cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrity verification of cloud-hosted data analytics computations

In this position paper, we present efficient and practical integrity verification techniques that check whether the untrusted cloud has returned correct result of outsourced data analytics computations. We consider the computation of summation form that is used in a large class of machine learning and data mining problems. We discuss our verification techniques for both non-collusive and collusive malicious workers in MapReduce.
Grounding Evaluations in Culture.

The emergence of and the attention given to culture in the evaluation field over the last decade has created a heightened awareness of and need for evaluators to understand the complexity and multidimensionality of evaluations within multicultural, multiracial, and cross-cultural contexts. In this article, the authors discuss how cultural considerations can be incorporated within other evaluation approaches (e.g., school-based evaluation). The authors begin with a selective review on the rapidly growing literature on culture and evaluation, with particular attention to culturally responsive evaluation. After sketching the foundations and implementation of this approach, designated as culturally relevant democratic inquiry (CDI), the authors present an excerpt from a CDI pilot the authors have conducted. The article concludes with an analysis of the potential benefits and current challenges to implementing CDI and integrating culture into evaluations in general.
Jaw-winking (Marcus Gunn phenomenon)

Summary A congenital anomaly of the eyelid,resulting in an unusual clinical manifestation, the so-called jaw-winking phenomenon, is presented.
Outcomes of endovascular management of acute thoracic aortic emergencies in an academic level 1 trauma center.

Abstract Background Thoracic aortic emergencies account for 10% of thoracic-related admissions in the United States and remain associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Open repair has declined owing to the emergence of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), but data on emergency TEVAR use for acute aortic pathology remain limited. We therefore reviewed our experience. Methods We retrospectively evaluated emergency descending thoracic aortic endovascular interventions performed at a single academic level 1 trauma center between January 2005 and August 2013 including all cases of traumatic aortic injury, ruptured descending thoracic aneurysm, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, aortoenteric fistula, and acute complicated type B dissection. Demographics, clinical data, and outcomes were extracted. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for death. Results During the study period, 51 patients underwent TEVAR; 22 cases (43.1%) were performed emergently (11 patients [50.0%] traumatic aortic injury; 4 [18.2%] ruptured descending thoracic aneurysm; 4 [18.2%] complicated type B dissection; 2 [9.1%] penetrating aortic ulcer; and 1 [4.5%] aortoenteric fistula). Overall, 72.7% (n = 16) were male with a mean age of 54.8 ± 15.9 years. Nineteen patients (86.4%) required only a single TEVAR procedure, whereas 2 (9.1%) required additional endovascular therapy, and 1 (4.5%) open thoracotomy. Four traumatic aortic injury patients required exploratory laparotomy for concomitant intra-abdominal injuries. During a mean hospital length of stay of 18.9 days (range, 1 to 76 days), 3 patients (13.6%) developed major complications. In-hospital mortality was 27.2%, consisting of 6 deaths from traumatic brain injury (1); exsanguination in the operating room before repair could be achieved (2); bowel ischemia (1) and multisystem organ failure (1); and family withdrawal of care (1). A stepwise logistic regression model identified 24-hour packed red blood cell requirements ≥4 units, admission mean arterial pressure Conclusions Thoracic aortic emergencies remain challenging. Our experience in a moderate-volume center supports the utilization of TEVAR in the acute setting. Twenty-four-hour pRBC requirements ≥4 units, admission mean arterial pressure
New solids from old clusters: Syntheses and structures of [Cu(en)2]2[Mo8O26], [Cu(enMe)2]3[V15O36Cl] · 2.5H2O and Cs0.5[Ni(en)2]3[V18O42Cl] · 2en · 6H2O

Abstract One-dimensional and two-dimensional solids consisting of polyoxoanions bridged by (M(LL)2)2+ groups have been synthesized by hydrothermal methods and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography.
Another look at the impact of juror sentiments toward defendants on juridic decisions.

Abstract This experiment tested the hypothesis that jurors' preexisting biases (sentiments) toward an accused would have a much stronger impact on the sentences that jurors recommended than on the verdicts they rendered. Specifically, a balance theory analysis of juridic decisions specifies that predeliberation sentiments toward the defendant would have little if any direct effect on jury verdicts and would be associated with verdicts rendered only if the information establishing these sentiments also implied a unit relation between the defendant and the crime. Six-person juries deliberated the case of an accused robber and murderer who had no prior criminal record, a prior conviction for a dissimilar crime, or a prior conviction for a similar crime. While on the witness stand, the defendant either withheld information or provided answers for all questions. The results provided strong support for the hypothesis. In addition, jurors' predeliberation sentiments toward the accused were unrelated either to th...
Attitude change from an implied threat to attitudinal freedom.

College students were told they were to write an essay supporting 1 or the other side on each of S issues, and were led to believe they might be able to influence the decision about which side of an attiudinal issue they were to support. In all cases they were then told to support the side (either pro or con) they initially preferred, and postmeasures were then obtained before the actual writing. Those who were given the impression that their preference was taken into account in the decision regarding which side they would support on the 1st issue showed attitude change favoring the preferred position (i.e., moving toward greater extremity, while retaining their initial polarity). Others, who were given the impression the decision was made without regard to their preference, tended to show attitude change away from the preferred position they were told to support. Within this latter group, those who expected to be told on which side to write on all S issues showed significantly greater change away than did those who expected to be told which side to support on only the 1st of the 5 issues. The existing literature on social influence and attitude change has been primarily concerned with accounting for varying degrees of positive change. There has been some discussion of factors which might lead to resistance to persuasion and to boomerang effects (e.g., Cohen, 1962; Hovland, Janis, & Kelley, 1953; McGuire, 1964), but one can find surprisingly little systematic experimental investigation in this area, recent exceptions being studied by Berscheid (1966) and Abelson and Miller (1967). Indeed, in traditional attitude-change studies the subject's resistance to a persuasive communication is often interpreted as evidence of a weak manipulation, and a boomerang effect would generally be considered an experimental disaster. These interpretations are, of course, usually correct in that the investigators are primarily attempting to operationalize theories which predict differential amounts of positive influence, and they must therefore be able to show reliable amounts of positive attitude change. The purpose of the present study is to test a theory (Brehm, 1966) which predicts active resistance to persuasion and boomerang attitude change.
An anthocyanin-decolorizing system in florets of cichorium intybus

Abstract The anthocyanins of the chicory floret were decolorized by an enzyme system prepared from the florets. The activity of this enzyme and the anthocyanin content of the florets decreased through the day. This enzyme required the presence of catechol, or a similar substance, in the reaction mixture, and decolorized delphinidin glycosides more readily than other anthocyanins.
Skin and Nail Lesions in Endocarditis

Figure 1. Skin and Nail Lesions in Endocarditis. Typical subungual (“splinter”) hemorrhage and numerous petechiae on the skin of the abdomen are seen in a patient with staphylococcal endocarditis.
Structure of chicken 7S immunoglobulin allotypes: further studies on localization to Fab and Fc fragments.

Abstract Papain-derived fragments (Fab and Fc) were used to localize previously uncharacterized chicken 7S immunoglobulin (Ig§) allotypic specificities (G-1.7, G-1.8, G-1.9, G-1.10, and G-1.12). Based on the molar amounts of Fab and Fc preparations relative to undigested 7S Ig to inhibit 50% of binding of 125 I-7S Ig with homologous alloantiserum, the G-1 allotypes, including some previously reported (G-1.1, G-1.2, G-1.3 and G-1.5), were grouped according to the extent of their modification induced by digestion with papain. The Fab determinants G-1.1 and G-1.12 were considered unmodified and Fab determinant G-1.2 was slightly modified. Although found in an Fab preparation, G-1.8 was greatly modified. Similarly, G-1.3 and G-1.5 were greatly modified, but were found in very low concentrations in Fc preparations. The G-1.10 also was greatly modified but it was found in low concentrations in both Fab and Fc preparations. The G-1.7 and G-1.9 specificities were undetectable (completely destroyed) after papain digestion. No G-1 allotype has been found with high activity in Fc preparations. All allotypes greatly modified or completely destroyed by papain digestion were considered to be papain-sensitive. Most alleles had both Fab and papain-sensitive determinants. A new 7S Ig allotype, G-1.14, was associated with the G -1 a , G -1 b , G -1 c , G -1 f and G -1 g alleles and did not result in the formation of new alleles in inbred chickens homozygous for the allotype loci.
Recovery of Prolactin from Acetone-Dried Human Pituitary Glands

An improved method is described for the purification of prolactin from the same batch of acetone-dried pituitary glands which is used for the isolation of other anterior pituitary hormones. The residue obtained after the extraction of the glycoprotein fraction from the pituitary acetone powder Was extracted for growth hormone. The supernatant after the precipitation of growth hormone at 50% ethanol concentration was adjusted to 85% in ethanol. To the supernatant obtained from that step an equal volume of acetone was added to precipitate the “PRL fraction.” This fraction was further purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, ionexchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and isoelectric focussing. A yield of 23 mg prolactin, 37 U/mg, was obtained per 1000 g pituitaryacetone powder. (Endocrinology 100: 1403, 1977)
Compact time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopic system for clinical investigations of diseased tissues

In this communication, we report the design, development, calibration, and characterization of a fluorescence spectroscopy instrument capable of measuring time-resolved fluorescence spectra from 350nm to 800nm with subnanosecond resolution. The compact system can be used in a variety of clinical settings including endoscopic procedures. The instrument can accommodate various types of laser sources and fiber optic probes for different types of applications. The typical acquisition time is about 0.8 s per wavelength or 40 s for a 200 nm time-resolved fluorescence spectrum including online fluorescence lifetime analysis. The system has a variable spectral resolution from 0.1 to 10 nm and temporal resolution of 300 ps. Fluorescence spectra can be acquired with a sensitivity of 10-9M at signal-to-noise ratio of 46. The fluorescence lifetimes of Rhodamin B and 9- cyanoanthracene were determined to be 2.92m0.12 ns and 12.28m0.12 ns indicating good agreement with literature values.
Evaluating cross-cultural equivalence of the Korean MMPI-2 via bilingual test-retest

Abstract Previous efforts to establish the cross-cultural equivalence of the Korean MMPI-2 have focused on analysis of internal structure and peer behavioral correlates using only a Korean college sample. The intent of this study was to provide further evidence of the cross-cultural equivalence of the Korean MMPI-2 using a bilingual test–retest method. Fifty-three self-reported bilinguals living in the US completed both the MMPI-2 in Korean and English within a 1-week interval. Their profiles were compared to previously established test–retest reliabilities. Cross-language correlations were sizable, but substantially lower than the published within-language test–retest correlations. However, when a proficient bilingual subsample was selected from the original sample post hoc, cross-language correlations were more similar to test–retest reliabilities. Cross-language item analysis revealed that items with simple and direct grammar had the highest item agreement. Complicated sentences, such as those containing double negatives or unique American idioms, had the least concordance.
Chimpanzees Preferentially Select Sleeping Platform Construction Tree Species with Biomechanical Properties that Yield Stable, Firm, but Compliant Nests

The daily construction of a sleeping platform or “nest” is a universal behavior among large-bodied hominoids. Among chimpanzees, most populations consistently select particular tree species for nesting, yet the principles that guide species preferences are poorly understood. At Semliki, Cynometra alexandri constitutes only 9.6% of all trees in the gallery forest in which the study populations ranges, but it was selected for 73.6% of the 1,844 chimpanzee night beds we sampled. To determine whether physical properties influence nesting site selection, we measured the physical characteristics of seven common tree species at the Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Uganda. We determined stiffness and bending strength for a sample of 326 branches from the seven most commonly used tree species. We selected test-branches with diameters typically used for nest construction. We measured internode distance, calculated mean leaf surface area (cm2) and assigned a tree architecture category to each of the seven species. C. alexandri fell at the extreme of the sample for all four variables and shared a tree architecture with only one other of the most commonly selected species. C. alexandri was the stiffest and had the greatest bending strength; it had the smallest internode distance and the smallest leaf surface area. C. alexandri and the second most commonly selected species, Cola gigantea, share a ‘Model of Koriba’ tree architecture. We conclude that chimpanzees are aware of the structural properties of C. alexandri branches and choose it because its properties afford chimpanzees sleeping platforms that are firm, stable and resilient.
The correlation of carcinoma and congenital cystic emphysema of the lungs; report of ten cases.

Ten cases of carcinoma of the lung developing in middle-aged war veterans with congenital cystic emphysema of the lung were reported. Seven were found in a follow-up study of 40 cases of congenital cystic emphysema over a period of 13 years. In 60 cases of diffuse pulmonary emphysema complicating bronchial asthma and lung infections followed for the same length of time, no bronchial carcinoma developed. A review of the literature disclosed 45 cases (9 per cent) of lung cancer among 500 persons of all age groups with congenital cystic emphysema. The incidence is 1.5 per cent in autopsies of adults in the general population. In cystic emphysema, carcinoma occurs at an earlier age and with a significantly greater frequency than in the general population.
Close black-hole binary systems.

When the amount of gravitational radiation is small, a binary system of two orbiting black holes evolves in a quasistationary manner. This system can be approximated by a linear combination of geometries each of which has standing waves at spatial infinity; however, the combination has purely outgoing radiation. A variational principle, for the geometries with standing waves, provides information about the binding energy, the stability of orbits, and the amplitude and frequency of gravitational radiation. For holes of equal mass starting at a large separation, approximately 3% of the initial mass is emitted as gravitational radiation before the evolution becomes so rapid that the quasistationary approximation fails.
Effect of probe design on accuracy and reliability of pulse oximetry in pediatric patients.

Abstract Study Objective: To determine if the traditional band-wrap disposable pulse oximeter probe is more accurate or reliable for oxygen monitoring in children than the reusable clip-type probe. Design: Prospective, observational clinical study. Setting: Operating room of a large university hospital. Patients: 18 children 11 years of age or younger, who were scheduled for general anesthesia with placement of an intraarterial catheter. Interventions: Pulse oximetry values were obtained using both band and clip probes of three pulse oximeters (Nellcor, Hayward CA; Novametrix, Wallingford, CT; Ohmeda, Boulder, CO) and compared with simultaneous hemoximetry values. Dropout rate (percent of down time) also was recorded for each probe-machine combination. Measurements and Main Results: Data were analyzed using bias and precision and t -test. p 2 − SaO 2 ) is less than 2% for all probe-machine combinations. The range of error observed between SpO 2 and SaO 2 for all data points was greatest using the Nellcor band (27.8%) and least using the Ohmeda band (11.4%). In cyanotic children, the greatest bias and precision were observed with Nellcor band (N = 11, −5.12 ± 9.74) and the best agreement with Novametrix band (N = 17, 0.08 ± 4.21). The difference in bias for any test units above or below the median weight of 13.75 kg did not vary by more than 1%. Dropout rate was minimal for all units in nonbypass situations. After cardiopulmonary bypass, no data dropout was observed with Ohmeda band; observed down time with the other units varied between 34% and 55%. Conclusions: The type of probe selected has little effect on accuracy of pulse oximetry in children. After cardiopulmonary bypass, using the Ohmeda band combination may improve the likelihood of obtaining consistent readings and decreasing down time.
Modeling Power of Stochastic Petri Nets for Simulation

Generalized semi-Markov processes and stochastic Petri nets have been proposed as general frameworks for a discrete event simulation on a countable state space. The two formal systems differ, however, with respect to the clock setting (event scheduling) mechanism, the state transition mechanism, and the form of the state space. We obtain conditions under which the marking process of a stochastic Petri net “mimics” a generalized semi-Markov process in the sense that the two processes (and their underlying general state-space Markov chains) have the same finite dimensional distributions. The results imply that stochastic Petri nets have at least the modeling power of generalized semiMarkov processes for discrete event simulation.
Calculated thermodynamic properties of silica polymorphs

Accurate interatomic potentials have been employed to compute the phonon density of states of αquartz, stishovite and coesite polymorphs of silica. The temperature variation of several thermodynamic properties is calculated by using the phonon density of states to describe the vibrational entropy contribution to the free energy. Results for these polymorphs are in surprisingly good agreement with available experimental data. Moreover, the microscopic origin of quantitative differences in the heat capacity behavior of low and high density polymorphs is established.
AGE-RELATED RESPONSE OF MALE MELON FLIES Dacus cucurbitae (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE) TO CUE-LURE

Laboratory-reared and wild adults of the melon fly,Dacus cucurbitae Coquillett, were tested for response to cue-lure at various ages. Virgin laboratory (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days old) and wild (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 days old) flies were released into outdoor field cages and trapped from 0800 until 1600 hr. Response of males to cue-lure increased with age and corresponded with sexual maturity for each strain. Females of both strains were relatively nonresponsive to cue-lure. Failure to eradicate in past male annihilation programs againstD. cucurbitae may be explained in part by the fact that only older males, which may have already mated with gravid females, respond to cue-lure.
MINERAL SALTS AS TOXIC FACTORS IN URINARY PROLAN CONCENTRATES1

DURING A recent investigation of the urinary prolan excretion of a nonpregnant human female (i), we experienced great difficulty in that when using the alcohol precipitation method and the original AschheimZondek technic, the urinary concentrate proved toxic to many of the animals. Believing that the source of toxicity might be due to the mineral salts it contained, 3 specimens of the solutions of concentrates which had proven toxic were analysed for various cations.2 The results were as follows; the metals being reported as the chlorides: In order to determine the relation of these concentrations to the M.L.D., 2,i′day′old female rats were injected subcutaneously with solutions of pure salts. I believed it unwise to use the data in the literature on the toxicity of these salts for adult rats. Solutions were made up in the convenient strengths of 10% NaCl and 5% KC1, CaCl2, and MgCl2, and the dose was always diluted to 1 cc.
RF S-parameter degradation under hot carrier stress

The increasing high frequency capabilities of CMOS have resulted in increased RF and analog design in CMOS. Design of RF and analog circuits depends critically on device S-parameter characteristics, magnitude of real and imaginary components and their behavior as a function of frequency. Utilization of scaled high performance CMOS technologies poses challenges as concerns for reliability degradation mechanisms increase. It is important to understand and quantify the effects of the reliability degradation mechanisms on the S-parameters and in turn on RF and analog applications. Current modeling of voltage stress effects normally is limited to low frequency parameters, as is in-line characterization. In this paper we discuss the relationship between the low frequency parameters commonly characterized & modeled with the shifts in RF properties of MOSFETs.
Low complexity MIMO blind adaptive channel shortening

Channel shortening (a generalization of equalization) is often necessary for mitigation of intersymbol and intercarrier interference in multicarrier transceivers. The MERRY (multicarrier equalization by restoration of redundancy) algorithm has previously been shown to shorten a channel blindly and adaptively to the length of the guard interval in a multicarrier system. MERRY is modified to remove the square root and division needed at each iteration, with the added benefit of allowing the use of constraints other than a unit norm equalizer. An extension is proposed which allows for the use of more data in the MERRY update. The algorithm is generalized to the MIMO case. Blind symbol synchronization and initialization techniques are proposed. Simulations demonstrate the success of the algorithm and the synchronization technique in a MIMO setting.
The initialization of vortical free-surface flows

Numerical simulations of vortical free-surface flows are prone to developing spurious high-frequency dispersive waves unless the flow field is given sufficient time to adjust. At low Froude numbers, the high-frequency waves obscure the true hydrostatic balance of the free-surface elevation with the component of the pressure that is induced by the vortical portion of the flow. The high-frequency waves must be eliminated for remote sensing applications because otherwise the roughening of the free surface and the predicted radar backscatter will be incorrect. A procedure is developed for reducing the initial impulse of the pressure and the subsequent generation of high-frequency waves. Numerical simulations and whirls illustrate the effectiveness of the procedure. The pressure field of the whirls forms dimples on the free surface.
Heat stress activates production of herpes simplex virus type 1 from quiescently infected neurally differentiated PC12 cells

We have previously described a novel in vitro model of a non-productive herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in neurally differentiated (Nd)-PC12 cells that allows for inducible virus replication upon forskolin treatment. In this study, we further characterized the quiescent state of infection and examined the ability of heat stress (HS) to induce virus from this non-productive state. These studies demonstrated that (i) the quiescent state is characterized by the absence of cell-associated virus, capsids, and viral antigens; (ii) HS (43 degrees C, 3 h) efficiently activated virus from quiescently infected Nd-PC12 (QIF-PC12) cells; (iii) the rate of virus production was significantly greater following HS than forskolin treatment, and the rates of both were dependent on MOI; (iv) forskolin and HS appeared to affect pathways of viral activation from a quiescent state as they did not enhance viral growth in Nd-PC12 cells; (v) viral alpha4 gene and host HSP72 gene transcription were rapidly induced in QIF-PC12 as soon as 3 h post-HS initiation; (vi) induction of the viral alpha27 gene followed that of representative beta and gamma genes, U(L)30 and U(L)18, respectively, and (vii) HS induced asynchronous HSV-1 replication from QIF-PC12 cells with 1:400 to 1:22000 positive foci detected as rapid as 24 h post-induction when established at MOIs of 30 and 3, respectively. These findings provide evidence that alpha4 may be involved in the switch from quiescence to productive infection. Furthermore, this model has the potential to advance our understanding of how HS initiates the HSV-1 productive cycle from a cryptic viral genome.
Production and reproduction of duration: intersensory comparisons.

Previous experiments demonstrated that auditory durations are judged longer than visual ones using verbal category-scaling procedures within the methods of absolute judgment and successive comparis...
Bridging the Divide: Tensions Between the Biophysical and Social Sciences in An Interdisciplinary Sustainability Science Project

Interdisciplinary research has gained tremendous popularity in higher education over the past several decades and funding for such efforts through federal agencies has underscored its relevance. In sustainability science, in particular, interdisciplinarity is seen as integral to the research endeavor. However, a paucity of empirical evidence exists regarding the process of interdisciplinary endeavors, particularly those that cross the social-biophysical science divide. The current study incorporated insights over a four-year period from 25 faculty members involved in a large, interdisciplinary effort at one institution of higher education in the United States. Issues of disciplinary status, power, and hierarchy were prevalent in their accounts. Recommendations for policy and practice are included.
Vaccination of Mixed and Full-Sib Families of Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Against Enteric Septicemia of Catfish With a Live Attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri Isolate (RE-33)

These studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a live attenuated Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine against enteric septicemia of catfish. In one study channel catfish fingerlings (72 d of age post hatch) were immersed for 30 min in water containing E. ictaluri RE-33 at dosages of 1 × 106, 1 × 107 and 2 × 107 CFU/ML of water. No mortalities were observed following vaccination. Following exposure to virulent Edwardsiella ictaluri the cumulative mortality of fish vaccinated with dosages of at least 1 × 107 CFU/mL were significantly lower than that of non-vacccinated fish in both laboratory and field challenges. Vaccination with 1 × 106 CFU RE-33mL provided some protection during the laboratory challenge but failed to protect fish under field conditions. In a second study, vaccination of 6 full-sib families of channel catfish at a vaccine dosage of 1 × 107 CFU/mL resulted in a relative percent survival among families ranging from 67.1 to 100%. Significant differences in mortality were found among families and between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, but there was no family by vaccine interaction. Families with the highest mortality after vaccination were also shown to have the highest mortality without vaccination (r = 0.82; P= 0.04).
Prehypertension is associated with impaired nitric oxide-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation in sedentary adults.

BACKGROUND Endothelial vasodilator dysfunction contributes to the development of hypertension (blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mm Hg) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prehypertension (BP 120-139/80-89 mm Hg) has recently been identified as an independent risk factor for hypertension and CVD. It is currently unclear whether BP in the prehypertensive range is associated with endothelial vasodilator dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that BP in the prehypertensive range, independent of other cardiovascular risk factors, is associated with impaired nitric oxide (NO)-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation. METHODS Forearm blood flow (FBF) responses to intra-arterial acetylcholine (ACh; 8.0-32.0 µg/100 ml tissue/min) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 1.0-4.0 µg/100 ml tissue/min) were measured in 20 normotensive (age: 56 ± 1 years; BP: 110/70 ± 1/2 mm Hg) and 20 prehypertensive (56 ± 2 years; 128/79 ± 2/2 mm Hg) adults. In addition, FBF responses to ACh were determined in the absence and presence of the endothelial NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) (5 mg/min). RESULTS FBF responses to ACh were significantly lower (~30%) in prehypertensive (from 4.2 ± 0.3 to 11.4 ± 0.7 ml/100 ml tissue/min) compared with normotensive (from 4.6 ± 0.2 to 14.5 ± 0.7 ml/100 ml tissue/min) adults. There were no group differences in FBF responses to SNP. Co-infusion of L-NMMA significantly reduced the FBF response to ACh in the normotensive (~30%; P <0.05) but not the prehypertensive adults. CONCLUSIONS Prehypertension is associated with impaired NO-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilation. The endothelial vasodilator dysfunction that characterizes hypertension is present at BP levels in the prehypertensive range and may contribute to the increased risk of hypertension and CVD in this population.
Restructuring the United Nations system: institutional reform efforts in the context of North-South relations

Since 1975, the United Nations has undertaken major deliberations to consider institutional reform of the UN system. Such restructuring activities have sprung from widespread dissatisfaction with the United Nations' capacity to deal with problems of economic development and relations between industrialized and developing countries. UN reform efforts have focused on two broad areas: reshaping the deliberative and policy-making operations of central UN institutions in order to reach more coherent global policies on international economic and social affairs; and reorganizing the planning, coordination, and implementation of UN programs to achieve these policy goals more effectively. In 1977, the General Assembly adopted the report of an intergovernmental Ad Hoc Committee, which provided detailed guidelines for prospective UN restructuring, and assigned its recommendations to relevant units within the UN system for the purpose of implementing these reforms. Major themes emphasized in these guidelines include an increased centralization and integration of the UN system in dealing with international economic and social affairs and improved efficiency and coordination of UN operations and activities in these areas. Fundamental to the course of UN restructuring deliberations—and to the extent and significance of eventual institutional reforms—has been the linkage between UN reorganization and the disposition of substantive North-South issues, as the restructuring exercise remains tied to the pace and direction of negotiations concerning “a new international economic order.”
Verbal Art across Cultures: The Aesthetics and Proto-Aesthetics of Communication.

Verbal Art across Cultures: The Aesthetics and Proto-Aesthetics of Communication Hubert Knoblauch and Helga Kotthoff, eds. Tubingen: Gunter Narr Verlag Tubingen, 2001 297 pp.
Power bandwidth trade-off for sensory and ad-hoc wireless networks

We look at the power bandwidth trade-off in random sensory and ad-hoc wireless networks with n users and r/spl les/n/sup 1/2/ simultaneous source/destination pairs. Under a specific protocol, we show that the minimum power required for maintaining an achievable scaling law of R/sub sum/=/spl Theta/(f(n)) for the sum-rate in the network, scales like /spl Theta/(f(n)/n/sup 1/2/). The required bandwidth B in this case is of order /spl Theta/(f(n)/r). It is also proved that the minimum achievable energy per information bit (E/sub b//N/sub 0/)/sub min/ for this protocol, scales as /spl Theta/(1/n/sup 1/2/) and in this case the spectral efficiency is nonzero and is of constant order.
Fabrication and Attachment of Polyimide Fill Tubes to Plastic NIF Capsules

We have developed a technique for drawing commercially available polyimide tubing to the required fill tube dimensions. The tubes are then precisely cut with an Excimer laser to produce a clean, flat tip. We have also demonstrated that one can use the Excimer laser to drill less than a 5 {micro}m diameter through hole in the {approx}150 wall of a NIF dimension GDP shell, and can then create a 10-15 {micro}m diameter, 20-40 {micro}m deep counterbore centered on the through hole with the same laser. Using a home built assembly station the tube is carefully inserted into the counterbore and glued in place with UV-cure epoxy, using a LED UV source to avoid heating the joint. We expect that the same joining technique can be used for Be shells.
Structural Identification of the Oxygen-Evolving Apparatus on the Lumenal Surface of Freeze-Etched Thylakoid Membranes

Over the past 10 years, much progress in the understanding of general mechanisms of photosynthesis has come from the integration of biophysical, biochemical, and structural observations. in particular, more accurate interpretations of biophysical measurements of membrane functions have come from the demonstration, by biochemical and structural techniques, of a lateral differentiation of thylakoid membranes. Thus, it has been found that photosystem II (PSII) resides primarily (ca. 80–85%) within the stacked regions of thylakoid membranes whereas photosystem I (PSI) has been located mostly in unstacked stroma thylakoids. More recent freeze-fracture EM studies have suggested that EF particles are structural equivalents of PSII complexes (reviewed in 1). Since these EF particles are transmembrane in nature and protrude into the lumenal space, we have been interested in correlating the characteristic particle aggregates [“tetramers”] found on freeze-etched membrane surfaces with specific molecular constituents of PSII.
Luminescence of Mbe SimGen Strained Monolayer Superlattices

SimGen, strained monolayer superlattices (SMS) have been fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and characterized using photoluminescence (PL). Symmetrically strained structures with different periodicities have been grown on top of a Si1−xGex, alloy buffer layer. Luminescence features below (above) the Si (Ge) energy bandgap have been observed and attributed to either dislocations in the buffer layer or to energy band transitions in the SMS.
High surface-area amidoxime-based polymer fibers co-grafted with various acid monomers yielding increased adsorption capacity for the extraction of uranium from seawater

Uranium is dissolved in the ocean at a uniform concentration of 3.34 ppb, which translates to approximately 4-5 billion tons of uranium. The development of adsorbents that can extract uranium from seawater has been a long term goal, but the extremely dilute uranium concentration along with the competition of other metal salts (which are at higher concentrations) has hindered the development of an economical adsorption process. Several acid monomers were co-grafted with acrylonitrile (AN) to help increase the hydrophilicity of the adsorbent to improve access to the metal adsorption sites. Grafting various acid monomers on PE fibers was found to significantly affect the uranium adsorption in simulated seawater in the following order: acrylic acid (AA) < vinyl sulfonic acid (VSA) < methacrylic acid (MAA) < itaconic acid (ITA) < vinyl phosphonic acid (VPA). Interestingly, the uranium adsorption capacity significantly increased when Mohr's salt was added with acrylic acid, most likely due to the reduction of co-polymerization of the monomers. When testing under more realistic conditions, the acid-grafted PE fiber adsorbents were exposed to natural seawater (more dilute uranium), the uranium adsorption capacity increased in the following order: MAA < AA (Mohr's salt) < VSA < ITA (Mohr's salt) < ITA < VPA, which agreed well with the simulated seawater results. Characterization of the adsorbents indicated that the increase in uranium adsorption capacity with each acid monomer was related to higher grafting of AN and therefore a higher conversion to amidoxime (AO).
Improvement of L-Proline Production by Sulfaguanidine Resistant Mutants Derived from L-Glutamic Acid-producing Bacteria

Excellent L-proline producers were screened for among sulfaguanidine resistant mutants derived from three typical L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria: Brevibacterium flavum, B. lactofermentum, and C. glutamicum. The best strain, No. 199, is a sulfaguanidine resistant mutant derived from an isoleucine auxotroph of B. flavum 2247 by nitrosoguanidine. Strain No. 199 produced 35 mg/ml of L-proline after 72 hr of cultivation with 10% glucose as a carbon source. The strain also accumulated purine bases such as adenine, guanine, and hypoxanthine, i.e., degradation products of purine nucleotides. In the mutant, 1.6-2.0 fold more intracellular ATP was found than that in the parent strain; it is a substrate of glutamate kinase relating to L-proline biosynthesis. On the contrary, the levels of intracellular glutamic acid, a substrate of glutamate kinase, were similar among these strains. It was confirmed that the increment of internal ATP, which was important in the L-proline production mechanism, was very effective in the improvement of L-proline producers.
Slide-free histology via MUSE: UV surface excitation microscopy for imaging unsectioned tissue(Conference Presentation)

Widely used methods for preparing and viewing tissue specimens at microscopic resolution have not changed for over a century. They provide high-quality images but can involve time-frames of hours or even weeks, depending on logistics. There is increasing interest in slide-free methods for rapid tissue analysis that can both decrease turn-around times and reduce costs. One new approach is MUSE (microscopy with UV surface excitation), which exploits the shallow penetration of UV light to excite fluorescent signals from only the most superficial tissue elements. The method is non-destructive, and eliminates requirement for conventional histology processing, formalin fixation, paraffin embedding, or thin sectioning. It requires no lasers, confocal, multiphoton or optical coherence tomography optics. MUSE generates diagnostic-quality histological images that can be rendered to resemble conventional hematoxylin- and eosin-stained samples, with enhanced topographical information, from fresh or fixed, but unsectioned tissue, rapidly, with high resolution, simply and inexpensively. We anticipate that there could be widespread adoption in research facilities, hospital-based and stand-alone clinical settings, in local or regional pathology labs, as well as in low-resource environments.
Epidemiological analysis on acute pesticide poisoning in Bengbu in 2007

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristic factors of acute pesticide poisoning and network operating systems,and to explore its regularity of the poisoning and the feasibility of controlling measures.Methods Through the direct-report card of pesticide poisoning network system in Bengbu City,an epidemiological analysis was carried out to understand the cause of acute pesticide poisoning and characteristics.A field investigation was also conducted in 21 medical institutions randomly selected in the region.Results In 2007,totally 550 cases of various types of pesticide poisoning happened with the incidence rate of 15.48/100 000 and the main poisoning type of non-productive.124 cases(22.55%) of productive pesticide poisoning were recorded,showing more men were intoxicated and an obvious seasonal distribution with the mortality rate being 0.Meanwhile,more women were seen in 426 cases(77.45%) of unproductive pesticide poisoning but without significant seasonal distribution with the mortality of 3.52%.71.27% of the poisoning were observed at the age group of 15 to 55 years old.Relatively high-toxic and inexpensive organo-phosphorus were the main cause of poisoning.The pesticide poisoning network operating system was basically normal,and the time period for monitoring occupational disease risk factors and reporting was not too long.The rate of miss-reported for pesticide poisoning in medical institutions was 35.98% and the timely rate was 66.28%.The situation in township hospitals was the most serious,and the missing rate was 60.71%.Conclusion It's the key to control and reduce pesticide poisoning through the increasing of knowledge on safe and reasonable use and storage of pesticides and through the strengthening of supervision on pesticide.Professional training on their timely and accurately reporting of pesticide poisoning are the important factor in the direct-report card of pesticide poisoning network system.
Fine structure of the eye of a nudibranch mollusc, Hermissenda crassicornis.

The eye of a nudibranch, Hermissenda crassicornis, was studied by light and electron microscopy. Three kinds of cells were observed: large sensory cells, each bearing at one end an array of microvilli (rhabdomere) and at the other end an axon which leaves the eye by the optic nerve; large pigmented supporting cells; and small epithelial cells, mostly corneal. There are five sensory cells, and the same number of nerve fibres in the optic nerve. The receptor cells contain an abundance of small vesicles, 600-800 A in diameter. The lens is a spheroidal mass of osmiophilic, finely granular material. A basal lamina and a capsule of connective tissue enclose the eye. In some animals the eye is ‘infected’ with very small bodies, 4-5 µ in diameter, thought to be symbionts.
Spin-Coated Polyelectrolyte Coacervate Films.

Thin films of complexes made from oppositely charged polyelectrolytes have applications as supported membranes for separations, cell growth substrates, anticorrosion coatings, biocompatible coatings, and drug release media, among others. The relatively recent technique of layer-by-layer assembly reliably yields conformal coatings on substrates but is impractically slow for films with thickness greater than about 1 μm, even when accelerated many fold by spraying and/or spin assembly. In the present work, thin, uniform, smooth films of a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) are rapidly made by spin-coating a polyelectrolyte coacervate, a strongly hydrated viscoelastic liquidlike form of PEC, on a substrate. While the apparatus used to deposit the PEC film is conventional, the behavior of the coacervate, especially the response to salt concentration, is highly nontraditional. After glassification by immersion in water, spun-on films may be released from their substrates to yield free-standing membranes of thickness...
Relevance vector and feature machine for statistical analog circuit characterization and built-in self-test optimization

Aiding design and test optimization of analog circuits requires accurate models that can reliably capture complex dependencies of circuit performances on essential circuit and device parameters, and test signatures. We present a novel Bayesian learning technique, namely relevance vector and feature machine (RVFM), for characterizing analog circuits with sparse statistical regression models. RVFM not only produces accurate models learned from a moderate amount of simulation or measurement data, but also computes a probabilistically inferred weighting factor quantifying the criticality of each parameter as part of the overall learning framework, hence offering a powerful enabler for variability modeling, failure diagnosis, and test development. Compared to other popular learning-based techniques, the proposed RVFM produces more accurate models, requires less amount of training data, and extracts more reliable parametric ranking. The effectiveness of RVFM is demonstrated in terms of the statistical variability modeling of a low-dropout regulator (LDO) and the built-in self-test (BIST) development of a charge-pump phase-locked loop (PLL).
Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen and Prostate Pathology in Men Having Simple Prostatectomy

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a sensitive and specific serum marker for monitoring disease activity in men with prostatic carcinoma. Despite reports of elevation of levels of this analyte in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, no information is available correlating the serum levels with the actual prostatic abnormalities in men having prostatectomy for presumed benign disease. In the present investigation, the authors compared pre-operative serum PSA levels with prostate disease in 81 men with bladder outlet obstruction. Five pathologic groups were found: incidental high-grade carcinoma (n = 3), low-grade carcinoma (n = 11), acute inflammation (n = 16) with or without chronic inflammation, Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) (n = 25), and benign hyperplasia (n = 26). Serum PSA levels were significantly elevated in both low- and high-grade carcinoma, acute inflammation, and PIN when compared with the patients with benign hyperplasia with and without chronic inflammation. Within the four groups with elevated levels, use of PSA levels could separate only the high-grade cancer patients who were subsequently shown to have metastatic disease. Only one patient with simple hyperplasia had PSA levels in the abnormal range.
A protocol to convert spatial polyline data to network formats and applications to world urban road networks

The study of geographical systems as graphs, and networks has gained significant momentum in the academic literature as these systems possess measurable and relevant network properties. Crowd-based sources of data such as OpenStreetMaps (OSM) have created a wealth of worldwide geographic information including on transportation systems (e.g., road networks). In this work, we offer a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) protocol to transfer polyline data into a workable network format in the form of; a node layer, an edge layer, and a list of nodes/edges with relevant geographic information (e.g., length). Moreover, we have developed an ArcGIS tool to perform this protocol on OSM data, which we have applied to 80 urban areas in the world and made the results freely available. The tool accounts for crossover roads such as ramps and bridges. A separate tool is also made available for planar data and can be applied to any line features in ArcGIS.