cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physical Hardening of Asphalt Binders Relative to Their Glass Transition Temperatures

Physical hardening (physical aging) is a process that occurs below room temperature in asphalt binders. Physical hardening causes time-dependent isothermal changes in the rheological behavior and specific volume of asphalt binders. The process is reversible: when the asphalt binder is heated to room temperature or above, the effect of physical hardening is completely removed. Physical hardening for amorphous materials is generally reported as occurring below the glass transition temperature (Tg), but this is not the case for asphalt binders, in which physical hardening is observed both above and below Tg. The glass transition temperature of asphalt binders is measured by using three different techniques: dilatometry, differential scanning calorimetry, and rheological considerations (peak in the loss modulus versus temperature). These three techniques give roughly equivalent estimates of the glass transition temperature. The behavior of physical hardening in asphalt binders is somewhat different than that ...
Functional trait expression of grassland species shift with short- and long-term nutrient additions

Humans are altering nutrient availability worldwide, likely affecting plant trait expression, with consequences for community composition and ecosystem function. Here, we examined the responses of plant species dominant under ambient nutrient conditions (baseline species) versus those that become dominant under increased nutrient conditions (enriched species) in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The expression of 8 functional traits was quantified for 3 baseline and 3 enriched species within one short-term and one long-term nutrient addition experiment. We found that enriched species occupied a trait space characterized by traits that generally correspond with faster growth rates than baseline species. Additionally, the enriched species shifted in their trait expression relative to the control more than the baseline species with nutrient additions, particularly within the long-term experiment. The trait space shifts of individual species with nutrient additions scaled up to affect community aggregate trait values within both experiments. However, traits that responded to nutrient additions at the community level were not strong predictors of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) within the short-term experiment. In contrast, in the long-term experiment, one response trait (community aggregate height) strongly correlated with variation in ANPP with nutrient additions. The link between plant functional traits and community and ecosystem responses to chronic nutrient additions shown here will provide important insight into key mechanisms driving grassland responses to global change.
Pulse-level beam-switching MAC with energy control in picocell Terahertz networks

Terahertz Band (0.1–10 THz) wireless communication, which escalates the frequency and provides unprecedented data rates, is envisioned as the key picocell wireless technology in the next five to ten years. In this band, the medium access control (MAC) is more about "scheduling transmissions," instead of "fighting for access," thanks to the huge bandwidth. On the one hand, an electronically steerable narrow beam is essential to overcome the high path loss at THz and extend the communication range. On the other hand, impulse radio in THz Band that generates femtosecond-long pulses enables the beam direction to be switched at the "pulse-level," in contrast to the conventional "packet-level" switching as seen in literature. To capture these features, yet keep complexity low, we assume a simple time-spread on-off-keying (TS-OOK) emitter and energy detection receiver. In this paper, we present the first MAC design to enable macro-scale communication at 100 Gbps by exploring THz Pulse-level Beam-switching with Energy control (TRPLE). For the downlink, the data rate of an arbitrary user and the network throughput are analytically investigated.
Optimal Tracking Control of Motion Systems

Tracking control of motion systems typically requires accurate nonlinear friction models, especially at low speeds, and integral action. However, building accurate nonlinear friction models is time consuming, friction characteristics dramatically change over time, and special care must be taken to avoid windup in a controller employing integral action. In this paper a new approach is proposed for the optimal tracking control of motion systems with significant disturbances, parameter variations, and unmodeled dynamics. The ‘desired’ control signal that will keep the nominal system on the desired trajectory is calculated based on the known system dynamics and is utilized in a performance index to design an optimal controller. However, in the presence of disturbances, parameter variations, and unmodeled dynamics, the desired control signal must be adjusted. This is accomplished by using neural network based observers to identify these quantities, and update the control signal on-line. This formulation allows for excellent motion tracking without the need for the addition of an integral state. The system stability is analyzed and Lyapunov based weight update rules are applied to the neural networks to guarantee the boundedness of the tracking error, disturbance estimation error, and neural network weight errors. Experiments are conducted on the linear axes of a mini CNC machine for the contour control of two orthogonal axes, and the results demonstrate the excellent performance of the proposed methodology.
A Hierarchical Approach to Modeling and Improving the Performance of Scientific Applications on the KSR1

We have developed a hierarchical performance bounding methodology that attempts to explain the performance of loop-dominated scientific applications on particular systems. The Kendall Square Research KSR1 is used as a running example. We model the throughput of key hardware units that arc common bottlenecks in concurrent machines. The four units currently used are: memory port, floating-point, instruction issue, and a loop-carried dependence pseudo-unit. We propose a workload characterization, and derive upper bounds on the performance of specific machine-workload pairs. Comparing delivered performance with bounds focuses attention on areas for improvement and indicates how much improvement might be attainable. We delineate a comprehensive approach to modeling and improving application performance on the KSR1. Application of this approach is being automated for the KSR1 with a series of tools including K-MA and K-MACSTAT (which enable the calculation of the MACS hierarchy of performance bounds), K-Trace (which allows parallel code to be instrumented to produce a memory reference trace), and K-Cache (which simulates inter-cache communications based on a memory reference trace).
Using the representation in a neural network's hidden layer for task-specific focus of attention

FTP: CMU-CS-95-143.ps In many real-world tasks, the ability to focus attention on the important features of the input is crucial for good performance. In this paper a mechanism for achieving task-specific focus of attention is presented. A saliency map, which is based upon a computed expectation of the contents of the inputs at the next time step, indicates which regions of the input retina are important for performing the task. The saliency map can be used to accentuate the features which are important, and de-emphasize those which are not. The performance of this method is demonstrated on a real-world robotics task: autonomous road following. The applicability of this method is also demonstrated in a non-visual domain. Architectural and algorithmic details are provided, as well as empirical results.
Distribution and Transcapillary Exchange of Albumin in Congestive Heart Failure

The distribution and transcapillary exchange of albumin have been studied in patients with congestive heart failure and the results compared with a group of control subjects who did not have heart failure. The normal relation between vascular albumin mass and plasma volume on the one hand and transcapillary albumin exchange on the other does not exist in patients with congestive failure. The transcapillary albumin exchange rate, which presumably reflects capillary permeability, is decreased relative to the plasma volume and vascular albumin mass. It appears that decreased permeability of capillaries to albumin is associated with congestive failure and may be responsible for the increased plasma volume characteristic of this disease. The appearance of labeled protein in edema fluid has been studied in 7 patients and compared with the simultaneously determined serum disappearance curves. The albumin contained in the edema fluid constitutes a small fraction of the total extravascular albumin pool. The vascular albumin mass equilibrates less rapidly with the local edema albumin mass than with the total extravasenlar albumin mass.
Differences Between Exclusive Breastfeeders, Formula-Feeders, and Controls: A Study of Stress, Mood, and Endocrine Variables

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among lactational status, naturalistic stress, mood, and levels of serum cortisol and prolactin and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Eighty-four exclusively breastfeeding, 99 exclusively formula-feeding, and 33 nonpostpartum healthy control women were studied. The postpartum mothers were studied cross-sectionally once between 4 and 6 weeks after the birth. Stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, the Tennessee Postpartum Stress Scale, and the Inventory of Small Life Events. Mood was measured using the Profile of Mood States. Serum prolactin, plasma ACTH, and serum cortisol levels were measured by commercial ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kits. Results indicate that breastfeeding mothers had more positive moods, reported more positive events, and perceived less stress than formula-feeders. Reports of stressful life events were generally equivalent in the two groups. Serum prolactin was inversely related to stress and mood in formula-feeders. When breast and formula-feeders were compared to controls, they had higher serum cortisol, lower stress, and lower anxiety. Breastfeeders had lower perceived stress than controls. Breastfeeders had lower depression and anger and more positive life events reported than formula-feeders. However, there were few correlations among stress, mood, and the hormones in postpartum mothers, and those only in formula-feeders, whereas strong relationships were found between serum ACTH and a number of stress and mood variables in controls. Postpartum mothers reported a range of stress and negative moods at 4 to 6 weeks, and in formula-feeders, serum prolactin was related to some of the stress and mood variables. Breastfeeding appears to be somewhat protective of negative moods and stress.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: How T Waves Behave Under Stress

A woman in her 60s with hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented with chest pain for 3 days. She denied any cardiac history but reported intermittent substernal chest pain for the past few months that had worsened in the past week. She denied associated symptoms. Her vital signs and cardiopulmonary examination results were within normal limits; her baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) is shown in Figure 1. Initial troponin level was 0.33 μg/L. Her chest pain resolved after administration of sublingual nitroglycerin, and her troponin level decreased to 0.1 μg/L. Given the patient’s elevated cardiac enzymes, she was admitted for treatment of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Twelve hours after admission, the patient had another episode of substernal chest pain with troponin elevation to 0.3 μg/L. An ECG recorded at that time is shown in Figure 2. She was treated with nitrates, and her chest pain resolved. Another ECG was obtained after her pain resolved and her subsequent troponin measurements trended down (Figure 3). Question: What finding does this series of ECGs suggest? Clinical Course A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) was obtained, which showed akinesis of the left ventricular apex and severe hypokinesis of the apical anterior and anteroseptal walls, with relative basal hyperkinesis and preserved overall left ventricular ejection fraction. The patient underwent coronary angiography, which revealed only mild nonobstructive coronary artery disease and no vasospasm. Given lack of evidence of significant coronary artery disease that could explain the patient’s wall motion abnormalities or clinical presentation, she was diagnosed with stress cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy). Further history revealed that the patient’s son had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had been enrolled in hospice care 3 months prior to presentation. Our patient was the primary caregiver and had been having increasing episodes of chest pain as her son’s condition deteriorated. She began medical treatment that included metoprolol succinate and lisinopril for her chest pain and left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. A repeated TTE performed 3 months after presentation showed complete resolution of the wall motion abnormalities.
Effective Compression of Monotone and Quasi-Monotone Sequences of Integers

We develop a new class of algorithms for losslessly compressing integer sequences that are monotone or quasi-monotone. We combine aspects of standard entropy codes as expressed in binary adaptive sequential coding (BASC) and monotone length (MOL) coding, with an aspect of binary interpolative (BI) coding.
The effect of age and hair colour on human hairbulb tyrosinase activity.

SUMMARY We Studied tyrosinase activity from human hairbulbs from 51 subjects, aged 5–72 years. We used anagen hairbulbs and grouped the subjects according to hair colour. We did not observe an age-dependent fall in hairbulb tyrosinase activity. We observed considerable inter-individual variation in activity, with a range of 8–342 pmol DOPA formed/three hairbulbs/30 min. The mean tyrosinase activity from red hairbulbs was significantly higher than the mean for the other hair colours. White hairbulbs did not express tyrosinase activity, and specific antibodies to tyrosinase were used to establish that tyrosinase antigen was absent from white hairbulbs.
Charge-coupled devices in gallium arsenide

The electronic properties of GaAs and their implications to device performance have been the subject of discussion for some time, and discrete devices such as diodes and f.e.t, with performance exceeding that which has been achieved in similar silicon devices, are commercially available. Recent advances in GaAs material and processing technologies have made possible the realisation of integrated devices with substantial complexity which have demonstrated greater speed and lower power dissipation than equivalent silicon devices. Digital integrated circuits with sub-100 ps propagation delay and power dissipation compatible with large scale integration have been demonstrated. In this paper, we describe a GaAs charge-coupled device which has demonstrated some of the attributes expected from GaAs devices of this type. This device has been operated at fcl = 500 MHz which is faster than any other ccd. Design considerations and application areas for this device are discussed.
Severity of illness, outcomes, and resource use in elderly cancer patients with deep venous thrombosis.

Low-molecular-weight heparins provide new op tions for outpatient management of deep venous thrombosis. Because elderly patients with cancer are at increased risk of developing deep venous thrombosis, outpatient therapy for treatment of deep venous thrombosis may be important in this population. We compared the severity of illness, outcomes, and cost of deep venous thrombosis in elderly patients with cancer to those seen in younger patients with cancer. We examined all 766 episodes of deep venous thrombosis treated at the Univer sity of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1996. Severity of illness level and predicted risks of mortality and readmission were obtained from a commercially available disease staging system (Inforum System). Observed outcomes and cost were based on data col lected from the 766 episodes of deep venous thrombosis at our institution. One hundred nineteen (16%) episodes of deep ve nous thrombosis occurred in patients 70 years of age or older. T...
Enhanced Recovery of Injury-Caused Downregulation of Paxillin Protein by eNOS Gene Expression in Rat Carotid Artery Mechanism of NO Inhibition of Intimal Hyperplasia?

Injury-caused dedifferentiation accompanied by proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is an important process in the development of the neointima. Nitric oxide (NO) stimulates differentiation and inhibits proliferation and migration of SMCs. Paxillin has been found to play an important role in cell differentiation, and its phosphorylation is regulated by NO in cultured SMCs. However, the regulation of paxillin by NO in the injured artery has not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to study the effects of in vivo endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene transfection on paxillin expression and intimal hyperplasia. A catheter balloon-denuded rat carotid artery was transfected in vivo with the replication-deficient adenovirus Ad5/RSVeNOS or with Ad5/RSVLacZ as the control. Transfected eNOS gene expression was determined by immunostaining, Western blot analysis, and citrulline assay. The expression of paxillin and its associated proteins was determined in injured arteries by Western blot analysis. The area of the intima and the ratio of intima to media were examined on cross sections by morphometry. The data showed that the expression of paxillin was significantly downregulated after injury. eNOS gene transfer showed no effect on paxillin downregulation 2 days after injury but significantly enhanced the recovery of paxillin protein 5 days and 2 weeks after injury. Vinculin, a paxillin-binding protein, was not altered by vascular injury or by eNOS gene transfer. eNOS gene transfer significantly inhibited intimal hyperplasia for up to 4 weeks. These results suggest that NO inhibition of intimal hyperplasia may be mediated by enhancing the recovery of injury-caused downregulation of paxillin.
Business Leadership: Three Levels of Ethical Analysis

Research on the normative aspect of leadership is still a relatively new enterprise within the mainstream of leadership studies. In the past, most academic inquiry into leadership was grounded in a social scientific paradigm that largely ignored the ethical substance of leadership. However, perhaps because of a number of public and infamous cases of failure in business leadership, in recent years there has been renewed interest in the ethical side of leadership in business. This paper argues that ethical issues of leadership actually arise at number of different levels, and that it is important to distinguish between various diverse kinds of ethical issues that arise in the study of leadership. The three levels identified are the level of the individual morality of leaders, the level of the means of their leadership, and the level of the leadership mission itself. We argue that only by fully understanding all of the different levels of ethical analysis pertinent to business leadership, and the distinctive kind of issues that arise at each level, can we fully integrate normative studies of leadership into the field of leadership studies. As such, this paper offers a model that incorporates three different levels of ethical analysis that can be used to study normative issues in leadership studies. Such a model can be used to better understand and integrate ethical issues into research, teaching, and training in leadership.
Aperture-size scaling variations in a low-strain opening-mode fracture set, Cozzette Sandstone, Colorado

The aperture-size distribution of a set of opening-mode fractures in the Cozzette Sandstone is complex and cannot be described uniquely by a single equation. This study of horizontal core includes aperture-size data of macrofractures measured using a hand lens and microfractures measured using scanning electron microscope-based cathodoluminescence (SEM-CL). Macrofractures are poorly cemented, and total fracture strain is an order of magnitude lower than the smallest strain values of most previously described vein sets. Macrofractures in this set therefore resemble typical joints, as opposed to veins, in most respects. Although intragranular microfractures compose about 98% of the microfracture population, orientation, fracture fill, and fracture trace characteristics suggest that only transgranular microfractures can be shown to be genetically related to macrofractures. Aperture-size data below ∼0.012 mm and above ∼1 mm follow a log-normal distribution. Intermediate-size data, though relatively sparse, suggest a power-law aperture-size distribution. These results support the notion that this fracture set is an intermediate case between typical veins and joints. The results also suggest that processes leading to size distributions commonly associated with veins (i.e., power laws) may be present in joint sets, but over a more limited range, bound at small size-scales by grain-scale effects and above by mechanical layering effects.
High confinement in silicon slot waveguides with sharp bends

Slot waveguides allow for high optical confinement in a planar optical waveguide. Here we show a method for maintaining this high degree of confinement in slot waveguides with sharp bends. This high confinement can be achieved by using an asymmetric slot-based structure, where the mode in the bend remains localized in the slot region. We show that the relative power inside the slot can be as high as 28% for a 1 µm radius bend in an air-clad silicon waveguide.
COX-2 inhibitors and carbonic anhydrase activity

Purpose To compare the carbonic anhydrase inhibition (CAI) profile of selective and non-selective COX-2 inhibitors with the prototypic CAI acetazolamide (ACZ). Methods: The CO2 hydration activity of human carbonic anhydrase II (hCAII) was determined by a colorimetric method. The enzyme concentration was 5nM. Stock solutions of the inhibitors were dissolved in either ethanol or DMSO. The fraction of inhibitory activity was calculated by comparing CO2 hydration activity of the enzyme in the absence and presence of the test compounds (tested blind to the study hypothesis). Duplicate determinations were performed. Commercially available compounds purchased at the pharmacy and excipient free compounds were used. Results: The IC50 (nM) values (from the most potent CAI to least) were: ACZ, 7.5; celecoxib, 410; valdecoxib, 24800; rofecoxib > 3X10 5 and diclofenac > 3X10 5. The structural basis underlying the differences in potency is in all likelihood the pharmacophore SO2NH2, the common molecular moiety of acetazolamide, celecoxib and valdecoxib. The sulfonamide motif is absent from rofecoxib and diclofenac. Discussion: We have demonstrated an unusual inhibition binding profile for the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib against hCAII, an isozyme with numerous physiological roles. The nanomolar CAI is linked to the pharmacophore SO2 NH2. We suggest that celecoxib may mediate some of its actions, e.g. anti-cancer effects, HCO3- modulation, by the COX-2 independent mechanism of CAI. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P49–P49; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.185
Regression of established tumors in mice mediated by the oral administration of a recombinant Listeria monocytogenes vaccine

We have shown previously that Listeria monocytogenes, a gram-positive, facultative intracellular bacterium, is a potent vector for targeting tumor-specific antigens to the immune system. After parenteral administration, we observed protection against both renal and colorectal mouse tumors and regression of established renal tumors. In the present study, we have exploited the fact that the normal route of infection of this organism is through the gut. We show that an L. monocytogenes recombinant that expresses a model tumor antigen is an effective cancer immunotherapeutic agent when delivered orally in that it causes regression of established, macroscopic mouse renal and colorectal tumors expressing the same antigen.
Resistance and resilience of macroinvertebrate assemblages to drying and flood in a tallgrass prairie stream system

Intermittent streams are common worldwide, and the ability of invertebrates to recover from floods and drought is a key feature of communities from these highly disturbed ecosystems. The macroinvertebrate assemblages of Kings Creek in northeastern Kansas were sampled regularly from four intermittent and two perennial sites over 2 years (1995–1996) to investigate the response and recovery to seasonal drying and floods. A ≈9mo drying period reduced taxa richness and density to 14% and 3% of pre-drying assemblages, respectively, in 1995–1996, whereas a 2mo drying period reduced richness by half and density to 4% of pre-drying assemblages in 1996. Floods at intermittent sites reduced densities and richness by 95% and ≈50%, respectively. A >50 y-flood reduced macroinvertebrate richness by 97% and density by >99% at a downstream perennial site. Resistance and resilience of total macroinvertebrate density was typically greater to floods than to drying, whereas resilience of taxa richness did not differ between disturbance types. The time required for recovery to pre-flood conditions (richness and density) was half as long (27 vs. 76 day) for intermittent sites compared to perennial sites. Colonization of intermittent sites was a function of distance from upstream refugia. Floods were a more important disturbance on assemblages in a downstream reach as compared to upstream reaches. In contrast, upstream reaches were more likely to dry. Recovery following flood and drought was dominated by colonization as opposed to tolerance, thus resilience is more important than resistance in regulating macroinvertebrate communities in these streams, and relative position in the landscape affects disturbance type, intensity, and ability of communities to recover from disturbance.
A multigrid procedure for three-dimensional flows on non-orthogonal collocated grids

The development of a multigrid solution algorithm for the computation of three-dimensional laminar fully-elliptic incompressible flows is presented. The procedure utilizes a non-orthogonal collocated arrangement of the primitive variables in generalized curvilinear co-ordinates. The momentum and continuity equations are solved in a decoupled manner and a pressure-correction equation is used to update the pressures such that the fluxes at the cell faces satisfy local mass continuity. The convergence of the numerical solution is accelerated by the use of a Full Approximation Storage (FAS) multigrid technique. Numerical computations of the laminar flow in a 90° strongly curved pipe are performed for several finite-volume grids and Reynolds numbers to demonstrate the efficiency of the present numerical scheme. The rates of convergence, computational times, and multigrid performance indicators are reported for each case. Despite the additional computational overhead required in the restriction and prolongation phases of the multigrid cycling, the superior convergence of the present algorithm is shown to result in significantly reduced overall CPU times.
Some Further Uses for the Neon Grid-Glow Tube

Two applications of the three-electrode neon tube are described. The first shows how the neon tube can be used for the registration of alpha rays. One electrode of an ionization chamber is connected to the grid of the neon tube and the tube flashes on the entrance of each alpha ray.In the second device, the tube is arranged to flash periodically and it is found that under certain critical conditions, a bias potential of a volt or two has a marked and easily measurable effect on the periodicity of discharge.
IBM POWER6 microprocessor physical design and design methodology

The IBM POWER6™ microprocessor is a 790 million-transistor chip that runs at a clock frequency of greater than 4 GHz. The complexity and size of the POWER6 microprocessor, together with its high operating frequency, present a number of significant challenges. This paper describes the physical design and design methodology of the POWER6 processor. Emphasis is placed on aspects of the design methodology, technology, clock distribution, integration, chip analysis, power and performance, random logic macro (RLM), and design data management processes that enabled the design to be completed and the project goals to be met.
Development of a FLIPR Assay for the Simultaneous Identification of MrgD Agonists and Antagonists from a Single Screen

MrgD, a member of the Mas-related gene family, is expressed exclusively in small diameter IB4(+) neurons in the dorsal root ganglion. This unique expression pattern, the presence of a single copy of MrgD in rodents and humans, and the identification of a putative ligand, beta-alanine, make it an experimentally attractive therapeutic target for pain with limited likelihood of side effects. We have devised a high throughput calcium mobilization assay that enables identification of both agonists and antagonists from a single screen for MrgD. Screening of the Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds (LOPAC) validated this assay approach, and we identified both agonists and antagonists active at micromolar concentrations in MrgD expressing but not in parental CHO-DUKX cell line. Further characterization was performed using a subset of these screening hits. Our results demonstrated that the dual agonist/antagonist assay format is feasible and likely can be extended to most GPCRs with known agonist.
ON PARALLEL QUEUING WITH RANDOM SERVER CONNECTIVITY AND ROUTING CONSTRAINTS

We study systems of parallel queues with finite buffers, a single server with random connectivity to each queue, and arriving job flows with random or class-dependent accessibility to the queues. Only currently connected queues may receive (preemptive) service at any given time, whereas an arriving job can only join one of its accessible queues. Using the coupling method, we study three key models, progressively building from simpler to more complicated structures.In the first model, there are only random server connectivities. It is shown that allocating the server to the Connected queue with the Fewest Empty Spaces (C-FES) stochastically minimizes the number of lost jobs due to buffer overflows, under conditions of independence and symmetry.In the second model, we additionally consider random accessibility of queues by arriving jobs. It is shown that allocating the server to the C-FES and routing each arriving job to the currently Accessible queue with the Most Empty Spaces (C-FES/A-MES) minimizes the loss flow stochastically, under similar assumptions.In the third model (addressing a target application), we consider multiple classes of arriving job flows, each allowed access to a deterministic subset of the queues. Under analogous assumptions, it is again shown that the C-FES/A-MES policy minimizes the loss flow stochastically.The random connectivity/accessibility aspect enhances significantly the structure and application scope of the classical parallel queuing model. On the other hand, it introduces essential additional dynamics and considerable complications. It is interesting that a simple policy like FES/MES, known to be optimal for the classical model, extends to the C-FES/A-MES in our case.
Presheaths in weakly collisional plasmas with two ion species

Summary form only given, as follows. In plasmas with two or more ion species, it is usually assumed that ions leave plasma at their individual Bohm velocities. In collisionless plasmas, this result can be achieved if ions fall through a presheath with a plasma potential drop of T/sub e//2e. If ionization is ignored, such a potential drop cannot exist. If ionization is included with the same profile for each species, a solution can exist, but the presheath length will equal the chamber length and the potential drop must exceed T/sub e//2e. With weakly collisional plasmas, mobility limited flow can be assumed for weak electric fields but not for velocities close to the individual species Bohm velocities. Experimental data from emissive probes, Mach probes and LIF in an argon/helium plasma suggest another solution to the problem. It appears that the plasma potential drop exhibits two consecutive presheaths and that neither ion leaves at their individual Bohm velocity.
Effect of tetracycline on gingival inflammation and alveolar bone resorption n beagles: An individual tooth by tooth analysis

Abstract The effect of systemic tetracycline on gingival inflammation and alveolar bone resorption was studied in beagle dogs. Seventeen dogs were divided into three groups receiving either no treatment, 250 mg tetracycline HO, or 500 mg tetracycline HC1 daily. The severity of gingival inflammation and activity of alveolar bone resorption during a 6-month pretreatment period was compared to a 24-month treatment period for each individual tooth studied. In the first 12 months of treatment there was a significant decrease in the severity of gingival inflammation and the activity of alveolar bone loss in the tetracycline treated dogs. By 24 months of treatment increased gingival inflammation and rate of bone loss was evident in the treated dogs. In the untreated control dogs there was a statistically significant association between the severity of gingival inflammation and activity of alveolar bone resorption about the teeth studied. In the tetracycline treated dogs, no such association existed.
Dynamic block-cycling over a linear network in underwater acoustic channels

The underwater acoustic (UWA) environment is known to have large spatial and temporal variations. In this paper, we propose a dynamic cooperative relaying protocol, termed dynamic block-cycling (DBC) protocol, for a UWA linear network. Considering large channel variations, we assume one node can hear from not only its direct but also several remote neighbors. A transmission package with multiple blocks is taken as one relay unit, where an erasure-correction code and an error-correction code are used for inter-block encoding and intra-block encoding, respectively. During the relaying process, each node in the proposed protocol starts relaying immediately after it decodes the relayed message, hence a reduced end-to-end transmission latency can be achieved. Meanwhile, to avoid the overhead for relay cooperation, the relays' transmissions are cyclically synchronized, such that in each time slot, the blocks arriving at the downstream receiving nodes from all the upstream transmitting nodes have the same block index. Numerical results showthat for a one-shot transmission, the proposed protocol achieves a reduced end-to-end delay relative to existing protocols while maintaining a decent outage performance.
Computer-supported team-based learning: The impact of motivation, enjoyment and team contributions on learning outcomes

The benefits of teamwork and collaboration have long been advocated by many educational theories, such as constructivist and social learning models. Among the various applications of collaborative learning, the iterative team-based learning (TBL) process proposed by Michaelsen, Fink, and Knight (2002) has been successfully used in the classroom without computer support. This paper describes the implementation and evaluation results of a classroom application of the TBL process, which was modified to include computer mediation. We call this process computer-supported team-based learning (CS-TBL). This work extends learning in small teams from the traditional classroom to the hybrid classroom where students meet both face-to-face and online by emphasizing the importance of online team interactions. The outcomes are assessed through an evaluation model that considers the impact of motivation, enjoyment and team contributions on learning outcomes. The study results indicate that motivation influences the relationship between team interactions and perceived learning. Enjoyment is affected by motivation and perceptions of team members' contributions, with the implication that students who perceive that the team interactions are adding value to their education will better enjoy learning and will experience higher-level learning outcomes.
Thermoelectric materials: The anharmonicity blacksmith

Anharmonicity is a property of lattice vibrations governing how they interact and how well they conduct heat. Experiments on tin selenide, the most efficient thermoelectric material known, now provide a link between anharmonicity and electronic orbitals.
THE VALIDITY OF ESTIMATING THE INCIDENCE OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY FROM PREVALENCE

A method for estimating incidence rates of a disease from prevalence proportions with differential mortality was validated for diabetic retinopathy in a large population of diabetic persons followed for 4 years, 1980-1982 to 1984-1986, in southern Wisconsin. Four-year age- or duration-specific incidence rates of retinopathy were calculated from prevalence and mortality in persons with and those without retinopathy. These rates were lower than the actual rates obtained at the 4-year follow-up examination by 50% or more in most age intervals in both younger and older onset persons. Estimated duration-specific rates were up to 29 and 57% lower than the actual rates in younger and older onset persons, respectively. These discrepancies could not be accounted for by violations of the assumptions underlying the method. In applying the method to diabetic retinopathy, age- and duration-specific incidence may be more appropriate. Such estimated rates agree well with actual rates except in older onset persons with diabetes of short duration.
Hormonal regulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis: influence of age and training

The contributions of three major gluconeogenic regulators, glucagon (10(-7) M), alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (10(-5) M), and beta-agonist isoproterenol (10(-5) M) to hepatic glucose synthesis in liver slices from Fischer 344 rats were examined in relation to age and endurance training. Young (4 mo), middle-aged (12 mo), and old (22 mo) male Fischer 344 rats (n = 66) were divided into trained or sedentary groups. Trained animals were run 10 wk on a treadmill at 75% of maximal capacity, 1 h/day, 5 days/wk. Animals were killed at rest, and sections of liver were removed and sliced in a tissue microtome. Slices were incubated in L-[U-14C]lactic acid, Ringer solution, and one of the aforementioned gluconeogenic regulators. Rates of lactate incorporation into glucose and glycogen were significantly greater in young compared with old animals for all three regulators in both trained and untrained animals. Training elicited a 35, 52, and 63% improvement in lactate incorporation into glucose compared with untrained when the livers of young (16.9 +/- 1.2 vs. 10.9 +/- 1.1 mumol.g protein-1.min-1), middle-aged (12.8 +/- 1.3 vs. 6.1 +/- 1.2 mumol.g protein-1.min-1), and old (11.2 +/- 1.1 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.6 mumol.g protein-1.min-1) animals, respectively, were incubated in glucagon. Rates with phenylephrine followed a similar pattern to that with glucagon across age and training, but absolute rates were significantly lower. No training effect in gluconeogenic rate was found when liver was incubated in the presence of isoproterenol. It is concluded that the gluconeogenic capacity of liver declines with age regardless of the gluconeogenic regulator and that training was able to partially offset age-related declines in glucagon-stimulated and alpha-receptor-mediated gluconeogenesis.
Using design patterns to address curricular growth issues

A tension arises as the core knowledge in computer science continues to grow, while the time to complete a Bachelor of Computer Science degree does not. Two document analysis studies are presented that focus on this growth. The first surveys historic growth in the curricula, while the second examines the current required curricula of 389 Computer Science departments. Finally, ten Design Patterns that help alleviate this curricular growth tension are introduced.
Three-dimensional studies of neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the rat. I. Organelle organization in the perikaryon and its proximal branches.

The results of a two- and three-dimensional study of the content of perikarya and proximal branches from neurons in the rat lateral geniculate body are reported. Techniques for the serial sectioning procedure and the serial analysis are outlined. The two neurons analysed three-dimensionally were elliptoid, multipolar with modified bipolarity, uninucleated, uninucleolated and uniciliated with a variety of organelles dispersed in the cytoplasm. Most organellesvariety of organelles dispersed in the cytoplasm. Most organelles were quantitatively analysed with respect to morphological dimensions. The cellular membranes were of particularly impressive dimensions. An almost complete, quantitatively integrated, structural view at the organelle level is given for the analysed parts of the neurons. Mitochondria, Golgi complexes and cytoplasmic dense bodies were abundant in the middle of the perikarya, while α-cytomembranes and free ribosomes had their highest concentrations at the poles of the perikarya. Also, mitochondria and cytoplasmic dense bodies were observed in relatively high concentrations in the proximal branches. The results are evaluated and discussed in relation to technique, conventional two-dimensional analysis and some biochemical data available for similar parts of neurons.
Lead Zirconate Titanate Films Produced by Pulsed Laser Deposition

The synthesis of ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films by pulsed laser deposition at 248 nm is described. This study has focused on producing thin (≲ 0.6μm) PZT films on bare and platinum coated MgO substrates. Deposition was in an oxygen gas ambient (30 mTorr) at temperatures typically ∼ 525 °C. Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) was used to evaluate film composition. Film lead content was found to decrease both with increasing laser fluence, and increasing substrate temperature. Film microstructure was evaluated by x-ray diffraction. Electrical measurements were made on the films before and after annealing to determine the dielectric constant and polarization. Properties after annealing were substantially improved, with dielectric permittivity values comparable to bulk PZT.
Polymorphic Development in Relation to the Life History of Melanoplus femurrubrum (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The effects of polymorphic development on the life history of the redlegged grasshopper, Melanoplus femurrubrum (DeGeer), were investigated. In a population reared from field-collected eggs, the developmental threshold for six- and seven-instar groups was the same (17.1°C). Most mortality occurred in the first stadium. Developmental times of males and females in the same instar group were not different. At 26.5, 30, 35, and 38°C, seven-instar grasshoppers took 18.8, 11.1, 5.4, and 5.5 d longer to develop, respectively, than did six-instar grasshoppers. Differences in developmental times between the six- and seven-instar grasshoppers were principally because of the length of the differential stadium (the fifth stadium of the seven-instar group) (11.5, 7.6, 5.8, and 5.4 d, respectively) at the four rearing temperatures and because of differences in the length of other stadia at 26.5 and 30°C. Within either instar group, females were larger than males, and within either sex, seven-instar individuals were larger than six-instar individuals. Females in field cages that became adults later in the season lived a shorter time and laid fewer egg pods because of the shortness of the remaining season.
Trends in epidemiology and hospitalization utilization for myelomeningocele repair from 2000 to 2009

Although the incidence of myelomeningocele (MMC) has declined over the past decades with folic acid supplementation and prenatal screening, neural tube defects remain the most common birth defect in the USA. A majority of affected neonates require surgical repair. To characterize US trends in the epidemiology and hospital utilization of MMC repair over the past decade, we analyzed a nationally representative database. We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kid’s Inpatient Database (KID) for all discharges with procedure code for MMC repair for the years 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009. The cohorts from these time points were compared for their demographic and in-hospital variables. Results are reported as estimated frequencies and means with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Sex, race, insurance status, family income level, and mortality of affected infants have not changed significantly over the decade. A majority of neonatal MMC repairs occur in larger hospital bed size and more specialized children’s hospital centers. Of patients, 52.3 to 60 % receive VPS placement during the same admission as the primary MMC repair. Total hospital costs for the MMC hospitalizations have remained relatively stable from 42,843 dollars in 2003 to 46,749 dollars in 2009 (adjusted to 2009 dollars). Demographics of children having MMC repair have not changed significantly over the past decade, while these surgeries have become more concentrated in pediatric-specialized centers. There appears to be a plateau in public health and access advances with relatively stable cost of MMC hospital care.
The role of endoscopy in the allergist’s office

The introduction of nasal endoscopy has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of patients with sinonasal disorders. The brilliant illumination and magnification afforded by the nasal endoscopes has markedly enhanced the current knowledge of sinonasal anatomy and understanding of patterns of mucociliary clearance. Nasal endoscopy facilitates accurate diagnosis of sinonasal pathology and assessment of response to medical and surgical therapy by serial examination. Rigid telescopes also facilitate office-based procedures, including cultures of purulent secretions and biopsy of sinonasal masses. Indeed, nasal endoscopy forms the foundation of the surgical paradigm of functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In this review, the rationale, technique and current state of endoscopic applications of nasal endoscopy are described, with special focus on the role of endoscopy in the allergist's office.
Formal Ontology: the Value Orientation of Literature and Art in the New Era

Formal ontology was one of the value orientations pursued practically and theoretically in the literature and art field of the Mainland China in the new era. This trend was first reflected in the creation of art, and then in the formalist criticism, and finally in the construction of the formal ontology of art. Its emergence, though reasonable, was invested with deficiency.
Design and Realization of RIP in Fore-background Communication

As an interior gateway protocol, routing information protocol has been widely applied. This paper introduces the philosophy, module realizing technology and data structure of route-transaction module, which is designed by RIP in a small local area network and the environment of fore-background communication. According to the practical instance, RIP is correspondingly amended. The corresponding RIP used to develop is presented.
Acute Post-Traumatic Respiratory Physiology and Insufficiency

This article reviews the physiologic mechanisms by which acute injury results in respiratory insufficiency. It delineates the need for oxygenation versus ventilatory support and provides a pragmatic approach to dealing with the proper early respiratory support of the victim of chest trauma as well as the rationale for various immediate treatment modalities. In addition, it discusses various assessment techniques and clinical clues that predict the onset of late respiratory complications in the patient with serious injuries.