cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Headquarters as hardware and software

The article proposes a framework for thinking about the role and elements of a corporate headquarters. The concept is that headquarters is both a physical place with implications for the culture and work processes of the firm and a set of processes and strategies that define how the work actually gets done and the employees and leadership groups interact. The main thesis of the piece is that to properly design and operate headquarters that these elements of both hardware and software of headquarters must be designed and operated together.
Mental Health and Emotions

This chapter provides an overview of sociological scholarship on social status variations in mental health and emotions among adults in the United States. Although sociologists have long argued that there is a close link between individuals’ various social positions in society and their private feelings, I focus on major methodological innovations, substantive findings and theoretical developments that have emerged from the sociologies of mental health and emotions from the 1970s to the present with respect to gender, marital status and socioeconomic status differences in the experience and expression of emotion and emotional well-being/distress. I also point to some important gaps in knowledge about and compelling topics for future research on this topic. Overall, by documenting and explaining the social patterning of subjectively experienced feelings, expressive behavior and emotional well-being/distress in the adult population, sociologists of mental health and emotion have made significant contributions to knowledge about social influences on human emotion.
Long-Term Reliability Management For Multitasking GPGPUs

This paper proposes long-term reliability management for spatial multitasking GPU architectures. Specifically, we focus on electromigration (EM)-induced long-term failure of the GPU's power delivery network. A distributed power delivery network model at functional unit granularity is developed and used for our EM analysis of GPU architectures. We use a recently proposed physics-based EM reliability model and consider the EM-induced time-to-failure at the GPU system level as a reliability resource. For GPU scheduling, we mainly focus on spatial multitasking, which allows GPU computing resources to be partitioned among multiple applications. We find that the existing reliability-agnostic thread block scheduler for spatial multitasking is effective in achieving high GPU utilization, but poor reliability. We develop and implement a long-term reliability-aware thread block scheduler in GPGPU-Sim, and compare it against existing reliability-agnostic scheduler. We evaluate several use cases of spatial multitasking and find that our proposed scheduler achieves up to 30% improvement in long-term reliability.
Spatial Distributions of Attitudes and Preferences towards Autonomous Vehicles

Prior research on attitudes towards autonomous vehicles (AVs) shows variation across a set of demographic and socio-economic factors, but few consider spatial patterns. We investigate the spatial distributions of attitudes and preferences towards AVs from a U.S. nationally representative on-line panel. We examine 1) four attitudinal dimensions established by an exploratory factor analysis – technology acceptance, driving enjoyment, risk-taking, and traffic regulation – and their spatial variations; and 2) public viewpoints and preferences in purchasing, sharing, and using privately-owned and shared AVs. Findings suggest that the northeastern US is more receptive to AVs, compared to other parts of the country.
Acute disruption of the synaptic vesicle membrane protein synaptotagmin 1 using knockoff in mouse hippocampal neurons

The success of comparative cell biology for determining protein function relies on quality disruption techniques. Long-lived proteins, in postmitotic cells, are particularly difficult to eliminate. Moreover, cellular processes are notoriously adaptive; for example, neuronal synapses exhibit a high degree of plasticity. Ideally, protein disruption techniques should be both rapid and complete. Here, we describe knockoff, a generalizable method for the druggable control of membrane protein stability. We developed knockoff for neuronal use but show it also works in other cell types. Applying knockoff to synaptotagmin 1 (SYT1) results in acute disruption of this protein, resulting in loss of synchronous neurotransmitter release with a concomitant increase in the spontaneous release rate, measured optically. Thus, SYT1 is not only the proximal Ca2+ sensor for fast neurotransmitter release but also serves to clamp spontaneous release. Additionally, knockoff can be applied to protein domains as we show for another synaptic vesicle protein, synaptophysin 1.
Kourat el Kadem: soccer culture and fandom in postcolonial Francophone Algerian texts

This article examines soccer culture and fandom in North African Francophone literature, focusing on sociological studies and the ideological underpinnings that exist between soccer culture, nation...
Charge-Transfer Excitation of Ar + in Low-Energy He + + Ar Collisions

An experimental study has been made of the excitation of the ArII spectrum in low-energy (10-1000 eV) ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ + Ar collisions. The principal states excited, which have lines from 3500 to 5200 \AA{}, have been positively identified. The dependence of excitation on energy has been measured for six states. It is found that states with $^{1}D$ parent terms are generally stronger and have more rapid rise with energy at threshold than states with $^{3}P$ parent terms. The effect of cascade from higher excited states on the intensities of the strongest lines has been studied. The energy dependence of one state is compared with the form expected from a simple Landau-Zener model.
Can You All Look Here? Towards Determining Gaze Uniformity In Group Images

Since the advent of the smartphone, the number of group images taken every day is rising exponentially. The photographers' struggle is to make sure everyone looks at the camera while taking the picture. More specifically, in a group image, if everybody is not looking in the same direction, then the image's aesthetic quality and utility are depreciated. The photographer usually discards the image, and then subsequently, several images are taken to mitigate this issue. Usually, users have to manually check if the image is uniformly gazed, which is tedious and time-consuming. This paper proposes a method for classifying a given group image as uniformly gazed or nonuniformly gazed by calculating the Gaze Uniformity Index. We evaluate the proposed method on a subset of the ‘Images of Groups' dataset. The proposed method achieved an accuracy of 67%.
Perceived Psychosocial Impacts of Legalized Same-Sex Marriage: A Scoping Review of Sexual Minority Adults' Experiences

A growing body of literature provides important insights into the meaning and impact of the right to marry a same-sex partner among sexual minority people. We conducted a scoping review to 1) identify and describe the psychosocial impacts of equal marriage rights among sexual minority adults, and 2) explore sexual minority women (SMW) perceptions of equal marriage rights and whether psychosocial impacts differ by sex. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework we reviewed peer-reviewed English-language publications from 2000 through 2019. We searched six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, JSTOR, and Sociological Abstracts) to identify English language, peer-reviewed journal articles reporting findings from empirical studies with an explicit focus on the experiences and perceived impact of equal marriage rights among sexual minority adults. We found 59 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Studies identified positive psychosocial impacts of same-sex marriage (e.g., increased social acceptance, reduced stigma) across individual, interpersonal (dyad, family), community (sexual minority), and broader societal levels. Studies also found that, despite equal marriage rights, sexual minority stigma persists across these levels. Only a few studies examined differences by sex, and findings were mixed. Research to date has several limitations; for example, it disproportionately represents samples from the U.S. and White populations, and rarely examines differences by sexual or gender identity or other demographic characteristics. There is a need for additional research on the impact of equal marriage rights and same-sex marriage on the health and well-being of diverse sexual minorities across the globe.
GluD1 is a signal transduction device disguised as an ionotropic receptor.

Ionotropic glutamate delta receptors 1 (GluD1) and 2 (GluD2) exhibit the molecular architecture of postsynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors, but assemble into trans-synaptic adhesion complexes by binding to secreted cerebellins that in turn interact with presynaptic neurexins1–4. It is unclear whether neurexin–cerebellin–GluD1/2 assemblies serve an adhesive synapse-formation function or mediate trans-synaptic signalling. Here we show in hippocampal synapses, that binding of presynaptic neurexin–cerebellin complexes to postsynaptic GluD1 controls glutamate receptor activity without affecting synapse numbers. Specifically, neurexin-1–cerebellin-2 and neurexin-3–cerebellin-2 complexes differentially regulate NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) receptors and AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid) receptors by activating distinct postsynaptic GluD1 effector signals. Of note, minimal GluD1 and GluD2 constructs containing only their N-terminal cerebellin-binding and C-terminal cytoplasmic domains, joined by an unrelated transmembrane region, fully control the levels of NMDA and AMPA receptors. The distinct signalling specificity of presynaptic neurexin-1 and neurexin-35,6 is encoded by their alternatively spliced splice site 4 sequences, whereas the regulatory functions of postsynaptic GluD1 are mediated by conserved cytoplasmic sequence motifs spanning 5–13 residues. Thus, GluDs are signalling molecules that regulate NMDA and AMPA receptors by an unexpected transduction mechanism that bypasses their ionotropic receptor architecture and directly converts extracellular neurexin–cerebellin signals into postsynaptic receptor responses. The ionotropic glutamate delta receptors GluD1 and GluD2 form distinct neurexin–cerebellin complexes that differentially regulate postsynaptic glutamate receptor activities.
Management of a parenteral opioid shortage using ASHP guidelines.

Purpose Management of an acute shortage of parenteral opioid products at a large hospital through prescribing interventions and other guideline-recommended actions is described. Summary In early 2018, many hospitals were faced with a shortage of parenteral opioids that was predicted to last an entire year. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has published guidelines on managing drug product shortages. This article describes the application of these guidelines to manage the parenteral opioid shortage and the impact on opioid dispensing that occurred in 2018. Our approach paralleled that recommended in the ASHP guidelines. Daily dispensing reports generated from automated dispensing cabinets and from the electronic health record were used to capture dispenses of opioid medications. Opioid prescribing and utilization data were converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME) to allow clinical leaders and hospital administrators to quickly evaluate opioid inventories and consumption. Action steps included utilization of substitute opioid therapies and conversion of opioid patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and opioid infusions to intravenous bolus dose administration. Parenteral opioid supplies were successfully rationed so that surgical and elective procedures were not canceled or delayed. During the shortage, opioid dispensing decreased in the inpatient care areas from approximately 2.0 million MME to 1.4 million MME and in the operating rooms from 0.56 MME to 0.29 million MME. The combination of electronic health record alerts, increased utilization of intravenous acetaminophen and liposomal bupivacaine, and pharmacist interventions resulted in a 67% decline in PCA use and a 65% decline in opioid infusions. Conclusion A multidisciplinary response is necessary for effective management of drug shortages through implementation of strategies and practices for notifying clinicians of shortages and identifying optimal alternative therapies.
Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) Enhances Local Hemodynamics and Global Dynamic Connectivity in the Cortex as Measured by fNIRS

1064-nm Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) on the right prefrontal cortex can increase the local hemodynamic oxygenation in the right prefrontal cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Also, tPBM can time-dependently improve the global brain connectivity.
Poetic Origins: Revisiting William Carlos Williams's "The Poem as a Field of Action” and Mapping the Building Blocks of Poetry

This article begins with a reflection on William Carlos Williams's lecture "The Poem as a Field of Action” in light of recent developments in theoretical physics as a means to uncover fundamental aspects of poetry. Discussing where and how meaning originates, the paper explores quantum mechanics, speculative realism, panpsychism, endosymbiosis, Gia theory, and biosemiotics. Biosemiotics interprets life as a semiotic process and proposes that biological life at all levels is concerned with meaning-making. The essay concludes by arguing that the basic elements of poetry”such as semiosis, metaphor, and interpretation”are basic aspects of all living, autopoietic beings.
On the Design of Social Robots Using Sheaf Theory and Smart Contracts.

The incorporation of robots in the social fabric of our society has taken giant leaps, enabled by advances in artificial intelligence and big data. As these robots become increasingly adept at parsing through enormous datasets and making decisions where humans fall short, a significant challenge lies in the analysis of robot behavior. Capturing interactions between robots, humans and IoT devices in traditional structures such as graphs poses challenges in the storage and analysis of large data sets in dense graphs generated by frequent activities. This paper proposes a framework that uses the blockchain for the storage of robotic interactions, and the use of sheaf theory for analysis of these interactions. Further, the use of smart contracts on the blockchain is proposed with an embedding of two parameters in the smart contracts – imperfect information and irrationality – to enable robots to operate deftly in various human environments that expect different levels of dominance from the robot. This work shows the application of such a framework for various blockchain applications on the spectrum of human-robot interaction, and identifies key challenges that arise as a result of using the blockchain for robotic applications.
Disability and the Evasion of Color in Theodore Taylor’s The Cay

Theodore Taylor’s The Cay received a great deal of criticism upon its publication in 1969 for its racism, yet it has remained in American public school curricula for over fifty years. Defenders of the novel have argued that it advocates for color-blindness, a position that has helped entrench it in schools. Meanwhile, few critics have taken issue with the novel’s depiction of disability. This article brings together those critiques, showing how the novel leans on blindness as a narrative prosthetic to champion color-blindness, a problematic and outdated ideology. Here, color-blindness refers to the claim well-meaning people make when they insist they do not see someone’s skin color because they see the “person underneath.” The novel’s ideology reduces racism to an ocular problem and discourages readers from interrogating racism on a systemic level. This article advocates for The Cay’s censorship or pedagogical usage only in the most critical contexts by examining the ways the novel evades systemic racism, stigmatizes disability by portraying it as a lesson in moral development, and glorifies a white fantasy of racial forgiveness. The continued uncritical, or pseudo-critical investment in The Cay is much more troubling than the novel itself.
Software Process Improvement: Concepts and Practices

Software Process Improvement Models and Standards Software Process Modelling The Soft System Methodology as a Framework for Software Process Improvement An Analysis of Excluded IS Processes in the Capability Maturity Model and Their Potential Impact Organizations and Strategic Management Software Development and Organizational Viability - an Account of the Impact of Organizational Issues Upon Software Quality Using the Software CMM with Small Projects and Small Organizations IS Change Agents in Software Process Improvement Generic Programming, Partial Evaluation and a New Programming Paradigm Communicating Project Drift Through Cost/Benefit Scenarios Group-Enabled Software Inspections A Technical Infrastructure for Process Support.
The Blue Crab Fishery in Mississippi

Analysis of 670 trawl, seine and marsh net samples collected from July 1971 through June 1973 provided data on the distribution and abundance of blue crabs in Mississippi Sound. Highest average catches were associated with salinities between 5.0 and 15.0 ppt (parts per thousand) and temperatures between 20.0 and 25.OoC. Young crabs congregated in dredged navigational channels and in the marshes that fringe the bays and coastline. Maximum numbers were captured over soft mud bottoms. Peak numbers of zoeae occurred in the summer and fall. Megalopae were collected in all months. Early crab stages appeared throughout the year. Width-frequency distributions suggested rapid growth. Crabs tagged and released in Lake Borgne, La. during the fall of 1971 moved into Mississippi Sound in the vicinity of Cat Island to overwinter. Recoveries of crabs released in the St. Louis Bay, Biloxi Bay and Pascagoula River estuarine systems indicated little movement between estuaries during the spring and summer. Identified parasites included a new microphallid trematode. Commercial landings of blue crabs averaged 1,712,000 pounds for the 20-year period 1953-1972. Catch per unit of effort (pounds/pot day) was low during the spring and fall, peaking in the summer. Rises in the catch per unit of effort closely followed the migration of female crabs into Mississippi Sound.
Russia and the Council of Europe : The Perils of Premature Admission

Instead of encouraging reform, the Council of Europe tends to overlook Russia's heavyhanded "managed democracy."
HABIS IN DUPONT PHOTOPOLYMER FILMS FOR THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

DuPont designed and manufactured various pieces of equipment necessary to operate or facilitate performing the basic photoresist processes. Some were specifically designed while others were modifications of existing equipment. Laminators capable of handling 24˝ width used heat and pressure to laminate the RISTON ® and MYLAR ® to one sided or two sided substrates while winding the poly onto a core. The earliest formulations of RISTON® films did not use hexaarylbiimidazoles (HABI) as an ingredient, primarily because films based solely on HABI could not be easily stripped. HABI by itself was too efficient as a photoinitiator. So they were based on benzophenone-Michler's ketone (BP/MK). As the subsequent processes became more chemically demanding on the resists, it was essential to incorporate HABI as a co-initiator together with the BP/MK. These led to more chemically resistant films that could still be readily stripped and remain to this day. HABI by itself does not initiate polymerization upon irradiation but requires the presence of one or more coinitiators. These may be t -amines or heterocyclic mercaptans. Later HABI was used by DuPont in combination with leuco crystal violet to produce a visible printout image on exposure. This eliminated confusion in the fabrication process because yellow room operators sometimes mixed up racks of exposed andunexposed panels.
Traditional Culture: How Does it Work?

As a visiting fellow of the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Cultural Property in August 2010, I found myself in a familiar routine: complaining about the conceptualization of traditional culture embedded in current intergovernmental protection and propertization initiatives, notably UNESCO’s Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage and the World Intellectual Property Organization’s Intergovernmental Committee on Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources [sic!], and Traditional Cultural Expressions/Expressions of Folklore. One afternoon I sat down and wrote out the principal points of irritation, trying to imagine what a general alternative statement might look like so that it could be made available to policymakers and local actors engaged on various sides of cultural propertization initiatives.
Polymerizable amphiphiles, 3. Polymerization of micellized 1‐O‐3‐(4‐vinylphenyl)propyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranose

1-O-3-(4-Vinylphenyl)propyl-β-D-glucopyranose (1) was polymerized in organic solvents and in aqueous solutions above and below the critical micelle concentration by three different free-radical initiators: 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN), dipotassium peroxodisulfate (K2S2O8), and 2-(phenylazothio)naphthalene (ATE). The polymerization is self-accelerating in dilute aqueous solutions, regardless of whether oil-soluble or water-soluble initiators were used. Size exclusion chromatography was employed to monitor the change of molar masses, molar mass distributions, and conversions with time. The polymerization kinetics was also followed by UV spectroscopy. The polymerization by ATE led to polymerized micelles (P-mers) under preservation of the degree of micellization. The polymerization by K2S2O8 and AIBN, on the other hand, resulted in the polymerization of bigger micelles (R-mers) beside a small amount of polymerized P-micelles.
Cytochrome c Oxidase from Bakers' Yeast I. ISOLATION AND PROPERTIES

Cytochrome aa3 was purified 35- to 40-fold from submitochondrial particles of commercial bakers' yeast. The purification procedure involved solubilization of the enzyme with cholate, fractionation with ammonium sulfate, and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose in the presence of Triton X-100. The purified, active enzyme contained approximately 10 nmoles of heme a per mg of protein and was free of other hemoproteins. Upon sucrose gradient centrifugation in the presence of Triton X-100, it sedimented as a single peak with an apparent molecular weight of 190,000 to 225,000. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate resolved the enzyme into six major polypeptide bands of apparent molecular weight 42,000, 34,500, 23,000, 14,000, 12,500, and 9,500. The six components could be specifically precipitated from a crude mitochondrial extract with rabbit antiserum against the holoenzyme. The six components behaved as a single species during DEAE-cellulose chromatography and sucrose gradient centrifugation, and all could be precipitated with an antiserum against the three small components only. These and other observations indicate that all six components are physically associated with cytochrome c oxidase, even after solubilization of the mitochondrial inner membrane.
A flame approach to unsteady combustion phenomena with application to a flame interacting with a cold wall

In Sod [12] a random choice method was introduced for one-dimensional laminar flame propagation. The method decomposes the flow field into normal modes which consist of elementary waves and steadystate waves (steady-state flame profiles). The steady-state profiles are sampled to provide left and right states for the Riemann problems solved in the random choice method. The diffusion and reaction terms are taken into account simultaneously in the steady-state flame profile, thereby preserving the natural balance that exists between these two processes. In Sod [14] this method is extended to multiple space dimensions through operator splitting. However, for many reactive flows, this can be very expensive. To remedy this, the sampled values from the one-dimensional steady-state flame profiles are compiled in a dictionary. Each set of entries in this flame dictionary is the result of a detailed one-dimensional steady-state calculation including the full chemistry. For a given set of reactions, the expense associated with the establishment of the dictionary is incurred only once. The number of entries in the dictionary depends on how complex the reaction is. The method was developed for situations where solutions to problems with the same chemical properties and different hydrodynamics and geometries were sought. It is demonstrated in Sod [14] that the flame dictionary method when compared with a standard method in one space dimension is nearly four orders of magnitude faster. This becomes even faster in multiple space dimensions. In Sod [15] the method is extended to cylindrical (or spherical) coordinate systems with axial (or radial) symmetry. The steady-state equation is modified to be translation invariant. In this work the method is summarized and numerical results are presented for the propagation of a flame in a cylinder with cold walls.
A commentary on literacy narratives as sponsors of literacy

This brief commentary first clarifies Brandt's concept of sponsors of literacy in light of the way the concept has been taken up in writing studies. Then it treats Brandt's methods for handling accounts of literacy learning in comparison with other ways of analyzing biographical material. Finally it takes up Lawrence's argument about literacy narratives as sponsors of literacy.
Current approaches to enhance glutamate transporter function and expression

L-glutamate is the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS and has a central role in a variety of brain functions. The termination of glutamate neurotransmission by excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) is essential to maintain glutamate concentration low in extracellular space and avoid excitotoxicity. EAAT2/GLT-1, being the most abundant subtype of glutamate transporter in the CNS, plays a key role in regulation of glutamate transmission. Dysfunction of EAAT2 has been correlated with various pathologies such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, among others. Therefore, activators of the function or enhancers of the expression of EAAT2/GLT-1 could serve as a potential therapy for these conditions. Translational activators of EAAT2/GLT-1, such as ceftriaxone and LDN/OSU-0212320, have been described to have significant protective effects in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and epilepsy. In addition, pharmacological activators of the activity of EAAT2/GLT-1 have been explored for decades and are currently emerging as promising tools for neuroprotection, having potential advantages over expression activators. This review describes the current status of the search for EAAT2/GLT-1 activators and addresses challenges and limitations that this approach might encounter. Termination of glutamate neurotransmission by glutamate transporter EAAT2 is essential to maintain homeostasis in the brain and to avoid excitotoxicity. Dysfunction of EAAT2 has been correlated with various neurological pathologies. Therefore, activators of the function or enhancers of the expression of EAAT2 (green arrows) could serve as a potential therapy for these conditions. This review describes the current status of the search for EAAT2 activators and addresses challenges and limitations of this approach.
Changes in Oxygen Tension and Effects on Cyclooxygenase Metabolites: III. Decrease of Retinal Prostacyclin in Kittens Exposed to Hyperoxia

The acute phase of oxygen-induced retinopathy is associated with vasoconstriction and occlusion of the retinal vessels. Because this acute vasoobliterative phase could be due to the inhibition in retinal vessels of the production of the potent vasodilator and antithrombotic metabolite prostacyclin, animal experiments were performed to assess this possibility. Eight litters of 27 kittens (four to six days of age) were used. Control kittens were left in room air; hyperoxic kittens were placed in 80% oxygen for 48 hours; recovery kittens were returned to room air for 24 hours following hyperoxic exposure. Following treatments, the animals were killed, retinas isolated, and prostaglandin formation assessed. Retinal tissues produced 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, prostaglandin F2 alpha, prostaglandin E2, and thromboxane B2 from exogenous arachidonate. A significant (approximately 33%) reduction in retinal 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (the end product of prostacyclin) was observed both in the hyperoxic and recovery litter mates when compared with controls. Both of the experimental groups also demonstrated a reduction in total retinal prostanoids that paralleled the changes observed in prostacyclin, suggesting that the biochemical effect of hyperoxia on retinal vascular arachidonic acid metabolism occurred at the level of cyclooxygenase. A decrease in the local production of prostacyclin during hyperoxia is consistent with the histologic retinal changes observed during the acute phase of oxygen-induced retinopathy.
Biological Nitrogen Fixation in Lake Erie

Biological nitrogen fixation, as determined by acetylene reduction, occurs in Lake Erie. Fixation potential by blue-green algae in situ in water and by bacteria in collected sediments was demonstrated. Nitrogen-fixing activity occurred from June through November suggesting that it is significant over the extremes of seasonal variation in light, temperature, and nutrients.
Prevention of colorectal cancer in high-risk populations: the increasing role for endoscopy and chemoprevention in FAP and HNPCC.

Familial colorectal cancer (CRC) is heterogeneous. Screening recommendations do exist for individuals with a mild to moderate family history of CRC, with or without early age at onset. However, most a
Influence of EGR on Soot/NOx Production in a Light-Duty Diesel Engine

A study to explore the effect of EGR upon combustion in a light-duty automotive style diesel engine was performed. The engine used in this study was a Mercedes 1.7L 4 cylinder, direct injected turbodiesel with a common rail injection system. The engine was operated at 2500 RPM, 50% load, with constant rail pressure and injection duration. An endoscope imaging system built by AVL, called the VisioScope™, was used to acquire in-cylinder optical images of combustion events. These images were processed to extract soot radiation temperatures and soot volume fraction for each pixel. The results were compared to global engine measurements using piezo-electric pressure transducers, an emissions bench, and a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) to characterize particulates. It was discovered that the optical data correlated well with the global measurements, allowing for in-depth analysis of the mechanisms of emissions formation at three different EGR levels (0%, 10%, 19%). Several conclusions were reached, including the correlation of soot radiation temperature with NOx production and the correlation of soot luminosity with engine-out PM. Each of these factors was determined as a function of EGR level.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Universal Health Insurance and the Effect of Cost Containment on Mortality Rates: Strokes and Heart Attacks in Japan

For more than four decades, Japan has offered universal health insurance. Despite the demand subsidy entailed, it has kept costs low by regulatorily capping the amounts it pays doctors, particularly for the most modern and sophisticated procedures. Facing subsidized demand but stringently capped prices on complex procedures, Japanese physicians have had little incentive to invest in specialized expertise. Instead, they have invested in small private clinics and hospitals. The resulting proliferation of primitive clinics and hospitals has cut both the number of complex modern medical procedures performed, and the number of hospitals with any substantial experience in those procedures. With a quarter of the heart disease in the United States, Japan performs less than 3 percent as many coronary bypass operations and less than 6 percent as many angioplasties. Of the 855 cities and regions in Japan, 77 percent lack any hospital with substantial experience in the sophisticated modern treatment (defined below) of cerebrovascular disease, and 89 percent lack much experience in angioplasties. In this article, I estimate one of the costs of this regulatorily-driven lack of expertise. Toward that end, I combine mortality data from 855 cities with information on local hospital expertise and local demographic composition. In the typical city, I find that the addition of one hospital with substantial experience in modern stroke treatment would cut annual stroke mortality by 7 to 16 deaths. The addition of one hospital with substantial experience in angioplasties would cut the annual deaths from heart attacks in the city by over 19.
Self-reported use of antidepressants or benzodiazepine tranquilizers and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer: evidence from two combined case-control studies (Massachusetts, United States)

Data from two population-based case-control studies in the greater metropolitan Boston, MA (USA) were used to assess the association of self-reported use of antidepressants or benzodiazepine tranquilizers and epithelial ovarian cancer. Cases were women between 18 and 80 years of age diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer during two time periods: November 1978 through September 1981, and July 1984 through September 1987. Female controls were identified from Massachusetts town books and were frequency-matched to cases by age, race, and precinct of residence. In-person interviews assessed reproductive and medical histories as well as prescription medication use. Prior use of antidepressants or benzodiazepine tranquilizers exceeding one to six months was associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.9–4.8, and adjusted OR=1.8, CI=1.0–3.1, respectively). The association was confined primarily to women whose first use occurred before age 50 years (adjusted OR=3.5, CI=1.3–9.2, and adjusted OR=2.7, CI=1.3–5.6, respectively). No association was observed with respect to other non-hormonal medications reported.
On the Evidence Needed to Reach Agreed Action between Adversaries, with Application to Acceptance Sampling

Abstract Two decision makers disagree about a quantity of interest to them both. One of them, the “consumer,” has a choice of two decisions that are affected by the quantity. The other, the “manufacturer,” offers to perform an agreed type of experiment that it is hoped will change the consumer's view of the quantity and hence the decision. This article is devoted to the evaluation of how much experimentation should be done. Binomial, Poisson, and normal likelihoods, together with their conjugate utilities and probabilities, are considered and illustrated by numerical cases. The scenario considered here arises in applications to quality control, bidding, drug testing, marketing, and sales.
Gamma globulin and immune mechanisms in the chick embryo.

SummaryThe histologic findings reveal that rabbit and guinea pig anti-serum placed directly on the chick embryonal membrane or injected intravenously into the chorionic vessels fails to produce any detectable changes to skin heterografts transplanted to the chorio-allantoic membrane.The authors wish to thank Dr. Howard Green, Dept. of Pathology, New York Univ. Med. Center, for his kind interest and helpful suggestions. The authors also wish to thank Mrs. Caroline Wantoch and Mr. Rudolph Rustia for technical assistance.
A new criterion for tractability of multivariate problems

Abstract Tractability of multivariate problems studies their complexity with respect to the number of variables, d , and the accuracy of the solution e . Different types of tractability have been used, such as polynomial tractability and weak tractability and others. These tractability types, however, do not express the complexity with respect to the number of bits of accuracy. We introduce two new tractability types, polylog tractability and ln κ -weak tractability. A problem is polylog tractable iff its complexity is polynomial in d and in ln e − 1 , while a problem is ln κ -weakly tractable iff its complexity is not exponential in d and ln κ e − 1 , for some κ ≥ 1 . We study general multivariate problems and multivariate tensor product problems. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the respective tractability types. Moreover, we show that a multivariate tensor product problem cannot be polylog tractable and cannot be ln 1 -weakly tractable (i.e., with κ = 1 ) unless it is trivial.
THE G MATRIX UNDER FLUCTUATING CORRELATIONAL MUTATION AND SELECTION

Theoretical quantitative genetics provides a framework for reconstructing past selection and predicting future patterns of phenotypic differentiation. However, the usefulness of the equations of quantitative genetics for evolutionary inference relies on the evolutionary stability of the additive genetic variance–covariance matrix (G matrix). A fruitful new approach for exploring the evolutionary dynamics of G involves the use of individual-based computer simulations. Previous studies have focused on the evolution of the eigenstructure of G. An alternative approach employed in this paper uses the multivariate response-to-selection equation to evaluate the stability of G. In this approach, I measure similarity by the correlation between response-to-selection vectors due to random selection gradients. I analyze the dynamics of G under several conditions of correlational mutation and selection. As found in a previous study, the eigenstructure of G is stabilized by correlational mutation and selection. However, over broad conditions, instability of G did not result in a decreased consistency of the response to selection. I also analyze the stability of G when the correlation coefficients of correlational mutation and selection and the effective population size change through time. To my knowledge, no prior study has used computer simulations to investigate the stability of G when correlational mutation and selection fluctuate. Under these conditions, the eigenstructure of G is unstable under some simulation conditions. Different results are obtained if G matrix stability is assessed by eigenanalysis or by the response to random selection gradients. In this case, the response to selection is most consistent when certain aspects of the eigenstructure of G are least stable and vice versa.
Polyglutamines Placed into Context

Nine inherited neurodegenerative disorders result from polyglutamine expansions. Two recently published papers on spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, together with studies on spinobulbar muscular atrophy last year, indicate that host protein context is the key arbiter of polyglutamine disease protein toxicity. This insight may represent the most important development in the field since the recognition of nuclear inclusions or the propensity of polyglutamine to aggregate. Indeed, an intimate and inextricable relationship may exist between polyglutamine neurotoxicity and the normal interactions, domains, modifications, and functions of the respective disease proteins.
A Stochastic Economic Analysis of Large Herringbone and Parallel Milking Parlors

A milking parlor simulation and a stochastic model for a capital budget for the parlor were used to determine economically preferred parlors within three milking facility sizes [40 stalls (double-20 herringbone or double-20 parallel), 64 stalls (two double-16 herringbones, two double-16 parallels, or a double-32 parallel), and 80 stalls (two double-20 herringbones, two double-20 parallels, or a double-40 parallel)] and economically preferred operating characteristics (pulsation ratio and vacuum pressure) and management strategies (milking procedures and amounts of milking labor). Net returns indicated that the preferred parlor for 40 stalls was the double-20 parallel. The preferred parlors for 64 stalls were two double-16 parallels and for 80 stalls were two double-20 parallels. The economic advantage for these parlors versus alternative parlors ranged from $688,940 (double-20 parallel) to $2,793,855 (two double-20 parallels). Analyses indicated that values of all preferred parlors were maximized by operation at a high vacuum pressure (50.8 kPa), a wide pulsation ratio (70:30), minimal milking procedures (attach units and postdip), and minimal amounts of milking labor (20 to 32 units per milker). Parallel parlors had higher values than did herringbone parlors, and multiple, small (two double-16 or two double-20) parallel and herringbone parlors had higher values than did single, large (double-32 or double-40) parallel parlors.
Microfracture from thermal expansion anisotropy—I. Single phase systems

Abstract The onset of the mode of microfracture associated with thermal expansion anisotropy has been calculated for single phase polycrystals. The calculations include estimates of the thermal stress in single grains and in polycrystalline aggregates, emphasizing the grain orientations and shapes that yield the maximum stress intensification at boundary located defects. The largest stress intensification was found to occur at triple points, emphasizing that triple point defects are the most likely sites for microfracture initiation. Critical grain facet sizes for microfracture initiation have been predicted as functions of the elastic, viscoelastic and thermal properties of the material, the defect size distribution, and the boundary fracture energy. Although a wide statistical variability in the microfracture condition is anticipated, the predictions can be shown to conform reasonably well with data for magnesium titanate and results obtained for alumina.
REPAYMENT FREQUENCY AND DEFAULT IN MICROFINANCE: EVIDENCE FROM INDIA

In stark contrast to bank debt contracts, most micro-finance contracts require that repayments start nearly immediately after loan disbursement and occur weekly thereafter. Even though economic theory suggests that a more flexible repayment schedule would benefit clients and potentially improve their repayment capacity, micro-finance practitioners argue that the fiscal discipline imposed by frequent repayment is critical to preventing loan default. In this paper we use data from a field experiment which randomized client assignment to a weekly or monthly repayment schedule and find no significant effect of type of repayment schedule on client delinquency or default. Our findings suggest that, among micro-finance clients who are willing to borrow at either weekly or monthly repayment schedules, a more flexible schedule can significantly lower transaction costs without increasing client default. (JEL: 012, 016, 022)
Dual institutional structure and housing inequality in transitional urban China

Abstract Enriching the Asian perspectives in the research of social stratification, this study sheds light on distinct housing inequality patterns after housing was transformed from the most important welfare benefit to the most valuable private property in the late 1990s in urban China. We develop a theoretical model of the dual institutional structure to highlight that housing allocation mechanisms are characterized by coexistence of socialist legacy and market logic. We draw empirical evidence from the 2003 Chinese General Social Survey data to capture the critical period following the radical housing reform. Statistical results show that individual attributes, work unit characteristics, and market development exert distinct impacts on state-channeled housing benefits and market-based housing rewards under the dual institutional structure. These findings indicate that we should conduct substantive institutional analyses to achieve a deeper understanding of complex stratification mechanisms and inequality patterns during the market transition.
Fuzzy argumentation for negotiating agents

In this paper, we present the notion of fuzzy unification and incorporate it into a novel fuzzy argumentation framework. We make the following contributions: The argumentation framework is defined by a declarative bottom-up fixpoint semantics and an equivalent goal-directed top-down proof-procedure. Our framework allows one to represent positive and explicitly negative knowledge, as well as uncertainty. Both concepts are used in agent communication languages such as KQML and FIPA ACL. One source of uncertainty in open systems stems from mismatches in parameter and predicate names and missing parameters. To this end, we conservatively extend classical unification and develop fuzzy unification based on normalised edit distance over trees.
DFT and HF–DFT calculations of quadrupole coupling constants in molecules

Abstract The efficacy of several DFT and HF–DFT methods for the calculation of 14 N quadrupole coupling constants in molecules has been investigated. Valence triple-zeta quality Pople and Dunning correlation consistent type bases were used. Assessment of the different methods was made by linear regression analysis of the calculated efg's versus the experimental nqcc's. The HF–DFT methods were found superior to the DFT methods. The least residual standard deviation was obtained with the B3PW91/6-311+G(df,pd) model. For 39 molecules containing 45 nitrogen sites, the standard deviation is 30 kHz (1.3%). Regarding the Dunning type aug-cc-pVTZ basis, it was found that the addition to nitrogen of core–valence correlation functions significantly improves the results.
A rapid and inexpensive technique for assessing the reinforcing effects of opiate drugs

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in an apparatus consisting of 2 distinctive interconnected chambers. Choice preferences developed and stabilized over three 30 min exposures. Central injection of morphine or an enkephalin analogue in conjunction with placement upon the nonpreferred side caused a preference shift which was not evident in control subjects. Classical conditioning of opiate effects to distinctive environments may offer a novel means of assessing the hedonic effects of these compounds.
Practitioner Review: Evaluation of the known behavioral heterogeneity in conduct disorder to improve its assessment and treatment

Background Conduct Disorder (CD) is among the most highly represented diagnostic problems in child and adolescent mental health treatment settings. There is a great deal of heterogeneity within the CD category, with potentially important implications for case conceptualization and treatment. The current review sought to detail forms of heterogeneity within CD, including callous-unemotional traits, comorbid Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), aggressive and nonaggressive antisocial behavior, and age of onset. Methods The current review summarizes research on etiological factors, correlates, and trajectories associated with distinguishable dimensions of CD, and considers how this heterogeneity should be incorporated into the assessment and treatment of CD. Results Callous-unemotional traits have been associated with a more severe and persistent form of CD, as have comorbid ADHD and child-onset CD. Aggressive antisocial behavior is a stable behavioral dimension that emerges in early childhood and is associated with high levels of neuroticism. Nonaggressive antisocial behavior demonstrates specific associations with impulsivity, is most frequent during adolescence, and evidences more moderate levels of stability. Conclusions Conduct disorder is a highly heterogeneous disorder. Although the clinical implications of this heterogeneity are discussed, future research is clearly needed to shore up our understanding of the clinical ramifications of the sub-dimensions within CD.