cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Syntactic processing of connected speech

Spoken connected discourse was interrupted for testing immediate recall where the speech just presented contained an identical sequence of words in one of two syntactic configurations. The clause unit previous to the one interrupted either belonged to the immediate sentence, or was part of the previous sentence. The Ss listening to the speech either wrote down as much as they could remember from just before each test pause (Experiment I), or wrote only after the first word of the identical sequences given as prompts (Experiment II). Various verbatim measures of recall support only the immediate sentence and immediately heard clause as retrievable units in memory. A psycholinguistic model of listening incorporating these results is discussed.
Design of Rigid Modified Atmosphere Packages for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

A procedure was developed for designing rigid MA packages for fresh fruits and vegetables that takes into account the change in total pressure inside the package. The procedure was demonstrated by designing a package for kiwifruit using available data. Some practical considerations in designing MA packages such as time to reach steady-state conditions, variation in respiration rate, film permeability, and changes in temperature were included. Small deviations in respiration rate and permeability could lead to large variations in steady-state gas concentrations.
A review of models for predicting the dispersion of ammonia in the atmosphere

The state-of-the-art of the modeling of accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia to the atmosphere.
Genetic and environmental covariance structures among WISC-R subtests: A twin study

Abstract Genetic and environmental correlations among 11 Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) subtests were estimated from a sample of 143 twin pairs using the methodology of multivariate behavioral genetics. The genetic correlations among subtests varied in magnitude and exhibited a pattern similar to corresponding phenotypic correlations. Correlations due to within-pair environmental influences were generally small, whereas those due to shared environmental influences tended to be intermediate. Several hypotheses regarding the structures of the additive-genetic, common environmental, and within-pair environmental covariance matrices were tested and evidence for differential factor structures was obtained. A model hypothesizing a three-factor structure for the genetic covariance matrix, a single factor for the common environmental matrix, and a single factor plus specifics for the within-pair environmental matrix fit the data well. Thus, the three-factor phenotypic structure typically observed in Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) data may be due largely to genetic influences.
Adult and child production of Quechua relative clauses

This study investigates the production of Quechua relative clauses by Peruvian adults and children, aged 2;8–4;7. Quechua relative clauses may be internallyheaded, externally-headed or headless. Previous studies (e.g., O'Grady, 2003), suggested two outcomes: children will have less difficulty producing subject-gap relative clauses than other types; and, compared with adults, children will produce more headed relatives, especially internally-headed relative clauses. A procedure was used to elicit production of two relative clauses for each of four types: subject-gap, direct object-gap, non-direct object-gap, possessor-gap. Participants produced all types with equal ease, although children produced more errors; children produced comparatively more headless relatives, and their headed relative clauses were overwhelmingly externally-headed. This outcome is attributed to children's learning [modifier+noun] constructions resembling headless and externally-headed relative clauses.
Rotary pursuit performance as a function of watching demonstrations at slower speeds

Previous studies found that passive watching of an untracked rotary pursuit (RP) target did not affect final practice. A similar finding was obtained from the present experiment, using a different method. S actively watched a demonstrator achieve 50% time on target (TOT) at any one of three speeds. Results suggested that reactive inhibition was generated in discriminative processes rather than in eye movements.
Games of Status

A status game is a cooperative game in which the outcomes are rank orderings of the players. They are a good model for certain situations in which players care about how their “status” compares with that of other players. We present several formal models within this class. Included are authoritarian status games (where coalitions may assign positions in the rank ordering to nonmembers) and oligarchic status games (where they are unableto do so). We consider the issues of a value concept for authoritarian games and that of core existence for oligarchic games. We then add a transferable resource to the models, obtaining “games of wealth and status.” Finally, we consider an interesting variant, called a “secession game,” where coalitions have the right to secede from the grand coalition and form their own smaller “subsocieties,” each with its own hierarchy.
The relative cost of using luminescence for sex and defense: light budgets in cypridinid ostracods.

SUMMARY Luminescent signals can be used by animals for a number of purposes, including courtship and defense, sometimes by the same individual. However, the relative costs of producing these different behaviors are largely unknown. In the marine ostracod Photeros annecohenae , males utilize extracellular luminescence for complex courtship displays, and both males and females luminesce as a predation defense. We compared the relative luminescent output of courtship with that of defensive displays and also with respect to their total luminescent stores. Courtship displays are relatively inexpensive compared with defensive displays, with an average defensive display releasing 50 times more luminescence than the average courtship display. Furthermore, in order to completely exhaust its stores, a male would have to produce 450 typical courtship displays or approximately 10 average defensive displays. Both courtship pulses and defensive displays show first-order decay kinetics, yet courtship pulses decay three times faster than defensive displays, suggesting that there is differential release of the luciferin, luciferase and mucus in order to control the reaction kinetics.
On the biological activities of the synthetic tetrapeptide pyroglutamyl-tyrosyl-arginyl-tryptophanyl-amide.

The tetrapeptide pGlu-Tyr-Arg-Trp-NH2 was synthesized by solid phase methodology; its characterization by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry is demonstrated. Contrary to earlier claims in the literature, pGlu-Tyr-Arg-Trp-NH2 stimulates the release of both luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. Its specific activity for the release of either gonadotropin when compared to the decapeptide LRF (luteinizing hormone releasing factor) is ca. 1100,000th that of LRF.
Disulfiram metabolism as a requirement for the inhibition of rat liver mitochondrial low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase.

In humans and animals, disulfiram produces a disulfiram-ethanol reaction after an ethanol challenge, the basis of which is the inhibition of liver aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Disulfiram and the metabolites diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC), diethyldithiocarbamate-methyl ester (DDTC-Me), and S-methyl-N,N-diethylthiolcarbamate (DETC-Me) were studied in order to determine the role of bioactivation in disulfiram's action as an inhibitor of rat liver mitochondrial low Km ALDH (RLM low Km ALDH). In in vitro studies, disulfiram and DDTC (0.01 to 2.0 mM) both inhibited RLM low Km ALDH in a concentration-dependent manner. The addition of rat liver microsomes to the mitochondrial incubation did not further increase disulfiram-induced RLM low Km ALDH inhibition. However, DDTC-induced RLM low Km ALDH inhibition was increased further, but only at DDTC concentrations less than 0.05 mM. DDTC-Me and DETC-Me (2.0 mM) similarly exhibited an increased RLM low Km ALDH inhibition after the addition of liver microsomes. In in vivo studies, disulfiram (75 mg/kg), DDTC (114 mg/kg), DDTC-Me (41.2 mg/kg) or DETC-Me (18.6 mg/kg) administered i.p. to female rats inhibited RLM low Km ALDH. Inhibition of drug metabolism by pretreatment of rats with the cytochrome P450 inhibitor N-octylimidazole (NOI) (20 mg/kg, i.p.) prior to either disulfiram, DDTC, DDTC-Me or DETC-Me administration blocked the inhibition of RLM low Km ALDH. The in vitro and in vivo data support the conclusion that bioactivation of disulfiram to a reactive chemical species is required for RLM low Km ALDH inhibition and a disulfiram-ethanol reaction.
Incidence, Time Course, and Characteristics of Microbubble Formation During Radiofrequency Ablation of Pulmonary Veins with an 8‐mm Ablation Catheter

Background: Microbubble formation during pulmonary vein (PV) radiofrequency (RF) ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs relatively frequently. Prior studies have shown that microbubble formation may be associated with an increased risk of complications. However, the incidence, time course, and temperature characteristics of microbubble formation during AF ablation with an 8-mm catheter have not been prospectively described in humans. Methods: We studied 46 (30 men, age 56 ± 10 years) patients with AF who underwent RF ablation of PVs between January 2005 and December 2005 using an 8F, 8-mm Biosense™ ablation catheter (Biosense-Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA). All patients underwent continuous intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). Microbubble patterns were classified as either type 1 (intermittent, scattered microbubble formation) or type 2 (explosive shower of dense microbubbles). Formation of any microbubbles was detected by ICE and the time, PV location, and electrode temperature were recorded. Result: A total of 1,479 (32 ± 13, range 12–73) RF lesions were delivered to 167 veins. Twenty (2%) lesions were classified as type 2. Since the number of lesions resulting in type 2 bubbles was very small, only type 1 lesions were included in the final analysis. Thirty-nine (85%) patients had at least one lesion associated with bubble formation during ablation (mean: 7 ± 7 lesions, range 1–28 lesions). Twenty-three percent (327) of the RF lesions resulted in bubble formation. RF generator power setting during lesions resulting in bubble formation was lower than lesions which did not result in bubble formation (47.9 ± 7.4 W vs 49.7 ± 7.1 W, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant negative correlation (P < 0.001) between RF generator power settings and a positive correlation between the generator temperature settings and formation of bubbles (both P < 0.02). However, the maximum temperature attained was not different between lesions resulting in bubble formation (n = 327) and those which did not result in bubble formation (n = 1,139). Fifty-three (16%) of the lesions associated with bubble formation occurred within 2–10 seconds after RF was begun. Bubble formation was significantly more frequent in left superior PVs compared to the other PVs (left superior PV 27.3% left inferior PV 18.6%, right superior PV 20.5%, and right inferior PV 18.8%, P = 0.005, left superior PV vs other PVs, P < 0.001) even after adjustment for the other factors including generator power settings and the temperature setting. Conclusion: Bubble formation is common during RF ablation of PV with 8-mm tip catheter and can occur as early as 2 seconds after starting RF. RF generator power is negatively correlated with bubble formation while generator temperature settings are positively correlated with formation of bubbles. Microbubble formation is also more frequent with ablation of the left superior PV probably due to better catheter contact in that area.
Vacancy-assisted phase separation with asymmetric atomic mobility: Coarsening rates, precipitate composition, and morphology

We have investigated the coarsening kinetics and the morphology of precipitates after quenching a dilute binary alloy into its miscibility gap. Three-dimensional kinetic Monte Carlo simulations with a vacancy-diffusion mechanism are performed. The atomic diffusion model accounts for the asymmetry of the two terminal phases with respect to the vacancy concentration and diffusivity. It is shown that, at a fixed low temperature of about ${0.25T}_{c},$ this asymmetry has a profound effect on the mechanism responsible for precipitate coarsening and on precipitate morphology. For positive asymmetry (i.e., when the vacancy is mostly diffusing inside the precipitates), precipitate diffusion and coagulation are favored. Nearly pure solute precipitates with atomically sharp interfaces are formed in a persistently supersaturated matrix. For negative asymmetry (i.e., when the vacancy is mostly diffusing in the matrix), the evaporation condensation of solute atoms becomes dominant even at early stages. The lack of interfacial mobility produces disordered, diffuse interfaces, which then result in highly supersaturated precipitates. These last results offer an explanation to recent atomic observations of the precipitate morphology in the Cu-Co system. A mean-field model is introduced to rationalize how the asymmetry parameter controls the distribution of vacancies in a two-phase alloy. This model predicts that cluster mobility increases when the asymmetry parameter is increased, resulting in an increase of the coagulation exponent in agreement with the simulations. Furthermore, this model offers a rationalization for persistent supersaturations of the matrix or the precipitates, and this provides some insight into the formation of diffuse interfaces.
Posterior Thoracic Echocardiography for Assessment of Native and Prosthetic Aortic Valves in the Presence of Pleural Effusion

Many patients with aortic stenosis have difficult imaging windows due to advanced age, kyphosis, prior chest surgeries, radiation-induced skin changes, or hyperinflated lungs from pulmonary disease. Here we describe 4 cases to illustrate that in a subset of patients with pleural effusion, a posterior imaging approach can be used to obtain diagnostic images for native and prosthetic aortic valves. In these cases, nondiagnostic transthoracic echocardiographic images were obtained from conventional imaging windows, leading to inaccurate or incomplete assessment of the aortic valve. In all cases, images obtained from a posterior thoracic approach provided important additional diagnostic information.
The Anatomy of Nursing LibGuides

This analysis compares LibGuides in Nursing from 50 different US institutions, spread across 30 states and balanced in terms of regions. It has equal shares of US News & World Report top-rated and unrated schools of Nursing and includes associate degree in nursing, bachelor of science in nursing, and graduate programs. Data on LibGuides authorship and ranking of the most common instant messaging services, databases, point-of-care resources, books, journals, nursing-related websites, and instructional videos recommended within these LibGuides are presented. Though larger, nationally rated university nursing schools with graduate programs that share libraries with medical schools tend to feature more research resources on average, the organization and visual appeal of LibGuides seems more likely dependent on the personal design preferences of its librarian authors rather than institutional type, size, or ranking status. Evidence-based nursing, however, has become one of the most commonly emphasized themes i...
Mechanism of stereoinduction in asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized 1,2-dihydroquinolines and 2H-1-benzopyrans via nonracemic palladacycles with a metal-bonded stereogenic carbon

To establish the synthetic utility of palladacycles, a stable racemic benzannulated azapalladacycle featuring a palladium-bonded sp3-hybridized stereogenic carbon was prepared and converted into a series of racemic 2,3,4-trisubstituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines via a regioselective insertion of activated alkynes (RC⋮CCOOEt). Analogous diastereomerically enriched azapalladacyle (92% de) and oxapalladacycle (64% de) were synthesized from arylpalladium(II) iodo complexes possessing a nonracemic spectator ligand ((1R,2R)-N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethyl-1,2-diaminocyclohexane) via an intramolecular displacement of the iodide by an ester enolate. Absolute configurations of the metal-bonded stereocenters in the diastereomerically enriched palladacycles were unequivocally assigned, and the efficiency of stereoinduction was systematically studied. On the basis of these experiments, a plausible mechanism for the transfer of chirality from the nonracemic auxiliary ligand to the palladium-bonded stereogenic carbon was proposed. A ...
Chronic orthostatic intolerance and the postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Chronic orthostatic intolerance is defined by “the development of [chronic] symptoms during upright standing relieved by recumbence”1 present on a day-to-day basis. Symptoms always include dizziness or lightheadedness and are listed in Table I. Table I Symptoms of orthostatic intolerance The postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is defined by symptoms of orthostatic intolerance associated with a physical sign: an excessive increase in heart rate on orthostatic challenge. Overt fainting outside of the laboratory is relatively uncommon. POTS has been identified as a common but not the only form of chronic orthostatic intolerance.2–6 Although there are no accurate epidemiologic studies, it is estimated that affected individuals may number in the millions of Americans, mostly young women; in some cases this may result in lack of gainful employment or poor school attendance. POTS and neurally mediated hypotension are common among those with the chronic fatigue syndrome.7 POTS also affects a larger segment of the young who are less disabled but cannot perform adequately because of orthostatic intolerance.
A framework for processing complex document-centric XML with overlapping structures

Management of multihierarchical XML encodings has attracted attention of a number of researchers both in databases [8] and in humanities[10]. Encoding documents using multiple hierarchies can yield overlapping markup. Previously proposed solutions to management of document-centric XML with overlapping markup rely on the XML expertise of humans and their ability to maintain correct schemas for complex markup languages.We demonstrate a unified solution for management of complex, multihierarchical document-centric XML. Our framework includes software for storing, parsing, in-memory access, editing and querying, multihierarchical XML documents with conflicting structures.
Nontraumatic prehospital cardiac arrest ages 1 to 39 years

Clinical and autopsy records were retrospectively reviewed for 105 patients between the ages of 1 and 39 years who came in to the emergency department with nontraumatic cardiac arrest. There were 65 male (62%) and 40 female patients (38%). Forty-eight percent of the patients were resuscitated. Long-term survival rate was 23%. The most common presenting rhythm was ventricular fibrillation (45%). Cardiac diseases constituted the most common cause of arrest (38%). Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease represented 50% of all cardiac causes. The second most common etiology was overdose or toxic exposure (21%). Witnessed arrest and an etiology of primary cardiac dysrhythmia for arrest were statistically significant factors related to favorable outcome. Asystole as the initial cardiac rhythm was a negative prognostic indicator. Age, sex, race, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and paramedic response time were not significant prognostic factors for long-term survival.
Electrochemical Potential Gradients in Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 Thin Films

Thin film PbZr0.55Ti0.45O3 (PZT) capacitors were observed to develop a dc voltage offset when driven with an ac applied electric field. This voltage offset displayed a strong dependence on the ambient oxygen partial pressure, PO2, of the atmosphere above the film, in addition to applied electric field and temperature dependencies. A scenario is proposed wherein a chemical potential gradient is established in the film, the magnitude of which is determined by the ambient PO2. The subsequent redistribution of oxygen vacancies is thought to create the observed voltage offset. This hypothesis was supported by the observation of similar voltage offsets in compositionally graded PZT films. This effect shows promise for novel low-temperature oxygen sensing applications.
Functional consequences of genetic variation in primates on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in vitro

Tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis, is known to contain naturally occurring genetic variation in it's promoter region that associates with a number of neuropsychological disorders. As such, examining non-coding regions is important for understanding tyrosine hydroxylase function in human health and disease. We examined approximately 2 kb upstream of the translation start site within humans and non-human primates to obtain a fine resolution map of evolutionarily and functionally relevant cis-regulatory differences. Our study investigated Macaca mulatta, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla, and Homo sapiens haplotypes using transient dual-luciferase transfection in three neuroblastoma cell lines to assay the impact of naturally occurring sequence variation on expression level. In addition to trans effects between cell lines, there are several significant expression differences between primate species, but the most striking difference was seen between human haplotypes in one cell line. Underlying this variation are numerous sequence polymorphisms, two of which influence expression within humans in a non-additive and cell line-specific manner. This study highlights functional consequences of tyrosine hydroxylase genetic variation in primates. Additionally, the results emphasize the importance of examining more than one cell line, the existence of multiple functional variants in a given promoter region and the presence of non-additive cis-interactions.
Multigrid algorithm for image reconstruction from Fourier modulus

Two new iterative multigrid algorithms for image reconstruction from Fourier magnitude data are proposed. The first algorithm is based on the error reduction algorithm and the second is based on a quasi-Newton's method. Both algorithms take advantage of a multigrid scheme to speed up the convergence rate of the iterations. Furthermore, they recover more high frequency components of the image than their non-multigrid counterpart. Experimental study has shown the great potential of both algorithms. >
Presence of CD4+ T suppressor cells in mice rendered unresponsive to tumor antigens by intravenous injection of irradiated tumor cells.

We used in vivo and in vitro assays to determine whether suppressor cells are generated in mice rendered unresponsive to tumor-specific antigens by intravenous (i.v.) injection of non-replicating tumor cells. The results show that a single i.v. injection of 2 x 10(7) irradiated P815 tumor cells resulted in the induction of a state of specific unresponsiveness to tumor-associated antigens, as revealed by the inability of the treated mice to achieve immunologically-mediated regression of an intradermal P815 tumor containing C. parvum, or to generate effector T cells capable of causing rejection of a P815 tumor in T-cell-deficient (T x B) test recipients. Failure to respond to tumor antigens was associated with the presence in spleen of CD4+ T cells capable, on passive transfer, of suppressing adoptive T-cell-mediated tumor regression in T x B recipients. However, the same CD4+ suppressor cells failed to inhibit the generation of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro. On the contrary, spleen cells from mice made unresponsive by i.v. injection of tumor cells were primed to generate CTL in response to tumor antigens in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that unresponsiveness induced by i.v. injection of tumor antigens is an active process mediated, at least in part, by CD4+ T suppressor cells, and that these cells coexist in the spleen with antigen-primed effector T cells with a capacity to generate tumor-specific CTL when released from suppression in vitro.
Sex-Role Perceptions Among Black Female Athletes and Nonathletes.

This study compared sex-role perceptions of Black female college athletes and nonathletes, and examined the relationship between sex-role perceptions and socioeconomic, demographic, familial, and psychological variables. The study replicated, in part, similar research by Snyder and Kivlin, who found differences in sex-role perceptions between athletes and nonathletes. Statistical treatment of data included chi-square technique, correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Interpretation of data indicated no significant differences in sex-role perceptions between Black female athletes and nonathletes. Independent variables influencing sex-role perceptions to a significant degree included age and body weight for both subgroups, with lesser influence derived from parental education level and psychological variables. Athletes' perception of their ability and the age they began their training influenced sex-role perceptions significantly. Athletic experiences for Black females appears distinct from that of White females, as perceived by the athlete and community, and this distinction influences sex-role perceptions of female athletes.
Obstetrical Brachial Plexus Paralysis, Part 2

The mission of these two issues (Parts 1 and 2) of Seminars in Plastic Surgery is to assemble and disseminate worldwide knowledge and experience of the microsurgical management of obstetrical brachial plexus injury. Toward this goal, experts in the field from well-established centers around the world have been invited to contribute. Despite stringent time restrictions, the vast majority of authors responded enthusiastically to this call. To all these contributors, I am eternally grateful.
Comparison of diaminodiphenylsulphonepyrimethamine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine combinations in the treatment of falciparum malaria in Thailand.

Abstract The dapsone-pyrimethamine combination in the doses employed in this study was not sufficiently efficacious for use in the treatment of falciparum malaria. In contrast, the efficacy of the standard sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine regimen in the treatment of falciparum malaria was confirmed.
Gamma‐Ray‐Induced Coloration in Solids; Application to Glass Systems

General aspects of radiation-induced coloration in solids are discussed. It is considered that the most significant initial effect of the radiation is to produce free electrons and trapped holes in a track. The decay of the track from the initial condition is described in some detail, assuming (a) that the rate of diffusion of electrons from the track is small compared with the rates of other processes and (b) that primary processes which form color centers can be considered to be independent of secondary processes which cause destruction of color centers. A method of calculation is described which gives the concentration of color centers formed at various doses. With plausible assumptions for the parameters, agreement with the data of Schulman et al. on a silver phosphate glass is obtained. The treatment of glasses less simple than the silver phosphate glass is also discussed.
Nmi (N‐Myc interactor) inhibits Wnt/β‐catenin signaling and retards tumor growth

We found that the expression levels of N-Myc interactor (Nmi) were low in aggressive breast cancer cell lines when compared with less aggressive cell lines. However, the lower levels in the aggressive lines were inducible by interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Because Nmi has been reported to be a transcription cofactor that augments IFN-γ induced transcription activity, we decided to test whether Nmi regulates expression of Dkk1, which is also inducible by IFN-γ. We established stable clones constitutively expressing Nmi in MDA-MB-231 (breast) and MDA-MB-435 (melanoma) cell lines. Dkk1 was significantly up-regulated in the Nmi expressing clones concurrent with reduced levels of the critical transcription cofactor of Wnt pathway, β-catenin. Treatment of the Nmi expressors with blocking antibody to Dkk1 restored β-catenin protein levels. c-Myc is a known downstream target of activated β-catenin signaling. Treatment of Nmi expressors with the proteosome inhibitor MG132, resulted in elevated β-catenin levels with concomitant elevation of c-Myc levels. Our functional studies showed that constitutive expression of Nmi reduced the ability of tumor cells for the invasion, anchorage independent growth and tumor growth in vivo. Collectively, the data suggest that overexpression of Nmi inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin signaling via up-regulation of Dkk1 and retards tumor growth. © 2009 UICC
Quality--Speed Conundrum: Trade-offs in Customer-Intensive Services

In many services, the quality or value provided by the service increases with the time the service provider spends with the customer. However, longer service times also result in longer waits for customers. We term such services, in which the interaction between quality and speed is critical, as customer-intensive services. In a queueing framework, we parameterize the degree of customer intensity of the service. The service speed chosen by the service provider affects the quality of the service through its customer intensity. Customers queue for the service based on service quality, delay costs, and price. We study how a service provider facing such customers makes the optimal “quality--speed trade-off.” Our results demonstrate that the customer intensity of the service is a critical driver of equilibrium price, service speed, demand, congestion in queues, and service provider revenues. Customer intensity leads to outcomes very different from those of traditional models of service rate competition. For instance, as the number of competing servers increases, the price increases, and the servers become slower. This paper was accepted by Sampath Rajagopalan, operations and supply chain management.
An Arab spring

The ‘imperial reach’ represents a real threat to the popular opposition movements exploding throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The dangers exist not just in the ongoing military intervent...
Affect, Values, and Nanotechnology Risk Perceptions: An Experimental Investigation

Despite knowing little about nanotechnology (so to speak), members of the public readily form opinions on whether its potential risks outweigh its potential benefits. On what basis are they forming their judgments? How are their views likely to evolve as they become exposed to more information about this novel science? We conducted a survey experiment (N = 1,850) to answer these questions. We found that public perceptions of nanotechnology risks, like public perceptions of societal risks generally, are largely affect driven: individuals' visceral reactions to nanotechnology (ones likely based on attitudes toward environmental risks generally) explain more of the variance in individuals' perceptions of nanotechnology's risks and benefits than does any other influence. These views are not static: even a small amount of information can generate changes in perceptions. But how those perceptions change depends heavily on individuals' values. Using a between-subjects design, we found that individuals exposed to balanced information polarize along cultural and political lines relative to individuals not exposed to information. We discuss what these findings imply for understanding of risk perceptions generally and for the future of nanotechnology as a subject of political conflict and regulation.
A Model of CatSper Channel Mediated Calcium Dynamics in Mammalian Spermatozoa

CatSpers are calcium (Ca(2+)) channels that are located along the principal piece of mammalian sperm flagella and are directly linked to sperm motility and hyperactivation. It has been observed that Ca(2+) entry through CatSper channels triggers a tail to head Ca(2+) propagation in mouse sperm, as well as a sustained increase of Ca(2+) in the head. Here, we develop a mathematical model to investigate this propagation and sustained increase in the head. A 1-d reaction-diffusion model tracking intracellular Ca(2+) with flux terms for the CatSper channels, a leak flux, and plasma membrane Ca(2+) clearance mechanism is studied. Results of this simple model exhibit tail to head Ca(2+) propagation, but no sustained increase in the head. Therefore, in this model, a simple plasma membrane pump-leak system with diffusion in the cytosol cannot account for these experimentally observed results. It has been proposed that Ca(2+) influx from the CatSper channels induce additional Ca(2+) release from an internal store. We test this hypothesis by examining the possible role of Ca(2+) release from the redundant nuclear envelope (RNE), an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) gated Ca(2+) store in the neck. The simple model is extended to include an equation for IP(3) synthesis, degradation, and diffusion, as well as flux terms for Ca(2+) in the RNE. When IP(3) and the RNE are accounted for, the results of the model exhibit a tail to head Ca(2+) propagation as well as a sustained increase of Ca(2+) in the head.
Optimizing media access strategy for competing cognitive radio networks

This paper describes an adaptation of cognitive radio technology for tactical wireless networking. We introduce Competing Cognitive Radio Network (CCRN) featuring both communicator and jamming cognitive radio nodes that strategize in taking actions on an open spectrum under the presence of adversarial threats. We present the problem in the Multi-armed Bandit (MAB) framework and develop the optimal media access strategy consisting of mixed communicator and jammer actions in a Bayesian setting for Thompson sampling based on extreme value theory. Empirical results are promising that the proposed strategy seems to outperform Lai & Robbins and UCB, some of the most important MAB algorithms known to date.
Neutron-Antineutron Conversion Experiments

A great deal of attention has been given in this Workshop to proton decay experiments. These experiments look for a violation of baryon number ΔB = 1, as predicted by Grand Unified Theories. There are many experiments searching for proton decay in deep mines and tunnels, all over the world. Some are in progress, others expect to start operating soon, and although clear positive evidence is still lacking second generation experiments are being actively proposed. All are being followed with great interest for the evidence they should provide about the validity and the nature of these theories.
Semi-empirical modeling of charge and discharge profiles for a LiCoO2 electrode

Abstract The experimental charge and discharge profiles of a LiCoO 2 electrode show that the overpotential of the electrode does not change much during galvanostatic charge, but changes significantly during galvanostatic discharge. Semi-empirical porous electrode models are presented to simulate the charge and discharge profiles of the LiCoO 2 electrode. The symmetry factor is empirically assumed to decrease with the state of discharge of the electrode to enable the model predictions to agree well with the experimental discharge profiles.
Long-Term Feeding of Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Fish Oil to Laying Hens: Effects on Hepatic Histopathology, Egg Quality, and Lipid Components

SUMMARY The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of long-term feeding of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and fish oil on egg quality characteristics, production performance, liver pathology, and egg fatty acid content of laying hens. Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens (n = 112), 21 wk old, were placed in cages and randomly assigned to 4 diets (28 hens/diet, 4 replicates of 7 hens) containing 3.0% yellow grease (control), 2.75% yellow grease + 0.25% CLA (YG-CLA), 2.5% yellow grease + 0.25% CLA + 0.25% fish oil (YG-CLA-FO), and 2.75% yellow grease + 0.25% fish oil (YG-FO). The experimental diets were fed for 12 mo. Eggs were collected daily for 12 mo. Feed consumption, hen-day egg production, and feed efficiency were monitored. At the end of the trial, hepatic tissue was collected for histopathology. No effect of diet was found on feed consumption, hen-day egg production, feed efficiency, egg weight, yolk weight, shell weight, or Haugh unit. The YG-CLA and YG-CLA-FO diets produced an increase in CLA and saturated fatty acids in the egg and liver tissue with a concomitant reduction in monounsaturated fatty acids (P 0.05). Regardless of the diet, as the hens aged, egg weight, yolk weight, and egg total fat increased, and shell weight decreased (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that eggs with increased n-3 fatty acids and CLA can be generated by minor diet modifications without affecting the production performance or health of birds.
Evaluation of anonymity providing techniques using queuing theory

In our work we use queuing theory both for security (ie, anonymity) and performance analysis. A well-known anonymity technique, the MIX method, which is the basis of most of today's deployments, is the object of our investigation. We show shortcomings and problems in the MIX method and suggest possible workarounds. Our investigation reveals the level of security of MIX based systems and their performance characteristics on the Internet.
A Laboratory Setup for a Substation Scaled Model

This paper presents a laboratory setup for a substation scaled model. A unique construction procedure is employed which yields a realistic scaled model of a small three substation system, along with its metering equipment. Lumped models of transmission lines are constructed that realistically represent the mutual couplings between the phases and asymmetries. Two phase shifters provide loading controllability of the scaled model as well as controlling system imbalances. The system is designed to be a research tool for a variety of activities and studies including (a) development and validation of distributed state estimators (based on the SuperCalibrator concept), (b) protective relaying and PMU testing, and (c) validation of interoperability among IEDs. The overall laboratory setup provides a multivendor environment.
Variation in perioperative vasoactive therapy in cardiovascular surgical care: data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Background The appropriate use of vasoactive cardiovascular drugs in high-risk coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients has not been well characterized. Methods We performed a detailed chart analysis on 2,390 randomly selected patients undergoing CABG between January 2004 and June 2005 at 55 hospitals participating in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' National Adult Cardiac Surgery Database. Patients were eligible if they had elective/urgent CABG with an ejection fraction (EF) or if they had an elective or urgent CABG at ≥65 years with diabetes, or a glomerular filtration rate 2 . Logistic regression modeling was used to determine predictors of and provide risk-adjusted frequencies of postoperative vasoactive therapies. Results Vasoactive therapy was used in 90% of patients. Inotropes/vasopressors were used in 28% (668), vasodilators in 18% (430), and the combination in 43% (1,037). Predictors of any inotrope use were preoperative atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR] 1.48), other arrhythmia (OR 2.09), EF (OR 1.09 per 5-unit decrease), severe mitral regurgitation (OR 2.56), 3-vessel coronary artery disease (OR 1.35), New York Heart Association class IV (1.38), on-pump (OR 1.86), other procedure (OR 2.51), and peripheral vascular disease (OR 1.28) (all OR P P P Conclusions There is marked hospital variation in the use of vasoactive therapies in high-risk CABG patients in clinical practice, indicating an important area for further research to better clarify best practice.
A simple and rapid technique for detecting protein phosphorylation using one-dimensional isoelectric focusing gels and immunoblot analysis

We report a technique for detecting protein phosphorylation that involves isoelectric focusing in a vertical mini-gel format followed by immunoblot detection of the target protein. This method uses standard protein gel equipment, allows sensitive detection of protein phosphorylation when phosphospecific antibodies are not available, and provides a stoichiometric measure of phosphorylation. We demonstrate the application of this method for observing phosphorylation of an Arabidopsis thaliana protein in response to biotic stress.
A spline algorithm for modeling cutting errors on turning centers

Turned parts on turning centers are made up of features with profiles defined by arcs and lines. An error model for turned parts must take into account not only individual feature errors but also how errors carry over from one feature to another. In the case where there is a requirement of tangency between two features, such as a line tangent to an arc or two tangent arcs, any error model on one of the features must also satisfy a condition of tangency at a boundary point between the two features. Splines, or piecewise polynomials with differentiability conditions at intermediate or knot points, adequately model errors on features and provide the necessary degrees of freedom to match constraint conditions at boundary points. The problem of modeling errors on features becomes one of least squares fitting of splines to the measured feature errors subject to certain linear constraints at the boundaries. The solution of this problem can be formulated uniquely using the generalized or pseudo inverse of a matrix. This is defined and the algorithm for modeling errors on turned parts is formulated in terms of splines with specified boundary constraints.
Adapting on ground teaching strategies to the WWW: The Odyssey Continues

As the Internet continues an increasingly pervasive form of communication and data transfer, faculty must make adaptations to on-the- ground teaching strategies that more appropriately align with virtual settings. Modifications to traditional teaching strategies have become a virtual necessity (pun intended). Caution must be exercised, however, in transitioning from on-ground teaching and learning environments to virtual ones. Instructors cannot simply take traditional lectures and place these on the Web. What may marginally work in a traditional classroom will probably not translate to successful instruction over the Web. This paper aims to review the literature and offer an expandable list of strategies regarding best practice in online instruction. These modified on-ground teaching strategies can help the instructor more readily achieve effective instruction in an online setting.
Characterization of Renal Toxicity in Mice Administered the Marine Biotoxin Domoic Acid

Domoic acid (DA), an excitatory amino acid produced by diatoms belonging to the genus Pseudo-nitzschia, isaglutamateanalogresponsiblefortheneurologicconditionreferredtoasamnesicshellfishpoisoning.To date, the renal effects of DA have been underappreciated, although renal filtration is the primary route of systemic elimination and the kidney expresses ionotropic glutamate receptors. To characterize the renal effects of DA, we administered either a neurotoxic dose of DA or doses below the recognized limit of toxicity to adult Sv128/Black Swiss mice. DA preferentially accumulated in the kidney and elicited marked renalvascularandtubulardamageconsistentwithacutetubularnecrosis,apoptosis,andrenaltubularcell desquamation, with toxic vacuolization and mitochondrial swelling as hallmarks of the cellular damage. Doses$0.1 mg/kgDA elevatedthe renal injurybiomarkers kidneyinjury molecule-1 and neutrophilgelatinase-associated lipocalin, and doses$0.005 mg/kg induced the early response genes c-fos and junb. Coadministration of DA with the broad spectrum excitatory amino acid antagonist kynurenic acid inhibited induction of c-fos, junb, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin. These findings suggest that the kidney may be susceptible to excitotoxic agonists, and renal effects should be considered when examining glutamate receptor activation. Additionally, these results indicate that DA is a potent nephrotoxicant,andpotentialrenaltoxicitymayrequireconsiderationwhendeterminingsafelevelsforhuman exposure.
On modelling nonlinear shape-and-texture appearance manifolds

Statistical shape-and-texture appearance models employ image metamorphosis to form a rich, compact representation of object appearance. They achieve their efficiency by decomposing appearance into simpler shape-and-texture representations. In general, the shape and texture of an object can vary nonlinearly and in this case the conventional shape-and-texture mappings using principle component analysis (PCA) may poorly approximate the true space. In this paper we propose two nonlinear techniques for modelling shape-and-texture appearance manifolds. Our first method uses a mixture of Gaussians in image space to separate the different parts of the shape and texture spaces. A linear shape-and-texture model is defined at each component to form the overall model. Our second approach employs a nearest-neighbor method to find a local set of shapes and images that can be morphed to explain a new input. We test each approach using a speaking-mouth video sequence and compare both approaches to a conventional active appearance model (AAM).
Induction of Rabbit Lung CYP4A4 Prostaglandin ω-Hydroxylase by Various Steroid Hormones

Abstract CytochromeP4504A4 (CYP4A4) is expressed at low basal levels in adult rabbit lungs, but is significantly induced during pregnancy by an unknown mechanism. As the gradual rise in CYP4A4 levels appears to coincide with the progressive increase in several steroid hormones throughout pregnancy, we examined the induction of CYP4A4 after treatment with various steroid hormones by monitoring both the CYP4A4 mRNA level and the CYP4A4-specific prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ) ω-hydroxylation reaction in rabbit lung microsomes. Treatment with progesterone and/or a synthetic glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) resulted in a significant increase in PGE 1 ω-hydroxylase activity, whereas estradiol, aldosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate did not. These studies indicated that dexamethasone was a more potent inducer of CYP4A4 than progesterone. Simultaneous injection of dexamethasone and glucocorticoid/progesterone antagonists (RU38486, RU40555, or RU43044) inhibited the increase in PGE 1 ω-hydroxylase activity as well as mRNA levels by approximately 50%. In addition, simultaneous treatment with both dexamethasone and progesterone did not result in an additive or synergistic effect on PGE 1 ω-hydroxylase activity. These data indicate that, while distinctive receptors for glucocorticoid and/or progesterone are involved, induction may also require common or interacting regulatory elements (yet to be determined) in the CYP4A4 gene. These findings implicate both of these steroid receptors (PR/GR) in the induction of CYP4A4 in rabbit lung.