cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Hurricane Irene on Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus concentrations in surface water, sediment, and cultured oysters in the Chesapeake Bay, MD, USA

To determine if a storm event (i.e., high winds, large volumes of precipitation) could alter concentrations of Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in aquacultured oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and associated surface water and sediment, this study followed a sampling timeline before and after Hurricane Irene impacted the Chesapeake Bay estuary in late August 2011. Aquacultured oysters were sampled from two levels in the water column: surface 0.3 m and near-bottom just above the sediment. Concentrations of each Vibrio spp. and associated virulence genes were measured in oysters with a combination of real-time PCR and most probable number enrichment methods, and in sediment and surface water with real-time PCR. While concentration shifts of each Vibrio species were apparent post-storm, statistical tests indicated no significant change in concentration change for either Vibrio species by location (surface or near bottom oysters) or date sampled (oyster tissue, surface water and sediment concentrations). V. vulnificus in oyster tissue was correlated with total suspended solids (r=0.41, p=0.04), and V. vulnificus in sediment was correlated with secchi depth (r=-0.93, p< 0.01), salinity (r=-0.46, p=0.02), tidal height (r=-0.45, p=0.03), and surface water V. vulnificus (r=0.98, p< 0.01). V. parahaemolyticus in oyster tissue did not correlate with environmental measurements, but V. parahaemolyticus in sediment and surface water correlated with several measurements including secchi depth (r=-0.48, p=0.02[sediment]; r=-0.97 p< 0.01[surface water]) and tidal height (r=-0.96. p< 0.01[sediment], r=-0.59,p< 0.01 [surface water]). The concentrations of Vibrio spp. were higher in oysters relative to other studies (average V. vulnificus 4x105 MPN g-1, V. parahaemolyticus 1x105 MPN g-1), and virulence-associated genes were detected in most oyster samples. This study provides a first estimate of storm-related Vibrio density changes in oyster tissues, sediment and surface w
Proposed DPWM Scheme with Improved Resolution for Switching Power Converters

Because of the need to eliminate the limit-cycle oscillations, a high-resolution DPWM scheme is mandatory, especially for the applications with high switching frequency and tight output regulation. Therefore, the dual-clock DPWM scheme is proposed in this paper. With two relative low frequency clocks, a much higher equivalent frequency is achieved for the DPWM; hence, the DPWM resolution is increased. With the proposed scheme, it is possible to implement the DPWM without delay lines even for high-frequency converters, which reduces the cost for the digital controller significantly. Experiment results based on a 300-kHz buck converter verify the improvement.
Hormones and neurotransmitters release: four mechanisms of secretion

Distinct mechanisms operate in different secreting systems, they are 1) free diffusion through the plasma membrane; 2) exocytosis resulting from fusion of a secretory granule with the plasma membrane; 3) fleeting release from a granule through a transient pore without full fusion; 4) release through a specialised plasmalemmal molecule such as the mediatophore. The latter mechanism is proposed to operate in rapid synapses in which the neurotransmitter is emitted as an abrupt chemical impulse of quantal composition. There, release is momentarily signalled in the plasma membrane by large intramembrane particles. Synaptic vesicles are also essential for regulation of this type of release. They fuse with the plasma membrane only late after activity and seem to be involved in calcium sequestration and extrusion.
Closed-surface hexameric metal–organic nanocapsules derived from cavitand ligands

Assembly of cavitand ligands, 14−, and Zn2+ ions yields a one-dimensional polymer comprised of hexameric, closed-surface, metal–organic nanocapsules.
Monitoring patients for bladder neoplasms: what can be expected of urinary cytology consultations in clinical practice.

Abstract Objectives. To determine what practitioners could reasonably expect from urinary cytology (UC) consultations by analyzing their role in our clinical practice. Methods. Reports of 227 consecutive interpretations on 130 patients collected during a 13-month period were correlated with all available follow-up information. Results. In our practice, UC consultations can predict the presence of bladder carcinoma in nearly 90% of patients, the major mitigating factor being the absence of tumor cells in specimens from patients harboring bladder neoplasms. High-grade neoplasms are most reliably detected with UC. Very low grade neoplasms are difficult to detect, primarily because the cells of these lesions lack features of carcinoma. Significant interobserver variation did not occur. Conclusions. Pathology consultations based on UC can be associated with high diagnostic yields provided that certain factors are understood. These include that (a) the clinical import of diagnostic terms may vary among observers and should be mutually understood in individual practice settings; (b) UC specimens may not contain tumor cells even when patients have bladder cancer; (c) correlative information may be difficult to obtain and thus seem to inflate calculations for false-positive results; (d) interobserver variation can be reduced if cytopathologists use limited and uniform diagnostic terms; and (e) a high level of diagnostic expertise from cytopathologists should be expected.
Sparrow circadian rhythm responses to rotated light-dark schedules.

Abstract House sparrows, Passer domesticus, were individually subjected to light-dark regimens while their perching activity was continuosly monitored. The sparrows resynchronized in 5 days when LD8:16 (8 hr of light alternating with 16 hr of dark) was advanced by 8 hr; however, the sparrows were 1.7 hr from resynchronization after 5 days when the schedule was delayed 8 hr. Sparrows subjected to two simultaneously presented light-dark schedules (rotated LD8:16 provided by one light source imposed together with LD12:12 provided by a second light source) did not ignore either cycle; instead the sparrows responded as to a sequence of photoperiods; they resynchronzied the onsets of their activity with the first time of lights-on of the collective photoperiod provided by the two light sources.
The effects of flicker on the perception of figure and ground

Flickering areas of the visual field are perceived predominantly as backgrounds and the adjacent nonflickering areas are seen as figures. The effect of flicker on anchoring a region as ground is optimal within a limited range of temporal frequencies. Within the temporal frequencies used in the present experiments, the effect was greatest at 6.3 and 8.3 Hz. At these flicker rates the flickering regions were seen as ground over 75% of the time, whereas at 1.4 and 12.5 Hz the flickering regions were seen as ground less than 60% of the time. The average temporal luminance of the flickering and nonflickering areas was kept equal, so the figure-ground perception we found is not due to any luminance differences between the two regions. The flickering areas seen as ground were also perceived to lie on a depth plane behind the nonflickering figure regions. The amount of perceived depth separation increased as the regions became more perceptually anchored. The temporal tuning function offlicker-induced ground appears to be similar to those of visual pathways most sensitive to high temporal frequency.
Abstract 229: Omega-3 fattyacids strongly induce apoptosis in human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo via formation of reactive oxygen species and caspase 8 activation

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC [Hypothesis] The present study sought to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anticancer effect of two representative omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), with a focus on assessing the role of fatty acid-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis as mechanisms for their anticancer actions. [Methods] We used in vitro cell culture of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and in vivo athymic nude mice model to study the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on cancer cell proliferation and the mechanism of the cell death. [Results] In vitro studies showed that DHA and EPA each strongly reduced the viability and DNA synthesis of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture, and they also promoted cell death via apoptosis. Mechanistically, accumulation of reactive oxygen species and activation of caspase 8 contributed critically to the induction of apoptotic cell death. Co-presence of antioxidants or a selective inhibition or knockdown of caspase 8 each effectively abrogated the cytotoxic effect of DHA. Using athymic nude mice as an in vivo model, we found that feeding animals with 5% fish oil-containing diet for 6 weeks significantly reduced the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells through inhibition of cancer cell proliferation as well as promotion of cell death. Using 3-nitrotyrosine as a parameter, we confirmed that fish oil diet significantly increased oxidative stress in tumor cells in vivo. Analysis of fatty acid content in plasma and tissues showed that feeding animals a 5% fish oil diet significantly increased DHA and EPA levels in both normal and tumorous mammary tissues by 329 and 300%, respectively. [Conclusion] The results of this investigation clearly showed that omega-3 fatty acids strongly inhibited human breast cancer proliferation both in vitro and in vivo via formation of reactive oxygen species and induction of apoptosis by caspase 8 activation. This study calls for further studies in human subjects to assess the effectiveness of fish oil as a dietary supplement in the treatment of certain types of cancers. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 229.
Secondary Preventive Health Behavior

A comprehensive model of secondary preventive health behavior, defined as the use of physician services for preventive care, is constructed which specifies the interrelationships among people's health beliefs, their health status, their accessibility to care, their sociodemographic characteristics, and their use of services. The model is tested by applying path analysis to a household survey of adult residents of Washtenaw County, Michigan. The results support the contention that many factors influence secondary preventive utilization, some principally directly and some largely indirectly through their effects on other variables. Accessibility to care, health status, health beliefs, and sex all directly influence use, while education and age have indirect effects. Income has indirect effects on use which, because they are in opposing directions, cancel each other out.
Secondary pulmonary hypertension.

Summary Recent research has greatly improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension. There is increasing recognition that pulmonary hypertension is an important complication of many childhood respiratory diseases including cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung diseases, upper airways obstruction and disorders of the respiratory muscles and chest wall. Chronic hypoxaemia and, in some cases, destruction of the vascular bed are the key factors. The clinical features of pulmonary hypertension are often overshadowed by those of the primary respiratory disease but newer imaging techniques allow earlier detection of this complication. This may be important in the future if new specific therapies for primary pulmonary hypertension are shown to be beneficial in secondary pulmonary hypertension. With some conditions, such as airways obstruction due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy, treating the underlying cause leads to rapid resolution of the hypertension. However, with most disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, management is focused on treating the lung disease intensively and correcting the chronic hypoxaemia with oxygen therapy, sometimes augmented by nasal mask ventilation. However, although several new selective therapies are effective in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, their role in secondary pulmonary hypertension remains unclear.
Tis gene expression in cultured rat astrocytes: Multiple pathways of induction by mitogens

Accumulation of TIS1 and TIS11 (Lim et al.: Oncogene 1:263-270, 1987) mRNAs in secondary cultures of rat neocortical astrocytes was much greater in response to tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) than in response to either epidermal growth factor (EGF) or fibroblast growth factor (FGF). In contrast, EGF, FGF, and TPA were equally effective in inducing accumulation of TIS8 and TIS28/c-fos mRNAs. These data suggested that TPA and the polypeptide mitogens might induce TIS gene expression by distinct pathways. When maximally inducing concentrations of EGF and FGF were co-administered to astrocyte cultures, TIS mRNA accumulations were no greater than those observed for the individual growth factors, suggesting that EGF and FGF saturate a common, limiting step in their induction pathways. In contrast, when either EGF or FGF was presented to astrocytes in combination with maximally inducing levels of TPA, the resulting levels of accumulation of TIS mRNAs were at least as great as the sum of the levels induced by the individual mitogens. Stimulation of [3H]-thymidine incorporation demonstrated an identical pattern of interaction; EGF and FGF co-administration was no more effective than either polypeptide mitogen alone, but, when presented to astrocyte cultures along with maximally inducing concentrations of TPA, either EGF or FGF was able to increase incorporation of [3H]-thymidine. Superinduction of all the TIS genes occurred if cycloheximide (CHX) was present during TPA exposure. Once again, two distinct classes of responses of the various TIS genes occurred; superinduction of TIS1, TIS7, TIS11, and TIS28/c-fos mRNA accumulation ranged from 10- to 20-fold, while CHX superinduction of TIS8 and TIS10 was far more modest, ranging from 2- to 3-fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Theory and Integrity in Business and Society

Business and society academics face an ongoing dilemma between the rigorous demands of good scholarship and the personal and pragmatic demands of constituencies and themselves. This dilemma is, abo...
Should We Go Our Own Way? Backsourcing Flexibility in IT Services Contracts

The emergence of new service science approaches to business problems in information technology (IT) services offers new, unusually relevant insights for the senior management of vendors in this business area. This research examines how service-level agreement contract flexibility should be designed when the technological and business market environments result in volatility of demand, based on an understanding of related changes in the cost drivers that underlie IT services contracts. Our approach draws on a blend of well-known methods from financial economics-the real option pricing method and the contingent claims analysis method. In particular, our research examines a setting in which a vendor provides IT services to a client according to a prenegotiated IT services contract in the presence of demand volatility. We analyze the motivation of and value consequences for a vendor that offers the client the flexibility to opt out of the contract. For example, the client might switch to another vendor, or backsource and provide its own services internally. Our core results offer important foundational thinking for how to specify various forms of IT service-related flexibility in terms of put and call options from the point of view of an IT services vendor, so that their value and exercise timing can be estimated. We show that the client firm's demand trigger value for deciding when to backsource its IT services varies, and it depends on the degree of demand volatility as well as the usage-based fees charged by the vendor. Working from our modeling approach, we also are able to characterize the extent to which a vendor can benefit from bearing the costs of making a backsourcing flexibility option available to its client.
Infrared Spectra-Structure Correlations of Conjugated Unsaturated Aliphatic Monocarboxylic Acids in the 750 250 cm -1 Region

The infrared spectra of a number of conjugated unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in the 750–250 cm−1 region are reported. Two correlation frequency ranges are reported and one of these is useful for distinguishing these compounds from other acids. In addition, the band intensities in this region may be useful for characterizing conjugated acids.
STUDY OF THE HYDROGEN, HELIUM, AND HEAVY NUCLEI IN THE NOVEMBER 12, 1960 SOLAR COSMIC-RAY EVENT

Composition and energy spectra of solar cosmic rays - november 12, 1960 - solar flare, hydrogen, helium, and nuclei
Harnessing locality for knowledge inconsistency management

Inconsistency is commonplace in the real world and in our long-term memory. Managing inconsistency is considered a hallmark of the plasticity of human intelligence which includes an important mental process: belief revision. To facilitate belief revision, a necessary condition is that we need to know the localities and contexts of inconsistency, and how different types of inconsistency are clustered. In this paper, we describe a formal definition of locality of inconsistency and use it to identify clusters of inconsistent circumstances in a knowledge base. The results in the paper will help pave the way for a disciplined way in managing knowledge inconsistency.
A Lethal Disease Model for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in Immunosuppressed Syrian Hamsters Infected with Sin Nombre Virus

Sin Nombre virus (SNV) is a rodent-borne hantavirus that causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) predominantly in North America. SNV infection of immunocompetent hamsters results in an asymptomatic infection; the only lethal disease model for a pathogenic hantavirus is Andes virus (ANDV) infection of Syrian hamsters. Efforts to create a lethal SNV disease model in hamsters by repeatedly passaging virus through the hamster have demonstrated increased dissemination of the virus but no signs of disease. In this study, we demonstrate that immunosuppression of hamsters through the administration of a combination of dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide, followed by infection with SNV, results in a vascular leak syndrome that accurately mimics both HPS disease in humans and ANDV infection of hamsters. Immunosuppressed hamsters infected with SNV have a mean number of days to death of 13 and display clinical signs associated with HPS, including pulmonary edema. Viral antigen was widely detectable throughout the pulmonary endothelium. Histologic analysis of lung sections showed marked inflammation and edema within the alveolar septa of SNV-infected hamsters, results which are similar to what is exhibited by hamsters infected with ANDV. Importantly, SNV-specific neutralizing polyclonal antibody administered 5 days after SNV infection conferred significant protection against disease. This experiment not only demonstrated that the disease was caused by SNV, it also demonstrated the utility of this animal model for testing candidate medical countermeasures. This is the first report of lethal disease caused by SNV in an adult small-animal model.
When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do: A Comparative Analysis of Chinese and American New Teachers' Compliance-Gaining Strategies

This study extends the compliance-gaining literature by comparing the behavior alteration techniques (BATs) used by new Chinese and American teaching associates. Students in an American institution reported their perceptions of teacher compliance-gaining behaviors using items from the Kearney et al. (1984) and Lu (1997) instruments developed from Chinese instructor BAT use in Chinese classrooms. Students reported that both American and Chinese teachers used strategies from both instruments. Moreover, no significant differences were revealed between students' perception of Chinese and American instructors with regard to frequency of BAT use as defined by the two typologies. Hence, new Chinese instructors appear to adapt successfully to United States classrooms with regard to compliance-gaining strategy use.
Further evidence of emotional allodynia in unmedicated young adults with major depressive disorder.

Background Recent evidence suggests that sensitivity to the emotional sequela of experimental thermal pain(measured by emotional unpleasantness) is heightened in individuals with major depressive disorder(MDD), a phenomenon we termed “emotional allodynia”. The aim of this study was to examine whether acute happy and sad mood induction alters emotional allodynia in MDD. We hypothesized that emotional allodynia will be a robust characteristic of individuals with MDD compared to healthy controls. Thus, it would remain following acute mood induction, independent of valence. Methods Twenty-one subjects with current MDD and 21 well-matched healthy subjects(HC) received graded brief temperature stimuli following happy and sad mood inductions procedures(MIP). All subjects rated the intensity and affect(pleasantness/unpleasantness) of each stimulus. Sensory(pain intensity) and affective(pain unpleasantness) thresholds were determined by methods of constant stimuli. Results The MIPs reliably induced happy and sad mood and the resulting induced mood and subjective arousal were not different between the groups at the time of temperature stimulation. Compared to HC, MDD individuals demonstrated emotional allodynia. We found significantly decreased affective pain thresholds whereby significantly lower temperatures became unpleasant in the MDD compared to the HC group. This was not observed for the sensory pain thresholds. Within the MDD, the affective pain thresholds were significantly lower than the corresponding pain intensity thresholds, whereby non-painful temperatures were already unpleasant for the MDD irrespective of the induced mood. This was not observed for the HC groups where the affective and pain intensity thresholds were comparable. Conclusions These findings suggest that emotional allodynia may be a chronic characteristic of current MDD. Future studies should determine if emotional allodynia persists after psychological or pharmacological interventions. Finally, longitudinal work should examine whether emotional allodynia is a result of or vulnerability for depression and the role it plays in the increased susceptibility for pain complaints in this disorder.
A new syndrome with acrocephalopolysyndactyly, cardiac disease, and distinctive defects of the ear, skin, and lower limbs.

A patient was studied in whom there was a syndrome of malformation distinctfrom any previously described, although many of the individual features are seen in other syndromes. The lower extremities were identical to those described in a polydactyly-syndactyly syndrome with an unusual malformation about the knee. In addition, there was acrocephaly, brachydactyly of the hand, congenital heart disease, abnormalities of the ear and skin, and linear submental scars resembling clefts.
The effect of blood pressure on cerebral outcome in a rat model of cerebral air embolism during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective Higher mean arterial pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass may improve cerebral outcome associated with cerebral air embolism by increasing emboli clearance and collateral flow to salvage the ischemic penumbra. However, this may come at the expense of increased delivery of embolic load. This study was designed to investigate the influence of mean arterial pressures on cerebral functional and histologic outcome after cerebral air embolism during cardiopulmonary bypass in an established rat model. Methods Male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to 90 minutes of normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with 10 cerebral air embolisms (0.3 μL/bolus) injected repetitively. Rats were randomized to 3 groups (n = 10, each) that differed in mean arterial pressure management during cardiopulmonary bypass: 50 mm Hg (low mean arterial pressure), 60 to 70 mm Hg (standard mean arterial pressure), and 80 mm Hg (high mean arterial pressure). Neurologic score was assessed on postoperative days 3 and 7 when cerebral infarct volumes were determined. Cognitive function was determined with the Morris water maze test beginning on postoperative day 3 and continuing to postoperative day 7. Results Neurologic score was better in high and standard mean arterial pressure groups versus low mean arterial pressure groups. High mean arterial pressure resulted in shorter water maze latencies compared with standard and low mean arterial pressure on postoperative days 6 and 7. Total infarct volume and number of infarct areas were not different among groups. Conclusions The use of higher mean arterial pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass in a rat model of cerebral air embolism conveyed beneficial effects on functional cerebral outcome with no apparent disadvantage of increased delivery of embolic load. Maintaining higher perfusion pressures in situations of increased cerebral embolic load may be considered as a collateral therapeutic strategy.
Multiplication and Cytopathogenicity of Mouse Hepatitis Virus in Mouse Cell Cultures.

SummaryThe data presented indicate that MHV (Balb C) multiplies in mouse embryo cell cultures and, after passage in that system, in mouse kidney epithelium and L cells. In all these systems a cytopathic effect was observed after serial passage. These observations provide convenient techniques for studying in vitro this and perhaps other strains of mouse hepatitis virus.
Dissociation of propyl radicals and other reactions on a C3H7 potential.

In this article we make theoretical predictions of the thermal rate coefficients for a series of elementary reactions on a C3H7 potential. Perhaps most importantly, we study the association/dissociation reactions for n-C3H7 and i-C3H7 [CH3 + C2H4(+M) ⇄ n-C3H7(+M), C3H6 + H(+M) ⇄ n-C3H7(+M), and C3H6 + H(+M) ⇄ i-C3H7(+M)], where n-C3H7 and i-C3H7 are the propyl radicals and C3H6 is propene. However, in order to provide more information for our kinetic model, we have also included analyses of the association/elimination reaction [C3H6 + H ⇄ CH3 + C2H4] and the abstraction reactions [C3H6 + H ⇄ CH2CHCH2 + H2, C3H6 + H ⇄ CH3CCH2 + H2, C3H6 + H ⇄ CH3CHCH + H2, and CH3 + C2H4 ⇄ CH4 + C2H3]. The theory employs high-level electronic-structure methods to characterize the potential energy surface, conventional transition-state theory to calculate k(T) for the abstraction reactions, RRKM theory to calculate microcanonical, J-resolved rate coefficients for the dissociation processes, and master-equation methods to de...
Effect of Testing Normality on Estimating Process Capability Indices

[This abstract is based on the author's abstract.]Process capability indices used to measure manufacturing process specifications are usually based on the assumption that the process follows a normal distribution. Where there is uncertainty, the investi..
The Unity of the World: Arendt and Blumenberg on the Anthropology of Metaphor

Hannah Arendt and Hans Blumenberg are usually only considered as intellectual opponents on the topic of secularization. This article shows that despite obvious differences, not least on Arendt's interpretation of Eichmann, a much more substantial connection obtains between them in their approach to metaphor. A shared critique of Heidegger led them to arrive independently at a “negative anthropology,” which rejects the idea of human essence and replaces it with a functional (Blumenberg) or conditional (Arendt) view of the human. Both took this negative anthropology as a point of departure for their theories of metaphor. This article analyzes the workings of both their versions and shows that even though Blumenberg's metaphorology, drawing on Kant, Gehlen, and Husserl, might have been more sophisticated, it is, in fact, Arendt's theory of metaphor that highlights a corporeal vacancy in Blumenberg's.
Palladium-cerium-hydrogen solid solutions—I. Thermodynamic properties

Abstract Solubility isobars in the temperature range 625–1250 K have been measured at an H 2 -pressure of 1.01 × 10 5 Nm −2 for solutions of H in Pd-Ce matrixes containing up to 12at.% Ce. The partial enthalpies of the H-atoms at any temperature exhibit minima as a function of Ce-concentration. The ternary solid solutions have been analyzed by a cell model in which the cells (interstitial sites) encompass two coordination shells of lattice atoms. This model is shown to be consistent with the enthalpy behavior measured, i.e. with the generation of trapping sites by the inclusion of Ce-atoms into the Pd-lattice.
On heavy-atom blocking of intramolecular vibrational energy transfer in the 4-(trimethyl tin)butyl-2 radical

Abstract The 4-(trimethyl tin)butyl-2 radical, prepared and excited by the chemical activation reaction of H atoms with 4-(trimethyl tin)butene-1, was found to randomize its excess internal vibrational energy on a subpicosecond time scale. This result differs from an earlier study on the decomposition of 3-(triallyl tin)-2-fluoropropyl radical in which heavy-atom blocking of internal relaxation was reported.
Modeling pedestrian crossing activities in an urban environment using microscopic traffic simulation

Microscopic traffic simulation tools are increasingly being employed as an integral part of modeling vehicular traffic and pedestrian activity. However, the complexity of pedestrians' behaviors and their interactions with the various components of the traffic network is commonly under-represented in simulation models, resulting in potentially misleading analyses. This paper explores modeling pedestrians at the microscopic level, attempting to replicate observed pedestrian behavior at a crosswalk in Midtown Atlanta, GA. The VISSIMÂ® simulation tool, with pedestrian movement based on the Social Force Model by Helbing and Molnar (Social Force Model for pedestrian dynamics. Phys Rev E 1995; 51: 4282-4286), is utilized. Comparative results of field observations and the microscopic modeling of the same vehicle and pedestrian activity are presented. A primary observation is that, for the intersection studied, only a small percentage of pedestrians appear to comply with the pedestrian signal indication, with the vast majority of pedestrians exhibiting gap-seeking behavior, crossing when a gap is available, regardless of the signal indication. This results in potentially significant over-estimates of wait time if high pedestrian signal compliance rates are assumed. A second notable observation is that the pedestrian crossing behavior is strongly related to the cross-street traffic queue clearance time and subsequent traffic flow. Capturing this interaction significantly enhances the models' ability to reflect the observed field performance.
Experimental Detection and Characterization of Brillouin Precursor Through Loamy Soil at Microwave Frequencies

This study reports experimental results on detecting Brillouin precursors through loamy-soil dispersive media in the frequency range of 500 MHz to 3 GHz. An experimental technique to collect and analyze the data is presented. Brillouin precursors are shown to be superimposed on the sine-modulated rectangular and Gaussian pulses. The detected Brillouin precursor is shown to have an algebraic amplitude decay behavior through the wet loamy soil considered in this study. Further, a method is proposed to extract the complex dielectric permittivity of the soil from limited experimental data. The experimental results are validated using a theoretical Fast Fourier Transform-based formulation and the experimentally achieved complex dielectric permittivity. These results are also compared with those of using existing theoretical dielectric models. Three different tests are also applied to validate the hypothesis of Brillouin precursor formation.
The Perception of Consistency in Attitudes.

Abstract A study was conducted to test the hypothesis that when people change their attitudes they reduce the dissonance associated with the inconsistency of their new and previous positions by distorting their recall of their initial stand to make it consistent with their new attitude. Small groups of high school students discussed bussing, one of 30 pretested issues. An experimental confederate participated in each session with the task of effecting attitude change. After the discussion, the subjects' new attitudes were assessed and they were asked to duplicate their pretest scores. The results confirmed the hypothesis. Subjects distorted their recall of their initial stand on bussing so as to make it consistent with their new attitude. Such distortion allows persons to feel that their new position is the one they have always held. The subjects made such recall errors only on the bussing issue. Control subjects did not distort their original bussing attitudes.
PRESENCE OF A SULFATED POLYSACCHARIDE IN THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX OF PLATYDORINA CAUDATA (VOLVOCALES, CHLOROPHYTA)1

Evidence for the presence of a sulfated polysaccharide component within the extracellular matrix of Platydorina caudata Kofoid is presented. In situ staining with alcian blue and toluidine blue O indicates accumulation of a sulfated polysaccharide in the matrix. The entire matrix was readily solubilized by a hot aqueous extraction and a sulfated proteoglycan complex was isolated. Thin-layer chromatography of hydrolysates and infrared analysis and chemical desulfation of the intact molecule indicate that the polysaccharide component is principally an arabinogalactan with ester-linked sulfate groups. Protease treatment of the extract revealed two distinct bands separable on cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The slower moving component was a sulfated glycoprotein while the faster moving component was a sulfated mucopolysaccharide essentially free of protein. This is the first report of specific chemical analyses and electrophoretic separation of a sulfated polysaccharide within the matrix of a member of the Volvocales. The cytochemistry and electrophoretic patterns of the P. caudata preparation are compared with the same type of extract made from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dang. The possible evolutionary significance of the electrophoretic patterns is presented.
A public transport awareness solution based on IBM InfoSphere Streams

Uncertain arrival and departure times cause reduced usage of public transportation. A Public Transport Awareness solution from IBM captures, processes, stores and visualizes vehicle movements across a public transportation network. The solution continuously analyses vehicle data and generates vehicle location, status, speed and predicted time of arrival based on realtime GPS signals. With a vision to improve information for citizens to increase ridership and revenues, this solution predicts when their bus will arrive, and optimal routes to reach their destination at the desired time. The solution uses the Geospatial Toolkit for IBM InfoSphere Streams, which implements the World Geodetic System 84 to accurately track locations in real time. InfoSphere Streams, an advanced, commercial stream processing platform provides an innovative, distributed runtime and a graph-based, extensible programming paradigm. It is well suited to extreme performance requirements and highly s ophisticated processing and analytics on all kinds of data, from structured business records to text, audio, imagery, time-series and geospatial data. Geospatial is one of the hundreds of Streams applications that have been written for commercial, governmental, scientific and academic projects.
Effects of dieldrin in food on growth and bioaccumulation in mallard ducklings

The effects of dieldrin in food organisms and commercial feed on growth and bioaccumulation were determined in mallard ducklings (Anas platyrhynchos). Dieldrin-fed crickets, mealworms and annelid worms, and dieldrin-spiked commercial feed, were fed to mallard ducklings for 8 days. Mean measured food concentrations (animals plus feed) of <0.2, 2.6, 26.2, and 49.3 μg/g dieldrin did not affect growth after 14 days. Tissue dieldrin concentrations (μg/g wet wt) increased rapidly: up to 80.7 (lipid), 30.1 (skin), 4.1 (liver), 1.8 (muscle), and 1.6 (brain) μg/g. Dieldrin concentrations in tissues were up to 3.7 times greater than in the test diets.
Does founding family control affect earnings management

Because of concentrated ownership stakes, board composition and longer-investment horizons, founding-family controlled firms provide an interesting setting for examining issues relating to governance and control. Anderson and Reeb (2003a, b, 2004), find that the founding-family controlled structure results in superior stock market and accounting performance and lower cost of debt compared to their nonfamily controlled counterparts. We add to their findings by examining the relationships between founding family control and earnings management. The unique characteristics of family controlled firms could insulate these firms from pressures to manage earnings. Our results support this notion, and find that family firms are significantly less likely to manage earnings.
A hybrid message passing/shared memory parallelization of the adaptive integral method for multi-core clusters

Abstract A hybrid message passing and shared memory parallelization technique is presented for improving the scalability of the adaptive integral method (AIM), an FFT based algorithm, on clusters of identical multi-core processors. The proposed hybrid MPI/OpenMP parallelization scheme is based on a nested one-dimensional (1-D) slab decomposition of the 3-D auxiliary regular grid and the associated AIM calculations: If there are M processors and T cores per processor, the scheme (i) divides the regular grid into M slabs and MT sub-slabs, (ii) assigns each slab/sub-slab and the associated operations to one of the processors/cores, and (iii) uses MPI for inter-processor data communication and OpenMP for intra-processor data exchange. The MPI/OpenMP parallel AIM is used to accelerate the solution of the combined-field integral equation pertinent to the analysis of time-harmonic electromagnetic scattering from perfectly conducting surfaces. The scalability of the scheme is investigated theoretically and verified on a state-of-the-art multi-core cluster for benchmark scattering problems. Timing and speedup results on up to 1024 quad-core processors show that the hybrid MPI/OpenMP parallelization of AIM exhibits better strong scalability (fixed problem size speedup) than pure MPI parallelization of it when multiple cores are used on each processor.
Fiscal Federalism and International Capital: The Effects of Fiscal Federalism on Foreign Direct Investment and Sovereign Dept Ratings

Although the study of federalism has become one of the most intensely studied areas in economics and political science, no consensus has emerged on the impact of fiscal federalism on macroeconomic performance. I focus on one specific element of the debate- the role of fiscally federal institutions in allowing a country access to international capital markets. In an empirical analysis of 60 countries from 1975-1995 I find fiscal federalism has no clear impact on inflows of foreign direct investment. In an examination of the impact of federalism on sovereign debt ratings for 40 countries from 1980-1998, I find that fiscal federalism is associated with lower levels of sovereign debt risk.
An average case analysis of Floyd's algorithm to construct heaps

The expected number of interchanges and comparisons in Floyd's well-known algorithm to construct heaps and derive the probability generating functions for these quantities are considered. From these functions the corresponding expected values are computed.
Static Fatigue of Silica in Hermetic Environments

Static fatigue tests on metal-coated silica fibers have shown subcritical crack growth with crack velocities ranging from ∼10−14 to 10−17 m.s−1. To induce subcritical crack growth, however, it is necessary that the test be performed at stress intensities, KI, of >0.8 KIC. Metal-coated fibers provide a unique medium for studying static fatigue at these high stress levels because the metal coating protects the fiber from the external environment. Crack growth,for these tests demonstrates the sensitivity of crack velocity to OH− concentrations at the crack site.
DEFORMATION-ASSISTED DECOMPOSITION OF UNSTABLE Fe50Cu50 SOLID SOLUTION DURING LOW- ENERGY BALL MILLING

An unstable, fc.c. Fe50Cu50 solid solution was prepared using high-energy ball milling of an elemental powder mixture. It was used as a parent alloy for isothermal annealing or low-energy ball milling (LEBM), both at 373-523 K. Alloy evolution was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. LEBM significantly enhanced the initial decomposition rate, but the decomposition process was complex and not monotonic. At and below 423 K, the initial decomposition was completely reversed at later times. The results are interpreted in terms of an effective-temperature model proposed by Martin for irradiated alloys. A dynamic phase diagram in the effective temperature is presented, and used to explain the presence of a two-phase region under all milling conditions. The nonmonotonic behavior is suggested to be a result of coupling between phase evolution and mechanical properties, leading to a time dependence of the effective temperature. (C) 1999 Acta Metallurgica Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. AN rights reserved.
Energy-dependent cross sections for the tritium-methane hot atom reactions

Abstract Using classical Monte Carlo trajectory methods, we have fitted a new kind of empirical potential energy hypersurface to combined experimental observations on the tritium-methane hot atom reactions. All channels (including Walden inversion) are now present and the degree of uniqueness is apparently high. We present our predicted cross sections as a function of tritium energy for the abstraction, inverting substituting, and total substitution reactions.
Discrete dynamical system modelling for gene regulatory networks of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural tolerance for ethanologenic yeast

Composed of linear difference equations, a discrete dynamical system (DDS) model was designed to reconstruct transcriptional regulations in gene regulatory networks (GRNs) for ethanologenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in response to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a bioethanol conversion inhibitor. The modelling aims at identification of a system of linear difference equations to represent temporal interactions among significantly expressed genes. Power stability is imposed on a system model under the normal condition in the absence of the inhibitor. Non-uniform sampling, typical in a time-course experimental design, is addressed by a log-time domain interpolation. A statistically significant DDS model of the yeast GRN derived from time-course gene expression measurements by exposure to HMF, revealed several verified transcriptional regulation events. These events implicate Yap1 and Pdr3, transcription factors consistently known for their regulatory roles by other studies or postulated by independent sequence motif analysis, suggesting their involvement in yeast tolerance and detoxification of the inhibitor.
Dissociation of the intrinsic factor--vitamin B12 complex by bile: contributing factor to B12 malabsorption in pancreatic insufficiency.

Human bile incubated with vitamin B12 bound to intrinsic factor in human gastric juice will effectively dissociate this complex, and the vitamin will transfer to non-intrinsic factor unsaturated binding protein(s) contained in bile. Preincubation of the bile with pancreatic enzymes, particularly trypsin, and pepsin, decreases this effect of bile on the intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 complex by digesting the unsaturated binder(s) in the bile. These studies help explain why there is malabsorption of tracer amounts of vitamin B12 in some patients with pancreatic insufficiency, and why this abnormality is correctable by the administration of pancreatic extract.
Natural convection from time-dependent profiles at a gas-liquid surface

Abstract This experimental study is concerned with the initiation of natural convection at gas-liquid interfaces. Fluids covering a wide range of Prandtl number were cooled from above in a vertical one-'dimensional temperature field. The results showed that the conditions at the onset of observable convection at a gas-liquid interface and at a solid-liquid interface were the same, if surface waves, meniscus and surface temperature gradient effects were eliminated from the experiment. Under these special conditions, there was an absence of surface tension destabilization, even though the Marangoni number was three orders of magnitude above its predicted critical value.
Better Actual 10-Year Renal Transplant Outcomes of 80% Reduced Cyclosporine Exposure With Sirolimus Base Therapy Compared With Full Cyclosporine Exposure Without or With Concomittant Sirolimus Treatment

Objective Retrospective analysis of 10-year outcomes of sirolimus (SRL) plus varying exposure to cyclosporine (CsA) in combination therapy for renal transplantation. Methods Univariate, multivariate, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses of 10-year outcomes of 167 subjects treated with full exposures to CsA/SRL/steroid versus 233 with CsA/no SRL/steroid who were generally enrolled in randomized trials versus 192 patients prescribed 80% reduced CsA exposure adjunctive to SRL baseline therapy with steroid withdrawal (groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Results Groups 1 and 3 showed greater 1-year graft survivals (GS) than group 2 (93% and 94% vs 86%; P = .05, particularly when mean SRL C0 ≥ 10.5; P = .02); fewer acute rejection episodes (11% and 19% vs 40%; P < .001) and more frequent success of steroid withdrawal (47% and 66% vs 27%; P < .0001). Group 3 versus 1 displayed a higher mean glomerular filtration rate using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula: 56 versus 49 (P = .02) and 53 versus 41 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (P < .001) at 5 and 10 years, respectively. The 10-year GS among group 1 subjects was predicted by a ≥59 mL/min per 1.73m2 at 1 year using ROC. Multivariate analysis showed factors predictive of 10-year GS among group 1 to include living donor source (P = .004), younger recipient age (P = .02), and fewer HLA-mismatches (P = .02). For group 3, the adverse factors were lower MDRD (P = .01); hypercholesterolemia (P = .01), and advanced donor age (P = .02). Group 3 versus 1 subjects displayed fewer skin tumors (2.6% vs 7.1%; P = .04), sepsis bouts (3.6% vs 9%; P = .04), and herpes virus infection (10% vs. 23%; P = .002), but more urinary tract infections (64% vs 53%; P = .04) and wound problems (43.7% vs 25.1%; P < .0001). Conclusion An 80% reduction of de novo CsA exposure in combination with SRL engendered improved renal function as well as better graft survival at 10 years compared with patients treated with full CsA exposures with or without SRL co-therapy.
The ``Core Concept'' of Systems Management

Some deficiencies in the practice of systems management, and the need for an ``architect'' in addition to the contractor are presented. The ``core concept'' is described. Several advantages of this approach are indicated and its separation from hardware design and fabrication are stressed.