cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing Multiple Pathway Exposures: Variability, Uncertainty, and Ignorance

Human populations contact environmental pollutants through food, water, and air in varying amounts each day throughout a lifetime. Thus, a realistic strategy for managing the potential health risks of municipal incinerator emissions requires a comprehensive approach with adequate attention to uncertainties. Using contaminant transfers from air to food as a case study, this paper considers two important issues in exposure assessment-completeness of the exposure model and the treatment of uncertainty in exposure estimates. This case study is used to distinguish between variability (inherent randomness in data), ignorance (incomplete data and/or lack of scientific understanding) and uncertainty (the variance in exposure estimates attributable to the combination of variability and ignorance). For the air/food pathways, I explore the use of pathway exposure factors (PEFs) that combine information on environmental partitioning (“fugacity,” biotransfer factors, deposition, etc.) with data on human diet, behavior patterns, and physiology into a numerical expression that links ambient air concentrations in mg/m3 into daily exposure in-mg/kg-d. Following EPA protocol, exposure expresses human contact with contaminants through the lungs, the gut wall, and skin surface. I describe and assess the uncertainty for exposure estimates of incinerator emissions through the air/milk and air/meat pathways. I consider the advantages and disadvantages of various methods for propagating and analyzing uncertainties.
Patient Satisfaction with Different Interpreting Methods: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Growth of the foreign-born population in the U.S. has led to increasing numbers of limited-English-proficient (LEP) patients. Innovative medical interpreting strategies, including remote simultaneous medical interpreting (RSMI), have arisen to address the language barrier. This study evaluates the impact of interpreting method on patient satisfaction.
Single-molecule fluorescence of nucleic acids.

Abstract Less than a decade old, single-molecule fluorescence of nucleic acids has rapidly become an important tool in the arsenal of biological probes. A variety of novel approaches to investigate conformational dynamics, catalytic mechanisms, folding pathways and protein–nucleic-acid interactions have recently been devised for nucleic acids using this technique. Combined with biomechanical tools and ensemble measurements, single-molecule fluorescence methods extend our ability to observe and understand biomolecules and complex biological processes.
Sodium pyruvate inhibits the spontaneous release of 51Cr from RBC in chromium release assays.

Abstract This report describes the utility of sodium pyruvate for markedly decreasing the spontaneous release of chromium-51 from RBC in long term chronium release assays. This method can be used to increase the sensitivity and duration of cytotoxicity assays which use chronium-51-labeled RBC as targets.
Keeping ARMS relevant: extracting additional information from ARMS

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss opportunities to obtain more information from the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). Specifically, the paper will explore the issue of survey nonresponse, the development of pseudo panels, and more frequent updating of cost of production data on an enterprise basis.\Design/methodology/approach – Researchers from the Land Grant University System and the Economic Research Service have relied on ARMS to evaluate the effect of agricultural, macroeconomic, and other factors on the US farm sector, farm businesses, and the households that manage them. This paper will identify gaps in understanding and proposes approaches to extract additional information from ARMS.Findings – The relevance of ARMS in the future will depend on the ability to continue to understand potential pitfalls and areas of additional research that can develop new procedures to extract additional information. Three issues which are in need of further study include continuing to ex...
PLASMA IMMUNOREACTIVE β-ENDORPHIN IS ELEVATED IN URAEMIA

SUMMARY Plasma immunoreactive-(IR) β-endorphin (β-EP) and β-lipotrophin (β-LPH) levels were measured in 15 adult uraemic patients on chronic haemodialysis. The presence of immunoreactivity eluting in the position of β-EP was demonstrated following submission of pooled extracts of uraemic plasma to gel permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-50. To separate β-EP from β-LPH, pre-dialysis plasma extracts from six individual patients, and three pools of three patients each, were submitted to sequential immune-affinity chromatography and levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. In all cases, plasma IR β-EP concentrations were markedly increased compared with normal subjects (m± SEM fmol/ml; 64·4 ± 13·7 vs. 2·3 ± 0·2). IR β-LPH concentrations were also increased (m± SEM fmol/ml; 55·7 ± 13·2 vs. normal 6·1 ± 0·8). In addition, post-dialysis concentrations of plasma IR β-EP and β-LPH were lower than pre-dialysis levels (n= 4).
Free Energies of Electron Transfer Reactions in Polarizable, Nondipolar, Quadrupolar Solvents

A continuum theory is developed for describing the influence of polarizable, nondipolar, quadrupolar solvents on charge-transfer processes. The fluctuating configuration of solvent quadrupole moments and associated nonequilibrium free energy are described in terms of multidimensional solvent coordinates. The solvent reorganization free energy is obtained in the framework of both one- and two-sphere cavity descriptions of the reaction systems. As an application, electron transfer for bridged donor−acceptor systems in benzene is considered. It is found that the continuum theory predictions for outer-sphere reorganization free energy are in good accord with both experimental estimates and molecular-level theory results.
A concept of industrial engineering

SUMMARY A definition of industrial engineering which is nearly an exact translation of AIIE's was adopted in 1967 by the Japan Institute of Industrial Engineering. Even after that, there are many who wish to have a clearer definition of the industrial engineer's role, its discipline, limitations and objectives. A broad but new definition is proposed with the hope that it will provoke the establishment of a better definition, that would satisfy the needs in Japan and promote faster development of the art which could contribute more to the welfare of mankind In addition to a proposed definition on the art of industrial engineering, a proposal is also made on what is desired of an industrial engineer.
The relation between stress and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

This study investigated the relation between stress and current disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). During a routine clinic appointment, subjects were given ratings of global disease status by their physicians and completed self-report measures of major stress and minor stress. In addition, each subject's erythrocyte sedimentation rate was taken. After controlling for disease severity and major stress, minor stress accounted for a significant amount of the variance in inflammation level. These results suggest that minor stress is associated with current disease activity in RA.
Parallel algorithms for adaptive quadrature II metalgorithm correctness

This paper introduces a rather specific metalgorithm (or meta-program) for a class of algorithms for adaptive quadrature on parallel (MIMD) computers. This class includes all the current approaches to adaptive quadrature. The main result is that any member of this metalgorithm satisfies the conditions of a traditional numerical analysis convergence theorem from [2]. The algorithm structure in this metalgorithm is specified in some detail and 32 Attributes are assumed. These Attributes and structure serve to guide the design of particular algorithms. They also facilitate establishing algorithm correctness by providing a detailed set of algorithm properties (most of which are like "assertions" in program proving) that are sufficient for correctness.
The effect of deposition conditions on the atomic oxygen induced degradation of MgF2 anti-reflective coatings

Spacecraft orbiting below about 800 km are exposed to a high flux of atomic oxygen (AO) that can severely degrade surface materials. Of particular concern are the anti-reflective (AR) coating on solar array surfaces that not only protect the solar panel from the environment but help to boost the transmission of incoming light to the solar cells. Degradation of this AR coating can have serious effects on the performance of the solar panels, leading to insufficient power being available to perform any useful mission. A common space borne solar cell cover consists of a Ceria (CeO 2 ) doped borosilicate glass (CMG) substrate coated by a 90nm MgF 2 AR coating. Our previous work has shown that the transmission of commercially purchased MgF 2 anti-reflective coatings degrades significantly when exposed to an AO flux. In view of this MgF 2 films were deposited in-house where the deposition conditions were controlled. MgF 2 films were deposited on ceria micro sheet substrates via electron beam evaporation. The system base pressure 2.3×10−6 torr without the use of the liquid nitrogen (LN2) trap and 2 granules. The as-deposited and AO exposed films were analyzed via spectroscopic ellipsometry, x-ray diffractometry and auger electron spectroscopy. We will show that the transmission degradation can be reduced by an order of magnitude, without significantly changing the optical properties of the film, by controlling the oxygen content of the as-deposited film.
The Use of Chewing Gum Postoperatively in Pediatric Scoliosis Patients Facilitates an Earlier Return to Normal Bowel Function

Abstract Purpose In surgical correction of scoliosis in pediatric patients, gastrointestinal complications including postoperative ileus can result in extended hospital stays, poorer pain management, slower progression with physical therapy, and overall decreased patient satisfaction. In patients undergoing gastrointestinal, gynecological, and urological surgery, gum chewing has been shown to reduce time to flatus and passage of feces. The authors hypothesized that chewing gum could also speed return to normal bowel function in pediatric patients undergoing surgical correction of scoliosis. Methods The researchers obtained institutional review board approval for a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Eligible patients included all adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion. Exclusion criteria included previous gastrointestinal surgery or preexisting gastrointestinal disease. Patients were randomized by coin flip. The treatment group chewed sugar-free bubble gum 5 times a day for 20 to 30 minutes beginning on postoperative day 1; the control group did not chew gum. Patients were asked a series of questions regarding subjective gastrointestinal symptoms each day. Time to flatus and first passage of feces were recorded as indicators of return to normal bowel function. Normality of data was assessed using normal probability plots. Results A total of 83 patients completed the study (69 females and 14 males; mean age, 14.4 years). Of the 42 patients in the chewing gum group, 8 elected to stop chewing gum regularly before discharge for to a variety of reasons. Patients who chewed gum experienced first bowel movement on average 145.9 hours after surgery, 30.9 hours before those who did not chew gum (p = .04). Gum-chewing patients first experienced flatus an average of 55.2 hours after surgery, compared with 62.3 hours for controls. This trend did not reach statistical significance (p = .12). No difference was noted in duration of hospital stay, medications administered as required, or subjective symptoms. Conclusion Chewing gum after posterior spinal fusion for scoliosis is safe and may speed return of normal bowel function. Chewing gum after surgical correction of scoliosis facilitates an earlier return to normal bowel function, which may improve patient satisfaction in the early postoperative period.
The Colorado Newborn Hearing Screening Project: effects on speech and language development for children with hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the speech and language development of children with bilateral hearing loss and normal cognition who were born in hospitals with universal newborn hearing screening to that of their peers who were born in hospitals without this screening program. STUDY DESIGN: Subjects for the major analyses are 50 Colorado children (25 matched pairs) from 9 to 61 months old who are participants in a study of the development of children birth to six with bilateral hearing loss. Analyses included parametric dependent t-tests and analysis of covariance, nonparametric χ-squared and Wilcoxon signed rank tests, descriptive statistics and odds ratios. RESULTS: Newborn screening programs for hearing loss are positively related to scores in expressive and receptive language (p<0.001) and vocabulary production (p<0.001) on standardized inventories; speech intelligibility (p=0.015) from independent ratings; number of different simple consonants (p<0.01) and consonant blends (p=0.026) from phonological transcripts; and total number of intelligible words (p<0.01) and number of different words produced (p<0.01) from computer analysis of videotaped language samples. CONCLUSION: Hospital-based newborn hearing screening programs are positively related to language and speech performance for children in early intervention programs who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Organic nitrogen mineralization and substrate limitation of bacteria in Lake Michigan

La dynamique de population bacterienne dans le lac Michigan est etudiee par mesure de la demande en azote organique. Ce parametre permet d'estimer les variations de population en fonction de la mineralisation de l'azote organique et de la limitation en substrat present dans le milieu
Does copyright law need to be reformed

Considering the issues involved in developing a simplified new copyright law and associated administrative mechanisms.
Improved technique for the reversion of Histoplasma capsulatum in tissue culture.

Reversion ofHistoplasma capsulatum mycelia to the parasitic yeast phase was accomplished in stationary cultured HeLa cells. Fresh guinea pig serum in either Hely or Medium 199 gave excellent conversion. Horse, human, calf, and chicken serum permitted conversion, but to a lesser extent as measured by subsequent growth on blood agar. No apparent differences were found with respect to conversion between 2, 4, and 8-week old mycelial inoculum.
Strong nondeterministic turing reduction—a technique for proving intractability

Abstract Since the pioneering work of Cook and Karp, an extensive effort has been made in identifying hundreds of apparently intractable (i.e., NP-complete) problems. At the same time, attempts were also made to discover new methods to establish computational intractability. Notably, Adleman and Manders showed some number-theoretic problems to be intractable basing their intractability claim on the (stronger) assumption NP ≠ co-NP rather than the usual assumption P ≠ NP. The key idea behind the extension proposed by Adleman and Manders was to use a more general type of reduction (called γ-reduction) in the problem transformation. Specifically, the reduction was allowed to be nondeterministic. Timothy Long attempted to study the nature of γ-reduction and its natural extension called ⩽ t sn -reduction from a structure-theoretic point of view. It was open whether the latter reduction was really a practical tool, i.e., whether it can be used to prove the intractability of “natural” problems, particularly problems of combinatorial type. In this paper we answer this question in the affirmative. Our work was, of course, motivated by a problem in concrete complexity that we wanted to analyze. It arises from the testing of comparator networks of which a sorting network is a well-known example. Suppose we want to test if a given comparator network is a sorting network. This problem turns out to be coNP-complete. Also “sortedness” is a hard property to test based on input-output behavior in the sense that one has to test an exponential number of strings to decide if a network is a sorting network. Our main result is a generalization of this correlation between intractability and the size of the number of input-output tests: “The problem of testing if a network has a given ‘property’ whose testing requires an exponentially large number of input-output tests is (apparently) intractable, i.e., it is not in P unless NP = co-NP. ” On our way to the main result, we also show the NP-completeness or the coNP-completeness of some fundamental network testing problems.
Counting Carbon: The Politics of Carbon Footprints and Climate Governance from the Individual to the Global

This article considers carbon footprints as a form of climate governance. Drawing on science studies to consider the contingent nature of calculative devices and governmentality studies to examine the intrinsic relationship between how problems are framed and remedied, this article advances two arguments. First, it argues that efforts to define and deploy carbon footprints contributed to a conceptual shift in emissions accounting, from a narrower metric focused on emissions from fossil fuel and electricity use—Carbon Footprint 1.0—to a more expansive metric that includes emissions embodied in consumption and trade—Carbon Footprint 2.0. Second, this article argues that these approaches to carbon footprints at the individual level have intersected with broader discussions about allocating emissions responsibilities and examining mitigation strategies at the national and international levels, offering alternative grounds for assigning responsibility for climate-change mitigation and expanding the range of po...
Progressive crack growth analysis using interface element based on the virtual crack closure technique

This paper introduces an interface element to solve 2D progressive crack growth problems under mixed-mode loading. The interface element is developed to calculate the strain energy release rates based on the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) in conjunction with finite element analysis (FEA). A very stiff spring is placed between the node pair at the crack tip to calculate the internal forces. Dummy nodes are introduced to extract information for displacement openings behind the crack tip and the virtual crack jump ahead of the crack tip. Therefore, with this interface element, strain energy release rates (GI and GII) can be calculated simultaneously as FEA is performed. Furthermore, with the implementation of fracture criteria, crack growth can be also directly analyzed with a fracture mechanics approach. Three classic examples for stationary cracks and three benchmark examples for static crack growth were examined. The accuracy of the element is validated by the excellent agreement with analytical solutions of these examples. No convergence difficulty has been encountered during the crack growth analyses. The fracture interface element for VCCT is, therefore, simple, efficient and robust in analyzing any 2D crack growth problems. This element has been implemented into commercial FEA software ABAQUS® with UEL and should be very useful in designing for enhanced structural integrity in general cases where crack initiation, crack growth, and crack arrest features are of concern.
The roX genes encode redundant male‐specific lethal transcripts required for targeting of the MSL complex

The roX1 and roX2 genes of Drosophila produce male‐specific non‐coding RNAs that co‐localize with the Male‐Specific Lethal (MSL) protein complex. This complex mediates up‐regulation of the male X chromo some by increasing histone H4 acetylation, thus contributing to the equalization of X‐linked gene expression between the sexes. Both roX genes overlap two of ∼35 chromatin entry sites, DNA sequences proposed to act in cis to direct the MSL complex to the X chromosome. Although dosage compensation is essential in males, an intact roX1 gene is not required by either sex. We have generated flies lacking roX2 and find that this gene is also non‐essential. However, simultaneous removal of both roX RNAs causes a striking male‐specific reduction in viability accompanied by relocation of the MSL proteins and acetylated histone H4 from the X chromosome to autosomal sites and heterochromatin. Males can be rescued by roX cDNAs from autosomal transgenes, demonstrating the genetic separation of the chromatin entry and RNA‐encoding functions. Therefore, the roX1 and roX2 genes produce redundant, male‐specific lethal transcripts required for targeting the MSL complex.
On solvable linear groups

The difficult part of the theorem is to show (iii) + (i). In the process of establishing this, more explicit structure theorems of maximal primitive solvable linear groups are presented. In [8], Zassenhaus proved that the derived length of a solvable linear group of degree n is bounded by a positive integer k(n) depending only on 7t. In [3], Huppert sharpened drastically the result of Zassenhaus. Huppert proved that one can take k(n) < min{2n, 1 + 7 logs n}. In the second part of the paper, we improve further Huppert’s estimate. For this, we present the following theorem.
On the stereoselective synthesis of (+)-pinoresinol in Forsythia suspensa from its achiral precursor, coniferyl alcohol.

The residue from Forsythia suspensa stems, upon removal of soluble enzymes, has provided the first evidence for a stereoselective coupling enzyme in lignan biosynthesis. This preparation catalyses the preferred formation (ca 65%) of (+)-[8,8'- C-14] pinoresinol from [8-C-14]coniferyl alcohol in the absence of exogenously provided cofactors; addition of H2O2 had little effect on enantiomeric composition. However, when NAD and malate were supplied, the stereoselectivity of the coupling reaction was significantly enhanced and pinoresinol consisting of ca 80% of the (+)-antipode was obtained. Clearly, the insoluble residue contains a specific coupling enzyme which catalyses (+)-pinoresinol formation from coniferyl alcohol. By contrast, when [8- C-14] sinapyl alcohol was employed as substrate, only racemic syringaresinols were formed: this non-stereoselective peroxidase-catalysed coupling reaction presumably accounts for the low levels of (-)-pinoresinol encountered in this system when coniferyl alcohol is used as a substrate.
On the scarcity of contravariant left adjunctions

It is shown that any pair of contravariant mutually left adjoint functors between varieties of algebrasC andD factors through the retractions of these categories onto the complete lattices of epimorphs of their respective initial objects, and is thus fairly degenerate. However, some interesting contravariant left adjoint functors do exist between categories of finitely generated (or otherwise restricted) algebras.
GeoPix: image retrieval on the geo web, from camera click to mouse click

In this paper we describe a multichannel, mobile, and location-based application called GeoPix developed as a proof-of-concept for several use cases related to eTourism. In GeoPix, mobile users produce geo-referenced pictures and share them with Web users that can access the online database with a smart navigation experience based on maps. Web users can browse, pan, zoom areas immediately seeing the pictures posted by the on-the-road users. Thumbnails are directly overlaid on the maps exactly where the full-size photos are taken. They can also make searches, apply filters, and save geographic bookmarks of the photos displayed on the maps. In this way a large database of images can be easily browsed in a way that we call geo-browsing.
A consistent boundary element method for free surface hydrodynamic calculations

Free surface phenomena are described by equations that exhibit two types of non-linearities. The first is inherent to the equations themselves and the second is caused by the application of boundary conditions at a free surface at an unknown location. Numerical calculations usually do not specifically recognise the second non-linearity, nor treat it in a fashion consistent with the more obvious non-linearities in the boundary conditions. A consistent formulation is introduced in the present paper. The field equation is integrated and the free surface boundary conditions are applied on the unknown geometry by means of appropriate series expansions. The consistent formulation introduces improvements in accuracy and computing speed. The method is demonstrated on several hydrodynamic free surface problems and an error analysis is included.
Maximum likelihood estimators of sensitivity and specificity corrected for verification bias

Sensitivity and specificity are two commonly used measures of accuracy for diagnostic tests. To calculate these two measures one has to know the true disease status of each patient. However, in practice sometimes some of the patients with test results are not selected for verification of disease status. Estimates of sensitivity and specificity may be biased if only patients who have verified disease statuses are used in the calculations. In this paper we derive Maximum Likelihood Estimators for sensitivity and specificity when some of the patients with test results do not have verified true disease statuses.
From loops to states in two-dimensional quantum gravity

We investigate macroscopic loop amplitudes (at genus zero) using the matrix model and the Liouville theories of two-dimensional quantum gravity. Some loop amplitudes, interpreted as wave functions of local operators, satisfy a linear differential equation known as the Wheeler-deWitt equation. Moreover, from the properties of the loop amplitudes an inner-product space structure on the space of wave functions emerges naturally. In the course of our analysis we resolve several apparent discrepancies between the matrix model and Liouville theory. Macroscopic loops provide a natural ultraviolet cutoff on the theory, rendering universal analytic terms in the coupling constants. They contain more information than the local operators and should be regarded as fundamental.
The influence of prefire tree growth and crown condition on postfire mortality of sugar pine following prescribed fire in Sequoia National Park

Tree mortality is a vital component of forest management in the context of prescribed fires; however, few studies have examined the effect of prefire tree health on postfire mortality. This is especially relevant for sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Douglas), a species experiencing population declines due to a suite of anthropogenic factors. Using data from an old-growth mixed-conifer forest in Sequoia National Park, we evaluated the effects of fire, tree size, prefire radial growth, and crown condition on postfire mortality. Models based only on tree size and measures of fire damage were compared with models that included tree size, fire damage, and prefire tree health (e.g., measures of prefire tree radial growth or crown condition). Immediately following the fire, the inclusion of different metrics of prefire tree health produced variable improvements over the models that included only tree size and measures of fire damage, as models that included measures of crown condition performed better than fire-onl...
Performance analysis of space-time codes over two-way relay channels

In this paper, we explore the advantages of network coding and space-time coding in improving the performance of two-way relay channel communications where two terminals absent of direct link exchange information through a single relay in between. Network coding allows embracing interference from other terminals thereby turning it into a capacity boost. Application of space-time codes yields higher capacity by exploiting spatial diversity. The joint performance of both aforementioned techniques is studied in this paper. Specifically, we propose a new class of decode-and-forward (DF) relaying strategy, evaluated in terms of bit error rate by both theoretical analysis and simulation. Based on our results, DF outperforms the existing amplify-and-decode and partial-decode-and-forward protocols.
SINAD system design

This paper deals with performance parameters used in designing a communication system, black boxes and all, rather than with the circuit parameters needed to design the individual equipments which make up the total system. There is a common language for use in the Land Mobile Services which should, but does not yet, have the stature of CCIF and CCITT specifications used by system designers In the field of point-to-point communications. The Electronic Industries Association (EIA) specifications for Land Mobile equipment are examined and their applicability to system design work is discussed.
Automated estimation of microtubule model parameters from 3-D live cell microscopy images

While basic principles of microtubule organization are well understood, much remains to be learned about the extent and significance of variation in that organization among cell types and conditions. Large numbers of images of microtubule distributions for many cell types can be readily obtained by high throughput fluorescence microscopy but direct estimation of the parameters underlying the organization is problematic because it is difficult to resolve individual microtubules present at the microtubule-organizing center or at regions of high crossover. Previously, we developed an indirect, generative model-based approach that can estimate such spatial distribution parameters as the number and mean length of microtubules. In order to validate this approach, we have applied it to 3D images of NIH 3T3 cells expressing fluorescently-tagged tubulin in the presence and absence of the microtubule depolymerizing drug nocodazole. We describe here the first application of our inverse modeling approach to live cell images and demonstrate that it yields estimates consistent with expectations.
Dietary Glucose Is Extensively Recycled in the Splanchnic Bed of Fed Adult Mice

Quantification of the metabolism of dietary glucose by the splanchnic tissues is incomplete. Whether habitual carbohydrate intake affects splanchnic glucose metabolism is not known. Female mice were offered isoenergetic and isonitrogenous quantities of diets containing high (HCD) or low (LCD) amounts of carbohydrate, 5% of which was [U- 13 C]-glucose. Four mice from each dietary group were killed after 24, 48 and 120 h. The 13 C-isotopomer distribution in blood glucose, lactate and alanine and in hepatic alanine and glycogen was measured by selected ion monitoring mass spectrometry. [U- 13 C]-Glucose and its products, [U- 13 C]-lactate and alanine, were in complete isotopic equilibrium in the blood. The tracer:tracee ratio of hepatic [U- 13 C]-alanine was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of circulating alanine. In both groups, the tracer:tracee ratio of circulating [U- 13 C]-glucose was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than that of the dietary carbohydrate, and the ratio of [ 13 C 3 ]-glucose:[U- 13 C]-glucose [0.57 (HCD) and 0.78 (LCD); diet effect P < 0.05], a measure of glucose metabolic cycling, was between two- and fivefold higher than published values obtained with intravenous tracer glucose. The tracer:tracee ratio of [U- 13 C]-glycogen glucose was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of arterial glucose. We conclude the following: 1) dietary glucose is extensively recycled, via pyruvate, within the liver; 2) this metabolic cycle is maintained in mice consuming low carbohydrate diets; and 3) dietary carbohydrate is channelled to hepatic glycogen. We speculate that the metabolic cycling of enteral glucose is related to the hepatic catabolism of dietary protein.
Expanding the definition of provocative dress: An examination of female flashing behavior on a college campus

A Foucauldian feminist theoretical perspective was selected to examine female flashing behavior and male audience response within the microenvironment of a college homecoming celebration. Data were...
SocialDNS: A decentralized naming service for collaborative P2P VPNs

The ability to define domain names for resources in a collaborative virtual organization is usually reserved to network administrators through centralized domain name servers. We propose SocialDNS, a decentralized, naming service that gives individual collaborators the power to choose the domain names for their resources. Our approach is based on similar concepts of decentralized naming solutions available in local area networks. We enable short-names for resources by limiting the scope for uniqueness. We also employ a rank-based mechanism for dealing with name conflicts. We evaluate our design through graph level analysis to anticipate scope, bandwidth costs and latency. We also conducted experiments involving Amazon EC2 and PlanetLab to analyze the latencies in a real world environment.
LATERAL-TORSIONAL BUCKLING OF STEPPED BEAMS WITH CONTINUOUS BRACING

Continuous span multibeam steel bridges are common along the state and interstate highways. The top flange of the beams is typically braced against lateral movement by the deck slab, and in many bridges the cross section is stepped at discrete points along the span. Design equations for lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) resistance in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials "Load and resistance factor design bridge design specifications" are for prismatic beams and ignore the lateral restraint provided by the bridge deck. A new design equation is proposed that can be applied to I-shaped stepped beams with continuous top flange lateral bracing. By including the effects of the change in cross section size and the continuous top flange bracing, the calculated LTB resistance is significantly increased. Critical bending moment values from the proposed equation are compared to values from finite element method buckling analyses. The new equation is sufficiently accurate for use in design and in the evaluation of existing bridges.
New error probability expressions for optimum combining with MPSK modulation

New expressions are derived for the exact symbol error probability and bit error probability for optimum combining with M-ary phase shift keying. The expressions are for any numbers of equal power co-channel interferers and reception branches. It is assumed that the aggregate interference and noise is Gaussian and that both the desired signal and interference are subject to flat Rayleigh fading. The new expressions have low computational complexity as they contain only a single integral form with finite limits and finite integrand.
Architectural support for safe software execution on embedded processors

The lack of memory safety in many popular programming languages, including C and C++, has been a cause for great concern in the realm of software reliability, verification, and more recently, system security. A major portion of known security attacks against software systems can be attributed to this shortcoming, including the well-known stack overflow, heap overflow, and format string attacks. Despite their limitations, the flexibility, performance, and ease of use of these languages have made them the choice of most embedded software developers. Researchers have proposed various techniques to enhance programs for memory safety; however, they are all subject to severe performance penalties, making their use impractical in most scenarios. In this paper, we present architectural enhancements to enable efficient, memory-safe execution of software on embedded processors. The key insight behind our approach is to extend embedded processors with hardware that significantly accelerates the execution of the additional computations involved in memory-safe execution. Specifically, we design custom instructions to perform various kinds of memory-safety checks and augment the instruction set of a state-of-the-art extensible processor (Xtensa from Tensilica, Inc.) to implement them. We demonstrate the application of the proposed architectural enhancements using CCured, an existing tool for type-safe retrofitting of C programs. The tool uses a type-inferencing engine that is built around strong type-safety theory and is provably safe. Simulations of memory-safe versions of popular embedded benchmarks on a cycle-accurate simulator modeling a typical embedded system configuration indicate an average performance improvement of 2.3x, and a maximum of 4.6x when using the proposed architecture. These enhancements entail minimal (less than 10%) hardware overhead to the base processor. Our approach is completely automated, and applicable to any C program, making it a promising and practical approach for addressing the growing security and reliability concerns in embedded software.
Stability of hydrous minerals on the martian surface

The presence of water-bearing minerals on Mars has long been discussed, but little or no data exist showing that minerals such as smectites and zeolites may be present on the surface in a hydrated state (i.e., that they could contain H 2O molecules in their interlayer or extraframework sites, respectively). We have analyzed experimental thermodynamic and X-ray powder diffraction data for smectite and the most common terrestrial zeolite, clinoptilolite, to evaluate the state of hydration of these minerals under martian surface conditions. Thermodynamic data for clinoptilolite show that water molecules in its extra-framework sites are held very strongly, with enthalpies of dehydration for Ca-clinoptilolite up to three times greater than that for liquid water. Using these data, we calculated the Gibbs free energy of hydration of clinoptilolite and smectite as a function of temperature and pressure. The calculations demonstrate that these minerals would indeed be hydrated under the very low-P (H2O) conditions existing on Mars, a reflection of their high affinities for H 2O. These calculations assuming the partial pressure of H2O and the temperature range expected on Mars suggest that, if present on the surface, zeolites and Ca-smectites could also play a role in affecting the diurnal variations in martian atmospheric H 2O because their calculated water contents vary considerably over daily martian temperature ranges. The open crystal structure of clinoptilolite and existing hydration and kinetic data suggest that hydration/dehydration are not kinetically limited. Based on these calculations, it is possible that hydrated zeolites and clay minerals may explain some of the recent observations of significant amounts of hydrogen not attributable to water ice at martian mid-latitudes.
Sirex noctilio in North America: the effect of stem‐injection timing on the attractiveness and suitability of trap trees

Sirex noctilio Fabricius, an invasive woodwasp responsible for severe economic damage to pine industries in the southern hemisphere, is now established in the northeastern U.S.A. and portions of eastern Canada. 2 Parts of North America are considered to be high risk for S. noctilio invasion. Effective detection tools, including trap trees, are needed to monitor and survey S. noctilio populations. 3 The present study was conducted to determine the optimal time to chemically stress a tree when aiming to attract the most S. noctilio to the host substrate, as well as to determine which timing produced the most adult progeny. Both of these measures (host attraction and host suitability for development) support the main objectives of the study by offering improved methods for monitoring and management of S. noctilio. 4 Red pine (Pinus resinosa) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) were treated with Dicamba at three time intervals. Multiple funnel lindgren traps were placed on these trees and, at the end of the flight season, the treatment trees were felled and brought into the laboratory. The number of S. noctilio caught in the traps (host attraction) and the number of S. noctilio emerged from the treated trees (host suitability) were determined. 5 Optimal timing of the chemical girdle was dependent on host species. Significantly more female S. noctilio were captured on trap trees prepared 1 month before flight (red pine and Scots pine) or prepared at flight (Scots pine) compared with other treatments. There were also significantly more females reared from Scots pine trap trees prepared at flight and red pine trap trees prepared 1 month before and/or at flight. 6 By the beginning of August, most (79%) of the S. noctilio for the flight season were caught in the traps at the trap trees. The sex ratio (males : females) was closer to 1 : 1 than previously reported in studies from other countries. 7 The results obtained in the present study demonstrate that timing is important when creating a trap tree with herbicide in North America, whether for the purpose of detection or as part of a biological control effort.
Why Do Regulatory Agencies Punish? The Impact of Political Principals, Agency Culture, and Transaction Costs in Predicting Environmental Criminal Prosecution Outcomes in the United States

Studies of administrative behavior are keen to examine the internal dynamics of agency decision making, as well the impact of external political actors on agency actions. Yet few studies apply these findings to the question of why agencies use their most punitive enforcement powers. Contrasting principal–agent, transaction costs, and organizational culture models of agency behavior, this study examines why regulatory agencies punish. Through content analysis of nearly one thousand of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's criminal investigations and subsequent prosecutions, 2001–11, findings suggest that punishment severity in environmental criminal cases is based less on transaction costs and political pressure and more on professional norms that value strong enforcement. These findings have important implications for explaining regulatory outcomes and administrative behavior.
Rhythmic entrainment: Why humans want to, fireflies can’t help it, pet birds try, and sea lions have to be bribed

Until recently, the literature on rhythmic ability took for granted that only humans are able to synchronize body movements to an external beat-to entrain. This assumption has been undercut by findings of beat-matching in various species of parrots and, more recently, in a sea lion, several species of primates, and possibly horses. This throws open the question of how widespread beat-matching ability is in the animal kingdom. Here we reassess the arguments and evidence for an absence of beat-matching in animals, and conclude that in fact no convincing case against beat-matching in animals has been made. Instead, such evidence as there is suggests that this capacity could be quite widespread. Furthermore, mutual entrainment of oscillations is a general principle of physical systems, both biological and nonbiological, suggesting that entrainment of motor systems by sensory systems may be a default rather than an oddity. The question then becomes, not why a few privileged species are able to beat-match, but why species do not always do so-why they vary in both spontaneous and learned beat-matching. We propose that when entrainment is not driven by fixed, mandatory connections between input and output (as in the case of, e.g., fireflies entraining to each others' flashes), it depends on voluntary control over, and voluntary or learned coupling of, sensory and motor systems, which can paradoxically lead to apparent failures of entrainment. Among the factors that affect whether an animal will entrain are sufficient control over the motor behavior to be entrained, sufficient perceptual sophistication to extract the entraining beat from the overall sensory environment, and the current cognitive state of the animal, including attention and motivation. The extent of entrainment in the animal kingdom potentially has widespread implications, not only for understanding the roots of human dance, but also for understanding the neural and cognitive architectures of animals.
Semiconvex Hulls of Quasiconformal Sets

We make some remarks concerning the p-semiconvex hulls of the quasiconformal sets, using a recent significant observation of T. Iwaniec in the paper [7] on the important relation between the regularity of quasiregular mappings in the theory of geometric functions and the notion of Morrey’s quasiconvexity in the calculus of variations. We also point out several partial results on a conjecture in that paper.
Research on Tools Rapid Preparation for Civil Aviation Enterprise

In order to reduce tool preparation time and shorten production manufacture cycle, tool preparation operation flow of one civil aviation engine enterprise was analyzed, tool rapid preparation system based on manufacturing resource integration platform was brought forward, system framework was founded, system function modules was partitioned, and related key technologies of realizing tool rapid preparation were introduced.
Staging of lymphoma: prognostic and therapeutic significance.

Staging of Hodgkin's disease not only provides a clue to prospects for survival of patients but also has important therapeutic implications. In non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, staging is less valid but seems to have some prognostic significance for the diffuse forms of disease.
These Petals Are

Over coffee, a colleague told me the story of an artist who planted seeds as a work of art. When each seed became blossom, the artist plucked the petals gingerly from the stems. The petals were mailed away to his friends and family with this sentiment: All the while these seeds were becoming, I was thinking of you. These petals are my love for you.
Prevalence of overlap syndromes and symptoms in pediatric functional dyspepsia

The purpose was to evaluate the overlap frequency of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and overactive bladder syndrome (OBS), as well as other gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms, in functional dyspepsia (FD). Additionally, we sought to determine whether adult Rome III FD subtypes were uniquely related to overlap syndromes or symptoms. The study was a retrospective review of 100 consecutive pediatric patients, age 8–17 years, diagnosed with FD. All had completed a standardized medical history including gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms as well as specific symptoms related to GERD and OBS. The frequency of overlap with IBS, GERD, and OBS were determined for the whole group and for those fulfilling adult FD subtype criteria. Individual symptoms were also compared by FD subtype. Overlap IBS was present in 33 % of the FD patients. At least one GERD symptom was present in 74 % of patients with 41 % reporting heartburn. At least one OBS symptom was present in 44 % of patients with 29 % reporting urinary urgency. Other than pain, the most common reported gastrointestinal symptom was nausea (86 %). Systemic symptoms were common. Overlap syndromes/symptoms did not vary by FD subtype. Postprandial distress syndrome was associated with pain with eating, weight loss, and waking at night to have a stool. FD is a heterogeneous condition in children and adolescents with significant variability in the presence of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal symptoms and overlap syndromes. Varying symptom profiles need to be accounted for and analyzed in studies involving subjects with FD.