cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing the ESA HPLC total homocysteine assay with electrochemical detection to the CDC in-house HPLC assay with fluorescence detection

Background: Environmental science has developed a simple high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay with electrochemical detection for total homocysteine (tHcy) measurement that does not require derivatization of free thiols. We evaluated this method and compared it with the CDC HPLC assay with fluorescence detection (FD). Methods: tHcy is measured after reduction of disulfides/protein-bound thiols and protein precipitation using four channels of an ESA CoulArray detector. l-homocystine is used as calibrator, penicillamine as internal standard. Results: Aqueous calibration of the ESA assay resulted in overestimation of tHcy by ∼30% compared to the HPLC-FD method. Calibration in plasma alleviated the matrix effect. The within- (n=3) and between-run (n=20) imprecision was <6%, the linearity up to 100 μmol/l was excellent, and the recovery of tHcy added to plasma was nearly complete (98.7%±2.3%). Good correlation was observed between both methods for 266 plasma samples. The ESA assay showed a minimal negative bias of 0.28 μmol/l (3.3%). Conclusion: The ESA tHcy assay performed well in terms of accuracy and precision, and showed good agreement with the CDC HPLC-FD assay when calibrated in plasma. The major advantage of this assay is that it does not require sample derivatization. Disadvantages include instability of the prepared samples for prolonged storage and matrix effects.
Heavy Quark Diffusion in AdS/CFT

The purpose of this short note is to clarify how thermal noise arises within the context of AdS/CFT.∗) Recently the AdS/CFT correspondence has been used to calculate several items of great interest to the heavy ion physics community. This list includes: the drag of heavy quarks,1)–3) higher order hydrodynamics,4),5) and radiative processes.6) All of these processes are intrinsically related to noise in thermal field theory. However, noise does not appear naturally within the AdS/CFT context. This is essentially manifest since it is difficult to acquire stochastic terms by solving linearized classical equations of motion. However it turns out that the quantum mechanics of AdS5 produces the required thermal noise. To address the question of noise we will consider the simplest stochastic process — Brownian motion. General considerations of heavy quarks would indicate that the heavy quark should obey a Langevin equation of motion
Dual-season mapping of wetland inundation and vegetation for the central Amazon basin

Abstract Wetland extent was mapped for the central Amazon region, using mosaicked L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery acquired by the Japanese Earth Resources Satellite-1. For the wetland portion of the 18×8° study area, dual-season radar mosaics were used to map inundation extent and vegetation under both low-water and high-water conditions at 100-m resolution, producing the first high-resolution wetlands map for the region. Thematic accuracy of the mapping was assessed using high-resolution digital videography acquired during two aerial surveys of the Brazilian Amazon. A polygon-based segmentation and clustering was used to delineate wetland extent with an accuracy of 95%. A pixel-based classifier was used to map wetland vegetation and flooding state based on backscattering coefficients of two-season class combinations. Producer's accuracy for flooded and nonflooded forest classes ranged from 78% to 91%, with lower accuracy (63–65%) for flooded herbaceous vegetation. Seventeen percent of the study quadrat was occupied by wetlands, which were 96% inundated at high water and 26% inundated at low water. Flooded forest constituted nearly 70% of the entire wetland area at high water, but there are large regional variations in the proportions of wetland habitats. The SAR-based mapping provides a basis for improved estimates of the contribution of wetlands to biogeochemical and hydrological processes in the Amazon basin, a key question in the Large-Scale Biosphere–Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia.
Employee Voice and Silence

When employees voluntarily communicate suggestions, concerns, information about problems, or work-related opinions to someone in a higher organizational position, they are engaging in upward voice. When they withhold such input, they are displaying silence and depriving their organization of potentially useful information. In this article, I review the current state of knowledge about the factors and motivational processes that affect whether employees engage in upward voice or remain silent when they have concerns or relevant information to share. I also review the research findings on the organizational and individual effects of employee voice and silence. After presenting an integrated model of antecedents and outcomes, I offer some potentially fruitful questions for future research.
Enhancing the engineering curriculum: Defining discovery learning at Marquette University

This paper summarizes the results of our investigation into the feasibility of increasing the level of discovery learning in the College of Engineering (COE) at Marquette University. We review the education literature, document examples of discovery learning currently practiced in the COE and other schools, and propose a Marquette COE-specific definition of discovery learning. Based on our assessment of the benefits, costs, and tradeoffs associated with increasing the level of discovery learning, we present several recommendations and identify resources required for implementation. These recommendations may be helpful in enhancing engineering education at other schools.
Intelligent Tool-Path Segmentation for Improved Stability and Reduced Machining Time in Micromilling

This paper presents the method of variable-feedrate intelligent segmentation as an enhanced approach to feedrate optimization in micromilling that overcomes detrimental scale effects in the process and leads to improved stability and decreased machining time. Due to the high tool-size to feature-size ratio present in micromilling, the maximum allowable feedrate is limited by the sampling rate of the real-time trajectory generation and motion control system. The variable-feedrate intelligent segmentation method is proposed to compensate for the feedrate limitation by intelligent selection of the interpolation technique applied to segments along the tool path in order to reduce the trajectory generation computation time and enable increased sampling frequency. The increased sampling frequency allows higher maximum feedrates providing for increased productivity and improved process stability. The performance of the novel intelligent segmentation approach was benchmarked against recent non-rational B-splines (NURBS) feedrate optimization techniques. Results from the numerical evaluation of the intelligent segmentation technique have demonstrated significant reductions in machining time, with a maximum reduction of over 50% recorded. Furthermore, the results from the study demonstrate the advantages of the intelligent segmentation method in enhancing process stability and maintaining, or marginally decreasing, process error. The variable feedrate intelligent segmentation method developed in this study provides, therefore, an enhanced methodology for path planning in high-speed, high-precision micromilling operations.
A manufacturing system for automated production of polystyrene molds

A compact automated system cuts complicated contours on prefabricated polystyrene blocks which are used as molds to cast Cerrobend, which is used as a shield in radiation therapy. The authors describe the development of the prototype, including details for machine configuration, motion planning and cutting experiments.
Efimov effect in quantum magnets

The Efimov effect is a universal phenomenon displaying an infinite tower of three-body bound states. Recently it was observed in an ultracold atomic gas, and now Efimov physics has been predicted to exist in a quantum magnet.
Acute effects of benzodiazepines on operant behavior and in vivo receptor binding in mice

Lorazepam and alprazolam produced dose-dependent decreases in the rate of fixed-ratio (FR) 20 schedules of food presentation in which either a nose-poke or a lever-press defined the operant and under a fixed-interval (FI) 2-min lever-press schedule of food presentation. In contrast, under FI 2-min and differential reinforcement of low response rate (DRL) 20-s schedules of nose-poke responding for food, intermediate doses of alprazolam produced increases in response rate. Lorazepam, however, only decreased overall response rates under the FI schedule and produced some increases in responding under the DRL schedule. Acute in vivo benzodiazepine receptor binding experiments showed that low to intermediate doses of alprazolam produced significant increases in the binding of [3H]flumazenil in all brain areas tested, while lorazepam produced increases in the brain stem only. The acute effects on binding produced by both drugs were positively and significantly correlated with their acute effects on response rate only under the FR lever-press procedure. These results indicate that the effects of benzodiazepines on in vivo binding may be related to their effects on FR lever-press responding.
Solid-State Solutions: Polymer-Encapsulated Reverse Micelles Containing Dye Solutions

Monomer solutions of styrene and divinylbenzene containing the surfactant Aerosol-OT were found to form stable reverse micelle aggregates with the addition of water or formamide as a polar solvent. These aggregates were stable below ca. 40 °C, and thermally initiated, radical polymerizations carried out below this temperature resulted in highly transparent polymer monoliths. These polymeric solids were of optical quality and could be easily shaped and polished. The emission of tris(2,2‘-bipyridyl)dichlororuthenium(II), placed inside these reverse micelles, was used as a semiquantitative probe of the chemical environment within the micellar aggregates and was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. Both the spectral characteristics and the lifetime of the emission from polymeric samples indicated a solution environment for the dye inside the polymer-encapsulated reverse micelles. These materials should be good candidates for the incorporation of photoresponsive dyes requiring a solution-state environment to ...
Holocene glacier fluctuations in the Peruvian Andes indicate northern climate linkages.

The role of the tropics in triggering, transmitting, and amplifying interhemispheric climate signals remains a key debate in paleoclimatology. Tropical glacier fluctuations provide important insight on regional paleoclimatic trends and forcings, but robust chronologies are scarce. Here, we report precise moraine ages from the Cordillera Vilcabamba (13°20′S) of southern Peru that indicate prominent glacial events and associated climatic shifts in the outer tropics during the early Holocene and late in the “Little Ice Age” period. Our glacier chronologies differ from the New Zealand record but are broadly correlative with well-dated glacial records in Europe, suggesting climate linkages between the tropics and the North Atlantic region.
Prominent spermoderm patterns of Poaceae

Scanning electron microscopy studies of 60 genera and 118 species of the Poaceae revealed prominent spermoderm patterns. The most common patterns observed (with percent occurrence) were simple reticulate with straight walls (48.3%), simple reticulate with wavy walls (14.4%), and verrucate without pubescence (13.6%). No other pattern occurred in more than 10% of the species observed. Some genera possess common spermoderm patterns among species while others do not.
Reconstitution of Contractile FtsZ Rings in Liposomes

FtsZ is a tubulin homolog and the major cytoskeletal protein in bacterial cell division. It assembles into the Z ring, which contains FtsZ and a dozen other division proteins, and constricts to divide the cell. We have constructed a membrane-targeted FtsZ (FtsZ-mts) by splicing an amphipathic helix to its C terminus. When mixed with lipid vesicles, FtsZ-mts was incorporated into the interior of some tubular vesicles. There it formed multiple Z rings that could move laterally in both directions along the length of the liposome and coalesce into brighter Z rings. Brighter Z rings produced visible constrictions in the liposome, suggesting that FtsZ itself can assemble the Z ring and generate a force. No other proteins were needed for assembly and force generation.
Terrorism deterrence in a two country framework: strategic interactions between R&D, defense and pre-emption

In this paper, we analyze the equilibrium responses (in terms of defense, RD (b) the strategic interaction between the instruments of terrorism deterrence, namely, defense, RD (iii) similar results hold for pre-emption because of its public good nature; (iv) for a given country, defense and RD (v) R&D and pre-emption may be strategic substitutes or complements depending on the magnitude of the elasticity of damage and (vi) an increase in the likelihood of the terrorist being weak reduces defense effort, may increase or decrease R&D depending on the magnitude of elasticity of damage but increases pre-emptive effort in both countries.
The Purdue Plan of Teaching Chemical and Scientific German

T HE aims of Modern Language instruction at Purdue, as stated in the University catalogue, are to equip the student with a practical reading knowledge of foreign languages and to contribute to broadening his general outlook through a study of the history, civilization, and attainments of foreign peoples in engineering, science, and polite literature. The first year's work in foreign languages is devoted to a study of pronunciation and fundamentals of grammar and to developing an ability to translate prose of moderate difficulty. Practice in dictation and in elementary composition is given, and the student is expected to develop an ability to understand and use the foreign language in simple conversation. Foreign language courses beyond those of the freshman year are designed to meet the needs of students in the various schools of the University. Courses in technical reading are offered for students in engineering, courses in scientific reading for students specializing in science, and courses in conversation, composition, and literature for students wishing to obtain a speaking and writing knowledge of foreign languages and a knowledge of foreign literatures. Courses offered in conversation, composition, and literature are elective for all students in the University. You will note from the aims as stated above that our main good in the teaching of foreign languages of the first two years is to enable the student to acquire an accurate reading knowledge of the foreign language or languages studied, and that our minor aims are to impart a basic knowledge of pronunciation, give the student practice in speaking and writing the foreign tongue, and a knowledge of some of the important works of foreign literatures by reading these works. In the technical and scientific courses of the second year's study, attention is centered almost entirely on our first aim; i.e., on reading. Beyond the second year, all courses are elective; these are literary courses, courses in civilization, conversation, and composition for the most part. In our beginning courses, the student of all schools of the University is given the same training whether, in his second year, he is to pursue a literary course or a technical course. For example, the student of German who wishes to pursue a technical course studies the same grammar and
Pattern of oseltamivir ingestions reported to Texas poison centers.

During serious influenza outbreaks, the number of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) exposures reported to poison centers might be expected to increase. This investigation describes the pattern of oseltamivir ingestions reported to Texas poison centers during 2000-2008. Of 298 total ingestions, 91.9% occurred in December-March, 76.8% involved patients aged 0-19 years, 72.5% resulted from therapeutic error, 90.0% were managed on-site, and 80.0% had no effect. The most frequently reported adverse clinical effects were vomiting (7.5%), nausea (3.8%), and abdominal pain (3.8%). Oseltamivir ingestions were reported to Texas poison centers primarily during periods of influenza outbreak. Most involved children, resulted from therapeutic error, and were managed on-site without serious outcome. Language: en
Forecasts of international tourism to the USA

Abstract The rapid growth of tourism to the USA will continue — at least until the year 2000 and unless upset by economic or other tourism-curtailing catastrophes. This conclusion, based on time-series forecasts and strengthened by a Delphi-type review, makes adequate planning vital if tourism is indeed to realise its full potential.
POLYSILANE PHOTORESISTS FOR 193 AND 248 NM LITHOGRAPHY

A series of sensitizing additives for polysilane bilayer photoresists have been identified. These compounds effectively quench the fluorescence of aromatic polysilanes and greatly increase the rate of photooxidation and spectral bleaching in the solid state. Resists formulated with sensitizers such as phthalimidotriflate show increased photospeed in imaging experiments at both 248 and 193nm. Characteristics of the resist reactions are described.
Texture of butter from cows with different milk fatty acid compositions.

Abstract Milk fatty acid composition and textural properties of butter are known to be affected by the cows' diets. We examined the phenotypic variation in milk fatty acid composition among cows fed the same diet to see if the variation was sufficient to produce butter with different textural properties. Ten cows were selected that tested higher (n=5) or lower (n=5) in their proportion of milk unsaturated fatty acids. Milk samples were collected a week after testing, and butter was prepared from the individual samples. Milk and butter samples were again analyzed for fatty acid composition. Butter at 5°C was evaluated by a sensory panel for spreadability and by a texture analyzer at both 5 and 23°C for hardness and adhesiveness. Milk and butter samples from cows with a more unsaturated milk fatty acid composition had a lower atherogenic index, and the butter samples were more spreadable, softer, and less adhesive. Thus, phenotypic variation in milk fatty acid composition among cows fed the same diet is sufficient to produce butter with different textural properties.
The Design of High-Intensity Muon Channels for a Meson Facility

This paper describes a general computer program which calculates the pion acceptance and emittance spectra together with the muon emittance spectrm for a muon channel composed of any arbitrary arrangement of quadrupole magnets and drift spaces. The calculation procedure does not rely on the thin lens approximation nor does it make any assumtions about the length or periodicity of the structure or about the distribution of particles across the acceptance ellipse. This program was used to evaluate the effects on the pion acceptance and muon emittance spectra of varying the spacing, length and field intensity of the quadrupole magnets, of varying the initial drift distance from the target to the start of the channel and of turning off certain magnets in the channel. The results of these calculations are discussed as they relate to the design of muon channels for a high intensity meson facility.
The mediating effects of social exchange relationships in predicting workplace outcomes from multifoci organizational justice

This study tests a social exchange model of multifoci justice. We compared perceptions of justice emanating from the supervisor to those emanating from the organization as a whole. In presenting our model, we hypothesize that the link between multifoci justice and multifoci outcomes (e.g. performance and OCB) is mediated by the formation of multifoci social exchange relationships. We further expected organizationally focused justice and relationships to predict organizationally relevant outcomes and supervisory focused justice and relationships to predict both supervisory and organizationally relevant outcomes. Findings generally supported our expectations, but more so for interactional justice and less so for procedural justice.
Intrinsic surface phonons in amorphous silica

We have detected intrinsic surface phonons in amorphous silica by performing Raman scattering and infrared-reflectivity measurements on samples of porous Vycor glass. Qualitative agreement of our experimental spectra with theoretical calculations provides an identification of the surface features in terms of microscopic atomic motions. We find a sharp Raman-active peak at 980 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ associated with the stretching vibration of a hydroxyl group against the surface silicon atom to which it is bonded. The corresponding wagging motion of the hydroxyl group appears in the infrared spectrum as a sharp feature at 380 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Both the appearance of these surface features as sharp peaks in the spectra and their relative amplitudes in the Raman and infrared spectra can be explained only if the sympathetic vibrations of underlying substrate layers are taken into account. Experimental confirmation of our assignment is provided by the effects of deuteration and adsorbed ammonia molecules on the Raman-active surface modes. Our experiment is the first in which the perturbations of these surface modes due to adsorbed molecules are studied. In our examination of the effects of water adsorption on the Raman spectrum of porous Vycor, we have observed a decrease in the intensity of the bulk "defect" mode near 600 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ with increasing water coverage. We also present evidence that the intense scattering background observed in Raman experiments on silica and other oxide surfaces is primarily an intrinsic electronic surface effect.
Uncertainty, God, and scrupulosity: Uncertainty salience and priming God concepts interact to cause greater fears of sin.

Abstract Background and objectives Difficulties tolerating uncertainty are considered central to scrupulosity, a moral/religious presentation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We examined whether uncertainty salience (i.e., exposure to a state of uncertainty) caused fears of sin and fears of God, as well as whether priming God concepts affected the impact of uncertainty salience on those fears. Method An internet sample of community adults ( N = 120) who endorsed holding a belief in God or a higher power were randomly assigned to an experimental manipulation of (1) salience (uncertainty or insecurity) and (2) prime (God concepts or neutral). Results As predicted, participants who received the uncertainty salience and God concept priming reported the greatest fears of sin. There were no mean-level differences in the other conditions. The effect was not attributable to religiosity and the manipulations did not cause negative affect. Limitations We used a nonclinical sample recruited from the internet. Conclusions These results support cognitive-behavioral models suggesting that religious uncertainty is important to scrupulosity. Implications of these results for future research are discussed.
Development and Validation of a Science Inquiry Skills Assessment

ABSTRACT This paper reports on the development and validation of a science inquiry skills assessment for Earth science (iSA–Earth Science) in middle schools that classroom teachers can use to assess and monitor their students' science inquiry skills. An assessment framework with six primary inquiry skills, each with three to six subskills, was developed based on a comprehensive review of the literature and following the recommendations of the National Science Education Standards (NSES; NRC, 1996) and A Framework for K–12 Science Education (FSE; NRC, 2012). The six primary skills are: (1) identify questions for scientific investigations, (2) design scientific investigations, (3) use tools and techniques to gather data, (4) analyze and describe data, (5) explain results and draw conclusions, and (6) recognize alternative explanations and predictions. The assessment development and validation process followed guidelines from the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (American Educational Resear...
Intraduodenal diverticula of the common bile duct.

1. Cohen LB, Korsten MA, Scherl EJ, Velez ME, Fisse RD, Arons EJ. Bacteremia after endoscopic injection sclerosis. Gastrointest Endosc 1983;29:198. 2. Mellow MH, Lewis RJ. Endoscopy-related bacteremia: incidence of positive blood cultures after endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Arch Intern Med 1976;136:667. 3. Baltch AL, Buhac I, Agrawal A, O'Connor P, Bram M, Malatino E. Bacteremia after upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Arch Intern Med 1977;137:594. 4. Shull HJ, Greene BM, Allen SD, Dunn GD, Schenker S. Bacteremia with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Ann Intern Med 1975;83:212. 5. Lewis J, Chung RS, Allison J. Sclerotherapy of esophageal varices. Arch Surg 1980;115:476. 6. Terblanche J, Northover JMA, Bornman P, et al. A prospective evaluation of injection sclerotherapy in the treatment of acute bleeding from esophageal varices. Surgery 1979;85:239. 7. Macdougall BRD, Theodossi A, Westaby D, Dawson JL, Williams JL. Increased long-term survival in variceal haemorrhage using injection sclerotherapy; results of a controlled trial. Lancet 1982;1:124. 8. Palani CK, Abuabara S, Kraft AR, Jonasson O. Endoscopic sclerotherapy in acute variceal hemorrhage. Am J Surg 1981;141:164.
Type 3 diabetes is sporadic Alzheimer׳s disease: Mini-review

Alzheimer׳s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in North America. Growing evidence supports the concept that AD is a metabolic disease mediated by impairments in brain insulin responsiveness, glucose utilization, and energy metabolism, which lead to increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and worsening of insulin resistance. In addition, metabolic derangements directly contribute to the structural, functional, molecular, and biochemical abnormalities that characterize AD, including neuronal loss, synaptic disconnection, tau hyperphosphorylation, and amyloid-beta accumulation. Because the fundamental abnormalities in AD represent effects of brain insulin resistance and deficiency, and the molecular and biochemical consequences overlap with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, we suggest the term "Type 3 diabetes" to account for the underlying abnormalities associated with AD-type neurodegeneration. In light of the rapid increases in sporadic AD prevalence rates and vastly expanded use of nitrites and nitrates in foods and agricultural products over the past 30-40 years, the potential role of nitrosamine exposures as mediators of Type 3 diabetes is discussed.
Mapping glutamatergic drive in the vertebrate retina with a channel-permeant organic cation

Patterns of neuronal excitation in complex populations can be mapped anatomically by activating ionotropic glutamate receptors in the presence of 1-amino-4-guanidobutane (AGB), a channel-permeant guanidinium analogue. Intracellular AGB signals were trapped with conventional glutaraldehyde fixation and were detected by probing registered serial thin sections with anti-AGB and anti-amino acid immunoglobulins, revealing both the accumulated AGB and the characteristic neurochemical signatures of individual cells. In isolated rabbit retina, both glutamate and the ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists alpha-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA), kainic acid (KA), and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) activated permeation of AGB into retinal neurons in dose-dependent and pharmacologically specific modes. Horizontal cells and bipolar cells were dominated by AMPA/KA receptor activation with little or no evidence of NMDA receptor involvement. Strong NMDA activation of AGB permeation was restricted to subsets of the amacrine and ganglion cell populations. Threshold agonist doses for the most responsive cell groups (AMPA, 300 nm; KA, 2 microM; NMDA, 63 microm; glutamate, 1 mM) were similar to values obtained from electrophysiological and neurotransmitter release measures. The threshold for activation of AGB permeation by exogenous glutamate was shifted to <200 microM in the presence of the glutamate transporter antagonist dihydrokainate, indicating substantial spatial buffering of extracellular glutamate levels in vitro. Agonist-activated permeation of AGB into neurons persisted under blockades of Na+ -dependent transporters, voltage-activated Ca2+ and Na+ channels, and ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid and glycine receptors. Cholinergic agonists evoked no permeation.
SQUID magnetometers for biomagnetism and nondestructive testing: important questions and initial answers

For two decades, academic and industrial researchers worldwide have used SQUID magnetometers to measure magnetic signals from the heart, brain, lungs, liver, nerves, skeletal muscle, stomach, intestines, eyes, and other organs, and have invested heavily in developing and promoting this technology. While there are as yet few accepted clinical applications of SQUIDs, various trends are encouraging. The introduction of SQUIDs to the nondestructive testing (NDT) of aircraft and other structural systems and materials is following a similar course: most of the effort is directed towards instrumentation development and demonstrations in simple systems, and instruments suitable for specific commercial applications are just now being prototyped. To assess the potential of either technology, it is useful to ask critical questions: why are we doing this, what have we learned so far, how easy is it, what does it cost, how might we best utilize advances in digital SQUIDs and high-temperature superconductivity, and what can competing technologies provide? Answers to such questions can help identify those specific technological niches for which SQUIDs are uniquely suited, and guide the optimization of SQUID systems that are targeted for particular NDT or biomagnetic measurements. >
Object-Oriented Software Configuration Management

The ability to manage the evolution of a software system is critical to a successful development process. In a typical software development process, software engineers think and reason in terms of logical abstractions, their compositions and interrelations. However, existing version control and software configuration management (SCM) systems treat a software system as a set of files in a conventional file system. This creates an impedance mismatch between the design and implementation domain (semantic level) and the configuration management domain (file level). File-oriented SCM systems, whose concepts are heavily based on the storage structure, can become burdensome for developers partly because design/implementation methods and SCM infrastructures require different mental models. This paper describes Molhado (Nguyen, 2005; Nguyen et al., 2004; Nguyen et al., 2005), an extensible and adaptable SCM framework and infrastructure that helps developers quickly create the core of an object-oriented SCM system for any application domain independent of the concrete file structure. SCM systems based on Molhado can be built to operate entirely at the logical level, eliminating that impedance mismatch
Parallel Approaches for SWAMP Sequence Alignment

This document is a summary and overview of several approaches to implement the local sequence alignmentalgorithms known as SWAMP and SWAMP+ on commerciallyavailable hardware. Using a Smith-Waterman style of alignment, these parallel algorithms have several innovative extensions that take advantage of the ASC associative computing model while maintaining speed, accuracy, and producing a richer set of results in an automated way that is not currently available.We consider four different hardware architectures for therealization of the ASC model. These are the ClearSpeed CSXprocessor, NVIDIA GPGPU graphics processors, IBM Cell Processors, and FPGAs.
Effects of Liver Disease on the Disposition of Ciramadol in Humans

To determine the effects of liver disease on the disposition of ciramadol, an analgesic that undergoes ether glucuronidation, we studied its plasma pharmacokinetics in 10 patients with stable cirrhosis, 8 with acute viral hepatitis, and 16 age-matched healthy controls. Renal excretion of the glucuronides was also determined. In healthy controls given a single intravenous dose of the drug the t 1/2 was 3.4 +/- 0.3 hrs and the systemic clearance was 668 +/- 109 ml/min of which renal clearance was 320 +/- 73 ml/min and non-renal clearance 349 +/- 74 ml/min. The corresponding values after an oral dose were similar. Renal clearance was related directly to the estimated creatinine clearance. Moreover, the renal clearance of ciramadol exceeded creatinine clearance, suggesting that the drug was excreted not only by glomerular filtration but also by tubular secretion. The systemic clearance of intravenous ciramadol was diminished by 40% in cirrhosis, P less than 0.05, due to a reduction in renal clearance, while non-renal clearance remained normal. Renal clearance of the inactive glucuronides, on the other hand, was not affected. In patients with acute viral hepatitis, systemic clearance was unchanged, but renal clearance of ciramadol tended to increase during the acute phase of the disease and to return toward normal after recovery. Renal excretion of the inactive glucuronides was decreased by 48% (P less than .05). These findings suggest that the non-renal ether glucuronidation of ciramadol remains intact in patients with stable cirrhosis or acute viral hepatitis. However, the renal clearance of the drug may be impaired in cirrhosis, but tends to be enhanced in acute hepatitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Laboratory Study for Dual-Polarization Scattering Characteristics of Meteorological Objects

Radar sensors with dual-polarization capability allow a better understanding and characterization of weather hazards. Especially, scattering characteristics become important for optimally designing and utilizing phase-array dual-polarization radar systems. In this investigation, an experimental approach was designed with the assistance of a controlled laboratory environment. As such, an advanced network analyzer-based scatterometer system has been developed in harmony with a new room that resembles an anechoic chamber. As discussed in the results section of this paper, the instrumented facility allows for key radar cross-section (RCS) parameters and preliminary validations through detailed scattering measurements.
Bracing does not improve dynamic stability in chronic ankle instability subjects

Abstract Objectives To investigate the effects of an ankle brace on dynamic postural stability, measured with Time to Stabilization (TTS), in subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Design Two-within (Condition, Side) repeated measures. Setting Research laboratory. Participants Fifteen subjects with unilateral CAI. Main outcome measures Subjects participated in two testing sessions during which a single-limb jump-landing task was performed with one of two conditions: lace-up ankle brace or no ankle brace. Ground reaction forces were used to calculate Resultant Vector TTS (RVTTS). Results For RVTTS, there were no statistically significant main effects for Side ( F 1,14 = 1.005; p = 0.33) or Condition ( F 1,14 = 2.48; p = 0.14), as well as no significant interaction effect ( F 1,14 = 1.67; p = 0.22). Conclusion While TTS is a useful outcome tool for identifying deficits in subjects with CAI and improvements related to ankle rehabilitation, this measure of dynamic stability does not appear to be sensitive in detecting the influence of the application of an ankle brace in this pathological group. Researchers need to establish what other testing methods will be the best for determining the outcome of the application of an ankle brace in the laboratory setting to coincide with the epidemiology data that support the use of these devices.
Young-boy networks without kin clusters in a lek-mating manakin

I use 10 years of data from a long-term study of lek-mating long-tailed manakins to relate the social network among males to their spatial and genetic structure. Previously, I showed that the network connectivity of young males predicts their future success. Here, I ask whether kinship might shape the organization of this “young-boy network”. Not surprisingly, males that were more socially distant (linked by longer network paths) were affiliated with perch zones (lek arenas) that were further apart. Relatedness (r) among males within the network decreased as social distance increased, as might be expected under kin selection. Nevertheless, any role for indirect inclusive fitness benefits is refuted by the slightly negative mean relatedness among males at all social distances within the network (overall mean r = −0.06). That is, relatedness ranged from slightly negative (−0.04) to more negative (−0.2). In contrast, relatedness in dyads for which at least one of the males was outside the social network (involving at least one blood-sampled male not documented to have interacted with other banded males) was slightly above the random expectation (mean r = 0.05). The slight variations around r = 0 among males of different categories likely reflect dispersal dynamics, rather than any influence of kinship on social organization. Relatedness did not covary with the age difference between males. These results, together with previous results for lack of relatedness between alpha and beta male partners, refute any role for kin selection in the evolution of cooperative display in this lek-mating system.
Minimizing the scaled Hilbert-Schmidt norm of a periodic system

Minimizing the scaled Hilbert-Schmidt norm of an operator-valued sampled-data transfer function is considered. It is demonstrated that the optimization reduces exactly to minimizing the scaled Frobenius norm of a particular matrix. >
Progress in high resolution atomic force microscopy in biology.

The atomic force microscope (AFM) was invented by Binnig, Quate and Gerber less than 10 years ago (Binnig et al. 1986). In their first prototype, a piece of goldfoil was used as the cantilever, with a crushed diamond tip mounted at the end. On the back of the cantilever, a tunnelling junction was used to monitor the deflection of the cantilever (the gold-foil) when the specimen was scanned with the tip in contact with the surface. Thus, the surface topography of the specimen was obtained with a resolution critically dependent on the sharpness of the tip provided the deformation of the specimen was not serious. Even with such a crude set-up, they managed to obtain a lateral resolution of ˜ 30 A and a vertical resolution of better than 1 A on an amorphous A12O3 surface. The operating principle of such an instrument is deceptively simple. However, such an arrangement was inconvenient for routine operations and unsuitable for imaging hydrated specimens, because the tunnelling junction is easily contaminated in air and works poorly in aqueous solutions (Alexander et al. 1989). As a result, the application of this type of AFM to biological samples was rare (Engel, 1991).
Improved voice activity detection using static harmonic features

Accurate voice activity detection (VAD) is important for robust automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems. We have proposed a statistical-model-based VAD using the long-term temporal information in speech, which shows good robustness against noise in an automobile environment. For further improvement, this paper describes a new method to exploit harmonic structure information with statistical models. In our approach, local peaks considered to be harmonic structures are extracted, without explicit pitch detection and voiced-unvoiced classification. The proposed method including both long-term temporal and static harmonic features led to considerable improvements under low SNR conditions in our VAD testing. In addition, the word error rate was reduced by 29.1% in a test that included a full ASR system.
Rapidity dependence of the charged particle multiplicity distributions in e+e− annihilation at 29 GeV

Abstract The charged particle multiplicity distribution for e+e− annihilations at s = 29 GeV has been measured using the High Resolution Spectrometer at PEP. The multiplicity distribution, expressed as a function of the mean, shows KNO scaling when compared to e+e− data at other energies. Multiplicity distributions for particles selected in different central rapidity spans are presented. All of these are well presented by the Negative binomial distribution. As the rapidity span is narrowed, the distributions become broader and approach a constant value of the parameter k.
Surface crack evaluation

Metal fatigue or failure usually begins from the surface. Aircraft fuselage, nuclear power plant steam generator tubings and steel bridges are examples of environments in which this type of metal failure occurs. Hence, fatigue and stress crack detection on metallic structures is of utmost importance to the on-line and in-service inspections of metallic components. Currently, there are several prominent non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for detecting surface cracks in metals; however, each method possesses certain limitations and disadvantages. In some environments the technique used may not be an optimum one, but the only one that can be applied. Acoustic emission testing, dye penetrant testing, eddy current testing, ultrasonic testing, radiographic testing, and magnetic particle testing are examples of these techniques (Bovig, 1989).
RINT-1 Serves as a Tumor Suppressor and Maintains Golgi Dynamics and Centrosome Integrity for Cell Survival

Faithful mitotic partitioning of the Golgi apparatus and the centrosome is critical for proper cell division. Although these two cytoplasmic organelles are probably coordinated during cell division, supporting evidence of this coordination is still largely lacking. Here, we show that the RAD50-interacting protein, RINT-1, is localized at the Golgi apparatus and the centrosome in addition to the endoplasmic reticulum. To examine the biological roles of RINT-1, we found that the homozygous deletion of Rint-1 caused early embryonic lethality at embryonic day 5 (E5) to E6 and the failure of blastocyst outgrowth ex vivo. About 81% of the Rint-1 heterozygotes succumbed to multiple tumor formation with haploinsufficiency during their average life span of 24 months. To pinpoint the cellular function of RINT-1, we found that RINT-1 depletion by RNA interference led to the loss of the pericentriolar positioning and dispersal of the Golgi apparatus and concurrent centrosome amplification during the interphase. Upon mitotic entry, RINT-1-deficient cells exhibited multiple abnormalities, including aberrant Golgi dynamics during early mitosis and defective reassembly at telophase, increased formation of multiple spindle poles, and frequent chromosome missegregation. Mitotic cells often underwent cell death in part due to the overwhelming cellular defects. Taken together, these findings suggest that RINT-1 serves as a novel tumor suppressor essential for maintaining the dynamic integrity of the Golgi apparatus and the centrosome, a prerequisite to their proper coordination during cell division.
Surviving survivors. Coping with caring for patients who have been victimized.

Caring for survivors of victimization is very hard work, in ways that are similar to and different from other difficult patient interactions. Careful attention to basic physiologic and psychological needs of the physicians is necessary to tolerate the stress and to prevent the burnout that can accompany this work. In addition, understanding survivors' interpersonal dynamics may help physicians provide better care. Consultation with colleagues is essential to remaining healthy and effective as givers of care. Language: en
Frictional Pressure Losses for Annular Flow of Drilling Mud and Mud-Gas Mixtures

The calculation of single-phase and two-phase flowing pressure gradients in a well annulus is generally based on an extension of empirical correlations developed for Newtonian fluids in circular pipes. Various techniques for extending pipe flow correlations to an annular geometry have been presented in the literature which involve the representation of the annular well geometry with an equivalent circular diameter and the representation of non-Newtonian fluid behavior with an apparent Newtonian viscosity. Unfortunately, little experimental data have been available which would allow a comparison of the relative accuracy of the various proposed techniques. In this study, experimental pressure gradient data have been taken in two 6000-ft wells. Frictional pressure losses for single-phase flow (mud only) in two annuli were compared to values predicted by the Bingham plastic and power law models. These calculations utilized the equivalent diameters defined by the Crittendon criteria, the hydraulic diameter, and the slot approximation. Also, total pressure difference for two-phase flow was measured for one annular geometry. This data was compared to that predicted by the Poettmann and Carpenter, Hagedorn and Brown, Orkiszewski, and Beggs and Brill correlations. Comparison of experimental data with the various prediction techniques was favorable, each having advantage in certain situations. more » For the data investigated, the Crittendon criteria using a Bingham plastic model gave the best results. The two-phase flow data was best predicted by the Hagedorn and Brown correlation utilizing an equivalent hydraulic diameter. « less
Parenteral inactivated rhinovirus vaccine: minimal protective effect.

SummaryAn inactivated preparation of rhinovirus type 13 administered subcutaneously to 29 antibody-free volunteers in three 1.0-ml doses at two week intervals resulted in rapid appearance of high titers of homotypic serum neutralizing antibody in 100% of volunteers. Parallel responses were observed in 17 other volunteeers with preexisting antibody. Antibody in nasal secretions was detected in 38% and 59% of vaccinees, respectively. Challenge of 14 vaccinees with 3 TCid50 of live rhinovirus type 13 resulted in similar rates of infection and illness, as compared to 13 nonvaccinated controls, but there was significant reduction in virus shedding, severity of illness and duration of illness in the vaccinees.We wish to thank Terrel D. Hutto, Warden, Clive Aldridge and Hudie Cottrell, Medical Officers, Ramsey Unit, Texas Department of Corrections, for their help in the volunteer program; Peggy Kleyle for her technical work; and Dr. David Alling for the statistical tests.
Phosphonitrilic Fluoroelastomers—A New Class of Solvent Resistant Polymers with Exceptional Flexibility at Low Temperature

Abstract Many commercial elastomers exhibit good solvent resistance and high temperature stability but have limited use at low temperature. Fluorosilicone, which exhibits good low temperature properties, is limited in many dynamic applications by its poor physical strength. Phosphonitrilic fluoroelastomers are being developed for applications which require solvent resistance, low temperature flexibility, and good physical strength over a broad range of service conditions. A brief description of the synthesis and characterization of these new polymers has been presented in the forms of chemical, chromatographical, spectroscopical, physical testing, and rheological studies. The main object of this paper has been to provide an introduction to the art of processing, vulcanization, and reinforcement of these elastomers to produce useful commercial items. These fluoroelastomers can be processed on conventional equipment for dry-mixing rubber. Vulcanization can be effected with either organic peroxides or sulfur...