cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cirrus Cloud Microphysical Property Retrieval Using Lidar and Radar Measurements. Part II: Midlatitude Cirrus Microphysical and Radiative Properties

Abstract The lidar–radar algorithm described in Part I of this set of papers is applied to ∼1000 h of Raman lidar and millimeter wave cloud radar (MMCR) data collected at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program Southern Great Plains Clouds and Radiation Testbed site in Oklahoma during the period from November 1996 to November 2000. The resulting statistics of cirrus microphysical and radiative properties show that most cirrus clouds are optically thin (mean optical depth of 0.58 with a standard deviation of 0.67) with low ice water path (mean 12.19 g m−2 with a standard deviation of 19.0). The seasonal changes of cirrus properties are relatively small except for the general effective radius (Dge). Strong temperature dependencies of ice water content, Dge, and extinction coefficients are found in the dataset, which are well described by second-order polynomial functions. The temperature and thickness dependencies of the cirrus properties are studied in detail, providing information useful in the vali...
Global environmental predictors of benthic marine biogeographic structure

Analyses of how environmental factors influence the biogeographic structure of biotas are essential for understanding the processes underlying global diversity patterns and for predicting large-scale biotic responses to global change. Here we show that the large-scale geographic structure of shallow-marine benthic faunas, defined by existing biogeographic schemes, can be predicted with 89–100% accuracy by a few readily available oceanographic variables; temperature alone can predict 53–99% of the present-day structure along coastlines. The same set of variables is also strongly correlated with spatial changes in species compositions of bivalves, a major component of the benthic marine biota, at the 1° grid-cell resolution. These analyses demonstrate the central role of coastal oceanography in structuring benthic marine biogeography and suggest that a few environmental variables may be sufficient to model the response of marine biogeographic structure to past and future changes in climate.
Concept of a blanket first wall supported by radial tubes

This paper describes a new idea for the design of the first wall of a fusion reactor blanket. Radially oriented tubes are used to support the first wall and to channel coolant to the front of the blanket. A metal skin resembling a tufted or quilted seat cushion is supported in pure tension by the tubes. This thin skin, which forms the first wall, can contain the internal pressure of the blanket and yet be reasonably transparent to neutrons. The structural volume fraction is the minimum theoretically required, thus further enhancing neutron economy. Another advantage is the openness of the blanket interior, giving the blanket designer considerable freedom. The design appears to be resistant to radiation damage.
Perceptions of diabetes among patients in an urban health care system.

Objectives. A major problem facing health care providers today is adherence to treatment regimens by patients. Adherence is of even greater significance for patients with diabetes who shoulder a great deal of responsibility in their disease management. Perceptions of diabetes have been found to play a major role in adherence. The effects of race and socioeconomic status on the disease perceptions remain unclear. This exploratory study encompassed two themes: (1) assessing perceptions of diabetes among African American and white American adults with diabetes who were patients in 1994 in a large Midwestern urban health care system and (2) examining the psychometric properties of the measurement instruments used to study perceptions. Design. A stratified random sampling scheme (by race and socioeconomic status (SES)) was used. Diabetes perceptions were measured using three scales from the Meaning of Illness Questionnaire assessing the impact loss and stress associated with diabetes. Perceptions of physician ...
Sex Differences in the Use of Delayed Semantic Context When Listening to Disrupted Speech

Female as opposed to male listeners were better able to use a delayed informative cue at the end of a long sentence to report an earlier word which was disrupted by noise. Informative (semantically related) or uninformative (semantically unrelated) word cues were presented 2, 6, or 10 words after a target word whose initial phoneme had been replaced with noise. A total of 84 young adults (45 males) listened to each sentence and then repeated it after its offset. The semantic benefit effect (SBE) was the difference in the accuracy of report of the disrupted target word during informative vs. uninformative sentences. Women had significantly higher SBEs than men even though there were no significant sex differences in terms of number of non-target words reported, the effect of distance between the disrupted target word and the informative cue, or kinds of errors generated. We suggest that the superior ability of women to use delayed semantic information to decode an earlier ambiguous speech signal may be linked to women’s tendency to engage the hemispheres more bilaterally than men during word processing. Since the maintenance of semantic context under ambiguous conditions demands more right than left hemispheric resources, this may give women an advantage.
ABCR, the ATP-binding Cassette Transporter Responsible for Stargardt Macular Dystrophy, Is an Efficient Target of All-trans-retinal-mediated Photooxidative Damage in Vitro IMPLICATIONS FOR RETINAL DISEASE

A large body of experimental and clinical data have documented the damaging effects of light exposure on photoreceptor cells although the identities of the biologically relevant molecular targets of photodamage are still uncertain. Several lines of evidence point to retinoids or retinoid derivatives as chromophores that can mediate light damage. We report here that ABCR, a photoreceptor-specific transporter involved in the recycling of all-trans-retinal, is unusually sensitive to photooxidation damage mediated by all-trans-retinal in vitro. Partial loss of ABCR function is responsible for Stargardt macular dystrophy, which is associated with accumulation of A2E, a diretinoid adduct within the retinal pigment epithelium. Photodamage to ABCR causes it to aggregate in SDS gels and results in the loss of retinal-stimulated ATPase activity. Peripherin/RDS and ROM-1, two structural proteins that colocalize with ABCR at the outer segment disc rim, are also significantly more susceptible to all-trans-retinal-mediated photodamage than are the major proteins from the rod outer segment. These observations imply that there may be specific protein targets of photodamage within the outer segment, and they may be especially relevant to assessing the risk of light exposure in those individuals who already have diminished ABCR activity due to mutation in one or both copies of the ABCRgene.
Automatic generation and synthesis of C-frames for mechanical parts in an insertion task

An approach that utilizes the geometric information about the mating parts in generating and synthesizing the C-frame and the compliance-selection vector which are needed at every sampling instant for hybrid position/force control scheme in an insertion task, is presented. A geometric modeling system is used to model the mating objects involved in the insertion task. From the geometric model of the objects and the nominal position-trajectory of the task, a set of cut-planes of the mating objects perpendicular to the insertion direction can be obtained. Due to the uncertainties inherent in working with real-world objects, and the limited position accuracy of the manipulator, an uncertainty model is incorporated into the cut-planes to reflect the position and orientation uncertainties of the C-frame. This approach reduces a difficult three-dimensional problem into a set of two-dimensional problems and will successfully complete the task even in the presence of position and orientation uncertainties. >
Synthesis and the characterization of Schiff-base copper complexes: Reactivity with DNA, 4-NPP and BNPP

Abstract Two new copper Schiff-base complexes have been synthesized and characterized by use of spectroscopic techniques. The Schiff-base ligands, (E)-N-((1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methylene)quinolin-8-amine, MICQ and (E)-1-((quinolin-8-ylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol, TL1 were obtained from the reaction of 8-aminoquinoline with 1-methyl-2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1-napthaldehyde respectively. The reaction of MICQ with copper(II) chloride produced complex 1, [Cu(MICQ)Cl](PF6), whereas the reaction of TL1 with copper(II) acetate resulted in complex 2, Cu(TL1)(OAc)·CH3OH. The single crystal X-ray structure determination of both complexes show distorted square planar geometries around the copper center. The reactivity of the complexes with calf thymus DNA, CT-DNA and plasmid DNA have been studied using ethidium bromide displacement fluorescence emission, electronic absorption spectroscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis. From the fluorescence emission studies Ksv values of 3.70 × 103 M−1 and 7.82 × 103 M−1 were obtained for complexes 1 and 2, respectively. The absorption titration resulted in Kb values of 1.52 × 105 M−1 for complex 1 and 5.00 × 105 M−1 for complex 2. The results indicate that both complexes significantly interact with CT-DNA and also show cleavage of supercoiled DNA. In addition, complex 2 was found to hydrolyze the DNA model compounds bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate, BNPP and 4-nitrophenyl phosphate, 4-NPP.
Suppression by 1,25(OH)2D3 of transcription of the pre-proparathyroid hormone gene.

When bovine parathyroid cells in culture are exposed to the active vitamin D metabolite 1,25(OH)2D3, a significant decrease in the steady–state levels of pre–proparathyroid hormone (pre–proPTH) mRNA occurs. The possibility that the fall in specific mRNA is due to a decrease in rate of transcription of the PTH gene was examined in this study. In the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3, there was a rapid and steady decline in PTH gene transcription rate which fell to a minimum of 10–15% of control at 24 h. The effect was observed at physiological levels (10−11m) and was also fully reversible.
COMPLETE INTERSECTION K-THEORY AND CHERN CLASSES

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the theory of complete intersection in noetherian commutative rings from the K-Theory point of view. (By complete intersection theory, we mean questions like when/whether an ideal is the image of a projective module of appropriate rank.) The paper has two parts. In part one (Section 1-5), we deal with the relationship between complete intersection and K-theory. The Part two (Section 6-8) is, essentially, devoted to construction projective modules with certain cycles as the total Chern class. Here Chern classes will take values in the Associated graded ring of the Grothedieck γ − filtration and as well in the Chow group in the smooth case. In this paper, all our rings are commutative and schemes are noetherian. To avoid unnecessary complications, we shall assume that all our schemes are connected. For a noetherian schemeX, K0(X) will denote the Grothendieck group of locally free sheaves of finite rank over X. Whenever it make sense, for a coherent sheaf M over X, [M ] will denote the class of M in K0(X). We shall mostly be concerned with X = SpecA, where A is a noetherian commutative ring and in this case we shall also use the notation K0(A) for K0(X).
An Approach For Detecting Post-Launch Spectral Changes In Satellite Multispectral Sensors

An approach for testing whether or not post-launch changes have occurred in sensor spectral responses is described. The approach uses field measurements of ground targets having differing spectral reflectance properties as well as calculations based on the original spectral response characteristics. As an example, a shift in band location was modeled and evaluated through the simulation of signals from soil and vegetation targets in the spectral bands of five satellite systems.
Quantum interference in small magnetic particles.

We consider tunneling of a large spin between nonequivalent wells in the presence of the magnetic field. Using coherent spin states we show that the quenching of tunneling for a half-integer spin, which occurs at H=0, survives up to a reasonably large field. An experiment is proposed which may allow one to observe this quenching. Oscillation of the tunneling rate on the applied field is suggested.
The Role of Opiorphins (Endogenous Neutral Endopeptidase Inhibitors) in Urogenital Smooth Muscle Biology

Introduction The opiorphins are a newly characterized class of peptides that act as potent endogenous neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitors. Recent reports have suggested that they play an important role in erectile physiology.
A cautionary note on cosmetics containing ingredients that increase aquaporin‐3 expression

Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is a membrane transport protein that facilitates water and glycerol transport across cell plasma membranes in the basal layer of keratinocytes in normal skin. Motivated by a relation between AQP3 expression and skin water content, several companies have marketed cosmetics containing ingredients that increase AQP3 expression. However, caution seems warranted in targeting AQP3 to increase skin moisturization based on a recently discovered association in mice between epidermal AQP3 expression and skin tumor formation.
Radiation and Chemotherapy Effect on Reproduction in a Teenage Cancer Survivor

The patient is 15 years and 9 months old with a history of Ewings Sarcoma of the right pelvic pubic ramus diagnosed at age 11. She was treated with radiation and chemotherapy (Vincristine Adriamycin and Cytoxan) and is currently in remission. She presents with a one-year history of achy abdominal pain. It occurs at monthly intervals lasting about a week. She does have some nausea and vomiting with this pain. Her bowel movements are regular as is her urination pattern. Targeted questions regarding her pubertal development reveal that she had noted some breast development prior to her diagnosis. During her treatment she has noticed no further development but in the last year she noticed more breast growth. She has never had any vaginal bleeding. She was seen by her local MD and on exam she had a vaginal opening of 2.5 cm. An ultrasound was ordered and showed a small uterus with a large fluid collection c/w hematocolpos. (excerpt)
Relationship of chin spot size to dominance in the black-chinned mouthbrooding cichlid fish (Sarotherodon melanotheron)

Abstract Aggressive interactions of male Sarotherodon melanotheron were studied to determine the communicative value of chin spot size in relation to dominance. In addition, the effects of residency and size on the aggressiveness of this fish were determined. Two-factor analysis of variance was used for frequencies of each modal action pattern for residency and size. Results show that residency played a major role in the outcome of an aggressive interaction, whereas size had little effect. Dominance of each experimental fish was calculated using Barlow & Ballin's (1976) dominance index. A chin spot ratio was obtained by dividing the chin spot area by the total surface area of the individual fish. Simple linear regression was conducted to determine if dominance and chin spot size were correlated and a positive linear relationship was found to exist between the two variables.
Extracting targeted data from the web

Tom M. Mitchell is author of the textbook "Machine Learning" (McGraw Hill, 1997), President of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence and a member of the National Research Council's Computer Science and Telecommunications Board. He is Vice President and Chief Scientist at WhizBang Labs and is currently on a two-year leave of absence from Carnegie Mellon University where he is the Fredkin Professor of Learning and AI in the School of Computer Science and founding Director of CMU's Center for Automated Learning and Discovery. Mitchell's research interests span many areas of Machine Learning theory and practice. His current work at WhizBang Labs involves developing machine learning methods for extracting information from text. For example, WhizBang has developed the world's largest database of job openings by training its software to automatically locate and extract detailed information from job postings on corporate web sites (see www.flipdog.com).
Effect of cold and restriction of movement on mast cells and metachromasia of rat skin.

SYSTEMIC administration of corticotrophin, cortisone and hydrocortisone causes degranulation and other changes in mast cells1–3. Exposure of rats to cold caused the number of mast cells in lung and thymus tissue to increase in rats weighing 185 g and decrease in rats weighing 380 g (ref. 4). Cold treatment of the heavier rats increased the number of dermal mast cells and decreased mesentery (intervascular) mast cells5.
Relation of the echocardiographic estimate of left ventricular size to mortality in infants with severe left ventricular outflow obstruction

Abstract The relation of left ventricular size, as estimated with echocardiography, to mortality was evaluated in three groups of infants with severe left ventricular outflow obstruction. Group I consisted of 17 patients with combined aortic and mitral stenosis or atresia associated with definite hypoplasia of the left ventricle. Group II consisted of eight patients with the primary diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis. Group III consisted of 12 patients with severe coarctation of the aorta. The left ventricular enddiastolic dimension measured with M mode echocardiography and the cross-sectional area of the left ventricular cavity as seen in the parasternal long axis view of the two dimensional echocardiogram were used as indexes of left ventricular volume. All patients with symptomatic outflow obstruction and a left ventricular end-diastolic dimension of less than 13 mm died in infancy. However, five patients with a hypoplastic left ventricle proved at angiography or at autopsy, or both, were found to have a ventricular end-diastolic dimension of 13 mm or greater. Two dimensional echocardiography showed that the left ventricle in these patients was foreshortened and spherical in shape. The cross-sectional area of the left ventricle of each patient in group I was less than 1.6 cm 2 . This was below the range of cross-sectional areas found in a group of normal infants (1.8 to 3.5 cm 2 ± 2 standard deviations about the mean). Three patients in groups II and III had a slightly reduced left ventricular area (1.7 cm 2 ) and none of these patients survived infancy. Measurement of the cross-sectional area of the left ventricle is a useful method of determining left ventricular size in infants suspected of having the hypoplastic left ventricle syndrome. Patients who have reduced left ventricular volume as assessed by this technique are at very great risk even if surgical relief of the outflow obstruction is attempted.
E-cadherin expression in postnatal Schwann cells is regulated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase a pathway.

Expression of E-cadherin in the peripheral nervous system is a highly regulated process that appears postnatally in concert with the development of myelinating Schwann cell lineage. As a major component of autotypic junctions, E-cadherin plays an important role in maintaining the structural integrity of non-compact myelin regions. In vivo, the appearance of E-cadherin in postnatal Schwann cell is accompanied by the disappearance of N-cadherin, suggesting reciprocal regulation of the two cadherins during Schwann cell development. The molecular signal that regulates the cadherin switch in Schwann cell is unclear. Using a neuron-Schwann cell co-culture system, here we show that E-cadherin expression is induced by components on the axonal membrane. We also show that the axonal effect is mediated through cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) activation in the Schwann cell: 1) inhibition of cAMP-PKA blocks axon-induced E-cadherin expression and 2) cAMP elevation in the Schwann cell is sufficient to induce E-cadherin expression. In addition, cAMP-dependent E-cadherin expression is promoted by contact between adjacent Schwann cell membranes, suggesting its role in autotypic junction formation during myelination. Furthermore, cAMP-induced E-cadherin expression is accompanied by suppression of N-cadherin expression. Therefore, we propose that axon-dependent activation of cAMP-PKA serves as a signal that promotes cadherin switch during postnatal development of Schwann cells.
Influence of Projectile Momentum and Kinetic Energy on Bacterial Distribution in an Extremity Surrogate “Wound Track”

This paper presents an experimental study that examines the relationship between the initial momentum and the initial kinetic energy of a projectile and the distribution of bacterial contamination along a “wound track” created in an extremity surrogate representative of the superior (upper) portion of the lower leg (i.e., the calf region) of an average adult human male. Initial surface contamination was represented using circular filter paper moistened with a solution containing 5 × 106 colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml) of Escherichia coli strain K-12 that was previously transformed to express green fluorescent protein (GFP) and be resistant to ampicillin. The contaminated filter paper and extremity surrogate were perforated with 11.43-mm (0.45-in) caliber round nose lead projectiles shot from commercially available air rifles. To match the initial momentum and/or kinetic energy between experiments, 11.0 g (170 grain) and 14.9 g (230 grain) projectiles were shot at velocities ranging from 145 m/s to 195 m/s. The “wound track” was extracted from the extremity surrogate and sliced into small, evenly spaced segments and the permanent cavity was removed from each segment using a biopsy punch, liquefied, and grown on selective agar containing ampicillin. Examination of the bacterial colony count and area covered by bacteria colonies per segment allowed comparison of differences between trends in the bacteria distribution along the “wound track”. The results obtained showed that, for the cases considered, the bacterial distribution trends were similar for the experimental groups with like initial kinetic energies.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase and alkaline protease on serum complement and isolated components C1q and C3.

Abstract The present study was undertaken to examine and compare the direct effect of two Pseudomonas enzymes, elastase and alkaline protease, on the serum hemolytic complement as a whole, and on the two recognition molecules of complement, C1q and C3 in particular. The results of our study show that incubation of serum with 0–50 μg/ml elastase or protease (60 min, 37°C) resulted in a dose-dependent depletion of hemolytic complement with the protease being 3–4 times more efficient than elastase. Incubation of highly purified C3 (20 hr, 37°C) with protease (2% w/w) resulted in the conversion of the 190-kDa molecule to a 120-kDa fragment. When analyzed by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions, the 120-kDa piece yielded three distinct bands: an intact 75-kDa β-chain and two α-chain pieces of approximately 41- and 26-kDa. NH 2 -terminal end sequence analysis localized the 26-kDa fragment within the cysteine-rich 41-kDa, COOH-terminal piece. This in turn suggests that the 70-kDa fragment which is not accounted for on SDS-PAGE is derived from the NH 2 -terminal end of the α-chain molecule which is completely degraded into small fragments. While the degradation pattern obtained with elastase is similar to that of protease, the latter enzyme was found to be more efficient. Exposure of C1q (0–5 hr, 37°C) to protease or elastase on the other hand appears to reveal preferential sensitivity of the 28-kDa A-chain and 24-kDa C-chain, of the C1q molecule, with the protease being more potent than the elastase. Since both C1q and physiologic fragments of C3 (C3b, iC3b, and C3dg) are important opsonins of varying efficiencies, degradation of these molecules by Pseudomonas enzymes may, in part, facilitate the survival and proliferation of the organism in plasma. Furthermore, degradation of the key recognition molecules of complement, C1q and C3, would enhance the virulence of this organism by aborting complement-mediated bacterial killing. In addition the results imply that during Pseudomonas bacteremia, PaAP may be a much more destructive enzyme than PaE with regards to C3 and C1q but combined, the synergistic effect may overwhelm not only the proteins of the complement system, but other proteins of the humoral immune defense system as well.
The Safety of Percutaneous Trigger Finger Release

This study attempted to determine the safety of percutaneous release of trigger fingers, with particular attention given to border digits and the thumb. We performed percutaneous release of the A1 pulley in six fresh frozen cadaveric hands utilizing established surface landmarks. After freezing all specimens, we performed cross-sections at the A1 pulley, avoiding dissection of soft tissues, which could alter the natural position of the digital nerves. There was no difference in the distance from the needle tract to the neurovascular bundle when comparing between digits, and the closest distance was 2.7 mm. There was no significant difference between the needle tract and the radial and ulnar digital nerves. Based on our findings, percutaneous trigger finger release can safely be performed on all digits, including the thumb, small fingers, and index fingers.
The natural resistance-associated macrophage protein gene is associated with Crohn's disease.

Abstract Background . Identification of the genes causing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) would enhance the understanding of and the treatment options for this disease. A hyperreactive immune response toward the intestinal flora has been implicated in the pathology of IBD. The natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) gene is believed to regulate macrophage function, especially the ability to fight intracellular pathogens. Genetic differences of NRAMP might, therefore, be associated with IBD. Methods . Two DNA markers (D2S434 and D2S1323) near NRAMP were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified and genotyped with DNA from 103 patients with Crohn's disease, 85 patients with ulcerative colitis, and 98 control subjects. Clinical data were obtained for all patients. Comparisons were made by chi-squared analysis. Disease association with significant haplotypes was expressed as odds ratio. Results . Allele and genotype distributions were similar for both markers among all groups. Haplotype frequencies were different among Crohn's disease and control groups (p = 0.024). Two individual haplotypes of the patients with Crohn's disease were significant compared with control subjects: DA (p = 0.023; odds ratio, 0.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.3 to 0.9) and EA (p = 0.001; odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 3.2). The haplotype distribution was different within three age-of-onset groups of patients with Crohn's disease (p = 0.05). Conclusions . This study is the first to report an association between the NRAMP gene and Crohn's disease.
Error Diffusion Network Implementation for Real-Time Halftoning Applications

We report a hardware approach to implement an error-diffusion neural network for image halftoning. We present simulation and experimental results using modified current-starved comparator based quantizers with forty-fold reduction in pixel current over previous designs.
Effect of nonsterile versus sterile water irrigation with ultrasonic scaling on postoperative bacteremias.

The contribution of nonsterile water irrigation during ultrasonic scaling to postoperative blood stream contamination was evaluated. Thirty human volunteers were subjected to a random split-mouth technique comparing sterile and municipal tap water irrigation with ultrasonic root preparation on contralateral mandibular quadrants. Scaling was performed by a single operator using a premeasured quantity of irrigant. Postoperative blood samples were obtained immediately and cultured aerobically and anaerobically in tryptic soy broth and on BHI agar plates for enumeration of colony forming units. Positive blood cultures were inoculated onto selective media for presumptive identification. The difference in the bacteremia incidence after scaling with sterile water (50%) versus scaling with tap water (53.3%) was not significant. The degree of the bacteremias (less than 1 colony forming unit/ml) was similar between groups. Therefore tap water irrigation used in ultrasonic scaling did not appear to be a significant ...
Apparatus for collection of individual micturition samples from unrestrained primates.

Abstract An apparatus was devised to collect the urine of individual micturitions of an unrestrained primate. It consists of three major parts: a sensing head through which urine is detected by a photodiode; a control box which contains the power supply and circuitry; and a motor driven turntable which contains 12 large sample bottles. The detection of urine flow activates the logic in the control box. Following termination of the urine flow, a new sample bottle is automatically moved into position for the next sample collection.
How Fortune 500 Companies Are Using Electronic Résumé Management Systems

Scanning technology is now playing a major role in Human Resource Infor mation Systems (HRIS). As new applications are received, many organiza tions scan the resumes into their databases and subsequently search key words to achieve a match between applicants' qualifications and job requirements. But typographical embellishments on some resumes cause scanning difficul ties. This research article reports the impact of electronic resume-management systems in Fortune 500 companies and examines the implications of this technology, providing guidelines for producing scanner-friendly resumes.
Machine Instruction Count Program

The Machine Instruction Count Program (MIC Program) was originally developed in 1978 to produce 'operator' and 'operand' counts of object programs written for the AN/UYK-7 military computer. In 1981, its capability was expanded so that it could apply to the AN/UYS-1 (or “Advanced Signal Processor”) military computer. The former machine, made by UNIVAC, hosts the IBM-developed software for the sonar and defensive weapons system/command system for the TRIDENT missile launching submarine and the software for the sonar for the new Los Angeles-class attack submarines. The second machine, made by IBM, is incorporated into several military systems including the LAMPS anti-submarine warfare system.The MIC program has been applied to collect a large amount of data about programs written for the AN/UYK-7 and AN/UYS-1 computers. From these data, various of the well-known software 'metrics'(1) such as 'volume', 'language level', and 'difficulty' have been calculated. Some of the results obtained have been reported in the literature (3,4). Probably, the most significant practical use of these data, so far, has been the development of formulas for use in the estimation of the amount of code to be written(2,5) as a function of measures of the requirements that they are to implement or the (top-level) design that they are to implement.
Integrated SFE/SFC/MS system for the analysis of pesticides in animal tissues

The development of an integrated system for an on-line supercritical fluid extraction/cleanup/supercritical fluid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis (SFE/SFC/MS) of thermally labile carbamate pesticides from beef and chicken meat samples is discussed. A key to the system is the mixed stationary phase (7% diol in C18) used in the cleanup column to separate target analytes from the extracted lipid matrix interferences. The detection limits of the system at 2:1 signal to noise ratio were 200 and 175 ppb for bendiocarb and carbaryl, respectively. The reproducibility of the present system was not totally favorable due to trapping problems, resulting from frequent clogging of either the cryogenic retention gap between the extraction cell and the SFC or the actual restrictor in the retention gap. Operating in an integrated mode, 53% of the experiments were completed without complications connected to extracting and detecting the analyte. Keywords: Carbamates; pesticides; SFE; SFC; integrated system; on-li...
Aura: an Architectural Framework for User Mobility in Ubiquitous Computing Environments

Ubiquitous computing poses a number of challenges for software architecture. One of the most important is the ability to design software systems that ac- commodate dynamically-changing resources. Resource variability arises natu- rally in a ubiquitous computing setting through user mobility (a user moves from one computing environment to another), and through the need to exploit time-varying resources in a given environment (such as wireless bandwidth). Traditional approaches to handling resource variability in applications attempt to address the problem by imposing uniformity on the environment. We argue that those approaches are inadequate, and describe an alternative architectural framework that is better matched to the needs of ubiquitous computing. A key feature of the architecture is that user tasks become first class entities. User proxies, or Auras, use models of user tasks to set up, monitor and adapt com- puting environments proactively. The architectural framework has been im- plemented and is currently being used as a central component of Project Aura, a campus-wide ubiquitous computing effort.
Notes on Some Manuscripts of the Mappae Clavicula

THE Mappae clavicula is one of the most important documents of the written tradition of mediaeval art-technology. The main treatises of this tradition are the Compositiones variae (787-816),' the Mappae clavicula (of approximately the same date),2 the De coloribus et artibus Romanorum of Heraclius (tenth saec.),3 and the Schedula diversarum artium of Theophilus (twelfth saec.).4 Their interdependence is evidenced by the fact that the recipes of the earliest one, the Compositiones variae, appear verbatim in each of the other works except Heraclius.5 These recipes are linked to the processes of classical antiquity, as well as to those of the present day, not only by oral tradition but also by an unbroken line of written tradition.6 The Mappae clavicula has failed to receive the attention
Diversity, Frequency, and Persistence of Escherichia coli O157 Strains from Range Cattle Environments

Genetic diversity, isolation frequency, and persistence were determined for Escherichia coli O157 strains from range cattle production environments. Over the 11-month study, analysis of 9,122 cattle fecal samples, 4,083 water source samples, and 521 wildlife fecal samples resulted in 263 isolates from 107 samples presumptively considered E. coli O157 as determined by culture and latex agglutination. Most isolates (90.1%) were confirmed to be E. coli O157 by PCR detection of intimin and Shiga toxin genes. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of XbaI-digested preparations revealed 79 unique patterns (XbaI-PFGE subtypes) from 235 typeable isolates confirmed to be E. coli O157. By analyzing up to three isolates per positive sample, we detected an average of 1.80 XbaI-PFGE subtypes per sample. Most XbaI-PFGE subtypes (54 subtypes) were identified only once, yet the seven most frequently isolated subtypes represented over one-half of the E. coli O157 isolates (124 of 235 isolates). Recurring XbaI-PFGE subtypes were recovered from samples on up to 10 sampling occasions and up to 10 months apart. Seven XbaI-PFGE subtypes were isolated from both cattle feces and water sources, and one of these also was isolated from the feces of a wild opossum (Didelphis sp.). The number of XbaI-PFGE subtypes, the variable frequency and persistence of subtypes, and the presence of identical subtypes in cattle feces, free-flowing water sources, and wildlife feces indicate that the complex molecular epidemiology of E. coli O157 previously described for confined cattle operations is also evident in extensively managed range cattle environments.
Safety and transition-structure preserving abstraction of hybrid systems with inputs/outputs

We present a method for obtaining a discrete abstraction of a hybrid system modeled as an input-output hybrid automaton (I/O-HA), generalizing our earlier work on linear hybrid automaton with no inputs or outputs. The discrete abstraction we present preserves the discrete behaviors (the set of state trajectories sampled at instances immediately after the discrete transitions) of an I/O-HA, and thus it is adequate for safety verification. (The violation of a safety property can be formulated as the reachability of certain discrete states.) We represent the discrete behaviors of an I/O-HA as the discrete behaviors of an input-output transition system (I/O-TS), which possesses no continuous dynamics, i.e., it is a purely discrete system. A feature of our discrete abstraction of an I/O-HA into an I/O-TS is that it preserves the transition structure of the discrete dynamics, making it unique compared to the prior works on discrete abstraction of a hybrid system (which either did not preserve the discrete behaviors or the transition structure of the discrete dynamics). The discrete abstraction can be used for further analysis (such as verification, testing, control, diagnosis, monitoring, etc.) involving safety properties. The abstraction is illustrated through an adaptive cruise control example.
Accentuating the positive in adult attachments

This paper proposes that attachment theory, with its emphasis on stability and security, accentuates the positive aspects of affectional relationships and suggests a way to look at the process of adult psychotherapy. Attachment-based research has shown that positive attachment experiences are related to feelings of joy, comfort, and contentment throughout life. In contrast, experiences that are hurtful or traumatic, and especially if they are chronic or repeated, can have negative effects on thoughts and emotions as well as the body. In applying these findings to psychotherapy, the role of the therapist can be seen as providing a positive emotional experience within which to examine and gain a new perspective on the origins and development of distress. Through therapy, the opportunity to experience a relationship of secure attachment enhances psychological and physical well-being and the capacity to make and maintain lasting affectional bonds with others.
Instruction Of Competent Psychomotor Skill

Instruction of competent psychomotor skill necessitates an eclectic approach. The principles of learning, complemented with learning styles and sensory modalities preferences, provide a background for teaching physical skills. The use of the psychomotor domain of Bloom’s Taxonomy as a map and corresponding behavioral objectives foster the mastery of competent psychomotor skills. Finally, the choice of instructional strategies and teaching methods enhances the efficacy of instruction of competent psychomotor skills, in addition to student learning assessment, instructor feedback, and student reflection of learning.
Learning and adaptation of a tongue shape modelwith missing data

Using data-driven techniques and ultrasound data, it is possible to learn models that reconstruct the tongue shape of a speaker with submillimetric accuracy given the location of 3–4 fleshpoints, and to adapt these models to a new speaker for which little data is available. In practice, tongue contours extracted from ultrasound imaging are often incomplete because of shadowing, noise and other factors. We extend these models to deal with missing data during learning and adaptation, and show that submillimetric accuracy can still be achieved even with relatively large amounts of missing data.
Protection of Pipelines and Buried Structures Using EPS Geofoam

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) geofoam is a lightweight, compressible material that can be used to protect buried infrastructure in areas with high to moderate seismicity. This paper summarizes recent research conducted at the University of Utah regarding the seismic design and construction of EPS geosystems to improve the seismic resiliency of pipelines and buried structures, particularly at normal fault crossings. It discusses the development and verification of an EPS cover/backfill system to protect buried pipelines and other structures from potential rupture caused by permanent ground deformation (e.g., tectonic faulting, subsidence, liquefaction, land sliding, etc. Full-scale experiments and numerical modeling show that a light-weight cover system constructed, in part, with EPS block offers significant benefits in protecting buried pipelines from the damaging effects of offset caused by permanent ground deformation. The prototype EPS cover system significantly reduced the vertical uplift force and stresses imposed on the buried pipe system as it was subjected to uplift through the EPS cover system.
Patient-care time allocation by nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the intensive care unit

Introduction Use of nurse practitioners and physician assistants ("affiliates") is increasing significantly in the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite this, few data exist on how affiliates allocate their time in the ICU. The purpose of this study was to understand the allocation of affiliate time into patient-care and non-patient-care activity, further dividing the time devoted to patient care into billable service and equally important but nonbillable care.
The Structure of Titan's Atmosphere from Cassini Radio Occultations

We present results from the two radio occultations of the Cassini spacecraft by Titan in 2006, which probed mid-southern latitudes. Three of the ingress and egress soundings occurred within a narrow latitude range, 31.34 deg S near the surface, and the fourth at 52.8 deg S. Temperature - altitude profiles for all four occultation soundings are presented, and compared with the results of the Voyager 1 radio occultation (Lindal et al., 1983), the HASI instrument on the Huygens descent probe (Fulchignoni et al., 2005), and Cassini CIRS results (Flasar et al., 2005; Achterberg et al., 2008b). Sources of error in the retrieved temperature - altitude profiles are also discussed, and a major contribution is from spacecraft velocity errors in the reconstructed ephemeris. These can be reduced by using CIRS data at 300 km to make along-track adjustments of the spacecraft timing. The occultation soundings indicate that the temperatures just above the surface at 31-34 deg S are about 93 K, while that at 53 deg S is about 1 K colder. At the tropopause, the temperatures at the lower latitudes are all about 70 K, while the 53 deg S profile is again 1 K colder. The temperature lapse rate in the lowest 2 km for the two ingress (dawn) profiles at 31 and 33 deg S lie along a dry adiabat except within approximately 200m of the surface, where a small stable inversion occurs. This could be explained by turbulent mixing with low viscosity near the surface. The egress profile near 34 deg S shows a more complex structure in the lowest 2 km, while the egress profile at 53 deg S is more stable.
Verbal Memory Declines More Rapidly with Age in HIV Infected versus Uninfected Adults

ObjectivesIn the current era of effective antiretroviral treatment, the number of older adults living with HIV is rapidly increasing. This study investigated the combined influence of age and HIV infection on longitudinal changes in verbal and visuospatial learning and memory. Method: In this longitudinal, case-control design, 54 HIV seropositive and 30 seronegative individuals aged 40–74 years received neurocognitive assessments at baseline visits and again one year later. Assessment included tests of verbal and visuospatial learning and memory. Linear regression was used to predict baseline performance and longitudinal change on each test using HIV serostatus, age, and their interaction as predictors. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to assess the effects of these predictors on overall baseline performance and overall longitudinal change. Results: The interaction of HIV and age significantly predicted longitudinal change in verbal memory performance, as did HIV status, indicating that...
Prenatal Sonographic Detection of Skeletal Dysplasias A Case of Multiple Pterygium Syndrome, or Escobar Syndrome

Skeletal dysplasias are a genetically heterogeneous group of disorders that can be diagnosed prenatally by sonography. Differentiating these disorders in the prenatal period can be difficult. However, differentiating known lethal disorders from nonlethal disorders can improve patient care and plan of action. This case study presents multiple pterygia, flexion contractures, and skeletal abnormalities, which are consistent with multiple pterygium syndrome, or Escobar syndrome.
Association studies between common variants in prolyl isomerase Pin1 and the risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology is associated with two proteins, the microtubule-binding protein tau and the -amyloid-precursor protein (APP). When tau becomes hyperphosphorylated, it forms neuritic aggregates, called neurofibrillary tangles. APP is cleaved by several enzymes to generate A peptides, which are – depending on their length – more or less amyloidogenic and form senile plaques. Pin1, a peptidyl-propyl cis/trans-isomerase, seems to be involved in both pathologies. Pin1 may facilitate dephosphorylation of tau by PP2A phosphatase, while cellular overexpression of Pin1 causes a reduction in the amyloidogenic processing of APP, making this enzyme an interesting target for pharmaceutical intervention. The gene encoding Pin1 maps to 19p13.2, a region previously linked to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). Therefore, Pin1 is an excellent positional and functional candidate for LOAD. In this study, we investigated whether common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Pin1 can influence the risk for developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. No association was observed with any of six polymorphisms or their resulting haplotypes. A meta-analysis of two promoter SNPs, which combined the data from this study with two previous ones, did not show any association either suggesting that common SNPs in Pin1 do not increase the risk for LOAD. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.