cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flexibility as process mobility: The management of plant capabilities for quick response manufacturing

This paper examines the relationship between one form of manufacturing flexibility - operational mobility (or the ability to change quickly between products) - and structure, infrastructure and managerial policy at the plant level. Using data from a broader study aimed at exploring the general sources of manufacturing flexibility, the paper provides evidence of the strength of the links between manufacturing flexibility and such factors as scale, technology vintage, computer integration and workforce management. There has been little empirical work on this subject, partly as a result of the difficulties of defining and measuring flexibility. The type of flexibility explored in this paper is specifically the capability of a plant to change between process states quickly. I find that most of the variance in flexibility across plants can be explained by a combination of structural factors, such as the scale of the plant; infrastructural factors, such as the length of service of the operators; and measures of managerial emphasis, such as the perceived importance of making quick changeovers. Of these factors, I find that the scale of a plant does not strongly inhibit its flexibility and that computer integration is either insignificant or detrimental to the flexibility of a plant. Workforce characteristics are also important determinants of flexibility, and the results suggest that less experienced operators may be more flexible in their ability to make certain types of change quickly between products. A strong determinant of the flexibility of a plant is the extent to which operators perceive managers to have emphasized the importance of various performance dimensions. Finally, I show that different forms of flexibility are not necessarily related to each other. This emphasizes the importance of identifying precisely the particular type of flexibility that is to be developed when building manufacturing capabilities.
A general algorithm to automatically create admittance matrices for electric networks

In this paper, a general method to automatically create admittance matrices for power electric networks is presented. This is a part of a joint project between Mississippi State University and University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics (CEM). Starting with an electric network designed in the Mathworks software Simulink (SimPowerSystems) and output from Simulink as an XML file, we parse the XML file for the relevant information (blocks, connectivity, and parameters). The underlying algorithm consists of four stages: 1) Calculate the conductance values of the components in each block, 2) Build a matrix representing the connectivity of components, 3) Assign a unique number for each node, and finally 4) Calculate the admittance matrix using the data obtained from the previous steps. This is the initial work to support the development of a parallel computing tool where the power system will be solved using a tool developed by the University of Texas called CEMSolver. The second phase of this joint project will be finding the most optimal partitioned systems in such a way that the matrices of each partition are distributed to different CPUs and the total CPU usage for these subsystems will be minimal. Thus, the power system will be partitioned and each partition will have its own admittance matrix.
SWIM: A Switch Manager for Datacenter Networks

As modern datacenter networks (DCNs) grow to support hundreds of thousands of servers and beyond, managing network equipment -- such as routers, firewalls, and load balancers -- becomes increasingly complex. Network attributes such as IP address allocations and BGP neighbor relations are scattered among various network engineering groups, which makes troubleshooting the network a cumbersome task. In addition, network vendor diversity leads to an explosion of vendor-specific management systems or single-use automation scripts, limiting network scalability while increasing the time required to perform management tasks. In this article, the authors propose a unified network management system, Switch Manager (SWIM), to cope with the growth by standardizing the language for describing network attributes and unifying the interface for executing management actions on the network equipment.
Chemical ionization mass spectrometer instrument for the measurement of tropospheric HO2 and RO2.

Laboratory characterizations of the peroxy radical chemical ionization mass spectrometer (PerCIMS) instrument have been performed. The instrument functions by drawing ambient air through a 50-μm-diameter orifice into an inlet held at low pressure. Peroxy radicals (HO2 and RO2) within this air are detected by amplified chemical conversion into a unique ion (HSO4-) via the chemistry initiated by the addition of NO and SO2 to the inlet. HSO4- ions are then quantified by a quadrupole filter mass spectrometer. PerCIMS provides measurements of the sum of peroxy radicals, HO2 + RO2 (HOxROx mode), or the HO2 component only (HO2 mode), achieved through the control of concentration of NO and SO2 added to the instrument. The characterization and response of this instrument have been evaluated through modeling of inlet chemistry and laboratory experiments and have also been demonstrated through successful deployment during field campaigns. The performance of PerCIMS with respect to calibration pressure and relative h...
Simply measuring the temporal electric field of very complex ultrashort pulses

Using a low-resolution spectrometer, we developed a technique for measuring relatively long and complex ultrashort pulses. It is a spectral-interferometry variation, which we used to measure pulses up to 105 ps with 34 fs resolution.
Risk Communication, Metacommunication, and Rhetorical Stases in the Aspen-EPA Superfund Controversy:

This article explores the relationship between current theoretical definitions of risk communication, the unique national role that EPA plays in defining health and environmental risks, and possible explanations for EPA's inability to persuade the city of Aspen, Colorado, to accept its plan for a massive cleanup of toxic lead mine wastes. Many explanations for the reversal of EPA's cleanup plan at Aspen could be advanced, but we concentrate on the definition of risk communication upon which EPA's internal risk communication guidelines are based—guidelines that its field representatives are invited to follow. In particular, we now explore ownership messages conveyed through metacommunication conflict with EPA's risk communication guidelines.
Risk assessment of coronary artery bypass grafting within one month of acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract Since 1974, when Dawson et al1 documented an extremely high operative mortality in a large series of patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) within 30 days of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), controversy has existed concerning the proper timing of such procedures. Widely varying mortality rates still appear in recently published reports, but several studies have been carried out that report mortality rates as low as ≤1%.2–5 Because most of these studies do not detail whether the infarcts were transmural or nontransmural, we attempted to determine whether operative mortality could be correlated with the type of infarct and the timing of CABG after the infarct.
Solidification of ternary metal alloys—I. Model development

Abstract Building on previous treatments of transport phenomena occurring during the solidification of binary alloys, a model is constructed to simulate the casting of ternary alloys. Specifically, the continuum mixture equations for the transport of mass, momentum, energy and species are modified to account for a third component. To close the model, supplemental thermodynamic relations, which are taken from the ternary equilibrium phase diagram and which treat the several primary solid phases, binary eutectic troughs, ternary eutectic and peritectic reactions and the formation of an intermetallic compound, are presented. Finally, a calculation procedure is developed for the thermodynamic model. Numerical results based on the application of this model are discussed in a companion paper [Krane and Incropera, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer , 1997, 40 , 3837–3847].
Diabetes causes inhibition of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase via activation of PKA, which contributes to oxidative stress in rat kidney cortex

The incidence of diabetic nephropathy has been increasing. Studies have shown that oxidative stress (due to increased oxidant production and/or decreased antioxidant activity) is a critical underly...
Bosonization of lattice fermions.

For any purely fermionic system on a lattice in arbitrary space dimension we prove that there is a different but well-defined system on the same lattice, consisting of both bona fide fermions and bosons with an interaction depending on a parameter \ensuremath{\lambda}, which characterizes a same-site repulsion between particles. The energy spectrum and the scattering matrix of the former are identical to those in the finite energy sector of the latter, in the limit \ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty} (i.e., hard-core repulsion). This general theorem is applied to a resonance-boson model in a lattice fermion system, whose solution may have relevance to high-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ superconductivity.
Functional expression and microdomain localization of prestin in cultured cells.

Introduction Prestin is an essential component of the molecular motor of cochlear outer hair cells that contribute to frequency selectivity and sensitivity of mammalian hearing. A model system to study prestin employs its transfection into cultured HEK 293 cells. Our goal was to characterize prestin’s trafficking pathway and localization in the plasma membrane. Methods We used immuno-colocalization of prestin with intracellular and plasma membrane markers and sucrose density fractionation to analyze prestin in membrane compartments. Voltage clamping was used to measure nonlinear capacitance (NLC), prestin’s electrical signature. Results & discussion Prestin targets to the membrane by 24 hours post-transfection when NLC is measurable. Prestin then concentrates into membrane foci that colocalize and fractionate with membrane microdomains. Depleting membrane cholesterol content altered prestin localization and NLC. Conclusion Prestin activity in HEK 293 cells results from expression in the plasma membrane and altering membrane lipid content affects prestin localization and activity.
Instilling an Ethic of Leadership at Fisk University in the 1950s

In many cases, student activism on college campuses stems from alienation – alienation of one generation from another, alienation of students from administration. The atmosphere in Nashville, Tennessee, at Fisk University during the early 1950s included neither of these ingredients. Most students admired their professors and respected the University president. In the case of Fisk, activism grew out of a shared sense of values and demonstrated leadership – as well as a response to outside oppression. This leadership and these values were passed on to students by Fisk’s charismatic president, Charles S. Johnson. The purpose of this historical research is to explore the approach to activism that Charles S. Johnson advocated and instilled in the students at Fisk University. How did Johnson develop his values and convictions? On which principles were they based? How did he pass them on to others? And, how can Johnson’s example help today’s college presidents contribute to a renewed sense of activism among thei...
Correlations between formation properties and induced seismicity during high pressure injection into granitic rock

Abstract We reviewed published results from six projects where hydraulic stimulation was performed in granitic rock. At each project, fractures in the formation were well-oriented to slip at the injection pressures used during stimulation. In all but one case, thousands of cubic meters of water were injected, and in every case, flow rates on the order of tens of liters per second were used. Despite these similarities, there was a large variation in the severity of induced seismicity that occurred in response to injection. At the three projects where induced seismicity was significant, observations at the wellbore showed evidence of well-developed brittle fault zones. At the three projects where induced seismicity was less significant, observations at the wellbore indicated only crack-like features and did not suggest significant fault development. These results suggest that assessments of the degree of fault development at the wellbore may be useful for predicting induced seismicity hazard. We cannot rule out that the differences were caused by variations in frictional properties that were unrelated to the degree of fault development (and it is possible that there is a relationship between these two parameters). The projects with more significant seismicity tended to be deeper, and if this is a meaningful correlation, it is unclear whether depth influenced seismic hazard through the degree of fault development, frictional properties, or some other variable. The results of this paper are not conclusive, but they suggest that there may be significant opportunity for future research on identifying geological conditions that increase induced seismicity hazard.
Patient safety improvement efforts: How do we know we have made an impact?

The safe delivery of therapeutic radiation is both complex and inherently high risk. Given the number of steps required for radiation delivery, it is remarkable that so few severe errors actually occur. The paucity of such events has hampered the development of the “science of safety” in radiation oncology. Without meaningful clinical endpoints to measure, how dowe know if our interventions are making patients safer? In the manuscript “Patient safety improvements in radiation treatment through five years of incident learning” by Clark et al,1 an analysis of 2506 incident reports over 5 years recorded both actual and near-miss events, minor and major. The majority of events were relatively minor incidents and only approximately 2% were categorized as “non-minor” actual incidents. The authors should be commended for developing a robust incident reporting structure within their clinic that appears to be well accepted by staff. The authors use root-cause analysis to identify the origin of clinical incidents and inform mitigation strategies. Clear categorization of incidents into actual, actual/nonminor, and near-miss events also helped to prioritize interventions. The authors summarize the major interventions implemented as a result of the information gained from the incident reporting system, including a laterality policy, changes to staffing levels in areas at risk for error, and more
Production and purification of serotype 1, 2, and 5 recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors.

Recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors based on serotype 2 are currently being evaluated most extensively in animals and human clinical trials. rAAV vectors constructed from other AAV serotypes (serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6) can transduce certain tissues more efficiently and with different specificity than rAAV2 vectors in animal models. Here, we describe reagents and methods for the production and purification of AAV2 inverted terminal repeat-containing vectors pseudotyped with AAV1 or AAV5 capsids. To facilitate pseudotyping, AAV2rep/AAV1cap and AAV2rep/AAV5cap helper plasmids were constructed in an adenoviral plasmid backbone. The resultant plasmids, pXYZ1 and pXYZ5, were used to produce rAAV1 and rAAV5 vectors, respectively, by transient transfection. Since neither AAV5 nor AAV1 binds to the heparin affinity chromatography resin used to purify rAAV2 vectors, purification protocols were developed based on anion-exchange chromatography. The purified vector stocks are 99% pure with titers of 1 x 10(12) to 1 x 10(13)vector genomes/ml.
Situation pronouns in determiner phrases

It is commonly argued that natural language has the expressive power of quantifying over intensional entities, such as times, worlds, or situations. A standard way of modelling this assumes that there are unpronounced but syntactically represented variables of the corresponding type. Not all that much as has been said, however, about the exact syntactic location of these variables. Meanwhile, recent work has highlighted a number of problems that arise because the interpretive options for situation pronouns seem to be subject to various restrictions. This paper is primarily concerned with situation pronouns inside of determiner phrases, arguing that they are introduced as arguments of (certain) determiners. Verbal predicates, on the other hand, are assumed to not combine with a situation pronoun. The various restrictions on their interpretation are shown to fall out from the semantic system that is developed based on that view. Further support for such an account comes from situation semantic analyses of donkey sentences as well as data on the temporal interpretation of nominal predicates. Its ability to account for this full range of data in a unified manner is shown to set it apart from previous proposals. The paper closes with an outlook on further extensions, including an account of quantifier domain restriction based on situation pronouns.
Dynamical model for stretched exponential relaxation in solids.

A dynamical model for stretched exponential relaxation in solids is developed. The essential assumption is that the relaxation of a macroscopic parameter can take place simultaneously via a large number of channels, each of which is controlled by a thermally activated ``gate'' that opens and closes at random with transition rates that satisfy detailed balancing conditions. It is further assumed that the probability of any individual channel being open is vanishingly small, although the spectral density of open channels is finite. It is shown that in the model, stretched exponential relaxation reflects scaling behavior in the joint distribution of relaxation rates and transition rates for the open channels. The behavior is similar to an analogous static model treated previously and reduces to that of the static model when the transition rates for the gates approach zero. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Iron-dependent generation of free radicals: plausible mechanisms in the progressive deterioration of the temporomandibular joint.

Abstract Purpose: The purposes of this study were 1) to determine whether iron concentrations detected in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) lavage fluid samples obtained from symptomatic patients are sufficient to catalyze the degradation of specific extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules in vitro, and 2) to provide evidence of oxidative stress in symptomatic TMJs by the detection of protein carbonyls in lavage fluids. Patients and Methods: Iron concentrations in TMJ lavage samples (19 joints in 14 patients) were determined colorimetrically, and the ability of the sample to produce free radicals in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was determined with the chromogen 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothizoline-6-sulfonic acid), diammonium salt (ABTS). The presence of oxidized proteins was measured fluorimetrically using Bodipy FL hydrazide (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR). Degradation of fibronectin was visualized by Western blot. Relative susceptibilities of fibronectin and collagen I to free radical cleavage were measured with the Fenton reaction. Results: Redox-active iron concentration in lavage samples was found to be as high as 3.66 μmol/L. A 70-kd protein band, presumed to be albumin, was found to contain higher levels of carbonyls than peripheral serum albumin, which correlated with a greater degree of oxidative damage. Fibronectin was found to be more susceptible than collagen I to free radical degradation, and fragments of the former were found in the lavage. The TMJ lavage fluid was capable of producing free radicals in the presence of peroxide. Conclusion: Circumstantial evidence is provided that the presence of modified and cleaved proteins isolated from lavage of symptomatic TMJs may have been subjected to oxidative stress.
Genetic Testing for Inherited Breast Cancer Risk in African Americans

As genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutations is increasingly integrated into the clinical management of high-risk women, it will be important to understand barriers and motivations for genetic counseling among women from underserved minority groups to ensure equitable access to these services. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to synthesize literature on knowledge and attitudes about genetic counseling and testing for inherited breast cancer risk in African Americans. We also review studies that evaluated genetic testing intentions in this population. We conducted a search of the PubMed database to identify studies related to BRCA1/2 testing in African Americans that were published between 1995 and 2003. Overall, studies have evaluated ethnic differences in knowledge and attitudes about genetic testing or have compared African American and Caucasian women in terms of genetic testing intentions. These studies have shown that knowledge about breast cancer genetics and exposure to information about the availability of testing is low among African Americans, whereas expectations about the benefits of genetic testing are endorsed highly. However, much less is known about the psychological and behavioral impact of genetic testing for BRCA1/2 mutations in African Americans. Additional research is needed to understand barriers and motivations for participating in genetic testing for inherited cancer risk in African Americans. The lack of studies on psychological functioning, cancer surveillance, and preventive behaviors following testing is a significant void; however, for these studies to be conducted, greater access to genetic counseling and testing in African Americans will be needed.
EUV interferometry of the 0.3-NA MET optic

A new generation of 0.3 numerical aperture prototype EUV optical systems is now being produced to provide an opportunity for early learning at 20-nm feature size. Achieving diffraction limited performance from these two-mirror, annular projection optics poses a challenge for every aspect of the fabrication process, including final alignment and interferometric qualification. A new phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer will be used at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for the measurement and alignment of the MET optic at EUV wavelengths. Using the previous generation of prototype EUV optical systems developed for lithography research, with numerical apertures up to 0.1, EUV interferometers have demonstrated RMS accuracy levels in the 40-70 pm range. Relative to the previous generation of prototype EUV optics, the threefold increase to 0.3 NA in the image-side numerical aperture presents several challenges for the extension of ultra-high-accuracy.
Artificial immune system for multispectral feature extraction

We use an algorithm based on the natural immune system for classification of aerial multispectral imagery. Our artificial immune system works by maintaining a population of detectors that remove undesired patterns, but pass a specified training set of positive examples. Any detectors reacting with input patterns are optimized to remove as many of them as possible while not removing ones similar to the training examples. This paper consists of an introduction to the natural and artificial immune systems (AIS), explanation of the AIS algorithm, results of forest and water classification using multispectral data, and discussion of sources of error and possible improvements.
Evidence for enhanced venous smooth muscle turnover of prostaglandin-like substance in portal veins from spontaneously hypertensive rats☆☆☆★

The sensitivity of portal veins from 14 to 18 week-old Okamoto-Aoki spontaneously hypertensive rats to prostaglandins A2, B2, D2 and F2α were enhanced whereas the sensitivity to prostaglandin E2 was diminished when compared with responses of veins from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with both eicosotetraynoic acid (ETYA) and indomethacin (INDO) abolished the observed differences in sensitivity to prostaglandins. Synthesis of prostaglandin-like substance (with arachidonic acid as precursor) was significantly enhanced in portal veins from spontaneously hypertensive rats. Metabolism of prostaglandins E2 and F2α, employing the oil-immersion technique of Kalsner and Nickerson, appeared to be similar in veins from normotensive and hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that prostaglandin synthesis is enhanced in venous smooth muscle from hypertensive rats. The increased concentration of endogenous prostaglandin at the venous smooth muscle cell may modify the responses to exogenously administered prostaglandins thus accounting, in part, for the altered sensitivity to these fatty acids.
An Evaluation of the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale

The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale was developed to identify individuals with autism in research and clinical settings. It has benefited from wide use and acceptance but has received little empirical attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the construct and diagnostic validity, interrater reliability, and effects of participant characteristics of the GARS in a large and heterogeneous sample of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. 360 parent and teacher ratings were submitted to factor analysis. A three-factor solution explaining 38% of the variance was obtained. Almost half of all items loaded on a Repetitive and Stereotyped Behavior factor. The Developmental Disturbance subscale did not contribute to the Autism Quotient (AQ) and was poorly related to other subscales. Internal consistency for the three behavioral subscales was good but low for the Developmental Disturbance subscale. The average AQ was significantly lower than what was reported in the test manual, suggesting low sensitivity with the current cutoff criteria. Interrater reliability was also much lower than originally reported by the instrument's developer. No significant age or gender effects were found. Level of impairment, as measured by adaptive behavior, was negatively related to total and subscale scores. The implications of these findings were discussed, as was the use of diagnostic instruments in the field in general.
Cooperative spectrum sensing via coherence detection

Efficient and reliable spectrum sensing plays a critical role in cognitive radio networks. This paper proposes a cooperative sensing scheme that detects the existence of a common signal component in the signals received by multiple geographically distributed radios. The scheme assumes that signals received by different radios display strong coherence if they have a common source. Detection of this coherence in a wireless environment is studied, especially when the transmitted signal is distorted by multipath channels.
Navier-Stokes Simulation of Plume/Vertical Launching System Interaction Flowfields

Abstract : The application of Navier-Stokes methodology to the analysis of Vertical Launching System/missile exhaust plume interactions is discussed. The complex three-dimensional flowfields related to the Vertical Launching System (VLS) are computed utilizing the PARCH/RNP Navier-Stokes code. PARCH/RNP solves the fully-coupled system of fluid, two-equation turbulence (kE) and chemical species equations via the implicit, approximately factored, Beam-Warming algorithm utilizing a block-tridiagonal inversion procedure.
Determination of malate synthase activity in polyacrylamide gels.

Abstract It is shown that the generation of the insoluble precipitate, copper ferrocyanide, provides a distinct, rapid, and sensitive method for localizing malate synthase in polyacrylamide gels. Both enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle, isocitrate lyase and malate synthase, can now be specifically stained using the same polyacrylamide gel system. This can contribute substantially to elucidating the developmental or adaptive patterns of the glyoxylate cycle and in determining the degree of homology of glyoxylate cycle enzymes from different organisms or organelles. These techniques also provide a simple method for establishing the occurrence of isoenzymes. Finally, the ability to detect a reaction capable of reducing ferricyanide to form cooper ferrocyanide suggests that this technique may be useful for localization of many of the enzymes which generate CoASH (18,19).
Unified Theory of Oscillator Phase Noise II: Flicker Noise

We present a general theory of oscillator phase-noise for perturbations resulting from both white and flicker noise. Although fundamentally different, both noise sources share in common an underlying principle of analyzing noise in the basis of the oscillator. These similarities allow for an integrated description of noise using a common set of equations. With knowledge of the oscillation power, roundtrip delay, and spectrum of injected noise, the phase noise of an oscillator can be determined to high accuracy. We compare our theory to phase-noise measurements of several RF oscillators with these three parameters independently varied. In addition, we also test the validity of our theory against a hybrid optoelectronic oscillator operating under entirely different principles. Excellent agreement is found in all cases.
A histologic evaluation of the accuracy of TMJ diagnostic arthroscopy

Sixty-seven temporomandibular joints with internal derangement were examined with arthroscopy, and synovial biopsies were taken for histologic evaluation. Histologically, in 10 cases, the synovium appeared to be normal in appearance, 24 cases had moderate to severe synovitis, 11 cases showed hyperplastic synovitis, 13 cases showed synovial fibrosis, and foreign body granuloma was found in 9 cases. Correlation between arthroscopic observation and histologic findings disclosed an 89.1% specificity and 100% sensitivity.
Sex differences in problem solving as a function of content and order of presentation

Content (male role appropriate vs female role appropriate) and practice (first half of problems vs second half) were investigated for their influence in the consistently found superiority of males in problem-solving experiments. Forty male and 40 female college students were presented with sets of 20 word problems. The expected superiority of male performance was found at the.05 level. Xeither the content nor the order of presentation was a potent enough factor to diminish this superiority.
PLANT PRODUCTION AND SOIL MICROORGANISMS IN LATE-SUCCESSIONAL ECOSYSTEMS: A CONTINENTAL-SCALE STUDY'

Annual C inputs from plant production in terrestrial ecosystems only meet the maintenance energy requirements of soil microorganisms, allowing for little or no net annual increase in their biomass. Because microbial growth within soil is limited by C availability, we reasoned that plant production should, in part, control the biomass of soil microorganisms. We also reasoned that soil texture should further modify the influence of plant production on soil C availability because fine-textured soils typically support more microbial biomass than coarse- textured soils. To test these ideas, we quantified the relationship between aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and soil microbial biomass in late-successi onal ecosystems dis- tributed along a continent-wide gradient in North America. We also measured labile pools of C and N within the soil because they represent potential substrate for microbial activity. Eco- systems ranged from a Douglas-fir forest in the western United States to the grasslands of the mid-continent to the hardwood forests in the eastern U.S. Estimates of ANPP obtained from the literature ranged from 82 to 1460 g-m~ 2 -yr~'. Microbial biomass C and N were estimated by the fumigation-incubation technique. Labile soil pools of C and N and first-order rate constants for microbial respiration and net N mineralization were estimated using a long-term (32 wk) laboratory incubation. Regression analyses were used to relate ANPP and soil texture with microbial biomass and labile soil C and N pools. Microbial biomass carbon ranged from 2 g/m2 in the desert grassland to 134 g/m2 in the tallgrass prairie; microbial N displayed a similar trend among ecosystems. Labile C pools, derived from a first-order rate equation, ranged from 115 g/m2 in the desert grassland to 491 g/m2 in the southern hardwood forest. First-order rate constants for microbial respiration (fc) fell within a narrow range of values (0.180 to 0.357 wk~'), suggesting that labile C pools were chemically similar among this diverse set of ecosystems. Potential net N mineralization rates over the 32- wk incubation were linear in most ecosystems with first-order responses only in the alpine tundra, tallgrass prairie, and forests. Microbial biomass C displayed a positive, linear relationship with ANPP (r2 = 0.51), but was not significantly related to soil texture. Labile C also was linearly related to ANPP (r2 = 0.32) and to soil texture (r2 = 0.33). Results indicate that microbial biomass and labile organic matter pools change predictably across broad gradients of ANPP, supporting the idea that microbial growth in soil is constrained by C availability.
Existence theory for damped gravity waves in a closed rectangular basin

We study existence and uniqueness of solutions of the equations for the free surface motion of an incompressible, irrotational fluid in a rectangular basin subject to vertical oscillation. After adding artificial damping, which leaves the flow irrotational but correctly represents the physical rate of energy loss at high wave numbers, we prove global existence and uniqueness results in the appropriate Sobolev spaces, provided that the initial data and forcing amplitudes have sufficiently small norms. Convergence of spatially discretized (finite-dimensional) projections is also discussed.
The candidate neuroprotective agent artemin induces autonomic neural dysplasia without preventing peripheral nerve dysfunction.

Artemin (ART) signals through the GFRα‐3/RET receptor complex to support sympathetic neuron development. Here we show that ART also influences autonomic elements in adrenal medulla and enteric and pelvic ganglia. Transgenic mice over-expressing Art throughout development exhibited systemic autonomic neural lesions including fusion of adrenal medullae with adjacent paraganglia, adrenal medullary dysplasia, and marked enlargement of sympathetic (superior cervical and sympathetic chain ganglia) and parasympathetic (enteric, pelvic) ganglia. Changes began by gestational day 12.5 and formed progressively larger masses during adulthood. Art supplementation in wild type adult mice by administering recombinant protein or an Art-bearing retroviral vector resulted in hyperplasia or neuronal metaplasia at the adrenal corticomedullary junction. Expression data revealed that Gfrα‐3 is expressed during development in the adrenal medulla, sensory and autonomic ganglia and their projections, while Art is found in contiguous mesenchymal domains (especially skeleton) and in certain nerves. Intrathecal Art therapy did not reduce hypalgesia in rats following nerve ligation. These data (1) confirm that ART acts as a differentiation factor for autonomic (chiefly sympathoadrenal but also parasympathetic) neurons, (2) suggest a role for ART overexpression in the genesis of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas, and (3) indicate that ART is not a suitable therapy for peripheral neuropathy.
Finding what is hidden: a method to measure implicit attitudes for nursing and health-related behaviours.

Aim To discuss a research method, the Implicit Association Test, for use in nursing research. The Implicit Association Test measures implicit attitudes, which may mediate health-related and caregiving behaviours. Background Implicit attitudes are automatic and often unconscious, but may affect the behaviours of nurses and their patients. The Implicit Association Test has been used to measure implicit attitudes in fields from health care to marketing, but has seldom appeared in nursing. The Implicit Association Test is a computer-based tool consisting of a series of categorization tasks. Implicit Association Tests are scored based on the speed of matching either words or images to categories. Assumptions of the Implicit Association Test method, its administration, psychometrics and potential use in nursing research are reviewed. Design Discussion paper. Data sources PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsychINFO® and Health and Psychosocial Instrument databases were searched from the Implicit Association Test's introduction in 1998–April 2013. Search terms used were ‘Implicit Association Test’ OR ‘IAT’. Implications for nursing Nursing theories include attitudes as mediators of behaviour and health, but measurement has been limited to explicit attitudes. A reliable, valid and flexible tool is available to measure implicit attitudes. This tool largely circumvents self-report bias related to socially sensitive topics. Conclusion Nursing research is needed to investigate implicit attitudes held by nurses and patients when these may influence health-related behaviours and outcomes. The Implicit Association Test can measure implicit attitudes and is suitable for adoption in nursing research.
Limitation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnosing Longitudinal Peroneal Tendon Tears

The purpose of this case study was to highlight a potential limitation of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing longitudinal tendon tears and to emphasize the importance of clinical examination for peroneal tendinopathy. We describe a 15-year-old female with lateral ankle pain, who was negative for peroneal tendon tear on magnetic resonance imaging. Owing to high clinical suspicion of peroneal tendon pathology, we opted to take the patient to the operating room and found a 6.5-cm longitudinal tear and a low-lying muscle belly of the peroneus brevis tendon. A low-lying muscle belly of the peroneal tendon has been shown to be associated with increased tendon tears.
Solving smooth and nonsmooth multivariable extremum seeking problems by the methods of nonlinear programming

Contains an analysis of the dynamics associated with the interconnection of a dynamical system with a discrete-time approximate nonlinear programming algorithm designed to locate an extremum on the steady-state output map (readout map) of the dynamical system. Very few assumptions on the dynamical system, the readout map, and the nonlinear programming algorithm are imposed. Taking a nonlinear programming approach to the extremum seeking problem readily allows: 1) readout maps that depend on many input parameters in a highly coupled manner, 2) nonsmooth readout maps, 3) nonexponential convergence to attractors that determine the steady-state, and 4) attractors in infinite dimensions. Several simulation examples are provided to illustrate the theory and demonstrate the flexibility of the approach.
Association of insulin resistance and inflammation with peripheral arterial disease: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2004.

Background— Although the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is well established, the contribution of insulin resistance (IR) to PAD is less clear. We h...
Cluster C Personality Disorders and Anxiety Disorders

Case complexity and reduced treatment outcomes have been reported in patients with anxiety disorders and comorbid cluster C personality disorders (PD). This chapter reviews the effect of PD on presentation, course, and treatment of individual anxiety disorders. Additionally, two personality models are presented to explain the underlying mechanisms of these cases. Moreover, treatment approaches are discussed that are able to manage a comorbid cluster C PD, as seen in a case study of treating anxiety in a patient with comorbid obsessive–compulsive PD. However, further research is needed to develop more effective interventions for patients with this comorbidity.
Using Genetic Algorithms to Improve Pattern Classification Performance

Genetic algorithms were used to select and create features and to select reference exemplar patterns for machine vision and speech pattern classification tasks. For a complex speech recognition task, genetic algorithms required no more computation time than traditional approaches to feature selection but reduced the number of input features required by a factor of five (from 153 to 33 features). On a difficult artificial machine-vision task, genetic algorithms were able to create new features (polynomial functions of the original features) which reduced classification error rates from 19% to almost 0%. Neural net and k nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers were unable to provide such low error rates using only the original features. Genetic algorithms were also used to reduce the number of reference exemplar patterns for a KNN classifier. On a 338 training pattern vowel-recognition problem with 10 classes, genetic algorithms reduced the number of stored exemplars from 338 to 43 without significantly increasing classification error rate. In all applications, genetic algorithms were easy to apply and found good solutions in many fewer trials than would be required by exhaustive search. Run times were long, but not unreasonable. These results suggest that genetic algorithms are becoming practical for pattern classification problems as faster serial and parallel computers are developed.
Is the Curve Relating Temperature to Aggression Linear or Curvilinear? Assaults and Temperature in Minneapolis Reexamined.

Using archival data from Minneapolis recorded in 3-hr time intervals, E. G. Cohn and J. Rotton (1997) concluded that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between temperature and assault, with the maximum assault rate occurring at 74.9 °F. They depicted this relationship by plotting temperature against assault. This plot, however, fails to take into account time of day. Time of day was strongly related to both temperature and assault, but in opposite directions. Between 9:00 p.m. and 2:59 a.m. of the next day, when most assaults occurred, there was a positive linear relationship between temperature and assault. The Minneapolis data actually provide stronger support of a positive linear (or monotonic) relationship between temperature and assault than of an inverted U-shaped relationship.
Approaches to Family Literacy: Exploring the Possibilities

Family literacy has been defined in many ways. To some, family literacy is an explanatory concept—a way to describe how parents and children read and write together and alone during everyday activities. To others, family literacy is a program or a curriculum—a construct for teaching parents how to prepare their children for success in school. In the context of most preschool and elementary school settings, both of these meanings are important. In this column, the author introduces the Intergenerational Literacy Project (ILP), a program in the northeastern United States that is dedicated to accomplishing family literacy in both senses of the term. Parents involved in the program attend classes to develop and extend their own English literacy and to support their children's literacy. Findings from the ILP have demonstrated rates of attendance and retention that exceed those of traditional adult basic education, an increase in the parents' use of reading and writing outside of class to achieve personal goals, and an increase in the frequency with which the parents engage their children in the types of literacy events that have been found to prepare children for success in early reading.
Metacognitive Theory A Framework for Teaching Literacy, Writing, and Math Skills

This set of articles-on the three Rs-has provided us with innovative, wide-ranging perspectives on how teachers can enhance academic performance. I could devote considerable space to emphasizing the many positive aspects in each of the three major articles. However, the commentators have done a fine job in pinpointing strengths and identifying limitations associated with each position paper. Hence, my goal is to draw the three articles into a more coherent and unified perspective, based in large part on recent advances in metacognitive theory. I will develop three themes:(1) self-regulation as the centerpiece of strategy-based instruction;(2) the reciprocal relationship between self-regulated learning and beliefs about the “self” as a learner; and(3) “working models” and their role in classroom teaching. Hopefully, having stated my case as succinctly as possible, connections will emerge between my preferred metacognitive framework and the major themes in the accompanying articles.
Closed-loop persistent identification of linear systems with unmodeled dynamics and stochastic disturbances

The essential issues of time complexity and probing signal selection are studied for persistent identification of linear time-invariant systems in a closed-loop setting. By establishing both upper and lower bounds on identification accuracy as functions of the length of observation, size of unmodeled dynamics, and stochastic disturbances, we demonstrate the inherent impact of unmodeled dynamics on identification accuracy, reduction of time complexity by stochastic averaging on disturbances, and probing capability of full rank periodic signals for closed-loop persistent identification. These findings indicate that the mixed formulation, in which deterministic uncertainty of system dynamics is blended with random disturbances, is beneficial to reduction of identification complexity.
The Use of the Multinational Corporation as a Research Context

The multinational corporation (MNC) has been increasingly used as a context for conceptual and empirical work. Based on a review of several leading management journals, we identify three main purposes for which the MNC has been employed: (1) study of MNC-specific phenomena; (2) validation and expansion of existing theories; and (3) development of new theories. We suggest that the latter purpose represents the highest potential contribution of MNC research, yet it is the least utilized so far. We then offer ideas of how to increase the contribution of MNC research through capturing the conceptual distinctiveness of the context, examining the theoretical paradoxes inherent in these organizations, and theorizing about novel combinative phenomena emerging in this context.
A Computational Intelligibility Model for Assessment and Compression of American Sign Language Video

Real-time, two-way transmission of American Sign Language (ASL) video over cellular networks provides natural communication among members of the Deaf community. As a communication tool, compressed ASL video must be evaluated according to the intelligibility of the conversation, not according to conventional definitions of video quality. Guided by linguistic principles and human perception of ASL, this paper proposes a full-reference computational model of intelligibility for ASL (CIM-ASL) that is suitable for evaluating compressed ASL video. The CIM-ASL measures distortions only in regions relevant for ASL communication, using spatial and temporal pooling mechanisms that vary the contribution of distortions according to their relative impact on the intelligibility of the compressed video. The model is trained and evaluating using ground truth experimental data collected in three separate studies. The CIM-ASL provides accurate estimates of subjective intelligibility and demonstrates statistically significant improvements over computational models traditionally used to estimate video quality. The CIM-ASL is incorporated into an H.264 compliant video coding framework, creating a closed-loop encoding system optimized explicitly for ASL intelligibility. The ASL-optimized encoder achieves bitrate reductions between 10% and 42%, without reducing intelligibility, when compared to a general purpose H.264 encoder.