cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Large-Scale QoS-Aware Service-Oriented Networking with a Clustering-Based Approach

Motivated by the fact that most of the existing QoS service composition solutions have limited scalability, we develop a hierarchical-based solution framework to achieve scalability by means of topology abstraction and routing state aggregation. The paper presents and solves several unique challenges associated with the hierarchical-based QoS service composition solution in overlay networks, including topology formation (cluster detection and dynamic reclustering), QoS and service state aggregation and distribution, and QoS service path computation in a hierarchically structured network topology. In our framework, we (1) cluster network nodes based on their Internet distances and maintain clustering optimality at low cost by means of local reclustering operations when dealing with dynamic membership; (2) use data clustering and Bloom filter techniques to jointly reduce complexity of data representation associated with services within a cluster; and (3) investigate a top-down approach for computing QoS service paths in a hierarchical topology.
REMOVAL OF SUGAR DITHIOACETAL GROUP WITH N‐BROMOSUCCINIMIDE

Abstract Oxidative removal of the dithioacetal group of several protected sugar and 2-acylamido-2-deoxy sugar dialkyl dithioacetals with N-bromosuccinimide in 97% aqueous acetone or 1:1 (v/v) 2-methyl-2-propanol—acetone was compared with removal with mercury dichloride—mercury(II) oxide or mercury dichloride—cadmium carbonate. In general, removal with N-bromosuccinimide proceeded more rapidly, and, with one exception, yields were higher than or equal to those obtained with the method using mercury salt.
Mini skin incision for carotid endarterectomy (CEA): a new and safe alternative to the standard approach.

Purpose Patients requiring surgery are naturally attracted to shorter incisions because they tend to cause less pain and are esthetically more appeasing. To substantially shorten the length of standard skin incisions (4 to 7 inches) for carotid endarterectomy (CEA), we used preoperative duplex scanning to outline the carotid bifurcation as well as to determine the extent of disease in both the internal and common carotid arteries. Methods During the last 21 months, 265 consecutive primary CEAs were performed in 253 patients (mean age 72 ± 10 years) at a single institution. Of these, 142 were men (56%). Hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and chronic renal failure were present in 81%, 44%, 43%, 28%, and 19% of the patients, respectively. Neurologically asymptomatic patients accounted for 71% of the cases. All patients received general anesthesia. Duplex-assisted skin markings of the diseased carotid artery were performed after proper patient positioning on the operating table. Synthetic patches were routinely used, and intraluminal shunts were deemed necessary by low stump pressures in 64 cases (24%). Completion duplex scanning was performed in all cases. Results The length of the longitudinal skin incision varied from 0.8 to 3.5 inches (average 1.4 ± 0.5 inches). It was ≤1 inch in 56 cases (21%), 1.1 to 1.5 inches in 110 (42%), 1.6 to 2 inches in 85 (32%), and 2.1 to 3.5 inches in the remaining 14 cases (5%). Intraluminal shunts were required in 9 (16%), 18 (16%), 29 (34%), and 8 (57%) of the cases, respectively. Incisions were longer in cases requiring an indwelling shunt (1.6 ± 0.6 inches vs 1.4 ± 0.4 inches) ( P P Conclusion Most CEAs (95%) can safely be performed with ≤2-inch skin incisions. Pre-CEA duplex-assisted skin marking is a novel approach that confirms the side of the operation, localizes the disease, and minimizes the magnitude of the operation via shorter, more esthetically pleasing incisions.
Cultural and environmental response to drought among the Mountain Pima

The Mountain Pima of Chihuahua, Mexico, were adversely affected by a severe drought in late 1987 and 1988 which greatly reduced crop yields. The people responded by sale of livestock, temporary migration for wage labor, and increased utilization of noncultivated plant resources. Changes in availability of wild resources differed from species to species. Arctostaphylos pungens showed zero yield in 1988; yields of Opuntia spp. and Berberis pimana were greatly reduced. Hymenocallis pimana, Dahlia coccina, D. sheriffii, Agave shrevei spp. matapensis, Arbutus xalapensis, A. arizonica, Prunus gentryi and P. serotina var. virens showed negligible decreases in yields, as did several weedy species, including Amaranthus hybridus, Portulaca oleracea, Jaltomata procumbens, and Physalis spp. Roots of Prionosciadium townsendii increased in availability because of a decrease in the percentage of the population undergoing reproduction. The observed increase in wild plant utilization agrees with predictions of the diet br...
Maximum entropy reconstruction from cone-beam projection data

An iterative algorithm for direct three-dimensional reconstruction from cone-beam projection data is presented. It is based on the maximum entropy criterion and uses an efficient parametrization of the cone-beam projection geometry. The computer memory requirements are low, and the algorithm converges rapidly in test problems. A numerical example is given of a reconstruction of a simple test object from five cone-beam views.
An Analysis of Cloud Liquid Water Feedback and Global Climate Sensitivity in a General Circulation Model

Abstract A set of general circulation model simulations is analyzed to determine how cloud distribution and cloud radiative properties might change as climate warms and to isolate and quantify the various feedback effects of clouds on climate sensitivity. For this study the NCAR Community Climate Model (CCM1) was modified so that the cloud radiative properties (albodo, emissivity, and absorptivity) are no longer prescribed, but are functions of the cloud liquid water content. Following the Cess and Potter approach for estimating climate sensitivity, we consider results from two sets of simulations. In one set, cloud liquid water is diagnosed from the simulated condensation rate and thus is free to vary with condensation, while in the other set, the cloud liquid water content is a fixed field (dependent only on altitude and latitude) that is obtained by averaging the results of the first set of experiments. The experiments make it possible to isolate the effects of cloud liquid water feedback. We find that...
Ratcheting Up: Linked Technology Adoption in Supply Chains

It is generally assumed that a firm will adopt complementary technologies simultaneously. Apparel industry data indicate that, because of the close links between suppliers and retailers, there was a ratchet-up adoption of complementary information technologies. The consequence was that a rapid regime shift occurred without explicit coordination or planning. One implication is that the study of technology adoption may need to be more widely conceptualized to incorporate the relationships between upstream manufacturers and downstream retailers.
Composite metacarpophalangeal joint reconstruction in great toe-to-hand free tissue transfers.

The recommended technique of skeletal fixation of great toe-to-hand free tissue transfers for thumb reconstruction is related to the length of the first ray present. When the entire first metacarpal is intact, fusion of the disarticulated great toe proximal phalanx to the metacarpal head has been described. Another possibility in this selected situation with cartilage present on the metacarpal head is to reconstruct a new metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint from a cuff of collateral ligaments and plantar plate on the proximal phalanx, anchored to the metacarpal head. In a series of 45 great toe-to-thumb transfers, eight were done with a composite MP joint reconstruction technique. A description of this technique and clinical results are presented. Based on the results in these patients, this technique should be considered as an alternative to joint fusion when the entire first metacarpal is intact.
kin-19/casein kinase Iα has dual functions in regulating asymmetric division and terminal differentiation in C. elegans epidermal stem cells.

Casein Kinase I (CKI) is a conserved component of the Wnt signaling pathway that regulates cell fate determination in metazoans. We show that post-embryonic asymmetric division and fate specification of C. elegans epidermal stem cells are controlled by a non-canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, involving the β-catenins WRM-1 and SYS-1, and that C. elegans kin-19/CKIα functions in this pathway. Furthermore, we find that kin-19 is the only member of the Wnt asymmetry pathway that functions with, or in parallel to, the heterochronic temporal patterning pathway to control withdrawal from self-renewal and subsequent terminal differentiation of epidermal stem cells. We show that, except in the case of kin-19, the Wnt asymmetry pathway and the heterochronic pathway function separately and in parallel to control different aspects of epidermal stem cell fate specification. However, given the function of kin-19/CKIα in both pathways, and that CKI, Wnt signaling pathway and heterochronic pathway genes are widely conserved in animals, our findings suggest that CKIα may function as a regulatory hub through which asymmetric division and terminal differentiation are coordinated in adult stem cells of vertebrates.
Team Structure and Culture Are Associated With Lower Burnout in Primary Care

Purpose: Burnout is a threat to the primary care workforce. We investigated the relationship between team structure, team culture, and emotional exhaustion of clinicians and staff in primary care practices. Methods: We surveyed 231 clinicians and 280 staff members of 10 public and 6 university-run primary care clinics in San Francisco in 2012. Predictor variables included team structure, such as working in a tight teamlet, and perception of team culture. The outcome variable was the Maslach emotional exhaustion scale. Generalized estimation equation models were used to account for clustering at the clinic level. Results: Working in a tight team structure and perceptions of a greater team culture were associated with less clinician exhaustion. Team structure and team culture interacted to predict exhaustion: among clinicians reporting low team culture, team structure seemed to have little effect on exhaustion, whereas among clinicians reporting high team culture, tighter team structure was associated with less exhaustion. Greater team culture was associated with less exhaustion among staff. However, unlike for clinicians, team structure failed to predict exhaustion among staff. Conclusions: Fostering team culture may be an important strategy to protect against exhaustion in primary care and enhance the benefit of tight team structures.
BUCKLING OF CIRCULAR CYLINDRICAL SHELLS USING A DISPLACEMENT FUNCTION

Presents a governing differential equation for the stability of circular cylindrical shells under axial compression, external pressure and torsion. A method for the solutions of this equation is also presented. The advantage in using the present equation over the customary three differential equations for displacements is that only one trial solution is needed in solving buckling problems. Four possible combinations of boundary conditions for a simple supported edge are treated.
Gender influences in decision‐making processes in top management teams

Top management teams (TMT) were initially introduced almost 20 years ago but recently have rekindled the interest of researchers whose experience with organizations has demonstrated that the arrangement of the single omnipotent CEO at the apex of the firm has outlived its utility at a time when it is impossible for one individual to command all the knowledge necessary to effectively lead an organization. This article describes a model that examines gender related influences, which are hypothesized to affect the decision making process in TMTs. More specifically, it is postulated here that it is not gender per se that accounts for differences in decision making among senior female and male executives, but that four constructs, namely power, political savvy, conflict management and trust mediate the hypothesized relationships explicated in the model. Implications for increased participation of women on TMTs are explored.
The toxicity of tau in Alzheimer disease: turnover, targets and potential therapeutics

It has been almost 25 years since the initial discovery that tau was the primary component of the neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in Alzheimer disease (AD) brain. Although AD is defined by both β-amyloid (Aβ) pathology (Aβ plaques) and tau pathology (NFTs), whether or not tau played a critical role in disease pathogenesis was a subject of discussion for many years. However, given the increasing evidence that pathological forms of tau can compromise neuronal function and that tau is likely an important mediator of Aβ toxicity, there is a growing awareness that tau is a central player in AD pathogenesis. In this review we begin with a brief history of tau, then provide an overview of pathological forms of tau, followed by a discussion of the differential degradation of tau by either the proteasome or autophagy and possible mechanisms by which pathological forms of tau may exert their toxicity. We conclude by discussing possible avenues for therapeutic intervention based on these emerging themes of tau’s role in AD.
Warehouse management systems : resource commitment, capabilities, and organizational performance

Modern warehousing firms and distribution centers are overwhelmed with information related to the flows and storage of goods and services. The efficient and effective utilization of logistics-related information can enhance firms' ability to reduce costs while simultaneously improving customer satisfaction. Warehouse management systems (WMS) are frequently implemented and used with these goals in mind. The current research examines resource-based empirical justification for the pursuit and implementation of WMS. In addition, a research agenda is offered to guide future research efforts related to WMS and the broader area of logistics information systems (LIS).
Antimicrobial Resistance, Toxinotype, and Genotypic Profiling of Clostridium difficile Isolates of Swine Origin

The occurrence of Clostridium difficile infections in patients that do not fulfill the classical risk factors prompted us to investigate new risk factors of disease. The goal of this study was to characterize strains and associated antimicrobial resistance determinants of C. difficile isolated from swine raised in Ohio and North Carolina. Genotypic approaches used include PCR detection, toxinotyping, DNA sequencing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) DNA fingerprinting. Thirty-one percent (37/119) of isolates carried both tetM and tetW genes. The ermB gene was found in 91% of isolates that were resistant to erythromycin (68/75). Eighty-five percent (521/609) of isolates were toxin gene tcdB and tcdA positive. A total of 81% (494/609) of isolates were positive for cdtB and carry a tcdC gene (a toxin gene negative regulator) with a 39-bp deletion. Overall, 88% (196/223) of pigs carry a single C. difficile strain, while 12% (27/223) of pigs carried multiple strains. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of individual pigs found to carry more than one strain type of C. difficile. A significant difference in toxinotype profiles in the two geographic locations was noted, with a significantly (P < 0.001) higher prevalence of toxinotype V found in North Carolina (84%; 189/224) than in Ohio (55%; 99/181). Overall, the study findings indicate that significant proportions of C. difficile in swine are toxigenic and often are associated with antimicrobial resistance genes, although they are not resistant to drugs that are used to treat C. difficile infections.
Scan Latch Design for Test Applications

This JETTA letter describes a new single-latch scan design that uses a single clock for both scan and functional operations. A test mode signal differentiates between normal and test operations. This new design enjoys savings in circuits, pins, test time, and also enjoys the benefits of a high-speed scan capability.
Titanyl phthalocyanine/C60 heterojunctions: Band-edge offsets and photovoltaic device performance

Planar heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices have been created using oxo-titanium phthalocyanine (TiOPc) as the donor layer and fullerene (C60) as the acceptor layer, with comparisons to devices based on copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) as the donor. TiOPc/C60 and CuPc/C60 heterojunctions were first characterized by a combination of UV-photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to estimate the frontier orbital energy offset (EDHOMO − EALUMO), which is related to the open-circuit photopotential (VOC). A small interface dipole effect was seen at the TiOPc/C60 interface (eD ≈ 0.02 eV), whereas a significant interface dipole was observed for the CuPc/C60 interface (eD ≈ 0.3 eV). On the basis of the work presented here and previously reported electrochemical and UPS/XPS studies, we estimate an EDHOMO − EALUMO energy offset of ca. 1.1 eV for the TiOPc/C60 heterojunction and 0.7 eV for the CuPc/C60 heterojunction. Maximum VOC values observed at room temperature for correspondin...
Still crazy after all these years: Reckless behavior among young adults aged 23–27

Abstract Reckless behavior was examined among 115 college-educated young adults aged 23–27 who responded to a mail survey. Rates of recklessness were high (near or above 50%) for some types of driving and sexual behavior, low in the areas of drug use and minor criminality. Sensation seeking and probability judgements were related to driving recklessness. A substantial percentage of subjects had experienced negative consequences related to reckless behavior (e.g. an unintended pregnancy, an automobile accident), but the experience of these events was not related to current behavior. Married subjects were less likely to report driving while intoxicated or marijuana use.
Physiologic evaluation and surgical management of failed ileoanal pouch.

BACKGROUND: Following proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, a small percentage of patients will have poor functional results attributable to pouchitis or anastomotic or septic complications. Additionally, functional failures can occur secondary to limited pouch capacity and compliance. We present five such patients managed with operative conversion to W-ileal pouch-anal anastomosis and examined physiologic parameters important for improving functional results. METHODS: Five female patients (mean age, 30 (range, 24–39) years) with poorly functioning J-ileal pouch-anal anastomoses were referred for evaluation with symptoms of high stool frequency and incontinence problems. Three had severe nocturnal incontinence, and the remaining two patients experienced minor nocturnal incontinence. Preoperative and postoperative evaluation included barium pouch studies, flexible sigmoidoscopy, anal manometry, evacuation volume, and pouch compliance. Pouch-to-anal pressure gradients were calculated. To improve reservoir capacity and compliance, all five patients underwent conversion to W-ileal pouch-anal anastomoses. RESULTS: Twenty-four hour and nocturnal stool frequencies decreased from 13.8±1.7 and 3±1.3 to 5.8±0.3 and 0.3±0.2 postconversion (P<0.05). Mean pouch evacuation volume increased from 83±27 to 290±29 ml postoperatively (P<0.05). Pouch compliance increased from 2.7±0.5 mmHg/ml to 7.7±0.6 mmHg/ml postconversion (P<0.05). Improvement in postconversion stool frequency correlated with an increase in pouch evacuation volume (r=−0.87). All patients reported improved day and nocturnal continence, despite no significant change between preoperative and postoperative anal manometric pressures. Improved continence correlated with a significant widening of the pouch-to-anal pressure gradients, which increased from 5 to 25 mmHg at 150 ml following pouch conversion. CONCLUSIONS: Poorly functioning ileal reservoirs secondary to limited capacity and compliance can be successfully managed with conversion to W-ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. The increased pouch capacity is associated with improvement in compliance and widening of the pouch-to-anal pressure gradients, providing excellent functional results.
SUBMITOCHONDRIAL DISTRIBUTIONS AND STABILITIES OF SUBUNITS 4, 5, AND 6 OF YEAST CYTOCHROME OXIDASE IN ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE MUTANTS

The concentration and submitochondrial distribution of the subunit polypeptides of cytochrome oxidase have been studied in wild type yeast and in different mutants impaired in assembly of this respiratory complex. All the subunit polypeptides of the enzyme are associated with mitochondrial membranes of wild type cells, except for a small fraction of subunits 4 and 6 that is recovered in the soluble protein fraction of mitochondria. Cytochrome oxidase mutants consistently display a severe reduction in the steady-state concentration of subunit 1 due to its increased turnover. As a consequence, most of subunit 4, which normally is associated with subunit 1, is found in the soluble fraction. A similar shift from membrane-bound to soluble subunit 6 is seen in mutants blocked in expression of subunit 5a. In contrast, null mutations in COX6 coding for subunit 6 promote loss of subunit 5a. The absence of subunit 5a in the cox6 mutant is the result of proteolytic degradation rather than regulation of its expression by subunit 6. The possible role of the ATP-dependent proteases Rca1p and Afg3p in proteolysis of subunits 1 and 5a has been assessed in strains with combined mutations in COX6, RCA1, and/or AFG3. Immunochemical assays indicate that another protease(s) must be responsible for most of the proteolytic loss of these proteins.
Christology in the Jewish-Christian Encounter: An Essay-Review of Edward Schillebeeckx Jesuz Het Verhaal van een Levende

Post-Enlightenment critical consciousness, changes in our understanding of man, and strong existential concerns about our own humanity impinge strongly upon any reformulation of christology. One such existential concern is the anti-Semitic roots of Christianity, expressed particularly in christology. Schillebeeckx' book on the formative years of christology is one of the few which takes this problem into consideration. His work is presented as a forum for dealing with anti-Semitism in the christological tradition. Three discussions are presented: Jesus' attitude toward the Torah; models used to interpret Jesus' significance after his death; and the problem of the universality of his message and salvation. Schillebeeckx emphasizes that both Jesus' attitude toward the Torah and the disciples' interpretation of his significance fall within the parameters of Judaism of the time, and that the newness of Christianity results from its selection and combination of Judaic elements available. How is the anti-Semitism to be explained then? The problems of dealing with the anti-Semitism of the Christian tradition are not so much a matter of doctrine (i.e., somehow superseding Jewish tradition) as of how sectarians overemphasize and distort carefully mediated contraries within a tradition. This sectarian distortion had repercussions in eschatological interpretation and in the directions of christological formulations of the ensuing centuries. Undoing the anti-Semitic strands of the Christian tradition will involve ' (Jesus, The Story of One Who Lives) Bloemendaal: Nelisson, 1974. To be published in English translation by Seabury Press. References in parentheses are to Schillebeeckx' book. This essay is based on a paper read in the Jewish-Christian Seminar at the meeting of the American Academy of Religion in Chicago on November 2, 1975. ROBERT SCHREITER (Th. Dr., University of Nijmegen) studied at Nijmegen and Oxford. He is currently Assistant Professor of Doctrinal Studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He also serves on the editorial board of Concilium.
Comparative Kinematic Evaluation of All-Inside Single-Bundle and Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Biomechanical Study

BackgroundThe efficacy of single-bundle versus double-bundle ACL reconstruction in improving knee stability has been widely discussed. The biomechanics of all-inside double-bundle ACL reconstructions have not been evaluated.HypothesisAn anatomic all-inside double-bundle ACL reconstruction will more effectively restore native knee kinematics in vitro, especially rotational stability, when compared with an all-inside single-bundle ACL reconstruction.Study DesignControlled laboratory study.MethodsSeven pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric human knees were used. Knees were tested using 88 N of force for anterior and posterior drawers, 5 N·m internal and external rotation moments, 10 N·m valgus and varus moments, and coupled 5 N·m internal rotation and 10 N·m valgus moments to simulate a pivot shift at 0°, 20°, 30°, 60°, and 90° of knee flexion. Motion of the knee in response to external loading was measured with a Polhemus electromagnetic tracking system. Knees were first tested in the intact state, with either th...
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: A Dissenting Opinion

This paper asks whether the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act achieves its goals of significantly expanding health insurance coverage, while reducing costs and increasing the quality of the care provided. An examination of the early results and current future projections suggests that while PPACA will increase the number of Americans with health insurance, it will fall significantly short of universal coverage. In addition, PPACA fails to control health care costs, and will likely result in higher costs for government, as well as many businesses, and individuals. The author concludes that PPACA is not the most effective vehicle for achieving US health care reform, and that a more market-oriented approach offers a better alternative.
Accumulation of lipoproteins containing apo B in the aorta of cholesterol-fed cynomolgus monkeys

Abstract Accumulation of lipoproteins containing apo B in the aortic arch of cholesterol-fed cynomolgus monkeys was determined using an electroimmunoassay (EIA) to quantitate apo B. A loosely-bound fraction of apo B was measured by electrophoresing minces of whole wall thickness of aorta inserted directly into a gel containing antibodies to monkey normolipemic LDL. Normolipemic LDL was used as a standard. A tightly-bound apo B fraction was measured by digesting the once-electrophoresed minces with elastase and inserting the entire digest into wells of a second EIA using normolipemic LDL treated with elastase as a standard. These two fractions of apo B were determined in aortas of 7 animals fed an atherogenic diet for 24 months, 4 animals fed a control diet for 24 months, 4 animals fed an atherogenic diet for 30 months, and 2 animals fed a control chow for this time interval. The apo B values were compared to plasma cholesterol and HDL cholesterol concentrations. The extent and severity of atherosclerosis in the aortic arch was estimated by measuring the cross-sectioned intimal area of thoracic and abdominal aortas. The mean value of loosely-bound apo B, expressed either as ng protein per mg tissue wet weight or per mm2 intimal surface area, was increased over controls for those animals fed the atherogenic diet for 24 months. Likewise tightly-bound apo B was increased for this time interval. Apo B values for both loosely- and tightly-bound fractions in animals fed the atherogenic diet for 30 months were higher than control values, and were also significantly higher than for those animals fed the atherogenic diet for 24 months. Loosely- and tightly-bound apo B values were evenly divided in both groups of hypercholesterolemic animals, whereas tightly-bound apo B was not found in any control animals. These results suggest that diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in cynomolgus monkeys results in accumulation of lipoproteins containing apo B (probably LDL) in the aorta in both loosely- and tightly-bound forms, and that total lipoprotein accumulation increases with further time on this diet, probably as a result of further development of atherosclerotic lesions.
Preferential depletion of gut CD4-expressing iNKT cells contributes to systemic immune activation in HIV-1 infection

Preferential depletion of gut CD4-expressing iNKT cells contributes to systemic immune activation in HIV-1 infection
The Board of Directors as a Social Network: A New Perspective

Decisions by boards of directors can have a critical impact on the success or failure of a firm. These decisions range from the hiring and firing of a CEO to market entry and exit to the way in whi...
"Partier" self-concept mediates the relationship between college student binge drinking and related adverse consequences.

Abstract The literature suggests that identity impairments play a role in certain forms of maladaptive behavior. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the extent to which a “Partier” self-concept confers risk for adverse drinking-related consequences, mediating the well documented relationship between college student binge drinking and adverse outcomes. Participants completed an Internet survey examining binge drinking behaviors and related consequences, “Partier” self-concept, and demographic characteristics. This sample was comprised of 251 undergraduate psychology students (Mage = 19.90, SDage = 1.80; 83% female). Results suggest that “Partier” self-concept partially mediates the relationship between binge drinking and adverse consequences, and it contributes unique variance beyond that explained by frequency of binge drinking and duration of alcohol consumed during binge episodes. Future research should explore whether, for undergraduate college students, binge drinking prevention efforts tailored towards self-concept may fare better than those that have traditionally focused on heavy alcohol use, negative consequences, and related sanctions.
Exercised-induced increase in lipid peroxidation parameters in amenorrhelc female athletes

Abstract Objective: To determine plasma lipid peroxidation parameters in eumenorrheic and amenorrheic athletes and to evaluate differences in their response to exercise-induced oxidative stress. In female athletes, intense physical exercise has been shown to be associated with an increased occurrence of menstrual dysfunction with lower levels of E 2 . Recently, a protective role has been demonstrated for estrogens as free radical scavengers. Design: Comparison of eumenorrheic and amenorrheic athletes before and after an acute bout of exercise. Setting: Academic Research Environment. Patient(s): Seven eumenorrheic (normally menstruating) and seven amenorrheic ( Main Outcome Measure(s): Plasma and low-density lipoprotein oxidation parameters, plasma E 2 and vitamin E levels, and creatine kinase activity. Result(s): Both the amenorrheic and eumenorrheic athletes demonstrated a significant decrease in the lag time of conjugated diene formation after exercise ( P P P P = 0.04) trend of an increase in creatine kinase activity after exercise. Conclusion(s): The results of this study shows that amenorrheic female athletes demonstrate an increased potential for lipid peroxidation after exercise. This could be related to lower plasma E 2 levels in this group, considering the strong free radical scavenging ability of estrogens identified recently.
Ultrasonic Measurement of the Nonlinearity Parameters of Copper Single Crystals

The nonlinearity parameters, which are combinations of third-order elastic constants, of neutron-irradiated copper single crystals were determined at room temperature by measuring quantitatively the harmonic distortion of pulsed MHz ultrasonic waves propagating in three crystallographic directions. For this purpose, a capacitive detector was used with which ultrasonic displacement amplitudes of the order of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ cm can be detected and measured absolutely. Using the nonlinearity parameters in combination with other data, a complete set of third-order elastic constants for copper is calculated. The experiments represent a new technique for determining third-order elastic constants which is of special interest for measurements on easily deformed metal crystals.
Stoichiometry and Alloying Effects on the Phase Stability and Mechanical Properties of TiCr2-Base Laves Phase Alloys

Ti-Cr alloys near the TiCr2 composition have been studied to determine the single-phase Laves field and the associated defects accompanying off-stoichiometry. A combination of metallography, x-ray diffraction, lattice parameter measurements, density measurements and electron microprobe analysis have been used to establish a narrow single-phase region extending towards Ti-rich compositions. All three Laves crystal structures (C14, C36 and C15) were found to exist at different temperatures. Hardness and fracture toughness values determined by Vickers microindentation were studied as a function of alloy composition. Effects of adding Fe, Nb, Mo, and V to TiCr2 on lattice parameter, crystal structure, hardness and fracture toughness are reported.
On the possibility of democracy in a geocoded world

Political redistricting has increasingly been carried out with the aid of geographic information systems (GIS). Concerns about the systems have focused on their misuse, but their critics have failed to see that they raise deeper issues. First, they conceptualize districts as containers in space, where in fact people typically see themselves as belonging in and attached to their neighborhoods. Second, GIS-based geodemographic systems, based on inferred data about individuals and groups, appeal to an inadequate means of theorizing about community and culture. Finally, the availability of these data is increasingly leading to a society in which views are imputed to people who may not believe them, while politicians act as though people have those views, without having good reason to believe that people actually hold them. Together, GIS has been associated with a recasting of the public and the private in ways that render the political much less viable.
Insulin effects on gastric secretion and blood electrolytes modified by injected potassium.

In the intact gastric fistula dog, insulin has been shown to have several, probably independent, actions: 1. Hypoglycemia occurs, resulting in stimulation via the vagus of gastric electrolyte and pepsin secretion. 2. Plasma K+ levels fall and there is a transfer of Na from cells to plasma which is mainly K-dependent. 3. Another, and less clearly defined, effect on K+ results in inhibition of gastric electrolyte secretion and is rapidly reversed by injected K. This latter action is best explained by postulating an insulin-induced redistribution of K+ in cells with resulting depletion of cation site essential for electrolyte secretion. 4. The smooth muscle of the spleen contracts; this contraction can be only partly prevented by K injectin.
Intervention and Prevention of Drug-Taking Behavior: A Need for Divergent Approaches

This article undertakes a review of recent approaches to studying the relationship between personality and drug-taking behavior, and the implications that such research has for treatment. Emphasis is given to the need to perceive drug-taking behavior as a multidimensional phenomenon, in which the choice of drug, reason for its use, and personality and social factors, among other variables, need to be interrelated. The relationship between this approach and intervention procedures is explored, and the need to develop differential intervention strategies for drug-related problem behavior is also discussed.
Regularity-Based Partitioning of Uniform Resources in Real-Time Systems

Hierarchical scheduling is a hot topic in real time systems. In a hierarchical real-time system, the resource partition is the intermediate level between physical resources and real-time tasks. A resource partition operates on the shared physical resources at a fraction of the rate, and serves as a scheduling interface between the lower-level real-time tasks and the shared physical resources. Thus a key problem is how to define this scheduling interface on resource partitions. Regularity-bounded methodology is one important type of resource partitioning algorithms. This paper extends Mok and Feng's Regularity-based Resource Partition Model from a single-resource platform to a uniform multiresource platform. We present a resource partitioning algorithm called AAF Multi Scheduling for solving the time slice overlap problem on a multiresource platform without violating the schedulability bound given by Feng on a single-resource platform. AAF Multi is a global scheduling algorithm with O(OMEGA * Log OMEGA) time complexity (OMEGA = resource amount * hyper period), where hyper period is the least common multiple of the periods of the resource partitions.
Minimally invasive myotomy for achalasia in the elderly.

Background Elderly patients with achalasia are more frequently being referred for minimally invasive Heller myotomy (MIM). The associated morbidity and mortality of MIM in the elderly are not well defined. The objective of this study was to review our experience with MIM in the elderly.
Serum lipase, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in ERCP induced pancreatitis

Serum lipase, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in ERCP induced pancreatitis
Affective Tasks Elicit Material-Specific Memory Effects in Temporal Lobectomy Patients

Eighteen patients who had undergone a right (9) or left (9) temporal lobectomy (RTL, LTL) including removal of the amygdala and hippocampus were evaluated. Sixteen male and sixteen female undergraduate subjects were evaluated for normative comparison. All subjects were administered Verbal (words) and Visual (faces) paired associates tasks. The present study sought to evaluate material-specific memory after temporal lobectomy, and to compare affective versus neutral memory as well. Thus, there were 4 tasks: Verbal Affective, Verbal Neutral, Visual Affective, and Visual Neutral. The material-specific effects of better Verbal memory performance by the RTL subjects compared to the LTL subjects and better Visual memory performance by the LTL subjects than the RTL subjects were only significant for the Affective tasks, and not the Neutral tasks. Perhaps adding an affective dimension to the material-specific memory tasks engaged the amygdala in addition to the other structures known to be important in memory. A strong interpretaion of the present data is made difficult by task differences and the low average IQ and possible reorganization of function that may have occurred in the patient sample.
Morphine-stimulated nitric oxide release in rabbit aqueous humor.

Abstract Recent studies in our laboratory have demonstrated a role of nitric oxide (NO) in morphine-induced reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter (PD) in the New Zealand white (NZW) rabbit. The present study was designed to determine the effect of morphine on NO release in the aqueous humor of NZW rabbits, as this effect could be associated with morphine-mediated changes in aqueous humor dynamics and iris function. Dark-adapted NZW rabbits were treated as follows: (1) treatment with morphine (10, 33 or 100 μg, 5 min); (2) treatment with morphine or endomorphin-1 for 5, 15 or 30 min; (3) pretreatment with naloxone (100 μg), l -NAME (125 μg) or reduced glutathione (GSH, 100 μg) for 30 min, followed by treatment with morphine (100 μg, 5 min). After the various treatment regimens, aqueous humor samples were obtained by paracenthesis and immediately assayed for nitrates and nitrites (an index of NO production), using a microplate assay kit. Morphine caused a dose-dependent increase in the levels of NO in aqueous humor after 5 min of treatment with each dose. Rabbits treated with endomorphin-1 (100 μg) had no significant change in NO levels in aqueous at any point in the course of time. Aqueous samples from rabbits treated with morphine (100 μg) for 5 min increased from 29.84 ± 2.39 μM (control) to 183.94 ± 23.48 μM (treated). The increase in NO levels by morphine (100 μg, 5 min) was completely inhibited in the presence of naloxone (100 μg), l -NAME (125 μg) or GSH (100 μg). These results indicate that morphine-induced increase in NO production in aqueous humor is a transient response that is linked to the activation of mu opioid receptors. Data obtained suggest that morphine-stimulated changes in ocular hydrodynamics and iris function are due, in part, to increased release of NO in aqueous humor. In addition, the sensitivity of the response to l -NAME and GSH suggests that morphine-induced release of nitric oxide into aqueous humor is mediated by activation of mu-3 opioid receptors found in the anterior segment of the eye.
Sustainability indices with multiple objectives

Abstract One of the many debates about sustainability centers on how a natural resource stock (e.g. a forest) generates flows of desired human services (such as lumber and recreation). Should resources be sustained as they currently exist or should the services that they provide be sustained? This is a difficult question to address since there is very little quantitative information available. The purpose of this study was to address this question by using information from an empirical study that was able to look at sustainability when there is one output and extend that framework to a multiobjective setting. We then discuss the framework by using a multiobjective resource, the Neuse River in North Carolina. We identified several concepts from the single objective study, including that there are at least three important types of resource stocks, two types of goals, substitutes for natural resources, and a need to consider uncertainty and reversibility. An index of resource quality was used in a production model, which also allowed substitution of manufactured inputs to achieve the sustainability objective over long periods of time. The relationship between resource quality, manufactured inputs and output over time proved critical to meeting sustainability definitions and varied from one resource to another. When we expanded the framework, we found that constructing indices for one resource output might reveal that it is positively or negatively correlated to another output. For example, an index for drinking water might be made better through an indicator that is a positive, or negative, input into another index such as fishability. Sustainability should consider what is being sustained — i.e. stock, flow or something else, and be inclusive enough to account for multiple services, lest governments will under fund conservation (when services are positively correlated) or waste money by competing one objective against another (when they are negatively correlated) — addressing one objective through some policy requires more money in another government program to fix a problem that the first program caused. It should also be dynamic to allow for changes in relationships over time.
Flow Perturbation Is Linked to Endothelial PAR Signaling

The vascular endothelium integrates a variety of humoral stimuli and biophysical forces to maintain patent microvascular and macrovacular beds. At the interface between the blood and vessel wall, endothelial cells communicate in both directions by the release of growth factors, cytokines, and bioactive mediators to maintain vascular homeostasis. Endothelial dysfunction is central for acute systemic inflammatory syndromes including sepsis and chronic inflammatory disorders such as atherosclerosis. Early atherosclerotic lesions preferentially develop at sites where laminar flow patterns are disturbed, and endothelial cells sense changes in biomechanical forces that result from flow perturbation. Exposure to shear forces rapidly activates G proteins, ion fluxes, and mechanosensing receptors, including integrins and a complex involving PECAM-1, VEGFR-2, and vascular endothelial cell cadherin.1 Activation of downstream signaling pathways results in cytoskeletal reorganization and a flow-adapted endothelial phenotype.2 Endothelial cells under laminar flow have an atheroprotected phenotype, but perturbation of laminar flow patterns induces a complex transcriptional response that favors the induction of adhesion molecules, proinflammatory cytokines, and procoagulant genes. See page 1185 Dekker et al profiled the repertoire of laminar flow-regulated genes in endothelial cells and identified lung Krueppel-like factor (LKLF or KLF-2) that was selectively induced on flow adaptation and suppressed by the inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α.3 KLF2 was indeed tonically expressed in vivo in noninflamed large vessel endothelial cells. KLFs are zinc finger transcription factors similar to Sp1 and Egr-1 families that act as transcriptional repressors or activators by high affinity binding to a CACCC promoter/enhancer element. KLF2 was originally identified …
Assessment of Damage Risks to Residential Buildings and Cost–Benefit of Mitigation Strategies Considering Hurricane and Earthquake Hazards

Damage to residential buildings in the United States caused by hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural hazards is significant. Economic losses average approximately $5.4 billion annually from hurricanes and approximately $4.4 billion a year from earthquakes. In certain areas, multiple hazards pose a significant threat to buildings, however, it is a challenge to optimize allocation of hazard mitigation resources. To cost-effectively mitigate risk from multiple natural hazards, a better understanding of building performance during extreme natural events will provide a basis for achieving cost-effective mitigation of risk from competing natural hazards. This paper demonstrates a risk-cost-benefit framework for assessing damage risks and cost-effectiveness of mitigation strategies for residential buildings using life-cycle and scenario-case analysis. The framework includes probabilistic modeling of the occurrence and intensity of natural hazards, structural system fragility modeling to represent the condit...
MAPK/ERK-Dependent Translation Factor Hyperactivation and Dysregulated Laminin γ2 Expression in Oral Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Lesions displaying a variety of dysplastic changes precede invasive oral and epidermal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC); however, there are no histopathological criteria for either confirming or staging premalignancy. SCCs and dysplasias frequently contain cells that abnormally express the γ2 subunit of laminin-332. We developed cell culture models to investigate γ2 dysregulation. Normal human keratinocytes displayed density-dependent repression of γ2, whereas premalignant keratinocytes and SCC cells overexpressed γ2 and secreted laminin assembly intermediates. Neoplastic cells had hyperactive EGFR/MAPK(ERK) signaling coordinate with overexpressed γ2, and EGFR and MEK inhibitors normalized γ2 expression. Keratinocytes engineered to express HPV16 E6 or activated mutant HRAS, cRAF1, or MEK1 lost density repression of γ2 and shared with neoplastic cells signaling abnormalities downstream of ERK, including increased phosphorylation of S6 and eIF4 translation factors. Notably, qPCR results revealed that γ2 overexpression was not accompanied by increased γ2 mRNA levels, consistent with ERK-dependent, eIF4B-mediated translation initiation of the stem-looped, 5′-untranslated region of γ2 mRNA in neoplastic cells. Inhibitors of MEK, but not of TORC1/2, blocked S6 and eIF4B phosphorylation and γ2 overexpression. Immunostaining of oral dysplasias identified γ2 overexpression occurring within fields of basal cells that had elevated p-S6 levels. These results reveal a causal relationship between ERK-dependent translation factor activation and laminin γ2 dysregulation and identify new markers of preinvasive neoplastic change during progression to SCC.