cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CooMR: cross-task coordination for efficient data management in MapReduce programs

Hadoop is a widely adopted open source implementation of MapReduce programming model for big data processing. It represents system resources as available map and reduce slots and assigns them to various tasks. This execution model gives little regard to the need of cross-task coordination on the use of shared system resources on a compute node, which results in task interference. In addition, the existing Hadoop merge algorithm can cause excessive I/O. In this study, we undertake an effort to address both issues. Accordingly, we have designed a cross-task coordination framework called CooMR for efficient data management in MapReduce programs. CooMR consists of three component schemes including cross-task opportunistic memory sharing and log-structured I/O consolidation, which are designed to facilitate task coordination, and the key-based in-situ merge (KISM) algorithm which is designed to enable the sorting/merging of Hadoop intermediate data without actually moving the pairs. Our evaluation demonstrates that CooMR is able to increase task coordination, improve system resource utilization, and significantly speed up the execution time of MapReduce programs.
Design and Synthesis of Potential New Apoptosis Agents: Hybrid Compounds Containing Perillyl Alcohol and New Constrained Retinoids.

Novel retinoids 1–3 containing perillyl alcohol were synthesized through the addition of perillyl alcohol to the activated carboxylic acids (retinoids) promoted by DCC (N,N′-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide). A set of structurally and functionally diverse perillyl alcohol derivatives of retinoids were obtained in good yields (78–82%). Biological evaluation of these novel hybrid compounds (containing retinoids and perillyl alcohol) is currently underway in our laboratory.
Lazy preemption to enable path-based analysis of interrupt-driven code

One of the important factors in ensuring the correct functionality of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is the reliability of the software running on individual sensor nodes. Research has shown that path-sensitive static analysis is effective for bug detection and fault diagnosis; however, path-sensitive analysis is prohibitively expensive when applied to a WSN application due to the large state space caused by arbitrary interrupt preemptions. In this paper, we propose a new execution model called lazy preemption that reduces this state space by restricting interrupt handlers to a set of predetermined preemption points, if possible. This execution model allows us to represent the program with an inter-interrupt control flow graph (IICFG), which is easier to analyze than the original CFGs with arbitrary interrupt preemptions.
Concentrations of D-Glucose in The Blood of Citellus Lateralis After Known Intervals of Hibernating Periods

Concentrations of d -glucose in the blood of active and hibernating golden-mantled ground squirrels ( Citellus lateralis ) were determined colorimetrically using a standard (Glucostat) glucose oxidase reaction analysis. Blood from nine, fasted, active animals obtained in August averaged 183 ± 20 mg% (sd) with a range of 166–220 mg%. Blood from 25 animals that were hibernating in the established, winter pattern of hibernating behavior averaged 118 ± 20 mg% with a range of 83–153 mg%. Blood from hibernating animals was withdrawn by cardiac puncture at selected intervals including percentages (3–95% ) of the predicted hibernating periods and representative of all phases of the hibernating period. No significant changes in the level of glucose in the blood occurred throughout the hibernating period, suggesting that homeostasis of levels of glucose is characteristic throughout the hibernating period. No precipitous decrease in the level of glucose occurred towards the expected termination of the hibernating period, indicating that hypoglycemia is not the excitatory stimulus to the autonomic nervous system which elicits spontaneous arousal.
Do Sex Differences Define Gender-Related Individual Differences within the Sexes? Evidence from Three Studies

Do questionnaire items (e.g., masculinity and femininity scale items, occupational preference items) that show large sex differences tend also to be those items that correlate most strongly with independent gender-related criteria within the sexes? Three different criteria of within-sex gender-related individual differences were studied in data from three studies: a composite of eight gender-related behaviors in Study 1, masculinity-femininity as rated by friends and family members in Study 2, and self-ascribed masculinity-femininity in Studies 1, 2, and 3. Data from all studies and for all criteria converged, showing that items displaying large sex differences tended also to correlate most strongly with independent gender-related criteria within the sexes. Implications for the assessment of gender-related and other kinds of group-related individual differences are discussed.
Numerical modeling of a novel TDM digital optical fiber communication link

Methods that increase the bandwidth of an optical fiber communication link beyond what is achievable with a single high speed laser and detector are of great interest. Time division multiplexing, TDM, is an attractive method of increasing overall system bandwidth, without having to increase the bandwidth of the individual transmitters and receivers. Mode-locked and gain-switched lasers are attractive sources for TDM. However, due to inadequate wavelength control in the laser fabrication process and the relatively wide spectrum resulting from mode-locking and gain-switching, fiber dispersion can degrade TDM systems. We introduce a simulation package that is used to model an experimental TDM fiber link and investigate the limits of transmission distance due to dispersion in a high speed communication link.
Writing Coincidence: Brecht’s and Marlowe’s History Play

Although the importance of writing to Brecht’s dramaturgy and dramatic theory has been repeatedly suggested in recent Brecht scholarship, less attention has been devoted to the ways in which writing works in the poetic and dramatic texts that he wrote. Through a close analysis of his and Lion Feuchtwanger’s adaptation of Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II —another drama in which writing plays a crucial role—I trace the implications of writing for the status of biography, history, and decision in the text.
“Thus Gan He Make a Mirour of His Mynde”: Fragmented Memories and Anxious Desire in Troilus and Criseyde

This article argues that the Troilus’s relationship with Criseyde is fraught with anxious desire. By referencing medieval theories of the mind and Kleinian psychoanalytic theory, it shows that the manner in which Troilus memorializes his desire for Criseyde in the books I to III of the poem has a direct impact on the way he experiences her loss in book V. Throughout the poem, anxiety is the definitive characteristic of Troilus’s desire. It emerges when he first encounters an uncontrollable desire and when the consummation of his desire is delayed. It is this anxious engendering of desire, and not loss per se, that causes the feelings of persecution and victimization in Troilus when he loses Criseyde at the end of the poem.
New Fe IX Line Identifications Using Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Solar Ultraviolet Measurement of Emitted Radiation and Hinode/EIS Joint Observations of the Quiet Sun

In this work, we study joint observations of Hinode/EUV Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) and Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Solar Ultraviolet Measurement of Emitted Radiation of Fe IX lines emitted by the same level of the high energy configuration 3s {sup 2}3p {sup 5}4p. The intensity ratios of these lines are dependent on atomic physics parameters only and not on the physical parameters of the emitting plasma, so that they are excellent tools to verify the relative intensity calibration of high-resolution spectrometers that work in the 170-200 A and 700-850 A wavelength ranges. We carry out extensive atomic physics calculations to improve the accuracy of the predicted intensity ratio, and compare the results with simultaneous EIS-SUMER observations of an off-disk quiet Sun region. We were able to identify two ultraviolet lines in the SUMER spectrum that are emitted by the same level that emits one bright line in the EIS wavelength range. Comparison between predicted and measured intensity ratios, wavelengths and energy separation of Fe IX levels confirms the identifications we make. Blending and calibration uncertainties are discussed. The results of this work are important for cross-calibrating EIS and SUMER, as well as future instrumentation.
A comparison of precentral and postcentral cortical lesions on somatosensory discrimination in the monkey.

Summary Monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were prepared with one of four adjacent lesions at the level of the hand representation in the sensorimotor cortex opposite the hand to be trained on a series of somatosensory discrimination tasks. The two precentral lesions, one anterior and the other posterior in the precentral gyrus, failed to impair performance on the tasks. In contrast, both postcentral lesions, one anterior and the other posterior in the postcentral gyrus, produced deficits. The anterior postcentral lesion produced a severe decrement on virtually all tasks, whereas the posterior postcentral removal chiefly affected certain form discriminations, which were the most difficult tasks of the series. The results are discussed in relation to the much less marked effects of postcentral lesions previously reported and to neural mechanisms of somatosensory discrimination.
A bayesian formulation of exploratory data analysis and goodness-of-fit testing

Summary Exploratory data analysis (EDA) and Bayesian inference (or, more generally, complex statistical modeling)—which are generally considered as unrelated statistical paradigms—can be particularly effective in combination. In this paper, we present a Bayesian framework for EDA based on posterior predictive checks. We explain how posterior predictive simulations can be used to create reference distributions for EDA graphs, and how this approach resolves some theoretical problems in Bayesian data analysis. We show how the generalization of Bayesian inference to include replicated data yrep and replicated parameters θrep follows a long tradition of generalizations in Bayesian theory. On the theoretical level, we present a predictive Bayesian formulation of goodness-of-fit testing, distinguishing between p-values (posterior probabilities that specified antisymmetric discrepancy measures will exceed 0) and u-values (data summaries with uniform sampling distributions). We explain that p-values, unlike u-values, are Bayesian probability statements in that they condition on observed data. Having reviewed the general theoretical framework, we discuss the implications for statistical graphics and exploratory data analysis, with the goal being to unify exploratory data analysis with more formal statistical methods based on probability models. We interpret various graphical displays as posterior predictive checks and discuss how Bayesian inference can be used to determine reference distributions. The goal of this work is not to downgrade descriptive statistics, or to suggest they be replaced by Bayesian modeling, but rather to suggest how exploratory data analysis fits into the probability-modeling paradigm. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for practical Bayesian inference. In particular, we anticipate that Bayesian software can be generalized to draw simulations of replicated data and parameters from their posterior predictive distribution, and these can in turn be used to calibrate EDA graphs.
Adaptive capacity of larvae of the haarder Liza haematocheila (Mugilidae, Mugiliformes) under decreasing salinity of the environment

The response of early juveniles of the haarder Liza haematocheila (= Mugil soiuy) to changes of water salinity, and the growth and survival of larvae in water of different levels of salinity were studied. The capacity of adaptation of the larvae of the haarder to fresh water is manifested at early ages. Normally developing six-day-old larvae of the haarder easily endure the transfer from seawater (17–19‰) to brackish water (5‰) and a day later, to fresh water. The resistance of larvae to abrupt decreases in salinity increases with age. Directly transferred to fresh water, all 6–12-day old larvae perish, compared to only 8–30% of 2–3-week old larvae (those retarded in growth). In the course of raising, the larvae have tended to survive better in brackish water (5‰). At decreasing salinity, the growth rate, the content of defatted dry matter, and the content of lipids increase. In fresh water, the stock lipids (triacylglycerols) are accumulated more intensively. With consideration of the original and published data, the problem of formation of the osmoregulatory system in the ontogenesis of mugilids is discussed.
Field identification in coset conformal field theories

Abstract The fields appearing in G/H coset conformal field theories are shown to obey certain relations. These relations, in conjunction with the modular transformations imply a certain identification of fields. The use of these relations and identifications leads to the correct modular invariant spectrum of the theories. The consistency of this spectrum with the operator product algebra is discussed.
Internal organizational problems and the sources of tensions of terrorist movements as catalysts of violence

The internal organizational problems of terrorist groups are analyzed. The purpose is to investigate how violent action by members of such organizations can be triggered by internal organizational problems rather than by external factors exclusively. Two kinds of problems are studied: command problems and political problems. Command problems include the following: reconciliation of security with efficient communication, the clustering of ethnic groups under stress, the role of women, and the quality of the membership. The political problems include the following: the self‐destructive potential in each terrorist organization (especially in case of its victory), the problem of inflated membership, and the role of terrorist leaders as the givers of moral dispensation.
Two-Stage Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty in Open-Angle Glaucoma

Forty-five adults with primary open-angle glaucoma received argon laser trabeculoplasty in two stages (180 degrees in each session) separated by one month. The indication for argon laser trabeculoplasty in each case was uncontrolled glaucoma consisting of progressive optic disk cupping and visual field loss despite maximally tolerable medication. A P value of .01 by Student's two-tailed paired t-test was used for statistical significance in the analysis of the intraocular pressure data. In most cases, the greatest reduction in intraocular pressure followed stage 1. Some patients received no additional benefit from stage 2; in other cases, the second stage was not only beneficial but provided most of the reduction in pressure. The pretreatment intraocular pressure level influenced the response to laser therapy. Patients with the highest pretreatment intraocular pressures received the most benefit. Both stages were complicated by a transient postoperative increase of 5 mm Hg or more in 12 patients (approximately 19%).
A 99%-efficiency 1-MHz 1.6-kW zero-voltage-switching boost converter using normally-off GaN power transistors and adaptive dead-time controlled gate drivers

A zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) boost converter using normally-off GaN power transistors and an on-chip gate driver are presented in this paper. The ZVS and adaptive dead-time control are developed to minimize the capacitive switching loss and body-diode recovery loss of the boost converter. Both high-side and low-side gate drivers provide ~6.8-ns propagation delays and ~2-ns rise/fall time, enabling MHz operation of the converter. With the proposed on-chip adaptive dead-time controlled gate drivers implemented in a 0.35-μm high-voltage CMOS process and 600-V normally-off GaN power transistors, the proposed 400-V ZVS boost converter delivers an output power of 1.6 kW and achieves a peak power efficiency of 99.2% at 1-MHz switching frequency.
Judges’ use of humor as a social corrective

Although judging is serious business, the occasional humorous opinion is a longstanding tradition among both British and American judges. In the United States, humorous judicial opinions are frequently used by newspapers as filler articles, and numerous collections appear in books and on Internet websites, to the apparent delight of popular and professional audiences alike. However, despite a widespread absence of public disapprobation, some commentators have criticized judicial humor as inappropriate, arguing that a judge's role is not to entertain, and that an opinion that ridicules a litigant or his case violates standards of judicial decorum and impartiality. This article challenges the view that a judge's use of humor is necessarily injudicious, and argues that judges use humor as a social corrective to sanction wrongdoers and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct. Through an analysis of actual judicial opinions, I demonstrate how this is achieved.
Effects of lowering the magnitude of reinforcement on the response rate from a baseline during a successive discrimination

The pecking response of pigeons was reinforced for 20 days with a reinforcement duration of 4 sec in the presence of both a green light and a white vertical line in order to establish a baseline response rate. Reducing the reinforcement duration in the presence of the line to 0.5 sec while holding it constant in the presence of green did not produce any consistent rate increase or decrease. This change did result, however, in a higher response rate in the presence of the stimulus correlated with the higher reinforcement magnitude.
Incidence and Causes of Hospital Readmission in Pediatric Patients after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Abstract Allogeneic (allo) and autologous (auto) hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) provide the potential to cure otherwise fatal diseases but they are resource-intense therapies. There is scant literature describing the burden of hospital readmission in the critical 6-month period of immunosuppression after HCT. We report the incidence, causes, and outcomes of readmission in the 6 months after day 0 of HCT and in the 30 days after hospital discharge. This study is an institutional review board–approved retrospective medical record review of children who underwent HCT at a single institution. Between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2011, 291 children underwent HCT at our institute. Of these, 140 patients were excluded because they were not followed primarily at our institute for the first 6 months after transplantation, 14 patients were excluded because they died during their initial hospitalization, and 1 patient was excluded because the initial hospitalization was longer than 6 months. Of the remaining 136 patients, 63% had at least 1 readmission. Of the patients who underwent allo-HCT, 78% were readmitted, in contrast to 38% of auto-HCT patients (P
Optical testing of a membrane diffractive optic for space-based solar imaging

We describe imaging capabilities of a 0.2 m membrane diffractive primary (DOE) used as a key element in FalconSat-7, a space-based solar telescope. Its mission is to take an image of the Sun at the H-alpha wavelength (656nm) over a narrow bandwidth while in orbit. In this case the DOE is a photon sieve which consists of billions of tiny holes, with the focusing ability dependent on an underlying Fresnel zone geometry. Uniform radial expansion/contraction of the substrate due to temperature or relative humidity change will result in a shift in focal length without introducing errors in phase of the transmitted wavefront and without a decrease in efficiency. We will also show that while ideally the DOE surface should be held flat to within 5.25 microns, an opto-mechanical analysis showed that local deformations up to 32 microns are possible without significantly degrading the image quality.
Application of Flamelet Profiles to Flame Structure in Practical Burners

Partial premixing can be induced by design in combustors, occurs inadvertently during turbulent nonpremixed combustion, or arises through inadequate fuel-air mixing. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate the effect of partial premixing in a burner that mimics conditions that might occur under practice. In this investigation, we report on similitude of partially premixed flames encountered in practical complex and multi-dimensional burners with simpler, less complex flames, such as counterflow flamelets. A burner is designed to simulate the more complex multi-dimensionalflows that might be encountered in practice, and includes the effects of staging, swirl, and possible quenching by introduction of secondary air. The measurements indicate that the structure of partially premixed flames in complex, practical devices can be analyzed in a manner similar to that of flamelets, even if substantial heat transfer occurs. In particular, the flame structure can be characterized in terms of a modified mixture fraction that differentiates the lean and rich zones, and identifies the spatial location of the flame.
On the synchronization of a class of electronic circuits that exhibit chaos

Abstract The synchronization of two nonlinear electronic circuits that exhibit chaos is numerically demonstrated using techniques from modern control theory. These circuits have been used to model a “jerk” equation and can either be identical or not identical. The technique is initially described using linear circuits.
Absorption cross-section fluctuations driven by continuous and discrete laser frequency variations

Abstract Though the operational definition of a photon’s absorption cross-section is straightforward, the definition has a fundamental and well-known subtlety. In order to make contact with theory, the incident photons must be monoenergetic and should impinge on the target atom or molecule at a constant rate. To some extent, however, these two constraints are always violated: no field is perfectly monochromatic and laser photons bunch (for both technical and fundamental reasons). Thus, the textbook definition of cross-section must be understood in terms of a mean, in which case the quantum nature of a field and the practicability of its realization must be recognized as sources of cross-section variance. Here, we consider the role that continuous and discrete random frequency fluctuations play in determining the variance of an absorption cross-section. In particular, we investigate the differing roles of phase diffusion and mode-partition noise, finding that discontinuous mode variations have a significant and not easily discerned effect on an absorption cross-section’s variance. As a by-product of our studies, agreement between theory and experiment highlights the utility of a hybrid absorption cross-section for use in the quasi-static approximation, and also suggests an exponential relationship between the rate of mode hops and injection current in cleaved-facet diode lasers.
Effect of Flooring on Discomfort and Behavioral Responses to Prolonged Standing

Prolonged standing is a common requirement in the workplace and is a well-known cause of discomfort. This experiment investigated the effect of material properties of flooring surfaces on perceived discomfort during prolonged standing. Behavioral responses to prolonged standing such as fidgeting (or weight-shifting between feet) were also analyzed. Participants stood for four hours on each of four “anti-fatigue” mats and a hard surface (control condition) while discomfort ratings and in-shoe pressures on the feet were recorded. Results showed that discomfort ratings did not significantly differ among mats, but all mats were more comfortable than the hard floor during the fourth hour of standing. The frequency of fidgeting was affected by flooring surface and was correlated to discomfort. The results indicate that if differences in discomfort between these mats exist, they require a longer standing duration to be observed. The behavioral results provide a possible proxy measurement for discomfort, as well ...
Temporal - and dose-related characteristics of biochemical and morphological alterations in the hamster induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-dioxin

Abstract The temporal - and dose-related characteristics of hepatic enzymes induced and toxic responses elicited in the hamster by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin were examined. The results demonstrate a dissociation of the induction of these hepatic enzymes from TCDD-elicited lethality, but not necessarily hepatic damage, in this species. Furthermore, the hyperthyroidism observed is suggestive of a role of these hormones in the relatively insensitive nature of this species to TCDD treatment.
Optoelectronics For Radar Applications

Fiber optic links can be used in a phased array antenna system to provide interconnections for a variety of digital control signals as well as analog rf signals. In particular, programmable fiber optic delaylines used as rf phase shifters in a beam forming network are examined in this paper.
Remote Sensing Best Paper Award for the Year 2015

As a follow-up to the Best Paper Award of 2014, recognizing the most outstanding papers in the area of remote sensing techniques, design and applications published in Remote Sensing, we are pleased to announce the Remote Sensing Best Paper Award for the year 2015. [...]
Temporary connectivity: the relative benefits of large river floodplain inundation in the lower Mississippi River

Studies have demonstrated the importance of the synergistic relationship between large rivers and adjacent floodplain connectivity. The majority of large rivers and their associated floodplain have been isolated through a series of expansive levee systems. Thus, evaluations of the relative importance of floodplain connectivity are limited due to the aforementioned anthropogenic perturbations. However, persistent elevated river levels during spring 2011 at the confluence of the Mississippi River and Ohio River prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create large gaps in the levee system producing an expansive floodplain (i.e. the New Madrid Floodway). Specifically, the New Madrid Floodway (approximately 475 km2) in southeast Missouri was created to divert part of the Mississippi River flow during catastrophic floods and thus alleviate flood risk on nearby population centers. Given the historic flooding of 2011, the floodway was opened and provided an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate the influence of floodplain inundation on fish species diversity, relative abundance, and growth. We sampled the floodplain and the adjacent river at three stratified random locations with replication biweekly from the commencement of inundation (late May) through early October. Overall, we found that species diversity, relative abundance, and growth were higher in the floodplain than the main river. Our data support previous examinations, including those outside North America, that suggest floodplain inundation may be important for riverine fishes. Given these apparent advantages of floodplain inundation, restoration efforts should balance benefits of floodplain inundation while safeguarding priority needs of humans.
Parallel mining of association rules

We consider the problem of mining association rules on a shared nothing multiprocessor. We present three algorithms that explore a spectrum of trade-offs between computation, communication, memory usage, synchronization, and the use of problem specific information. The best algorithm exhibits near perfect scaleup behavior, yet requires only minimal overhead compared to the current best serial algorithm.
Biodynamic preparations: Short-term effects on crops, soils, and weed populations

Biodynamic agriculture is an organic farming system that utilizes fermented herbal and mineral preparations as compost additives and field sprays. This study was conducted to determine whether biodynamic preparations affect lentil and wheat growth and yield, soil fertility, or weed populations in the short run. Each of four nutrient treatments, biodynamically prepared compost, non-biodynamic compost, mineral NPK fertilizer, and no fertilizer, were tested with and without biodynamic field sprays. Crop yield, crop quality, and soil fertility were similar in plots treated with mineral NPK fertilizers, biodynamic compost, or non-biodynamic compost. Use of compost raised soil pH from 6,0 without compost to 6.5 with compost. Compost application reduced the broadleaf weed population by 29% and reduced the grass weed population by 78%. Biodynamic sprays altered soil and grain N chemistry, but the effects are of unknown biological significance. Use of the biodynamic field sprays correlated with higher yield of lentil per unit plant biomass, lower grain C and crude protein contents, greater NO 3 - content in soft white spring wheat, and greater NH 4 + content in soil. In general, soils and crops treated with biodynamic preparations showed few differences from those not treated. Application of composts with or without the preparations produced similar crop yields with lower weed pressure, compared with equal nutrients supplied by mineral fertilizer, but any additional short-term benefits from biodynamic preparations remain questionable.
Cell phone mini challenge award: Intuitive social network graphs visual analytics of cell phone data using mobivis and ontovis

MobiVis is a visual analytics tools to aid in the process of processing and understanding complex relational data, such as social networks. At the core of these tools is the ability to filter complex networks structurally and semantically, which helps us discover clusters and patterns in the organization of social networks. Semantic filtering is obtained via an ontology graph, based on another visual analytics tool, called OntoVis. In this summary, we describe how these tools where used to analyze one of the mini-challenges of the 2008 VAST challenge.
Direct brain recordings fuel advances in cognitive electrophysiology

Electrocorticographic brain recordings in patients with surgically implanted electrodes have recently emerged as a powerful tool for examining the neural basis of human cognition. These recordings measure the electrical activity of the brain directly, and thus provide data with higher temporal and spatial resolution than other human neuroimaging techniques. Here we review recent research in this area and in particular we explain how electrocorticographic recordings have provided insight into the neural basis of human working memory, episodic memory, language, and spatial cognition. In some cases this research has identified patterns of human brain activity that were unexpected on the basis of studies in animals.
Videotape feedback: effects on assertive performance and subjects' perceived competence and satisfaction.

Summary.-Volunteer, unassertive undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of two treaiment groups or an assessment-only control group (all ns = 10). Both treatment groups received two individual sessions of modeling, coaching, and behavior rehearsal to five situations judged by themselves to be problematic. After each behavioral rehearsal, subjects assigned to one treatment group received videotape recorded feedback of their rehearsal responses, while subjects in the other treatment group did not view the videotapes made of their role-plays. Analyses of variance on a behavioral measure of assertive performance and a self-report measure of anxiety indicated that the two treatment groups, while not significantly different from each ocher, were significantly more assertive and less anxious after treatment than the control group. Analyses of variance on self-report measures of subject-perceived competency and satisfaction demonstrated that only subjects who did not receive videotape feedback perceived themselves to be more competent and satisfied than the controls after treatment. Videotape feedback did not appear to add to the effectiveness of modeling, coaching, and behavior rehearsal in promoting assertive behavior.
Effects of substrate parameters on growth responses of eight helophyte species in relation to flooding

Abstract The interactive effects of substrate parameters (redox potential, organic matter content) and flooding depths on growth responses and field distribution of eight helophyte species, common in European floodplains, were studied. These species (Acorus calamus L., Carex acuta L., Equisetum fluviatile L., Sagittaria sagittifolia L., Scirpus lacustris L., Sparganium erectum L., Typha angustifolia L. and Typha latifolia L.) showed distributional differences, which could be related to the hydrological regime and to the redox potential and organic matter content of the submerged sediment in the littoral of floodplain lakes. The growth responses of these helophyte species were studied in relation to flooding (plants partially flooded versus totally submerged) and sediment characteristics (mineral, moderately reductive sediment versus organic, highly reductive sediment) for 8 weeks during the growth season in outdoor artificial ponds under ambient climatic conditions. Flooding conditions were found to exert a clear impact on helophyte growth responses. In response to total submergence, most species showed shoot length extensions and restored contact between leaves and air. Shoot fractions were generally lower under submerged conditions, as a result of growth reduction at prolonged submergence. The impact of sediment characteristics on growth responses of the species under study depended partly on the flooding conditions. All species under study tolerated prolonged anoxic and toxic sediments, provided the plants grow emergent. When growing emergent on organic, highly reductive sediments, these species increased their growth rate and allocated biomass to above-ground plant parts, which suggests a general adaptation mechanism to hypoxic and toxic conditions. Prolonged submergence on organic, highly reductive substrates resulted in a growth reduction of all species selected. Our results indicate that the decline of the helophyte vegetation in moderately dynamic floodplain lakes along the Lower Rhine and Meuse can be related to the combination of the organic, highly reductive sediments and the increased incidence of summer floods there in particular. Besides shared growth responses, species-specific differences in flooding tolerance and field distribution were observed between the selected helophyte species. The experimentally established flooding tolerances and tolerances to highly reductive substrates were generally larger than predicted by the observations on the distribution of the species in the field, suggesting that additional factors which restrict the occurrence of these species are involved.
Urinary Gonadotrophin (ICSH)-Inhibiting Substance During the Normal Menstrual Cycle

In 72-hr pooled urine specimens from 4 normal menstruating women, varying “gonadotrophin inhibitor” activity was found throughout the cycle, with the exception of days 7–9 when significant reduction in urinary inhibitor activity was observed. The possible relationship between this reduction in inhibitor and the mid-cycle rise in ICSH is discussed.
A finite element constitutive update scheme for anisotropic, viscoelastic solids exhibiting non-linearity of the Schapery type

This study presents a new scheme for performing integration point constitutive updates for anisotropic, small strain, non-linear viscoelasticity, within the context of implicit, non-linear finite element structural analysis. While the basic scheme has been presented earlier by the authors for linear viscoelasticity, the present work illustrates the generality of the underlying fundamentals by extending to Schapery's non-linear model. The method features a judicious choice of state variables, a stable backward Euler integration step, and a consistent tangent operator. Its greatest strength lies in ready incorporation into existing FEM codes. Numerical examples involving homogeneous stress states such as uniaxial extension and simple shear, and non-uniform stress states such as a beam under tip load, were carried out by incorporating the present scheme into a general purpose FEM package. Excellent agreement with analytical results is observed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A double RESURF LDMOS with drain profile engineering for improved ESD robustness

This letter reports a novel 50 V lateral power MOSFET structure that is self-protecting with respect to electrostatic discharge (ESD) strikes. This device features a double RESURF technique in conjunction with a deep drain engineered profile that eliminates soft leakage degradation after snapback, thus demonstrating immunity to filamentation. Maximum second breakdown current (I/sub t2/) of 16 mA//spl mu/m has been realized in a 100 ns transmission line pulse (TLP) measurement even with a higher holding voltage of 20 V. ESD protection level in excess of 5 kV with an equivalent human body model (HBM) has been shown to be feasible for this device without significant compromise in device size.
Isolation of Equine rhinitis A virus from a horse semen sample

Semen from an apparently healthy 4-year-old American Quarter Horse was submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories for Equine arteritis virus isolation. Visual inspection of the semen sample upon arrival noted it was unusually yellow in color. The semen sample was inoculated onto cell monolayers, and cytopathic effect was observed 5 days postinoculation. The resultant isolate tested negative for Equine arteritis virus, and was subsequently identified as Equine rhinitis A virus. Equine rhinitis A virus has been isolated from horse urine, but has not been described in stallion semen. The present study documents the isolation of Equine rhinitis A virus from stallion semen that was likely contaminated with urine at the time of collection.
Expansion of the TFTR neutral beam computer system for D-T operations

The TFTR neutral beam computer system has expanded to provide an easy-to-use windowing and graphics environment for running the TFTR neutral beam injection system for D-T operations. Two SUN workstations are used for interactive analysis and display of neutral beam diagnostic and operational data. These systems are interfaced via Ethernet to another SUN computer which is used for data transfer and real-time analysis. The real-time analysis computer is linked to the TFTR Encore computer system via a DMA interface. Data acquisition and device control is performed on the Encore computers, and raw data is transferred via a memory-mapped approach to memory partitions and files on the SUN Analysis computer. Real-time analysis programs provide numerous displays to operators and engineers of operational data every 150 seconds. Physicists use X-window and OSF/MOTIF-based graphical user interfaces (GUIs) on the Diagnostic workstation to display interactive analysis of diagnostic data. These include X-window graphical displays of thermocouples, OMA, waterflow calorimetry, H-alpha duct and ion gauge data to the workstation. Neutral beam operations engineers also use a similar GUI to display interactive summary, power and ion source waveforms on the Operations workstation. In addition, these engineers have access to INGRES databases, which contain operational and analyzed data for the past several TFTR run periods. The Operations computer has a hard disk drive, which contains these INGRES databases and a database of restored analysis and raw data files. These files can be restored on demand from the TFTR computer system VAX cluster. The real-time Analysis computer also has a hard disk drive, which contains a database of the most recent analysis and raw data files.
BENZODIAZEPINES IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

The effects of BZ drugs result from interaction at the GABAA receptor within the CNS, producing anxiolysis, hypnosis, and amnesia in a dose-dependent fashion. These sedative effects are best titrated to reproducible clinical endpoints, using scoring systems such as the Ramsay scale. All BZs exhibit similar pharmacologic effects, but the important differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics should be recognized to use these drugs safely and effectively within the ICU. Diazepam is the classic anxiolytic, amnestic, and sedative agent, but the presence of long-acting active metabolites that depend on the kidneys for elimination limits its use in many ICU patients. Lorazepam is the most potent BZ used in the ICU; it has stable pharmacokinetics and relatively low cost. This drug is best reserved for situations in which rapid onset is not essential and long-term sedation is anticipated. Midazolam has the shortest t1/2 of the commonly used BZs, generates few active metabolites, and is water soluble at physiologic pH. Thus, it is well suited for continuous infusion in the ICU, and the recent introduction of generic formulations of midazolam has decreased the drug-acquisition cost for many hospitals. Optimal sedation for ICU patients often requires BZ and concomitant therapy with drugs such as haloperidol, dexmedetomidine, opioids, and so forth, to reduce untoward side effects and, perhaps, overall drug costs. Flumazenil, a specific BZ antagonist, can be used for diagnostic or therapeutic reversal of BZ agonists when appropriate. Most experienced intensivists recommend an individualized approach to sedation and titration of anxiolysis to maximize efficacy, minimize side effects, and optimize cost effectiveness in the ICU. New CNS monitors of the EEG, such as the BIS or entropy EEG monitors, may refine titration algorithms further in the near future.
Sexual maturity of the edible crab (Cancer pagurus) in the Skagerrak and the Kattegat, based on reproductive and morphometric characters

Ungfors, A. 2007. Sexual maturity of the edible crab (Cancer pagurus) in the Skagerrak and the Kattegat, based on reproductive and morphometric characters. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 318-327.The size at the onset of sexual maturity of female and male edible crab (Cancer pagurus) from the Skagerrak and the Kattegat and the fecundity of females were estimated. Physiological maturity of females, i.e. ovary development, was at a larger size than behavioural maturity (indications of successful copulation). The carapace width (CW) at which 50% of females were mature (CW 50 ), based on development of the gonads, was 132 mm, sperm presence gave a CW 50 of 107 mm, and the presence of sperm plugs a CW 50 of 118 mm. Changes in relative abdominal width were found at approximately 100 and 130 mm, and CW 50 was 104 mm. A smaller fraction (25%) of the females is functionally mature at sizes <140 mm. However, male physiological and functional maturity was more synchronized: CW 50 s based on advanced sperm production and allometric changes in the chelae were within 5 mm (117-122 mm). Size-specific fecundity increases with CW (0.5-2.5 million eggs). Recommendations for a minimum landing size (MLS) of 140 mm and a change of escape gap size to 90 mm are given. Legislation of a MLS of 140 mm CW for females and males will reduce future potential landings more in the Skagerrak than in the Kattegat.
Gesturing makes learning last

The gestures children spontaneously produce when explaining a task predict whether they will subsequently learn that task. Why? Gesture might simply reflect a child's readiness to learn a particular task. Alternatively, gesture might itself play a role in learning the task. To investigate these alternatives, we experimentally manipulated children's gesture during instruction in a new mathematical concept. We found that requiring children to gesture while learning the new concept helped them retain the knowledge they had gained during instruction. In contrast, requiring children to speak, but not gesture, while learning the concept had no effect on solidifying learning. Gesturing can thus play a causal role in learning, perhaps by giving learners an alternative, embodied way of representing new ideas. We may be able to improve children's learning just by encouraging them to move their hands.
Medium Access Control with Adjustable Sleeps for Wireless Sensor Networks

The paper proposes a throughput and energy-aware medium-access-control protocol for wireless sensor networks. The proposed approach provides a sleeping-time adjustment scheme to flexibly adjust the sleep time to reduce the wasted energy in a low-traffic network and increase the throughput in a high-traffic network. The sleeping and waking durations are determined using time counters rather than time slots. A waking-time sharing scheme is responsible for establishing the common waking time among a group of neighbors for group communication. The proposed protocol solves the energy inefficiency caused by idle listening. Simulation experiments have been performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach compared to some other energy-aware medium-access-control protocols.
Simulation of load balancing algorithms: a comparative study

This article introduces a new load balancing algorithm, called diffusive load balancing, and compares its performance with three other load balancing algorithms: static, round robin, and shortest queue load balancing. The comparison of load balancing algorithms is made in three simulated client-server environments: a small-scale, intranet, and Internet environment. Experimental results of performance modeling show that diffusive load balancing is better than round robin and static load balancing in a dynamic environment, which manifest in frequent clients' object creation requests and in short objects' lifetimes. In this research, the diffusive load balancing algorithm is discussed in juxtaposition with the distributed client-server architectures.
Effect of Adenine Arabinoside on Severe Herpesvirus hominis Infections in Man

Ten immunosuppressed patients received intravenous adenine arabinoside (ara-A, 3.3–10 mg/kg per day for five to 13 days) for treatment of severe mucocutaneous infection due to Herpesvirus hominis (HVH). After ara-A, virus excretion by patients with orofacial lesions due to type 1 HVH infection was reduced 90% within 72 hr. By nine days, these lesions contained no virus and were healed, whereas three untreated patients had exreted virus and had clinical lesions for two to 16 weeks. In contrast, type 2 HVH genitoperineal infection responded less well clinically and virologically. Nine neonates, six with disseminated HVH infection and three with localized HVH infection, were also treated with ara-A (10–15 mg/kg per day for five to 15 days). In contrast with the usually fatal outcome of disseminated HVH infection, three of the six neonates survived. The three with localized infection recovered without further extension of the disease. Unlike 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine and cytosine arabinoside, ara-A, within its apparent antiviral dose range, produced no demonstrable hepatic, renal, or hematologic toxicity. These preliminary data suggest a future role for ara-A in the treatment of severe HVH infections in man.
Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms using 3 commercially available devices: midterm results.

Purpose:To report the early and midterm results of 3 commercially available stent-grafts for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) exclusion.Methods:Since fall 1999, 151 patients (137 men; mean age 74 years, range 54–88) have undergone AAA repair using 88 Ancure, 46 AneuRx, and 17 Excluder stent-grafts in elective procedures. All patients were followed clinically and underwent postoperative duplex ultrasound and/or computed tomographic angiography, which was repeated every 6 months.Results:The mean overall follow-up was 17 months (range 1–46). Initial technical failure was 3% (3/88) for Ancure versus 0% for AneuRx and Excluder. Primary endoleak occurred in 8% (7/88) of the Ancure patients versus 22% (10/46) for AneuRx and 6% (1/17) for Excluder (p=NS). Early (30-day) graft thrombosis (2/151, 1%) was seen only in the Ancure group. The perioperative complication rates (excluding endoleak and fever) were 22% (19/88) for Ancure, 15% (7/46) for AneuRx, and 0% for Excluder (p=NS). There was only 1 (0.7%) perioperativ...