymer concentrations; (4) The outer shell diameter increased with increasing polymer concentration regardless of added surfactants. This is attributed to a thicker wall providing greater mechanical stability; (5) The number of vacuoles over the cross-sectional area of the wall increases with increasing polymer concentration and with the addition of surfactants; and (6) The shells possess a smooth surface with a root-mean-square surface roughness less than 25 nm over a 30 μm × 30 μm area, and a sphericity greater than 99.6%.
The case for xenotransplantation.

The availability of organs and cells from deceased humans for transplantation is not meeting the demand. Xenotransplantation, specifically the transplantation of organs and cells from genetically-engineered pigs, could resolve this problem. Diabetic monkeys have remained normoglycemic and insulin-independent after pig islet transplantation for >1 year, and a pig heterotopic (non-life-supporting) heart transplant recently reached the one-year milestone in a baboon. With these encouraging results, why is it that, with some notable exceptions, research into xenotransplantation has received relatively little support by industry, government funding agencies, and medical charitable foundations? Industry appears reluctant to support research that will take more than 2–3 years to come to clinical trial, and the funding agencies appear to have been “distracted” by the current appeal of stem cell technology and regenerative medicine. It has only been the willingness of living donors to provide organs that has significantly increased the number of transplants being performed worldwide. These altruistic donations are not without risk of morbidity and even mortality to the donor. Although with the best of intentions, we are therefore traversing the Hippocratic Oath of doctors to “do no harm”. This should be a stimulus to fund exploration of alternative approaches, including xenotransplantation.
A study of the nitric oxide-concentrated sulfuric acid reaction

Abstract The reaction between nitric oxide and concentrated sulfuric acid (96 wt. per cent) was studied at 25° with the aid of chronopotentiometry and mass spectrometry. The amounts of products found indicate that the reactions involved in this system are (1) 4NO + 3H 2 SO 4 → 2NO + + N 2 O + H 3 O + + 3HSO 4 − and (2) 2NO + 5H 2 SO 2 → 2NO + + SO 2 + 2H 3 O + + 4HSO 4 − with the first reaction being more important initially but the second occurring to a larger extent at longer times. Neither reaction was found to have reached equilibrium even after runs of long duration. Thermodynamic calculations yield 2 × 10 50 (mole/l) 3 and 4 × 10 12 (mole/l) 7 for the equilibrium constants of reactions (1) and (2), respectively. The rate of reaction was found to depend on the gas-liquid interfacial area, but by eliminating the gas phase one could observe the kinetics for the first few hours to be second order in nitric oxide for reaction (2). The rate constant for reaction (2) was measured as 0·20±0·04 l./mole sec.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Newer Cephalosporins

Several new cephalosporins have been developed in recent years. These agents include several oral and parenteral agents with extended activity against Gram-negative pathogens. The pharmacokinetic literature for these agents is quite extensive; therefore, we have summarised this information and presented it in tabular form for critical comparison. With a few exceptions, the newer cephalosporins share similar pharmacokinetic properties. Cefixime, cefetamet pivoxil and ceftibuten differ from the others in that they exhibit nonlinear pharmacokinetic properties. The nonlinear nature of these agents is reflected by decreasing maximal concentrations with escalating doses of cefixime and cefetamet pivoxil, decreasing area under the serum concentration-time curve with increasing doses for cefixime, and a reduced bioavailability with large doses of ceftibuten. Attention to such characteristics aid the clinician in selecting appropriate dosage regimens that will optimise drug absorption. The majority of agents are primarily renally eliminated; however, renal elimination accounts for only 20% of cefixime elimination. The pharmacokinetic parameters noted for the newer cephalosporins are not influenced by multiple-dose administration, suggesting lack of drug accumulation over time. The pharmacodynamics of antimicrobials should be considered when extrapolating pharmacokinetic information into the clinical arena. In the case of the β-lactams, the time which drug concentrations remain above some critical threshold, such as the minimal inhibitory concentration, appears to have the greatest influence on bactericidal activity. Therefore, it is important to select dosage regimens that will optimise the time serum concentrations remain above this threshold. We present an evaluation of these agents with respect to their activity against a variety of pathogens in an effort to demonstrate a pharmacokinetically-based process of antimicrobial selection.
The entrance of exogenous rna into the mouse ascites cell.

SummaryThe entrance of RNA into ascites cells has been studied using double labeled rat liver RNA and high resolution electron microscope autoradiography. The evidence reported here indicates that RNA enters into the cells as an undegraded molecule.
Some perspectives on the modeling of plasma jets

A mathematical representation is developed describing the temperature and the velocity profiles and mixing in a plasma jet discharging into ambient air. In the model, realistic allowance is made for turbulent behavior, the temperature-dependent property values, and also for the boundary conditions, including entrainment. The more precise definition of the boundary conditions, mixing, and entrainment are thought to be important novel features of this work. The theoretical predictions were found to be in good agreement with measurements reported by Vardelle regarding the behavior of a nitrogen plasma, but the agreement was less satisfactory for an argon plasma jet. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed.