cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal Control of a Brownian Production/Inventory System with Average Cost Criterion

In this paper we study a stochastic production/inventory system with finite production capacity and random demand. The cumulative production and demand are modeled by a two-dimensional Brownian motion process. There is a setup cost for switching on the production and a convex holding and shortage cost, and our objective is to find the optimal production/inventory control that minimizes the average cost. Both lost-sales and backlog cases are studied. For the lost-sales model we show that, within a large class of policies, the optimal production strategy is either to produce according to an s, S policy, or never turn on the machine at all thus it is optimal for the firm to not enter the business; whereas for the backlog model, we prove that the optimal production policy is always of the s, S type. Our approach first develops a lower bound for the average cost among a large class of nonanticipating policies and then shows that the value function of the desired policy reaches the lower bound. The results offer insights on the structure of the optimal control policies as well as the interplays between system parameters.
Modeling prehension for physical collaboration in virtual environments

The modeling of human movement is vital for a complete understanding of complex human-computer interaction. As three-dimensional collaborative tangible user interfaces (TUIs) evolve, research is needed to understand how people physically interact with each other within a virtual environment. Previous study of physical collaboration in virtual environments has utilized Fitts' law to model gross upper-extremity movement in a passing task. However, no study has modeled passing tasks that require precision grasp with the human hand, an important feature of human-computer interaction in TUIs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of Fitts' law in modeling movement time for a precision passing task in a 3D TUI, and to assess the coordination between passer and receiver using kinematic parameters. In this experiment, 12 participants (six male, mean age 22.6 years) performed a prehensile passing task within a desktop virtual environment. Results detail the kinematic events required to achieve the necessary temporal and spatial coordination specific to the passing task. Further, results indicate that Fitts' model does not adequately explain movement time for this task (R2 =.51). This finding challenges the external validity of previous results. We argue that the task-specific complexity of human neuromotor control should be considered when using predictive models in 3D TUI design.
Development of a respirometric assay to measure the transient load response of activated sludge to individual organic chemicals

This study described a new respirometric technique to monitor the transient response of activated sludge systems to individual synthetic organic compounds (SOCs). The assay used a fed-batch reactor system which contained mixed liquor from the parent reactor and received a biogenic feed and the target SOC at the same F/M ratio as was applied to the parent reactor. The fed-batch reactor was oxygenated using a hollow-fiber reaeration module to meet the steady-state oxygen demand. The reaeration module was characterized by means of KLa studies. The assay monitored the dissolved oxygen concentration profile after application of a shock load achieved by switching to a fed-batch feed with the target SOC at an elevated concentration. Mathematical descriptions of the transient profiles were derived and the experimentally observed dissolved oxygen profiles were subsequently compared to profiles predicted using extant kinetic parameters for SOC removal measured using an earlier developed assay. The use of the assay were complicated by the difficulty in maintaining a reaeration capacity at constant and low capacity. As a result, the adequacy of the measured extant kinetic parameters as predictors of the transient response could not be confirmed.
Quasistatic scale-free networks.

The nodal degree distribution function of a scale-free net-work ~SFN! has a power law tail @1#. Empirical data obtainedfor several social, biological, and computational networkshave conﬁrmed the existence of such probability distribu-tions decaying as power laws @2–4#. For example, the world-wide web @5# which is a network of web pages and the hy-perlinks among various pages and the Internet network @6# ofrouters or autonomous systems follow power laws as P(k);k
Chronic toxicity of hexavalent chromium to the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas).

The chronic effects of hexavalent chromium on the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) were investigated. Survival was affected only at the high test concentration of 3.95 mg Cr/L. All chromium concentrations, including 0.018 mg/L, the lowest tested, retarded the early growth of first-generation fish, but this effect was only temporary. Growth of second-generation fish was not affected at concentrations of 1.0 mg/L or lower. Reproduction and hatchability of eggs were not affected at any chromium concentration tested. The maximum acceptable toxicant concentration (MATC) for fathead minnows in hard water (209 mg/L as CaCO3 at pH 7.7) was based on survival and lies between 1.0 and 3.95 mg Cr/L, respectively. The application factor (MATC/96-hr LC50) is between 0.03 and 0.11.
Enhanced hypertext categorization using hyperlinks

A major challenge in indexing unstructured hypertext databases is to automatically extract meta-data that enables structured search using topic taxonomies, circumvents keyword ambiguity, and improves the quality of search and profile-based routing and filtering. Therefore, an accurate classifier is an essential component of a hypertext database. Hyperlinks pose new problems not addressed in the extensive text classification literature. Links clearly contain high-quality semantic clues that are lost upon a purely term-based classifier, but exploiting link information is non-trivial because it is noisy. Naive use of terms in the link neighborhood of a document can even degrade accuracy. Our contribution is to propose robust statistical models and a relaxation labeling technique for better classification by exploiting link information in a small neighborhood around documents. Our technique also adapts gracefully to the fraction of neighboring documents having known topics. We experimented with pre-classified samples from Yahoo!1 and the US Patent Database2. In previous work, we developed a text classifier that misclassified only 13% of the documents in the well-known Reuters benchmark; this was comparable to the best results ever obtained. This classifier misclassified 36% of the patents, indicating that classifying hypertext can be more difficult than classifying text. Naively using terms in neighboring documents increased error to 38%; our hypertext classifier reduced it to 21%. Results with the Yahoo! sample were more dramatic: the text classifier showed 68% error, whereas our hypertext classifier reduced this to only 21%.
Coming Together: Power-Sharing and the Durability of Negotiated Peace Settlements

This article investigates the relationship between power-sharing institutions and the durability of peace after negotiated settlements, employing statistical analyses on a large N data-set of peace agreements signed between 1989 and 2008. In contrast to recent studies which rely on a singular measure of ‘political’ power-sharing, post-settlement government institutions are empirically evaluated in terms of five key dimensions – executive-level coalitions, legislative proportionality, minority veto powers, military pacts and territorial decentralization. Contrary to the prevalent view that elite power-sharing pacts are key components for stability, the hazard-rate models reveal that executive power-sharing is a particularly unstable form of post-conflict governance. Instead, institutional options that separate belligerent parties and preserve their autonomy, such as territorial power-sharing and proportionality in the military forces, are the most significant predictors of settlement success. It is postula...
The pretonsillectomy clinic

Summary By way of summary we might well quote the recommendations made to the hospital after the clinic had been in existence for two years. It is recommended: 1.That a permanent tonsillectomy clinic be established as a clearinghouse for children referred to the Hospital for tonsillectomy. 2.That when children are referred from special clinics, such as the ear, nose, and throat outpatient department, which lack facilities for complete pediatric examination, such children should be referred to this special tonsillectomy clinic. 3.That this clinic be under the guidance of the pediatric department. A member of the laryngologic staff with the equipment necessary for adequate testing of hearing and nasal, aural, and sinus examination should be associated with the clinic. In addition, for the first year or two a member of the pathologic department should work with the clinicians, as was done by Epstein in Brennemann's Clinic in Chicago. 4.This clinic should study and evaluate special problems related to tonsillectomy. The first that suggests itself is the relative roles played by the adenoids and tonsils. The establishment of a pretonsillectomy clinic is a public health ventureas well as a clinical problem. It is particularly fitting that pediatric services in hospitals should take the lead in such public health efforts. The saving in lives, pain, and discomfort in itself should be a sufficient goal. But soon there may be larger problems involved. Group and other forms of medical practice which seem imminent must have firmly established criteria as a guide in the selection of cases suitable for tonsillectomy; carefully controlled work in a pretonsillectomy clinic would provide a paradigm for the community. Practice is far behind the accumulated knowledge and experience in the problem of tonsillectomy. Establishment of pretonsillectomy clinics would mean merely catching up with scientific and public health progress.
Reproductive effort in invasive and non-invasive Rubus.

We quantified the physiological costs and the total amount of resources allocated to reproduction in two closely related species of Rubus, one of which is invasive. These two species share several morphological and life-history characteristics and grow together in the Pacific Northwestern United States. Reproductive effort was manipulated in canes of both species by removing flower buds. The non-invasive species, R. ursinus, exhibited significantly greater water stress in the reproductive canes, as indicated by lower leaf water potential (Ψ) and reduced stomatal conductance (gs). This species also showed a reduction in leaf nitrogen concentration ([N]) associated with reproduction. Combined, these factors led to reduced photosynthesis (A) on a diurnal basis, lower water-use efficiency as inferred from δ13C, and reduced photosynthetic capacity. All of these effects were more pronounced during the fruiting stage than in the flowering stage. The invasive species, R. discolor, showed no changes in water stress, [N], δ13C, or A associated with reproduction. A model was used to estimate total gross photosynthesis (Agross) for reproductive and non-reproductive canes of both species over cane lifetime. Reproduction was associated with a greater decline in Agross for the non-invasive R. ursinus than for the invasive R. discolor. Although R. discolor allocated more resources directly to flowers and fruit than R. ursinus, the invasive species had significantly lower reproductive effort, or total amount of resources diverted from vegetative activity to reproduction, than the non-invasive species. By minimizing the reduction of photosynthesis associated with reproduction, this invasive species may be able to minimize the trade-offs commonly associated with reproduction.
Inescapable shock reduces [^3H] Ro 5-4864 binding to 'peripheral-type' benzodiazepine receptors in the rat

[3H]Ro 5-4864 binding to “peripheral-type” benzodiazepine receptors was examined in brain and peripheral tissues of rats subjected to inescapable tailshocks. Two hours after a session of 80 (five-second) inescapable tailshocks, a significant reduction in [3H]Ro 5-4864 (10 nM) binding was observed in membranes from kidney (31%), cerebral cortex (29%), heart (19%) and pituitary (17%) compared to tissues from naive animals. In contrast, inescapable shock did not effect [3H]Ro 5-4864 binding to hippocampal, lung, or adrenal membranes. Scatchard analyses of [3H]Ro 5-4864 binding to renal membranes demonstrated that this session of tailshock reduced the density (Bmax) of “peripheral-type” benzodiazepine receptors without effecting the apparent affinity (Kd) of the radioligand for these sites. The effects of graded stress on [3H]Ro 5-4864 binding to cerebral cortex and kidney were investigated using 5, 20, or 80 (five-second) inescapable shocks. In cerebral cortical membranes, sessions of either 5 or 20 shocks did not affect, while 80 shocks reduced (29%) [3H]Ro 5-4864 (10 nM) binding. In renal membranes, 5 shocks significantly increased (35%), 80 shocks significantly decreased [3H]Ro 5-4864 (10 nM) binding (31%). These findings demonstrate that the density of “peripheral-type” benzodiazepine receptors in both peripheral tissues and the central nervous system can be rapidly modulated by stress.
Postischemic moderate hypothermia inhibits CA1 hippocampal ischemic neuronal injury

We have determined whether lowering brain temperature during the acute recirculation period following transient cerebral ischemia would influence the extent of ischemic neuronal injury. Anesthetized rats underwent 10 min of bilateral carotid artery occlusion combined with systemic hypotension (50 mmHg). Four animal subgroups were investigated, including non-ischemic controls; rats whose postischemic brain temperature was maintained at 36 or 30 degrees C starting 5 min into the recirculation period; and rats in which postischemic hypothermia was begun 30 min into the recirculation period. In all cases, intra-ischemic brain temperature was 36 degrees C and body temperature was held at 36-37 degrees C throughout. Three days following the ischemic insult, the CA1 sector of the hippocampus was severely damaged in normothermic rats (36 degrees C). In contrast, when postischemic brain temperature was decreased to 30 degrees C starting 5 min into the recirculation period, normal-appearing pyramidal neurons were present throughout the CA1 hippocampus. A beneficial effect of postischemic hypothermia was not demonstrated when brain cooling was initiated 30 min into the recirculation period. These results demonstrate that postischemic hypothermia can markedly protect CA1 pyramidal neurons from injury following transient ischemia. The 'therapeutic window' for postischemic hypothermia was found to be narrow under the present experimental conditions.
Guided Transmission For 10 µm Tunable Lasers

Mid infrared laser technology centered around 10pm has been driven by the availability of highly efficient, high power tunable CO2 lasers, continuously tunable lead salt diode lasers, and the rapidly advancing infrared fiber technology. Utilization of such systems is already becoming commonplace in medicine and laser heterodyne spectroscopic systems for remote sensing. These applications are increasingly requiring system flexibility, mobility, hence compaction and integration. To meet these needs, some steps toward 10 pm system integration and compaction have been explored with available mid IR components. We will report on our studies in the CO, laser + metallic piping/fiber + detector system and the tunable diode laser (TDL) + fiber detector system for heterodyning. Metallic piping will be compatible with w/g CO2 laser and w/g packaged detectors, where the 1.f. beat will be in the microwave region. Fibers will be compatible with TDL for direct butting, but incompatible with w/g packaged detectors. There is also severe thermal gradient between fiber section in the TDL coldhead at LH2 or LN2 temperatures, and section at room temperature. Current technology provides lowloss, rugged, near single mode piping, but appreciably higher loss, fragile, chemically unstable multimode fibers. However, there is no doubt fibers will be the ultimate mid IR laser system integration medium, so most of our efforts are in fiber testing and fiber system integration. Comparison studies have been done on relevent fiber parameters, such as loss, toxicity, hygroscopicity, refractive index, flexibility, shelf life, and thermal behavior at low temperatures of crystalline KRS-S, halide and chalcogenide glass fibers. Emphasis is placed on thermal shock evaluation at LN2 and LH2 temperatures with respect to mode structure, flexibility and shelf life.
Dynamic high-level scripting in parallel applications

Parallel applications typically run in batch mode, sometimes after long waits in a scheduler queue. In some situations, it would be desirable to interactively add new functionality to the running application, without having to recompile and rerun it. For example, a debugger could upload code to perform consistency checks, or a data analyst could upload code to perform new statistical tests. This paper presents a scalable technique to dynamically insert code into running parallel applications. We describe and evaluate an implementation of this idea that allows a user to upload Python code into running parallel applications. This uploaded code will run in concert with the main code. We prove the effectiveness of this technique in two case studies: parallel debugging to support introspection and data analysis of large cosmological datasets.
Engineering triiodothyronine (T3) nanoparticle for use in ischemic brain stroke

A potential means of pharmacological management of ischemic stroke is rapid intervention using potent neuroprotective agents. Thyroid hormone (T3) has been shown to protect against ischemic damage in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of ischemic brain stroke. While thyroid hormone is permeable across the blood–brain barrier, we hypothesized that efficacy of thyroid hormone in ischemic brain stroke can be enhanced by encapsulation in nanoparticulate delivery vehicles. We tested our hypothesis by generating poly-(lactide-co-glycolide)-polyethyleneglycol (PLGA-b-PEG) nanoparticles that are either coated with glutathione or are not coated. We have previously reported that glutathione coating of PLGA-PEG nanoparticles is an efficient means of brain targeted drug delivery. Encapsulation of T3 in PLGA-PEG delivery vehicle resulted in particles that were in the nano range and exhibited a zeta potential of −6.51 mV (uncoated) or −1.70 mV (coated). We observed that both glutathione-coated and uncoated nanoparticles are taken up in cells wherein they stimulated the expression of thyroid hormone response element driven reporter robustly. In MCAO model of ischemic stroke, significant benefit of administering T3 in nanoparticulate form was observed over injection of a T3 solution. A 34 % decrease in tissue infarction and a 59 % decrease in brain edema were seen upon administration of T3 solution in MCAO stroke model. Corresponding measurements for uncoated T3 nanoparticles were 51 % and 68 %, whereas for the glutathione coated were 58 % and 75 %. Our study demonstrates that using nanoparticle formulations can significantly improve the efficacy of neuroprotective drugs in ischemic brain stroke.
The importance of a multidisciplinary approach to VAP prevention: the role of the respiratory therapist

Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common hospital acquired infection among patients in the ICU, with an estimated incidence of 10–20% in some institutions.[1][1] Despite extensive research, the implementation of VAP prevention measures or “bundles” in acute care
The temperature‐composition phase diagram of the HgTe ? HgI2 pseudobinary system on the HgTe rich side

The temperature-composition phase diagram of the HgTeHgI2 system was determined from 0 to 45 Mol-% HgI2 between 25 and 670°C using Debye-Scherrer powder X-ray diffraction techniques and differential thermal analysis. Solid solutions of HgTe and HgI2 with the cubic, zinc blende-type structure exist above 300°C, having a maximum solubility of 11.7 ± 0.8 Mol-% HgI2 in HgTe at 501 ± 5°C. The known monoclinic compound Hg3Te2I2 is formed by a peritectic reaction upon cooling at 501 ± 5°C, with the peritectic point at approximately 37 ± 4 Mol-% HgI2. Das Zustandsdiagramm des pseudobinaren HgTeHgI2-Systems von HgTe-reichen Mischungen Das Zustandsdiagramm des HgTeHgI2 Systems, in Abhangigkeit von der Temperatur und Zusammensetzung, wurde mit Hilfe von Debye-Scherrer Pulveraufnahmen und Differentialthermoanalyse im Bereich von 0–45 Mol-% HgI2 zwischen 25 und 670°C untersucht. Mischkristalle von HgTeHgI2 mit kubischer Struktur (Zinkblende) existieren oberhalb 300°C mit maximaler Loslichkeit von 11.7 ± 0.8 Mol-% HgI2 in HgTe bei 501 ± 5°C. Die bekannte, monokline Verbindung Hg3Te2I2 bildet sich beim Abkuhlen nach einer peritektischen Reaktion bei 501 ± 5°C; der peritektische Punkt liegt bei etwa 37 ± 4 Mol-% HgI2.
Measurement of Serum Steroid and Gonadotropin Levels and Uterine and Ovarian Variables throughout 4 Day and 5 Day Estrous Cycles in the Rat

The present study was undertaken to characterize hormonal and morphological events in 4 day and 5 day rat cycles, in order to test 3 different theories concerning the etiological factors altering follicular phase length in mammals. Three rats were killed at each 2 h interval throughout each cycle type. In addition to organ weight measurements, serum levels of estradiol, progesterone, 20ohydroxypreg-4-en-3-one, LH, FSH and prolactin were assessedin terminal samples. The beginning of uterine intraluminal fluid accumulation coincided with the decline in progesterone levels seen during diestrus, rather than with the rise in estrogen and was delayed 12 h in the 5 day cycle from the time of last estrus. The retention of this fluid during the evening of proestrus was 6 h longer in the 4 day cycling rat. Ovulation occurred earlier in the 5 day cycling rats than in those with a 4 day cycle. No significant differences in the gonadotropins or 2oo-hydroxypreg-4-en-3-one were seen when comparing the 2 types of cycles. Estradiol rose during the night of diestrus I (the same time in the cycle) and was identical in both cycle types. Progesterone was not released on proestrus prior to the LH surge in either type of cycle. However, we did find that progesterone values were higher for a longer period of time throughout diestrus I in 5 day cycles. These data have led us to conclude that the 5 day cycle is due to a prolonged progesterone secretion during the metestrous and diestrous stages of the cycle.
Pyrrole Detection and the Pathologic Progression of Cynoglossum Officinale (Houndstongue) Poisoning in Horses

Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), a noxious weed that contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAS), infests pastures and fields in the western United States and Europe. The purpose of this study was to develop techniques to better diagnose PA poisoning and describe the progression of gross and microscopic lesions caused by houndstongue intoxication. Six horses were gavaged daily with a suspension of houndstongue containing 5 or 15 mg/kg total PA for 14 days. Two horses were treated similarly with ground alfalfa as controls. Liver biopsy samples and serum biochemical and hematologic values were evaluated biweekly. Within 7 days after dosing, horses treated with 15 mg/kg PA developed severe liver disease characterized by altered bile acid metabolism, elevated serum enzymes, and extensive hepatocellular necrosis with minimal periportal fibrosis and biliary hyperplasia. The condition of these animals continued to deteriorate, and they were euthanized. For several weeks after dosing, horses treated with 5 mg/kg PA were depressed, had transient elevations of serum enzymes and bile acids, and developed minimal periportal hepatocellular necrosis with fibrosis. The biochemical changes resolved by 6-8 weeks; however, the histologic disease persisted with extensive megalocytosis by week 14. Throughout the study, the rate of hepatocellular proliferation remained constant. Biliary cells had an increase in mitotic rate that correlated with the histologic changes. Hepatic tissue-bound pyrroles (PA metabolites) were identified in necropsy samples of treated animals using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and photo- metrically with Ehrlich's reagent. These findings suggest that pyrrole extraction and identification are useful in documenting PA exposure and that houndstongue is extremely toxic to horses. Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), a weed of the plant family Boraginaceae, infests many pastures and fields in Europe and the USA. It is a biennial that grows 0.3-1.2 m tall in pastures, disturbed areas, and along roadsides (Fig. 1). It forms a rosette during the first year of growth and a flowering stalk in the second year. The leaves are rough, alternate, and 2-30 cm in length and are said to resemble a dog's tongue. The flowers are reddish purple, and the fruit divides into 4 spine-covered 8-10-mm nutlets that cling to clothing or animals. 24 Houndstongue is generally not palatable to livestock; however, when included in pelleted or stored forages, it is readily eaten. Livestock poisonings have been reported in the USA, Europe, and Russia. 1,2,9 Plants such as houndstongue that contain pyrroli- zidine alkaloids (PAS) are found throughout the world, and human and livestock poisoning is frequently re- ported. 12 Animal intoxication often manifests as a
Exact and Approximate Solid Substitution Transforms

Using volume averaging we generalize Gassmann’s (1951) isotropic equation for fluid-filled porous media to solidfilled porous media with disconnected pores. This exact equation can be used as an analog of Gassmann's fluid substitution transform for solid-filled porous media, since it predicts the change in effective moduli upon solid substitution, depending only on porosity, elastic stiffness of frame and pore-solids, and initial effective stiffness. This solid substitution transform is exact if induced pore-stress field during a specific experiment is homogeneous. For all other cases, this equation is just an approximation, and has also been suggested by Ciz and Shapiro (2007). We note that this approximation does not always fall within rigorous solid substitution bounds, but under specified conditions, it is a strict bound on solid substitution. We therefore discuss the factors which govern the accuracy and applicability of this approximation. We also present a general solid substitution approximation which requires, in addition to porosity, at least one of the following: ultrasonic fluid filled un-drained modulus, saturated modulus with a hypothetical solid or crack porosity.
Introduction of a second channel: Implications for pricing and profits

In this paper we study the optimal pricing strategies when a product is sold on two channels such as the Internet and a traditional channel. We assume a stylized deterministic demand model where the demand on a channel depends on prices, degree of substitution across channels and the overall market potential. We first study four prevalent pricing strategies which differ in the degree of autonomy for the Internet channel. For a monopoly, we provide theoretical bounds for these pricing strategies. We also analyze the duopoly case where an incumbent mixed retailer faces competition with a pure retailer and characterize price equilibria. Finally, through a computational study, we explore the behavior (price and profits) under different parameters and consumer preferences for the alternative channels.
Origination of Ds Elements From Ac Elements in Maize: Evidence for Rare Repair Synthesis at the Site of Ac Excision

Although it has been known for some time that the maize transposon Ac can mutate to Ds by undergoing internal deletions, the mechanism by which these mutations arise has remained conjectural. To gain further insight into this mechanism in maize we have studied a series of Ds elements that originated de novo from Ac elements at known locations in the genome. We present evidence that new, internally deleted Ds elements can arise at the Ac donor site when Ac transposes to another site in the genome. However, internal deletions are rare relative to Ac excision footprints, the predominant products of Ac transposition. We have characterized the deletion junctions in five new Ds elements. Short direct repeats of variable length occur adjacent to the deletion junction in three of the five Ds derivatives. In the remaining two, extra sequences or filler DNA is inserted at the junction. The filler DNAs are identical to sequences found close to the junction in the Ac DNA, where they are flanked by the same sequences that flank the filler DNA in the deletion. These findings are explained most simply by a mechanism involving error-prone DNA replication as an occasional alternative to end-joining in the repair of Ac-generated double-strand breaks.
A Wildfire-relevant climatology of the convective environment of the United States

Convective instability can influence the behaviour of large wildfires. Because wildfires modify the temperature and moisture of air in their plumes, instability calculations using ambient conditions may not accurately represent convective potential for some fire plumes. This study used the North American Regional Reanalysis to develop a climatology of the convective environment specifically tied to large fire events. The climatology is based on the period 1979–2009 and includes ambient convective available potential energy (CAPE) as well as values when surface air is warmed by 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 K or moistened by 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 g kg–1. Results for the 2.0 K and 2.0 g kg–1 modifications are presented. The results reveal spatial and seasonal patterns of convective sensitivity to added heat or moisture. The patterns suggest that use of ambient CAPE to estimate the potential plume growth of a large wildfire may underestimate that potential in heat- or moisture-sensitive regions.
In vivo pons motion within the skull

Finite element (FE) models are used to identify head injury mechanisms and design new and improved injury prevention schemes. Although brain-skull boundary conditions strongly influence the model mechanical responses, limited experimental data are available to develop an informed representation. We hypothesize that the spinal cord tension and gravity contribute to the pons displacement in vivo. Static high-resolution T1-weighted sagittal MR images of the inferior portion of the head in neutral and flexion positions were acquired in 15 human volunteers in both supine and prone postures. Boundaries of the pons and clivus were extracted with a gradient-based algorithm, and the pontes were fitted into ellipses. Assuming rigid body motion of the skull, image pairs in different postures were co-registered with an autocorrelation technique. By comparing images before and after the motion, we found that while the rotation of the pons is negligible relative to the skull, the pons displaces significantly at the foramen magnum, on the order of approximately 2 mm. When the spinal cord tension and gravity act in concert, the pons moves caudally; when opposed, superiorly, such that the influence of gravity on the pons is six times that of the spinal cord tension. Based on these findings, we recommend that the brainstem-skull interface be treated as a sliding (with or without friction) boundary condition in FE models of the human head.
Age of the Universe and More

This work is based on modification of the general relativity, which includes effects of production /absorption of matter by the vacuum. The theory (without fitting parameters) is in good quantitative agreement with cosmological observations (SnIa, SDSS-BAO and reduction of acceleration of the expanding universe). In this theory, there is no Big Bang at the beginning, but some local bangs during the evolution are probable. Also, there is no critical density of the universe and, therefore, no dark energy. Based on exact Gaussian solution for the scale factor, it is shown that an effective age of the universe is about 327 billion years. Production of primary dark matter particles have started 43 billion years later. It is shown that characteristic distance between particles is 30 times smaller than the thermal de Brogle wavelength, so that quantum effects, including formation of the Bose-Einstein condensate, can dominate. "Ordinary" matter was synthesized from dark matter in galaxies. Supplementary exact solutions are obtained for various ranges of parameters. From the theory we get an interface between dark and ordinary matter (IDOM), which very likely exist not only in cosmos, but everywhere, including our body and our brain. Key words: cosmology; age of the universe; dark matter; interface between dark and ordinary matter.
Assessment of mangrove vegetation on Abu Minqar Island of the Red Sea

The island of Abu Minqar is located near the mouth of the Gulf of Suez of the Red Sea and it is the only island in the area with rich stands of Avicennia marina mangrove. The island is highly vulnerable to damage from pollution associated with coastal activities, massive tourism development and hotel constructions along the coast of Al Ghardaqa. High resolution QuikBird satellite images were used for mapping the mangrove vegetation on the island and to establish a baseline database for future monitoring of the changes of the mangrove habitat on the island. The current total area of the mangrove vegetation on the island is 28.54 hectares (21% of the total area of the island) and is made of a single species of mangrove Avicennia marina.
A simulation environment for hardware-software codesign

Our goal is to create a simulation environment for hardware-software codesign. It is important to perform simulation of the hardware/software system at various stages of the codesign process. In our environment the hardware and software are viewed as two independent processes in which the hardware is described in a hardware description language and the software is written in a programming language. The processes can be placed on separate machines and run in parallel. Analysis of the environment has shown that significant simulation speed-ups can be achieved if a high degree of parallelism exists between the hardware and software and if there is a sufficient amount of computational CPU time in the software process.
Second and higher order scattering of light in a settling polydisperse aerosol.

The experimental-cum-theoretical investigation reported here explains a simple, practical, and efficient experimental method and its appropriate theory for measuring the size distribution n(r) of particles in a settling polydisperse aerosol, under such conditions of optical thickness (τ) that the multiple light scattering (MS) contribution cannot be neglected as compared to the single scattering (SS) contribution. The basis of the experimental technique is the measurement of the radiance (B) due to multiple light scattering (MS) alone; and the basis of the theoretical approach is (1) to treat MS radiance as the sum of contributions due to the various orders of scattering from the second order up, and (2) that the Nth order scattering is the result of N single scatterings. It is shown that below a certain value of τ (~1.5) the contributions due to the second and third orders of scattering suffice to explain the observed data for the MS radiance. For higher values of τ, the computation of higher orders of scattering is needed. A semiempirical expression which can accurately fit the observed data is given. The technique explained in this paper can be adapted for the determination of the particle size distribution of natural aerosols in a planetary atmosphere.
Primary bilateral mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the breast with atypical ductal hyperplasia and localized amyloidosis. A case report and review of the literature.

c Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the breast is a rare disease. Primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma is even rarer, and bilateral involvement is exceptional. We describe a case of primary bilateral breast mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with bilateral atypical ductal hyperplasia and bilateral localized amyloidosis in a 64-year-old woman with a history of arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and its clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical features. Microscopic examination of the breast lesion showed dense periductal and perilobular small and plasmacytoid lymphocytes with eosinophilic amyloid in the vessels and the stroma. Bilateral single foci of atypical ductal hyperplasia were also noted. Fine needle aspiration showed small and large lymphocytes and plasma cells. Molecular analysis demonstrated a heavy chain immunoglobulin H gene rearrangement. Flow cytometry studies showed an abnormal B-cell population. The combined histologic, paraffin immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and molecular results were considered diagnostic for low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. The patient underwent bilateral local breast radiation without other organ or site involvement. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000;124:1233‐1236)
Two Drugs or Three? Balancing Efficacy, Toxicity, and Resistance in Postexposure Prophylaxis for Occupational Exposure to HIV

Thousands of health care workers are potentially exposed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) each year via occupationally acquired needlesticks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, GA) advise health care workers who experience a high-risk occupational exposure from an HIV-infected patient to begin receiving multidrug antiretroviral postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) as soon as possible, preferably within 36 h after exposure. Although the need to prescribe antiretroviral postexposure prophylaxis in a timely fashion is common, few data exist regarding the efficacy and optimal regimen for prophylaxis to prevent transmission. Our objectives were to examine the limited human and animal data on postexposure prophylaxis, to elucidate the factors that affect the choice of 2 versus 3 drugs as the optimal prophylactic drug regimen, and to place these findings within a mathematical framework to help guide the prescription of PEP.
Precipitation over the Pacific Ocean, 30°S to 60°N

Abstract By using present weather observations taken by ships and relating them to a given amount of precipitation, new estimates of oceanic rainfall for the Pacific Ocean between 30°S and 60°N have been derived. Satellite microwave measurements and Taylor's (1973) island analysis support our findings. Annual and quarterly rainfall maps, drawn from our estimates, agree with other modem, land-derived values, but provide greater detail. Between the equator and 60°N, the annual depth and volume rainfall totals are 1282 mm and 1.16×105 km3, respectively. Maps of amplitude and phase show that most of the rainfall north of 28°N occurs in winter, while maximum rainfall occurs in July and August in the tropics. Diurnal rainfall, studied at selected locations, is at a minimum at noon in all but the western pan of the North Pacific. Here there is no distinct minimum.
Morphologic and management characteristics of individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate who required maxillary advancement.

Abstract Objective:To delineate factors that may contribute to maxillary hypoplasia requiring maxillary advancement surgery in individuals with nonsyndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP). Methods:This retrospective, longitudinal study used lateral cephalometric radiographs and chart reviews of 16 nonsyndromic UCLP individuals who underwent Le Fort I maxillary advancement and 16 controls matched for cleft type, age, and gender. Cephalometric measurements were made at three time points (T1, T2, and T3): mean ages of 10.7, 13.3, and 15.8 years for the Le Fort group and 10.11, 12.9, and 15.7 years, respectively, for the control group. Information regarding team care, timing and number of surgical procedures, and number of congenitally missing teeth were determined from clinical records. Results:The Le Fort group had significant maxillary hypoplasia at all time points compared to the UCLP controls, indicated by midface length measurements, ANB and Wit's analysis (p < .001). The Le Fort group had twice...
Understanding the Exploration of Design Space in Remix Networks

Online open innovation communities incorporate different systems and technologies in order to harness collective intelligence. Many of these communities have adopted a system that encourages users to contribute their wisdom through remixing, a process that generates new versions from a project’s original state by making additions or deletions. We report on how participants in two remix communities explore the design space of a collective task through the remixing process. With a better understanding of this exploration, it might be possible to find ways to catalyze creativity.
Effect of Phosphate and Chloride Ions on Aerobic Metabolism of Bovine Spermatozoa

Under the aerobic conditions of these experiments, dilution of bovine semen with phosphate ion depressed oxygen consumption and motility of sperm cells. However, fructose utilization and lactic acid accumulation were increased in the presence of phosphate ion. When semen was diluted with isotonic sodium chloride oxygen uptake was greater, motility was maintained better and fructose utilization and lactic acid accumulation were lower than in the phosphate-diluted semen. Twice-washed cells in a diluent containing seminal plasma utilized more fructose and accumulated more lactic acid than those in plasma-free diluent. The depressive effect of phosphate on respiration was not due to H 2 O 2 formation nor to changes of osmotic pressure. The season of the year in which semen was collected influenced its metabolic response in each of the diluents studied. The presence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was not conclusively demonstrated in cell-free extracts of bovine spermatozoa prepared by sonic oscillation.
Book: The Experimental Society

Focusing largely on risk, this book analyzes society’s responses to many kinds of experimentation, defined in part as the testing of ideas for new physical and chemical ways of doing things. It also includes, less tangibly, the testing of new ways of thinking, including those related to social organization and ways of controlling social processes themselves. Drawing on many medical and scientific sources in addition to legal materials, the book deals with the degrees of safety and risk associated with particular products and activities. In the area of consumer products and exposure to toxic products, the topics include the enormous costs, in both suffering and dollars, inflicted by cigarettes and exposure to asbestos. In the area of medical treatment, the topics range from prescription drugs and devices to mammography and birth control methods. In the environment, they range from nuclear power plants and the testing of atomic bombs to oil spills, and they include fracking and the effects of global warming. Having noted Holmes’ aphorism that “all life is an experiment,” the text declares that “law itself is a constant experiment,” a description that applies to both legislation and judicial decisionmaking.
Influence of Composition and Processing History on the Cellular Morphology of the Foamed Olefinic Thermoplastic Elastomers

Abstract Foam extrusion of a series of dynamically vulcanized polypropylene (PP)/ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) blends (commercially available Santoprene) by using chemical blowing agents have been studied. Results suggest that foaming occurs only within the thermoplastic phase and for each composition there exists a limiting density which controls the maximum volume expansion. This limiting density is controlled only by the composition and is independent of the blowing agent concentration, extrusion conditions, and the geometry. For the softest and the hardest blends, maximum volume expansion was found to be about 20 and 100%, respectively. Considerable differences in cell structure were also observed with change in the blend composition. As the rubber content increases, bubbles change their shapes from spherical to highly elongated channels where long axes are primarily along the extrusion direction. When the shapes of the bubbles are viewed by cutting the specimen, the bubbles were found to...
Propagation of strain L (Earle) cells in agitated fluid suspension cultures.

SummaryThe agitated culture has been used in studying the growth cycle of strain L (Earle) mouse fibroblasts. From data available, it is seen that mammalian cells growing in vitro display a growth pattern quite similar to that of other microbiological populations. Some points which have been studied and can now be evaluated are the following: 1) the lag period for these cells appeared to be eliminated completely when log-phase cells were used as inoculum in media equilibrated to pH 7,2) growth rate appeared to be independent of the inoculum size and also independent of serum concentration, 3) generation time for these connective tissue cells. under conditions studied, was approximately 40 hours: 2 generations could usually be observed in these cultures and saturation concentration in some instances reached 2,000.000 cells per ml, 4) steady-state cultivation of tissue cells has been approached. The results indicated that populations could be maintained in such a manner, and this problem will be investigated.
Remating effects on the genetic structure of female life histories in populations of Drosophila mojavensis.

A quantitative genetic analysis of nine adult fitness components was performed in two populations of cactophilic Drosophila mojavensis under natural conditions of fermenting cactus and ethanol vapour. Female progeny from 18 sires and 36 dams were treated to a range of six exposure periods to males to assess effects of remating frequency on female fitness. Lifetime fecundity increased with increasing male exposure, but longevity showed an intermediate optimum with temporary exposure to males of 2-4 days. Narrow-sense heritabilities were significant for egg production traits while broad-sense heritabilities were significant for longevity-related traits. Positive genetic correlations between components of fitness were expressed among functionally related traits, e.g. longevity was positively correlated with lifetime fecundity, the number of clutches laid, clutch size, and the number of eggs laid per day. Negative genetic correlations were detected between early and late life fecundity suggesting genetic tradeoffs among components of adult fitness.
High-Temperature Flow of SiC Continuous Fiber-Glass Ceramic Matrix Composites: The Effect of Interface/Interphase Ductility

The elevated temperature rheology of continuous SiC (Nicalon{reg_sign}) calcium aluminosilicate glass-ceramic matrix composites is evaluated in uniaxial compression creep experiments ({minus}{sigma}{sub 1} = 20-to-40 MPa; T = 1,300--1,320 C). The steady state strain rate is demonstrated to be highly sensitive to the orientation of the reinforcement relative to the maximum compressional stress, with highest bulk specimen strain rates noted for conditions in which the sliding between the fiber and the matrix is optimized s a kinetic flow response (i.e., a fiber orientation of approximately 40--50{degree} from {sigma}{sub 1}). One further discovers that the temperature sensitivity (i.e., activation energy) of flow increases as the amount of interface flow/sliding increases. The experimental results suggest that the high-temperature, low-stress interface response in this composite system is related to the ductile flow of the planar SiO{sub 2} reaction-layer interphase that exists (in addition to the well-recognized planar carbon interphase) in these materials. The results of these simple experiments are used to calibrate a microscale-to-macroscale rheologic model in which the fiber-matrix interface is described by a viscous constitutive relationship.