cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Angustia y evasión en la narrativa de Rima de Vallbona

La decision de leer Mujeres y agonias en vez de otro libro de Rima de Vallbona para este estudio de su ficcion corta fue motivada por los comentarios breves sobre los relatos en la introduccion de la coleccion prologada por Luis Leal.
Using Anderson Acceleration to Accelerate the Convergence of Neutron Transport Calculations with Anisotropic Scattering

In two recent publications, it was demonstrated that the nonlinear diffusion acceleration (NDA) algorithm, a moment-based accelerator, could be modified to accelerate the solution to neutron transp...
Tissue lipoprotein lipase, serum, and urinary lipids and lipoproteins in experimental glomerulonephritis of rats (Heymann's nephritis)

Abstract Serum and urinary cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, and tissue lipoprotein lipase levels were measured in a group of rats in which experimental glomerulonephritis (EGN) was induced by an injection of renal tubular antigen in Freund's complete adjuvant. Progressively increasing proteinuria beginning after approximately the eighth week was associated with a progressive increase in the levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Significant lipiduria occurred at the ninth week. Lipoprotein electrophoresis of concentrated urine showed the presence of a band with alpha lipoprotein (high-density lipoprotein) mobility. Eleven weeks after disease induction, the rats were killed and the tissue levels of lipoprotein lipase were measured. A homogenized preparation of the heart, liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle using [14C]triolein as substrate was used. Nephrotic rats had less than half the myocardial lipoprotein lipase levels of controls (2099 ± 420 and 962 ± 142 (mean ± SD) n m free fatty acids/mg tissue/hr, respectively; P These results document the potential usefulness of the rat (EGN) model for further studies in lipoprotein metabolism in nephrotic syndrome. The significance and pathogenesis of reduced myocardial lipoprotein lipase requires further investigation.
Urban-Rural Conflict Over Environmental Policy in the Western United States:

There has been considerable debate within the literature over the degree to which environmental conflict in the Western United States stems from tensions between urban and rural areas. A number of scholars have suggested that such conflict exists throughout the West; others have argued either that this urban-rural conflict does not exist or that conflict over environmental preferences stems from factors other than place of residence. This study uses voting on statewide environmental ballot measures, with counties as the unit of analysis, to investigate whether voters in urban and rural areas express different levels of support for environmental protection. When such differences are found, the study offers explanations. Findings suggest that urban counties do vote in support of environmental protection at significantly higher levels than rural counties but that demographic variables and economic conditions are more influential in determining those levels of support than is the urban or rural nature of the ...
Theoretical 13C NMR spectra of IPR isomers of fullerene C80: a density functional theory study

Abstract Optimized geometries and 13 C NMR chemical shifts of fullerene C80 have been calculated by density functional theory using B3LYP/6-31G* for all isolated-pentagon-rule isomers with non-zero HOMO–LOMO gap (isomers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5). D2 distorted isomer 7 is predicted as first-order saddle-point by B3LYP/STO-3G. The calculated NMR spectrum of isomer 2 agrees well with experiment of Hennrich, confirming the assignment unequivocally. The predicted spectra of other isomers either show unusually large spectral span or have unusual chemical shifts for some sites, indicating unfavorable electron distribution. Both energetic and NMR properties indicate these isomers are less stable than isomer 2.
Evaluation of Development Options for Alaska North Slope Viscous and Heavy Oil

Current estimates of discovered viscous and heavy oil in Alaska’s North Slope are 12 billion barrels of oil-in-place and 12–18 billion barrels of oil-in-place, respectively (see Appendix 1 for conversion to SI units). Since the early 1990s to the end of 2010, cumulative viscous oil production has amounted to 150 million barrels, and there has been no commercial production of heavy oil. During the last three decades, the industry has been challenged to develop technologies to commercially produce these untapped oil resources in this Arctic environment. In this paper, the general locations and geologic properties of the viscous oil-bearing West Sak/Schrader Bluff and heavy oil-bearing Ugnu stratigraphic intervals are described first. The geologic variability within these deposits and the evolution of technology have forced an incremental development approach, requiring costly field testing at the pilot scale of innovative extraction techniques. Although viscous oil is currently produced, its development is not mature, and firms appear to be still spending large sums on new approaches to improve recovery. The analysis specifies a representative viscous oil project and then applies a “real options” framework using simulation to determine whether the risked expected project value is sufficient to fund required expenditures on extraction process research and field testing. Computations show available field test funds to be highly sensitive to the operator’s hurdle rate of return as well as the range in magnitude of potential State revenues. The contribution of the paper is solving this problem using an approach where the extreme low return and high scenarios need only be specified, and where the uncertainties are modeled with beta distributions based on historical data or expert opinion.
Radiological evidence for partial genetic homology between bacteriophage and host bacteria

Abstract The lytic and lysogenizing activities of a temperate bacteriophage of Salmonella typhimurium (P22) and the lytic activity of a virulent mutant are all inactivated at equal rates both by ultraviolet radiation (UV) and by the decay of incorporated radiophosphorus (P32). Transducing activity is not significantly depressed by high doses of either inactivating agent. Lytic and lysogenizing activities appear, therefore, to involve equal quantities, and transducing activity considerably less, of the radiosensitive material (deoxyribonucleic acid) of the phage. The effects of UV on phage P22 differ from those of P32 decay or X-rays, and also from those of UV on coliphages T2 and T4, in the following ways. 1. 1. The reproductive ability of P22 is excessively resistant to UV when compared to T2 on the basis of the relative DNA contents per particle. Sensitivity to P32 decay or X-rays, however, is directly proportional to the DNA contents of the two phages. 2. 2. The growth of P22 particles that survive UV irradiation is markedly delayed. There is no delay in the growth either of P22 or of T2 survivors after P32 decay, and there is only a slight delay for T2 survivors after UV irradiation. 3. 3. In cross-reactivation experiments (mixed infection with active and inactive particles), the yield of genetic markers derived from a UV-irradiated parent is much lower for P22 than for T4 when the irradiated parents have received the same lethal UV doses. When inactivation is caused by P32 decay, cross-reactivation yields are comparable for P22 and T4. 4. 4. The reproductive ability of P22 after UV irradiation is lower when irradiated host cells are used in place of unirradiated cells. Under these conditions, the relative UV-sensitivity of P22 approaches that of T2. This effect is not observed with UV-irradiated T2 or with either phage after P32 decay. To account for these results, we have proposed that there is partial genetic homology between phage P22 and its host, and that after infection the host material can replace UV-damaged homologous phage material. This kind of reactivation of phage by the host cannot occur if the phage has been damaged by P32 decay or X-rays, or if the host material has itself been damaged.
Neuroprotectant Drug Shows Promise in Human Ischemic Stroke

overall, but when looking at ruptured cases alone, the NA-1 group had better 30-day National Institutes of Health (NIH) stroke scale scores. As one may expect, multiple factors other than the presence of the study drug were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of new ischemic lesions in this patient population. Increased risk was associated with ruptured aneurysms, increasing age, use of an adjunctive device such as a balloon or a stent, increasing procedure duration, and use of antiplatelet agents. Adjusting for these factors in a negative binomial regression analysis, however, showed a persistent benefit of study drug NA-1 in decreasing the number of new ischemic infarcts as seen on both DWI and FLAIR sequences. The ENACT trial demonstrated a reduction in the number of iatrogenic embolic strokes occurring during endovascular aneurysm repair with NA-1 treatment. Despite the relatively small number of patients and although the overall average volume of infarcts was not reduced, this trial appears to show that human neuroprotection is possible and safe. The design of ENACT, that the drug was infused after the aneurysm treatment was completed, shows that NA-1 has potential to be a treatment for ischemic stroke rather than just a preventative agent against stroke, but it is unclear whether the early timing of its infusion could be duplicated in further studies. The use of NA-1 could be extrapolated from this trial to other procedures that carry a significant risk of stroke, such as cardiopulmonary bypass, carotid endarterectomy or stenting, and many percutaneous cardiac procedures; however, the more widespread future use of this agent would ideally be in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. These exciting results should spur future randomized controlled trials using NA-1 as a treatment for ischemic stroke. Figure 1. Proportion of patients with lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging in the placebo and NA-1 groups. (Reprinted with permission from: Hill MD, Martin RH, Mikulis D et al. Safety and efficacy of NA-1 in patients with iatrogenic stroke after endovascular aneurysm repair (ENACT): a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2012;11(11):942-950 [2].)
The impact of a variety of point defects on the inception of plastic deformation in dislocation-free metals

Atomistic simulations of nanoindentation tests were used to quantify the effect of point defects (a single vacancy, a di-vacancy, a self interstitial atom and a stacking fault tetrahedron) on the onset of plasticity in copper. The stacking fault tetrahedron reduces the pressure needed to nucleate a dislocation by almost half of that of the perfect crystal. Reduction in the normalized yield pressure relative to the perfect crystal for a given defect is independent of indenter size.
Low-dose levalbuterol in children with asthma: safety and efficacy in comparison with placebo and racemic albuterol.

Background Racemic albuterol (RAC) is an equal mixture of (R)-albuterol and (S)-albuterol. Only the (R)-isomer, levalbuterol (LEV), is therapeutically active. Lower doses of LEV, devoid of (S)-albuterol, have demonstrated efficacy comparable to that of higher doses of the (R)-isomer administered as a component of RAC. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether LEV results in improved safety and efficacy in children. Methods Asthmatic children aged 4 to 11 years (n = 338; FEV(1), 40% to 85% of predicted) participated in this multicenter, randomized, double-blinded study and received 21 days of 3-times-a-day treatment with nebulized LEV (0.31 or 0.63 mg), RAC (1.25 or 2.5 mg), or placebo. The primary endpoint was FEV(1) (peak percent change). Adverse events, clinical laboratory test results, vital signs, and electrocardiograms were evaluated for safety. Results All active treatments significantly improved the primary endpoint in comparison with placebo (P .05). All active treatments decreased serum potassium (range, -0.3 to -0.6; P Conclusion LEV was clinically comparable to 4- to 8-fold higher doses of RAC, and it demonstrated a more favorable safety profile. LEV 0.31 mg should be used as the starting dose in 4-11 year old children with mild to moderate persistent asthma. Patients with severe disease might benefit from higher doses.
Production of transgenic live-bearing fish and crustaceans with replication-defective pantropic retroviral vectors.

Transgenic fish have been routinely produced by microinjecting or electroporating foreign DNA into one-cell stage embryos or unfertilized eggs. While both techniques are effective in producing transgenic fish species from which unfertilized or newly fertilized eggs can be easily obtained, these techniques are not applicable to live-bearing fish and many crustacean species where unfertilized or newly fertilized eggs are not readily available. In this paper, we describe a new method of introducing foreign DNA into the live-bearing fish, Poeciliposis lucida, and crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, by directly transforming the immature ovary or testis of these animals with replication-defective pantropic retroviral vectors carrying a reporter gene (neoR). A significant fraction of the progeny derived from these treated animals contains the neoR reporter gene, determined by a PCR-based assay. The PCR-positive individuals were crossed with nontransgenic individuals, and about 50% of the resulting progeny carried the transgene, suggesting that the F1 animals are germline transgenic. Integration of the transgenes was confirmed by detecting the junction fragments of the genomic DNA associated with transgene constructs. The expression of reporter genes was detected by reverse transcription (RT) PCR assay. These results showed that foreign genes could be reproducibly transferred into live-bearing fish and crustaceans by directly transforming the immature gonads with replication-defective pantropic retroviral vectors.
Patients' sociability and usability experience in online health communities: impact on attitudes towards the healthcare organisation and its services

This paper reports on an exploratory study that examined the impact of patients' sociability and usability experience in an online health community and their impact on their attitude towards the healthcare organisation (HCO) that runs the online community. The study data was collected from the online community of a healthcare programme called Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (CHESS) run by the Centre for Health Enhancement Support Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The study results validate the hypotheses and show that it is important for any HCO to evaluate patients' sociability and usability experience in its online health community since the experience can impact patients' attitudes towards the HCO and its services.
Associations between male courtship and female polyandry in three species of wasp, Nasonia (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Males can affect the number of times females mate by inducing resistance to remating. We investigated the associations between male courtship behaviour and female remating frequencies using three species of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia. We tested females for remating at 10 min and 24 h after the first copulation and found that species differences in female remating frequencies were associated with different first male behaviours. Nasonia vitripennis females showed the highest average frequency of remating, greater than 75% for all tests, and females that did not remate had experienced long first courtships, suggesting that they were generally resistant to courtship. In N. longicornis, the two populations tested had a two-fold and significant difference in female remating frequency, from 45 to 90%, but we could not identify any first-male behaviour that was significantly associated with this difference. Fewer than 35% of N. giraulti females remated 10 min after the first copulation, but remating increased to about 70% in the 24 h tests. In N. giraulti longer postcopulatory displays by the first male were associated with a higher chance of female remating. These three species are closely related, but male behaviours that appear to manipulate female remating differ between them. The divergence may have evolved as a consequence of sexual conflict over different reproductive optima for each species.
Outdoor Hydrogen-Ventilated Synchronous Condensers

Hydrogen is an excellent cooling medium for high-speed rotating electrical machinery. When it is substituted for air, a machine can be operated at a higher load with the same temperature rise and the windage loss is decreased to one-twelfth. Furthermore, since no oxidation can take place in this type of machine, the life of the insulation is increased and short circuit and corona troubles are very materially reduced. The machine is especially quiet, and it can be placed out of doors without increased expense. The first commercial application of hydrogen cooling for electrical machinery was made on a 12,500-kv-a. outdoor synchronous condenser. Another outdoor hydrogen cooled condenser designed along these lines rated 20,000 kv-a., is also in operation. Both condensers were placed in service in 1928 and their performance has been very satisfactory. This paper describes the construction of the machines and reviews the advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen cooling.
Active R filters: review of theory and practice

Active filters that derive their frequency response from internal amplifier dynamics, but use no external capacitors in their implementation, are referred to as “active R” filters. Because of their potential advantages in terms of miniaturisation (i.e. fabrication), ease of design and high-frequency performance, these circuits are receiving increasing attention in the technical literature. The paper reviews the published synthesis procedures for 1st-, 2nd- and higher-order active R filters; it is shown that the 1st- and 2nd-order circuits developed to date are special cases of a general active R topology. The paper discusses nonideal aspects and limitations of active R filter performance, which arc usually neglected in the literature; in particular, the potentially severe effect of temperature-induced drift in the amplifier's dynamic response is considered, and methods of drift compensation are discussed. Experimental results are presented to verify filter performance and the theoretical derivations
A case study of a tactical information system

Abstract Tactical information systems (TIS) are type of decision support system. However, there are several characteristics which make them warrant separate study. They not only support the decision making process: they are able to replicate the decision maker's expertise. The characteristics of replicating decision expertise is generally reserved for expert systems. It is important to study the development of TIS for two reasons. First, they cross functional boundaries so their design must reflect the political realities of satisfying a group of users that may have conflicting interests. Second, TIS can be precursors of expert systems. They embody knowledge and are able to generate decisions that are sanctioned by the organization.
X-Ray and Optical Metallography of a Vapor Condensed Zinc Crystal Platelet†

The Berg-Barrett X-ray diffraction contrast technique has been applied to searching for dislocations within a vapor condensed zinc crystal platelet and, also, to studying the crystal surface topography. Correlation of the X-ray results with results from optical metallography and interferometry showed: (1) a few dislocations were present, at least, in several local regions of the crystal; and, (2) very shallow surface steps (≈2 × 10−5 cm) produced observable contrast in the X-ray micrographs. Es wurde das Berg-Barrett-Verfahren der Rontgenbeugungskontraste verwendet, um die Versetzungen in einem aus der Dampfphase gezuchteten Zinkeinkristall festzustellen und die Topographie der Kristalloberflache zu untersuchen. Ein Vergleich der Ergebnisse der Rontgenbeugung mit denen der optischen Metallographie und Interferometrie ergab, das 1) zumindest in einigen lokalen Gebieten nur wenige Versetzungen in dem Kristall vorhanden sind und 2) sehr flache Oberflachenstufen (≈ 2 × 10−5 cm) beobachtbare Kontraste in den Rontgen-Mikroaufnahmen ergeben.
The achievement of spacecraft autonomy through the thematic application of multiple cooperating intelligent agents

A description is given of UNICORN, a prototype system developed for the purpose of investigating artificial intelligence (AI) concepts supporting spacecraft autonomy. UNICORN employs thematic reasoning, of the type first described by Rodger Schank of Northwestern University, to allow the context-sensitive control of multiple intelligent agents within a blackboard based environment. In its domain of application, UNICORN demonstrates the ability to reason teleologically with focused knowledge. Also presented are some of the lessons learned as a result of this effort. These lessons apply to any effort wherein system level autonomy is the objective.
Partitioning bottleneck work center for cellular manufacturing: An integrated performance and cost model

Abstract The objective of this paper is to investigate performance and cost issues in an integrated manner during conversion of an existing functional layout by partitioning it to a corresponding cellular manufacturing (CM) layout. A decision framework is presented which provides a systematic approach to a practitioner for such a conversion. A total cost model is developed to study the performance and financial aspects for the CM system. The relationship between setup time reduction and the operational characteristics of a cell is also examined. A simple case study from a small manufacturing organization is used to evaluate the practical dimensions of the model and study results.
Enhanced response of the interrenal of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) to ACTH after growth hormone treatment in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract The effects of ovine growth hormone (GH) on the response of the interrenal of yearling coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) to ACTH were examined in two series of experiments. In the first series, GH was administered intraperitoneally (2 μg/g body wt, three daily injections) to coho salmon which had not undergone the parr-smolt transformation. Animals were sacrificed 30 hr after the final injection and head kidney tissue was prepared for in vitro incubation. GH had no effect on plasma cortisol levels but tissue taken from treated fish had an enhanced sensitivity to ACTH in vitro and its steroidogenic capacity was increased. In the second series of experiments, interrenal tissue was preincubated with GH in the dose range of 10–1000 ng/ml and was then challenged with ACTH or was incubated with 1–10 μM pregnenolone. GH-pretreated tissue displayed an enhanced response to ACTH. Cortisol production by tissue pretreated with 500 ng/ml GH was significantly enhanced after incubation with pregnenolone. No significant effect of GH was found after simultaneous exposure of interrenal tissue to combinations of ACTH and GH for 3 hr. Pretreatment of interrenal tissue with salmon prolactin had no significant effect on the subsequent response of tissue to ACTH. These results indicate that GH regulates interrenal activity in coho salmon and that one probable site of action is on the biosynthetic pathway between pregnenolone and cortisol.
The role of radiotherapy for large and locally advanced non-melanoma skin carcinoma.

Background: The role of radiotherapy for large and locally advanced non-melanoma skin cancer is unclear. In this report, we aimed to review our institutional experience with patients treated with radiation therapy for T2–T4 NMSC and analyze outcomes. Methods: Seventy patients and 85 lesions were reviewed who received radiotherapy. Fifty-six lesions (65.9%) were untreated, 17 (20.0%) recurrent, and 12 (14.1%) post-operative. Forty-three (50.6%) were staged T2, 20 (23.5%) T3, and 22 (25.9%) T4. Median follow-up was 20 months. Results: Thirty-nine living patients (59.0%) had no evidence of disease, of which 35 (89.7%) required no therapy following radiotherapy. Twenty-seven patients (41.0%) died, of which 10 deaths were attributed to disease progression. Achievement of complete response (CR) to all therapy and radiotherapy alone was, respectively, 95.3% and 86% for T2, 70% and 65% for T3, and 68.2% and 59.1% for T4. Statistically significant factors for CR included basal cell histology ( p = 0.005) and tumour stage T2 (0.01). Conclusions: Radiotherapy for T2–T4 NMSC is effective. Basal cell histology and T2 are statistically favoured to achieve CR to radiotherapy alone.
Fatty acids and the initial events of endothelial damage seen by scanning and transmission electron microscopy

Abstract A method was developed for observing changes in the endothelial cells in rabbit ear veins in vivo by scanning electron microscopy. Injection of fatty acids into the ear vein caused damage to the endothelium. The first signs of damage seen were marked bulges in the nuclei and loss of the rhomboidal shape of the endothelial cells. More severe damage included loss of nuclei, leaving holes in the cytoplasm. Some parts of the damaged endothelium showed complete separation of cells from each other and exposure of sub-endothelial tissue to which platelets with pseudopodia were adhering. Damage to the endothelium was produced by arachidonic, linoleic, γ-linolenic, 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic, 5,8,11,14,-eicosatetraenoic or 15-hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acids. The effect of arachidonic acid was not prevented by pre-treating the animals with aspirin.,It..appears that damage produced by the fatty acids is non-specific.
An anchoring role for FeS clusters: Chelation of the amino acid moiety of s-adenosylmethionine to the unique iron site of the [4Fe-4S] cluster of pyruvate formate-lyase activating enzyme

Pyruvate formate-lyase activating enzyme (PFL-AE) generates the catalytically essential glycyl radical on pyruvate formate-lyase via the interaction of the catalytically active [4Fe-4S]+ cluster with S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet). Like other members of the Fe-S/AdoMet family of enzymes, PFL-AE is thought to function via generation of an AdoMet-derived 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical intermediate; however, the mechanistic steps by which this radical is generated remain to be elucidated. While all of the members of the Fe-S/AdoMet family of enzymes appear to have a unique iron site in the [4Fe-4S] cluster, based on the presence of a conserved three-cysteine cluster binding motif, the role of this unique site has been elusive. Here we utilize 35-GHz pulsed electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) studies of the [4Fe-4S]+ cluster of PFL-AE in complex with isotopically labeled AdoMet (denoted [1+/AdoMet]) to show that the unique iron serves to anchor the AdoMet for catalysis. AdoMet labeled with 17O at the carboxylate shows a coupling of A = 12.2 MHz, consistent with direct coordination of the carboxylate to the unique iron of the cluster. This is supported by 13C-ENDOR with the carboxylato carbon labeled with 13C, which shows a hyperfine coupling of 0.71 MHz. AdoMet enriched with 15N at the amino position gives rise to a spectrum with A(15N) = 5.8 MHz, consistent with direct coordination of the amino group to a unique iron of the cluster. Together, the results demonstrate that the unique iron of the [4Fe-4S] cluster anchors AdoMet by forming a classical N/O chelate with the amino and carboxylato groups of the methionine fragment.
2. The Emergent Threat of Community College Hookah Waterpipe Use

motivating. Youth indicated a top-3 trigger context on36% (baseline), 43% (intervention), and 38% (follow-up) of reports. Marijuana desire when in a top-3 trigger context decreased from baseline to follow-up (M difference -1.60; p .0001). Desire tended to be higher in trigger vs. other contexts at baseline (M difference 0.42; p .15) and intervention (M difference 0.73; p .10), but at follow-up there was no difference in desire between context types (M difference -0.008; p .98). Odds of using marijuana following top-3 trigger exposure were reduced by almost 50% at follow-up vs. baseline (odds ratio [OR] 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.31-0.95; p .03). Odds of avoiding use following trigger exposurewere also lower at follow-up vs. baseline (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.21-0.67; p .0009). Use/day tended to decline frombaseline to follow-up (Mdifference -0.24; p .15); readiness, importance, and confidence ratings did not change significantly. Percent days abstinent increased slightly but nonsignificantly from baseline to follow-up (39.6% to 47.3%; p .13). Conclusions: Youth found the intervention motivating and helpful in reducing marijuana use. The observed decrease in use may be related to decreased desire to use when in triggering contexts, not to decreased exposure to triggers or to increased avoidance of use. Further research using a comparison group is warranted. Sources of Support: Boston Children’s Hospital Clinical Research Center.
ATDetector: improving the accuracy of a commercial data race detector by identifying address transfer

In order to take advantage of multi-core hardware, more and more applications are becoming multi-threaded. Unfortunately concurrent programs are prone to bugs, such as data races. Recently much work has been devoted to detecting data races in multi-threaded programs. Most tools, however, require the accurate knowledge of synchronizations in the program, and may otherwise suffer from false positives in race detection, limiting their usability. To address this problem, some tools such as Intel® Inspector provide mechanisms for suppressing false positives and/or annotating synchronizations not automatically recognized by the tools. However, they require users' input or even changes of the source code. We took a different approach to address this problem. More specifically, we first used a state-of-the-art commercial data race detector, namely Intel® Inspector on 17 applications of various types including 5 servers, 5 client/desktop applications, and 7 scientific ones, without utilizing any suppression or annotation mechanisms provided by the product that need users' input. We examined a total of 1420 false data races and identified two major root causes including address transfer, where one thread passes memory address to another thread. We found more than 62% false data races were caused by address transfer. Based on this observation, we designed and implemented an algorithm that automatically identify address transfer and use the information to prune the false data races. Our evaluation with 8 real-world applications shows that it can effectively prune all false data races caused by unrecognized address transfers, without eliminating any true data race that was originally reported.
Exploring the community structure of newsgroups

We propose to use the community structure of Usenet for organizing and retrieving the information stored in newsgroups. In particular, we study the network formed by cross-posts, messages that are posted to two or more newsgroups simultaneously. We present what is, to our knowledge, by far the most detailed data that has been collected on Usenet cross-postings. We analyze this network to show that it is a small-world network with significant clustering. We also present a spectral algorithm which clusters newsgroups based on the cross-post matrix. The result of our clustering provides a topical classification of newsgroups. Our clustering gives many examples of significant relationships that would be missed by semantic clustering methods.
Aristotle score for "hybrid procedure".

Dear Editor, With great interest I read the article by Schrantz and coworkers regarding their long-term experience with the ‘‘hybrid approach’’ for treatment of patients with hypoplastic left heart and its variants [4]. They overview 15 years and hence have the longest experience worldwide. To assess the complexity of their patients, they use the Aristotle score. This scoring system was originally developed as a complexity score for surgical procedures for congenital heart disease, and divides into a proceduredependent basic score, and a procedure independent, patient-specific score—the combination of both is the comprehensive Aristotle score. The basic score is based on three factors: the potential for mortality, the potential for morbidity, and the anticipated technical difficulty. As the authors point out, there is no procedure-dependent score for the Hybrid procedure, but for the Norwood I procedure, this would be 14.5 [1]. The authors assume that the complexity of the hybrid procedure is as high as for the Norwood procedure. The hybrid approach is technically far less complex, and as the authors have shown the potential for mortality seems lower than for the Norwood I procedure. Analysis of patients undergoing both Norwood and Hybrid procedures for HLHS was performed recently using the patient-specific part of the Aristotle score only [2]. Such an approach would be adequate for analysis of the presented data as well. As the authors have used the Norwood procedural score for their Hybrids, they simply need to subtract 14.5 from their numbers to be able to compare with this modified Aristotle score. The use of a full comprehensive Aristotle score should be limited to patients in whom both a procedural score can be given, and the extra-procedural, patient-specific data are available, too. If the former is not the case, then a truemodified score as described [2] should be used—because otherwise comparison is misleading. The procedural complexity of the hybrid procedure maybe far lower than the Norwood I palliation, and this may reflect in the outcomes presented—lower risk procedures tend to have a lower procedural mortality and more favourable outcome [2]. The Aristotle score for the combined stage I and II procedure as a second step of the palliation leading to a hemi-Fontan circulation is far more complicated and is reflected in a higher mortality rate than published for the Norwood stage II alone, which has a basic Aristotle score of 8 and a predicted mortality risk of 4.1 % [3]. Here, the basic procedural complexity score will probably quite high, as the operation consists of complex intracardiac and extracardiac surgery. Unfortunately, the basic score for this operation is not yet available, too. But independent from the inadequate scoring, the results reported are superb, and one can only congratulate the Giessen team and thank them for presenting long-term follow-up data.
Computer assessment of interview data using latent semantic analysis

Clinical interviews are a powerful method for assessing students’ knowledge and conceptual development. However, the analysis of the resulting data is time-consuming and can create a “bottleneck” in large-scale studies. This article demonstrates the utility of computational methods in supporting such an analysis. Thirty-four 7th-grade student explanations of the causes of Earth’s seasons were assessed using latent semantic analysis (LSA). Analyses were performed on transcriptions of student responses during interviews administered, prior to (n = 21) and after (n = 13) receiving earth science instruction. An instrument that uses LSA technology was developed to identify misconceptions and assess conceptual change in students’ thinking. Its accuracy, as determined by comparing its classifications to the independent coding performed by four human raters, reached 90%. Techniques for adapting LSA technology to support the analysis of interview data, as well as some limitations, are discussed.
Differential Effects of Iron Deficiency and Underfeeding on Serum Levels of interleukin-10, interleukin-12p40, and Interferon-Gamma in Mice

Abstract Background Over-production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and under-production of interleukin-10 (IL-10) are associated with autoimmunity, whereas the opposite is associated with overwhelming infections. The influence of iron deficiency, a public health problem for children on in vivo secretion of these cytokines has not been previously investigated. Objective To determine whether iron deficiency alters serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-12 in mice. Design and methods Cytokine levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay in iron-deficient (ID), control (C), pair-fed (PF), and iron replete C57BL/6 mice for 3 (R3) and 14 (R14) days ( n =24–28, 12 R14). Results Iron deficiency was associated with ≥50% reduction in hemoglobin, hematocrit, liver iron stores, and thymus weight ( p p p r ≤0.688, p Conclusion Data suggest that iron deficiency alters the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, a change that may affect innate and cell-mediated immunity, and risk of autoimmune disorders.
Effect of de novo purine synthesis inhibitors on 5-fluorouracil metabolism and cytotoxicity.

Abstract Methotrexate pretreatment of L1210 cells had been shown previously by us to cause an enhancement of the intracellular accumulation of 5-fluorouracil and of the formation of 5-fluorouracil nucleotides which was correlated with synergistic cytotoxicity. This effect of methotrexate was associated with increases in 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate, the cofactor required for the conversion of 5-fluorouracil to 5-fluorouridine-5'-monophosphate (FUMP). Because these influences on 5-fluorouracil metabolism were most likely mediated by the activity of methotrexate as an inhibitor of purine synthesis, the effects of other agents that inhibit purine synthesis were examined. An inhibitor of amidophos-phoribosyltransferase, 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside, the glutamine antagonists, azaserine and 6-diazo-5-oxo- l -norleucine (DON), and the l -aspartate analogue inhibitor of adenylsuccinate synthetase, l -alanosine, all reduced the incorporation of [l- 14 C]glycine into adenine and guanine bases isolated from nucleic acids. Each drug also resulted in intracellular elevations of 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate that were 15- to 25-fold greater than control levels. These alterations in de novo purine nucleotide synthesis were associated with enhanced intracellular 5-fluorouracil accumulation and synergistic cytotoxicity.
Frequency distributions of phytoplankton single-cell fluorescence and vertical mixing in the surface ocean

Because of photoacclimation, frequency distributions of phytoplankton single-cell fluorescence reflect variation in light histories among individual cells. As a result, phytoplankton can be used as biological tracers for vertical mixing. A time series of Prochlorococcus single-cell fluorescence distributions in the Sargasso Sea revealed changes that were qualitatively consistent with changes in water-column physical dynamics. Applying a photoacclimation-diffusion model to Prochlorococcus fluorescence from the time series yields a vertical diffusivity near 30 cm 2 s -1 for a remnant mixed layer beneath a diurnal thermocline, which is consistent with estimates obtained by other means. This estimate results from an integrated view of how Prochlorococcus responds to changes in light intensity induced by vertical mixing and therefore, may be an appropriate measure of vertical diffusion rates for productivity models that include photoacclimation dynamics. This approach provides a novel way to examine vertical mixing on time scales relevant to phytoplankton physiological responses.
Genetic analysis of the GABRA1 gene in patients with essential tremor

The gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA-A) receptor mediates inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain and as such may be involved in certain neurological movement disorders, such as tremor. GABA-A receptor alpha 1 (Gabra)(-/-) mice have been reported to exhibit postural and kinetic, alcohol-responsive, tremor that is characteristic of essential tremor (ET), the most common form of tremor. To determine whether ET is associated with the GABRA1 gene mutation, we screened 76 patients with familial ET and found a novel nucleotide variant: IVS8+24 G>T (nt 6119289) in a male patient, and a known 156T>C polymorphism (nt 6090903) in exon 4 in 41% patients, which results in a silent mutation (G52G). No significant association between 156T>C variant and disease risk was found (adjusted OR=0.95, 95% CI=0.57-1.61; p=0.858) by further analysis of 121 familial ET patients and 114 normal controls, except a novel 96A>G (Q32Q; nt 6090743) variant, found in a normal control. Since the 156T>C variant appears to be not pathogenically relevant, our results suggest that missense, nonsense or splice site mutation in the coding region of the GABRA1 gene is not a major genetic cause of ET in Caucasian subjects.
Structure function analysis of interleukin 7: Requirement for an aromatic ring at position 143 of helix D

Abstract The residues located at the carboxyl terminus of helix D in interleukin-7 (IL-7) have previously been targeted as important for recruitment and binding to the γ chain component of the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R). In this study, Trp 143 of helix D was mutated to His, Phe, Tyr and Pro and these mutants, along with a W143A mutant previously described, were studied to determine the effects on activation of DNA synthesis and binding affinity to IL-7R positive 2E8 cells. The W143F and W143Y mutants were similar to wild type IL-7 in their binding properties and retained 85% and 74% of their activating properties, respectively. In contrast, the W143H mutant possessed a lower binding affinity and a corresponding decrease in activation, the W143A mutant possessed an over 100-fold decreased binding affinity and some residual activation activity and the W143P mutant possessed a greatly decreased binding affinity and did not activate. These results strongly suggest an aromatic residue is required at position 143 for IL-7R binding and subsequent signal transduction.
Conductive protection layers on oxidation resistant alloys for SOFC interconnect applications

Conductive oxide coatings are used as protection layers on metallic interconnects in SOFCs to improve their surface stability and electrical performance, as well as to mitigate or prevent chromium poisoning to cells. This paper discusses materials requirements for this particular application and summarizes our systematic study on varied conductive oxides as potential candidate materials for protection layers on stainless steel substrates. Overall, it appeared that chromites such as (La,Sr)CrO 3 improved surface stability, but might not be good candidates for protection layer applications due to chromium vaporization, albeit at a lower rate than Cr 2 O 3 , from these oxides at high temperatures in air or moist air. The application of non-chromite perovskite (La,Sr)FeO 3 (LSF) protection layers resulted in improved oxidation resistance and electrical performance. It is doubtful, however, that LSF can be an effective barrier to prevent chromium release during long term SOFC stack operation due to chromium diffusion through the LSF coatings. With a high oxygen ion conductivity, the coatings of Sn-doped In 2 O 3 failed to provide protection to the metal substrate and are thus not suitable for the protection layer applications. The best performance was achieved using thermally-grown (Mn,Co) 3 O 4 spinel protection layers that substantially improved the surface stability of the metal substrates, and prevented chromium outward migration.
High temperature quantum hall condensation: evidence of quantum hall effect at 40 Kelvin

Similar to superconductivity, Quantum Hall Effects 1,2 (QHE) are macroscopic quantum phenomenon that arise from electronic condensation into a new form of strongly correlated quantum liquid. Typically QHE are observed in very high mobility, two-dimensional, electron (hole)-gas or (TDEG) systems under high magnetic fields and at low temperatures (T), i.e., in the extreme quantum limit. Quantum Hall effect is applied as calibration benchmark, international resistance standard, and a characterization technique for semiconductor heterostructures. Applications can be widespread if the devices and the operating conditions were more accessible. Here we report results of magneto resistance measurements in a novel bulk porous semiconducting structure, carbon replica opal. We show universality of QHE in TDEG, in porous semiconductor and bulk semiconductors. The data were analyzed to provide evidence of both fractional and integer quantum hall effects (2/3, 4/5, 1, etc) in our porous system at a remarkably high temperature T~40K and in a very soft quantum limit.
The outcomes of very low birth weight infants: are we asking the right questions?

Decreases in infant mortality rates in the United States reflect the success of sustaining the lives of increasingly more immature infants. This success generates abiding concern about the outcomes of these infants, and that concern has led to a large number of publications on the outcomes of very low birth weight ([VLBW] <1500 g) infants. The extent to which this experience provides results useful for clinical and policy decisions is less clear. Three major concerns are identified. The first is that the research question underlying many studies is framed imprecisely, and may be addressed with inappropriate study design and outcomes. Moreover, the underlying causal pathway is rarely specified. Second, the current focus of most studies is on a relatively narrow range of neurodevelopmental and cognitive outcomes and fails to capture significant nonneurologic morbidity. Moreover, the ways in which even the neurodevelopmental outcomes are reported provide little guidance to clinicians or policymakers about the functional impact on the individual child or the need for additional services. Finally, the failure to incorporate more complete pathogenetic or conceptual models of the other factors influencing outcomes also results in missed opportunities to identify potential ameliorative strategies and may lead to flawed clinical and policy decisions. A major reshaping of the approach to assessing the outcomes of VLBW survivors is needed. The importance of the high prevalence of VLBW among US infants to the relatively high infant mortality rates in this country,1 and the disproportionate risk of such infants for childhood morbidity has been well-documented.1,2 Despite repeated clinical and programmatic interventions, the rate of VLBW births has remained stable for white infants and has recently increased for African-American infants.3,4 Thus, the continued decline in infant mortality reflects the power of modern neonatal care to sustain the lives of …
A note on the inverse dynamic control of parallel manipulators

AbstractThis work proposes a simple technique for inverse dynamics control of parallel mani-pulators in a joint space. In this technique, there is no need for forward kinematics, which is exacerbated by no closed-form solution for many parallel manipulators. A set of simulations is introduced to signify the validity of the proposed control technique compared with full joint feedback control.
Microstructure of laser clad Ni- Cr- Al- Hf alloy on a γ' strengthened ni- base superalloy

Alloys and coatings for alloys for improved high temperature service life under aggressive atmo-spheres are of great contemporary interest. There is a general consensus that the addition of rare earths such as Hf will provide many beneficial effects for such alloys. The laser cladding technique was used to produce Ni-Cr-AI-Hf alloys with extended solid solution of Hf. A 10 kW CO2 laser with mixed powder feed was used for laser cladding. Optical, scanning electron (SEM) and scanning transmission electron (STEM) microscopy were employed to characterize the microstructure of alloys produced during laser cladding processes. Microstructural studies revealed grain refinement, considerable in-crease in solubility of Hf in the matrix, Hf-rich precipitates, and new metastable phases. The size and morphology of γ′ (Ni3Al) phase were discussed in relation to its microchemistry and the laser processing conditions. This paper will report the microstructural development in this laser clad Ni-Cr-AI-Hf alloy.