cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Game server selection for multiple players

The increase in power and connectivity of computers has enabled a growth in network games, with many games having numerous servers to which a player can connect. The game server selected influences the game play, both by impacting the game type and map choice as well as the connection latency and server performance. Often, geographically spread-out friends, family and clan members want to play together on a centrally-located game server with good performance. Unfortunately, current game server selection tools only consider the perspective of a single client, with multiple players left to coordinate their game server selection manually through an out-of-band means, such as telephone or online chat. This manual server coordination process is time-consuming, at best, and error-prone, at worst, often resulting in the selection of a poorly performing game server. This paper presents an architecture that allows geographically dispersed players that want to play together to select the best game server for their shared game play. Implementation details of a working system based on the architecture are presented, including a preliminary evaluation illustrating the system's effectiveness.
2H magnetic relaxation of 2H2O absorbed by wool.

Abstract D 2 O absorbed by intact wool fibers was studied by solid-state 2 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In wool fibers swollen in D 2 O, the deuteron transverse magnetization and the spin-locked magnetization revealed a non-exponential decay. At least two NMR phases with different sets of the NMR relaxation parameters, T 1 ρ ( 2 H) and T 2 ( 2 H), have been detected that may be a manifestation of two different morphological phases of the cortex of the fiber.
ICAM-1 is required for resistance to herpes simplex virus type 1 but not interferon-alpha1 transgene efficacy.

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of ICAM-1 in ocular herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. Wild-type and ICAM-1 knockout mice were assessed for resistance to ocular HSV-1 infection in the presence of naked DNA plasmid vector or plasmid DNA encoding interferon-alpha1 topically applied to the cornea of the mice. Wild-type mice showed greater resistance to HSV-1 infection compared to ICAM-1 knockout mice as measured by cumulative survival. The absence of ICAM-1 did not affect the efficacy of the interferon-alpha1 transgene against ocular HSV-1. Both ICAM-1 and wild-type mice treated with the transgene showed a reduction in viral load and antigen expression in the trigeminal ganglion compared to the plasmid vector-treated counterparts. In contrast, the presence of the transgene reduced the number of infiltrating cells into the cornea in comparison to plasmid vector DNA controls in the wild-type mice but not in the ICAM-1 knockout mice. Collectively, these results suggest that the IFN-alpha1 transgene can restore resistance against HSV-1 infection in ICAM-1-deficient mice.
High-spatial-resolution studies of UV-laser-damage morphology in SiO 2 thin films with artificial defects

Atomic force microscopy was employed to investigate the morphology of UV, nanosecond-pulsed-laser damage in SiO2 thin films. Gold nanoparticles, 18.5 nm in diameter and embedded in the film, were used as calibrated absorbing defects. Damage-crater diameter, depth, volume, and cross-sectional profiles were measured as a function of laser fluence and the lodging depth of gold nanoparticles. The results indicate that at laser fluences close to the crater-formation threshold and a lodging depth of a few particle diameters, the dominating regime of the material removal is melting and evaporation. The morphology of craters initiated by deep absorbing defects, with a lodging depth larger than ~10 particle diameters, clearly points to the dominating role of a shock-wave-induced material-removal mechanism. Crater-diameter variation with lodging depth and laser fluence is compared with theoretical predictions.
Evaluation of a program for improving conflict management skills of special services directors

Abstract Results are reported of an evaluation of a program for improving skills of public school special services directors in managing conflict between parents of handicapped children and multidisciplinary teams. Four directors were provided instruction in conflict management by means of four, 3 1 2 hour sessions that included behavioral specification of conflict management skills to be acquired, modeling of appropriate skills, role play exercises, performance feedback, and social approval for correct performance. Assessment of conflict management skills involved measurement of each director's conflict management performance prior to and following the program in simulation and in actual school settings. The results indicated that increases in conflict management skills occurred for all directors following the program. In addition, videotaped ratings of each director's performance made by other directors who did not participate in the program were higher after the programs were carried out.
Design of quinolinedione-based geldanamycin analogues.

Quinoline-5,8-dione-based compounds were designed from the structure of the geldanamycin-bound Hsp-90 active site. The active site model predicted that aromatic substituents should be present at the 2-position, to take advantage of a hydrophobic pocket, and amino substituents should be present at the 6- or 7-position. COMPARE analysis revealed that the LC50 profile of 2-phenyl-6-(2-chloroethylamino)quinoline-5,8-dione has the highest geldanamycin-like activity (0.74 correlation coefficient).
Longer Term Improvement in Neurocognitive Functioning and Affective Distress Among Methamphetamine Users Who Achieve Stable Abstinence

Chronic use of methamphetamine (MA) is associated with neuropsychological dysfunction and affective distress. Some normalization of function has been reported after abstinence, but little in the way of data is available on the possible added benefits of long-term sobriety. To address this, we performed detailed neuropsychological and affective evaluations in 83 MA-dependent individuals at a baseline visit and following an average one-year interval period. Among the 83 MA-dependent participants, 25 remained abstinent, and 58 used MA at least once during the interval period. A total of 38 non-MA-addicted, demographically matched healthy comparison (i.e., HC) participants were also examined. At baseline, both MA-dependent participants who were able to maintain abstinence and those who were not performed significantly worse than the healthy comparison subjects on global neuropsychological functioning and were significantly more distressed. At the one-year follow-up, both the long-term abstainers and healthy comparison groups showed comparable global neuropsychological performance and affective distress levels, whereas the MA-dependent group who continued to use MA were worse than the comparison participants in terms of global neuropsychological functioning and affective distress. An interaction was observed between neuropsychological impairment at baseline, MA abstinence, and cognitive improvement, with abstinent MA-dependent participants who were neuropsychologically impaired at baseline demonstrating significantly and disproportionately greater improvement in processing speed and slightly greater improvement in motor abilities than the other participants. These results suggest partial recovery of neuropsychological functioning and improvement in affective distress upon sustained abstinence from MA that may extend beyond a year or more.
Multimodal Pain Management Strategies for Office-Based and Ambulatory Procedures

OFFICE-BASED SURGICAL PROcedures account for up to 25% of all elective surgical procedures performed in the United States. Ambulatory surgical proceduresnowmakeup70%of the total volume of hospital-based elective surgical procedures. More major surgical procedures are being performed on an ambulatory or 23-hour hospital stay basis including intra-abdominal, intrathoracic, and major orthopedic procedures. Postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting are the most common factors leading to delays in outpatient discharge and admissions to the hospital following ambulatory surgery. An understanding of the pharmacologic concepts and pain management techniques for those office-based procedures performedwithin the scopeof aprimarycare practice, and for patients undergoing hospital-based ambulatory (outpatient) surgical procedures, is a crucial component in the continuing education of the primary care physician. Opioid analgesics are the historical choice of primary analgesic medications for postoperative pain. It has been well documented that opioid analgesics are commonly associated with nausea, vomiting, sedation, dysphoria, pruritus, constipation, urinary hesitancy, and respiratory depression. Multimodal analgesia, or balanced analgesia, refers to the use of more than one medication or class of medication, or the use of more than one analgesic technique to produce analgesia through multiple mechanisms. Multimodal analgesic strategies for postoperative pain management, including the use of combinations of local anesthetic neural blockade techniques and nonopioid analgesic medications supplemented with opioid analgesics, have been shown to improve postoperative analgesia and reduce postoperative opioid requirements and opioid-related adverse effects. Multimodal postoperative pain management is applicable and equally important to both the pediatric and adult patient populations.
Time-invariant representation of discrete periodic systems

A large number of results from linear time-invariant system theory can be extended to periodic systems provided an equivalent time-invariant system can be found. This paper presents a simple and numerically reliable procedure to achieve the same. It is shown that, using a stacked representation of periodic systems, under system equivalence, a minimal-order generalized state-space description can always be obtained.
Geriatric Bone Lead Metabolism in a Female Nonhuman Primate Population

Abstract A geriatric rhesus monkey ( Macaca mulatta ) population, previously exposed to lead, was investigated using 109 Cd K X-ray fluorescence (K XRF) to determine whether metabolism of lead in bone was similar to that in human populations. The accumulation rate of lead into the tibia in this group of monkeys was determined to be 0.10–0.13 μg Pb (g bone mineral) −1 (μg dl −1 year) −1 , which compares well with human data, where the rate has been found to be 0.05–0.10 μg Pb (g bone mineral) −1 (μg dl −1 year) −1 . In addition, bone lead changes over a 10-month time period were investigated, but no statistically significant difference was found. A half-life for lead in “bone” was calculated by fitting a single exponential model to serial blood lead data; the mean half-life of lead in bone was found to be 3.0 ± 1.0 years. Both endogenous and exogenous lead exposure were found to be low at the present time, 10 years after cessation of lead intake. It is concluded that rhesus monkeys are an extremely good animal model of human bone lead metabolism and, in addition, that further research is needed to provide a more complete understanding of lead metabolism in geriatric populations.
Neutral endopeptidase modulates endothelin-1-induced airway smooth muscle contraction in guinea-pig trachea

This study was designed to evaluate the role of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) in modulating the airway smooth muscle contraction induced by endothelin-1 in isolated segments of guinea-pig trachea. Endothelin-1 (10(-9)-10(-6) M) produced a concentration-dependent contraction that reached a maximum by 30 min. The NEP inhibitor leucine-thiorphan (10(-5) M) significantly increased the contractile response to endothelin-1. The addition of leucine-thiorphan to tracheal segments precontracted by 10(-9) and 10(-8) M endothelin-1 increased isometric tension by 181 +/- 65% (mean +/- 1 S.E.M.; P less than 0.05) and by 138 +/- 49% (P less than 0.05), respectively. In contrast, the kininase II inhibitor captopril and the peptidase inhibitors leupeptin and bestatin had no effect. Preincubation of endothelin-1 with 1 microgram recombinant human NEP decreased the contractile activity of endothelin-1 by 72 +/- 9%, whereas no effect was observed using heat-inactivated NEP. We conclude that NEP modulates endothelin-induced contraction of airway smooth muscle in the guinea-pig trachea.
The mechanism by which the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channel opening and H2O2 inhibit the mitochondrial permeability transition.

Abstract Myocardial infarction is a manifestation of necrotic cell death as a result of opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). Receptor-mediated cardioprotection is triggered by an intracellular signaling pathway that includes phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, endothelial nitric-oxide synthase, guanylyl cyclase, protein kinase G (PKG), and the mitochondrial KATP channel (mitoKATP). In this study, we explored the pathway that links mitoKATP with the MPT. We confirmed previous findings that diazoxide and activators of PKG or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibited MPT opening. We extended these results and showed that other K+ channel openers as well as the K+ ionophore valinomycin also inhibited MPT opening and that this inhibition required reactive oxygen species. By using isoform-specific peptides, we found that the effects of KATP channel openers, PKG, or valinomycin were mediated by a PKCϵ. Activation of PKCϵ by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or H2O2 resulted in mitoKATP-independent inhibition of MPT opening, whereas activation of PKCϵ by PKG or the specific PKCϵ agonist ψϵ receptor for activated C kinase caused mitoKATP-dependent inhibition of MPT opening. Exogenous H2O2 inhibited MPT, because of its activation of PKCϵ, with an IC50 of 0.4 (±0.1) μm. On the basis of these results, we propose that two different PKCϵ pools regulate this signaling pathway, one in association with mitoKATP and the other in association with MPT.
Robotic animals might aid in the social development of children with autism

This study investigated whether a robotic dog might aid in the social development of children with autism. Eleven children diagnosed with autism (ages 5-8) interacted with the robotic dog AIBO and, during a different period within the same experimental session, a simple mechanical toy dog (Kasha), which had no ability to detect or respond to its physical or social environment. Results showed that, in comparison to Kasha, the children spoke more words to AIBO, and more often engaged in three types of behavior with AIBO typical of children without autism: verbal engagement, reciprocal interaction, and authentic interaction. In addition, we found suggestive evidence (with p values ranging from .07 to .09) that the children interacted more with AIBO, and, while in the AIBO session, engaged in fewer autistic behaviors. Discussion focuses on why robotic animals might benefit children with autism.
Delayed neutron yields: Time dependent measurements and a predictive model

The delayed neutrons from neutron-induced fission in /sup 232/U, /sup 237/Np, /sup 238/Pu, /sup 241/Am, /sup 242/Am/sup m/, /sup 245/Cm, and /sup 249/Cf were studied for the first time; those from /sup 232/Th, /sup 233/U, /sup 235/U, /sup 238/U, /sup 239/Pu, /sup 241/Pu, and /sup 242/Pu were measured again. The data were used to develop an expression for the prediction of the absolute delayed neutron yield, and the prediction of delayed neutron emission with time. This approach accurately predicts observed delayed neutron yields and decay characteristics. A fission product yield model was used in conjunction with delayed neutron emission probability to analytically predict delayed neutron characteristics. The results of this analysis are in excellent agreement with experimental values.
MPTP reduces dopamine and norepinephrine concentrations in the supplementary motor area and cingulate cortex of the primate

Administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to primates produces many of the biochemical, morphological and behavioral changes that occur in Parkinson's disease. MPTP-induced degeneration of the mesostriatal dopamine innervation has been well documented. In the present study, concentrations of dopamine and norepinephrine in cortical regions surrounding the cingulate sulcus were assessed, and were found to be markedly decreased in symptomatic MPTP-treated vervet monkeys; these results parallel the cortical involvement in Parkinson's disease. Dopamine and norepinephrine levels were not reduced in a group of asymptomatic MPTP-treated monkeys that suffered large losses of striatal dopamine concentration. If therefore appears that the dopaminergic innervations of the supplementary motor area and cingulate cortex are susceptible to MPTP-induced degeneration, but are less vulnerable than the striatal dopamine innervation.
Hybrid network-erasure coding protection of multi-source, multi-sink multicast sessions in WSNs

In this paper, we consider the problem of providing fault tolerant operation for multicast networks with multiple sources, e.g., sensors, and delivering data to a pre-defined set of destinations, e.g., sinks. We propose an algorithm that combines network and erasure coding to provide resilience against a predefined number of link failures. For sources unable to meet the flow constraints, support is provided at the cost of reduced throughput and if required, reduced protection. The necessary and sufficient flow conditions for network resource verification are proved. We also prove that the field size for coding coefficients is bounded by the amount of protection offered for erasure coding and equal to 2 for network coding.
PREDICTION FOR EXPONENTIAL LIFETIMES BASED ON STEP-STRESS TESTING

This paper presents methods for constructing prediction limits for a step-stress model in accelerated life testing. An exponential life distribution with a mean that is a log-linear function of stress, and a cumulative exposure model are assumed. Two prediction problems are discussed. One concerns the prediction of the life at a design stress, and the other concerns the prediction of a future life during the step-stress testing. Both predictions require the knowledge of some model parameters. When estimates for the model parameters are available, a calibration method based on simulations is proposed for correcting the prediction intervals (regions) obtained by treating the parameter estimates as the true parameter values. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the prediction procedure.
Flow of Communication between Government Agencies and Eskimo Villages

Eskimo villages in Alaska have extensive contact with governmental and quasi-governmental agencies from outside the village. Communication between these agencies and the villages tends to be mediated communication. That is, key villagers serve as communication go-betweens for the agency and village. These villagers, who are fully conversant in the English language and who have had, relative to other village members, broad acculturation experiences, mediate formally and informally between outside agencies and the local population. Formal communication mediators are the village council president and, to a lesser extent, his fellow council members. Informal communication mediators are usually local employees of one or more outside agencies. The former specialize in communicative contact with new agencies initiating village activity or established agencies that have irregular village dealings. The latter specialize in communicative contact with agencies that have been regularly active in the village for a con...
The Small Sample Nonnull Properties of Kendall's Coefficient of Concordance for Normal Populations

Abstract This article reports an empirical study of the nannull distribution of Kendall's coefficient of concordance W when used in estimation and hypothesis testing procedures for the coefficient of reliability, p. This was based on data satisfying the assumption of a normal component of variance model for m retests on each of n subjects or marginal transformations of such data. For the range of parameters studied, Km, n (ρ*)(m − 1)W/(1 − W) is approximately distributed as Fv 1, v2 for a properly chosen constant Km, n (ρ*), v 1 = n − 1 − 2/m, v 2 = (m − 1)v 1.
Abundance, body composition and reproductive output of Gammarus minus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in ten cold springs differing in pH and ionic content

SUMMARY 1. A survey of thirty-two rheocrene springs in central Pennsylvania revealed that, Like Gammarus in lakes and streams, Gammarus minus is absent from springs with pH <6.0 and conductivity <25μS cm−1 (total range in pH = 4.6–7.7, and in conductivity = 14–411 μS cm−1). 2. In ten springs G. minus density was positively correlated with Ca2+ and Mg2+ hardness, but not with pH, unless three springs with either an exceptionally high velocity or extremely high densities of the potentially competing snail Fontigens nickliniana were omitted. 3. Adults were larger in the springs with few or no large predators than in those with more predators. In all ten springs, adult dry mass was unrelated to spring pH and ionic content, but brooding female dry mass covaried positively with Ca2+ and Mg2+ hardness in the five predator-poor springs. 4. Body water, Na and Ca contents and body mass/length ratios varied independently of spring pH and ionic content. Water content was inversely correlated with fat content, but even when expressed as a percentage of fat-free wet mass, it was unrelated to water chemistry. 5. In juveniles, males and non-brooding females, fat content varied independently of spring pH and ionic content, but in brooding females it was correlated with alkalinity and Ca2+ and Mg2+ hardness. The cost of reproduction in brooding females may have been a factor here; they had significantly lower per cent fat than did non-brooding females. Juvenile fat content did not differ significantly among spring populations, whereas adult fat content did. The per cent fat of brooding females covaried positively with body size among springs, and this was marginally true for non-brooding females, as well. The residuals of brooding female per cent fat against dry mass were not related to water chemistry. 6. Brood size (number of embryos in a brood) and brood mass varied significantly among populations, but independently of spring pH and ionic content. Both covaried positively with maternal body size among springs. The residuals of these relationships were unrelated to water chemistry, as was the percentage of females brooding. 7. G. minus from a pH 6 spring survived better and lost less body mass in acidic soft water than did those from a pH 7.6 spring. However, although G. minus has apparently been able to adapt (or acclimate) to pH 6 water it has failed to adapt to more acidic waters. A physiological or structural constraint may be involved because this species has probably had ample opportunity to evolve resistance to dilute acidic water. This hypothesis is consistent with the threshold effect observed: above pH 6 G. minus shows very little evidence of osmotic or metabolic stress, but beiow pH 6 viable populations apparently cannot survive at all. However, the gradual linear decrease in population density of G. minus with decreasing alkalinity and Ca2+ and Mg2+ hardness suggests that other factors may also be involved (e.g. a decrease in food quality).
Nitric Oxide (NO) and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in Follicular Fluid and Their Correlation With Fertilization and Embryo Cleavage

PROBLEM Using an IVF model, the goal of the study was to investigate the relationship between follicular fluid (ff) NO and IL-1beta levels, as well as their correlation with fertilization of mature oocytes and embryo cleavage rates. METHOD OF STUDY Follicular fluid was collected from 17 patients at the time of transvaginal oocyte retrieval following controlled ovarian stimulation. Oocytes harvested from these follicles were followed through fertilization and embryo cleavage. The NO metabolites nitrate/nitrite (NO3/NO2) were measured using the Griess reaction as an indirect assessment of NO activity. IL-1beta was measured using a high sensitivity ELISA system (Amersham, UK). The Student's t-test was utilized for unpaired data with the means considered significantly different when P < or = 0.05. RESULTS Follicular fluid NO3/NO2 levels were significantly lower in follicles containing mature oocytes that fertilized (n = 30; 9.7 +/- 1.0 microM), versus those that did not fertilize (n = 23; 15.4 +/- 2.4 microM; P < 0.05). Follicles that contained oocytes that fertilized and went on to divide beyond the 6 cell stage had significantly lower ff levels of NO3/NO2 (n = 18; 7.5 +/- 0.9 microM), as compared to ff that contained oocytes that did not fertilize or failed to develop beyond the 5 cell stage (n = 35; 14.6 +/- 1.7 microM; P < 0.01). No correlation was found between ff NO3/NO2 levels (n = 28; 13.8 +/- 2.0 microM) and ff IL-1beta levels (n = 28; 0.5 +/- 0.08 pg/mL). An analysis of ff IL-1beta levels in relation to fertilization and embryo cleavage rates revealed no correlation. CONCLUSIONS Lower ff NO3/NO2 levels at the time of oocyte retrieval are associated with adequate fertilization and embryo cleavage rates. In our IVF model, no correlation was found between ff IL-1beta levels and ff NO3/NO2, fertilization, or embryo cleavage rates.
Use of liquid embolic agents in the treatment of aortopulmonary collaterals in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease

Purpose: To assess the technique and clinical outcomes for pre-operative n-butyl cyanoacrylate glue embolization of pediatric head and neck venous malformations. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted over a 9-year period at a tertiary care pediatric hospital to identify cases of head and neck venous malformations that were embolized with n-BCA prior to resection. 24 embolizations were performed in 22 patients. 7 patients were male, and mean age was 12.4 years (range 2-25). Primary clinical symptoms included pain (65%), swelling (61%), cosmetic disfigurement (87%), and bleeding (9%). 41.7% of patients had received prior intervention including surgical resection, laser ablation therapy, or sclerotherapy. Sites treated included cheek (n1⁄47), perimandibular regions (n1⁄45), lip (n1⁄44), neck (n1⁄44), tongue (n1⁄43), periorbital regions (n1⁄42), and temporalis muscle (n1⁄41). Mean volume of n-BCA used was 2.69mL; all embolizations were performed through direct percutaneous punctures via 21 or 23 gauge needles, using a range of 1:1 to 1:5 dilutions of n-BCA in ethiodized oil. Prior to injecting the embolization mixture, biplane digital subtraction venography was performed. Same-day pre-operative glue embolization and surgical resection took place for 21 out of 22 patients. Results: All patients were transported to the OR under stable conditions. Technical success rates for both embolization and resection were 100%. One patient had clinically insignificant embolization of a small amount of glue to a subsegmental pulmonary artery. No other complications were recorded. Adjunctive sclerotherapy or further glue embolization with resection was performed in 3 out of 22 patients who had large lesions. Average hospital stay was 1.5 days, with follow up scheduled for 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months. Follow-up indicated successful alleviation of primary symptoms for all patients based on clinical findings. Conclusion: Pre-operative n-BCA glue embolization of pediatric head and neck venous malformations is a safe and effective treatment option for these lesions. Advantages include the ability to achieve a more complete resection with diminished surgical blood loss. Technical and clinical success rates in this series were 100%.
Cover Picture: Metal–Silica Hybrid Nanostructures for Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (Adv. Mater. 21/2006)

The image shows an ordered array of silver-tipped silica nanorods, which serve as a substrate for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Signal intensities from test molecules in regions of aggregated pillars (indicated by the green laser beam) were enhanced by factors of 10 to 20 compared to arrays of separated pillars, as reported by Moskovits and co-workers on p. 2829. This hybrid structure maximizes SERS signal intensities from analytes while minimizing the quantities needed for detection due to the precise formation of “hot regions” at the intersection of the silver tips.
Rice body formation in bicipito-radial bursitis: ultrasound, CT, and MRI findings

The bicipito-radial bursa, which lies at the biceps tendon insertion on the radial tuberosity, is a rare site of chronic bursitis. We describe the clinical, radiological, and pathological findings in a case complicated by multiple rice body formation. In so doing, we describe MR appearances that allow discrimination of this entity from both synovial chondromatosis and pigmented villonodular synovitis.
Traitor-tracing aided by compressed SURF image features

Traitor-tracing (aka fingerprinting) has received much attention as a possible solution for protecting media copyrights. However, all the current schemes for images and video lack robustness against geometric attacks. We propose a novel semi-blind algorithm that can cope with such attacks. The algorithm uses compressed SURF features as side information in order to estimate and invert the geometric attack. Moreover the algorithm is highly robust against cropping and additive white noise.
Simultaneous use of fluorescence, ultraviolet, and electrochemical detectors in high performance liquid chromatography‐separation and identification of phenolic antioxidants and related compounds

Isocratic conditions are described for the separation, identification and quantitation of selected phenolic antioxidants and related compounds by high performance liquid chromatography on a reverse phase microparticulate ODS column. Mobile phases containing 0.05 M lithium perchlorate in aqueous methanol are used. Three detection systems: ultraviolet; fluorescence; and electrochemical detectors are connected in tandem. The use of these three detection systems in sequence as additional means for separation, identification, and quantitation is demonstrated. Other advantages of the system include speed of analyses and improved detection. The Ḱ values and detector responses at 2 settings per detector for 12 compounds are reported.
Factors related to helping behavior in preschool-age children☆

Abstract The present two studies were conducted to assess the prosocial behaviors (comforting and helping) of preschool children as a function of the race and gender of the subjects and peer confederates. Results indicated that black, preschool-age males demonstrated prosocial behaviors more often than did white males and females. These findings were discussed in terms of the confounding between race of child and father absence; that is, a disproportionate number of black children were living in fatherless homes. It was suggested that single parents may turn to their opposite-sex child for both emotional and physical support and thus the child learns comforting and helping behaviors early in life. Support for this suggestion was derived from the finding that the number of household chores assigned to a child was positively related to helping behavior. The present results also showed that comforting and helping behaviors were negatively related, suggesting that prosocial acts are not a function of a general personality trait but are situationally specific. Finally, it was noted that race and gender of the peer confederate were not factors in determining the prosocial responses of the subjects.
Inter-entry selection: Non-determinism and explicit control mechanisms

Many concurrent programming languages provide selection statements, which allow a task to select one of several entries to service. The choice as to which entry will be selected, if more than one has pending invocations, is generally defined to be non-deterministic. However, such non-deterministic inter-entry selection can result in undesirable program behavior. This paper examines the problems arising from such behavior and the existing approaches to remedy those problems. It indicates the inherent shortcomings of these approaches and purposes a new, more expressive extension of these approaches that remedies these shortcomings. This paper also considers how the different approaches can be implemented.
Nanogel-drug conjugates: a step towards increasing the chemotherapeutic efficacy.

Networking drugs Nanogels are defined as tiny, spherical, semi­ permeable polymer networks with interior vol­ umes that can encapsulate molecules of various sizes and are highly soluble drug delivery systems (DDSs) [1]. With these unique properties, the drug release from nanogels can be controlled by either the molecular weight of entrapped mole­ cules and network density, or the charges of the drug and the network. Entrapped drugs can dif­ fuse out of nanogels as a result of network deg­ radation, changes in pH, temperature and ionic strength, or substitution by other molecules. For charged hydrogels, however, drug release kinetics become more complicated. We have extensively studied cationic nanogels as DDSs for negatively charged oligonucleotides, and 5 ­ triphosphates of cytotoxic or antiviral nucle­ oside analogs (NAs) [2,3]. They formed neutral ‘core–shell’ complexes that could deliver labile drugs with high efficacy, and demonstrated enhanced activity in pre clinical models. The surface of nanogel DDSs can be decorated by targeting molecules (e.g., folate, peptides or anti­ bodies) to enhance drug transport through bio­ logical barriers or accumulation in tumors [2–4]. Despite the many advantages of nanogel DDSs, they also have certain limitations, including fast release of small molecules, potential toxicity of cationic carriers and oral administration.
Use of alternate substrates to probe the order of substrate addition to dopamine β-hydroxylase

Abstract In order to determine the order of substrate binding to dopamine β-hydroxylase during catalysis, the effect of alternate substrates upon kinetic parameters was examined. The V K value for ascorbate was unchanged when tyramine, phenylpropylamine, p -Cl-phenethylamine, p-CH 3 O-phenethylamine, or phenethylamine was the hydroxylated substrate. The V K values for tyramine and oxygen were similarly unchanged when ferrocyanide was used as the reductant in place of ascorbate. In order to use ferrocyanide as reductant it was necessary to include copper to alleviate the substrate inhibition seen with this substrate. The pattern of substrate inhibition observed with ferrocyanide was consistent with a small amount of free cyanide present in the ferrocyanide. With ferrocyanide as reductant and [2,2- 2 H 2 ]tyramine as substrate, there was a measurable isotope effect on the V K value for oxygen, but none on the values of V max or V K for tyramine. These results are consistent with a ping-pong mechanism in which tyramine binds to the enzyme after the release of oxidized ascorbate. Subsequently, oxygen binds to form a ternary complex.
Resolution of Land Use and Port Access Conflicts at Inland Waterway Ports

During the last two decades urban redevelopment of waterfronts has accelerated. The historical significance of these areas coupled with their unique visual amenities has resulted in major renewal efforts in many cities. The competition between the waterway navigation industry and redevelopment interests for scarce waterfront land has resulted in conflicts. Congestion along the access routes to existing ports and terminals has affected the efficient movement of goods to and from the waterfront. The results of an investigation into waterfront redevelopment issues and port and terminal landside-access conflicts are presented. There are many complex forces at work that affect the use of and access to waterfront land. Some of these forces are economic and involve uses of the waterfront that are the "best and highest," one example of which is riverboat gaming. The surveys and case studies conducted identified many conflicts that have occurred. Guidelines have been developed that address some of the problems tha...
Separation of neutral lipids by high-performance liquid chromatography: quantification by ultraviolet, light scattering and fluorescence detection

The recent increased use of cell cultures to model physiological events, in particular signal transduction and traumatic injury, has produced a need for a quantitative, high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of neutral lipid classes with a high degree of resolution and reproducibility. We report an isocratic separation using a Phenomenex Selectosil silica column (5 μm). Two solvents were used, 1.2% 2-propanol in n-hexane containing 0.1% acetic acid (90%) and n-hexane (10%) at a flow-rate of 0.6 ml/min. Column temperature was maintained at 55°C and this temperature was critical for baseline resolution of 1,3-diacylglycerol and cholesterol. The use of 10% n-hexane permitted the resolution of low polarity compounds such as butylated hydroxytoluene, triacylglycerols and cholesteryl esters. All of the detectors used produced standard curves with linearity over a wide concentration range.
Theory of cyclic-matrix functions with application to the analytic resolution of linear combination of atomic orbitals problems.

Cyclic-matrix functions (CMF) are shown to offer a convenient treatment of lattice periodicity, which appears to be somehow more powerful than conventional methods based on Bloch's theorem. To illustrate the ability of the method, a CMF formulation of the linear combination of atomic orbitals method, taking overlap into account, is proposed for solids of arbitrary shapes (clusters, slabs, infinite crystals, . . .). Analytic expressions are obtained for the Green's-function elements, local and total density of states, thermodynamical functions, one-electron total energy, and specific heat.
Photoelastic analysis of stresses around oblique holes - The magnitude and distribution of stresses around holes inclined at 45 and 60 deg in uniaxially loaded plates are discussed by the author

A three-dimensional photoelastic analysis was conducted to determine the magnitude and distribution of stresses around oblique holes in a uniaxially loaded plate. The holes were circular and inclined at angles of 45 deg and 60 deg with the faces of the plate. The plate-thickness-to-hole-diameter ratiot/D was 2.40. One end of each hole was blended to the face of the plate through a break radius equal to the radius of the hole. The plate dimensions were sufficiently large to simulate conditions of an infinite plate. The plates were loaded perpendicular to the plane of skewness. Stress distributions were obtained on sections perpendicular to the direction of loading. Results point to two critical areas of stress concentration: one at the acute-angle intersection of the hole and the surface of the plate and the other in the break-radius area. The stress concentrations in the latter area reach values of 4.6 and 6.7 compared to 3.6 and 4.5 at the acute-angle intersection, for the inclination angles of 45 deg and 60 deg, respectively. A simplified analysis used for the break-radius area gave results in agreement with the experiment. Thus, it was shown that break radii in oblique penetrations may have deleterious rather than beneficial effects. Comparison of results for the acute-angle intersection with existing theoretical and experimental values shows a definite and pronounced dependence of the stress-concentration factor on thickness-to-diameter ratio.
Isotopic Variability of Nitrogen in Lunar Regolith

Hashizume et al . ([1][1]) claim that the distribution and isotopic composition of nitrogen in the lunar regolith can be explained by a two-component mixing model. Their report, however, fails to discuss the bulk of existing relevant data—data that show unequivocally that the conclusions in ([1][1
Speech recognition in noise using a projection-based likelihood measure for mixture density HMM's

In this study, a cepstral likelihood measure based on the projection operation is incorporated into a mixture density hidden Markov model (HMM) scheme to improve recognition in the presence of additive noise. The case in which the models are determined only under noise-free conditions is addressed. A background discussion and a derivation of the measure are provided. Recognition experiments are presented showing the usefulness of the proposed measure over the standard Gaussian measure (weighted Euclidean distance) for speaker independent, isolated word recognition in noise. It was found that the proposed mixture weighted projection measure significantly improved performance in several noise types, including white, jittering white, and colored noise. As an example, at an SNR of 10-dB white noise, recognition improved from only 38.4% correct using the Gaussian measure to 83.6% using the developed measure. >
NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (CB): Validation of executive function measures in adults

This study describes psychometric properties of the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) executive function measures in an adult sample. The NIHTB-CB was designed for use in epidemiologic studies and clinical trials for ages 3 to 85. A total of 268 self-described healthy adults were recruited at four university-based sites, using stratified sampling guidelines to target demographic variability for age (20-85 years), gender, education and ethnicity. The NIHTB-CB contains two computer-based instruments assessing executive function: the Dimensional Change Card Sort (a measure of cognitive flexibility) and a flanker task (a measure of inhibitory control and selective attention). Participants completed the NIHTB-CB, corresponding gold standard convergent and discriminant measures, and sociodemographic questionnaires. A subset of participants (N=89) was retested 7 to 21 days later. Results reveal excellent sensitivity to age-related changes during adulthood, excellent test-retest reliability, and adequate to good convergent and discriminant validity. The NIH Toolbox EF measures can be used effectively in epidemiologic and clinical studies.
Atomistic Modeling of Cross-linked Epoxy Polymer

Molecular Dynamics simulations are used to study cross-linking of an epoxy polymer. OPLS force field parameters are used for modeling a 2:1 stoichiometric mixture of epoxy resin and the cross-linking agent. The model has 17,928 united atoms and a static cross-linking method is used along with molecular minimization and molecular dynamics techniques to achieve two different cross-link densities. The crosslinked models can be used for understanding various phenomenon occurring in cross-linked epoxy resins at the atomic scale. Glass-transition temperature ranges of two differently cross-linked samples have been predicted using the models. These models will be used for studying aging behavior at the atomic level in epoxy materials and understanding the influence of aging on mechanical properties.
Economics of Flexible Versus Conservative Stocking Strategies to Manage Climate Variability Risk

Recommended strategies for dealing with drought include maintaining a conservative stocking rate, maintaining grazing flexibility by having yearlings as one of multiple enterprises on the ranch, and leaving a significant amount of herbaceous production at the end of the grazing season. We perform an economic analysis of these grazing strategies using a bio-economic multiperiod linear programming model with variable annual forage production and beef prices. We evaluate the economics of conservative versus flexible grazing where stock numbers are adjusted to match forage conditions. The deterministic model estimates that a flexible grazing strategy could nearly double net returns relative to a conservative strategy, but realizing this substantial economic potential means higher production costs, and it depends on a quality climate forecast that is not currently available. Maintaining grazing flexibility was determined to be very important for managing variable forage conditions, and its importance increased with the level of variability. Without annual variation in forage production, over 80% of available forage would optimally be allocated to cow–calf production. As forage variability increased to levels observed on the arid rangelands of the western United States, a 50:50 forage allocation between cow–calf and yearling enterprises was found to be optimal, but optimal cow numbers decreased over time as dry conditions force herd reductions. As compared to a cow–calf ranch only, adding flexible yearling enterprises increased average annual net ranch returns by 14% with conservative stocking and by up to 66% with flexible grazing. Herd expansion beyond a conservative level should occur with yearlings because adjusting cow numbers is too expensive relative to the potential short-term gain, even if forage conditions are known with certainty.
Evaluating the embodiment benefits of a paper-based tui for educational simulations

Many claims have been made regarding the potential benefits of Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs). Presented here is an experiment assessing the usability, problem solving, and collaboration benefits of a TUI for direct placement tasks in spatially-explicit simulations for environmental science education. To create a low-cost deployment for single-computer classrooms, the TUI uses a webcam and computer vision to recognize the placement of paper symbols on a map. An authentic green infrastructure urban planning problem was used as the task for a within-subjects with rotation experiment with 20 pairs of participants. Because no prior experimental study has isolated the influence of the embodied nature of the TUI on usability, problem solving, and collaboration, a control condition was designed to highlight the impact of embodiment. While this study did not establish the usability benefits suggested by prior research, certain problem solving and collaboration advantages were measured.
Formation and Fate of Reactive Intermediates of Haloalkanes, Haloalkenes, and α-Haloacids

Haloalkanes, haloalkenes, and α-Haloacids are important industrial chemicals and environmental contaminants. For example, 1,2-dibromoethane and 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane were formerly used as fumigants and nematocides, trichloroethylene is a common environmental contaminant, and dichloroacetate (DCA), which is produced during the chlorination of drinking water, is present in finished drinking water supplies in the U.S. Many haloalkanes, haloalkenes, and α-haloacids are toxic, and some are rodent or suspected human carcinogens. The toxicity of these chemicals is associated with their bioactivation to reactive intermediates by the cytochromes P450 or glutathione transferases (GSTs).
Commitment analysis to operationalize software requirements from privacy policies

Online privacy policies describe organizations’ privacy practices for collecting, storing, using, and protecting consumers’ personal information. Users need to understand these policies in order to know how their personal information is being collected, stored, used, and protected. Organizations need to ensure that the commitments they express in their privacy policies reflect their actual business practices, especially in the United States where the Federal Trade Commission regulates fair business practices. Requirements engineers need to understand the privacy policies to know the privacy practices with which the software must comply and to ensure that the commitments expressed in these privacy policies are incorporated into the software requirements. In this paper, we present a methodology for obtaining requirements from privacy policies based on our theory of commitments, privileges, and rights, which was developed through a grounded theory approach. This methodology was developed from a case study in which we derived software requirements from seventeen healthcare privacy policies. We found that legal-based approaches do not provide sufficient coverage of privacy requirements because privacy policies focus primarily on procedural practices rather than legal practices.