cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of Small-Craft Harbors for Ice Conditions

Great Lakes small-craft harbor structures are damaged by ice. Information obtained from extended winter observations in two hundred harbors is presented. This information, together with design experiences, field tests, laboratory tests, and literature reviews are used to prepare design recommendations for northern harbors.
Multiple growth factors are associated with lesions of atherosclerosis: Specificity or redundancy?

Within the last five years, a number of specific growth factors have been localized in developing lesions of atherosclerosis. This localization of growth factors that is not observed in normal vessels, together with the pleotrophic activities of growth factors, have suggested a role for growth factors in atherosclerotic lesion progression. However, based on in vitro studies, many of the growth factors identified in lesions have overlapping target cells and are derived from the same cellular sources. What is the relative role of the specific growth factors identified? How is the their activity altered by the local conditions in the vessel wall? How do different risk factors for atherosclerosis alter the balance between growth factors and their natural regulators? Evidence for the involvement of specific growth factors in the progression of lesions of atherosclerosis is discussed, as well as the multiple levels at which the activities of these growth factors may be regulated by the vessel wall.
Developmental Differences in the Timing of Children's Awareness of Category Relations in Free Recall.

Second-third and sixth grade children were presented with sets of categoricallyrelated pictures for free recall, but unexpectedly asked, just prior to recall, whether they had noticed in the set any 'groups, pictures that were alike or went together in some way'. Children's latencies to identify their first categories were recorded. Second-third grade children in a standard condition took significantly longer to identify their first categories than did second-third grade children who were prompted to identify categories at time of item presentation. There were no differences in latencies to identify categories between prompted and non-prompted subjects at the sixth grade level. Results were interpreted as reflecting developmental differences in the timing of organization in children's free recall.
Applying customer service strategies to career services

Customer Service, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), and Total Quality Management (TQM) are buzz words within Student Affairs divisions. Across the nation, institutions are focusing on improving services to s tudent customers in order to at tract more business to the institutions. As a result, s tudents are becoming more informed consumers and thus have higher expectations of the way they want to be treated by Student Affairs professionals, administrators and faculty members. In addition, Student Affairs professionals and all college and universi ty staff members must consider other offices, faculty members, co-workers, deans, supervisors, community members, etc. as customers who need to be served in an improved capacity. For the purpose of this article, the discussion wilt focus on providing quality services to s tudent customers. Improved customer service implementations were developed by MU's Career Center (CPPC) Program Directors and paraprofessionals (graduate assistants, supervisors and career specialists). Most of the ideas surfaced as a result of encouraging the s tudent s taff members to look at CPPC through the eyes of the student customers. The CPPC paraprofessionals were empowered to make recommendations to improve current CPPC procedures and services. Because all CPPC staff members have been on the receiving end of CPPC services at some point during their college careers, the effectiveness and accuracy of these thoughts are impressive. Of course, not all of the ideas were effective. It is important to recognize that improving customer service techniques is a continual process that utilizes trial and error. Historically, CPPC was an abbreviation for Career Planning and
Field dependence of two large hole capture cross sections in thermal oxide on silicon

The oxide field dependence of the hole capture cross sections of two oxide hole traps is reported. The capture cross section varies with the average oxide field as E−nox with n≂0.6 for the 10−13 cm2 hole trap and n≂0.4 for the 10−14 cm2 hole trap. The observed field dependences can be explained by the potential lowering of a highly localized neutral potential, V(r)=A/rm, with m=4 for the 10−13 cm2 hole trap and m=6.5 for the 10−14 cm2 hole trap.
Transplantation for CML: lifelong PCR monitoring?

Comment on Kaeda et al, page [4171][1] In this issue of Blood, Kaeda and colleagues present a molecular analysis of 243 patients with Ph+ CML who underwent conventional allogeneic transplantation (∼ one half with T-cell depletion) over a 20-year interval for whom detailed post-transplantation BCR
Artificial Potential Guided Evolutionary Path Plan for Target Pursuit and Obstacle Avoidance

Harmonic artificial potential (AP) is incorporated into an evolutionary algorithm (EA) for path planning. The integration is intended to achieve a convergent, semi-optimal, fast and efficient trajectory search mechanism with respect to both moving targets and moving obstacles. The AP works as a guidance for the EA path planner by limiting the searching area around the potential field. The vehicle dynamics and actuation constraints are also integrated into the algorithm so that the resulted path is smooth and feasible for real application. The demonstration shown is a vehicle chasing a moving target while avoiding a moving obstacle. Extensive simulations are conducted to demonstrate problems related with the pure EA-based path planner, and improvements after integrating AP.
Efficacy of intravenous propafenone for the acute management of atrial fibrillation

Abstract Propafenone is a new class IC antiarrhythmic agent that is potentially useful for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent studies demonstrate that oral propafenone is effective for maintaining sinus rhythm after electrical conversion from AF. 1–3 Intravenous propafenone is effective in rapidly terminating supraventricular tachycardia due to reentrant mechanisms. 4,5 Recently, intravenous propafenone was also reported to be useful in the acute management of AF in patients after cardiac surgery. 6 The present study was undertaken to examine the efficacy and safety of intravenous propafenone in the acute management of AF in a less restricted patient population.
Coil embolization of patent ductus arteriosus via the carotid artery in seven dogs

This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and limitations of transcatheter embolization coil occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus in dogs using a carotid artery approach. Seven dogs examined at the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in 2002-2003 for evaluation of heart disease had congenital patent ductus arteriosus diagnosed by characteristic physical, electrocardiographic, radiographic, and anatomic and Doppler echocardiographic findings. Dogs were anesthetized for transesophageal echocardiography and transcatheter coil embolization of the ductus via the right external carotid artery. Coil embolization was achieved in all seven cases, using one to four detachable embolization coils. There were no major complications. Minor complications occurred in two dogs (additional coils placed using a femoral arterial approach and coil embolization of a left femoral artery branch). One dog was examined only 24 h post-operatively and had no murmur and trivial residual ductal flow by Doppler echocardiography. The other 6 dogs were clinically healthy when examined up to three years post-intervention. One dog had a very soft continuous murmur and mild residual ductal flow; the other five had no audible continuous murmur, with only one dog having trivial residual ductal flow identified by Doppler echocardiography. Although technically challenging, coil embolization via the carotid artery is a viable alternative approach for transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in some dogs.
Fluctuating and/or progressive sensorineural hearing loss in children

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) which is sudden in onset, fluctuating, and/or progressive complicates medical management, hearing aid selection, and individualized educational planning for a hearing-impaired child. In spite of multidisciplinary evaluation and intervention, a gradual decrease in auditory acuity may continue unabated in a significant number of cases. Intercurrent middle ear disease and inconsistent audiologic technique can account for threshold variation in some cases. The study population consisted of 229 children (132 boys; 97 girls) aged 1 to 19.9 years at first audiogram which revealed at least a mild degree of sensorineural hearing loss in one or both ears (35 unilateral), and who demonstrated threshold variation of 10 dB or more in at least one ear at one or more of the standard audiometric test frequencies (250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz) and were without concurrent middle ear disease (mean length of follow-up, 4.9 years; mean number of audiograms, 10.3). Of 365 ears demonstrating threshold variation of 10 dB or more, 22 (6%) had purely progressive losses without intercurrent upward fluctuation, 208 (57%) had fluctuating thresholds with gradually progressive losses, and 135 (37%) had intermittent threshold fluctuation without permanent deterioration. The probability of contralateral threshold fluctuation if one ear fluctuated was 0.91, while the probability of contralateral progressive SNHL if one ear progressed was 0.67. Demographic data, presumptive etiology, degree of initial SNHL, audiometric configuration, and symmetry of threshold variation were considered as potential predictors of the likelihood of threshold fluctuation and/or progression.
Supramolecular solar cells: surface modification of nanocrytalline TiO(2) with coordinating ligands to immobilize sensitizers and dyads via metal-ligand coordination for enhanced photocurrent generation.

An elegant method of self-assembly for modification of a TiO2 surface using coordinating ligands followed by immobilization of variety of sensitizers and a dyad is reported. This highly versatile method, in addition to testing the photoelectrochemical behavior of different zinc tetrapyrroles, allowed the use of fairly complex structures involving more than one donor entity. Utilization of the zinc porphyrin−ferrocene dyad markedly improved the current−voltage performance of the photoelectrochemical cell through an electron transfer−hole migration mechanism. Incident photon-to-current efficiency values up to 37% were obtained for the electrode modified with the dyad, signifying the importance of photocells built on the basis of biomimetic principles for efficient harvesting of solar energy.
A Perfusion Culture System Using a Stirred Ceramic Membrane Reactor for Hyperproduction of IgG2a Monoclonal Antibody by Hybridoma Cells

A novel perfusion culture system for efficient production of IgG2a monoclonal antibody (mAb) by hybridoma cells was developed. A ceramic membrane module was constructed and used as a cell retention device installed in a conventional stirred-tank reactor during the perfusion culture. Furthermore, the significance of the control strategy of perfusion rate (volume of fresh medium/working volume of reactor/day, vvd) was investigated. With the highest increasing rate (deltaD, vvd per day, vvdd) of perfusion rate, the maximal viable cell density of 3.5 x 10(7) cells/mL was obtained within 6 days without any limitation and the cell viability was maintained above 95%. At lower deltaD's, the cell growth became limited. Under nutrient-limited condition, the specific cell growth rate (mu) was regulated by deltaD. During the nonlimited growth phase, the specific mAb production rate (qmAb) remained constant at 0.26 +/- 0.02 pg/cell x h in all runs. During the cell growth-limited phase, qmAb was regulated by deltaD within the range of 0.25-0.65 vvdd. Under optimal conditions, qmAb of 0.80 and 2.15 pg/cell x h was obtained during the growth-limited phase and stationary phase, respectively. The overall productivity and yield were 690 mg/L x day and 340 mg/L x medium, respectively. This study demonstrated that this novel perfusion culture system for suspension mammalian cells can support high cell density and efficient mAb production and that deltaD is an important control parameter to regulate and achieve high mAb production.
A new look at ferromagnetic two-dimensional magnetism of 3He

Abstract 3He films on graphite at densities above 20 atoms / nm 2 have a strong ferromagnetic tendency. Models of multiple spin exchange are believed to describe the dominant interaction. However, other much smaller interactions can significantly alter the low-temperature behavior of these systems, especially in very low magnetic fields. Our recent experiments have used a SQUID system for both pulsed and continuous wave NMR at very low applied fields (B mT ) . Our results show that the polarization of this system grows much more rapidly than is expected from the Heisenberg exchange models, even approaching saturation. Possible explanations are the influence of finite size effects and dipolar interactions.
Variant angina pectoris: a clinical and coronary arteriographic spectrum

The clinical course and coronary arteriographic findings in eight patients with Prinzmetal's variant angina pectoris are reviewed and contrasted to previously reported cases. In six patients with S-T-elevation inferiorly, three had normal coronary arteriograms, one had complete right coronary artery occlusion, one had diffuse triple-vessel disease, and one did not undergo coronary arteriography. In two patients with S-T-elevation anteriorly, severe stenosis of the anterior descending coronary artery was present. Medical treatment in four patients and surgical revascularization of the anterior descending coronary artery in two patients were both accompanied by marked symptomatic improvement. Spontaneous loss of angina occurred in two patients. During 17 months' mean follow-up, seven patients have remained free of angina and one died suddenly. Variant angina pectoris may be accompanied by a variety of coronary arteriographic findings and the prognosis appears more favorable than previously reported.
Parental factors correlated with developmental outcome in the migrant head start child

This study examined parental correlates of developmental outcomes among Mexican American migrant farmworker children. Sixty children, their parents, and their current teacher were interviewed. Parents were interviewed to assess psychological state (mastery, self-esteem, depression), family stress, social support, parenting behavior, and the children's developmental outcomes (behavioral problems, a general cognitive index, and peer acceptance). Teachers' reports were secured regarding child behavioral problems and peer acceptance. Regression analysis revealed that maternal parenting style accounted for a significant amount of the variance in child behavior problems reported by the mothers, while maternal social support helped to explain the variance in peer acceptance reported by the children. The more rejecting the maternal parenting style, the more child behavior problems were reported by the mother. Children of mothers who experienced social support reported more peer acceptance. Father parenting style and social support also helped to predict a significant amount of the variance in mother report of child behavior problems and teacher rating of child behavior problems. Unexpectedly, the more social support reported by the father, the more rejecting the parenting style, the more child behavior problems were reported by the mother, but fewer were the child behavior problems reported by the teacher.
Glasses from colloids

Abstract A process is described for preparation of glass from colloidal dispersions of particles produced by flame oxidation. Particles of SiO2 made from SiCl4 (BET diameter ∼ 60 nm) are dispersed in a hydrophobic solvent by an adsorbed layer of alcohol molecules. The adsorption sites are shown by photoacoustic spectroscopy to be isolated silanol (SiOH) groups on the surface of the particles. The alcohol presents a steric barrier to coagulation of the colloid, so that a suspension of 13 vol.% of SiO2 retains a viscosity below 50 cP for weeks. The silanol is acidic, so more basic alcohols adsorb more strongly; e.g. 1-propanol disperses silica, but methanol does not, nor does more acidic fluorinated propanol (C3F7OH). The colloid is readily gelled by exposure to a base, such as an alkyl amine or NH3, which deprotonates the silanol. The resulting charges cause gelling, in qualitative agreement with the theory of Feat and Levine. Evaporation of the solvent is readily achieved to obtain a hydrophobic gel containing ∼ 65–75% porosity. A cylindrical monolith ∼ 1.3 × 19 cm can be dried in 3 days, then sintered to clear glass at 1300–1400°C.
Motor Pattern Production in Reciprocally Inhibitory Neurons Exhibiting Postinhibitory Rebound

Pairs of neurons which inhibit each other can produce regular alternating bursts of impulses if they also exhibit postinhibitory rebound (PIR). Computer studies show that stable patterns occur spontaneously in systems of pacemaker neurons with PIR, and can be triggered in systems of nonpacemakers without requiring tonic excitation. The repetition rates of these patterns are determined largely by the PIR parameters. The patterns resist perturbation by phasic synaptic inputs, but can be modulated or turned off by tonic inputs. One pair of PIR neurons can be entrained by another pair with a different repetition rate to produce more complex firing patterns.
Signaling Cascades Triggered by Bacterial Metabolic End Products during Reactivation of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

The present studies explore the role of polymicrobial infection in the reactivation of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and analyze signaling pathways activated upon this induction. We hypothesized that activation of the cellular stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 pathway would play a key role in the bacterium-mediated disruption of viral latency similar to that of previously reported results obtained with other inducers of gammaherpesvirus lytic replication. KSHV within infected BCBL-1 cells was induced to replicate following exposure to metabolic end products from gram-negative or -positive bacteria that were then simultaneously exposed to specific inhibitors of signal transduction pathways. We have determined that bacterium-mediated induction of lytic KSHV infection is significantly reduced by the inhibition of the p38 MAPK pathway. In contrast, inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway did not impair induction of lytic replication or p38 phosphorylation. Protein kinase C, though activated, was not the major pathway used for bacterium-induced viral reactivation. Furthermore, hyperacetylation of histones 3 and 4 was detected. Collectively, our results show that metabolic end products from these pathogens induce lytic replication of KSHV in BCBL-1 cells primarily via the activation of a stress-activated MAPK pathway. Importantly, we demonstrate for the first time a mechanism by which polymicrobial bacterial infections result in KSHV reactivation and pathogenesis.
CLASS I METHANOL MASERS: SIGNPOSTS OF STAR FORMATION?

Class I methanol masers appear to probe very early stages of star formation. An observational survey of the 44 and 36 GHz methanol lines toward several star-forming regions was conducted using the Haystack Observatory 37 m telescope. Examining the intensities of the 36 GHz Class I maser line as compared to the 44 GHz maser line, it is seen that the 36 GHz line is enhanced toward sources where there is no apparent sign of star formation. Sources where the 36 GHz emission is absent, but the 44 GHz emission is strong, appear to be those where ultracompact H II regions and millimeter continuum sources are present. Existing models for the excitation of Class I methanol masers show strong temperature and density dependences for the presence or lack of certain methanol transitions. The 36 GHz masers appear in regimes where the temperatures are low—below 100 K. The 44 GHz masers are excited in a wider range of gas temperatures (80-200 K), supporting the hypothesis that these transitions are still masing even when the 36 GHz masers are quenched.
The Role of Exercise in Fall Prevention for Older Adults

This article reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of stand-alone exercise interventions and multifactorial intervention strategies that include exercise in lowering fall incidence rates and/or fall risk among older adults residing in the community, acute, subacute, and long-term care settings. Stand-alone exercise programs that emphasize multiple exercise categories are effective in reducing fall rates and fall risk in community-residing older adults, and may also be effective when conducted for a sufficient duration with older adult patients in subacute settings. In contrast, multifactorial fall risk reduction programs that include exercise as a component and are delivered by a multidisciplinary team are more effective in lowering fall rates in long-term care settings.
The Language of Resistance: Rhetorical Tactics and Symbols of Popular Protest in Germany

Popular protests in postwar germany are sparked by a wide range of environmental concerns, which have become known collectively as "green" issues. While the overt focus of these protests is directed against urban and technological expansion, the symbolic discourse of the "green" movement constitutes a form of resistance, a way of reacting rhetorically to an increasing bureaucratization of expressive culture. My research reveals that the diverse metaphors of protest draw on both romantic and nationalist perceptions of the city. [Germany, urban protest movements, political language, symbolic discourse, nationalism]
Coercive versus cooperative policies: Comparing intergovernmental mandate performance

Cooperative policies hold out promise of an improvement over coercive mandates as ways to enhance implementation of intergovernmental programs. By treating subordinate governments as regulatory trustees and emphasizing substantive compliance, the cooperative mandates avoid the onerous aspects of heavy-handed regulatory federalism. Our comparison of state hazard-mitigation policy in Florida and in New South Wales, Australia addresses procedural and substantive compliance under the two forms of intergovernmental policies. When local governments are not committed to state policy objectives, the coercive policy produces better results as evidenced by higher rates of procedural compliance and greater effort by local governments to achieve policy objectives. When local government commitment exists, the cooperative policy produces substantive results that are at least the equivalent to the coercive policy. Moreover, over the long run cooperative policies may have greater promise in sustaining local government commitment. The dilemma is to figure out how to motivate lagging jurisdictions that seem to require a coercive policy, while not straightjacketing leading jurisdictions that are capable of thriving under a cooperative regime.
Ecosystems, Ecological Restoration and Economics: Does Habitat and Resource Equivalency Analysis Mean Other Economic Valuation Methods Are Not Needed?

Coastal and other area resources such as tidal wetlands, seagrasses, coral reefs, wetlands, and other ecosystems are often harmed by environmental damage that might be inflicted by human actions, or could occur from natural hazards such as hurricanes. Society may wish to restore resources to offset the harm, or receive compensation if this is not possible, but faces difficult choices among potential compensation projects. The optimal amount of restoration efforts can be determined by non-market valuation methods, service-to-service, or resource-to resource approaches such as Habitat Equivalency Analysis (HEA). HEA scales injured resources and lost services on a one-to-one trade-off basis. Here we present the main differences between the HEA approach and other non-market valuation approaches. Particular focus is on the role of the social discount rate, which appears in the HEA equation and underlies calculations of the present value of future damages. We argue that while HEA involves elements of economic analysis, the assumption of a one-to-one trade-off between lost and restored services sometimes does not hold, and then other nonmarket economic valuation approaches may help in restoration scaling or in damage determination.
Pressure bursts in bakeable ultra-high vacuum valves during opening and closing

Abstract The pressure increase Δp produced by opening and closing bakeable ultra-high vacuum valves of different commercial sources has been determined using mass spectrometric and other standard techniques. Typical results show a dependence of Δp on geometry and the material of bellows, seat, and gasket and their previous treatment, whereby pressure bursts correspond in most cases to an equivalent increase of the partial pressure of H2. Some applications of the burst phenomenon are discussed.
Discovery of Potent Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) Inhibitors Using Fragment-Based Methods and Structure-Based Design

Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1), a member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, is overexpressed and amplified in various cancers and promotes the aberrant survival of tumor cells that otherwise would undergo apoptosis. Here we describe the discovery of potent and selective Mcl-1 inhibitors using fragment-based methods and structure-based design. NMR-based screening of a large fragment library identified two chemically distinct hit series that bind to different sites on Mcl-1. Members of the two fragment classes were merged together to produce lead compounds that bind to Mcl-1 with a dissociation constant of <100 nM with selectivity for Mcl-1 over Bcl-xL and Bcl-2. Structures of merged compounds when complexed to Mcl-1 were obtained by X-ray crystallography and provide detailed information about the molecular recognition of small-molecule ligands binding Mcl-1. The compounds represent starting points for the discovery of clinically useful Mcl-1 inhibitors for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers.
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, SCHOOL-RELATED PROTECTIVE FACTORS, AND PSYCHOSOCIAL OUTCOMES IN URBAN YOUTH

This study examined the relationship of two putative school-based protective factors—student identification with school and perceived teacher support—to psychosocial outcomes in a sample of urban youth exposed to community violence. Participants were 175 high school students ages 14–19 in grades 9–12 from a large urban school district. Results indicated that exposure to violence was positively associated with internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Additionally, identification with school and teacher support were related to higher hope and lower psychosocial distress. Adolescents who reported higher identification with school and higher teacher support reported higher hope, regardless of the level of violence exposure. Results emphasize the importance of school factors, particularly feeling connected to and supported in school, in promoting hope and minimizing psychosocial distress for youth exposed to community violence. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Air velocity distribution measurements on four mechanized longwall coal faces

Air velocity distribution surveys on four mechanized longwall faces are presented and discussed. Although there are discernible patterns in the velocity distribution, there are wide differences in distribution in the cases examined. This can be attributed to differences in mining and face geometry. An important factor is air leakage into the goaf.
Linkability: examining causal link commitments in partial-order planning

Recently, several researchers have demonstrated domains where partially-ordered planners outperform totally-ordered planners. In (Barrett & Weld 1994), Barrett and Weld build a series of artificial domains exploring the concepts of trivial and laborious serializability, in which a partially-ordered planner, SNLP, consistently outperforms two totally-ordered planners. In this paper, we demonstrate that totally-ordered planners sometimes have an advantage over partially-ordered planners. We describe a series of domains in which PRODIGY4.0 consistently outperforms SNLP, and introduce the concept of linkability to characterize the class of domains for which this happens. Linkability highlights the fact that partially-ordered planners commit to causal links in much the same way that totally-ordered planners commit to step ordering.
Understanding the relationship between emotional and behavioral dysregulation: Emotional cascades

Recent research suggests that many dysregulated behaviors, such as binge-eating and non-suicidal self-injury, often occur during times of emotional distress. These behaviors also appear to decrease negative affect. Why is it, however, that individuals engage in these behaviors to reduce emotional distress rather than taking a shower or talking to a friend? This study proposes the role of emotional cascades, an emotional phenomenon that occurs when an individual intensely ruminates on negative affect, thus increasing the magnitude of that negative affect to the point that an individual engages in a dysregulated behavior in order to distract from that rumination. The purpose of these studies was to examine the relationship between rumination and dysregulated behaviors, and in doing so determine if there is some support for the emotional cascade model of behavioral dysregulation. Using two different studies we were able to demonstrate that rumination is associated with some dysregulated behaviors, both cross-sectionally using structural equation modeling, and temporally using a two time-point method.
Buffer Management for 3D Image-based Rendering over Wireless Network with QoS Adaptation

As an alternative way of rendering novel views of real and/or virtual environments to geometry-based models, 3D image-based rendering is getting more attention in recent years. Taking the weak hardware acceleration support of mobile devices into consideration, image-based rendering is a good choice for interactive 3D applications for such devices. However, because of the small storage size of mobile devices, the large size of the data set used by most modern image-based rendering techniques often introduces difficulties in utilizing image-based rendering on mobile devices. Therefore, a reference image buffer management mechanism is critical to the success of image-based rendering techniques on mobile devices. Different buffer management policies may result in different quality-of-service. In this paper, we compare the performance of several buffer management policies based on customized QoS factors for image-based rendering techniques. In order to make our experiments general, we show that image-based rendering techniques are interpolations of the Plenoptic Function and define the QoS factors based on the interpolation theory. The results of the experiments show the impacts of different buffer management policies on customized QoS factors. Because the QoS factors do not depend on any special algorithms, this result keeps true for all modern image-based rendering algorithms.
Cost/benefit assessment of maskless lithography

Direct writing of patterns onto silicon wafers in production has been a goal of many in the semiconductor industry for over four decades, but the low throughput of available or projected maskless tools relative to available masked optical tools at any point in time has always led to the conclusion that maskless lithography is not cost competitive. However a complete assessment of cost versus benefit for maskless lithography is much more complex than a simple tool-level comparison of lithography cost for a given semiconductor technology node. There are many different maskless tool implementation manufacturing strategies, and in each one not only does the cost of wafer processing including masks need to be considered, but also the relative impact of maskless lithography on manufacturing methodology, yields, and cycle times, potential design rule improvements relative to maskless optical schemes at any given semiconductor generation node, and potential reduction in new product development time. In this paper a recently published economic model for maskless lithography implementation in production is extended to include these other issues in addition to comparative wafer manufacturing cost. While lack of maskless lithography production data limits the conclusions that can be drawn, the assessment does indicate that depending on its printing performance specifications maskless tools can be designed to be cost-effective in production for today's processes even if the maskless tool has throughputs much smaller than masked optical systems, perhaps even as low as a few wafers per hour.
Explaining and Forecasting Leaders’ Decisions: A Poliheuristic Analysis of the Iran Hostage Rescue Decision

In an increasingly dangerous world, forecasting national leaders’ decisions during crises is a central concern of policy analysts. But with a wide range of specific military responses available to leaders, pinpointing a likely decision can be difficult. This essay argues that the poliheuristic theory of foreign policy decision making is a useful tool for aiding policy analysts in forecasting the decisions of national leaders. The theory’s emphasis on a noncompensatory decision dimension facilitates the elimination of many of the possible decision alternatives, reducing uncertainty. Then, surviving alternatives are weighed against additional, nontrivial dimensions, producing a likely decision. As an illustrative case, I examine Carter’s decision to implement the hostage rescue mission, demonstrating that Carter ruled out alternatives that failed to satisfy criteria on the noncompensatory decision dimension—reelection. The president’s final choice was selected from the remaining alternatives according to its ability to simultaneously maximize net benefits with respect to military and strategic concerns. Following a comparison of the analysis with compensatory models of decision making, I suggest a general forecasting framework rooted in the poliheuristic theory. The theory can be applied to international crises provided that policy analysts obtain information concerning (1) the leader’s noncompensatory decision criteria, (2) the set of alternatives that satisfy those criteria, and (3) the expected net benefits of the remaining alternatives on other dimensions (i.e., the military and strategic dimensions).
OVERLAYING SURFACE MESHES, PART II: TOPOLOGY PRESERVATION AND FEATURE MATCHING

In Part I, we described an efficient and robust algorithm for computing a common refinement of two surface meshes. In this paper, we present a theoretical verification of the robustness of our algorithm by showing the topological preservation of the intersection principle, which we used to resolve topological inconsistencies caused by numerical errors. To enhance robustness in practice for complex geometries, we further propose techniques to detect and match geometric features, such as ridges, corners, and nonmatching boundaries. We report experimental results using our enhanced overlay algorithm with feature matching for complex geometries from real-world applications.
The Antiparkinsonian and Antidyskinetic Mechanisms of Mucuna pruriens in the MPTP-Treated Nonhuman Primate

Chronic treatment with levodopa (LD) in Parkinson's disease (PD) can cause drug induced dyskinesias. Mucuna pruriens endocarp powder (MPEP) contains several compounds including natural LD and has been reported to not cause drug-induced dyskinesias. We evaluated the effects of Mucuna pruriens to determine if its underlying mechanistic actions are exclusively due to LD. We first compared MPEP with and without carbidopa (CD), and LD+CD in hemiparkinsonian (HP) monkeys. Each treatment ameliorated parkinsonism. We then compared the neuronal firing properties of the substantia nigra reticulata (SNR) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) in HP monkeys with MPEP+CD and LD+CD to evaluate basal ganglia circuitry alterations. Both treatments decreased SNR firing rate compared to HP state. However, LD+CD treatments significantly increased SNR bursting firing patterns that were not seen with MPEP+CD treatments. No significant changes were seen in STN firing properties. We then evaluated the effects of a water extract of MPEP. Oral MPWE ameliorated parkinsonism without causing drug-induced dyskinesias. The distinctive neurophysiological findings in the basal ganglia and the ability to ameliorate parkinsonism without causing dyskinesias strongly suggest that Mucuna pruriens acts through a novel mechanism that is different from that of LD.
Effect of Heat Setting Temperatures on Tensile Mechanical Properties of Polyamide Fibers

In this study, PA 66 and PA 6 fibers are heat set at temperatures between 25 and 200°C. Fractional recovery (f) depends on heat setting temperatures and crystallinity, which provides partial crosslinking that delays the onset of the flow regime and increases the time constant of relaxation at a given temperature. Mechanical properties are examined with an Instron tensile tester, and the effect of heat setting temperatures on mechanical properties is correlated with crystallinity changes. The terminal modulus and extension at break show a direct correlation with crystallinity, while there is no noticeable effect on initial modulus with crystallinity changes.
A Simple Procedure for Generating Nonnormal Data Sets: A FORTRAN Program

A FORTRAN program permits instructors to provide students with simulated research data. Such data sets enable the student to learn how statistical measures vary as a function of the data. The program allows the instructor to construct distributions having nonnormal shapes by modifying the familiar standard unit normal distribution. Values for producing distributions with different shapes are given.
Corporate Compliance and its Implications to IT Professionals

Corporate financial misrepresentation and its consequences including the recent stock market meltdown has only exacerbated the need for more government vigilance on corporate governance. This has resulted in the introduction and enforcement of a plethora of regulations for corporate governance - regulatory and legislative compliance. Recently corporations have shifted their focus from reducing the risks associated with non-compliance to making corporate compliance an enterprise-wide, strategic initiative. In this paper, we provide an introduction to corporate compliance; discuss how information technology (IT) can be leveraged to provide solutions to corporate compliance. We also make a case for introducing compliance topics into software engineering courses and indicate ways to accomplish this.
Lambs Fed Protein or Energy Imbalanced Diets Forage in Locations and on Foods that Rectify Imbalances

Ruminants eat a variety of foods from different locations in the environment. While water, cover, social interactions, and predators are all likely to influence choice of foraging location, differences in macronutrient content among forages may also cause ruminants to forage in different locations even during a meal. We hypothesized that lambs forage at locations containing foods that complement their basal diet and meet their nutritional needs. Based on this hypothesis, we predicted that lambs (n=12) fed a basal diet low in protein and high in energy would forage where a high-protein food (Food P) was located, and that lambs (n=12) fed a basal diet low in energy and high in protein would forage where a high-energy food (Food E) was located. Food P was a ground mixture of blood meal (50%), grape pomace (30%), and alfalfa (20%) that contained 47% crude protein (CP) and 2.211 Mcal/kg digestible energy (DE). Food E was a ground mixture of cornstarch (50%), grape pomace (30%), and rolled barley (20%) that contained 6% CP and 3.07 Mcal/kg DE. Food P provided 212 g CP/Mcal DE, whereas Food E provided 20 g CP/Mcal DE. Lambs growing at a moderate rate require 179 g CP and 3.95 Mcal DE. During Trial 1, we determined if lambs foraged to correct a nutrient imbalance, and if they preferred a variety of foods (Foods P and E) to only one food at a location (Food P or E). During Trial 2, we determined if nutrient-imbalanced lambs foraged in the location with the food that corrected the imbalance when the location of the foods changed daily. During Trial 3, lambs were offered familiar foods (Foods P and E) at the location furthest — and novel foods (wheat and soybean meal) at the location nearest — the shelter of their pen. During all three trials, lambs foraged most at the location with the food that contained the highest concentration of the macronutrient lacking in their basal diet, but they always ate some of both foods. Lambs did not feed exclusively at the location with a variety of foods (P and E). Rather, they fed at the location nearest the shelter that contained the macronutrient lacking in their diet. As availability of the food with the needed macronutrient declined in one location, lambs moved to the nearest location that had food with the needed macronutrient. When food that complemented their basal diet was moved to a different location, lambs foraged in the new location. Collectively, these results show that lambs challenged by imbalances in energy or protein selected foods and foraging locations that complemented the nutrient content of their macronutrient imbalanced basal diets.
MIMO link-level simulations for an urban microcell environment by an EM-based model

A numerical analysis approach for link-level simulations of a multi-antenna system (MIMO) is presented. The analysis is done in an urban microcell environment. We adopt a hybrid electromagnetic-based approach to simulate this environment. The link-level error rate performance simulation and the instant capacity are computed, respectively. Comparisons are made with the measurement-based spatial channel model (SCM).
A CMOS square-law programmable floating resistor independent of the threshold voltage

A CMOS architecture for a floating linear resistor which exploits the square-law model of the MOS transistor is presented. The architecture is programmable by DC control voltage and is easily modified such that it is threshold-voltage independent, allowing large signal handling and immunity to substrate noise. Design trade-offs and device size optimization are investigated. Second-order effects due to mobility degradation and channel length modulation are analyzed and a simple high frequency model for the resistor is developed. The architecture is fabricated in a 2 mu m p-well CMOS MOSIS process. The resistor occupies 210 mu m*270 mu m, consumes 0.4-4.0 mW with +or-5 V supply and exhibits a signal (at 1% THD) to noise ratio of more than 100 dB over a 1 V range of the DC control voltage. >
Advances in sputum analysis for screening and early detection of lung cancer.

BackgroundScreening for lung cancer using currently available techniques is not effective in reducing mortality from the disease.MethodsArchived sputum specimens and clinical data linking specimens...
β-Cryptoxanthin and Bone Metabolism: The Preventive Role in Osteoporosis

Bone loss with aging induces osteoporosis. The most dramatic expression of the disease is represented by fractures of the proximal femur. Pharmacologic and nutritional factors may play a role in the prevention of bone loss with aging. β-Cryptoxanthin, a kind of carotenoid, is abundant in Satsuma mandarin orange (Citrus unshiu MARC.). Amoung various carotenoids including β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, β-carotene, astaxanthin, and rutin, β-cryptoxanthin has been found to have a unique anabolic effect on bone calcification in vitro. Hesperidin, which is contained in Satsuma mandarin orange, did not have an anabolic effect on bone calcification in vitro. β-Cryptoxanthin has stimulatory effects on osteoblastic bone formation and inhibitory effects on osteoclastic bone resorption in vitro, thereby increasing bone mass. β-Cryptoxanthin has an effect on the gene expression of various proteins which are related to osteoblastic bone formation and mineralizationin vitro. β-Cryptoxanthin has inhibitory effects on enzyme activity which is related to osteoclastic bone resororption, and the carotenoid induces apoptosis of mature osteoclastic cells in vitro. Oral administration of β-cryptoxanthin has been shown to have the anabolic effects on bone components in young and aged rats, and the administration has the preventive effects on bone loss in streptozotocin-diabetic rats and ovariectomized rats in vivo. Moreover, the intake of β-cryptoxanthin-reinforced juice for longer periods has been shown to have both stimulatory effects on bone formation and inhibitory effects on bone resorption in healthy human or postmenopausal women in evaluating with serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism in vivo. Thus the intake of dietary β-cryptoxanthin may have a preventive effect on osteoporosis due to stimulating bone formation and due to inhibiting bone resorption. Moreover, epidemiological studies suggest the potential role of β-cryptoxanthin as a sustainable nutritional approach to improving bone health of human subjects. β-Cryptoxanthin is an important food factor in maintaining bone healthy and in preventing osteoporosis.
Force control of flexible catheter robots for beating heart surgery

Recent developments in cardiac catheter technology promise to allow physicians to perform most cardiac interventions without stopping the heart or opening the chest. However, current cardiac devices, including newly developed catheter robots, are unable to accurately track and interact with the fast moving cardiac tissue without applying potentially damaging forces. This paper examines the challenges of implementing force control on a flexible robotic catheter. In particular, catheter friction and backlash must be compensated when controlling tissue interaction forces. Force controller designs are introduced and evaluated experimentally in a number of configurations. The controllers are based on the inner position loop force control approach where the position trajectory is adjusted to achieve a desired force on the target. Friction and backlash compensation improved force tracking up to 86% with residual RMS errors of 0.11 N while following a prerecorded cardiac tissue trajectory with accelerations of up to 3800 mm/s2. This performance provides sufficient accuracy to enable a wide range of beating heart surgical procedures.
3D X-ray crystal microscope

Penetrating, submicrometer X-ray beams probe the mesoscopic crystalline structure of polycrystalline materials in three dimensions. Crystalline morphology, strain, texture, and phase can now be studied non-destructively with a spatial resolution below the grain size of most materials. This new information will lead to a more complete understanding of the mesoscopic structure and dynamics of materials arid their relation to materials properties.