cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of interfacial layers on thermal chemical vapour deposition of carbon nanotubes using iron catalyst

Growing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on a smooth substrate surface requires the formation of high-density catalyst nanoparticles. This, in turn, requires the minimum diffusion of catalyst into the substrate at the growth temperature for carbon nanotubes. In this work, interfacial layers have been optimized and examined for growing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on various smooth and nonporous substrates. With an optimized interfacial multilayer, carbon nanotubes with excellent adhesion to the substrate have also been achieved. This process can be applied to grow carbon nanotubes on almost any substrate that is compatible with the thermal CVD environments.
Cultural tourism in the USA

Abstract Market segmentation coupled with target marketing Is on the increase and cultural tourism could prove a worthwhile sector. Research carried out in the USA by both arts and travel organizations has demonstrated the significance of the arts - tourism relationship. Audiences have been defined in terms of lifestyle descriptive variables with levels of educational attainment and income being among the more important indicators. Economic impact studies have shown that the financial contribution of the cultural tourist may be significantly greater than that of the local attendee. Arts festivals have great tourism-generating power and may even be worth publicizing abroad.
Controlling surface enhanced Raman scattering using grating-type patterned nanoporous gold substrates

We investigate the effect of grating design on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) intensity using patterned nanoporous gold (P-NPG) films. The SERS response is systematically engineered by tuning the parameters of gratings imprinted on the nanoporous gold films, including grating period, duty cycle, and height. Compared to conventional NPG films, where the localized surface plasmon dominates the strong SERS response, the significantly enhanced SERS response from our P-NPG structures primarily arises from efficient activation of a surface plasmon polariton and its coupling with the localized surface plasmon mode. The P-NPG SERS substrates exhibit large area uniform enhancement factors near 108.
Functional representation for fermionic quantum fields.

A functional representation for fermionic quantum fields is developed in analogy to familiar results for bosonic fields. The infinite Clifford algebra of the field anticommutator is realized reducibly on a Grassmann functional space. On this space, transformation groups may be represented without normal ordering with respect to a Fock vacuum, and a projective representation for the two-dimensional conformal group is found, which is compared to the corresponding representation in terms of bosonic fields. When a quadratic Hamiltonian for the Fermi fields is posited, a Fock space can be constructed after a prescription for filling the Dirac sea is selected. Different filling prescriptions lead to inequivalent Fock spaces within the functional space. Explicit eigenfunctionals exhibit the peculiarities of fermionic field theory, such as fractional charge, Berry's phase, and anomalies.
A method for manufacturing parabolic mirrors

Abstract A simple method is described for producing parabolic mirrors by revolving a horizontal pan of liquid plastic and allowing it to harden into the parabolic shape which has been assumed by the plastic. This surface can be plated without further polishing into a mirror of a quality suited to various laboratory and industrial applications.
The Scale-Adaptive Simulation Method for Unsteady Turbulent Flow Predictions. Part 2: Application to Complex Flows

The paper summarises the validation activity performed with the Scale-Adaptive Simulation turbulence model (SAS model) using the two commercial CFD solvers, ANSYS-FLUENT and ANSYS-CFX. Both the KSKL-SAS and the SST-SAS model variants have been tested, although most cases have been computed with the second. The turbulence-resolving capability of the SAS method has been validated with a representative set of test cases, covering both underlying generic flows as well as practical engineering applications. In addition to the purely aerodynamic flows with massive separation and heat transfer they include also such physical phenomena as turbulent combustion and aeroacoustics. The illustrating results show the potentials of the SAS approach for industrial flow simulations. Most of the test case simulations were conducted during the recent EU project “DESider”.
Double-Ring Resonance-Enhanced Linear Photonic Frequency Discriminator for Microwave-Photonic Links

The design of a photonic frequency discriminator with enhanced linearity is proposed and analyzed. The discriminator consists of a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer and two ring resonators which linearize the magnitude and phase response, respectively. The discriminator is flexible as it can be switched between linear-intensity and linear-field regimes. The linearity of the discriminator is demonstrated by simulating the third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD3) and corresponding third-order output intercept point (OIP3). Simulation results show that the linearity of the phase response plays a critical role in suppressing IMD3 and resonance-enhanced IMD3 suppression by the double-ring structure is observed. Corresponding OIP3 even exceeds that of a perfect linear intensity discriminator.
Thermo-electricity at low temperatures. IX. The transition metals as solute and solvent

Transition metals (in particular Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni) present as solutes give rise to highly anomalous thermo-electric powers and unusual resistive behaviour at very low temperatures. Following an outline of the theories which have been proposed to account for this behaviour, experimental data are presented on alloys of gold as parent metal with transition element solutes down to very low temperatures, and the results compared broadly with the conclusions of present theory. It is generally believed that the fundamental origin of the anomalous thermo-electric behaviour lies in the spin-dependent scattering of conduction electrons by the magnetic solute ions. Experimental data are also presented of the thermo-electric behaviour down to very low temperatures of alloys of the transition metals Pd and Pt with both transition elements and non-transition elements as solutes.
Shape recovery for rotating surfaces: A tutorial

One of the key elements of the metrology system for the rotating stage used in the Reflective Electron Beam Lithography (REBL) instrument is a set of laser interferometers that measures the distance to a rotating cylindrical ring shaped mirror. This metrology arrangement allows the lateral x-y motion of the stage to be measured independent from the other four degrees of motion. One source of error in this measurement is the non-roundness of the shape of the mirror. By using redundant interferometry measurements, the shape of the mirror may be computed and its effects can be removed from the lateral motion estimate. This tutorial gives an overview of the mathematics of the shape recovery algorithm used in REBL as well as a guide for some of the practical issues that arise in shape estimation and stage design, not the least of which is the angular placement of the sensors.
Morphine modulates cathepsin B and L activity in isolated glomeruli and mesangial cells.

Altered matrix degradation may be playing a role in the development of initial mesangial expansion and subsequent glomerulosclerosis in persons with heroin abuse. We studied whether morphine, a metabolite of heroin, had any effect on lysosomal content of cathepsin B and L in mesangial cells. Morphine (10−6 M) increased (P<0.01) mesangial cathepsin B and L activity (control, 22.1+2.2 vs. morphine, 31.4+1.4 mol NMec/μg protein,N=5). Morphine (10−6 M) also increased (P<0.01) glomerular cathepsin B and L activity (control, 0.1+0.01 vs. morphine, 2.2±0.2 pmol NMec/μg protein,N=3). This effect of morphine occurred in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that morphine enhances cathepsin B and L activity in mesangial cells and isolated glomeruli. This effect of morphine may enhance capacity of mesangial cells to degrade increased amount of mesangial macromolecules.
Invisibility, homophobia and heterosexism: Lesbians, gays and the media

(1993). Invisibility, homophobia and heterosexism: Lesbians, gays and the media. Critical Studies in Mass Communication: Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 395-422.
The Effect of Charter Schools on Charter Students and Public Schools.

Abstract This paper estimates the effect of charter schools on both students attending them and students at neighboring public schools. Using school-level data from Michigan's standardized testing program, I compare changes in test scores between charter and public school students. I find that test scores of charter school students do not improve, and may actually decline, relative to those of public school students. The paper also exploits exogenous variation created by Michigan's charter law to identify the effects of charter schools on public schools. The results suggest that charter schools have had no significant effect on test scores in neighboring public schools.
Preliminary study of smoking and alcohol use among students in southern Sri Lanka.

455 students, ages 15–19 years and living in a southern district of Sri Lanka, were self-administered a questionnaire to identify the prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use and to assess student attitudes toward the alcohol and tobacco industries. The current prevalence of smoking was 10.6% among men and 0.0% among women. The current prevalence of alcohol use was 21.2% among men and 3.3% among women. A significantly higher proportion of men than women expressed favorable attitudes toward the alcohol industry (27% versus 7%) and the tobacco industry (13% versus 5%). Given that aggressive marketing strategies are used by these industries to promote their products among young people, epidemiological studies of the substances using scientifically sound methods to formulate effective prevention strategies are essential.
A tetranuclear nickel(II) cluster: bis[μ3‐2,6‐bis(methylamino)pyridine(2−)‐κ4N2:N1,N6:N6]bis[μ3‐2,6‐bis(methylamino)pyridine(1−)‐κ3N1:N2:N2]dichloridotetranickel(II)

The title compound, [Ni4(C7H9N3)2(C7H10N3)2Cl2], was obtained from a reaction in which 2,6-dimethyl­amino­pyridine, in the presence of methyl­lithium used to deprotonate the organic ligand precursor, was added to NiCl2 during an attempt to synthesize a linear trinuclear nickel chain. During this reaction, two equivalents of the amine were fully deprotonated, forming dianions, and the three N atoms coordinate to Ni centers. The other two equivalents of the amine were only partially deprotonated, giving monoanions in which only two N atoms coordinate to Ni centers. In this tetra­nuclear complex, two of the four Ni atoms have square-planar coordination and are bonded to four N donors, while the other two are in a distorted tetra­hedral geometry, with three coordination sites occupied by N donors and the fourth by a Cl atom. The mol­ecule is noncentrosymmetic but the crystal structure is racemic.
Divalent inorganic reactive gaseous mercury emissions from a mercury cell chlor-alkali plant and its impact on near-field atmospheric dry deposition

Abstract The emission of inorganic divalent reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) from a mercury cell chlor-alkali plant (MCCAP) cell building and the impact on near field (100 km) dry deposition was investigated as part of a larger collaborative study between EPA, University of Michigan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Chlorine Institute, and Olin Corporation in February 2000. Measurements in the cell building roof vent showed that RGM constituted 2.1±0.7% (median±variance) of the concurrently measured elemental gaseous mercury (Hg 0 ). This relationship was used to calculate an estimated RGM emission rate from the cell building roof vent of 10.4 g day −1 . The percentage of RGM/Hg 0 at ambient monitoring sites 350 m (1.5%) and 800 m (1.3%) away while being impacted by cell building emissions suggests the rapid deposition of RGM species. The observed 2% relative emission of RGM/Hg 0 was substantially lower than the 30% estimate utilized by EPA to model the impact of MCCAPs for the 1997 Mercury Report to Congress. However, the MCCAP was still found to present a significant impact on near field mercury atmospheric dry deposition. A Lagrangian transport and deposition modeling framework using only emissions from the MCCAP found the mean annualized dry deposition of mercury within a 10 km radius of the facility contributed the annual equivalent of 4.6 μg m −2 . For comparison, the total annual wet mercury deposition measured at the Savannah River National Mercury Deposition Network sampling site ∼30 km away was 9.8 μg m −2 .
Structural Stability and Solvent Denaturation of Myoglobin

As judged from the midpoints of the denaturation transition of 31 water-miscible alcohols, ureas, and amides, the effectiveness of these denaturing agents on sperm-whale myoglobin increases with increasing chain length and hydrocarbon content, as expected in view of the disorganization of the hydrophobic interior of this protein. Increase in the hydroxyl content, blocking of the functional amino groups of the ureas and amides by alkyl substitution, and branching of the hydrocarbon portion of the denaturants are of less importance in determining the effectiveness of the denaturants.
Development and Specification of a Reference Architecture for Agent-Based Systems

The recent growth of agent-based software systems was achieved without the development of a reference architecture. From a software engineering standpoint, a reference architecture is necessary to compare, evaluate, and integrate past, current, and future agent-based software systems. The agent systems reference architecture (ASRA) advances the agent-based system development process by providing a set of key interaction patterns for functional areas that exist between the layers and protocols of agent-based systems. Furthermore, the ASRA identifies the points for interoperability between agent-based systems and increases the level of discussion when referring to agent-based systems. This paper presents methodology, grounded in software forensics, to develop the ASRA and provides an overview of the resulting architectural representation. The methodology uses an approach based on software engineering techniques adapted to study agent frameworks-the libraries and tools for building agent systems. The resulting ASRA can serve as an abstract representation of the components necessary for facilitating comparison, integration, and interoperation of software systems composed of agents.
Mapping Small DNA Ligand Hydroxyl Radical Footprinting and Affinity Cleavage Products for Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract The mapping of DNA footprints and affinity cleavage sites for small DNA ligands is affected by the choice of sequencing chemistry and end label, and the potential for indexing errors can be significant when mapping small ligand–DNA interactions. Described here is a mechanism for avoiding such errors based on a summary of standard labeling, cleavage, and indexing chemistries and a comparison among them for analysis of these interactions by capillary electrophoresis. The length dependence of the difference between Sanger and Maxam–Gilbert indexing is examined for a number of duplexes of mixed sequence.
Some properties of the manganese and copper catalyzed oxidation of catechol and some other ortho-dihydroxybenzene derivatives.

Abstract The type of buffer used had a profound effect on the Mn ++ catalyzed oxidation of the ortho dihydroxybenzene compounds used. Veronal or tris (hydroxymethyl) amino methane were found to be the most suitable buffers for the study of these reactions. Glycine, phosphate, citrate and borate buffers inhibited the reaction. The optimum Mn ++ concentration for the 3-hydroxytyramine and DOPA oxidation was 2.5ṡ10 −4 M . Higher Mn ++ concentrations increased the rate of oxidation only slightly. The optimum Cu ++ concentration was found to be 2.5ṡ10 −3 M . Under the conditions of these experiments chelates were formed between Cu ++ and catechol, DOPA, N-methyl DOPA and 3-hydroxytyramine. No chelation was detected between Mn ++ and these compounds. Catechol was oxidized by MnO 2 and KMnO 4 .
Sexually Dimorphic Characteristics of Clonidine-Induced Growth Hormone Release and Autofeedback*

Abstract The mechanism underlying the sexually dimorphic pattern of GH secretion in the rat has not been clearly elucidated. In this study differences in the regulation of GH secretion in males and females were analyzed by examining their sensitivity to α2-adrenergic (α2) stimulation and GH autofeedback. The model used in testing this system was the capacity of ovine (o) GH, injected into the third ventricle, to suppress the endogenous GH surge induced by clonidine (CLON), an α2-agonist. In morning experiments, CLON (30 μg/kg BW, iv) was injected between 10007–1100 h in males. oGH (20 μg in 2 μl vehicle) injected 3 h earlier inhibited the GH surge, which peaked 15 min after CLON injection in control animals receiving CLON alone. In females there was both no change in plasma GH levels and no difference between treatment groups in animals receiving 30,50,100, or 150 μg/kg CLON and saline controls. Preinjection of 20 ng oGH inoGH in proestrous or diestrous animals or 30 ng oGH in diestrous animals 3 h before...
Site and Bond Fractions on Bethe Trees

Abstract Percolation theory, which was originally developed by mathematical physicists, can be applied to adsorption-desorption, to imbibition-desaturation and to mercury porosimetry. It is not always clear what past authors have done and how their models relate to each other. By classifying systems as ‘site’ or ‘bond’ fractions being accessible, it is possible to categorise past work into four groups. Using a Bethe tree as the network of bonds and sites, the solutions to the four main problems are given by a simple analysis. Two of these solutions are used in a model of imbibition-desaturation.
Recombinant vaccinia virus vaccines

Vaccinia viruses have been genetically engineered to express foreign antigens. Immunization with these chimeric viruses protects experimental animals against challenge with the relevant infectious agent. These results, together with the successful history of vaccinia virus as an immunizing agent against smallpox, provide the impetus for employing live recombinant vaccinia viruses for the immunoprophylaxis of infectious diseases of both human and veterinary importance.
The effect of a moderate increase in dietary fibre on the nutrient intake of 15 young women

Fifteen young women increased the fibre content of their diet from 19 g/d to 40 g/d for a period of 10 weeks using conventional food sources. They weighed and recorded all their food and drink intake. There was no change in energy intake, but the proportion of energy derived from fat fell from 40 to 34%. The intake of nearly all the vitamins and minerals increased. It was concluded that a moderate increase in dietary fibre has positive nutritional consequences for the whole diet.
The impact of lifestyle medicine continuing education on provider knowledge, attitudes, and counseling behaviors.

Background: There is a need for effective continuing medical education (CME) programs to increase healthcare providers’ knowledge and skills in lifestyle medicine so that healthcare providers are better equipped to assist patients in adopting and maintaining healthier lifestyle behaviors.Aims: To evaluate the impact of five live face-to-face CME programs in lifestyle medicine on providers’ barriers, knowledge, confidence, and professional counseling behaviors.Methods: 200 participants completed researcher-generated surveys before and 90 days after each CME program. Paired t-tests measured significant changes for all outcome variables, and regression analyses assessed predictors of these changes.Results: Barriers that were targeted during the programs, i.e. lack of knowledge/skills, lack of materials, and perceived poor patient compliance showed highly significant improvement. Participants also reported significant changes in knowledge, confidence, and counseling behaviors in the areas of exercise and stre...
Behavioral Genetics and Equality

I will explore the implications of findings in behavioral genetics for two conceptions of equality: equality of opportunity and the equal moral worth of persons. New findings in behavioral genetics showing that behavioral traits, and the variance in behavioral traits, have some genetic underpinnings would not seem in themselves to threaten either of these notions of equality—we have long known that there is significant variation in these traits across persons and have assumed that some significant portion of that variation has genetic sources. I believe it is the uncertain and probably distant prospect of genetic interventions to enhance some behavioral traits, which could greatly increase the range and inequality of those traits in humans, that may seem to threaten these two notions of equality. I will argue that significant capacities to enhance behavioral traits could indeed threaten and erode equality of opportunity, but that it should not undermine the equal moral worth of persons.To watch my presentation, please see the "Google Video posting":http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7235940965176250693&hl=en.
Taxon characteristics that promote survivorship through the Permian–Triassic interval: transition from the Paleozoic to the Mesozoic brachiopod fauna

Examination of organismal characteristics which promote survivorship through both background and mass extinctions may reveal general ecological principles potentially critical to modern conservation efforts. This study explores survivorship of brachiopods, a highly diverse and abundant Paleozoic clade, through the mid-Permian to mid-Triassic interval, which includes the greatest mass extinction in the history of metazoan life. This interval of time separates two of the major Phanerozoic evolutionary faunas. In this regard, survivorship across any one extinction during the interval would not have been relevant if the survivor went extinct shortly after the extinction event; surviving background extinction is as important as surviving a mass extinction. Similarly, taxa that survived but failed to rediversify also were not major elements of the Mesozoic evolutionary fauna. Thus, the analysis aims to analyze survivorship not just across a single extinction but across the entire mid-Permian to mid-Triassic; only survivors through the entire interval can be the ancestors of the Mesozoic clades. Fewer brachiopod genera survived the interval than did brachiopod clades, suggesting that pseudoextinction or insufficient sampling could be a problem in analyzing these extinctions; thus, survivorship analysis should be conducted at the clade level. Nine characteristics were examined for generic representatives of 20 North American brachiopod clades, five of which survived both Permian extinctions and the subsequent earliest Triassic transitional interval. Characteristics include both those that operate on global scales and those that operate on the higher-resolution scales of individuals and populations. Survivors were significantly smaller and occurred less frequently than victims. Mean diversity of communities in which survivors were present was significantly greater. The finding that rare taxa belonging to high-diversity communities were more likely to survive runs counter to traditional predictions. However, these results are consistent with recent studies suggesting that higher diversity within a trophic level may create a buffer, as surviving taxa quickly occupy the vacant niche space of the victims. As size, abundance, and community diversity are all statistically related, the small size of survivors may be an artifact of reduced biovolume per taxon in a diverse community. No significant relationship exists between global-scale processes and survivorship of brachiopods through the mid-Permian to mid-Triassic. The results suggest that ecological processes can strongly influence global extinction patterns.
Regulation of renal NaCl and water transport by the ATP/UTP/P2Y2 receptor system

Extracellular nucleotides (e.g., ATP) activate ionotropic P2X and metabotropic P2Y receptors in the plasma membrane to regulate and maintain cell function and integrity. This includes the renal tubular and collecting duct system, where the locally released nucleotides act in a paracrine and autocrine way to regulate transport of electrolytes and water and maintain cell volume. A prominent role has been assigned to Gq-coupled P2Y(2) receptors, which are typically activated by both ATP and UTP. Studies in gene knockout mice revealed an antihypertensive activity of P2Y(2) receptors that is linked to vasodilation and an inhibitory influence on renal salt reabsorption. Flow induces apical ATP release in the thick ascending limb, and first evidence indicates an inhibitory influence of P2Y(2) receptor tone on the expression and activity of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter NKCC2 in this segment. The apical ATP/UTP/P2Y(2) receptor system in the connecting tubule/cortical collecting duct mediates the inhibitory effect of dietary salt on the open probability of the epithelial sodium channel ENaC and inhibits ENaC activity during aldosterone escape. Connexin 30 has been implicated in the luminal release of the ATP involved in the regulation of ENaC. An increase in collecting duct cell volume in response to manipulating water homeostasis increases ATP release. The subsequent activation of P2Y(2) receptors inhibits vasopressin-induced cAMP formation and water reabsorption, which facilitates water excretion and stabilizes cell volume. Thus recent studies have established the ATP/UTP/P2Y(2) receptor system as a relevant regulator of renal salt and water homeostasis and blood pressure regulation. The pathophysiological relevance and therapeutic potential remains to be determined, but dual effects of P2Y(2) receptor activation on both the vasculature and renal salt reabsorption implicate these receptors as potential therapeutic targets in hypertension.
Placebo response in asthma: a robust and objective phenomenon.

Background Placebos are hypothesized to exert positive effects on medical conditions by enhancing patient expectancies. Recent reviews suggest that placebo benefits are restricted to subjective responses, like pain, but might be ineffective for objective physiologic outcomes. Nevertheless, mind-body links and placebo responsivity in asthma are widely believed to exist. Objective We carried out a randomized, double-blind investigation to (1) determine whether placebo can suppress airway hyperreactivity in asthmatic subjects, (2) quantify the placebo effect, (3) identify predictors of the placebo response, and (4) determine whether physician interventions modify the placebo response. Methods In a double-blind, crossover design investigation, 55 subjects with mild intermittent and persistent asthma with stable airway hyperreactivity were randomized to placebo or salmeterol before serial methacholine challenges. Subjects were additionally randomized to physician interactions that communicated either positive or neutral expectancies regarding drug effect. Results Placebo bronchodilator administration significantly reduced bronchial hyperreactivity compared with baseline (the calculated concentration of methacholine required to induce a 20% decrease in FEV 1 nearly doubled); 18% of subjects were placebo responders by using conservative definitions. Experimental manipulation of physician behavior altered perceptions of the physician but not the magnitude or frequency of the placebo response. Conclusions Objective placebo effects exist in asthma. These responses are of significant magnitude and likely to be meaningful clinically. The placebo response was not modulated by alterations in physician behavior in this study. Clinical implications The placebo response in patients with asthma is important in understanding the limitations of clinical research studies and in maximizing safe and effective therapies. This article confirms the existence of a strong placebo response in an objective and clinically relevant measure of disease activity.
Effects of visual‐manual tracking under dual‐task conditions on auditory language comprehension and story retelling in persons with aphasia

Background: Two recent studies (McNeil et al., 2004, 2005) evaluated non‐brain‐injured (N‐BI) elderly persons' dual‐task performance on a story retell procedure (SRP) and a visual‐manual line‐tracking task. Results of both studies demonstrated a unidirectional cost whereby the difficulty of the language task had an effect on tracking performance; however, the difficulty of the tracking task had no effect on language comprehension as indexed by story retelling. The authors gratefully acknowledge the helpful comments of two anonymous reviewers, the volume editor, programming support of Neil Szuminsky, and the funding of this project by the Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, project #C3159R. Aims: The specific aim of this investigation was to assess the effects of performing a concurrent visual‐manual tracking task on the comprehension of stories in persons with aphasia (PWA). Methods & Procedures: The current study evaluated the performance trading in these tasks in PWA...
A uniform implementation of fast multipole method for different integral operators encountered in electromagnetic scattering calculations

A uniform formulation is presented for using the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) to solve a set of simultaneous integral equations for electromagnetic wave scattering. The formulation is based on two operators that apply to the aggregation and disaggregation matrices. With these two operators, we can easily extend the MLFMA that is developed for PEC scatterers to include material coatings (bulk dielectrics as well as approximate boundary conditions). The introduction of the P and Q operators (two operators that modify the matrices, based on the integral operators of the integral equations) does not cause an increase in computation time and memory. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the application of the uniform formulation.
Product definition: assorted techniques and their marketplace impact

The author attempts to elucidate the processes used by Hewlett-Packard product development teams to create their project's product definitions. She outlines the case study methodology used to understand the role of product definition in marketplace success, and delineates the differences between product definition processes employed to develop products which were and were not marketplace successes. Product definition success factors map the quality of the product definition effort to the marketplace performance of the product. The reasons for completing each success factor are also examined. It is concluded that Hewlett-Packard's product definition project demonstrates that there is much to learn from retrospective analysis. The organization needs to decide that it is committed to do what is necessary to be successful; it needs to follow the best practices' process; it needs to assess whether what it is doing is successful or unsuccessful; and it needs to correct the deficiencies. >
E < MC2: less energy through multi-copy cache

Caches are known to consume a large part of total microprocessor power. Traditionally, voltage scaling has been used to reduce both dynamic and leakage power in caches. However, aggressive voltage reduction causes process-variation-induced failures in cache SRAM arrays, which compromise cache reliability. We present Multi-Copy Cache (MC2), a new cache architecture that achieves significant reduction in energy consumption through aggressive voltage scaling, while maintaining high error resilience (reliability) by exploiting multiple copies of each data item in the cache. Unlike many previous approaches, MC2 does not require any error map characterization and therefore is responsive to changing operating conditions (e.g., Vdd-noise, temperature and leakage) of the cache. MC2 also incurs significantly lower overheads compared to other ECC-based caches. Our experimental results on embedded benchmarks demonstrate that MC2 achieves up to 60% reduction in energy and energy-delay product (EDP) with only 3.5% reduction in IPC and no appreciable area overhead.
Concerning reliability and unreliability of dried pollen from commercial sources

Abstract 1.1. By microscopic examinations of 260 different lots of dry pollen purchased from commercial sources, 68.1 per cent were found authentic and uncontaminated, 20 per cent were contaminated but slightly, and 10.4 per cent of the contamination was "natural" in character, 6.5 per cent was incorrectly labeled, and 5.4 per cent were seriously contaminated. 2.2. Examination for certification of dried pollen to be used for extraction should be universally required.
The Role of Tourism in Alcohol-Related Highway Fatalities

Tourism and fatal single motor vehicle accidents, an index of alcohol-related motor accidents, are examined in a cross-sectional analysis of the 50 states of the Union and the District of Columbia. A multiple regression model is employed in which average mileage driven, percent of metropolitan residents, and number of licensed drivers are statistically controlled. Tourism is found to be positively associated with the single motor vehicle fatality rate. Further research and policy implications are discussed.
Another look at career choice and learning preferences.

Summary. The learning styles and preferences of health professionals have been studied increasingly over the past decade, yet few relationships have been found between doctors' career choices and learning styles. One of the problems of relating learning styles to specialty choice is that learning style instruments measure how an individual perceives and processes information in learning situations. This study re-examines doctors' career choices utilizing a learning preference inventory which assesses how one chooses to approach a learning situation. The study results indicate that there are significant differences in doctors' approaches to learning and interacting with others among the different career specialties using a learning preference inventory. This is in contrast to previous research with Kolb's Learning Style Inventory in which learning style was not found to be related to career choice.
Comparison of Improved Fluorometric Methods Used to Quantitate Plasma Catecholamines

Comparative studies reveal that the ethylenediamine and the trihydroxyindole method when employed as suggested are suitable for assessing sympatho-adrenal activation under various stressful conditions that are accompanied by release of catecholamines into the circulation. Both methods are very accurate in quantitating epinephrine or norepinephrine that has been added to plasma or whole blood, although recovery from blood is less, owing mainly to some association of catecholamines with formed elements, primarily erythrocytes. Use of sodium thiosulfate in the ethylenediamine procedure minimizes association of catecholamines with formed elements. If blood samples are cooled in ice water when collected, association of catecholamines with blood cells can be further reduced. In the trihydroxyindole method, unless tubes containing blood samples are immediately immersed in ice water, a significant amount of catecholamines will disappear from plasma, because of this association of catecholamines with cells.
Humoral immunity of older adults with periodontal disease to Porphyromonas gingivalis.

The effect of age on the humoral response to Porphyromonas gingivalis was assessed in groups of adults (25 to 54 years and 55 to 74 years) with periodontal disease and compared with that in age-matched healthy controls. To determine whether there was an antibody response against P. gingivalis, we measured serum antibodies against whole cells of P. gingivalis 381, A7A1-28, and W50. In addition, antibody levels against purified P. gingivalis outer membrane proteins (i.e., the 43-kDa fimbrial protein and a 75-kDa protein) were also evaluated. Elderly subjects showed the same response to P. gingivalis as younger subjects. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to both purified proteins were also elevated in both diseased groups as compared with the normal groups. Total serum IgG, IgA, and IgM levels were also determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for all four groups. Total serum IgG levels were elevated in older adults with periodontitis and total IgA levels were elevated in both groups of older adults compared with the younger groups of similar disease status. Total serum IgM levels were comparable for the four groups. Antinuclear antibody titers were assessed in the two groups of older adults and were also found to be higher for the group with periodontitis. These studies show that older adults as well as younger adults have markedly elevated specific antibodies of the IgG and IgA classes to antigens of P. gingivalis, a putative pathogen in both groups. Furthermore, older adults with periodontitis have significantly elevated levels of total serum IgG which may possibly be related to higher levels of autoantibodies.
Simulation model generation of discrete event logistics systems (dels) using software design patterns

To provide automated access from a formal system model to multiple analysis tools, such as discrete event simulation or optimization, we extend current model-based systems engineering (MBSE) methodologies by introducing a new model to model transformation method based on object-oriented creational patterns from software design. Implemented in MATLAB's discrete event simulation tool, SimEvents, we demonstrate the methodology by generating two distinct use cases based on a distribution supply chain and manufacturing system.
HIGHLY DEPLETED ETHANE AND MILDLY DEPLETED METHANOL IN COMET 21P/GIACOBINI-ZINNER: APPLICATION OF A NEW EMPIRICAL ν2-BAND MODEL FOR CH3OH NEAR 50 K

We obtained infrared spectra of Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner (hereafter 21P/GZ) using NIRSPEC at Keck II on UT 2005 June 3, approximately one month before perihelion, that simultaneously sampled H2O, C2H6, and CH3OH. Our production rate for H2O (3.885?? 0.074?? 1028?molecules?s?1) was consistent with that measured during other apparitions of 21P/GZ as retrieved from optical, infrared, and radio observations. Our analysis also provided values for rotational temperature (T rot?= 51?? 3?K) and the abundance ratio of ortho and para spin populations for water (OPR?= 2.99?? 0.23, implying a spin temperature exceeding 50?K). Six Q-branches in the ?7 band of C2H6 provided a production rate (5.27?? 0.90?? 1025?s?1) that corresponded to an abundance ratio of 0.136?? 0.023?? 10?2 relative to H2O, confirming the previously reported strong depletion of C2H6 from IR observations during the 1998 apparition, and in qualitative agreement with the depletion of C2 known from optical studies of 21P/GZ. For CH3OH, we applied our recently published quantum model for the ?3 band to obtain a rotational temperature (48+10/?7?K) consistent with that obtained for H2O. In addition, we developed a new empirical model for the CH3OH ?2 band, based on observations of Comet 8P/Tuttle with NIRSPEC. The application of our ?2 model to 21P/GZ yielded a production rate in agreement with that obtained from the ?3 band. Combining results from both ?2 and ?3 bands provided a production rate (47.5?? 4.4??1025?s?1) that corresponded to an abundance ratio of 1.22?? 0.11?? 10?2 relative to H2O in 21P/GZ, indicating mild depletion of CH3OH. Together with observations of 21P/GZ in 1998, our study provides a measure of primary volatile production rates for this Jupiter family comet over multiple apparitions using high-resolution IR spectroscopy.
Review of Corporate Insolvency Law: Perspectives and Principles, Vanessa Finch

In the Introduction to Corporate Insolvency Law, Vanessa Finch states that her book “sets out to offer a critical appraisal of modern corporate insolvency law rather than a description of existing statutory rules and case law on the subject.” Her aims are threefold: to outline the law on corporate insolvency and the procedures and enforcement mechanisms used in giving effect to that law, to set out a theoretical framework for corporate insolvency law that will establish benchmarks for evaluating that law and any proposed reforms, and to consider whether any new approaches to insolvency institutions and rules are called for. These are ambitious aims, which Finch ably achieves. The book is a good resource for insolvency practitioners and company lawyers, insolvency policy makers, and teachers and students in common law jurisdictions. In the United Kingdom, Corporate Insolvency Law could be used as a stand alone text for teaching a corporate insolvency law course. Elsewhere it could be used as a companion volume to accompany the local insolvency materials.
Inflammatory Cells of the Lung: Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs, or neutrophils) are positioned in the microvasculature of the lung to respond immediately to inflammatory stimuli. They sequester in the lung capillaries through unique hemodynamic and geometric properties of the pulmonary microvasculature, as well as changes in their biophysical properties during activation. In contrast to the systemic circulation, the pulmonary microvasculature has the capacity to shunt blood flow away from inflamed areas through vasoconstriction, which acts to limit the extent of PMN emigration into the airspaces. Due to these unique features of the pulmonary circulation, PMN migration in acute pulmonary inflammation is not always dependent on the typical multistep process of selectin-mediated rolling transitioning to chemokine-activated integrin-dependent arrest on Ig-CAMs. PMNs can cause extensive damage to the lung in a variety of infectious and toxicological inflammatory disorders. This is accomplished by their production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and release of granule components upon activation. Experimental models suggest that repetitive pulmonary inflammation and accompanying epithelial injury exacerbate the inflammatory cascade and enhance the extent of pulmonary inflammation and epithelial injury in subsequent cycles. However, there is also evidence that PMNs play an important role in removing injured pulmonary cells to enhance repair of the lung. The mechanisms utilized by PMNs to target injured cells and selectively kill them or cause their junctional detachment in the absence of parenchymal derangement are just beginning to be understood. Clearly this beneficial action of the PMN occurs only in mild toxicological injury to the lung since it appears to be a dose-dependent toxicological response with mild injury resulting in low to moderate PMN emigration, while severe injury is associated with robust PMN recruitment, degranulation, and reactive oxygen elaboration.
Enabling a "RISC" Approach for Software-Defined Monitoring using Universal Streaming

Network management relies on an up-to-date and accurate view of many traffic metrics for tasks such as traffic engineering (e.g., heavy hitters), anomaly detection (e.g., entropy of source addresses), and security (e.g., DDoS detection). Obtaining an accurate estimate of these metrics while using little router CPU and memory is challenging. This in turn has inspired a large body of work in data streaming devoted to developing optimized algorithms for individual monitoring tasks, as well as recent approaches to make it simpler to implement these algorithms (e.g., OpenSketch). While this body of work has been seminal, we argue that this trajectory of crafting special purpose algorithms is untenable in the long term. We make a case for a "RISC" approach for flow monitoring analogous to a reduced instruction set in computer architecture---a simple and generic monitoring primitive from which a range of metrics can be computed with high accuracy. Building on recent theoretical advances in universal streaming, we show that this "holy grail" for flow monitoring might be well within our reach.
Dynamic optimization of a heterogeneous swarm of robots

The control mechanisms of swarms of cooperating robots have been studied for some time now, but usually assuming homogeneous swarms. This paper presents a control algorithm for a heterogeneous swarm of cooperating robots based on a modification of the ant colony optimization (ACO) method. We consider the possibility of a partially disabled robot, we analyze the effect it would have on a heterogeneous swarm of robots, and we discuss how to work around the disability. We examine the effectivness of this control algorithm through a simulation study. For this purpose, a biologically inspired strategy is used for the movement of the robots.
Hearing and music in dementia

Music is a complex acoustic signal that relies on a number of different brain and cognitive processes to create the sensation of hearing. Changes in hearing function are generally not a major focus of concern for persons with a majority of neurodegenerative diseases associated with dementia, such as Alzheimer disease (AD). However, changes in the processing of sounds may be an early, and possibly preclinical, feature of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this chapter is to review the current state of knowledge concerning hearing and music perception in persons who have a dementia as a result of a neurodegenerative disease. The review focuses on both peripheral and central auditory processing in common neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on the processing of music and other non-verbal sounds. The chapter also reviews music interventions used for persons with neurodegenerative diseases.
Magnetic Microcalorimeter Gamma Detectors for High-Precision Non-Destructive Analysis, FY14 Extended Annual Report

Cryogenic gamma (γ) detectors with operating temperatures of ~0.1 K or below offer 10× better energy resolution than conventional high-purity germanium detectors that are currently used for non-destructive analysis (NDA) of nuclear materials. This can greatly increase the accuracy of NDA, especially at low-energies where gamma rays often have similar energies and cannot be resolved by Ge detectors. We are developing cryogenic γ–detectors based on metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMCs), which have the potential of higher resolution, faster count rates and better linearity than other cryogenic detector technologies. High linearity is essential to add spectra from different pixels in detector arrays that are needed for high sensitivity. Here we discuss the fabrication of a new generation of MMC γ–detectors in FY2014, and the resulting improvements in energy resolution and linearity of the new design. As an example of the type of NDA that cryogenic detectors enable, we demonstrate the direct detection of Pu-242 emissions with our MMC γ–detectors in the presence of Pu-240, and show that a quantitative NDA analysis agrees with the mass spectrometry