cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cloud computing

Cloud computing has gained vast attention due to its technological advancement and availability. Possible benefits of adopting cloud computing in organizations are ease-of-use, convenience, on-demand access, flexibility, and least management from the users. This paper analyzes the risk and value components inside cloud computing practice through a value creation model. Identify the benefits and value of cloud computing operation.Identify the risks of cloud computing operation.Investigate the components of value creation process in cloud computing practice.Study the relationship between cloud computing and sustainable information technology.
Cancer therapy: A twist on tumour targeting

The concept of using magnetic micro- and nanoparticles for targeting solid tumours with drugs was first proposed over three decades ago, but has yet to translate into a clinical application. Rethinking the mechanistic approach could circumvent the difficulties that have stood in its way.
Structural determinants for the ouabain-stimulated increase in Na–K ATPase activity

Recent studies suggest that at low concentrations, ouabain increases Na-K ATPase and NHE1 activity and activates the Src signaling cascade in proximal tubule cells. Our laboratory demonstrated that low concentrations of ouabain increase blood pressure in rats. We hypothesize that ouabain-induced increase in blood pressure and Na-K ATPase activity requires NHE1 activity and association. To test this hypothesis we treated rats with ouabain (1μgkg body wt(-1)day(-1)) for 9days in the presence or absence of the NHE1 inhibitor, zoniporide. Ouabain stimulated a significant increase in blood pressure which was prevented by zoniporide. Using NHE1-expressing Human Kidney cells 2 (HK2), 8 (HK8) and 11 (HK11) and Mouse Kidney cells from Wild type (WT) and NHE1 knock-out mice (SWE) cell lines, we show that ouabain stimulated Na-K ATPase activity and surface expression in a Src-dependent manner in NHE1-expressing cells but not in NHE1-deplete cells. Zoniporide prevented ouabain-induced stimulation of (86)Rb uptake in the NHE1-expressing cells. FRET and TIRF microscopy showed that ouabain increased association between GFP-NHE1 and mCherry-Na-K ATPase transfected into NHE1-deficient SWE cells. Mutational analysis demonstrated that the caveolin binding motif (CBM) of Na-K ATPase α1 is required for translocation of both Na-K ATPase α1 and NHE1 to the basolateral membrane. Mutations in activity or scaffold domains of NHE1 resulted in loss of ouabain-mediated regulation of Na-K ATPase. These results support that NHE1 is required for the ouabain-induced increase in blood pressure, and that the caveolin binding motif of Na-K ATPase α1 as well as the activity and scaffolding domains of NHE1 are required for their functional association.
1H, 13C, and 15N resonance assignments of murine amelogenin, an enamel biomineralization protein

Amelogenin is the predominant matrix protein in developing dental enamel. Making extensive use of residue-specific 15N-labeled amino acids samples, the majority of the main and side chain resonances for murine amelogenin were assigned in 2% aqueous acetic acid at pH 3.0.
Treatment of dependence upon stimulants and hallucinogens

Phencyclidine (PCP), cocaine, marijuana and amphetamine dependence has emerged in recent years to be a chronic, endemic problem in many Western countries. Ten years ago when this Journal was conceived, there was little interest in the treatment of stimulant and hallucinogenic drug dependence. Heroin and alcohol abuse were the prominent, essentially uncontrolled problems of the day that had to be addressed. The wide-scale use of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), methamphetamine and methylphenidate, witnessed in the 1960’s and early 1970’s had passed without any specific therapies being developed for the dependent person [ 11. Treatment was so ineffective at this time that Anderson et al. [2] reported in 1972 that only 8 of 136 patients with amphetamine and hallucinogenic dependence returned for even one repeat clinic visit after being admitted to a structured treatment program. Although a decade has passed, treatment for stimulant and hallucinogen dependence remains elusive. For example, recent editions of major medical and psychiatric textbooks list no specific treatment for amphetamine, cocaine, PCP or cannabis dependence, although a variety of remedies are available for overdoses and drug-induced psychosis [3,4].
Substitutional solution hardening

Abstract Using the result of Stehle and Seeger for the volume expansion around a dislocation, the interaction of a screw dislocation with a substitutional impurity atom of different size from the solvent atoms is calculated. This result is then added to the interaction due to the different shear modulus of the solute atom. Yield strength measurements and shear modulus measurements have been made and, together with data from the literature allow comparison of the calculated relative effects of eleven different solute elements. The results imply that elastic interaction with screw dislocations controls the extent of solution hardening. Both atomic size and modulus contribute significantly to the hardening, but modulus difference supplies the dominant effect.
Experiments on the dynamics of droplet collisions in a vacuum

Highly controlled experiments of binary droplet collisions in a vacuum environment are performed in order to study the collision dynamics devoid of aerodynamic effects that could otherwise obstruct the experimental observations by causing distortion or even disintegration of the coalesced mass. Pre-collision droplets are generated from capillary stream break-up at wavelengths much larger than those generated with the typical Rayleigh droplet formation in order to reduce the interactions among the collision products. Experimental results show that the range of droplet Weber number necessary to describe the boundaries between permanent coalescence and coalescence followed by separation is several orders of magnitude higher than has been reported in experiments conducted at standard atmospheric pressures with lower viscosity liquids (i.e. hydrocarbon fuels and water). Additionally, the time periods of both the oblate and prolate portions of the coalesced droplet oscillation have been measured and it is reported for the first time that the time period for the prolate portion of the oscillation grows exponentially with the Weber number. Finally, new pictorial results are presented for droplet collisions between non-spherical droplets.
Zatebradine, a specific bradycardic agent, enhances the positive inotropic actions of dobutamine in ischemic myocardium

Abstract Objectives . This investigation determined whether attenuation of the tachycardia produced by dobutamine administration would improve perfusion and function distal to a severe coronary artery stenosis. Background . Tachycardia adversely affects perfusion and function distal to a coronary artery stenosis. It is not known whether a specific bradycardic agent can improve blood flow and function in an ischemic zone during administration of dobutamine. Methods . The effects of dobutamine (2, 5 and 10 μg/kg body weight per min) alone and in combination with zatebradine (0.5 mg/kg), a specific bradycardic agent, on hemodynamic status, segment shortening (ultrasound length transducers) and myocardial perfusion (microspheres) were studied in anesthetized dogs with severe left circumflex coronary artery stenosis. Results . A 50% reduction in left circumflex coronary artery blood flow (58 ± 4 to 29 ± 2 ml/min [mean value ± SEM]) produced a decrease in systolic shortening in the ischemic zone. Only a dose of dobutamine that did not elevate heart rate (2 μg/kg per min) produced an increase in segment shortening in the ischemic zone. High doses of dobutamine (10 μ/kg per min) caused an increase in heart rate without improvement in function and a reduction in the subendocardial/subepicardial flow ratio (0.74 ± 0.06 to 0.48 ± 0.05). Zatebradine administered in the presence of dobutamine caused a decrease in heart rate, an increase in subendocardial/subepicardial blood flow ratio (0.48 ± 0.05 to 0.78 ± 0.09) and allowed an increase in ischemic zone segment shortening. When normalized for changes in heart rate, ischemic zone subendocardial flow increased by 123 ± 41% (0.39 ± 0.09 to 0.71 ± 0.12 ml/100 g per beat). Atrial pacing abolished the effects of zatebradine. Conclusions . The present data suggest that the perfusion-contraction matching that accompanies a decrease in heart rate results in enhancement of inotropic stimulation of an ischemic zone. The actions of zatebradine are related to an increase in subendocardial blood flow per beat that allows improvement of regional contractile function.
Plasmatocyte depletion in larvae of Manduca sexta following injection of bacteria.

Abstract Injection of bacteria and bacterial cell walls into larvae of the tobacco hornworm elicits a rapid, specific depletion of plasmatocytes from circulation. Plasmatocyte depletion in response to injection of bacteria is dose dependent with a threshhold for response between 10 3 –10 4 bacteria per insect and a maximal depletion at greater than 10 7 bacteria per insect. Injection of saline, latex beads that are phagocytized, or fragments of peptidoglycan that elicit antibacterial protein synthesis do not affect plasmatocyte abundance.
ASCA Observations of Type 2 Seyfert Galaxies. I. Data Analysis Results

We present ASCA spatial, temporal, and spectral data for a sample of 26 observations of 25 type 2 active galactic nuclei (AGNs), composed of 17 Seyfert 2 galaxies and eight narrow emission line galaxies (NELGs). Twenty-four of the 25 sources were detected. The ASCA images are generally consistent with emission from point sources at energies above ~3 keV. We use archival ROSAT data to examine each field at high spatial resolution and to check for the presence of sources that would contaminate the ASCA data. Of the five sources bright enough for 128 s temporal analysis, three are variable at >99% confidence, with characteristics consistent with those observed in Seyfert 1 galaxies. Analysis on a timescale of 5760 s reveals six sources variable at >99% confidence, and comparison with previous X-ray results shows most of the sample to be variable in hard X-ray flux on timescales of years. Simple continuum models are fitted to the sample spectra to characterize the variety of spectral forms and hence to determine the fundamental nature of the X-ray spectrum of each source. No single spectral model provides an adequate fit to all the sample sources. Thirty-six percent of the sample cannot be adequately fitted by any of our test models (all rejected at >95% confidence). Approximately half of the sample have an iron Kα line with an equivalent width consistent with an origin in the line-of-sight absorber; the remaining lines must be produced in material out of the line of sight. Absorbing columns up to 1024 atoms cm-2 are detected, and even larger columns are inferred for some sources. The mean underlying hard X-ray power-law index is Γ ~ 2. Many X-ray emission lines were detected at high levels of confidence. The iron K-shell regime is dominated by emission from neutral material. Many data sets also show evidence for complexity in the iron Kα profile, which may be interpreted as evidence for broad-line profiles, including flux both redward and blueward of the line peak, and/or for the existence of hydrogen-like and helium-like iron K lines. Hydrogen-like and helium-like lines are detected from Fe, Ne, Si, S, and Ar in addition to Mg lines. While almost half of the sample have an estimated starburst contribution of >30% in the 0.5-4.5 keV bandpass, the soft X-ray emission lines are not solely associated with a strong starburst component.
Magnetic reconnection, merging, and viscous interaction in the magnetosphere

Two ideas were advanced for the process of solar wind-magnetospheric interaction in the same year 1961. Dungey suggested that the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), although weak, might determine the nature of this process by magnetic reconnection as the solar wind plasma flows across the separatrix surface which divides the IMF from the geomagnetic field. Axford and Hines pointed out that the flow inside the magnetopause is in the same sense as the magnetosheath flow and appears to be viscously coupled. Within a few years the dependence of geomagnetic activity on the IMF predicted by Dungey's mechanism was observed, and reconnection began to dominate current theories. One difficulty, that of the implied dissipation at the magnetopause, was troublesome; however, the ISEE-1/2 observations of the predicted high speed flows on several occasions was enough to convince many persons that reconnection ideas were basically correct. Several investigators found some evidence in the ISEE-3 data in the distant magnetotail for the steady-state reconnection line, as demanded by the Dungey model, in the form of a southward sense of the magnetic field through the current sheet. Here, again, there is some hard contrary evidence when the data are analyzed exactly at the cross-tail current sheet: the instantaneous values show a northward sense, even at high values of auroral activity. Coupled with the anti-Sunward plasma flow, this repudiates the steady-state Dungey model. On the other hand, it lends strong support to some kind of viscous effect through the medium of the magnetospheric boundary layer. This is not a semantic problem, as the sense of the electric field (as well as the magnetic field) is opposite for the two cases. The downfall of the reconnection model is its implicit use of frozen-field convection; this problem is obvious when the problem is viewed in three dimensions. Instead, the view is taken that the relevant process must be essentially time-dependent, three-dimensional, and localized. It is proposed that the term merging be used for this generalized timedependent form of reconnection. The merging process (whatever it is) must permit solar wind plasma to cross the magnetopause onto closed field lines of the boundary layer. Once it is there, it provides the viscous-like effect that Axford and Hines had envisaged.
Using gaze-tracking data and mixture distribution analysis to support a holistic model for the detection of cancers on mammograms.

Rationale and Objectives Use data collected independently at three institutions to compare time to first fixate the true lesion in searching for cancers on mammograms. Examine the fit of the results to a holistic model of visual perception. Materials and Methods The time required to first fixate a cancer on a mammogram was extracted from 400 eye-tracking records collected independently from three institutions. The time was used as an indicator of the initial perception of cancer. The distribution of first fixation times was partitioned into two normally distributed components using mixture distribution analysis. The true-positive fraction of each component was calculated. Results About 57% of the cancers had a 95% chance of being fixated in the first second of viewing. The remainder took longer (range, 1.0 to 15.2 seconds). The true-positive fraction was larger for the lesions hit immediately for most of the readers (TPF = 0.63 vs. 0.52, F = 5.88, P = .02) in 68% (13/19) of the readers. Conclusions The initial detection occurs before visual scanning and, therefore, must be the result of a parallel “global” analysis of the image resulting in an initial holistic, gestalt-like perception. The development of expertise in medical image analysis may consist of a shift in the recognition mechanism from scan-look-detect to look-detect-scan.
Computer-based assessment of student-constructed responses

Student-constructed responses, such as essays, short-answer questions, and think-aloud protocols, provide a valuable opportunity to gauge student learning outcomes and comprehension strategies. However, given the challenges of grading student-constructed responses, instructors may be hesitant to use them. There have been major advances in the application of natural language processing of student-constructed responses. This literature review focuses on two dimensions that need to be considered when developing new systems. The first is type of response provided by the student-namely, meaning-making responses (e.g., think-aloud protocols, tutorial dialogue) and products of comprehension (e.g., essays, open-ended questions). The second corresponds to considerations of the type of natural language processing systems used and how they are applied to analyze the student responses. We argue that the appropriateness of the assessment protocols is, in part, constrained by the type of response and researchers should use hybrid systems that rely on multiple, convergent natural language algorithms.
Simpson grade I-III resection of spinal atypical (world health organization grade II) meningiomas is associated with symptom resolution and low recurrence

BACKGROUND Because of their rarity, outcomes regarding spinal atypical meningiomas (AMs) remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To describe the recurrence rate and postoperative outcomes after resection of spinal AMs, and to discuss an appropriate resection strategy and adjuvant therapy for spinal AMs. METHODS Data from all patients who presented with spinal AMs to 2 tertiary referral centers between 1998 and 2013 were obtained by chart review. RESULTS From 102 patients with spinal meningioma, 20 AM tumors (7 cervical, 11 thoracic, 2 thoracolumbar) were identified in 18 patients (median age, 50 years [range, 19-75] at time of resection; 11% male; median follow-up, 32 months [range, 1-179] after resection). Before resection, patients had sensory deficits (70%), pain (70%), weakness (60%), ataxia (50%), spasticity (65%), and incontinence (35%). One tumor presented asymptomatically. Simpson grade I, II, III, and IV resection were achieved in 3 (15%), 13 (65%), 2 (10%), and 2 (10%) tumors, respectively. One patient that underwent Simpson grade III resection received adjuvant radiation therapy. After Simpson grade I-III or gross total resection, no tumors recurred (0%; confidence interval, 0%-17.6%). After Simpson grade IV resection, 1 tumor recurred (50%; confidence interval, 1.3%-98.7%). With the exception of 1 patient who had bilateral paraplegia perioperatively, all other patients experienced improvement of preoperative symptoms after surgery (median time, 3.6 months [range, 1-13] after resection). CONCLUSION Despite published cases suggesting an aggressive clinical course for spinal AMs, this series of spinal AMs reports that gross total resection without adjuvant radiation therapy resulted in symptom resolution and low recurrence.
Tension Coefficient of Resistance of Metals

A new method for measuring the change in resistance of a metal under tension has been developed and applied to fifteen metals. A direct current is sent through the wire under test while longitudinal vibrations set up in the wire cause the resistance and consequently the potential drop in the wire to fluctuate. These changes are amplified and measured. In this way it has been found that for bismuth, aluminium, manganin, and constantan the resistance decreases with tension while for all the other metals investigated the resistance increases with tension.
An examination of the auditing standards promulgation process involving SAS No. 69

Abstract Our paper examines the development of Statement on Auditing Standards No. 69 . ( AICPA, 1992a ). The Statement arose in part due to a jurisdictional dispute between the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) involving the promulgation of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) ( AICPA, 1991a , p. 2). We considered all of the comment letters to the exposure draft (ED) of the Statement in an effort to determine if there are certain biases present in the audit standard-setting process involving the success of achieving an organizations's comments (proposed modifications) being integrated into the final Statement. The results did not support the thesis that an advantage accrues to national public accounting firms or other public accounting firms which have an employee serving on the Board. However. in the case of three influential organizations which are external to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and whose domain of control was threatened by the proposed SAS: the FASB, GASB, and the National State Auditors Association (NSAA), the success rate of comment integration was statistically significant.
Drag on sports balls using Doppler radar

Abstract Aerodynamic drag on sports balls is typically measured in laboratory wind tunnels or by projecting balls through still air. With the advent of Doppler radar and sophisticated tracking software, pitched and hit balls can be tracked throughout the trajectory in game conditions. The following considers drag measurements from balls hit in a game setting using a Doppler tracking system. The effects of spin, seam height, and velocity on drag were explored. The trends were compared to laboratory drag measurements from balls projected through still air. Balls with raised seams had, on average, higher drag than flat seam balls. Over speeds representative of play conditions, the ball drag coefficient decreased with increasing ball speed. It was also found that an increase in spin rate did not correlate to an increase in the drag coefficient.
Modeling Adsorption-Desorption Kinetics of Alachlor in a Typic Fragiudalf

Adsorption and desorption kinetics are essential components for modeling the fate of pesticides in soils. This study was conducted to characterize the kinetics ofalachlor [2-chloro-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-N-(methoxymethyl) acetamide] adsorption and desorption in Gigger (fine-silly, mixed, thermic Typic Fragiudalf) surface soil samples collected from long term no-till and conventional tillage plots. A batch method was used to determine alachlor adsorption with time up to 528 h for a range of input concentrations from 0.5 to 50 mg/L. Successive dilution was used to quantify desorption kinetics following 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, and 512 h ofadsorption. For both samples, alachlor time-dependent results indicated initially fast adsorption followed by slow adsorption where kinetic reactions appeared dominant. Adsorption-desorption showed extensive hysteretic behavior resulting from discrepancies between adsorption and desorption isotherms. Hysteresis was more pronounced with increased reaction time of adsorption. Four variations of a nonlinear multireaction kinetic model successfully described retention results. Adsorption and desorption, however, were best described by a model version incorporating nonlinear equilibrium, a kinetic reversible mechanism, and a consecutive irreversible mechanism. The model was successfully used in describing alachlor adsorption and desorption results. The model predicted the overall alachlor hysteresis satisfactorily except that, at large times, desorption isotherms were not considered adequate. The model also was capable of predicting alachlor desorption kinetics based solely on parameters obtained from adsorption experiments.
High power density self-cooled lithium–vanadium blanket

A self-cooled lithium-vanadium blanket concept capable of operating with 2 MW/m{sup 2} surface heat flux and 10 MW/m{sup 2} neutron wall loading has been developed. The blanket has liquid lithium as the tritium breeder and the coolant to alleviate issues of coolant breeder compatibility and reactivity. Vanadium alloy (V-4Cr-4Ti) is used as the structural material because it can accommodate high heat loads. Also, it has good mechanical properties at high temperatures, high neutron fluence capability, low degradation under neutron irradiation, good compatibility with the blanket materials, low decay heat, low waste disposal rating, and adequate strength to accommodate the electromagnetic loads during plasma disruption events. Self-healing electrical insulator (CaO) is utilized to reduce the MHD pressure drop. A poloidal coolant flow with high velocity at the first wall is used to reduce the peak temperature of the vanadium structure and to accommodate high surface heat flux. The blanket has a simple blanket configuration and low coolant pressure to reduce the fabrication cost, to improve the blanket reliability, and to increase confidence in the blanket performance. Spectral shifter, moderator, and reflector are utilized to improve the blanket shielding capability and energy multiplication, and to reduce the radial blanket thickness. Natural lithium is used to avoid extra cost related to the lithium enrichment process.
Transport of Magnetic Flux in an Arbitrary Coordinate ALE Code

We illustrate a new technique for computing the time-evolution of magnetic flux on a generally nonorthogonal computational grid of a time-dependent, arbitrary Lagrangian?Eulerian magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation code and apply this technique to some classical MHD test problems. For a nontrivial application, we demonstrate the power of this technique for the interesting problem of compact toroid translation between a pair of converging conical electrodes.
Time Series Analysis of a Contagious Process

Abstract Between 1968 and 1972 there were 326 attempts to hijack aircraft worldwide, including 137 attempts in the United States. Those attempts were often attributed to imitation of previous hijacking incidents, and aircraft hijacking, like many other types of behavior, was described as a “contagious” phenomenon. In this article a general mathematical model is developed for serial dependence of rates at which events occur and is applied to data on the hijacking attempts in the U.S. during the 1968–1972 period. The general model leads to a class of autoregressive moving average (ARMA) time series models for Poisson-distributed variates. The ARMA parameters are constrained in such a way that clear interpretation of a process as either contagious or self-inhibiting is possible. The time series models can be generalized to distinguish effects of various subsets of prior incidents (e.g., previous successful and unsuccessful hijacking attempts) and to allow for effects of exogenous time series on the rate of o...
Photodimerization of acenaphthylene within a nanocapsule: Excited state lifetime dependent dimer selectivity

Direct excitation of acenaphthylene molecules included in a syn fashion within the octa acid nanocapsule dimerizes quantitatively to a syn dimer, and upon triplet sensitization, yields both syn and anti dimers probably by reacting within and outside the capsule.
Accumulation of Mitochondrial P450MT2, NH2-terminal Truncated Cytochrome P4501A1 in Rat Brain during Chronic Treatment with β-Naphthoflavone A ROLE IN THE METABOLISM OF NEUROACTIVE DRUGS

The biochemical and molecular characteristics of cytochrome P4501A1 targeted to rat brain mitochondria was studied to determine the generality of the targeting mechanism previously described for mitochondrial cytochrome P450MT2 (P450MT2) from rat liver. In rat brain and C6 glioma cells chronically exposed to β-naphoflavone (BNF), P450MT2 content reached 50 and 95% of the total cellular pool, respectively. P450MT2 from 10 days of BNF-treated rat brain was purified to over 85% purity using hydrophobic chromatography followed by adrenodoxin affinity binding. Purified brain P450MT2 consisted of two distinct molecular species with NH2 termini identical to liver mitochondrial forms. These results confirm the specificity of endoprotease-processing sites. The purified P450MT2 showed a preference for adrenodoxin + adrenodoxin reductase electron donor system and exhibited high erythromycinN-demethylation activity. Brain mitoplasts from 10-day BNF-treated rats and also purified P450MT2 exhibited highN-demethylation activities for a number of neuroactive drugs, including trycyclic anti-depressants, anti-convulsants, and opiates. At 10 days of BNF treatment, the mitochondrial metabolism of these neuroactive drugs represented about 85% of the total tissue activity. These results provide new insights on the role of P450MT2 in modulating the pharmacological potencies of different neuroactive drugs in chronically exposed individuals.
Motion of foundation on a layered soil medium — II. Response analysis

The objective of the present approach is to determine the structural response to external force excitations and earthquake excitations with consideration of soil-structure interaction. The physical model concerned is a flexible structure resting on a rigid or flexible foundation embedded in a layered soil medium. The vibration of the structure is first analyzed using the wave propagation approach without reference to the interaction. The interaction effect is recovered by the impedance relationship developed in the companion paper. In an attempt to use the free field ground motion as the input to the system, the Maxwell's reciprocal theorem is applied to remedy the difference between the free field and real ground motion in the presence of the structure. As a result, the structural response at any location is written as a linear function of external excitations and the seismic source. Such a solution form is convenient for statistical analysis.
Investigation of Liquid Surface Rheology of Surfactant Solutions by Droplet Shape Oscillations: Experiments

Abstract The experimental results of droplet shape oscillations are reported and applied to the analysis of surface rheological properties of surfactant solutions. An acoustic levitation technique is used to suspend the test drop in air and excite it into quadrupole shape oscillations. The equilibrium surface tension, Gibbs elasticity, and surface dilatational viscosity are determined from the measurements of droplet static shape under different levitation sound pressure, oscillation frequency, and free damping constant. Aqueous solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, and n -octyl β- d -glucopyranoside are tested with this system. The concentrations of the solutions are below the critical micelle concentration. For these solutions it is found that the surface Gibbs elasticity approaches a maximum at a moderate concentration, and its value is less than that directly calculated from the state equation of a static liquid surface. The surface dilatational viscosity is found to be in a range around 0.1 cps.
A Differential Coding-Based Scheduling Framework for Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks

In wireless multimedia sensor networks (WMSNs), visual correlation exists among multiple nearby cameras, thus leading to considerable redundancy in the collected images. This paper proposes a differential coding-based scheduling framework for efficiently gathering visually correlated images. This framework consists of two components including MinMax Degree Hub Location (MDHL) and Maximum Lifetime Scheduling (MLS). The MDHL problem aims to find the optimal locations for the multimedia processing hubs, which operate on different channels for concurrently collecting images from adjacent cameras, such that the number of channels required for frequency reuse is minimized. After associating camera sensors with proper hubs, the MLS problem targets at designing a schedule for the cameras such that the network lifetime of the cameras is maximized by letting highly correlated cameras perform differential coding on the fly. It is proven in this paper that the MDHL problem is NP-complete, and the MLS problem is NP-hard. Consequently, approximation algorithms are proposed to provide bounded performance. Since the designed algorithms only take the camera settings as inputs, they are independent of specific multimedia applications. Experiments and simulations show that the proposed differential coding-based scheduling can effectively enhance the network throughput and the energy efficiency of camera sensors.
Associations between cortical thickness and verbal fluency in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood.

Abstract Neuroimaging studies of normative human brain development indicate that the brain matures at differing rates across time and brain regions, with some areas maturing into young adulthood. In particular, changes in cortical thickness may index maturational progressions from an overabundance of neuropil toward efficiently pruned neural networks. Developmental changes in structural MRI measures have rarely been examined in relation to discrete neuropsychological functions. In this study, healthy right-handed adolescents completed MRI scanning and the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT). Associations of task performance and cortical thickness were assessed with cortical-surface-based analyses. Significant correlations between increasing COWAT performances and decreasing cortical thickness were found in left hemisphere language regions, including perisylvian regions surrounding Wernicke's and Broca's areas. Task performance was also correlated with regions associated with effortful verbal processing, working memory, and performance monitoring. Structure–function associations were not significantly different between older and younger subjects. Decreases in cortical thicknesses in regions that comprise the language network likely reflect maturation toward adult-like cortical organization and processing efficiency. The changes in cortical thicknesses that support verbal fluency are apparent by middle childhood, but with regionally separate developmental trajectories for males and females, consistent with other studies of adolescent development.
Implications of fuel shortages on cotton and grain sorghum production and producer returns-southern High Plains of Texas.

Shortages of hydrocarbon-based fuels (petroleum productivity gains of the past since they limit the and natural gas) for all uses in the United States have ability of farmers to apply known technical caused concern among agricultural leaders and innovations. farmers over their ability to obtain fuel for If farmers are faced with fuel shortages sufficient agricultural production purposes in competition with to limit present farming practices, it will become other users. During the 1973 crop year, for the first necessary for them to adjust to alternative production time in recent years, farmers were faced with the techniques and harvesting strategies. Unfortunately, consequent need to make necessary adjustments in little research has been conducted on alternative production and harvesting practices to utilize the fuel producing and harvesting strategies that farmers may available. Analyses that have appeared since the adopt under fuel shortage conditions. On balance, it recent widespread recognition of the energy crisis can be expected that alternatives adopted will be conclude that this is not a short-run phenomenon. those that improve the net returns per unit of fuel
High-power potassium-titanyl-phosphate photoselective laser vaporization of prostate for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in men with large prostates

Abstract Objectives To study the safety and efficacy of high-power potassium-titanyl-phosphate photoselective laser vaporization of the prostate in men with prostate volumes greater than 60 cm 3 . Methods A total of 64 men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia and large-volume prostates underwent photoselective laser vaporization of the prostate between May 2002 and September 2003. Medical therapy had failed in all men, and 18 presented with urinary retention. The preoperative evaluation included the maximal flow rate, postvoid residual urine volume, prostate volume, serum sodium, creatinine, and hematocrit, and International Prostate Symptom Score. Transurethral prostatectomy was performed with an 80 W potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) side-firing laser system through a 23F continuous-flow cystoscope with normal saline as the irrigant. The operative time, anesthesia type, length of stay, and postoperative serum sodium, creatinine, and hematocrit were recorded. The International Prostate Symptom Score, maximal flow rate, and postvoid residual urine volume were measured at each follow-up visit. Results The mean preoperative prostate volume was 101 ± 40 cm 3 . The mean operative time was 123 ± 70 minutes. No transfusions were required. Of the 64 patients, 62 were discharged within 23 hours. The serum sodium level did not change significantly. The International Prostate Symptom Score decreased from 18.4 preoperatively to 9.9, 8.6, 7.2, and 6.7 at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively, and the maximal flow rate increased from 7.9 mL/s preoperatively to 16.4, 16.2, 20.0, and 18.9 mL/s at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The postvoid residual urine volume also decreased from 189 mL preoperatively to 78, 78, 67, and 109 mL at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Conclusions Photoselective laser vaporization of the prostate is safe and efficacious, with durable results for men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia and large-volume prostates.
Using Program Theory-Driven Evaluation Science to Crack the Da Vinci Code

The evaluator in this chapter provides a realistic account of the actions he would take to provide external evaluation services using the program theory– driven evaluation science approach.
A NUMERICAL STUDY TO PREDICT THE EFFECTS OF STRUCTURED ROUGHNESS ELEMENTS ON PRESSURE DROP AND HEAT TRANSFER ENHANCEMENT IN MINICHANNELS AND MICROCHANNELS

Better understanding of laminar flow at microscale level is gaining importance with recent interest in microfluidics devices. The surface roughness has been acknowledged to affect the laminar flow, and this feature is the focus of the current work to evaluate its potential in heat transfer enhancement. A numerical model is developed to analyze the thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics of minichannels and microchannels in presence of roughness elements. Structured roughness elements following a sinusoidal pattern are generated on two opposed rectangular channel walls with a variable gap. A detailed study is performed to check the effects of roughness height, roughness pitch, and channel separation on pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient in the presence of structured roughness elements. As expected, the structured roughness elements on channel walls result in an increase in pressure drop and heat transfer enhancement as compared to smooth channels due to the combined effects of area enhancement and flow modification. This is due to the fact that the roughness element as a small obstruction in the flow passage of narrow channels which introduces flow modifications in the flow and increases the energy transport. The improvement in global heat transfer enhancement is observed in rough channels due to velocity fluctuations. At the same time, it also causes pressure drop to increase as compared to smooth channels. The fully developed friction factor and Nusselt number results obtained from CFD simulations for smooth and rough channels are compared with the experimental data carried out in the same laboratory. The current numerical scheme is validated with the experimental data and can be used for design and estimation of transport processes in the presence of different roughness features.
Back-action of continuum on solitons and the resulting energy oscillations in a mode-locked laser

We describe a resonant phenomenon that exists in all mode-locked lasers with non-negligible anomalous chromatic dispersion and self-phase modulation. Numerical simulation and experiment are also performed, and good agreement with the analytic results was found.
Experimental anaerobic liver abscess: observations on treatment

— Various treatment modalities for solitary anaerobic liver abscesses were evaluated in a recently-described rabbit model. In the first phase of the experiment, 35 rabbits with liver abscesses induced with Bacteroides fragilis and Fusobacterium necrophorum were randomized into four groups: surgical drainage alone, drainage plus clindamycin 150 mg IM 8-hourly, clindamycin alone, and untreated controls. Serum clindamycin concentrations in rabbits were similar to those achieved in humans. The survival of rabbits receiving antibiotic chemotherapy alone was significantly better than controls, whereas the survival of those having surgical drainage with or without chemotherapy was not. However, successful surgical drainage was followed by weight gain in surviving rabbits. In the second phase of the experiment 18 rabbits with abscesses were randomized into the same groups. Aspirates of pus from all rabbits receiving clindamycin were sterile by day 7 of treatment, but high bacterial counts were still present in the abscess cavities of control rabbits and of those undergoing drainage alone. These findings illustrate the application of a new model for pyogenic liver abscess in laboratory investigation. Their relevance to management of human pyogenic liver abscesses remains to be assessed.
CYP2D6 genotypes, endoxifen levels, and disease recurrence in 224 Filipino and Vietnamese women receiving adjuvant tamoxifen for operable breast cancer

While tamoxifen activity is mainly due to endoxifen and the concentration of this active metabolite is, in part, controlled by CYP2D6 metabolic status, clinical correlative studies have produced mixed results. In an exploratory study, we determined the CYP2D6 metabolic status and plasma concentrations of endoxifen among 224 Filipino and Vietnamese women participating in a clinical trial of adjuvant hormonal therapy for operable breast cancer. We further conducted a nested-case–control study among 48 women (half with recurrent disease, half without) investigating the relationship of endoxifen concentrations and recurrence of disease. We found a significant association of reduced endoxifen plasma concentrations with functionally important CYP2D6 genotypes. High endoxifen concentrations were associated with higher risk of recurrence; with a quadratic trend fitted to a stratified Cox proportional hazards regression model, the likelihood ratio p-value was 0.002. The trend also showed that in 8 out of 9 pairs with low endoxifen concentrations, the recurrent case had lower endoxifen levels than the matched control. This exploratory analysis suggests that there is an optimal range for endoxifen concentrations to achieve favorable effects as adjuvant therapy. In particular, at higher concentrations (>70 ng.ml), endoxifen may promote recurrence.
New tests of the distal speech rate effect: examining cross-linguistic generalization

Recent findings [Dilley and Pitt, 2010. Psych. Science. 21, 1664-1670] have shown that manipulating context speech rate in English can cause entire syllables to disappear or appear perceptually. The current studies tested two rate-based explanations of this phenomenon while attempting to replicate and extend these findings to another language, Russian. In Experiment 1, native Russian speakers listened to Russian sentences which had been subjected to rate manipulations and performed a lexical report task. Experiment 2 investigated speech rate effects in cross-language speech perception; non-native speakers of Russian of both high and low proficiency were tested on the same Russian sentences as in Experiment 1. They decided between two lexical interpretations of a critical portion of the sentence, where one choice contained more phonological material than the other (e.g., /stərʌ'na/ “side” vs. /strʌ'na/ “country”). In both experiments, with native and non-native speakers of Russian, context speech rate and the relative duration of the critical sentence portion were found to influence the amount of phonological material perceived. The results support the generalized rate normalization hypothesis, according to which the content perceived in a spectrally ambiguous stretch of speech depends on the duration of that content relative to the surrounding speech, while showing that the findings of Dilley and Pitt (2010) extend to a variety of morphosyntactic contexts and a new language, Russian. Findings indicate that relative timing cues across an utterance can be critical to accurate lexical perception by both native and non-native speakers.
Early Adversity and Later Health: The Intergenerational Transmission of Adversity Through Mental Disorder and Physical Illness

Objectives. The authors' objective was to investigate processes that account for the transmission of socioeconomic adversity from one generation to the next through mental disorder and physical illness. Methods. The present longitudinal study of 485 youth used structural equation models to test an intergenerational model proposing that: (a) stressful childhood experiences in the family of origin contribute to the development of mental disorder and physical illness during adolescence both directly and indirectly through disruption in an adolescent's transition to young adulthood: (b) during the transition to adulthood, mental disorders and physical illnesses increase in part through reciprocal influence; and (c) both the levels of and changes in mental disorder and physical illness are independently associated with adverse life circumstances during early adulthood. Results. Findings generally supported the hypothesized model. Family of origin adversity contributed to the impaired mental and physical health of adolescents. This influence was largely mediated through adolescents' disrupted transition to young adulthood. Levels of both mental and physical illnesses independently contributed to young adult adversity. Levels of physical health problems influenced changes in mental disorders. Changes in both mental and physical illnesses are also associated with young adult adversity. Discussion. The study demonstrates key mediating pathways in the intergenerational transmission of social adversity and also highlights the importance of improving both socioeconomic and health resources for adolescents.
Mathematical techniques and the number of groups

Cluster analysis, factor analysis, and multidimensional scaling are not good guides to the number of groups in a data set. In fact, the number of groups may not be a well-defined concept.
Domain 5 of kininogen inhibits proliferation of human colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) by interfering with G1/S in the cell cycle.

Summary. Background: Domain 5 (D5) of kininogen inhibits endothelial cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and angiogenesis by inducing apoptosis and disrupting a signaling pathway initiated by binding to the urokinase receptor (uPAR). Objectives: Because tumor cells frequently overexpress uPAR, we hypothesized that D5 can directly inhibit proliferation of colon carcinoma cells. Methods and results: A recombinant fusion protein of D5 and glutathione S-transferase (GST-D5) but not GST at 280 nm inhibited proliferation of human colon carcinoma cells (HCT-116) in vitro by 75–86%. We found that treatment with GST-D5 did not affect the survival pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or the apoptotic pathway. In contrast, the G1/S phase transition of the cell cycle was downregulated as evidenced by an increase of cells in G0/G1 and a decrease in cells in S by flow cytometry. We found a decrease in serine phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein Rb (p107) after incubation with GST-D5. Less E2F-1 transcription factor and p107 were released and fewer cells overcame the G1/S growth restriction point. Expression levels of cyclins D1, A and E were reduced as measured by densiometric analysis of western blots. Cyclin-dependent protein kinase activities were downregulated and p27, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, was activated by GST-D5. Conclusions: These findings indicate that D5 of high molecular weight kininogen interferes with the G1 to S phase transition, reducing the proliferation of human colon carcinoma cells.