cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A probabilistic limit on the virtual size of replicated disk systems

Recently, there has been considerable interest in parallel disk drive systems, in which full or partial replication of the stored data is used for both fault tolerance and enhanced performance. The performance-enhancement derives both from the ability to do parallel reads, and from the reduction of seek time which results from being able to assign a read to whichever drive will produce the shortest seek. Although earlier work implied that for a k-drive system, mean seek distance for read converges to 0 as k to alpha , a refined analysis is presented which shows that this limit is actually nonzero. It is further shown that the system behaves probabilistically as if k were small, no matter how large the physical value of k is. >
A metalanguage for systematic research on human communication via natural language

Systematic research on human communication will be enhanced by access to a metalanguage, which analyzes natural language texts rapidly and accurately into their structural counterparts. A rationale for constructing the metalanguage is provided in the context of a long-range program of research, and illustrated by reference to an existing Computer-Assisted Language Analysis System (CALAS) for use with English language texts. Such a metalanguage has immediate practical applications. Its underlying rationale also may be extended to encompass the study of policy-oriented communications among persons or groups within or across human cultures.
Polarized signaling via purinoceptors in normal and cystic fibrosis airway epithelia.

Airway epithelia are confronted with distinct signals emanating from the luminal and/or serosal environments. This study tested whether airway epithelia exhibit polarized intracellular free calcium (Ca2+i) and anion secretory responses to 5′ triphosphate nucleotides (ATP/UTP), which may be released across both barriers of these epithelia. In both normal and cystic fibrosis (CF) airway epithelia, mucosal exposure to ATP/UTP increased Ca2+i and anion secretion, but both responses were greater in magnitude for CF epithelia. In CF epithelia, the mucosal nucleotide–induced response was mediated exclusively via Ca2+i interacting with a Ca2+-activated Cl− channel (CaCC). In normal airway epithelia (but not CF), nucleotides stimulated a component of anion secretion via a chelerythrine-sensitive, Ca2+-independent PKC activation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. In normal and CF airway epithelia, serosally applied ATP or UTP were equally effective in mobilizing Ca2+i. However, serosally applied nucleotides failed to induce anion transport in CF epithelia, whereas a PKC-regulated anion secretory response was detected in normal airway epithelia. We conclude that (1) in normal nasal epithelium, apical/basolateral purinergic receptor activation by ATP/UTP regulates separate Ca2+-sensitive and Ca2+-insensitive (PKC-mediated) anion conductances; (2) in CF airway epithelia, the mucosal ATP/UTP-dependent anion secretory response is mediated exclusively via Ca2+i; and (3) Ca2+i regulation of the Ca2+-sensitive anion conductance (via CaCC) is compartmentalized in both CF and normal airway epithelia, with basolaterally released Ca2+i failing to activate CaCC in both epithelia.
Verification of networks of timed automata using mCRL2

It has been our long time wish to combine the best parts of the real-time verification methods based on timed automata (TA) (the use of regions and zones), and of the process-algebraic approach of languages like LOTOS and timed muCRL. This could provide us with additional verification possibilities for real-time systems, not available in existing timed-automata-based tools like UPPAAL. In this paper we extend the applicability of such discretization to extensions of TA available in UPPAAL as networks of timed automata and shared variables. To this end, we make use of mCRL2, the newer version of muCRL that includes time and multi-actions. The multi-actions are used to model the simultaneous access to shared variables and action synchronization.
Associations between prenatal and postnatal growth and adult body size and composition

Background: Adult body size and composition (ABSC) measures are associated with work capacity and productivity, reproductive performance, and chronic disease risk. Growth failure in early childhood may have important long-term consequences through its influence on ABSC. Objective: We assessed associations between prenatal and postnatal growth (0‐2 y of age) and ABSC. Design: We included 267 singletons from a prospective study carried out between 1969 and 1977 in 4 ladino Guatemalan villages. We used data from that study and from a follow-up study conducted in 1998‐1999 (when the subjects were 21‐27 y of age) to determine associations of birth weight, length at 15 d of age, ponderal index, and length at 2 y of age with adult height, weight, fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass, percentage of body fat, and waist-to-hip ratio. Multivariate linear regression analyses with mixed models were carried out to account for sibling clustering. Two-stage least-squares analyses were used to separate specific effects of prenatal and postnatal growth. Results: Birth weight, length at 15 d of age, and length at 2 y of age were positively associated with height, weight, and FFM in both sexes (P < 0.05). Prenatal growth and postnatal growth were equally important determinants of height, weight, and FFM. Weak positive associations of postnatal growth with adult fat mass and percentage of body fat were found in both sexes, whereas similar associations for prenatal growth were found in women only. Growth in early childhood was not related to waist-to-hip ratio. Conclusions: Growth retardation in early childhood was associated with shortness and less FFM in adulthood. Preventing growth failure in utero and preventing growth failure during the first 2 y of life are equally important for ABSC. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77:1498‐1505.
Designing high bandwidth on-chip caches

In this paper we evaluate the performance of high bandwidth caches that employ multiple ports, multiple cycle hit times, on-chip DRAM, and a line buffer to find the organization that provides the best processor performance. Processor performance is measured in execution time using a dynamic superscalar processor running realistic benchmarks that include operating system references. The results show that a large dual-ported multi-cycle pipelined SRAM cache with a line buffer maximizes processor performance. A large pipelined cache provides both a low miss rate and a high CPU clock frequency. Dual-porting the cache and the use of a line buffer provide the bandwidth needed by a dynamic superscalar processor. In addition, the line buffer makes the pipelined dual-ported cache the best option by increasing cache port bandwidth and hiding cache latency.
Her Vision Was Tied Down

A 50-year-old female presented with progressive painless vision loss in the left eye and was subsequently diagnosed to have a pituitary macroadenoma, consistent with a prolactinoma, which was compressing the chiasm primarily on the left and involving the left cavernous sinus. She was treated with oral bromocriptine, resulting in marked shrinkage of the tumor and significant visual field recovery. Subsequently, she again began noting progressive vision loss in both eyes and was initially thought to have pituitary tumor regrowth. Repeat brain MRI, however, showed chiasmal prolapse with inferior tethering into an empty sella. Surgical fat padding to reposition the chiasm resulted in visual improvement with a different visual field pattern in the left eye. The clinical manifestations and etiopathogenesis of the empty sella syndrome are discussed.
Non-linear seismic response of arch dams

An experimental study of non-linear mechanisms that may occur during intense seismic response of arch dams is described in this paper. The presentation deals with three types of non-linearity that were observed during shaking table model studies: monolith joint opening, cantilever cracking, and reservoir cavitation at the dam face. The monolith joint opening phenomenon was represented by a segmental arch ring model that simulated a horizontal slice of a prototype dam. The cantilever cracking and reservoir cavitation mechanisms were studied using a model gravity dam section. The principal conclusion of the investigation was that shaking table experiments provide a practical means of studying the non-linear earthquake response of concrete arch dams, including their actual failure mechanisms.
Magnetostrictive Alloys with Low Temperature Coefficients of Frequency

Thirty-four magnetic alloys of iron, nickel, chromium, and cobalt were prepared and studied in order to find compositions which have substantially zero temperature coefficient of frequency of longitudinal vibration. Rods of these alloys were made to be used as secondary frequency standards, to stabilize the frequency of magnetostriction oscillators. The same alloys would be valuable for tuning forks. It was found that the temperature coefficient of frequency is a function of composition, heat treatment, temperature, and magnetization. Seven compositions were found which gave temperature coefficients of the order of one cycle in a million per degree centigrade, when properly heat-treated and magnetized. Five of these showed large dynamic magnetostriction, and gave good frequency stabilization when used with a magnetostriction oscillator.
Michigan Gambling The Interactions of Native American, Detroit, and Canadian Casinos

Michigan is the most prominent gambling destination between Atlantic City and Nevada. Since the mid-1990s, there has been competition between casinos in Ontario, Detroit, and those on Native Americ...
Bioprinted nanoparticles for tissue engineering

Tissue engineering may require recreation of the complex, three-dimensional native tissue architecture. While bioprinting allows cell and bioactive factor deposition in a precise pattern, it remains difficult to manipulate and track cells and bioactive factors after printing. We now show that superparamagnetic nanoparticles can be printed in an alginate hydrogel or inside cells themselves with low cell toxicity. Both nanoparticles and cells loaded with nanoparticles can be moved within the alginate hydrogel using a low field magnet, and nanoparticles can be imaged within the three-dimensional structure by micro-computed tomography. These data suggest that nanoparticles may advance biomanufacturing capabilities.
Effect of Forest Type on the Distribution of Lutzomyia shannoni (Diptera: Psyehodidae) and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus on Ossabaw Island, Georgia

We studied the effects of three forest types on multiple factors that are believed to influence the transmission of the New Jersey serotype of vesicular stomatitis (VSNJ) virus on Ossabaw Island, GA. These factors included availability of tree hole diurnal resting habitat for the presumed sand fly vector, Lutzomyia shannoni Dyar; relative abundance of L. shannoni ; prevalence of VSNJ virus infection in sand flies; and prevalence of VSNJ virus antibodies in wild swine. Tree hole availability, sand fly abundance, and antibody prevalence in swine were significantly greater in maritime live oak forest than in other forest types. A single isolate of VSNJ virus was obtained from sand flies collected in maritime live oak forest. These data indicate that the relative abundance of adult L. shannoni is influenced significantly by the availability of tree holes and that VSNJ virus infection in wild swine is linked to forest type and is greatest in areas capable of supporting abundant populations of L. shannoni .
The U.S. Government's Social Cost of Carbon Estimates after Their First Two Years: Pathways for Improvement

In 2010, the U.S. government adopted its first consistent estimates of the social cost of carbon (SCC) for government-wide use in regulatory cost-benefit analysis. Here, we examine a number of the limitations of the estimates identified in the U.S. government report and elsewhere and review recent advances that could pave the way for improvements. We consider in turn socioeconomic scenarios, treatment of physical climate response, damage estimates, ways of incorporating risk aversion, and consistency between SCC estimates and broader climate policy.
Toward friendly user MIS implementation

Recent management information systems (MIS) and computer science literature advocates the development of “user-friendly” systems as a means of overcoming implementation problems. However, implementation research suggests that it is not enough that the technology be friendly to the user. The user must also be friendly to the system. In formulating solutions to implementation problems, the field of organization development (OD) may serve as a knowledge base for practitoners and researchers. OD and MIS share common goals, common theoretical foundations, and common problems. Consequently, OD techniques may be useful in alleviating certain behavioral problems encountered in MIS implementation. OD concepts and techniques such as planned organizational change, survey feedback, group diagnostic meetings, communication training, role negotiation, and training labs may be used when implementing or changing systems. The premise is that use of these measures will lead to more successful MIS projects.
Transition State for β-Elimination of Hydrogen from Alkoxy Groups on Metal Surfaces

Experimental investigations of β-hydrogen elimination from alkoxy and alkyl groups bound to a Cu(111) surface have been coupled with computational studies of gas-phase analogues to provide insight into the transition state for catalytic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation on metal surfaces. Previous studies have shown that fluorination increases the activation barrier (ΔEact) to β-hydrogen elimination in ethoxy groups (RCH2O(ad) → RCHO(ad) + H(ad), where R = CH3, CFH2, CHF2, CF3) and propyl groups (RCH2CH2,(ad) → RCHCH2,(ad) + H(ad), where R = CH3, CF3) on the Cu(111) surface. The increase in barrier height with increasing fluorination was attributed to the inductive influence of fluorine, which energetically destabilizes a hydride-like transition state of the form [RCδ+···Hδ-]‡. In this paper, deuterium kinetic isotope effects (DKIE) show that fluorination does not alter the mechanism for β-hydrogen elimination from ethoxy groups. Furthermore, the DKIE measurements confirm that the effects of fluorine on t...
Improved spheromak operation with reduced fluctuations in SSPX

Summary form only given, as follows. We will report recent results from the Sustained Spheromak Physics Experiment (SSPX) in which we measure peak electron temperatures greater than 300eV in driven spheromak discharges. The SSPX spheromak plasma (0.31m major radius, 0.13m minor radius) is driven for up to 4msec by a DC coaxial source (a Marshall gun), which is powered by a 2MJ capacitor bank. The plasma is contained inside a tungsten-coated copper flux conserver which maintains stability against global tilting modes.
Potential theory, Maxwell's equations, relativity, radiation, and computers

The mathematical tools of natural sciences have faithfully served the research and engineering communities in their pursuit of technological advance. Nevertheless, a review of those tools is warranted in light of the availability of modern computing resources and their capabilities. (Most mathematical tools were developed for the use by humans who prefer to do fewer, more complex operations to doing many simpler ones, and who prefer derivatives to integrals, to name just two cases. The computers exhibit the opposite preferences and casting of the problem for computer evaluation calls for new algorithmic approaches.) The potential theory is one such example, and we will examine it from the computational point of view. Starting from its underlying principles, we will show how a familiar equivalent to the potential theory can be converted from a static into a dynamic mathematical tool suitable for computer evaluation. A similar approach applied to Maxwell's equations opens the door for development of computer algorithms that effectively address complex processes in conductors and semiconductors, radiation from accelerated electrons, and other dynamic phenomena associated with moving electric charges. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 7: 51–86, 1999
Metapopulations and metacommunities: combining spatial and temporal perspectives in plant ecology

Summary 1. Metapopulation and metacommunity theories occupy a central role in ecology, but can be difficult to apply to plants. Challenges include whether seed dispersal is sufficient for population connectivity, the role of seed banks and problems with studying colonization and extinction in long-lived and clonal plants. Further, populations often do not occupy discrete habitat patches. Despite these difficulties, we present case studies to illustrate explicit integration of spatial and temporal data in plant ecology. 2. First, on the population level, we focused on two early successional species that lack discrete habitat patches. Multi-year data sets taken with a grid approach and simple models permit the analysis of landscape dynamics that reflect regional as well as local processes. Using Silene latifolia ,w e examined colonization. We found evidence for seed dispersal and connectivity among populations across a large landscape. With Helianthus annuus, a species with seed banks, we determined the degree to which landscape-level patterns of abundance were predicted by local processes (previous year recruitment at a site plus seed banks) vs. seed dispersal. Local processes dominated dynamics. 3. Second, at the community level, we utilized a landscape-level experiment to examine the influence of environmental gradients and spatial processes (dispersal limitation) on community composition during 18 years of succession. Throughout succession, environmental and spatial factors both contributed significantly to spatial variation in species composition (beta diversity). When connectivity was disrupted, space was the dominant factor underlying beta diversity, and this did not change over time. Across more connected communities, spatial effects diminished over succession as the importance of environmental factors increased, consistent with species-sorting metacommunity models. 4. Synthesis. Metapopulation ⁄ metacommunity concepts emphasize the interaction between space and time in ecological processes. Spatial processes, such as long-distance dispersal, play a crucial role in creating new populations. Temporal processes, including seed banks, may dominate dynamics at both local and regional scales. The relative importance of spatial vs. temporal processes changes as populations persist and communities assemble over time; these patterns may only emerge after many years. Integrating long-term data with spatial data is thus essential for understanding spatio-temporal patterns inherent in metapopulation and metacommunity theories.
The Fissidens Flora of Amazonian Forest Floor Termite Structures

Abstract Forest floor termite structures in Amazonia are attractive substrates for certain taxa of Fissidens (Bryophyta), four of which appear to grow preferentially on termite structures. A degree of adaptive co-evolution is suggested for the taxa which prefer the termite nest substrate because the termite structures provide an organically enriched naked soil-like substrate for the Fissidens, elevated above the forest floor leaf litter. Also, the protective overlapping growth pattern of the Fissidens plants may function to abate rain fall erosion of the termite structures. Fissidens, with 18 taxa collected from Amazonian termite structures, is by far the most important bryophyte exploiting this habitat; only a few other mosses and a few hepatics have been collected—irregularly—from the termite structure substrate.
ENDOR of Semiquinones in RCs from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides

At the heart of photosynthesis are the electron-transfer reactions between the primary reactants. To understand these from first principles, a knowledge of both the spatial as well as the electronic structure of the reactants is essential. The exciting and beautiful work on the three-dimensional structure of reaction centers (RCs) in Rps. viridis by the Munich group will be discussed in a subsequent session. Here, we would like to discuss experiments designed to elucidate the electronic structure of the quinone acceptors, Q A and Q B in Rps. sphaeroides R-26.1. This work is still continuing; the presentation should, therefore, be taken in the spirit of a progress report.
Variability and power aware clock network design in nanometer technologies

Aggressive technology and clock frequency scaling have been key enablers to boosting integrated circuit (IC) performance over the past two decades. As technology scales further into the nanometer domain, maintaining the pace of frequency scaling in multi-GHz range has become difficult thus limiting performance enhancement that is expected. This can be attributed primarily to the impact of manufacturing variations and the dynamic temperature-voltage changes during run-time. These can cause unpredictable delay variations in the system that can result in functional failures and may limit the clock frequencies significantly. This situation is further exacerbated by the rising clock network power consumption. Robust clock design techniques often result in considerable power overhead, adding to the already large clock power. The primary goal of this dissertation is to develop design techniques that enhance robustness of clock networks against variations while ensuring minimum power consumption. In the first part of this dissertation, we examine the impact of variability on the clock distribution network (CDN). The impact of different sources of variations including random and systematic process variations, run-time temperature and supply voltage variations on CDN performance is analyzed through simulations in different technologies from 180nm to 45nm technologies. Simulation results show the rapidly growing impact of interconnect variability in sub-65nm technologies. It also identifies parts of the CDN that contribute significantly to the clock delay variations and clock skew. Using these results, we develop a new clock skew compensation technique with low area and power overhead to address interconnect variations. We apply this technique to the skew-sensitive parts of the CDN, identified earlier, thus maximizing its effectiveness. In the second part, we develop a clock tree buffer insertion methodology that optimizes the Clock network for power and robustness simultaneously. Towards this, we first model the delay variations in buffered global interconnects, which form the CDNs. This model is used to compute the maximum delay variation in the clock tree. We use this value as a metric to characterize the robustness of the clock tree, due to its simplicity and low computational cost. Also, through simulations, we show the effectiveness of the metric as compared to statistical clock skew, that is typically used. We present the optimal design methodology that ensures least power and area overheads in the clock tree while enhancing robustness, as measured by the new metric. These design techniques help reduce clock network safety margins with minimal performance penalties, resulting in low power consumption and higher clock frequencies. The CDN variability modeling and design optimization approaches developed can be extended to other parts of the system such as data path, memories and IO subsystems. We have illustrated the application of this work to designing robust global interconnects that play a key role in intra-chip communication between different IPs and logic blocks.
Organizational Dysfunctions of Decline

The article discusses the dysfunctional attributes of organizations experiencing periods of decline. Organizations involved in the study were gauged using a number of dysfunctional attributes in organizations identified by scholars, including the centralization of decision making, a lack of long-term planning and a pronounced decrease in the adoption of innovations. According to the author, the aforementioned attributes are characteristic of both stable and declining organizations. Only organizations experiencing growth in revenues seem to avoid these problems.
High Real-Space Resolution Measurement of the Local Structure of Ga 1-x In x As Using X-Ray Diffraction

High real-space resolution atomic pair distribution functions PDFs from the alloy series $\mathrm{Ga}{}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{ln}_{x}\mathrm{As}$ have been obtained using high-energy x-ray diffraction. The first peak in the PDF is resolved as a doublet due to the presence of two nearest neighbor bond lengths, Ga-As and In-As, as previously observed using x-ray absorption fine structure. The widths of nearest, and higher, neighbor PDF peaks are analyzed by separating the broadening due to static atom displacements from the thermal motion. The PDF peak width is 5 times larger for distant atomic neighbors than for nearest neighbors. The results are in agreement with model calculations.
Some Aspects of Sex Differences in Relation to Marketing

"There are a number of animals who can see in opposite directions at the same time. Man does this when he looks at woman. "Woman is an austere goddess on a pedestal, inspiring man to lofty achievement. Woman is a voluptuous Lorelei, luring men on to their de6truction. Woman is a noble mother. Woman is an ignoble villainess. Woman is man's bosom companion. Woman is a snake in the grass. Woman is a haven of comfort and sympathy. Woman is a source of endless miseries."'
Confutation of Political Realism

For nearly half a century, political realism has been widely regarded as the dominant paradigm in the field of international politics. Yet, despite realism's preeminence, the theory remains one of the most misunderstood and misapplied theories of international politics. The misinterpretations and misuses of realism, in turn, have contributed to the persistence of confusion regarding the theory's main tenets and its analytic utility. Over the years, several studies have attempted to identify realism's philosophical and epistemological presuppositions. To date, however, no systematic analysis of the epistemological liabilities of political realism has appeared. This article is an attempt to offer such an analysis by relating the formal structure of the theory to the epistemological requirements for its empirical confirmation and confutation. Several approaches and rescue attempts to save realism from potential falsifying evidence are examined in detail. The article's main conclusion is that political realism, properly understood, is empirically an untenable theory.
Discovery of the Middle-Late Triassic elasmobranch ichthyoliths from the Guanling area,Guizhou,SW China

Abundant Middle-Late Triassic(Ladinian-Carnian)elasmobranch ichthyoliths(microscopic shark dermal denticles and teeth)from the Zhuganpo and Xiaowa Formations in the Guanling area,Guizhou Province,south-western China,are described and illustrated.The fauna includes a single tooth possibly belonging to Hybodontidae and7paragenera and paraspecies of dermal denticles,i.e.:Lobaticorona cf.floriditurris,Sacrisubcorona cf.circaba-sis,Glabrisubcoro na cf.arduidevexa,Parvicorona dacrysulca n.gen.n.sp.s.f.,Annulicorona pyramidalis n.gen.n.sp.s.f.,and new(?)paragenera A and B.This is the first time that shark dermal denticles are reported from the Metapolygnathus polygnathiformis M.nodosus conodont zones.The application of microfossils of chondrichthyes in the stratigraphic division of the Triassic and the intercontinental correlation of Triassic chondrichthyes in south-western China and those in equivalent strata in North America are also discussed.
Corresponding Relation Between Aging Micrographs and Partial Discharge Properties of Electrical Trees in Silicone Rubber

At present, partial discharge(PD) test is one of the most available methods to detect the insulation status, but its theoretical foundation for evaluating the electrical treeing states in silicone rubber, which is used as the cable accessories' insulation material, is far from complete. Thus, we synchronously captured the optical images and partial discharge properties of the electrical trees in silicone rubber in treeing experiment. The n-q-φ(the frequency-phase-capacity of PDs) patterns reveal that the discharges are randomly dispersed in a wide phase range. The PD properties and the characteristics of the micrographs indicate that the PD counting per cycle increases with the electrical tree fractal dimensions during the tree propagation. When the maximum PD quantities increase, the electrical trees in the silicone rubber appear to have more bush-like and pine-like patterns. For the first time, the phenomenological properties and the PD sequence patterns are put together to discuss their relationship. It is found that large discharge pulse corresponds to rapid elongation of electrical branch channel, and the number of larger discharge pulses in positive half-cycle corresponds to the number of main channels when there is an obvious arterial channel. The comprehensive analysis of phenomenological properties, impulse sequence properties and partial PD signals offers a theoretical basis for using PD tests to evaluate the electrical treeing aging status in cable accessories.
Novel Electromyographic Protocols Using Axial Rotation and Cervical Flexion-Relaxation for the Assessment of Subjects With Neck Pain: A Feasibility Study.

Objective The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of novel variations to the way cervical flexion-relaxation phenomenon (FRP) studies are conducted and the feasibility of using cervical axial rotation as an alternative objective measure of cervical pain/dysfunction.
Breakdown of Cr2O3 scales by sulphur

Abstract This research was to investigate the growth mechanisms of protective oxide films grown selectively from certain alloys by high temperature oxidation/sulfidation in H2 - H2O and in H2 - H2O - H2S atmospheres, the migration of species within predeveloped oxide scales in the presence of sulfur, and breakdown of these oxide scales by a relatively stronger sulfidizing atmosphere. This paper concerns itself with the behavior of Fe-45Cr alloy and the internal oxidation/sulfidation in this system after breakdown of a protective Cr2O3 scale. The reaction kinetics and the microstructure of the reaction products were examined under different conditions by controlling Ps2 in the gas mixtures. The measured kinetics are closely related to the observed microstructural state of the scale, particularly for the penetration of sulfur through a protective oxide scale developed by preoxidation in H2 - H2O gas mixtures prior to the subsequent oxidation and sulfidation in H2 - H2O - H2Sgas mixtures. The morphological structure of the scale is influenced by the level of Ps2 in the gas atmosphere.
DSM-IV, DSM-5, and ICD-11: Identifying children with posttraumatic stress disorder after disasters.

Background Different criteria for diagnosing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been recommended by the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the proposed 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Although children are vulnerable to PTSD following disasters, little is known about whether these revised criteria are appropriate for preadolescents, as diagnostic revisions have been based primarily on adult research. This study investigated rates of PTSD using DSM-IV, DSM-5, and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria, and their associations with symptom severity, impairment, and PTSD risk factors. Methods Children (7–11 years) exposed to Hurricanes Ike (n = 327) or Charley (n = 383) completed measures 8–9 months postdisaster. Using diagnostic algorithms for DSM-IV, DSM-5, and ICD-11, rates of ‘probable’ PTSD were calculated. Results Across samples, rates of PTSD were similar. However, there was low agreement across the diagnostic systems, with about a third overlap in identified cases. Children identified only by ICD-11 had higher ‘core’ symptom severity but lower impairment than children identified only by DSM-IV or DSM-5. ICD-11 was associated with more established risk factors for PTSD than was DSM-5. Conclusions Findings revealed differences in PTSD diagnosis across major diagnostic systems for preadolescent children, with no clear advantage to any one system. Further research on developmentally sensitive PTSD criteria for preadolescent children is needed.
Immune Tolerance Induction to Factor IX Through B Cell Gene Transfer – Delineating Between Tolerogenic and Immunogenic B Cells.

Abstract Abstract 3156 At present, the most serious complication in hemophilia therapy is the development of neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) to intravenous administrated recombinant protein, which compromises therapy, creates immune-toxicity, and increases costs. Although inhibitor formation is less frequent in hemophilia B, it is more prevalent in severe hemophilia B patients, often with additional consequences - up to 50% patients with inhibitors to factor IX (F.IX) develop anaphylactic reactions. These further increase risks of morbidity and mortality. Available bypass therapy is expensive and at risk for thrombosis. Clinical immune tolerance induction (ITI) protocols are lengthy, expensive, and are often terminated in hemophilia B due to anaphylactic reactions or nephrotic syndrome. Therefore, effective protocols to induce immune tolerance to F.IX are urgently needed. B cells have been identified as antigen presenting cells with potentially immune suppressive/regulatory roles. Upon gene transfer, primary B cells were found to induce tolerance to the expressed transgene product. Hence, we use autologous gene-modified primary B cells expressing F.IX antigen fused with immunoglobulin-G heavy chain in a murine model of hemophilia B. Our murine hemophilia B model is unique in both developing high-titer inhibitors and fatal anaphylactic reactions to protein replacement therapy. Retroviral transduced B cells, expressing either full-length or shorter version of F.IX, markedly reduced inhibitor titers up to 30-fold and completely prevented fatal anaphylactic reactions. After 7 weeks of treatment with recombinant human F.IX (IV, 1 IU/mouse, once per week), mice receiving control B cells (n=6) had developed inhibitor titers of 23±8 BU, and 50% died after the last injection. Mice tolerized to F.IX by B cell transplant (n=7) had formed Disclosures: Herzog: Genzyme Corp.: Royalties, AAV-FIX technology, Royalties, AAV-FIX technology Patents & Royalties.
The Protein Kinase C beta (PKCβ) Inhibitor Enzastaurin HCl (LY317615) Augments Chemosensitivity of Multiple Myeloma (MM) Cells to Dexamethasone and the Proteasome Inhibitor Bortezomib.

Abstract PKCβ isoforms are important in B-cell signaling and proliferation. PKCβ overexpression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma relates with poor prognosis but the clinical significance of PKCβ in MM is not yet established. Herein, we report antimyeloma activity of the PKCβ inhibitor enzastaurin HCl (LY317615) both as a single agent and in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone. Methods: Six MM cell lines (NCI-H929, RPMI8226, IM9, U266, ARH-77 and HS Sultan) with varying degree of PKC activity were treated with graded dose of enzastaurin and studied for induction of apoptosis by flow cytometric analysis of annexin and propidium iodide stainings, and inhibition of proliferation by MTT assay. Results: IC50 doses of both effects were low at 1-5 μM in all cell lines and did not correlate with the baseline PKC activity. Interestingly, the combination of enzastaurin at non-toxic concentrations with varying doses of dexamethasone and bortezomib yielded synergistic enhancement of cell death and inhibition of proliferation in all cell lines. Multiparameter immunoblottings of cell lysate after enzastaurin treatment showed that, at these functional doses, PI3/AKT, Erk and JNK pathways were unaffected. Additional studies are ongoing to evaluate the effect of enzastaurin on activities of apoptotic proteins, and verify its effect in primary samples. Conclusions: Our preliminary data indicate that the PKCβ inhibitor enzastaurin demonstrates single-agent antimyeloma activity and can sensitize MM cells to bortezomib and dexamethasone. Enzastaurin is promising for further studies as an approach to increase activity and decrease toxicity of MM therapy. Download : Download high-res image (173KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure
The role of communication in ecological assessments of genetically modified crops

Scientists develop terms, phrases and vocabulary to communicate complex ideas to their peers. Each scientific discipline has some unique aspects to its vocabulary, which to the uninitiated may be difficult to understand at first. For individuals grounded in scientific first principles (the basics of science education, methods and training), comprehension of factual information and facile exchange of ideas occurs after becoming versant in the language. Ideally, terms and phrases are developed and used with the intent to expand knowledge in a scientific discipline.
Dynamics of Capillary-Driven Flow in 3D Printed Open Microchannels.

Microchannels have applications in microfluidic devices, patterns for micromolding, and even flexible electronic devices. Three-dimensional (3D) printing presents a promising alternative manufacturing route for these microchannels due to the technology’s relative speed and the design freedom it affords its users. However, the roughness of 3D printed surfaces can significantly influence flow dynamics inside of a microchannel. In this work, open microchannels are fabricated using four different 3D printing techniques: fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering, and multi jet modeling. Microchannels printed with each technology are evaluated with respect to their surface roughness, morphology, and how conducive they are to spontaneous capillary filling. Based on this initial assessment, microchannels printed with FDM and SLA are chosen as models to study spontaneous, capillary-driven flow dynamics in 3D printed microchannels. Flow dynamics are investigated over short ...
The incorporation of emotion-regulation skills into couple- and family-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling, potentially chronic disorder that is characterized by re-experience and hyperarousal symptoms as well as the avoidance of trauma-related stimuli. The distress experienced by many veterans of the Vietnam War and their partners prompted a strong interest in developing conjoint interventions that could both alleviate the core symptoms of PTSD and strengthen family bonds. We review the evolution of and evidence base for conjoint PTSD treatments from the Vietnam era through the post-911 era. Our review is particularly focused on the use of treatment strategies that are designed to address the emotions that are generated by the core symptoms of the disorder to reduce their adverse impact on veterans, their partners and the relationship. We present a rationale and evidence to support the direct incorporation of emotion-regulation skills training into conjoint interventions for PTSD. We begin by reviewing emerging evidence suggesting that high levels of emotion dysregulation are characteristic of and predict the severity of both PTSD symptoms and the level of interpersonal/marital difficulties reported by veterans with PTSD and their family members. In doing so, we present a compelling rationale for the inclusion of formal skills training in emotional regulation in couple−/family-based PTSD treatments. We further argue that increased exposure to trauma-related memories and emotions in treatments based on learning theory requires veterans and their partners to learn to manage the uncomfortable emotions that they previously avoided. Conjoint treatments that were developed in the last 30 years all acknowledge the importance of emotions in PTSD but vary widely in their relative emphasis on helping participants to acquire strategies to modulate them compared to other therapeutic tasks such as learning about the disorder or disclosing the trauma to a loved one. We conclude our review by describing two recent innovative treatments for PTSD that incorporate a special emphasis on emotion-regulation skills training in the dyadic context: structured approach therapy (SAT) and multi-family group for military couples (MFG-MC). Although the incorporation of emotion-regulation skills into conjoint PTSD therapies appears promising, replication and comparison to cognitive-behavioral approaches is needed to refine our understanding of which symptoms and veterans might be more responsive to one approach versus others.
Abstract P281: Bcl-2 Limits Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of the Naive Myocardium by Preserving Mitochondrial Integrity and Respiratory Complex Functionality and Is Modulated by PKCε

Over-expression of Bcl-2 protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Nevertheless, the participation of Bcl-2 in basal myocardium, and its subcellular targets under such conditions, remains elusive. Using a mouse line with an ablation of the Bcl-2 gene, we found that myocardial infarct size (IS) was exacerbated vs. wild type (WT) mice, demonstrating that Bcl-2 limit IS in basal I/R injury. The exacerbated IS in Bcl-2 KO was abolished by in vivo treatment with the selective Mitochondrial Permeability Transition (MPT) inhibitor cyclosporine A (10 mg/kg, iv) , while isolated cardiac mitochondria from Bcl-2 null mice exhibited increased matrix swelling in response to CaCl 2 , showing an increased susceptibility to MPT. However, recombinant Bcl-2 or PKCe were both sufficient to attenuate the increased susceptibility to MPT. Interestingly, spectrophotometric analysis of baseline activities of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Complexes (ETC) I and V (but not of ETC II, III and IV), were increased in cardiac mitochondria from Bcl-2 null mice as compared to mitochondria from normal WT mice, demonstrating an altered mitochondrial respiratory complex functionality. In addition, immunoprecipitation with PKCe in AE-PKCe mouse hearts (i.e. mice with an increased activity of PKCe) followed by immunoblotting for Bcl-2, showed an 2-fold increased interaction between PKCe and Bcl-2. Similarly, immunoprecipitation with Phospho-Serine followed by immunoblotting for Bcl-2 indicated a 2-fold increased Serine residue phosphorylation of Bcl-2. Mass spectrometry analysis further showed that PKCe can phosporylate Bcl-2 at its Serine24 residue site in vitro, indicating that PKCe can directly interact and phosphorylate Bcl-2. These data suggest that Bcl-2 is pivotal in limiting IS in basal I/R injury by counteracting MPT and preserving mitochondrial respiratory complex functionality, and implicate a direct interaction and phosphorylation of Bcl-2 by PKCe in this process.
Hal White: Time at MIT and Early Days of Research

I am pleased to write a note in honor of Hal’s sixtieth birthday. As memory is a tricky thing, I hope the following is accurate, but I can make no guarantees. Hal was among my first three Ph.D. students at MIT who are Roger Gordon, Hal White, and Paul Krugman. Since my first and only job has been at MIT, I found this supervision enjoyable and remarkably easy. However, using these three sample points to predict the future would have been grossly inaccurate, although mostly I have enjoyed the many MIT (and some Harvard) students I have supervised over the years.
Libra: Improved Partitioning Strategies for Massive Comparative Metagenomics Analysis

Big-data analytics platforms, such as Hadoop, are appealing for scientific computation because they are ubiquitous, well-supported, and well-understood. Unfortunately, load-balancing is a common challenge of implementing large-scale scientific computing applications on these platforms. In this paper we present the design and implementation of Libra, a Hadoop-based tool for comparative metagenomics (comparing samples of genetic material collected from the environment). We describe the computation that Libra performs and how that computation is implemented using Hadoop tasks, including the techniques used by Libra to ensure that the task workloads are balanced despite nonuniform sample sizes and skewed distributions of genetic material in the samples. On a 10-machine Hadoop cluster Libra can analyze the entire Tara Ocean Viromes of ~4.2 billion reads in fewer than 20 hours.
Soils: Basic concepts: soil morphology

Soil means diffferent things to different people. To a farmer or horticulturalist, it is a medium for plant growth. To an engineer, it is something to build on or remove before construction can occur, or it may actually be a type of engineering medium used for road building, house foundations or septic drain fields. To a hydrologist soil functions as a source of water purification and supply. To the pedologist or soil geographer, however, soil is a natural, three-dimensional body that has formed at the Earth's surface, through the interactions of at least five soil-forming factors (climate, biota, relief, parent materials and time). Its genesis involves past processes and it is likely to change in the future. It varies spatially in the horizontal and vertical dimensions. It is capable of being destroyed and yet it is resilient to perturbations. Each soil also has a distinct morphology, defined as its structure or form. Soil morphology is all that can be seen and felt about a soil. It includes not only “what is there” but also how it is “put together” – its architecture. Soil's other defining characteristics, such as horizonation, chemistry and mineralogy, are discussed in later chapters. Soils are composed of clastic particles (mineral matter), organic materials in various stages of decay, living organisms, water (or ice), and gases within pores of various sizes (Fig. 2.1). The absolute amounts of each, and their arrangement into a particular fabric, are the sum of soil morphology.
A Scaled Gradient Projection Algorithm for Linear Complementarity Problems

A new interior point algorithm is presented for linear complementarity problems. Unlike the homotopy method that follows the path of centers or the potential reduction method that minimizes the potential function, our method minimizes the corresponding equivalent quadratic programming problem directly, using the scaled gradient projection technique.
CT of Clonorchis Sinensis pancreatitis.

Clonorchis Sinensis infestation can involve the pancreatic duct and induce attacks of acute pancreatitis. Ct findings in a case ofClonorchis Sinensis pancreatitis revealed significant enlargement of the pancreas with compression and obstruction of the common duct. Medical treatment leads to resolution of the clinical and CT findings. The patient experienced a second episode of pancreatitis 3 yr later. CT examination documented the development of chronic pancreatitis with an acute exacerbation.