cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examining the relationship between adolescent sexual Risk-Taking and perceptions of monitoring, communication, and parenting styles

Abstract Purpose To examine the relationship between adolescent sexual risk-taking and perception of parental monitoring, frequency of parent–adolescent communication, and parenting style. The influences of gender, age, and ethnicity are also of interest. Methods Data were collected from 7th–12th grade students in six rural, ethnically diverse school located in adjacent counties in a Southeastern state. A 174-item instrument assessed adolescent perceptions, behaviors and attitudes. Youth who had engaged in sexual intercourse (n = 1160) were included in the analyses. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify parenting practices that predicted high versus low-risk sex (defined by number of partners and use of condoms). Variables included parental monitoring, parent–adolescent communication, parenting style, parenting process interaction effects and interaction effects among these three parenting processes and gender, age and ethnicity. Analyses included frequencies, cross-tabulations and logistic regression. Results Parental monitoring, parental monitoring by parent–adolescent communication and parenting style by ethnicity were significant predictors of sexual risk-taking. No gender or age interactions were noted. Conclusion Parental monitoring, parent–adolescent communication and parenting style are all important variables to consider when examining sexual risk-taking among adolescents.
Spectra and structure of phosphorus—boron compounds Part XXV. Infrared and Raman spectra, conformational stability and normal coordinate analysis of ethyldimethylphosphine—borane

Abstract The Raman (10 to 3500 cm −1 ) and infrared (50 to 3500 cm −1 ) spectra of solid ethyldimethylphosphine—borane, CH 3 CH 2 (CH 3 ) 2 P(BH 3 ) and its deuterated analog, CH 3 CH 2 (CH 3 ) 2 P(BD 3 ) have been recorded. Additionally, the Raman spectra of the liquid phases have been recorded and qualitative depolarization ratios have been obtained. Based on the fact that several bands were observed to disappear upon going from the liquid to the solid phase, it is concluded that the molecule exists as a mixture of the trans and gauche conformers with the trans conformer being the only one present in the solid phase. Employing Raman depolarization data, group frequencies and isotopic shift data, the spectrum of the solid phase has been interpreted on the basis of C s symmetry for the trans conformer. The assignment is supported by a normal coordinate calculation which was carried out utilizing a modified valence force field to obtain the frequencies of the normal modes and the potential energy distribution. The asymmetric torsion has been assigned to the bands at 127 cm −1 in both the -d 0 and -d 3 compounds. From a variable temperature Raman study it is concluded that the gauche conformer is the more stable form in the liquid phase and the enthalpy difference between the two conformers is estimated to be 590 ± 100 cm −1 (1.7 ± 0.3 cal mol −1 ). These results are compared with corresponding results for several other organophosphine—borane compounds.
Dissecting aneurysm of cerebral arteries in childhood and adolescence. Case report and literature review of 20 cases.

A nine year old girl died with a massive infarct of the right cerebral hemisphere causing transtentorial and foramen magnum herniation. The infarction was secondary to an idiopathic dissecting aneurysm. The case is unusual in that the supraclinoid segment of the right internal carotid artery, the anterior cerebral artery, and the middle cerebral artery and its three branches were embedded and sectioned longitudinally. The dissection commenced in the supraclinoid segment of the right internal carotid artery, extended into the middle and anterior cerebral arteries, and was accompanied by thrombosis of the false lumen. A literature review of 20 pediatric cases indicates the malignant natural course of the disease (76% mortality in the first two months), and emphasizes the characteristic angiographic “string sign”. The diagnosis of cerebral arterial dissection during life depends on angiography and a high index of suspicion.
Curvature computations for degenerate surface patches

Abstract This paper presents a method to compute curvatures of a surface patch S obtained from a degenerate representation defined over a rectangular domain. To compute curvatures at a point q in S where the surface representation is degenerate one has to assume that the point set S has a tangent plane and well defined curvatures at the point q where the curvatures are to be computed. Our computation method employs a local height function representation of S in a neighborhood of the point q where the height function h is defined over the tangent plane of S at the point q . In our method the second order partial derivatives of the height function h at q are computed by using second order derivatives of any three surfaces curves on S which end up in q with pairwise linearly independent tangent directions. The curvature entities of S at q are then computed by using the second order partial derivatives of the height function h at q . We also show how the method is extended to compute partial derivatives of any order of the function h at q . For this purpose we show (in Theorem 1) how the partial derivatives up to n th order of a surface at a point q can be computed using derivatives up to order n of n + 1 surface curves emanating from q . We also present a definition of a concept of generalized surface curvatures under weaker assumptions appropriate for degenerate surfaces. Under those weaker assumptions one does not require a locally C 2 -smooth height function representation of the surface over the tangent plane at the degenerate point q , nor a locally well defined (single-valued) height function representation of the surface in a neighborhood of the point q . One only needs the existence of a unique local second order approximation of the degenerate surface with a quadratic function defined over the tangent plane at q . The surface curvatures of the corresponding approximating quadratic surface then define the curvatures of the approximated degenerate surface in the contact point q .
Losses of Microstrip Lines

This article summarizes state-of-the-art information on losses of single and coupled microstrip lines. Conductor loss, substrate loss (for pure dielectric or magnetic materials), and radiation loss are considered along with the effect of dispersion. Finally, a rough comparison is made between the losses of microstrip and that of several other types of lines used in microwave integrated circuits.
Deposition of Dry Powder Generated by Solovent in Sophia Anatomical Infant Nose-Throat (SAINT) Model

Purpose: To quantify deposition of 99mtechnetium-labeled powder in the Sophia Anatomical Infant Nose-Throat (SAINT) model of a 9-month old. Methods: Powder was generated by the Solovent (BD Technologies), an active dry powder inhaler with spacer, during 30 seconds of tidal volume (TV) breathing. Activity that passed through the model was captured on a filter and represented powder that was available for deposition in the lungs. Deposition in the nasal cavity, on the filter, and in the spacer was expressed as a percentage of the injected dose into the spacer. Results: Mean (± SD) injected dose averaged 89.5 ± 0.09%, 90.3 ± 0.11%, and 91.3 ± 0.05% at 50, 100, and 200 mL TV, respectively. Mean nasal deposition increased significantly from 50 mL to 100 mL and 200 mL TV with 0.60 ± 0.002%, 1.72 ± 0.007%, and 6.75 ± 07.21%, respectively (all p ≤ 0.05). Similarly, mean filter deposition increased significantly from 50 mL to 100 mL to 200 mL with 0.28 ± 0.00%, 1.14 ± 0.00%, and 3.87 ± 0.01%, respectively (all p <...
Service Quality, Administrative Process, and Citizens’ Evaluation of Local Government in the US

AbstractIt is often assumed that citizens evaluate government based on service quality or outcomes (such as safe neighbourhoods or good schools), but aspects of administrative process (such as fairness and respect) are also important. Using data from two US surveys, this study examines how service quality and administrative process influence citizens’ evaluations of government. Results indicate that service quality matters most to ratings of the community; in contrast, administrative process is the dominant driver of trust; and both quality and process have large effects on judgements about government’s overall job performance. Implications for public management research and practice are discussed.
An in-situ surface fourier transform infrared study of the adsorption of isoquinoline at a stationary mercury electrode

Abstract Subtractively normalized interfacial Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (SNIFTIRS) was used to follow the potential dependent reorientations undergone by isoquinoline molecules that are adsorbed at a mercury electrode surface. The differences in the relative intensity changes on reorientation between the in-plane and out-of-plane vibrational modes have been explained in terms of field-induced infrared absorption.
Hydrogen bonding is the prime determinant of carboxyl pKa values at the N-termini of α-helices

Experimentally determined mean pK(a) values of carboxyl residues located at the N-termini of alpha-helices are lower than their overall mean values. Here, we perform three types of analyses to account for this phenomenon. We estimate the magnitude of the helix macrodipole to determine its potential role in lowering carboxyl pK(a) values at the N-termini. No correlation between the magnitude of the macrodipole and the pK(a) values is observed. Using the pK(a) program propKa we compare the molecular surroundings of 18 N-termini carboxyl residues versus 233 protein carboxyl groups from a previously studied database. Although pK(a) lowering interactions at the N-termini are similar in nature to those encountered in other protein regions, pK(a) lowering backbone and side-chain hydrogen bonds appear in greater number at the N-termini. For both Asp and Glu, there are about 0.5 more hydrogen bonds per residue at the N-termini than in other protein regions, which can be used to explain their lower than average pK(a) values. Using a QM-based pK(a) prediction model, we investigate the chemical environment of the two lowest Asp and the two lowest Glu pK(a) values at the N-termini so as to quantify the effect of various pK(a) determinants. We show that local interactions suffice to account for the acidity of carboxyl residues at the N-termini. The effect of the helix dipole on carboxyl pK(a) values, if any, is marginal. Backbone amide hydrogen bonds constitute the single biggest contributor to the lowest carboxyl pK(a) values at the N-termini. Their estimated pK(a) lowering effects range from about 1.0 to 1.9 pK(a) units.
Chemical Synthesis and Magnetotransport of Magnetic Semiconducting Fe1−xCoxSi Alloy Nanowires

We report single-crystal nanowires of magnetic semiconducting Fe1−xCoxSi alloys synthesized using a two-component single source precursor approach. Extending our previous syntheses of FeSi and CoSi nanowires from Fe(SiCl3)2(CO)4 and Co(SiCl3)(CO)4 precursors, we found that a homogeneous solution formed upon mixing these two precursors due to melting point suppression. This liquid constitutes the single-source precursor suitable for delivery through chemical vapor deposition, which enables the chemical synthesis of Fe1−xCoxSi alloy nanowires on silicon substrates covered with a thin (1–2 nm) SiO2 layer. Using scanning and transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and mapping, we demonstrate two homogenously mixed alloy nanowire samples with very different Co substitution concentrations (x): 6 ± 5%, the ferromagnetic semiconductor regime, and 44 ± 5%, the helical magnetic regime. The magnetotransport properties of these alloy nanowires are pronouncedly different from that of ...
Effect of parathyroid hormone on human T cell activation

Effect of parathyroid hormone on human T cell activation. Lymphocytes have receptors for PTH and patients with chronic renal failure have high blood levels of PTH and impaired lymphocyte function. It is possible, therefore, that PTH affects lymphocyte function. We studied the interaction between PTH and proliferation of human lymphocytes in vitro and examined potential mechanisms for such an interaction. 1-84 PTH stimulated in a dose dependent manner PHA-induced proliferation of T cells but had no effect on PWM-induced proliferation. The hormone did not alter CD4/CD8 ratio. Inactivation of PTH abolished its stimulatory effect. PTH augmented IL-2 production by PHA-activated T cells but did not increase expression of IL-2R. 1-34 PTH also stimulated PHA-induced T cell proliferation. TPA augmented PHA-induced T cell proliferation but the addition of PTH to the culture stimulated by PHA and TPA did not augment further the proliferation of T cells. Staurosporin reversed the stimulation by PTH of the PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation. Both 1-34 and 1-84 PTH stimulated cyclic AMP production by lymphocytes. Forskolin did not affect PHA-induced T cell proliferation although it stimulated cyclic AMP generation. The results show that: 1) PTH acts on T cells; 2) acute exposure to PTH augments PHA-induced T cell proliferation and IL-2 production; 3) this action of PTH is related to its biological activity and is most likely due to the ability of PTH to enhance entry of calcium into cells and/or stimulation of protein kinase C but is independent of cyclic AMP generation.
Regulation of the ATPase activity of ABCE1 from Pyrococcus abyssi by Fe–S cluster status and Mg2+: Implication for ribosomal function

Abstract Ribosomal function is dependent on multiple proteins. The ABCE1 ATPase, a unique ABC superfamily member that bears two Fe 4 S 4 clusters, is crucial for ribosomal biogenesis and recycling. Here, the ATPase activity of the Pyrococcus abyssi ABCE1 ( Pab ABCE1) was studied using both apo - (without reconstituted Fe–S clusters) and holo - (with full complement of Fe–S clusters reconstituted post-purification) forms, and is shown to be jointly regulated by the status of Fe–S clusters and Mg 2+ . Typically ATPases require Mg 2+ , as is true for Pab ABCE1, but Mg 2+ also acts as a negative allosteric effector that modulates ATP affinity of Pab ABCE1. Physiological [Mg 2+ ] inhibits the Pab ABCE1 ATPase ( K i of ∼1 μM) for both apo - and holo - Pab ABCE1. Comparative kinetic analysis of Mg 2+ inhibition shows differences in degree of allosteric regulation between the apo - and holo - Pab ABCE1 where the apparent ATP K m of apo - Pab ABCE1 increases >30-fold from ∼30 μM to over 1 mM with Mg 2+ . This effect would significantly convert the ATPase activity of Pab ABCE1 from being independent of cellular energy charge (φ) to being dependent on φ with cellular [Mg 2+ ]. These findings uncover intricate overlapping effects by both [Mg 2+ ] and the status of Fe–S clusters that regulate ABCE1’s ATPase activity with implications to ribosomal function.
Substrate specificities and intracellular distributions of three N-glycan processing enzymes functioning at a key branch point in the insect N-glycosylation pathway

Man(α1–6)[GlcNAc(β1–2)Man(α1–3)]ManGlcNAc2 is a key branch point intermediate in the insect N-glycosylation pathway because it can be either trimmed by a processing β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (FDL) to produce paucimannosidic N-glycans or elongated by N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II (GNT-II) to produce complex N-glycans. N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (GNT-I) contributes to branch point intermediate production and can potentially reverse the FDL trimming reaction. However, there has been no concerted effort to evaluate the relationships among these three enzymes in any single insect system. Hence, we extended our previous studies on Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf) FDL to include GNT-I and -II. Sf-GNT-I and -II cDNAs were isolated, the predicted protein sequences were analyzed, and both gene products were expressed and their acceptor substrate specificities and intracellular localizations were determined. Sf-GNT-I transferred N-acetylglucosamine to Man5GlcNAc2, Man3GlcNAc2, and GlcNAc(β1–2)Man(α1–6)[Man(α1–3)]ManGlcNAc2, demonstrating its role in branch point intermediate production and its ability to reverse FDL trimming. Sf-GNT-II only transferred N-acetylglucosamine to Man(α1–6)[GlcNAc(β1–2)Man(α1–3)]ManGlcNAc2, demonstrating that it initiates complex N-glycan production, but cannot use Man3GlcNAc2 to produce hybrid or complex structures. Fluorescently tagged Sf-GNT-I and -II co-localized with an endogenous Sf Golgi marker and Sf-FDL co-localized with Sf-GNT-I and -II, indicating that all three enzymes are Golgi resident proteins. Unexpectedly, fluorescently tagged Drosophila melanogaster FDL also co-localized with Sf-GNT-I and an endogenous Drosophila Golgi marker, indicating that it is a Golgi resident enzyme in insect cells. Thus, the substrate specificities and physical juxtapositioning of GNT-I, GNT-II, and FDL support the idea that these enzymes function at the N-glycan processing branch point and are major factors determining the net outcome of the insect cell N-glycosylation pathway.
Theory for Raman superradiance in atomic gases

A mean field theory for Raman superradiance (SR) with recoil is presented, where the typical SR signatures are recovered, such as quadratic dependence of the intensity on the number of atoms and inverse proportionality of the time scale to the number of atoms. A comparison with recent experiments and theories on Rayleigh SR and collective atomic recoil lasing (CARL) are included. The role of recoil is shown to be in the decay of atomic coherence and breaking of the symmetry of the SR end-fire modes.
Purification and kinetic characterization of a phenol-sulfating form of phenol sulfotransferase from human brain☆

Abstract The identification of three forms of phenol sulfotransferase (PST) in human brain and the subsequent purification and kinetic characterization of a phenol-sulfating form of the enzyme are described. Two forms of PST which were capable of conjugating phenol and a third form which sulfated dopamine were resolved from one another using DEAE-cellulose chromatography. One of the phenol-sulfating forms (PI-PST) was sub-sequently purified on Affi-Gel blue and Sephacryl S-200, giving a final purification of almost 390-fold, with an overall yield of approximately 5%. The purified enzyme was sensitive to NaCl and showed an optimum for phenol conjugation at pH 8.5. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that sulfation by PI-PST proceeds via a sequential ordered, bisubstrate reaction mechanism, where 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) is the leading substrate. The true Km and Kia values for PAPS were both 0.35 μ m , while the true Km value for phenol was 2.8 μ m .
Studies on the hydrolytic action of pronase on derivatized and non-derivatized proteins

1. 1. The products of pronase hydrolysis of native, oxidized, dinitrophenylated, and dinitrophenylated-oxiodized RNAase (polyribonucleotide 2-oligonucleotidotransferase (cyclizing), EC 2.7.7.16) were fractionated by means of silica-gel-column chromatography of their 2,4-dinitrophenyl derivatives. 2. 2. With the exception of glycine and proline, most of the amino acids, including asparagine, glutamine and methionine sulfone, were found to be well liberated. 3. 3. Pronase action on a dinitrophenylated protein yielded ϵ-DNP-lysine but not O-DNP-tyrosine or imidazole-DNP-histidine. 4. 4. It was pointed out that the introduction of toluene into the solvent system eliminates the need for preliminary extraction procedures commonly employed for the silica gel column chromatography of DNP derivatives.
Loss of a critical neutral protease in ageing WI-38 cells.

THE limited lifespan of normal human diploid cells in vitro seems to be related to the number of mitotic divisions the cells have undergone rather than to passage of time1–3. In spite of considerable research3–7 it is still unclear what biochemical events actually mediate the cell death or more accurately the absence of growth. In other systems it has been postulated that regulation of growth may be mediated by activity at the cell membrane. Specifically it has been suggested that cellular division is controlled in part by membrane mediated cell contact, and proteases and lysosomal enzymes have ben implicated in the control of mitosis and growth8–11. Thus cell surface events may be either primary or secondary events mediating cell ageing. Acid hydrolases have been postulated as modifying the cell surface in sublethal autolysis, electrophoretic mobility of cells gives an indication of cell surface chemistry and neutral proteases have been implicated in modification of cell external surfaces9–15. We now demonstrate that two cell surface parameters are greatly affected by in vitro ageing: activity of a pH 7.8 protease and cell surface net charge as measured by electrophoretic mobility. It should be emphasised that the small standard deviations for the electrophoretic mobility data reported herein are a function of the large n (number of independent observations) and do not preclude population heterogeneity.
Incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection in high-risk febrile neutropenic patients colonized with VRE

This study seeks to determine the incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection in high-risk neutropenic fever patients colonized with VRE and to determine patient characteristics associated with VRE infection. We conducted a retrospective, single-center, unmatched case-control study. Fifty-three VRE-colonized, high-risk patients with neutropenic fever were identified between January 2006 and February 2009. The two most common diagnoses/conditions included acute myeloid leukemia and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Data collected included days of neutropenia, days of fever, demographic data, culture results, and antimicrobial therapy. Twenty of the 53 patients (38%) with VRE colonization developed a VRE infection. The most common VRE infections were bacteremias (26%). The presence of neutropenia lasting longer than 7 days was associated with the development of VRE infection in this high-risk population colonized with VRE. The timeframe to develop VRE infection varied from 1 day to 2 weeks. For patients colonized with VRE, approximately 38% of high-risk neutropenic patients developed a VRE infection. This is the first study to specifically evaluate the incidence of VRE infections in febrile neutropenic patients colonized with VRE. Future research into the use and efficacy of empiric VRE coverage is needed.
Determination of the properties of magnetic turbulence in radio sources

The transport of polarized synchrotron radiation in a source possessing a highly irregular magnetic field, as proposed by Laing has been considered. The transport equation has been solved in a special case, relating the observable correlation functions in the Stokes parameters Q and U to the correlation functions of magnetic field and plasma density in the source. A rough application of the results to observations of the radio galaxy 3C 166 indicates that the turbulent scale length may be a few percent of the lobe size.
Proton echo-planar spectroscopic imaging with highly effective outer volume suppression using combined presaturation and spatially selective echo dephasing.

A highly effective outer volume suppression (OVS) technique, termed spatially selective echo dephasing (SSED), which employs gradient dephasing of spatially selective spin echoes, is introduced. SSED, which is relatively insensitive to T(1) dispersion among lipid signals and B(1) inhomogeneity, was integrated with very high spatial resolution 2D proton echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (PEPSI) to assess residual lipid bleeding into cortical regions in the human brain. The method was optimized to minimize signal refocusing of secondary spin-echoes in areas of overlapping suppression slices. A comparison of spatial presaturation with single or double SSED, and with combined presaturation and SSED shows that the latter method has superior performance with spatially uniform lipid suppression factors in excess of 70. Metabolite mapping (choline, creatine, and NAA) with a 64 x 64 spatial matrix and 0.3 cm(3) voxels in close proximity to peripheral lipid regions was demonstrated at 1.5 T with a scan time of 32 min using the standard head coil.
Local efficiency variations in coaxial Ge(Li) detectors

Abstract Substantial variations in full energies peak efficiency were observed when a 1 mm γ-ray beam of 122 keV from 57 Co was directed at a series of points across the face and along the axis of an open-ended true coaxial detector. The full energy peak efficiency near the n-layer was measured to be less than 50% of that near the p-core. As the peak efficiency decreases across the intrinsic region, the continuum below the peak (0–117 keV) increases, so that the total counts in the spectrum remain essentially constant over the sensitive area. This non-uniform response is thought to be due primarily to imperfect compensation resulting in recombination and therefore incomplete charge collection.
Imaging a moving lung tumor with megavoltage cone beam computed tomography.

Purpose: Respiratory motion may affect the accuracy of image guidance of radiation treatment of lung cancer. A cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) image spans several breathing cycles, resulting in a blurred object with a theoretical size equal to the sum of tumor size and breathing motion. However, several factors may affect this theoretical relationship. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of tumor motion on megavoltage (MV)-CBCT images, by comparing target sizes on simulation and pretreatment images of a large cohort of lung cancer patients. Methods: Ninety-three MV-CBCT images from 17 patients were analyzed. Internal target volumes were contoured on each MV-CBCT dataset [internal target volume (ITV{sub CB})]. Their extent in each dimension was compared to that of two volumes contoured on simulation 4-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT) images: the combination of the tumor contours of each phase of the 4D-CT (ITV{sub 4D}) and the volume contoured on the average CT calculated from the 4D-CT phases (ITV{sub ave}). Tumor size and breathing amplitude were assessed by contouring the tumor on each CBCT raw projection where it could be unambiguously identified. The effect of breathing amplitude on the quality of the MV-CBCT image reconstruction was analyzed. Results: The meanmore » differences between the sizes of ITV{sub CB} and ITV{sub 4D} were −1.6 ± 3.3 mm (p < 0.001), −2.4 ± 3.1 mm (p < 0.001), and −7.2 ± 5.3 mm (p < 0.001) in the anterior/posterior (AP), left/right (LR), and superior/inferior (SI) directions, respectively, showing that MV-CBCT underestimates the full target size. The corresponding mean differences between ITV{sub CB} and ITV{sub ave} were 0.3 ± 2.6 mm (p = 0.307), 0.0 ± 2.4 mm (p = 0.86), and −4.0 ± 4.3 mm (p < 0.001), indicating that the average CT image is more representative of what is visible on MV-CBCT in the AP and LR directions. In the SI directions, differences between ITV{sub CB} and ITV{sub ave} could be separated into two groups based on tumor motion: −3.2 ± 3.2 mm for tumor motion less than 15 mm and −10.9 ± 6.3 mm for tumor motion greater than 15 mm. Deviations of measured target extents from their theoretical values derived from tumor size and motion were correlated with motion amplitude similarly for both MV-CBCT and average CT images, suggesting that the two images were subject to similar motion artifacts for motion less than 15 mm. Conclusions: MV-CBCT images are affected by tumor motion and tend to under-represent the full target volume. For tumor motion up to 15 mm, the volume contoured on average CT is comparable to that contoured on the MV-CBCT. Therefore, the average CT should be used in image registration for localization purposes, and the standard 5 mm PTV margin seems adequate. For tumor motion greater than 15 mm, an additional setup margin may need to be used to account for the increased uncertainty in tumor localization.« less
Forecasting Periodic Trends by Exponential Smoothing

Some commodities are known to have periodic trends, through seasonal variations and other variations that are repetitive. In forecasting these trends it is desirable to use a set of periodic functions. A method is obtained for the computation of the required coefficients in exponential smoothing when the set of fitting functions consists of a finite number of sine and cosine functions, or such functions multiplied by exponential functions. Explicit expressions are derived for some particular cases.
Adaptive Reconfiguration of Complex System Architecture

Abstract In this paper, an approach for adaptive reconfiguration of architecture of a complex system using computational intelligence techniques is proposed. This paper establishes that the simulated change in the relative importance of rules reflecting the significance of customer's key performance attributes could be used to affect architectural evolution. The proposed approach was demonstrated on a sample system. It was also extended to a general system. The evolving system architecture gave the system an adaptive feature in the sense that it accepted alternative components based on the simulated changes in the environment. Architecture alternatives were generated through genetic algorithms (GA), while fuzzy logic was used to determine the fittest architectures based on the ambiguous multi-dimensional performance attributes provided by the customer modeled in quality function deployment (QFD). The weights of fuzzy associative memory (FAM) rules were randomly changed to simulate results of environmental effects and demonstrate how the system would self-adapt.
The impact of source effects and message valence on word of mouth retransmission

The impact of word of mouth (WOM) on consumer actions is more pronounced now than ever due to technology. Modern advancements have made engaging in WOM and contributing to viral marketing very comm...
Bias correction of monthly precipitation and temperature fields from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change AR4 models using equidistant quantile matching

[1] A new quantile-based mapping method is developed for the bias correction of monthly global circulation model outputs. Compared to the widely used quantile-based matching method that assumes stationarity and only uses the cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) of the model and observations for the baseline period, the proposed method incorporates and adjusts the model CDF for the projection period on the basis of the difference between the model and observation CDFs for the training (baseline) period. Thus, the method explicitly accounts for distribution changes for a given model between the projection and baseline periods. We demonstrate the use of the new method over northern Eurasia. We fit a four-parameter beta distribution to monthly temperature fields and discuss the sensitivity of the results to the choice of distribution range parameters. For monthly precipitation data, a mixed gamma distribution is used that accounts for the intermittent nature of rainfall. To test the fidelity of the proposed method, we choose 1970-1999 as the baseline training period and then randomly select 30 years from 1901-1999 as the projection test period. The bootstrapping is repeated 30 times to mimic different climate conditions that may occur, and the results suggest that both methods are comparable when applied to the 20th century for both temperature and precipitation for the examined quartiles. We also discuss the dependence of the bias correction results on the choice of time period for training. This indicates that the remaining biases in the bias-corrected time series are directly tied to the model's performance during the training period, and therefore care should be taken when using a particular training time period. When applied to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change fourth assessment report (AR4) A2 climate scenario projection, the data time series after bias correction from both methods exhibit similar spatial patterns. However, over regions where the climate model shows large changes in projected variability, there are discernable differences between the methods. The proposed method is more sensitive to a reduction in variability, exemplified by wintertime temperature. Further synthetic experiments using the lower 33% and upper 33% of the full data set as the validation data suggest that the proposed equidistance quantile-matching method is more efficient in reducing biases than the traditional CDF mapping method for changing climates, especially for the tails of the distribution. This has important consequences for the occurrence and intensity of future projected extreme events such as heat waves, floods, and droughts. As the new method is simple to implement and does not require substantial computational time, it can be used to produce auxiliary ensemble scenarios for various climate impact-oriented applications.
Anatomic assessment of the bifurcation of the left main coronary artery using multidetector computed tomography

Multiple techniques for stenting left main coronary artery (LMCA) bifurcation lesions exist, and an accurate understanding of normal LMCA anatomy is essential for proper diagnosis and therapeutic intervention for these lesions. The purpose of this paper is to identify various anatomic LMCA characteristics at the point of bifurcation and draw relevant clinical lessons from these characteristics. Two independent observers analyzed 105 cardiac dual-source computed tomography images recording LMCA length, angle of bifurcation, and cross-sectional area of the LMCA, left circumflex artery (LCX), and anterior interventricular artery (AIVA) at the point of LMCA bifurcation. Frequency of left dominance, right dominance, and codominance, as well as LMCA trifurcation was also noted. Average LMCA length was 9.9 ± 4.15 (range 2–21 mm). Average angle of bifurcation between LCX and AIVA was found to be 69.3° ± 33.3° (range 14°–200°). The most frequent division of the LMCA is a bifurcation into the terminal LCX and AIVA. In 20/105 cases (19.0%) a trifurcation pattern was identified. Average cross-sectional areas at point of LMCA bifurcation were as follows for LMCA, LCX, and AIVA respectively: 12.4 ± 4.4 mm2 (range 2.3–25.9 mm2), 7.4 ± 3.5 mm2 (range 1.2–23 mm2), 8.5 ± 3.5 mm2 (range 1.3–25.9 mm2). Frequency of heart dominance was as follows for right dominant, left dominant, and codominant 85.7, 9.5, and 4.8%, respectively. Accurate knowledge of the in vivo anatomy of the area of bifurcation of the LMCA is essential for avoiding the misdiagnoses of diseases and for proper stent placement during percutaneous intervention in the area of bifurcation.
Development of an ISO 9000-Compatible Occupational Health Standard—II: Defining the Potential Benefits and Open Issues

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is currently voting on a final draft of ISO 14000 Environmental Standards that follow the general philosophy of ISO 9000 product quality standards. Should the international community also consider development of an ISO 9000-14000 compatible occupational safety and health management standard (OSH 16 open issues are identified in the major categories of applications, ethics, cost, and international issues.
The Journey of Excellence: A South Dakota Nursing Program’s Response to Community Needs

This article describes unique partnerships between South Dakota communities and the University of South Dakota that have been established for the purpose of assuring that nursing education opportunities are provided to individuals who are tied to the land. This includes those individuals who cannot uproot their families and move to Vermillion, the home of the University of South Dakota. As a result of these partnerships, there are hundreds of nurses throughout this state practicing nursing rather than dreaming of being a nurse. These registered nurses are providing quality nursing care within the very community that supports the educational efforts, and in turn this approach is addressing the nursing shortage.
A Near-Wall Eddy Conductivity Model for Fluids With Different Prandtl Numbers

Near-wall turbulence models for the velocity and temperature fields based on the transport equations for the Reynolds stresses, the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy, and the temperature variance and its dissipation rate are formulated for flows with widely different Prandtl numbers. Conventional high-Reynolds-number models are used to close these equations and modifications are proposed to render them asymptotically correct near a wall compared to the behavior of the corresponding exact equations. Thus formulated, two additional constants are introduced into the definition of the eddy conductivity. These constants are found to be parametric in the Prandtl number
Fast algorithms for edge-coloring planar graphs

Abstract We present two algorithms which color edges of every planar graph G with max(Δ(G), 19) colors. Therefore both algorithms produce an optimal coloring if Δ(G) ≥ 19. The first one is a linear-time sequential algorithm. The second one is a parallel EREW PRAM algorithm which runs in O(log2n) time using O(n) processors. Both algorithms are based on reduction techniques analogous to techniques used previously for vertex coloring, and both improve the best known sequential and parallel algorithms. The results are generalized to constant-genus graphs.
Disproportionate Burden of Melanoma Mortality in Young US Men The Possible Role of Biology and Behavior

Unlike other preventable cancers for which mortality rates are dropping, melanoma mortality has only recently stabilized owing in large part to the unremitting increases among middle-aged and older white men, for which much attention has been paid. Gamba et al1 now focus our attention on young adults. Concentrating on US individuals from the National Cancer Institute�s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry ages 15 to 39 years, they reveal a rather striking disparity: young men experience a 55% difference in melanoma survival compared with young women. There are many notable findings; among these, sharp sex differences in case fatality wherein young men comprise only 40% of all cases but more than 60% of all deaths. The consistency of the effect seen in 18 registries and over 20 years is quite dramatic; within all specific age groups and across all tumor thickness categories, histologic subtypes, and anatomic sites, young men experience a disproportionate burden of melanoma deaths. Similar sex disparities apparently exist in survival by the presence and extent of regional spread of disease. The findings are so consistent that they imply a fundamental biological difference in �male� vs �female� melanoma, at least for a significant fraction of patients. It is notable that the newly diagnosed melanomas were on average thicker and more advanced in men than in women. This leads to the question of whether increased mortality may have arisen from diagnostic challenges such as �missed� deep margins or later diagnosis and delay. Yet even for melanomas deeper than 4 mm, men fared more poorly than women, thereby pointing more in the direction of distinctive biology. Still, prognosis for disease with distant metastasis was essentially equally poor for men and women.
Axial channeling studies of strained-layer superlattices

Axial-channeling results are presented for the analysis of strained-layer superlattices (SLS), a broad new class of semiconductor materials with adjustable electronic properties. In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As/GaAs periodic layer structures grown by molecular-beam epitaxy were analyzed by 2-MeV He-ion backscattering and channeling. Random spectra are used to obtain information on the layer thickness and composition. Channeled spectra and angular scans provide information on the lattice strain. The tetragonal distortions in the growth direction give rise to alternating tilts in inclined crystal rows at each interface. This results in significant dechanneling and narrowing of the angular scans along the (110) directions, but not along the (100) growth direction. Both the magnitude of the dechanneling with depth and the narrowing of the angular scans are directly related to the SLS lattice strain; theoretical calculations are required to determine the absolute magnitude of the strain. Results suggest the technique is sufficiently sensitive to detect lattice mismatches approx. = 0.2%, corresponding to lattice distortions of 0.01 A.
Assessing a New Advertising Effect: Measurement of the Impact of Television Commercials on Internet Search Queries

ABSTRACT Most Americans today use both television and the Internet on a daily basis, and studies have shown that many are frequently online or in proximity of a computer while they are watching television. One result of these multi-platform media use patterns is a new television advertising effect: today9s consumer can easily obtain more information on an advertised product by searching for more information on the Web. This article demonstrates the measurement of such an effect by introducing a new metric—a measure of changes in Google search queries—that can show how TV commercials or sponsorships can trigger Internet searches by consumers. We believe this metric is a valuable addition to the researcher9s toolkit for assessing advertising effects and regions of interest as it measures an actual behavioral advertising response.
Texture and structural interpretation of the alteration of pyroxene to other biopyriboles

In a metamorphosed gabbro from Hokkaido, Japan, augite containing exsolved orthohypersthene and minor pigeonite has been altered to a variety of biopyriboles. High resolution transmission electron microscopy of slightly altered augite shows only narrow (010) lamellae of clinoamphibole which always contain even numbers of double chains. In more highly altered regions, all three pyroxenes are changed to double-, triple- and more highly polymerized multiple-chain biopyriboles, with chlorite d 001∼ 14.5 A) found only in orthopyroxene. Several (010) lamellae containing only one double chain have been observed, and their textural relationship to the surrounding single-chain host may explain how the rotated domains of biopyribole initially attain their orientation in the host pyroxene. A structural model is proposed for the polymerization of single chains in the tetrahedral layers of pyroxene which involves small movements of oxygens and tetrahedral atoms (Si, Al) with a minimum of bond breaking and re-forming, concommitant with hydroxylization of certain oxygens and the diffusion of Mg, Fe and/or Ca along the rift in the octahedral layer.
Design and operating conditions for reliable load/unload systems

Abstract Dynamic load/unload (L/UL) has been widely used in portable and removable drives, and the disk drive industry has recently begun to apply it in desktop and server drives to eliminate stiction and wear associated with contact start–stop (CSS). There are many design parameters in L/UL systems that affect reliability, such as the slider air bearing, suspension, ramp and operating parameters. In this paper, we summarize our recent work on L/UL. We discuss the effects of the air bearing design, the suspension and its limiters, L/UL speed, disk rmp, ramp profile, and dimple pre-load. The results are expected to aid in the design of reliable L/UL systems.
An evaluation of the geomorphically effective event for fluvial processes over long periods

[1] Fluvial processes erode landscapes in response to a wide range of discharges. The importance of a given discharge to the erosion of a basin can be calculated by multiplying the discharge's frequency of occurrence and the erosion rate produced by the discharge. The discharge that contributes the most geomorphic work is called the geomorphically effective event (GEE). In this paper, the behavior of the GEE is examined when a generic stream power model with a threshold is used to describe either the detachment or transport of sediment by flowing water. The results suggest that the return period of the GEE depends primarily on the threshold value when the exponent on discharge is less than 2. Otherwise, it depends primarily on the exponent. The GEE usually cannot be substituted for the probability density function of discharge because it produces a different long-term erosion rate. Furthermore, the return period of the GEE can vary spatially in a basin. For example, the return period can be different between locations where the fluvial process is dominant and subdominant if the threshold is nonzero. For a detachment-limited model the return period of the GEE is different upstream and downstream of knickpoints, and for a transport-limited model the return period is different along channel profiles even at steady state. Spatial variation in streamflow generation also produces spatial variations in the return period of the GEE.
Incorporating Environmental Uncertainty into Species Management Decisions: Kirtland’s Warbler Habitat Management as a Case Study

We present a framework for expressing species management objectives that incorporates the inherent riskiness of species management strategies. This framework identifies two critical parameters in the management objective: the population level that one would like to achieve and the minimum acceptable probability of attaining that population objective with a given management strategy—the safety margin. We then explore the implications of imposing a management objective in this form on habitat management decisions for the Kirtland’s Warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii). We used a stochastic simulation model to generate probability distributions for Kirtland’s Warbler population outcomes under different management strategies. The management parameter we varied was rotation length of commercial logging, and the cost of each rotation length was calculated as the opportunity cost of not operating at the profit-maximizing rotation length. The cost and warbler population distribution associated with each rotation length were then used to derive cost curves for the two critical decision parameters—population level and safety margin. For most of the range of values analyzed, the relationships between cost and both population objective and safety margin are linear. In addition, the rate at which cost rises with population objective increases as the safety margin required for that objective is raised. Incorporacion de la Incertidumbre Ambiental en Decisiones de Manejo de Especies: El Manejo de Habitat de Dendroica kirtlandii como Caso de Estudio Presentamos una estructura conceptual para expresar los objetivos de un manejo de especies que incorpore los riesgos inherentes a las estrategias de manejo. Esta estructura identifica dos parametros cruciales en el objetivo del manejo: el nivel de poblacion que uno podria abarcar y la probabilidad minima aceptable de alcanzar esa poblacion objetivo con una estrategia de manejo dada (margen de seguridad). Posteriormente exploramos las implicaciones de imponer un objetivo de manejo de esta forma en decisiones de manejo para la curruca de Kirtland (Dendroica kirtlandii). Utilizamos un modelo de simulacion estocastica para generar las distribuciones de probabilidad para la especie bajo diferentes estrategias de manejo. Variamos el parametro de manejo “longitud de rotacion” en la tala comercial. El costo de cada longitud de rotacion fue estimado como el costo de oportunidad por la no operacion de la longitud de rotacion de maxima ganancia. El costo y la distribucion de las currucas asociadas con cada longitud de rotacion fueron usados para derivar curvas de costo para los dos parametros de decision criticos—nivel de poblacion y margen de seguridad. Para la mayoria del rango de valores analizados, las relaciones entre costo y poblacion objetivo y margen de seguridad fueron lineales. Aunado a esto, la tasa a la cual el costo se incrementa debido a un incremento en la poblacion objetivo, se incrementa cuando el margen de seguridad requerido para ese objetivo tambien incrementa.