cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ribbon: High Performance Cache Line Flushing for Persistent Memory

Cache line flushing (CLF) is a fundamental building block for programming persistent memory (PM). CLF is prevalent in PM-aware workloads to ensure crash consistency. It also imposes high overhead. Extensive works have explored persistency semantics and CLF policies, but few have looked into the CLF mechanism. This work aims to improve the performance of CLF mechanism based on the performance characterization of well-established workloads on real PM hardware. We reveal that the performance of CLF is highly sensitive to the concurrency of CLF and cache line status. We introduce Ribbon, a runtime system that improves the performance of CLF mechanism through concurrency control and proactive CLF. Ribbon detects CLF bottleneck in oversupplied and insufficient concurrency, and adapts accordingly. Ribbon also proactively transforms dirty or non-resident cache lines into clean resident status to reduce the latency of CLF. Furthermore, we investigate the cause for low dirtiness in flushed cache lines in in-memory database workloads. We provide cache line coalescing as an application-specific solution that achieves up to 33.3% (13.8% on average) improvement. Our evaluation of a variety of workloads in four configurations on PM shows that Ribbon achieves up to 49.8% improvement (14.8% on average) of the overall application performance.
Recent Decline in the Employment of Persons with Disabilities in South Africa, 1998-2006

This paper shows that there has been a significant decline in the employment and labor force participation of persons with disabilities in South Africa over the 1998 through 2006 period. Disability is defined based on activity limitations. Data are from the October and the General Household Surveys. The paper also deals with the possible causes of the decline. While several causes can be invoked, preliminary evidence suggests that the rise of the Disability Grant program might be responsible for a part of the decline. Recommendations are made for future research and data collection on disability and employment.
Women in the Boardroom for Better Governance Management and Financial Performance

One of recent topics discussed extensively in boardroom is how to refresh board of directors’ composition to counter with fast-moving business environment. Gender diversity is proved to be one solution to contribute and strengthen boardroom’s effectiveness. Even though empirical evidences produce inconclusive results about the effect of having or increasing women in boardroom would positively impact companies’ financial performance, many countries and business organizations put this issue as top agenda as it can represent the high level of commitment toward good corporate governance practices. Finally, this paper is reflected the future role of women in boardroom by highlighting the important fact and key strength of women’s skills in tech experience which is deemed necessarily to overcome velocity of current and future technological disruption.
Structurally conserved domains between flavivirus and alphavirus fusion glycoproteins contribute to replication in mammals and infectious virion production

Alphaviruses and flaviviruses have class II fusion glycoproteins that are essential for virion assembly and infectivity. Importantly, the tip of domain II is structurally conserved between the alphavirus and flavivirus fusion proteins, yet whether these structural similarities between virus families translate to functional similarities is unclear. Using in vivo evolution of Zika virus (ZIKV), we identified several novel emerging variants including an envelope glycoprotein variant in {beta}-strand c (V114M) of domain II. We have previously shown that the analogous {beta}-strand c and the ij loop, located in the tip of domain II of the alphavirus E1 glycoprotein, are important for infectivity. This led us to hypothesize that flavivirus E {beta}-strand c also contributes to flavivirus infection. We generated this ZIKV glycoprotein variant and found that while it had little impact on infection in mosquitoes, it reduced replication in human cells and mice, and increased virus sensitivity to ammonium chloride, as seen for alphaviruses. In light of these results and given our alphavirus ij loop studies, we mutated a conserved alanine at the tip of the flavivirus ij loop to valine to test its effect on ZIKV infectivity. Interestingly, this mutation inhibited infectious virion production of ZIKV and yellow fever virus, but not West Nile virus. Together, these studies show that structurally analogous residues in the alphavirus and flavivirus class II fusion proteins contribute to virus infection in vivo and highlight these shared domains as targets for broad-spectrum arbovirus therapies. Author SummaryArboviruses are a significant global public health threat, yet there are no antivirals targeting these viruses. This problem is in part due to our lack of knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in the arbovirus life cycle. In particular, virus entry and assembly are essential processes in the virus life cycle and steps that can be targeted for the development of antiviral therapies. Therefore, understanding common, fundamental mechanisms used by different arboviruses for entry and assembly is essential. In this study, we show that flavivirus and alphavirus residues located in structurally conserved and analogous regions of the class II fusion proteins contribute to common mechanisms of entry, dissemination, and infectious virion production. These studies highlight how class II fusion proteins function and provide novel targets for development of antivirals.
Environmental Sustainable Practices in the Selected Higher Education Institutions in Calapan City

Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. While, environmental sustainability is concerned with the protection of resources and maintenance for the future generations. Given its primary role as knowledge producer, higher education can serve as a powerful tool to help create a more sustainable future. This study aims to come up with a Sustainable Development Campus Consortium Program that could be instrumental in enhancing and strengthening the environmental sustainable programs, policies and practices of the academic institutions. It aims to provide higher education institutions with array of activities or programs designed to potentially improve their respective programs and practices for the benefit of the institution, other stakeholders, and for the environment sustainability in general. Three private higher education institutions in Calapan City were chosen as subjects of the study namely, Divine Word College of Calapan, St. Anthony College of Calapan and Southwestern College of Maritime, Business and Technology to identify the different environmental sustainable practices, curriculum integration and institutional assessment of campus sustainability measures. Results gathered from the study manifested that all of the participating schools have different environmental sustainable practices and they have programs and activities that focus on curriculum integration. These practices impact the higher education institutions campus wide actions and their adopted communities. However, they have no formal institutional assessment of campus sustainability measures to ensure the success of these environmental sustainable practices.
International Migration: Evolving Trends from the Early Twentieth Century to the Present

States have long been wary of putting international migration on the global agenda. As an issue that defines sovereignty - that is, who enters and remains on a state's territory - international migration has called for protection of national prerogatives and unilateral actions. However, since the end of World War I, governments have sought ways to address various aspects of international migration in a collaborative manner. This book examines how these efforts to increase international cooperation have evolved from the early twentieth century to the present. The scope encompasses all of the components of international migration: labor migration, family reunification, refugees, human trafficking and smuggling, and newly emerging forms of displacement (including movements likely to result from global climate change). The final chapter assesses the progress (and lack thereof) in developing an international migration regime and makes recommendations towards strengthening international cooperation in this area.
Efficiency of an active power line conditioner

The purpose of this paper is to determine the efficiency of a specific active power line conditioner (APLC) system. The APLC is a type of active filter, which cancels line current harmonics caused by nonlinear loads, by injecting a compensation current. However, because of the presence of semiconductor switching devices in the APLC, the switching and conduction losses need to be considered. Computer simulations for two load current test cases illustrate the trade-off between circuit efficiency and performance as switching frequency increases.
HIV-1 Nef protein: An invitation to a kill

New evidence demonstrates that HIV-1 Nef production by macrophages not only attracts T-lymphocytes but also renders them permissive for HIV-1 infection ( pages 997–1003 ).
Homomorphic MACs: MAC-Based Integrity for Network Coding

Network coding has been shown to improve the capacity and robustness in networks. However, since intermediate nodes modify packets en-route, integrity of data cannot be checked using traditional MACs and checksums. In addition, network coded systems are vulnerable to pollution attacks where a single malicious node can flood the network with bad packets and prevent the receiver from decoding the packets correctly. Signature schemes have been proposed to thwart such attacks, but they tend to be too slow for online per-packet integrity. Here we propose a homomorphic MAC which allows checking the integrity of network coded data. Our homomorphic MAC is designed as a drop-in replacement for traditional MACs (such as HMAC) in systems using network coding.
Tale of a tail kinase.

The structure of a kinase that can phosphorylate serines in the RS repeats found in pre-mRNA splicing factors has been solved. This structure provides a basis for the constitutive activity of this kinase and suggests a mechanism for consecutive phosphorylation of serines in these domains.
Painful Nerve Injury Upregulates Thrombospondin-4 Expression in Dorsal Root Ganglia

Thrombospondin-4 (TSP4) belongs to a family of large, oligomeric extracellular matrix glycoproteins that mediate interactions between cells and interactions of cells with underlying matrix components. Recent evidence shows that TSP4 might contribute to the generation of neuropathic pain. However, there has been no systematic examination of TSP4 expression in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) after injury. This study, therefore, investigates whether TSP4 protein level is changed in DRG after injury following spinal nerve ligation (SNL) and spared nerve injury in rats by performing Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunocytochemistry. After nerve ligation, TSP4 protein level is upregulated in the axotomized somata of the fifth lumbar (L5) DRG. There is substantial additional TSP4 in the nonneuronal compartment of the L5 DRG that does not costain for markers of satellite glia, microglia, or Schwann cells and appears to be in the interstitial space. Evidence of intracellular overexpression of TSP4 persists in neurons dissociated from the L5 DRG after SNL. These findings indicate that, following peripheral nerve injury, TSP4 protein expression is elevated in the cytoplasm of axotomized sensory neurons and in the surrounding interstitial space.
Deriving a Fault Architecture to Guide Testing

Defect analysis of software components can be used to guide testing, with the goal of focusing on parts of the software that were fault-prone in earlier releases or earlier life cycle phases, such as development. We replicate a study that adapted a reverse architecting technique using defect reports to derive fault architectures. A fault architecture determines and visualizes components that are fault-prone in their relationships with other components, as well as those that are locally fault-prone. Our case study uses defect data from three releases of a large medical record system to identify relationships among system components, based on whether they are involved in the same defect report. We investigate measures that assess the fault-proneness of components and component relationships. Component relationships are used to derive a fault architecture. The resulting fault architecture indicates what the most fault-prone relationships are in a release. We also apply the technique in a new way. Not only do we derive fault architectures for each release, we derive fault architectures for the development, system test and post release phases within each release. Comparing across releases, makes it possible to see whether some components are repeatedly in fault-prone relationships. Comparing across phases, makes it possible to see whether development fault architectures can be used to identify those parts of the software that need to be tested more. We validate our predictions using system test data from the same release. We also use the development and system test fault architectures to identify fault-prone components after release, and validate our predictions using post release data.
Social email: a framework and application for more socially-aware communications

As online social networks (OSN) attempt to mimic real life social networks, we have made progress towards using OSNs to provide us with data to allow for richer and more robust online communications. In this paper, we present a novel approach towards socially-aware email. Currently, email provides too little control to the recipient. Our approach, dubbed SoEmail, provides social context to messages using an OSN's underlying social graph. This not only gives the recipient control over who can message her, but it also provides her with an understanding of where the message originated from, socially. Furthermore, users who do not wish to use the built-in social aspect of SoEmail, can send and receive emails without any changes to their behavior. The modifications we made to the email application to provide this social context are not invasive and can be easily ignored by any existing email client. We built SoEmail on top of an existing framework, known as Davis Social Links, which allows SoEmail to be completely agnostic about the underlying OSN. We created a web-based, standards-based web client for SoEmail using Facebook and Gmail as the underlying systems which has been released for public use and has had a good adoption rate.
Integrated range image segmentation using connectionist paradigm

Flexible robotic and automation systems must have the capability to sense and interpret (or analyze) their surroundings to enable them to react accordingly. Such automated systems are desirable for a number of manufacturing tasks such as assembly, material handling and transportation, inspection, obstacle avoidance, etc. Range sensors are becoming increasingly popular in automated systems for gathering 3-dimensional (3-D) information about the surroundings. This paper presents a two-stage connectionist neural net model which extracts surface features and groups them via local interactions. The first stage optimally computes surface parameters, e.g., surface normals, curvature and discontinuities (crease or jump). In the second stage, surface features compete with each other to group similar image pixels. Daugman's projection net (DPNN) and Kohonen's self organizing neural net (KSNN) are used for feature extraction and region growing, respectively. Experimental results are included to demonstrate the performance of the proposed technique. >
ESTIMATE OF CP VIOLATION FOR THE LBNE PROJECT AND δCP

Measurements of CP violation (CPV) and the basic δCP parameter are the goals of the LBNE Project, which is being planned. Using the expected energy and baseline parameters for the LBNE Project, CPV and the dependence of CPV on δCP are estimated, to help in the planning of this project.
Immune Response to Human Metapneumovirus Infection: What We Have Learned from the Mouse Model

Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a leading respiratory viral pathogen associated with bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and asthma exacerbation in young children, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. The development of a potential vaccine against hMPV requires detailed understanding of the host immune system, which plays a significant role in hMPV pathogenesis, susceptibility and vaccine efficacy. As a result, animal models have been developed to better understand the mechanisms by which hMPV causes disease. Several animal models have been evaluated and established so far to study the host immune responses and pathophysiology of hMPV infection. However, inbred laboratory mouse strains have been one of the most used animal species for experimental modeling and therefore used for the studies of immunity and immunopathogenesis to hMPV. This review summarizes the contributions of the mouse model to our understanding of the immune response against hMPV infection.
The observer effect of profiling on dynamic Java optimizations

We show that the bytecode injection approach used in common Java profilers, such as HPROF and JProfiler, disables some program optimizations that are performed when the same program is running without a profiler. This behavior is present in both the client and the server mode of the HotSpot JVM.
Expectations of serious adverse events at the end of life of patients with acute myeloid leukemia who receive salvage therapy.

Abstract Background Patients with AML and refractory disease receive investigational therapies within 2 months of their death. The attribution of serious AEs in this phase to disease progression vs. drug toxicity is tenuous. We aimed to determine the incidence of serious AEs in the last 2 weeks of life of patients with refractory-relapsed AML undergoing salvage therapy (ST). Patients and Methods Adults who received ST from September 2010 to December 2011 were evaluated. Data collected included incidence of serious AEs, type of ST, medical complications, length of hospital stay, and Intensive Care Unit stays, organ dysfunctions, and use of life support therapies. Results A total of 122 patients received ST. Most 64 patients (52%) received intensive chemotherapy; 39 patients (32%) had single investigational drug therapies, and 19 patients (16%) received therapy with hypomethylating agents. Common complications were pneumonia (82%), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy 72 patients (59%), and septic shock 60 patients (49%). Notable complications included: acute respiratory failure justifying invasive mechanical ventilation in 60 patients (42%), renal failure requiring dialysis in 33 patients (27%), atrial fibrillation in 37 patients (30%), and prolonged prothrombin time (grade 3) in 68 patients (56%). There was no difference in the incidence of these complications by type of ST. Conclusions Baseline expectations of serious AEs at the end of life of patients with AML undergoing ST were established. The AE profiles of new investigational interventions or therapies could be compared with what would be expected in such circumstances from the combined effect of disease progression, expected complications of the AML therapy, and therapies delivered in previous historical contexts.
Creep models for metal matrix composites with long brittle fibers

Abstract Creep models for metal matrix composites reinforced by long brittle fibers with weak interfaces are presented. These models extend the work of McLean (1985) to include effects of fiber breaks and the consequential stress relaxation in the broken fibers. The creep strain and the creep rupture time are calculated when global load sharing occurs. Analyses are conducted for composites with a wide range of fiber volume fractions, Young's modulus of the fibers and the matrix, interfacial sliding stress and Weibull properties for the strength of the fibers. The results derived from this study are compared with those predicted by McLean's (1985) model. The creep life is found to be sensitive to the extent of fiber stress relaxation in the broken fibers. Models, which ignore this effect overestimate the creep rupture time especially when the composite is subjected to a low or moderate level of stress.
Self-Organized Thin Films of Hydrogen-Bonded Phthalocyanines: Characterization of Structure and Electrical Properties on Nanometer Length Scales

We present the structural and electrical property characterization of solution-deposited thin films of a self-organizing phthalocyanine 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octa(2-(4-octylbenzamide ethyl-sulfanyl)...
Amino acid substitution matrices from an information theoretic perspective.

Abstract Protein sequence alignments have become an important tool for molecular biologists. Local alignments are frequently constructed with the aid of a “substitution score matrix” that specifies a score for aligning each pair of amino acid residues. Over the years, many different substitution matrices have been proposed, based on a wide variety of rationales. Statistical results, however, demonstrate that any such matrix is implicitly a “log-odds” matrix, with a specific target distribution for aligned pairs of amino acid residues. In the light of information theory, it is possible to express the scores of a substitution matrix in bits and to see that different matrices are better adapted to different purposes. The most widely used matrix for protein sequence comparison has been the PAM-250 matrix. It is argued that for database searches the PAM-120 matrix generally is more appropriate, while for comparing two specific proteins with suspected homology the PAM-200 matrix is indicated. Examples discussed include the lipocalins, human α1B-glycoprotein, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and the globins.
Pre- and Posttreatment Comparison of the Kinematics of the Fluent Speech of Persons Who Stutter

This study reports changes in acoustic, respiratory, laryngeal, and articulatory kinematics of 3 males who stutter, following participation in a version of the Hollins Precision Fluency Shaping Program. Two nonstuttering controls received no treatment. Subjects repeated phrases of the form "He see CVC again" at self-selected slow, normal, and fast speaking rates. For experimental subjects, acoustic duration of the phrases increased significantly in 7 out of 9 comparisons of before- and after-treatment conditions, whereas controls decreased the duration of the phrases in 4 out of 6 comparisons of measurements made over approximately the time interval during which the experimental group received treatment. The experimental group increased inspiratory volume for 7 out of 9 conditions and average expiratory flow significantly for all conditions, whereas the controls decreased both. The experimental group prolonged laryngeal opening in 6 of 7 comparisons, but only 3 of the increases were significant. Lip and j...
Assessing State Stem Cell Programs in the United States: How Has State Funding Affected Publication Trends?

Several states responded to federal funding limitations placed on human embryonic stem cell research and the potential of the field by creating state stem cell funding programs, yet little is known about the impact of these programs. Here we examine how state programs have affected publication trends in four states.
Reduction: the Cheshire cat problem and a return to roots

In this paper, I propose two theses, and then examine what the consequences of those theses are for discussions of reduction and emergence. The first thesis is that what have traditionally been seen as robust, reductions of one theory or one branch of science by another more fundamental one are a largely a myth. Although there are such reductions in the physical sciences, they are quite rare, and depend on special requirements. In the biological sciences, these prima facie sweeping reductions fade away, like the body of the famous Cheshire cat, leaving only a smile. ... The second thesis is that the “smiles” are fragmentary patchy explanations, and though patchy and fragmentary, they are very important, potentially Nobel-prize winning advances. To get the best grasp of these “smiles,” I want to argue that, we need to return to the roots of discussions and analyses of scientific explanation more generally, and not focus mainly on reduction models, though three conditions based on earlier reduction models are retained in the present analysis. I briefly review the scientific explanation literature as it relates to reduction, and then offer my account of explanation. The account of scientific explanation I present is one I have discussed before, but in this paper I try to simplify it, and characterize it as involving field elements (FE) and a preferred causal model system (PCMS) abbreviated as FE and PCMS. In an important sense, this FE and PCMS analysis locates an “explanation” in a typical scientific research article. This FE and PCMS account is illustrated using a recent set of neurogenetic papers on two kinds of worm foraging behaviors: solitary and social feeding. One of the preferred model systems from a 2002 Nature article in this set is used to exemplify the FE and PCMS analysis, which is shown to have both reductive and nonreductive aspects. The paper closes with a brief discussion of how this FE and PCMS approach differs from and is congruent with Bickle’s “ruthless reductionism” and the recently revived mechanistic philosophy of science of Machamer, Darden, and Craver.
Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Antidepressant Therapy

Increasing numbers of patients are on psychiatric drugs, especially antidepressants. When patients complain of sexual dysfunction, it is important that the clinician take a careful history concerning psychopharmacologic agents. It is possible that simple interventions may maintain the desired effect of the psychiatric drugs while also eliminating sexual side effects caused by these agents.
Feature distribution and biased estimation of visual displays.

Perceptual equivalents of confirmation biases and framing effects are observed in subjects'estimates of feature numerosity. Subjects are asked to estimate the percentage of display items that have a particular feature. Features either are randomly distributed or are spatially clustered such that features of the same type tend to be close. Subjects systematically overestimate the prevalence of features in clustered displays. The pattern of results is best explained by a regional salience bias: Features tend to be more salient if they belong to regions that have a high concentration of instruction-mentioned features. The regional salience bias is contrasted with a feature salience bias: Features tend to be more salient if they are mentioned in the instructions
87: Ischemic cardiomyopathy independently predicts higher mortality after ventricular assist device implantation

Purpose: Ventricular assist devices (VAD) are essential bridges to transplantation in end-stage heart failure (HF) patients. Vigilant patient selection is necessary for optimal outcomes in this patient population. We evaluated the effect of ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) on mortality post-VAD implantation. Methods and Materials: Pre-implant data for consecutive adult HF patients receiving VAD between 1996 and 2003 were reviewed. Overall and cause-specific death rates in ICM and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients were compared. Univariate Cox Proportional hazard analysis and multivariate analysis was performed. Results: VADs were implanted in 154 HF patients (26% females, Mean age: 49.1 12.5 years) of which 80 patients had ICM. Mean duration of support was 117.6 122.8 days. Death rate post-VAD implant was 40% in ICM and 12.2% in NICM patients (p 0.001). Deaths due to multi-organ failure were more common in ICM than in NICM, with a trend to more deaths from sepsis and ischemic stroke (Table). Unadjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality with ICM was 3.6 (p 0.001). Upon adjusting for age, gender, history of smoking, diabetes, hypertension, creatinine clearance, BMI, and previous sternotomy, the hazard ratio with ICM became 4.9 (p 0.02).
Electronic equalizations for optical fiber dispersion compensation

This paper presents complete models for various fiber dispersions and their mitigations using electronic equalizers. A novel constant-modulus-adaptive (CMA) blind equalization technique is proposed for fiber dispersion compensation. Simulations demonstrated effective compensation means for chromatic and polarization mode dispersions using least-mean-square (LMS) and CMA blind equation techniques. Also proposed is the adaptive fiber transceiver architecture with eye-open-detect circuits that can be used to provide the feedback controls for adaptive thresholds and high-speed analog equalizers.
Design Consideration of a Centrifugal Compressor Impeller With High Mach Number and High Swirl Angle at Exit

A centrifugal compressor impeller with high exit Mach number (M = 0.8–1.1) & high outlet flow angle (ALPHA 2 = 78–85 degrees) was designed. The objective of this work is to create a real condition for the better understanding of the behavior of the fluid flow in transonic and high swirl flow vaned diffusers. Particular attention was given to the flows located at the rotor–stator interface. The unsteady interaction between impeller and diffuser plays an important role in the compression process, especially in high loaded impellers. Actually, the vaned diffuser has to tolerate the distorted upstream flow due to the jet-wake structure coming from the impeller. Following the impeller design, numerical investigations were conducted for the transonic centrifugal compressor impeller composed of backswept unshrouded blades. The characteristic plots of the impeller resulting from the simulations show a good stable operation.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Diffusion of Cs+ and Cl− through sealing materials

The engineering or sealing materials is an integral part of a repository design system for the disposal by isolation of nuclear wastes in geologic media. Cement, concrete, zeolites and clay minerals are some of the promising candidate borehole plugging or sealing materials. In order to evaluate the efficacy of these sealing materials, Cs+ and Cl− diffusion studies were conducted on thin cured discs or cement and cement admixtures with zeolite or montmorillonite or silica fume or blast furnace slag. The cement admixtures are superior to straight cement in retarding the migration of Cs+ and Cl−. The montmorillonite blended cement performs in an intermediate fashion when compared to the straight cement and zeolite or silica fume bearing cements. The diffusions of Cs+ and Cl− appear to be related to the pore structure as well as the crystal structures of the phases added or subsequently formed during curing. These results tend to suggest that the addition of 10–20% silica fume or zeolite phase to the portland cement may be very advantageous in resisting the migration of Cs+ and, to some extent, Cl− ions across cement pastes.
Estimation of undiscovered deposits in quantitative mineral resource assessments—examples from Venezuela and Puerto Rico

Quantitative mineral resource assessments used by the United States Geological Survey are based on deposit models. These assessments consist of three parts: (1) selecting appropriate deposit models and delineating on maps areas permissive for each type of deposit; (2) constructing a grade-tonnage model for each deposit model; and (3) estimating the number of undiscovered deposits of each type. In this article, I focus on the estimation of undiscovered deposits using two methods: the deposit density method and the target counting method.
MO‐EE‐A4‐03: Evaluation of a New More Efficient and More Objective MRS Tool for Brain Gliomas

Purpose: To introduce a novel two‐point initialization and semiautomated objective tool for MR brainspectroscopy. This method will improve the efficiency speed and reduce user‐bias in evaluation in‐vivo spectra assessed over artifacts (simulated) that arise from shimming, electronic noise, field inhomogeneity, coil sensitivities, relaxation which can cause variation in baseline drift or system noise. Method and Materials: Ten cases of C‐6 induced rodent Glioma models/controls were analyzed from MRS data acquired on a Bruker Biospin 7T scanner. The new two point method only requires the user/technologist to specify ‘start’ ‐ ‘end’ PPMs. First moment calculation is to used estimate the global standard deviation that initializes a Marquart‐Levenberg nonlinear optimization method. Three equations were assessed: I) Gaussian‐only fit, II) equal weighted Gaussian and Lorentzian Mixture, and III) free ratio between Gaussian and Lorentzian mixtures. We tested the algorithm in four metabolic regimes (Creatine, Choline, NAA, and Lipid/Lactate). Results: General Linearized Mixed Models were used to assess the method. There were significant differences (F=1817; df = (3, 47e3), p<.0001) between the algorithm types (I‐III) across disease model (c6 vs. control). When the pure Gaussian was applied the results tended to over estimate area (t= 2.73; df=450.0, p<0.001). The 50% mixture of Gaussian‐Lorentzian (t= −2.28; df 428.1, p<0.001) was found to underestimate of the true area. No difference was found on the freely varying (model III) for two point fit. Conclusion: The 2‐point method was shown to be equivalent or better than the 3 pt method for the initial spectra bracketing step. This provides advantages since the two point method requires less judgment (more objective) and is faster to perform. Additionally, we have demonstrated that the simple fitting of a Gaussian function may not be sufficient and Lorentzian terms may be required. Such standards are important for efficient glioma MRS evaluation.
Association of expired nitric oxide with urinary metal concentrations in boilermakers exposed to residual oil fly ash

Background Exposure to metal-containing particulate matter has been associated with adverse pulmonary responses. Metals in particulate matter are soluble, hence are readily recovered in urine of exposed individuals. This study investigated the association between urinary metal concentrations and the fractional concentration of expired nitric oxide (FENO) in boilermakers (N = 32) exposed to residual oil fly ash (ROFA). Methods Subjects were monitored at a boiler overhaul site located in the New England area, USA. FENO and urine samples were collected pre- and post-workshift for 5 consecutive workdays. Metals investigated included vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb). Results The median FENO was 7.5 ppb (95% CI: 7.4–8.0), and the median creatinine-adjusted urinary metal concentrations (μg/g creatinine) were: vanadium, 1.37; chromium, 0.48; manganese, 0.30; nickel, 1.52; copper, 3.70; and lead, 2.32. Linear mixed-effects models indicated significant inverse exposure–response relationships between log FENO and the log-transformed urinary concentrations of vanadium, manganese, nickel, copper, and lead at several lag times, after adjusting for smoking status. Conclusions Urine samples may be utilized as a biomarker of occupational metal exposure. The inverse association between FENO and urinary metal concentrations suggests that exposure to metals in particulate matter may have an adverse effect on respiratory health. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:458–466, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reticle process monitoring and qualification based on reticle CDU and wafer CDU correlation

Reticle process of record (POR) sometimes needs fine tuning for some reasons such as multiple layer process, better critical dimension uniformity (CDU) or new etch chamber. The sidewall angle and corner rounding will be varied due to the reticle processing tuned comparing to previous POR. However, because the reticle critical dimension (CD) measurement is based on middle side lobe measurement or other algorithm, the reticle CD cannot reflect the changes of reticle sidewall angle and corner rounding variation which are critical for 65nm node and below. Each of the scanner, wafer process, reticle and metrology tool contributes to the intra-field wafer CD. Normally, the reticle contribution to the wafer CDU should be as small as possible, that is less than 33%. By averaging all wafer CD of individual features to obtain a wafer CD reference independent of feature location and wafer die, the correlation of wafer measurement to target (MTT) and reticle MTT can be obtained. The correlation can accurately qualify and monitor the tuning processing of reticle. We have manufactured two masks for active layer of 65nm tech node by different reticle process. One used the original POR process of active layer, while another used multi-layer-reticle (MLR) process. The correlations between wafer CDU and reticle CDU of these reticles are demonstrated for both isolated and dense features in vertical and horizontal direction, respectively. Similar experiments were implemented and the correlations for both dense and isolated structures are demonstrated as well, for two different POR process for first metal layer of 40nm tech node. Referring to the wafer and reticle MTT correlation, the contribution of reticle CDU to wafer CDU can be used as an evaluation methodology for reticle processing. The wafer and reticle CDU correlations for 45nm node poly and contact layers POR process are also demonstrated.
Persistence Lengths of DNA Obtained from Brownian Dynamics Simulations

The persistence length of DNA has been studied for decades; however, experimentally obtained values of this quantity have not been entirely consistent. We report results from Brownian dynamics simulations that address this issue, validating and demonstrating the utility of an explicitly double-stranded model for mesoscale DNA dynamics. We find that persistence lengths calculated from rotational relaxation increase with decreasing ionic strength, corroborating experimental evidence, but contradicting results obtained from wormlike coil assumptions. Further, we find that natural curvature does not significantly affect the persistence length, corroborating cyclization efficiency measurements, but contradicting results from cryo-EM.
The Young Women Leaders Program: A Mentoring Program Targeted Toward Adolescent Girls

This paper focused on the effects of a combined group and one-on-one mentoring program targeted specifically toward adolescent girls with a focus on increasing competence, connection, and autonomy (Ryan and Deci in Am Psychol 55(1):68–78, 2000). Participants were seventh-grade girls participating in the Young Women Leaders Program (YWLP) (n = 79) and a group of comparison girls not receiving intervention (n = 47). The sample was predominantly minority (72 % nonwhite) and the majority of participants received free or reduced price lunch (65 %). Results indicated no change in self-reported global self-esteem (one’s overall feeling of satisfaction with self) for girls participating in YWLP, whereas the comparison group declined in self-reported global self-esteem from pre- to posttest. Additionally, within the YWLP program group, girls receiving free/reduced lunch self-reported declines in school self-esteem (one’s overall feeling of satisfaction with school), whereas girls not receiving free/reduced lunch experienced no change. Implications for school-based programs, specifically mentoring programs targeted toward adolescent girls are discussed.
The Effects of Acyclovir on Antibody Response to Herpes Simplex Virus in Primary Genital Herpetic Infections

The humoral response to herpes simplex virus (HSV) was examined in 21 patients with primary HSV infection who were participating in a placebo-controlled trial of oral acyclovir as therapy for first-episode genital herpes. A standard microneutralization assay and a western blot analysis, which detects the antibody response to individual polypeptides of HSV types 1 and 2, were used. Placebo-treated, HSV type-2-infected patients typically responded to HSV type-2 polypeptides that had molecular masses of 125, 84, 68, 59, 46, and 40 kilodaltons. Treatment with acyclovir diminished the humoral response both to HSV, as measured by the type-specific neutralizing-antibody titer, and to specific polypeptides, especially those with molecular masses of 50-100 kilodaltons, a range that includes polypeptides with molecular masses corresponding to those of glycoproteins D and E of HSV.
Does Efficient Irrigation Technology Lead to Reduced Groundwater Extraction?: Empirical Evidence

Encouraging the use of more efficient irrigation technology is often viewed as an effective, politically feasible method to reduce the consumptive use of water for agricultural production. Despite its pervasive recommendation, it is not clear that increasing irrigation efficiency will lead to water conservation in practice. In this paper, we evaluate the effect of a widespread conversion from traditional center pivot irrigation systems to higher efficiency dropped-nozzle center pivot systems that has occurred in western Kansas. State and national cost-share programs subsidized the conversion. On an average, the intended reduction in groundwater use did not occur; the shift to more efficient irrigation technology has increased groundwater extraction, in part due to shifting crop patterns.
The projective connections of T.Y. Thomas and J.H.C. Whitehead applied to invariant connections

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to define a Thomas-Whitehead projective connection and apply it to the study of invariant connections. If G is a Lie group acting on a manifold M of dimension ⩾ 2 and M admits a G -invariant torsionfree linear connection, it is shown that every G -invariant projective equivalence class on M contains a G -invariant torsionfree linear connection. This generalizes a result obtained by Agaoka and Podesta for the case where M is a reductive homogeneous space.
Assessing the Psychometric Properties of the Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire in the Korean Business Context.

The primary purpose of this research is to adapt the Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire developed by Watkins and Marsick, and examine its validity and reliability in a Korean context. Although the concept of the learning organization is well established, there has not been rigorous validation of the application of the questionnaire in the Korean context. The present research sheds light on the reliability and validity of applying the learning organization concept to the Korean workforce. The results of confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency tests indicate that the Korean version of the questionnaire produces valid and reliable psychometric properties of learning organization characteristics in a Korean cultural context. Several demographic variables were used to identify the differences in learning organization cultural perspectives. Conclusions and implications are set out and the limitations of the research stated.
Synthesis, structural characterization, thermolysis and volatility study of the Schiff base complex Cu[CH3C(O)CHC(NCH2CH2OCH3)CH3]2

Abstract The β-ketoimine CH3C(O)CH2C(NCH2CH2OCH3)CH3 (1) has been synthesized. Characterization by infrared and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies indicates that the solution structure of 1 is the enol form. Compound 1 reacts with Cu(OCH3)2 in THF, at 25 °C, to give Cu[CH3C(O)CHC(NCH2CH2OCH3)CH3]2 (2). This complex is low-melting (62–69 °C) and hydrocarbon soluble, but of only modest volatility (sublimes at 56 °C at 4×10−5 Torr). A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study shows that the ether ‘arms’ of the ligand are not coordinated to copper. Thermolysis in the temperature range 200–237 °C, under an inert atmosphere, occurs to liberate free ligand (apparently via adventitious hydrolysis) and CuO, and the latter loses O2 to give copper metal by 480 °C.
The CDF Silicon Vertex Detector for Run II

The 8 layer, 720k channel CDF Run II silicon detector is an essential part of the heavy flavor tagging and forward tracking capabilities of the CDF experiment. A summary of the experience in commissioning and operating this double-sided detector during the first 2 years of Run II is presented. The performances of the silicon in term of resolution, efficiency are also described. The results of the studies of radiation damage and the expected operational limits are discussed. A short description of the SVT, the Level 2 Silicon Vertex Trigger, one of the major upgrades related to the new silicon device is also presented. Finally, some of the many physics results achieved by means of the new Silicon+SVT machinery are also reviewed.
Effects of selenium on glutathione peroxidase activity and radioprotection in mammalian cells

The media of representative mammalian cell lines were supplemented with low levels of selenium in the form of sodium selenite in order to investigate the effects of selenium on mammalian cells. Following incubation in 30 nM sodium selenite, these cells were assayed for changes in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. The cells examined included NTH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts, PC 12 rat sympathetic precursor cells, SupT-1 human lymphocytes, MCF-7adr human breast carcinoma cells, and AA8 Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Selenium supplementation resulted in a marginal increase in GPx activity for the NIH 3T3, MCF-7adr, and Supt-1 cells but stimulated GPx activity approximately fivefold in PC 12 and AA8 cells. AA8 cells were selected to evaluate whether selenium supplementation was radioprotective against 60cobalt gamma irradiation. Protection against radiation-induced mutation was measured by evaluating mutation frequency at the hprt locus. In this assay, preincubation of AA8 CHO cells significantly protected these cells from exposure to 8 Gy. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Thermal stability of the work function of NEA type surfaces

The work-function stability of both Si(100) and Ge(100) surfaces activated with adsorptions of cesium and oxygen has been determined. In general, it has been found that the highest temperature to which the optimized Ge surface could be heated without an increase in its work function (1.06 eV) was about 200 C, whereas the optimized Si surface could be heated to approximately 250 C without a significant increase in the optimized work function (0.93 eV). Details are also presented on various characteristics of cesium and oxygen adsorption-desorption on these surfaces.
Teaching Ethics to Scientists and Engineers: Moral Agents and Moral Problems

In this paper I outline an “agent-centered” approach to learning ethics. The approach is “agent-centered” in that its central aim is to prepare students toact wisely and responsibly when faced with moral problems. The methods characteristic of this approach are suitable for integrating material on professional and research ethics into technical courses, as well as for free-standing ethics courses.
Effects of screening on the thermal resistivity of metals due to electron-electron scattering

The thermal resistivity of metals due to electron-electron scattering is calculated by using the static-screening potential with the screening length determined by the compressibility which is derived from the Monte-Carlo values for the correlation energy. The result is compared with other theories and experiment. It is found that the resistivity depends quite sensitively on the screening length, with the theory based on the approximate correlation energy differing significantly from the present result. Compared with other more sophisticated theories, the present simple model is found to agree with experiment reasonably and competitively well, and much better than the result with the Fermi-Thomas screened-Coulomb potential. The inclusion of core polarization and band mass changes the thermal resistivity by up to 35% for sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium and by an order of magnitude for lithium.