cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Orgasm in Male and Female Sexual Enjoyment

Abstract Several researchers have suggested that orgasm plays a minimal role in female subjective sexual satisfaction. No data exist on this issue for males and the data for females are based on very global indices of sexual satisfaction. The purposes of this study were to investigate (a) the relationships between orgasm consistency and sexual enjoyment in both males and females, (b) the relationship between an individual's orgasm consistency and their partner's sexual enjoyment, and (c) the relative pleasure experienced by males and females during various sexual activities when these activities occurred with and without orgasm. Forty‐two couples attending a large northeastern state university participated on a voluntary basis. Sexual enjoyment was assessed by the Sexual Interaction Inventory (SII) which measures a variety of aspects of sexual satisfaction. The SII was also used to get subjects' ratings of sexual activities with and without orgasm. Orgasm consistency was significantly related to sexual sa...
Affinity chromatographic interactions of proteases with low-molecular-weight soybean protease inhibitors

Abstract One of the five low-molecular-weight soybean protease inhibitors, protease inhibitor V (PI-V, Bowman-Birk inhibitor) with a molecular weight of 8000 daltons, is used for the affinity chromatographic purification of trypsin, chymotrypsin and kallikrein. The PI-V covalently bound to Sepharose 4B adsorbs bovine trypsin, chymotrypsin or porcine kallikrein at neutral pH. The adsorbed enzyme is eluted from the column with buffer containing a higher salt concentration and a lower pH. This low-molecular-weight PI-V affinity gel can separate trypsin and chymotrypsin from mixtures of these crude enzymes and can purify both enzymes to a homogeneous degree.
Calibration and Standardization of Microwave Ovens for Fixation of Brain and Peripheral Nerve Tissue

Abstract Rapid and reproducible fixation of brain and peripheral nerve tissue for light and electron microscopy studies can be done in a microwave oven. In this review we report a standardized nomenclature for diverse fixation techniques that use microwave heating: (1) microwave stabilization, (2) fast and ultrafast primary microwave–chemical fixation, (3) microwave irradiation followed by chemical fixation, (4) primary chemical fixation followed by microwave irradiation, and (5) microwave fixation used in various combinations with freeze fixation. All of these methods are well suited to fix brain tissue for light microscopy. Fast primary microwave–chemical fixation is best for immunoelectron microscopy studies. We also review how the physical characteristics of the microwave frequency and the dimensions of microwave oven cavities can compromise microwave fixation results. A microwave oven can be calibrated for fixation when the following parameters are standardized: irradiation time; water load volume, initial temperature, and placement within the oven; fixative composition, volume, and initial temperature; and specimen container shape and placement within the oven. Using two recently developed calibration tools, the neon bulb array and the agar–saline–Giemsa tissue phantom, we report a simple calibration protocol that identifies regions within a microwave oven for uniform microwave fixation.
Activity-dependent release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor underlies the neuroprotective effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate

Abstract The molecular mechanism(s) ofN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) neuroprotective properties were investigated in primary cultures of cerebellar granule cell neurons. Granule cells express the neurotrophin receptor TrkB but not TrkA or TrkC. In these cells, the TrkB ligand brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) prevents glutamate toxicity. Therefore, we have tested the hypothesis that NMDA activates synthesis and release of BDNF, which may prevent glutamate toxicity by an autocrine loop. Exposure of granule cells for 2 and 5 min to a subtoxic concentration of NMDA (100 μm) evoked an accumulation of BDNF in the medium without concomitant changes in the intracellular levels of BDNF protein or mRNA. The increase in BDNF in the medium is followed by enhanced TrkB tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting that NMDA increases the release of BDNF and therefore the activity of TrkB receptors. To examine whether BDNF and TrkB signaling play a role in the NMDA-mediated neuroprotective properties, neurons were exposed to soluble trkB receptor-IgG fusion protein, which is known to inhibit the activity of extracellular BDNF, and to K252a, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Both compounds blocked the NMDA-mediated TrkB tyrosine phosphorylation and subsequently its neuroprotective properties. We suggest that NMDA activates the TrkB receptor via a BDNF autocrine loop, resulting in neuronal survival.
Localized interface breakdown in zone melting and the travelling heater method

Abstract The crystallizing interface of naphthalene was observed in the vertical zone melting configuration both with and without added solvent. For stepwise-increased travel rates, breakdown began near the center of the tube for convex interfaces. A concave interface first broke down on the periphery, but at steady state was only broken down at the center for moderate travel rates. These results were attributed to variations in temperature gradient along the interface and to convection currents in the zone which cause solute variations along the interface.
Multimedia: from information source to components of transformational games

This summary overviews a keynote talk that the author is giving at the WebMedia conference. Christel will discuss his journey with multimedia research over the past six years, taking him from Carnegie Mellon University's Computer Science Department into the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC). The story begins with the use of speech recognition, image processing, and language technologies to automatically process large video corpora. Such processing facilitates more efficient retrieval. As demonstrated by top scores in the international TRECVID benchmarking forum, Christel's CMU Informedia research group has experienced success in finding relevant video shots quickly from large masses of material. The emphasis is on leveraging the intelligence of a human user in the interactive retrieval loop, with lessons shared in visual analytics papers. That work drew the attention of oral historians, who amassed large quantities of video stories that were not easily accessible. The value of synchronized metadata to open up these collections for the web audience illustrates the power of multimedia processing to help organize and present cultural repositories. As the user community appreciated the layers of meaning within these often riveting stories, Christel was drawn to the power of multimedia elements in entertainment technologies, including games. Transformational games are designed to change the player in some way, such as improving health habits, changing attitudes, or providing education. The ETC provides multidisciplinary teams of graduate students with skills in visual arts, design, sound, programming, and production the opportunity to create such games in the course of a semester-long project. Christel will briefly overview this development process, and then demonstrate some of the ETC-produced games, highlighting the role of multimedia elements within them and the promise of the work to positively affect the game player.
Cultural characteristics of a pelagic marine hymenostome ciliate, Uronema sp.

Abstract A pelagic marine ciliate (Uronema sp.) was cultured from an open ocean water sample taken aseptically from 385 m. Its characteristics in culture are described. Observations were made of it feeding upon bacteria. The rate of formation of the food vacuoles and the rate of lysis of their contents was much faster than that observed in other ciliates. It was observed to exhibit large cell volume changes during flask culture. These changes are described and discussed.
Lower bounds for planar orthogonal drawings of graphs

Abstract We study planar orthogonal drawings of graphs and provide lower bounds on the number of bends along the edges. We exhibit graphs on n vertices that require Ω( n ) bends in any layout, and show that there exist optimal drawings that require Ω( n ) bends and have all of them on a single edge of length Ω( n 2 ). This work finds applications in VLSI layout, aesthetic graph drawing, and communication by light or microwave.
Unforeseen benefits of a managed care pharmacy residency program.

Health Net, Inc. is a publicly traded health plan that provides benefits to approximately 6.7 million individuals across the country through group, individual, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and Veterans Affairs programs. Our organization first considered a residency program in managed care to be a “
169 EFFICACY OF INDOCIN(IH) FOR SYMPTOHATIC(S)PDA: A DOUBLE-BLIND CONTROLLED STUDY

A double-blind controlled study was designed to assess the efficacy and toxicity of IN in neonates with severe RDS and SPDA. All of the following were required for admission to this study: (1) severe RDS requiring assisted ventilation, (2) SPDA and LA: aortic ratio(LA:Ao) ≥ 1.3, and (3) persistent LA:Ao ≥ 1.3 after 1 day of medical management. 20 patients were admitted to the study and administered orally the unknown contents of a coded vial containing 0.2 mg/kg of either IN or placebo. If unimproved clinically and LA:Ao remained ≥ 1.3, a 2nd and 3rd dose were administered at 24-hour intervals and surgical ligation was performed 1 day later if still unimproved and LA:Ao ≥ 1.3. The IN and control(C) groups were similar in all other respects (Table). There were no renal or hematologic effects of IN. Although more IN than C infants improved and fewer required surgery, the C group spontaneous recovery rate was 44% and the results were thus not statistically different by x2 analysis. The efficacy of IN is overestimated unless spontaneous recovery rate is also analyzed. IN is apparently not as effective as initially presumed and its precise role in the management of SPDA remains to be clarified.
Asymptotic densities for Packard Box rules

This paper studies two-dimensional totalistic solidification cellular automata with a Moore neighbourhood such that a single occupied neighbour is sufficient for a site to join the occupied set. We focus on the asymptotic density of the final configuration, obtaining rigorous results mainly in cases with an additive component. When sites with two occupied neighbours also solidify, additivity yields a comprehensive result for general finite initial sets. In particular, the density is independent of the seed. More generally, analysis is restricted to special initializations, cases with density 1 and various experimental findings. In the case that requires either one or three occupied neighbours for solidification, we show that different seeds may produce many different densities. For each of two particularly common densities we present a scheme that recognizes a seed in its domain of attraction.
Detection sensitivity and optimization of a phased-array system

Previous studies have suggested that the phased-array detection could achieve high sensitivity in detecting and localizing inhomogeneity embedded within turbid media by applying dual interfering sources. While the sensitivity of the phased array system will be influenced by various factors such as the source-detector configuration, the effect of noises (variation of source strength and phase, detector noise, imperfect homogeneous medium, etc.) and the modulation frequency. Analytical solutions as well as experimental data are presented to investigate the sensitivity of phased array detection using different degrees of absorption perturbation by varying the size and contrast of the absorber. Also we compare the result with the single source case under similar configuration. Different separations between two interfering sources have been compared to yield the maximum sensitivity for a typical perturbation. These results can be helpful for modifying the experimental apparatus to reach optimal detection sensitivity.
A rapid emittance scanner

Abstract An emittance-measuring device which can operate at the rate of two measurements per second has been developed. It consists of a rotating wire scanner interfaced to a small on-line computer.
Work in progress - evaluating a case-based reasoning approach in an introductory programming course

The purpose of the study is to propose an evaluation plan for assessing the effectiveness of an innovative instructional approach: case-based reasoning (CBR) for an introductory programming course at Penn State. CBR is an innovative instructional approach that utilizes the specific knowledge of previously experienced problem situations or cases. A new problem can be solved by finding a similar past case and reusing it in the new problem situation. Then a new case is retained each time when a problem has been solved, making it immediately available for future problem. This study will conduct an experimental study that involves human subjects to validate the use of the CBR approach. Students will be divided into two groups: a traditional group as the control group; and an experimental group utilizing the CBR instructional approach. After the students learn in the two learning environments, a criterion post-test will be conducted to collect quantitative data. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) will be used to analyze the differences between the two groups in order to validate the use of CBR. The research hypothesis of the study is that the group with CBR approach will perform significantly better in the post-test than the control group, since the CBR includes a variety of programming cases for students to learn from past programming cases, then reuse, revise, and eventually create a new case.
Coherent control of optical information with matter wave dynamics

In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in manipulating matter with light, and light with matter. Resonant laser fields interacting with cold, dense atom clouds provide a particularly rich system. Such light fields interact strongly with the internal electrons of the atoms, and couple directly to external atomic motion through recoil momenta imparted when photons are absorbed and emitted. Ultraslow light propagation in Bose-Einstein condensates represents an extreme example of resonant light manipulation using cold atoms. Here we demonstrate that a slow light pulse can be stopped and stored in one Bose-Einstein condensate and subsequently revived from a totally different condensate, 160 mum away; information is transferred through conversion of the optical pulse into a travelling matter wave. In the presence of an optical coupling field, a probe laser pulse is first injected into one of the condensates where it is spatially compressed to a length much shorter than the coherent extent of the condensate. The coupling field is then turned off, leaving the atoms in the first condensate in quantum superposition states that comprise a stationary component and a recoiling component in a different internal state. The amplitude and phase of the spatially localized light pulse are imprinted on the recoiling part of the wavefunction, which moves towards the second condensate. When this 'messenger' atom pulse is embedded in the second condensate, the system is re-illuminated with the coupling laser. The probe light is driven back on and the messenger pulse is coherently added to the matter field of the second condensate by way of slow-light-mediated atomic matter-wave amplification. The revived light pulse records the relative amplitude and phase between the recoiling atomic imprint and the revival condensate. Our results provide a dramatic demonstration of coherent optical information processing with matter wave dynamics. Such quantum control may find application in quantum information processing and wavefunction sculpting.
Vibronic transitions in the excitation and emission spectra of hexakis(antipyrine)europium(III) tri-iodide and tri-perchlorate crystals

Optical emission and emission excitation spectra are reported for crystals of Eu(AP)6I3 and Eu(AP)6(ClO4)3 (where AP denotes an antipyrine ligand molecule). Emission results are reported for the 7 F 0,1,2 ← 5 D 0 (luminescent) transition regions, and emission excitation results are reported for the 7 F 0 → 5 D 0,1,2 (absorptive) transition regions. Particular attention is focused on vibronic transitions occurring between crystal-field (electronic) levels with the simultaneous excitation (or de-excitation) of a phonon or vibrational mode. The 7 F 0 → 5 D 2 excitation and 7 F 2 ← 5 D 0 emission regions exhibit large numbers of resolved vibronic lines with displacement-from-origin frequencies ranging from 22 to 1613 cm-1. Vibronic transitions characterized by at least 48 different vibrational (or discrete phonon) frequencies are observed. Several intense vibronic lines are assigned to relatively low-frequency (< 200 cm-1) vibrational modes associated with the octahedral EuO6 coordination clusters, but the gr...
Mechatronics and Smart Structures Design Techniques for Intelligent Products, Processes, and Systems

Mechatronics is an emerging engineering area that will likely alter the fundamental nature of engineering, particularly (and initially) in the disciplines of electrical and mechanical engineering. The mechatronics approach provides multi-disciplinary knowledge and skills necessary to apply mechatronics in product design, development and manufacturing; and serve as a model for multi-disciplinary programs cut across traditional engineering disciplines. Mechatronics integrates the classical fields of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, and information technology to establish basic principles for a contemporary engineering design methodology. In this methodology, engineering products and processes have moving parts that require manipulation and control of dynamic constructions to a required high degree of accuracy. Also, the design process requires enabling technologies such as sensors, actuators, software, optics, communications, electronics, structural mechanics and dynamics, and control engineering. A key factor for the design process involves integrating modern microelectronics and information technology into mechanical and electromechanical systems. Therefore, the mechatronics concentration area supports the synergistic integration of precision mechanical engineering, electronics control and systems thinking into the design of intelligent products and processes.
Radiation therapy in the management of early-stage head and neck cancer.

Radiation therapy is highly effective in controlling most early stage squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Treatment should be aimed at maximizing the chance for cure with an acceptable low risk of late complications. Innovative treatment techniques often allow for sparing of adjacent normal tissue, as well as the contralateral salivary glands. While beyond the scope of this chapter, newer strategies incorporating recent technological advances further refine the radiotherapist’s ability to maximize the therapeutic ratio, such as intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). The next decade will likely witness a substantial shift in treatment algorithms to reflect such advances, with a resultant decrease in the incidence of late sequelae, possibly coupled with an improvement in local control.
Brewing justice–fair trade coffee, sustainability, and survival

Brewing justice–fair trade coffee, sustainability, and survival, by Daniel Jaffee, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California, University of California Press, 2007, 331 pp. This very readable book looks ...
The Relationship Between Thyroglobulin Synthesis and Intrathyroid Iodine Metabolism as Indicated by the Effects of Cycloheximide in the Rat

The effect of small doses of cyclohex-imide (CH) (0.5 µg/g body wt) on the intrathyroid metabolism of carrier-free 13II and stable iodide iniodine-sufficient and iodine-deficient rats and on thyroglobulin (Tgb) maturation in iodine-deficient rats was studied. This dose of CH had no apparent toxicity but strikingly inhibited the incorporation of l4C-labeled amino acids into thyroid and plasma proteins. In iodine-sufficient rats, CH did not affect T/S (I−) ratios, but did enhance the sensitivity of the thyroid to the acute inhibitory effects of stable iodide on the organification mechanism (Wolff-Chaikoff effect). CH produced unusual effects on the intrathyroid metabolism of 131I in these iodine-sufficient rats: a decrease in 13II uptake, an increase in labeled DIT and a decrease in MIT so that MIT/DIT ratio declined, and a decrease in the proportionate synthesis of the iodothyronines T4 and T3. In iodine-deficient rats, CH also sensitized) the thyroid to the acute Wolff-Chaikoff effect but produced changes...
Broadband heterodyne NSOM characterization of propagation loss in waveguide bends

We use a heterodyne NSOM with superluminescent diode illumination to measure the loss in an SOI waveguide around a bend. For a bend of radius 10 µm, we measure loss of .09 dB.
Defining disaster: the emergency department perspective.

Thou shalt be visited by the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earth-quakes and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire (Isaiah 29:6).
"Migration dances" in swarming colonies of the honey bee, Apis mellifera*

The migration dance is a type of dance behavior typically found in tropical honey bee colonies that are preparing for seasonal absconding. Here we report the occurrence of migration-like dances in colonies of European honey bees, Apis mellifera, preparing for reproductive swarming. Compared to waggle dances performed during the same periods, the migration dances lacked the “figure-8” pattern of performance, could be performed when there was no flight from the hive, did not necessarily stimulate immediate recruitment, communicated extreme but highly variable distances, and did not communicate consistent directions of travel. Because the dance occurs when colonies are preparing for both seasonal absconding and swarming, we proposed that it be called the “relocation dance”. The possible functions of relocation dances during preparations for reproductive swarming are discussed.
Cube-packing and two-level minimization

Almost all mapping tools for programmable gate arrays (PGAs) start from a network optimized for the number of literals in the factored form. However, PGA architectures imposed different kinds of constraints on the synthesis process. For example, table look up (TLU) architectures restrict each function to at most m inputs (for a fixed m). This is unlike any type of constraint in PLA or standard-cell synthesis. Thus, standard cost functions like the number of cubes or factored form literals are not necessarily good complexity measures for TLU architectures. Decomposition and block count minimization are two steps in PGA mapping that are applied to an optimized design. In decomposition, a feasible representation of the network is obtained, which can be mapped directly onto the target architecture. Block count minimization then tries to maximally group the functions of the decomposed network into basic blocks such that the total number of blocks used are minimized. We address the problem of modeling the decompositon step, in optimization; in particular, we look at cube-packing, which has proved quite effective for the TLU architectures. We propose a technique for deriving a two-level representation of a logic function which yields better results after cube-packing. The technique rests on the idea of using the support of a set of primes as the basic object is two-level minimization, as opposed to a prime. Experiments indicate an average improvement of 12.5% over standard two-level methods.
The Catastrophe Quota:: Trouble after the Cold War

As the major problems that have bedeviled the world over the last half century have been resolved, the quest for things to worry about has continued unabated. The notion has taken hold that international affairs have somehow now become especially tumultuous, unstable, and complex. To arrive at such a conclusion, five techniques have been applied: the past has been simplified, a Eurocentric bias has been introduced, definitions have been changed, standards have been raised, and problems previously considered to be comparatively minor have been elevated in perceived importance.
From Cerebrospinal Fluid Pulsation to Noninvasive Intracranial Compliance and Pressure Measured by MRI Flow Studies

The pulsation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has fascinated investigators of the intracranial physiology since it was first documented by invasive CSF pressure measurements. Advances in dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) now enable visualization of and quantitation the CSF flow dynamics and has contributed to our understanding of the origin of CSF pulsation and its relation to the pulsatile blood flow. This, in turn, has led to the development of a noninvasive method for measurement of intracranial compliance and pressure by MRI. This article reviews the neurophysiologic and hydrodynamic principles that are the basis of the method, it describes the implementation of the method and validation studies to date with a non-human primate animal model, computer simulations, healthy human subjects and patients. The article further reviews the application of this method to study the effect of body posture on the cerebral physiology in humans through the relationships between blood and CSF flow dynamics. Finally, recent results from the application of the method in Chiari Malformations (CM) are briefly presented as an example of a potential clinical application of this methodology. The application to CM provided, for the first time, evidence of the important role intracranial compliance plays in the pathophysiology of this poorly understood disorder. The potential diagnostic value of an MRI-based measurement of ICP for other neurological problems is discussed.
Hot, shallow mantle melting under the Cascades volcanic arc

Melting occurs at progressively greater depths and higher temperatures from west to east across the Cascades volcanic arc in northern California, as demonstrated by compositional variations observed in high-alumina olivine tholeiites. The lavas studied erupted from seven vents defining a 75-km-long, east-west transect across the arc, from near Mount Shasta to east of Medicine Lake volcano. The increase in melting depth across the arc parallels modeled isotherms in the mantle wedge and does not parallel the inferred dip of the slab. The depth of mantle melting at which the high-alumina olivine tholeiites were created is ∼36 km at the western end of the transect and 66 km at the eastern end. The very high temperatures of dry melting so close to the crust indicate a transitory condition of the mantle.
FRACTURE MECHANICS ANALYSIS OF FATIGUE RESISTANCE OF SPOT WELDED COACH‐PEEL JOINTS

Resistance spot welding is the most widely used joining method in automobile manufacture. The number, location, and quality of welds are some of the factors that influence the performance of welded subassemblies, and body panel structures. Therefore, design optimization requires knowledge of not only sheet metal behavior, but also weld behavior under service loadings. A linear elastic fracture mechanics approach was employed in this study to estimate the fatigue lives of spot welds subjected to tearing loads in a coach-peel specimen. Using a finite element method (FEM), the initial J-integral values for five coach-peel joints, each with different geometries, were calculated. Fatigue tests conducted on the same weld geometries provided life data. The experimental data were used to derive a relationship between the initial elastic J-integral values (ΔJe) and the fatigue life. It was found that the total fatigue life (Nf) of a weld at one applied stress range is related to its range of J-integral value such that a ΔJe vs Nf log-log plot gives a straight line relationship. This relationship can be used to evaluate the effects of geometrical variables on the fatigue life of coach-peel joints. The results show that, within the dimension range studied here, the effects of geometrical variables on the fatigue resistance can be ranked in the following decreasing order: weld eccentricity, sheet thickness and weld nugget diameter.
In-House Windrow Composting and Its Effects on Foodborne Pathogens

SUMMARY Control of foodborne pathogens at the farm is a growing concern that is being addressed in the industry. Several methods have shown varying effectiveness in reducing pathogens on the farm, one of which is in-house windrow composting. In this experiment, used litter was obtained and samples were taken to determine the baseline levels of Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella. From these samples, no Salmonella or Campylobacter was detected and baseline counts for C. perfringens were determined. This litter was then formed into 3 windrow compost piles. Temperature probes were placed so as to measure the internal and external temperatures, with the data being recorded hourly. From each compost pile, 3 samples were removed and inoculated with Campylobacter, C. perfringens, and Salmonella. These 9 inoculated samples were then wrapped in cheesecloth, and 2 were placed in the interior and the other 1 was placed in the exterior of each compost pile. After 7 d, the inoculated samples were collected and tested to determine the number of inoculated bacteria that had survived. In all the samples (composted and uncomposted), there was a significant reduction in all of the bacteria measured. Salmonella was completely eliminated from the samples that were composted, whereas it was still recoverable from the uncomposted samples. The results show that in-house composting of litter is an effective way of reducing, and in some cases eliminating, foodborne pathogens in a poultry house.
Micro-Scale System Integration Via Molten-Alloy Driven Self-Assembly and Scaling of Metal Interconnects

Self-assembly, or the spontaneous organization of parts into larger structures via energy minimization, is an attractive solution to overcome packaging and integration challenges. Capillary forces from a molten alloy constitute one self-assembly method, but little is known about reducing molten alloy contact size while maintaining proper function. We address these issues using a eutectic Bi-Sn alloy, and overcome corrosion problems by selecting the right fluid environment. We demonstrate the self-assembly of 100 mum and 40 mum sized parts on templates, with yields of 97% and 85%, respectively. Yields were lower with 20 mum parts, suggesting a lower limit for this particular system.
Software components and frameworks for medical robot control

Robots are increasingly being used in computer integrated surgery (CIS) systems, yet to our knowledge, there is no open source software that is specifically targeted at this application domain. In this paper, we derive unique requirements for medical robot controllers that are based on our experiences in the field. We present an overview of the second-generation open source software package (the cisst package), currently under development, that would include a family of application frameworks with dynamically loaded software components. We then focus on some key design details, which include extensive application of the command pattern as well as a dynamic interface query mechanism, and present a simple example to illustrate the concepts
Survival and Growth in the Presence of Elevated Copper: Transcriptional Profiling of Copper-Stressed Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Transcriptional profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to two separate copper stress conditions were determined. Actively growing bacteria subjected to a pulse of elevated copper for a short period of time was defined as a "copper-shocked" culture. Conversely, copper-adapted populations were defined as cells actively growing in the presence of elevated copper. Expression of 405 genes changed in the copper-shocked culture, compared to 331 genes for the copper-adapted cultures. Not surprisingly, there were genes identified in common to both conditions. For example, both stress conditions resulted in up-regulation of genes encoding several active transport functions. However, there were some interesting differences between the two types of stress. Only copper-adapted cells significantly altered expression of passive transport functions, down-regulating expression of several porins belonging to the OprD family. Copper shock produced expression profiles suggestive of an oxidative stress response, probably due to the participation of copper in Fenton-like chemistry. Copper-adapted populations did not show such a response. Transcriptional profiles also indicated that iron acquisition is fine-tuned in the presence of copper. Several genes induced under iron-limiting conditions, such as the siderophore pyoverdine, were up-regulated in copper-adapted populations. Interesting exceptions were the genes involved in the production of the siderophore pyochelin, which were down-regulated. Analysis of the copper sensitivity of select mutant strains confirmed the array data. These studies suggest that two resistance nodulation division efflux systems, a P-type ATPase, and a two-component regulator were particularly important for copper tolerance in P. aeruginosa.
Policy-based IT automation: the role of human judgment

Policy-based automation is emerging as a viable approach to IT systems management, codifying high-level business goals into executable specifications for governing IT operations. Little is known, however, about how policies are actually made, used, and maintained in practice. Here, we report studies of policy use in IT service delivery. We found that although policies often make explicit statements, much is deliberately left implicit, with correct interpretation and execution depending critically on human judgment.
Search radar detection and track with the Hough transform. III. Detection performance with binary integration

For pt.II see ibid., vol. 30, no 1, (Jan. 1994). This paper considers how well a Hough transform detector with binary integration improves the performance of a typical surveillance radar. For Hough transform detection, binary integration offers some advantages over noncoherent integration when multiple targets appear in range-time space or when the detector receives signals with a wide range of power. We derive expressions for P/sub F/ and P/sub D/ for a Hough transform binary integrator and apply the expressions to a typical surveillance radar. The results show that for the case considered, the binary Hough integrator improves the power budget of the radar by about 3 dB for a nonfluctuating target and 1 dB for a highly fluctuating target. >
New treatments for influenza

Influenza has a long history of causing morbidity and mortality in the human population through routine seasonal spread and global pandemics. The high mutation rate of the RNA genome of the influenza virus, combined with assortment of its multiple genomic segments, promote antigenic diversity and new subtypes, allowing the virus to evade vaccines and become resistant to antiviral drugs. There is thus a continuing need for new anti-influenza therapy using novel targets and creative strategies. In this review, we summarize prospective future therapeutic regimens based on recent molecular and genomic discoveries.
Sexual Health Risk and the Movement of Women Between Disadvantaged Communities and Local Jails

Drawing on cross-sectional data collected in three Kansas City jails, our objective was to describe the social, neighborhood-based context of sexual health risk prior to incarceration for 290 women. Half of the participants were clustered in Kansas City's urban core before their incarceration. Women who lived in these neighborhoods, which had the highest density of our incarcerated participants, were 3 times as likely to report a history of trading sex for money, drugs, or life necessities compared to women who lived elsewhere in the city. Living in a neighborhood that was perceived to have low social capital was also associated with sexually transmitted infection history. Gaining an understanding of these social influences in women's lives-particularly at the neighborhood level-provides key insights that will allow future interventions to change the health outcomes of women who move between disadvantaged communities and local jails.
Responding to the 98%: face-enhancing strategies for dealing with rejected customer ideas

Although companies receive a staggering amount of ideas from consumers, only a small fraction of the ideas are actually usable, with as many as 98% being rejected. This research examines the influence of firms’ responses to consumer-generated ideas on consumers’ self-perceptions of face and their tendency to return in the future with more ideas. Specifically, we examine the impact of firm response to consumers’ rejected ideas. The results show that consumers respond to a rejected idea with an increased of face threat, leading to a decrease in future idea sharing. However, the presence of face enhancement reduces these negative effects. Recognizing managers’ dilemma, we identify three buffering responses that may drive perceptions of face enhancement and thus buffer the negative repercussions of face threat from rejecting consumer ideas: (1) considering consumers’ past experiences (success/failure) with submitting ideas, (2) creating a unique group identity, and (3) offering an excuse. We also show the impact of a public versus private firm acknowledgment of consumer ideas on both consumers’ perceptions of face and future idea sharing behaviors.
The Changing Status of Moral Authority

When Joshua heard that the men of Ai had defeated the Israelites, he was inconsolate. God told Joshua that a man of Israel had sinned, had broken the Covenant. And when God exposed the villain Achan, Joshua said to Achan, "Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today." 2 And all of Israel stoned Achan and his family, and the "Lord turned from his burning anger." These two examples serve to illustrate the perennial conflict between the law of man and the law of God. Man desires
Smoke and Mirrors (B)

It had not been easy to change the CEO’s mind about the new, premium muffler the marketing vice president had wanted to market from the very beginning. His logical appeal was based on facts, rationale, sales and marketing objectives, and a marketing platform. Several months later, he was pleased when the CEO attended a meeting and announced that the marketing direction had changed. He stated that he had reviewed all the data and concluded that the patented, unique design was superior would lead the exhaust-system industry in a new technical direction.
Der neue 2,0-l-4V-TDI-Motor mit Common-Rail-Einspritzung: Moderne Dieseltechnologie von Volkswagen

Als Reaktion auf die Herausforderungen des kommenden Jahrzehnts mit verscharften Emissionsgrenzwerten, den Belangen des Fusgangerschutzes und des steigenden Komfortanspruchs bei der Innen- und Ausenakustik wurde bei Volkswagen eine neue Generation von Dieselmotoren entwickelt. Der hier vorgestellte 2,0-l-4V-TDI-Motor mit Common-Rail-Einspritzung, der erstmals im neuen Volkswagen Tiguan zum Einsatz kommt, markiert den Auftakt einer Reihe von dynamischen und effizienten Dieselmotoren. Durch die Kombination des 2,0-l-TDI-Motors mit der Common-Rail-Technologie ist ein Motor entstanden, der schon heute die Grenzwerte der Abgasnorm Euro 5 unterschreitet und sich, neben Fahrspas und Sparsamkeit, besonders durch Laufruhe und Komfort auszeichnet.
Attosecond Probing of Atomic & Molecular Structure

The talk examines the implication of strong-field scaling in the classical limit as it pertains to the production of energetic particles, generation of attosecond pulses and ultrafast molecular imaging. The results are interpreted using a semi-classical model.
Power, jobs and bodies: the experiences of becoming a gender scholar in doctoral education

Research suggests that doctoral students' learning and experiences are influenced by their relationships and predominant organizational norms and structures, create gender inequality and discourage or prevent alternative behaviors. However, there is very little empirical information on the nature of doctoral experiences and organizational activities and processes when an academic program focuses on gender. The study reported here approaches learning as a cognitive and social activity to identify and illuminate events and interaction students describe in becoming scholars as they negotiate their roles and relationships in an interdisciplinary program of gender studies in German-speaking Europe. Three dominant themes or factors shaped students’ experiences: (a) power and tensions associated with it, (b) jobs: discovering what was to be done, and when and how to do it to be successful, and (c) bodies: the doing of gender.
Multidisciplinary management of stage IV colon cancer

Significant advances in systemic chemotherapy and surgical techniques have allowed a subset of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer to be suitable candidates for multimodality therapy with curative intent. Care of these patients requires multidisciplinary coordination, close monitoring of disease response, and individualized treatment plan. This review will discuss considerations for treatment planning and sequencing in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic primary colon cancer in the setting of potentially resectable liver metastases.
A new approach to manufacturing features for evaluation and operational planning

In this paper we introduce a new approach and definition to manufacturing features which is useful for manufacturing evaluation and for generative operation planning. A manufacturing feature here is based on extraction of manufacturing feature primitives that correspond to faces of a solids model and the accessibility of a factory resident machine tool. These features are not based on form or templates. Extraction of a primitive includes calculation of the cutting path and operation parameters for that primitive, which in turn permits the calculation of machining cost and time. These primitives are grouped, or clustered, into manufacturing features based on an objective function, such as minimum-cost. A manufacturing feature is a logical grouping of manufacturing feature primitives that share a machine, setup, and cutting tool. This unique conceptualization of manufacturing features that does not rely on form features. With this approach many manufacturing feature interpretations are possible for a single model. The methodology is presented that provides a foundation for the development of clustering heuristic and operational planning.
Second-order finite elements for Hex-Dominant explicit methods in nonlinear solid dynamics

Hexahedral-dominant modeling approaches strike a balance of meshing ease and accuracy/efficiency by exploiting wedge (and/or pyramid) elements to transition from hexahedral elements to volumes filled by other types. Unfortunately, first-order wedges are frequently very poor performers and are the only ones typically contained in explicit solid dynamic programs. The historic preference of first-order elements with explicit methods has frequently been for simplicity and cost, but has also been from the lack of both a satisfactory consistent nodal loading distribution and an acceptable mass lumping technique for serendipity elements. Row summation lumping, for example, produces negative and zero vertex node masses for the popular fifteen and eighteen node wedges, respectively, and zero vertex nodal loads from a uniform traction on the triangular faces. The paper first presents twenty-one node wedge element formulations that produce all positive nodal loads from uniform tractions and row summation mass lumping for this element is shown to produce all positive nodal masses. In addition, they are compatible with other second-order elements applicable to lumped mass explicit methods. Performance is assessed in standard benchmark problems and practical applications using various elastic and elastic-plastic material models and involving very large strains/deformations, severe distortions, and contact-impact. These wedge elements are evaluated on their own as well as part of hexahedral-dominant meshes that use wedges for fill regions and transition from hexahedral to tetrahedral elements. In all cases, these elements performed satisfactorily and thus demonstrate their viability and benefits for practical applications, especially for fill and transition regions of low interest. Twenty-one node wedges using row summation mass lumping performed satisfactorily.Full quadrature is crucial to avoid distortion errors and spurious hourglass modes.2nd order wedge elements were slightly less accurate than 2nd order brick elements.2nd order Hexahedral-Dominant is an effective alternative to all-tetrahedral meshing.
ERRATUM TO OPTIMAL INEQUALITIES FOR EMBEDDED SPACE-TIMES

Because of the fact that the existence at a point of a semi-Riemannian manifold of an infimum (or supremum) of the sectional curvature of non-degenerate planes implies that all sectional curvatures are constant at this point [2], Definition 1 of [1] has to be replaced by the following. Definition 1.1. For a given set of mutually orthogonal plane sections {Lj} with dimensions (n1, . . . , nk) such that n1 + . . . + nk ≤ m, the amended scalar curvature Λ(n1, . . . , nk) in the semi-Riemannian case is given by Λ(n1, . . . , nk) = τ − {σ(L1) + . . .+ σ(Lk) | Lj a non-null plane section, Li ⊥ Lj} . With this new definition, Theorem 1 of [1] has to be replaced by the following. Theorem 1.1. Let a m-dimensional Riemannian or Lorentzian manifold (M, g) be locally and isometrically embedded in a (m + 1)-dimensional semi-Riemannian manifold (N , g) with diagonalisable Ricci tensor S (i.e., there exists an orthonormal basis {~ea} of N such that S = ∑m+1 a=1 λa~ea⊗~ea). Then, for every k ≥ 0 and every set (n1, . . . , nk) such that n1 < m and n1 + . . .+ nk ≤ m, we have ‖H‖ ≥ c(n1, . . . , nk)Λ(n1, . . . , nk)− 1 2 c(n1, . . . , nk) { m ∑
Does basal metabolic rate predict weight gain

Background Some previous studies have indicated that a low basal metabolic rate (BMR) is an independent predictor of future weight gain, but low rates of follow-up and highly select populations may limit the ability to generalize the results. Objective We assessed whether adults with a low BMR gain more weight than do adults with a high BMR who are living in a typical Western environment. Design We extracted BMR, body-composition, demographic, and laboratory data from electronic databases of 757 volunteers who were participating in our research protocols at the Mayo Clinic between 1995 and 2012. Research study volunteers were always weight stable, had no acute illnesses and no confounding medication use, and were nonsmokers. The top and bottom 15th percentiles of BMR, adjusted for fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass, age, and sex, were identified. Follow-up electronic medical record system data were available for 163 subjects, which allowed us to determine their subsequent weight changes for ≥3 y (mean: ∼9.7 y). Results By definition, the BMR was different in the high-BMR group (2001 ± 317 kcal/d; n = 86) than in the low-BMR group (1510 ± 222 kcal/d; n = 77), but they were comparable with respect to age, body mass index, FFM, and fat mass. Rates of weight gain were not greater in the bottom BMR group (0.3 ± 1.0 kg/y) than in the top BMR group (0.5 ± 1.5 kg/y) (P = 0.17). Conclusion Adults with low BMRs did not gain more weight than did adults with high BMRs, implying that habitual differences in food intake or activity counterbalance variations in BMR as a risk factor for weight gain in a typical Western population.