cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of dimensions of ellipsoidal microparticles via electron microscopy

SUMMARY The analysis and the use of metallic shadow casting and specimen tilting for accurately determining the dimensions of microellipsoids by electron microscopy (EM) are presented. The procedure uses the direct image and two different shadows or two different specimen tilts to unambiguously determine the dimensions of an ellipsoid. A novel computer-aided matching procedure is used to determine dimensions and orientations. The analysis was applied to a sample of polymer prolate microspheroids, which have recently been synthesized in our laboratory. The shape of the particles was confirmed and their dimensions and orientations were determined. The particles were shown to have a length (twice the principal axis) of 3.30±0.02 μm and a diameter (twice the minor axis) of 1.66±0.04 μm. Thus, both EM techniques were demonstrated to be practical and precise for determining dimensions of individual microellipsoids.
The solution of sturm-liouville problems by D-C network analyzer

A GENERAL second-order ordinary differential equation occurring frequently in engineering analysis is ${d \over dx} \left [ f(x){d \phi \over dx} \right ]+ \lambda g(x) \phi = 0 \eqno{\hbox{(1)}}$ in which ? is a constant and f and g are arbitrary functions such that a finite solution exists in the interval of interest. It is the purpose of this paper to show how solutions satisfying this equation and various boundary conditions can be obtained by means of a simple d-c network analyzer. For such an equation, there exist only certain values of the parameter ?, the eigenvalues, which permit the solution to satisfy the boundary conditions. The first problem, then, is to determine one or more of these eigenvalues, whereupon the corresponding solutions can be obtained. This procedure presents considerable difficulty, and analytical solutions are available only for a few special cases.
LANDAU DAMPING OF ION ACOUSTIC WAVES IN HIGHLY IONIZED PLASMAS

Ion acoustic waves with frequencies between 5 and 100 kc were excited in highly ionized cesium and potassium plasmas by modulating the potential of a tungsten grid immersed in the plasma. The waves were detected by another grid, which could be moved along the plasma column. Because the plasma is produced at one end of the column, there is a net flow of plasma between the grids. Phase velocities of 1.3 x 10/sup 5/ and 0.9 x 10/sup 5/ cm/sec along and against this drift were measured for cesium and 2.5 x 10/sup 5/ and 1.3 x 10/sup 5/ cm/sec for potassium. The damping distance of the waves was found to be independent of ion density in the range between 2 x 10/sup 10/ and 3 x 10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/ and equal to 0.55 and 0.25 wavelength along and against the flow in cesium and 0.65 and 0.14 in potassium. A comparison between the results and the collisionless theory shows agreement within about 10%. In particular, it is shown how the present experiment provides a quantitative measurement of the Landau damping of ion acoustic waves. (auth)
Small “Magnetic” Clusters of Ga and In with As and V

Several small clusters of Ga and In with As and V atoms are pre-designed to study effects of spatial constraints on electronic and magnetic properties of such clusters by means of the Hartree-Fock (HF) method. The obtained electronic energy level structures (ELSs), optical transition energies (OTEs) and spin densities of these clusters are compared to those specific to the corresponding clusters nucleated without spatial constraints. The pre-designed indium-based clusters demonstrate the enhanced spin densities as compared to those of the gallium-based clusters with equal numbers of V atoms, and thus can be of interest for applications in spintronic and magneto-optic memory materials development.
Gastrointestinal complications following cardiac surgery

This study sought to determine which factors influence the mortality rate in patients developing gastrointestinal complications following cardiac surgery. Between July 1988 and January 1992, 2054 patients underwent cardiac surgical procedures at the Boston University Medical Center. Of these, 29 (1.4%) developed postoperative gastrointestinal complications. The overall mortality rate among these patients was 27% (829). Those who died following such complications had a higher incidence of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV and unstable symptoms (88, 100% versus 321, 14%; P < 0.0001), and an increased need for preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump support (48. 50% versus 121, 5%; P < 0.004). The need for gastrointestinal surgical intervention increased the mortality rate significantly compared with patients managed medically (818, 44% versus 0/11, 0%; P < 0.01). Patients with ischemic bowel also had a significantly higher mortality (55, 100% versus 324, 12%; P < 0.001). It is concluded that most patients with gastrointestinal complications following cardiac surgery can be treated, and with acceptable mortality rates. The presence of unstable symptoms, preoperative intra-aortic balloon pump support, ischemic bowel and the need for gastrointestinal surgical intervention adversely affect mortality.
Socially concerned firms and the provision of durable goods

Abstract A simple linear demand two-period durable goods is analyzed where the durable good is provided by a “socially responsible” or “socially concerned” firm (SCF). These firms typically have objectives other than pure profit maximization, such as consumer welfare. A flexible objective function is utilized that allows for both the “commercial” and “social concern” aspects of SCFs. The model indicates these firms will not typically provide the efficient cost-minimizing durability in sales markets. Indeed, if a SCF cannot credibly commit to its own customers or stakeholders, it will manufacture output with less durability than a pure for-profit seller. We show the firm's level of commitment ability and social concern with its stakeholders is crucial for determining the amount of “planned obsolescence” that prevails when SCFs manufacture durable goods. Indeed, the social concern commonly cited for the existence of SCF is a double edged sword since it may cause more product obsolescence as these types of firms move towards durable-goods provision. Interestingly , however, a private non-profit organizations (NPO) governance structure arguably provides an enhanced level of commitment with stakeholders vis-a-vis a SCF and thus we find that an NPO may well provide a more durable product than a SCF.
Ethanol inhibits muscarinic receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide metabolism and calcium mobilization in rat primary cortical cultures.

In recent years, it has been hypothesized that muscarinic receptor-stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) metabolism may represent a relevant target for the developmental neurotoxicity of ethanol. Age-, brain region-, and receptor-specific inhibitory effects of ethanol on this system have been found, both in vitro and after in vivo administration. As a direct consequence of this action, alterations of calcium homeostasis would be expected, through alterations of inositol trisphosphate formation, which mediates intracellular calcium mobilization. In the present study, the effects of ethanol (50–500 mM) on carbachol-stimulated PI metabolism and free intracellular calcium levels were investigated in rat primary cortical cultures, by measuring release of inositol phosphates and utilizing the two calcium probes fluo-3 and indo-1 on an ACAS (Adherent Cell Analysis and Sorting) Laser Cytometer. Ethanol exerted a concentration-dependent inhibition of carbachol-stimulated PI metabolism. In addition, ethanol's inhibitory effect paralleled the temporal development of the muscarinic receptor signal transduction system, with the strongest inhibition (25–50%) occurring when maximal stimulation by carbachol occurs (days 5–7). Ethanol also exerted a concentration-dependent decrease in free intracellular calcium levels following carbachol stimulation. Both initial calcium spike amplitude, seen in all responsive cells, as well as the total number of cells responding to carbachol, were decreased by ethanol. The inhibitory effects of ethanol seemed dependent upon preincubation time, in that a longer preincubation (30 min) with the lowest dose (50 mM), showed almost the same decrease in responding cell number and reduction in spike amplitude in responding cells, as a shorter incubation (10 min) with the highest ethanol dose (500 mM). The specificity of the response to carbachol was demonstrated by blocking the response with 10 μM atropine. Moreover, experiments with carbachol in calcium-free buffer with 1 mM EGTA indicated that the initial calcium spike was due to intracellular calcium mobilization from intracellular stores. Since calcium is believed to play important roles in cell proliferation and differentiation, these results support the hypothesis that this intracellular signal-transduction pathway may be a target for ethanol, contributing to its developmental neurotoxicity.
Formation of Silver Nanochains through Mechanoactivation

A mechanism of mechanoactivation using a new approach to synthesize nanochain structures is presented. Silver nanochains (Ag-NCs) were fabricated through sliding Ag against itself in a crown ether (18-crown ether-6) solution. Characterization results showed that the average size of the Ag nodules was 50 nm and the separation distance between nodules was around 10 nm. The conductivity of Ag-NCs was similar to a semiconductor. Molecular dynamics simulation and experimental results revealed that the formation of Ag-NCs was a synergetic physical−chemical process that involved three competing mechanisms: nucleation of nanoparticle Ag through wear; activation and breaking of covalent bonds through the sliding force; oxidation and chain formation. Using a mechanical force to activate chemical reactions resulting in nanostructures has not been reported previously.
A Study of Pilot Reaction Capability to Sound Stimulus

An experiment is described which was used to evaluate a typical pilot's ability to activate a switch in response to a sound stimulus. Regularly spaced voice countdown, irregular voice countdown, initiation of a tone, and termination of a tone were each used as the stimulus. The individual under test was given a task similar to that involved in maintaining accurate flight conditions to occupy his attention. The regular voice countdown is shown to be least accurate in defining the switching time, providing a mean delay of approximately -0.09 second (actually a stimulus anticipation) and a standard deviation of a bit more than 0.2 second. In each of the other cases, a mean delay of approximately 0.25 second and a standard deviation of approximately 0.09 second were obtained. This compares favorably with previous experimental results.
The relevance of vapor phase hydration aging to nuclear waste isolation

Abstract The aging of nuclear waste glasses by vapor phase hydration is shown to be a process that: 1. may occur under currently envisioned repository conditions; and 2. causes significant alteration of the glass. This alteration results in large leach rate increases and radionuclide migration deviations when compared to results observed for unaged glass. Samples of both defense and commercial type glasses were aged to simulate long and short term repository storage. These aged glasses were then leached using MCC-1 and repository-oriented-analog type tests and the results were compared to similar tests done with unaged glass. It was found that actinide release from the aged glass was up to 185 times greater than from unaged glass. These results, coupled with anticipated surface storage and repository conditions in which glass/water vapor contact is possible under specific production and failure modes, suggest vapor phase hydration is an aging effect that should be addressed in long term release projections.
A selective historical review of congener-specific human tissue measurements as sensitive and specific biomarkers of exposure to dioxins and related compounds.

Estimating internal exposure or dose of dioxins and related chemicals such as dibenzofurans and dioxinlike polychlorinated biphenyls is relatively straightforward in laboratory animals because a kn...
Emoticons and linguistic alignment: How visual analytics can elicit storytelling

Socio-emotional communication is a critical determining factor in the cohesiveness of international work teams. In recent years, online text communication (e.g., chat, forums, email) has been widely used in cross-cultural collaborations, and emoticons are often viewed as socio-emotional cues in this type of communication. Therefore, it is important to know how emoticons work in online text communication. One way to investigate this topic is to leverage theories in sociolinguistics to find potential mappings between emoticon use and face-to-face language use. In the present work, we propose a visual analytics tool to explore emoticon use among different groups over time and show how visual analytics can elicit storytelling in studying linguistic alignment of emoticons in a chat log dataset from a four-year scientific collaboration between France and the United States.
A test manager's perspective of a test concept for a heavy lift vehicle

The developmment of a test concept is a significant part of the advanced planning activities accomplished for the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) of new systems. A test concept is generally viewed as a description, including rationale, of the test structure, evaluation methodology and management approach required to plan and conduct the IOT&E of a program such as a new heavy lift launch vehicle system. The test concept as presented in this paper is made up of an operations area, a test area, an evaluation area, and a management area. The description presented here is written from the perspective of one test manager, and represents his views of a possible framework of a test concept using examples for a potential IOT&E of a heavy lift launch vehicle.
Radioimmunoassay of vasopressin with a comparison of immunological and biological activity in the rat posterior pituitary.

Immunization of rabbits with lysine vasopressin (LVP) conjugated to bovine serum albumin has resulted in the production of antibodies to LVP which are capable of crossreacting with arginine vasopressin (AVP). Using the antiserum and LVP-126I, a radioimmunoassay for AVP has been developed which is sensitive and specific for vasopressin. The reliability and specificity of the assay are confirmed by performing simultaneous immuno- and bioassays for AVP on the posterior pituitaries of normally hydrated rats and rats subjected to varying periods of dehydration. A highly significant linear correlation is demonstrated when pituitary AVP content by immunoassay (Y) is plotted against pituitary AVP content by bioassay(X) (Y =1.15X +81.05, r =0.941, p<.001). Good agreement occurs for the value of pituitary AVP content as determined by the 2 assay methods, with immunoassay values being somewhat greater than those determined by bioassay. Following prolonged dehydration, there is a progressive parallel decrease in pitu...
Foreign postdocs: the changing face of biomedical science in the U.S.

Progress in biomedical research depends upon the intellectual and physical effort of talented scientists. In the U.S., the composition of this essential resource has undergone substantial change over the past three decades. Postdocs have become the largest segment of the workforce in biomedical science and in recent years, foreign postdocs have accounted for all of the growth in the postdoctoral population. This workforce has helped fuel our extraordinary progress in biomedical research, but over-reliance on a temporary workforce may have far-reaching, negative consequences for our research enterprise.
Parallel IP lookup using multiple SRAM-based pipelines

Pipelined SRAM-based algorithmic solutions have become competitive alternatives to TCAMs (ternary content addressable memories) for high throughput IP lookup. Multiple pipelines can be utilized in parallel to improve the throughput further. However, several challenges must be addressed to make such solutions feasible. First, the memory distribution over different pipelines as well as across different stages of each pipeline must be balanced. Second, the traffic among these pipelines should be balanced. Third, the intra-flow packet order should be preserved. In this paper, we propose a parallel SRAM-based multi-pipeline architecture for IP lookup. A two-level mapping scheme is developed to balance the memory requirement among the pipelines as well as across the stages in a pipeline. To balance the traffic, we propose a flow pre-caching scheme to exploit the inherent caching in the architecture. Our technique uses neither a large reorder buffer nor complex reorder logic. Instead, a payload exchange scheme exploiting the pipeline delay is used to maintain the intra-flow packet order. Extensive simulation using real-life traffic traces shows that the proposed architecture with 8 pipelines can achieve a throughput of up to 10 billion packets per second (GPPS) while preserving intra-flow packet order.
The evidence for Allee effects

Allee effects are an important dynamic phe- nomenon believed to be manifested in several population processes, notably extinction and invasion. Though widely cited in these contexts, the evidence for their strength and prevalence has not been critically evaluated. We review results from 91 studies on Allee effects in natural animal populations. We focus on empirical signatures that are used or might be used to detect Allee effects, the types of data in which Allee effects are evident, the empirical support for the occurrence of critical densities in natural populations, and differences among taxa both in the presence of Allee effects and primary causal mechanisms. We find that conclusive examples are known from Mollusca, Arthrop- oda, and Chordata, including three classes of vertebrates, and are most commonly documented to result from mate limitation in invertebrates and from predator-prey inter- actions in vertebrates. More than half of studies failed to distinguish component and demographic Allee effects in data, although the distinction is crucial to most of the population-level dynamic implications associated with Allee effects (e.g., the existence of an unstable critical density associated with strong Allee effects). Thus, although we find conclusive evidence for Allee effects due to a variety of mechanisms in natural populations of 59 animal species, we also find that existing data addressing the strength and commonness of Allee effects across species and populations is limited; evidence for a critical density for most popula- tions is lacking. We suggest that current studies, mainly observational in nature, should be supplemented by popu- lation-scale experiments and approaches connecting component and demographic effects.
The Feminist Majority Foundation's Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid

Abstract This essay offers a critical analysis of the Feminist Majority Foundation's Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan in terms of its synchronicity with US imperialism and militarism. While the FMF's Campaign draws public attention to the discrimination and violence facing Afghan women under the Taliban, its discourse is embedded in an ahistorical and Orientalist framework that assumes the benevolence and superiority of the US in establishing gender equality. Thus, the FMF reproduces an imperial feminism tied to US state interests in empire building – a feminism that evades accountability for the consequences of US militarism while it establishes its own power and authority in determining the future of Afghanistan. The imperial feminism of the FMF is an example of how actions taken to challenge hegemony can in fact support and reify the hegemonic projects of the state. In effect, the FMF draws upon the same imperialist and problematic ideas about women as those expressed by the Bush admini...
The Social Environment and Suicide Attempts in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the social environment surrounding lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth may contribute to their higher rates of suicide attempts, controlling for individual-level risk factors. METHODS: A total of 31 852 11th grade students (1413 [4.4%] lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals) in Oregon completed the Oregon Healthy Teens survey in 2006–2008. We created a composite index of the social environment in 34 counties, including (1) the proportion of same-sex couples, (2) the proportion of registered Democrats, (3) the presence of gay-straight alliances in schools, and (4) school policies (nondiscrimination and antibullying) that specifically protected lesbian, gay, and bisexual students. RESULTS: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were significantly more likely to attempt suicide in the previous 12 months, compared with heterosexuals (21.5% vs 4.2%). Among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, the risk of attempting suicide was 20% greater in unsupportive environments compared to supportive environments. A more supportive social environment was significantly associated with fewer suicide attempts, controlling for sociodemographic variables and multiple risk factors for suicide attempts, including depressive symptoms, binge drinking, peer victimization, and physical abuse by an adult (odds ratio: 0.97 [95% confidence interval: 0.96–0.99]). CONCLUSIONS: This study documents an association between an objective measure of the social environment and suicide attempts among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. The social environment appears to confer risk for suicide attempts over and above individual-level risk factors. These results have important implications for the development of policies and interventions to reduce sexual orientation–related disparities in suicide attempts.
Birth-weight-adjusted infant mortality in evaluations of perinatal care: Towards a useful summary measure

Since birth-weight-specific infant mortality rates are widely considered to be measures of the effects of perinatal medical care, birth-weight-adjusted and birth-weight-specific infant mortality rates have often been used in comparisons across hospitals and geographic areas. Wilcox and Russell have provided a model which leads to the conclusion that birth weight adjustment is biased against populations with heavier birth weights and that birth-weight-specific infant mortality rates can yield misleading results. Nevertheless, evaluators and health planners still need a summary measure of the infant mortality rate in which some sort of birth weight adjustment is used to generate an (appropriately) weighted mean of birth-weight-specific relative risks. We used the 1983-85 national linked files of live births and infant deaths to investigate two new methods that extend the Wilcox-Russell approach, 'mean adjustment' and 'Z-adjustment', to compare birth-weight-specific infant mortality rates among the white populations of the states. Colorado was used as the reference population in logistic regression analyses. Statistical interactions between state and birth weight on the conventional kilogram scale, the mean-adjusted scale, and the Z scale were examined. There were substantial interactions with birth weight on all three scales. In addition, when Colorado was used as the reference population, mean adjustment shifted the odds ratios downward to implausibly low values, especially at lower weights. The Z-adjustment method incorporating the Wilcox-Russell approach appears to be a useful alternative to birth weight adjustment. However, because birth-weight-specific mortality rates do not differ uniformly across all birth weight groups, multiple summary measures are needed.
The contraction of smooth muscle cells of intrapulmonary arterioles is determined by the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations induced by 5-HT and KCl.

Increased resistance of the small blood vessels within the lungs is associated with pulmonary hypertension and results from a decrease in size induced by the contraction of their smooth muscle cells (SMCs). To study the mechanisms that regulate the contraction of intrapulmonary arteriole SMCs, the contractile and Ca2+ responses of the arteriole SMCs to 5-hydroxytrypamine (5-HT) and KCl were observed with phase-contrast and scanning confocal microscopy in thin lung slices cut from mouse lungs stiffened with agarose and gelatin. 5-HT induced a concentration-dependent contraction of the arterioles. Increasing concentrations of extracellular KCl induced transient contractions in the SMCs and a reduction in the arteriole luminal size. 5-HT induced oscillations in [Ca2+]i within the SMCs, and the frequency of these Ca2+ oscillations was dependent on the agonist concentration and correlated with the extent of sustained arteriole contraction. By contrast, KCl induced Ca2+ oscillations that occurred with low frequencies and were preceded by small, localized transient Ca2+ events. The 5-HT–induced Ca2+ oscillations and contractions occurred in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and were resistant to Ni2+ and nifedipine but were abolished by caffeine. KCl-induced Ca2+ oscillations and contractions were abolished by the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and the presence of Ni2+, nifedipine, and caffeine. Arteriole contraction was induced or abolished by a 5-HT2–specific agonist or antagonist, respectively. These results indicate that 5-HT, acting via 5-HT2 receptors, induces arteriole contraction by initiating Ca2+ oscillations and that KCl induces contraction via Ca2+ transients resulting from the overfilling of internal Ca2+ stores. We hypothesize that the magnitude of the sustained intrapulmonary SMC contraction is determined by the frequency of Ca2+ oscillations and also by the relaxation rate of the SMC.
Transference and Countertransference Problems in a Critically Ill Patient

The severe depression of a patient critically ill with myasthenia gravis necessitated psychiatric intervention. Over a period of two years three different approaches were utilized by three therapists: 1) intensive psychotherapy, 2) limited supportive psychotherapy, and 3) therapy based on the therapist's presentation of himself as an all-powerful healing figure. Improvement occurred in phase one, severe regression in phase two and marked improvement and death in phase three. Transference and countertransference factors were of critical importance in each phase.
Thermal sensitivity analysis for the 119 PBGA-a framework for rapid prototyping

New package prototyping is often a sequential process where the chip and system parameters are specified first, then the package design is initiated. A reduction in overall cycle time can be affected if the events occur simultaneously. This study proposes a methodology for addressing this issue. The method is outlined in the context of prototyping the 119 plastic ball grid array (PBGA) package thermal performance. The parameters influencing performance are system, device, or package based. Ranges for the "yet-to-be-fixed" parameters are determined and factorial analyses are used to yield approximate linear models with interactions for package performance. Once the device and system parameters are "fixed", the linear equations are solved simultaneously with junction and board temperature constraints to yield a design options map for package layout. The prototyping sequence for the PBGA results in substrate thermal conductivity, mother board thermal conductivity, mother board load, and heat sink attachment as the set of "variable" parameters-with other parameters being "fixed". The design options map gives the minimum substrate thermal conductivity needed to meet the thermal performance specification for a particular set of parameters. The substrate specification is further related to physical attributes required of the package in terms of thermal vias, thermal bumps and metal layers. These results are generically applicable to the PBGA family. A 119 PBGA package enclosing a 2 W chip requires a minimum substrate thermal conductivity of 0.03 W/cm-/spl deg/C to meet the junction temperature constraint for high performance workstation environments. Results of the performance prediction are further verified by a composite finite element simulation and experimental validation with prototypes. The design options map can be recreated without any additional simulation studies in the event any change in the "fixed" parameters occurs. The methodology described allows anticipation of design options in the "dynamic" environment of prototyping, and implementation of optimized package designs to meet performance under multiple customer environments.
Aortic valve calcification is mediated by a differential response of aortic valve interstitial cells to inflammation

Abstract Background Although calcific aortic stenosis is common, calcification of the other three heart valves is not. The aortic valve interstitial cell (VIC) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of aortic stenosis. Proinflammatory stimulation of aortic VICs induces an osteogenic and inflammatory phenotypic change. We hypothesized that the VICs of the other heart valves do not undergo these changes. Using isolated human VICs from normal aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves, our purpose was to compare the osteogenic response to proinflammatory stimulation via toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4). Materials and methods Aortic, pulmonic, mitral, and tricuspid ( n = 4 for each valve type) VICs were isolated from hearts valves explanted from patients undergoing cardiac transplantation. Cells were cultured and grown to confluence in passage 2–6 before treatment with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100–200 ng/mL) for 24 or 48 h. Cells were characterized by immunofluorescent staining. TLR-4 expression was analyzed (immunoblotting, flow cytometry). Bone morphogenetic protein 2 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 production were determined (immunoblotting). Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistics were by Mann–Whitney U test. Results TLR-4 stimulation induced bone morphogenetic protein 2 production only in aortic VICs ( P Conclusions Proinflammatory stimulation induces an osteogenic phenotype in aortic VICs but not mitral, pulmonic, or tricuspid VICs. We conclude that this differential osteogenic response of aortic VICs contributes to the pathogenesis of calcific aortic stenosis.
Hierarchical swapped networks: efficient low-degree alternatives to hypercubes and generalized hypercubes

In this paper, we propose a new class of interconnection networks called hierarchical swapped networks (HSNs). We show that some subclasses of HSNs can efficiently emulate hypercubes, or generalized hypercubes, while having node degrees significantly smaller than the emulated networks. In particular, a suitably constructed HSN can emulate a hypercube or generalized hypercube with constant slowdown under the single-dimension communication model and asymptotically optimal slowdown with respect to its node degree under the all-port communication model. As a consequence, we obtain a variety of efficient algorithms on HSNs through emulation, thus proving the versatility of HSN. Some subclasses of HSNs are also shown to have asymptotically optimal diameters with respect to their node degrees. HSNs appear to be attractive low-degree alternatives to hypercubes and generalized hypercubes for general-purpose parallel computers.
Double helicase II (uvrD)-helicase IV (helD) deletion mutants are defective in the recombination pathways of Escherichia coli.

Abstract The Escherichia coli helD (encoding helicase IV) and uvrD (encoding helicase II) genes have been deleted, independently and in combination, from the chromosome and replaced with genes encoding antibiotic resistance. Each deletion was verified by Southern blots, and the location of each deletion was confirmed by P1-mediated transduction. Cell strains containing the single and double deletions were viable, indicating that helicases II and IV are not essential for viability. Cell strains lacking helicase IV (delta helD) exhibited no increase in sensitivity to UV irradiation but were slightly more resistant to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) than the isogenic wild-type cell strain. As expected, cell strains containing the helicase II deletion (delta uvrD) were sensitive to both UV irradiation and MMS. The introduction of the helicase IV deletion into a delta uvrD background had essentially no effect on the UV and MMS sensitivity of the cell strains analyzed. The double deletions, however, conferred a Rec- mutant phenotype for conjugational and transductional recombination in both recBC sbcB(C) and recBC sbcA backgrounds. The Rec- mutant phenotype was more profound in the recBC sbcB(C) background than in the recBC sbcA background. The recombination-deficient phenotype indicates the direct involvement of helicase II and/or helicase IV in the RecF pathway [recBC sbcB(C) background] and RecE pathway (recBC sbcA background) of recombination. The modest decrease in the recombination frequency observed in single-deletion mutants in the recBC sbcB(C) background suggests that either helicase is sufficient. In addition, helicase IV has been overexpressed in a tightly regulated system. The data suggest that even modest overexpression of helicase IV is lethal to the cell.
Predicting Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity Using Artificial Neural Networks: Exploratory Analysis

Providing adequate nighttime visibility to roadway users is an important consideration for state and local transportation agencies. Driving at night is less dangerous when pavement markings are easily discernable. Retroreflectivity is a measure of nighttime visibility. Transportation agencies could use estimates of the expected service life of pavement markings to plan restriping operations at a time when markings are near a minimum threshold level of retroreflectivity. The present study proposes the use of an artificial neural network to predict pavement marking retroreflectivity as a function of initial retroreflectivity, the age of the markings, traffic flow, pavement marking type, and route location information using data from North Carolina. The results show that many of the input variables have a nonlinear association with pavement marking retroreflectivity. Surface plots of the degradation pattern are provided to illustrate the relationship between input and output variables. Estimates of service life are provided to show how the output can be used to manage pavement marking systems.
Common Factors Come Alive: Practical Strategies for Implementing Common Factors in MFT Training

Presently, MFT training programs teach MFT models in a way that emphasizes differences over similarities (Karam et al. in J Marital Fam Ther, 2015. doi: 10.1111/jmft.12096 ; Sprenkle and Blow in J Marital Fam Ther 30:113–129, 2004a. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2004.tb01228.x , in J Marital Fam Ther 30:151–157, b. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2004.tb01230.x ; Sprenkle et al. in Common factors in couple and family therapy: the overlooked foundation for effective practice. Guilford Press, New York, 2009). Although teaching a variety of models and their distinctiveness is vital, doing so may create a competitive rather than integrative relationship between models (Karam et al. 2015). While Karam et al. 2015 encourage the inclusion of common factors in MFT training, we expand their justification for the importance of doing so We also explain conceptual and practical ways to include common factors in MFT training. Common factors instruction can fulfill multiple purposes: (a) create a sense of cohesiveness for programs which need to teach breadth of topics that can seem unrelated, (b) help prepare practitioners who need to learn many models well but will likely adopt an integrative approach, (c) align with basic skills training, (d) align with process research, and (e) enhance the richness of individual models. For each of these purposes, we provide an example of a classroom activity. We conclude with a unifying example of how one student may learn the common-factors perspective and weave it into her reflective practices as an MFT student.
Consumer Acceptance of High-Pressure Processed Products: American Perspective

This chapter reviews consumer acceptance of high-pressure processed products from an American consumer perspective. Acceptance of products processed by novel processing technologies depends on the consumer’s perception of benefits and risks. These include the impact of the technology on taste, the convenience, the nutritional value, the perceived safety of the process or technology, the magnitude of the risk the technology reduces, and the effect of the technology on the environment.
What Has Happened to the Agricultural Ladder

ATHIRD of a century has passed since the concept of the agricultural ladder was introduced and established in economics literature. In that time American farmers have gone through two land booms and an intervening depression. The proportion of farm tenancy climbed from a national average of 38 percent in 1990 to over 42 percent in 1930 and 1935 and then dropped to 27 percent in 1948.1 Also, numerous public programs designed to favor farm ownership and to support farm price levels have been developed. What has happened to the agricultural ladder during this period? Is it still as important as it seemed a generation ago or has it fallen into general disrepute? Do young farmers today go through a sequence of tenures in their climb to farm ownership, or have they found new methods that enable them to move from their status as family workers or landless laborers to farm ownership more easily? These are only a few of the questions one could ask concerning the present status of the agricultural ladder. Numerous recent studies have touched upon this general problem. Many of these suggest that the ladder is working with varying degrees of success. But in a few cases writers have questioned the successful operation of the ladder.2 In view of the confusion that has developed around this concept, it is the purpose of this article to examine the nature and background of the agricultural ladder and to appraise its role in today's agriculture. Much of the data used in this analysis has only recently been made available by the national farm ownership survey.3
Computer Analysis of Extensible Cables

The shooting method, used previously by the writer to analyze frames, arches, columns, and tie-rods, is applied to cables. For any loading condition, including the weight of the cable itself, and for any strain-stress relationship, the method converges directly to the final shape of the cable, even when the sag and extensibility are large. Results are presented for several examples, and comparisons are made with previous solutions in the literature.
Computer Proliferation: An Experience to Share

Nurses, worldwide, are sharing ways in which computers and information scientists help the profession adapt to a technocratic society. Two significant undertakings, directed at formal support of these efforts are a working group established under IMIA and an international nursing symposium planned for 1985 in Canada. The ultimate goal is establishment of an International Nursing Informatics Association. Nursing informatics is broad in scope, encompassing the use of computers and information science to provide and improve patient care, develop educational courseware, assist with administrative tasks and support research. There is also a strong committment toward encouraging IMIA countries just beginning their computer explorations, promoting publication of development efforts and network building.
Satellite Broadcasting

Now that the first demonstrations of satellite-relayed transoceanic television may occur within two years, what is the probable future of satellite broadcasting? This study examines problems of broadcasting via satellites directly to home television receivers, compared with those of relaying to earth-terminals and rebroadcasting locally. The former eventually may be possible, but would require high-power, highly engineered satellites and would involve other problems, which are discussed here. Direct FM audio broadcasting may be less difficult but also less spectacular and rewarding.
In Situ Surface Chemistries and Catalytic Performances of Ceria Doped with Palladium, Platinum, and Rhodium in Methane Partial Oxidation for the Production of Syngas

Methane partial oxidation (MPO) chemically transforms natural gas into syngas for the production of gasoline. CeO2 doped with transition-metal ions is one type of catalyst active for MPO. A fundamental understanding of MPO on this type of catalyst is important for the development of catalysts with high activity and selectivity for this process. CeO2-based catalysts, including Pd-CeO2-air, Pd-CeO2-H2, Pt-CeO2-air, Pt-CeO2-H2, Rh-CeO2-air, and Rh-CeO2-H2, were synthesized through doping noble-metal ions in the synthesis of CeO2 nanoparticles. The catalytic activity and selectivity in the production of H2 and CO through MPO on these ceria-based catalysts as well as their surface chemistries during catalysis were investigated. They exhibit quite different catalytic performances in MPO under identical catalytic conditions. In situ studies of their surface chemistries during catalysis, using ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP–XPS), revealed quite different surface chemistries during catalysis...
Authentication Scheme for Flexible Charging and Discharging of Mobile Vehicles in the V2G Networks

Navigating security and privacy challenges is one of the crucial requirements in the vehicle-to-grid ( V2G ) network. Since electric vehicles ( EVs ) need to provide their private information to aggregators/servers when charging/discharging at different charging stations, privacy of the vehicle owners can be compromised if the information is misused, traced, or revealed. In a wide V2G network, where vehicles can move outside of their home network to visiting networks, security and privacy become even more challenging due to untrusted entities in the visiting networks. Although some privacy-preserving solutions were proposed in the literature to tackle this problem, they do not protect against well-known security attacks and generate a huge overhead. Therefore, we propose a mutual authentication scheme to preserve privacy of the EV’s information from aggregators/servers in the home as well as distributed visiting V2G networks. Our scheme, based on a bilinear pairing technique with an accumulator performing batch verification, yields higher system efficiency, defeats various security attacks, and maintains untraceability, forward privacy, and identity anonymity. A performance analysis shows that our scheme, in comparison with the existing solutions, significantly generates lower communication and computation overheads in the home and centralized V2G networks, and comparable overheads in the distributed visiting V2G networks.
Experimental Investigations of Dusty Spacecraft Charging at the Lunar Terminator

An experimental investigation is conducted to understand the I-V characteristics and floating potential of a surface covered by varying amounts of dust in a plasma environment similar to that at the lunar terminator. I-V curves are measured to determine dust coverage effects on surface charging, and a non-contacting electrostatic voltmeter is used to measure dust surface charging. Results show that as dust coverage increases, the electric field created between the dust surface layer and conducting surface layer increases the possibility of arcing and breakdown.
Immunogenicity and cost-effectiveness analysis of domestic varicella vaccine

[Objective] To know the adverse reactions and immunogenicity in different periods and doses of domestic varicella vaccine and analyse its economical effect among different eged children immunized with varicella vaccine . [Methods] Random sampling method was used to observe adverse reactions and immunogenicity of different varicella vaccine and ELISA was used to measure varicella virus antibody.Cost-benefit analysis was used to calculate the ratio of benefit to cost(BCR). [Results] There was no significant difference in adverse reactions and in immunogenicity between different varicella vaccine.Antibody positive rate and GMT were above 96% and reach 760 1 to 3 months after injection of vaccine. Antibody positive rate and GMT were still above 80% and 360 two years after immunization.BCRs were less than 1 in the population with age below two years,but exceed 1 in age from 3 to 7.Among them,BCR was the highest in age from 6 to 7. [Conclusion] There were few adverse reactions and high antibody levels between different varicella vaccine. The economic effect is positive in the immunization of varicella vaccine in age from 3 to 7.Children aged from 3 to 7 are at the first choice for vaccination.
Research on the Optimal Design Method of Micro-vehicle Engine Mount

In order to design engine mount system effectually and conveniently,based on energy decoupling theory,the feasibility of the engine mount stiffness ratio is considered,engine mount stiffness and installed angle are treated as independent variable,different evaluation is taken as target,a optimization method to design engine mount is presented.The method is proved feasible by a case.It is proved that the method can improve the design efficiency and get a good performance engine mount.
Analysis of the Requirement of the Supplementary Excitation Damping Controller on Excitation System

It is already proved that there is subsynchrous resonance(SSR) during power transmission from calfired power plants using series compensation to the load center. Therefore, the time-domain simulation model and frequency-domain model for power unit of excitation system are built, on the basis of which the requirements of the supplementary excitation damping controller(SEDC) on control mode of power unit are analyzed. By analysis of power unit characteristic, frequency characteristic and time-domain simulation, the paper conducts quantitative analysis of the impact of trigger control mode of rectifying circuit on SEDC. It is concluded that phase control mode must be adopted on excitation power unit in order that damping on SSR can be realized.
Bayesian penalized-likelihood iterative reconstruction of FDG PET/CT for lymph node metastases in head and neck cancer.

2733 Objectives Bayesian Penalized-Likelihood (BPL) iterative reconstruction, a recently FDA approved reconstruction algorithm for PET/CT, promises to increase sensitivity. This study aims to determine if BPL is beneficial in increasing visualization of malignant lymph nodes in patients with untreated head and neck cancer. Methods This IRB compliant, retrospective study looked at patients with untreated head and neck cancer that underwent PET/CT at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN between August 2014 and January 2015. Patients were imaged on a GE Discovery 710 scanner, and underwent a torso, as well as a dedicated H&N PET/CT scan. Images were reconstructed using three methods: 3D OSEM, Time of Flight (TOF), and BPL. Lymph nodes with visible FDG activity were analyzed. Blood Pool (BP) and liver activity was reviewed. Images were reviewed on an OsiriX 64 bit workstation by a nuclear radiologist. Results 10 patients (6 M, 4 F) were included (median age 61 yrs, BMI 26, blood glucose 84). 79 lymph nodes were analyzed. There was a statistically significant increase in the mean SUVmax of lymph nodes on BPL reconstructed images from those on TOF for both torso (27.5 +/- 31.2%, P Conclusions BPL increases the SUVmax of malignant lymph nodes in head and neck cancer and decreases the SUVmax of the BP, resulting in the accurate detection of more “positive” nodes. On BPL reconstructed torso imaging, nodes have higher SUVmax than on additional TOF reconstructed dedicated H&N imaging. However, the benefits of BPL and dedicated H&N imaging were additive.