cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
K2: an efficient approximation algorithm for globally and locally multiply-constrained planning problems

Many problems are easily expressed as an attempt to fulfill some goal while laboring under some set of constraints. Prior planning algorithms have addressed this in part, but there are few fast ways of working with more than just a few constraints. Extending algorithms designed for one constraint to multiple constraints is difficult due to the NP complete nature of the problem, prompting a switch to an approximation algorithm. This paper presents K2, a multiply-constrained planning algorithm which is an amalgamation of parts of H/spl I.bar/MCOP and Focussed D*. It accepts additive constraints over the path or over any fixed length section of the path. K2 operates quickly and produces results of acceptable quality.
The effects of screening and task partitioning upon evaluations of decision options

Seven experiments examined how information used to screen options is used subsequently in evaluating the survivors before a choice of the best survivor is made and showed the following. (1) In general, information receiver early in the task had a smaller impact upon pre-choice evaluations of options than information received later, whether or not screening had taken place. (2) However, early information had virtually no impact upon pre-choice evaluations when various events partitioned the task into two distinct parts. This was called the ‘task-partitioning effect’. This effect was, however, labile and could be eliminated by repeating the early information at the time that the pre-choice evaluations were made. (3) In contrast, when the partitioning event consisted specifically of screening out unattractive options, early information had virtually no impact on evaluations and its repetition did not increase its use. This was called the ‘screening effect’. This effect was observed even when someone other than the subject carried out the screening.
Observations on periorbital and midface aging.

Background:Many of the anatomical changes of facial aging are still poorly understood. This study looked at the aging process in individuals linearly over time, focusing on aspects of periorbital aging and the upper midface.Methods:The author compared photographs of patients’ friends and relatives t
Laser surface modification of AISI 410 stainless steel with brass for enhanced thermal properties

Abstract Brass coating was applied to AISI410 steel using high power laser in a laser engineered net shaping (LENS™) system. The influence of laser treatment on interfacial microstructure and thermal performance was evaluated as a function of coating thickness. Laser deposition resulted in a diffused and metallurgically sound interface between metallurgically incompatible brass coating and AISI410 steel substrate. The thermal conductivity of AISI410 steel increased from 27 W/mK to a maximum of 37 W/mK depending on the coating thickness, almost 50% gain. The absence of sharp interface between the coating and the substrate, as a result of laser processing, resulted in a low interfacial thermal contact resistance. Thermal performance tests showed that the brass coating can enhance the heat transfer rate of stainless steel substrate. These results show that novel and efficient feature based coatings can be exploited using laser-based advanced manufacturing technologies for various industrial applications.
Seismic Geomorphology of a Salt-controlled Deltaic Depositional System

For the past decade, volumetric seismic attributes have been used to help define depositional systems (Nissen et al., 1999, Posamentier, 2003). Seismic attributes provide the geometry of paleo-environments, particularly in settings where there is a sharp contrast in the geometry of adjacent systems, for instance in channel belts and associated systems. Most published studies have been applied to very large, high quality marine surveys that provide good temporal and spatial resolution of the features of interest. In this study, we apply the same methodology to a large mega-merge land survey of moderate quality acquired over east Texas. This survey is large enough to illuminate significant parts of the depositional system but suffers from the lower frequency content and signal to noise ratio of land surveys, further exacerbated by the merging of at least seven separate (heterogeneous) data acquisition programs taking place over the data. In this study we apply stratal and horizon slice interpretation techniques to several volumetric attributes to describe the depositional systems within a depositional time interval that is strongly influenced by salt tectonics.
Association between childhood allergic disease, psychological comorbidity, and injury requiring medical attention

Abstract Background Children with allergic disease have multiple risk factors for accidental injuries. Objective To determine the prevalence of injuries requiring medical treatment in US children with allergic disease. Methods The authors analyzed data from the 2007 to 2008 National Survey of Children's Health, including a nationally representative sample of 27,556 children 0 to 5 years old. Results The prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of at least 1 allergic disease was 29.4% (28.0–30.8); 6.6% (5.8–7.4) were diagnosed with asthma, 15.0% (14.0–16.0) with eczema, 11.6% (10.6–12.6) with hay fever, and 6.1% (5.4–6.9) with food allergy. Children with allergic disorders had higher odds of at least 1 comorbid psychiatric and behavioral disorder (PBD; survey logistic regression; odds ratio 2.93, 95% CI 2.13–4.03), including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (4.75, 2.89–7.80), depression (6.03, 1.29–28.27), anxiety (5.54, 2.70–11.37), conduct/oppositional defiant disorder (2.97, 1.88–4.70), and learning delay (2.49, 1.70–3.66), but not autism/Asperger disorder (1.89, 0.98–3.64). The prevalence of injury in the past year requiring medical attention was 10.5% (95% CI 9.5–11.4). The association between allergic disease and injury requiring medical attention was mediated in part by a PBD (Sobel test 0.0021, 95% CI 0.0014–0.0029, P yx,m ) = 0.04, P R 2 = 0.002). However, children with at least 1 allergic disorder (1.74, 1.23–2.46), including eczema (1.59, 1.01–2.50), asthma (1.91, 1.10–3.31), hay fever (2.05, 1.24–3.39), and food allergies (2.00, 1.10–3.67), had higher odds of sustaining injuries even after controlling for comorbid PBDs and medical disorders. Conclusion The results suggest that the association between allergic disease and injury is multifactorial, including being secondary to PBD.
Error analysis of CERES instrument edition 3 data products

The Clouds and Earth's Radiation Energy System Project is flying two instruments on both the Terra and Aqua spacecraft. In order to produce highly accurate measurements of the Earth's radiation budget, several calibration and validation techniques are employed on the ground and in orbit. Three editions of data products are generated, with modifications made in successive editions to reduce or eliminate errors. Edition 3 incorporates changes based on these tests, which include comparisons of the various channels on both spacecraft. Use of measurements comparing the different channels of the various instruments causes any remaining errors in the instrument data products to be related among the channels. An error analysis is presented which uses information theory to account for the many tests and checks to give the errors of the instrument data products and the correlations among them in the Edition 3 instrument data products.
Expedient syntheses of racemic 2,3-diaminopropanoic acid derivatives

Abstract Functionalized 2,3-diaminopropanoic acid derivatives are readily prepared by conjugate addition of amines to dehydroalanine derivatives. The method readily permits differentiation of the two amine groups in substituted 2,3-diaminopropanoic acids and is suitable for the incorporation of substituted β-amino amino acid units within peptides.
New directions for anti-theft policy: Reductions in stolen goods buyers

Abstract This study explores the possibility of reducing theft in the United States through reductions in the number of persons who purchase stolen goods. Theft is conceptualized as a market-oriented offense that can be influenced by changes in consumers' willingness to make blackmarket purchases. Based upon several conservative assumptions about the number and the cost of thefts and the number of purchasers of stolen property in the United States, estimates of reductions in the former through reductions in the latter are calculated. Following these estimates, the issue of how best to accomplish a reduction in the number of persons buying stolen goods is addressed through analysis of data pertaining to individuals' decisions to buy stolen property. Key predictors of purchasing behavior are then reviewed for potential contributions to the inhibition of that behavior. In the final analysis, only one predictor, moral belief, appears to possess practical policy implications.
Nonlinear auto-tune identification

Abstract The nonlinearity of many chemical processes can be approximated by a static nonlinear element in series with a linear dynamic element. The model is called a Hammerstein model if the nonlinear static element precedes the linear dynamic element. It is a Wiener model if the order is reversed. This paper presents a simple method for the experimental determination of both the linear dynamic part and the nonlinear static part of the nonlinear model, simultaneously, by the use of nonlinear auto-tuning (relay feedback). A conventional linear auto-tune test, developed by Astrom and co-workers, is conducted by placing a relay in the feedback loop. The amplitude of the resulting oscillating output and the period of this cycle gives approximate values for the ultimate frequency and the ultimate gain of the linear system. The nonlinear auto-tune method described in this paper consists of the consecutive use of two or more relay-feedback tests with different relay heights and with different known dynamic eleme...
Phase bubbles and spatiotemporal chaos in granular patterns.

We use inelastic hard sphere molecular dynamics simulations and laboratory experiments to study patterns in vertically oscillated granular layers. The simulations and experiments reveal that phase bubbles spontaneously nucleate in the patterns when the container acceleration amplitude exceeds a critical value, about $7g,$ where the pattern is approximately hexagonal, oscillating at one-fourth the driving frequency $(f/4).$ A phase bubble is a localized region that oscillates with a phase opposite (differing by \ensuremath{\pi}) to that of the surrounding pattern; a localized phase shift is often called an arching in studies of two-dimensional systems. The simulations show that the formation of phase bubbles is triggered by undulation at the bottom of the layer on a large length scale compared to the wavelength of the pattern. Once formed, a phase bubble shrinks as if it had a surface tension, and disappears in tens to hundreds of cycles. We find that there is an oscillatory momentum transfer across a kink, and the shrinking is caused by a net collisional momentum inward across the boundary enclosing the bubble. At increasing acceleration amplitudes, the patterns evolve into randomly moving labyrinthian kinks (spatiotemporal chaos). We observe in the simulations that $f/3$ and $f/6$ subharmonic patterns emerge as primary instabilities, but that they are unstable to the undulation of the layer. Our experiments confirm the existence of transient $f/3$ and $f/6$ patterns.
A model of competing interorganizational systems and its application to airline reservation systems

Abstract Interorganizational systems (IOS) are automated information systems that cross company boundaries. This article presents a descriptive model of competition between providers of interorganizational systems in a mature market. The model emphasizes the competitive role of switching costs in conjunction with user benefit functions which increase with the number of users. Also introduced is a notion of competitive position which aids in describing competitive risks and opportunities in a market. The case of airline computerized reservation systems (CRS) is used throughout the paper to demonstrate the model.
Issues of commercial optimization software development

Commercial optimization software development has a different set of goals and constraints than the development of academic or industrial research codes. Commercial codes must be all things to all people. They must contain a wide range of analysis options and be able to handle large, real world, industrial analysis models. As most of the users of the software in industry come from analysis, rather than design optimization backgrounds, the codes must perform in a robust manner. Inconsistent input data must be detected. Optimization methods must be automatically chosen by the program. Optimization parameters need to be adjusted automatically by the program. Another very important aspect is ease of use. A very intuitive and easy to use GUI (Graphical User Interface) should be developed. This work describes some of the development objectives and concerns that are essential to the development of commercial optimization software products.
Does positive affect influence the effective usage of a Decision Support System

This study examines the impact of positive mood on the effective usage of a Decision Support System (DSS). Using current cognitive theories, a theoretical argument about DSS usage is developed. This argument is then investigated via a lab experiment. The results of the lab experiment show that decision makers in positive mood used a greater number of informational cues provided by the DSS and made more accurate judgments.
Planning for the Shaping Force of Cultural Dynamics in a Component Content-Management System Implementation

Problem: This tutorial explains how technical communication organizations can improve their chances for a successful component content-management system (CCMS) implementation if they plan for the shaping force of cultural dynamics in the technology diffusion process. Many component content -management (CCM) thought leaders have identified people factors as a major barrier to successful CCMS implementation. They recognize the necessity of gaining buy-in from all stakeholders and persuading CCMS users to change their habits of practice, follow new processes, and learn new authoring tools and methodologies. This tutorial complements existing discussions of people factors by offering a more complex understanding of what these factors really mean and how to negotiate them. Key concepts: This understanding is articulated through three situated views of CCMSs and their diffusion in organizations: (1) CCMSs are social constructs; (2) CCMS diffusion is a multistage, perception-driven communication process; and (3) CCMS diffusion is mediated by different components of organizational culture. These situated views highlight the shaping force of cultural dynamics in CCMS diffusion projects, and they speak to some of the reasons why common information transfer approaches to diffusion do not work. Key lessons: Given these views, CCM initiative leaders should consider the following recommendations for carrying out a CCMS diffusion project: (1) assess cultural dynamics in the organization and (2) implement diffusion enablers to facilitate shared understanding and learning and to guide actions toward common goals. Key lessons offer a comprehensive set of sample research questions that can be used to assess cultural dynamics as well as three kinds of diffusion enablers that can be implemented: interactive communication channels, training programs, and collaboratively developed guides. Implications: CCM initiative leaders who understand and plan for the shaping force of cultural dynamics in the CCMS diffusion process and who follow best practices for transitioning to CCM will improve their chances for a successful CCMS implementation. Leaders are encouraged to use the research questions and diffusion enablers are articulated here as a starting point for negotiating people factors that can impede diffusion.
Distribution of Glucose-1-C-14 in Gold Thioglucose Obese and Normal Nonobese Mice

Normal nonobese and gold thioglucose obese mice show similar patterns of residual tissue activity following glucose-1-C-14 administration in controls, glucose pretreated, and 48-hour starvation. Glucose pretreatment lowered liver and muscle levels and elevated blood and kidney levels; starvation elevated liver and muscle but lowered kidney and blood levels. The obese mice showed greater liver activities associated with increased glycogen formation. Hypothalamic levels were higher than the cerebrum and hind brain in all instances with the obese mice but only after starvation in the nonobese mice. Selected anorectic agents had little effect on general tissue activities but caused significant increases in hypothalamic levels in normal nonobese mice.
The future of computer forensics: a needs analysis survey

The current study was a pilot study and attempted to add to the growing body of knowledge regarding inherent issues in computer forensics. The study consisted of an Internet-based survey that asked respondents to identify the top five issues in computer forensics. Sixty respondents answered the survey using a free form text field. The results indicated that education/training and certification were the most reported issue (18%) and lack of funding was the least reported (4%). These findings are consistent with a similar law enforcement community study (Stambaugh, Beaupre, Icove, Cassaday, Williams. State and local law enforcement needs to combat electronic crime. National Institute of Justice Research in Brief (2001)). The findings emphasize the fragmented nature of the computer forensics discipline. Currently there is a lack of a national framework for curricula and training development, and no gold standard for professional certification. The findings further support the criticism that there is a disproportional focus on the applied aspects of computer forensics, at the expense of the development of fundamental theories. Further implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions for future research in the area are presented.
Genetic correlation between two types of nesting in Mus musculus: direct and indirect selection.

The genetic correlation between maternal nesting (weight of cotton used in the nest built on the day of parturition) and thermoregulatory nesting (total weight of individual nests built on four consecutive days) was estimated from the correlated response of the former to selection for the latter. The best estimate was rA=0.58±0.32, indicating a substantial amount of common genetic influence. Indirect selection seems to have produced a greater response in maternal nesting than could have been achieved by direct selection.
Factoring integers with the number field sieve

In 1990, the ninth Fermat number was factored into primes by means of a new algorithm, the “number field sieve”, which was proposed by John Pollard. The present paper is devoted to the description and analysis of a more general version of the number field sieve. It should be possible to use this algorithm to factor arbitrary integers into prime factors, not just integers of a special form like the ninth Fermat number. Under reasonable heuristic assumptions, the analysis predicts that the time needed by the general number field sieve to factor n is exp((c+o(1))(logn)1/3(loglogn)2/3) (for n → ∞), where c=(64/9)1/3=1.9223. This is asymptotically faster than all other known factoring algorithms, such as the quadratic sieve and the elliptic curve method.
Chylothorax in children: guidelines for diagnosis and management.

Study objective To establish guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chylothorax in children. Design Retrospective study. Patients Fifty-one patients with a diagnosis of chylothorax. Twelve patients were excluded because of incomplete data or incorrect diagnosis. The following parameters were analyzed: triglyceride level, total cell number, and lymphocyte percentage; amount of pleural effusion on day of diagnosis, day 5, and day 14; and total time of pleural effusion. Prospectively, the same parameters were analyzed in a control group of 10 patients with pleural drainage. Intervention Patients with chylothorax were treated primarily with fat-free oral nutrition; if chyle did not stop, total parenteral nutrition with total enteric rest was started. If conservative therapy was not successful, pleurodesis was performed. Results In children with chylothorax triglyceride, triglyceride content ranged from 0.56 to 26.6 mmol/L; all values except one were > 1.1 mmol/L. In 36 of 39 patients (92%), the cell count was > 1,000 cells/μL. In 33 of 39 patients (85%), lymphocytes were > 90%. In patients without chylothorax triglyceride, triglyceride levels ranged from 0.1 to 0.71 mmol/L (median, 0.38 mmol/L) and cell count was from 20 to 1400 cells/μL (median, 322 cells/μL), with a maximum of 60% lymphocytes. With fat-free nutrition, chyle disappeared in 29 of 39 patients. Five patients died, and five required pleurodesis. Conclusions Pleural effusion in children is chyle when it contains > 1.1 mmol/L triglycerides (with oral fat intake) and has a total cell count ≥ 1,000 cells/μL, with a lymphocyte fraction > 80%. Chylous effusions usually last long; however, after 6 weeks, the majority of the effusions (29 of 39 patients) had ceased. Late surgical interventions reduce the number of thoracotomies substantially, but can lead to very long hospitalization times. Early surgical interventions (after
Maximal Models and Refutation Completeness: Semidecision Procedures in Automatic Theorem Proving*

In recent years the idea of using electronic computers to search for proofs of theorems of quantification theory has drawn considerable attention. One of the more successful methods of attack on the problem has stemmed from the work of Quine [12], Gilmore [5], Davis and Putnam [4] and J. Alan Robinson [16]. This paper is concerned with a portion of the theory underlying an extension of this line of development to systems — first-order theories with equality — in which there is a distinguished relation symbol for equality. The field of mathematics upon which we have concentrated our computer experiments in order to study various properties of our procedure is first-order group theory.
Effect of Ammonia Treatment on the Crystallization of Amorphous Silicon–Carbon–Nitrogen Ceramics Derived from Polymer Precursor Pyrolysis

An effort was made toward modifying the Si3N4-SiC phase ratio in bulk nanocomposites obtained from polymer precursors. While pyrolyzing the polymer, flowing ammonia was introduced, to facilitate a chemical exchange, resulting in a different C/N ratio in the ceramic pyrolysis product. A pre-pyrolysis/binding/pyrolysis approach was used for sample consolidation. Comparison was made between the crystallization behavior of the pyrolysis-derived ceramic powders and consolidated bulk samples. A profound enhancement in crystallization tendency was observed in the consolidated samples whose nitrogen content was increased by ammonia treatment. A mechanism based on the particle/binder interface energy was proposed to account for this observation.
Individuals sustaining snowboarding and skiing accidents have different maxillofacial injury profiles.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Facial trauma: how dangerous are skiing and snowboarding?. Tuli T, Haechl O, Berger N, Laimer K, Jank S, Kloss F, Brandstatter A, Gassner R. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2010;68(2):293-9. Reviewer Name Mike T. John, DDS, MPH, PhD Purpose/Question To compare the prevalence of maxillofacial injury types in individuals who sustained snowboarding and skiing accidents. Source of Funding Information not available Type of Study/Design Retrospective case series Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable
Habitat selection and the perceptual trap

The concept of "ecological traps" was introduced over three decades ago. An ecological trap occurs when, by various mechanisms, low-quality (yielding low fitness) habitat is more attractive than good habitat, thus coaxing individuals to settle there despite a resultant loss of fitness. Empirical work on such traps has increased dramatically in the past decade, but the converse-avoidance of high-quality habitat because it is less attractive, what we term a "perceptual trap" has remained largely unexplored. Even so, depending on conditions (growth rate, strength of habitat preference, and mortality rate), such perceptual traps can be more limiting than ecological traps to population persistence. An example from field experiments with the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) lends empirical support to the concept, and several other potential examples suggest that these traps are perhaps more prevalent than has been appreciated. Because demographic Allee effects are expected to prevent a population from growing sufficiently in a habitat that is avoided, a perceptual trap may persist even though fitness is high. Unlike an ecological trap, which may be negated by increasing habitat quality, biologists will be hard pressed to negate a perceptual trap, which will require determining which cues an animal uses to select high-quality habitat and then devising a means of enhancing those cues so that an animal is lured into the habitat.
The effects of metals on a transcutaneous energy transmission system

The effects of metal objects on the mutual inductance, self-inductance, and effective series resistance (ESR) of the coaxial coils of a transcutaneous energy transmission system (TETS) were investigated theoretically and experimentally. The theory considers a thin conducting sheet of infinite size aligned parallel to a current-carrying coil. Results of the theory indicate that coil parameters vary with the distance from the sheet to the coil. Changes in mutual and self inductance are independent of the conductivity and thickness of the sheet, with a larger percentage change for mutual inductance than for self inductance. Changes in ESR are proportional to the surface resistivity of the sheet. Experimental measurements using several aluminium sheets and a titanium alloy can in the presence of the TETs coils used for the Penn State artificial heart showed excellent agreement with the theory for inductance parameters and agreed within a factor of 2 for ESR measurements when skin effect was considered. >
Reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation inhibitors reduce mechanical sensitivity in a chronic neuropathic pain model of spinal cord injury in rats

Chronic neuropathic pain is a common consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI), develops over time and negatively impacts quality of life, often leading to substance abuse and suicide. Recent evidence has demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a role in contributing to neuropathic pain in SCI animal models. This investigation examines four compounds that reduce ROS and the downstream lipid peroxidation products, apocynin, 4-oxo-tempo, U-83836E, and tirilazad, and tests if these compounds can reduce nocioceptive behaviors in chronic SCI animals. Apocynin and 4-oxo-tempo significantly reduced abnormal mechanical hypersensitivity measured in forelimbs and hindlimbs in a model of chronic SCI-induced neuropathic pain. Thus, compounds that inhibit ROS or lipid peroxidation products can be used to ameliorate chronic neuropathic pain. We propose that the application of compounds that inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) and related downstream molecules will also reduce the behavioral measures of chronic neuropathic pain. Injury or trauma to nervous tissue leads to increased concentrations of ROS in the surviving tissue. Further damage from ROS molecules to dorsal lamina neurons leads to membrane excitability, the physiological correlate of chronic pain. Chronic pain is difficult to treat with current analgesics and this research will provide a novel therapy for this disease.
Programming protocol optimization for analog weight tuning in resistive memories

Fig. 1 shows typical bipolar resistive switching characteristics of the Pt/HfO x /TiN device with 10 voltage sweeps from 0 to 2V for set and 0 to −2.5V for reset, respectively. A 100 µA current compliance was applied to protect the device during the set process. We will utilize the gradual reset process for analog weight tuning. Fig. 2 shows our optimization flow of the programing protocol. It is expected that larger amplitude pulses may reach a target state faster but with less precision, while smaller amplitude pulses will approach the state more precisely but require an exponentially longer time [5]. Therefore, our tuning process is based on a sequence of pulses with increasing amplitude steps (V step ) ramps, and the voltage polarity depends on the relative difference between the current conductance state and the target conductance state (G targ ). The device conductance state (G) is checked with a read pulse (0.1 V) after each programming pulse. If the conductance reaches the target, the program stops. If the conductance overshoots the tolerance of G targ . Then, a new voltage ramp of opposite polarity starts. Fig. 3 shows that the tuning process with fixed 100 µs pulse width but different V step (10mV, 20mV, 40mV, 60mV, and 80mV) starting from 0.6V and −0.6V for set and reset sequences, respectively. For each V step , the experiments were repeated 5 times. Fig. 4 shows the representative tuning process to illustrate the overshoot problem. Using pulses with larger V step (e.g., 80mV) takes shorter time to reach G targ , but it runs a risk of overshoot due to the stochastic nature of the atomic oxygen ions and vacancies migration [5]. Once overshoot occurs, then we need to set the device and restart the reset process. Table 1 counts the number of overshoot for different V step and the average pulses needed to reach G targ . V step =40mV gives a balance in between. Fig. 5 shows the tuning process with fixed pulse amplitude (1.2V) but different pulse widths (T step =500ns, 10µs, and 100µs), the tuning time is much longer than that of increasing pulse amplitude, which indicates that tuning V step is more effective. Therefore, using optimized tuning parameters (V step =40mV, T step =0), we were able to tune the device with 5% tolerance with respect to the target conductance state (i.e. 50µS, 10µS, 5µS, 1µS) within the dynamic range (Fig. 6), and all these intermediate states can maintain the conductance over time (Fig. 7).
A highly conserved domain of TFIID displays species specificity in vivo

Abstract Recombinant TFIID proteins from yeast, Drosophila, and human function interchangeably in vitro to restore basal level transcription to a human HeLa extract depleted for TFIID. Here we report that the recently cloned human and Drosophila TFIID genes fall to substitute in vivo for the S. cerevislae TFIID gene, SPT15 , which is essential for viability. Analysis of yeast-human hybrid TFIID proteins reveals that the failure of human TFIID to functionally replace yeast TFIID maps to the highly conserved C-terminal domain. Thus, the C-terminal conserved domain of TFIID, as well as the N-terminal divergent domain, appears to be involved in species-specific interactions.
Regulation of Enzyme Synthesis in the Aromatic Amino Acid Pathway of Bacillus subtilus

The control of the synthesis of certain key enzymes of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis was studied. Tyrosine represses the first enzyme of the 3-deoxy-d-arabino heptulosonic acid 7-phosphate pathway, DAHP synthetase, as well as shikimate kinase and chorismate mutase about fivefold in cultures grown under conditions limiting the synthesis of the aromatic amino acids. A mixture of tyrosine and phenylalanine represses twofold further. Tryptophan does not appear to be involved in the control of these enzymes. The specific activity of at least one early enzyme, dehydroquinase, remains essentially constant under a variety of nutritional supplementations. Two enzymes in the terminal branches are repressed by the amino acids they help to synthesize: prephenate dehydrogenase can be repressed fourfold by tyrosine, and anthranilate synthetase can be repressed over 200-fold by tryptophan. There is no evidence that phenylalanine represses prephenate dehydratase. Regulatory mutants have been isolated in which various enzymes of the pathway are no longer repressible. One class is derepressed for several of the prechorismate enzymes, as well as chorismate mutase and prephenate dehydrogenase. In another mutant, several enzymes of tryptophan biosynthesis are no longer repressible. Thus, the rate of synthesis of enzymes at every stage of the pathway is under control of various aromatic amino acids. Tyrosine and phenylalanine control the synthesis of enzymes involved in the synthesis of the three aromatic amino acids. Each terminal branch is under the control of its end product.
Adaptive Control Variates for Finite-Horizon Simulation

Adaptive Monte Carlo methods are simulation efficiency improvement techniques designed to adaptively tune simulation estimators. Most of the work on adaptive Monte Carlo methods has been devoted to adaptively tuning importance sampling schemes. We instead focus on adaptive methods based on control variate schemes. We introduce two adaptive control variate methods, and develop their asymptotic properties. The first method uses stochastic approximation to adaptively tune control variate estimators. It is easy to implement, but it requires some nontrivial tuning of parameters. The second method is based on sample average approximation. Tuning is no longer required, but it can be computationally expensive. Numerical results for the pricing of barrier options are presented to demonstrate the methods.
Caring for the child with cancer and the family: lessons learned from children with acute leukemia.

In a report appearing in 1951, Southam et al 1 reported on the natural history of 173 patients with acute leukemia treated supportively at Memorial Center for Cancer and Allied Diseases in New York City from 1926 to 1948. The study population included 65 children less than 10 years of age. The average length of survival of these patients was 19.3 weeks after the onset of symptoms attributable to leukemia. Of the entire sample of patients irrespective of age, only 4 (2.3%) survived 52 weeks or beyond. In 1948, Memorial Center began treating patients with folic acid or purine antagonists and steroids.
The effect of available dietary zinc on the utilization of protein by the chick and Japanese quail.

1. Chicks and quail ( Coturnix japonica ) were used in the measurement of net protein utilization and true digestibility of nitrogen of isolated soya-bean protein and a mixture of casein and gelatin in zinc-deficient diets. 2. The net protein utilization values for both protein sources were increased when the diets were supplemented with Zn or with the disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid, as was the true digestibility of nitrogen of the isolated soya-bean protein.
Pre-DFT Combining for Coded OFDM

Multiple receive antennas have been known to improve bit error performance over fading multipath channels by providing spatial diversity. In systems such as orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), this benefit is obtained at the cost of greatly increased system complexity. Pre-discrete Fourier transform (DFT) combining techniques have been proposed by some researchers to obtain multiple antenna gains at a reduced complexity. However, existing works on pre-DFT combining ignore the specific distance properties of the underlying convolutional code, leading to suboptimal solutions. In this paper, we develop a novel technique for pre-DFT combiner design for bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM)-coded OFDM on Rayleigh block-fading channels. The combiner is designed for the specific code used and outperforms other known pre-DFT combining techniques. Our simulations show about a 2-3-dB improvement in performance over existing techniques.
Fibrous structure formation in cold-drawing of polyethylene

Rods of spherulitic, linear polyethylene were cold-drawn at 60 and 100°C and the morphology of the drawn material, particularly the necked portion, was characterized by light and electron microscop...
Observation of ballistic transport in hot-electron vertical FET spectrometer using ultrathin planar-doped barrier launcher

Experimental evidence of ballistic transport by hot electron injection into a GaAs vertical FET channel using an ultra-thin planar-doped barrier has been obtained for the first time. The spectroscopy exhibited a narrow energy spread of less than 50 meV with an estimated 10% ballistic electrons.
Role of calcium ion in hormone-stimulated lipolysis

Using the flask-incubated fat cell system, the effects of Ca2+ removal from the incubation medium on the lipolytic system were studied. The removal of Ca2+ resulted in a total abolition of the lipolytic response and the increased cyclic AMP accumulation produced by ACTH. The lipolytic response to isoproterenol and forskolin were reduced approximately 40% by Ca2+ removal, but cyclic AMP accumulation was not altered in the presence of either of these agents using a Ca2+-free medium. The lipolytic response to the dibutyryl analog of cyclic AMP was also reduced by omission of Ca2+ from the incubation medium. It is concluded the Ca2+ is required for the interaction of ACTH with its receptor and the resultant activation of adenylate cyclase. Ca2+ also is required at some step in the lipolytic process distal to cyclic AMP.
Face Recognition: A Tutorial on Computational Aspects

Face recognition is a sophisticated problem requiring a significant commitment of computer resources. A modern GPU architecture provides a practical platform for performing face recognition in real time. The majority of the calculations of an eigenpicture implementation of face recognition are matrix multiplications. For this type of computation, a conventional computer GPU is capable of computing in tens of milliseconds data that a CPU requires thousands of milliseconds to process. In this chapter, we outline and examine the different components and computational requirements of a face recognition scheme implementing the Viola-Jones Face Detection Framework and an eigenpicture face recognition model. Face recognition can be separated into three distinct parts: face detection, eigenvector projection, and database search. For each, we provide a detailed explanation of the exact process along with an analysis of the computational requirements and scalability of the operation.
Chronic sodium loading augments natriuretic response to acute volume expansion in the preweaned rat

Positive sodium balance is necessary for normal somatic growth of the neonate, and the neonatal renal response to volume expansion (VE) is attenuated compared with the adult. To test the hypothesis that dietary sodium modulates the developmental response to VE, preweaned rats were artificially reared with either a normal (25 meq/l)- or high-sodium (145 meq/l) diet for 7-8 days and were compared with adult rats receiving normal or high sodium. Serum sodium concentration remained normal in adults on high sodium, whereas neonates became hypernatremic. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary flow (V), and urinary sodium (UNaV) were measured before and after acute saline VE (1% body wt). While remaining constant in preweaned rats, GFR increased > 50% in adult rats after VE (P < 0.05). High sodium intake augmented V and UNaV after VE but was not sustained in neonates as in adults. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate excretion (UcGMPV) were measured, and baseline UcGMPV was lower in preweaned rats receiving normal sodium but increased to levels similar to adult levels after VE. Postexpansion plasma ANP was higher in preweaned rats than in adult rats and was not affected by dietary sodium regardless of age. We conclude that the attenuated postexpansion natriuresis in the neonate is due in part to an adaptive response to limited sodium intake. However, neonatal compensation to increased sodium intake is incomplete and independent of plasma ANP.
Decay Scheme of Co 62

A study of the decay of ${\mathrm{Co}}^{62}$ has been made using $\ensuremath{\beta}$- and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-scintillation techniques. The ${\mathrm{Co}}^{62}$ was produced by a ($d, \ensuremath{\alpha}$) reaction on nickel oxide enriched in ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{64}$. A half-life of 13.91 minutes with a calculated standard deviation of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 minute was measured. Two beta groups of 0.88\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 and 2.88\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 Mev energy were found, with relative abundances of 25% and 75%, respectively. Both $\ensuremath{\beta}$-ray transitions appear to be allowed. Gamma rays of 1.17\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01, 1.47\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02, 1.74\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03, and 2.03\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 Mev were measured, with relative percentages of 100% and 82% for each member of the 1.17-Mev doublet, and 18%, 18%, and 7% for the others, respectively. A much weaker $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray with an energy of \ensuremath{\sim}2.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 Mev and an intensity of less than 2% was also noted. A level scheme incorporating these data is presented. All energy errors are estimated standard deviations.
Glycation Reactivity of a Quorum-Sensing Signaling Molecule

Reported herein is that (4S)-4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione (DPD) can undergo a previously undocumented non-enzymatic glycation reaction. Incubation of DPD with viral DNA or the antibiotic gramicidin S resulted in significant biochemical alterations. A protein-labeling method was consequently developed that facilitated the identification of unrecognized glycation targets of DPD in a prokaryotic system. These results open new avenues toward tracking and understanding the fate and function of the elusive quorum-sensing signaling molecule.
BlowFish: dynamic storage-performance tradeoff in data stores

We present BlowFish, a distributed data store that admits a smooth tradeoff between storage and performance for point queries. What makes BlowFish unique is its ability to navigate along this tradeoff curve efficiently at fine-grained time scales with low computational overhead. Achieving a smooth and dynamic storage-performance tradeoff enables a wide range of applications. We apply BlowFish to several such applications from real-world production clusters: (i) as a data recovery mechanism during failures: in practice, BlowFish requires 5.4× lower bandwidth and 2.5× lower repair time compared to state-of-the-art erasure codes, while reducing the storage cost of replication from 3× to 1.9×; and (ii) data stores with spatially-skewed and time-varying workloads (e.g., due to object popularity and/or transient failures): we show that navigating the storage-performance tradeoff achieves higher system-wide utility (e.g., throughput) than selectively caching hot objects.
Decadal change of forest biomass carbon stocks and tree demography in the Delaware River Basin

Abstract Quantifying forest biomass carbon (C) stock change is important for understanding forest dynamics and their feedbacks with climate change. Forests in the northeastern U.S. have been a net carbon sink in recent decades, but C accumulation in some northern hardwood forests has been halted due to the impact of emerging stresses such as invasive pests, land use change and climate change. The Delaware River Basin (DRB), sited in the southern edge of the northern hardwood forest, features diverse forest types and land-use histories. In 2001–2003, the DRB Monitoring and Research Initiative established 61 forest plots in three research sites, using Forest Service inventory protocols and enhanced measurements. These plots were revisited and re-measured in 2012–2014. By comparing forest biomass C stocks in the two measurements, our results suggest that the biomass C stock of the DRB forest increased, and was thus a carbon sink over the past decade. The net biomass C stock change in the Neversink area in the north of the DRB was 1.94 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, smaller than the biomass C change in the French Creek area (2.52 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, southern DRB), and Delaware Water Gap Area (2.68 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, central DRB). An increase of dead biomass C accounted for 20% of the total biomass C change. The change of biomass C stocks did not correlate with any climatic or topographic factors, but decreased with increasing stand age, and with tree mortality rate. Mortality rates were highest in the smallest size class. In most of the major tree species, stem density decreased, but the loss of biomass from mortality was offset by recruitment and growth. The demographic changes differ dramatically among species. The living biomass of chestnut oak, white oak and black oak decreased because of the large mortality rate, while white pine, American beech and sweet birch increased in both biomass and stem density. Our results suggest that forests in the DRB could continue to be a carbon sink in the coming decades, because they are likely at a middle successional stage. The linkage between demography of individual trees species and biomass C change underscores the effects of species-specific disturbances such as non-native insects and pathogens on forest dynamics, and highlights the need for forest managers to anticipate these effects in their management plans.
To Stay or To Return? Return Intentions and Return Migrations of Chinese Students During the Transition Period in the United States

ABSTRACTNowadays, we witness a growing number of skilled migrants being trained away from their home countries. International students, especially those who seek postgraduate degrees, have been viewed as one type of skilled migrants among popular migrant-receiving countries. Since the 1990s, the United States has been hosting increasingly large numbers of foreign students in the higher education sector and accommodating skilled migrants in the job market. These skilled migrants, who have obtained higher educational degrees and skills from U.S. universities, pose different types of migration patterns when they transition from being international students to becoming skilled migrants. Their decision-making processes also involve different factors. This article thus examines the experiences of these migrants in a transition period. By examining the decision-making process of return migration among migrants in the transition period, this article reveals migrants' changing return intentions, return migration p...
Determination of levetiracetam in serum by solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography

Objective To establish a HPLC method for determination of the concentration of levetiracetam in serum.MethodsThe analysis was conducted with Hypersil C18 column.Acetonitrile-water was served as mobile phase,the flow number was 0.8 mL·min-1,and the detecting wavelength was at 210 nm.Serum sample was applied to SPE column.ResultsThe linear range of levetiracetam in serum was 0.7-100.0 mg·L-1.The recovery rate of low concentration,moderate concentration and high concentration(8.93,35.71,71.42 mg·L-1) was 102.6%、95.7%、98.1%,respectively.Both of the intra-day and inter-day RSD were less than 7.5%.ConclusionThis method is accurate,sensitive and simple.And it is suitable for the determination of the concentration of levetiracetam in serum and the pharmacokinetic study of levetiracetam.
Treatment of posterior urethral strictures with a titanium urethral stent.

AbstractA total of 5 patients with recurrent posterior urethral strictures underwent endoscopic placement of an expandable endourethral stent made of titanium. Patient age ranged from 17 to 66 years (mean age 42.6 years). Followup ranged from 13 to 20 months (mean 14.1 months). Of the patients 4 presently have unobstructed voiding with no incontinence. To date no side effects have been directly related to the stents and no incrustations or calculi have formed. Our preliminary study supports the use of titanium urethral stents as an alternative form of treatment for selected urethral strictures.