cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decay Constant and Mass-Yield Curve for the Spontaneous Fission of Uranium-238

The equilibrium ratio of ${\mathrm{Te}}^{132}$/${\mathrm{U}}^{238}$ in nonirradiated natural and depleted uranium was measured to be (2.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ disintegrations per second per gram of uranium. This value was used to normalize the mass-spectrometric data for the relative yields of krypton and xenon isotopes from the ${\mathrm{U}}^{238}$ spontaneous fission. Combining the mass-spectrometric and radiochemical data obtained by previous investigators, a "mass-yield" curve for the spontaneous fission of ${\mathrm{U}}^{238}$ was constructed in which the equilibrium ratios of the fission products in nonirradiated uranium were plotted against the mass numbers. By summing the area under the curve, a value of (7.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.9)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}17}$ ${\mathrm{yr}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ was obtained for the ${\mathrm{U}}^{238}$ spontaneous fission decay constant. This value is intermediate between the values reported by Fleischer and Price and by Segr\`e.
Inhibition of protein phosphatases alters the expression of morphine tolerance in mice.

Recently our laboratory found that tolerance to morphine-induced antinociception could be completely reversed with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of a protein kinase A inhibitor, whereas intrathecal (i.t.) administration of the inhibitor produced hyperalgesia in morphine-tolerant mice. In the experiments described here, we sought to characterize further the role of phosphorylation events in supraspinal versus spinal opioid-mediated pain pathways and how such events might be involved in the development of antinociceptive tolerance. Two phosphatase inhibitors were administered centrally to determine whether they affected morphine-induced antinociception in naive or chronically morphine-treated mice. By the i.c.v. route, okadaic acid enhanced morphine-induced antinociception in tolerant mice and produced toxicity by the i.t. route. The calcineurin inhibitor ascomycin had no effect on antinociception following acute or chronic morphine treatment. These results suggest that increased activity of protein phosphatase types 1 and/or 2A in the brain may contribute to the development of morphine tolerance.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS: Insights from Animal Lentiviruses

A well-recognized and frustrating hurdle in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS research is the lack of an authentic, reproducible animal model system that recapitulates the entire infectious process of HIV from virus entry and replication to the pathogenic manifestations of the disease and
FLICE-Like Inhibitory Protein (FLIP) Protects Against Apoptosis and Suppresses NF-κB Activation Induced by Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) via its activation of Toll-like receptor-4 contributes to much of the vascular injury/dysfunction associated with gram-negative sepsis. Inhibition of de novo gene expression has been shown to sensitize endothelial cells (EC) to LPS-induced apoptosis, the onset of which correlates with decreased expression of FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP). We now have data that conclusively establish a role for FLIP in protecting EC against LPS-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of FLIP protected against LPS-induced apoptosis, whereas down-regulation of FLIP using antisense oligonucleotides sensitized EC to direct LPS killing. Interestingly, FLIP overexpression suppressed NF-κB activation induced by LPS, but not by phorbol ester, suggesting a specific role for FLIP in mediating LPS activation. Conversely, mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) obtained from FLIP −/− mice showed enhanced LPS-induced NF-κB activation relative to those obtained from wild-type mice. Reconstitution of FLIP−/− MEF with full-length FLIP reversed the enhanced NF-κB activity elicited by LPS in the FLIP −/− cells. Changes in the expression of FLIP had no demonstrable effect on other known LPS/Tlr-4-activated signaling pathways including the p38, Akt, and Jnk pathways. Together, these data support a dual role for FLIP in mediating LPS-induced apoptosis and NF-κB activation.
Computational comparisons of homogeneous and statistical descriptions of AerMet100 steel subjected to high strain rate loading

In order to simulate the effect of material microstructure a statistically compensated Johnson-Cook (JC) fracture model has been implemented into the Eulerian shock physics code, CTH. This model uses a Weibull function to produce a distribution of initial failure strains within the JC fracture model. A parametric analysis where the Weibull modulus was systematically varied was conducted on two sets of experimental fragmentation data. The first experiment consisted of an explosively loaded cylinder of AerMet100. The second was an expanding tube experiment which used a plastic cylinder to load the AerMet100 and provided a problem at a lower strain rate. In both sets of experiments, the fragments were soft captured for later examination. While CTH does not explicitly track fragments, a post processor written at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division was used to calculate the mass of each of the fragments in the expanding debris cloud. The results were analyzed and compared back to baseline homogeneous calculations. The use of a statistically compensated JC fracture model substantially improved the fragment mass distribution for the explosively loaded cylinder. However, the lower strain rate expanding tube showed only minimal improvement. A probable reason for this limitation and future analysis are discussed.
Factors associated with HIV/AIDS high-risk behaviours among female injection drug users

This study examined factors associated with reporting engaging in HIV/AIDS high-risk behaviours at two different time points spaced one year apart for a sample of 185 women who were active injection drug users (IDUs). The high-risk behaviours included injecting drugs in the past six months, having shared needles in the past six months and having engaged in unprotected sexual activity in the past thirty days. Through logistic regression modelling it was identified that living with a spouse at year one was significantly and positively associated with high-risk behaviours at both time points. Being prescribed medications for psychological or emotional problems as well as testing positive for the HIV/AIDS virus were significantly and negatively associated with reporting high-risk behaviours at both time points. These results suggest that spousal relationships may play an important role in HIV/AIDS high-risk behaviours of women drug users. An implication of this study is the need to focus on how spousal relationships and issues such as gender and empowerment should be incorporated into the design and implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs. The benefits of comprehensive mental health diagnosis and treatment services as well as HIV testing in reducing harm to female IDUs and their partners are also discussed.
Alterations in muscle contractile properties and fiber composition ofter weight-lifting exercise in cats

Abstract To determine if weight-lifting exercise alters the contractile properties of muscle, eight cats were trained to lift weights with their right forelimb to receive a food reward. After 10 to 61 weeks of training and lifting (0.45 to 1.52 kg), the palmaris longus (PLM) and flexor carpi radialis (FCR) muscles were prepared for physiological examination for 6 trained and 16 control cats. This report demonstrated that exercise-induced hypertrophy resulted in a significant increase in the isometric twitch (35% FCR, 32% PLM) and tetanic (23% FCR, 41% PLM) tensions for both exercised muscles. In addition, there was a significant increase of the time to peak tension (22% FCR, 34% PLM) and half-relaxation time (45% FCR, 78% PLM) of an isometric twitch and a slowing of the rate of tension development (39% FCR, 32% PLM) of the exercised muscles. Even though the overall effect of weight-lifting exercise was to slow the contractile properties of the muscles for most cats, the histochemical profiles of the trained muscles showed a significant increase in fast-twitch glycolytic fibers (from 45 to 58%) and a decrease in the proportion of fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic fibers (from 29 to 20%) for the PLM. No significant change was observed in the proportion of slow-twitch oxidative fibers in this muscle or in the fiber proportions of the FCR. It appears that light to moderate weight-lifting exercise alters the contractile properties of the muscle independent of the muscle fiber populations demonstrated by histochemistry.
A Note on fluxes and superpotentials in M theory compactifications on manifolds of G(2) holonomy

We consider the breaking of = 1 supersymmetry by non-zero G-flux when -theory is compactified on a smooth manifold X of G2 holonomy. Gukov has proposed a superpotential W to describe this breaking in the low-energy effective theory. We check this proposal by comparing the bosonic potential implied by W with the corresponding potential deduced from the eleven-dimensional supergravity action. One interesting aspect of this check is that, though W depends explicitly only on G-flux supported on X, W also describes the breaking of supersymmetry by G-flux transverse to X.
Abnormal Fragilaria spp. (Bacillariophyceae) in Streams Impacted by Mine Drainage

ABSTRACT Periphytic diatom samples from a metal-contaminated Rocky Mountain river in Colorado, U.S.A. were analyzed on two occasions for the presence of morphological abnormalites. Samples were collected from natural (rocks) and artificial (tiles) substrates at 12 sites displaying a range of metal concentrations. Members of the genus Fragilaria sensu Krammer and Lange-Bertalot (including Synedra and Hannaea), which was abundant at all of the sampling sites, exhibited the highest incidence of abnormalities. There were no significant differences in percentage of deformed cells between natural and artificial substrates. Percentage of diatom abnormalities at each site ranged from 0.2 ± 0.2% to 12.0 ± 2.0% of the total population, and normal Fragilaria valves were always observed along with abnormal valves for each taxa. Percentage of abnormal valves at a site was transformed (are sine square root) and regressed against dissolved cadmium, copper, iron, and zinc. For 1991, the best regression model fit (based o...
Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics and Inverse Scattering

On utilise le lien entre la mecanique quantique supersymetrique et le probleme de diffusion inverse pour construire des potentiels symetriques sans reflexion avec un nombre arbitraire de niveaux d'etat lie
Direct determination of pyrite content in argonne premium coals by the use of sulfur x-ray near edge absorption spectroscopy (S-XANES)

Argonne premium coal samples are used by researchers worldwide as standards in coal research. The set consists of a suite of eight samples of varying rank from the United States. The sulfur X-ray n...
Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of ancient buried wood—I. Observations on the origin of coal to the brown coal stage

Various wood fragments buried in sediments under anaerobic conditions for from 450 yr to approximately 8 Myr have been examined by solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. Cellulose and other carbohydrates, the major components of Holocene wood, have been shown to be gradually hydrolyzed or otherwise lost under the conditions of burial. Lignin structures, however, are preserved relatively unchanged and become concentrated by difference as the carbohydrates disappear. Thus, a fragment of coalified wood isolated from a Miocene brown coal was found to be still composed of approximately 75% lignin and 25% cellulose. On the basis of our observations, we suggest that coalification of woody tissue progresses directly from lignin to coal and that such coalification may be retarded until most of the cellulose disappears.
Effects of alkalinity on endwise depolymerization of hydrocellulose

The role of hydroxyl ion concentration in the endwise depolymerization of hydrocellulose has been investigated in sodium hydroxide solution (0.05–18.6N) at 120°C, by determining the amount of degradation and the changes of carboxyl content and degree of polymerization in the solid phase. The extent of degradation increases with the base concentration up to about 6N and then sharply decreases thereafter. These data are discussed in terms of altering the accessibility and the relative rates of peeling and stopping reactions in varying concentrations of alkali.
The legal status of gold

The classical gold standard of old as it existed in the principal countries until 1914-in this country until 1933-was based on fundamental legal rules: gold could be freely produced, imported, coined in the mints, melted and exported; the gold coins were unlimited legal tender and paper money, if legal tender, had to be redeemable in gold coins. Hence, gold was the object of extensive legislation concerned primarily with legal powers of the individual. That legislation was municipal throughout. True, the classical gold standard had developed into an international institution and into one of outstanding significance, but its international status was achieved merely by voluntary co-operation under the leadership of the Bank of England. In our day the classical gold standard no longer exists. Gold is still the determinant in the principal monetary systems, but only through the financial operations of the monetary authorities (governments, central banks) which try to establish a lasting ratio between the value of their national monetary unit and the value of gold. The law may and ordinarily does prescribe the ratio which ought to be maintained by the authorities,' but basically this "gold standard by management" is no longer an institution of municipal law to the extent that the classical gold standard was. On the other hand, the "gold standard by management" has assumed a status in international law. We refer to the International Monetary Fund Agreement of 1943, in force since 1946, and especially to its "par-value" regulation.2 According to this regulation, a par value is obligatory for all monetary units of the member states and "shall be expressed in terms of gold as a common denominator, or in terms of the United States' dollar of the weight and fineness in effect on July 1, 1944." That weight, according to the Gold Reserve Act,3 is 15Y'1 grains of gold Y4o fine (corresponding to $35 for the ounce).4 The language of
Paper chromatography of cholesterol esters

Abstract A silicic acid paper chromatographic method for the separation of four major classes of cholesterol esters, namely saturated cholesterol esters, cholesterol oleate, cholesterol linoleate and cholesterol linolenate plus cholesterol arachidonate is described. This method uses a benzene-hexane solvent. The use of combined column and paper chromatography as well as gas chromatographic analysis is presented for definitive identification of the various spots. The predominance of cholesterol linoleate in human plasma, and cholesterol arachidonate in rat plasma is confirmed.
Differences in locomotor activity across the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster

The identification of differential patterns of change across the lifespan in quantitative traits is of abiding interest in the biological and gerontological research communities. These differential phenotypic patterns in complex systems illuminate developmental processes and form the foundation for the identification of putative biomarkers of aging. The goal of the present study was to explore changes in locomotor activity through the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster. A replicated serial cross-sectional sampling design was used to test activity in five genetically independent inbred strains at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of age. Differences were observed in activity level across ages and strains, suggesting that patterns of activity throughout the lifespan of D. melanogaster are influenced by genetic factors. Observed sex differences in change in activity level indicate that the aging processes may proceed differently in males and females.
Nonlinear viscoelastic biomaterials: Meaningful characterization and engineering inspiration

Nonlinear mechanical properties play an important role in numerous biological functions, for instance the locomotion strategy used by terrestrial gastropods. We discuss the progress made toward bioinspired snail-like locomotion and the pursuit of an engineered fluid that imitates the nonlinear viscoelastic properties of native gastropod pedal mucus. The rheological behavior of native pedal mucus is characterized using an oscillatory deformation protocol known as large amplitude oscillatory shear, and we review recently developed techniques for appropriately describing nonlinear viscoelastic behavior. Although materials that exhibit purely elastic and purely viscous nonlinearities are amenable to standard techniques for characterization, pedal mucus samples (and biomaterials in general) are viscoelastic, exhibiting both elastic and viscous nonlinear responses simultaneously and requiring advanced techniques for characterization. We reveal the utility of these new methods by examining trail mucus from the terrestrial slug Limax maximus using oscillatory shear rheology. Material responses which previously could only be described mathematically, with little physical insight, can now be interpreted with familiar language such as strain-stiffening/softening and shear-thickening/thinning. The new methodology is applicable to any complex material that can be tested using imposed oscillatory deformations. We have developed data-analysis software to enable wider use of this framework within and beyond the biomaterials community. The functionality of this software is outlined here.
III-nitride nanowire array solar cells

III-nitride solar cells comprised of large-area arrays of GaN-InGaN core-shell nanowires electrically connected by a p-InGaN canopy are demonstrated. This proof-of-concept hybrid film-nanowire device enables various advantages including elastic strain relief within the InGaN shell.
Influence of Ammonium Sulfate and Rotation Crops on Strawberry Black Root Rot

Elmer, W. H., and LaMondia, J. A. 1999. Influence of ammonium sulfate and rotation crops on strawberry black root rot. Plant Dis. 83:119-123. The combined effects of rotation crops and nitrogen fertilizers were examined on the strawberry black root rot disease complex. In July 1995, microplots were f illed with soil that had a history of strawberry black root rot and seeded with two types of oats (A vena strigosa ‘Saia oats’ or A. sativa ‘Garry oats’) or with sorgho-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor ◊ S. sudanense ‘Triple S’). Microplots planted with 1-year-old ‘Honeoye’ strawberry crowns served as the controls. In May 1996, the crops were chopped and incorporated into the so il. The soil was re-planted with 1year-old strawberry ‘Honeoye’ crowns and then fertilized with (NH 4)2SO4 or Ca(NO3)2 at equivalent rates of N. Two months later, (NH 4)2SO4-treated plants had 36% more leaf area and 41% more runners than strawberries treated with Ca(NO3)2. Strawberries that had been precropped with ‘Saia’ oats had 135% more runners and 38% more early fruit yield than strawberries grown in control microplots. Total fruit yield was not affected by the treatments. Compared to Ca(NO3)2, the (NH4)2SO4 treatment reduced the percentage of blackened roots. The influence of the cover crops on growth and disease was stronger with (NH 4)2SO4 fertilization than with Ca(NO3)2 fertilization. Combining ‘Saia’ oats or sor gho-sudangrass rotation with (NH4)2SO4 fertilization reduced lesion nematode ( Pratylenchus penetrans) numbers in subsequent strawberry roots when compared to controls. Also, the combination of ‘Saia’ or ‘Garry’ oats as a precrop with applications of (NH 4)2SO4 reduced black root rot severity when compared to controls. Only the ‘Garry’ oat rotation reduced strawberry root colonization by Rhizoctonia fragariae when compared to controls. Other effects were associated with using (NH 4)2SO4. The (NH4)2SO4 treatment lowered the rhizosphere soil pH by 0.2 units, reduced the numbers of fluorescent pseudomonads in the rhizosphere by 10- to 15-fold, and produced leaves that had more N, K, S, Mn, and Zn content than plants treated with Ca(NO 3)2. Rotation with ‘Saia’ oats combined with (NH4)2SO4 fertilization may suppress strawberry black root rot and increase yields through multiple effects on the host, pat hogens, and associated microflora.
Effects of chronic ibogaine treatment on cerebellar Purkinje cells in the rat.

The present investigation assessed the chronic toxicity of ibogaine on cerebellar Purkinje cells in male Fischer 344 rats. A behaviorally active dose of ibogaine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered to a group of six subjects every other day for 60 days while the control group received an equivalent volume of saline (1 ml/kg). Estimates of Purkinje cell number were determined using the optical dissector/fractionator technique. No significant differences in Purkinje cell number were observed between the ibogaine (243764[+/-32766]) and control groups (230813[+/-16670]).
Transition from centralized to decentralized version control systems: a case study on reasons, barriers, and outcomes

In recent years, software development has started to transition from centralized version control systems (CVCSs) to decentralized version control systems (DVCSs). Although CVCSs and DVCSs have been studied extensively, there has been little research on the transition across these systems. This paper investigates the transition process, from the developer’s view, in a large company. The paper captures the transition reasons, barriers, and outcomes through 10 developer interviews, and investigates these findings through a survey, participated by 70 developers. The paper identifies that the majority of the developers need to work incrementally and offline, and manage multiple contexts efficiently. DVCSs fulfill these developer needs; however the transition comes with a cost depending on the previous development workflow. The paper discusses the transition reasons, barriers and outcomes, and provides recommendations for teams planning such a transition. The paper shows that lightweight branches, and local and incremental commits were the main reasons for developers wanting to move to a DVCS. Further, the paper identifies the main problems with the transition process as: steep DVCS learning curve; incomplete DVCS integration with the rest of the development workflow; and DVCS scaling issues.
Fiber laser using a microsphere resonator as a feedback element.

We show that a glass microsphere resonator can be used as a wavelength-selective mirror in fiber lasers. Due to their high quality factor (Q∼108), microsphere resonators possess a narrow reflection bandwidth. This feature enables construction of single-frequency fiber lasers even when the laser cavity is long. Nonlinear effects (such as stimulated Raman lasing) were also observed in our setup at relatively low pump powers.
Mechanical haemolysis related to the use of tandem dialyzers.

Haemolysis is a well-recognized, rare complication of haemodialysis. The most common reasons for haemodialysis-associated haemolysis are chemical contamination, heat or mechanical injury of erythrocytes from occluded or partially occluded (kinked) haemodialysis lines [1–7]. Tandem dialyzers are occasionally used to improve dialysis dose, especially in patients with high muscle mass [8]. The two dialyzers are aligned in series and connected to each other by a simple blood line. Our patient had a partial occlusion (kink) at this blood line, which resulted in severe haemolysis. Since the changes in venous and arterial pressures were different from those noted with partial occlusion of the venous and arterial lines in standard haemodialysis, the problem was not immediately recognized. This case report describes a serious complication of tandem dialyzers that has not been previously reported.
Disturbance and diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi: effects of canopy gaps and downed woody debris

Experimental canopy gap formation and additions of coarse woody debris (CWD) are techniques intended to mimic the disturbance regime and accelerate the development of northern hardwood forests. The effects of these techniques on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning were investigated by surveying the abundance and diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi in six treatments: (i) unharvested control, (ii) control ? fenced to exclude deer, (iii) gap creation ? fenced to exclude deer, (iv) gap creation, (v) gap cre- ation ? CWD addition, and (vi) CWD addition under closed-canopy. A total of 1,885 fungal occurrences (polyporoid and corticoid fruiting bodies) representing 130 species were recorded on 11 tree species, with eight fungal species accounting for 52 % of all observations. A linear mixed model demonstrated significant differences in the abundance and diversity of wood-inhabiting fungi by treatment, with the gap creation ? CWD addition treatment supporting the highest abundance and richness of fungal species. Non-
A Structure Theorem for \(\displaystyle\mathbb{P}^{{1}}\) — Spec k-bimodules

Let k be an algebraically closed field. Using the Eilenberg–Watts theorem over schemes (Nyman, J Pure Appl Algebra 214:1922–1954, 2010), we determine the structure of k-linear right exact direct limit and coherence preserving functors from the category of quasi-coherent sheaves on $\mathbb{P}^{1}_{k}$ to the category of vector spaces over k. As a consequence, we characterize those functors which are integral transforms.
Geochemical ecosystem engineering by the mud shrimp Upogebia pugettensis (Crustacea: Thalassinidae) in Yaquina Bay, Oregon: Density-dependent effects on organic matter remineralization and nutrient cycling

We investigated the effect of the thalassinid mud shrimp Upogebia pugettensis on organic matter and nutrient cycling on Idaho Flat, an intertidal flat in the Yaquina River estuary, Oregon. Field studies were conducted to measure carbon and nitrogen remineralization rates and benthic fluxes relative to shrimp population density. Organic carbon remineralization rates estimated from incubations increased with burrow density. Similarly, benthic oxygen uptake increased linearly with burrow density. Shrimp bioirrigation enhanced carbon remineralization up to 2.9 times; its effects on nitrogen cycling were even more dramatic, enhancing ammonification rates up to 7 times, nitrification rates between 3 and 9 times, and estimated denitrification up to 4 times relative to portions of the tide flat lacking shrimp. Bioirrigation by shrimp also reduced pore-water inventories of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), resulting in DIN fluxes that increased exponentially with burrow density up to 15-fold relative to No-shrimp plots. For both C and N fluxes, the strongest density-dependent relationships occurred with burrow hole density rather than shrimp population density or biomass. Combined with population mapping of mud shrimp populations on Idaho Flat, we estimate that total areal C and DIN effluxes on the tide flat were enhanced 1.9 and 3.7 times, respectively, relative to areal fluxes expected if no shrimp were present. Mud shrimp thus perform as geochemical ecosystem engineers that strongly affect the flux and fate of C and N in Pacific estuaries.
Plasmid-determined resistance to chromate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Resistance to chromate in five independent Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates was transferred by conjugation to P. aeruginosa strain PU21. All chromate-resistant transconjugants contained large plasmids that also conferred resistance to inorganic mercury. One of these plasmids, pUM505, increased the resistance to CrO42− and decreased the accumulation of intracellular 51CrO42− by the host cells as compared to the plasmidless strain PU21.
family and friend in a Moroccan boom town: the segmentary debate reconsidered

A debate has flourished in anthropology as to whether segmentation should be viewed as ideology or action, as underlying cultural construct or manifest social behavior. In Morocco, the discussion has centered on whether segmentary or dyadic models inform sociocultural life. I argue that segmentation and dyadism are organizational alternatives. Each receives articulation in cultural perspective as well as in on-the-ground behavior, but the two are very differently weighted in these domains. In the present, the dyadic idiom is most extensively elaborated on the ground, while segmentation is more fully realized in thought and value. The organizational consequences of the differential sociocultural weightings are examined in the commercial system of a southern Moroccan boom town. Segmentation's cultural underpinnings are shown to distance patrilineal ties from the flow of daily life, a characteristic that endows them with increased durability, an important asset in the current commercial environment. [Morocco, anthropological theory, patrilineality, segmentation, interpretation, commercial organization, change]
Adaptation, Survival, and Growth of the Family Business: An Integrated Systems Perspective:

Family ownership and control are still significant in the majority of business enterprises in the United States. A high percentage of these companies face special problems particularly related to corporate development and transition from an entrepreneurial to a professional management structure. In this paper, we describe a set of processes and mechanisms that define and regulate the interaction between the business and family system.
EYE-TRACKING MEASURES OF ATTENTIONAL BIAS IN COCAINE DEPENDENT SUBJECTS

v LIST OF FIGURES viii LIST OF TABLES ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 A) Clinical challenge: Cocaine Dependence B) Neural circuitry of cocaine addiction C) Attentional bias and relapse in substance dependence D) Attentional bias: Current measures and limitations E) Eye movements: Saccades F) Circuitry of saccadic eye-movements G) Clinical utility of saccadic eye-movements H) Neuroanatomical overlap between saccadic function & cocaine impairment I) Hypotheses and specific aims CHAPTER 2: ANTI-SACCADE ERROR RATES AS PREDICTORS OF RELAPSE IN COCAINE-DEPENDENT SUBJECTS 30
Mathematical analysis of the micromachining of 316L stainless steel

The interactions between 316L stainless steel and a multi-point cutting tool create significant opportunities to understand how dry milling of hardened materials affects micromachining conditions. The present work not only compares various computational approaches to the solution of shear plane and tool face temperatures during semi-dry machining, but also discusses how the accompanying machining attributes react to large changes in the coefficient of friction caused by changes in the type of coated cutting tool used for micromachining. The paper accounts for the changes in material properties during semi-dry machining as a function of changes in temperature and also shows how stresses and strains are affected by significant changes in the magnitude of the coefficient of friction.
S‐nitrosylation of caspase‐3 is the mechanism by which adhesion fibroblasts manifest lower apoptosis

We have previously found that adhesion fibroblasts exhibit lower apoptosis and higher protein nitration as compared with normal peritoneal fibroblasts. In this study, we sought to determine whether the decreased apoptosis observed in adhesion fibroblasts is caused by lower caspase-3 activity due to an increase in caspase-3 S-nitrosylation. For this study, we have utilized primary cultures of fibroblasts obtained from normal peritoneum and adhesion tissues of the same patient(s). Cells were treated with increasing concentrations of peroxynitrite and cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-caspase-3 polyclonal antibody. The biotinylated proteins were detected using a nitrosylation detection kit. Caspase-3 activity and apoptosis were measured by colorimetric and TUNEL assays, respectively. Our results showed that caspase-3 S-nitrosylation is significantly higher in adhesion fibroblasts as compared with normal peritoneal fibroblasts. This increase in S-nitrosylation resulted in a 30% decrease in caspase-3 activity in adhesion fibroblasts. Peroxynitrite treatment resulted in a dose response increase in caspase-3 S-nitrosylation, leading to a decrease in caspase-3 activity and apoptosis in normal peritoneal fibroblasts. We conclude that S-nitrosylation of caspase-3 is the reason for its decreased activity and subsequent decrease in apoptosis of adhesion fibroblasts. The mechanism by which caspase-3 S-nitrosylation occurs is not fully understood. However, the role of hypoxia in the formation of peroxynitrite via superoxide production may suggest a possible mechanism.
Flexible Multi-Stream Framework for Speech Recognition using Multi-Tape Finite-State Transducers

We present an approach to general multi-stream recognition utilizing multi-tape finite-state transducers (FSTs). The approach is novel in that each of the multiple "streams'" of features can represent either a sequence (e.g., fixed- or variable-rate frames) or a directed acyclic graph (e.g., containing hypothesized phonetic segmentations). Each transition of the multi-tape FST specifies the models to be applied to each stream and the degree of feature stream asynchrony to be allowed. We show how this framework can easily represent the 2-stream variable-rate landmark and segment modeling utilised by our baseline SUMMIT speech recognizer. We present experiments merging standard hidden Markov models (HMMs) with landmark models on the Wall Street Journal speech recognition task, and find that some degree of asynchrony can be critical when combining different types of models. We also present experiments performing audio-visual speech recognition on the AV-TIMIT task
Requirements Reuse: The State of the Practice

For several decades, software reuse has been a recognized solution to improving efficiency of software development. However, implementing reuse in practice remains challenging, and the IT community has little visibility into the state of the practice specifically as it pertains to reusing software requirements. This paper presents the results of a survey conducted in the global IT industry in 2010 and discusses the state of the practice for software requirements reuse. The survey studies reuse adoption in two different contexts, i.e., Software Product Lines and Software Maintenance. The analysis of the survey data focuses on the latter context as a more common case in practice and investigates the impact of various factors on reuse adoption and effectiveness.
Straddling the Divides: Remaking Associational Life in the Informal African City

Actors in fluid African urban environments endeavor to construct effective means to generate collaborative social action, enforce collective responsibility, and deploy effective and legitimate instruments of power. This effort configures an uneasy tension between the adoption of normative discourses of urban management and governance, and the proliferation of more provisional and informal modalities of association. The article treats informalization as a dynamic process related to new challenges faced by urban citizens in their attempts to access opportunities and, at the same time, maintain social coherence. It explores a broad range of tactics and institutions being used to access livelihood opportunities that more often are now external to the quarter, while maintaining some functional sense of local solidarity. Les acteurs intervenant dans l'incertitude des contextes urbains africains s'efforcent d'elaborer des moyens efficaces pour generer des collaborations d'action sociale, faire valoir une responsabilite collective, et deployer des instruments de pouvoir performants et legitimes. Cette entreprise cree un malaise entre les discours normatifs adoptes par l'autorite et l'encadrement urbains, et la proliferation de modalites d'association provisoires et informelles. L'article traite de ‘l'informalisation’ en tant que processus dynamique dans le cadre des nouveaux defis que les citoyens urbains rencontrent dans leurs tentatives d'acceder a des opportunites tout en preservant la coherence sociale. Il explore un large eventail de tactiques et institutions utilisees pour obtenir des possibilites de subsistance – desormais plus souvent exterieures au quartier – et proteger parallelement un certain sens fonctionnel de solidarite locale.
Adaptive control of sensor networks for detection of percolating faults

A complex network of interdependent components is susceptible to percolating faults. Sensor networks deployed for real-time detection and monitoring of such systems require adaptive re-distribution of resources for an energy-aware operation. This paper presents a statistical mechanical approach to adaptive self-organization of a sensor network for detection and monitoring of percolating faults. A complex dynamical system of interdependent components (e.g. computer and social network) is represented as an Ising-like model where component states are modeled as spins, and interactions as ferromagnetic couplings. Using a recursive prediction and correction methodology the sensor network is shown to adaptively self-organize to the dynamic environment and real-time detection and monitoring is enabled. The algorithm is validated on a test-bed simulating the operation of a sensor network for detection of percolating faults (e.g. computer viruses, infectious disease, chemical weapons, and pollution) in an interacting multi-component complex system.
Perioperative management of ventriculoperitoneal shunts during abdominal surgery

Abstract Background Patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPSs) inserted for a variety of disorders may subsequently undergo gastrointestinal or urologic operations, and surgeons must determine the appropriate perioperative management to minimize the risk for shunt malfunction or infection. There is currently no established set of guidelines for this scenario. The objective of this study was to determine the risks and standard of practice for patients with VPSs undergoing abdominal surgery. Methods A retrospective review of the charts of patients with VPSs who underwent abdominal or urologic surgery at the Stanford University Medical Center between 1995 and 2003 was performed. Data regarding type of abdominal surgery, level of contamination, choice of antibiotic therapy, perioperative management of the VPS, and outcomes were obtained. Results Twenty-six patient charts were reviewed, for a total of 39 operations (5 urologic, 23 upper gastrointestinal, and 11 lower gastrointestinal). Of these, 3 were clean, 34 were clean-contaminated, and 2 were dirty operations. Seven cases were laparoscopic, whereas 32 were open. Thirty-four cases required opening the bowel or urologic system. No patient had preoperative shunt externalization. All except one patient received pre- and postoperative antibiotics, but the duration and type of antibiotics were widely variable. The remaining patient had an inguinal hernia repair and received only one preoperative dose of cephalexin. Purulent fluid was found in 2 cases. One VPS found lying in purulent material next to an anastomotic leak was externalized and subsequently revised. However, in another patient, a VPS found lying next to a purulent jejunal tear was not externalized. This patient returned 2 months later with a VPS malfunction. In the remaining 35 cases, no VPS infection or malfunction was noted over 2 to 10 years of follow-up. Conclusions The data suggest that there is minimal risk for VPS malfunction or infection among patients undergoing routine clean and clean-contaminated abdominal and urologic surgeries. Patients with VPSs undergoing these operations do not need externalization of their shunt. None of the patients in this study had a contaminated procedure. For dirty procedures, surgeons should opt to externalize the shunt. Future studies will aim to better standardize the perioperative management of VPSs during abdominal surgery.
An analytical placer for mixed-size 3D placement

Existing 3D placement techniques are mainly used for standard-cell circuits, while mixed-size placement is needed to support high-level functional units and intellectual property (IP) blocks. In this paper we present an analytical 3D placement method that is capable of placing mixed-size circuits. A multiple-stepsize scheme for the analytical solver is proposed to handle standard cells and macros differently for stability and efficiency. To relieve the difficulty of legalization, 3D floorplan-based initial solutions are used to guide the analytical solver. As far as we know, this is the first work that reports 3D placement results for mixed-size circuits. Our experiments show that the multiple-stepsize scheme is better than single-stepsize schemes in both quality and runtime. The experimental results on the ICCAD'04 mixed-size benchmarks show that the 4-tier 3D mixed-size placement can reduce the wirelength by 27% on average compared to 2D placement. The results also show that the 3D mixed-size placement achieves 5.3% shorter wirelength on average than the pseudo 3D placement with similar amount of through-silicon vias (TS vias).
Acute symptomatic sinus bradycardia in a woman treated with pulse dose steroids for multiple sclerosis: a case report.

Sinus bradycardia has been reported after administration of pulse dose steroids, although most cases have occurred in children and are asymptomatic. We report a case of acute symptomatic sinus bradycardia due to pulse dose steroids in a woman with multiple sclerosis. Interestingly, this patient also suffered from inappropriate sinus tachycardia due to autonomic involvement of multiple sclerosis. A 48-year-old Caucasian woman with multiple sclerosis and chronic palpitations due to inappropriate sinus tachycardia was prescribed a 5-day course of intravenous methylprednisolone for treatment of an acute flare. Immediately following the fourth dose of intravenous methylprednisolone, she developed dyspnea, chest heaviness, and lightheadedness. She was referred to the emergency department where an electrocardiogram showed marked sinus bradycardia (40 beats per minute). Initial laboratory test results, including a complete blood count, basic metabolic profile and cardiac biomarkers, were normal. She was admitted for observation on telemetry monitoring. Her heart rate gradually increased and her symptoms resolved. Her outpatient dose of atenolol, taken for symptomatic inappropriate sinus tachycardia, was resumed. Our patient’s acute symptoms were attributed to symptomatic sinus bradycardia due to pulse dose steroid treatment. Although several theories have been suggested to explain this phenomenon, the exact mechanism still remains unknown. It does not warrant any specific treatment, as it is a self-limiting side effect that resolves after discontinuing steroid infusion. Young patients who are free of any active cardiac conditions can safely be administered pulse dose steroids without monitoring. However, older patients with active cardiac conditions should have heart rate and blood pressure monitoring during infusion. Our patient also suffered from inappropriate sinus tachycardia, a manifestation of autonomic involvement of multiple sclerosis that has not been previously described. This case has implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of dysautonomia in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Optimization of multiple-stage optical interconnection networks

An analysis of the cost and complexity of multiple-stage optical interconnection networks is presented. Because of the high cost of photonic switching elements from which these networks are composed, the radix (degree of the switching nodes) of a simple banyan network is important in determining total network cost. For most switching node cost models, it is shown that 3 /spl times/ 3 switching nodes can actually be more efficient than 2 /spl times/ 2 ones.
Occupational socialization and psychological development: An underemphasized research perspective in industrial psychology

This article argues for consideration of occupational socialization as a research focus in industrial psychology: the changes that come about in a person through his or her participation in work. Research on occupational socialization takes a developmental perspective, and is a part of life-span developmental psychology. Specifically, the framework of occupational socialization calls attention to these research questions: The effects of work on a worker's actions outside ofthe workplace (e.g. the influence of the nature of work on the development of an active or passive approach to life generally); the effects of work on cognition; the effects on emotions; the effects ofthe work situation on the values of an employee who has just taken on a new role, etc. The perspective of occupational socialization is tied to the methodology of longitudinal research.
Spherical harmonic representation of the gravitational potential of discrete spherical mass elements

SUMMARY We present expressions in a spherical harmonic framework for the gravitational potential of discrete point, surface, and volume mass elements located at any depth within a sphere. Through analysis of the spherical harmonic spectrum, insight is gained into the properties of the potentials arising from a variety of mass distributions. A point mass at the surface of a sphere displays the richest harmonic spectrum in all degrees; spectra become increasingly reddened as the source mass is distributed through larger elements of area or volume, or is located at greater depths below the surface of the reference sphere. The spectra of dipolar distributions, useful in representing compensated masses, are depressed, especially in the low harmonic degrees, relative to the spectra of monopole elements.
Implementation of a 16 Phase Digital Modulator in a 0.35 /spl mu/m Process

In this paper we present a custom IC design and experimental results for a hardware efficient 16 phase digital modulator implemented in a 0.35 mum process. The hardware efficient realization is achieved by time sharing the high resolution portion of the modulator hardware and a simple solution to track phase rotation. The modulator is designed for a duty cycle update rate at 16 times the single phase switching frequency to enable wide bandwidth multiphase converter operation. Two versions of the time shared high resolution portion of the IC are realized, including counter based and self tuning delay line based designs. Design details and experimental results are given to evaluate the two options and demonstrate performance of the IC
Using the Balanced Scorecard: Both Common And Unique Measures Are Informative

The balanced scorecard (BSC), developed by Kaplan and Norton (1992), allows an organization to translate its strategy and objectives into a series of performance measures. A recent study by Lipe and Salterio (2000) found that subjects use common scorecard measures in performance evaluation but disregard unique measures. This study finds that both common and unique scorecard measures are used in performance evaluation.
Understanding heterogeneity in pregnancy-associated breast cancer

Breast cancers diagnosed during pregnancy are generally in their advanced stages. These cancers occurring during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum are termed as pregnancy associated breast cancer. Recent genomic studies by Harvell et. al. was the first large scale study that attempted to identify molecular signatures associated with pregnancy associated breast cancer. In this study, we have rigorously analyzed the data with a view to identify features involved in within-class and between-class separation. The results reveal features that are unique between classes, as well as point to the importance of understanding heterogeneity within the same class.