cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Percolation and the resistive transition of the critical temperature Tc of Nb3Sn

Abstract The relationship between the distribution of the critical temperature, the percolation function, and the resistive transition of the critical temperature is explored for polycrystalline Nb 3 Sn. In the neighborhood of the critical temperature, Nb 3 Sn is assumed to be a random mixture of superconducting and normal grains. Percolation concepts are applied to a study of the resistivity. A general analysis is made showing that the onset and shape of the resistive transition for composite conductors are determined by the percolation function and the distribution of the critical temperature. An approximate form of the percolation function is determined based on a linear FEM analysis. Example resistive transitions are calculated for an assumed normal distribution of the critical temperature. An argument is presented that relates grain orientation and strain dependence in Nb 3 Sn. It is noted that a dependence of the distribution of T c with strain, in addition to the usual shift in T c with strain, would be the result of a strain dependence that is a function of grain orientation. The analysis shows the extent to which the slope of the resistive transition is a measure of the distribution of the critical temperature, and therefore a measure of the grain orientation strain sensitivity. Finally, a method is described to determine the percolation function experimentally.
The role of psychoanalysis in consultation-liaison psychiatry.

Abstract Psychoanalysis played a major role in demonstrating that psychological forces can precipitate or exacerbate physical illnesses. For a time it also played a leading part in psychosomatic medicine and in the development of consultation-liaison psychiatry. Many of the concepts and skills constituting the core of the latter derive from psychoanalysis. In recent years, individual psychoanalysts have continued to work in consultation liaison psychiatry, but most have left it. The author urges their return and describes contributions that psychoanalytic knowledge can make to consultation-liaison psychiatry.
“Externalysis”: A new dimension in planning

Government regulation or deregulation, a volatile economy, new social attitudes, changing foreign‐trade relationships — today these and a host of other external issues are spoiling even the most carefully crafted strategies. Both planners and managers now recognize the far‐reaching effects of such external changes on company profits; yet they are frequently unable to anticipate those externalities most likely to influence their particular lines of business.
What Is the Role of the Radiologist in Holding Down Health Care Cost Growth

919 (ACOs) creates an alignment that we should welcome. In the ACO model, the radiologist can bring value by playing the central role in ensuring that the appropriate imaging study is performed to address the clinical question as well as by ensuring that a study is not performed when it will not impact the clinical management of the patient. It embraces the radiologist’s participation as a true consultant and clinician. ACOs reward the radiologist for helping our clinical colleagues understand and embrace the rationale for the imaging recommendations we are providing so that they find our input essential in attaining the common goal of providing patient-centered costeffective care. This value is what drew many of us into radiology. ACOs also reward the optimally efficient performance of imaging and imaging-guided intervention and give value to the role of the imaging in decreasing length of stay, lowering returns to the hospital, and improving contribution to margin. Another opportunity for radiologists in ACO models is to establish regional networks for imaging transfer. In so doing, the unnecessary duplication of imaging in the emergency department because of prior studies not being available to the referral center can be minimized. This is significant given that up to 20% of the cost of radiology in the emergency department setting is due to duplication of imaging studies. At Harborview Hospital at the University of Washington, we have a virtual private network to 150 hospitals that has enabled us to decrease this unnecessary duplication as well as avoid unnecessary delays in care that can occur with repeat imaging. We are also using this network to identify irreversibly injured patients who will not benefit by being transferred to our level-one trauma center; avoiding unnecessary financial burden for the patient and the patient’s family. We need to do a better job of using technology to take cost out of health care so that What Is the Role of the Radiologist in Holding Down Health Care Cost Growth?
Microcompartments for B12-Dependent 1,2-Propanediol Degradation Provide Protection from DNA and Cellular Damage by a Reactive Metabolic Intermediate

Salmonella enterica grows on 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) in a coenzyme B12-dependent fashion. Prior studies showed that a bacterial microcompartment (MCP) is involved in this process and that an MCP-minus mutant undergoes a 20-h period of growth arrest during 1,2-PD degradation. It was previously proposed that growth arrest resulted from propionaldehyde toxicity, but no direct evidence was presented. Here, high-pressure liquid chromatography analyses of culture medium were used to show that the major products of aerobic 1,2-PD degradation are propionaldehyde, propionate, and 1-propanol. A MCP-minus mutant accumulated a level of propionaldehyde 10-fold higher than that of the wild type (1.6 mM compared to 15.7 mM), associating this compound with growth arrest. The addition of propionaldehyde to cultures of S. enterica caused growth arrest from 8 to 20 mM, but not at 4 mM, providing direct evidence for propionaldehyde toxicity. Studies also indicated that propionaldehyde was toxic due to the inhibition of respiratory processes, and the growth arrest ended when propionaldehyde was depleted primarily by conversion to propionate and 1-propanol and secondarily due to volatility. The Ames test was used to show that propionaldehyde is a mutagen and that mutation frequencies are increased in MCP-minus mutants during 1,2-PD degradation. We propose that a primary function of the MCPs involved in 1,2-PD degradation is the mitigation of toxicity and DNA damage by propionaldehyde.
The Clinical Pharmacology of Propafenone

Propafenone is a potent type Ic antiarrhythmic agent that has activity against a wide variety of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Clinical administration must be individualized, based on an appreciation of propafenone pharmacokinctics and dose-response relationships, which are quite complex. Although a “therapeutic” plasma concentration is achieved in most patients with 300 mg orally every eight hours and plasma concentrations reach steady state after three days, marked interpatient differences in plasma concentrations occur. In addition, the effective plasma concentration required for arrhythmia suppression varies markedly in individual patients. Oral propafenone is subjected to a marked “first-pass” hepatic elimination via a saturable oxidative pathway. This can result in a tenfold increase in plasma concentrations as the dose is increased from 150 to 450 mg. Accumulation of metabolites, notably 5-OH propafenone, probably contributes to the net antiarrhythmic effect of oral propafenone during chronic oral administration. Propafenone may exacerbate ventricular arrhythmias in 20–15% of patients. This does not appear to be dose-dependent, nor is it associated with a definite prolongation in QT interval.
Fluorescent emission spectra of lithium fluoride with use of synchrotron radiation.

The soft x-ray emission spectra of single-crystal LiF excited with synchrotron radiation are presented. The radiative decay of the lithium 1s core exciton is observed. Radiative transitions between the valence band and the core hole are also observed in undamaged samples. Spectra obtained with broadband synchrotron-light excitation are shown to be dominated by diffuse scattering from damaged sample surfaces. Excitation with photon energies between 100 and 150 eV generates true emission spectra. An important result is that electrons excited into the conduction band are frequently trapped in an exciton state before recombining with the core hole.
The transformation of behaviour field studies

As areas of science mature, they pass through three, broadly overlapping stages of development, characterized respectively by description, explanation and synthesis. Field research on animal behaviour is making the transition from an area with a preponderance of purely descriptive studies to one that also includes the development and testing of verifiable hypotheses about the structure, causes and consequences of behaviour. We survey several reasons for this transformation of behaviour field studies and some of the major trends that characterize it, including: (1) patterns discerned in our cumulative knowledge of natural history; (2) increased support for behaviour field studies; (3) interfaces with related areas of science; (4) the development of observational sampling methods and other aspects of data sampling and analysis; (5) the development of models of behaviour's adaptive functions and life-history consequences; (6) long-term field sites that make possible complete life histories, increased attention to individual differences and intergenerational studies of behaviour; and (7) the development of techniques for remote tracking of animals and for noninvasive, hands-off sampling of a range of behavioural, physiological, genetic and environmental phenomena. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Infrared FEL photochemistry: multiple-photon dissociation of Freon gas☆

Wavelength tunability, synchrotron sidebands, and picosecond pulse structure are inherent FEL characteristics that should be advantageous for photochemistry involving infrared multiple-photon photodissociation. Tuned to an absorption resonance, the FEL sideband structure will overlap the broad, excited-state spectral absorption and should lead to enhanced dissociation. The Los Alamos APEX FEL was operated with and without sidebands to test this hypothesis on CFCl{sub 3} (Freon 11), an inert chlorofluorocarbon widely used in refrigeration systems and one of the gases implicated as depleting the ozone in the Earth`s stratospheric layer. The FEL wavelength was set at the C-Cl stretch absorption resonance at 11.8-{mu}m, the oscillator cavity length was detuned first to minimize and then to maximize the spectral bandwidth, and the beam was focused through a pair of test cells (1.0 Torr Freon+1.7 Torr air). Comparison of final and initial absorbance spectra indicated the CFCl{sub 3} photodissociation yield was 1.2% for the cell exposed with sideband spectra (3% FWHM) and 9-ns micropulse separation. Negligible effect was seen without sidebands, albeit at lower total beam fluence. Although the result of this single experiment is not large enough to be conclusive, it does provide a basis for optimizing the FEL temporal and spectral parameters tomore » attain higher photodissociation yield in future tests.« less
The behavior of viruses on disinfection by chlorine dioxide and other disinfectants in effluent

A comparative study on the efficacy of chlorine dioxide, chlorine, ozone and peracetic acid in inactivating viruses was carried out against 6 viruses in a municipal sewage effluent. The viruses selected were bacteriophage f2 and poliovirus 1, which have been commonly used; also echovirus 1 and coxsackievirus B5 to extend the range of enteroviruses; and simian rotavirus (SA11) and human rotavirus, the latter being one of the most important enteric viral pathogens present in waste water. The results indicated a wide range in the response of these viruses to chlorine dioxide. Of the 3 enteroviruses tested, coxsackievirus B5 was the most resistant, with a dose of 17.25 ppm required for 99.99% inactivation in 5 min. In the case of the 2 rotaviruses tested, human rotavirus was distinctly more resistant than SA11. On the other hand, the other viruses tested responded differently to the other disinfectants. The most resistant virus on nearly all occasions under selected conditions was the human rotavirus; the least resistant virus was SA11. The enteroviruses, with phage, were somewhat similar in their response, although coxsackievirus B5 was usually the most resistant.
Analytical Parameterizations of Diffusion: The Convective Boundary Layer

Abstract A brief review is made of data bases which have been used for developing diffusion parameterizations for the convective boundary layer (CBL). A variety of parameterizations for lateral and vertical dispersion, σy and σz, are surveyed; some of these include mechanical turbulence, source height, or buoyancy effects. Recommendations are made for choosing among these alternatives, depending on the type of source. Because observations of passive plumes indicate that the Gaussian model does a poor job of describing vertical diffusion in the CBL, alternative models for predicting dimensionless crosswind integrated ground concentration, Cy, are reviewed and compared. These include an analytical equation which closely approximates laboratory results; this equation can be applied to any source height > 0.04zi, where zi is the mixing depth. An analysis of a limited amount of buoyant plume data indicates that a radically different approach is needed when the dimensionless buoyancy flux, F*, exceeds 0.1. Such...
Formalization of Generalized Constraint Language: A Crucial Prelude to Computing With Words

The generalized constraint language (GCL), introduced by Zadeh, serves as a basis for computing with words (CW). It provides an agenda to express the imprecise and fuzzy information embedded in natural language and allows reasoning with perceptions. Despite its fundamental role, the definition of GCL has remained informal since its introduction by Zadeh, and to our knowledge, no attempt has been made to formulate a rigorous theoretical framework for GCL. Such formalization is necessary for further theoretical and practical advancement of CW for two important reasons. First, it provides the underlying infrastructure for the development of useful inference patterns based on sound theories. Second, it determines the scope of GCL and hence facilitates the translation of natural language expressions into GCL. This paper is an attempt to step in this direction by providing a formal syntax together with a compositional semantics for GCL. A soundness theorem is defined, and Zadeh's deduction rules are proved to be valid in the defined semantics. Furthermore, a discussion is provided on how the proposed language may be used in practice.
Differences in Emotional Well-Being and Communication Styles Between Mothers and Fathers of Pediatric Cancer Patients

This study investigated 26 pairs of mothers and fathers of pediatric cancer patients to explore the relationship between parental communication patterns and parental psychological wellbeing as well as the possible differences between the communication styles of mothers and fathers. For mothers, open and frequent communication had a positive effect on emotional well-being, and spousal communication was particularly important. In comparison with fathers, mothers had significantly more positive perceptions of the family's overall emotional climate, evaluated the patient as significantly better adjusted, and communicated significantly more often and openly with the patient.
On the evaluation of causal models

Abstract Procedures for the evaluation of linear recursive simultaneous equation models as a whole are considered. Likelihood-ratio tests for the evaluation and comparison of the adequacy of competing models are interpreted in terms of the Wilks' generalized variance and the generalized multiple correlation coefficient. Examples and computational procedures are given.
Development of anisotropy in late childhood.

Abstract Two psychophysical studies show that 5–11-yr-old children are increasingly likely to have greater visual sensitivity for horizontal and vertical sinusoidal gratings than for diagonal ones. Non-sensory factors such as criterion and attention differences are eliminated as explanations for this result, which is discussed in terms of the implications for neurological development in the human visual system.
Explosive Carbon-Burning Nucleosynthesis

Results are presented which show the final abundances of the major nuclei produced in explosive, but partial, carbon-burning taking place in a rapidly expanding medium. the effects of energy deposition due to burning and expansive cooling are taken into account explicity. The results are compatible with those obtained by other authors but show the sensitivity of the final abundances to the assumed initial conditions. A conjecture is made as to the physical site of the burning.
Spin-flopping in azurite

Abstract Magnetothermal measurements on single crystal azurite [Cu 3 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 2 ] indicated that spin flopping occurred above 19.0 kG. The spin-flop-antiferromagnetic boundary could be represented by an equation H c = 16.5 + 1.20 T 2 with H c in kG. The triple point ( T 3 ) was determined as T = 1.60°K and H c = 19.5 kG. The antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic boundary was compared to the molecular field theory for both the parallel and perpendicular orientations.
Should hospitals look like airports

Modern hospitals represent the pinnacle of technologic medicine, but this commentary argues that such technical proficiency has created distance between the goals of health care and healing. The au...
Ureteral Injuries: External and Iatrogenic

Both iatrogenic and traumatic ureteral injuries are rare. However, a high index of suspicion is warranted for ureteral injuries because ureteral injuries are associated with increased morbidity. The urologist should be familiar with several methods for identifying ureteral injuries and should make evaluations tailored to the clinical situation. Most ureteral injuries are short transections and can be repaired with debridement and ureteroureterostomy in the proximal and mid-ureter or ureteroneocystostomy in the distal ureter.
Near equivalence of the quantum mechanical potential model and the thermochemical model of ESCA shifts

Abstract Jolly's thermochemical model of core-level binding energy shifts is shown to depend on the same approximation that was made by Schwartz in deriving the potential model. Several implications for the calculation of these shifts are pointed out.
1376 EARLY CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH PROXIMAL HIGH - FREQUENCY JET VENTILATION (HFJV) IN NEWBORNS

Over a 10 month period 8 newborns (gestational ages 27-36 weeks, birthweights 770-3440 g and postnatal ages 2-16 d) were treated with HFJV for severe respiratory failure unresponsive to conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV). Diagnoses included tension pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE)-4, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)-2, and intractable pneumothoraees (PTX)-2.
Cost-Effectiveness of Treating Nicotine Dependence: The Mayo Clinic Experience

Objective To estimate the cost-effectiveness of treating nicotine dependence, expressed as cost per net year of life gained by smoking cessation. Design A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted of a cohort of consecutive adult patients treated for nicotine dependence from April 1988 through December 1992 at the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center (NDC). Material and Methods The study cohort consisted of 5,544 patients (50.8% female; mean age, 47.8 years) with a mean baseline smoking rate of 25.4 cigarettes per day. After an initial consultation, a non physician counselor developed an individual nicotine dependence treatment plan, which could include follow-up counseling, nicotine replacement therapy (patches or gum), group therapy, or an inpatient program. A relapse-prevention program included telephone calls and a series of letters to the patient. We computed the years of life gained for each person specific to age, gender, smoking rate at entry, and 6 - month smoking status by using published mortality rates for current and former cigarette smokers. The 6-month smoking status was assumed to be applicable at 1 year. For subsequent determinations, we modeled by computer simulation the year-by-year (to age 100) smoking status by using published relapse and late cessation rates. Coupled with treatment costs, this information allowed the expression of cost per net year of life gained by stopping smoking. Net years of life gained, discounted 0, 3, and 5%, were computed with use of cessation and relapse rates expected for patients not seen in the NDC. Treatment costs were based on 1993 rates for the intervention services but did not include any tobacco product cost savings associated with smoking cessation. Results The 1-year smoking-cessation rate was 22.2%. With all NDC patients included, the estimated net years of life gained, with use of a 5% rate of discount for benefits, was 0.058, and the corresponding cost was $6,828 per net year of life gained. Conclusion In comparison with the cost-effectiveness of other medical services, the cost of $6,828 per net year of life gained by treatment of nicotine dependence is relatively inexpensive. Such cost-outcome data are important as economic considerations are applied for optimal allocation of limited healthcare resources. Nonphysician health-care professionals can assume a key role in the provision of costeffective nicotine dependence intervention.
Learning Disabled Children's Attributions for Success and Failure:

These studies examined underachieving and control children's beliefs about the causes of their successes and failures. In Study 1, third- through eighth-grade children were administered a scale measuring locus of control in achievement situations. Results indicated that underachieving children had weaker feelings of internal control over success than the control children. In Study 2, first- through eighth-grade children rated the importance of ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck for success and failure in reading, on puzzles, and in social situations. The children's ratings indicated that underachievers believed lack of effort played less of a role in their failures than did control children. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for the achievement behavior of learning disabled children.
Individual Action and the Demand for Institutions: Star Scientists and Institutional Transformation

In contrast to the recently dominant nonrational approach to institutional structure, the authors posit that new institutional structures under most conditions must have net benefits for performance of the organization or they are significantly less likely to be adopted. Over the past 2 decades, the dedicated new biotechnology firm (NBF) emerged as a new institution—a new form of science-based firm in which venture capital support of basic research is legitimated. The authors show that the most productive “star” bioscientists, one of whom invented the form, played a central role in where and when NBFs were formed and that star involvement determines which ones are most successful. Furthermore, involvement with a NBF furthers the scientific and financial success of star scientists. The authors conclude that the NBF was a rational and successful innovation for its inventor and his imitators and that explains its becoming a new institutional form.
On the mechanism of the oxidation of metals

Abstract During the low-temperature oxidation of a metal whose oxide is a cation conductor, it is assumed that metal atoms enter the oxide only at lattice steps on the metal surface and that new oxide forms only at the oxide-atmosphere interface. It is shown that if these assumptions are valid there should be almost no stress in oxide films in which cation conduction predominates, that the Pilling-Bedworth rule has no validity for such oxide films, and that no vacancies or voids should be produced in the underlying metal. Some observations of anisotropy of oxidation rate on different crystal faces are discussed. For oxides in which anion conduction predominates it is concluded that there may also be no stress in the film and that the Pilling-Bedworth rule may not apply.
Innovative engineering learning center: design concepts and outcomes

A new learning center has been designed and implemented based on extensive benchmarking and innovative design concepts. The design focused on computer-facilitated active learning and teambased pedagogies. The design criteria are reviewed and the preliminary outcomes are presented based on student feedback and faculty assessments.
The magnitude of behavioral isolation is affected by characteristics of the mating community

Gene exchange between species occurs in areas of secondary contact, where two species have the opportunity to hybridize. If heterospecific males are more common than conspecific males, females will experience more encounters with males of other species. These encounters might increase the likelihood of heterospecific matings, and lead to the production of hybrid progeny. I studied the mating behavior of two pairs of sibling species endemic to Africa: Drosophila yakuba/Drosophila santomea and Drosophila simulans/Drosophila sechellia. Drosophila yakuba and D. simulans are cosmopolitan species widely distributed in the African continent, while D. santomea and D. sechellia are island endemics. These pairs of species hybridize in nature and have the potential to exchange genes in natural conditions. I used these two pairs of Drosophila species, and constructed mating communities of different size and different heterospecific:conspecific composition. I found that both the total number of potential mates and the relative frequency of conspecific versus heterospecific males affect female mating decisions in the cosmopolitan species but not in the island endemics. These results suggest that the population characteristics, in which mating occurs, may affect the magnitude of premating isolation. Community composition might thus facilitate, or impair, gene flow between species.
Common brain regions essential for the expression of learned and instinctive visual habits in the albino rat

Different groups of adult rats were subjected to discrete lesions in one of ten different areas of the brain which have previously been found to be implicated in retention of learned brightness and pattern discrimination habits. When tested for the rodent’ s predictable (instinctive) preference for the dark, eight groups showed deficient preference scores and two showed preference scores comparable to that of the control group. Those groups with lesions of brain structures not implicated in retention of learned visual discrimination habits exhibited normal preference scores. These data suggest the existence of common as well as diverse neuroanatomical substrata necessary for the expression of both classes of adaptive behavior.
Experiments on the stability of sinusoidal flow over a circular cylinder

The instabilities in a sinusoidally oscillating non-separated flow over smooth circular cylinders in the range of Keulegan–Carpenter numbers, K, from about 0.02 to 1 and Stokes numbers, β, from about 103 to 1.4 × 106 have been observed from inception to chaos using several high-speed imagers and laser-induced fluorescence. The instabilities ranged from small quasi-coherent structures, as in Stokes flow over a flat wall (Sarpkaya 1993), to three-dimensional spanwise perturbations because of the centrifugal forces induced by the curvature of the boundary layer (Taylor–Gortler instability). These gave rise to streamwise-oriented counter-rotating vortices or mushroom-shaped coherent structures as K approached the Kh values theoretically predicted by Hall (1984). Further increases in K for a given β led first to complex interactions between the coherent structures and then to chaotic motion. The mapping of the observations led to the delineation of four states of flow in the (K, β)-plane: stable, marginal, unstable, and chaotic.
International financial architecture and strategic default: can financial crises be less painful?☆

Abstract Recent financial crises in emerging markets have been followed by temporary but substantial losses in output. This paper explores the possibility that threats of such losses are the dominant incentive for repayment of international debt. In this environment private debtors and creditors have strong incentives to design international contracts so that renegotiation is costly. Such contracts generate dead weight losses following crises. Proposals to modify contractual arrangements, or to facilitate or impose renegotiation, can be welfare-improving under special circumstances. However, it is likely that such proposals would also weaken the incentives that make private international debt possible.
Concept Form Adaptation in Human-Computer Dialog

In this work we examine user adaptation to a dialog system's choice of realization of task-related concepts. We analyze forms of the time concept in the Let's Go! spoken dialog system. We find that users adapt to the system's choice of time form. We also find that user adaptation is affected by perceived system adaptation. This means that dialog systems can guide users' word choice and can adapt their own recognition models to gain improved ASR accuracy.
CARBON MONOXIDE EFFECTS ON COLOR AND MICROBIAL COUNTS OF VACUUM‐PACKAGED FRESH BEEF STEAKS IN REFRIGERATED STORAGE

Ribeye, top round, and eye of round steaks were treated for 30 min with 100% carbon monoxide (CO), vacuum packaged, and held in refrigerated storage. Instrumental color determinations (L*, a*, and b* values) were made on uncooked ribeye and round steaks every 7 days. Aerobic plate counts (APC), psychrotrophs, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were determined on eye of round samples after 1, 4, and 8 weeks. Initially, CO-treated steaks were more red (higher a* values) than untreated steaks. The a* values of treated steaks decreased during storage; at 6 weeks no differences existed due to CO treatment. CO-treated steaks were more yellow (higher b* values) at all storage times than untreated steaks. APC of CO-treated samples were 1 log cycle lower than control after 8 weeks in storage; LAB counts were nearly 1 log cycle lower for CO-treated samples after 8 weeks. Psychrotrophic counts were similar for control and CO-treated samples during the first 4 weeks of refrigerated storage but were nearly 2 log cycles lower for CO-treated samples after 8 weeks. These data suggest that CO-treated steaks are more red and that they have extended shelf-lives compared with untreated, vacuum-packaged steaks.
Hypnosis in the therapy of anorexia nervosa.

Abstract Hypnosis was used successfully in treating 50 patients suffering from anorexia nervosa. Hypnotherapeutic intervention is most effective in treating such symptoms of this disorder as hyperactivity, distorted body image, failure of interoceptive awareness, feelings of inadequacy, perfectionist tendencies, and resistance to therapy.
An initial framework for evolving computer configurations as a moving target defense

An evolutionary process encourages a system to change, and hopefully improve, based on environmental feed-back. When applied to a computer system, an evolutionary inspired process can be used to discover computer configurations that are different and potentially more secure. These configurations can be instantiated at different times to create a Moving Target Defense (MTD), where attackers must contend with a system that constantly changes and improves.This paper describes an initial Python-based framework that creates an evolutionary inspired MTD for computers. The framework consists of three interacting components. An evolutionary component discovers computer configurations based on previous configurations. Another component vets new configurations by instantiating them using virtual machines. Finally, a third process uses a combination of penetration software as well as reports from actual attacks to assess the configurations. The framework has been used to provide a MTD for RedHat® installed Apache™1 web servers. Experimental results indicate the servers are on average diverse, functional, and increasingly more secure.
Resolution of ambiguity in Chinese and its application to machine translation

In this paper, we present a typology of ambiguity in Chinese, which includes morphological, lexical, syntactic, semantic, and contextual ambiguities. Examples are shown for each type of ambiguity and sometimes for subtypes. Ambiguity resolution strategies used in the ALICE machine translation system are presented in various levels of detail. A disambiguation model, called Four-Step, is proposed for resolving syntactic ambiguities involving serial verb construction and predication. As the name suggests, the model comprises four steps-well-formedness checking, preference for argument readings, precondition checking, and late closure. For resolving semantic ambiguity, we propose a new formalism, called Semantic Functional Grammar (SFG), to deal with the resolution problem. SFG integrates the concept of Semantic Grammar into Lexical-Functional Grammar (LFG) such that the functional structure (f-structures) include semantic functions in addition to grammatical functions. For dealing with lexical and contextual ambiguities, we briefly describe the mechanisms used in the ALICE system. As for morphological ambiguity, the resolution is a problem of word-boundary decision (segmentation) and is beyond the scope of this research. The mechanisms presented in the paper have been successfully applied to the translation of Chinese news headlines in the ALICE system.
Separation of myelin basic protein peptide 43-88 and its fragments by analytic and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract Reversed-phase (RP) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a solvent mixture of triethylammonium formate buffer and methanol permitted the rapid separation of myelin basic protein peptide 43–88 and a mixture of synthetic fragments from this peptide. The elution times for some of the peptides were markedly affected by minimal changes in the solvent mixture. Attempts to separate the same peptides by gel permeation HPLC resulted in poor resolution and an aberrant elution pattern unrelated to molecular size. With the use of the volatile triethylammonium formate buffer in the RP-HPLC, material could be more readily separated and easily recovered by freeze-drying. Analysis of the components separated by this system of RP-HPLC demonstrated that the preparation of normal human BP peptide 43–88 results in an admixture of peptides 43–87 and 43–88. This procedure of RP-HPLC should make it possible to analyze the degradation of myelin basic protein peptide 43–88 and to isolate the degradation products for characterization.
Perioperative use of recombinant factor VII to prevent intraoperative aneurysm rupture in high risk patients: a preliminary safety evaluation.

The authors present a safety evaluation of the perioperative use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in a series of subarachnoid hemorrhage patients undergoing microsurgical aneurysm clipping. We performed a retrospective chart review of the records of 18 consecutive subarachnoid hemorrhage patients who underwent craniotomy for aneurysm clipping and received an intraoperative dose of rFVIIa. In each case, the aneurysm was felt to be a “high risk” lesion for intraoperative rupture either because it had bled multiple times prior to surgery or based on anatomical considerations. All complications were recorded whether or not they were attributed to the use of rFVIIa. Eighteen patients, 7 men and 11 women, ranging in age from 42 to 85 years were included in this review. Nine patients (50%) were either Hunt/Hess Grades IV or V. Six patients developed clinically significant cerebral vasospasm. Fifteen patients required ventricular drainage on admission, and seven patients ultimately required a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. One lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and seven upper extremity venous thromboses in association with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines were identified on screening Doppler evaluations. There were no associated pulmonary emboli. No aneurysm ruptured intraoperatively. We describe our experience with the use of a single dose of rFVIIa administered perioperatively in an attempt to decrease the rate of intraoperative aneurysm rupture in patients undergoing microsurgical aneurysm clipping. There were no significant immediate or long-term adverse effects attributable to the use of rFVIIa in this group, and we encountered no intraoperative ruptures in this relatively small series.
American competitiveness: the role of technology transfer

The United States is no longer the world leader in technology -neither in terms of technology development nor technology application! A strong statement? Perhaps. But one that I will substantiate in the next few minutes. Another way to say this is that we, as a nation, have lost our competitive edge! And there's plenty of evidence to support this conclusion. I'll shortly give you some examples. If you're not quite ready to support my premise, let me quote from the recently published report from the Council on Competitiveness entitled "Gaining New Ground: Technology Priorities for America's Future"... "The United States traditionally has been a formidable competitor in world technology markets. American industries such as computers, pharmaceuticals, aircraft and medical instruments are the envy of the world. In recent years, however, many U.S. technology-intensive industries have stumbled in the face of foreign competition. In too many cases, the consequences have been disastrous: the U.S. share of the world machine tool market has slipped from about 50percent to 10 percent; the American-owned consumer electronics industry has been virtually eliminated by foreign competition; and the U.S. merchant semiconductor industry has shifted from dominance to a distant second in world markets." We are not going to regain our leadership position overnight, and there certainly is no magic formula which will bring the United States once again to the technology forefront. However, there is much that we can and should do which will clearly point us in the right direction. In my judgement, technology transfer is one of the key ingredients in re-establishing America's competitive strength, by improving effective commercialization of research. High Technology of Rochester has, as one of its missions, the "care and feeding" of the technology transfer process in Rochester and I'd like to briefly review with you HTR's strategies and programs to facilitate this process.
Nitrate accelerated corrosion of lead solder in potable water systems

Abstract Although nitrate is generally believed to have little effect on lead corrosion, bench-scale tests in this work revealed that increasing nitrate in the range of occurrence in potable water (0–10 mg/L N) can dramatically increase lead leaching from simulated soldered pipe joints. Lead in water created slightly increased galvanic currents between solder and copper pipe, but nitrate also altered the nature of the attack in a manner that caused solder particles to detach into the water. Chloramine decay and the associated conversion of ammonia to nitrate could create much higher lead contamination of potable water from solder in some cases.
Synergistic effect of 15-lipoxygenase 2 and radiation in killing head-and-neck cancer

We previously demonstrated that 15-LOX-2 is significantly reduced in head and neck carcinoma and restoration of 15-LOX-2 expression results in tumor inhibition in HNC. The aim of this study is to evaluate 15-LOX-2 as a candidate for targeted radiotherapy. Molecular subcloning was performed to create a radiation-inducible 15-LOX-2 expression vector in which the full-length 15-LOX-2 cDNA was inserted downstream the recombinant Egr-1 promoter. The radiation-induced downregulations of 15-LOX-2 protein (twofold up) and its main metabolite 15S-HETE (threefold up) were observed in HNC cells transfected with the 15-LOX-2 expression vector after 4 Gy of radiation. Radiation-induced upregulation of 15-LOX-2 resulted in significant induction of apoptosis in HNC cells. Furthermore, survival colony formation was significantly reduced by 4 Gy in the HNC cells containing the 15-LOX-2 expression vector compared with the controls. Radiation-induced upregulation of 15-LOX-2 results in significant induction of apoptosis and enhances killing effect of radiotherapy in HNC. In addition, exogenous addition of 15S-HETE at high concentrations (>/=10 muM) but not at low concentrations induced upregulation of its endogenous ligand PPARgamma. In conclusion, synergistic effect between radiation and 15-LOX-2 was observed in killing HNC. 15-LOX-2 may be a potential target in radiation-targeted therapy of HNC. The 15-LOX-2 inhibition may not be PPARgamma dependent.
Cortical contributions to olfaction: Plasticity and perception

In most sensory systems, the sensory cortex is the place where sensation approaches perception. As described in this review, olfaction is no different. The olfactory system includes both primary and higher order cortical regions. These cortical structures perform computations that take highly analytical afferent input and synthesize it into configural odor objects. Cortical plasticity plays an important role in this synthesis and may underlie olfactory perceptual learning. Olfactory cortex is also involved in odor memory and association of odors with multimodal input and contexts. Finally, the olfactory cortex serves as an important sensory gate, modulating information throughput based on recent experience and behavioral state.
Soil moisture and temperature interact to affect growth, survivorship, fecundity, and fitness in the earthworm Eisenia fetida☆

Life history and fitness characters of the earthworm Eisenia fetida were measured for all combinations of three soil moistures (2, 3, 4 ml H2O/g peat moss) and four soil temperatures (15, 20, 25, 28°C). Maximal growth early in ontogeny, fecundity (cocoons per week per earthworm), and fitness (fecundity × survivorship) occurred in high moistures and moderate temperatures. After reproductive maturity, maximal growth and survivorship occurred in moderate/high moistures and low temperatures. Soil moisture and temperature interacted to affect all life history and fitness characters such that high moisture often alleviated the adverse effects of high temperature to some extent. Growth early in ontogeny was a good predictor of fecundity but not survivorship. Because more variation infitness was contributed by fecundity than survivorship, early ontogenetic growth was also a good predictor of fitness. This supports the use of early ontogenetic growth as a surrogate of fitness in studies examining the effects of individual genotypic variability.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist use before hysterectomy

Objective : Our purpose was to compare the effects of leuprolide acetate in patients with symptomatic uterine leiomyoma before hysterectomy. Study Design : Group I ( n = 90) included patients with a pretreatment uterine size of 14 to 18 gestational weeks and group II ( n = 60) included patients with uteri>18 weeks' gestational size. Patients in both groups were randomized to either immediate hysterectomy or 2 months of preoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. Results : All patients in the two groups with a pretreatment hemoglobin p p Conclusion : The preoperative administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in patients with a uterus of 14 to 18 weeks' size increases the use of vaginal hysterectomy, decreases intraoperative blood loss, and shortens hospital stay and convalescence. Preoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist for patients with a preoperative hemoglobin
An Overview of Cocaine Use and Abuse

Use of cocaine is traced from South American Indians through 19th century European patterns into 20th century United States. Different methods of using cocaine produce effects with different potenc...
Effects of chronic exercise on feelings of energy and fatigue: a quantitative synthesis

The authors investigated the effect of chronic exercise on feelings of energy and fatigue using meta-analytic techniques. Chronic exercise increased feelings of energy and lessened feelings of fatigue compared with control conditions by a mean effect delta of 0.37. The effect varied according to the presence or absence of a placebo control or whether chronic exercise was completed alone or in combination with an additional therapy. Investigations that used a placebo control and examined chronic exercise alone found no effect of chronic exercise on feelings of energy and fatigue. Certain placebo controls may increase feelings of energy and lessen feelings of fatigue when used with older adults or people with psychological distress. The results highlight the need for research identifying the most useful control conditions for accurately interpreting mental health outcome data obtained in chronic exercise investigations.
On Predicting the Response of Auditory Nerve Fibers to Complex Tones

The response to sound of the mechanical and neural elements of the peripheral auditory system is decidedly nonlinear. In recent years quantitative studies of auditory responses to complex or multicomponent tones have been performed with the result being that the effects of the various nonlinearities, if not their causes, are known in reasonable detail. However, despite the sizeable amount of work, the way tones combine to produce responses in auditory nerve fibers has remained unclear.
Neighbor-based pattern detection for windows over streaming data

The discovery of complex patterns such as clusters, outliers, and associations from huge volumes of streaming data has been recognized as critical for many domains. However, pattern detection with sliding window semantics, as required by applications ranging from stock market analysis to moving object tracking remains largely unexplored. Applying static pattern detection algorithms from scratch to every window is prohibitively expensive due to their high algorithmic complexity. This work tackles this problem by developing the first solution for incremental detection of neighbor-based patterns specific to sliding window scenarios. The specific pattern types covered in this work include density-based clusters and distance-based outliers. Incremental pattern computation in highly dynamic streaming environments is challenging, because purging a large amount of to-be-expired data from previously formed patterns may cause complex pattern changes including migration, splitting, merging and termination of these patterns. Previous incremental neighbor-based pattern detection algorithms, which were typically not designed to handle sliding windows, such as incremental DBSCAN, are not able to solve this problem efficiently in terms of both CPU and memory consumption. To overcome this, we exploit the "predictability" property of sliding windows to elegantly discount the effect of expiring objects on the remaining pattern structures. Our solution achieves minimal CPU utilization, while still keeping the memory utilization linear in the number of objects in the window. Our comprehensive experimental study, using both synthetic as well as real data from domains of stock trades and moving object monitoring, demonstrates superiority of our proposed strategies over alternate methods in both CPU and memory utilization.