cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Parallel Particle Tracking Framework for Applications in Scientific Computing

Particle tracking methods are a versatile computational technique central to the simulation of a wide range of scientific applications. In this paper, we present a new parallel particle tracking framework for the applications of scientific computing. The framework includes the “in-element” particle tracking method, which is based on the assumption that particle trajectories are computed by problem data localized to individual elements, as well as the dynamic partitioning of particle-mesh computational systems. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a parallel in-element particle tracking framework capable of interfacing with a different order of accuracy of ordinary differential equation (ODE) solver. The parallel efficiency of such particle-mesh systems depends on the partitioning of both the mesh elements and the particles; this distribution can change dramatically because of movement of the particles and adaptive refinement of the mesh. To address this problem we introduce a combined load function that is a function of both the particle and mesh element distributions. We present experimental results that detail the performance of this parallel load balancing approach for a three-dimensional particle-mesh test problem on an unstructured, adaptive mesh, and demonstrate the ability of interfacing with different ODE solvers.
Counseling Native Americans

This article addresses the issues facing White counselors in providing services to Native Americans, whose values differ significantly from the dominant culture's. Native Americans have been consistently threatened with cultural assimilation. Previously published recommendations to counselors are reviewed and the relevance and possible uses of traditional Native American healing practices are discussed. One such practice, the vision quest, is described in detail. Counselors need to learn culturally relevant metaphors in order to promote healing and change and, in effect, must themselves undergo an acculturation process.
Psychoneuroendocrinology of children and adolescents.

This article reviews psychoneuroendocrinologic approaches to the understanding of internalizing disorders (depression and anxiety disorders) and externalizing disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [AD/HD] and conduct disorder [CD]) of children and adolescents. Three specific psychoneuroendocrine systems are reviewed: (1) measures of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, (2) measures of the serotonergic function, and (3) measures of the growth-hormone (GH) response to pharmacologic challenge. These three systems cover much of the spectrum of the information the neuroendocrine strategies may give us. The HPA axis is the main system for stress adaptation. Understanding this system may reveal information on the permissive and etiologic relationship of stress to psychiatric disorder. Neuroendocrine changes seen with serotonergic challenge may be related to the central role that serotonin is thought to play in the pathophysiology of many of these disorders. On the other hand, observed changes in GH response to pharmacologic challenge seen in depression and anxiety may not per se be directly related to the origin of these disorders. Rather, this change may reflect other underlying brain changes involved in the etiology and the maintenance of depression and anxiety.
Simple but powerful goal programming models for discriminant problems

Abstract Conventional statistical analysis includes the capacity to systematically assign individuals to groups. We suggest alternative assignment procedures, utilizing a set of interrelated goal programming formulations. We further demonstrate via simple illustration the potential of these procedures to play a significant part in addressing the discriminant problem, and indicate fundamental ideas that lay the foundation for other more sophisticated approaches.
Fourier transform-based design of a patterned piezoelectric energy harvester integrated with an elastoacoustic mirror

We explore efficient transformation of structure-borne propagating waves into low-power electricity using patterned polymer piezoelectrics integrated with an elastoacoustic mirror configuration. Fourier transform-based spatial optimization of a piezoelectric energy harvester domain weakly coupled to a thin plate housing a continuous elliptical elastoacoustic mirror is presented. Computational modeling and experimental testing are employed to quantify performance enhancement in power generation using the presented approach. Excellent agreement is observed between numerical simulations and experimental measurements. Specifically, dramatic enhancement of the harvested power output is reported by patterning the electrodes of a rectangular polyvinylidene fluoride piezoelectric energy harvester in the elliptical mirror domain.
Off-line machine recognition of forgeries

The handwritten signature is the most widely employed source of secure identification in the United States especially for cashing checks and verifying credit card transactions. Currently all signature verification is based on visual inspection by a teller or a store clerk. Previous successful techniques for forgery detection have primarily been on-line techniques. This paper describes an off-line technique that can spot forgeries with a accuracy of 94. 44 while accepting 92. 5 of genuine signatures.
An MRI study of lumbar puncture headaches.

We studied 11 patients undergoing a routine lumbar puncture to determine if there were cerebrospinal fluid leaks at the puncture site and whether the maximum volume of leakage correlates with a lumbar puncture headache. Patients completed a headache questionnaire before and after the lumbar puncture. Limited magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine was obtained 8 to 36 hours after the lumbar puncture and two patients also had later imaging. In a blinded fashion, the largest diameter of cerebrospinal fluid leakage into the paraspinous area was determined from T2 weighted magnetic resonance images and the maximum possible fluid volume was calculated. Six patients had a small cerebrospinal fluid leakage ( 110 mL). The volume of cerebrospinal fluid leakage did not corre late with occurrence of a lumbar puncture headache. The study demonstrates that cerebrospinal fluid usually leaks into the paraspinous area after a lumbar puncture, but the volume of escaped fluid does not correlate with a lumbar puncture headache.
Single-Outcome Studies A Methodological Primer

Most methodological work on case studies understands this topic as a study of a case where the objective is to discover something about a broader population of cases. Yet, many case studies (so-cal...
Monitoring Multistage Surface Spatial Variations Using Functional Morphing

In multistage manufacturing processes, the machined surface shape of a part changes as it goes through each stage. Process monitoring at multiple stages is necessary for root cause diagnosis and surface variation reduction. However, due to measurement time and capacity constraints, it is challenging to collect sufficient surface measurements at all intermediate stages for monitoring. This paper proposes a functional morphing based algorithm to monitor the surface variation propagation using end of line multi-resolution measurements supplemented with low resolution measurements at intermediate stages. The surface changes over multiple stages are captured by a functional morphing model which integrates geometric transformations with engineering insights. The model estimates a morphed surface prediction at an intermediate stage of interest using end-of-line surface measurements. This morphed surface is combined with the low-resolution measurements at that stage to improve the surface prediction accuracy. The model can be further improved by incorporating the effects of correlated process variables. Based on the model, abnormal surface variations can be detected and located by a single-linkage cluster monitoring algorithm as developed in our previous work. The case study of a two-stage machining process demonstrates that the method successfully monitors multistage surfaces using reduced measurement resolution at intermediate stages.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The impact of at-large elections: vote dilution or choice dilution?

Abstract Multi-member, at-large legislative elections result in election outcomes different from outcomes in single-member district elections for two reasons: they cancel out the voting strength of geographically concentrated groups of voters (e.g., party groups, racial groups), and they make it difficult for a voter to vote for an individual candidate, rather than for one of the competing lists of candidates. An electoral setting in Long Island, New York, presents an opportunity to test which of these two aspects of at-large elections—vote dilution or choice dilution—accounts for the usual pattern of one party (or group) winning all the legislative seats at stake.
The puzzle theorem - The less I know, the less I can disclose...

This paper presents an architecture designed to improve the efficiency of secure protocols by apportioning keys. It enable the handling of 'partially trusted' hosts set in a networking environment. It is also designed to manage complex keys with 'virtual smartcards'. Access through several objects (users, processes...) requires a specified amount of trusted severs before being granted. It is based on the notion of 'key apportion' or 'fragmentation and dissemination'[iii]. This architecture is applied to the Kerberos protocol to solve the problem of storing all information at one sensible point: the Key Server.
Autoradiographic determination of mass‐transfer limitations in immobilized cell reactors

Pseudomonas putida cells were grown in confined volumes in dual-membrane immobilized cell reactors constructed from microporous polyethylene hollow fibers and silicone rubber tubules as a model system for the study of mass transport in microbial aggregates. Local cell concentrations in the reactors reached 300 g dry mass/L. Pulse-chase radioisotope labeling with (35)SO(4) (2-) was used to estimate the rates of cell mass synthesis and degradation. Sulfur incorporation consistently exceeded sulfur release, implying that the cell mass concentration continually increases. The location and size of the cell growth region was determined using liquid emulsion autoradiography of thin sections prepared from labeled reactors. Cell growth occurs in a region less than 25 mum in depth adjacent to the oxygen supply, and the expansion of the cells caused by cell growth promotes convection of the cell mass into regions of the reactor where starving cells accumulate. The combination of mass-balance and spatial distribution measurements that can be made using radioisotope tracers provides a versatile method for determining metabolic rates and limitations caused by mass transfer in immobilized cell reactors.
Understanding the marine chemistries of the platinum group metals

Abstract The relative concentrations and reactions of the platinum group metals in reservoirs of the marine environment are approached via their speciations based upon thermodynamic data and upon their comparative chemistries in sedimentary processes. Recent investigations on the marine chemistry of osmium illustrate our approach to platinum group metal marine chemistry.
Product Information Presentation, User Behavior, and Safety:

A review of approximately 400 published articles, in addition to the authors' own research in the area of on-product warning label design and effectiveness, is summarized. Findings are examined for implications in the design and use of on-product warning labels for improved product safety through modification of user behavior. No scientific evidence was found to support the contention that on-product warning labels measurably increase the safety of any product. There was evidence that on-product warnings have no measurable impact on user behavior and product safety.
Comparison of Thermoelectric and Vapor Cycle Technologies for Groundwater Heat Pump Application

Etude comparative du coefficient de performance pour les modes de chauffage et de refroidissement d'une pompe a chaleur conventionnelle et d'une pompe a chaleur thermoelectrique fonctionnant dans les memes conditions et avec de l'eau de source
Simultaneous estimation and reduction of nonconformity in interlaboratory studies

Summary. Several procedures that are designed to reduce nonconformity in interlaboratory studies by shrinking data towards a consensus weighted mean are suggested. Some of them are shown to have a smaller quadratic risk than the vector sample means. Shrinkage towards a weighted mean in a random-effects model and a statistic appearing in models which allow for systematic errors are also considered. The results are illustrated by two examples of collaborative studies.
Structuring a Definition of Resilience for the Freight Transportation System

This paper summarizes a broad literature review on system resilience. After these interpretations of resilience are considered, a definition of resilience in the context of freight transportation systems is provided. The definition of resilience offered here captures the interactions between managing organizations—namely, state departments of transportation, the infrastructure, and users—which is critical considering that the freight transportation system exists to support economic activity and production. A list of properties of freight transportation system resilience is outlined. These properties of resilience can contribute to the overall ability of the freight transportation system to recover from disruptions, whether exhibited at the infrastructure, managing organization, or user dimension. This contribution provides a framework that can serve as a starting point for future research, offering a shared language that promotes a more structured conversation about freight transportation resilience.
Control of a downdraft gasifier for biomass conversion with a fuzzy controller

Abstract A fuzzy controller is proposed for solving difficulties involved in controlling a complex process under dynamic conditions. A knowledge base is one of the most important components of such a controller. It contains control know-how of a skilled human operator and consists of two elements: a rule base for fuzzy IF—THEN rules and a database comprising the operational definitions of the fuzzy sets for these rules. Construction of the knowledge base is not a trivial matter. To facilitate it, a new identification method has been developed based on a learning mechanism. By resorting to this method, a fuzzy knowledge acquisition system is linked to the rule base for self-generation of fuzzy IF—THEN control rules; simultaneously, a self-learning predictive system is linked to the database for updating the fuzzy sets for defining the control rules. The fuzzy knowledge acquisition and self-learning predictive systems are implemented by an expert system shell and a predictive module, respectively. A scheme is described for controlling a downdraft gasifier for biomass conversion with the proposed fuzzy logic controller based on the available empirical information on the performance of the gasifier.
Evaluation of the National Weather Service Extreme Cold Warning Experiment in North Dakota

Dangerously cold weather threatens life and property. During periods of extreme cold due to wind chill, the National Weather Service (NWS) issues wind chill warnings to prompt the public to take action to mitigate risks. Wind chill warnings are based on ambient temperatures and wind speeds. Since 2010, NWS has piloted a new extreme cold warning issued for cold temperatures in wind and nonwind conditions. The North Dakota Department of Health, NWS, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated in conducting household surveys in Burleigh County, North Dakota, to evaluate this new warning. The objectives of the evaluation were to assess whether residents heard the new warning and to determine if protective behaviors were prompted by the warning. This was a cross-sectional survey design using the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) methodology to select a statistically representative sample of households from Burleigh County. From 10 to 11 April 2012, 188 door-to-door household interviews were completed. The CASPER methodology uses probability sampling with weighted analysis to estimate the number and percentage of households with a specific response within Burleigh County. The majority of households reported having heard both the extreme cold and wind chill warnings, and both warnings prompted protective behaviors. These results suggest this community heard the new warning and took protective actions after hearing the warning.
How do students' views of science influence knowledge integration?

This study characterized students' views of science as falling into three groups: static, mixed, and dynamic. Those who view science as static assert that science consists of a group of facts that are best memorized. Those who view science as dynamic believe that scientific ideas develop and change and that the best way to learn these ideas is to understand what they mean and how they are related. Students with mixed beliefs hold some static and some dynamic views. This study also examined the relationship between views of science and acquisition of integrated understanding of thermodynamics. We found that students with dynamic views acquired more integrated understanding than those with static views. Participants were 153 middle school students following the Computer as Lab Partner (CLP) curriculum. Students conducted both simulated and real-time experiments using an electronic notebook during the 12 weeks of instruction. Interventions encouraging students to integrate their experiences resulted in 89% of students successfully predicting the outcome of an everyday situation and 77% of students being able to succcessfully explain their prediction. We investigated how students preferred to integrate their experiences and found that some students preferred a concrete prototypic locus for integration while others preferred a more abstract principled locus of integration.
Direct self-consistent field computations on GPU clusters

We present an implementation of one of the direct self-consistent-field (DSCF) calculation techniques, the restricted Hartree-Fock method, on a high-performance computing cluster outfitted with graphics processing units (GPUs) and demonstrate its effectiveness and scalability up to 128 cluster nodes on molecules of as many as 1,732 atoms. We discuss the overall parallel application architecture that relies on message passing interface for distributing workload among GPU cluster nodes and POSIX threads to manage the use of GPUs internal to each node. This approach of combining coarse and fine-grain parallelism on a distributed memory system allows to perform DSCF calculations on molecules that up until now have been unattainable due to the excessive computational requirements.
Total gastrectomy: options for the restoration of gastrointestinal continuity

Total gastric resection and the subsequent selection of the optimum procedure for reconstruction of the oesophageal-intestinal tract is a highly debated topic. Many different types of reconstruction have been proposed, but attempts to objectively validate the potential advantages of these techniques of have not produced any definitive conclusions. The main aim of reconstruction should be to maintain the nutritional status and quality of life of the patient, with the additional goal of achieving similar function to normal gut. In this review, we discuss the prospectively randomised studies of gastrointestinal reconstruction that were done between 1987 and 2002.
Discrete multi-Gabor expansions

A discrete multi-Gabor expansion (DMGE) is developed to meet the requirements of localized and refined time-frequency (TF) representation of signals. The DMGE uses multiple windows and their translations and complex modulations as synthesis (or analysis) waveforms. It includes and generalizes the metaplectic (translation, modulation, and dilation) representations which are useful in signal analysis. Uniform, nonuniform, and proportional time sampling schemes are analyzed. The fundamental features and the importance of the DMGE are discussed. We focus on the construction of DMGE and deriving fast algorithms for the computation of related multi-analysis sequences. With matrix algebra, the algorithms derived apply to both multi-Gabor expansions and uni-(window) Gabor expansions. Another useful feature of the DMGE lies in the fact that the multi-Gabor transform can be realized in a parallel FFT-based implementation structure. Examples of DMGE and their applications to TF analysis are also discussed.
Histological characterization of root-knot nematode resistance in cowpea and its relation to reactive oxygen species modulation

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are sedentary endoparasites with a broad host range which includes economically important crop species. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is an important food and fodder legume grown in many regions where root-knot nematodes are a major problem in production fields. Several sources of resistance to root-knot nematode have been identified in cowpea, including the widely used Rk gene. As part of a study to elucidate the mechanism of Rk-mediated resistance, the histological response to avirulent M. incognita feeding of a resistant cowpea cultivar CB46 was compared with a susceptible near-isogenic line (in CB46 background). Most root-knot nematode resistance mechanisms in host plants that have been examined induced a hypersensitive response (HR). However, there was no typical HR in resistant cowpea roots and nematodes were able to develop normal feeding sites similar to those in susceptible roots up to 9-14 d post inoculation (dpi). From 14-21 dpi giant cell deterioration was observed and the female nematodes showed arrested development and deterioration. Nematodes failed to reach maturity and did not initiate egg laying in resistant roots. These results confirmed that the induction of resistance is relatively late in this system. Typically in pathogen resistance HR is closely associated with an oxidative burst (OB) in infected tissue. The level of reactive oxygen species release in both compatible and incompatible reactions during early and late stages of infection was also quantified. Following a basal OB during early infection in both susceptible and resistant roots, which was also observed in mechanically wounded root tissues, no significant OB was detected up to 14 dpi, a profile consistent with the histological observations of a delayed resistance response. These results will be useful to design gene expression experiments to dissect Rk-mediated resistance at the molecular level.
Thermal effects on lattice strain in ε − Fe under pressure

We compute the $c∕a$ lattice strain versus temperature for nonmagnetic hcp iron at high pressures using both first-principles linear response quasiharmonic calculations based on the full potential linear-muffin-tin-orbital (LMTO) method and the particle-in-cell (PIC) model for the vibrational partition function using a tight-binding total-energy method. The tight-binding model shows excellent agreement with the all-electron LMTO method. When the hcp structure is stable, the calculated geometric-mean frequency and the Helmholtz free energy of $\ensuremath{\epsilon}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Fe}$ from PIC and the linear response lattice dynamics agree very well, as does the axial ratio as a function of temperature and pressure. On-site anharmonicity proves to be small up to the melting temperature, and PIC gives a good estimate of its sign and magnitude. At low pressures, $\ensuremath{\epsilon}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{Fe}$ becomes dynamically unstable at large $c∕a$ ratios, and the PIC model might fail where the structure approaches lattice instability. The PIC approximation describes well the vibrational behavior away from the instability, and thus is a reasonable approach to compute high temperature properties of materials. Our results show significant differences from earlier PIC studies, which gave much larger axial ratio increases with increasing temperature, or reported large differences between PIC and lattice dynamics results.
Spontaneous Swallowing Frequency Has Potential to Identify Dysphagia in Acute Stroke

Background and Purpose—Spontaneous swallowing frequency has been described as an index of dysphagia in various health conditions. This study evaluated the potential of spontaneous swallow frequency analysis as a screening protocol for dysphagia in acute stroke. Methods—In a cohort of 63 acute stroke cases, swallow frequency rates (swallows per minute [SPM]) were compared with stroke and swallow severity indices, age, time from stroke to assessment, and consciousness level. Mean differences in SPM were compared between patients with versus without clinically significant dysphagia. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to identify the optimal threshold in SPM, which was compared with a validated clinical dysphagia examination for identification of dysphagia cases. Time series analysis was used to identify the minimally adequate time period to complete spontaneous swallow frequency analysis. Results—SPM correlated significantly with stroke and swallow severity indices but not with age, ti...
A Direct Intersection between p53 and Transforming Growth Factor β Pathways Targets Chromatin Modification and Transcription Repression of the α-Fetoprotein Gene

We purified the oncoprotein SnoN and found that it functions as a corepressor of the tumor suppressor p53 in the regulation of the hepatic α-fetoprotein (AFP) tumor marker gene. p53 promotes SnoN and histone deacetylase interaction at an overlapping Smad binding, p53 regulatory element (SBE/p53RE) in AFP. Comparison of wild-type and p53-null mouse liver tissue by using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) reveals that the absence of p53 protein correlates with the disappearance of SnoN at the SBE/p53RE and loss of AFP developmental repression. Treatment of AFP-expressing hepatoma cells with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced SnoN transcription and Smad2 activation, concomitant with AFP repression. ChIP assays show that TGF-β1 stimulates p53, Smad4, P-Smad2 binding, and histone H3K9 deacetylation and methylation, at the SBE/p53RE. Depletion, by small interfering RNA, of SnoN and/or p53 in hepatoma cells disrupted repression of AFP transcription. These findings support a model of cooperativity between p53 and TGF-β effectors in chromatin modification and transcription repression of an oncodevelopmental tumor marker gene.
Autonomous real-time adaptive management of soil salinity using a receding horizon control algorithm: A pilot-scale demonstration

Soil salinization is a potentially negative side effect of irrigation with reclaimed water. While optimization schemes have been applied to soil salinity control, these have typically failed to take advantage of real-time sensor feedback. This study incorporates current soil observation technologies into the optimal feedback-control scheme known as Receding Horizon Control (RHC) to enable successful autonomous control of soil salinization. RHC uses real-time sensor measurements, physically-based state prediction models, and optimization algorithms to drive field conditions to a desired environmental state by manipulating application rate or irrigation duration/frequency. A simulation model including the Richards equation coupled to energy and solute transport equations is employed as a state estimator. Vertical multi-sensor arrays installed in the soil provide initial conditions and continuous feedback to the control scheme. An optimization algorithm determines the optimal irrigation rate or frequency subject to imposed constraints protective of soil salinization. A small-scale field test demonstrates that the RHC scheme is capable of autonomously maintaining specified salt levels at a prescribed soil depth. This finding suggests that, given an adequately structured and trained simulation model, sensor networks, and optimization algorithms can be integrated using RHC to autonomously achieve water reuse and agricultural objectives while managing soil salinization.
Targeting gold nanocages to cancer cells for photothermal destruction and drug delivery

Importance of the field: Plasmonic nanoparticles provide a new route to treat cancer owing to their ability to convert light into heat effectively for photothermal destruction. Combined with the targeting mechanisms possible with nanoscale materials, this technique has the potential to enable highly targeted therapies to minimize undesirable side effects.Areas covered in this review: This review discusses the use of gold nanocages, a new class of plasmonic nanoparticles, for photothermal applications. Gold nanocages are hollow, porous structures with compact sizes and precisely controlled plasmonic properties and surface chemistry. Also, a recent study of gold nanocages as drug-release carriers by externally controlling the opening and closing of the pores with a smart polymer whose conformation changes at a specific temperature is discussed. Release of the contents can be initiated remotely through near-infrared irradiation. Together, these topics cover the years from 2002 to 2009.What the reader will ga...
Classification of Cleft Lip/Palate: Then and Now

Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is phenotypically diverse, making classification difficult. This article explores the evolution of ideas regarding CL/P classification and includes the schemes described by Davis and Ritchie (1922), Brophy (1923), Veau (1931), Fogh-Andersen (1943), Kernahan and Stark (1958), Harkins et al. (1962), Broadbent et al. (1968), Spina (1973), and others. Based on these systems, a longhand structured form is proposed for describing CL/P in a way that is clear, comprehensive, and consistent. A complementary shorthand notation is also described to improve the utility and convenience of this structured form.
The Influence of Ownership and Organizational Conditions on Employee Participation in Russian Enterprises

This article examines the incidence and forms of employee participation in decisions reported in a survey of one manager and one employee from each of 45 Russian enterprises in the fall of 1996. Of these enterprises, eight were state-owned, 10 had 'mixed'ownership, 17 had been fully privatized and 10 were newly created private firms. These four ownership sectors differed greatly in the forms taken by employee participation in decisions, but not in its overall incidence. Participation was reported to be significantly more common in enterprises in which employees had become owners, and in enterprises that had been shedding employees.
Is a “Proton Wire” Concerted or Stepwise? A Model Study of Proton Transfer in Carbonic Anhydrase

The energetics of proton transfer reactions in carbonic anhydrase (CA) have been studied with an active site model. Specifically, proton transfer from a zinc-bound water molecule to a histidine res...
Abducens nerve paralysis due to giant aneurysm in the medial carotid canal. Case report.

✓ A case of a giant aneurysm located in the medial part of the carotid canal is reported. The patient had isolated abducens nerve paralysis that completely resolved after common carotid ligation in the neck.
Improving the Efficiency of Dependency Analysis in Logical Decision Models

To address the problem that existing software dependency extraction methods do not work on higher-level software artifacts, do not express decisions explicitly, and do not reveal implicit or indirect dependencies, our recent work explored the possibility of formally defining and automatically deriving a pairwise dependence relation from an augmented constraint networks (ACN) that models the assumption relation among design decisions. The current approach is difficult to scale, requiring constraint solving and solution enumeration. We observe that the assumption relation among design decisions for most software systems can be abstractly modeled using a special form of ACN. For these more restrictive, but highly representative models, we present an O(n^3) algorithm to derive the dependency relation without solving the constraints. We evaluate our approach by computing design structure matrices for existing ACNs that model multiple versions of heterogenous real software designs, often reducing the running time from hours to seconds.
Technical Note: Development of a Tool to Insert Abomasal Infusion Lines into Dairy Cows

A tool was developed to aid in ruminal insertion of abomasal infusion lines into dairy cows. The tool consisted of 2 pieces cut from polyvinyl chloride pipe. The first piece of pipe, the insertion tool, contained a groove that held the flexible plastic flange that is on the end of the infusion line. The insertion tool containing the flange was inserted into the ruminal cannula, through the sulcus omasi, and into the abomasum. The second piece of pipe, the delivery tool, was threaded through the insertion tool, and it was used to dislodge the flange from the insertion tool and into the abomasum.
Impact of progressive resistance training on lipids and lipoproteins in adults : A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Objective Given the discrepant findings of progressive resistance training (PRT) on lipids and lipoproteins in adults, we used the meta-analytic approach to examine this issue. Methods Randomized controlled trials ≥ 4 weeks dealing with the effects of PRT on lipids and lipoproteins in adult humans ≥ 18 years of age and published between January 1, 1955 and July 12, 2007 were included. Primary outcomes included total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG). A random-effects model was used for analysis with data reported as means and 95% confidence intervals. Results Twenty-nine studies representing 1329 men and women (676 exercise, 653 control) were included. Statistically significant improvements were found for TC (− 5.5 mg/dl, − 9.4 to − 1.6), TC/HDL-C (− 0.5, − 0.9 to − 0.2), non-HDL-C (− 8.7 mg/dl, − 14.1 to − 3.3), LDL-C (− 6.1 mg/dl, − 11.2 to − 1.0) and TG (− 8.1 mg/dl, − 14.5 to − 1.8) but not HDL-C (0.7 mg/dl, − 1.2 to 2.6). Changes were equivalent to − 2.7%, 1.4%, − 11.6%, − 5.6%, − 4.6%, and − 6.4%, respectively, for TC, HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, non-HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG. Conclusions Progressive resistance training reduces TC, TC/HDL-C, non-HDL-C, LDL-C and TG in adults.
Development and Use of an in Vitro HSV-Tk Forward Mutation Assay to Study Eukaryotic DNA Polymerase Processing of DNA Alkyl Lesions

We have developed an in vitro DNA polymerase forward mutation assay using damaged DNA templates that contain the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene. The quantitative method uses complementary strand hybridization to gapped duplex DNA molecules and chloramphenicol selection. This design ensures exclusive analysis of mutations derived from the DNA strand produced during in vitro synthesis. We have examined the accuracy of DNA synthesis catalyzed by calf thymus polymerase alpha-primase, polymerase beta and exonuclease-deficient Klenow polymerase. Using unmodified DNA templates, polymerase beta displays a unique specificity for the loss of two bases in a dinucleotide repeat sequence within the HSV-tk locus. Treatment of the DNA template with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis concomitant with an increased mutation frequency. Similar dose-response curves were measured for the three polymerases examined; thus the identity of the DNA polymerase does not appear to affect the mutagenic potency of ethyl lesions. The HSV-tk system is unique in that damage-induced mutagenesis can be analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively in human cells, in bacterial cells and in in vitro DNA synthesis reactions at a single target sequence.
A TLR5 Agonist Enhances CD8+ T Cell-Mediated Graft-versus-Tumor Effect without Exacerbating Graft-versus-Host Disease

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is an established treatment for hematologic and nonhematologic malignancies. Donor-derived immune cells can identify and attack host tumor cells, producing a graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect that is crucial to the effectiveness of the transplantation therapy. CBLB502 is a novel agonist for TLR5 derived from Salmonella flagellin. On the basis of TLR5-mediated immunomodulatory function, we examined the effect of CBLB502 on GVT activity. Using two tumor models that do not express TLR5, and thereby do not directly respond to CBLB502, we found that CBLB502 treatment significantly enhanced allogeneic CD8(+) T cell-mediated GVT activity, which was evidenced by decreased tumor burden and improved host survival. Importantly, histopathologic analyses showed that CBLB502 treatment did not exacerbate the moderate graft-versus-host disease condition caused by the allogeneic CD8(+) T cells. Moreover, mechanistic analyses showed that CBLB502 stimulates CD8(+) T cell proliferation and enhances their tumor killing activity mainly indirectly through a mechanism that involves the IL-12 signaling pathway and the CD11c(+) and CD11b(+) populations in the bone marrow cells. This study demonstrates a new beneficial effect of CBLB502, and suggests that TLR5-mediated immune modulation may be a promising approach to improve GVT immunity without exacerbating graft-versus-host disease.
Normal structure, function, and histology of the bone marrow

While a complete blood count provides information regarding possible treatment-related effects reflected in the peripheral blood, morphological evaluation of bone marrow cytology and paraffin sections provides information about bone marrow tissue architecture that otherwise would be missed by examination of peripheral blood alone. In decalcified, paraffin-embedded, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections of bone marrow, the more mature stages of the erythroid and myeloid cells, adipocytes, mast cells, and megakaryocytes can be identified, but lymphoid cells as well as immature progenitor cells can not be reliably identified. The quality of the marrow sections is governed by numerous variables related to specimen collection and processing and must be considered. In addition to discussing normal structure, function, and histology of bone marrow, methods for preparation and evaluation of bone marrow are presented.
Ab Initio Values of the Thermophysical Properties of Helium as Standards

Recent quantum mechanical calculations of the interaction energy of pairs of helium atoms are accurate and some include reliable estimates of their uncertainty. We combined these ab initio results with earlier published results to obtain a helium-helium interatomic potential that includes relativistic retardation effects over all ranges of interaction. From this potential, we calculated the thermophysical properties of helium, i.e., the second virial coefficients, the dilute-gas viscosities, and the dilute-gas thermal conductivities of (3)He, (4)He, and their equimolar mixture from 1 K to 10(4) K. We also calculated the diffusion and thermal diffusion coefficients of mixtures of (3)He and (4)He. For the pure fluids, the uncertainties of the calculated values are dominated by the uncertainties of the potential; for the mixtures, the uncertainties of the transport properties also include contributions from approximations in the transport theory. In all cases, the uncertainties are smaller than the corresponding experimental uncertainties; therefore, we recommend the ab initio results be used as standards for calibrating instruments relying on these thermophysical properties. We present the calculated thermophysical properties in easy-to-use tabular form.
A Model Program for Gifted Girls in Science

This article describes a model program designed to increase involvement of gifted girls in science with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of women in scientific and science related fields. This article discusses background information and related research concerning why we started a ‘girls only’ program. Basic components of the program include parental involvement, female role models, hands-on investigations and enjoyment of science activities. There are brief descriptions of two sample activities which stress self-confidence, use of equipment and the process of investigation. This model has been implemented at this institution as well as being adapted and modified in the public sector.
Integrating smoking control policies into employee benefits: a survey of large California corporations.

OBJECTIVES. Public health policy promotes the use of risk-rating health insurance and payment for smoking cessation as economic incentives to encourage smoking cessation. This study was undertaken to learn more about the adoption of these policies in large corporations. METHODS. A random sample survey of 280 private California corporations with more than 500 employees was undertaken to document the prevalence of policies integrating smoking control into employee benefit designs. RESULTS. Only 8.6% of large corporations had ever considered risk-rating health insurance premiums using smoking status and only 2.15% had implemented a risk-rating policy. Nearly 20% of the companies offered health insurance plans that covered smoking cessation services. Subsidization or payment for smoking cessation outside health insurance was provided by over 37% of the companies surveyed, and 87% had adopted formal work-site smoking policies. CONCLUSION. Benefit policies that provide financial support to smokers to participat...
Veto Players, Globalization and the Redistributive Capacity of the State: A Panel Study of 15 OECD Countries

Globalization is said to restrict severely the state's capacity to fulfill its welfare function in advanced industrial societies. This paper tests empirically the redistributive capacity of the state operationalized as the difference in percent of households who live below 50% of the median income in their respective country before taxes and transfers and after taxes and transfers, based on the latest Luxembourg Income Study data. Besides globalization, specific sets of domestic political institutions predictably and systematically affect the redistributive capacity of the state: what is termed 'collective veto points' buoy redistribution by the state, while 'competitive veto points' have the opposite effect. Partisan coloration is introduced as a control variable which, surprisingly, does not affect this critical function of the welfare state. The research design is a cross-sectionally dominant panel design (N=15, t=2). This study finds evidence that globalization and collective veto points both positively affect the redistributive capacity of the state while the converse is true for competitive veto points.
How the Board of Tax Appeals Changed Hollywood History

Everyone remembers when Charlton Heston, as Moses, held his staff toward the heavens and the Red Sea parted in Cecil B. deMille's epic motion picture The Ten Commandments. Few know the curious tale of tax law that lies behind it. In the early 1930s, the Bureau of Internal Revenue claimed that Cecil and his brother, William C. deMille, also a successful motion picture director, had used personal service corporations to avoid huge amounts of income tax. The deMilles fought the charges. One brother emerged victorious, his career flourished, and he later gave credit to the wisdom of a tax court judge for making it possible for him to make legendary films like The Ten Commandments. The other brother lost, never made another motion picture, and blamed the nation's repressive tax regime for his troubles. This is the story of how the accumulated earnings tax and two decisions by the Board of Tax Appeals changed Hollywood history.
Asymmetric angular-selective thermal emission

Thermal emission from blackbodies and flat metallic surfaces is non-directional, following the Lambert cosine law. However, highly directional thermal emission could be useful for improving the efficiency of a broad range of different applications, including thermophotovoltaics, spectroscopy and infra-red light sources. This is particularly true if strong symmetry breaking could ensure emission only in one particular direction. In this work, we investigate the possibility of tailoring asymmetric thermal emission using structured metasurfaces. These are built from surface grating unit elements that support asymmetric localization of thermal surface plasmon polaritons. The angular dependence of emissivity is studied using a rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) of absorption, plus Kirchhoff’s law of thermal radiation. It is further validated using a direct thermal simulation of emission originating from the metal. Asymmetric angular selectivity with near-blackbody emissivity is demonstrated for different shallow blazed grating structures. We study the effect of changing the period, depth and shape of the grating unit cell on the direction angle, angular spread, and magnitude of coupled radiation mode. In particular, a periodic sawtooth structure with a period of 1.5λ and angle of 8°was shown to create significant asymmetry of at least a factor of 3. Such structures can be considered arbitrary directional sources that can be carefully patterned on metallic surfaces to yield thermal lenses with designed focal lengths, targeted to particular concentration ratios. The benefit of this approach is that it can enhance the view factor between thermal emitters and receivers, without restricting the area ratio or separation distance.
Colanic Acid Intermediates Prevent De Novo Shape Recovery of Escherichia coli Spheroplasts, Calling into Question Biological Roles Previously Attributed to Colanic Acid

After losing their protective peptidoglycan, bacterial spheroplasts can resynthesize a cell wall to recreate their normal shape. In Escherichia coli , this process requires the Rcs response. In its absence, spheroplasts do not revert to rod shapes but instead form enlarged spheroids and lyse. Here, we investigated the reason for this Rcs requirement. Rcs-deficient spheroids exhibited breaks and bulges in their periplasmic space and failed to synthesize a complete peptidoglycan cell wall, indicating that the bacterial envelope was defective. To determine the Rcs-dependent gene(s) required for shape recovery, we tested spheroplasts lacking selected RcsB-regulated genes and found that colanic acid (CA) biosynthesis appeared to be involved. Surprisingly, though, extracellular CA was not required for recovery. Instead, lysis was caused by mutations that interrupted CA biosynthesis downstream of the initial glycosyl transferase, WcaJ. Deleting wcaJ prevented lysis of spheroplasts lacking ensuing steps in the pathway, and providing WcaJ in trans to a mutant lacking the entire CA operon triggered spheroplast enlargement and lysis. Thus, CA is not required for spheroplast recovery. Instead, CA intermediates accumulate as dead-end products which inhibit recovery of wall-less cells. The results strongly imply that CA may not be required for the survival E. coli L-forms. More broadly, these findings mandate that previous conclusions about the role of colonic acid in biofilm formation or virulence must be re-evaluated. Importance Wall-less bacteria can resynthesize their wall and recreate a normal shape, which in Escherichia coli requires the Rcs response. While attempting to identify the Rcs-dependent gene required for shape recovery, we found that colanic acid (CA) biosynthesis appeared to be involved. Surprisingly, though, cell death was caused by mutations that interrupted CA biosynthesis downstream of the initial step in the pathway, creating dead-end compounds that inhibited recovery of wall-less cells. When testing for the biological role of CA, most previous experiments used mutants that would accumulate these deadly intermediates, meaning that all prior conclusions must be re-examined to determine if the results were caused by these lethal side effects instead of accurately reflecting the biological purpose of CA itself.