cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal standby virtual routers selection for node failures in a virtual network environment

Network virtualization allows flexibility to configure virtual networks in a dynamic manner. In such a setting, to provide resilient services to virtual networks, we consider the situation where the substrate network provider wants to have standby virtual routers ready to serve the virtual networks in the event of a failure. Such a failure can affect one or more virtual routers in multiple virtual networks. The goal of our work is to make the optimal selection of standby virtual routers so that virtual networks can be dynamically reconfigured back to their original topologies after a failure. We present an optimization formulation and a heuristic for this problem. By considering a number of factors, we present numerical studies to show how the optimal selection is affected. The results show that the proposed heuristic's performance was close to the optimization model when there were sufficient standby virtual routers for each virtual network and the substrate nodes have the capability to support multiple standby virtual routers to be in service, concurrently.
Edema control in the management of disabling chronic venous insufficiency

Abstract This study was undertaken to assess the biomedical and socioeconomic rationale of edema control in disabling chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). In this 15-year retrospective survey (1974 through 1988) edema control was achieved by use of Unna's boot for leg ulcerations and by compressive hosiery for prevention of ulcerations. The study included 2,317 self- or physician-referred patients with disabling CVI, of whom 998 presented with venous stasis ulcers, many with recurrent ulcerations. Two hundred thirty-six patients were seen and treated only once and never returned. They were listed as not healed. Including patients who never returned after the first visit, the overall healing rate was 60.9%. Excluding the nonreturning patients, the overall rate of verified healing was 73.3%. The healing rate was 91% for first ulcers of compliant patients (patients treated at least 12 times in 32 weeks). The Unna's boot, being a functional substitute for the failing muscle pump in CVI, is a noninvasive and ambulatory method of controlling edema and treating ulcers in CVI. It does not interfere with patients' activities, it is inexpensive, and it is adaptable to middle aged and elderly ambulatory populations.
Characterization of phosphoenolpyruvate synthase mutants in Salmonella typhimurium.

The enteric bacteria are able to grow by utilizing three-carbon compounds (pyruvate, lactate, and alanine) as sole carbon sources only if they have a functional phosphoenolpyruvate synthase (PEP synthase). PEP synthase catalyzes the phosphorylation of pyruvate to PEP with the hydrolysis of ATP to AMP. This anaplerotic reaction is needed for the synthesis of carbohydrates and citric acid cycle intermediates that are essential for continued cell growth. Insertion mutants were isolated in Salmonella typhimurium that specifically lack the ability to grow on three-carbon compounds. These mutants also fail to utilize acetate as a sole carbon source. Enzyme assays were performed and the results showed that these mutants contain no PEP synthase activity. By using bacteriophage P22, the pps mutations isolated in this study were found to be contransducible with genetic markers in both the aroD and btuC genes. Three-factor crosses pinpointed the order of these genes and their distances with respect to each other. One of the mutants carries a pps::lac operon fusion. This fusion was used to explore the transcriptional regulation of the pps gene. A functional copy of the pps gene is required for its own induction. The pps gene is also under catabolite repression, but the addition of adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) to cells grown in the presence of glucose does not relieve this repression. These results indicate that the synthesis of PEP synthase is regulated in a more complex manner than has been previously recognized.
Cauchy integral equalities and applications

We study bounded holomorphic functions 7t on the unit ball Bn of Cn satisfying the following so-called Cauchy integral equalities: C[7r"+TE] = Y,,,7r (m = 0, 1,2,. ... ) for some sequence Ym depending on i . Among the applications are the AhernRudin problem concerning the composition property of holomorphic functions on Bn , a projection theorem about the orthogonal projection of H2(Bn) onto the closed subspace generated by holomorphic polynomials in it, and some new information about the inner functions. In particular, it is shown that if we interpret BMOA(Bn) as the dual of HI (Bn), then the map g -+ g o i is a linear isometry of BMOA(B1) into BMOA(Bn) for every inner function it on Bn such that it(0) = 0 .
Evoked epileptiform discharges in the rat anterior piriform cortex: generation and local propagation

The purpose of this study was to identify cellular and synaptic properties of neurons in a small region within the anterior piriform cortex (aPC), termed the area tempestas (AT), responsible for triggering forebrain seizures in rats. Using a brain slice preparation, we performed whole-cell patch recordings from neurons in the regions overlapping the functionally defined AT. Local electrical stimulation activated synaptic inputs to neurons in these regions, collectively termed the deep aPC (daPC). Synaptic inputs were blocked by selective ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists. Excitatory bursts were evoked from 59% of daPC neurons as the stimulus intensity was raised above a precise threshold. Secondary bursts (6-15 Hz) occurred in 34% of daPC neurons. Evoked bursts were synaptically driven, as they were blocked by TTX (1 microM) or 2, 3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo(f)quinoxaline (NBQX, 1 microM), but not by inclusion of cesium and N-(2, 6-dimethylphenylcarbamoylmethyl) triethylammonium (QX-314) in the internal patch solution. Neither augmentation of excitatory nor suppression of inhibitory transmission were required to evoke bursts from daPC neurons. However, bicuculline (20 microM) lowered the threshold intensity for evoking discharges and increased the incidence and duration of evoked bursts, indicating active inhibitory control of daPC neurons. Stimulation in the daPC evoked epileptiform field potentials from layer II of the adjacent PC and bursts from layer II pyramidal neurons. This work demonstrates that synaptically dependent excitatory burst discharges can be evoked from daPC neurons without altering the balance between synaptic excitation and inhibition. Stimuli that trigger bursts in daPC neurons also generate epileptiform activity in layer II pyramidal cells, indicating that propagation of excitatory activity triggered from the daPC to the pyramidal neurons of the aPC can contribute to the initiation of seizures induced by disinhibition of the AT in vivo.
Numerical multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock studies of atomic photoionization cross sections: Dynamical core-polarization effects in atomic sodium

Completely numerical multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) methods are used to calculate the photoionization cross section of atomic sodium in its ground state for incident photon energies in the single-channel region between the first (3${s}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$${)}^{1}$S and second (2${p}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$${)}^{3}$P ionization thresholds. Particular attention is focused on obtaining accurate cross-sectional values in the threshold and Cooper-minimum region up to \ensuremath{\sim}5 eV kinetic energy, where there is the possibility of a sensitivity of results to the quality of the ground-state wave function and final-state potential, and on incorporating the effects of dynamical core polarization in the final state, which are particularly important in the \ensuremath{\sim}5--15-eV kinetic energy region. These attributes are incorporated in the MCHF procedure by including appropriate doubly excited configurations in the ground state and ${L}^{2}$ polarization pseudostates in the final-state wave function. Provision is made in the final-state calculation for the simultaneous variational determination of the continuum function, of the orbitals comprising a basis for the ${L}^{2}$ polarization pseudostates, and of the configuration-mixing coefficients at each photon energy. The cross sections calculated in this way using length and velocity forms are in good agreement over the entire incident photon energy range considered, suggesting that converged values may be obtained in this interval from the present development. The very small effects of spin-orbit interaction on the photoionization cross section are neglected in the present calculations, in accordance with previously reported observations. Comparisons are made with available experimental values and with other computational studies in various approximations, and comments are provided on the origins of discrepancies between the present and previously reported measured and calculated values.
Antiferromagnetic superexchange in interlayer magnetic coupling

Abstract The data on the interlayer coupling in Fe Cr superlattices can be interpreted as if there exists an antiferromagnetic bias at short distances. Although calculations based on the s-d Friedel-Anderson model yield this bias, it has not been found in ab-initio band structure calculations. We discuss possible reasons for this discrepancy.
Modeling the surface photovoltage of silicon slabs with varying thickness.

The variation with thickness of the energy band gap and photovoltage at the surface of a thin semiconductor film are of great interest in connection with their surface electronic structure and optical properties. In this work, the change of a surface photovoltage (SPV) with the number of layers of a crystalline silicon slab is extracted from models based on their atomic structure. Electronic properties of photoexcited slabs are investigated using generalized gradient and hybrid density functionals, and plane wave basis sets. Si(1 1 1) surfaces have been terminated by hydrogen atoms to compensate for dangling bonds and have been described by large supercells with periodic boundary conditions. Calculations of the SPV of the Si slabs have been done in terms of the reduced density matrix of the photoactive electrons including dissipative effects due to their interaction with medium phonons and excitons. Surface photovoltages have been calculated for model Si slabs with 4–12, and 16 layers, to determine convergence trends versus slab thickness. Band gaps and the inverse of the SPVs have been found to scale nearly linearly with the inverse thickness of the slab, while the electronic density of states increases quadratically with thickness. Our calculations show the same trends as experimental values indicating band gap reduction and absorption enhancement for Si films of increasing thickness. Simple arguments on confined electronic structures have been used to explain the main effects of changes with slab thickness. A procedure involving shifted electron excitation energies is described to improve results from generalized gradient functionals so they can be in better agreement with the more accurate but also more computer intensive values from screened exchange hybrid functionals.
Reduced frequencies of mitomycin-c induced sister chromatid exchanges in akr mice.

The frequencies of base-line and Mitomycin-C (MMC) induced sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) were surveyed in four inbred strains of mice. In contrast to the C57B1/6J, CBA/J, and A/J strains where frequencies of SCE increased linearly with increasing dose of MMC, levels of SCE were significantly lower in AKR/J mice at high MMC concentrations. At a dose of 5 mg/kg MMC, chromosomal aberrations were more frequent in bone marrow cells of AKR/J mice than in C57B1/6J mice. These observations suggest an altered response to DNA damage in the AKR mouse strain.
Statistical process control for monitoring non-linear profiles using wavelet filtering and B-Spline approximation

A statistical process control framework is proposed to monitor non-linear profiles. The proposed methodology aims at identifying mean shifts or ‘shape changes’ in a profile. Discrete wavelet transformation (DWT) is applied to separate variation or noise from profile contours. B-splines are adopted to generate critical points to define the shape of a profile. The proposed method is innovative in that users can divide a profile into multiple segments to be monitored simultaneously. The high dimensionality problem that hinders the implementation of multivariate control charts can be solved by this framework. The distance difference statistic for each segment provides diagnostic information when the process of interest is out of control. These proposed statistics form a vector to be fed into any multivariate control chart such as the Hotelling T 2 control chart. A decomposition method can also be applied on the T 2 statistics when an out-of-control profile is detected. A simulation study applied to a forging ...
A Radiographic Evaluation of the Tibiofibular Syndesmosis

A radiographic evaluation of the normal as well as the progressively widened tibiofibular interval in the area of the syndesmosis was done using 12 fresh cadaver lower extremities. The width of the tibiofibular "clear space" and the amount of tibiofibular overlap was determined on accurately positioned anterior-posterior and mortise radiographs. Based on a 95% confidence interval, measurements obtained for the intact specimens would support the following criteria as consistent with a normal tibiofibular relationship: (1) a tibiofibular "clear space" on the anterior-posterior and mortise views of less than approximately 6 mm; (2) tibiofibular overlap on the anterior-posterior view of greater than approximately 6 mm or 42% of fibular width; (3) tibiofibular overlap on the mortise view of greater than approximately 1 mm. The width of the tibiofibular "clear space" on both anterior-posterior and mortise views appeared to be the most reliable parameter for detecting early syndesmotic widening.
Microstructures of Microwave‐Sintered Silicon Nitride with Zirconia as Secondary Particulates

A microwave-sintered Si3N4–Y2O3–MgO system containing ZrO2 particulates was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Although the starting powder was α-Si3N4 with Y2O3, MgO, and ZrO2 dopants, the sintered crystalline phases, analyzed by XRD, are mainly β-Si3N4 with minor N-Melilites (Y2Si3O3N4). TEM micrographs show that the N-Melilites are distributed at the multigrain junctions, suggesting they are formed by crystallization from a liquid phase. SEM analysis shows that Si3N4 grains are interlocked with each other. A large amount of secondary phase (13 vol%), containing Si–Y–Mg–O–N elements as identified by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer is present in the multigrain junctions and grain boundaries. TEM analysis found that small ZrO2 grains (d<200 nm) are frequently embedded in Si3N4 grains, while others remain as dispersoids and grains dispersed in the matrix. The addition of ZrO2 as a susceptor for microwave sintering increases the heating rate. However, there appeared to be very minor dissolution of ZrO2 in the oxynitride liquid during sintering. Both tetragonal and cubic Zr-rich phases were identified by selected-area electron diffraction, which supports the existence of N-stabilizing ZrO2. Microwave sintering favored the formation of the Si–Mg–Y oxynitride liquid phase and thus enhanced the dissolution of α-Si3N4.
The Preferred Traits of Mates in a Cross-National Study of Heterosexual and Homosexual Men and Women: An Examination of Biological and Cultural Influences

BBC Internet survey participants (119,733 men and 98,462 women) chose from a list of 23 traits those they considered first, second, and third most important in a relationship partner. Across all participants, the traits ranked most important were: intelligence, humor, honesty, kindness, overall good looks, face attractiveness, values, communication skills, and dependability. On average, men ranked good looks and facial attractiveness more important than women did (d = 0.55 and 0.36, respectively), whereas women ranked honesty, humor, kindness, and dependability more important than men did (ds = 0.23, 0.22, 0.18, and 0.15). Sexual orientation differences were smaller than sex differences in trait rankings, but some were meaningful; for example, heterosexual more than homosexual participants assigned importance to religion, fondness for children, and parenting abilities. Multidimensional scaling analyses showed that trait preference profiles clustered by participant sex, not by sexual orientation, and by sex more than by nationality. Sex-by-nation ANOVAs of individuals’ trait rankings showed that sex differences in rankings of attractiveness, but not of character traits, were extremely consistent across 53 nations and that nation main effects and sex-by-nation interactions were stronger for character traits than for physical attractiveness. United Nations indices of gender equality correlated, across nations, with men's and women's rankings of character traits but not with their rankings of physical attractiveness. These results suggest that cultural factors had a relatively greater impact on men's and women's rankings of character traits, whereas biological factors had a relatively greater impact on men's and women's rankings of physical attractiveness.
Clinical Effects of Amitriptyline in Adolescent Depression: A Pilot Study

Abstract To determine the effects of antidepressant medication on adolescent depression, we compared the efficacy of amitriptyline (200 mg daily) with placebo in a double-blind experimental design. Diagnosis of adolescent depression (n = 20) was achieved using the psychiatric interview, psychiatric rating scales, and psychometric instruments. No significant differences were reported between the amitriptyline and placebo groups on the Psychiatric Rating Scale or the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. There were differences between groups at week 6 on the Depression Adjective Check List. Within group significance occurred from onset of treatment to conclusion on all instruments. The results suggest that prescription of amitriptyline for treatment of adolescent depression may be no more efficacious than the use of placebo.
Dangerous men, evil women: Gender and parole decisionmaking

The structure of parole decisions concerning the “need” level of parolees is examined by applying a multivariate analysis. Results show that although male and female parolees did not differ in their need scores in the various areas included in the “need assessment” form, or in the parole officers' subjective impression of the parolees' need level, there were significant differences in the factors used by the officers to arrive at their decisions. The study suggests that gender-role expectations and stereotypes guide the decision-making process in the need assessment and the prescription of treatment for parolees. The implications of such gender-based rehabilitation are discussed.
Abstract 2033: Regulatory role of miR-203 in prostate cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute an evolutionarily conserved class of small non-coding RNAs that primarily regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level via sequence-specific interaction with the 3’-untranslated regions (UTRs) of cognate mRNA targets. It is being increasingly recognized that miRNAs play roles in the establishment and progression of human malignancies. Several recent studies have shown that microRNAs are significantly altered in prostate cancer. Here we explored the role of miR-203 in prostate cancer progression and metastasis. RT-PCR analysis of prostate carcinoma cell lines showed that miR-203 expression is attenuated in prostate cancer. This attenuation was validated by in situ hybridization analysis of miR-203 in clinical specimens. To evaluate the functional significance of miR-203, miR-203 was reintroduced in prostate cancer cell lines followed by functional assays. Overexpression of miR-203 in prostate cancer cell line leads to decreases in cell growth, clonability, invasiveness and migratory properties. miR-203 reexpression in prostate carcinoma cell line induces cell cycle arrest at the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle with a concomitant alteration of cell cycle regulators such as p21, p27, cyclin E and cdk2. Also, miR-203 transfection leads to a significant increase in apoptosis in prostate cancer cells pointing to the pleiotropic roles of this miR in prostate cancer. Further, analysis of putative miR-203 targets showed that miR-203 regulates the expression of survivin, a small inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein that plays a key role in prostate cancer progression. In conclusion, our data suggests a crucial tumor suppressive role for miR-203 in prostate cancer. 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 2033.
Compositional tunability and high temperature stability of ceria–zirconia hollow spheres

Cerium oxide is a widely used catalyst support due to favorable oxygen storage and release properties. The present investigation was undertaken to improve the thermal stability of hollow ceria shells by incorporation of zirconium. Hollow ceria spheres were doped with zirconium in the range of 1–13 atomic percent by a solvothermal method. In situhigh-temperature XRD revealed that samples with greater than 5% zirconium were significantly more resistant to crystallite growth than pure ceria samples. Additionally, nitrogen adsorption porosimetry showed that doped samples retained their specific surface area to higher temperatures than undoped samples. Transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm high temperature stability (up to 1100 °C) of the hollow sphere morphology.
Use of focus groups to understand African-Americans' dietary practices: Implications for modifying a food frequency questionnaire

Abstract Objective To generate information about dietary practices, food preferences and food preparation methods from African-Americans in Macon County, Alabama, as a precursor to an intervention designed to modify an existing dietary health questionnaire (DHQ). Method African-American males (30) and females (31) ages 20 to 75 years participated in eight focus groups in Macon County Alabama between June and July, 2007. Results The core topics identified were dietary practices; food preferences; food preparation methods; fast food practices; and seasonal/specialty foods. The younger focus group participants reported consuming mostly fast foods such as hamburgers for lunch. Fruits, vegetables, salads, fish, chicken and sandwiches were the most common lunch foods for the older males and females. Across the groups, rice, cornbread and potatoes were reportedly the most commonly consumed starchy foods at dinner. Frying and baking were the most common cooking methods. Fewer participants reported removing the skin when cooking chicken versus those who did not remove. Traditional foods including fried green tomatoes and cracklings were selected for addition to the modified DHQ, while those not commonly consumed, were deleted. Conclusions Participants described high-fat traditional food preferences, common frying and addition of salted meats to vegetables, which informed the modification of a DHQ.
Solvent‐associated decrements in olfactory function in paint manufacturing workers

To assess the effects of low-level organic solvent exposure on olfactory function, a cross-sectional study in paint manufacturing workers was undertaken. Workers in two paint manufacturing facilities (N = 187) were tested using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), a standardized, quantitative test of olfactory function. Industrial hygiene air samples over the past 13-15 years revealed that average solvent exposures in these plants were 2-40% of the existing threshold limit values for the three chemicals measured. Stratification by smoking status revealed evidence of dose-related decrements in olfactory function (p = .01) only in non-smokers. Furthermore, those nonsmoking workers in the highest exposure category had UPSIT scores below the fifth percentile for their age. These results suggest that solvents may cause nervous system dysfunction at lower levels than previously suspected, and that the olfactory system may be a critical target organ for the neurotoxic effects of solvents and other chemicals.
Seismic anisotropy in the lowermost mantle beneath the Pacific

Onset time differences of up to 3 s are observed between transverse (SSH) and longitudinal (SSV) components of broadband S waves at distances of 85° to 120° for paths traversing the lowermost mantle (D”) beneath the Pacific. After correction for upper mantle anisotropy, SSH usually arrives earlier than SSV with the splitting increasing with distance from 100° to 120°. The data yield two possible models of anisotropy: (1) anisotropy may vary laterally, with transverse isotropy existing in higher-than-average shear velocity regions beneath the northeastern Pacific, or (2) anisotropy may vary with depth, with transverse isotropy concentrated in a thin (100 km) thermal boundary layer at the base of D”. A few recordings at distances less than 105° show that SSV arrives earlier than SSH, indicating that general anisotropy likely exists in shallower regions of D”.
IMPLICATIONS FROM PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF MARINE MAMMALS1

Some aspects of captive marine mammal research have become matters of controversy, largely due to a misunderstanding of the value of such studies and of their importance to effective management and conservation of these species. Understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying the special adaptations for aquatic life that marine mammals demonstrate provides essential information relating to their health and survival. The need for such information is increasing as disturbance of the world's marine environments steadily escalates. While studies of these animals in their natural habitats contribute much to our comprehension of their biology, a more complete understanding of the physiological basis of their behavior depends upon experimental laboratory investigations. Some of the new knowledge thus gained has potentially important implications for human medicine.
Characterizations of precipitate phases in a Ti–Ni–Pd alloy

The microstructure of 46Ti–37.5Ni–16.5Pd (at.%) alloy was investigated by electron diffraction and high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy. The phase content and stability were determined at several different temperatures and times. Aging at 400 °C for 1 h results in a new phase (P1-phase), which is consumed by P-phase at longer aging times. At 450 °C, the P1-phase appears first, and then coexists with P-phase. At 500 °C, the entire alloy transforms into the P1-phase. At 550 °C, Ti3(Ni,Pd)4 phase begins to form.
Cross-platform FPGA accelerator development using CoRAM and CONNECT

The CoRAM memory architecture is an easy-to-use and portable abstraction for FPGA accelerator development [1, 2]. Using the CoRAM framework, FPGA developers can write their applications once and re-target them automatically to different FPGA platforms and devices (e.g., Xilinx ML605, Altera DE4, ZYNQ-702, etc). In this tutorial, participants will learn the key concepts of the CoRAM Virtual Architecture and the underlying CONNECT Network-on-Chip generation framework [3]. The tutorial is organized into three parts. The first part will provide an overview of the CoRAM Virtual Architecture and include a hands-on section where participants will work on a small example to get first-hand experience with the CoRAM development flow. The second part of the tutorial will provide a beneath-the-hood look at CoRAM and cover more advanced topics. These topics include memory loading, user I/O, debugging, as well as a segment on the CONNECT NoC generation framework which serves as the on-chip interconnect for CoRAM. The final part of the tutorial will be devoted to more advanced exercises and demos, as well as a Q&A session for CoRAM and CONNECT. The tutorial assumes a basic understanding of RTL design and C programming. To join in on the hands-on exercise, the attendees need laptops with 15GB of free space and VirtualBox installed. Please visit http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~coram for information about CoRAM and updates on this tutorial.
Calicivirus intracellular RNA: fractionation of 18-22 s RNA and lack of typical 5'-methylated caps on 36 S and 22 S San Miguel sea lion virus RNAs.

Abstract Radiolabeled RNA from Vero cells infected with a calicivirus, San Miguel sea lion virus type 2, in the presence of actinomycin D, was fractionated by glycerol density gradient sedimentation to yield 36 S single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and heterogenous RNA sedimenting in the 18–22 S region. Further fractionation of 18–22 S RNA by LiCl precipitation, CF-11 cellulose chromatography, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis yielded 22 S ssRNA, two doule-stranded RNAs )dsRNA), and a partially single-partially double-stranded RNA (ss/dsRNA). Sedimentation analysis indicated the major and minor dsRNAs were equivalent to two strands of 36 S and 22 S ssRNAs, respectively, and the dsRNA core of ss/dsRNA was equivalent to the major dsRNA. Neither 22 S ssRNA (presumed subgenomic mRNA) nor 36 S ssRNA (presummed full genomic RNA plus intracellular virion RNA) had the typical 5′-methylated cap.
Exact Solution for Functionally Graded Anisotropic Elastic Composite Laminates

Exact solutions are derived for three-dimensional, anisotropic, linearly elastic, and functionally graded rectangular composite laminates under simply supported edge conditions. The solutions are expressed in terms of an elegant formalism that resembles the Stroh formalism, and the composite laminates can be made of multilayered functionally graded materials with their properties varying exponentially in the thickness direction. The present solution extends Pagano's solution to the functionally graded material, and can serve as a benchmark to the modeling of functionally graded composite laminates based on various numerical methods. Typical results of the present solution are discussed for a single functionally graded plate and a bi-layer plate with a functionally graded layer overlying a homogeneous layer. For both plates, a simple load is applied on their top surfaces. It is shown that with a suitable functionally graded layer, the tensile stress on the top surface (or the compressive stress on the bott...
Body burden of polychlorinated biphenyls among persons employed in capacitor manufacturing

In an effort to assess exposure among workers engaged in capacitors manufacture, PCB concentration was determined in plasma (290) and adipose tissue (61). In general, males had higher concentrations of PCBs than females. The correlation of plasma concentration (1-546 ppb) of the more highly chlorinated PCBs, which had been used in past, with total duration of employment suggested accumulation over time. The gc-ec pattern of these PCB peaks was, in most cases, characteristic of exposure to a PCB mixture with 54% chlorine. The less highly chlorinated PCBs, di-, tri-, and tetrachlorobiphenyls, were the source of current exposure, and were observed in concentrations of 6-2530 ppb in plasma. Higher exposure occurred among persons with direct contact with PCBs in jobs such as capacitor filling. Adipose tissue concentrations, for both the more highly chlorinated PCBs (1-165 ppm) and lower chlorinated PCBs (0.6-414 ppm), were proportional to those in plasma.
Robert Saunders and civil rights in Tampa

Applied anthropologists played a crucial role in building the intellectual framework and in providing a scholarly and creative foundation for the Central Avenue Legacies Project. However, community people, whose lives were influenced and changed by the rise and fall of the Central Avenue neighborhood, played significant and unique roles in this historical and educational endeavor. One of our primary collaborators and indeed, the man who provided many of the rich, detailed, and fascinating anecdotes about Central Avenue was Robert Saunders. His long history of work and activism in the community, his collection of letters, reports, and other historical documentation, and his very detailed memory made Mr. Saunders an invaluable resource throughout the project. During the planning process he served on the Advisory Committee, offering suggestions and wisdom. On the day of the event Robert Saunders actively participated as a guide on the walking tour and a panelist on the community forum.
Bayesian inspection model with the negative binomial prior in the presence of inspection errors

One of the basic assumptions in Bayesian inspection models is that we have some prior knowledge about the number of defects in a certain product or software system. The prior knowledge can be often described as a probability distribution (e.g., Poisson distribution). In the paper, we propose three conditions that should be put forth as desirable properties for a prior probability distribution of the number of defects in the product. We review various prior probability distributions and test if they meet those conditions. The negative binomial distribution is found to be the only one that satisfies all the desirable conditions. With the negative binomial prior, we analyze the effects of various parameters on the Bayesian estimate of the number of undetected errors still remaining in the product.
Pilot study of pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation

Pilot study of pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation
The janiform genetics of aging

The genetics of aging is Janus-faced, looking in one direction to gene function, molecular biology, and cell biology, looking in the other direction to fitness, population genetics, and evolution. The field will not be successful if its practitioners only look in one direction or the other. On one face, the molecular genetics of aging often makes discoveries in which the biochemical effect is more apparent than the functional significance. On the other face, the population genetics of aging has difficulties with mechanistic content, such that its theories and their tests are often put forward in a manner that resists biological interpretation. If we are to achieve a remotely satisfying scientific understanding of aging, we must bear both faces of the problem in mind.
Respiratory failure and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Conventional treatment of respiratory failure involves positive pressure ventilation with high concentrations of inspired oxygen. If adequate gas exchange still cannot be achieved extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be an option. The general indication for ECMO for respiratory insufficiency is a reversible pulmonary disease, which cannot be managed by conventional means. ECMO is a modified heart–lung machine. Blood is withdrawn from a central vein in the patient and pumped through an artificial oxygenator back to the patient, either to a central artery (veno-arterial ECMO) or to a central vein (veno-venous ECMO). Total gas exchange can be achieved through the extracorporeal system, and the lungs do not have to be subjected to high-pressure ventilation. To date over 21,500 neonates have been treated with ECMO with an overall survival to hospital discharge of 76%. Meconium aspiration syndrome carries the highest survival (94%), whereas congenital diaphragmatic hernia on ECMO only has a survival of 52%. A total of 3500 pediatric patients (30 days to 18 years) have been treated with ECMO with a survival of 56%. Aspiration and viral pneumonia are the pediatric diagnoses with the highest survival rates. Randomized controlled studies have shown a significant advantage of ECMO with regard to survival in neonates. In the pediatric age group, nonrandomized studies have shown lower mortality in ECMO-treated patients.
Link function selection in stochastic multicriteria decision making models

A stochastic formulation of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) using an approach based on Bayesian categorical data models has been developed. However, in categorical data models it is known that the selection of the link function may have an impact on the model estimates. In particular, the selection of the probit link implies an assumption that model error terms are normally distributed and this normality assumption is regularly utilized in other related methods such as the multiplicative AHP. We examine model performance with respect to the choice of two model link functions. With regard to point estimates, it is found that the logit formulation is better able to replicate the estimates obtained by the eigenvector decomposition associated with the original formulation of the AHP. By contrast, the probit link produces priorities which are consistently more moderate than those of the AHP. The results suggest that the logit formulation will be preferred by decision makers who wish to replicate the AHP priorities as closely as possible. The results also suggest that the unexamined use of the normality assumption in other stochastic AHP methods may have an impact on priority estimates and thus is worthy of further attention.
Historical trends of metals in the sediments of San Francisco Bay, California

Abstract Concentrations of Ag, Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn were determined in six sediment cores from San Francisco Bay (SFB) and one sediment core in Tomales Bay (TB), a reference estuary. SFB cores were collected from between the head of the estuary and its mouth (Grizzly Bay, GB; San Pablo Bay, SP; Central Bay, CB; Richardson Bay, RB, respectively) and ranged in length from 150 to 250 cm. Concentrations of Cr, V and Ni are greater than mean crustal content in SFB and TB sediments, and greater than found in many other coastal sediments. However, erosion of ultramafic rock formations in the watershed appears to be the predominant source. Baseline concentrations of other metals were determined from horizons deposited before sediments were influenced by human activities and by comparing concentrations to those in TB. Baseline concentrations of Cu co-varied with Al in the SFB sediments and ranged from 23.7±1.2 μg/g to 41.4±2.4 μg/g. Baseline concentrations of other metals were less variable: Ag, 0.09±0.02 μg/g; Pb, 5.2±0.7 μg/g; Hg, 0.06±0.01 μg/g; Zn, 78±7 μg/g. The earliest anthropogenic influence on metal concentrations appeared as Hg contamination (0.3–0.4 μg/g) in sediments deposited at SP between 1850 and 1880, apparently associated with debris from hydraulic gold mining. Maximum concentrations of Hg within the cores were 20 times baseline. Greater inventories of Hg at SP and GB than at RB verified the importance of mining in the watershed as a source. Enrichment of Ag, Pb, Cu and Zn first appeared after 1910 in the RB core, later than is observed in Europe or eastern North America. Maximum concentrations of Ag and Pb were 5–10 times baseline and Cu and Zn concentrations were less than three times baseline. Large inventories of Pb to the sediments in the GB and SP cores appeared to be the result of the proximity to a large Pb smelter. Inventories of Pb at RB are similar to those typical of atmospheric inputs, although influence from the Pb smelter is also suspected. Concentrations of Hg and Pb have decreased since the 1970s (to 0.30 μg/g and 25 μg/g, respectively) and were similar among all cores in 1990. Early Ag contamination was perhaps a byproduct of the Pb smelting process, but a modern source of Ag is also indicated, especially at RB and CB.
Sensitization Methodology and Primary Prevention of the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials

The Research Institute for Fragrance Materials Inc. (RIFM) has approached sensitization studies with fragrance materials as primary prevention of sensitization in the healthy, normal population. Secon
Induction of Rapid T Cell Activation and Tolerance by Systemic Presentation of an Orally Administered Antigen

Abstract To understand how orally introduced antigen regulates peripheral immune responses, we fed cytochrome c protein to mice transgenic for the β chain of a cytochrome c–specific TCR and followed the antigen-specific T cell responses with a cyt c/I-E k tetramer staining reagent. We find that within 6 hr of cytochrome c administration, antigen-specific systemic T cell activation is induced, and spleen cells gain the ability to stimulate cytochrome c–specific T cell responses. Feeding multiple low doses of cytochrome c down-regulates the systemic immune response, which can be correlated with a reduction of antigen-specific T cells and not with immune deviation. These results suggest that systemic distribution of antigen contributes significantly to oral tolerance induction.
U69593, a kappa-opioid agonist, decreases cocaine self-administration and decreases cocaine-produced drug-seeking.

Rationale: Previous research has shown that kappa-opioid receptor agonists decrease intravenous cocaine self-administration. These agents also block the development of sensitization that occurs following repeated exposure to cocaine, which is thought to be important in the maintenance and reinstatement of compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Objectives: This study was designed to determine the effects of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist, U69593, on the maintenance of cocaine self-administration and on the ability of a priming injection of cocaine to reinitiate drug-seeking. Methods: During daily test sessions, the dose-effect curve (0.015– 1.0 mg/kg per infusion) was obtained by either repeatedly reducing the cocaine dose from a starting dose of 1.0 mg/kg per infusion or by repeatedly doubling the cocaine dose from a starting dose of 0.015 mg/kg per infusion. The effect of U69593 (0.0 or 0.32 mg/kg) on responding reinforced by different cocaine doses was determined. The effect of U69593 on the reinstatement of extinguished cocaine-taking behavior was measured in other groups. Results: U69593 decreased responding maintained by low doses of cocaine, regardless of whether cocaine doses were presented in an ascending or descending order. Responding maintained by high doses was unaffected. In animals which received pretreatment with U69593, the priming effects of cocaine were significantly attenuated. The effects of U69593 were specific, since amphetamine-induced cocaine-seeking was not altered by prior administration of U69593. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that U69593 attenuates cocaine self-administration and the reinstatement of drug-taking behavior which occurs in response to experimenter-administered cocaine. It is suggested that U69593 may decrease low dose cocaine self-administration by decreasing the priming effects of cocaine.
The Relationships between Masculinity Variables, Health Risk Behaviors and Attitudes toward Seeking Psychological Help

The purpose of this study was to directly compare traditional masculinity ideology, conformity to masculine norms, and gender role conflict to determine to what degree these masculinity variables are associated with self-reported risky health behaviors and negative attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Based on correlational analyses of the responses of 137 college men, higher gender role conflict was related to greater risky health behaviors, and higher levels of all three masculinity variables were related to more negative attitudes toward seeking psychological help. Using regression analyses, higher gender role conflict was a unique predictor of greater health risk behaviors, but traditional masculinity ideology was, unexpectedly, inversely associated with risky health behaviors. Conformity to masculine norms was a unique predictor of negative attitudes toward seeking psychological help. The limitations resulting from the overlap of the masculinity measures, the psychometric properties of the health risks measure, and the use of a college sample, as well as implications for practice and suggestions for future research, are discussed.
Evaluation of enzymatic activity on nanoscale polystyrene-block-polymethylmethacrylate diblock copolymer domains.

Understanding structural and functional changes of polymeric surface-bound proteins is extremely important as polymers play an increasingly significant role as arrays and substrates in proteomics applications. We carried out, for the first time, quantitative activity measurements of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzymes immobilized selectively on the polystyrene domains of microphase-separated polystyrene-block-polymethylmethacrylate ultrathin films. The specific enzymatic activity of HRP adsorbed on the diblock copolymer surface was evaluated and compared to that of HRP in free solution. We demonstrate that the polymeric surface-bound HRP molecules maintain approximately 85% of their activity in free solution. The unique advantages of diblock copolymer templates, involving nanoscale self-assembly and largely retained protein functionality, make the spontaneously constructed enzyme nanoarrays highly suitable as proteomics substrates. Our novel assembly method of providing functional enzymes on diblock copo...
Couette flow for a binary gas mixture

Abstract A recently developed analytical version of the discrete-ordinates method is used to establish a concise and particularly accurate solution to the problem of Couette flow of a binary gas mixture in a plane channel. The model kinetic equations used to describe the flow are based on the BGK theory of the linearized Boltzmann equation, and, in addition to the complete distribution functions for the two species of gas particles, numerical results are reported for the total sheer stress. The algorithm is considered especially easy to use, and the developed (FORTRAN) code runs typically in less than a second on a 400 MHz Pentium-based PC.
Pathogenic mutations in the carboxyl-terminal domain of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase: effects on catalytic activity and the stability of the tetramer.

Abstract Inherited defects in glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase cause the neurometabolic disease, glutaric acidemia type I. Five of over 80 mutations that have been identified are located in a carboxyl-terminal domain. The five mutations were generated by site directed mutagenesis and expressed in Escherichia coli. The mutant dehydrogenases were purified and characterized by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy, analytical size exclusion chromatography, thermal stability, and steady state kinetic analysis. There is no significant change in the α-helical content of the mutant proteins and little effect on tertiary structure; however, spectral properties of the mutant proteins indicate that the FAD prosthetic group can dissociate from the mutant proteins. Size exclusion chromatography shows that four mutant proteins dissociate to dimers or a mixture of monomers and dimers. Steady state kinetic analyses show that K m for glutaryl-CoA is affected by the mutations, but there is little effect on k cat compared with the wild type dehydrogenase. The lack of effects of the mutations on the K m for the electron acceptor, electron transfer flavoprotein, and on secondary structure suggests that the mutations do not result in long-range structural effects. The crystal structures of the acyl-CoA dehydrogenases show that their overall folding patterns are very similar and that the carboxyl-terminal domain is involved in substrate binding, FAD binding and intersubunit interactions. Investigations of mutations in the carboxyl-terminal domain of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase clearly illustrate these multiple roles of this domain. The results also indicate that a primary effect of the mutations is to cause alterations that promote aggregation.