cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Socioemotional transformations in the family system following infant crawling onset.

Important relational changes in the family system during the second half of the first year of life are brought about when children begin to walk.
Loss of oil in hulling tung fruit in the field and at the mill

Methods for analyzing commercial tung hulls for oil have been developed. Samples of tung hulls from mill and field hulling operations have been collected and analyzed. The loss of oil when the fruit are hulled was found to vary from 0.6% to 7.3% with an average loss of 2.7% based on the total amount of oil in the fruit. The difference in the loss of oil between grove and mill hulling was not significant. With a loss of 2.7% of the oil in hulling, a recovery of 87.9% oil on the hulled nuts would be equivalent to a recovery of 85.5% oil on the whole fruit.
Regeneration dynamics in remnant Tsuga canadensis stands in the northern Lake States: potential direct and indirect effects of herbivory.

Abstract We examined the effects of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) herbivory and microsite limitation on Tsuga canadensis regeneration in 39 randomly selected remnant T. canadensis stands in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Deer of the region migrate to and congregate in T. canadensis stands in winter resulting in strong seasonal habitat use patterns. In each study stand, we quantified vegetation, microsite availability, and deer use (via pellet counts). While some stands contained high densities of T. canadensis regeneration (stems
Behavior and microhabitat selection of the tortoiseshell limpet Testudinalia testudinalis in the northwest Atlantic intertidal zone

Testudinalia testudinalis, the only species of intertidal limpet in the northwest Atlantic, feeds on the encrusting coralline alga Clathromorphum circumscriptum. We explored the behavior and habitat preference of this limpet in the intertidal zone of southern Maine and in laboratory experiments. We found T. testudinalis to be almost exclusively nocturnal, moving approximately 30-fold more during the night. This limpet did not home or display a consistent preference for any substrate as a resting site or preferred non-feeding habitat. However, they did show a significant preference for horizontal surfaces during feeding at night and vertical surfaces during the day. This behavior was observed at three intertidal sites along the Maine coast and in laboratory experiments, indicating a preference for a vertical resting site where heat stress, desiccation or predation may be less likely.
Early Influences on the Development of Food Preferences

The ability to perceive flavors begins in utero with the development and early functioning of the gustatory and olfactory systems. Because both amniotic fluid and breast milk contain molecules derived from the mother's diet, learning about flavors in foods begins in the womb and during early infancy. This early experience serves as the foundation for the continuing development of food preferences across the lifespan, and is shaped by the interplay of biological, social, and environmental factors. Shortly after birth, young infants show characteristic taste preferences: sweet and umami elicit positive responses; bitter and sour elicit negative responses. These taste preferences may reflect a biological drive towards foods that are calorie- and protein-dense and an aversion to foods that are poisonous or toxic. Early likes and dislikes are influenced by these innate preferences, but are also modifiable. Repeated exposure to novel or disliked foods that occurs in a positive, supportive environment may promote the acceptance of and eventually a preference for those foods. Alternatively, children who are pressured to eat certain foods may show decreased preference for those foods later on. With increasing age, the influence of a number of factors, such as peers and food availability, continue to mold food preferences and eating behaviors.
Representational Roles of Nonprofit Advocacy Organizations in the United States

This research explores what roles nonprofits play in political representation by applying the concept of the representational role to nonprofits. The representational role consists of representational focus and style. Representational focus shows those whom nonprofits aim to serve: members, constituents, or the general public. Representational style denotes the ways nonprofits advocate for their focal groups: the delegation, trusteeship, and education styles. The survey and regression analysis results demonstrate that nonprofits serving their members are most likely to convey their members’ voices directly to policy makers: the delegation style. In contrast, nonprofits advocating for their constituents are likely to pursue what they independently identify as their constituents’ interests: the trusteeship style. Finally, nonprofits speaking for the general public are most likely to work toward educating the general public: the education style. These results suggest that nonprofits play different roles in political representation, depending on the types of their focal groups.
TYPE I AND TYPE II SENSITIZERS BASED ON ROSE BENGAL ONIUM SALTS

— New Rose Bengal oniurn salts containing one or two iodonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, and pyrylium ions have been prepared as part of a program to develop sensitizers which can function as Type I radical photoinitiators and Type II energy transfer donors depending on experimental conditions. The absorption spectra of the onium salts in different solvents indicate an equilibrium between tight and loose ion pairs which depends on the solvent polarity, the cation and concentration. Typical Rose Bengal photochemistry requires the structure be that of the loose ion pair in the solvent of choice. Similar factors also influence bleaching behavior, and bleaching is the result of electron transfer processes. The quantum yields of singlet oxygen production from the onium salts in polar solvents are similar to that of the parent, Rose Bengal disodium salt.
Responses of cultured neural retinal cells to substratum-bound laminin and other extracellular matrix molecules

The responses of cultured chick embryo retinal neurons to several extracellular matrix molecules are described. Retinal cell suspensions in serum-free medium containing the “N1” supplement (J. E. Bottenstein, S. D. Skaper, S. Varon, and J. Sato, 1980, Exp. Cell Res.125, 183–190) were seeded on tissue culture plastic surfaces pretreated with polyornithine (PORN) and with one of the factors to be tested. Substantial cell survival could be observed after 72 hr in vitro on PORN pretreated with serum or laminin, whereas most cells appeared to be degenerating on untreated PORN, PORN-fibronectin, and PORN-chondronectin. Cell attachment, although quantitatively similar for all these substrata, was temperature-dependent on serum and laminin but not on fibronectin or untreated PORN. In a short-term bioassay, neurite development was abundant on laminin, scarce on serum and fibronectin, and absent on PORN. No positive correlation between cell spreading and neurite production could be seen: cell spreading was more extensive on PORN and fibronectin than on laminin or serum, while on laminin-treated dishes, spreading was similar for neurite-bearing and non-neurite-bearing cells. Laminin effects on retinal neurons were clearly substratum dependent. When bound to tissue culture plastic, laminin showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell attachment and did not stimulate neurite development. PORN-bound laminin, on the other hand, did not affect cell attachment but caused marked stimulation of neurite development, suggesting that laminin conformation and/or the spatial distribution of active sites play an important role in the neurite-promoting function of this extracellular matrix molecule. Investigation of the embryonic retina with ELISA and immunocytochemical methods showed that laminin is present in this organ during development. Therefore, in vivo and in vitro observations are consistent with the possibility that laminin might influence neuronal development in the retina.
Intelligent synthesis of neuromusculoskeletal signals using fuzzy expert critics

Intelligent Synthesis of Neuromusculoskeletal Signals Using Fuzzy Expert CriticsJack M. WintersCatholic University of America, Biomedical Engineering ProgramCardinal Station, Washington DC 20064ABSTRACTThe problem of synthesizing large amounts of sensor data into a meaningful form represents one of the key challenges inmaking effective use of smart sensors/actuators that are distributed throughout a siructure. This paper develops an engineeringapproach for addressing this problem, focusing on how large sets of neuromusculoskeletal measurements can be synthesizedwith approximate reasoning by experts and trained human observation to help extract and prioritize the most salient diagnosticfindings, given a reasonably lge set of strategic performance tasks. A key objective is to create an environment for intimatehuman-computer interaction, that optimally uses the capabilities of each. The best of two key conceptual frameworks aresynthesized: initial design via rule-based fuzzy expert critic modules, followed by a gradual transition toward fuzzy neuro-optimization and neuro-classification modules. It is suggested that this provides a more reasonable approach not only forinteractive near-real-time medical diagnosis assisted by a "smart" computer, but also for developing the types of robust adaptivecritics needed for advanced studies of principles underlying neuromotor control and skill acquisition.Keywords: human measurement, smart sensors, intelligent assistants, neuro-classification, fuzzy expert systems, optimization2. INTRODUCTIONOne of the most pressing problems in designing control systems for neural prostheses, and indeed a challenge inunderstanding human movement coordination, involves how to make use of sensory information. Typical engineering systemstend to employ the minimum number of sensors possible, and this has been the strategy for most research efforts in functionalneuromuscular stimulation (FNS). Yet clearly this is not the biological solution: tissues such as muscles and tendons are richlyembedded with sensors. Furthermore, these are not linear devices with homogeneous properties --
Effects of Cue Factors on Selective Eye Movements and Choices During Successive Discrimination.

Summary.--On a discrete-trial successive discrimination task which contained both reinforcing and redundant stimuli, Ss displayed orderly distributions of fixations and choices of the stimuli. Practice decreased fixation frequencies of all stimuli without altering their distributions. Number of reinforcing stimuli had no effect on selectivity when stimuli differed distinctively but was related to selectivity when stimuli were ambiguous. Stimulus configuration affected selectivity, as did relative position cues. The results suggest a complex interaction berween fixation and visual choice. Recent research into the operant characteristics of the macrosaccadic system (Berger, 1968; Schroeder & Holland, 1968a) has supported the notion that eye movements behave as instrumental responses subject to precise control by reinforcement contingencies. They are conditioned observing responses which make the visual stimulus available. Eye movements are thus useful for identifying those functional properties of stimuli which influence their selection or suppression. This has been found true for a vsiriety of experimental tasks: approachavoidance conflict (Webb, Matheny, & Larson, 1963), discrimination (Nunnally, Stevens & Hall, 1965), gazing at pictures (Bullock, 1959; Mackworth & Morandi, 1967), paired-associate learning (McCormack, Fingas, Haycock, & Moore, 1968 ) , pattern-recognition (Gould & Schaffer, 1967), problem solving (Kaplan & Schoenfeld, 1966), and signal monitoring (Schroeder & Holland, 1968b, 1969). Schroeder ( 1969), using a discrete-trial discrimination task whose stimulus components were separated spatially, found that Ss ordered their fixation frequencies of stimulus components in consistent patterns, looking most often at the reinforced stimulus and less at redundant stimuli. Reduction of stimulus luminance raised fixation frequencies while eliminating preference for form over line orientation stimuli. As information in the stimuli was assimilated with practice, Ss gradually suppressed fixations of all stimuli in the same orderly pattern consistent with their efficient detection through peripheral vision and with choice accuracy. The present experiment was an attempt to examine other variables which might affect selectivity of fixations and choices during discrimination. Specifically, the mode of stimulus presentation might affect eye-movement patterns.
Linking the "two-hit" response following injury to enhanced TLR4 reactivity.

Severe injury can initiate an exagger- ated systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ failure (MOF) if a subsequent immune stim- ulus, "second hit", occurs. Using a mouse thermal injury model, we tested whether changes in innate immune cell reactivity following injury can contrib- ute to the development of heightened inflammation and MOF. Using high-purity Escherichia coli lipo- polysaccharide (LPS) to selectively stimulate Toll- like receptor 4 (TLR4), we demonstrate aug- mented interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-), and IL-6 production by 1 day but par- ticularly, at 7 days after injury. The in vivo signif- icance of enhanced TLR4 responsiveness was ex- plored by challenging sham or burn mice with LPS at 1 or 7 days after injury and determining mor- tality along with in vivo cytokine and chemokine levels. Mortality was high (75%) in LPS-challenged burn but not sham mice at 7 days, although not at 1 day, after injury. Death was associated with leu- kocyte sequestration in the lungs and livers along with increased proinflammatory cytokine and che- mokine levels in these organs. Blocking TNF- activity prevented this mortality, suggesting that excessive TNF- production contributes to this le- thal response. These findings demonstrate the po- tential lethality of excessive TLR4 reactivity after injury and provide an explanation for the exagger- ated inflammatory response to a second hit, which can occur following severe injury. J. Leukoc. Biol. 77: 000-000; 2005.
The early use of matrix diagonal increments in statistical problems

he early motivation for and development of diagonal increments to ease matrix inversion in least squares (LS) problems is discussed. It is noted that this diagonal incrementation evolved from three major directions: modification of existing methodology in nonlinear LS, utilization of additional information in linear regression, and improvement of the numerical condition of a matrix. The interplay among these factors and the advent of ridge regression are considered in a historical and comparative framework
Cyclotron-Harmonic Plasma-Wave Echoes

Experimental results are presented which show that spatial plasma wave echoes exist with frequencies above the cyclotron frequency and below the plasma frequency. A theory predicting cyclotron-harmonic wave echoes under the foregoing conditions is found to be consistent with observations.
Liquid filled membranes

Abstract The problem of a rotating, liquid-filled membrane is investigated. Solutions are obtained by using the Picard method ol successive approximations and by an analogue computer. Experiments are conducted which, for certain ranges of the physical parameters, are in satisfactory agreement with the theory.
How currents in the upper thermocline could advect meddies deeper down

Abstract The high salinity anomalies that mark eddies (meddies) of Mediterranean outflow origin lie well below the permanent currents in the upper thermocline. Nevertheless they seem to be advected by the currents. The nature of this coupling is modeled with a three-layer ocean in which the two upper layers each contains a baroclinic anticyclonic point vortex, and the top layer also has a steady current. The top vortex tends to move with the current, but also interacts with the lower vortex. Steady and oscillatory regimes exist in which the vortex pair remains coupled and advects with a fraction of the surface velocity. There is another regime in which the pair separate, the upper vortex drifts away, and the lower vortex (meddy) is left behind.
Feasible Products in Batch Reactive Extractive Distillation

A systematic feasibility evaluation method is presented for batch reactive distillation columns with extractive feed streams. In this batch configuration, one feasibility criterion is obtained for quaternary reactive systems by using residue curve maps and reaction equilibrium manifolds. If all reaction products are saddles and one of the binary azeotropes between the desired products and the other components is an unstable node, then a reactive rectifier with a side-feed entrainer can produce pure products regardless of the type and number of azeotropes involved in the system. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 1484–1492, 2004
Rightsizing Bundle Link Capacities for Energy Savings in the Core Network

Current core networks are composed of high-end routers which are connected by high-speed fibers. These optical connections are commonly overprovisioned and in low utilization. Many of them are combined together to form bundle links or composite links and the component links are referred to as sublinks. These physical sublinks could be SONET connections, Ethernet circuits, wavelengths on a fiber, etc. And they could be shut down or brought up independently. Selectively shutting down sublinks during low traffic periods could save a large amount of energy while keeping the network topology unchanged. Based on this concept, we propose a local heuristical threshold- based method to explore the potential energy- savings in the backbone network by adjusting the number of active sublinks in bundle links. An experiment based on an Internet2 derived synthetic network was conducted to verify the performance of our method and the results show that 86% of energy consumed on ports of core routers could be saved when setting 90.0% as the link utilization threshold. The experiment also shows that setting 90.0% as threshold is safe enough to avoid data loss during extreme traffic increases in this case. Compared to previous proposed ILP (Integer linear programming) based global heuristic algorithms, our local heuristic algorithm can achieve energy-savings close to the optimum and greatly reduce the response time and the risk of data loss.
Towards adaptive workflow systems: CSCW-98 workshop report

The workshop Towards Adaptive Workflow System was organized by the authors of this report as part of the 1998 Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW-98), and was held at the Westin Seattle on Saturday, November 14, 1998. The workshop had about 30 attendees and included invited presentations, paPer presentations/discussions and a panel. This report summarizes on the Goals and topics of the workshop, presents the major activities and summarizes some of the issues discussed during the workshop.
Transport characteristics of frog gastric membranes.

Abstract ATP-induced transport by fractions of frog gastric microsomes prepared either by density gradient centrifugation or by free flow electrophoresis were K+ dependent and hence considered due to a K+-activated ATPase. Significant activity of this enzyme was, however, only found in the anodic peak of the free flow electrophoretic separation, which in addition to separating transporting from non-transporting particles, also separated membranes containing a phosphorylatable peptide ( M r = 105 000 ) region as the major peptide on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from those containing a peptide ( M r = 44 000 ) on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. H+ uptake, measured either by acridine orange or 3,3′-diethyloxadicarbocyanine + tetrachlorosalicylanilide absorbance changes was dependent on K+ intravesicularly. Using 86Rb+, active extrusion of the cation followed ATP addition. SCN−, an inhibitor of acid secretion did not affect the latter, but blocked signals due to H+ uptake, in contrast to mammalian preparations.
The effect of aging on the multiple molecular esterase forms taken from tissues of Periplaneta Americana (L.)

Abstract 1. 1. Distilled water was superior to sucrose and phosphate buffer as a solvent when using the intensity of the esterase bands as the criterion. However, larger volumes (12–15 μl) in distilled water tended to impede polymerization of the sample gel. Thus sucrose was used as the extracting solvent. 2. 2. No qualitative differences were observed in the patterns of soluble esterases taken from the thoracic and appendage muscle of the American cockroach, nor was any sex-associated qualitative difference observed in samples of the same age. The only trends noted were the tendency of one of the fractions to decrease with age, and the uniform reduction in the α-naphthyl acetate hydrolyzing activity of all fractions from specimens over 4 months of age. 3. 3. Esterase zymograms of hemolymph were similar to those of thoracic and appendage muscle. Of the 8–14 fractions resolved in those specimens on which hemolymph was analyzed, 6 fractions were consistent and all were identical in mobility with consistent fractions found in muscle extracts. There were no qualitative differences in esterase fractions in the hemolymph that could be associated with either age or sex.
Characterization of histamine type 1 receptors on natural suppressor lymphoid cells.

Abstract Using the radioligand H 1 antagonist [ 3 H]pyrilamine, we have characterized the histamine type 1 receptor on cloned murine natural suppressor cells (NS). A single, specific binding site for [ 3 H]pyrilamine exists on these cells. The binding was saturable and reversible by various specific H 1 receptor antagonists. The rank order of potency for displacement of [ 3 H]pyrilamine binding from the H 1 receptor by H 1 receptor antagonists was promethazine = pyrobutamine > pyrilamine > diphenhydramine > chlorpheniramine. The histamine type-2 agonists, impromidine and dimaprit, and antagonists, cimetidine and ranitidine, as well as selected non-histamine agonists, did not displace [ 3 H]pyrilamine from its binding sites on the natural suppressor cells. The data indicate that the theoretical K D was 1.1 ± 0.3 × 10 −7 M while the measured K D of binding for [ 3 H]pyrilamine was 6.0 ± 0.8 × 10 −8 M; the maximum binding was 4.13 nM and the number of binding sites/cell was 2.14 ± 0.29 × 10 6 (N = 3).
Medical manageability and psychosocial factors in childhood asthma

Abstract Five psychosocial factors were empirically derived from a questionnaire administered to 175 asthmatic children who were taken from three subsamples representing hospitalized inpatients, outpatients and private practice patients. The scales included three measures of anxiety labeled Despair Over Social Debilitation, Quality of Life , and Dread of Illness , one attitude scale labeled Orientation Towards Compliance , and one scale labeled Family Communication . These scales correlated with measures of debilitation during the 6 month period prior to treatment, which included the number of asthma attacks, emergency room visits, days hospitalized, days of school missed and parental ratings of interference in physically strenuous activities. Two groups of children were defined for each psychosocial factor by a mean split of the scores. The incidence of children with relatively much anxiety as defined by three of these scales and a poor attitude about compliance was greatest in the patient subsample and least in the private practice subsample. Inpatients also experienced the most debilitation during the 6 month period before testing. Follow-up measures of debilitation were recorded for the 6 month period post discharge. The relationship between the debilitation experienced by the children and their anxiety was evaluated. Patient groups with much and little anxiety both showed comparable and significant reductions in debilitation post hospital treatment. The results were interpreted to indicate that the anxiety assessed upon admission was the consequence of a history of poor medical manageability. The anxiety assessed did not appear to contribute to poor control of the illness.
Differentiating employment prospects by industry and returns to job search in metropolitan areas

Abstract The role of differentiating employment prospects by the industry of the employer in the job seeker's calculation of the returns to search is analyzed. It is demonstrated that returns to search can vary systematically between metropolitan areas because of differing mixes of industry employment; it is argued that an increase in a measure of dispersion in the industry mix will tend to raise returns to job search. To test this hypothesis, cross sections of census data on unemployment rates of male experienced workers in each of the seven major occupational groups were analyzed. Statistically significant regression equations were obtained for three occupational groups (craftsmen, nonfarm laborers, and operatives); in all these cases the results supported the hypothesis of the paper.
Potentiation of the behavioral and convulsant effects of cocaine by chronic administration in the rat.

Abstract The effect of chronic administration on the behavioral response to cocaine was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In experiment 1 five groups of rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of either saline, 20 mg/kg, or 40 mg/kg cocaine hydrochloride for 10 days, or of higher doses of cocaine until either one or three convulsions occured. Following this initial treatment, all animals were left untreated for seven days, and then sensitivity to cocaine was assessed in all animals by a test injection series (daily injections of increasing doses of cocaine). Animals which had received 40 mg/kg cocaine during the initial treatment exhibited a greater behavioral response (stereotyped behavior) to cocaine during the test injection series than did animals treated with saline; both the 40 mg/kg and one — convulsion treatments during the initial stage of the experiment resulted in greater sensitivity to the convulsant effect of cocaine during the test injection series. In experiment 2 animals were injected intraperitoneally with either saline or 40 mg/kg cocaine for 10 days and then tested with a series of daily cocaine injections of increasing dosage after remaining untreated for 4, 8, 16 or 32 days. The results indicated that the initial treatment with 40 mg/kg cocaine augmented both the behavioral and convulsant effects of cocaine during the subsequent test injection series. The sensitization to the convulsant effect of cocaine was significant at all intervals after initial treatment except 16 days, while the duration of sensitization to the behavioral effects of cocaine could not be determined due to apparent age-related changes in the response of control animals to cocaine. The sensitization which was observed was attributed to the effects of cocaine per se rather than to convulsions produced by the drug.
High-frequency remote monitoring of large lakes with MODIS 500 m imagery

Abstract Satellite-based remote monitoring programs of regional lake water quality largely have relied on Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) owing to its long image archive, moderate spatial resolution (30 m), and wide sensitivity in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, despite some notable limitations such as temporal resolution (i.e., 16 days), data pre-processing requirements to improve data quality, and aging satellites. Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors on Aqua/Terra platforms compensate for these shortcomings, although at the expense of spatial resolution. We developed and evaluated a remote monitoring protocol for water clarity of large lakes using MODIS 500 m data and compared MODIS utility to Landsat-based methods. MODIS images captured during May–September 2001, 2004 and 2010 were analyzed with linear regression to identify the relationship between lake water clarity and satellite-measured surface reflectance. Correlations were strong ( R ² = 0.72–0.94) throughout the study period; however, they were the most consistent in August, reflecting seasonally unstable lake conditions and inter-annual differences in algal productivity during the other months. The utility of MODIS data in remote water quality estimation lies in intra-annual monitoring of lake water clarity in inaccessible, large lakes, whereas Landsat is more appropriate for inter-annual, regional trend analyses of lakes ≥ 8 ha. Model accuracy is improved when ancillary variables are included to reflect seasonal lake dynamics and weather patterns that influence lake clarity. The identification of landscape-scale drivers of regional water quality is a useful way to supplement satellite-based remote monitoring programs relying on spectral data alone.
In situ measurement of dissolved chloride in high temperature hydrothermal fluids

Abstract The ability to continuously monitor chemical properties of hydrothermal vent effluents for extended periods of time is essential to understanding dynamic processes responsible for the temporally variable nature of mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems. Although instruments do exist for some parameters, there has been no sensor capable of measuring the chloride concentration, an indicator of possible phase separation, on a real-time and long-term basis. In this article, we discuss the construction of a novel instrument which measures solution resistance as a proxy for chloride concentration. The sensor consists of four gold electrodes embedded in a cylindrical ZrO 2 ceramic housing. It has been successfully deployed in several high temperature vents at the Main Endeavour Field (MEF) on the Juan de Fuca ridge in the NE Pacific, and calibrated under simulated hydrothermal conditions ranging up to 380 °C and 300 bar. The in situ data clearly demonstrate a tidal influence on the effluent from some high temperature vents possibly relating to a subsurface mixing process involving non-seawater end-members. Non-tidal changes are used to constrain the sequence and type of controls operating on fluids circulating within the subsurface.
Metastable polymer blends by precipitation with a compressed fluid antisolvent

Abstract Metastable polymer blends of polycarbonate (PC) and poly(styrene- co -acrylonitrile) (SAN) are formed by spraying polymer solutions into liquid and supercritical fluid CO 2 . Because of the rapid mass transfer between the CO 2 -phase and the solution phase, the blends are trapped in a metastable state before they can phase separate. A transition from a metastable blend with a single glass transition temperature, T g in the form of particles, to a phase-separated 100 μm fibre is observed with an increase in polymer concentration from 3.0 to 9.0 wt%. This transition is related to the calculated concentration for the dilute to semi-dilute transition, C* , of PC/SAN in THF and the characteristic times for polymer-polymer and polymer solvent phase separation. PC and SAN do not form a blend at 35°C because of plasticization by CO 2 . They also do not form a metastable blend when 1.0mm droplets are precipitated into a liquid antisolvent, heptane.
Determination of pyruvate in enzyme-catalyzed reactions in the presence of glyoxylate.

Abstract A method for the quantitative determination of pyruvate in the presence of glyoxylate is described. Pyruvate is determined spectrophotometrically with LDH and NADH after glyoxylate has been eliminated as a substrate by the formation of a Schiff base with Tris buffer.
Towards monitoring human activities using an omnidirectional camera

In this paper we propose an approach for monitoring human activities in an indoor environment using an omnidirectional camera. Robustly tracking people is prerequisite for modeling and recognizing human activities. An omnidirectional camera mounted on the ceiling is less prone to problems of occlusion. We use the Markov Random Field (MRF) to present both background and foreground, and adapt models effectively against environment changes. We employ a deformable model to adapt the foreground models to optimally match objects in different position within a pattern of view of omnidirectional camera. In order to monitor human activity, we represent positions of people as spatial points and analyze moving trajectories within a time-spatial window. The method provides an efficient way to monitoring high-level human activities without exploring identities.
Mitigation of TCP-SYN Attacks with Microsoft's Windows XP Service Pack2 (SP2) Software

TCP-SYN attack is one of the commonly used DDoS attacks aimed at bringing down a computer system connected to Internet. There has been an increased targeting of Windows end-users and servers. The attackers and intruders are leveraging easily identifiable network blocks to target and exploit Windows end-user servers and computer systems. In order to provide some level of security and protection against security attacks, the Microsoft's Windows XP operating systems were designed with an additional level of security. The initial Microsoft's windows XP without service pack2 (SP2) provided windows firewall with some security features. The later version of Microsoft's windows XP with SP2 intends to provide enhanced security features to prevent and mitigate the adverse effect of security attacks on the host computer systems. In this experimental paper, we set out to conduct real TCP-SYN attacks on computer systems in a controlled lab environment and measure the effectiveness of Microsoft's windows XP without SP2, and with SP2 in preventing TCP-SYN attacks. The Windows firewall (without SP2) was found to be not effective against the TCP-SYN attacks. However, the later version of Microsoft's Windows XP with SP2 was found to significantly help mitigate the adverse effect of the TCP SYN attacks on Windows based computer systems.
Evaluating the Integration of Technology into Business Statistics

This research explores the use of computer technology (specifically Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and the WebCT content delivery and student evaluation mechanism) as enablers of content delivery and as ways to improve pedagogy and learning. I evaluate the effect of these technologies on course delivery in Introductory Business Statistics, a sophomore-level required business course, but the lessons learned may apply to any analytical subject in the OR/MS field. I compare two different course offerings, a “technology light” version and a “technology centric” version, for both student satisfaction level (based on standard student evaluations) and level of learning achieved (based on student scores on a common course final), as well as provide an evaluation from the instructor perspective. The efficiency of instructor time and class time improves with technology, after initial startup costs are incurred. Technology components are generally well-received by students, and final test scores improve. I hypothesize...
IFN-γ Stimulates IgG2 Production from Bovine B Cells Costimulated with Anti-μ and Mitogen

Abstract The effect of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) antibody production by anti-μ- or pokeweed mitogen-stimulated bovine B cells was studied. IFN-γ induced IgG2 secretion in isolated bulk B cell populations and in B cells sorted for IgM expression. IgM production was suppressed by the presence of IFN-γ alone but this effect was antagonized by interleukin 2 (IL2). The effects of IFN-γ on secreted levels of IgM, IgG1, and IgG2 correlated with the frequencies of cells expressing transcripts of the respective isotypes when stimulated with IFN-γ-containing T cell supernatants. These results indicate that IFN-γ plays a key role in IgG2 production in the bovine by directly affecting suitably stimulated B cells. The ability of IL2 to synergize with IFN-γ to augment both the IgM and IgG2 responses implicates a TH1-like subset in regulation of this isotype.
PriorityMeister: Tail Latency QoS for Shared Networked Storage

Meeting service level objectives (SLOs) for tail latency is an important and challenging open problem in cloud computing infrastructures. The challenges are exacerbated by burstiness in the workloads. This paper describes PriorityMeister -- a system that employs a combination of per-workload priorities and rate limits to provide tail latency QoS for shared networked storage, even with bursty workloads. PriorityMeister automatically and proactively configures workload priorities and rate limits across multiple stages (e.g., a shared storage stage followed by a shared network stage) to meet end-to-end tail latency SLOs. In real system experiments and under production trace workloads, PriorityMeister outperforms most recent reactive request scheduling approaches, with more workloads satisfying latency SLOs at higher latency percentiles. PriorityMeister is also robust to mis-estimation of underlying storage device performance and contains the effect of misbehaving workloads.
ET-1- and NO-mediated signal transduction pathway in human brain capillary endothelial cells.

Previous studies have demonstrated that functional interaction between endothelin (ET)-1 and nitric oxide (NO) involves changes in Ca2+ mobilization and cytoskeleton in human brain microvascular en...
Severe thrombocytopenia in iron deficiency anemia

Mild-to-moderate thrombocytopenia has been reported as an occasional finding in patients with iron deficiency. The present case describes a multiparous woman who presented with increased menorrhagia, severe anemia (3.0 g/dl) and thrombocytopenia (9,000 platelets/mm3). Her bone marrow examination showed iron deficiency, megakaryocytopenia, and erythroid hypoplasia but no other evidence of a primary marrow disorder. Her symptoms, the thrombocytopenia and the megakaryocytopenia, resolved with iron replacement. This case demonstrates the profound degree to which thrombopoiesis can be affected in iron deficiency.
Synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrids by miniemulsion polymerization and their application for electrochemical energy storage

A general method is reported for creating functional organic–inorganic hybrid materials by copolymerization of organic molecules and inorganic compounds. The approach is based on a miniemulsion polymerization technique followed by a thermal pyrolysis step, and yields nanostructured composites in which nanoparticles are uniformly embedded in a porous, partially graphitic carbon matrix. The method builds upon our previous report disclosing synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrids using miniemulsion polymerization and demonstrates that ex situ engineering of the inorganic phase leads to remarkably improved function. We specifically show that depending upon the chemistry of the starting materials, nanoscale organic–inorganic hybrid materials created using the approach are attractive as anodes and cathodes for next-generation lithium and other rechargeable battery systems. Additionally, we show that the platform is very versatile and through ex situ conversion or utilization of multiple precursors, can be applied to various classes of materials including metal oxides, metals, metal sulfides and alloys. The approach also lends itself to the development of scalable processes for production of nanostructured battery materials.
Clinical Performance of a Gold-containing Amalgam:

In this study, the clinical performance (marginal fracture) of a gold-containing amalgam was compared to five traditional gamma 2-containing amalgams and one non-gamma 2 amalgam. The results showed that the performance of this gold-containing amalgam was bettered by the non-gamma 2 amalgam and four of the five gamma 2-containing amalgams. A microprobe evaluation of a five-year-old clinical restoration made from this alloy revealed an unusual corrosion pattern.
Ending the Specialty Hospital Wars: A Plea for Pilot Programs as Information-Forcing Regulatory Design

Over the last few decades, entrepreneurial doctors have tried to strip profitable business from general hospitals by opening physician-owned single-specialty hospitals. If these specialty hospitals are “cherrypicking” the healthiest Medicare patients and most lucrative DRGs, then reimbursements should be altered to better reflect the true cost of care. If they are eroding an infrastructure of emergency or indigent care, state authorities can tax them in order to directly subsidize these services. Pilot programs can help policymakers determine how substantial adjustments to payments and taxes should be.
The applications of aspheric feedback mirror in extended-cavity laser resonators

ABSTRACT An extended-cavity resonator with an aspheric third mirror aligned collinear to a standing-wave two-mirror resonator is studied. A number of benefits of this new cavity design such as improved mode selectivity and mode shaping were predicted by simulation. An experiment was performed with a Nd:YVO 4 laser system. With an optimized aspheric third mirror, this three-mirror solid-state laser has an experimentally measured modal discrimination of 1.43 and oscillates in the designed fundamental Gaussian mode. The M 2 of the cavity mode was measured to be 1.02. Applications of aspheric feedback mirrors in other advanced laser resonators are also briefly discussed. Keywords: extended cavity, laser resonator, aspheric mirror, optical phase conjugation, solid state laser, vertical cavity surface emitting laser, VCSEL, mode selection, mode shaping 1. INTRODUCTION The extended-cavity laser configuration can be used in modern resonator designs for engineering high power, high modal quality, and single-mode emitting sources. A general extended-cavity laser resonator consists of three or more collinearly aligned reflectors, and this type of laser is sometimes referred to as the coupled-cavity laser. The extended-cavity design provides a method for modal control in semiconductor lasers, where direct modification of the target cavity is difficult. The primary focus of many extended-cavity designs for edge-emitting semiconductor lasers is spectral-mode control. The earliest of such designs is C
Three-dimensional solidification and flow of polymers in curved square ducts†

Steady three-dimensional laminar flow with and without partial solidification of an initially molten polymer in square ducts, both straight and with a 90-degree curve, was numerically studied with a version of the SIMPLE algorithm. The non-Newtonian characteristics of the fluid polymer were represented by a power-law model. The temperature variation of fluid properties was taken into account. Viscous dissipation, being significant for all flow regimes studied, provided thermal energy input which was balanced by heat transfer outward across duct boundaries. For the non-Newtonian fluid with solidification and variable viscosity, it was found that the effective heat transfer coefficient in the curved section of the square duct is larger than in a straight section; in the curved section, this coefficient is larger at the outside of the bend than at the inside. These findings are in agreement with measurements reported in the literature for similar situations. The combined mechanisms of solidification on the wall and viscous dissipation result in the possibility of two different flow rates for a specified pressure gradient. The flow channel that remains unfrozen in a curved square duct meanders within the confines of the duct much as a river meanders in its valley; the wave length of the meander is sensitive to the fluid flow rate and radius of curvature.
Application of FDTD and RGFM to EM interaction with biological tissue: a comparison

The behavior of electromagnetic fields within biological tissue is a topic which has received considerable attention. The finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique is used to model such electromagnetic tissue interactions due to its flexibility and efficiency. A new technique has been introduced previously, known as the recursive Green's function method (RGFM), it efficiently models fields in inhomogeneous media. To date, there have been no studies of the application of this method to the case of high-permittivity materials. This paper explores the application of the RGFM to the modeling of two-dimensional biological tissue and presents a comparison of the RGFM and FDTD approaches for such simulations. A summary of each technique highlights their similarities and differences. Several examples are used to compare the two methods in terms of the computational accuracy as well as computational resource requirements.
Political Parties, Factions, and Corruption in Thailand

The first reason [for the coup] is the act of corruption. The national administrative party [i.e. the civilian government] has taken the opportunity to make use of its political posts and authority to vigorously and unprecedentedly seek benefit for itself and its companions. It has become normal practice for most of the cabinet ministers to seek money to build up their status and wealth in order to support their political power base. During the consideration of potential large-and medium-scale projects, politicians at the government level played a role in pushing for them to materialize by claiming that the public will benefit from each project. In fact, it is only a sophisticated way to seek benefits. Despite knowledge of extensive corruption among the politicians at the Cabinet level and among government officials and certain high-ranking state enterprise officials, the prime minister as head of the government has not seriously attempted to solve the problem. Moreover, the prime minister has even committed such inappropriate acts himself, by claiming various reasons to conceal corruption…. Corruption has escalated quickly and vigorously, beyond anyone's ability to stop its spread…
Education for leadership in management of engineering and technology

The engineering management (EM) discipline is continuing with the explosive growth pattern that it has experienced since the mid-1970s. The most visible component of the growth is in research and education. The author investigates the characteristics of the field in those areas on the basis of a survey (see D.F. Kocaoglu, 1990) conducted as part of a longitudinal study. It is noted that; in the 1990s, one is observing the rise of the EM discipline, the emergence of crisp definitions of its scope and boundaries, and the strength of its unique characteristics. There is every indication that EM will gain prominence in the 1990s and will potentially be one of the leading disciplines in the 21st century. >