cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a Robotic Simulation Platform for Spacecraft Proximity Operations and Contact Dynamics Experiments

A major challenge facing the introduction of new technologies and techniques in space flight is the high cost required to raise the Technological Readiness Level prior to flight. This is a result of the cost and scarcity of developmental launch opportunities for verification and validation. Robotic spacecraft emulation allows for laboratory-based hardwarein-the-loop experiments simulating space based operations and can be used pre-flight to reduce development cost and ensure the functionality of sensor systems with guidance and navigation systems. A major shortfall of most robotic motion emulation systems is the inability to simulate proximity operations involving contact dynamics, due to their methods of actuation. To provide this capability a novel low-cost robotic platform was developed, called the Suspended Target Emulation Pendulum (STEP). This paper describes the basic design, development, and initial results of the STEP system.
Reproductive Potential of the Sweetpotato Weevil After Exposure to Ionizing Radiations

When male sweetpotato weevils, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers) were exposed to 18,000 R of gamma rays and then mated with untreated virgin females, egg hatch was reduced to less than 1%. Irradiated males competed favorably with untreated males for virgin females. Matings involving 4 sterile males, 4 untreated males, and 4 untreated virgin females had an average of 55% egg Eatch. There was no subsequent reduction in the number of progeny produced when virgin females were first mated with untreated males and later with irradiated males. Radiosensitivity decreased as the age of the weevils increased. Utilization of a sterile-male method for control of the sweetpotato weevil is discussed.
Health effects of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs) and dibenzofurans (PBDFs)

This article reviews the state of the science regarding the health effects of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs) and dibenzofurans (PBDFs). While thousands of articles have been published on the health effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and related polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), little is know about the brominated and mixed chloro/bromo homologs. Available literature suggests that brominated compounds have similar toxicity profiles to their chlorinated homologs. However, further research investigating health effects will only be useful if exposure scenarios truly exist. Current exposure data is extremely limited, posing a major data gap in assessing potential risk of these chemicals. The rapid increase in the use of brominated flame retardants has raised the level of environmental concern regarding PBDDs/PBDFs as it is likely that human, as well as wildlife, exposure to brominated dioxins and furans will increase with their use.
Thermodynamics of b.c.c. solid solutions of hydrogen in niobium, vanadium and tantalum

Abstract The variation with temperature and composition of the partial molar enthalpy H u and entropy S u of hydrogen dissolved in niobium, vanadium and tantalum has been deduced from the large body of experimental solubility isotherms available for these systems. For all three systems, both H u and S u are virtually independent of temperature for a given solute concentration. Furthermore, H u is independent of hydrogen concentration and S u , at high solute concentrations, exhibits large deviations from regular behavior. The results have been discussed in terms of statistical models for interstitial solid solutions.
A Fast Branch-and-Bound Approach to High-Level Synthesis of Asynchronous Systems

In this paper, we address the problem of scheduling and allocation for asynchronous systems, and present methods for performing both area-constrained and time-constrained design space exploration. Much of the recent work in this area has been adapted from synchronous approaches, and thereby suffers from the drawback of assuming discrete time (or a discrete approximation). Further, most existing approaches are based on ILP methods, which can suffer from long solution search times for even modest-sized examples.We present instead an approach that does not assume or approximate timing as discrete, and is therefore able to find more optimal solutions for asynchronous systems. The scheduling approach uses a branch-and-bound search strategy with simple, effective heuristics to safely prune the search space, while guaranteeing an optimal solution. In particular, a high-quality initial solution is obtained heuristically, allowing the search space and overall search time to be significantly reduced, particularly when compared to ILP approaches. A 1.9x-180x improvement in run-time is achieved for small examples, and an improvement of multiple orders of magnitude for larger examples (including an example containing over a thousand operations).
Gas phase radiation chemistry of trifluoromethyl iodide

Abstract The gamma-radiolysis of gaseous CF3I was studied at 25 Torr (3.33kPa) and 24°C, both pure and with added HI. The major radiolytic products and their corresponding G values in the pure system are I2, 0.50; CF4, 0.55; and C2F6, 0.11. With added HI as the scavenger, the additional products CF3H, CF2IH and H2 were observed. In general, the results can be interpreted in terms of known ion fragmentation and ion-molecule chemistry of CF3I, investigated in parallel with the present work, as well as neutral fragmentation process and radical reactions observed during photolysis. However, a comparison of the present work with result from other laboratories shows that CF3I can break down under different radiolysis conditions to give C2F6 plus I2 (Shah, et al.(7), CF4 plus CF2I2 (McAlpine and Sutcliffe(8,9), or CF4+I2+(CF2) n (present work). Some suggestions are presented concerning the factors which control branching of the reaction pathways during radiolysis of this compound.
Three modes of repetitive firing and the role of threshold time course between spikes.

When rhythmic firing is elicited in cat spinal motoneurons by long-lasting depolarizing currents, the 'threshold' voltage from which each spike arises may appear to be quite constant (Fig. 1A, arrow). If one probes for the threshold during the interspike interval (ISI), however, it is seen to fall well below this level, rising towards it later in the ISI. Exceptionally large depolarizing afterpotentials may intersect this threshold time course shortly after a spike, causing an extra spike. The extra spike itself may also similarly produce another extra spike; thus a regenerative cycle may produce a burst of spikes at a high firing rate.
Higher grip strength increases the risk of incident radiographic osteoarthritis in proximal hand joints.

Summary Quadriceps strength may protect against knee osteoarthritis (OA), but muscle activity is a major determinant of forces at the hand joints. Gripping objects is a common task during which high muscular forces are sustained, particularly at the proximal hand joints (metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints and thumb base). The association between maximal grip strength and incident OA at different hand joints was examined in a longitudinal study of radiographic hand OA. Subjects with higher maximal grip strength were at increased risk for development of OA in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, MCP and thumb base joints in men; and in the MCP in women. No association was found between maximal grip strength and incident distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints OA in men or women. The conclusion is that increased grip strength, which is the major force of loading across proximal hand joints, increases the risk of OA in those joints.
A uniqueness theorem for a goursat-type problem

Abstract In this paper, a q uniqueness theorem is proved for a hyperbolic boundary problem with data on the characteristic cone.
Language in action: applying mobile classroom in foreign language learning

The quickly evolving world of mobile telephony communication and mobile devices technology make mobile learning feasible and effective. Speaking and listening comprehension are two critical elements for foreign language learning, and they can only be achieved by frequent practice. The latest mobile devices with third generation (3G) mobile networks can provide mobile users with the capabilities to record their voices, send multimedia messages with pictures and sound, and enable video conferencing through handheld mobile devices. In addition, mobile learning allows learners to better utilize their downtime and to participate in learning activities anytime and everywhere. The paper explores the delivery mechanism of mobile classroom (MClass) and its application in foreign language learning.
Presence of pneumomediastinum after blunt trauma in children: what does it really mean?

Abstract Background Pneumomediastinum after blunt thoracic trauma is often considered a marker of serious aerodigestive injury that leads to invasive testing. However, the efficacy of such testing in otherwise stable children remains unknown. We hypothesize that pneumomediastinum after blunt trauma in clinically stable children is rarely associated with significant underlying injury. Methods We reviewed all patients in our pediatric trauma database (1997-2007) for pneumomediastinum after blunt injury. Patients were then subdivided into 2 groups: group I, isolated thoracic and group II, thoracic and additional injuries. Procedures and imaging were recorded, and outcomes were assessed. Results Thirty-two children with blunt thoracic trauma were included as follows: group I (n = 14) and group II (n = 18). In all patients, there were 28 diagnostic procedures performed resulting in only 1 positive test—a bronchial tear found on bronchoscopy in association with obvious respiratory distress. Group I was more than twice as likely to undergo invasive procedures as group II ( P P P Conclusions Children with pneumomediastinum from blunt trauma often receive invasive and expensive testing with low yield, especially those with isolated thoracic trauma.
Segregation of isozyme markers and cold tolerance in an interspecific backcross of tomato

An interspecific backcross was obtained between the cultivated tomato, L. esculentum, and a high-altitude, cold-tolerant L. hirsutum, using the former as the recurrent pistillate parent. An individual plant of L. hirsutum which possessed maximum allelic differences for enzyme loci, with respect to those of L. esculentum, was selected as the staminate parent. Allelic differences were found at seventeen enzyme loci, marking eight of the twelve chromosomes of Lysopersicon.Significant distortions in the monogenic segregations were detected at six enzyme loci. Four loci skewed with an excess of esculentum homozygotes and two with an excess of hirsutum heterozygotes. Significant heterogeneity between the segregations of subgroups was found at some loci, when the BC1 population was divided into two subgroups according to their physiological age (plastochron index). This indicates selection at the germination/seedling stage may account for some of the skewness.Differential growth at low temperatures, measured by increments in the plastochron index, was used as the criterion for cold tolerance. Linkages between segregating enzyme loci and genes responsible for cold tolerance were tested via statistical comparisons of the means of plastochron index increments at low temperatures for esculentum homozygotes vs. those of hirsutum heterozygotes at each locus. A minimum of three quantitative trait loci (QT2) responsible for growth at low temperatures were detected, two had positive effects, and the other, negative. One marker locus, Pgi-1, gave a significant and positive effect only at low temperatures.
Kinematics of prey capture in the tailed frog Ascaphus truei (Anura : Ascaphidae)

The kinematics of prey capture by Ascaphus truei was investigated. High-speed films (100 fps) of 13 successful and one unsuccessful prey capture sequences from six adult frogs were analysed. Ascaphus, the sister group of all living frogs, shares several aspects of feeding kinematics, including rotation of the tongue pad about the mandibular symphysis and mandibular bending during mouth opening and closing, with more derived frogs such as Bufo marinus. The times required for tongue retraction, mouth opening and closing are similar in Ascaphus and Bufo. However, because Bufo is much larger and protracts its tongue much farther than Ascaphus, the velocities of tongue retraction, mouth opening and mouth closing are relatively lower in Ascaphus than in Bufo. Differences in prey capture between Ascaphus and Bufo marinus are (1) the distance of tongue protraction is less in Ascaphus (±0.5 cm) than in Bufo (c. 2 cm); and (2) lunging of the whole body is more pronounced in Ascaphus. Prey capture is highly variable in Ascaphus. An intraoral transport sequence is sometimes (7 of 14 observations) inserted into the prey capture cycle before the completion of mouth closing. The gape cycles range from 80–150 ms for sequences with no oral transport and from 130–280 ms for sequences with oral transport. Also, the time required for tongue retraction is significantly longer in the unsuccessful capture attempt. This variability is generally greater than that observed during prey capture in salamanders, and suggests that frogs and salamanders may differ in the importance of sensory feedback in coordinating prey capture.
An Information Access Model at a Distant Branch Library

Academic branch libraries located at a distance from the parent institution often face unique challenges in meeting users' needs for scholarly information. This is especially true for distant branch li- braries that do not have a specialized function or collection, but who of- ten face the challenge of meeting users' needs for scholarly materials across a wide array of academic disciplines. This paper discusses the def- inition of academic branch libraries and the information access plan de- veloped for the Regents Center Library at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus, located some 40 miles from the main parent institu- tion, the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. In addition, a discus- sion of the mission, academic programs, and special user characteristics of the Edwards Campus that impacted the development of the informa- tion access plan is included. Finally, the factors that affected and will continue to affect the plan, along with methods for managing the imple- mentation of the plan, are provided. (Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website: © 2004 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Gender differences in HIV risk behaviors among young adults and adolescents entering a Massachusetts detoxification center

We examined gender differences in HIV risk behaviors among young substance abusers 17 through 25 years of age. A voluntary and confidential survey inquiring about HIV-related risk behaviors was administered to clients (N = 200 respondents) on intake at a drug detoxification center in Massachusetts. Female respondents were more likely than males to report having shared their needles (p < 0.01), having had sex in exchange for drugs or money (p < 0.01), sex with an HIV-infected partner (p < 0.01), and sex with an injection-drug user (p < 0.01). They were also more likely to report having been diagnosed with an STD (p < 0.01). Nineteen percent of females (compared to 32% of males) reported always having used condoms for vaginal sex (p = 0.08), and 16% of females compared to 35% of males reported always having used condoms for anal sex (p = 0.06). In our cohort of substance-abusing youth, adolescent and young adult females were more likely than males to report unsafe injection-drug use and sexual practices. The results of this study suggest that programs designed to decrease HIV risk among high-risk substance abusers in detoxification centers should be gender specific.
An updated correlation for crack-arrest fracture toughness for nuclear reactor pressure vessel steels

An updated and statistically-rigorous correlation is provided for crack-arrest toughness values versus normalized temperature for light-water nuclear reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels. The database used in this effort is larger than applied heretofore and includes results from tests of laboratory-size specimens and from tests of large-scale specimens, which contain features prototypical of operating RPVs. The mathematical methodology used is based on a lognormal distribution, with its parameters calculated by orthogonal distance regression. This correlation was developed as one of several items updated for use in the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission's extensive program to evaluate and potentially revise its rule for ensuring structural integrity of operating RPVs when subjected to pressurized thermal-shock transients.
Iron deficiency studies of sugar beet using an improved sodium bicarbonate-buffered hydroponic growth system.

Abstract A sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)‐buffered hydroponic growth system was developed that simulates alkaline soil growth conditions necessary to screen sugar beet genotypes for iron (Fe) efficiency character. Three genotypes (NB1, NB4, and F, hybrid, NB 1xNB4) with differing capacities for Strategy I Fe responses were phenotyped successfully using this system. Genotypes NB1 and NB1xNB4 are Fe efficient, while NB4 is Fe inefficient. It was demonstrated that 5 mM NaHCO3 provided buffering within an optimal range (pH 7.3 ‐ pH 6.3) for the duration of ‐Fe treatments, promoted enhanced H+ extrusion, and increased the in vivo capacity for Fe3+‐chelate reduction (Fe3+‐chelate reductase [FCR] activity), especially in the roots of the Fe efficient genotypes. The same concentrations of NaHCO3 did not interfere with Fe supply to +Fe control plants of any genotype. The in vivo capacity for Fe3+‐chelate reduction increased over fivefold in both Fe efficient genotypes (NB1 and NB 1xNB4), but just under twofold in the...
Canine mast cell tumors: diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis

Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common malignant skin cancer in dogs, and significant variability exists in their biological behavior. Most MCTs are cured with appropriate local therapy, but a subset shows malignant behavior with the potential to spread to lymph nodes, liver, spleen, and other areas and to thus become a systemic cancer. Because of this variable behavior, it is difficult to predict how any individual tumor is going to behave. The variability thus creates uncertainty in deciding what a particular dog's prognosis is, whether staging tests to assess for metastasis are needed, and even what treatments will be necessary for best outcome. In addition to controversies over the potential for development of systemic disease, or diffuse metastasis, controversies also exist over what treatment is needed to best attain local control of these tumors. This article will briefly discuss the diagnosis of MCTs in dogs and will summarize the literature in regards to the controversial topics surrounding the more aggressive form of this disease, with recommendations made based on published studies.
Equivalency of risk for a modified health endpoint: a case from recreational water epidemiology studies.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and its predecessors have conducted three distinct series of epidemiological studies beginning in 1948 on the relationship between bathing water quality and swimmers’ illnesses. Keeping pace with advances in microbial technologies, these studies differed in their respective microbial indicators of water quality. Another difference, however, has been their specific health endpoints. The latest round of studies, the National Epidemiological Assessment of Recreational (NEEAR) Water studies initiated in 2002, used a case definition, termed “NEEAR GI illness” (NGI), for gastrointestinal illness corresponding closely to classifications employed by contemporary researchers, and to that proposed by the World Health Organization. NGI differed from the previous definition of “highly credible gastrointestinal illness” (HCGI) upon which the USEPA’s 1986 bathing water criteria had been based, primarily by excluding fever as a prerequisite. Incidence of NGI from the NEEAR studies was compared to that of HCGI from earlier studies. Markov chain Monte Carlo method was used to estimate the respective beta binomial probability densities for NGI and HCGI establish credible intervals for the risk ratio of NGI to HCGI. The ratio of NGI risk to that of HCGI is estimated to be 4.5 with a credible interval 3.2 to 7.7. A risk level of 8 HCGI illnesses per 1000 swimmers, as in the 1986 freshwater criteria, would correspond to 36 NGI illnesses per 1000 swimmers. Given a microbial DNA-based (qPCR) water quality vs. risk relationship developed from the NEEAR studies, 36 NGI per 1000 corresponds to a geometric mean of 475 qPCR cell-equivalents per 100 ml.
Influence of Content Relevant and Irrelevant Client Verbalizations on Interviewer Affect

The hypothesis that interviewers' affect will be influenced by the relevance of client verbalization to their expectations was studied experimentally in a treatment interview analogue. The interviewers were 64 clinical social work trainees, and the role of client was played by two trained collaborators. Interviewer affect was assessed by postinterview self-rating of affect on a 48-item adjective checklist, and by observer ratings of affect from interview transcripts on the same list. The hypothesis was supported by observer ratings, but only for the positive affect dimensions by self-ratings. Implications of the findings for assessment of affect and for the maintenance of the treatment relationship are discussed.
THE CYTOGENETICS OF HYBRIDS IN BROMUS. I. HYBRIDS WITHIN THE SECTION CERATOCHLOA

ONE OF the commonest, most widespread, and variable groups of grass species in western North America is the subgenus Ceratochloa of the genus Bromus, of which the best known species native to the United States are B. carinatus H. & A. and B. marginatus Nees. The problem of the number of species actually present in this group has been a constant puzzle to systematists, as is evident from the discussion of Hitchcock (1935, p. 38). In this manual he recognizes four native species of Ceratochloa, but the list of synonyms under the various species names (op. cit., pp. 811-817) indicates that fourteen different species have been described by various authors. Cytologically, the great bulk of the forms are octoploids, with 2n 56 (Stebbins and Love, 1941), but hexaploid (2n = 42) and decaploid (2n 70) counts have been recorded (Stiihlin, 1929; Nielsen and Humphrey, 1937; Nielsen, 1939), while there is one doubtful record of a diploid form (Stiihlin, 1929). In an attempt to secure this purported diploid, the senior author obtained seed of B. carinatus from Stiihlin's source, the Munich Botanical Garden, but the strain received was a typical octoploid. In view of the evidence presented below as to the probable origin of the B. carinatus complex, the presence of a diploid in this complex seems highly unlikely. In addition to its interest from the systematic standpoint, this complex contains forms of considerable forage value (Hitchcock, 1935, p. 33; Sampson and Chase, 1927, pp. 21-22). B. marginatus has been recommended by Stewart, Walker, and Price (1939) for reseeding range lands of the intermountain region. Among a large series of grass species sown in experimental range plots throughout California, B. carinatus has proved, one of the most readily established of any species native to the state (Burle Jones, unpublished data). Therefore, hybrids between different forms of this complex might be of value both as an aid to understanding the species problem as it relates to this group, and as a source of new varieties for establishment on range lands. For the latter purpose another series of hybrids was considered promising-between the B. carinatus complex and an eVen more valuable forage grass belonging to the section Ceratochloa, the South American B. catharticus Vahl. (= B. unioloides HBK, cf. Hitchcock, 1935). The work reported in the present paper, however, has shown that these latter hybrids are of more interest from the phylogenetic and systematic than from the agronomic point of view. MATERIAL AND METHODS.-The strains used in the present hybridization experiments are part of a large collection assembled by the senior author and
Surface diffusion on SrTiO3 (100): A temperature accelerated dynamics and first principles study

Abstract Temperature accelerated dynamics (TAD) with an empirical potential is used to predict diffusion mechanisms and energy barriers associated with surface diffusion of adatoms and surface vacancies on (100) SrTiO 3 (STO). Specifically, Sr, O, and Ti adatoms and vacancies are investigated on each termination – SrO and TiO 2 – of the SrTiO 3 surface. We find that the empirical potential predicts different surface mobility of adatoms depending on the surface termination: they are mobile with relatively low diffusion barriers on the SrO-terminated surface, whereas they are largely immobile on the TiO 2 -terminated surface. One important finding is that, of the two binding sites on the SrO-terminated surface, one is typically very close in energy to the saddle point. Thus, one of the two sites is a good estimator of the migration energy of the adatom, a conclusion supported by select density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Motivated by this result, we calculate the migration energies for a number of metal elements on the SrO-terminated surface: Ti, Ba, La, and Al. The DFT results also reveal that the details of the migration mechanism depend on the charge state of the diffusing species and that the ability of the empirical potential to properly estimate the migration mechanism depends on the magnitude and variability of the charge transfer between the adatom and the surface.
Gazing into the Future of Esthetic Restorative Materials

This article outlines the authors' perceptions of the future of esthetic dental restorative materials such as composites, glass ionomer cements, pit and fissure sealants and laboratory fabricated resin.
Sequential design for nonparametric inference.

The performance of nonparametric function estimates often depends on the choice of design points. Based on the mean integrated squared error criterion, we propose a sequential design procedure that updates the model knowledge and optimal design density sequentially. The methodology is developed under a general framework covering a wide range of nonparametric inference problems, such as conditional mean and variance functions, the conditional distribution function, the conditional quantile function in quantile regression, functional coefficients in varying coefficient models and semiparametric inferences. Based on our empirical studies, nonparametric inference based on the proposed sequential design is more efficient than the uniform design and its performance is close to the true but unknown optimal design. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 40: 362–377; 2012 © 2012 Statistical Society of Canada La performance de l'estimation non parametrique d'une fonction depend souvent du choix des points dans le plan d'experience. En nous basant sur le critere de l'erreur quadratique moyenne integree, nous proposons un plan d'experience sequentiel qui met a jour la connaissance sur le modele et la densite du devis optimal de facon sequentielle. Cette methodologie est developpee dans un cadre general regroupant une grande variete de problemes d'inference non parametrique tels que : les fonctions moyennes et de variance conditionnelles, la fonction de repartition conditionnelle, la fonction quantile conditionnelle en regression quantile, les coefficients fonctionnels en modeles de coefficients variables et l'inference semi-parametrique. Base sur nos etudes empiriques, l'inference non parametrique, basee sur le plan d'experience sequentiel propose, est plus efficace que celle faite en utilisant un devis uniforme et sa performance est proche de celle du plan d'experience optimal inconnu. La revue canadienne de statistique 40: 362–377; 2012 © 2012 Societe statistique du Canada
Earthworm symbiont Verminephrobacter eiseniae mediates natural transformation within host egg capsules using type IV pili.

The dense microbial communities commonly associated with plants and animals should offer many opportunities for horizontal gene transfer (HGT) through described mechanisms of DNA exchange including natural transformation. However, studies of the significance of natural transformation have focused primarily on pathogens. The study presented here demonstrates highly efficient DNA exchange by natural transformation in a common symbiont of earthworms. The obligate bacterial symbiont Verminephrobacter eiseniae is a member of a microbial consortium of the earthworm Eisenia fetida that is transmitted into the egg capsules to colonize the embryonic worms. In the study presented here, by testing for transformants under different conditions in culture, we demonstrate that V. eiseniae can incorporate free DNA from the environment, that competency is regulated by environmental factors, and that it is sequence specific. Mutations in the type IV pili of V. eiseniae resulted in loss of DNA uptake, implicating the type IV pilus (TFP) apparatus in DNA uptake. Furthermore, injection of DNA carrying antibiotic-resistance genes into egg capsules resulted in transformants within the capsule, demonstrating the relevance of DNA uptake within the earthworm system. The ability to take up species-specific DNA from the environment may explain the maintenance of the relatively large, intact genome of this long-associated obligate symbiont, and provides a mechanism for acquisition of foreign genes within the earthworm system.
Asymptotic bounds of throughput in series-parallel queueing networks

Abstract We propose a piece-wise linear upper bound on the throughput rate from a network of series-parallel queues where arrivals occur through a single infinite queue. This bound is tight and is observed to be extremely accurate in forecasting the actual throughput rate. We also describe the monotonicity of throughput as a function of the arrival rate and specify a condition under which the upper bound may be computed. We approximate analytically the throughput measured as a function of the arrival rate for two tandem exponential queues, where the first queue has an infinite buffer while the second queue has a finite buffer. We extend this analysis to elementary split and merge queueing networks. We demonstrate the generality and robustness of this asymptotic property, for larger series-parallel networks with general service times and specify the set up of a single simulation experiment which can be used to retrieve the throughput for any arrival rate, as well as other networks performance measures.
Vibrations of frames with inclined members

A formulation for the vibrations of plane frames and trusses with inclined members including both axial and transverse vibrations is presented. The vibrations of two- and threebar frames with various end conditions are studied. With the slenderness ratio as a parameter, the frequency spectra with respect to the angle of inclination, α , of the side bars are depicted along with some typical normal modes. The results indicate that, for such frames, the axial and lateral vibrations are coupled for 0° α α =0° and 90°. This coupling effect is appreciable even for the basic modes.
Competitive and Monopolistic Pricemaking

Reductions in prices made only to increase sales, 626.—Absolute and relative responsiveness of sales, 627.—Factors determining the absolute responsiveness of sales, 628.—Absolute and relative responsiveness as differentiating competitive and monopolistic price-making, 630.—The law of increasing returns and price-making, 631.—Consumers' leagues and limitation of monopoly prices, 632.—Responsiveness of business, the law of increasing returns, and discrimination, 633.—Detailed statement of the elements to be considered in price-making and mathematical expression of these elements, 634.
Cloning and Sequence Analysis of a p40 Structural Protein Gene of Helicoverpa zea Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus

Abstract A gene encoding an occluded virion structural protein was isolated from an expression library constructed from the Helicoverpa zea S-type nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) isolate HzS-15 using both polyclonal and monoclonal antibody screening. The gene was located within a PstI-SalI fragment of the HzS-15 genome spanning from 96.5 to 97.3 m.u. Sequencing analyses revealed a long open reading frame of 927 nucleotides that predicted a protein of 37 kDa in size. Immunoblot analyses using the monoclonal antibody ENV409 demonstrated that the gene corresponded to a 40-kDa protein (p40) in SDS-polyacrylamide gels that was present exclusively in enveloped occluded virions but not in extracellular budded virions or envelope-stripped nucleocapsids. A p40 protein-specific transcript was detected at 16 hr postinfection in HzS-15-infected HZ 1075/UND-K cells and remained until 22 hr. Primer extension analyses demonstrated that the p40 protein-specific transcript started at -49 nucleotides from the ATG start codon within an ATAAG consensus pentamer found in late protein genes of Baculoviruses. The deduced amino acid sequence of the HzS-15 p40 protein gene shared 44 and 45% sequence homology with the p40 proteins of Bombyx mori NPV and Autographa californica NPV, respectively.
Internal friction by pinned dislocations: Theory of the Bordoni peak.

The two most prominent internal friction peaks in cold worked metals at low temperature are shown to be related manifestations of the same nucleation mechanism of kink-antikink pairs in pinned dislocation segments depending, respectively, on the absence (Bordoni peak) or the presence (Niblett-Wilks peak) of geometrical kinks (antikinks). Correspondingly, diffusion of the nucleated thermal pairs accounts for the observed background internal friction. Peak and background components are both computed analytically and compared with experimental data.
Características morfométricas e crescimento do cachara, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Linnaeus, 1766), em cativeiro - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v25i2.2002

Morphometric characteristics and growth of males and females of “cachara”, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Pimelodidae), were studied. Fishes were distributed in four ponds (600m 2 ), at the rate of 1fish/2m 2 . Total weight (g), total length (cm), standard length (cm), head length (cm), body height (cm) were obtained bimonthly, from January/99 to January/01, from 5% of each pond population. One hundred thirty two males and two hundred forty eight females were analyzed showing an average final weight of 1,233.0g and 2,266.0g, respectively. The L t /W t relationship showed high correlation, with b values slightly above 3, where no sexual dimorphism was observed. The relationship L t /L s and L t /H l presented linear tendency with high correlation. For L t /H C , the females b values were higher than males. There were no differences between the sexes for those variables. Condition factor remained relatively constant without showing seasonal fluctuation.
Vaccines in Argentina: a regulatory view

In Argentina, vaccines for immuno-preventable diseases are regulated by the national regulatory agency, the Administracion Nacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Tecnologia Medica (the National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Devices, or ANMAT) created in 1992 to ensure efficacy and safety of drugs, food and medical devices available in the country, according to Law 16,463 and Decree 150/92. ANMAT has licensed 84 out of 157 vaccines registered in Argentina. Since 1994, ANMAT evaluated, approved and inspected 20 clinical trials with vaccines (1.8% of the 1062 trials approved by the agency since that time). The National System of Pharmaco-vigilance has received 318 communications of eventual adverse post-vaccination events (0.3% of the total). In addition, ANMAT provides support to the National Immunisation Programme. The current procedure is to follow international guidelines in the field, to be prepared for new, rapidly changing scenarios.
Progress for Women in Academe, Yet Inequities Persist: Evidence from NSOPF:99.

In this study, we use data from the 1999 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF:99) to measure the unexplained wage gap between men and women in academe. We pay particular attention to how these unexplained wage gaps have changed over time by comparing the results from the 1999 survey to published results from previous national surveys and test for the sensitivity of these findings to the method used for measuring the unexplained wage gap and the type of institution or field being examined. We found that there has been a notable reduction in the overall unexplained wage gap between men and women, and that there is no longer any evidence of a statistically significant pay differential between men and women in doctoral-level or liberal arts institutions. The results also show that significant pay differentials still persist in some segments of academe, and that overall women with comparable qualifications to men have lower salaries.
Simultaneous multichannel cardiac mapping systems.

Simultaneous multichannel cardiac mapping systems. There is much current interest in simultaneous multichannel cardiac mapping. In this paper we give recommendations for the construction of a cardiac mapping system. Because the field of cardiac mapping is relatively young, optimum mapping techniques and all possible applications have not yet been developed. Therefore, the mapping system should be flexible and it should have many capabilities. The system should be digital; if variable gains are used, the amplifiers should be programmable and controlled by a microprocessor. It should be possible to analyze previous recordings and acquire additional recordings simultaneously. The mapping system should be able to record continuously for at least tens of minutes and preferably for hours. The recorded data stream should be a self-contained unit, holding all important electrophysiologic information as well as the recorded electrode signals. The programs should be written in c under a UNIX operating system. A minimum of 64 channels should be used for epicardial or endocardial mapping and a minimum of 128 channels for three-dimensional intramural mapping. The leakage current requirements for multichannel mapping systems are too stringent and should be re-evaluated. The major limitation to progress in cardiac mapping is neither the hardware nor the software; it is the electrode: its construction, its placement, its fixation, and the interpretation of its recordings.
The Mediating Effects of Parenting Behaviors on Maternal Affect and Reports of Children’s Behavior

Parenting behaviors have received ample support as a mediator of the relationship between maternal affect and child behavior problems. The majority of these research efforts were based on a uni-dimensional conceptualization of maternal mood, even though decades of theory and research suggest that mood is multidimensional. We examined the mediating role of parenting behaviors on positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) and reports of child behavior problems. Evidence for mediation was demonstrated for both PA and NA for children in early to middle childhood. Consistent with the positive psychology movement, our results suggest that maternal PA plays an important role in parents’ utilization of effective parenting behaviors. Implications for clinical intervention and future research are discussed.
Phase Change Materials as Thermal Storage for High Performance Homes

A minimally invasive method of adding thermal mass to a building is to apply Phase Change Material (PCM) to the interior of the structure. This paper describes a simulation-based approach for informing the integration of PCM in high performance homes without mechanical cooling. The analysis considers phase change transition temperature, quantity, and location of PCM within the building. The effectiveness of each test case was determined based on the number of hours that the indoor conditions were outside the ASHRAE defined comfort zone. Results showed that for most climates a PCM melt temperature of 25°C yielded the largest increases in occupant comfort; however the magnitudes of increases in occupant comfort were highly climate dependant. Reductions of 93% of zone-hours and 98% of zone-degree-hours outside the thermal comfort were achieved for simulations in Portland, Oregon. However, reductions of only 6.4% of zone-hours and 7.3% of zone-degree-hours outside the thermal comfort zone were realized in Phoenix, Arizona.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Quantitative profiling of polar glycerolipid species from organs of wild-type Arabidopsis and a PHOSPHOLIPASE Dα1 knockout mutant

Lipid profiling is a targeted metabolomics platform that provides a comprehensive analysis of lipid species with high sensitivity. Profiling based on electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) provides quantitative data and is adaptable to high throughput analyses. Here we report the profiling of 140 apparent molecular species of polar glycerolipids in Arabidopsis leaves, flower stalks, flowers, siliques, roots, and seeds. Considerable differences in lipid species occur among these organs, providing insights into the different lipid metabolic activities in a specific organ. In addition, comparative profiling between wild-type and a knockout mutant pldalpha1 (locus ID: AT3G15730) provides insight into the metabolic function of phospholipase D (PLD) in different organs. PLDalpha1 contributes significantly to phosphatidic acid (PA) levels in roots, seeds, flowers, and flower stalks, but little to basal PA levels in siliques and leaves. In seeds of the pldalpha1 mutant plants, levels of PA, lysophosphatidylcholine, and lysophosphatidylethanolamine were significantly lower than those of wild-type seeds, suggesting a role for PLDalpha1 in membrane lipid degradation in seeds.
Contrast-based digital tracking versus human observers in studies of animal locomotion

The availability of relatively inexpensive digital contrast detection creates the possibility of automated, general-purpose motion tracking, equally applicable to concurrent remote video observation and analysis of videotape recordings. In this study, a digital method of scoring locomotor activity in a laboratory arena was compared with scoring by human observers. The digital tracking device (HVS VP-112) utilized foreground/background contrast to determine subject location from a video image; human observers scored from videotape. In addition, relative floor brightness (red lighting was held constant) was manipulated to compare the efficiency of the digital tracking system’s ability to detect a moving subject under different contrast conditions. The arena had a reversible floor, with opposite sides dark gray and white. Six subjects (male Long-Evans Rattus norvegiens, 4 months old) were given opportunity to enter the arena for the first 2 days on the white floor; the floor was reversed for the 3rd day. Six matched subjects followed an opposite schedule. Recorded measures of zone changes, made by digital tracking and by humans, were highly correlated (r =.951, p <.001) and not significantly different. Activity level, as measured by number of entries, latency to enter, and total time in the arena, was significantly higher in subjects for which the dark floor was showing on Day 1. Although these scoring methods produced comparable results, requisite constraints on experimental procedures may limit the usefulness of this type of tracking device.
Wind effects on structures: a probabilistic viewpoint

Article general et de reference sur la question («state of the art»), depuis la question de la caracterisation des vents et des charges aerodynamiques a la question de la reponse dynamique des structures et de la simulation numerique des effets du vent. Applications a structures sur terre et en mer. Reponse dynamique de systemes aux caracteristiques incertaines; fiabilite sous l'action des vents
Preparation and properties of 5′-nucleotidases from bovine milk fat globule membranes☆

Abstract The 5′-nucleotidase (5′-ribonucleoside phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.5) from bovine milk fat globule membranes was partially purified. Two separate peaks of activity were obtained from a Sepharose column and the two fractions, designated V and VI in order of elution, were collected and characterized separately. Both V and VI exhibited pH optima between 7.0 and 7.5 for AMP, GMP and CMP in the absence of metal ions. In the presence of Mg2+, a second pH optimum at 10.0 was observed with both fractions. Low concentrations of MnCl2 activated Fraction V but not Fraction VI. HgCl2 was a potent inhibitor of both fractions. The relative rates of hydrolysis of various 5′-mononucleotides differed comparing the two fractions. Optimum temperature for Pi release was 69 °C for both fractions. Activation energies were 10 400 cal/mole and 9600 cal/mole for Fractions V and VI, respectively. For V, calculated Km values for AMP, GMP and CMP were 0.94, 2.5 and 1.16 mM, respectively. Calculated Km values for Fraction VI for AMP, GMP and CMP were 5.0, 3.95 and 1.73 mM, respectively. ATP was a competitive inhibitor of AMP hydrolysis by Fraction V and a noncompetitive inhibitor of AMP hydrolysis by Fraction VI. Both fractions contained chloroform-methanol-extractable phospholipid. The phospholipid distribution pattern of Fraction VI was similar to that of milk fat globule membranes. Fraction V contained only sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine. It is proposed that milk fat globule membranes contain two separate 5′-nucleotidases.
Sensory Neurons Do Not Induce Motor Neuron Loss in a Human Stem Cell Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder leading to paralysis and early death due to reduced SMN protein. It is unclear why there is such a profound motor neuron loss, but recent evidence from fly and mouse studies indicate that cells comprising the whole sensory-motor circuit may contribute to motor neuron dysfunction and loss. Here, we used induced pluripotent stem cells derived from SMA patients to test whether sensory neurons directly contribute to motor neuron loss. We generated sensory neurons from SMA induced pluripotent stem cells and found no difference in neuron generation or survival, although there was a reduced calcium response to depolarizing stimuli. Using co-culture of SMA induced pluripotent stem cell derived sensory neurons with control induced pluripotent stem cell derived motor neurons, we found no significant reduction in motor neuron number or glutamate transporter boutons on motor neuron cell bodies or neurites. We conclude that SMA sensory neurons do not overtly contribute to motor neuron loss in this human stem cell system.
Differences in Method-Specific Vancomycin MICs and Induced Daptomycin Resistance in an Infective Endocarditis Patient

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common nosocomial infection that has a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Vancomycin is the often-used antibiotic of choice when MRSA is suspected as a causative infectious agent. Recent studies have called into question the reliability of vancomycin as empiric therapy, especially in instances of bacteremia. The isolate's minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the source of infection, modality of susceptibility testing, and antibiotic resistance are all issues that should be taken into consideration when formulating a care plan for a patient. We present a case that illustrates some of these issues clinicians are facing.