cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Peroxidative protection of high lipid : low dextrose parenteral admixture by D‐α‐tocopherol

A practical alternative to traditional central line delivery of parenteral admixtures (PA) for small animal patients is utilization of a peripheral route. Admixtures delivered via this route should be a lower osmolarity to prevent complications; to attain this goal a high lipid:low dextrose (HL:LD) is formulated. Lipid peroxidation is a common sequella of PA containing high lipid content. This in vitro peroxidation can lead to oxidative injury of biological membranes in vivo. Despite this concern, peripheral PA have many benefits and continue to be utilized. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to measure lipid hydroperoxides in HL:LD PA; and to determine the optimal dose of d-α-tocopherol to minimize peroxidation in the PA during a 24 h hang time. This in vitro experiment included three identical blocks consisting of 14 bags (n = 7 control; n = 7 treatment) filled aseptically with 109 ml of HL:LD PA. Total lipid content per bag was 8 g as soybean oil (Intralipid®). Natural d-α-tocopherol (Vital E-300™) was added to the treatment bags as 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64 IU/g of lipid. Control bags contained Vital E-300™ equivalent amounts of ethanol and benzyl alcohol. Bags were hung for 24 h at room temperature under fluorescent light exposure. Hydroperoxides were measured by FOX assay and tocopherols by HPLC at times 0 and 24 h. The level of hydroperoxides was expressed as μM equivalents tert-butyl hydroperoxide (μM = TBH). A Repeated Measures anova was used for data analysis, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Detectable levels of hydroperoxides were found in all PA at time 0 and 24. Mean TBH concentrations in control bags were 380 and 383 μM at time 0 and 24 respectively. A 3-way interaction (time x treatment x α-toc) was observed, p = 0.0018. d-α-tocpherol supplementation at 24–64 IU/g lipid decreased (p < 0.0001) TBH production from controls at time 0. By time 24 h, significant reduction in TBH was observed with Vit E concentrations of 48 and 64 IU/g lipid of d-α-tocopherol. In conclusion: lipid peroxidation of HL:LD PA occurs immediately following lipid administration, and d-α-tocopherol, as Vital E-300™, appears to significantly minimize this peroxidation process in vitro based on concentration and time of exposure to lipid. This has clinical implications for parenteral feeding in critically ill patients.
Life without TTP: Apparent absence of an important anti-inflammatory protein in birds

Both innate and adaptive immunity in birds are different from their mammalian counterparts. Understanding bird immunity is important because of the enormous potential impact of avian infectious diseases, both in their role as food animals and as potential carriers of zoonotic diseases in man. The anti-inflammatory protein tristetraprolin (TTP) is an important component of the mammalian innate immune response, in that it binds to and destabilizes key cytokine mRNAs. TTP knockout mice exhibit a severe systemic inflammatory syndrome, and they are abnormally sensitive to innate immune stimuli such as LPS. TTP orthologs have been found in most vertebrates studied, including frogs. Here, we attempted to identify TTP orthologs in chicken and other birds, using database searches and deep mRNA sequencing. Although sequences encoding the two other widely expressed TTP family members, ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2, were identified, we did not find sequences corresponding to TTP in any bird species. Sequences corresponding to TTP were identified in both lizards and alligators, close evolutionary relatives of birds. The induction kinetics of Zfp36l1 and Zfp36l2 mRNAs in LPS-stimulated chicken macrophages or serum-stimulated chick embryo fibroblasts did not resemble the normal mammalian TTP response to these stimuli, suggesting that the other two family members might not compensate for the TTP deficiency in regulating rapidly induced mRNA targets. Several mammalian TTP target transcripts have chicken counterparts that contain one or more potential TTP binding sites, raising the possibility that birds express other proteins that subsume TTP's function as a rapidly inducible regulator of AU-rich element (ARE)-dependent mRNA turnover.
THE USE OF SIMPLE PULSES TO ESTIMATE INELASTIC RESPONSE SPECTRA

Inelastic response spectra are estimated for elasto-plastic SDOF systems subjected to strong earthquake ground motions by applying the strength reduction factors determined for a simple pulse to the elastic response spectrum of the ground motion. This approach relies upon similarities in the strength reduction factors computed for earthquake ground motions and for short duration pulses. The accuracy of the estimated inelastic spectra obtained using 24 simple pulse waveforms is assessed in order to identify subsets of just several pulse waveforms that are suited for this purpose. Based upon the ground motions and pulses investigated, this approach appears to be equally applicable to short and long duration ground motions and those having near-fault forward directivity features.
New technologies measuring optics of the upper ocean

Understanding precisely how light propagates across the air-sea interface and the factors that control this propagation are essential for several studies associated with the upper ocean. For example, estimates of organic activity are based on the amount of chlorophyll present, the number and types of organisms in the upper ocean, and measurements of the number of bubbles in breaking waves (a key factor that controls air-sea gas exchange). Optical properties of the surface and upper ocean are among the few tools available to scientists interested in understanding physical and chemical processes in the ocean. However, optical properties of the upper ocean vary within milliseconds and over millimeters as well as at longer time and space scales. This is because several factors affect the optical properties of the ocean, ranging from season, cloud cover, fog, aerosols, and wind to ocean turbulence and the organisms and chemicals present in the upper ocean.
A Comparison of Broad Versus Deep Auditory Menu Structures

Objective: The primary purpose of this experiment was to gain a greater understanding of the utilization of working memory when interacting with a speech-enabled interactive voice response (IVR) system. Background: A widely promoted guideline advises limiting IVR menus to five or fewer items because of constraints of the human memory system, commonly citing Miller's (1956) paper. The authors argue that Miller's paper does not, in fact, support this guideline. Furthermore, applying modern theories of working memory leads to the opposite conclusion — that reducing menu length by creating a deeper structure is actually more demanding of users' working memories and leads to poorer performance and satisfaction. Method: Participants took a working memory capacity test and then attempted to complete a series of e-mail tasks using one of two IVR designs (functionally equivalent, but one with a broad menu structure and the other with a deep structure). Results: Users of the broad-structure IVR performed better and...
Shelf wave dispersion in a geophysical ocean

We consider subinertial, free waves trapped along three coastlines (i.e., shelf waves) in an ocean governed by a geophysical model in which stratification is explicitly obtained by taking the Vaisala frequency N much greater than the inertial frequency f. The behavior is generalized in terms of the parameter S = (N/f)a where a is the bottom slope of the trapping region. Only when S $0.2, are the predicted shelf waves like those predicted by Laplace's tidal equations (LTE) on an f-plane. When 0.2 ≲ S < 1, LTE are inappropriate because the shelf waves are only qualitatively like those predicted by LTE, and when S 1, the shelf waves are like baroclinic Kelvin waves in that they can occur at any subinertial frequency up to f (in qualitative disagreement with the predictions of LTE). Since N/f is usually a large number in the real ocean (of order 50–250), S is likely to be large unless the bottom slope is very gentle throughout the trapping region. Some applications to coastal current observations are discussed.
Transient temperature effects on bod and do concentrations along a stream

Abstract A transient version of Dobbins' dispersion model is extended to include the effect of temperature on BOD and DO concentrations along a stream. Waste heat discharge from a power plant is considered as the main cause for the temperature change. Effects of the axial dispersion coefficient, stream velocity, initial BOD concentration and DO removal rate on BOD and DO concentration levels are examined parametrically.
Academic Life: The Whole Package

When I received the unexpected but welcome invitation to write a Reflections article, I wondered which aspects of my life in science are sufficiently distinctive to make the article worth reading. One aspect may be my survival as a department chair for nearly 25 years while struggling to contribute as well in teaching and research, in other words, embracing the “whole package” of academic life: teaching, research, and service. Another part may be my experience as coauthor of a biochemistry textbook. To deal with both, I will begin with my introduction to biochemistry.
TAX SCENARIOS & VALUE CREATION: POST 1992 EUROPE

The prescription for 1992 for the European Community calls for the completion of the Internal Market and the absence of many of the fiscal and physical barriers to the movement of goods, capital, and labour within the community. However, realistically it is likely that residual fiscal and other barriers will remain into the next century. Both the effected change and delay in changes will induce predictable patterns in the movement of labour and capital, the distribution of goods and services, and industrial location and development.
Well-posed first-order reduction of the characteristic problem of the linearized Einstein equations

A choice of first-order variables for the characteristic problem of the linearized Einstein equations is found which casts the system into manifestly well-posed form. The concept of well-posedness for characteristic problems invoked is that there exists an \textit{a priori} estimate of the solution of the characteristic problem in terms of the data. The notion of manifest well-posedness consists of an algebraic criterion sufficient for the existence of the estimates, and is to characteristic problems as symmetric hyperbolicity is to Cauchy problems. Both notions have been made precise elsewere.
Activation mobilizes the cholesterol in the late endosomes-lysosomes of Niemann Pick type C cells.

A variety of intercalating amphipaths increase the chemical activity of plasma membrane cholesterol. To test whether intracellular cholesterol can be similarly activated, we examined NPC1 and NPC2 fibroblasts, since they accumulate large amounts of cholesterol in their late endosomes and lysosomes (LE/L). We gauged the mobility of intracellular sterol from its appearance at the surface of the intact cells, as determined by its susceptibility to cholesterol oxidase and its isotope exchange with extracellular 2-(hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin-cholesterol. The entire cytoplasmic cholesterol pool in these cells was mobile, exchanging with the plasma membrane with an apparent half-time of ∼3–4 hours, ∼4–5 times slower than that for wild type human fibroblasts (half-time ∼0.75 hours). The mobility of the intracellular cholesterol was increased by the membrane-intercalating amphipaths chlorpromazine and 1-octanol. Chlorpromazine also promoted the net transfer of LE/L cholesterol to serum and cyclodextrin. Surprisingly, the mobility of LE/L cholesterol was greatly stimulated by treating intact NPC cells with glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde. Similar effects were seen with wild type fibroblasts in which the LE/L cholesterol pool had been expanded using U18666A. We also showed that the cholesterol in the intracellular membranes of fixed wild-type fibroblasts was mobile; it was rapidly oxidized by cholesterol oxidase and was rapidly replenished by exogenous sterol. We conclude that a) the cholesterol in NPC cells can exit the LE/L (and the extensive membranous inclusions therein) over a few hours; b) this mobility is stimulated by the activation of the cholesterol with intercalating amphipaths; c) intracellular cholesterol is even more mobile in fixed cells; and d) amphipaths that activate cholesterol might be useful in treating NPC disease.
SATISFACTION OF PARTICIPANTS IN UNIVERSITY‐ADMINISTERED ELDERHOSTEL PROGRAMS

Older adults who attended Elderhostels on more than one occasion were surveyed to determine their satisfaction and primary motivating factors for participating. Results indicate that both intellectual and social motivation were strongly related to satisfaction, and satisfaction was highly related to expectation. In comparison, demographic characteristics and the health of participants showed little relationship with satisfaction levels. Elderhostelers in this study indicated that satisfaction can be maximized if Elderhostel hosts provide topics of intellectual interest and the course structure allows for social interaction.
Correlation between temperature and oleic acid seed content in three segregating soybean populations.

The development of high-oleate soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germplasm, currently in demand due to its nutritional value and oxidative stability, may be hampered by the instability of fatty acid composition across environments, which is largely attributed to temperature changes and its effects on fatty acid biosynthesis during the period of oil deposition. In the present study, we evaluated three soybean populations that segregated for oleate content and maturity at multiple environments in North Carolina. Oleate content was positively correlated with daily temperatures, averaged over the seed-filling stage, for the experimental lines of the late-maturing population but was negatively correlated for the lines of the early-maturing populations. Oil content was positively correlated with the average daily temperature during seed filling in all three populations, regardless of their early- or late-maturity profile. Negative correlations between oleate content and temperature during the period of oil deposition have not been previously reported. Moreover, in contrast to previous reports, maximum, minimum, and average daily temperatures were highly correlated during seed filling in all environments of this study. We conclude that cautious interpretation of these findings is necessary due to the correlation between temperature and photoperiod during the period of oil deposition.
FUNCTIONING POTENTIAL OF SOY, COTTONSEED, AND PEANUT PROTEIN ISOLATES PRODUCED BY INDUSTRIAL MEMBRANE SYSTEMS

Protein isolates from toasted and untoasted soy flour, glandless cottonseed flour and peanut flour were produced by ultrafiltration. Their functional characteristics were evaluated relative to those of a commercial soy isolate. Whippability, foam capacity and stability, heat gelation, emulsitication capacity, oil absorption, and hydration were measured. Nitrogen solubilities and color readings were also obtained. In many instances membrane-produced isolates were equal to or superior in performance to that of the commercial isolate. Membrane isolated soy products yielded foam viscosities in excess of 300,000 cps as compared to 33,000 cps for the commercial isolate. The presence of whey proteins in membrane produced isolates markedly enhanced their functionality.
Evaluation of Spray Application of Postmilking Teat Sanitizer

Application of postmilking teat sanitizer by spraying was evaluated in two experimental challenge trials with Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 27956) (McDonald 44). A .5% quaternary ammonium teat sanitizer was used in both studies. By direct comparison, teat spraying and dipping did not differ in effectiveness. Efficacy for the .5% quaternary ammonium compound was 58.6%, similar to results on the product applied as a dip (13).
The effect of Pt concentration on the activity and selectivity of SO42−ZrO2 catalysts for the hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane

Abstract The addition of Pt to promote the long-term activity of SO 4 2− ZrO 2 catalysts is showm to have a strong influence on the conversion of n-hexadecane. The maximum conversion occurs at the 0.6–1.0 wt.% Pt concentration range; increasing further the Pt concentration up to 5.0 wt.% does not increase the conversion of n-hexadecane. At a constant conversion, the selectivity for isomerization and cracking is the same for different levels of Pt. However, the carbon number distribution of the cracked products shows a small shift to higher carbon numbers with increasing Pt loadings.
Mutation rates of the (1+1)-EA on pseudo-boolean functions of bounded epistasis

When the epistasis of the fitness function is bounded by a constant, we show that the expected fitness of an offspring of the (1+1)-EA can be efficiently computed for any point. Moreover, we show that, for any point, it is always possible to efficiently retrieve the "best" mutation rate at that point in the sense that the expected fitness of the resulting offspring is maximized. On linear functions, it has been shown that a mutation rate of 1/n is provably optimal. On functions where epistasis is bounded by a constant k, we show that for sufficiently high fitness, the commonly used mutation rate of 1/n is also best, at least in terms of maximizing the expected fitness of the offspring. However, we find for certain ranges of the fitness function, a better mutation rate can be considerably higher, and can be found by solving for the real roots of a degree-k polynomial whose coefficients contain the nonzero Walsh coefficients of the fitness function. Simulation results on maximum k-satisfiability problems and NK-landscapes show that this expectation-maximized mutation rate can cause significant gains early in search.
The Political Economy of Chinese Foreign Policy

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This paper was presented in an earlier version at the panel on Domnestic Sour(es of Foreign Polic ," A merican Political Scienee A ssociation Annual Meeting, September 1-4, 1977. 1 am indebted to the following people for their helpful comments: Joseph Esherick, Thomas Ferguson, Edward Friedman, Peter Gourevitch, James Kurth, James Palais, John Starr, and James Townsend. The reader might also be advised that all U.S. Central Intelligence AgencY studies utilized in this paper are published and freel/v available.
Review and Extension of Computational Methods for Noncircular Cross-Sectional Weapons

Areview of current state-of-the-artmethods for computing aerodynamics of noncircularcross-sectional weapon conceptshasbeenperformed.Inaddition,an improvedengineeringmethodhasbeendevelopedto computeaerodynamics of these nonaxisymmetric body cone gurations. The improved method is based on extending current stateof-the-art methods for computing aerodynamics of noncircular wing ‐body shapes based on circular wing ‐body methods. Specie cadditions to the state-of-the-art methods currently in use include extensions to a broader class of cross-sectional bodiesand to ahigherangleof attack;extensionsto allow improved accuracyatlowcrosse owMach numberand to allowbody cross-sectional shape to impact the critical crosse owReynoldsnumber;and a method to treatwing‐body interferencefactorcorrections as a function of body geometry, Machnumber, and angleof attack. The new methodswere applied to a broad classof noncircularbody alone and wing ‐body cone gurations for which wind-tunneldatawereavailable.In general,resultsfornormalforce,axialforce,andcenter-of-pressurepredictions werequitegoodforasemiempiricalmethodology,overtheMachnumberandangle-of-attackrangewheredatawere available. Range of variables included Mach numbers as low as0.3 and ashigh as 14 and angles of attack to 60 deg.
The case for confidence intervals in controlled clinical trials

Abstract A statistical wit once remarked that researchers often pose the wrong question and then proceed to answer that question incorrectly. The question that researchers intend to ask is whether or not a treatment effect is clinically significant. The question that is typically asked, however, is whether or not the treatment effect is statistically significant—a question that may be only marginally related to the issue of clinical impact. Similarly, the response, in the form of a p value, is typically assumed to reflect clinical significance but in fact reflects statistical significance. In an attempt to address this problem the medical literature over the past decade has been moving away from tests of significance and toward the use of confidence intervals. Concretely, study reports are moving away from “the difference was significant with a p value under 0.01” and toward “the one-year survival rate was increased by 20 percentage points with a 95% confidence interval of 15 to 24 percentage points.” By focusing on what the effect is rather than on what the effect is not confidence intervals offer an appropriate framework for reporting the results of clinical trials. This paper offers a non-technical introduction to confidence intervals, shows how the confidence intervals framework offers advantages over hypothesis testing, and highlights some of the controversy that has developed around the application of this method. Additionally, we make the argument that studies which will be reported in terms of confidence intervals should similarly be planned with reference to confidence intervals. The sample size should be set to ensure that the estimates of effect size will be reported not only with adequate power but also with appropriate precision.
A Robust Lightweight Solution for RFID Security

The ubiquitous adoption of RFID technology is becoming integral part of our life. The stringent behavior of RFID system makes it more prone to impendence situations. Consequently, it needs more enduring and testing to become less susceptible to attacks without compromising the crucial key factors like, memory, cost, speed, computation and handling. An approach without concerning all these factors is not an acceptable approach. In this paper, we present a more persistent solution that provides security without compromising the crucial key factors and addressing all security issues like eavesdropping, tracking, cloning and replay attacks.
Leveraging XSEDE HPC resources to address computational challenges with high-resolution topography data

Leveraging service-oriented architectures and taking advantage of the high-performance compute resources provided by XSEDE, we have developed standards-based web services to address the challenges associated with processing large volumes of high resolution topography data. These web services make results from community software packages and other cyberinfrastructure-based applications available to the wider earth sciences community via the OpenTopography Facility and the CyberGIS Gateway.
Site of action potential generation in a giant neuron of Aplysia californica

Abstract While both somatic and axonal membranes of a giant neuron (R 2 ) in Aplysia have sodium spike channels, only in the axon is an action potential generated. A likely reason for this is that the sodium channel density in the soma is too low to generate action potentials.
F. Laser Control and Femtosecond Dynamics. Femtosecond Dynamics of Reactions: Elementary Processes of Controlled Solvation

The summary presented here attempts to describe recent studies in our laboratory of the effect of microscopic solvation, controlled in a cluster cage or fluid environment, on the elementary dynamics of reactions. We selected reactions of two atoms (dissociation) and many atoms, proton transfer in acid-base reactions and double-bond twisting in isomerization reactions.
Auditing in China

The Chinese auditing standards have undergone many changes in recent years. These changes intend to harmonize the internal auditing practices with the international auditing approaches. The speed of transformation is remarkable. Despite this, there remain many challenging issues that need the attention of both the Chinese auditing profession and the Ministry of Finance (MoF). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nonlinear and symbolic data dependence testing

One of the most crucial qualities of an optimizing compiler is its ability to detect when different data references access the same storage location. Such references are said to be data-dependent and they impose constraints on the amount of program modifications the compiler can apply for improving the program's performance. For parallelizing compilers, the most important program constructs to investigate are loops and the array references they contain. In previous work, we have found a serious limitation of current data dependence tests to be that they cannot handle loop bounds or array subscripts that are symbolic, nonlinear expressions. In this paper, we describe a dependence test, called the range test, that can handle such expressions. Briefly, the range test proves independence by determining whether certain symbolic inequalities hold for a permutation of the loop nest. Powerful symbolic analyses and constraint propagation techniques were developed to prove such inequalities. The range test has been implemented in Polaris, a parallelizing compiler developed at the University of Illinois. We present measurements of the range test's performance and compare it with state-of-the-art tests.
Experimental study of occupancy-based control of HVAC zones ✩

We present experimental evaluation of two occupancy-based control strategies for HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) systems in commercial buildings that were proposed in our earlier simulation work. We implement these strategies in a test-zone of Pugh Hall at the University of Florida campus. By comparing their performance against a conventional baseline controller (that does not use real-time occupancy measurements) on days when exogenous inputs—such as weather—are similar, we establish the energy savings potential for each of these strategies. The two control strategies are of vastly different complexity: one is a rule-based feedback controller while the other is based on MPC (model predictive control) that requires real-time optimization based on dynamic models. The results of the evaluation are consistent with those of our prior simulation work, that (i) both occupancy based controllers yield substantial energy savings over the baseline controller without sacrificing thermal comfort and indoor air quality, and (ii) the much higher complexity MPC controller yields negligible benefit over the simple rule-based feedback controller. The experimental evaluation provides further confidence that high degree of energy savings is possible with simple control algorithms that use real-time occupancy measurements.
Characterization of a novel anthocyanin profile in wild black raspberry mutants: An opportunity for studying the genetic control of pigment and color

Abstract The type and amount of anthocyanins in raspberries, and other small fruits, has recently received increased attention. Black raspberry ( Rubus occidentalis L.), in particular, has long been recognized as a rich source of anthocyanins and has been the focus of many recent studies examining their potential health benefits. In this study, we characterized a novel anthocyanin profile found in seedlings of two wild black raspberry populations collected from South Dakota, USA. Seedlings from these populations lack pigments glycosylated with rutinoside in their fruit, have elevated levels of cyanidin-3-sambubioside, and contain a small but significant amount of pelargonidin-3-glucoside, a pigment reported only once previously in black raspberry. Affected fruit also have lower than typical total anthocyanins (77.5–134.4 mg 100 mL −1 ). Based on the available evidence, we believe the plants have a mutation in the gene encoding anthocyanidin-3-glycoside rhamnosyltransferase (3RT), providing a unique opportunity to identify and study one of the major genes in the anthocyanin pathway and its effect on fruit anthocyanins and color.
Peptidoglycan Remodeling and Conversion of an Inner Membrane into an Outer Membrane during Sporulation

Two hallmarks of the Firmicute phylum, which includes the Bacilli and Clostridia classes, are their ability to form endospores and their “Gram-positive” single-membraned, thick-cell-wall envelope structure. Acetonema longum is part of a lesser-known family (the Veillonellaceae) of Clostridia that form endospores but that are surprisingly “Gram negative,” possessing both an inner and outer membrane and a thin cell wall. Here, we present macromolecular resolution, 3D electron cryotomographic images of vegetative, sporulating, and germinating A. longum cells showing that during the sporulation process, the inner membrane of the mother cell is inverted and transformed to become the outer membrane of the germinating cell. Peptidoglycan persists throughout, leading to a revised, “continuous” model of its role in the process. Coupled with genomic analyses, these results point to sporulation as a mechanism by which the bacterial outer membrane may have arisen and A. longum as a potential “missing link” between single- and double-membraned bacteria.
The Effects of a Direct Instruction Flashcard System on Multiplication Fact Mastery by Two High School Students with ADHD and ODD

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present research is to compare the effects of a Direct Instruction flashcard procedure on the mastery of multiplication facts by two high school students with attention deficit hyper-activity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Both students were enrolled in a separate high school for students with behavior disabilities. The effectiveness of the Direct Instruction flashcard procedure was evaluated across three different sets of math problems using a multiple baseline design. In addition, the effectiveness of various ratios of mastered to unmastered facts was examined. The overall outcomes indicate a large increase in correct responding by both of the participants during the Direct Instruction Flashcard System. An intermediate ratio of mastered to unmastered facts was correlated with fewer trials to mastery for each participant. The applicability of employing Direct Instruction flash card procedures was discussed and directions for future research were posed.
Architecture-adaptive computing environment: a tool for teaching parallel programming

Recently, networked and cluster computation have become very popular. This paper is an introduction to a new C based parallel language for architecture-adaptive programming, aCe C. The primary purpose of aCe (Architecture-adaptive Computing Environment) is to encourage programmers to implement applications on parallel architectures by providing them the assurance that future architectures will be able to run their applications with a minimum of modification. A secondary purpose is to encourage computer architects to develop new types of architectures by providing an easily implemented software development environment and a library of test applications. This new language should be an ideal tool to teach parallel programming. In this paper, the authors focus on some fundamental features of aCe C.
Adoption of nutrient management techniques to reduce hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Data were collected from 1011 land owner-operators within three watersheds located in the North Central Region of the USA to examine use of selected water protection practices. A theoretical model developed from selected components of the traditional diffusion paradigm and the farm structure model was used to predict adoption and use of conservation practices at the farm level within the study watersheds. Study findings revealed that factors commonly purported to be highly correlated with adoption of conservation production systems were not useful for predicting use of conservation production practices assessed. The production practices examined in the study were percent of cultivated fields surrounded by grass filter strips, percent of waterways in cultivated fields protected by grass, use of banded fertilizer, use of side dressing of fertilizer, and use of nitrification inhibitor. Study findings revealed that the theoretical model developed to guide the study was relatively ineffective for predicting adoption of the conservation practices assessed in the study. None of the statistical models developed from analysis of study data explained more than nine percent of the variance in any of the conservation practices assessed. Research findings suggest that existing conservation programs are no longer useful policy instruments for motivating land owner-operators to adopt and use production systems designed to reduce agricultural pollution of waterways.
Computational Design of Polymer Nanocomposite Coatings: A Multiscale Hierarchical Approach for Barrier Property Prediction

In the development of polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), computational prediction of material properties is of great advantages in achieving rational and cost-effective design. This paper introduces a new multiscale hierarchical approach specifically tailored for PNCs property prediction. Due to its distinct features of generality and comprehensiveness, the introduced methodology outperforms most existing computational methods in this area. By this methodology, a wide range of PNCs containing any-shaped nanoparticles dispersed in a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer matrix can be thoroughly investigated for multiple property prediction. Furthermore, a reliable prediction is promoted by a systematic consideration of the intrinsic multiscale hierarchical structure of PNCs. Most importantly, an effective integration of different methods and theories at individual scales offers unique opportunities for gaining in-depth scientific understandings on the molecular structural origin of macroscopic property enhancement.
Relationship between spatial-frequency and orientation tuning of striate-cortex cells.

If striate cells had the receptive-field (RF) shapes classically attributed to them, their preferred spatial frequencies would vary considerably with orientation. Other models of RF shape would predict a greater independence between orientation and spatial-frequency tuning. We have examined this by recording the responses of cat striate-cortex cells to a wide range of different spatial-frequency and orientation combinations. In almost all cells studied, peak orientation did not consistently vary with spatial frequency, but the majority of cells showed some change in peak spatial-frequency tuning with orientation. The amount of change in peak spatial frequency tended to be greater for cells that were narrowly tuned for orientation. However, cells narrowly (and also very broadly) tuned for spatial frequency tended to show considerable independence of spatial-frequency and orientation tuning, and in all but a few cells the degree of change was less than predicted by the classic RF model. Such cells were found to fire only to patterns whose local spatial spectra fell within a compact, restricted, roughly circular two-dimensional spatial-frequency region. We conclude that the two-dimensional RF shape of striate cells more closely approximates that predicted by a two-dimensional Gabor model or by a Gaussian-derivative model than it does the classic shape based on the output of geniculate cells with aligned RF’s.
Physiologic and therapeutic concerns in anesthesia for patients with reactive airways

HE TERM reactive airways actually refers to patients whose airways are hyperactive. Such patients show an exaggerated response to various physical or pharmacological stimuli. The response is characteristically more intense than is normal and occurs at a considerably lower level of stimulus. This article focuses on the major factors that must be identified and considered when dealing with such patients in the perioperative period. IDENTIFYING THE PATIENTS WITH REACTIVE AIRWAYS The mere mention of reactive airways usually conjures up the notion of the asthmatic with intermittent bouts of severe bronchospasm. However, it is important to emphasize that a significant degree of heightened airway reactivity occurs in patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema, as well as in those with allergic rhinitis and upper and lower respiratory tract infections. These latter patients may be more likely to develop perioperative bronchospasm than many asthmatics because therapy is often optimal in asthmatics, and they are usually able to determine whether
Training engineers: The school- and home-based predictors of undergraduate engineering achievement in Brazil

This study compares the predictive power of university and home background factors in engineering student achievement.
QUICK CLAYS OF EASTERN CANADA

Abstract This paper describes the results of research carried out during the past fifteen years on the quick clays of eastern Canada. The mineral composition and structure of these clays is similar to that of other glacial marine clays but they often exist with an unusually low salt content in the pore water. There is evidence of strong rigid bonds between particles of those deposits that are overconsolidated. The bonds are broken when the soil is loaded and this may lead to large volume changes or to exceptional loss of strength if drainage is not permitted. Some studies have been made on the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil and on its fabric but most of the research to date has involved laboratory and field observations of the response of the soil structure to stress changes. The important influence of rate of loading has revealed the need of careful interpretation of laboratory tests for field application.
Ionization cross-sections for ion-atom collisions in high-energy ion beams

Abstract Knowledge of ion–atom ionization cross-sections is of great importance for many accelerator applications. We have recently investigated theoretically and experimentally the stripping of more than 18 different pairs of projectile and target particles in the range of 3–38 MeV/amu to study the range of validity of both the Born approximation and the classical trajectory calculation. In most cases, both approximations give similar results. However, for fast projectile velocities and low-ionization potentials, the classical approach is not valid and can overestimate the stripping cross-sections by neutral atoms by an order-of-magnitude. Therefore, a hybrid approach that automatically chooses between the Born approximation and the classical mechanics approximation depending on the parameters of the collision has been developed. When experimental data and theoretical calculations are not available, approximate formulas are frequently used. Based on experimental data and theoretical predictions, a new fit formula for ionization cross-sections by fully stripped ions is proposed. The resulting plots of the scaled ionization cross-sections of hydrogen by fully stripped ions are presented. The new fit formula has also been applied to the ionization cross-sections of helium. Again, the experimental and theoretical results merge close together on the scaled plot.
Economic Comparison of Three Winter Wheat-Fallow Tillage Systems

Economic information is needed to evaluate the sustainability of tillage systems used for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the Central Great Plains. This study compared the potential economic returns of conventional stubble-mulch tillage (CT), reduced-till (RT), and notill (NT) winter wheat production systems using estimated farmer costs or custom costs. Grain yields were not significantly different between tillage systems from 1987 through 1992 with 6-yr average grain yields of 40, 40, and 42 bu/acre for the CT, RT, and NT systems, respectively. Preharvest costs were highest for NT while RT and CT costs were virtually the same when using farmer based costs [...]
Visual and force-feedback guidance for robot-assisted interventions in the beating heart with real-time MRI

Robot-assisted surgical procedures are perpetually evolving due to potential improvement in patient treatment and healthcare cost reduction. Integration of an imaging modality intraoperatively further strengthens these procedures by incorporating the information pertaining to the area of intervention. Such information needs to be effectively rendered to the operator as a human-in-the-loop requirement. In this work, we propose a guidance approach that uses real-time MRI to assist the operator in performing robot-assisted procedure in a beating heart. Specifically, this approach provides both real-time visualization and force-feedback based guidance for maneuvering an interventional tool safely inside the dynamic environment of a heart's left ventricle. Experimental evaluation of the functionality of this approach was tested on a simulated scenario of transapical aortic valve replacement and it demonstrated improvement in control and manipulation by providing effective and accurate assistance to the operator in real-time.
The Application of Tongue Endurance Measures to Functional Dining

Abstract While tongue strength has been shown to be critical for safe swallowing, measures of tongue endurance may be more functional, given that dining requires multiple swallows performed over a ...
Multidelity Approaches for Parallel Multidisciplinary Optimization

Optimization of systems is often plagued by computationally expensive simulations and the need for iterative analysis to resolve coupling among subsystems. These challenges are typically severe enough as to prohibit formal system optimization. This paper formulates two new methods to parallelize the optimization of multidisciplinary systems. The rst method decomposes the system optimization problem into multiple subsystem optimiza- tions that are solved in parallel. The second method generates a list of designs at which computationally expensive simulations should be run, evaluates those designs in parallel, and then solves an inexpensive surrogate-based optimization problem. Both methods en- able the use of multidelity optimization to nd an optimal solution with respect to the highest-delity models available. In addition, both methods exploit high-delity sensitivity information if available, but do not require gradients of the high-delity models. Thus, the methods are applicable to problems with black-box codes and/or noisy function evalua- tions. The two methods are demonstrated on three analytical optimization problems, and a multidisciplinary, multidelity aerostructural design optimization problem.
Competing Roles of TGFβ and Nma/BAMBI in Odontoblasts

Nma/BAMBI is a novel pseudoreceptor with homology to a TGFβ type I receptor that lacks a serine/threonine kinase domain. Nma/BAMBI functions as a dominant-negative protein that regulates reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during organogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that Nma/BAMBI regulates TGFβ signaling and downstream gene expression during dentinogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we examined the downstream gene expression profiles of major dentin extracellular matrix proteins in response to Nma/BAMBI, and we examined the roles of Nma/BAMBI and TGFβ-1 during dentinogenesis. Overexpression of Nma/BAMBI in the mouse odontoblast-like cell line MD10-A2 down-regulated expression of DSPP by 66% and up-regulated expression of DMP1 four-fold. TGFβ treatment reversed Nma/BAMBI’s negative effect on DSPP expression. Furthermore, we demonstrated that TGFβ negatively regulates Nma/BAMBI’s expression levels in MD10-A2 odontoblast-like cells. Analysis of these data, together, indicates that TGFβ and Nm...
H2S reaction of Se-capped metallic precursors to form Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 absorber layers

The precursor reaction process for the formation of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 (CIGSSe) absorber layers offers great potential for both high efficiency and large scale module production. Nevertheless, long reaction times can create a barrier for cost reduction. In this work, we report on a pathway to a 70 % faster precursor reaction process using a Se-capped metallic precursor. The effects of the precursor reaction time and Se-layer thickness on the through-film Ga- and S-profiles are characterized. These parameters allow control of the band gap profile and the device performance. The process further yields reduced void formation at the Mo/CIGSSe interface and improved adhesion.
Nonhomoeologous translocations between group 4, 5 and 7 chromosomes within wheat and rye

Genetic maps of wheat chromosome 4A and rye chromosome arm 5RL, and the chromosomal locations of 70 sets of isozyme and molecular homoeoloci have been used to further define the structure of wheat chromosomes 4A, 5A and 7B, and rye chromosomes 4R, 5R and 7R. We provide evidence, for the first time, which is consistent with the presence of an interstitial segment on 4AL originating from 5AL, and of a segment originally from 5RL on 7RS. The evolutionary origins of the present chromosomes are discussed.
On the nature of implicit soul beliefs: When the past weighs more than the present

Intuitive childhood beliefs in dualism may lay the foundation for implicit soul and afterlife beliefs, which may diverge from explicit beliefs formed later in adulthood. Brief Implicit Association Tests were developed to investigate the relation of implicit soul and afterlife beliefs to childhood and current beliefs. Early but not current beliefs covaried with implicit beliefs. Results demonstrated greater discrepancies in current than in childhood soul and afterlife beliefs among religious groups, and no differences in implicit beliefs. These findings suggest that implicit soul and afterlife beliefs diverge from current self-reported beliefs, stemming instead from childhood beliefs.
Effect of vitreous fluidity on the measurement of blood‐retinal barrier permeability using contrast‐enhanced MRI

Breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB), frequently an early clinical sign in retinopathy, can be accurately determined using contrast-enhanced MRI. However, increased vitreous fluidity with age and disease may affect the accuracy of the MRI method. We compared the permeability surface area product per area of leaky retina in eyes with normal vitreous (5.42 +/- 0.48 x 10(-4) cm/min, mean +/- SEM, n = 5) to the contralateral gas-compressed vitrectomized eyes (5.41 +/- 0.54 x 10(-4) cm/min, n = 5). The effect of vitrectomy was not significant (P = 0.325) using a Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test on the signed differences of the PS' values.
What We Should Count and Why

The data on race and ethnic group collected in the U.S. census are examined. The author describes the changes that have been implemented over time in the information collected the problems involved in collecting this kind of information the reasons for collecting it and the utility of the data collected. (ANNOTATION)
Managing fictitious capital: The legal geography of investment and political struggle in rental housing in New York City

Since 2001 investors have purchased rent-regulated housing in New York City with heightened expectation for financial performance, placing pressure on tenants and communities through increasing rents, harassment, eviction, and when financial targets are not met, physical deterioration of buildings. At the heart of this investment strategy is fictitious capital, the extension of credit based on assumptions about future events. This paper shows that beyond assessments about the “truth” or rationality of the expectations underlying fictitious capital, the management of value as a problem is at stake. When the expectations underlying fictitious capital are not realized, a network of actors engage in a set of legal–financial practices to manage the value of rent-regulated multifamily buildings, including banking regulation and its exception, mortgage securitization and special servicing, distressed debt markets, rent stabilization, and foreclosure law. The breakdown of the assumptions of fictitious capital rev...