cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paradigms and Knowledge: Understanding the Field of Cognitive Studies and Educational Psychology

As we engage the field of educational psychology our primary concern is understanding the historical development of the paradigms and knowledge that constitute the substance of its internal content. Situating these ideas in a social, historical context will assist the reader in comprehending the complex, dialectical nature of theory and practice and the ways the larger social forces of competing class interests always inform the knowledge production process, in both complex and contradictory ways.
Detection of K-ras and p53 mutations in sputum samples of lung cancer patients using laser capture microdissection microscope and mutation analysis

Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene and the K-ras oncogene have been frequently found in sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples of lung cancer patients and other patients prior to presenting clinical symptoms of lung cancer, suggesting that they may provide useful biomarkers for early lung cancer diagnosis. However, the detection of these gene mutations in sputum and BAL samples has been complicated by the fact that they often occur in only a small fraction of epithelial cells among sputum cells and, in the case of p53 gene, at many codons. In this study, sputum cells were collected on a filter membrane by sputum cytocentrifugation and morphologically analyzed. Epithelial cells were selectively taken by using a laser capture microdissection microscope and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) for p53 mutations and by PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) for K-ras mutations. This method was used to analyze sputum of 15 Chinese women with lung cancer from Xuan Wei County, China and detected mutations in sputum of 7 (46.7%) patients, including 5 patients with p53 mutations, 1 patient with a K-ras mutation, and 1 patient with K-ras and p53 mutations. For comparison, only two of the mutations were detected by conventional methods. Therefore, the laser capture/mutation analysis method is sensitive and facilitates the detection of low-fraction mutations occurring throughout the p53 and K-ras genes in sputum of lung cancer patients. This method may be applicable to the analysis of epithelial cells from clinically normal sputum or BAL samples from individuals with a high risk for developing lung cancer.
Complexity in the self-assembly of bifunctional molecules on HOPG: the influence of solvent functionality on self-assembled structures.

Self-assembled monolayers of bifunctional molecules HOOC(CH 2 ) n COOH (n = 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10), HOOC-(CH2) n CH 2 OH (n = 13, 14), and HOCH 2 (CH 2 ) 14 CH 2 OH dissolved in octanoic acid were investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy, to understand the self-assembly of bifunctional molecules and the influence of a carboxylic acid solvent on the formation of self-assembled structures on HOPG. In the series of di-acids (HOOC(CH 2 ) n COOH), only HOOC(CH 2 ) 20 COOH forms stable coadsorption structures with the solvent octanoic acid. The remaining di-acids form stable single-component monolayers and do not coadsorb with solvent octanoic acid. Coadsorption structures involving mixtures of di-acids were observed. This result suggests that coadsorption with acid solvent or with other di-acids occurs to maximize hydrogen-bond density in the overlayer. A quantitative model based on this concept is proposed. For hetero-bifunctional molecules HOOC(CH 2 ) n CH 2 OH (n = 13, 14), the coadsorption of HOOC(CH 2 ) 14 -CH 2 OH and octanoic acid at the molecular level produces a microscopic mesh made of homogeneously arranged openings with a dimension of ∼12.5 A x ∼5.0 A x ∼1.8 A. For the hetero-bifunctional molecule HOOC(CH 2 ) 13 -CH 2 OH, hydroxyl groups of two adjacent lamellae assemble to form a herringbone geometry, and the two carboxylic acid groups assemble with a straight head-to-head configuration. In addition, a new mixed hydrogen-bonding network of COOH…O-H was observed in another self-assembled structure of this molecule. The bifunctional molecule HOCH 2 (CH 2 ) 14 CH 2 OH exhibits multiple packing patterns on HOPG via different hydrogen-bonding networks. HOCH 2 (CH 2 ) 14 CH 2 OH self-assembles using the H-O…O-H network typical of the n-alcohol herringbone structure, forming an asymmetric adsorbate on HOPG. It also forms domains with another hydrogen-bonding network, in which molecules in adjacent lamellae are parallel to each other. This investigation demonstrates the complexity and diversity of self-assembled structures formed from bifunctional molecules on solid surfaces. It also indicates that a solvent with the same functional group as the solute can significantly impact the formation of the self-assembled structures of these bifunctional molecules.
Numerical Simulation of Heat Sink Performance With Interrupted and Staggered Fins

Extended surfaces (fins) have been used to enhance heat transfer in many applications. In electronics cooling, fin-based heat sinks are commonly designed so that coolants (gas or liquid) are forced to pass through the narrow straight channel. To improve the overall heat sink performance, this study investigated numerically the details of heat sinks with interrupted and staggered fins cooled by forced convection. Long and narrow flow passages or channels are widely seen in heat sinks. Based on the fundamental theory of heat transfer, however, a new boundary layer can be created periodically with interrupted fins, and the entrance region can produce a very high heat transfer coefficient. The staggered fins can take advantage of the lower temperature flow from the upstream. The tradeoff is the higher pressure loss. A major challenge for heat sink design is to reduce the pressure loss while keeping the heat transfer rate high. The effect of fin shapes on the heat sink performance was also examined. Two different shapes under study are rectangular and elliptic with various gaps between the interrupted fins in the flow direction. In addition, studies were also conducted on the parametric effects of Reynolds number and gap length. It is observed that heat transfer increases with the Reynolds number due to the feature of developing boundary layer. If the same pressure drop is considered, the heat transfer rate of elliptic fins is higher than that of rectangular fins.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The canonical inverse velocity and acceleration solutions of a planar two-link o

This paper describes the instantaneous kinematics of the terminal link of a planar two-link open chain using the ca nonical coordinate system of planar two-parameter motion. The first- and second-order instantaneous invariants of the motion of the terminal link are presented. Using a systematic procedure, the results are applied to the inverse velocity and acceleration problems of a two-link open chain. The solutions to the inverse kinematic problems are important, for exam ple, in a robot positioning mechanism. Two examples are presented, a revolute-revolute robot positioner and a pris matic-revolute robot positioner.
Comparison of radioisotope methods and a nonradioisotope method to measure the RBC volume and RBC survival in the baboon.

BACKGROUND: RBC volume, 24-hour posttransfusion survival, and life span can be measured with radioisotopes and nonradioactive procedures. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: RBC volume was measured directly with autologous baboon RBCs labeled with biotin-X-N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), 51 Cr, 99m Tc, and 111 In-oxine and indirectly from the 125 I plasma volume and the total body Hct. Twenty-four-hour posttransfusion survival and life span were measured in autologous fresh baboon RBCs labeled with 51 Cr, 111 In-oxine, 99m Tc, and biotin-X-NHS. RESULTS: Significantly larger RBC volumes were observed when the fresh autologous RBCs were labeled with 51 Cr, 111 In-oxine, or 99m Tc than when they were labeled with the nonradioactive biotin-X-NHS. Twenty-four-hour posttransfusion survival values were significantly lower in the RBCs labeled with 111 In-oxine or 99m Tc than in the RBCs labeled with 51 Cr. CONCLUSIONS: The greater in vivo elution of 51 Cr, 111 In-oxine, and 99m Tc than that of biotin-X-NHS influenced the measurements of RBC volume, 24-hour posttransfusion survival, and life span of the fresh baboon RBCs.
Population growth regulated by intraspecific competition for energy or time: some simple representations.

Abstract An examination is made of some of the ways populations can grow in response to changes in their own density. Under two different assumptions on birth and death rates, models for single-species population growth that incorporate intraspecific competition by interference but not exploitation are of logistic form. Where an individual's net energy input from feeding is inversely proportional to population size, population growth follows a convex curve, whether interference is included or not. Data of Smith (1963) on Daphnia populations are fit well by this kind of curve. Combination of the two kinds of growth can produce S -shaped curves whose inflection is displaced from that value—half the carrying capacity—given by the logistic; an upward displacement is favored by a high ratio of metabolic and replacement costs to feeding input. Inflection points from real curves are much more often higher than expected from the logistic. Nonmonotonic growth curves can arise when there is instantaneous feedback between consumers and resource availability; certain of these equations are of logistic or convex form at equilibrium. The possible effect of r - and K -selection on the biological parameters, such as feeding efficiency, used to construct the monotonie equations is discussed, and the equations are extended to 2-species competition. Table III characterizes some simple single-species growth curves.
Learning from higher education

revailing myths to the contrary, inP stitutions of higher education are not always sedate enclaves of scholarly interaction. "The Ivory Tower," like all hierarchical organizations, is fraught with the day-to-day tug and pull of its members' needs, beliefs, feelings and misunderstandings. In short, there is often conflict on campus. Although colleges and universities have for some time been concerned over faculty/staff/administration disputes (t~pically involving contract or tenure issues), it is only within the last decade that attention has been given to conflicts involving students. A survey of 741 colleges and universities (Folger and Shubert, 1981) found that over half of the institutions studied had implemented some type of procedure that used a third party in disputes invoMng students. These procedures, both formal and ad hoc, covered a wide range of student-related issues, including charges of discrimination, capricious or arbitrary" enactment of rules or regulations, grade grievances, charges of sexual harassment, grievances about the quality of instruction, the adequacy of financial assistance awards, and issues centering around dormitory living. The results of that study provide descriptive information about what colleges and universities are doing in their use of third parties to resolve conflicts affecting students. But the study does not provide insights about why the dispute resolution procedures were developed or how the}, have been implemented. Nor does the study make a W attempt to assess the relative effectiveness of the various methods of third party intervention either in terms of individual disputes or larger institutional changes in policy or practice. The study reported here was undertaken in an effort to provide answers to the '"~.L" "how~" and "to v~taat effect" questions of using third parties to resolve disputes involving students.
Conditional (point averaged) temperature and velocities in a heated turbulent plane jet

The conditional (point‐averaged) velocity and temperature profiles in a plane jet of air were measured. The conditional point averages of the mean temperature and velocity were found with respect to the moving interface for five intermittences: γ=0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5, at axial stations of x/D=35, 45, and 50. The results suggest coincidence of the interfaces and a flatter temperature profile within the fully turbulent flow.
Schottky Tunneling Source MOSFET Design for Mixed Mode and Analog Applications

A novel asymmetric Schottky Tunneling Source MOSFET is proposed in this paper. The main feature of this device is the concept of gate controlled Schottky barrier tunneling at the source. The STS MOSFET was fabricated using conventional processes combined with present NiSi technology. The device shows excellent short channel immunity, compared to conventional SOI MOSFETs. This improves the scalability of the device as also makes it an attractive candidate for analog operations.
Effects of antioxidant-rich foods on vascular reactivity: Review of the clinical evidence

The foods and nutrients discussed in this paper are components of dietary patterns that have been associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk. The focus of this review is on the effects of antioxidant foods on vascular health and discussion of their potential mechanisms of action. The foods reviewed include fruits and vegetables, red grapes and red wine, tea, cocoa/chocolate, and olive oil. The primary challenge in studying the cardioprotective components of a dietary pattern is in identifying mechanism(s) of action as well as the bioactive nutrients responsible. In selecting papers for this review, we focused on studies of whole foods and beverages that met the following criteria: 1) they are commonly consumed in typical diets, 2) they appear to have direct antioxidant effects, and 3) they have demonstrated effects on endothelial function in several human studies. The evidence presented herein suggests that dietary consumption of fruits and vegetables, red grapes and red wine, tea, chocolate, and olive oil may improve vascular reactivity, in part, by attenuating the adverse effects of oxidation on endothelial function. Additional research is needed to better understand the mechanism(s) by which antioxidant-rich foods and beverages favorably affect endothelial function and the extent to which this reflects direct antioxidant effects.
Images in Cardiovascular Medicine Scimitar Syndrome Added Value by Isotropic Flow-Sensitive Four-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging With PC-VIPR (Phase-Contrast Vastly Undersampled Isotropic Projection Reconstruction)

Scimitar, or pulmonary venolobar, syndrome is a rare but well-known congenital cardiovascular defect that includes a hypoplastic right pulmonary artery and right lung, which leads to displacement of cardiac structures into the right hemithorax, anomalous systemic arterial supply to the right lung, and a characteristically curved anomalous right pulmonary vein that drains into the inferior vena cava and resembles the curved Middle Eastern sword “scimitar.”1,2 A variety of congenital thoracic abnormalities are associated with this specific type of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return.3 Imaging, and specifically findings from magnetic resonance imaging, in an 18-month-old male (11 kg body weight) with known congenital right pulmonary venolobar syndrome with increasingly frequent cyanotic episodes are presented. Findings on chest radiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the chest performed when the patient was 4 days old included right lung hypoplasia and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return with scimitar vein to the supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava (Figure 1). Echocardiography identified the scimitar vein and an atrial septal defect. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, including 4-dimensional flow-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging, confirmed these findings but also identified additional cardiovascular abnormalities, including an additional partial anomalous pulmonary venous return from the upper right lung to the superior vena cava and an anomalous systemic artery from the upper abdominal aorta to the lower right lung (Figure 2). Further comprehensive analysis …
Classification analysis of driver's stop/go decision and red-light running violation.

When the driver encounters a signal change from green to yellow, he is required to make a stop or go decision based on his speed and the distance to the stop bar making the wrong decision will lead to a red-light running violation or an abrupt stop at the intersection. In this study, a field data collection was conducted at a high-speed signalized intersection, where a video-based system with three cameras was used to record the drivers' behavior related to the onset of yellow. Observed data include drivers' stop/go decisions, red-light running violation, lane position in the highway, positions (leading/following) in the traffic flow, vehicle type, and vehicles' yellow-onset speeds and distances from the intersection. Further, classification tree models were applied to analyze how the probabilities of a stop or go decision and of red-light running are associated with the traffic parameters. The data analysis indicated that vehicle's distance from the intersection at the onset of yellow, operating speed, and position in the traffic flow are the most important predictors for both the stop/go decision and red-light running violation. This study illustrates that the tree models are helpful to recognize and predict how drivers make stop/go decisions and partake in red-light running violations corresponding to the traffic parameters.
Low frequency mechanical modes of viral capsids: an atomistic approach.

Viruses are a major threat to both public health and to agricultural production. They are responsible for many diseases that inflict harm or death in the human population and also infect plants and animals damaging cultivated plants and livestock. Viruses protect themselves with a protein coat (capsid) that has a well-defined structure. They are the smallest living creature and the capsid encapsulates the genetic material inside. Chemotherapies (drugs) may interfere with the virus life-cycle after infection, but the host may suffer harmful side effects. Rapid mutations often quickly render a drug ineffective. Attacking the virus through mechanical means to produce damage is an attractive proposal which is just beginning to be considered. It has been suggested [1] that the AIDS virus can be attacked with 10 GHz (0: 3c m � 1 ) high frequency ultrasound or hypersound excitation. Another means [2] has recently been proposed using impulsive stimulated Raman scattering (ISRS) with visible light [3]. Novel potential therapies based on mechanical resonance can best be advanced if a detailed picture of the viral capsid vibrational patterns and frequencies are understood. We provide an atomic level description of mechanical vibrations of a model virus, the satellite tobacco necrosis virus (STNV), and identify Raman active modes that can be excited by ISRS excitation. A viral capsid is a large molecule consisting of one or more protein units that are arranged in either a helical (tubular) or icosahedral (spherical) fashion, with many viral capsids being icosahedral. The total number of atoms can be enormous (10 5 ‐10 6 atoms), even for small capsids.
Intermediate rho mesons in pi-nuclear scattering

The role of rho meson exchange between nucleons is examined by solving the Low equations which couple the pi-nuclear channels to the rho-nuclear channels. The result is in the form of a linear coupled-channel equation of the Lippmann-Schwinger type but including a propagator modification which strongly damps the effects of virtual rho mesons. In particular, the contribution of rho exchange to the Lorentz-Lorenz effect is found to be negligible.
Identification and characterization of cytosolic sulfotransferase activities in MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells

Abstract MCF-7 human mammary carcinoma cells have been reported to possess β-estradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase activities. These steroid sulfotransferase activities may be important in the metabolism and activity of different steroids in these cells. This report describes and characterizes both the enzymatic activity of three cytosolic sulfotransferases found in MCF-7 cells and the corresponding immunoblot analysis of these enzymes with specific anti-sulfotransferase antibodies. Two cytosolic sulfotransferases have been purified and characterized from human tissues which are capable of sulfating estrogens. These are the phenol-sulfating form of phenol sulfotransferase (P-PST) and the hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase (DHEA-ST). The results of this study show that P-PST is the major cytosolic sulfotransferase found in MCF-7 cytosol and is responsible for most of the β-estradiol sulfation in these cells. Although DHEA-ST activity was found in MCF-7 cytosol, this activity was only about 3% of the P-PST activity. Immunoblot analysis of MCF-7 cytosol detected both P-PST and lower levels of the monoaomine-sulfating form of PST; however DHEA-ST could not be detected apparently because of low levels of expression. Human liver P-PST was expressed in Cos-7 Green monkey kidney fibroblasts and the ability of the cloned enzyme to sulfate β-estradiol was investigated. This study indicates that P-PST is the prevalent cytosolic sulfotransferase in MCF-7 cytosol and is responsible for the majority of β-estradiol sulfation in these cells.
Work environment correlates of staff stress in a youth detention facility

We intensively interviewed 53 staff members of a state-operated regional children's detention center, located in a large, metropolitan, southern city. The center houses both delinquent and status offender youths, incarcerated on a variety of charges ranging from truancy to homicide. Staff stress was related to key features of their work environment. Concern about detainee acting out behavior, the perceived frequency of detainee “problem” behavior while in the facility, and the felt need for substance abuse services for detainees and better educational/recreational programs related positively to staff stress. Implications of these findings for developing a more realistic view of the nature and impact of the detention center experience for both detainees and staff are drawn.
Cross-Linking of Estrogen Receptor to Chromatin in Intact MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells: Optimization and Effect of Ligand

To investigate the effect of ligand (be it hormone, antihormone, or no hormone) on the interaction between estrogen receptor (ER) and chromatin, we have used formaldehyde as a cross-linking agent in intact MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. After a 1- to 2-h hormone treatment, the cells are exposed for 8 min to formaldehyde, which is added directly to their culture medium to minimize environmental perturbation. Nuclei are prepared from formaldehydetreated cells and their contents are fractionated on CsCI density gradients to separate DNA-protein complexes from free protein. Peak gradient fractions are assayed for the presence of specific proteins by immunoblot of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel patterns. Using this approach, we find that 0.15% formaldehyde is optimal for cross-linking ER to chromatin. We detect ER and the large subunit of RNA polymerase II with DNA from formaldehydetreated, but not from untreated cells. On the other hand, actin (a cytoplasmic protein) and small nuclear ribonucleop...
Learning in ERP contracting: a principal-agent analysis

We examine IT contracting in one particular segment of the IT outsourcing market - the market for large scale packaged software implementations such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Using a small sample of actual outsourcing contracts in several industries and a review of the relevant outsourcing literature, we determined the common provisions and structural characteristics of these contracts. We then used this description to develop an analytical model of IT outsourcing, using principal agent techniques. Our model captures key characteristics of these IT contracts including a multi-stage project structure, vendor learning, probabilistic binary outcomes (success/failure), use of incentive contracting, and implementation risks. In addition to deriving the optimal IT contract; we specifically focus on how vendor learning affects the optimal structure of the contract. In particular, we find that with rapid vendor learning at the early stage of the contract, it is often more efficient to use a multistage contracting procedure, even if it is not technically required, as this enables stronger incentives to be given to the vendor and creates greater profit and surplus.
Even the underprivileged are rational: The incentive effects of welfare

Tanner and Moore (1995) calculate welfare equivalent wages for the six most common social programs for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. They assert that individuals who choose public assistance over work are responding rationally to incentives of the welfare system, but they offer no evidence. I present statistically significant support for Tanner and Moore’s assertion. Among potential welfare recipients, a one dollar increase in the welfare equivalent wage is found to increase the welfare take-up rate by approximately 2.7 percentage points and decrease the labor force participation rate by approximately 2.5 percentage points.
Nursing Faculty Perceptions of Obstacles to Utilizing Manikin-based Simulations and Proposed Solutions

Abstract Background Despite its growing popularity, many educators are reluctant or unable to incorporate manikin-based simulation into their teaching. The purpose of this study is to identify obstacles that 25 nursing faculty members from baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs perceive to using simulation in their courses. Method Faculty completed an online survey pertaining to obstacles to using simulation in teaching. Results A content analysis of the responses reveals seven categories of challenges: time, training, not applicable/attitude, lack of space and equipment/scheduling the lab, funding, staffing, and engaging all students while a few are involved in simulations. Conclusions Findings suggest the need to increase educator awareness of how manikin-based simulation can be used in numerous courses and programs, including those not traditionally associated with this teaching strategy. Further suggestions for managing these challenges are described.
Rhode Island Transportation System in Natural or Human-Caused Disasters: Enhancing Preparedness and Response

The rapid advance of technology has presented authorities with many new tools that they can use to monitor and control roadways for their safe, efficient, and convenient use by motorists, working toward an intelligent transportation system that adapts to dynamic situations that best serve motorists. Recent natural and human-caused disasters have demonstrated that there are significant challenges yet to be overcome by the advancing technology of transportation systems. A significant problem is a lack of clear, efficient communication during emergencies. The public requires timely information and guidance during and after a catastrophic event. This research investigated the feasibility of enhancing transportation system preparedness by creating messages to aid motorists during natural or human-caused disasters by supplementing the existing message display libraries for variable message signs (VMSs) and dynamic message signs (DMSs). This investigation considered the current transportation emergency communication environment and attempts to enhance communication and preparedness by improving the design and display of messages on VMSs and DMSs. The study examined 465 Rhode Island drivers by using a computer survey and 157 Rhode Island drivers by using driving simulation to research important factors in the design and deployment of message displays. The results indicated that the supplementation of communication through the use of VMSs and DMSs is a viable alternative and that there are design factors that can be used to help develop new and improve existing messages through further testing and implementation.
Understanding Power Efficiency of TCP/IP Packet Processing over 10GbE

With the rapid evolution of network speed from 1Gbps to 10Gbps, a wide spectrum of research has been done on TCP/IP to improve its processing efficiency on general purpose processors. However, most of them did studies only from the performance perspective and ignored its power efficiency. As power has become a major concern in data centers, where servers are often interconnected with 10GbE, it becomes critical to understand power efficiency of TCP/IP packet processing over 10GbE. In this paper, we extensively examine power consumption of TCP/IP packet processing over 10GbE on Intel Nehalem platforms across a range of I/O sizes by using a power analyzer. In order to understand the power consumption, we use an external Data Acquisition System (DAQ) to obtain a breakdown of power consumption for individual hardware components such as CPU, memory and NIC etc. In addition, as integrated NIC architectures are gaining more attention in high-end servers, we also study power consumption of TCP/IP packet processing on an integrated NIC by using a Sun Niagara 2 processor with two integrated 10GbE NICs. We carefully compare the power efficiency of using an integrated NIC with using a PCI-E based discrete NIC. We make many new observations as follows: 1) Unlike 1GbE NICs, 10GbE NICs have high idle power dissipation, and TCP/IP packet processing over 10GbE consumes significant dynamic power. 2) Our power breakdown reveals that CPU is the major source of the dynamic power consumption, followed by memory. As the I/O size increases, the CPU power consumption reduces but the memory power consumption grows. Compared to CPU and memory, NIC has low dynamic power consumption. 3) Large I/O sizes are much more power efficient than small I/O sizes. 4) While integrating a 10GbE NIC slightly increases CPU power consumption, it not only reduces system idle power dissipation due to elimination of PCI-E interface in NICs, but also achieves dynamic power savings due to better processing efficiency. Our studies motivate us to design a more power efficient server architecture, which can be used in the next generation data centers.
Meta-level Coordination for Solving Distributed Negotiation Chains in Semi-cooperative Multi-agent Systems

A negotiation chain is formed when multiple related negotiations are spread over multiple agents. In order to appropriately order and structure the negotiations occurring in the chain so as to optimize the expected utility, we present an extension to a single-agent concurrent negotiation framework. This work is aimed at semi-cooperative multi-agent systems, where each agent has its own goals and works to maximize its local utility; however, the performance of each individual agent is tightly related to other agents’ cooperation and the system’s overall performance. We introduce a pre-negotiation phase that allows agents to transfer meta-level information. Using this information, the agent can improve the accuracy of its local model about how other agents would react to the negotiations. This more accurate model helps the agent in choosing a better negotiation solution for a distributed negotiation chain problem. The agent can also use this information to allocate appropriate time for each negotiation, hence to find a good ordering of all related negotiations. The experimental data show that these mechanisms improve the agents’ and the system’s overall performance significantly.
Stress evolution due to medium-energy ion bombardment of silicon

Abstract The evolution of stress in silicon, induced by argon ion bombardment up to fluences of 4.5 × 1014 ions/cm2, is studied using molecular dynamics simulations with empirical interatomic potentials. A periodically replicated 5.43 nm cube with an exposed (0 0 1) surface models the sample of silicon. An interatomic force balance method computes stresses directly across planes in the cube. After every impact, the target material is cooled to 77 K, a temperature that inhibits structural changes in the material until the next impact. This procedure makes it unnecessary to simulate explicitly any long-timescale relaxation process. For low fluences (up to about 7 × 1013 ions/cm2) the mean induced stress is tensile, but it becomes compressive with further bombardment and appears to saturate at 1.36 and 1.62 GPa when calculated from forces acting on a 5.43 nm × 5.43 nm cross-section, for the 500 and 700 eV cases, respectively. The evolution of compressive stress is observed to be directly proportional to the number of implanted argons. The results are statistically converged by ensemble averaging multiple randomized simulations.
Osteolipoma of the parapharyngeal space mimicking liposarcoma: a case report.

Background. Lipomas are the most common benign neoplasm of the head and neck. However, osteolipomas, a rare variant of lipoma, are uncommon in this location. When they occur, variations in location and radiographic presentation may obscure the diagnosis. Methods and Results. A 68-year-old man presented with left jaw pain and numbness in the maxillary (V-1) distribution. A CT angiography of the neck revealed a possible liposarcoma. Embolization of the mass was determined to be unfeasible. Consequently, surgical resection was performed revealing a benign osteolipoma. Conclusion. We report a rare case of osteolipoma of the parapharyngeal space. Clinicians should be aware that the clinical and radiological features of patients with head and neck osteolipomas may mimic malignant neoplasms. When given deserved consideration, inappropriate treatment of an otherwise benign lesion may be avoided. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012
Film boiling from a vertical jet of fuel entering a water pool

Abstract The rate of removal of coolant is examined by means of quasi-steady film boiling from a jet of fuel falling into a water pool during a core meltdown accident in a light water reactor. A two-layer turbulence model in the vapor film is used. Entrainment of droplets due to the high vapor velocity is taken into account, which, for a jet of diameter 0.5 m, increases the removal rate by factor of 5 at 0.7 m behind the leading edge. However, the water removal rate is only of the order of kilograms/second, and the total amount of coolant removed is still small compared to the coolant inventory in the lower plenum.
Geochemical patterns in Coachella Valley

Tens of thousands of samples of water have been taken from streams, springs, and wells for chemical analysis, without much use having been made of the results. Unfortunately, the chemists have been little concerned with any engineering interpretation of such analyses and the engineers have had no ready method of interpreting them. Consequently, engineers and agriculturists have usually limited themselves to consideration of only the total dissolved solids, or the total hardness, or possibly the amount of chlorides; the real significance of the analyses has been overlooked.
Secondary structure of coliphage Qβ RNA : analysis by electron microscopy

Abstract The secondary structure of genomic RNA from the coliphage Qβ has been examined by electron microscopy in the presence of varying concentrations of spermidine using the Kleinschmidt spreading technique. The size and position of structural features that cover 70% of the viral genome have been mapped. The structural features that are visualized by electron microscopy in Qβ RNA are large. They range in size from 170 to 1600 nucleotides. A loop containing approximately 450 nucleotides is located at the 5′ end of the RNA. It includes the initiation region for the viral maturation protein. A large hairpin containing approximately 1600 nucleotides is located in the center of the molecule. It is multibranched and includes most of the viral coat gene, the readthrough region of the Al gene, and approximately one third of the viral replicase gene. Within the central hairpin, the initiation region for the viral replicase gene pairs with a region within the distal third of the viral coat gene. This structure may participate in the regulation of translational initiation of the viral replicase gene. Two structural variants of the central hairpin were observed. One of them brings the internal S and M viral replicase binding regions into juxtaposition. These observations suggest that the central hairpin may also participate in the regulation of translation of the viral coat gene. The secondary structures that are observed in Qβ RNA differ significantly from structures that we described previously in the genomic RNA of coliphage MS2 but are similar to structures we observed by electron microscopy in the related group B coliphage SP.
Shenyang Metropolitan Area Environment and Resource Analysis

The article introduces Shenyang Metropolitan Area and the new-type industrialization, analyses the situation of the resources and environment in the area, indicates the reasons of the resources and environment problem areas: the more industrial pollution, the heavier environmental pressure; the more distorted urbanization, the more urban environmental issues; the faster population growth, the higher environmental tension; the more imbalance of economic development, the more environmental imbalance; the more historical debts, the greater burden of environment.
Dizziness in the Elderly

Vertigo, unsteadiness, and other balance-related symptoms are common among older adults. These complaints should be taken seriously because they can lead to falls, injuries, loss of independence, and even death. This article provides a review of the underlying causes for the increased prevalence of dizziness with age, and discusses how specific test procedures may need to be modified for older individuals. Issues related to the management of these symptoms in the aging population are also considered.
Intracellular coagulation inhibits the extraction of proteins from Prochloron

Protein extraction from the prokaryotic alga Prochloron LP (isolated from the ascidian host Lissoclinum patella) was complicated by an irreversible loss of cell fragility in the isolated algae. Accompanying this phenomenon, which is termed intracellular coagulation, was a redistribution of thylakoids around the cell periphery, a loss of photosynthetic O2 production, and a drastic decrease in the extractability of cell proteins. Procedures are described for the successful preparation and transport of cell extracts yielding the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase as well as other soluble proteins.
A GaN transistor based 90 W isolated Quasi-Switched-Capacitor DC/DC converter for AC/DC adapters

This paper presents the design of a 90 W isolated Quasi-Switched-Capacitor (QSC) DC/DC converter, serving as the DC/DC stage for AC/DC adapters. The converter employs a QSC DC/AC circuit and 2 different rectifier circuits, which are a synchronous-rectifier, current-doubler (SRCD) circuit and a synchronous-rectifier, center-tapped (SRCT) circuit. Compared to Flyback and LLC resonant converters, the QSC DC/DC converter features: 1) reduced voltage stress on the primary-side switches to 2/3 of the input voltage; 2) reduced voltage stress on the transformer to 1/3 of the input voltage and a lower transformer turns ratio; 3) a wide range for soft-switching operation and high efficiency; 4) a simple control strategy. The operation principles and simulation results are presented. A 90 W, 400 V/19 V, 500 kHz QSC converter with a SRCD circuit is built, using 600 V Transphorm GaN HEMTs and 200 V EPC eGaN FETs. The converter size is 70 mm×50 mm×16 mm, and the peak efficiency is 90.3%. Since the GaN HEMT is oversized for this application, the efficiency is not optimized. To pursue higher power density and efficiency, a 90 W, 85 V/19 V, 1 MHz QSC resonant converter with a SRCT circuit is built, using 100 V EPC eGaN FETs for all switches, to serve as the down-stream circuit of a Buck-PFC stage. This prototype can achieve: 1) a high power density of 10.5 W/cm3; 2) wide-range soft switching for all switches and an estimated efficiency of 96%.
Comparison of drug-eluting and bare-metal stents for stable coronary artery disease.

Objectives The current study was designed to determine whether drug-eluting stents (DES) are superior to bare-metal stents (BMS) in patients with stable angina. Background Percutaneous coronary intervention has been shown to decrease symptoms of angina; its use for stable angina has not been shown to reduce myocardial infarction or mortality. Methods We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of prospective data comparing the use of BMS versus DES in patients who met criteria used by the COURAGE (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) study investigators. The primary outcome was a composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and revascularization on follow-up. Results The 1-year primary event rate was 15% in the DES group (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11% to 18%), compared with 27% in the BMS group (95% CI: 23% to 31%, p Conclusions These results suggest that the use of DES for patients with stable coronary disease is superior to BMS for 1 year, but that the increment in benefit decreased over continued follow-up. Further research is necessary to identify additional factors to promote longer-term efficacy and safety of DES.
Impact of reverse EB stress and mixed-mode stress on low-frequency noise for SiGe HBTs in forward and inverse modes

We present in this work the impact of electrical reliability stress on low-frequency noise for SiGe HBTs in forward and inverse modes. The reverse EB stress and the forward mixed-mode stress are investigated. For the first time inverse mode noise is used as a tool to investigate stress-induced damage. The fact that reverse EB stress degrades SiGe HBTs low-frequency noise in the forward mode but not in the inverse mode indicates that the stress-induced traps are located in the EB spacer oxide. Mixed-mode stress degrades both the forward and inverse modes low-frequency noise, consistent with the theory that both the EB and CB junctions are damaged during the stress. The observed noise degradation under stress calls for accurate noise aging modeling in reliability simulation.
A pilot trial of high-dose-rate intraoperative radiation therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma

Abstract Purpose To report results of a phase II trial of high-dose-rate intra-operative radiation therapy (HDR-IORT) for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Methods and materials Seven patients had extrapleural pneumonectomy with IORT (EPP/IORT) and 6 patients had pleurectomy/decortication with IORT (PD/IORT) between 1994 and 1996. IORT was delivered with 192 Ir using a customized applicator with a remote afterloader. A median of 3 sites were treated to a median area of 143 cm 2 . A dose of 1500 cGy was prescribed at each site, with 1000 cGy delivered to the mediastinum. Postoperative external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) was given 3–5 weeks later. Median follow-up was 8 months (range, 1–84 months). Results Five patients developed local failure. Two-year local control and survival rates were 35% and 23%, respectively. Mortality was 2/13 (15%), 1 from each surgical group. Serious complications requiring further intervention occurred in 3/6 (50%) of the EPP/IORT group and 1/5 (20%) of the PD/IORT group. Conclusions HDR-IORT after EPP for MPM is prohibitively toxic and has been abandoned, while its use with PD remains in question.
CAPITAL MOBILITY, DOMESTIC POLITICS, and FRENCH MONETARY DIPLOMACY

2 This article evaluates the role of increased capital mobility, sectoral interests, and domestic institutions in bringing about policy change in French capital markets. Capital mobility played an indirect role by making it more costly for French governments to pursue inflationary economic policies. But it was domestic politics, not capital mobility, that led governments to achieve lower inflation by stabilizing the exchange rate. The key domestic political factor was institutional change to regulatory practices, while financial markets reduced bank lending to industry and internationalized French finance, breaking the strong ties and comon monetary diplomacy interests of bankers, industralists, and policymakers, and thereby weaken the political priority of promoting domestic growth and industrial competitiveness.
Genome-Wide Association Studies of Genetic Impact on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases in Asians: Opportunity for Discovery

Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (cardiometabolic diseases) are becoming a major public health crisis in Asia, particularly in China and India. While dietary and lifestyle changes are important contributing factors, genetic risk factors are the key culprits. To identify the genetic “felons” behind cardiometabolic diseases, a large number of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been conducted in populations of European descent, but only a handful have been completed in Asian populations. Major common genetic risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases have been identified in White populations. Many of them, such as genetic risk factors of type 2 diabetes, also have been confirmed as risk factors in Asian populations, whereas many other genetic variants for hypertension and coronary heart disease, are not shared between both populations. Such inconsistencies could be, because of small sample sizes of study cohorts or genetic differences, such as genomic patterns of linkage disequilibria, risk allele frequencies, or different environmental factors among populations. More GWAS in Asian populations of large sample size and meta-analysis of multiple cohorts are needed to reveal additional genetic risk factors of cardiometabolic diseases in Asians and to determine shared and different genetic factors between White and Asian populations. Gene by environment interaction (GxE) GWAS and GWAS of intervention studies are needed in Asian populations. A focus on functional variants is key for replication and confirmation across different populations.
Human Ecology for Introductory Biology Courses: An Overview

Human ecology, specifically the population—resource—environment dilemma, should be given thorough coverage in every introductory biology course. To aid educators in integrating it into the course, the subject is outlined here and suggestions are given on what topics should be emphasized and how they might be introduced to students. Special attention is given to the fundamental role of population growth in the dilemma, and to the complex interactions among population growth, depletion of resources, and environmental deterioration. Today's human population size appears to be above the long-term carrying capacity of Earth, and is only maintained (albeit often badly) by the exploitation of a “one-time bonanza” of fertile soils, fossil fuels, concentrated ores, ground water, and other species of organisms. If current trends continue, the depletion of these resources will progressively degrade the human environment, destroying the capacity ofnatural ecosystems to supply civilization with indispensible services. The results will be in increasing frequency and severity of disasters, especially famines, that will at first most seriously affect the poor. But the rich will increasingly be impoverished, and be engulfed also. The basic solution to the dilemma is reduction of the size of the human population to one well below the long-term carrying capacity (one living on resource “income” rather than “capital”) and establishing an equitable society with a sustainable economic system.