cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amniotic fluid microviscosity and middle ear effusion.

As an otologist interested in newborn ear disease, I was fascinated by the article in Pediatrics 63:213, 1979, entitled "Amniotic Fluid Microviscosity Determined by Fluorescence Polarization: Methodology and Relation to Gestational Age." It documented the decreasing viscosity of amniotic fluid as the fetus approached term delivery. My experience with middle ear effusions in infants leads me to go one step further than the authors9 presentation. I would like to suggest that in premature infants persistent middle ear fluid may very well be initiated by the higher viscosity of amniotic fluid. The study that leads me to this conclusion was conducted in 1967 by Jaffe et al.1
Predictors of failure in the Advanced Trauma Life Support course

Abstract Background Over 1 million healthcare providers have participated in the Advanced Trauma Life Support course. No studies have evaluated factors that predict course performance. This study aims to identify these predictors. Methods All participants taking the course at 2 centers over a 4-year period were identified. Demographics, background, and performance data were extracted. Participants who failed were compared with those who did not. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for failure. Results Seven hundred forty-four healthcare providers participated in the course; 89.5% passed and 10.5% failed. Failure rates were lowest (.0%) among Trauma/Surgical Critical Care (SCC) providers and highest among pediatric providers (28.6%). Stepwise logistic regression identified age greater than 55, English as a second language, pretest score less than 75, and non-Trauma/SCC and non-Emergency Medicine background as predictors of failure. Conclusions A failure rate of 10.5% was demonstrated among the course participants. Age greater than 55, English as second language, pretest score less than 75, and non-Trauma/SCC and non-Emergency Medicine backgrounds were associated with failure. These subgroups may benefit from performance improvement measures.
Chemistry and Biodiversity: Darwinism, Evolution, and Speciation

Complex structures produced by noncatalyzed multi-step chemical processes must have highly probable origins and assembly routes. Within any frame of reference, life is easily the most-complex self-assembled structure known to man. It is not possible to calculate a finite time for biogenesis by statistical mechanics, but the abundance of life makes it reasonable to propose an accelerating principle of nature that naturally shortened the time for cell formation to a billion years or less. This hypothetical principle, which I have called valence-orbital bias, is thought to be responsible for the discrepancy between statistics and observation, and carries with it, as a conditio sine qua non, multiple origins of life. The new concept resolves the differences between the predictions based on statistical mechanics and the relatively rapid appearance of life during the post-accretion period. It suggests as well that species and variants, the units of propagation, may also have been the units of evolution. Produced in profusion by chemistry, the origins are culled by natural selection, whereby failure means extinction, not adaptation. Biodiversity, thus, becomes a direct consequence of chemistry without positive feedback from the environment and without a constructive role for mutation.
TSPO in a murine model of Sandhoff disease: presymptomatic marker of neurodegeneration and disease pathophysiology

Translocator protein (18 kDa), formerly known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), has been extensively used as a biomarker of active brain disease and neuroinflammation. TSPO expression increases dramatically in glial cells, particularly in microglia and astrocytes, as a result of brain injury, and this phenomenon is a component of the hallmark response of the brain to injury. In this study, we used a mouse model of Sandhoff disease (SD) to assess the longitudinal expression of TSPO as a function of disease progression and its relationship to behavioral and neuropathological endpoints. Focusing on the presymptomatic period of the disease, we used ex vivo [(3)H]DPA-713 quantitative autoradiography and in vivo [(125)I]IodoDPA-713 small animal SPECT imaging to show that brain TSPO levels markedly increase prior to physical and behavioral manifestation of disease. We further show that TSPO upregulation coincides with early neuronal GM2 ganglioside aggregation and is associated with ongoing neurodegeneration and activation of both microglia and astrocytes. In brain regions with increased TSPO levels, there is a differential pattern of glial cell activation with astrocytes being activated earlier than microglia during the progression of disease. Immunofluorescent confocal imaging confirmed that TSPO colocalizes with both microglia and astrocyte markers, but the glial source of the TSPO response differs by brain region and age in SD mice. Notably, TSPO colocalization with the astrocyte marker GFAP was greater than with the microglia marker, Mac-1. Taken together, our findings have significant implications for understanding TSPO glial cell biology and for detecting neurodegeneration prior to clinical expression of disease.
Refined and simplified methods of lateral load distribution for bridges with unequally spaced girders: II. Applications

Abstract Comprehensive parametric studies consisting of a number of real bridges are conducted using the refined approach described in part I of the paper. Important system parameters including span length, girder spacing, material strength, bridge skew, diaphragm, number of traffic lanes, bridge model, and analysis type are considered. Live-load distribution factors considering maximum moment condition and maximum shear condition are derived using various methods. The simplified methods of estimating the distribution factors are carefully examined with the refined method. Advantages of the proposed refined approach are demonstrated.
Review essay / temperance ideology and sociological denial: Prohibitionism in drug policy discourse

Mark Kleiman, Against Excess: Drug Policy for Results New York: Basic Books, 1992. 474 pp. + xvi.
Glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. A light and electron microscopic study of five cases

Five cases of glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were examined by light and electron microscopy. Light microscopic features included areas of large cells with ground glass and granular cytoplasm, distinct borders, prominent stromal inflammation, and lack of apparent squamous or glandular differentiation. Two neoplasms were associated with separate foci of squamous cell carcinoma in situ and one with endocervical adenocarcinoma. Electron microscopy showed a predominant cell type with cytoplasmic filaments, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complexes, and large nuclei with complex nucleoli. In some cells there were tonofibrils and well developed desmosomes. The neoplasm of one patient showed poorly developed intracellular lumina. These observations were interpreted to indicate that glassy cell carcinoma is associated with and demonstrates both glandular and squamous differentiation. It is, therefore, properly classified as a type of poorly differentiated adenosquamous carcinoma, which likely develops from the subcylindric reserve cell. The results of this experience reaffirms its poor prognosis.
Hearing preservation after removal of acoustic neurinoma

Between January 1, 1978, and July 1, 1983, 149 patients underwent acoustic neurinoma removal (151 procedures). Of these, 119 ears (118 patients) had had some degree of hearing on the affected side preoperatively, and in all of them the tumors had been removed by a posterior cranial fossa approach. Fourteen (12%) had measurable hearing preserved postoperatively--serviceable in eight ears and poor in six. The patients with preserved hearing had had their hearing loss for a shorter period, slightly better preoperative hearing levels, and a smaller tumor. The complications, morbidity, and mortality in this group were comparable to those in other series. It is concluded that preservation of hearing is a worthwhile goal that can be achieved without increased risk.
Alternating Current Electrokinetic Motion of Colloidal Particles on Interdigitated Microelectrodes

Alternating current (ac) electrokinetic motion of colloidal particles suspended in an aqueous medium and subjected to a spatially nonuniform ac electric field are examined using a simple theoretical model that considers the relative magnitudes of dielectrophoresis, electrophoresis, ac-electroosmosis, and Brownian motion. Dominant electrokinetic forces are explained as a function of the electric field frequency, amplitude, and conductivity of the suspending medium for given material properties and geometry. Parametric experimental validations of the model are conducted utilizing interdigitated microelectrodes with polystyrene and gold particles and Clostridium sporogenes bacterial spores. The theoretical model provides quantitative descriptions of ac electrokinetic transport for the given target species in a wide spectrum of electric field amplitude and frequency and medium conductivity. The presented model can be used as an effective framework for design and optimization of ac electrokinetic devices.
A study of the quality of university life: SUNY at Buffalo

A Q. of L. questionnaire was sent to all 1375 faculty members at SUNY Buffalo. Each was asked to judge the level of satisfaction and importance of 123 elements of campus life. The study created a complex evaluation of the University (services, offices, functions, attitudes) intended to guide future policy. The study was well received; it has guided policy and the Faculty Senate requested that it be repeated in 3 to 5 years. The quality of campus life was generally perceived to be better in the professional schools than in the core arts and sciences faculties. Librarians had especially low morale and Q. of L. Monetary and institutional barriers that frustrated faculty members in trying to fulfill their professional obligations to their own high standards were the major factors detracting from Q. of L. (lack of secretarial help, little travel money, bureaucratic red tape, etc.). This methodology would easily be transferable to other campuses. Studies conducted elsewhere would provide a basis for comparison that would enlarge our ability to assess professionally our universities and help guide their future development.
ND2858-1: A useful source of resistance to the Colorado potato beetle

This paper describes a new source of host-plant resistance to the Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB;Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)) in a tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) selection, ND2858-1. This hybrid was recorded as a cross betweenS. fendleri ssp.fendleri (A. Gray) and NDSU selection ND1215-1. Field defoliation of this and progeny clones from a subsequent cross to an cultivar was reduced by 50% to 90% in open-choice field screening plots.
Coexistence of lupus erythematosus and porphyria cutanea tarda in fifteen patients

Abstract Background: Lupus erythematosus (LE) and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) may have similar clinical presentations, and their coexistence presents special problems in diagnosis and management. Objective: The purposes of this study were to describe a patient with discoid LE and PCT and to present a review of 15 patients with coexistent LE (all variants) and PCT. Methods: The medical records of all patients with coexistent LE and PCT seen between 1976 and 1995 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of 6179 cases of LE and 676 cases of porphyria (all variants), there were 15 patients, 6 men and 9 women, with coexistent LE and PCT. The mean age at diagnosis of LE was 42.8 years and of PCT was 48 years. Nine patients had discoid LE; five patients had systemic LE, and one patient had subacute cutaneous LE. The initial diagnosis was LE in eight patients, PCT in five patients, and simultaneous LE and PCT in two patients. Precipitating factors for PCT included alcohol in seven patients, iron overload in one patient, and estrogen in one patient. Treatment of LE with hydroxychloroquine 200 mg daily precipitated PCT in two patients. Patients were treated with phlebotomy or low-dose antimalarials for PCT. Patients with systemic LE received systemic glucocorticoid therapy. Patients with discoid LE and subacute cutaneous LE were treated with topical glucocorticoids. Conclusion: The association of LE and PCT poses therapeutic challenges. The preferred treatment for one may exacerbate the other. Use of standard dose antimalarials for LE is inadvisable, and phlebotomy or low-dose antimalarials should be used cautiously in patients with coexistent disease. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:569-73.)
Kinetic modeling of the chain‐end functionality in atom transfer radical polymerization

The evolution of chain-end functionality of polymers synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was modeled. By comparing various kinetic models, the effect of specific side reactions was estimated. The slow elimination of hydrobromic acid from the polymer end-groups as well as the thermal self-initiation of the monomer may affect the chain-end functionality. Although the polymerization possesses several characters of a living process (i.e. linear increase of molecular weight versus conversion, low polydispersity index), the final polymer may have a limited functionality. However, polymers with enhanced functionality can be prepared through adjusting certain experimental parameters such as conversion of the monomer or initial concentration of the reactants.
Adolescent outcomes of childhood disorders: the consequences of severity and impairment.

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the adolescent consequences of clinical and threshold-level psychiatric disorders, with and without significant functional impairment; to predict serious emotional disturbance (SED: clinical-level diagnosis with impairment); and to examine sex differences in the consequences of emotional and behavioral disorders. Method 300 children aged 7 through 11 years were recruited from urban and suburban offices of a large health maintenance organization (HMO). Child and parent were interviewed at home using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC), version 1.3. Five to 7 years later, 278 (93%) of the sample were reinterviewed using the DISC-2.1. Results There was considerable continuity of psychopathology, particularly in children with functional impairment. Behavioral disorders at every level of severity predicted adolescent SED in both sexes. For emotional disorders, girls but not boys with childhood SED had significantly higher levels of adolescent SED. Conclusions Childhood disorders falling below the level of severity required to meet criteria for treatment set by many HMOs or insurance companies nevertheless can carry a significantly increased risk for severe pathology years later. Functional impairment played an important role in the adolescent consequences of childhood psychiatric disorder.
Correlating genetic variation in carbon isotopic composition with complex climatic gradients.

Abstract Genetic variation in both carbon isotope discrimination and the proportions of leaf and photosynthetic twig tissues were observed in ecotypes of Hymenoclea salsola T.G., a common shrub in the deserts of the western United States, when grown under common garden conditions. These variations were correlated with climatic conditions in the habitats of origin through a model that described the leaf-to-air water vapor gradients experienced by plants during the growing season. Both carbon isotope discrimination and the proportion of leaves in the canopy were lower in plants derived from habitats with higher leaf-to-air vapor gradients, despite the fact that some of these sites received relatively high amounts of annual precipitation. These patterns were consistent with the notion that plants are able to maintain substantial control of water-use efficiency over large environmental gradients of temperature and moisture availability.
Hybrid shear force feedback/scanning quantitative phase microscopy applied to subsurface imaging

Quantitative phase microscopy allows for the study of the surface morphology and dynamics of transparent biological specimens. Although phase data often contains coupled subsurface information, decoupling the surface and subsurface components is often very difficult or impossible. We hereby present a simple procedure which exploits simultaneous obtained quantitative phase and shear-force feedback topography data to extract subsurface sample information. Our results reveal subsurface features in fabricated samples and fish erythrocytes.
A self-calibration technique for direction estimation with diversely polarized arrays

A self-calibration algorithm is presented for direction finding using diversely polarized arrays in the presence of sensor gain and phase uncertainties. The method jointly estimates the directions of arrival of all the sources as well as the gain and phase of each sensor in the array. The technique is based on iterating between direction estimation and gain/phase estimation. The first is accomplished by the the MUSIC algorithm and the latter by the calculation of the smallest eigenvalue of a certain matrix. A key feature of this approach is that the computation of the gain/phase coefficients does not involve search and is computationally efficient. The performance of the algorithm is illustrated by numerical examples. The Cramer-Rao bound for the joint estimation problem is derived.
Analysis of observer variability in the assessment of FLIR performance

One of the larger sources of variation in human performance predictions is observer-to-observer variability. Whether because of differences in experience, training, motivation, innate ability, or perceived risk, observer performance varies. This paper explores observer variability in the task of detecting military targets in a FLIR image. Data for the analysis were obtained from a recent perception experiment conducted by NVESD utilizing 36 observers examining thermal imagery. Using the aggregate performance of the group as a measure of target difficulty, this paper compared the individual observer performance to that of the group. It was obvious that individual observers did not have identical performance characteristics. FOr example, targets detected by 50 percent of the group were detected by 20 percent of the observers over 70 percent of the time while another 20 percent of the observers detected then less than 20 percent of the time. Thus, the distribution of observer performance is fairly broad. This analysis of observer variability has implications for the modeling of target acquisition in combat simulations such as CASTFOREM and JANUS. These simulations currently use a uniformly-distributed, randomly-assigned threshold approach.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Detection of UXO contaminated land fields using hidden Markov models in the SAR images generated by airborne radar system

We present an algorithm based on hidden Markov models (HMM) to detect several types of unexploded ordinance (UXO). We use the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images simulated for 155 mm artillery shell, 2.75 in rocket and 105 mm mortar to generate the codebook. The algorithm is used on the data collected at Yuma Proving ground (YPG). YPG is seeded with several types of UXOs for testing purposes. The data is collected using an ultra wideband SAR mounted on a telescoping boom to simulate the airborne radar. The algorithm has detected all the targets for which it is trained for and it also detected other UXOs that are similar in shape.
Synthesis and solution properties of comb polystyrenes

Abstract A new method for the synthesis of comb shaped polystyrenes of predetermined structure is described. Silicon-chlorine bonds are introduced into the backbone polystyrene by reaction of SiMe2Cl2 with hydrolysed styrene/vinyl acetate copolymers and coupled with polystyryl-lithium in benzene. From a common backbone polymer a series of comb polymers are prepared that have a constant number of branches but vary in branch length. The M w M n of the whole comb polymers is about 1.3. The comb polymers with high branch density show θ (A2) temperatures lower than that for linear polystyrene. The radius of gyration at θ (A2) [〈S2〉θ (A2)] is always larger than calculated from random flight statistics. For comb polymers with 20–30 branches 〈S 2 〉 θ (A 2 ) 〈S 2 〉 0, bb increases with λ−0.46 where λ is the fraction of polymer in the backbone. The intrinsic viscosities of the comb polystyrenes at θ (A2) are equal to that of the parent backbone polymer when λ > 0.25 and increase only little when λ becomes equal to 0.1. Similar behaviour is found in toluene. Intrinsic viscosities in cyclohexane at 35°C show a complex pattern because of the θ-temperature variation.
Corporate democracy and the rights of shareholders

Some have argued that because of weaknesses in corporate democracy, there is widespread abuse of shareholders' rights in American securities markets. I describe a number of “horror stories” that shareholders might tell to support this claim. Then I argue that despite appearances to the contrary, there is not widespread abuse of shareholders' rights in American securities markets. This is because (i) corporations, when doing things that look abusive, are generally violating neither the legal rights nor the “charter” rights of shareholders and (ii) shareholders — in their role as shareholders — have no other rights than these.
A browser-based operating systems project: JavaScript adventures in dinosaur slaying

This paper presents one educator's experience with a browser-based project for an upper-level/graduate Operating Systems course. The author explains the project goals, why the browser in general and JavaScriptin particular are so well suited for this task, challenges andtheir solutions, the incremental assignments that ultimately result in a fairly complex OS simulation by the end of the semester, the response to the project, and some ideas about where to go next.
Dopamine-transporter occupancy after intravenous doses of cocaine and methylphenidate in mice and humans

Objectives: Recent studies using positron emission tomography (PET) have established the relationship between an intravenous dose of cocaine and the percentage occupancy of the dopamine transporter in humans, and have documented the requirement of more than 50% occupancy for perception of the ”high”. The present experiments were conducted to examine dose–occupancy and dose–effect relationships in mice for cocaine and also for methylphenidate, a dopamine uptake blocker used in pediatric psychiatry. Methods: Percentage occupancies of the dopamine transporter by cocaine and methylphenidate were estimated after intravenous injection in mice from the displacement of in vivo binding of [3H]cocaine from the striatum. Locomotor activity was measured in a photocell apparatus. Results: The relationship between drug doses (milligrams of hydrochloride salt per kilogram body weight) and percentage occupancy of the dopamine transporter was indistinguishable for cocaine and methylphenidate, and corresponded to about 50% occupancy at 0.25 mg/kg and about 80% at 1 mg/kg. This was similar to the relationship between drug dose and transporter occupancy, previously measured in human and baboons using [11C]cocaine or [11C]d-threo-methylphenidate and PET. Methylphenidate increased locomotor activity in the mice substantially more than cocaine at the same dose and the same degree of dopamine-transporter receptor occupancy. Conclusions: The range of dopamine-transporter occupancy required for behavioral activation in the mice was thus similar to that previously reported for experience of a cocaine- or methylphenidate-induced ”high” in human subjects. Our results are consistent with other studies in which both cocaine and methylphenidate were evaluated in animal behavioral assays and were found to have very similar psychopharmacological properties.
Sexual behavior and scent marking in male gerbils: Comparison of changes after castration and testosterone replacement

Abstract This study compared changes in sexual behavior of male gerbils with changes in scent-marking frequency following castration and exposure to various doses of testosterone. Castration eliminated sexual activity in male gerbils. Injections of testosterone propionate (75 μg twice weekly) prevented this decrease. Larger (600 μg) injections of testosterone propionate or implantation of Silastic capsules of testosterone reinstated mating behavior. Sexual behavior showed a different pattern of changes than scent marking. Sexual behavior was maintained more effectively than scent marking by hormone injections, but scent marking was reinstated more readily than sexual behavior by the tonic hormone levels produced by Silastic implants.
Selective inhibition of Escherichia coli RecBC activities by plasmid-encoded GamS function of phage lambda

Abstract The gam locus of bacteriophage λ encompasses two coding sequences with the same reading frame and translational stop, one corresponding to an M r 11646 polypeptide ( gamS gene), the other to an M r 16349 polypeptide ( gamL gene). A DNA segment encoding gamS but not gamL was placed under π R promoter control (regulated by the cIts 857-coded repressor) on a multicopy plasmid, and an insertion mutation ( gamS 201) was constructed. Expression of gamS + , but not gamS 201, inhibited Escherichia coli RecBC nuclease in vivo; the criteria were inhibition of chromosomal DNA degradation after UV irradiation and plating of T4 gene 2 − phages. The recB + C + bacteria expressing gamS + were completely or partially similar to recC − mutants with respect to certain phenotypes: defective plating of phages P1 and P2, ability to plate (in a recA − background) λred − gam − phages, reduced resistance to UV irradiation, defective SOS induction, decreased colony-forming ability.
Using a Multidimensional Differential Item Functioning Framework to Determine if Reading Ability Affects Student Performance in Mathematics

Many teachers and curriculum specialists claim that the reading demand of many mathematics items is so great that students do not perform well on mathematics tests, even though they have a good understanding of mathematics. The purpose of this research was to test this claim empirically. This analysis was accomplished by considering examinees that differed in reading ability within the context of a multidimensional DIF framework. Results indicated that student performance on some mathematics items was influenced by their level of reading ability so that examinees with lower proficiency classifications in reading were less likely to obtain correct answers to these items. This finding suggests that incorrect proficiency classifications may have occurred for some examinees. However, it is argued that rather than eliminating these mathematics items from the test, which would seem to decrease the construct validity of the test, attempts should be made to control the confounding effect of reading that is measur...
First report of alternaria blight caused by Alternaria panax on ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) in Oregon and Washington, USA

Ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius ) is a high-value medicinal herb grown in relatively small commercial gardens in the states of Oregon and Washington, USA. Despite the limited acreage, ginseng represents a significant investment for growers since production costs are very high. In May 2000, necrotic girdling stem lesions about 2·5 cm above the ground were observed on 2-year-old-ginseng plants growing in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. Tissues distal to the lesion had wilted, causing loss of foliage for the remainder of the year. The leaflets of some plants had brown lesions from which the centres had fallen out. Approximately half of the 0·25 ha garden was affected, with many plants severely infected. During the same month, similar symptoms were observed on ginseng plants in a commercial nursery in south-western Washington. The fungus Alternaria panax was observed sporulating on leaves and stems of plants from both locations, and was isolated from stem and leaf tissue with symptoms onto both potato dextrose and water agar media. Identification of the pathogen was confirmed by mycologist Emory Simmons, Crawfordsville, IN, USA (personal communication). Outbreaks of alternaria leaf spot of ginseng were observed again in western Oregon in 2001. Alternaria panax is a host-specific toxin-producing fungus and is a very destructive pathogen of ginseng. Widely distributed in the eastern and mid-western USA and Canada (Whetzel & Rosenbaum, 1912; Buonassissi & MacDonald, 1990; Chang et al ., 1999), the pathogen has never been reported previously from Washington or Oregon. This report represents an expansion of the geographical range of A. panax , presenting a potential threat to successful ginseng production in the Pacific Northwest of the USA.
Geometrical considerations in the measurement of the ratio L/R in the scattering of polarized nucleons

Abstract The effect of a spatially extended analyzer and detector on the measurement of the left-right asymmetry in the scattering of polarized nucleons is discussed.
Speculative optimizations for parallel programs on multicores

The advent of multicores presents a promising opportunity for exploiting fine grained parallelism present in programs. Programs parallelized in the above fashion, typically involve threads that communicate via shared memory, and synchronize with each other frequently to ensure that shared memory dependences between different threads are correctly enforced. Such frequent synchronization operations, although required, can greatly affect program performance. In addition to forcing threads to wait for other threads and do no useful work, they also force the compiler to make conservative assumptions in generating code. We analyzed a set of parallel programs with fine grained barrier synchronizations, and observed that the synchronizations used by these programs enforce interprocessor dependences which arise relatively infrequently. Motivated by this observation, our approach consists of creating two versions of the section of code between consecutive synchronization operations; one version is a highly optimized version created under the optimistic assumption that no interprocessor dependences that are enforced by the synchronization operation will actually arise. The other version is unoptimized code created under the pessimistic assumption that interprocessor dependences will arise. At runtime, we first speculatively execute the optimistic code and if misspeculation occurs, the results of this version will be discarded and the non-speculative version will be executed. Since interprocessor dependences arise infrequently, misspeculation rate remains low. To detect misspeculation efficiently, we modify existing architectural support for data speculation and adapt it for multicores. We utilize this scheme to perform two speculative optimizations to improve parallel program performance. First, by speculatively executing past barrier synchronizations, we reduce time spent idling on barriers, translating into a 12% increase in performance. Second, by promoting shared variables to registers in the presence of synchronization, we reduce a significant amount of redundant loads, translating into an additional performance increase of 2.5%.
Baryon-antibaryon asymmetry in a model with domain structure and soft CP violation

Abstract We consider a model with an abelian gauge symmetry, a Higgs potential involving two scalar fields, and two spinor fields coupled to the scalars through Yukawa couplings. The model accomodates soft violation of charge conjugation, and a domain structure of the universe with two different types of domains, which have identical energy but are governed by different effective lagrangians. The effective lagrangian has complex c -number coefficients that become parts of effective coupling constants, and these are different in the two kinds of domains. In spite of that fact the model neither predicts any domain-dependent effects, nor any particle-antiparticle asymmetries within domains.
Electromyographical Assessment of Passive, Active Assistive, and Active Shoulder Rehabilitation Exercises

Objective To determine the electromyographical (EMG) activation levels of shoulder musculature during early rehabilitation exercises to regain active range of motion. Design Descriptive. Setting University clinical research laboratory. Participants Ten asymptomatic volunteers (age, 25 ± 5 years; height, 171 ± 7 cm; weight, 78 ± 15 kg). Intervention Fine-wire (supraspinatus and infraspinatus) and surface (anterior deltoid, upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior) electrodes recorded EMG activity from each muscle during 12 therapeutic exercises completed during a single testing session in random order. Main Outcome Measure EMG root mean squared amplitude normalized to a percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (% MVC). Results Passive exercises generated the lowest mean EMG activity ( P > .05). Conclusion This electrophysiological data in normal volunteers suggest that many exercises used during the early phase of rehabilitation to regain active elevation do not exceed 20% MVC. Progression from passive to active-assisted can potentially be performed without significantly increasing muscular activation levels exercises. Upright active exercises demonstrated a consistent and often a statistically significant increase in muscular activities supporting that these exercises should be prescribed later in a rehabilitation program.
Synthesis and Photoinitiated Cationic Polymerization of Organic−Inorganic Hybrid Resins

A streamlined synthetic scheme was developed for the preparation of a novel series of cationically polymerizable epoxy-functional organic−inorganic hybrid resins. The reaction sequence consists, first, of the regioselective rhodium-catalyzed monoaddition of an α,ω-Si−H difunctional siloxane to a vinyl epoxide. The second step involves the addition of the remaining Si−H bond of the latter adduct to vinyl trimethoxysilane. Finally, an ion-exchange-catalyzed sol−gel hydrolysis of the resulting trialkoxysilane-functional epoxide yields the desired silicone−epoxy resins bearing pendant epoxy groups. These resins undergo facile UV and thermally induced cationic photopolymerization in the presence of onium salt photoinitiators to give cross-linked organic−inorganic hybrid glassy matrixes. The mechanical and thermal properties of the polymerized resins were determined and were correlated with the structures of the resins.
Lack of seasonal variation in eating attitudes and behaviours among female college students

Objective Previous studies have found a season of birth effect for women with eating disorders. However, findings regarding the two types of season of birth (i.e. month of birth and temperature at conception) have been conflicting, and few studies have examined relationships between season of birth and general disordered eating in non-clinical populations. The present study sought to examine this relationship more closely by investigating both month of birth and temperature at conception in undergraduate women. Method Subjects included 427 undergraduate females from a large university in the United States. Disordered eating in the areas of body dissatisfaction, compensatory behaviour, binge eating and weight preoccupation was assessed with the Minnesota Eating Behaviors Survey (MEBS). Results No significant mean differences in MEBS scores were found between those individuals born in the first versus second half of the year. Furthermore, no significant associations were found between disordered eating and temperature at conception. Discussion Our findings suggest that disordered eating symptoms do not show a season of birth effect. Discrepancies between these findings and those for clinical samples suggest the possible presence of different aetiological mechanisms for general eating symptoms versus clinical eating disorders. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
The computer-assisted child diagnostic system: A research and development project

Abstract Two studies were conducted in a clinical setting on the development and evaluation of a Computer-Assisted Child Diagnostic System (CDS). The CDS uses a computer interpreted parent questionnaire to produce a child psychopathology assessment report that is capable of 40 DSM-III (or III-R) child diagnoses. The present studies of the CDS revealed that the interparent diagnosis reliability, criterion-related validity (clinician agreement with the computer-assisted parent diagnoses) and consumer satisfaction with the system appear to be adequate for outpatient school aged children. These reliability, validity, and consumer satisfaction results were cross-validated on a second sample of outpatient school aged children.
A signaling network stimulated by β2 integrin promotes the polarization of lytic granules in cytotoxic cells

Cytotoxic lymphocytes kill target cells through the polarized release of the contents of intracellular perforin-containing granules. In natural killer (NK) cells, the binding of β2 integrin to members of the intercellular adhesion molecule family is sufficient to promote not only the adhesion of NK cells to target cells but also the polarization of intracellular lytic granules toward the target. We used NK cells in an experimental system designed to enable us to study the polarization of lytic granules in the absence of their release through degranulation, as well as β2 integrin signaling independently of inside-out signals from other receptors. Through a proteomics approach, we identified a signaling network centered on an integrin-linked kinase (ILK)-Pyk2-paxillin core that was required for granule and microtubule-organizing center (MTOC) polarization. The conserved Cdc42-Par6 signaling pathway, which controls cell polarity, was also activated by ILK and was required for granule polarization toward the target cell. A subset of the signaling components required for polarization contributed also to the convergence of granules on the MTOC. These results delineate two connected signaling networks that are stimulated upon β2 integrin engagement and control the polarization of the MTOC and associated lytic granules toward the site of contact with target cells to mediate cellular cytotoxicity.
Identification and model reduction of multivariable continuous systems via a block-pulse functions scheme

This article deals with the identification and model reduction of multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) continuous systems, described by a high-degree vector differential equation or a matrix transfer function, from the discretized input and output data. The approach is based on using the block-pulse functions scheme and the least squares method. A two-shaft gas turbine model is used as an illustration.
Hemodilution with lactated Ringer's solution causes hypocoagulability in rabbits.

Hemodilution (HD) has been associated with hypercoagulability. It was hypothesized that HD with lactated Ringer's solution (LR) would result in hypercoagulability in rabbits. Sedated rabbits (n = 12) underwent HD with LR (40% estimated blood volume replaced with five volumes of LR) via ear vessels.
SHORT-AND LONG-RUN FARM PLANNING UNDER UNCERTAINTY; INTEGRATION OF LINEAR PROGRAMMING AND DECISION TREE ANALYSIS

The paper presents an approach to an integrated long-run and short-run farm planning under uncertainty, based on a decomposition of the problem into (i) a series of short-run plans, and (ii) a master long-run plan. The series of the short-run plans are parametrically solved by linear programming “variable right hand” techniques and are later integrated into a long-run program using a (computerized) decision tree analysis. The attitude towards risk of the farm operator is expressed in the willingness to maximize the expected value of the income stream over the planning horizon subject to the restriction that alternatives which may lead to lack of liquidity must be eliminated. Ce travail presenle une approche tentative ďintegrer, sous conditions incertaines, une planification de ferme a court et long terme. La planification est basee sur la partition du probleme en (i) serie de courte duree et (ii) de tongue duree. Les series de courte duree sont resolues aľaide dun programme lineaire, et integrees ensuite dans un programme a long terme aľaide de ľanalyse de “decision arbre.”ľattitude envers les risques de ľentrepreneur est exprimee par la volonte-de maxiliser la valeur de revenu prevu au dela de la planification sous reserve de la restriction que des alternatives qui peuvent conduire a un manque de moyens liquides, doivent etre eliminees.
A Test of the Nonlinearity Hypothesis in Great-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Highly aroused or scared animals may produce a variety of sounds that sound harsh and are somewhat unpredictable. These sounds frequently contain nonlinear acoustic phenomena, and these nonlinearities may elicit arousal or alarm responses in humans and many animals. We designed a playback experiment to elucidate whether specific nonlinear phenomena can elicit increased responsiveness in great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus). We broadcast two control sounds (a 0.5-s, 3-kHz pure tone and the song of tropical kingbirds (Tyrannus melancholicus) and three test sounds that all began with a 0.4-s, 3-kHz pure tone and ended with 0.1 s of either a 1- to 5-kHz band of white noise, an abrupt frequency jump to 1 kHz, or an abrupt frequency jump to 5 kHz. In response to these three nonlinear phenomena, grackles decreased their relaxed behavior (walking, foraging, and preening) and increased looking. A second experiment looked at the rapidity of the time course of frequency change and found that the abrupt frequency jump from 3 to 1 kHz, as opposed to a gradual downward frequency modulation over the same bandwidth, was uniquely arousing. These results suggest that while nonlinear phenomena may be generally evocative, frequency jumps may be the most evocative in great-tailed grackles. Future studies in other systems can evaluate this general hypothesis. Ever since Darwin’s ‘Principle of Antithesis’ (Darwin 1872) and Morton’s ‘motivation-structural rules’ (Morton 1977), researchers have focused on determining the relationship between acoustic structure and function (Rendall & Owren 2010). This link between structure and function couples sound production systems with the resulting sounds that are produced by signalers in certain situations, and also to the responses to those sounds elicited in receivers. Sound production systems may, routinely or in specific situations, produce a set acoustic features that are referred to as nonlinear acoustic phenomena. These nonlinear acoustic phenomena may include rapid frequency jumps, subharmonics, biphonation, and deterministic chaos (which looks like noise on a spectrogram)
PAN1 : a receptor-like protein that promotes polarization of an asymmetric cell division in maize

Polarization of cell division is essential for eukaryotic development, but little is known about how this is accomplished in plants. The formation of stomatal complexes in maize involves the polarization of asymmetric subsidiary mother cell (SMC) divisions toward the adjacent guard mother cell (GMC), apparently under the influence of a GMC-derived signal. We found that the maize pan1 gene promotes the premitotic polarization of SMCs and encodes a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein that becomes localized in SMCs at sites of GMC contact. PAN1 has an inactive kinase domain but is required for the accumulation of a membrane-associated phosphoprotein, suggesting a function for PAN1 in signal transduction. Our findings implicate PAN1 in the transmission of an extrinsic signal that polarizes asymmetric SMC divisions toward GMCs.
Detroit River Flow Reversals

Abstract Detroit River flow reversals were investigated using a water surface gradient analysis in conjunction with Detroit River unsteady flow models. Three cases and five highly probable cases were simulated to occur between 1900 and 1986; the most recent episode occurred in April 1984. Flow reversals are likely only during St. Clair River ice jams, when the water supply to Lake St. Clair is severely restricted. The reversals appear to be of limited duration, less than 12 hours, with maximum flows less than 4,200 m 3 s −1 . Flow reversals were most common during the first 40 years of this century and 46 years separate the last two occurrences. The decreased frequency probably results from the 7.6 m and 8.2 m navigation dredging projects on the St. Clair River. The use of the Gibraltar water level gage to represent the mouth of the river was found to be critical for the analysis.
The DNA-binding properties of the major regulatory protein alpha 4 of herpes simplex viruses.

The transition from the expression of alpha, the first set of five herpes simplex virus genes expressed after infection, to beta and gamma genes, expressed later in infection, requires the participation of infected cell protein 4 (alpha 4), the major viral regulatory protein. The alpha 4 protein is present in complexes formed by proteins extracted from infected cells and viral DNA fragments derived from promoter domains. This report shows that the alpha 4 protein forms specific complexes with DNA fragments derived from 59 transcribed noncoding domains of late (gamma 2) genes whose expression requires viral DNA synthesis as well as functional alpha 4 protein. Some of the DNA fragments to which alpha 4 binds do not contain homologs of the previously reported DNA binding site consensus sequence, suggesting that alpha 4 may recognize and interact with more than one type of DNA binding site. The alpha 4 proteins can bind to DNA directly. A posttranslationally modified form of the alpha 4 protein designated alpha 4c differs from the alpha 4a and alpha 4b forms with respect to its affinity for DNA fragments differing in the nucleotide sequences of the binding sites.
Near field modulated backscatter for in vivo biotelemetry

Fully implantable wireless biotelemetry devices have traditionally used active VHF/UHF transmitters or load modulation at HF frequencies. HF systems tend to be bandwidth-limited due to low frequency magnetic induction, while active VHF/UHF transmitters generally consume a significant amount of power in DC bias current. We show in this paper that UHF near-field backscatter can be used to achieve higher data rates at lower implant power budgets. We present experimental path loss measurements in a saline proxy system using a segmented loop antenna designed for UHF near-field operation. We present experimental results from a modulated backscatter test circuit at bit rates of up to 30 Mbps and penetration depths of up to 6 cm. The main communication element, an RF switch, consumes about 164 μA at 3 V while operating at a data rate of 30 Mbps, which is equivalent to approximately 16.4 pJ/bit.
The bonding of N2 to models of a (9, 0) carbon nanotube and graphite

Abstract We have studied the bonding of N 2 to a (9, 0) carbon nanotube using the MP2 and ONIOM methods with extended basis sets. We find a weak dispersion type bond with the N 2 ∼3.3 A away from the surface. Our best estimate of the binding energy, including the effect of expanding the high accuracy piece from ethylene to cluster A, is 1.88 kcal/mol for bonding in a twofold site and 1.97 kcal/mol for bonding in a sixfold site. We find N 2 is bound more strongly to a graphitic surface by ∼0.3 kcal/mol.