cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
QoS in high throughput Data Vortex optical interconnection network

In this paper, Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities is incorporated to a previously proposed Data Vortex network architecture with 3×3 routing nodes implementation. While the 3×3 node implementation allows for speedup and much higher throughput performance, the traffic load must be kept medium to maintain the reasonably low packet drop rate. The addition of QoS capability within the routing node allows the network to support multiple classes of traffic, and selectively drop the packets based on their priority. In the simulation study, two priority traffics are considered with proper modification of routing node logic. The results show that with slight increase in routing decision complexity, the high priority traffic can be guaranteed much better performance in packet drop rate. The average latency performance is also slightly improved for high priority traffic in comparison to low priority traffic. The low priority traffic encounters slightly more packet drop rate as a result, and this becomes more significant as the network reaches performance saturation. The proposed QoS implementation allows for overall reasonable network performance as the non-QoS network, and it provides much better performance for higher priority traffic for practical applications. Since the low priority traffic encounters more sacrifice at heavy traffic loads, overall traffic is still desired to be controlled at a reasonable level.
Defend GPUs against DoS attacks

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have become a popular choice for general-purpose high-performance computing. Encryption and decryption algorithms such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) have been implemented on GPUs to gain significant speedup. However, the security of the GPU architecture is not well studied, making it potentially risky to offload sensitive computation to GPUs. In this paper, we will introduce our ongoing work to improve GPU security against Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.
Melting model for modular self wiping co-rotating twin screw extruders

A model for the melting process in a self wiping co-rotating twin screw extruder is described. Self-wiping co-rotating twin screw extruders are modular and starve fed. This leads to melting mechanisms that are different from single screw extruders. The melting process in the modular screw configurations generally occurs in specialized sections such as kneading disk blocks. The model, based on our previous experimental observations, considers the formation of two stratified layers of melt in contact with the hot barrel and solid pellets in contact with the relatively colder screw. In the kneading disk blocks, a part of the solid bed is blocked because of the relative stagger between successive disks. The model predicts both the location of melting and melting lengths in a screw configuration. Calculations for individual screw elements and kneading disc elements are presented first. Melting in a modular configuration of these elements is then considered. The effect of operating variables such as mass flow rate and screw speed on melting is then studied. The model is put in a dimensionless form and the effect of various dimensionless groups is discussed. We make a comparison to the experiment and agreement is good.
High-resolution spectroscopy of the v2 = 2 a ← v2 = 1 s band of 15NH3

Abstract Twenty-four transitions of the v 2 = 2 a ← v 2 = 1 s hot band of 15 NH 3 have been observed by an infrared microwave sideband laser spectrometer. In addition, 149 transitions of the band have been obtained by a Fourier transform spectrometer at a resolution of 0.02 cm −1 . A weighted least-squares analysis has been carried out and the rms deviation of the fit is 0.00097 cm −1 . It was necessary to include the Δ( K − l ) = ±3 interaction between the v 2 = 2 a and the v 4 = a states in the analysis.
Itinerant-electron theory of ultra-thin Co-Cr superlattices

Finite-temperature magnetic properties of Co-Cr superlattices have been studied for the first time within the framework of itinerant-electron theory using the tight-binding model and single-site spin fluctuation theory. The distributions of local magnetic moments on Co and Cr layers are calculated as a function of the temperature in four-layer (1 Co + 3 Cr) bcc superlattices. The interfaces have the [001] orientation. We find that Co magnetic moments couple ferromagnetically across the Co/Cr interface while Cr magnetic moments are stabilized in the commensurate antiferromagnetic state. The temperature dependence of the Co moment (and total magnetization) deviates significantly from the Brillouin function. We suggest that this arises from a weak magnetic interaction across the Co/Cr interface. The theoretical implications for other ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic interfaces are also discussed.
Histone H3-K56 Acetylation Is Catalyzed by Histone Chaperone-Dependent Complexes

Acetylation of histone H3 on lysine 56 occurs during mitotic and meiotic S phase in fungal species. This acetylation blocks a direct electrostatic interaction between histone H3 and nucleosomal DNA, and the absence of this modification is associated with extreme sensitivity to genotoxic agents. We show here that H3-K56 acetylation is catalyzed when Rtt109, a protein that lacks significant homology to known acetyltransferases, forms an active complex with either of two histone binding proteins, Asf1 or Vps75. Rtt109 binds to both these cofactors, but not to histones alone, forming enzyme complexes with kinetic parameters similar to those of known histone acetyltransferase (HAT) enzymes. Therefore, H3-K56 acetylation is catalyzed by a previously unknown mechanism that requires a complex of two proteins: Rtt109 and a histone chaperone. Additionally, these complexes are functionally distinct, with the Rtt109/Asf1 complex, but not the Rtt109/Vps75 complex, being critical for resistance to genotoxic agents.
Hypersexuality following septal injury.

• Hypersexuality is an uncommon consequence of brain injury. We report two cases of markedly increased sexual activity following septal damage sustained in the course of placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunts. These two cases, observations in animal experiments, and descriptions of altered behavior in humans with localized brain dysfunction indicate that a circuit involving the septal nuclei has an important role in the mediation of sexual behavior.
Spontaneous Compactification of Supergravity in One Loop

Abstract We consider the spontaneous compactification of N = 2, D = 5 supergravity in which the compact subspace is S 1 , at one loop. Supersymmetry resolves ambiguities in the boundary conditions imposed on the dynamical fields, encountered in previous treatments. One cannot achieve self-consistent compactification without breaking global supersymmetry.
A Small Molecule Inhibitor of Human RAD51 Potentiates Breast Cancer Cell Killing by Therapeutic Agents in Mouse Xenografts

The homologous recombination pathway is responsible for the repair of DNA double strand breaks. RAD51, a key homologous recombination protein, promotes the search for homology and DNA strand exchange between homologous DNA molecules. RAD51 is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells. Downregulation of RAD51 by siRNA increases radio- or chemo-sensitivity of cancer cells. We recently developed a specific RAD51 small molecule inhibitor, B02, which inhibits DNA strand exchange activity of RAD51 in vitro. In this study, we used human breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 to investigate the ability of B02 to inhibit RAD51 and to potentiate an anti-cancer effect of chemotherapeutic agents including doxorubicin, etoposide, topotecan, and cisplatin. We found that the combination of B02 with cisplatin has the strongest killing effect on the cancer cells. We then tested the effect of B02 and cisplatin on the MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation in mouse xenografts. Our results showed that B02 significantly enhances the therapeutic effect of cisplatin on tumor cells in vivo. Our current data demonstrate that use of RAD51-specific small molecule inhibitor represents a feasible strategy of a combination anti-cancer therapy.
Cost-effectiveness of chronic fatigue self-management versus usual care: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Fatigue is a common yet difficult to treat condition in primary care. The objective of this study is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a brief cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based fatigue self-management (FSM) intervention as compared to usual care among patients with chronic fatigue in primary care. An economic evaluation alongside of a parallel randomized controlled study design was used. Computer-generated variable-sized block randomization plan was used to assign patients into treatment groups and data collection staff were blinded to group assignments. Patients aged between 18 and 65 years with at least six months of persistent fatigue and no medical or psychiatric exclusions were enrolled from a large primary care practice in Stony Brook, New York. The FSM group (n = 37) received two sessions of a nurse-delivered, fatigue self-management protocol and a self-help book and the usual care group (n = 36) received regular medical care. The effectiveness measure was the Fatigue Severity Scale and the cost measure was total health care expenditures derived from monthly health services use diaries during follow-up. A societal perspective was adopted and bootstrapped incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and net monetary benefit (NMB) were calculated as measures of cost-effectiveness. The ICER for FSM was -$$2358, indicating that FSM dominates UC and it may generate societal cost savings as compared to usual care. Complete case analysis yielded smaller ICER (-$1199) with greater uncertainties. Net monetary benefit analysis showed that FSM has a probability of 0.833 (95% CI: 0.819, 0.847) to achieve positive NMB and the favorable results were not sensitive to assumptions about informal care or treatment costs. This economic evaluation found initial evidence that a two-session brief CBT-based FSM may be cost-effective as compared to usual care over 12 months. The FSM intervention is potentially a promising intervention for chronic fatigue patients in primary care. Additional research is needed to examine the reproducibility and generalizability of these findings. ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT00997451 , March 28, 2009).
Proportional Upregulation of CD97 Isoforms in Glioblastoma and Glioblastoma-Derived Brain Tumor Initiating Cells

CD97 is a novel glioma antigen that confers an invasive phenotype and poor survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive primary malignant brain tumor. The short isoform of CD97, known as EGF(1,2,5), has been shown to promote invasion and metastasis, but its role in gliomas and GBM-derived brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs) has not been studied. We sought to characterize CD97 expression among gliomas and identify the specific isoforms expressed. The short isoform of CD97 was identified in GBM and GBM-derived BTICs, but not low grade or anaplastic astrocytomas. All samples expressing the EGF(1,2,5) isoform were also found to express the EGF(1,2,3,5) isoform. These isoforms are believed to possess similar ligand binding patterns and interact with chondroitin sulfate, a component of the extracellular matrix, and the integrin α5β1. Using data acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we show that CD97 is upregulated among the classical and mesenchymal subtypes of GBM and significantly decreased among IDH1 mutant GBMs. Given its proven roles in tumor invasion, expression among aggressive genetic subtypes of GBM, and association with overall survival, CD97 is an attractive therapeutic target for patients with GBM.
The toxicity and oxidative stress of TiO2 nanoparticles in marine abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta)

Abstract The increasing use of nanotechnology highlights the need to understand and clarify the environmental impacts of nanomaterials. In this study, the acute toxicity and oxidative stress of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) in mature marine abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta) were assessed. No acute effect was found in any of the treatment groups with nTiO2 concentration gradients ranging from 0.1 to 10 mg/L. However, the activity of an antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly increased in the group that was exposed to 1.0 mg/L nTiO2. The content of a non-enzymatic antioxidant, glutathione (GSH), significantly decreased in the groups with an nTiO2 concentration ⩾1.0 mg/L. The level of lipid peroxidation (LPO) was found to increase as the nTiO2 dose increased. Furthermore, NO was produced in excess in abalone. These results demonstrated that, although nTiO2 is not acutely toxic to abalone, it does exert oxidative stress on abalone.
Azilsartan is associated with increased circulating angiotensin-(1-7) levels and reduced renovascular 20-HETE levels.

BACKGROUND Activation of angiotensin (ANG) II type 1 receptors (AT1R) promotes vasoconstriction, inflammation, and renal dysfunction. In this study, we addressed the ability of azilsartan (AZL), a new AT1R antagonist, to modulate levels of plasma ANG-(1-7) and renal epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE). METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with ANG II (125 ng/min) or vehicle (VEH). AZL (3 mg/kg/day) or VEH was administered starting 1 day prior to ANG II or VEH infusion. On day 10, plasma was obtained for measurement of ANG-(1-7) and kidneys for isolation of microvessels for EET and 20-HETE determination and histological evaluation. RESULTS Mean 24-hour blood pressure (BP) was not different between VEH and AZL treatment groups, whereas the BP elevation with ANG II infusion (121 ± 5 mm Hg) was completely normalized with AZL cotreatment (86 ± 3 mm Hg). The ANG II-induced renal damage was attenuated and cardiac hypertrophy prevented with AZL cotreatment. Plasma ANG-(1-7) levels (pg/ml) were increased with AZL treatment (219 ± 22) and AZL + ANG II infusion (264 ± 93) compared to VEH controls (74.62 ± 8). AZL treatment increased the ratio of EETs to their dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (DHET) metabolites and reduced 20-HETE levels. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with AZL completely antagonized the elevation of BP induced by ANG II, prevented cardiac hypertrophy, attenuated renal damage, and increased ANG-(1-7) and EET/DHET ratio while diminishing 20-HETE levels. Increased ANG-(1-7) and EETs levels may emerge as novel therapeutic mechanisms contributing to the antihypertensive and antihypertrophic actions of AZL treatment and their relative role compared to AT1R blockade may depend on the etiology of the hypertension.
A probabilistic mechanical model for simulating fatigue failure in metals – modelling the damage accumulation process

It is demonstrated that analysis of a probabilistic model for simulating the fatigue process in metals previously reported leads to the well-known Palmgren-Miner Law for fatigue damage accumulation. In a paper published in the Journal of Damage Mechanics, a mechanical model was presented that was used to simulate the S-N relations in metal fatigue problems. The simulation is accomplished by a model which is a system containing a number of sliding blocks connected by springs which rupture sequentially during cycles of applied stress. When a sufficiently large number of springs have ruptured, the entire system is presumed to have failed in fatigue. Further work on the model was completed by the authors on the capabilities of the model. The behaviour of the system, when subjected to a number of stress cycles, was investigated by analysing the cycle by cycle accumulation of stress-strain hysteresis. Through simulations, it has been shown that the model can closely portray the linear damage accumulation process as predicted by the Palmgren-Miner Law.
Performance analysis of network-coded bi-directional relaying for amplify-and-forward cooperative wireless networks

In this paper, a performance analysis of network-coded bidirectional amplify-and-forward (BD-AF) multi-relay networks is presented. In such networks, communication is performed over two phases: the broadcasting phase, and the cooperation phase. In the broadcasting phase, both source nodes broadcast their signals simultaneously to the intermediate JV relay nodes. The cooperation phase is based on one of two schemes: (1) multiple-access (MA) and (2) single relay selection (RS) transmission. In the MA-BD-AF scheme, all N relay nodes simultaneously transmit linearly coded signals to both source nodes. A simple suboptimal relay selection scheme (i.e. SRS-BD-AF) is proposed such that the relay that maximizes the snm-of-rates is selected to transmit its network coded signal to both source nodes. Finally, a suboptimal sum-of-rates maximizing relay power allocation under the MA-BD-AF scheme is formulated and shown to reduce to the SRS-BD-AF scheme. Also, a symbol error rate performance analysis is provided, where it is shown that the SRS-BD-AF scheme achieves full diversity. Simulation results are provided to complement the theoretical analysis.
Serum IGFBP2 and MSLN as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for pancreatic cancer

Background Identification of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is a research priority for the improved management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) and mesothelin (MSLN) have shown potential as serum biomarkers in other cancers, but have not been adequately studied in PDAC.
Limitations in the use of dixon plots to evaluate enzyme inhibition

Dixon-type plots afford a useful means of distinguishing between competitive enzyme inhibition and non-competitive enzyme inhibition. If in the latter case, however, binding of the inhibitor to the enzyme does affect substrate binding or vice versa, then Dixon plots may not be used to differentiate between competitive and non-competitive inhibitors.
Energy Transformations and Post-Normal Science

Public interest is central to future energy. A transition from fossil to renewable fuels would be likely to involve post-normal science, which is science constrained by uncertainty, urgency, high stakes, and public values. Future energy transformation will involve post-normal science because public interest will be central, and political will may be as limiting as engineering issues. This paper discusses cases of energy transformation in human and insect societies, showing general patterns in resource transitions, and in human responses to them. Understanding these general patterns allows scenarios to be developed describing some consequences of possible energy futures. The costs and benefits of these alternatives will have tangible differences for the interests of people whose lives are affected. Values, uncertainty, urgency, and high stakes all suggest the utility of a post-normal approach to future energy.
THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF ARMORED TACTICAL WHEELED VEHICLES FOR OVERSEAS US ARMY OPERATIONS

This study uses for official use only data on US military operations to evaluate the large-scale Army policies to replace relatively light Type 1 tactical wheeled vehicles (TWVs) with more heavily protected Type 2 variants and later to replace Type 2s with more heavily protected Type 3s. We find that Type 2 TWVs reduced fatalities at $1.1 million–$24.6 million per life saved for infantry units, with our preferred cost estimates falling below the $7.5 million cost-effectiveness threshold, and did not reduce fatalities for administrative and support units. We find that replacing Type 2 with Type 3 TWVs did not appreciably reduce fatalities and was not cost-effective.
The College as a Social System: Student Perceptions of Students, Faculty, and Administration

AbstractThis is a report on a new instrument for institutional research, (Transactional Analysis of Personality and Environment-(TAPE), based on the semantic differential and unique in its potential for analysis of the integration among students, faculty, and administration in a college, A total of 3,016 students from twenty-one colleges rated the following concepts on the 52 scales in Form A or the 52 scales in Form B: “My College,” “My Self,” “Students,” “Faculty,” “Administration,” and “Ideal College.” Ratings of satisfaction with aspects of college life also were made. The data presented indicate that individuals who perceive great discrepancies between themselves and their college tend to be dissatisfied and consider dropping out. Furthermore, those colleges which have large mean Self- College discrepancies also tend to have high mean dissatisfaction scores. Data are also presented to exemplify the intra- and inter-institutional research comparisons possible with TAPE.
Electron electric dipole moment induced by octet-colored scalars

Abstract An appended sector of two octet-colored scalars, each an electroweak doublet, is an interesting extension of the simple two Higgs doublet model motivated by the minimal flavor violation. Their rich CP violating interaction gives rise to a sizable electron electric dipole moment, besides the quark electric dipole moment via the two-loop contribution of Barr–Zee mechanism.
An Algorithmic Framework for Genome-Wide Modeling and Analysis of Translation Networks

The sequencing of genomes of several organisms and advances in high throughput technologies for transcriptome and proteome analysis has allowed detailed mechanistic studies of transcription and translation using mathematical frameworks that allow integration of both sequence-specific and kinetic properties of these fundamental cellular processes. To understand how perturbations in mRNA levels affect the synthesis of individual proteins within a large protein synthesis network, we consider here a genome-scale codon-wide model of the translation machinery with explicit description of the processes of initiation, elongation, and termination. The mechanistic codon-wide description of the translation process and the large number of mRNAs competing for resources, such as ribosomes, requires the use of novel efficient algorithmic approaches. We have developed such an efficient algorithmic framework for genome-scale models of protein synthesis. The mathematical and computational framework was applied to the analysis of the sensitivity of a translation network to perturbation in the rate constants and in the mRNA levels in the system. Our studies suggest that the highest specific protein synthesis rate (protein synthesis rate per mRNA molecule) is achieved when translation is elongation-limited. We find that the mRNA species with the highest number of actively translating ribosomes exerts maximum control on the synthesis of every protein, and the response of protein synthesis rates to mRNA expression variation is a function of the strength of initiation of translation at different mRNA species. Such quantitative understanding of the sensitivity of protein synthesis to the variation of mRNA expression can provide insights into cellular robustness mechanisms and guide the design of protein production systems.
Situated agents can have goals

This paper discusses the problem of action selection for an autonomous agent. We argue that the so-called ''situated agents'', which have been built in response to the limitations observed with classical planners, do not provide a satisfactory solution to this problem because of their lack of goals and run-time arbitration. We present a novel action selection theory which allows arbitration among goals and actions while producing fast and robust activity in a tight interaction loop with the environment. The theory models action slection as an emergent property of an activation/inhibition dynamics among the actions the agent can select and between the actions and the environment. A handful of global parameters make it possible to smoothly mediate between several action selection criteria. For example, one can balance goal-orientedness against situation-orientedness, bias towards ongoing plans (inertia) against adaptivity, thoughtfulness against speed, and adjust sensitivity to goal conflicts.
The F.A.S.T. Model

Abstract The author explores the use of a feminist model of assessment for application to couples presenting with a sexual problem. Congruent with feminist values and critiques of the medical model of sex therapy, the model incorporates issues of power, privilege, values, and gender organization and emphasizes the context of both therapist and client as they apply to sex therapy. A case study of a couple presenting with differences in sexual desire highlights the expanding views regarding sex and gender and movement towards new sexual and relational possibilities through the goals of the model, doi: 10.1300/J086vl9n02_01
A Simplified and Evolutionary Hypermediacy Model For Project Management

The electronic revolution held the promise of fast and efficient communications, seamlessly integrating different platforms, regardless of a user's location, in an easy to use and inexpensive package. However, for most organizations the electronic workplace has been expensive, inflexible, difficult to learn, and incapable of working with other systems. Yet the rapid expansion of the Internet and its hypermedia interface has given project management a new tool. Hypermedia, multimedia, and associated technologies, collectively termed hypermediacy, provide an efficient, simple, flexible, and powerful method for maintaining and distributing project information. This paper presents a project information system, built on the Internet paradigm of low cost, distributed networks, using existing desktop hardware and software. Starting with a simple implementation, project management can quickly and inexpensively realize information processing requirements without expensive procurements or learning overhead. The base model is then expanded incrementally over time as project needs evolve.
The Use of Contract Adjustments to Lengthen the CEO Horizon in the Presence of Internal and External Monitoring

ABSTRACT: We investigate whether boards of directors adjust compensation contracts to lengthen a CEO's decision horizon, and if the use of such contract adjustments depends on the levels of external (i.e., shareholder-based) and internal (i.e., board-based) CEO monitoring. Based on insights from the career-concerns literature, we identify short-horizon CEOs as those nearing retirement, at a firm with a current earnings decline or loss, and/or with an impending job change. We find that firms with a CEO identified as having a short-horizon place greater contract weight on forward-looking information. This horizon-lengthening contract adjustment is less pronounced when there is greater external monitoring (i.e., as proxied by a high level of shareholder rights), consistent with the intuition that increased shareholder rights mitigate CEO entrenchment, leading to less myopic decision making, independent of a contract adjustment. However, we also find that the horizon-lengthening contract adjustment is more pr...
Amount of Patient Education in Physical Therapy Practice and Perceived Effects

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the amount and perceived effects of informal patient education in physical therapy practice. Subjects. Thirty-seven physical therapists from nine outpatient physical therapy settings participated. Methods. Each therapist audiotaped the entire course of treatment for one patient. The frequency of patient education statements in five categories (information about illness, home exercises, advice and information, health education, and stress counseling) was counted. Therapists, patients, and supervisors completed questionnaires about the amount and perceived effects of these teaching behaviors. Results and Conclusions. The greatest numbers of educational statements were in the categories of information about illness (X=4.72 statements per session), home exercises (X=3.98 statements per session), and advice and information (X=2.54 statements per session). The therapists' teaching behaviors rarely corresponded to their perceptions of their own teaching or to their patients' or supervisors' perceptions.
“Shrink‐to‐Fit” Superhydrophobicity: Thermally‐Induced Microscale Wrinkling of Thin Hydrophobic Multilayers Fabricated on Flexible Shrink‐Wrap Substrates

An approach to the design of flexible superhydrophobic surfaces based on thermally induced wrinkling of thin, hydrophobic polymer multilayers on heat-shrinkable polymer films is reported. This approach exploits shrinking processes common to "heat-shrink" plastics, and can thus be used to create "shrink-to-fit" superhydrophobic coatings on complex surfaces, manipulate the dimensions and densities of patterned features, and promote heat-activated repair of full-thickness defects.
Peptidyl-Prolyl cis/trans Isomerase-Independent Functional NifH Mutant of Azotobacter vinelandii

Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) play a pivotal role in catalyzing the correct folding of many prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins that are implicated in a variety of biological functions, ranging from cell cycle regulation to bacterial infection. The nif accessory protein NifM, which is essential for the biogenesis of a functional NifH component of nitrogenase, is a PPIase. To understand the nature of the molecular signature that defines the NifM dependence of NifH, we screened a library of nifH mutants in the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii for mutants that acquired NifM independence. Here, we report that NifH can acquire NifM independence when the conserved Pro258 located in the C-terminal region of NifH, which wraps around the other subunit in the NifH dimer, is replaced by serine.
Big Five personality traits and relationship quality: Self-reported, observational, and physiological evidence

This report explored links between Big Five personality traits and the quality of romantic relationships. Interpersonal functioning was operationalized at three levels of analysis (self-reported quality, observed emotional tone, and physiological reactivity) in three samples (dating, engaged, and married couples). Couples completed questionnaires about their own and partners' personalities and then discussed a disagreement in their relationship while being physiologically monitored. Two conceptual frameworks were examined; the first predicted that personality would be consistently associated with all indicators of functioning. The second framework predicted that personality would be consistently linked to perceived quality and trivially associated with observed emotional tone and electrodermal/cardiac reactivity. Significant associations were identified between personality and self-reported quality, and only trivial associations with other indictors.
Intravascular lymphoma: a role for single-agent rituximab

Intravascular lymphoma is a rare aggressive systemic neoplasm with neurological and cutaneous presentation, which commonly eludes the diagnosis ante mortem. We document a case of intravascular lymphoma in a 65-year-old man who presented with altered mental status, fevers and weight loss. The diagnosis was made by random skin biopsies demonstrating an intravascular, CD20 positive cellular infiltrate. Initial treatment consisted of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisone and rituximab. Because of disease progression, the therapy was switched to weekly rituximab after the first cycle. A complete response was observed with resolution of symptoms and laboratory abnormalities. The patient remains in remission 3 years after completion of therapy. This is the first case report to describe a sustained remission following single-agent rituximab in the patient with neurologic involvement of intravascular lymphoma who failed antracycline-based therapy. Single-agent rituximab has activity in this disease and may be considered as a treatment option.
Stimulation of follicular activity and estrous behavior in anestrous mares with light and temperature.

SUMMARY Two groups of pony mares were housed for 120 days beginning October 17 in controlled environment rooms in the University Biotron. Temperature and daily photoperiod were programmed to simulate outdoor conditions in southern Wisconsin for either October 17 to February 15 (control group, six mares) or March 1 to July 1 (treated group, seven mares). All mares were given a maintenance diet of a commercial feed. Ovarian follicular development was monitored by rectal palpation and the incidence of estrus was monitored daily by teasing with a stallion. After 63 days of treatment, there were more (P 10 mm diameter) in the treated mares. By day 60, diameter of the largest follicle was greater (P 20 mm, and average follicle diameter) were significandy greater in treated mares than in controls. The changes for each ovarian end point in treated mares were best characterized by a significant cubic regression curve with a steep central portion (sigmoid curve). In treated mares, estrous behavior was shown in four of seven by the 94th day, and in seven of seven by the ll2th day. None of the control mares exhibited estrus during the entire project. Two of seven treated mares ovulated by the project termination date; no control mares ovulated.
Composition of orientale basin deposits and implications for the lunar basin‐forming process

The geologic, spectral and geochemical characteristics of the lunar Orientale basin are discussed, and a model is defined for the generation of Orientale basin deposits. The data indicate that the basin ejecta is composed mainly of anorthositic deposits and no crustal material. The crater was originally 500-600 km across and 50-60 km deep, the latter being too shallow to reach the projected 100 km crustal depth. A proportional growth model is judged acceptable for the Orientale basin. Finally, it is concluded that neither the Apollo 14 nor 16 missions obtained Orientale ejecta material, which could in any case be unidentifiable until more thorough samplings are made of a large portion of the lunar surface.
Prevention of Diabetes in NOD Mice by Injection of Autoreactive T-Lymphocytes

The nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse develops a high incidence of autoimmune diabetes and is believed to be a good model for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in humans. We isolated T-lymphocyte lines from islets of newly diabetic NOD mice, some of which are autoreactive to NOD spleen cells. Because autoreactive T-lymphocytes have been implicated in immune suppression, we injected NOD mice with an autoreactive T-lymphocyte line. The injected mice had a marked decrease in incidence of IDDM compared with control mice. Moreover, their islets showed no insulitis at 1 yr of age. We conclude that autoreactive T-lymphocytes can prevent the development of IDDM in NOD mice. This result suggests that 1 ) islets contain both effector cells capable of damaging pancreatic β-cells and cells able to regulate this autoimmune response, and 2 ) development of IDDM depends on the balance between these opposing forces.
Application of quantitative 31P NMR in biomass lignin and biofuel precursors characterization

The last decade has seen tremendous growth and interest in renewable energy and fuels aimed primarily at addressing issues of climate change, energy security, and rising energy costs. These efforts coupled with the demand for efficient utilization of biomass place a premium on the detailed analysis of the fundamental chemical structures of biomass, especially in light of the ever-increasing efforts to generate transgenic plants with reduced recalcitrance and altered lignin structure. This review examines the growing application of phosphitylation followed by 31P NMR to quantitatively analyze biomass lignin structures including guaiacyl, syringyl, guaiacyl with carbon substituents at the C5 position, catechol, p–hydroxyphenyl, aliphatic and carboxylic hydroxyl groups. The application of this methodology to provide a rapid analytical tool for lignin/biomass derived bio-oils and biodiesel precursors is also discussed. Utilizing lignin isolated from native and transgenic plants as well as from pretreatment and biological/thermal deconstruction processes, researchers have demonstrated that this technique has unique characterization capabilities which have broad applicability in the biofuels research community.
Composing by musical analog: a look at planetary orbits

Generating musical compositions using models from probability statistics, fractal geometry, and other nonlinear and chaotic systems, referred to by some composers as a mapping technique or mapping, is discussed. Composition based on celestial coordinates made audible through an interactive Pascal computer program that generates such coordinates for all the planets and the Earth's Moon as seen from any point on Earth for any given time frame is reported. The compositional environment is examined, the durational schemes used are described, and the composer's options are discussed. >
Transforming power grid operations via high performance computing

Past power grid blackout events revealed the inadequacy of grid operations software when handling adverse situations, to a large degree due to its low computational efficiency. High performance computing (HPC) promises a solution to this problem. In addition, the HPC technology becomes necessary to take advantage of parallel computing platforms as the computer industry is undergoing a significant change from the traditional single-core processors to multi-core based computing platforms. HPC can improve todaypsilas key grid operation functions like state estimation and contingency analysis and reduce the solution time from minutes to seconds, comparable to SCADA measurement cycles. HPC also enables the integration of dynamic analysis into real-time grid operations. Dynamic state estimation, look-ahead dynamic simulation and real-time dynamic contingency analysis would be three crucial dynamic functions in future control centers. HPC provides opportunities for developing better decision support tools, which also need HPC support to handle large volume of data and large number of cases. Given the complexity of the grid and the sheer number of possible configurations, we argue that HPC will be an indispensible element in the next generation control centers.
Travail décent et stratégies de développement

L'A. se felicite de voir la notion de travail decent conduire l'OIT a mettre plus l'accent sur les resultats concrets. Il examine ensuite les grandes questions en jeu: comment rendre la notion de travail decent plus precise a des fins operationnelles? Comment integrer les politiques economiques et sociales pour favoriser le travail decent? L'auteur propose ensuite une methode empirique pour evaluer les effets de la croissance economique sur le travail decent. Il esquisse enfin la structure que pourraient avoir les etudes nationales que l'OIT se propose de mener pour evaluer les progres en direction du travail decent
Carcinoma Cuniculatum: An Atypical Presentation in the Foot

Carcinoma cuniculatum is a rarely occurring, low-grade variant of squamous cell carcinoma most commonly found in the forefoot. It should be suspected in the differential diagnosis for chronic nonhealing verrucous wounds. The initial diagnosis of carcinoma cuniculatum is difficult and often delayed and can require repeated histopathologic evaluation by an experienced pathologist. In many cases, the final diagnosis will be made from the microscopic findings correlated with the clinical examination findings. Metastasis from carcinoma cuniculatum is rare, although it can invade deep into the soft tissues and can extend to the bone. Wide local excision with a 5-mm tumor-free margin has been the recommended treatment. If the tumor extends into the bone, amputation might be warranted. The present report describes the case of an atypical carcinoma cuniculatum found in the hindfoot of an adult female and represents the surgical follow-up to the histopathologic description of the same patient's lesion as previously described in a published report.
A crustal-upper-mantle model for the Colorado Plateau based on observations of crystalline rock fragments in the Moses Rock Dike

On the basis of the size, the abundance, and the petrographic character of xenoliths in the Moses Rock dike, a model for the vertical stratigraphy of crystalline rocks beneath the dike is proposed extending from near the surface to a depth of about 200 km. Sedimentary clasts, whose original position in the undisturbed vent walls is known but which are now within the intrusive breccia of the Moses Rock dike, show a decrease in size with distance of upward transport from their original position in the vent walls. This inverse relationship between fragment size and known depth of origin provides an empirical basis for a reconstructed model for the distribution of rocks on the basis of the particle size of fragments in the intrusive breccia. Metabasalt, granite, and granite gneiss are abundant in the upper part of the crust along the dike walls; diorite, gabbro, and amphibole schists of basic composition constitute intermediate layers, and garnet-bearing metagabbro (basic granulite gneiss) and serpentine schist are present in the lower crust. The crustal rock suite is predominantly metavolcanic and metaplutonic and basic in composition. Dense ultramafic rocks, possibly derived from the mantle, constitute about 0.3% of the breccia filling the dike and include jadeite-rich clinopyroxenite, eclogite, spinel-websterite, spinel-lherzolite, and garnet-lherzolite. The M discontinuity appraently occurs within a petrologically complex region and may coincide with phase and compositional transitions, which include hydration. A compositional transition within the upper mantle between spinel- and garnet-peridotite (lherzolite) is inferred. The variety and the abundance of ultramafic and dense types, together with the complexity of their textures, suggest that the mantle may be as complicated as the crust in composition and history.
The concept of ‘doping’ of conducting polymers: the role of reduction potentials

The conductivity of certain organic polymers can be raised to metallic levels by chemical or electrochemical \`p-doping' (oxidation), or \`n-doping' (reduction). Polyacetylene, (CH)$\_{x}$, the prototype conducting polymer, has been studied more extensively than any other conducting polymer and the doping concepts involved appear to be applicable to other polymer systems. The doping of an organic polymer to achieve certain metallic properties is phenomenologically similar to the doping of a classical inorganic semiconductor in that very large increases in conductivity are observed when the material takes up very small amounts of certain chemical species. However, mechanistically it is different in that the doping of an organic polymer involves simply the partial oxidation or reduction of the polymer, each oxidation state exhibiting its own characteristic reduction potential. The dopant ion incorporated may be derived from the chemical dopant species or it may be completely unrelated to it. The reduction potentials of neutral trans-(CH)$\_{x}$ and its various oxidized or reduced states, and also the band gap of cis- and trnas-(CH)$\_{x}$ have been determined electrochemically. The reduction potentials have been used, together with known standard reduction potentials of a variety of redox couples, to rationalize the doping of (CH)$\_{x}$ to achieve metallic conductivity by using a number of dopant species, including I$\_{2}$, Li, AgClO$\_{4}$, gaseous O$\_{2}$, H$\_{2}$O$\_{2}$ or benzoquinone (the last three species in aqueous HBF$\_{4}$ and aqueous HClO$\_{4}$, etc. The stability of p-doped polyacetylene in aqueous acidic media is ascribed to the fact that a positive charge on a CH unit in trans-(CH)$\_{x}$ is delocalized over approximately fifteen carbon atoms in what is termed a `positive soliton'. This reduces the ease of nucleophilic attack of the partly oxidized polymer chain. The O$\_{2}$-doping of (CH)$\_{x}$ permits the use of (CH)$\_{x}$ as an electrocatalytic electrode for the spontaneous reduction of oxygen at one atmosphere pressure and at room temperature in strong aqueous HBF$\_{4}$ solutions. It is concluded that reduction potentials can be used to rationalize the ability of certain dopants to increase the conductivity of selected organic polymers by many orders of magnitude and that they may also be used to predict new chemical species that are thermodynamically capable of acting as p- or n-dopants.
Influence of Solubilizing Environments on Membrane Protein Structures

Membrane protein structures are stabilized by weak interactions and are influenced by additional interactions with the solubilizing environment. Structures of influenza virus A M2 protein, a proven drug target, have been determined in three different environments, thus providing a unique opportunity to assess environmental influences. Structures determined in detergents and detergent micelles can have notable differences from those determined in lipid bilayers. These differences make it imperative to validate membrane protein structures.
Moths Consumed by Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus in Eastern Kentucky

Abstract We collected culled forewings of moths from 26 feeding roosts to determine the species of moths consumed by the Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus) in eastern Kentucky in June, July and August 1992. Feeding roosts were located in cliffs adjacent to two maternity and one bachelor roosts. A total of 45 species of moths were identified from 222 forewings collected, representing six families: Noctuidae (n = 139), Sphingidae (n = 41), Geometridae (n = 24), Notodontidae (n = 13), Thyatiridae (n = 3) and Lymantriidae (n = 2). Length of forewings collected ranged from 1.3–4.1 cm. The majority (77.8%) of species of moths eaten by C. t. virginianus develop from larvae dependent on forest plant species.
Multi-Stage Stochastic Programming Problems

Multi-stage stochastic programming problems arise in many practical situations, where decisions are made subsequently over time. Between two subsequent decisions we may observe the random effects influencing our system; the next decision takes these into account, in addition to available information coming from past history. There are other sciences offering models and solution methodology for problems involving sequential decisions concerning stochastic systems. Typical assumptions on which some of those base their theory and solution methods are the stochastic independence of the random effects which appear subsequently, and that they are identically distributed. These frequently lead to a Markovian character of the resulting process and make possible the formulation of a single (sometimes large scale) problem, whose solution provides us with the description of the optimal behavior when we make decision.
Actuality and the Prime Mover

When Aristotle announces at the beginning of Meta. vii.17 that he is initiating a new approach to substance by taking form as formal cause, he adds: “Perhaps from this we shall get a clear view also of that substance which exists apart from sensible substances.” (1041a7–8) We have argued in Chapter 3 that this substance “which exists apart from sensible substances” refers to God or the Prime Mover. Hence, this remark suggests that vii.l7’s new approach will lead to an understanding of Aristotle’s theology. Since vii.l7’s approach, as we have shown, introduces the study of potential/actual being, the remark implies that Aristotle’s theology is continuous with the study of potential/actual being.
A Rapid Method for Preparing High Quality Alizarin Stained Skeletons of Adult Mice

A simple three-day technique is described for preparing completely cleared and high quality alizarin stained total skeletons of adult mice. Unfixed specimens are partially macerated during staining. Older specimens are heated for 15 min in 1% KOH. A heated solution of benzyl and ethyl alcohol, glycerin, and water is used for final clearing and hardening. This procedure requires about 10 min work per specimen and greatly simplifies preparation of stained and cleared skeletons of adult mice. Another technique, giving slightly better preparations, but requiring 11-14 days, is also described.