cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fish Are Like Flies Are Like Frogs: Conservation of Dorsal-Ventral Patterning Mechanisms

Genetic analysis of Drosophila has shown that a morphogenetic gradient of the Transforming Growth Factor-beta family member dpp patterns the embryonic dorsal-ventral axis. Molecular and embryological evidence from Xenopus has strongly suggested a similar role for Bmp-4, the dpp homolog, in patterning the dorsal-ventral axis of chordates. A recent report has now identified mutations in two genes, dino and swirl, that disrupt dorsal-ventral patterning in the zebrafish Danio rerio. Characterization of these mutations parallels findings from Drosophila, thus establishing a genetic framework for the analysis of dorsal-ventral patterning in a vertebrate.
PANIC theory and the prospects for a representational theory of phenomenal consciousness

Michael Tye has recently argued that the phenomenal character of conscious experiences is "one and the same as" (1) Poised (2) Abstract (3) Non-conceptual (4) Intentional Content (PANIC). Tye argues extensively that PANIC Theory accounts for differences in phenomenal character in representational terms. But another task of a theory of phenomenal consciousness is to account for the difference between those mental states that have phenomenal character at all and those that do not. By going through each of the four qualifiers of PANIC, we argue that PANIC Theory fails to account for this difference in genuinely representational terms. We suggest, furthermore, that the reasons it fails are likely to be endemic to all representational theories of phenomenal consciousness.
Nano-materials for Renewable Energy: Toward the integration of education with research and internship

Interdisciplinary Science Master's graduate program in Renewable Energy provides a unique opportunity for a successful integration of research, education and practical (“real world”) experience (internship) for science majors. The trends in education technology will be reviewed and discussed. The role of nano-materials for renewable energy is emphasized.
Information Driven Product Development: A Framework for Product Design and Analysis Integration

New paradigms and accompanying software systems are necessary to support the integration of system level design and discipline level analysis activities for the implementation of product lifecycle management. In this paper, we present an information driven product development method for the integration in the context of multidisciplinary product realization. The method contains three constituents: product information model which represents the associativities among design requirements, product components, and design parameters; compromise Decision Support Problem which maps the information model directly into design problems; and knowledge based Finite Element Analysis which generates analysis model automatically from the information model. Information driven product development uses product information model as a communication media between design and analysis activities, hence provides an effective way to trace the impact of design changes, facilitates the reuse of analyses models, and supports collaborative decision-making. An electronic chip package design and analysis scenario is presented to illustrate and demonstrate this method.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Ingredient and labeling issues associated with allergenic foods

Foods contain a wide range of food ingredients that serve numerous technical functions. Per capita consumer exposure to most of these food ingredients is rather low with a few notable exceptions such as sugar and starch. Some food ingredients including edible oils, hydrolyzed proteins, lecithin, starch, lactose, flavors and gelatin may, at least in some products, be derived from sources commonly involved in IgE-mediated food allergies. These ingredients should be avoided by consumers with allergies to the source material if the ingredient contains detectable protein residues. Other food ingredients, including starch, malt, alcohol and vinegar, may be derived in some cases from wheat, rye or barley, the grains that are implicated in the causation of celiac disease. If these ingredients contain gluten residues, then they should be avoided by celiac sufferers. A few food ingredients are capable of eliciting allergic sensitization, although these ingredients would be classified as rarely allergenic. These ingredients include carmine, cochineal extract, annatto, tragacanth gum and papain. Food manufacturers should declare the presence of allergenic food ingredients in the ingredient listings on product labels so that allergic consumers can know to avoid these potentially hazardous products.
RADIATIVE COOLING IN THE LOWEST LAYERS OF AN ATMOSPHERE WARMER THAN THE GROUND

Abstract Radiative cooling is computed for a warm, isothermal atmosphere streaming out over a cold surface. The study shows that the rate of cooling at heights from a few centimeters up to a few meters varies inversely as the square root of the distance from the ground, and that it varies somewhat more rapidly at larger distances. The difference in radiative cooling at low levels between an isothermal and an adiabatic atmosphere is computed and found to be negligible in comparison with values derived from the isothermal atmosphere. Comparison of radiative with observed cooling shows that radiative cooling is relatively small compared with cooling by turbulence in winds around 15 mph.
Passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies against herpes simplex virus glycoproteins protects mice against herpetic ocular disease

The effects of passive immunization with specific monoclonal antibodies against herpes simplex virus glycoproteins gB, gC, gD, and gE on the course of herpetic keratitis, survival and the establishment of latency in an outbred mouse model are described. A total of nine monoclonal antibodies were tested in these experiments. Passive immunization at 24 or 48 hours post-inoculation had little effect on the severity of the initial epithelial infection of the cornea, but blocked dissemination of the virus to the central nervous system and periocular tissues and prevented development of blepharitis, iritis and stromal keratitis. Additional studies are needed to characterize these monoclonal antibodies in greater detail, and to define the mechanism of these protective effects.
Sensitivity of azeotropic states to activity coefficient model parameters and system variables

Abstract The activity coefficient models, when based on parameters obtained through binary phase equilibrium information result in multiple sets that may either not be able to predict ternary and higher order azeotropes, or computed values are significantly different from experimental data, particularly at thermodynamic landmarks. Sensitivity of azeotropic states to model parameters and operating conditions is imbedded into a homotopy continuation formulation, providing a functionally sound basis for prediction of such states and their corresponding sensitivity. Furthermore, the validity of parameter set depends on the range of operating variables. The methodology allows systematic variation of model parameters and selection of a parameter set that allows computation of thermodynamic landmarks, such as azeotropy. The systematic analysis of the effects of parametric perturbation on the prediction of azeotropes and heteroazeotropes also provide useful insights into capabilities and limitations of phase equilibrium models. The technique is also useful in developing the effect of system variables on azeotropy conditions. We demonstrated the utility of our approach through modeling benzene–cyclohexane–n-propanol, ethyl acetate–ethanol–water and water–formic acid–acetic acid system.
CALIBRATION AND USE OF A SAILPLANE V ARIOMETER TO MEASURE VERTICAL VELOCITY FLUCTUATIONS

The calibration of a sailplane variometer to measure vertical velocity fluctuations in the atmospheric boundary layer is described. Its usefulness is demonstrated with typical results from a boundary-layer development study. The atmospheric calibrations gave the ratio of standard deviations of vertical velocity fluctuations measured by a standard tower-mounted turbulence instrument to the values measured by variometer as 2.5 m s−1 V−1.
Aluminum alloy film deposition and characterization

Abstract A flash evaporation system which utilizes a mechanism for feeding alloy wire onto a heated bar was used for the deposition of aluminum-silicon, aluminum-copper and aluminum-copper-silicon. The effect of deposition conditions and processing procedure on film composition and microstructure was determined. Particular attention was given to the film surface topography and the possible influence of deposition conditions, alloy composition, substrate type, thickness, annealing time and temperature and addition of oxide overlayers. Resistivity, and possible shorting of junctions in silicon as a consequence of silicon dissolution in the metallization, were considered as a function of alloy composition. Metal continuity over steps in the substrate was tested as a function of deposition temperature. These studies yielded recommendations, regarding the general use of alloy metallization on silicon devices and its specific use in two-level metallization configurations, which include: deposition at temperatures down to 275°C and at evaporation rates of about 0.4 g/min; the use of initial layer thickness down to 0.7 μ; post-deposition processing for aluminum-copper or aluminum-copper-silicon not to exceed 525°C; the addition of 1% silicon to prevent junction penetration; and the addition of 4% copper to lend adequate electromigration resistance and inhibit hillock growth during high temperature processing.
Active control of the lateral buckling of nitinol-reinforced composite beams

The lateral buckling characteristics of flexible composite beams are actively controlled by activating sets of shape memory alloy (NITINOL) fibers which are embedded along the mid- plane of these beams. With such active control capabilities, the beams can be manufactured from light weight sections without compromising their elastic stability. This feature will be invaluable in building light weight structures that have high resistance to failure due to buckling. Finite element models are developed to analyze the mechanical and thermal characteristics of the composite beams. The models account for the individual contributions of the matrix, the NITINOL fibers and the shape memory effect to the overall performance of the composite beams. A closed-loop computer-controlled system is built to validate the finite element model. The system is used to control the lateral buckling of a composite beam which is 40.6 cm long, 5.1 cm wide and .25 cm thick which is reinforced with two NITINOL-55 fibers that are 0.55 mm in diameter. The results obtained confirm the validity of the developed theoretical model and indicate that the buckled beams can be brought back completely to their unbuckled configuration by proper activation of the shape memory effect. Also, the results obtained suggest that reinforcing the beams with NITINOL fibers is effective in enhancing their lateral buckling characteristics.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Material Promised Land: Advertising's Modern Agenda in LateImperial Russia

G iven the widely reported and often scorned explosion of advertising in post-Soviet Russia, few people realize the extent to which Russian cities were similarly inundated with commercial publicity before the 1917 Revolution. Advertising was as inescapable a fact of daily life for the city dwellers of 1900 as it is for their descendants in the 1990s. Shop signs covered many of the grand architectural fagades, posters filled columns, walls, windows, and public transport, pedestrians had thrust at them flyers offering discounted prices or free trinkets in this or that shop. The home, too, was commercial terrain: brand packaging for staples as well as luxury products sat on household shelves, direct-mail advertising solicited the patronage of wealthier residents, and mass-circulation newspapers devoted up to half their pages to advertisements (which in many cases brought in as much income as subscriptions and street sales combined). The advertising industry was booming in the last decade of Imperial rule. In Moscow and St. Petersburg alone the number of advertising agencies rose from thirteen and seven respectively in 1896, to thirty-one and thirty-six in 1914.1 Advertising was at once the messenger of commerce, the financial linchpin of the mass-circulation press, and a new avenue of enterprise in a society that had traditionally offered few outlets for initiative. The onslaught of commercial publicity testifies to Imperial Russia's participation in the emergence of a consumer revolution more commonly associated with Western Europe and the United States. This revolution, an integral if secondary facet of the industrial revolution, expanded the boundaries and pleasures of discretionary consumption beyond the
Real-time multispectral imaging system for online poultry fecal inspection using UML

A prototype real-time multispectral imaging system for fecal and ingesta contaminant detection on broiler carcasses has been developed. The prototype system includes a common aperture camera with three optical trim filters (517, 565 and 802-nm wavelength), which were selected by visible/NIR spectroscopy and validated by a hyperspectral imaging system with decision tree algorithm. The on-line testing results showed that the multispectral imaging technique can be used effectively for detecting feces (from duodenum, ceca, and colon) and ingesta on the surface of poultry carcasses with a processing speed of 140 birds per minute. This paper demonstrated both multispectral imaging hardware and real-time image processing software. For the software development, the Unified Modeling Language (UML) design approach was used for on-line application. The UML models included class, object, activity, sequence, and collaboration diagram. User interface model included seventeen inputs and six outputs. A window based real-time image processing software composed of eleven components, which represented class, architecture, and activity. Both hardware and software for a real-time fecal detection were tested at the pilot-scale poultry processing plant. The run-time of the software including online calibration was fast enough to inspect carcasses on-line with an industry requirement. Based on the preliminary test at the pilot-scale processing line, the system was able to acquire poultry images in real-time. According to the test results, the imaging system is reliable for the harsh environments and UML based image processing software is flexible and easy to be updated when additional parameters are needed for in-plant trials.
Don DeLillo and Topologies of 9/11

This essay offers a new way in which to topologically read Don DeLillo's Falling Man and the events of September 11, 2001. Specifically, the figure of the Mobius strip is used to demonstrate the ways in which narrative structure, space, and the bodies of characters function in Falling Man to reveal the futility of binary logic as it relates to identity, language, and nation in response to terror.
Intraoperative fluorescent angiography analysis for head and neck micro-vascula free flap reconstruction- a preliminary experience

Purpose: Reconstruction of complex defects of the head and neck region utilizing micro-vascular free tissue transfer reconstruction has become invaluable. Early detection of vascular compromise and its prompt correction is critical to its success. The use of intra-operative fluorescent angiography (ICG) may facilitate surgeons in being objective when assessing micro-vascular anastamosis patency and flap perfusion. Method: 231 head and neck free tissue transfer cases on 228 patients performed by a single surgeon between 20032013 were reviewed for type of flap, flap success and complications. In 62 of the head and neck free tissue transfer cases, intra-operative ICG was performed with SPY Elite (Lifecell) for assessment of micro-vascular anastomosis patency and analysis of adequacy of blood supply to inset flap. Conventional subjective patency test and clinical inspection were performed for the remaining 169 cases. Results: Overall success rate was 95%. When ICG analysis was performed, the success rate was 97%. In the conventional group, the success rate was 94%. Overall complication rate was 11%. Post-operative complications included hematoma, venous thrombosis, infection, partial flap necrosis, and hemorrhage. In the ICG analysis cases, the overall complication rate was 5% with hematoma 3% and partial flap necrosis 2%. In the conventional subjective analysis group, the overall complication rate was 14% with post op complications of hematoma 7%, venous thrombosis 4%, infection 1%, partial flap necrosis 1% and hemorrhage 1%. Conclusions: Routine implementation of intraoperative ICG analysis can further increase the reliability of free tissue transfer reconstruction of the head and neck region.
Automatic processing, code dissimilarity, and the efficiency of successive memory searches.

Two experiments examined the effects of automatic processing and code dissimilarity on the performance of successive memory searches through a single memory set having the same or different kinds of information (i.e., verbal and spatial). The results of both experiments showed that the total time to complete the successive searches was less when automatic processing was involved compared with when both searches required controlled processing. Performance of the successive searches improved substantially with practice. Both experiments also showed an asymmetrical temporal interference between the two searches. Aspects of the to-be-performed second search did not affect first-search reaction times (RTs), but performing the first search did affect the second-search RTs. The interfering effect of the first search was greatest when controlled processes that used the same code were required for both searches, whether the code was verbal or spatial. Several interpretations are offered for the interference generated by the first search. The joint effects of automatic processing and code dissimilarity are also discussed.
Failure to confirm the presence of a retrovirus in cultured lymphocytes from patients with Kawasaki syndrome.

ABSTRACT: We and others previously reported DNA polymerase activity in culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with acute Kawasaki syndrome (KS). In the present study, we further characterized the previously detected polymerase activity and attempted to confirm its presence in cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from additional patients with KS. Characterization experiments indicated that the polymerase activity was typical of a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase rather than viral reverse transcriptase. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures from 17 additional KS patients were negative for reverse transcriptase activity in three laboratories. Our findings do not provide support for a retroviral etiology of KS. Further studies should continue to focus on infectious agents in efforts to elucidate the etiology of KS.
Focused electron and ion beam repair strategies for wafer-scale interconnections in thin film packaging

Abstract Thin film packaging employing wafer-scale or high density multilayer interconnections embedded in organic insulators is currently being studied intesively for high performance computers. Applications of this technology appear extremely promising for improving systems design by providing direct chip-to-chip interconnections on a multichip digital hybrid. High yield fabrication of these packages appears possible. However, even with the use of such techniques, defects can still arise in the most aggressive applications such as multilayer hybrids containing many layers or on large diameter wafers. Extensive studies of residual defects arising in a high yield, planarized lift-off process have been cataloged and some results are presented. These defects primarily include interconnection open circuits due to thermal stress cracking, bad vias, or failure to transfer patterns. Interlayer shorts due to lift-off brush metal, source splitting, or improper pattern transfer also arise. Finally, interlayer pinholes are occasionally still observed. Practical repair strategies are presented using a combination of focused electron beam and ion beam systems. An application of ion beam voltage contrast testing to the problem of checking line continuity and shorting is examined. Finally, a microfocused secondary ion mass spectrometer is used for verification of cuts produced from ion milling and investigation of vias.
Advanced γ ray technology for scanning cargo containers

Abstract The shipping industry is striving to increase security for cargo containers without significantly impeding traffic. Three Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) development programs are supporting this effort. SAIC's ICIS system combines SAIC's VACIS® γ ray imaging, radiation scanning, OCR, elemental analysis and other technologies to scan containers for nuclear materials and other hazards in normal terminal traffic. SAIC's enhanced γ ray detector improves VACIS image resolution by a factor of three. And SAIC's EmptyView software analyzes VACIS images to automatically verify empty containers.
Blood coagulation and the practical significance of recent advances in knowledge of prothrombin and Ac-globulin.

An attempt is made to describe the nature of the chemical interactions participating in blood clotting. In the laboratory, thrombin can be derived directly from prothrombin without the physiologic activators calcium, thromboplastin, Ac-globulin, and platelet derivatives. The newly recognized clotting factor, Ac-globulin, is essential for normal physiologic hemostasis. Plasma Ac-globulin concentration decreases in experimental liver damage, temporarily with dicumarol administration and may increase from high doses of aminophylline. In citrated storage plasma it is stable for a week but not in oxalated human plasma. Compared with other species, human plasma contains a low concentration of Ac-globulin. Methods for Ac-globulin analysis have been developed; perhaps more important is the fact that the two-stage method for prothrombin analysis need no longer be considered a complicated procedure.
The forever war.

Nearly 10 years ago, at the age of 25, I crossed the border into Iraq as the commander of an infantry platoon. No one knew what lay ahead, but we all knew there was no turning back.
Variability of heterostructure type with thickness of barriers and temperature in the InAs/GaAsSb quantum dot system

Abstract We report photoluminescence studies of InAs quantum dots embedded in GaAsSb barrier layers of various thicknesses. Time resolved photoluminescence results suggest that the thicknesses of the GaAsSb barrier layers determines whether the quantum dot system acts as a type I (thicker) or type II (thinner) heterostructure due to strain induced changes in the band energies. Temperature dependent photoluminescence reveal that the transition type is also dependent on the temperature with one sample seeming to transform from type II to type I heterostructure as the temperature is increased. These results support previous assertions that it is possible to obtain a zero valence band offset in the InAs/GaAsSb quantum dot system, making it a system of interest for realization of a novel photovoltaic structure, the intermediate band solar cell. The results highlight some of the inherent issues in designing structures with specific band offsets. Some of the implications of these results on the design methodology for quantum dot based solar cells are briefly discussed.
A Rapid Phloxine-Methylene Blue Oversight Stain for Formalin-Fixed Material

A rapid method is described, which yields brilliant and selective differential staining with phloxine-methylene blue. Aqueous phloxine (1%) is treated with hydrochloric acid (1 ml/l gm of phloxine) and the water-insoluble precipitate is washed, dried, and dissolved in acidified 95% ethyl alcohol. Slides are stained for several minutes in this solution (0.2%) followed by brief staining in the usual azure-methylene blue solution and differentiated with colophonium-alcohol. The method eliminates the necessity for prolonged staining at elevated temperatures, reducing the total staining procedure to approximately 15 min. In addition, controlled differentiation with colophonium-alcohol can be carried out on formalin-fixed material without loss of phloxine. The selectivity and tinctorial attributes of phloxine are also considerably improved.
Synthesis, characterization, and cyclometalation studies of benzo[1,2-h: 5,4-h′]diquinolines with palladium and platinum

Abstract Benzo[1,2-h: 5,4-h′]diquinoline(1a) represents a new family of tridentate NCN pincer ligand. We report the synthesis of the parent ligand (1a) and its derivatives (1b R = Me, 1c R = t-Butyl, 1d R = Phenyl). The ligands were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, as well as mass spectral analysis, and X-ray structural determination. They readily undergo cyclometalation with LiPdCl4, Pd(OAc)2, and K2PtCl4 to form the cyclometalated Pd(NCN)Cl (2a–c, 3a), and Pt(NCN)Cl (4a) pincer complexes. These complexes have been characterized through NMR, and mass spectrometry. PdNCNCl (2a) structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 2a has shown to catalyze the Heck coupling reaction between bromobenzene and n-butylacyrlate in NMP at 140 °C, TON of 2506 were observed.
Energy Oddities, Part 1: Why the Energy World Is Odd

Reflecting on power as a commodity evokes a seemingly inevitable conclusion: the energy world is ripe with oddities.
Expression of plasma membrane receptor genes during megakaryocyte development

Megakaryocyte (MK) development is critically informed by plasma membrane-localized receptors that integrate a multiplicity of environmental cues. Given that the current understanding about receptors and ligands involved in megakaryocytopoiesis is based on single targets, we performed a genome-wide search to identify a plasma membrane receptome for developing MKs. We identified 40 transmembrane receptor genes as being upregulated during MK development. Seven of the 40 receptor-associated genes were selected to validate the dataset. These genes included: interleukin-9 receptor (IL9R), transforming growth factor, β receptor II (TGFBR2), interleukin-4 receptor (IL4R), colony stimulating factor-2 receptor-beta (CSFR2B), adiponectin receptor (ADIPOR2), thrombin receptor (F2R), and interleukin-21 receptor (IL21R). RNA and protein analyses confirmed their expression in primary human MKs. Matched ligands to IL9R, TGFBR2, IL4R, CSFR2B, and ADIPOR2 affected megakaryocytopoiesis. IL9 was unique in its ability to increase the number of MKs formed. In contrast, MK colony formation was inhibited by adiponectin, TGF-β, IL4, and GM-CSF. The thrombin-F2R axis affected platelet function, but not MK development, while IL21 had no apparent detectable effects. ADP-induced platelet aggregation was suppressed by IL9, TGF-β, IL4, and adiponectin. Overall, six of seven of the plasma membrane receptors were confirmed to have functional roles in MK and platelet biology. Also, results show for the first time that adiponectin plays a regulatory role in MK development. Together these data support a strong likelihood that the 40 transmembrane genes identified as being upregulated during MK development will be an important resource to the research community for deciphering the complex repertoire of environmental cues regulating megakaryocytopoiesis and/or platelet function.
Mitigation Alternatives to Decrease Nitrous Oxides Emissions and Urea-Nitrogen Loss and Their Effect on Methane Flux

Nitrous oxide (N{sub 2}O) and methane (CH{sub 4}) are greenhouse gases that are contributing to global warming potential. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is one of the most important sources of anthropogenic N{sub 2}O emissions. A field study was conducted to compare N-use efficiency and effect on N{sub 2}O and CH{sub 4} flux, of urea plus the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (U + DCD), and a control release fertilizer, polyolefin coated urea (POCU) in irrigated spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in northeastern Colorado. Each treatment received 90 kg urea-N ha{sup -1} and microplots labeled with {sup 15}N-fertilizer were established. Average N{sub 2}O emissions were 4.5, 5.2, 6.9, and 8.2 g N ha{sup -1} d{sup -1} for control, U + DCD, POCU, and urea, respectively. During the initial 21 d after fertilization, N{sub 2}P emissions were reduced by 82 and 71% in the U + DCD and POCU treatments, respectively, but continued release of N fertilizer from POCU maintained higher N{sub 2}O emissions through the remainder of the growing season. No treatment effect on CH{sub 4} oxidation in soils was observed. Fertilizer {sup 15}N found 50 to 110 cm cm below the soil surface was lower in the POCU and U + DCD treatments.more » At harvest, recovery of {sup 15}N-fertilizer in the plant-soil system was 98, 90, and 85% from POCU, urea, and U + DCD, respectively. Grain yield was 2.2, 2.5, and 2.7 Mg ha{sup -1} for POCU, urea, and U + DCD, respectively. Dicyandiamide and POCU showed the potential to be used as mitigation alternatives to decrease N{sub 2}O emissions from N fertilizer and movement of N out of the root zone, but N release from POCU does need to be formulated to better match crop growth demands. 46 refs., 1 figs., 4 tabs.« less
Antibiotic Synergy in Experimental Infection with Pseudomonas. II. The Effect of Carbenicillin, Cephalothin, or Cephanone Combined with Tobramycin or Gentamicin

The in vivo synergistic effect of various combinations of antibiotics was tested in an experimental model of lethal infection with Pseudomanas. Rats treated with saline, carbenicillin, tobramycin, gentamicin, cephalothin, or cephanone alone, with cephalothin plus tobramycin or gentamicin, or with cephanone plus tobramycin or gentamicin showed rapid ip multiplication of Pseudomonas and severe bacteremia; all animals died. In contrast, combined therapy with carbenicillin plus tobramycin or gentamicin cleared Pseudomnonas from the bloodstream and the challenge site and resulted in survival. This in vivo synergy was lost when combined therapy was not given frequently during the first day of infection. Combined carbenicillin and tobramycin also had a synergistic effect on 22 of 24 strains of Pseudomonas tested in vitro for susceptibility to various combinations of antibiotics. The in vivo and in vitro activity of tobramycin against Pseudomnonas was as effective as that of gentamicin. These studies indicate true in vivo synergy against this strain of Pseudomonas when carbenicillin is combined with tobramycin or gentamicin as therapy for serious pseudomonas infections, and suggest that combined therapy with carbenicillin and either tobramycin or gentamicin may be useful for certain pseudomonas infections in humans.
Social translucence: designing social infrastructures that make collective activity visible

INTRODUCTION We are concerned with designing systems that allow groups to collaborate over computer networks. We are particularly interested in the question of how to design such systems so that they support interactions that are coherent, that enable groups with a shared aim to make progress towards a common goal. It is our experience that such coherent interaction is difficult to achieve in online environments, and thus our work begins with a question: How it is that, in the physical world, we are able to manage our group interactions so gracefully? Our answer is that humans are remarkably skilled at using subtle cues about the presence and activities of others to govern their interactions.
Patterns of fruit, vegetable, and milk consumption among smoking and nonsmoking female teens.

Abstract Background: The increase in teenage smoking, and the fact that concern about body weight is given as a reason for smoking initiation by girls, suggest that food intake may be compromised in female teens who smoke. Daily consumption of a variety of foods is important due to the health-protective constituents they contain. Few studies have documented how smoking and the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and milk may be associated in female teens. Methods: This study examined the relationship of smoking and the consumption of fruit, fruit juice, vegetables, and milk in ninth- to twelfth-grade Caucasian ( n =2797), African-American ( n =2196), and Hispanic ( n =2052) female teens. Data from the Youth Behavior Risk Survey (1999) were analyzed with SUDAAN software, using logistic regression models. Results: Smoking was significantly associated with decreased odds of consuming milk at 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55–0.98); fruit, 0.70 (95% CI, 0.54–0.92); fruit juice, 0.74 (95% CI, 0.56–0.98); and vegetables, 0.75 (95% CI, 0.63–0.89) among Caucasian female teens, and with decreased odds of consuming fruit juice among Hispanic female teens at 0.59 (95% CI, 0.40–0.89). For each significant food variable, a dose–response relationship was detected with significantly more females consuming each food at lower smoking levels and significantly fewer doing so at the highest level ( p Implications: This study establishes a smoking/food intake interaction for the specific foods tested, in an adolescent female population. Compromising the intake of healthy foods and their protective nutrients leaves young women more vulnerable to the serious health consequences of smoking. These results underscore the need for young women to be educated on the importance of eating maximum servings of fruits and vegetables and dairy products, such as milk, particularly if they smoke or are at risk for smoking initiation. The study also underscores the need to culturally tailor programs according to differences in smoking initiation and eating/dieting behaviors.
Effect of Branch Pulmonary Artery Stenosis on Right Ventricular Volume Overload in Patients With Tetralogy of Fallot After Initial Surgical Repair

Right ventricular (RV) volume overload secondary to pulmonary regurgitation is common in patients after initial repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and is associated with adverse long-term outcomes. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of branch pulmonary artery stenosis on the RV volume in patients with repaired TOF. We reviewed 178 cardiac magnetic resonance imaging studies in patients with repaired TOF. We defined bilateral stenosis as a Nakata index of ≤200 mm 2 /m 2 and concordant branch pulmonary artery cross-sectional area, unilateral stenosis as 1 branch pulmonary artery cross-sectional area ≤100 mm 2 /m 2 and 1 branch pulmonary artery cross-sectional area >100 mm 2 /m 2 , and restrictive physiology as prograde main pulmonary artery diastolic flow. Of the 178 patients, 20 (11%) had bilateral stenosis, 47 (26%) unilateral stenosis, and 111 (63%) had no stenosis. The RV end-diastolic volume was lower in patients with bilateral (125 ± 27 ml/m 2 ) or unilateral (131 ± 43 ml/m 2 ) stenosis than in those without stenosis (149 ± 35 ml/m 2 , p = 0.021 and p = 0.019, respectively). The main pulmonary artery regurgitant fraction was greater in patients without stenosis (47%, range 2% to 69%) than in those with bilateral (33%, range 9% to 59%; p = 0.009) or unilateral stenosis (40%, range 0% to 71%; p = 0.033). Restrictive physiology was more common in patients with bilateral (13 of 15, 87%) or unilateral (21 of 38, 55%) stenosis than in those without stenosis (28 of 85, 33%; p
Harmony: an execution model for heterogeneous systems

The emergence of heterogeneous and many-core architectures presents a unique opportunity to deliver order of magnitude performance increases to high performance applications by matching certain classes of algorithms to specifically tailored architectures. However, their ubiquitous adoption has been limited by a lack of programming models and management frameworks designed to reduce the high degree of complexity of software development inherent to heterogeneous architectures. This dissertation introduces Harmony, an execution model for heterogeneous systems that draws heavily from concepts and optimizations used in processor micro-architecture to provide: (1) semantics for simplifying heterogeneity management, (2) dynamic scheduling of compute intensive kernels to heterogeneous processor resources, and (3) online monitoring driven performance optimization for heterogeneous many core systems. This work focuses on simplifying development and ensuring binary portability and scalability across system configurations and sizes.
Verified Software: Theories, Tools, Experiments Vision of a Grand Challenge Project

The ideal of correct software has long been the goal of research in Computer Science. We now have a good theoretical understanding of how to describe what programs do, how they do it, and why they work.This understanding has already been applied to the design, development and manual verification of simple programs of moderate size that are used in critical applications.Automatic verification could greatly extend the benefits of this technology. This paper argues that the time is ripe to embark on an international Grand Challenge project to construct a program verifier that would use logical proof to give an automatic check of the correctness of programs submitted to it.Prototypes for the program verifier will be based on a sound and complete theory of programming; they will be supported by a range of program construction and analysis tools; and the entire toolset will be evaluated and evolve by experimental application to a large and widely representative sample of useful computer programs.The project will provide the scientific basis of a solution for many of the problems of programming error that afflict all builders and users of software today. This paper starts with an optimistic vision of a possible long-term future of reliable programming. It argues that scientific research will play an essential role in reaching these long-term goals. It suggests that their achievement should be accelerated by a major international research initiative, modelled on a Grand Challenge, with specific measurable goals. The suggested measure is one million lines of verified code.By definition, this consists of executable programs, together with their specifications, designs, assertions, etc., and together with a machine-checked proof that the programs are consistent with this documentation. We anticipate that the project would last more than ten years, consume over one thousand person-years of skilled scientific effort, drawn from all over the world.Each country will contribute only a proportion of the effort, but all the benefits will be shared by all. The paper concludes with suggestions for exploratory pilot projects to launch the initiative and with a call to volunteers to take the first steps in the project immediately after this conference.A possible first step will be to revise and improve this paper as a generally agreed report of goals and methods of the scientists who wish to engage in the project.
Deposition and early alteration of evaporites

Summary The depositional settings for primary and early diagenetic evaporite deposits generally fall into three categories: marginal (mixed shallow-subaqueous and subaerial), shallow and deep subaqueous. These three environmental groupings hold for both marine and nonmarine settings, although the details of continental evaporites may be far more complex than in most marine-fed water bodies. The primary evaporite morphologies from many continental (playa), hypersaline marine and marine-marginal depositional settings are reasonably well understood, because of the numerous detailed studies of recent, Holocene and Cenozoic deposits that serve as models for sedimentary interpretation. The sedimentological features that develop in deeper water settings are inferred, based on examination of unaltered Cenozoic deposits. Each environmental setting develops characteristic depositional features and patterns, and one facies grades into the next. Because there may be significant physiochemical changes in water composition during deposition as well as sudden change(s) in both water depth and basinal circulation, description and interpretation of evaporative rocks should not be based on mineralogy alone, but on the distinct sedimentary characteristics of each part of a deposit. In cases where sediments still reflect their primary mineralogy and morphology, most of the environments can now be recognized; however, geochemical studies are commonly required to determine the source(s) of the original water. The determinative geochemical techniques that presently serve as a support to sedimentologic study include studies of fluid inclusions, bromine content of chloride salts, and the stable isotopes of strontium, sulphur, carbon and oxygen. Only after these and perhaps other chemical analyses are considered can the full depositional history of a region be reasonably unravelled.
Advances in Perioperative Pain Management: Use of Medications with Dual Analgesic Mechanisms, Tramadol & Tapentadol

Recovery from ambulatory surgical procedures can be limited by postoperative pain. Inadequate analgesia may delay or prevent patient discharge and can result in readmission. More frequently, postoperative pain produces discomfort and interrupts sleep, contributing to postoperative fatigue. The development of effective analgesic regimens for the management of postoperative pain is a priority especially in patients with impaired cardiorespiratory, hepatic, or renal function. Tramadol and tapentadol hydrochloride are novel in that their analgesic actions occur at multiple sites. Both agents are reported to be mu-opioid receptor agonists and monoamine-reuptake inhibitors. In contrast to pure opioid agonists, both drugs are believed to have lower risks of respiratory depression, tolerance, and dependence. The Food and Drug Administration has approved both drugs for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain in adults. This article provides an evidence-based account of the role of tramadol and tapentadol in modern clinical practice.
Metallic Finish Systems for Microelectronic Components

The metallic finish system on electronic components can affect the quality of components and the reliability of assembled circuits. During the past two years, intensive industry-military effort has been conducted toward the goal of improved finish systems for electronic equipment used in military applications. The work described here is part of the effort which has resulted in a redefinition of metallic finish standards. Further elucidation of some specific and persistent user-assembler problem areas that occur with finishes of substandard quality also are offered.
Exploiting the forgiving nature of applications for scalable parallel execution

It is widely believed that most Recognition and Mining (RM) workloads can easily take advantage of parallel computing platforms because these workloads are dataparallel. Contrary to this popular belief, we present RM workloads for which conventional parallel implementations scale poorly on multi-core platforms. We identify off-chip memory transfers and overheads in the parallel runtime library as the primary bottlenecks that limit speedups to be well below the ideal linear speedup expected for data-parallel workloads. To achieve improved parallel scalability, we identify and exploit several interesting properties of RM workloads — sparsity of model updates, low spatial locality among model updates, presence of insignificant computations, and the inherently self-healing nature of these algorithms in the presence of errors. We leverage these domain-specific characteristics to improve parallel scalability in two major ways. First, we utilize data dependency relaxation to simultaneously execute multiple training iterations in parallel, thereby increasing the granularity of the parallel tasks and significantly lowering the run-time overheads of fine-grained threading. Second, we strategically drop selected computations that are insignificant to the accuracy of the final result, but account for a disproportionately large amount of off-chip (memory and coherence) traffic. Through the application of the proposed techniques, we show that much higher speedups are possible on multi-core platforms for two important RM applications — document search using semantic indexing, and eye detection in images using generalized learning vector quantization. On an 8-core platform, we achieve application speedups of 5.5X and 7.3X compared to sequential implementations. Compared to conventional parallel implementations of these applications using Intel's TBB, the proposed techniques result in 4.3X and 4.9X improvements. Although the optimized parallel implementations are not numerically equivalent to the sequential implementations, the output quality is shown to be comparable (and within the margin of variation produced by processing the input data in a different order). We also explore error mitigation techniques that can be used to ensure that the accuracy of results is not compromised.
Chapter 1: Structure, Distributions and Dynamics of Vortices in Helium II

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on quantized vortices and the various configurations that occur. It discusses the structure of vortices, including the interaction with impurities, and deals with equilibrium vortex distributions, such as are induced by rotation. The chapter focuses on vortex lines, arrays of lines, and rings. It discusses steady state effects: friction on vortices, the interaction of heat flow and rotation in one particular geometry, vortex pinning, spin-up, and vortices in thin films. If helium II is contained in a rotating bucket, it is known experimentally that at low speeds of rotation, the normal fluid rotates with the container and the superfluid remain at rest. At a certain critical angular velocity of rotation, a single quantized vortex line appears in the center of the container. Experiments on helium II suggest that there are residual vortices present upon cooling through the lambda transition.
Continuous annealing production scheduling in iron & steel industry

This paper studies continuous annealing production scheduling for coils which arises in integrated steel industry. This problem is to sequence the candidate coils with the objective of minimizing the total switching penalties, so that productivity and product quality is improved. The problem is formulated as a variant traveling salesman problem where the objective function includes the switching penalties incurred by three consecutive coils besides the classical switching penalties incurred by two adjacent coils. To solve this problem, a tabu search based algorithm is proposed. In implementing tabu search, when solution traps in local optima, alternate exchange neighborhood is searched to kick it to a profitable region. Computational results on practical production data set demonstrate that the proposed algorithm for the model can effectively reduce the switching number for two adjacent coils and smooth the switching trend on changeover for three consecutive coils. The comparison between the proposed algorithm and dynamic programming shows the proposed algorithm can solve continuous annealing production scheduling problem for coils to optima for some small actual instances.