cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fast neutron response of 6Li-depleted CLYC detectors up to 20 MeV

Abstract The response of 6Li-depleted Cs2LiYCl6 (CLYC) to high-energy neutrons has been investigated using a pair of 1 in.×1 in. crystals. These are the first two detectors of their kind, which will comprise a 16-element array for studies in fast neutron spectroscopy. Their thermal neutron response has been compared with standard CLYC crystals with a 6Li enrichment of 95%, demonstrating excellent suppression of the overwhelming thermal neutron background. The response to mono-energetic neutrons over a range of 0.5 to 20 MeV was tested. From this, the response function, energy resolution, and pulse-shape discrimination up to 20 MeV were characterized. Detailed Monte Carlo investigations with MCNPX have been used to show that the dominant reaction mechanisms contributing to the observed response are 35Cl(n,p) and 35Cl(n,α). Preliminary investigations have also demonstrated the possibility for separating events from these two reactions.
Josephinite: Specimens from the earth's core?

Abstract Josephinite is a terrestrial iron-nickel alloy with an intergrown magnesium silicate, and arsenide and sulphide phases, and andradite garnet; several specimens have been found to contain elemental silicon and CaO · 2“FeO”. Josephinite is not awaruite, an iron-nickel mineral formed by serpentinization of ultramafic rocks. Because of its geologic setting and unique mineralogy we propose that josephinite might have originated in the region of the coremantle boundary, was transported via a deep-mantle “plume” and diatreme mechanism into lithosphere mantle that has been emplaced in the Klamaths by ophiolite obduction. Regardless of such a hypothesis, we report here the discovery of terrestrial silicon occurring with josephinite, which seems to preclude a lithosphere environment of origin for josephinite.
An Experimental Increase in Stuttering Frequency

The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate whether stuttering frequency could be increased from baseline by an experimental condition. Initially, 10 adult stutterers spoke spontaneously while alone. Next, they continued speaking, but with an adult, male conversationalist. Finally, the subjects again spoke while alone. Percent stuttering increased in the conversational situation compared with the baseline (alone) situation, and decreased in the final baseline (alone) situation compared with the conversational situation.
A disease of the present: Scurvy in “well-nourished” patients

To the Editor: Scurvy, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency, is linked historically to sailors and unbalanced diets. Despite current accessibility to foods containing ascorbic acid, we present two recent cases of scurvy in otherwise apparently “well fed” individuals. A 30-year-old man was admitted for anemia (hemoglobin 7.9 g/dL), leg hematoma, and rash. The patient had been healthy, but exclusively ate fast food with almost no intake of fresh fruits or vegetables. He had poor dentition without gingival bleeding and multiple perifollicular papules on the legs with corkscrew hairs (Fig 1). A biopsy of one of the petechial lesions on the leg revealed histologic findings consistent with scurvy (Fig 2). The patient's serum vitamin C level was less than 0.12 mg/dL (normal 0.2-1.9 mg/dL). After the patient was prescribed 2000 mg of ascorbic acid daily, his eruption improved. Fig 1 Scurvy. Multiple perifollicular papules and petechiae with corkscrew hairs on the legs of Patient 1. Fig 2 Scurvy. Routinehematoxylin-eosin stain at 10× showing a superficial perivascular and perifollicular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate (black arrows) with numerous perifollicular extravasated red blood cells. Follicular hyperkeratosis (red arrowhead ... A 55-year-old woman with a history of hypothyroidism, hepatic hemangioma, and fatty liver presented with a new leg rash. She had small, nonpruritic, petechial perifollicular macules on bilateral lower extremities. Based on clinical findings and serum vitamin C level less than 0.12 mg/dL, scurvy was diagnosed. After several days of multivitamin supplementation, her eruption improved. Retrospectively, she reported eating only ½ cup or less of fruits and no vegetables daily and consuming 10 to 14 meals per week at common fast food restaurants. She drank several cans of diet soda 3 or more times per day, expressed a dislike for orange juice, and had been taking no multivitamins. Fast food intake has dramatically increased since the 1970s.1 Time constraints, convenience, and lifestyle have increased the contribution of fast food in the American diet,2 accounting for nearly 50% of an average family's food budget.3,4 Fast food intake is associated with a higher intake of fried potato, hamburger, pizza, and soft drinks, and lower intake of fruits, vegetables, and milk.1,2 While many fast food restaurants offer more healthful choices, patrons may not select these items. Despite availability of healthy fast food options in Australian restaurants, a small minority of Australians were purchasing them.5 A cultural change may be needed before Americans choose healthier substitutes over the traditional burger and fries. Even though scurvy had become rare in the developed world, a resurgence of scurvy may be another indication of the larger problem with the American diet, a diet with insufficient intake of fresh foods and with implications for obesity and diabetes.
Content analysis of the 20 most influential articles in PIQ

The purpose of this study is to examine key research themes in human performance technology (HPT) through content analysis of the 20 most influential articles identified in Cho, Jo, Park, Kang, and Chen (2011). Three questions guiding this inquiry are: (1) What are the key themes of the 20 most influential articles in PIQ, (2) What information do the 20 most influential articles add to an understanding of HPT, and (3) What are the implications of the content analysis for HPT research practices? Five key themes emerged from the content analysis, including instructional design, HPT scholarship, performance technology, performance support, and transfer of training. HPT scholarship was the most distinctive key research theme in this study. The qualitative details about the 20 most influential articles were provided, related issues were discussed, and implications for research practice were articulated.
Using excursions to analyze simulation output

We consider the steady-state simulation output analysis problem for a process that satisfies a functional central limit theorem. We construct an estimator for the time-average variance constant that is based on excursions of a process above the minimum. The resulting estimator does not require a fixed run length, and the memory requirement can be dynamically bounded. Standardized time series methods based on excursions are also described.
Signal filtering technique to remove Doppler clutter caused by wind turbines

We construct a physics-based basis to model the radar backscattering from a wind turbine. This basis is used in conjunction with the matching pursuit algorithm to iteratively remove the Doppler clutter due to wind turbines. The algorithm is tested using radar return generated using the high-frequency electromagnetic simulation code Ahilo. It is shown that the presence of multiple turbines overwhelms the return from a weak moving target. However, the target is revealed once the filtering algorithm is applied. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1455–1460, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26819
Thermopower of doped semiconducting hydrogenated amorphous carbon films

Abstract The thermopower S(T) and electrical conductivity have been measured from 25 to 250C for semiconducting a-C:H films doped with boron or phosphorus. S has the expected sign (positive for B-doping and negative for P-doping), is low for all films (10–50 μ V/K), and increases nearly linearly with T. This behavior, along with that observed for the electrical conductivity, is consistent with conduction via hopping at or near the Fermi level which has been shifted via doping from near mid-gap into broad bands of tail states at the appropriate band edges.
Psychosocial Care in Cancer

Psychosocial care for cancer patients historically has been overlooked as an aspect of quality clinical care. However, several organizations have recently made strong recommendations for inclusion of psychosocial care across the continuum of treatment, from diagnosis, through treatment, into survivorship, and in the palliative stages of care. The evidence base for screening, diagnosis, and effective treatment of psychosocial issues in the context of cancer care is growing. Recent highly relevant research covering major topics in psycho-oncology, including distress, delivery of care, psychoneuroimmunology, and cognitive deficits related to cancer, is reviewed in this article.
A chromosomal expression vector for Escherichia coli based on the bacteriophage Mu

Abstract A new Escherichia coli expression vector with increased stability was developed based on bacteriophage Mu. Unlike traditional expression vectors, the vector described herein is chromosome based rather than existing as an autonomously replicating plasmid. The chromosomal location resulted in extreme stability of the vector even in the absence of selective pressure. Both replication and heterologous protein synthesis could be induced by temperature shift. Expression of the heterologous gene was controlled by the Mu middle promoter and was dependent on the presence of the transactivator, Mor, of the Mu middle promoter. Four proteins, β-galactosidase, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, porcine somatotropin and human growth hormone, were made from this vector at levels ranging from 5 to 20% of total cell protein. Expression from the middle promoter was highest when inductions were done in rich media. The expression of some genes varied in different strains.
Evaluating selected costs of automobile-oriented transportation systems from a sustainability perspective

Abstract This paper uses an existing framework that encapsulates the concept of transportation sustainability to evaluate selected economic, social and environmental costs of automobile-oriented transportation systems as measured by rates of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) at the state-wide scale across the United States. States with higher percentages of commuting using private vehicles have higher rates of VMT per capita, higher carbon emissions, and pay more for transportation at the household level. Surprisingly, higher VMT per capita also corresponds to higher government spending on transportation, which likely reflects the expense of maintaining, repairing and expanding road networks. States with higher automobile-dependency also incurred higher social costs as measured by automobile-related fatalities. States with three times the VMT per capita than other places incurred five times as many fatalities showing that fatality rates are not simply a direct function of the amount of VMT occurring. Together, these metrics provide compelling evidence for the need to think about the impacts of VMT more holistically. These data can inform the global debate about the costs of VMT and provide guidance to those in transportation business and management to formulate cost–benefit analyses that are rooted in a transportation sustainability perspective.
Indirect adaptive output feedback control of a biorobotic AUV using pectoral-like mechanical fins

This paper treats the question of servoregulation of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in the yaw plane using pectoral-like mechanical fins. The fins attached to the vehicle have oscillatory swaying and yawing motion. The bias angle of the angular motion of the fin is used for the purpose of control. Of course, the design approach considered here is applicable to AUVs for other choices of oscillation patterns of the fins, which produce periodic forces and moments. It is assumed that the vehicle parameters, hydrodynamic coefficients, as well the fin forces and moments are unknown. For the trajectory control of the yaw angle, a sampled-data indirect adaptive control system using output (yaw angle) feedback is derived. The control system has a modular structure, which includes a parameter identifier and a stabilizer. For the control law derivation, an internal model of the exosignals (reference signal (constant or ramp) and constant disturbance) is included. Unlike the direct adaptive control scheme, the derived control law is applicable to minimum as well as nonminimum phase biorobotic AUVs (BAUVs). This is important, because for most of the fin locations on the vehicle, the model is a nonminimum phase. In the closed-loop system, the yaw angle trajectory tracking error converges to zero and the remaining state variables remain bounded. Simulation results are presented which show that the derived modular control system accomplishes precise set point yaw angle control and turning maneuvers in spite of the uncertainties in the system parameters using only yaw angle feedback.
On timing constraints of snooping in a bus-based COMA multiprocessor

Abstract Cache only memory architecture has the potential to decrease global bus traffic in shared-bus multiprocessors, thereby reducing the speed gap between modern microprocessors and global backplane bus systems. However, the (huge) size of attraction memory (AM) in each processor node makes it difficult to properly match the access time of its state and tag storage to the bus cycle. This becomes a serious burden in efficient snooping, much more than in conventional shared-bus multiprocessors, especially when a high bus clock frequency is used. In this paper, we propose a scheme to relax the timing constraints of snooping in a bus-based COMA multiprocessor, which allows an efficient design of a global bus protocol, and a cost-effective implementation of the overall system by using slower and cheaper memory for the state and tag storage of AM.
Refinement and verification of the physiologically based dosimetry description for acrylonitrile in rats.

Abstract The physiologically based dosimetry description for acrylonitrile (ACN) and its mutagenic epoxide metabolite 2-cyanoethylene oxide (CEO) in F-344 rats (M. L. Gargas, M. E. Anderson, S.K.O. Teo, R. Batra, T. R. Fennell, and G. L. Kedderis, 1995, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 134, 185–194) has been refined to include a physiological stomach compartment and the reactions of ACN with tissue glutathione (GSH). The second-order rate constant for reaction of ACN and GSH at pH 7.3 was measured and included in the dosimetry description. Metabolic parameters for ACN and CEO were estimated from oral bolus pharmacokinetic studies and previously obtained iv bolus data (3.4, 47, 55, or 84 mg ACN/kg). Rats were given bolus oral doses of 3, 10, or 30 mg ACN/kg in water, and blood samples were collected at selected time points. ACN and CEO blood concentrations were determined by gas chromatography. The brain and liver concentrations of ACN and CEO were also measured after 10 mg ACN/kg po. ACN elimination from blood was described by saturable P450 epoxidation ( V max of 5.0 mg/hr/kg and K M of 1.5 mg/liter) and first-order GSH conjugation (73 hr −1 /kg). CEO elimination was described by first-order GSH conjugation (500 hr −1 /kg). The pharmacokinetic data were well simulated, although CEO blood concentrations after bolus oral dosing were somewhat overestimated. Sensitivity analysis of the dosimetry description indicated that the inhalation exposure route was much more sensitive to changes in metabolic and physiological parameters than either the iv or oral bolus routes. Therefore, inhalation pharmacokinetic data were obtained and compared to simulations of the dosimetry description. Rats were exposed to 186, 254, or 291 ppm ACN for 3 hr. ACN and CEO concentrations were measured in blood, brain, and liver at selected postexposure time points. The dosimetry description accurately simulated the ACN inhalation pharmacokinetic data, providing verification of the parameter estimates. The verified rat dosimetry description for ACN and CEO will be used as the basis for development of a dosimetry description for ACN in people.
Physicochemical Properties of Bread Baked from Flour Blended with Immature Wheat Meal Rich in Fructooligosaccharides

: Grain of the soft white wheat cultivar Harus was harvested weekly from anthesis to maturity and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) contents were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Tests were carried out to determine the effect of adding immature wheat meal to a base flour of cultivar Russ (hard red spring) on the quality characteristics of bread. FOS content was also analyzed in baked bread, and the effect of transglutaminase in improving bread quality was examined. Marked decreases in FOS contents, such as 1-kestose and nystose, were observed with grain maturation. The overall quality of bread appeared to be acceptable, and the added FOS were retained after baking.
Eliminating covert flows with minimum typings

A type system is given that eliminates two kinds of covert flows in an imperative programming language. The first kind arises from nontermination and the other from partial operations that can raise exceptions. The key idea is to limit the source of nontermination in the language to constructs with minimum typings, and to evaluate partial operations within expressions of try commands which also have minimum typings. A mutual progress theorem is proved that basically states that no two executions of a well-typed program can be distinguished on the basis of nontermination versus abnormal termination due to a partial operation. The proof uses a new style of programming language semantics which we call a natural transition semantics.
Site-Specific Synthesis and In Situ Immobilization of Fluorescent Silver Nanoclusters on DNA Nanoscaffolds by Use of the Tollens Reaction

DNA strands with specific sequences and covalently attached sugar moieties were used for the site-specific incorporation of the sugar units on a DNA origami scaffold. This approach enabled the subsequent site-specific synthesis and in situ immobilization of fluorescent Ag clusters at predefined positions on the DNA nanoscaffold by treatment with the Tollens reagent.
Biochemical characteristics of a primary blood-brain barrier cell culture system as a function of the activity of the proteases used in tissue disaggregation

Utilization of primary cultured brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) as an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) depends on the extent to which cultured BCECs retain the in vivo characteristics. Recently, we have reported that consistent isolation of BCECs that mimic the in vivo BBB depends on whether a specific ratio between the weight of the isolation enzyme (collagenase/dispase) and the weight of the capillaries present during the isolation is used. Since it is possible for the same weight of an enzyme to possess different activity levels, it is felt that activity rather than weight of an enzyme should be used in arriving at the above ratio. Therefore, using bovine brain as the source of BCECs, we have quantified the amount of collagenase/dispase needed for optimal isolation of BCECs and retention of their phenotypic properties in terms of collagenase/dispase activity per g of capillaries. Monolayers of bovine BCECs isolated at 0.15 or 0.30 units of collagenase and 2.06 or 4.12 units dispase per g of capillaries gave the best overall quality as judged by their permeability characteristics and the activities of angiotensin converting enzyme, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.
Sex-specific genetic architecture of whole blood serotonin levels.

Recently, a quantitative-trait locus (QTL) for whole blood serotonin level was identified in a genomewide linkage and association study in a founder population. Because serotonin level is a sexually dimorphic trait, in the present study, we evaluated the sex-specific genetic architecture of whole blood serotonin level in the same population. Here, we use an extended homozygosity-by-descent linkage method that is suitable for large complex pedigrees. Although both males and females have high broad heritability (H2=0.99), females have a higher additive component (h2=0.63 in females; h2=0.27 in males). Furthermore, the serotonin QTL on 17q that was identified previously in this population, integrin β3 (ITGB3), and a novel locus on 2q influence serotonin levels only in males, whereas linkage to a region on chromosome 6q is specific to females. Both sexes contribute to linkage signals on 12q and 16p. There were, overall, more associations meeting criteria for suggestive significance in males than in females, including those of ITGB3 and the serotonin transporter gene (5HTT). This analysis is consistent with heritable sexual dimorphism in whole blood serotonin levels resulting from the effects of a combination of sex-specific and sex-independent loci.
Trematodes Indicate Animal Biodiversity in the Chilean Intertidal and Lake Tanganyika

Trematode communities in populations of estuarine snails can reflect surrounding animal diversity, abundance, and trophic interactions. We know less about the potential for trematodes to serve as bioindicators in other habitats. Here, we reanalyze data from 2 published studies concerning trematodes, 1 in the Chilean rocky intertidal zone and the other from the East African rift lake, Lake Tanganyika. Our analyses indicate that trematodes are more common in protected areas and that in both habitats they are directly and positively related to surrounding host abundance. This further supports the notion that trematodes in first intermediate hosts can serve as bioindicators of the condition of free-living animal communities in diverse ecosystems.
Graph Theoretic Approach to QoS-Guaranteed Spectrum Allocation in Cognitive Radio Networks

We propose a novel graph theoretic matching algorithm to model the dynamic channel allocation problem in cognitive radio networks. In the past, no research work has considered both the channels and the user request priorities in the context of spectrum allocation. In our work, we define a unique model to assign priorities among the channels in a spectrum based on the transmission power allowed in each channel to mitigate interference on the licensed primary users. Crisp logic lines categorize requests into distinct priorities based on the user requirements. These prioritized channels and user requests then constitute the set of vertices V of a bi-partite graph G = (V,E), whose set of edges E represent the communication links between the channels and the users. We propose a novel O(|E|) priority-satisfying matching algorithm to design an allocation scheme to satisfy the quality of service guarantees of the unlicensed secondary users. We evaluate the performance of our proposed algorithm based on critical parameters such as latency and packet dropping probability.
Hybrid Inorganic–Organic Mesoporous Silicates—Nanoscopic Reactors Coming of Age

This review describes methods of preparing hybrid inorganic–organic mesoporous silicates with uniform channel structures, as well as some of their applications. Both reactive and passive organic groups can be incorporated in the porous solids by grafting methods or by co-condensation under surfactant control. Functional groups have been placed selectively on the internal or external pore surfaces or even within the walls of the mesoporous solids. Organic functionalization of these solids permits tuning of the surface properties (hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, binding to guest molecules), alteration of the surface reactivity, protection of the surface from attack, and modification of the bulk properties (e.g., mechanical or optical properties) of the material. Recent applications of hybrid mesoporous silicates are highlighted, including catalysis, sorption of metals, anions, and organics, reactors for polymerization, fixation of biologically active species, and optical applications.
Harmonic Waves with Arbitrary Propagation Direction in Layered Orthotropic Elastic Composites

The dispersion of harmonic waves propagating in an arbitrary direction in a layered orthotropic elastic composite is studied. The full three-dimensional field equations of elasticity are considered, and the corresponding twelfth order characteristic determinant is examined. Numerical results are obtained and compared with the corresponding estimates of the new quotient method of Nemat-Nasser.
An ACS robotic control algorithm with fault tolerant capabilities

This paper demonstrates that an adaptive computing system (ACS) is good platform for implementing robotic control algorithms. We show that an ACS can be used to provide both good performance and high dependability. An example of an FPGA-implemented dependable control algorithm is presented. The flexibility of ACS is exploited by choosing the best precision for our application. This reduces the amount of required hardware and improves performance. Results obtained from a WILDFORCE emulation platform showed that even using 0.35 /spl mu/m technology, an FPGA-implemented control algorithm has comparable performance with the software-implemented control algorithm in a 0.25 /spl mu/m microprocessor. Different voting schemes are used in conjunction with multi-threading and combinational redundancy to add fault tolerance to the robotic controller. Error-injection experiments demonstrate that robotic control algorithms with fault tolerance techniques are orders of magnitude less vulnerable to faults compared to algorithms without any fault tolerant features.
Reasoning about nonlinear system identification

System identification is the process of deducing a mathematical model of the internal dynamics of a system from observations of its outputs. The computer program PRET automates this process by building a layer of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques around a set of traditional formal engineering methods. PRET takes a generate-and-test approach, using a small, powerful meta-domain theory that tailors the space of candidate models to the problem at hand. It then tests these models against the known behavior of the target system using a large set of more-general mathematical rules. The complex interplay of heterogeneous reasoning modes that is involved in this process is orchestrated by a special first-order logic system that uses static abstraction levels, dynamic declarative meta control, and a simple form of truth maintenance in order to test models quickly and cheaply. Unlike other modeling tools---most of which use libraries to model small, well-posed problems in limited domains and rely on their users to supply detailed descriptions of the target system---PRET works with nonlinear systems in multiple domains and interacts directly with the real world via sensors and actuators. This approach has met with success in a variety of simulated and real applications, ranging from textbook systems to real-world engineering problems.
Milk yield and composition of lactating dairy cows fed diets supplemented with a probiotic extract

Thirty-six lactating Holstein cows from the Dairy Research Center at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus were used in a 10-wk randomized-design trial to determine the effects of feeding a nonviable probiotic extract (PD; ProDairy, Donaghys Industries Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand) on DMI, milk yield, and milk composition. During the first 2 wk of the trial, all cows were fed the control diet, and data collected were used as a covariate in the statistical analysis. At the end of wk 2, cows were assigned randomly to 1 of 2 treatments: 0 (CONT) or 10 mL/d of PD per cow for the following 8 wk. A basal diet was fed to cows once daily behind Calan gates as a TMR in amounts to provide at least 5% refusal. The probiotic extract was added to the TMR and mixed for 10 min before feeding. No differences were observed in DMI between treatments, which averaged 25.3 and 25.6 kg/d for CONT and PD, respectively. Yields of milk (P = 0.001), protein (P = 0.05), and solids-not-fat (P = 0.002) were greater for cows fed diets supplemented with PD compared with CONT. Interactions of treatment and week were observed for each variable because the difference between PD and CONT increased as the trial progressed. Milk urea nitrogen concentrations tended to be reduced (P = 0.10) for PD compared with CONT. No differences were observed among treatments in concentration of milk components or change in BW or BCS. The probiotic extract used in the trial supported greater yield of milk, protein, and solids-not-fat apparently through improved utilization of nutrients consumed.
A model of strategic preemption: why do Post-Communists hurt themselves?

Why do political actors pass legislation that seemingly hurts them? Lustration laws limit access to public office of the ancien regime's collaborators and hurt members of post-communist parties in East-Central Europe. So why has lustration in Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria been passed when post-communist parties held parliamentary majorities? Why did the postcommunist party in Romania switch from no-lustration to pro-lustration after the 1992 elections? We explain this phenomenon by electoral timing and rules of procedure in legislatures. Specifically, we develop an agenda-setter model with a finite number of parties, imperfect information, and multiple potential medians. Our main argument can be summarized as follows: Suppose that the Postcommunists do not introduce any lustration bill and then lose proposal power in elections. If Anti-communists come to power, they are sure to introduce a harsher bill, and the median of the legislature may prefer such a bill to a no-bill status quo. Post-communists can prevent such a scenario by implementing a mild bill themselves. If they manage to appease the new parliamentary median, they will block a harsher bill that would be implemented after they lose power. Additional results show how electoral perspectives and uncertainty affect and modify this typical scenario. We test our model with an exhaustive analysis of all cases from East- Central Europe that meet our assumptions that a Postcommunist party is in power and no lustration bill is already in force.
Software Configuration Management for Product Derivation in Software Product Families

A key process in software product line (SPL) engineering is product derivation, which is the process of building software products from a base set of core assets. During product derivation, the components in both core assets and derived software products are modified to meet needs for different functionality, platforms, quality attributes, etc. However, existing software configuration management (SCM) systems do not sufficiently support the derivation process in SPL. In this paper, we introduce a novel SCM system that is well-suited for product derivation in SPL. Our tool, MoSPL handles version management at the component level via its product versioning and data models. It explicitly manages logical constraints and derivation relations among components in both core assets and derived products, thus enabling the automatic propagation of changes in the core assets to their copies in derived products and vice versa. The system can also detect conflicting changes to different copies of components in software product lines.
Receptor cleavage and P-selectin-dependent reduction of leukocyte adhesion in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

The SHR, a genetic model for hypertension and the metabolic syndrome, has attenuated leukocyte adhesion to the postcapillary endothelium by an unknown mechanism. Based on recent evidence of elevated levels of MMPs in plasma and on microvascular endothelium of the SHR with cleavage of several receptor types, we hypothesize that the reduced leukocyte-endothelial interaction is a result of enhanced proteolytic cleavage of P-selectin on the postcapillary endothelium and PSGL-1 on leukocytes. The attenuated rolling interactions of SHR leukocytes with the endothelium were restored by chronic treatment with a broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor (CGS) for 24 weeks. The SHR MMP levels, in plasma and mesentery, as well as the systolic blood pressure, decreased significantly with treatment. In the SHR mesentery, labeling of P-selectin in the postcapillary venules by immunohistochemistry demonstrated, on average, a 31% lower extracellular P-selectin density compared with the normotensive WKY. A significantly lower extracellular PSGL-1 density on the membranes of SHR neutrophils compared with the WKY also supported our hypothesis. In vivo stimulation of the mesenteric postcapillary venules with histamine demonstrated that the SHR had an attenuated response, as measured by leukocyte rolling velocity on the endothelium. The reduced P-selectin and PSGL-1 density, on SHR postcapillary endothelium and on SHR leukocytes, respectively, was restored significantly by chronic MMP inhibition. The impaired ability of SHR leukocytes to reduce rolling velocity upon inflammatory stimulation led to fewer firmly adhered leukocytes to the endothelium as a contributor to immune suppression.
Step Response of a-Si:H Photodiodes

We correlate the dark current-transients of a-Si:H p-i-n photodiodes with solar cell performance and quantum efficiency. For devices with solar cell efficiency varying from 7.2 to 2.2 % subjected to ±1 V and a sampling frequency of 21 kHz: i) the reverse-bias charging time is shorter, with the initial charging time being reduced by ~ 1.5 µs, while the time for final current stabilization is reduced by - 5 µs.; ii) the forward-bias time for the onset of space charge limited current dominated regime is ~ 1 µs faster, the final current limit is achieved also in shorter time (~ 9 µs), and the individual final limit current is diminished by ~ 8 % due to carriers trapping, while the relative final limit current between different diodes is diminished by ~ 50 %.
On the relationship between NMR-derived amide order parameters and protein backbone entropy changes

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to analyze the relationship between NMR-derived squared generalized order parameters of amide NH groups and backbone entropy. Amide order parameters (O(2) NH ) are largely determined by the secondary structure and average values appear unrelated to the overall flexibility of the protein. However, analysis of the more flexible subset (O(2) NH < 0.8) shows that these report both on the local flexibility of the protein and on a different component of the conformational entropy than that reported by the side chain methyl axis order parameters, O(2) axis . A calibration curve for backbone entropy vs. O(2) NH is developed, which accounts for both correlations between amide group motions of different residues, and correlations between backbone and side chain motions. This calibration curve can be used with experimental values of O(2) NH changes obtained by NMR relaxation measurements to extract backbone entropy changes, for example, upon ligand binding. In conjunction with our previous calibration for side chain entropy derived from measured O(2) axis values this provides a prescription for determination of the total protein conformational entropy changes from NMR relaxation measurements.
Beyond Technology: The Holistic Advantage

As engineered technologies become woven into the fabric of our society, engineers ignore the need for integrating valuable, nontechnical skills into their educational paradigm at the profession’s peril. The exciting future of engineering is beyond technological labels (e.g., mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, and chemical engineer) where isolated training falls to a more powerful profession of broadly educated “holistic engineers” – engineers who manage, lead, and understand complex, interdisciplinary systems that bring the power of engineering thought to issues spanning and connecting technology, law, public policy, sustainability, the arts, government, and industry. The end of technology as engineering’s sole focus allows a future where the engineering profession actively grows and evolves, bringing the very best of science, technology, and innovation to serve the complex challenges of our 21st century lives.
Effectiveness of Backwashing for Wastewater Filters

The use of deep granular filters in waste treatment is of growing importance. The key to long-term operating success of such filters is proper bed design and adequate bed cleaning during backwashing. A number of questions related to adequate backwashing of granular filters are investigated which lead to the following conclusions. Auxiliary means of improving filter backwashing are essential for wastewater filters. Three auxiliary methods were compared in a wastewater pilot filtration study. The most effective backwash was provided by air scour and water backwash simultaneously at subfluidization velocities. The other two methods, surface and subsurface wash auxiliary on air scour prior to water fluidization wash, were about comparable in effectiveness. The performance of coarse sand, dual-, and triple-media filters is compared, and the backwashing routines appropriate for each media are considered.
Excessive Executive Compensation - (Principal Symptom of Poor Corporate Governance) Causes and Remedies

Advantageous accounting and tax treatment caused service-based stock options to be the major contributor to excessive executive compensation. All of the decision makers knew or should have known that such treatment was bogus. The lawyers and accountants were the enablers but the members of the corporate compensation committees were happy to have the cover. It appears that the abuses will end. Hundreds of corporations have voluntarily rejected the bogus accounting treatment, and the Financial Accounting Standards Board will soon change the accounting treatment for all corporations. The most important step, however, is the new rules adopted by the Nasdaq and the NYSE that will require independent directors to fix executive compensation. (The original publication referred to those rules as proposed - they have since been finalized). Those rules will be more effective than the Sarbanes-Oxley provision passed by Congress in stopping the abuses.
Comparing Natural Gas Leakage Detection Technologies Using an Open-Source “Virtual Gas Field” Simulator

We present a tool for modeling the performance of methane leak detection and repair programs that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of detection technologies and proposed mitigation policies. The tool uses a two-state Markov model to simulate the evolution of methane leakage from an artificial natural gas field. Leaks are created stochastically, drawing from the current understanding of the frequency and size distributions at production facilities. Various leak detection and repair programs can be simulated to determine the rate at which each would identify and repair leaks. Integrating the methane leakage over time enables a meaningful comparison between technologies, using both economic and environmental metrics. We simulate four existing or proposed detection technologies: flame ionization detection, manual infrared camera, automated infrared drone, and distributed detectors. Comparing these four technologies, we found that over 80% of simulated leakage could be mitigated with a positive net present value, although the maximum benefit is realized by selectively targeting larger leaks. Our results show that low-cost leak detection programs can rely on high-cost technology, as long as it is applied in a way that allows for rapid detection of large leaks. Any strategy to reduce leakage should require a careful consideration of the differences between low-cost technologies and low-cost programs.
Computers, Proofs and Mathematicians: A Philosophical Investigation of the Four-Color Proof

Computer-assisted proofs illustrate the need for a more realistic philosophy of mathematics that allows for fallibility and empirical elements.
The Depiction of Exercise on Prime-Time Television

Abstract Overweight and obesity are associated with the amount of time one spends watching television. Specifically, the more television one watches, the more likely it is that he or she will he overweight and physically inactive. The purpose of this study was to examine the depiction of exercise on prime-time television. Two weeks of prime-time television (8:00-11:00 p.m.) programming on the four major networks were analyzed during winter 1997. Frequency of exercise scenes, demographic characteristics of exercisers, types and locations of exercise, and length of exercise scenes were investigated. Results showed that an average of 0.39 scenes of exercise were displayed each hour. Exercise scenes were most frequently displayed on Fridays and Saturdays in dramas and sitcoms. Individuals most commonly depicted as exercisers were males, whites, and adults. Sports and games were the most common type of exercise depicted whereas gyms and clubs were the most common exercise locations. Virtually all scenes lasted...
Transesophageal echocardiography: why and when to use it

In this open discussion of an important health care utilization issue, panelists expound on the appropriateness of TEE in several clinical situations.
Proxies from Ab Initio Calculations for Screening Efficient Ce3+ Phosphor Hosts

Efficient phosphor performance, meaning a high photoluminescence quantum yield (Φ), requires the Ce3+ ion to be hosted in a rigid crystal structure. This is particularly important when the phosphor is operated at slightly elevated temperatures, as is becoming conventional in high brightness, phosphor-converted white solid-state light-emitting diodes. We find the Debye temperature (ΘD) of the undoped host crystal structure, which is readily calculated using ab initio methods within the quasi-harmonic approximation, is a useful proxy for structural rigidity. ΘD is found here to correlate well with the experimentally measured Φ for a number of Ce3+ phosphors. In addition to being rigid, the host lattice must possess a large enough band gap (Eg) that the Ce3+ 4f to 5d transition can occur without interference from a host energy channel. As a sorting diagram for efficient hosts with high Φ, we propose using Eg of the host, also readily calculated with high reliability using hybrid functionals, as one of the ax...
The Analysis and the Results of Sanitation Quality Monitoring of Guest Rooms of Star Hotels in Guangzhou City in 2007

Objective To investigate the sanitation status of guest rooms of Guangzhou city star hotels and improve the air quality and sanitary condition of public facilities.Method The results of quality monitoring were analyzed statistically,including the air quality,the noise,the intensity of illumination and the sanitary condition of public facilities of the guest rooms of 35 start hotels in Guangzhou.Result The passing rate of CO2 standard was just 78.99,which was the lowest one of the index of air quality in 2007.The passing rate of the standard of number of bacteria in air was 80.36,while that of sanitary wares was up to 98.13.They were significantly higher than the passing rates of the year 2005.Conclusion Comparing with the sanitation status before SARS occurred,the sanitary condition of the guest rooms of star hotels in Guangzhou was improved,but the sanitation management should be strengthen.
Determination of Selenium in Peas with Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry

[Objective]To establish the method of hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry for the determination of the selenium concentration in peas.[Methods]The samples were dissolved by HNO3-HClO4;HCI was used to reduce sexivalent selenium to quaternary selenium;the determination was made under the best laboratory condition.[Results]The detection limit was 0.10 ng/ml;linear range was 0～80 ng/ml;the recovery rate of the determination of 3 kinds of peas were between 90.5% and 110.6%;RSD was 2.0%～5.7%.[Conclusion]This method is simple,rapid and applicable for laboratory tests.
Integration, Warehousing, and Analysis Strategies of Omics Data

"-Omics" is a current suffix for numerous types of large-scale biological data generation procedures, which naturally demand the development of novel algorithms for data storage and analysis. With next generation genome sequencing burgeoning, it is pivotal to decipher a coding site on the genome, a gene's function, and information on transcripts next to the pure availability of sequence information. To explore a genome and downstream molecular processes, we need umpteen results at the various levels of cellular organization by utilizing different experimental designs, data analysis strategies and methodologies. Here comes the need for controlled vocabularies and data integration to annotate, store, and update the flow of experimental data. This chapter explores key methodologies to merge Omics data by semantic data carriers, discusses controlled vocabularies as eXtensible Markup Languages (XML), and provides practical guidance, databases, and software links supporting the integration of Omics data.
Familial hemolytic anemia with erythrocyte inclusion bodies and a defect in pigment metabolism.

bodies). Excellent reviews including lists of the compounds which have been found to cause this hematologic abnormality have recently been published.�a Prematurity4 is believed to enhance the susceptibility of the erythrocytes to the toxic action of some of these substances. The occurrence of erythrocyte inclusion bodies in patients, without a history of exposure to known toxins, has been reported hut rarely,�7 and these few cases did not seem to fall into a uniform group. Their common features were some degree of anemia and the presence of erythrocyte inclusions of variable form and number. A detailed discussion of these reports is found in a companion paper.8 Recently, a father and his only SOfl were (liscovered to stiffer from congenital, hemolytic anemia of a severe and unremitting type which was characterized by the presence of inclusion bodies in the erythrocytes. In addition, both patients excreted large amouts of pigments in the urine which gave it a (lark-brown color. Similar pigments were also present in the plasma. \Vhile these two patients were being studied at the National Institutes of Health, a third case exhibiting similar features was under investigation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This case is reported in a separate communication.8 Following the first presentation of these cases,� two additional and as yet unpublished cases with similar findings have come to our attention.’#{176}”
Hydrothermal alteration of seafloor peridotites does not influence oxygen fugacity recorded by spinel oxybarometry

Olivine, orthopyroxene, and spinel compositions within seafloor peridotites yield important information about the nature of Earth’s mantle. Major element compositions of these minerals can be used to calculate oxygen fugacity, a thermodynamic property critical to understanding phase equilibria in the upper mantle. This study examines how hydrothermal alteration at the seafloor influences peridotite chemistry. The Tonga Trench (South Pacific Ocean) exposes lithospheric forearc peridotites that range from highly altered to completely unaltered and provides an ideal sample suite for investigating the effect of alteration on spinel peridotite major element chemistry and calculated oxygen fugacity. Using the Tonga peridotites, we develop a qualitative alteration scale rooted in traditional point-counting methodology. We show that high degrees of serpentinization do not affect mineral parameters such as forsterite number in olivine, iron site occupancy in orthopyroxene, and Fe 3+ /ΣFe ratio in spinel. Additionally, while serpentinization is a redox reaction that leaves behind an oxidized residue, the oxygen fugacity recorded by mantle minerals is unaffected by nearby low-temperature serpentinization. As a result, oxygen fugacity measured by spinel oxybarometry in seafloor peridotites is representative of mantle processes, rather than an artifact of late-stage seafloor alteration.