cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal message flow on ring networks with spatial reuse

The problem of message exchange in ring structured communication networks is considered, where the network architecture allows connections between several nodes to be concurrently established, as long as their communication paths do not overlap on the ring. That is, spatial reuse of the ring is exercised, in the sense that disjoint segments of the ring can be used concurrently. Temporally and spatially colliding transmissions are always unsuccessful; therefore, a transmission control policy is needed to prevent collisions utilizing some reservation scheme, and also to guarantee the highest possible throughput, fairness, reliability, etc. If transmission of a message has to be delayed upon its arrival to the source node, it is then queued up in a buffer. The authors focus on transmission control policies that use minimal information about the state of the network to structure the message flows, so as to maximize the overall throughput and guarantee relative fairness in the utilization of the ring by all the source-destination pairs. >
Webs of Archived Distributed Computations for Asynchronous Collaboration

We identify the mechanisms needed to construct archivable webs of distributed asynchronous collaborations and experiments. The distinguishing feature of our approach is that the component tools, software, data, and even participants are distributed over a worldwide network. We perform a requirements analysis of an infrastructure that supports such applications, and present the Caltech Infospheres Infrastructure as a prototype that satisfies the requirements identified. In describing this prototype, we highlight the useful mechanisms provided, present an algorithm for using the Infospheres Infrastructure to perform asynchronous global snapshots for archiving, and suggest future areas of exploration.
Development of Attention in Preterm Infants.

The quality of the awake state and attention in preterm infants has been evaluated by rating indices of attention such as widening of the eye, type of fixation, brightening, scanning, and cessation of sucking measured during visual fixation of patterns. Twenty-six infants ranging from 28 to 32 weeks9 gestation at birth (mean, 31 weeks) were tested from one to four weeks postnatally until 36 weeks9 gestation. Indices of attention were rated on a scale of 4 with an optimal mean index of 4. A progressive increase in behaviors associated with fixation of visual stimuli has been shown from 32 to 36 weeks of conceptual age. Mean scores ranged from 0.7 at 31 weeks9 gestation to 1.8 at 34 weeks9 and 2.7 at 36 weeks9 gestation. The possibility therefore exists that by as early as 31 to 32 weeks from conception the human brain may be capable of waking states and thus able to process some sensory stimulation.
Development and validation of an index of musculoskeletal functional limitations

While musculoskeletal problems are leading sources of disability, there has been little research on measuring the number of functionally limiting musculoskeletal problems for use as predictor of outcome in studies of chronic disease. This paper reports on the development and preliminary validation of a self administered musculoskeletal functional limitations index. We developed a summary musculoskeletal functional limitations index based upon a six-item self administered questionnaire in which subjects indicate whether they are limited a lot, a little or not at all because of problems in six anatomic regions (knees, hips, ankles and feet, back, neck, upper extremities). Responses are summed into an index score. The index was completed by a sample of total knee replacement recipients from four US states. Our analyses examined convergent validity at the item and at the index level as well as discriminant validity and the independence of the index from other correlates of quality of life. 782 subjects completed all items of the musculoskeletal functional limitations index and were included in the analyses. The mean age of the sample was 75 years and 64% were female. The index demonstrated anticipated associations with self-reported quality of life, activities of daily living, WOMAC functional status score, use of walking support, frequency of usual exercise, frequency of falls and dependence upon another person for assistance with chores. The index was strongly and independently associated with self-reported overall health. The self-reported musculoskeletal functional limitations index appears to be a valid measure of musculoskeletal functional limitations, in the aspects of validity assessed in this study. It is useful for outcome studies following TKR and shows promise as a covariate in studies of chronic disease outcomes.
Angle-resolved photoemission study of the surface and bulk electronic structure of Mg(0001) and Mg(112-bar0).

Angle-resolved ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy measurements have been made from the (0001) and (112\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}0) surfaces of magnesium in the photon energy range of 15 to 115 eV. Both bulk and surface features are identified. The occupied bands along the [0001] direction are characterized by the measured energy eigenvalues at the \ensuremath{\Gamma} point: ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{1}^{+}$=6.15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 eV, ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{3}^{+}$=1.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 eV, and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{4}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$=0.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 eV. The bandwidth, as measured for both the (0001) and the (112\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}0) surfaces, is 10% smaller than that predicted by band-structure calculations, while the ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{3}^{+}$-${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{4}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ band gap is twice as big as calculated. The narrower experimental bandwidth is related to the fact that the excitation spectrum of the system is measured, while the origin of the wider experimental gap is not as clear. The final states higher than 28 eV above ${E}_{F}$ are well described by a free-electron band of effective mass ${m}^{\mathrm{*}}$/m=1.04, originating 6.15 eV below the Fermi level, while the low-energy final states deviate greatly from free-electron-like behavior. The peak widths of the bulk features in both the [0001] and the [112\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}0] direction are significantly larger than predicted by interacting electron-gas theory. The peak widths along [0001] increase near the middle of the band, due to final-state effects. The binding energy of the \ensuremath{\Gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} surface state on the (0001) surface has been redetermined to be 1.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 eV. A surface state at M\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} has a binding energy of 1.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 eV. The \ensuremath{\Gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} surface state shows a sharp intensity resonance near \ensuremath{\Elzxh}\ensuremath{\omega}=44 eV giving the location of a state of ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{4}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ symmetry in the final state. The M\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} surface state shows a similar resonance near \ensuremath{\Elzxh}\ensuremath{\omega}=26 eV. The surface-state dispersions have been measured in the \ensuremath{\Gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}-M\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} direction.
Dielectric and thermal properties of a machinable glass—ceramic at low temperatures

Abstract Measurements of the dielectric properties (2–300 K), specific heat (2–20 K), and thermal conductivity (2–22 K) are reported for a mica-containing glass-ceramic which has a machinability in the range from brass to low-carbon steel. The dielectric constant increases with increasing temperature and is field independent for field strengths up to at least 70 kV cm −1 at low temperatures. Power-supply-limited attempts to measure the dielectric breakdown strength at low temperatures are consistent with the reported strength at room temperature (1.4 MV cm −1 ). The thermal properties are similar to fused SiO 2 with two exceptions: the thermal conductivity does not show the ‘knee’ at ∼ 10 K typical of amorphous materials, and the specific heat deviates strongly from a T 3 law below 3.5 K
SHELF‐LIFE STUDIES ON CARBON DIOXIDE PACKAGED FINFISt FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO

Modified atmosphere packaging using CO, was demonstrated to be effective in retarding the growth of microorganisms during storage of fresh fish from the Gulf of Mexico. At 4°C, there was at least a log difference in bacterial counts at 2, 4, and 6 days between fish stored in CO2 as compared to control fish stored without CO2. While the CO2 atmosphere was shown to inhibit the growth of common spoilage types of bacteria such as gram-negative rods (Pseudomonas), stimulation of gram-positive bacteria such asLacto-bacillus was also demonstrated. Fish stored at 4°C for 2–8 days in a modified atmosphere containing CO2 had lower TVN values than fish stored at the same temperature without CO2. The results indicate that an extension of the shelf-life of fresh fish can be obtained by packaging and storing the fish in a CO2 atmosphere.
Optimal pricing and product development policies for new consumer durables

Abstract Modelling efforts have generally assumed that learning involved with product development only affects a firm's cost function. However, post-introduction product improvements also have an impact on demand. In this paper a model for new product demand is developed by incorporating the dynamic effects of incremental product improvements and price. If demand is very sensitive to product enhancements, then optimal prices are declining over time. Conditions under which product development efforts either decrease over time, or increase and then decrease are also identified. The implied product improvement patterns are thus increasing at an decreasing rate (i.e., concave), or increasing at an increasing rate and then at a decreasing rate (i.e., S-shaped). Empirical illustrations for each of these derived patterns are provided using industry trends for a set of consumer durables.
Transitions in Poly(Vinyl Fluoride) and Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride)

Abstract The temperature dependence of the argon permeability and diffusion coefficients in poly(vinyl fluoride) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) was determined experimentally. Two transitions were revealed as slope discontinuities in the Arrhenius plots of the transport parameters for argon in poly(vinyl fluoride). Only one transition however was observed in poly(vinylidene fluoride). A transition at 40°C reported in the literature was not observed, a third transition which has been reported by use of other techniques was below −30°C, the lowest temperature conveniently obtained in the existing experimental apparatus. The results found are consistent with dilatometry data also reported in this paper and with literature values.
Surface analysis of queries directed toward a database

A natural language interface is directed toward the database query languages that access machine stored data. A pattern driven transformation mechanism supports natural language access. A natural language is mapped onto a more formal computer database language. A human-like "understanding" of the query statement is not required. The transformation mechanism is separate from the target database management system. A goal is independence from both domain content and DBMS implementation. There is an emphasis on surface over content analysis.Two particular questions are at issue. First, the extent to which a natural language interface to a database may operate independent of the subject domain of the database. Specifically, the extent to which natural language queries can be evaluated without the use of a query world descriptive reference system. Second, the extent to which natural language queries can be analyzed using pattern recognition techniques.
Timing in the life histories of insects.

Abstract This paper presents a heuristic model illustrating some major problems in analyzing seasonal life histories of multigeneration insects. The concept of the critical interval is introduced and defined as the age classes that survive at the end of a period of population growth. These conclusions follow from the results: The optimal age for occupying a habitat depends upon the duration of the habitat as well as the life history of the insect. Two positions of the initial age distribution may give local maxima for fitness. The critical interval should often include the youngest age classes to maximize fitness while the optimal position of the initial age distribution may be at a much older age. In this case, conflicts arise between the positions of the critical interval at the end of one growing period and the initial age distribution at the start of the next. The length of the critical interval that maximizes fitness in a particular environment may be relatively small in which case mortality at the end of a growing period may be high and timing would appear to be poor even though fitness is maximized. In this model, optimum generation lengths exist which are not the shortest attainable. Finally, the length of time that a habitat remains suitable influences all of the above results and must be taken into account in analyzing the adaptedness of life history traits.
Post-traumatic multiple organ dysfunction syndrome — infection is an uncommon antecedent risk factor

A pattern of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and risk factors following blunt trauma was identified, based on analyses of clinical data from 3611 patients who were admitted directly to a level I trauma centre and had hospital stays > or = 3 days. Five system dysfunctions were simultaneously associated (P or = 2 dysfunctions), mortality was 32.4 per cent compared with 1.3 per cent in the non-MODS group (P = 0.0001). Of the 254 with MODS occurring within 72 hours, mortality was 27 per cent compared with 49 per cent in those manifesting MODS later (P 50 (3.1), Injury Severity Score > or = 25 (6.4), hypotension (2.8), acidaemia (2.2), 24 h blood loss > 1 l (3.7), and major base deficit (1.6). Only 13 per cent with MODS had an infection in the 5 days before or at initiation of MODS. Haemodynamic instability, acidosis, blood loss, pre-existing condition, age and serious injury were risk factors independently related to life-threatening MODS, but infection was an uncommon precursor except in late MODS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Phenology, management and effects of Surround on behavior of the apple maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae) in North Carolina

Abstract Studies were conducted in 2002 and 2003 to evaluate the phenology of the apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), in Henderson County, NC, and to compare the efficacy of various products for protection of fruit from maggot infestation. The period of peak trap capture on red spheres differed among orchards, with two orchards having peak captures in early June, and in an abandoned orchard peak capture occurred in late July–September. Surround WP, a particle film kaolin clay product, was evaluated for management of apple maggot at 28.0 kg/ha at two spray volumes (935 and 1870 L/ha) and two application intervals (7- and 14-d). The percentage of apple maggot-infested fruit in Surround treatments, regardless of the spray volume evaluated, was equivalent to that of azinphosmethyl and spinosad treatments. Application of Surround with an airblast sprayer resulted in heterogeneous coverage of fruit within the tree canopy, with higher deposition on fruit on the periphery of trees compared with those in the inner or upper canopy. In choice tests with apple maggot populations in an abandoned orchard, fewer flies alighted on Surround-treated foliage or fruit compared with the water controls, suggesting that the whitish color of Surround-treated trees interfered with visual cues used by flies to locate hosts. In an abandoned orchard with >60% of non-treated fruit infested with apple maggot, the chloronicotinyl compounds imidacloprid (10.0%) and thiacloprid (5.3%) resulted in comparable levels of control to that of azinphosmethyl (8.0%), while spinosad, indoxacarb, and thiamethoxam all had >33% infested fruit. These studies demonstrated that Surround and a number of chloronicotinyl insecticides may be alternatives to azinphosmethyl for management of apple maggot in North Carolina.
Adaptive economizing and financial feedback in pure competition

A simple model of pure competition among a finite number of cautious, adaptive economizing firms is used to explore industrial behavior when outputs are bounded by financial feedback. Identical agents share identical trajectories that can converge to a competitive equilibrium, but the slightest heterogeneity in initial conditions, degree of caution, or in unit costs drives all from the market except a subset of competitors who share identical costs and output levels. Those remaining can converge to a competitive equilibrium. If demand is inelastic at such a point, however, fluctuations in output, perhaps after a prolonged period of profitable growth can arise with profitable periods followed by sharp losses or even a complete collapse.
High-precision Gauss---Turán quadrature rules for Laguerre and Hermite weight functions

Procedures and corresponding Matlab software are presented for generating Gauss---Turan quadrature rules for the Laguerre and Hermite weight functions to arbitrarily high accuracy. The focus is on the solution of certain systems of nonlinear equations for implicitly defined recurrence coefficients. This is accomplished by the Newton---Kantorovich method, using initial approximations that are sufficiently accurate to be capable of producing n-point quadrature formulae for n as large as 42 in the case of the Laguerre weight function, and 90 in the case of the Hermite weight function.
Cerebral fungal infections in the immunocompromised host: a literature review and a new pathogen--Chaetomium atrobrunneum: case report.

Objective and importance A case of a cerebral abscess, occurring in a patient who had undergone bone marrow transplant, caused by a new pathogen, Chaetomium atrobrunneum, and a review of the literature are presented. Although Aspergillus species are by far the most common fungi found in cerebral abscesses in immunocompromised patients, an increasing number of fungi commonly found in nature but not usually associated with infections in humans have been isolated from cerebral abscesses in these patients. Clinical presentation A 31-year-old male patient, who had undergone a recent bone marrow transplantation for multiple myeloma, presented 3 months after transplantation with right-sided hemiplegia caused by a left parietal hemorrhagic lesion. Intervention A biopsy guided by computed tomography showed that the abscess contained the fungus C. atrobrunneum. The final identification of the organism was based on cultures, scanning electron microscopic studies, and consultation with the Fungus Testing Laboratory at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX. The patient was treated with several antifungal medications but developed uncontrolled cerebral edema, which led to further neurological deterioration and eventual death. Conclusion Cerebral abscesses in the immunocompromised patient may no longer be assumed to be caused solely by Aspergillus species. The literature reveals several rare cases of uncommon fungi found in these abscesses. Only four cases of cerebral infections caused by the genus Chaetomium have been reported. The case presented represents the first time a patient who had undergone a bone marrow transplant with a cerebral abscess was found to be caused by the pathogen C. atrobrunneum.
Marital Status Bias in Perceptions of Employees

Three studies documented effects of marital status on perceptions of employees or prospective employees. In Experiment 1, participants rated a married female job applicant as less suitable for employment than a single counterpart. In Experiment 2, participants again perceived a female job applicant less favorably when she was married; in contrast, a male applicant was perceived more favorably when married. In Experiment 3, participants predicted that a recently married woman's job performance and dedication would decline, whereas a recently married man's dedication was predicted to rise; this difference made participants more willing to lay off the woman than the man.
Factors Affecting Test-Retest Reliability of the Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test

More effective clinical use of the Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test (SCPNT) may result if factors affecting test reliability were known. An experiment, a pilot study involving primary grade students, was designed to assess whether time of day or sex affected the test. The SCPNT was administered at a 2-week interval to 12 boys and 12 girls and subject responses were noted and compiled. Pearson Correlation Coefficients revealed high reliability for all conditions. No significant differences existed for sex or time of retest. Responses to the SCPNT revealed that it was typical for a subject to demonstrate pleasure but not typical to show alarm, threat, or loss of body balance while rotating.
NEVUS OF THE ORAL CAVITY.

Abstract A case of cellular nevus of the oral cavity has been presented, together with some outlines about the surgical indications. The histogenesis of these lesions has been briefly considered.
Water supersaturation in convective clouds

Abstract The microphysics-dynamics interaction of clouds was theoretically studied in the zone after maximum supersaturation (S−1)mc where the droplet number concentration remains nearly constant. The analytic solution obtained, employing the Maxwellian droplet growth theory, describes (S−1) mc =Iw u 3 4 n − 1 2 , where I is the proportionality constant, wu the updraft velocity and n the number concentration of the droplets. This solution agrees well with previous studies. Factor I increases with altitude in the adiabatic atmosphere, decreases with temperature under constant pressure and increases with pressure under constant temperature. For the zone sufficiently after (S−1)mc, an approximate relationship (S−1) ∝r −1 ∝t − 1 3 is shown to hold, where (S−1) is the supersaturation, f the average droplet radius and t the time. Using the diffusion-kinetic theory of droplet growth, which includes the effects of thermal accomodation and condensation coefficients, numerically soluble relationships are derived for (S−1), r and t. Application of this theory is shown to increase (S−1)mc considerably. The Maxwellian analytic solution that is obtained, the variation of Factor I under different atmospheric conditions and the effect of condensation and thermal accomoddation coefficients through the use of the diffusion-kinetic droplet growth theory suggest that maximum supersaturation may reach as high as 10% and beyond in convective clouds.
Economies of scale in the US computer industry: An empirical investigation using data envelopment analysis

Up to recently, economists have had no good tools to measure the returns to scale of individual corporations in an industry. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a linear programming technique for determining the efficiency frontier (the envelope) to the inputs and outputs of a collection of individual corporations or other productive units. While DEA offers an avenue for calculating the returns to scale of individual corporations, the approach has been riddled by mathematical complications arising from the possibility of alternate optima. The present paper develops theory for calculating the entire range of these alternate optima. Furthermore, in a quite ambitions empirical application, DEA is employed to determine the time path of returns to scale of all publicly held U.S. computer companies over the time period 1980–1991. For the great majority of companies, a unique time path is obtained; only in less than 4 percent of the linear programming calculations is an entire range of alternate optima obtained. The results indicate that the computer industry was polarized into two camps: large aging corporations with decreasing returns to scale, and swarms of small upstart companies with advanced technology exhibiting increasing returns to scale.
Update: M&A in Southeast Asia

The authors take a close look at merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in Southeast Asia recently. Where were the M&A hotspots? And what are the key trends for the future? © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A comparison between analytic and numerical solution of linear Black-Scholes equation governing option pricing: Using BANKNIFTY

Black Scholes(B-S) model is one of the popular methods of calculating the option prices. It consists of the closed form solution of the linear Black Scholes equation. Researchers have also found the numerical solutions of the Black Scholes equation which is much more intuitive compared to its closed form solution. In this paper, we have compared the analytical solution with the numerical solution of linear Black-Scholes equation governing option pricing. Finite Difference methods (FDMs) are used to discretize B-S equation base on three different schemes namely, Explicit, Implicit and the Crank Nicholson scheme. We have also tried to found out whether this solution are validate to compute the price the options of the higher strike prices such as those of BANKNIFTY options. It is also showed that numerical solutions are independent of number of grids.
A simplified broadband coupling approach applied to chemically robust sol-gel, planar integrated optical waveguides.

A new generation waveguide spectrometer with broadband coupling capabilities has been developed. As opposed to previous devices, this attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectrometer is much simpler in design, is more chemically robust, and transmits light down to at least 400 nm. The attenuated total reflection element consists of a single-mode, planar integrated optical waveguide fabricated by dip-coating a ∼300 nm thick, sol−gel composite layer on a glass substrate. A commercially available prism is used as the incoupler with an integral holographic diffraction grating acting as the dispersive outcoupling element. The transmission of narrow band-pass filters was used to compare the response of the waveguide spectrometer to that of a conventional transmission instrument. Spectral resolution was assessed by measuring the fwhm of various laser lines, which were found to range from 0.5 to 1.3 nm. The measured limits of detection for the waveguide spectrometer from 400 to 600 nm are 8.0 and 10.1 milliabsorban...
A multi-institutional study of pancreatic cancer in Harris County, Texas: race predicts treatment and survival

Background Racial disparities exist for patients with pancreatic cancer. This observation has primarily been noted in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and has focused primarily on whites and African Americans. We sought to determine if these disparities exist in a local, racially diverse patient population.
Specifying powerful rules to govern collaborative environments

Collaborative environments to support design with government are strongly based on right, prohibition, obligation or dispensation rules. These rules can be designed with five dimensions found in any collaborative environment: actors, activities, objects, time and space. This paper presents a framework to construct collaboration policies organized in a set of collaborative rules following a model trigger-condition-action. The model proposed to structure rules can be used for policy specification languages and interchange among collaborative environments in design.
Laparoscopic duodenal atresia repair using surgical U-clips: a novel technique

Laparoscopic repair of duodenal atresia has been reported. Reports to date have indicated use of standard laparoscopic suturing and knot tying. Unfortunately, there has been a high leak rate associated with the technique. We report our technique of using U-clips for the duodenoduodenostomy, thus limiting trauma to the duodenum during the anastomosis and less risk for postoperative leakage.
Materials processing research and development opportunities with the new generation of FELs

The history of materials processing teaches that each time a new processing technology becomes available, science and technology both can take a step forward. The new generation of free electron lasers now coming on line offers such an opportunity. Their high average power enables the use of fs to ps, high peak power pulses for materials processing as well as fundamental studies, with the further advantage of wavelength tunability. Taking together what has been learned with low average power fs-ps pulses, an assessment of materials processing needs, and the emerging capabilities of the new FEL's suggests what are the most promising near-term opportunities for these facilities. Progress with corresponding experiments and how than can be carried into manufacturing are described.
The Adsorption of Water on Mietallic Packages

This study presents data on both the chemical and physical processes of water adsorption/desorption on gold plated Kovar lids under various conditions of temperature cycling and ambients. In order to distinguish between chemical and physical adsorption of water on the surface, two analytical techniques have been employed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which is sensitive to a depth of approximately 20A, provides the chemical data while the physical data are available via a quartz crystal oscillator technique which is sensitive to 1 A (equivalent) of water on the surface. The data indicate that amounts of surface water can vary by more than an order of magnitude depending on materials and processing history. Under various operatinig conditions this surface water can be freed and thereby contribute to moisture related failure mechanisms.
Spectral analysis of arterial sounds: a noninvasive method of studying arterial disease.

A partially obstructed latex tube was used to model a stenosed artery. The frequency spectrum contains peaks corresponding to the resonant frequencies of the tube. Resonant peaks were also observed in the spectra of the Korotkoff sounds from the brachial artery. The resonant peaks are related to the geometry and elasticity of the artery and the surrounding tissue. Some useful diagnostic information about the state of the arteries is therefore likely to be obtained from the spectral analysis of arterial sounds.
Evaluation of the Contribution of Flavor Volatiles to the Aroma of Beef by Surface Response Methodology

The contribution to beef aroma of some compounds previously identified in the flavor volatiles from cooked beef was estimated by surface response methodology. In general, heterocyclic compounds containing oxygen, nitrogen and/or sulfur and unsaturated alcohols gave higher predicted scores and had lower optimum concentrations than ketones, aldehydes, alkanes or saturated alcohols. It was further demonstrated that hydrophilic compounds are more likely to contribute to meat aroma than hydrophobic compounds, thus, verifying a more important role for water-soluble compounds in contributing to meat flavor. On testing mixtures of compounds, the optimum concentrations were generally lower, but there was a greater range in maximum scores. Special significance is given to the fact that highest scoring two-component mixture (2-acetyl-3-methylpyrazine and H2S) resulted from combining the two single compounds that scored highest alone. Furthermore, the reaction mixture of H2S with 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone gave the highest predicted score in the entire study. Thus, results indicate that the surface response method offers promise for unraveling the complexity of the meat flavor system.
Nitroreduction of carcinogenic 5-nitrothiophenes by rat tissues.

Abstract Nitroreduction of anthelmintic and carcinogenic 5-nitrothiophenes, 4-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl-amino)-2-(5-nitro-2-thienyl) quinazoline and 4-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-2-(5-nitro-2-thienyl)quinazoline, by rat tissues was studied. A procedure for photometric determination of 5-nitro- and 5-aminothiophenes was described. Nitroreduction of 5-nitrothiophenes was catalyzed by rat liver cytosol and microsomes. Cytosol enzyme activity was hypoxanthine-dependent and inhibited by air and allopurinol. Microsomal enzyme activity was NADPH-dependent and inhibited by air. The reaction was also catalyzed by a purified milk xanthine oxidase. Since 5-nitrofurans and 5-nitrothiophenes have great similarity in structure and chemical properties, their nitroreduction may be catalyzed by the same enzymes, namely xanthine oxidase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. Nitroreductase activities of rat small intestine and liver were higher than those of kidney and stomach, suggesting that the small intestine and liver were the main organs for metabolism of 5-nitrothiophenes. Depending upon the source of enzyme, only 25–50 per cent of the reduced 5-nitrothiophene was converted to the corresponding amine. The rest of the reduced product may exist as reduced intermediates or bind to protein. Nitroreduction of several 5-nitrofurans was also measured.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Receptor Aggregation:Modification of Ferritin-LH Binding and Aggregation by Prostaglandin F2α and Ferritin-LH*

The interaction of LH and its receptor was investigated by ultrastructural analysis of ferritin-LH (FELH) binding to isolated rat luteal cells in the absence and presence of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), an inhibitor of LH-stimulated cAMP production. FELH, with a molar ratio of FE to LH of 1:1, bound specifically to LH receptors, either singly or in small groups (microaggregates), at intervals on luteal cell surfaces. FELH elicited a dose-dependent increase in progesterone production, and its binding increased with increased FELH concentration. The number of LH receptors per cell, estimated from particle counts, was about 6.2 ± 0.6 × 104, similar to estimates from Scatchard analysis of [125I]iodo-hCG binding. Microaggregate size increased in parallel with FELH binding. Only partial aggregation was seen at concentrations of FELH that elicited near-maximal progesterone secretion. Aggregation continued to increase at FELH concentrations beyond that required to elicit maximal progesterone secretion. In the prese...
Quasi-Static Four-Point Bend Testing of Macro-Fiber Composite Unimorphs

This research examines the application of Macro-Fiber Composites on substrate materials in the form of unimorph actuators. The intent is to characterize the behavior of the unimorphs and to gain an understanding of the load bearing capacity as a function of the substrate. The results indicate that thin substrates, on the order of 0.1 mm, with a high modulus, on the order of 200 GPa or more, provide the largest displacements and load bearing capacity. Both classical laminate plate theory and experimental results are used to support this conclusion. The experimental tests used a four point bend setup to load the unimorphs through their entire range of deflection and quantified their load bearing capacity throughout this range. These results were compared to Classical Laminate Plate Theory, in terms of loading and curvature, with good agreement. The primary application of this research is for use on small unmanned vehicles, but these results can be expanded to other Macro-Fiber Composite applications as well.
A correlation and LS-SVM based approach to mitigate motion artifacts in FDK based 3D cone-beam tomography

Head motion during brain CT studies can degrade the reconstructed image by introducing distortion and loss of resolution, thereby contributing to misdiagnosis of diseases. In this paper, we have proposed a correlation coefficient and Least Squares Support Vector Machines (LS-SVM) based approach to detect and mitigate motion artifacts in FDK based three-dimensional cone-beam tomography. Motion is detected using correlation between adjacent x-ray projections. Artifacts, caused by motion, are mitigated either by replacing motion corrupted projections with their counterpart 180° apart projections under certain conditions, or by estimating motion corrupted projections using LS-SVM based time series prediction. The method has been evaluated on 3D Shepp-Logan phantom. Simulation results validate our claims.
Antimony-doped germanium single crystals grown from the melt by the axial heat processing (AHP) technique

Abstract The use of a crystal growth technique called axial heat processing (AHP) to grow doped single crystals from the melt is investigated. The technique includes an immersed baffle to distribute heat over the entire growth interface and to decrease the melt height. This consequently reduces the buoyancy driven convection in the melt. Antimony doped germanium single crystals, containing 5×10 19 –1.5×10 20 Sb atoms/cc, were grown by the AHP method at velocities ranging from 3 to 20 mm/h. The effect of the processing variables on the longitudinal and radial dopant distribution and single crystal quality is discussed.
The future of innovation in St. Petersburg

The article deals with the objectives of the innovative development of St. Petersburg, new approaches to governing social and economic life of the city, and solutions to the problems the city is facing today and is going to face in the near future.
An Intelligent Universal Virtual Laboratory (UVL)

The Universal Virtual Laboratory (UVL) is a realistic, real-time, electrical engineering virtual laboratory. The software developed targets individuals who do not have adequate mobility of their upper bodies to perform laboratory experiments. To provide a more realistic and enhanced learning experience, the users of the virtual laboratory are allowed the freedom to build and test a wide variety of realistic electrical circuits, and be able to perform curriculum-based experiments. Typically, this laboratory would accompany an introductory electrical circuits course sequence. The virtual laboratory also contains an intelligent lab assistant that can guide the student and answer student queries.
Genetic approaches to the study of protein targeting across a lipid bilayer

Abstract A genetic approach to the initial stages of protein transport has been initiated in the eukaryote, yeast, and the prokaryote, E. coli . The combined use of genetics and biochemistry should reveal new insights into this process.
Remarks on intelligence as extended retrieval and its implications

The current understanding of the important role of information or knowledge retrieval to artificial intelligence is not adequate. In this article, three study areas related to retrieval are summarized and commented. The need for a more systematic and unified way of studying retrieval and intelligence is argued. A brief outline for future study is suggested, some philosophical and social implications of this study are also discussed.
Two-photon decays of the lightest Higgs boson of supersymmetry at the CERN LHC.

We discuss the production and two-photon decay of the lightest Higgs boson (${\mathit{h}}^{0}$) of the minimal supersymmetric standard model at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Since the observability of the signal is quite model dependent, we conduct a thorough scan of the parameter space of minimal supersymmetry, including experimental and theoretical constraints. If kinematically allowed, supersymmetric decay modes of ${\mathit{h}}^{0}$ may be important, and can even dominate all others. The coupling of ${\mathit{h}}^{0}$ to bb\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} can be different from that of a standard model Higgs boson; this can diminish (or enhance, but only if tan\ensuremath{\beta} is very large) the ${\mathit{h}}^{0}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma} signal. We emphasize the importance of a full treatment of radiative corrections in the Higgs sector for obtaining the ${\mathit{h}}^{0}$bb\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} coupling. If supersymmetric particles are not too heavy, their contributions in loops can either enhance or suppress both the production cross section and the ${\mathit{h}}^{0}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma} branching fraction. We discuss the relative importance of these factors in the context of various scenarios for the discovery of supersymmetry. Even if ${\mathit{h}}^{0}$ is not detected at the LHC, ${\mathit{h}}^{0}$ may still exist in its expected mass region. \textcopyright{} 1995 The American Physical Society.
Vegetation-limited ground-to-air surveillance

Abstract It is possible to estimate the limitations on ground-to-air visibility around a point using digital terrain models in which terrain height is given on a rectangular grid and the vegetation class within defined areas is specified. The screening effect of the vegetation can be estimated better by using the inherent autocorrelation in elevation angle data given as a function of azimuth angle about a fixed point. This type of model is useful when the proposed number of observation sites is too large to warrant surveying them, or the precise actual locations cannot be ascertained in advance of the requirement, as is often the case in simulation studies involving mobile observers. The distribution of elevation angle may be non-normal. A procedure is described here to facilitate the use of autoregressive equations which require normally distributed variables.
Gene expression fluctuations in murine hematopoietic stem cells with cell cycle progression.

Evolving data suggests that marrow hematopoietic stem cells show reversible changes in homing, engraftment and differentiation phenotype with cell cycle progression. Furthermore, marrow stem cells are a cycling population. Traditional concepts hold that the system is hierarchical, but the information on the lability of phenotype with cycle progression suggests a model in which stem cells are on a reversible continuum. Here we have investigated mRNA expression in murine lineage negative Stem Cell Antigen-1 positive stem cells of a variety of cell surface epitopes and transcription regulators associated with stem cell identity or regulation. At isolation these stem cells expressed almost all cell surface markers, and transcription factors studied, including receptors for G-CSF, GM-CSF and IL-7. When these stem cells were induced to transit cell cycle in vitro by exposure to interleukin-3 (IL-3), Il-6, IL-11 and steel factor some (CD34,CD45R c-kit, Gata-1, Gata-2, Ikaros and Fog) showed stable expression over time, despite previously documented alterations in phenotype, while others showed variation of expression between and within experiments. These included Sca-1, Mac-1, c-fms and c-mpl. Tal-1,endoglin and CD4 showed variation between experiments. These studies indicate that defined marrow stem cells express a wide variety of genes at isolation and with cytokine induced cell cycle transit show marked and reversible phenotype lability. Altogether, the phenotypic plasticity of gene expression for murine stem cells indicates a continuum model of stem cell regulation and extends the model to reversible expression with cell cycle transit of mRNA for cytokine receptors and stem cell markers.
Changing the patterns of failure for high-risk prostate cancer patients by optimizing local control.

Purpose: Standard therapies for high-risk prostate cancer have resulted in suboptimal outcomes with both local and distant failures. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and distant metastases rates as well as biopsy outcomes are reported after a regimen of trimodality therapy with hormonal, radioactive seed, and external beam radiation therapy to demonstrate how patterns of failure are changed when local control is optimized. Methods and Materials: From 1994 to 2003, a total of 360 patients with high-risk prostate cancer were treated with trimodality therapy. Patients were defined as being at high risk if they possessed at least one of the following high-risk features: Gleason score 8 to 10, PSA >20, clinical stage t2c to t3, or two or more intermediate risk features: Gleason score 7, PSA >10 to 20, or stage t2b. Patients were followed for a median of 4.25 years (range, 2 to 10 years). Results: The actuarial 7-year freedom from PSA failure and freedom from distant metastases (FFDM) rates were 83% and 89% respectively. Patients ( n = 51) developing PSA failure exhibited aggressive disease behavior with short PSA doubling times (median, 5 months) and a 7-year freedom from distant metastases rate of 48%. Local control was high. The last posttreatment biopsy results were negative in 97% of cases (68 of 70 patients). In multivariate analysis, only PSA >20 predicted biochemical failure ( p = 0.04), and only seminal vesicle status predicted developing distant failure ( p = 0.01). Conclusions: Trimodality therapy results in excellent local control that alters patterns of failure, resulting in similar actuarial biochemical and distant failure rates. Most failures appear to be distant and exhibit biologically aggressive behavior.
Quantitative indices of clinical uremia

Quantitative indices of clinical uremia. The disabling, dialysis-responsive symptoms of clinical uremia primarily represent impaired functions of the nervous system. Accordingly, these studies used several quantitative electrophysiologic and cognition-dependent probes of nervous system function: peripheral nerve-conduction velocity, response latency and amplitude; electroen-cephalographic (EEG) power-spectrum analysis; visual evoked response latency; EEG responses to photic driving; and measures of integrated behavioral performance that stressed sustained and selective attention, reaction time, speed of decision-making, short-term memory, and mental manipulation of symbols. Probes of quantified central nervous system function consistently revealed impairments that varied directly with the degree of renal failure, that improved following onset of maintenance dialysis, and that improved still further after successful renal transplantation. In contrast, measures of peripheral nerve function were generally unchanged. Neurobehavioral measures that are relevant to uremic symptomatology provide quantitative estimates of the clinically significant, whole-organism biologic effects of renal failure and its several treatments. Applications of such measures in studies of symptomatic states other than uremia are indicated also. Indices quantitatifs de l'uremie clinique. Les symptomes invalidants de l'uremie clinique qui peuvent etre ameliores par la dialyse traduisent essentiellement l'alteration des fonctions du systeme nerveux. De ce fait, les etudes rapportees ont utilise diverses explorations quantitatives, electrophysiologiques et cognitives, des fonctions du systeme nerveux: vitesse de conduction des nerfs peripheriques, latence et amplitude de la reponse; analyse du spectre de puissance de l'EEG; latence de la reponse evoquee visuelle; reponses EEG a la stimulation lumineuse; mesures de performances comportementales integrees qui impliquent le soutien, et la selectivite de l'attention, le temps de reaction, la vitesse de decision, la memoire a court terme, et la manipulation de symboles. L'evaluation quantitative des fonctions du systeme nerveux central revele constamment des alterations qui varient dans le meme sens que le niveau d'insuffisance renale, qui sont ameliorees apres l'initiation de la dialyse et encore plus ameliorees apres une transplantation renale efficace. L'evaluation de la fonction nerveuse peripherique, au contraire, n'est pas modifiee dans l'ensemble. Les evaluations qui se rapportent a la symptomatologie uremique permettent une estimation quantitative des effets de l'insuffisance renale et de ses differents traitements. L'utilisation de telles mesures a des situations autres que l'uremie est aussi indiquee.
Wavelet based model for small‐scale turbulence

Using a vector wavelet decomposition of the velocity field a simple model for locally isotropic turbulence has been derived from the Navier–Stokes equation (NSE). This model, which involves no empirical or ad hoc parameter, incorporates nonlocal interscale interactions, reveals backscatter and can be applied to represent small‐scale turbulence in LES schemes. The model gives a stationary solution which corresponds to k−5/3 Kolmogorov spectrum. Moreover, the model equations produce k4 infrared spectrum from an initial energy peak at intermediate scales.