cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ecological studies of economic red algae. II. Culture studies of Chondrus crispus Stackhouse and Gigartina stellata (Stackhouse) batters

Abstract The carpospores of Chondrus crispus Stackhouse and Gigartina stellata (Stackhouse) Batters were grown under a variety of light intensities, temperatures, and salinities. Chondrus exhibited a rapid increase in growth concurrent with increasing intensities up to 440 ft-c and tended to level off above this intensity. Gigartina exhibited a less rapid, but more consistent, increase in cell production coincident with increasing light intensity through 770 ft-c. The growth of both species was accelerated with increasing temperatures to 19 °C. Spores of C. crispus germinated and grew relatively rapidly over a broad range of salinities (15–45‰ at 19°C). Gigartina exhibited a more restricted tolerance to reduced salinity (20 ‰ at 19°C). The local distribution and abundance of both species are correlated with their responses in culture as well as with previous observations on their photosynthesis and respiration.
Psychiatric Intervention in Children: Sex Differences in Referral Rates

A comparison of the male/female referral rate for psychiatric treatment was undertaken for the years 1973 and 1983. Findings indicated that in 1973 males outnumbered females approximately 3 to 1, which is consistent with the literature on sex differences in psychopathology. The year 1983 saw a significant increase in the number of females referred for treatment. Possible reasons for this change are considered in terms of society's increasing androgynous orientation. Implications for further research are discussed.
Preparation and use of 125I-labeled synthetic human (15-Leu) gastrin 1-17-I for radioimmunoassay of conventional human gastrins.

Abstract This report describes a method of radiodination and use of synthetic human (15-Leu)gastrin in radioimmunoassay for synthetic or naturally occurring human gastrin. Specific activity of the [ 125 I]monoiodo(15-Leu)gastrin was 45% higher than that obtained with conventional gastrin. Radioimmunoassay using a radio-labeled (15-Leu)gastrin trace was reliable between 10 −12 and 10 −9 molar concentrations of synthetic human or naturally occurring gastrin.
Lysine-specific demethylase 2b (KDM2B)-let-7-enhancer of zester homolog 2 (EZH2) pathway regulates cell cycle progression and senescence in primary cells

Sustained expression of the histone demethylase, KDM2B (Ndy1/FBXL10/JHDM1B), bypasses cellular senescence in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Here, we show that KDM2B is a conserved regulator of lifespan in multiple primary cell types and defines a program in which this chromatin-modifying enzyme counteracts the senescence-associated down-regulation of the EZH2 histone methyltransferase. Senescence in MEFs epigenetically silences KDM2B and induces the tumor suppressor miRNAs let-7b and miR-101, which target EZH2. Forced expression of KDM2B promotes immortalization by silencing these miRNAs through locus-specific histone H3 K36me2 demethylation, leading to EZH2 up-regulation. Overexpression of let-7b down-regulates EZH2, induces premature senescence, and counteracts immortalization of MEFs driven by KDM2B. The KDM2B-let-7-EZH2 pathway also contributes to the proliferation of immortal Ink4a/Arf null fibroblasts suggesting that, beyond its anti-senescence role in primary cells, this histone-modifying enzyme functions more broadly in the regulation of cellular proliferation.
Forecast of an exceptionally large even‐numbered solar cycle

Using the 'dynamo theory' method to predict solar activity, an accurate prediction was made for solar cycle 21 by Schatten et al. (1978). Using the same dynamo technique for solar cycle 22, a value for the smoothed sunspot number of 170 + or - 25 is obtained. This large sunspot number is expected to peak in 1990 + or - 1 year. The F(10.7) radio flux is expected to reach a smoothed value of 210 + or - 25 flux units. Since this value is larger than values obtained with prediction schemes based upon 'statistical' and 'periodicity' methods, it provides a useful test for the current methodology, based upon the strength of the sun's polar field near solar minimum. The predicted degree of solar activity is expected to enhance the density and temperature of the earth's thermosphere to values somewhat larger than those found in solar cycle 21. This will have an impact on the orbital lifetime of low altitude satellites.
Impact of lameness on behavior and productivity of lactating Holstein cows

The impact of lameness on behavior and milk production of multiparity Holstein cows was examined on two commercial dairy farms. Pens of cows were selected based on distance from the milking parlor. Cows within each pen were locomotion scored to quantify lameness severity. Based on their locomotion score (i.e. 1–4), where an increasing number indicates an increased severity of lameness, cows were color marked and observed to quantify behaviors. Data recorded by cow was the return time from the milking parlor (i.e. time after the first cow returned; in minutes) after the morning milking and then, at hourly intervals until cows left for the afternoon milking, whether marked cows were lying or standing and their distance from the pen entrance. Milk production and composition was determined. In Experiment 1, the percentage of cows lying increased at an increasing rate (linear (L): P=0.02; quadratic (Q): P=0.07), distance from the pen entrance was highest in intermediate locomotion score groups (Q: P=0.02), return time tended to increase linearly (P=0.07), and milk (P=0.02) and protein production (P<0.01) decreased linearly as the locomotion score groups increased. In Experiment 2, the percentage of cows lying increased linearly (P<0.01), distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate (L: P<0.01; Q: P<0.01), and return time increased at an increasing rate (L: P=0.07; Q: P=0.05) as locomotion score groups increased. Percentage of cows lying was highest in the farthest pen (P<0.01), distance from the pen entrance decreased at an increasing rate (L: P<0.01 and Q: P<0.01), and cows return time increased linearly (P<0.01) as pen distance from the milking parlor increased. Increased locomotion score and pen distance were judged to have negatively impacted cow behavior and productivity. However, lack of interactions between locomotion score and pen distance do not support a recommendation to place lame cows in pens closer to the milking parlor to increase welfare and/or productivity.
Displacement‐based design of RC bridge columns in seismic regions

This paper presents a seismic design philosophy based on displacements rather than forces. By inverting the seismic design process, a rational method is established where member strength and stiffness depend on the target displacement. A comprehensive procedure for displacement-based design of cantilever bridge columns is presented and verified by dynamic inelastic time history analysis. Parameter studies are used to examine the influence of several variables within the possible design solution space.
The case for power with test

In the past few years, many researchers have claimed that power issues in test applications are primarily due to scan shifting. The author of this column explains why this conclusion is simply not realistic.
Personal values: Potential keys to ethical decision making

Personal values have long been associated with individual decision behavior. The role played by personal values in decision making within an organization is less clear. This study examines the relationship between personal values and the ethical dimension of indicated decisions utilizing discriminant analysis. Past research has found that managers tend to respond to ethical dilemmas situationally. The study examines personal values as they relate to four types of ethical dilemmas.
A RESEARCH NOTE TENDERIZING CALLIPYGE LAMB WITH THE HYDRODYNE PROCESS AND ELECTRICAL STIMULATION1

The effectiveness of the Hydrodyne process and low voltage carcass electrical stimulation (ES), either alone or in combination, for tenderizing muscle from callipyge and normal lambs was evaluated. One hundred grams of explosive was used for the Hydrodyne treatment. Reductions in shear force with magnitudes of 33 to 67% were observed for the Hydrodyne treatment for the longissimus (LM) muscle from callipyge and normal lambs, respectively. Carcass ES had no effect (P>0.05) on either callipyge or normal lamb shear values. However, ES improved the response (48%) of the Hydrodyne treatment in the LM of callipyge lamb. Shear force for semitendinosus muscles averaged 3.53 kg and showed no response to either tenderizing treatment. Results suggest successful tenderization of lamb LM with the Hydrodyne technology.
Mapping Mass Political Conflict and Civil Society: Issues and Prospects for the Automated Development of Event Data

Mass political conflict is typically examined in terms of violence and in isolation from routine civil interactions. The authors argue that mass conflict is multidimensional and that violence should be treated as an outcome of conflict, as well as a form of action. They define three dimensions of conflict—contentiousness, coerciveness, and change goals—and indices of the civil society that are central to mapping global trends in mass conflict. A strategy for mapping mass conflict and civil interactions using the PANDA protocol to generate highly reliable event data is outlined, and these indices are used to trace two democratic transitions (in Poland and South Korea), a conflict crisis that was repressed (China), and a conflict escalation that flared into a civil war (the former Yugoslavia). Automation has major advantages over human coding in terms of transparency, integration with existing event data series, real-time availability, and long-term maintenance costs. It also opens new ways of thinking abou...
Reduction by human chorionic gonadotropin of the luteolytic effect of prostaglandin F2α in ewes

Abstract The ability of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) to reduce the luteolytic effect of prostaglandin (PGF2α) was demonstrated in cycling ewes. As expected, treatment with 10 mg of PGF2α alone on Day 10 of the estrous cycle exerted a potent negative effect on the function and structure of corpus luteum (CL) as indicated by reduced plasma progesterone, CL progesterone, and CL weight. However, the identical PGF2α treatment failed to significantly reduce either luteal function or luteal weight when administered to ewes that were also treated with HCG on Days 9 and 10 of the estrous cycle. Treatment with HCG alone had a positive effect on CL as indicated by increased plasma progesterone, CL progesterone, and CL weight. Treatment with HCG did not render the CL totally insensitive to the negative effects of PGF2α because plasma progesterone was reduced when the dose of PGF2α was doubled. Whether CL regressed or continued to function after treatment with both HCG and PGF2α appeared to depend upon a balance between the positive and negative effects of the two hormones.
Case-Based Instruction in Early Childhood Teacher Preparation: Does It Work?

Case analysis is often used in early childhood teacher education as a constructivist method for developing students' professional skills and knowledge. Although case-based instruction is popular, the professional literature contains little empirical evidence that it effectively helps students develop professional knowledge. Indeed, some empirical evidence suggests case-based instruction may negatively impact learning, especially for students with limited existing knowledge about children's development. This study compared the child development content knowledge gains of two classes of undergraduate preservice early childhood teachers: those taught child development with case-based instruction and those taught the same content with traditional didactic instruction. The study also sought to determine if students' level of prior knowledge interacted with the type of instruction they received. Results indicated that students with strong prior knowledge out-performed classmates regardless of instructional meth...
Queer Love in Film and Television: Critical Essays Pamela Demory and Christopher Pullen, Editors. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.

Queer Love in Film and Television: Critical Essays Pamela Demory and Christopher Pullen, Editors. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.As the editors of Queer Love in Film and Television note at the outset of their collection of essays, romantic love is a familiar narrative pattern in western texts. Couples meet, fall in love, overcome barriers that threaten their relationship, and-as the formula scripts it-live happily-and monogamously-ever after. However, the recurring theme of this book is that the dominant and sanctioned image of romantic love does not always jibe with the variety of relationships that constitute queer love. Since the 1980s, efforts to represent gay, lesbian, and transgendered relationships have increased dramatically in film and on television. Shows like Will and Grace (1998-2006) and Modern Family, which premiered in 2009, are examples of the effort to expand and embrace queer identities. Although commendable for the commitment to expand inclusivity to embrace queer identity in general and queer love in particular, such efforts are often forced to operate within parameters that effectually impede-or delimitan authentic or complicated representation of that which they purport to represent.In the twenty-two chapters that make up this volume, the editors include selections that explore the question of gay identity, particularly as it finds expression in intimate relationships. In addition to exploring the assimilationist strategies characteristic of television sitcoms, chapters also look at the ways in which film studios adapt texts with queer love themes and how they depict gay characters, particularly as they operate inside of intimate relationships. With some exceptions, a running theme of this text is that most depictions of queer love are more frequently stereotypicalthink Jack in Will and Grace, Cam in Modern Family, or the visual signifiers in gendering characters in animated films as examples. Other times, they are pathologized, as in the depiction of the Judi Dench character in Notes on a Scandal whose longing for connection with a young teacher colleague is constructed as more dangerous and predatory than that teacher's seduction of her underage pupil. Even those television shows which include plot lines organized around gay characters seem hesitant to explore intimacy in their relationships. Shows like Modern Family, which is a focus of several chapters in this collection, is a good example of this elision and erasure of intimacy. …
Hedgehog Signaling: Iguana Debuts as a Nuclear Gatekeeper

The intracellular pathway that controls the cytoplasmic versus nuclear distribution of Gli transcriptional regulators in response to Hedgehog signaling remains poorly understood. Iguana appears to play a role in regulating this process independently of Hedgehog signaling.
The 5f band structure of antiferromagnetic USb2 from angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy : application to heavy fermions

We show the first direct observation of 5f band dispersion in an antiferromagnetic 5f compound, USb2, closely related to heavy fermions.
Heterodyne detection - Phase front alignment, beam spot size, and detector uniformity

We consider the effects of signal and local oscillator phase front misalignment, beam spot sizes, and electric field distributions on heterodyne detection. The signal and local oscillator fields that we consider are various combinations of Airy, Gaussian, and uniform distributions. We show that the values of the beam radii that maximize the heterodyne SNR are sensitive to phase front misalignment and that the degradation with misalignment angle is somewhat less severe for Airy received signals than for uniform. We also prove that for small optical spot sizes and perfect alignment, the optimal ratio of local oscillator Gaussian l/e field radius to signal Airy F number is approximately 0.7lambda. We next consider the effects of nonuniform detector quantum efficiency. Simple examples show that quantum efficiencies averaged over the detector surface give only crude estimates of the sensitivity of a heterodyne system. For accurate estimates full account must be made of the electric field parameters and the detector re ponse at each point on its photosurface.
Experimental verification of in-phantom calculations for an accelerator- based neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy

In this paper we present computer calculations and measurements of the 2200 m/s neutron flux in two different phantoms irradiated in the treatment port of a prototype moderator assembly for an accelerator-based neutron source (ABNS) for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The 2200 m/s flux (φ 0 ) is a useful quantity, because it is proportional to the boron absorbed dose rate in phantom. The results of the calculations and measurements are compared at several locations in head phantoms. When S(α, β) cross sections for hydrogen are used, along the beam centerline, the calculations agree with measurements with average deviations of plus 7%, for a rectangular parallelepiped water phantom, and minus 6%, for a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) ellipsoidal phantom.
Self-assembly of charged corannulene with cesium ions: Always in the bowl

Abstract Cesium salts of mono- and doubly-reduced bowl-shaped corannulene have been prepared in the presence of different O-donors and isolated as bulk crystalline solids. Crystallization of corannulene monoanions with cesium ions from diglyme afforded green blocks of [Cs(diglyme)+(C20H10−)] (1). Its X-ray structural investigation revealed the formation of a 1D polymer built on simultaneous binding of large cesium ion to the convex and concave faces of the adjacent C20H10•− anions, with each bowl functioning in the rare η5-endo:η6-exo bridging mode. The coordination environment of the Cs+ ion is completed by a side-bound diglyme molecule. The cesium salt of corannulene dianion, C20H102−, was crystallized in the presence of dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 ether as [Cs2(dc-18-crown-6)1.52+(C20H102−)] (2). This product has a discrete linear tetranuclear structure built by aggregation of two terminal exo-hub-bound {Cs(dc-18-crown-6)(C20H102−)}− anionic moieties with the central {Cs2(dc-18-crown-6)}2+ cationic gluing block. The cesium ions of the latter, sharing one crown ether molecule, occupy the concave cavities of the doubly-charged corannulene bowls. As a result, each bowl functions in the symmetric η5-endo:η5-exo bridging mode which has not been previously seen. The bowl depths of the resulting carbanions in 1 and 2 are 0.915(15) A and 0.852(13) A, respectively, vs. that of 0.875(2) A in neutral corannulene.
Neurons in cat V1 show significant clustering by degree of tuning

Neighboring neurons in cat primary visual cortex (V1) have similar preferred orientation, direction, and spatial frequency. How diverse is their degree of tuning for these properties? To address this, we used single-tetrode recordings to simultaneously isolate multiple cells at single recording sites and record their responses to flashed and drifting gratings of multiple orientations, spatial frequencies, and, for drifting gratings, directions. Orientation tuning width, spatial frequency tuning width, and direction selectivity index (DSI) all showed significant clustering: pairs of neurons recorded at a single site were significantly more similar in each of these properties than pairs of neurons from different recording sites. The strength of the clustering was generally modest. The percent decrease in the median difference between pairs from the same site, relative to pairs from different sites, was as follows: for different measures of orientation tuning width, 29–35% (drifting gratings) or 15–25% (flashed gratings); for DSI, 24%; and for spatial frequency tuning width measured in octaves, 8% (drifting gratings). The clusterings of all of these measures were much weaker than for preferred orientation (68% decrease) but comparable to that seen for preferred spatial frequency in response to drifting gratings (26%). For the above properties, little difference in clustering was seen between simple and complex cells. In studies of spatial frequency tuning to flashed gratings, strong clustering was seen among simple-cell pairs for tuning width (70% decrease) and preferred frequency (71% decrease), whereas no clustering was seen for simple-complex or complex-complex cell pairs.
The correlation between transperineal sonography and digital examination in the evaluation of the third-trimester cervix.

Objective: To determine the correlation between transperineal or translabial ultrasound and digital examination of the cervix in the third trimester in women presenting to the obstetrical triage area complaining of uterine contractions and/or rupture of membranes. Method: One hundred women were evaluated initially with an ultrasound unit using a 5-MHz glove-covered curvilinear transducer applied to the perineum in the sagittal plane. Immediately after the ultrasound evaluation, another examiner assessed the cervix digitally, blinded to the sonographic results. Cervical dilatation, length, and station were assessed. Results: Transperineal ultrasound correlated ( P Conclusion: There is a statistically significant correlation between the digital cervical examination and the sonographic assessment of cervical dilatation, length, and station by the transperineal approach.
Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Case series and update.

Background Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) is a rare neoplasm of salivary gland origin which is low-grade in nature. In this series, we report on 9 cases of HCCC and update the literature. Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed. Our institutional database was queried for cases of HCCC. Pathology reports and slides were reviewed. Data was extracted, including demographics, staging, primary treatment, histopathologic findings, recurrence, and disease status. Statistical analysis was performed using a Pearson's chi-square test. Results One hundred thirty-six total cases were included for analysis. The overall recurrence rate was 19.8%. Necrosis was associated with risk of recurrence (p = .003). Positive margins and lymph node status were associated with risk of recurrence. Prognosis was good with only 3 of 82 patients reported dying with disease. Conclusion HCCC has an overall good prognosis with potential for aggressive behavior. The presence of necrosis, locoregional disease, or positive margins is associated with risk for recurrence. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 426–433, 2016
Assessment of human islet isolation with four different collagenases.

Abstract Background The isolation of islets from the human pancreas critically depends on the efficiency of the digestive enzymes. Liberase HI had been used as a standard preparation until the issues concerning bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Thus, we must now use other collagenases for clinical islet transplantation, four of which we have evaluated herein. Methods The digestion of each of 17 pancreata from brain-dead donors was performed using the following collagenases: Liberase HI (HI; Roche, n = 9); Liberase MTF C/T (MTF; Roche, n = 4); Collagenase NB1 Premium Grade (NB1; Serva, n = 7); or Clzyme Collagenase HA (CI, VitaCyte, n = 4). Islet isolations were based on the Edmonton protocol for HI, whereas our modified islet isolation method was used for the three new enzymes (MTF, NB1, and CI). Results There were no significant differences in donor age, body mass index, pancreas size, and cold ischemic time among the four groups. The phase I time in the NB1 group was significantly shorter than in the CI group (P = .0014). The prepurification IEQ/g in the HI group was significantly lower than the others (P = .0003 vs MTF, .0007 vs NB1, and .0009 vs CI, respectively). The postpurification IEQ/g in the MTF group was significantly higher than in the HI group (P = .006). The viability in the NB1 group was significantly greater than the HI group (P = .003). Conclusion Three new enzymes (MTF, NB1, and CI) may enable us to obtain higher islet yields than with HI.
Are Women Workers “Hard to Organize”?

This article examines the male-female difference in propensity to unionize. Logit analysis is used to estimate a series of voter predisposition equations for the unorganized employees included in a national survey of working conditions. Measures of employee background, labor force location, and family responsibilities are included as explanatory variables. The results indicate that women are more likely than men to desire union representation, a difference attributable in part to more favorable beliefs and attitudinal valence regarding unions. The tendency of previous analysts to infer the propensities of women workers from union membership differences is criticized, and the implications for unionism of the changing sex composition of the work force are discussed.
Thrombocytopenia in the Intensive Care Unit

Thrombocytopenia is a common laboratory finding in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Potential etiologies of thrombocytopenia are myriad, ranging from acute disease processes and concomitant conditions to exposures and drugs. The mechanism of decreased platelet counts can also be varied: laboratory measurement may be spurious, platelet production may be decreased, or platelet destruction or sequestration may be increased. In addition to evaluation for the cause of thrombocytopenia, the clinician must also guard against spontaneous bleeding due to thrombocytopenia, prophylax against bleeding resulting from an invasive procedure performed in the setting of thrombocytopenia, and treat active bleeding related to thrombocytopenia.
Who's Getting Cited: Representation of Women and Non-White Scholars in Major American Criminology and Criminal Justice Journals Between 1986-2005

This article presents findings from an ongoing study of the integration of women and non-white scholarship into the discipline of criminology and criminal justice. The most-cited women and non-white scholars in six major American journals were determined for 1986-2005 to investigate (1) if the dissemination of published research findings in criminology and criminal justice (CCJ) is affected by gender and race/ethnicity and (2) if changes in scholarly influence of women and non-white scholars in CCJ over 20 years exists. A number of explanations are suggested to account for gender and racial differentials in citation rates.
An efficient reconfigurable architecture and implementation of edge detection algorithm using Handle-C

Computer manipulation of images is generally defined as digital image processing (DIP). DIP is employed in variety of applications, including video surveillance, target recognition, and image enhancement. Some of the algorithms used in image processing include convolution, edge detection and contrast enhancement. These are usually implemented in software but may also be implemented in special purpose hardware to reduce speed. In this work the canny edge detection [1986] architecture has been developed using reconfigurable architecture and hardware modeled using a C-like hardware language called Handle-C. The proposed architecture is capable of producing one edge-pixel every clock cycle. The hardware modeled was implemented using the DK2 IDE tool on the RC1000 Xilinx Vertex FPGA based board [M. Newman]. The algorithm was tested on standard image processing benchmarks and significances of the result are discussed.
Progress of world‐survey of cosmic rays

In the summer of 1930, R. D. Bennett, then of the University of Chicago, J. C. Stearns of the University of Denver, and the writer initiated a coordinated study of the geographical distribution of the cosmic rays. (A more complete record of this survey as of January 1, 1933, has been published in Phys. Rev., v. 43, 387, 1933.) Previous studies of the relative intensity of the cosmic rays in different parts of the world have been made by J. Clay (J. Clay, Amsterdam, Proc. Akad. Wet., v. 30, 1115, 1927, and v. 31, 1091, 1928), who made several trips between Java and Holland, and who found consistently a lower intensity near the equator; Millikan and Cameron (R. A. Millikan and G. H. Cameron, Phys. Rev., v. 31, 163, 1928), who found but small and doubtful differences between Bolivia and California in their measurements in mountain lakes, and no difference (R. A. Millikan, Phys. Rev., v. 36, 1595, 1930) between Pasadena and Churchill, close to the north magnetic pole; Bothe and Kolhorster (W. Bothe and W. Kolhorster, Berlin, SitzBer. Akad. Wiss., Physik. math. Kl., 450, 1930), who carried a counting tube from Hamburg (53° north) to Spitsbergen (81° north) and back, and who detected no variations in the cosmic rays larger than their rather large experimental error; Kennedy, who under Grant's direction (Kerr Grant, Nature, v. 127, 924, 1931) carried similar apparatus from Adelaide, Australia, to Antarctica, and likewise found no measurable change; and Corlin (A. Corlin, Lund Medd., No. 121, 1930), who on going from 50° north to 70° north in Scandinavia found some evidence of a maximum at about 55° north. The prevailing opinion regarding the significance of these measurements has thus been expressed by Hoffmann (G. Hoffmann, Physik. Zs., v. 32, 633, 1932. Hoffmann mentions also—without reference—that in their airship-flight over the north pole Malmgren and Behounek observed the normal cosmic-ray intensity throughout the flight.) in a recent summary, “The results so far have on the whole been negative. Most of the observers conclude that within the errors of experiment the intensity is constant and equal, and those authors who do find differences give their results with certain reservations.”
Empirical study of parallel trace-driven LRU cache simulators

This paper reports on the performance of four parallel algorithms for simulating an associative cache operating under the LRU (Least-Recently-Used) replacement policy. Three of the algorithms are implemented on the MasPar MP-2. Another algorithm is a parallelization of an efficient serial algorithm on the Intel Paragon. We assess the strengths and weaknesses of these algorithms as a function of problem size and characteristics, and compare their performance on traces derived from execution of three SPEC92 benchmark programs.
An Attack-Resilient Channel Assignment MAC Protocol

Although multi-channel wireless protocols are becoming predominant, security mechanisms of channel assignment are far from sufficient to protect the channel usage. In this paper, we discuss radio jamming attacks, ripple effect attacks and false information injection attacks in multi-interface and multi-channel wireless networks. We propose a security mechanism to secure channel management in multi-channel wireless networks. Our channel assignment protocol is resilient to the aforementioned intrusions. The evaluation results show that our protocol is effective and efficient.
Clinical research by pharmacists.

Most pharmaceutical scientists trained before the 1970s earned an MS or PhD degree in one of the basic pharmaceutical sciences: medicinal/pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, pharmaceutics or pharmacology. As expected, they performed research in one of those areas. The concept of clinical pharmacy arose in the 1960s and the initial programmes prepared a pharmacist to serve as a consultant to physicians for optimizing drug therapy. Unresolved questions concerning the optimal treatment emerged regularly, while clinical pharmacists with PharmD degrees applied their knowledge and skills in biomedical, pharmaceutical and clinical fields to the improvement of patient care. A void was observed by those pioneers in that it was obvious that no discipline could thrive or even survive without the discovery of new knowledge or confirmation of accepted facts.
Chitosan against cutaneous pathogens

Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus are cutaneous pathogens that have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics. We sought to determine if chitosan, a polymer of deacetylated chitin, could be used as a potential treatment against these bacteria. We found that higher molecular weight chitosan had superior antimicrobial properties compared to lower molecular weights, and that this activity occurred in a pH dependent manner. Electron and fluorescence microscopy revealed that chitosan forms aggregates and binds to the surface of bacteria, causing shrinkage of the bacterial membrane from the cell wall. Of special relevance, clinical isolates of P. acnes were vulnerable to chitosan, which could be combined with benzoyl peroxide for additive antibacterial effect. Chitosan also demonstrated significantly less cytotoxicity to monocytes than benzoyl peroxide. Overall, chitosan demonstrates many promising qualities for treatment of cutaneous pathogens.
Effect of Iyengar yoga practice on fatigue and diurnal salivary cortisol concentration in breast cancer survivors

Purpose: To examine the effect of regular Iyengar yoga practice on measures of self-perceived psychosocial function and diurnal salivary cortisol secretion in stage II–IV breast cancer survivors (n = 18). Data sources: Women were randomly assigned to attend yoga practice for 90 min twice weekly for 8 weeks (n = 9) or to a wait-listed, noninterventional control group (n = 9). Traditional Iyengar yoga routines that progressively increased in difficulty as participants gained strength and flexibility were used. At baseline and after the 8-week study period, women completed self-report instruments to document various aspects of psychosocial and physical functioning, and collected salivary samples for cortisol analysis four times during the day for two consecutive days. Conclusions: The yoga group had lower morning and 5 p.m. salivary cortisol and improved emotional well-being and fatigue scores. Implications for practice: Breast cancer survivors are at risk for chronic psychosocial distress that may alter activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, resulting in aberrant regulation of cortisol secretion and increased risk of immune dysfunction and cancer progression. Regular yoga practice may be a low-risk, cost-effective way to improve psychosocial functioning, fatigue, and regulation of cortisol secretion in breast cancer survivors. These findings require validation with a larger randomized study.
High-Frequency Oscillations in the Belousov−Zhabotinsky Reaction

Chemical oscillations in the classic Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) system typically have a period of a few minutes, which can be increased significantly by changing the organic substrate. Here we show that by changing the temperature and concentrations, an increase of 3-4 orders of magnitude in the frequency of BZ oscillations can be obtained. At elevated temperatures, in high concentration mixtures, the cerium-catalyzed reaction exhibits sinusoidal oscillations with frequencies of 10 Hz or greater. We report the effect of temperature on the frequency and shape of oscillations in experiments under batch conditions and in a four-variable model. We show that our simple model accurately captures the complex temporal behavior of the system and suggests paths toward even higher frequencies.
The Prophet’s Wish: A Freudian Interpretation of Martin Luther King’s Dream

I Have a Dream! It has been almost 50 years since Martin Luther King, Jr. uttered these hallowed words to an expansive crowd gathered at the Lincoln memorial in Washington D.C. Today, just as it was on that hot August day, listeners are still captivated by King’s eloquent exposition detailing a day of human brotherhood—a day when each man, woman, boy and girl would be judged not by their skin (or any other physical attribute) but solely by, as King proclaimed, “the content of their character.” But was there more to King’s dream than we are often led to believe? This essay seeks to uncover those hidden feelings—or wishes, as Sigmund Freud would characterize them—that had a pivotal role in forming King’s dream. In my attempt to reveal these hidden wishes, I shall detail the complex socio-historical influences that supplied an unconscious reserve of negative affect—namely hate—within King’s psyche that plagued him throughout his life. So the question arises after such an investigation: Could King, the heralded prophet of love, declare a dream of love and, at the same time, feel an intense sense of hate?
Which rules for online writing are worth following?: A study of eight rules in eleven handbooks

Professionals, like technical specialists, have increasingly needed to engage in online communications such as email or posts to online discussion lists. As the amount of their writing has increased, rules for online writing, such as, "Make subject headings short and descriptive," have emerged. However, the extent to which such rules have become conventionalized, standard practice is not known. Consequently, the extent to which writers should concern themselves with following these rules is unclear. In this study, I examine eight rules in 11 handbooks for online writing, analyzing the frequency with which these rules are stated, the extent to which these rules are consistently stated, and the extent to which following the rules is justified. The results show that five of the eight rules are emerging as standard practice but that rules relating to greetings and farewells in emails, emoticons, and abbreviations are not yet standardized.
Sleep and Cortisol Interact to Support Memory Consolidation

Separate lines of research have demonstrated that rises in cortisol can benefit memory consolidation, as can the occurrence of sleep soon after encoding. For the first time, we demonstrate that pre-learning cortisol interacts with sleep to benefit memory consolidation, particularly for negative arousing items. Resting cortisol levels during encoding were positively correlated with subsequent memory, but only following a period of sleep. There was no such relation following a period of wakefulness. Using eye tracking, we further reveal that for negative stimuli, this facilitative effect may arise because cortisol strengthens the relationship between looking time at encoding and subsequent memory. We suggest that elevated cortisol may "tag" attended information as important to remember at the time of encoding, thus enabling sleep-based processes to optimally consolidate salient information in a selective manner. Neuroimaging data suggest that this optimized consolidation leads to a refinement of the neural processes recruited for successful retrieval of negative stimuli, with the retrieval of items attended in the presence of elevated cortisol and consolidated over a night of sleep associated with activity in the amygdala and vmPFC.
XAFS Spectroscopy Study of Cu(II) Sorption on Amorphous SiO2and γ-Al2O3: Effect of Substrate and Time on Sorption Complexes

We have used X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy to investigate Cu(II) sorption complexes on high surface area amorphous silica (am-SiO2) and gamma-Al2O3. For Cu(II) on gamma-Al2O3, analysis of XAFS data collected after a solution-solid total contact time of 80-170 h showed that monomeric Cu(II) species predominate at surface coverages of 0.007 and 0.05 µmol m-2. Cu(II) on the gamma-Al2O3 surface has aluminum second neighbors at about 2.8 A. Geometrical considerations indicate that this distance is consistent with models of Cu(II) binding to the gamma-Al2O3 surface in inner-sphere bidentate or monodentate modes on Al(O,OH)6 octahedra. For Cu(II) sorbed on am-SiO2, analysis of XAFS data collected after a solution-solid total contact time of 80-110 h showed that a dimeric Cu(II)-surface complex predominates, along with a minority monomeric Cu(II) surface species, at 0.03 and 0.05 µmol m-2. The XAFS-derived Cu-Si distance is in the range of 2.98 to 3.05 A, suggesting that Cu(II) binds to am-SiO2 in an inner-sphere, monodentate fashion. XAFS spectra of Cu(II) sorbed on am-SiO2 collected after 20-30 h total contact time are quantitatively different from those collected after 80-90 h contact time. Analyses of these spectra indicate that the ratio of dimeric to monomeric Cu(II) surface complexes has increased with contact time. A discussion of the processes responsible for the different Cu(II) complexes on am-SiO2 and gamma-Al2O3 is presented. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.
Monitoring Costs and Occupational Segregation by Sex: an Historical Analysis

Supervisory and monitoring costs are explored to understand aspects of occupational segregation by sex. Around the turn of this century 47 percent of all female manufacturing operatives were paid by the piece, but only 13 percent of the males were. There were very few males and females employed by the same firm in the same occupation, and when they were, they were invariably paid by the piece. The group of industries that hired two-thirds of all male operatives, hired virtually no females. Males, but not females, were employed in teams across a variety of industries, and there was segregation by sex across various jobs requiring similar training and ability. Occupations in the clerical sector were rapidly "feminized" from 1900 to 1920 and an organization of work was employed resembling that used earlier in manufacturing. These findings can be understood by considering a model of occupational segregation in which monitoringis costly and males and females have different turnover rates. Employers adopt one of two solutions to avoid shirking -- piece rates and deferred payment. Because females are only employed in one period, piece rates are used for them; males, however, might prefer deferred payment which causes their earnings profile to be steeper than otherwise. Occupational segregation by sex results even if workers are homogeneous with regard to ability and there are nocosts of job investment. Males can also receive higher average wages per period than females. Under a reasonable set of assumptions, females would want to be employed in the male sector,but would be barred from doing so. Establishment-level and more aggregated data for manufacturing around 1890 are examined with regard to the costs of supervising and monitoring male and female workers in time and piece-rate positions.The findings tend to support the assumptions of the model concerning the relative costs of monitoring workers of different sexes paid by different methods.
On modeling duration in context in speech recognition

A clustering algorithm is introduced that allows clustering of HMM (hidden Markov models) models directly. This clustering algorithm determines the appropriate duration profile for a recognition unit. High-performance speaker-independent digit recognition on a studio-quality connected-digit database is demonstrated using this algorithm. >
Alterations of the retinoblastoma gene in clinically localized, stage B prostate adenocarcinomas

Alterations of the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor gene and its encoded protein have been detected in a variety of malignant neoplasms. The authors have evaluated a series of 26 clinically localized stage B prostate adenocarcinomas for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 13q14 (including the Rb locus), rearrangements or partial deletions of the Rb gene, and alterations of Rb protein level by quantitative immunohistochemistry. LOH at the Rb locus occurred in 35% of the informative specimens. Of the specimens that showed LOH, 33% also had decreased or absent Rb protein in tumor cells by quantitative immunohistochemistry. In contrast, none of the specimens without LOH showed loss of Rb protein. Thus, LOH is correlated with loss of Rb protein. The authors conclude that alterations of the Rb tumor suppressor gene occur in a significant fraction of stage B prostate adenocarcinomas.
The role of the iliolumbar ligament in low back pain

Low back pain is caused by a variety of etiologies. Some clinicians have postulated that much low back pain is due to trauma to the iliolumbar ligament. The iliolumbar ligament is one of the three pelvic-lumbar ligaments and develops during the 12th week of gestation. The iliolumbar ligament appears to be a major stabilizing component between the vertebral spine and the pelvis. The innervation of the iliolumbar ligament appears similar to the posterior lumbar ligaments. Our hypothesis is: micro-trauma to the iliolumbar ligament is the primary cause of many cases of chronic low back pain because (1) it is the weakest component of the multifidus triangle; (2) there is increased susceptibility to injury due to its angulated attachment; (3) it is a primary inhibitor of excess sacral flexion; (4) it is a highly innervated nociceptive tissue; and (5) it plays an increased role with progressive disc degeneration.
Mediating “The Voice of the Spirit”: Musical and religious transformations in Nigeria's oil boom

In this article, I examine a musical recording made by a Yoruba Christian church in the context of Nigeria's oil boom in the 1970s. I focus on the recording as a node of mediation: a site at which multiple forms of mediation converge to bring together institutional orders and individual subjectivities. Those responsible for the recording drew on meaningful cultural forms—in this case, religion, music, and electronic media—to make authoritative claims about morality and experience in the context of profound social change. I seek to understand how religious groups use media to create links between political-economic transformations and individual experience. [Nigeria, Christianity, mediation, music, religious authority, political economy]
5-HT3 receptor ion size selectivity is a property of the transmembrane channel, not the cytoplasmic vestibule portals

5-HT3A receptors select among permeant ions based on size and charge. The membrane-associated (MA) helix lines the portals into the channel’s cytoplasmic vestibule in the 4-A resolution structure of the homologous acetylcholine receptor. 5-HT3A MA helix residues are important determinants of single-channel conductance. It is unknown whether the portals into the cytoplasmic vestibule also determine the size selectivity of permeant ions. We sought to determine whether the portals form the size selectivity filter. Recently, we showed that channels functioned when the entire 5-HT3A M3–M4 loop was replaced by the heptapeptide M3–M4 loop sequence from GLIC, a bacterial Cys-loop neurotransmitter gated ion channel homologue from Gloebacter violaceus. We used homomeric 5-HT3A receptors with either a wild-type (WT) M3–M4 loop or the chimeric heptapeptide (5-HT3A–glvM3M4) loop, i.e., with or without portals. In Na+-containing buffer, the WT receptor current–voltage relationship was inwardly rectifying. In contrast, the 5-HT3A–glvM3M4 construct had a negative slope conductance region at voltages less than −80 mV. Glutamine substitution for the heptapeptide M3–M4 loop arginine eliminated the negative slope conductance region. We measured the relative permeabilities and conductances of a series of inorganic and organic cations ranging from 0.9 to 4.5 A in radius (Li+, Na+, ammonium, methylammonium, ethanolammonium, 2-methylethanolammonium, dimethylammonium, diethanolammonium, tetramethylammonium, choline, tris [hydroxymethyl] aminomethane, and N-methyl-d-glucamine). Both constructs had measurable conductances with Li+, ammonium, and methylammonium (size range of 0.9–1.8-A radius). Many of the organic cations >2.4 A acted as competitive antagonists complicating measurement of conductance ratios. Analysis of the permeability ratios by excluded volume theory indicates that the minimal pore radius for 5-HT3A and 5-HT3–glvM3M4 receptors was similar, ∼5 A. We infer that the 5-HT3A size selectivity filter is located in the transmembrane channel and not in the portals into the cytoplasmic vestibule. Thus, the determinants of size selectivity and conductance are located in physically distinct regions of the channel protein.