cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do‐Not‐Resuscitate and Do‐Not‐Hospitalize Directives of Persons Admitted to Skilled Nursing Facilities Under the Medicare Benefit

Objectives: To determine prevalence and factors associated with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) and do-not-hospitalize (DNH) directives of residents admitted under the Medicare benefit to a skilled nursing facility (SNF). To explore geographic variation in use of DNR and DNH orders. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Nursing homes in the United States. Participants: Medicare admissions to SNFs in 2001 (n=1,962,742). Measurements: Logistic regression was used to select factors associated with DNR and DNH directives and state variation in their use. Results: Thirty-two percent of residents had DNR directives, whereas less than 2% had DNH directives. Factors associated with having a DNR or DNH directive at the resident level included older age, cognitive impairment, functional dependence, and Caucasian ethnicity. African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and North American Native residents were all significantly less likely than Caucasian residents to have DNR (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.35, 0.51, 0.61, and 0.62, respectively) or DNH (adjusted OR=0.26, 0.41, 0.43, and 0.67, respectively) directives. In contrast, residents in rural and government facilities were more likely to have DNR or DNH directives. After controlling for resident and facility characteristics, significant variation between states existed in the use of DNR and DNH directives. Conclusion: Ethnic minorities are less likely to have DNR and DNH directives even after controlling for disease status, demographic, facility, and geographic characteristics. Wide variation in the likelihood of having DNR and DNH directives between states suggests a need for better-standardized methods for eliciting the care preferences of residents admitted to SNFs under the Medicare benefit.
A Sparse Direct Solver for Distributed Memory Xeon Phi-Accelerated Systems

This paper presents the first sparse direct solver for distributed memory systems comprising hybrid multicourse CPU and Intel Xeon Pico-processors. It builds on the algorithmic approach of SuperLU_DIST, which is right-looking and statically pivoted. Our contribution is a novel algorithm, called the HALO. The name is shorthand for highly asynchronous lazy offload, it refers tithe way the algorithm combines highly aggressive use of asynchrony with accelerated offload, lazy updates, and data shadowing (a la halo or ghost zones), all of which serve to hide and reduce communication, whether to local memory, across the network, or over PCIe. We further augment HALO with a model-driven autotuning heuristicthat chooses the intra-node division of labor among CPU and Xeon Pico-processor components. When integrated into SuperLU_DIST and evaluated on a variety of realistic test problems in both single-node and multi-node configurations, the resulting implementation achieves speedups of unto 2.5× over an already efficient multicourse CPU implementation, and achieves up to 83% of a machine-specific upper-bound that we haveestimated. Our analysis quantifies how well our implementation performs and allows us to speculate on the potential speedups that might come from variety of future improvements to the algorithm and system.
An Efficient Parallel Pointer Machine Algorithm for the NCA Problem

The Nearest Common Ancestor (NCA) Problem can be broadly defined as follows: Given a rooted tree T and two nodes x, y ∈ T, find the common ancestor of x and y in T that is furthest from the root. In the static version of the problem, T is known in advance. In the dynamic version T is modified via some pre-defined operations. In the offline version, T as well all the NCA queries are known in advance. NCA problem has been studied extensively [16, 21, 15, 3, 25, 1, 6, 5, 8, 4].
Effective and Efficient Use of Excel in Teaching Financial Ratios and Cash Flows

This paper discusses using a particular Excel assignment in a Corporate Finance course at the undergraduate and graduate level. Excel worksheets allow students to more readily see interactions between concepts, and a finance major who is sufficiently skilled in Excel has an advantage entering the job market over those who are not. The paper discusses using an Excel assignment that requires students to complete financial statements and calculate financial ratios and cash flows. It also discusses methods for evaluating the worksheets that the students turn in. Grading Excel assignments can be tedious. This paper also discusses using resources within Excel to reducing the time spent on evaluating student work and making it more efficient.
Training to persist in computing careers

Funded by a SIGCSE Special Project grant, Training to Persist in Computing Careers is a hands-on resource for faculty interested in incorporating soft skills training in IT-related courses. Soft skills include such abilities as controlling and using one's emotions (emotional intelligence), dealing with team issues and stress (coping strategies) and using business-appropriate language. These skills are increasingly recognized as key to success in IT-related disciplines [1, 5].
Ionic liquids as stable solvents for ionic polymer transducers

Abstract Nafion™membranes are known to operate as electromechanical actuators and sensors. The transduction in the material is caused by redistribution of the mobile cations in the material, which is made possible because the material is saturated with a solvent. Typically, the solvent used is water, although its use limits the performance of these materials. This is due to the chemical breakdown of the water at relatively low operating voltages and the loss of the water to evaporation when these devices are operated in air, causing a corresponding loss of performance. In the current work, the use of highly stable ionic liquids to replace water is explored. Ionic liquids have the advantage of greater electrochemical stability than water, thus offering the possibility of higher actuation voltages for these materials. Also, ionic liquids are known to be non-volatile and therefore will not evaporate out of the polymer as water will. In this work, the use of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ionic liquid is demonstrated as a viable solvent for Nafion™polymer actuators and sensors. This ionic liquid melts at −9 °C and has an electrochemical stability Window of 4.1 V [Inorg. Chem. 35 (1996) 1168], making it a promising candidate to replace water in ionic polymer transducers. Experimental results indicate that Nafion™transducers solvated with this ionic liquid have improved staility when operated in air as compared to the same materials solvated with water, although the magnitude of the response is decreased as compared to the water samples at high frequencies. The main drawback associated with the use of ionic liquids is a reduction in the speed of the response as compared to water, although the initial results are promising and demonstrate the potential for this approach.
Japanese Beetle: New Synthetic Attractants

Phenethyl esters of cyclopropanecarboxylic, propenoic, and bromoacetic acids when mixed with eugenol were highly attractive to Popillia japonica Newman. Although a substantial variation in the average beetle catch was occasionally observed when these lures were compared with the standard lure, phenethyl propionate (PEP) + eugenol (7:3), all were statistically as attractive as the standard. The saturated analogue of PEP, 2-cyclohexylethyl propionate, when mixed 7:3 with eugenol was significantly less attractive than the 7:3 standard lure. However, when mixed 5:5 or 9:1 with eugenol the attraction of the mixture equalled that of the standard.
Comparative Results of Early and Delayed Cannulation of Arteriovenous Graft in Haemodialysis

Objective: To determine whether arteriovenous graft (AVG) can be cannulated for haemodialysis 24–48 h following placement. Design and materials: Thirty-six upper extremity Gore-Tex®PTFE arteriovenous grafts were cannulated for haemodialysis 24–36 h (n = 18) and at 10–14 days (n = 18) following insertion. The determinant parameters were compression time to control bleeding, venous back pressure, haematoma, infection and occlusion. Main results: In a 40 day follow-up, there were no significant difference in cannulation of AVG at 24–36 h vs. 10–14 days using the predetermined parameters. Conclusion: Early graft cannulation produced no adverse results than late cannulation when the diameter of the tunneller matched the diameter of the graft. Early graft cannulation was safe and recommended.
Framing evolution discussion intellectually

This study examines how a first-year biology teacher facilitates a series of whole-class discussions about evolution during the implementation of a problem-based unit. A communicative theoretical perspective is adopted wherein evolution discussions are viewed as social events that the teacher can frame intellectually (i.e., present or organize as exchanges of an intellectual nature). Furthermore, we characterize teacher framing of evolution discussion in terms of five communicative components: focus, orientation, social structure, mood, and participatory nature. Our video-based analyses revealed that the teacher paid little attention to the conceptual contents and history of evolutionary theory, framing evolution discussions as moderately playful and partially mandatory events focused mainly on student sharing of ideas (i.e., personal opinions) and polite communication of evolution. Within this framing, the teacher adopted the role of a neutral (though admittedly biased) facilitator with an intermediary expert status (less knowledgeable than evolutionary biologists) and who was legally required (though also inclined) to discuss evolution. The main significance of this study is that it provides new and useful insights into social phenomena such as respect, politeness, and humor in the context of evolution discussion as well as a robust theoretical framework for analyzing evolution discussion from a social perspective. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Inc. J Res Sci Teach 48: 257–280, 2011
On the Frame of Reference

In philosophy we are sometimes interested in the invariants of intelligibility. What do all good (adequate, successful, fair) interpretations of a language, or of a person, have in common? What common reality is projected by our understanding of each other?2 What do persons share that makes communication possible? Some voices in the tradition coach us to look for answers in subject matter, or ontology (physical objects, numbers, universais, propositions), in law governed relational systems such as causality, in deep logical structures such as predication and quantification, in universally applied concepts such as identity, truth, order, and in language-wide principles of interchange, such as the principle of extensionality. One may think here also of attitudes, such as belief, that every person takes toward “propositions”, of laws of deductive logic and, after Ramsey and de Finetti, of the calculus of probability.
Glutathiolation of the proteasome is enhanced by proteolytic inhibitors.

Abstract The proteasome inhibitors lactacystin, clastro lactacystin β-lactone, or tri-leucine vinyl sulfone (NLVS), in the presence of [35S]cysteine/methionine, caused increased incorporation of 35S into cellular proteins, even when protein synthesis was inhibited by cycloheximide. This effect was blocked by incubation with the glutathione synthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine. Proteasome inhibitors also enhanced total glutathione levels, increased reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) and upregulated γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (rate-limiting in glutathione synthesis). Micromolar concentrations of GSH, GSSG, or cysteine stimulated the chymotrypsin-like activity of purified 20S proteasome, but millimolar GSH or GSSG was inhibitory. Interestingly, GSH did not affect 20S proteasome's trypsin-like activity. Enhanced proteasome glutathiolation was verified when purified preparations of the 20S core enzyme complex were incubated with [35S]GSH after pre-incubation with any of the inhibitors. NLVS, lactacystin or clastro lactacystin β-lactone may promote structural modification of the 20S core proteasome, with increased exposure of cysteine residues, which are prone to S-thiolation. Three main conclusions can be drawn from the present work. First, proteasome inhibitors alter cellular glutathione metabolism. Second, proteasome glutathiolation is enhanced by inhibitors but still occurs in their absence, at physiological GSH and GSSG levels. Third, proteasome glutathiolation seems to be a previously unknown mechanism of proteasome regulation in vivo.
Finite Element Modeling of Heat and Mass Transfer During Steaming of Cowpea Seeds

One of the major constraints in utilization of cowpeas is from storage losses due to cowpea weevil infestation. Appropriate steaming of cowpeas has been known to prevent weevil infestation during storage. A finite element model was developed to describe simultaneous heat and mass transfer, which could be further used in examining physicochemical changes in seeds. Predicted temperature and moisture profiles in the seeds agreed well with experimental results. The average deviations of center and surface temperatures between predicted and observed values after 15 min of steaming were 0.91 °C (relative error, 1.0%) and 0.85 °C (relative error, 0.85%), respectively. The maximum error between observed and predicted moisture uptake was 8.60%.
Abstract 5519: Investigation of the cellular mechanisms of action of maximiscin, a novel natural product with selective cytotoxic activity against a triple negative breast cancer molecular subtype

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Natural products have historically been an excellent resource for new pharmaceuticals, particularly anticancer agents. Fungi are a remarkable source of novel secondary metabolites that have never been evaluated for their therapeutic potential. However, a vast majority of fungal species found in diverse environments are inaccessible to research scientists. We recently isolated and identified the natural product maximiscin from a Tolypocladium sp. isolate obtained through a crowdsourcing initiative. This compound showed in vitro cytotoxic potency against multiple cancer cell lines in the NCI-60 in vitro screening panel and in vivo antitumor efficacy against a UACC-62 melanoma xenograft model. MDA-MB-468, a triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line of the basal-like 1 (BL1) subtype, was found to be particularly sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of maximiscin compared to several other TNBC cell lines. This finding suggests maximiscin modulates a cellular signaling pathway that specifically drives the BL1 subtype of TNBC. In this study we investigated the cellular mechanisms of action of maximiscin using cell biological and biochemical approaches. The effects of maximiscin on cell cycle distribution were evaluated and maximiscin reduced the fraction of cells in the S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle, and began to induce apoptosis within 8 h. Intracellular signaling through multiple pathways was evaluated by immunoblotting, providing an indication of potential mechanisms of action. Maximiscin also circumvented P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance. These studies suggest maximiscin may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of BL1 TNBC, especially in cases where P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance has developed. Studies are ongoing to further characterize the cellular and antitumor effects of maximiscin in BL1 models. Citation Format: Andrew J. Robles, Lin Du, Jarrod B. King, Robert H. Cichewicz, Susan L. Mooberry. Investigation of the cellular mechanisms of action of maximiscin, a novel natural product with selective cytotoxic activity against a triple negative breast cancer molecular subtype. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5519. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5519
Formal analysis of resonance entrainment by central pattern generator

The neuronal circuit controlling the rhythmic movements in animal locomotion is called the central pattern generator (CPG). The biological control mechanism appears to exploit mechanical resonance to achieve efficient locomotion. The objective of this paper is to reveal the fundamental mechanism underlying entrainment of CPGs to resonance through sensory feedback. To uncover the essential principle, we consider the simplest setting where a pendulum is driven by the reciprocal inhibition oscillator. Existence and properties of stable oscillations are examined by the harmonic balance method, which enables approximate but insightful analysis. In particular, analytical conditions are obtained under which harmonic balance predicts existence of an oscillation at a frequency near the resonance frequency. Our result reveals that the resonance entrainment can be maintained robustly against parameter perturbations through two distinct mechanisms: negative integral feedback and positive rate feedback.
Teaching Top-Down ASIC/SoC Design vs Bottom-Up Custom VLSI

In the fast paced world of IC design, companies strive for ways to create competitive, robust designs, while delivering speedy time-to-market results. A top-down design flow provides a fast, results oriented design methodology, but, at most Universities, the strong legacy of the Mead/Conway approach has lead to custom methods being the default way to teach students VLSI design. This paper discusses some experiences with teaching a top-down System-on-a- Chip (SoC) design class.
Angiography and interventional cardiology.

“A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand.”—Bertrand Russell “You are smart when you only believe half of what you hear. You're wise when you know which half to believe.”—
Advanced Human Modeling for Impact Simulation

This paper summarizes component models of the human body, from head to foot, developed at WSU over the last decade. All of these models were validated against global response data obtained from relevant cadaveric tests. This report summarizes the capabilities and limitations of these models and points the direction for future developments.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Interfacing Computerized Biomechanical Analysis in Monitoring the Motor Development of Children

This research investigated the effectiveness of using kinematic analysis to monitor the motor development of children on three fundamental movement patterns. 12 children with specific motor delays were filmed before and after participation in the 2-hr. per week, 7-wk. program. The film was analyzed (60 frames per second) using a 2-dimensional analysis system. There were no significant differences when a Wilcoxon matched pairs signed-ranks test was applied to the galloping and skipping center of gravity and linear velocities of the ball data. Timing of the peak linear velocities of the upper body showed subjects increasingly exhibited the more advanced, sequential pattern and no longer exhibited the less advanced simultaneous pattern after the program. It was concluded the changes in timing were evidence of improvements in coordination.
Patterns and determinants of rectal prolapse in a herd of pigs

A prospective cohort study was designed to describe the patterns and to determine the factors associated with the risk of rectal prolapse in a commercial swine herd in California, USA. Thirty (1.0 per cent) of 2862 pigs prolapsed between 12 and 28 weeks of age with the peak incidence occurring in 14- to 16-week-old pigs. The overall prolapse rate was 9.1 cases per 100,000 days at risk. Prolapse rates were highest during the winter and autumn months. Other factors associated with an increased risk of prolapse were maleness (relative risk 2.3) birthweight less than 1000 g (relative risk 3.4) Yorkshire boar A (relative risk 2.8) and dams of litter number 1 (relative risk 14.9), 2 (relative risk 8.2) and 3 (relative risk 9.8). No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that diarrhoea and coughing are factors associated with a risk of prolapse.
The effect of aging and pressure on the specific hydraulic conductivity of the aortic wall

We measured the specific hydraulic conductivity (K) of the human and bovine aortic wall, two tissues for which K has not been previously reported in the literature, and examined the effects of aging (human) and development (bovine) on K. As part of the study, we also examined the effects of mounting the tissue in a flat or cylindrical configuration and the effects of perfusion pressure. With aging, in the human, we found a modest increase of K with age in a flat geometry; this trend was not apparent in a limited number of measurements in a cylindrical geometry. No significant dependence of K on developmental stage was found in the bovine aortic wall perfused in either a flat or cylindrical geometry. Our results indicate that aging and developmental changes of the aortic extracellular matrix have minimal effects on its hydrodynamic transport properties as measured. Mounting geometry for the aorta has been a concern reported in the literature since Yamartino et al. (1974) reported that K in the rabbit was 10-fold lower when measured in a flat geometry than in a cylindrical geometry. We found mounting geometry to make only a small difference in the calf and the cow, (Kflat approximately 2/3 of Kcylindrical), and in the human, we found K to be somewhat higher in the flat geometry than in the cylindrical geometry. Higher perfusion pressures decreased K of bovine tissue in the flat geometry, but pressure was not found to have a significant effect on K in the cylindrical geometry. An analytical model demonstrated that the anisotropic nature of the aortic wall allows it to be compressible (water-expressing) and yet remain at nearly constant tissue volume as the aorta is pressurized in a cylindrical geometry.
Duration of Infection and Proportion of Pigs Persistently Infected with Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Understanding the dynamics of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) persistence in individual pigs is essential to the development of successful control programs. The objectives of this study were to investigate the proportion of inoculated pigs that become persistently infected with PRRSV and the duration of their infection. Additionally, different diagnostic techniques that detect persistent infections were compared. Twenty-eight 35-day-old pigs were inoculated with PRRSV. Serum and tonsil biopsy samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, and 28 and then approximately monthly thereafter until day 251 postinoculation (p.i.). Tonsil, lymph node, and lung samples were collected following euthanasia on day 251 p.i. Virus was isolated from serum and tonsil biopsy samples that had been collected through days 28 and 56 p.i., respectively. Viral RNA was detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR in serum and tonsil biopsy samples that had been collected through day 251 p.i., although no serum samples collected from days 84 to 196 p.i. were positive and the presence of infectious PRRSV was not detected by swine bioassay of tissue samples collected at necropsy. The results confirmed that RT-PCR is more sensitive than virus isolation in identifying PRRSV-infected pigs. Six pigs that were persistently infected through days 225 or 251 p.i. remained seropositive throughout the study, although one pig had an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay sample-to-positive ratio that was only slightly above the cutoff value of 0.40. Twenty of 28 tonsil biopsy samples collected on day 84 p.i. were positive by RT-PCR compared to only 1 positive biopsy sample out of 28 collected on day 119 p.i. The study's results indicate that most pigs clear PRRSV within 3 to 4 months, but that some may remain persistently infected for several months.
Microtubule deployment within plant tissues: Fluorescence studies of sheets of intact mesophyll and epidermal cells

Abstract Immunofluorescence microscopy of sheets of plant cells has allowed analysis of microtubule arrays across tissues. Examination of multilayer sheets with laser scanning confocal microscopy allows interior cell layers to be observed without interference from out-of-focus fluorescence. Transitory stages in preprophase band formation during stomatal complex development in grass leaves are identified, and preprophase bands are found in the relatively disorganized spongy mesophyll of spinach as well as in more highly organized mesophyll layers.
The relationship between teacher ratings of kindergarten classroom skills and second-grade achievement scores: An analysis of gender differences

Abstract The Kindergarten Performance Profile, a criterion-referenced teacher rating scale, was developed by a multidisciplinary group of public school teachers, child development specialists, and evaluators. The present study analyzed the social and work skill areas of the rating scale, focusing on the relationship of classroom skills in the fall and spring of kindergarten to second-grade achievement scores. Gender differences, as well as the impact of assessing children's skills in the fall versus the spring of kindergarten were explored. Results indicated that kindergarten work skills were significantly related to California Achievement Test scores for both boys and girls; however, kindergarten social skills were related to achievement scores for girls but not boys. Teacher ratings from either the fall or the spring were predictive of achievement test scores for girls, although different girls were identified as having problems at the two time periods: whereas spring evaluations were more strongly related to boys' later achievement. The implications of these findings for assessment programs are discussed.
A model for delivering culture-relevant care in the community.

Abstract The increase in cultural diversity of the urban populations of the United States is presenting a challenge for the delivery of culturally relevant care by community health care nurses. We developed a model for delivering such care built on key theoretical concepts derived from community health nursing, transcultural nursing, self-efficacy, and social support theories.
GROWTH OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS S‐6 AND YERSINIA ENTEROCOLITICA CDC A2635 IN COW, SOY AND WINGED BEAN MILKS

The two common foodborne pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus S-6 and Yersinia enterocolitica CDC A2635 were inoculated into whole cow, soy and winged bean milks and incubated at three different temperatures (10°, 25°, 37°C) to evaluate the potential for their growth. The legume milks were prepared by a hot grind method from either whole soybeans (Essex variety) or whole winged beans (Chimbu variety). In general, both foodborne pathogens grew well in all test media. However, S. aureus incubated at 10°C for 120 h, and Y. enterocolitica incubated at 37°C for 48 h were the only two conditions in which less than 108 cells/mL were obtained.
Regeneration of transgenic plants from two indica rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars using shoot apex explants.

We have established a reproducible procedure for transformation of shoot apices and regeneration of transgenic plants for two indica rice cultivars, white ponni (WP) and Pusa Basmathi 1 (PB 1). Four-day-old shoot apex explants were transformed by cocultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 101 harbouring a binary plasmid pRIT1. The vector contained an improved hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) gene for hygromycin resistance driven by actin 1 promoter and the reporter gene β-glucuronidase intron (INT-GUS) controlled by CaMV 35S promoter. Rice shoots were induced on media containing 0.1 mg/l napthalene acetic acid (NAA), 1.0 mg/l kinetin (kn), 1.0 mg/l N 6-benzyleaminopurin (BAP), 300 mg/l casaminoacid, 500 mg/l proline, 50 mg/l hygromycin and 500 mg/l cefotaxime. Transgenic plants were raised in pots and seeds were collected. Histochemical and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses of field established transgenic rice plants and their offsprings confirmed the presence of GUS gene. Integration of T-DNA into the genome of putative transgenics was further confirmed by southern analysis. The transformation efficiency of WP was found to be ranging from 5.6 to 6.2% whereas in the case of PB1, it was from 7 to 8%. Progeny analysis of these plants showed a pattern of classical Mendelian inheritance for both hpt and GUS gene.
Protective action of glycerol in the freezing of Shigella sonnei.

GLYCEROL has been used as a protective agent for frozen bacteria1,2, Leptospirœ3, trypanosomes4, Toxoplosma gondii5, Entamoeba histolytica6, animal tissues7, bull spermatozoa4, and yeasts8. Although much work has been done on a variety of micro-organisms, little or no information is available regarding the protective action of glycerol on frozen Shigella sonnei. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the effect of glycerol on frozen S. sonnei and also the effect of glycerol on cells frozen and thawed repeatedly. Four strains were studied: strain CH, obtained from Dr. Horace M. Gezon, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Penna.; strains B–2501–3 and B–2506–3, obtained from the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.; and strain 13–3, obtained from Dr. Arthur Abrams, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, D.C.
Enabling cooperation in mobile ad hoc networks

Spatial diversity achieved via nodal cooperation is known to alleviate the ill effects of channel fading in wireless networks. But to exploit this phenomenon the idea of node cooperation needs to be extended to other layers of the protocol stack, especially the MAC layer. This paper takes a close look at Synergy MAC, a cooperative MAC protocol, proposed for wireless mobile ad hoc networks. The studied protocol also leverages on the multi-rate capability of 802.11b to allow nodes with low SNR to their destination make use of intermediate relays, to transmit data at rates higher than otherwise possible. The performance improvement achieved by this protocol in comparison to 802.11b is then evaluated through extensive simulations.
Frey's syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Frey's syndrome is a form of gustatory hyperhidrosis that develops following surgery, trauma, or disease of the parotid gland area. Several theories have been proposed to explain the resulting symptomatology. Treatment often is difficult or ineffective. An unusual case is presented involving a patient with delayed onset of symptoms who responded well to topical application of 20% aluminum chloride in an-hydrous ethyl alcohol.
2-Bromo perylene diimide: synthesis using C–H activation and use in the synthesis of bis(perylene diimide)–donor electron-transport materials

2-Bromo-N,N′-bis(2-octyldodecyl)perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (2-bromo-PDI) can be synthesised in high yield from the parent PDI by transition-metal catalysed borylation, followed by treatment with copper(II) bromide. Stille coupling with distannyl derivatives of bithiophene, dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]thiophene, and 4-hexyl-4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole afforded three PDI–donor–PDI triads. The triads exhibit reversible reductions at similar potential to the parent PDI, and bridge-based oxidations. The absorption spectra of the triads shows a visible PDI-based transition – the structure of which suggests considerably more planar PDI units than observed for an analogous triad based on linkage through the PDI 1-position – and a lower energy transition attributed to bridge-to-PDI charge transfer. The bithiophene- and dithienothiophene-bridged triads have been used as electron-transport materials in n-channel organic field-effect transistors (the former as a 1 : 1 blend with polystyrene) and exhibit average field-effect mobility values of 0.024 and 0.013 cm2 V−1 s−1, respectively.
Household attitudes toward environmental quality in a coastal South Carolina County

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the findings of a survey of a sample of Beaufort county, South Carolina, households which was conducted to ascertain preferences for environmental quality. These preferences were approximated from survey responses on willingness to pay for environmental amenities and the size of payments households would require to forfeit them. A scale was developed and used to rank these responses ordinally, and the matrices of scaled responses for each of eight household annual‐income classes were subjected to factor analyses.
Prolactin Content of the Anterior Pituitary Gland of Turkey Hens in Diiferent Reproductive Stages

Anterior pituitary glands from broody turkey hens were shown to have 4 times as much prolactin per milligram of fresh tissue as glands from laying and nonlaying turkeys. The prolactin activity was determined by intradermal injections over the crop glands of White King pigeons and estimated from a dose-response curve. Electron micrographs of sections of the pituitary glands from broody turkeys showed a highly developed endoplasmic reticulum in acidophils as compared with little development in these cells in nonlaying turkeys. This suggests a high rate of protein synthesis in the glands of broody turkeys that may be correlated with the increase in the prolactin content of these glands. The granules appear to be smaller in the acidophilic cells of the glands from broody birds as compared with the granules from the pituitary of nonlaying turkeys.
Biospheric perturbations during Gondwanan times: From theNeoproterozoic-Cambrian radiation to the end-Permian crisis

Abstract The history of marine life during the Palaeozoic is structured by the NeoproterozoicEarly Cambrian radiation, the Ordovician radiation and a diversity plateau from the Late Ordovician into the Permian. This plateau is punctuated by mass extinctions in the end-Ordovician, Late Devonian, and finally the catastrophic end-Permian mass extinction, which brings the Palaeozoic to a close. Underlying these radiations and extinctions is a constant pattern of evolutionary change, as species respond to environmental changes, biological innovations, shifting biogeography and other factors. Are these patterns structured by global processes, or are they the summation of a host of local and regional events? One school of palaeontologists has argued that these patterns are driven by biotic interactions on a global scale, with mass extinctions as perturbations to longer-term processes, but with little lasting effect. Others have accorded the primary influence to radiations and mass extinctions. New studies from of the Ordovician radiation support a third possibility, that global signals are the summation of events at scales from local to global mass extinctions. Variations in biotic diversity, at scales ranging from global evolutionary radiations and mass extinctions to regional fluctuations or the changing fortunes of individual community assemblages, reflects the vicissitudes of environmental circumstance. Determining the appropriate level of analysis (global, regional or local) will require greater biogeographic data, particularly from Gondwanan continents. This will allow the development of explicit, testable models linking geological, geochemical and palaeontological patterns to common processes.
Exchange of halogens between the dimethylsilicon and dimethylgermanium moieties

Abstract Equilibria corresponding to exchange of chlorine, bromine, iodine and isocyanide with each other between the dimethylsilicon and dimethylgermanium moieties has been studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The equilibrium constants are discussed and the kinetics of the scrambling of chlorine with bromine in this system is treated in terms of the important exchanges between pairs of compounds in the system.
Metastable intermediate in the formation of ozone by recombination

Abstract New measurements were made of the rate constant for recombination of O(3P) plus O2 to examine a systematic discrepancy between the accepted rate constant, based on the rate of disappearance of O(3P), and the rate constant based on the rate of appearance of O3(1A1). The results are consistent with a previous suggestion that a major part of the ozone is first formed in an excited electronic state, probably O3(3B2). The value a = 0.42 ± 0.08 obtained for the fraction which forms ground state ozone directly is consistent with the previous estimate. The interpretation of the quenching data is revised to give k20 = (2.9 ± 0.5) × 10−15 cm3 molecule s−1 for the quenching rate constant in pure O2, and the relative rates [M2] = [O2] + (0.37 ± 0.10) [N2] + (0.47 ± 0.12) [Ar] for the effect of other gases.
CNS myeloid DCs presenting endogenous myelin peptides 'preferentially' polarize CD4+ TH-17 cells in relapsing EAE

Peripherally derived CD11b(+) myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), plasmacytoid DCs, CD8alpha(+) DCs and macrophages accumulate in the central nervous system during relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). During acute relapsing EAE induced by a proteolipid protein peptide of amino acids 178-191, transgenic T cells (139TCR cells) specific for the relapse epitope consisting of proteolipid protein peptide amino acids 139-151 clustered with mDCs in the central nervous system, were activated and differentiated into T helper cells producing interleukin 17 (T(H)-17 cells). CNS mDCs presented endogenously acquired peptide, driving the proliferation of and production of interleukin 17 by naive 139TCR cells in vitro and in vivo. The mDCs uniquely biased T(H)-17 and not T(H)1 differentiation, correlating with their enhanced expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 and interleukins 6 and 23. Plasmacytoid DCs and CD8alpha(+) DCs were superior to macrophages but were much less efficient than mDCs in presenting endogenous peptide to induce T(H)-17 cells. Our findings indicate a critical function for CNS mDCs in driving relapses in relapsing EAE.
The functional derivatives of the Rayleigh's quotient―Concept and applications

The entity of generalized Rayleigh's quotient is introduced. A formalism involving calculation of the functional gradient and Hessian of the quotient reveals several properties that lean on the variational approach to the direct optimization of the ground state wave function. In particular, the link between a minimization of the generalized quotient and the solution to the “nonlinear Schrodinger equation” is elucidated. The concept of functional derivatives enables us to perform a direct optimization of the trial ket through the Newton–Raphson or the augmented Hessian method. Eventually, a “universal” perturbation theory is derived.
Isolation and purification of a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck-associated antigen identified by autologous antibody.

We have previously shown that detection of autologous antibody activity to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck may be augmented by dissociation of immune complexes. Western blot analysis with autologous antibody has identified a 60 kDa squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck-associated antigen in spent media and immune complex-dissociated serum ultrafiltrate not recognized by normal human sera. Antigen-containing fractions of spent media were eluted from anion exchange columns immediately after serum albumin indicating that the antigen has an acidic pI < 4. Preparative purification of the squamous cell carcinoma antigen was accomplished by anion exchange of concentrated spent media (protein concentration 300 mg/ml) followed by lectin affinity chromatography with a Triticum culgaris column. A single 60 kDa band was detected by silver stain and Western blot in antigen-containing fractions eluted following lectin affinity chromatography and SDS-PAGE. Final concentration of the antigen was determined to be 1 ~g/ml of protein with relative activity increased 1600 x over unfractionated spent media. We conclude that a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck-associated antigen, detected by autologous antibody, is an acidic 60 kDa glycoprotein.
Synthesis and skeletal muscle relaxant activity of 3‐ (aminoacyl)‐1‐[[[5‐ (substituted phenyl)‐2‐ furanyl]methylene]amino]‐2,4‐imidazolidinediones

Abstract A series of 3-(aminoacyl)-1-[[[5-(substituted phenyl)-2-furanyl]methylene]amino]-2, 4-imidazolidinediones was synthesized and evaluated for skeletal muscle relaxant activity. All compounds were active by the intravenous route, and nine of 11 were active orally. One compound was very active when evaluated by the mouse Straub tail and rotarod tests; its efficacy index (ED 50 rotarod/ED 50 Straub tail) was 2.0, while its therapeutic index (LD 50 /ED 50 Straub tail) was >225.
Different promoters for the Anabaena glutamine synthetase gene during growth using molecular or fixed nitrogen

The major RNA products of the cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) Anabaena glutamine synthetase (glnA) gene are transcribed from different promoters during growth utilizing molecular or fixed nitrogen. During growth utilizing ammonia the promoter sequence resembles the consensus sequence of Escherichia coli promoters; in nitrogen-fixing conditions the promoter sequence resembles those of Anabaena nitrogen-fixing (nif) genes.
Fabrication of high-speed GaAs photoconductive pulse generators and sampling gates by ion implantation

An ion-implantation technique used to create high-speed photoconductive devices in semi-insulating gallium arsenide (GaAs) is described. The effects of electrical contacts, GaAs substrate material, and various implant parameters on device performance are presented. The best measured performance characteristics of sampled (correlation) waveforms are: full-width-at-half-maximum of 4.5 ps, rise time (10 to 90% of full amplitude) of 3.2 ps, and signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 50 dB (integration time is 10 ms). >
Macromolecule hydration and the effect of solutes on the cloud point of aqueous solutions of polyvinyl methyl ether: a possible model for protein denaturation and temperature control in homeothermic animals.

Abstract The effects of strong, neutral, 1:1 electrolytes; MgSO4; urea, tetraalkylammonium salts, sucrose, and alcohols on the cloud point temperature of aqueous solutions of polyvinyl methyl ether have been examined and are interpreted in terms of (1) the two types of water structure, coulombic and hydrophobic, comprising the hydration sheath of polymer, (2) the selective exclusion of solute from the polymer's hydration sheath, and (3) the solute's stabilization or destabilization of the polymer's hydration sheath. The last two of these processes are related to the viscosity B-coefficient of the solute ions. The behavior of the polymer exhibits both similarities to and differences from proteins, and caution must be exercised in the use of the cloud point phenomenon as a model of protein denaturation. The solute effects described in this paper suggest a possible experimental test of the hypothesis that the thermal destruction of a biopolymer's hydration sheath might provide the basis of temperature control in homeothermic animals.
The Annual Cycle and Fat Storage in Two Populations of Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrels

The annual hibernation-reproduction cycle in two populations of captive golden-mantled ground squirrels ( Spermophilus lateralis ) was studied in the laboratory. One population was from an altitude of 2900 meters in Colorado, where the winters are long and severe; the other was from an altitude of 970 meters in Oregon, where the winters are relatively short and mild. In the laboratory the cycles of all animals were reduced to less than 1 year in length, averaging 48 weeks. The shortest were in females from the higher altitude, which averaged 43 weeks. As a result, cycles of these females drifted out of phase with those of males from the same population and with the calendar year. The cycle consisted of five stages: 1) gonadal involution and fat storage; 2) fat storage only; 3) hibernation and gonadal quiescence; 4) hibernation and gonadal recrudescence; and 5) reproductive readiness. The involution and fattening stages of the cycle were longer in ground squirrels from the high altitude than in those from the lower altitude. Fat storage and body size were greater in the ground squirrels from 2900 meters. In both populations males stored more fat than did the females. The animals from the higher altitude were torpid, at room temperature, more often than those from the lower altitude. The differences in fat storage, body size, and frequency of torpor substantiate that ground squirrels from the high altitude are better adapted to long winters than those from the low altitude.
Hierarchy as a Mediator of Fairness: A Contingency Approach to Distributive Justice in Organizations1

Employees of one organization were asked to indicate the fairness of six different ways of allocating a hypothetical lump sum. As expected, the results suggest an overall preference for equity-based allocations. However, the employee's level in the hierarchy was found to mediate perceptions of fairness: upper managers viewed organization-wide equity as being most fair; middle managers saw intra-departmental equity as fairest; and clericals, unable to differentiate between equality and equity, perceived both these principles as being fairest. The results were interpreted in terms of a “contingency” approach to distributive justice which aims at integrating institutional, situational, and individual determinants of fairness.
Photoactivatable synthetic fluorophores

Photoactivatable fluorophores switch from a nonemissive state to an emissive one under irradiation at an activation wavelength and then emit light in the form of fluorescence upon illumination at an excitation wavelength. Such a concatenation of activation and excitation events translates into the possibility of switching fluorescence on within a defined region of space at a given interval of time. In turn, the spatiotemporal control of fluorescence offers the opportunity to monitor dynamic processes in real time as well as to reconstruct images with resolution at the nanometer level. As a result, these photoresponsive molecular switches are becoming invaluable analytical tools to probe the structures and dynamics of a diversity of materials relying on the noninvasive character of fluorescence imaging.
A Reliability-Based Design Method Using Simulation Techniques and Efficient Optimization Approach

A novel reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) method using simulation-based techniques for reliability assessments and efficient optimization approach is presented in this paper. In RBDO, model-based reliability analysis needs to be performed to calculate the probability of not satisfying a reliability constraint and the gradient of this probability with respect to each design variable. Among model-based methods, the most widely used in RBDO is the first-order reliability method (FORM). However, FORM could be inaccurate for nonlinear problems and is not applicable for system reliability problems. This paper develops an efficient optimization methodology to perform RBDO using simulation-based techniques. By combining analytical and simulation-based reliability methods, accurate probability of failure and sensitivity information is obtained. The use of simulation also enables both component and system-level reliabilities to be included in RBDO formulation. Instead of using a traditional RBDO formulation in which optimization and reliability computations are nested, a sequential approach is developed to greatly reduce the computational cost. The efficiency of the proposed RBDO approach is enhanced by using a multi-modal adaptive importance sampling technique for simulation-based reliability assessment; and by treating the inactive reliability constraints properly in optimization. A vehicle side impact problem is used to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed method.Copyright © 2004 by ASME