cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Good is Not Good Enough” Strategies of Implementing Performance Measures in a Mature and Successful Program

The present Space Shuttle program is one in transition - both from the government agency and the contractor level. NASA is restructuring the management of the Space Shuttle Program by turning over the reins of the day-to-day operations to a prime contractor, United Space Alliance - USA (a joint venture partnership with Rockwell and Lockheed Martin). This move is intended to save millions of dollars in costs by eliminating duplicate resources, streamlining operations, and reducing nonessential program requirements. As a contractor, Rockwell, responsible for Orbiter operations and production as well as systems and payload/cargo integration, is also restructuring. All separate shuttle related contracts have been consolidated into one Shuttle Program. While this consolidation effort is taking place, Rockwell, the NASA, and USA are working closely together to provide the American public a Space Shuttle Program that continues to be technically viable, safe, and now more cost effective. Central to the paradigm shift of organizational consolidation is the way people think and do their work and the importance of setting key performance measures for success. This paper deals specifically with the methodology and implementation procedures Rockwell applied in utilizing metrics to measure Shuttle product success. Applying metrics on a new program is difficult enough. But incorporating a formal set of performance measurements into a well established, mature program that is in the process of restructuring is doubly difficult.
Correlates of physical injury in sexual assault patients

Abstract Objective: To correlate historic and physical examination findings in female sexual assault victims. Methods: All adult women between January 1997 and September 1999 reporting to an urban hospital after sexual assault underwent a standardized history and physical examination by a resident in obstetrics and gynecology (n = 819). Retrospective data abstraction was verified. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of nongenital and genitoanal trauma. Results: Mean age was 29.3 years (SD = 11.9, range 15–87). Of the women, 35% were nonwhite, 26% had major psychiatric diagnoses, and 10% were homeless. Fifty three percent had recent alcohol or drug (AOD) use. Nongenital trauma was found in 52%. Measures independently associated with nongenital trauma were: age younger than 20 or older than 49 (ref., 20–49, OR 2.0, 3.8), assault by stranger (OR = 1.9), assault by an intimate partner (OR = 1.7), being choked (OR = 3.9), or being anally raped (OR = 1.6). Genitoanal trauma, identified in 194 of 762 patients (26%), was independently associated with age ( 49, OR = 1.2, ref. 20–49), anal rape (OR = 1.8), virginal status (OR = 3.7), and those with general body trauma (OR = 1.8). Relationship, number of assailants, and substance use were not associated with genitoanal trauma. Conclusion: More violent sexual assaults were by strangers or intimate partners, or involved anal rape, but the absence of physical injury is frequent. Prevention and treatment strategies should target vulnerable populations, including those with substance use and psychiatric illness.
Motor impulsivity during childhood and adolescence: a longitudinal biometric analysis of the go/no-go task in 9- to 18-year-old twins.

In the present study, we investigated genetic and environmental effects on motor impulsivity from childhood to late adolescence using a longitudinal sample of twins from ages 9 to 18 years. Motor impulsivity was assessed using errors of commission (no-go errors) in a visual go/no-go task at 4 time points: ages 9–10, 11–13, 14–15, and 16–18 years. Significant genetic and nonshared environmental effects on motor impulsivity were found at each of the 4 waves of assessment with genetic factors explaining 22%–41% of the variance within each of the 4 waves. Phenotypically, children’s average performance improved across age (i.e., fewer no-go errors during later assessments). Multivariate biometric analyses revealed that common genetic factors influenced 12%–40% of the variance in motor impulsivity across development, whereas nonshared environmental factors common to all time points contributed to 2%–52% of the variance. Nonshared environmental influences specific to each time point also significantly influenced motor impulsivity. Overall, results demonstrated that although genetic factors were critical to motor impulsivity across development, both common and specific nonshared environmental factors played a strong role in the development of motor impulsivity across age.
Sorting on architecturally diverse computer systems

Sorting is an important problem that forms an essential component of many high-performance applications. Here, we explore the design space of sorting algorithms in recon-figurable hardware, looking to maximize the benefit associated with high-bandwidth, multiple-port access to memory. Rather than focus on an individual implementation, we investigate a family of approaches that exploit characteristics fairly unique to reconfigurable hardware.
Exploring Student Buy-In: Initial Development of an Instrument to Measure Likelihood of Children's Intervention Usage

It has been suggested that both internal (e.g., acceptability) and external (e.g., feasibility) factors should be taken under consideration in order to fully understand children's usage of interventions designed to improve their behavior. The purpose of this study was to initiate development of a student self-report measure (Children's Usage Rating Profile; CURP) designed to measure such factors. Results indicated that the CURP measures three interconnected aspects of students' perceptions of intervention: personal desirability, understanding, and feasibility. Furthermore, internal reliability analyses suggested that a measure consisting of 23 items may provide a reliable index of these three factors. Although these findings must be replicated across student populations and intervention types, results of the investigation suggest implications for researchers and practitioners interested in issues of intervention usage with children.
Effect of Block Width and Storage Yard Layout on Marine Container Terminal Performance

Block widths ranging from two to fifteen rows in a marine container terminal are evaluated by a fully-integrated, discrete event simulation model. Experiments consider dozens of yard configurations and four container terminal settings that are designed to reproduce the microscopic, stochastic, real-time environment at a multiple-berth facility. Results show that the quay crane rate is concave with respect to block width when the yard storage capacity and amount of yard equipment is constant. The optimal block width ranges from 6 to 12 rows depending on the amount of equipment deployed and the size, shape, and throughput of the terminal.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of urapidil in severe hypertension.

The clinical response and pharmacokinetics of intravenous urapidil were studied in patients with uncontrolled severe hypertension. Six of nine patients achieved a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 100 mm Hg after initial administration of serial bolus doses and were then placed on maintenance infusions. Three of these six patients maintained a DBP 100 mm Hg or lower at infusion rates of 10 to 20 mg/hr, whereas the remaining three patients experienced a loss of DBP control despite rates of 40 mg/hr. Mean DBP was significantly reduced from 126 +/- 6 mm Hg (N = 9) to 105 +/- 15 mm Hg after the bolus phase (N = 9, P less than .05) and 99 +/- 18 mm Hg after the infusion phase (N = 6, P less than .05). Significant reductions in systolic blood pressure were also achieved after bolus and infusion phases. Adverse reactions included drowsiness, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting but were considered mild. Estimated pharmacokinetic parameters included Vz (0.80 +/- 0.20 L/kg), CL (2.53 +/- 0.99 mL/min/kg) and t1/2 (4.0 +/- 1.5 hr). Urapidil safely reduces blood pressure in patients with severe hypertension. An alternative dosing regimen is suggested.
Lagrangean dual ascent algorithms for computing bounds in capacitated plant location problems

Abstract Given a mixed-integer programming problem, if one dualizes all linking constraints and the constraints containing only integer variables, the optimum of the Lagrangean dual is equal to the optimum of the LP relaxation. If one strengthens this dual by adding valid inequalities such that the problem still decomposes into a continuous and a pure integer problem and is relatively easy to solve due to some special structure, one may be able to devise dual ascent steps for the Lagrangean dual. This is investigated for the capacitated plant location problem, whose strengthened Lagrangean relaxed problem decomposes into a transportation problem and a knapsack problem. Computational experiments are reported based on some very simple ascent steps.
Morphing wing micro-air-vehicles via macro-fiber-composite actuators

*† ‡ § ** The design and implementation of a morphing unmanned aircraft using smart materials is presented. Articulated lifting surfaces and articulated wing sections actuated by servos are difficult to instrument and fabricate in a repeatable fashion on thin, composite wing microair-vehicles. Assembly is complex and time consuming. A type of piezoceramic composite actuator commonly known as Macro Fiber Composite is used for wing morphing. The actuation capability of this actuator on fiberglass unimorph was quantified by experimentation. Wind tunnel tests were performed to compare conventional trailing edge control surface effectiveness to an MFC actuated wing section. The continuous surface of the MFC actuated composite wing produced lower drag and wider actuation bandwidth. The MFC actuators were implemented on a 0.76 m wingspan aircraft. The remotely piloted experimental vehicle was flown using two MFC patches in an elevator/aileron (elevon) configuration. Preliminary testing has proven the stability and control of the design. I. Introduction This study investigates the use of macro fiber composites (MFCs) to control the roll and pitch maneuvers of micro air vehicles (MAVs). Design, manufacturing, and the control of MAVs in unsteady aerodynamic loading remain an active area of interest to researchers. The authors aim to understand the behavior of MFC actuated micro air vehicles under low speed, quasi steady air flow. Wind tunnel tests were conducted to quantify the effectiveness of MFC actuators. Results show that MFC actuation does have improved efficiency over a conventional control surface. The main goal for these experiments was to show the improved performance of a variable camber airfoil compared to a conventional control surface at low Reynolds Numbers. An experimental MAV designed and built by the authors was used as a test platform for the morphing wing concept. This paper first covers the background of the research. The next section presents the wind tunnel experimentation setup and test results. Next, the experimental aircraft design and initial flight results are presented. The paper concludes with a summary of results and discussion of future work.
Gas gangrene, diabetes, and cholecystitis.

Gas gangrene (or anaerobic myonecrosis) is the result of extensive necrotic destruction of muscle tissues by proteolytic toxins elaborated from clostridial bacteria. As relatively rare clinical entities, these infections are most frequently encountered in surgical patients and in patients who have experienced severe trauma with attendant destruction of tissues. Nonclostridial gaseous infection of tissues is also a wellrecognized clinical entity, and it has been reported most frequently in diabetic patients. Diabetics have an increased susceptibility to infections of various kinds and exhibit a tendency for slower healing. Silent gallstones are well-described in diabetic patients. Often they progress to acute cholecystitis and a major septic illness without the usual premonitory signs. Emphysematous cholecystitis is a gangrenous infection of the gallbladder by gas-forming organisms. A recent review of approximately 100 cases in this century has demonstrated that about half of the patients with such infections were diabetics.‘,? This report describes a diabetic woman who presented with gas gangrene and rapidly succumbed to this catastrophic infection. In this particular patient, it was felt that the origin of infection was a gangrenous gallbladder, which, instead of presenting localized symptoms, initially produced symptoms in a distant limb caused by septic emboli. Emphasis is placed on the gravity and obscure nature of clostridial infection in the diabetic patient.
Youth Initiated Mentoring: Investigating a New Approach to Working with Vulnerable Adolescents

This study examines youth initiated mentoring (YIM), a new approach to mentoring in which youth nominate mentors from among the non-parental adults within their existing social networks (e.g., teachers, family friends, extended family members). YIM is currently being implemented through the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program (NGYCP), an intensive residential intervention program for youth ages 16–18 who have dropped out or been expelled from high school. This study employed a mixed methods explanatory design, drawing on quantitative data from a national longitudinal evaluation of NGYCP (N = 1,173) and qualitative data from a subsample of participants (N = 30) in the evaluation. Results indicated that more enduring mentoring relationships were associated with increased retention of educational, vocational, and behavioral outcomes 3 years following entry into the study. Qualitative data suggested that, when relationships endured, mentors contributed to improvements in participants’ educational and occupational success, quality of relationships with parents, peers, and others, and self-concept by providing social-emotional support, instrumental support, and guidance. Results also revealed that relationships were more likely to endure when youth chose their mentors on their own (rather than receiving help from parents or program staff) and when mentors were of the same race as youth. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Design of spiro[2.3]hex-1-ene, a genetically encodable double-strained alkene for superfast photoclick chemistry.

Reactive yet stable alkene reporters offer a facile route to studying fast biological processes via the cycloaddition-based bioorthogonal reactions. Here, we report the design and synthesis of a strained spirocyclic alkene, spiro[2.3]hex-1-ene (Sph), for an accelerated photoclick chemistry, and its site-specific introduction into proteins via amber codon suppression using the wild-type pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/tRNACUA pair. Because of its high ring strain and reduced steric hindrance, Sph exhibited fast reaction kinetics (k2 up to 34 000 M–1 s–1) in the photoclick chemistry and afforded rapid (<10 s) bioorthogonal protein labeling.
Increasing lung allocation scores predict worsened survival among lung transplant recipients.

Implemented in 2005, the lung allocation score (LAS) aims to distribute donor organs based on overall survival benefits for all potential recipients, rather than on waiting list time accrued. While prior work has shown that patients with scores greater than 46 are at increased risk of death, it is not known whether that risk is equivalent among such patients when stratified by LAS score and diagnosis. We retrospectively evaluated 5331 adult lung transplant recipients from May 2005 to February 2009 to determine the association of LAS (groups based on scores of or =80) and posttransplant survival. When compared with patients with LAS or = 60 had an increased risk of death (LAS 60-79: hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-1.90; LAS > or = 80: HR, 2.03; CI, 1.61-2.55; p or = 80, as well as those with IPF with LAS > or = 60.
Cognition and creativity

Cognitive research on creativity is both traditional and innovative. It is traditional in the sense that many of the well-recognized processes, structures, and stores from mainstream cognitive psychology have been used to understand creative thinking. It is innovative because there is a need to understand processes which are not recognized unless one is specifically interested in creativity. Some of these are inherently subjective, a fact which is often disregarded by those hoping for a traditionally scientific analysis. Still, much of the interest in the cognitive sciences concerns how new constructs come into being; and anyone interested in that is in fact thinking about creativity. That is creativity. This article reviews several traditional cognitive topics, including knowledge, memory, classification, judgment, and categorization, and describes how each can influence creative thinking. It also presents an original model of creative thinking with problem finding, ideation, and judgmental processes as primary components, and knowledge and motivation as secondary (contributing but not controlling) components. Several issues are covered, including the relegation of motivation, the distinction between declarative and procedural knowledge, and the potential for knowledge to both facilitate and inhibit creative ideation.
Precipitate distribution in subscales

Subscales are found in alloys that have been placed in reactive gases. They occur when foreign atoms from the gas phase enter the alloy and react with solute atoms to form internal precipitate phases. The precipitates are generally found near the surface but exactly how the amount of precipitate varies with distance depends in a complex manner on a variety of thermodynamic and kinetic properties. The special case considered here is that of a dilute alloy which reacts with foreign atoms whose mobility is much greater and whose concentration is much less than that of the solute atoms. Under these conditions there is an exact solution for the precipitate distribution. This solution is a function of two dimensionless parameters which depend on well characterized thermodynamic and kinetic properties.
ChaCha: A New Tool for Today's Libraries or Just the Latest Toy?

ChaCha, a new, free text-message question and answer service, maintains a database of answers to frequently asked questions, but human beings investigate the ones without answers on file. In 2008, ChaCha was the “official text answers service” for the Sundance Film Festival. In 2007, the company partnered with Indiana University to enhance its research facilities. This article presents an assessment of how well the service works, trying a variety of test questions, and evaluating the results. Preliminary results suggest that while it is useful for general queries, it is not very helpful as a tool for serious research.
Constitutive NF-κB Activation Confers Interleukin 6 (IL6) Independence and Resistance to Dexamethasone and Janus Kinase Inhibitor INCB018424 in Murine Plasmacytoma Cells

Myeloma cells are dependent on IL6 for their survival and proliferation during the early stages of disease, and independence from IL6 is associated with disease progression. The role of the NF-κB pathway in the IL6-independent growth of myeloma cells has not been studied. Because human herpesvirus 8-encoded K13 selectively activates the NF-κB pathway, we have used it as a molecular tool to examine the ability of the NF-κB pathway to confer IL6 independence on murine plasmacytomas. We demonstrated that ectopic expression of K13, but not its NF-κB-defective mutant or a structural homolog, protected plasmacytomas against IL6 withdrawal-induced apoptosis and resulted in emergence of IL6-independent clones that could proliferate long-term in vitro in the absence of IL6 and form abdominal plasmacytomas with visceral involvement when injected intraperitoneally into syngeneic mice. These IL6-independent clones were dependent on NF-κB activity for their survival and proliferation but were resistant to dexamethasone and INCB018424, a selective Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor. Ectopic expression of human T cell leukemia virus 1-encoded Tax protein, which resembles K13 in inducing constitutive NF-κB activation, similarly protected plasmacytoma cells against IL6 withdrawal-induced apoptosis. Although K13 is known to up-regulate IL6 gene expression, its protective effect was not due to induction of endogenous IL6 production but instead was associated with sustained expression of several antiapoptotic members of the Bcl2 family upon IL6 withdrawal. Collectively, these results demonstrate that NF-κB activation cannot only promote the emergence of IL6 independence during myeloma progression but can also confer resistance to dexamethasone and INCB018424.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of japonica and indica rice varieties

Genetic transformation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) mediated by Agrobacterium ttumefaciens has been confirmed for japonica varieties and extended to include the more recalcitrant indica varieties. Immature embryos were inoculated with either A. tumefaciens At656 (pCNL56) or LBA4404 (pTOK233). Experimental conditions were developed initially for immature embryos treated with strain At656, based upon both transient and stable β-glucuromdase (GUS) activities. However, plant regeneration following selection on G418 (pCNL56 contained the nptII gene) did not occur. Using the same basic protocol, but inoculating immature embryos of rice with LBA4404 (pTOK233), resulted in efficient (about 27%) production of transgenic plants of the japonica variety, Radon, and an acceptable efficiency (from 1–5%) for the indica varieties IR72 and TCS10. Transformation was based upon resistance to hygromycin (pTOK233 contains the hpt gene), the presence of GUS activity (from the gusA gene), Southern blots for detection of the integrated gusA gene, and transmission of GUS activity to progeny in a Mendelian 3:1 segregation ratio. Southern blots indicated two to three copies of the gene integrated in most transformants. Transgenic plants of both the japonica and indica varieties were self-fertile and comparable in this respect to seed-grown plants. Key factors facilitating the transformation of rice by Agrobacterium tumefaciens appeared to be the use of embryos as the expiant, the use of hygromycin as the selection agent (which does not interfere with rice regeneration), the presence of extra copies of certain vir genes on the binary vector of pTOK233, and maintaining high concentrations of acetosyringone for inducing the vir genes during co-cultivation of embryos with Agrobacterium.
Metallurgical Evaluation of AZ31B-H24 Magnesium Alloy Friction Stir Welds

Friction Stir welding of 3.175 mm (0.125 in.) thick plates of AZ31-H24 magnesium alloy was performed using several travel velocities and tool-rotation speeds. After production the welds were cross-sectioned and a metallurgical characterization was performed using optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Assessment of the weld nugget or “stirred zone” shows evidence of dynamic recrystallization and the start of grain growth in some spots of this region compared to the parent metal. Recrystallization was identified in the thermomechanically affected zone (TAZ) as well. The mechanical properties of the weld are correlated with the corresponding microstructures present in the weld nugget and TMAZ. Corrosion resistance of the weld was assessed using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) techniques and immersion tests in a corrosive environment; it showed better corrosion resistance than the base metal.
Infants’ understanding of auditory events

Infants’ reaching-in-the-dark was studied in a sample of normal 7.5–11-month-olds to determine whether infants can use sound cues to localize and recognize the action and objects of complex events. Infants were shown an event in which a moving, sounding object rotated clockwise through the infant's reaching space in the light and dark. Infrared recorded videotapes were later coded for reaching behaviour. Results showed that infants were able to localize the object on most trials in the dark but were slower and less efficient than in the light. Infants grasped the object at first contact and contacted the object near its salient feature in the dark, suggesting recognition of the object. Further, contact time was 1.7 s less when infants grasped the object at first contact in the dark (recognition) than when they touched the object, suggesting that recognition of the object improves reaching efficiency. There were no age and gender differences. In sum, the results support the use of the reaching-in-the-dark method to demonstrate auditory localization of moving sounds and to reveal infants capacity to use represented information to guide subsequent action. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Building a simple reliable low-cost modelocker system.

Since the addition of a modelocker to a passive modelocked laser oscillator results in a great improvement of just about all output characteristics, we wish to describe how to build a modelocker system of commercial performance with resources that are within reach of most university laboratories.
The Russians and Soviets in Asia

(1982). The Russians and Soviets in Asia. International Library Review: Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 217-262.
On the quasi-steady-state assumption in modeling Czochralski crystal growth

Abstract The validity of the quasi-steady-state (QSS) assumption for describing conventional Czochralski crystal growth is addressed by a scaling analysis and by comparisons of numerical calculations for a QSS thermal-capillary model with results from a transient model which includes all of the dynamics associated with the growth process. The QSS model fails to accurately predict the operating states during batchwise growth when the crystal shape changes appreciably. However, the quasi-steady-state assumption is valid for describing growth runs where crystal diameter control is successfully implemented. An approximate correction for the time-averaged growth rate improves the agreement between QSS and fully transient predictions.
Social communities and spatiotemporal dynamics of association patterns in estuarine bottlenose dolphins

Network analysis has recently been used to delve into the dynamics of cetacean sociality. Few studies, however, have addressed how habitat shape influences sociality, specifically how linear water bodies constrain the space where individuals might interact. We utilized network and spatiotemporal analyses to investigate association patterns and community structure in a bottlenose dolphin population in a linear estuarine system, the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida. Using sighting histories from a multiyear photo-identification study we examined association patterns for 185 individuals collected over a 6.5 yr period (2002–2008). The population was highly differentiated (S = 0.723) and organized into six distinct social communities (Q = 0.544), spread in an overlapping pattern along the linear system. Social organization differed between communities, with some displaying highly interconnected networks and others comprising loosely affiliated individuals with more ephemeral associations. Temporal patterns indicated short-term associations were a significant feature of the fission-fusion dynamics of this population. Spatial analyses revealed that social structure was shaped by an individual’s ranging patterns and by social processes including preference and avoidance behavior. Finally, we found that habitat “narrowness” may be a major driving force behind the sociality observed.
THE DYE‐SENSITIZED PHOTO‐OXIDATION CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF LUMINOL*

— The chemiluminescence reaction of luminol has been investigated using conditions of methylene blue photosensitized oxidation. The quantum yields of chemiluminescence obtained were dependent upon temperature and the concentrations of luminol and base; and under the optimum conditions of high temperature and low luminol concentration, the value of the quantum yield approached that for the chemical reaction where the oxidant is hydrogen peroxide and catalyst. An analysis of the results suggests that it is not the primary species produced on photosensitization which is responsible for the chemiluminescent reaction, but a species produced by reaction of the primary species with base.
Metabotropic glutamate 1α receptors on peripheral primary afferent fibers: Their role in nociception

Several lines of evidence indicate that Group I metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) 1alpha receptors are involved in the processing of nociceptive information in the spinal cord. The goals of the present study are to document the role of mGlu1alpha receptors in peripheral nociception. To accomplish this we investigate the presence of mGlu1alpha receptors on peripheral primary afferent fibers and determine the behavioral effects of (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (S-DHPG), which is an mGlu1/5 receptor agonist and (RS)-1-aminoindan-1, 5-dicarboxylic acid (AIDA), a selective mGluR1alpha antagonist, on mechanical and thermal sensitivity and formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors. The anatomical studies at the electron microscopic level demonstrate that 32.4+/-2.9% of the unmyelinated axons and 21.6+/-4.7% of the myelinated axons are positively immunostained for mGlu1alpha receptors. Intraplantar injection of 0.1 or 1 mM S-DHPG results in a significant increase in mechanical sensitivity that persists for more than 60 min and this effect is blocked by co-injection of S-DHPG with 1 mM AIDA. Intraplantar injection of 40 microM AIDA+2% formalin significantly attenuates phase 2 lifting/licking and flinching behavior and this AIDA-induced effect is blocked with co-injection of 1 microM S-DHPG. In behavioral tests, intraplantar S-DHPG (0.1, 1.0, 10 mM) does not change tail flick latencies or paw withdrawal latencies to heat stimulation. These data indicate that mGlu1alpha receptors are present on peripheral cutaneous axons and activation of peripheral mGlu1alpha receptors contributes to mechanical allodynia and inflammatory pain but not thermal hyperalgesia.
Branch strategies: Modeling and optimization (pipeline processing)

The authors provide a common platform for modeling different schemes for reducing the branch-delay penalty in pipelined processors as well as evaluating the associated increased instruction bandwidth. Their objective is twofold: to develop a model for different approaches to the branch problem and to help select an optimal strategy after taking into account additional i-traffic generation by branch strategies. The model presented provides a flexible tool for comparing different branch strategies in terms of the reduction it offers in average branch delay and also in terms of the associated cost of wasted instruction fetches. This additional criterion turns out to be a valuable consideration in choosing between two strategies that perform almost equally. More importantly, it provides a better insight into the expected overall system performance. Simple compiler-support-based low-implementation-cost strategies can be very effective under certain conditions. An active branch prediction scheme based on loop buffers can be as competitive as a branch-target-buffer based strategy. >
Balanced translocation 12/13 and situs abnormalities: Homology of early pattern formation in man and lower organisms?

Studies in "lower" organisms have identified a set of homologous sequences expressed in oocytes and early embryos that is critical for pattern formation. Mutations in such genes may exhibit maternal effect--they cause abnormalities in the fetus only when present in the mother. We report on a mother and child with identical, apparently balanced translocations having the breakpoints 12q13.1 and 13p13. The fetus had multiple anomalies including bilateral trilobar lungs, complex heart defect, malrotation of the gut, and asplenia, while the mother was entirely normal. Several hypotheses are advanced to explain this variable expression including transection of a gene with maternal effect--lateral asymmetry in the fetus is influenced by the maternal genotype. This explanation would account for the higher transmission of congenital heart disease to offspring by affected females noted in several studies. The human counterparts of 2 loci (int-1 and HOX 3) involved in Drosophila early pattern formation are located near the translocation breakpoint 12q13.1. If one of these genes is responsible for situs abnormality, then university of positional code (but not of embryologic mechanism) is suggested for higher metazoans.
Does neoadjuvant treatment for gastric cancer patients with positive peritoneal cytology at staging laparoscopy improve survival

The purpose of this study was to identify clinicopathologic factors associated with positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) in patients with gastric cancer and to compare the overall survival (OS) of patients with PPC treated with and without neoadjuvant therapy. The medical records of 3,747 patients with gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma presenting to our institution (January 1995 to December 2005) were reviewed to identify those patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy as a staging procedure prior to consideration for neoadjuvant therapy. Associations between various clinicopathologic factors and OS were examined with Cox proportional hazards models. Kaplan–Meier curves were created to compare OS between groups. Of 381 patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy for staging, 39 were found to have PPC without gross metastatic disease. Linitis plastica and tumors located at the gastroesophageal junction were identified as predictors of PPC (P < 0.01). Median follow-up for living patients was 51 months. Median OS for patients with PPC and no gross metastatic disease at laparoscopy (13 months) was no different from that for patients with gross metastatic disease at laparoscopy (10 months, P = 0.06). For the 39 patients with PPC and no gross metastatic disease, use of neoadjuvant therapy resulted in a 3-year OS rate of 12% versus 0% for patients who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. Outcomes for patients with PPC without gross metastatic disease are not significantly different from those patients with gross metastatic disease at laparoscopy. However, some patients can achieve long-term survival and should be considered for neoadjuvant treatment prior to attempts at surgical resection.
Immunological Response to Different Proteins of the Tubercle Bacillus

Summary A complex molecule containing both tubercle protein and specific polysaccharide causes antibody formation after intravenous injection and hypersensitiveness after subcutaneous injection. Soluble tubercle protein and specific polysaccharide are partial antigens with hardly a trace of the immunizing power of the parent substance.
Inter-Rydberg laser spectroscopy of ArKr

Abstract Laser excitation spectroscopy of the ArKr heteronuclear molecule, studied in Ar/Kr gas mixtures over the interval 335 ≲λ≲ 485 nm, reveals a highly structured band peaking at 372 nm which is attributed to transitions of the excimer from the 5s 3 Σ + (0 − , 1) state (A 2 Σ 1/2 + core) to a shallow 0 − , 1 potential having a B 2 Π 3/2 core and correlated with Ar( 1 S 0 ) + Kr(6p) in the separated atom limit.
A physical critique of physical causation

The conserved quantities theory of causation (CQTC) attempts to use physics as the basis for an account of causation. However, a closer examination of the physics involved in CQTC reveals several critical failures. Some of the conserved quantities in physics cannot be used to distinguish causal interactions. Other conserved quantities cannot always be the properties of fields or particles. Finally, CQCT does not account for causal interactions that are static.
TNF Regulates the In Vivo Occupancy of Both Distal and Proximal Regulatory Regions of the MCP-1/JE Gene

In vivo genomic footprinting (IVGF) was used to examine regulatory site occupancy during the activation of the murine inflammatory response gene MCP-1/JE by TNF. In response to TNF, both promoter distal and proximal regulatory regions became occupied in vivo. EMSA analysis showed that while some of the factors involved in expression, including NF-kappa B, were translocated to the nucleus following TNF treatment, others were already present and able to bind DNA in vitro. Protein kinase inhibitor studies showed that protein phosphorylation was required for TNF activation but not factor assembly. These studies provide evidence for a multistep model of TNF-mediated gene regulation involving chromatin accessibility, transcription factor complex assembly, and protein phosphorylation.
Estamos estudiando y tratando correctamente la esquizofrenia

Resumen Los nuevos hallazgos van revelando una imagen cada vez mas detallada de la disfuncion neural y molecular en la esquizofrenia, distribuida por las interconexiones del circuito cortico-estriado-palido-talamico. Algunas alteraciones parecen reflejar fallos de la maduracion cerebral temprana que quedan codificados en propiedades disfuncionales del circuito, lo que resulta en una perdida sustancial o en un fracaso del desarrollo, tanto de las celulas como de la adecuada conectividad entre regiones cerebrales ampliamente dispersas. Estas alteraciones del circuito muestran variaciones entre los individuos con esquizofrenia, lo que quiza refleje la interaccion de varios genes de riesgo y episodios epigeneticos distintos. Dadas estas complejas y variables alteraciones del circuito de conexion, vale la pena considerar como los hallazgos nuevos y emergentes pueden ser integrados en modelos de tratamiento procesables. Este trabajo sugiere que los futuros esfuerzos por desarrollar abordajes terapeuticos mas efectivos en la esquizofrenia deberian separarse de los modelos preponderantes en la genetica y la neurociencia molecular para centrarse en una estrategia de tratamiento mas practica que consta de tres partes: 1) psicoterapias rehabilitadoras sistemicas disenadas para engarzar los sistemas neurales sanos a fin de compensar y sustituir a los elementos disfuncionales superiores del circuito, aplicada en combinacion, con 2) medicamentos que tengan por objetivo especifico los mecanismos cognitivos implicados por estas psicoterapias rehabilitadoras y 3) medicamentos antipsicoticos dirigidos a puntos nodales o convergentes del circuito en la interfase limbico-motora, para disminuir el alcance y la gravedad de las exacerbaciones psicoticas y facilitar asi la intervencion en la rehabilitacion cognitiva. El empleo de la psicoterapia rehabilitadora cognitiva dirigida y de los medicamentos sinergicos tiene, a la par, sentido comun y eficacia consagrada por el tiempo en otros muchos trastornos neuropsiquiatricos.
Application of Linear Predictive Coding for Human Activity Classification Based on Micro-Doppler Signatures

In this letter, classification of various human activities based on micro-Doppler signatures is studied using linear predictive coding (LPC). LPC is proposed to extract the features of micro-Doppler that are mixtures of different frequencies. The use of LPC can not only decrease the time frame required to capture the Doppler signature of human motion but can also reduce the computational time cost for extracting its features, which makes real-time processing feasible. The measured data of 12 human subjects performing seven different activities using a Doppler radar are used. These activities include running, walking, walking while holding a stick, crawling, boxing while moving forward, boxing while standing in place, and sitting still. A support vector machine is then trained using the output of LPC to classify the activities. Multiclass classification is implemented using a one-versus-one decision structure. The resulting classification accuracy is found to be over 85%. The effects of the number of LPC coefficients and the size of the sliding time window, as well as the decision time-frame size used in the extraction of micro-Doppler signatures, are also discussed.
Corneal perforation associated with argon laser photocoagulation for a retinal tear.

Purpose To report a corneal perforation during argon laser photocoagulation around a retinal tear following pneumatic retinopexy. Methods The patient was examined and found to have a corneal perforation with pigment in the base of the wound. To help explain this phenomenon, we evaluated the ability of argon blue-green laser to create a corneal perforation in a cadaver eye. Results In a cadaver eye, we induced a corneal perforation with argon laser only when a pigmented substance was present on the corneal surface. Conclusions We hypothesize that pigmented material such as an eyelash or mascara caught between the cornea and contact lens interface may have facilitated this rare complication. Clinicians should be wary of any pigmented substance on the surface of the cornea or ophthalmoscopic lens when performing argon laser photocoagulation.
Correlations of gulf coast petroleums on the basis of branched acyclic alkanes

Abstract Mass 211 chromatograms of C 15+ , n -alkane-free, saturated hydrocarbon fractions of oils represent numerous homologous series of methyl-branched acyclic alkanes, including isoprenoids. Mass 211 patterns facilitated the subdivision (fingerprinting) of 88% of 282 Gulf Coast petroleums into merely seven classes. Evaluation of reservoir ages suggests that the patterns undergo progressive change with time. An end-member pattern occurs in Jurassic reservoirs; a second, closely-related, occurs principally in oils found in Lower Cretaceous reservoirs. Minor changes result in an “Upper Cretaceous” pattern which is duplicated in numerous oils occuring in all succeeding Tertiary and Quaternary stages over most of coastal and offshore Louisiana. Laterally extensive source formations and pervasive vertical migration are indicated. Although branched alkane concentrations can be brought toward thermodynamic equilibrium by mineral catalysis, the consistency of the observations indicates that this is minor, suggesting a biomarker status for the compounds involved. Both facies variability and metabolic evolution might be significant in the generation of the observed patterns.
Potential and pitfalls of e-cigarettes.

Dr Abrams1 painted an optimistic picture about the promise of e-cigarettes due to their harm-reduction potential and the ability of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations to minimize their unintended consequences. However, the manufacture and marketing of a highly addictive product has 1 primary intention at its core: to hook as many people as possible. So what public health considers an unintended consequence is industry’s intended effect.
Use of convergent and divergent illumination with plane gratings

The properties of a plane grating when it is illuminated by a convergent or divergent wave front are investigated. The investigation shows that the image principally suffers an unsymmetric aberration of coma type in the direction of dispersion. Remedies have been indicated to correct this aberration.
Characterization and Modeling of Printed Wiring Board Warpage and its Effect on LGA Separable Interconnects

The paper presents a study on printed wiring board (PWB) warpage caused by the mechanical fastening of separable interconnects, known as land grid array (LGA) package assemblies. Out-of-plane displacement of the PWB were measured and characterized, as well as force-per-pin values of the LGA, and correlations were made between the two. Classical laminate theory was utilized to describe the warpage behavior of the assembly and a model was presented to solve the out-of-plane displacements. An overall assessment of the assembly was made and compared to the mechanical specification of the LGA.
Baroreceptor Regulation of Vasopressin and Renin Secretion: Low-Pressure versus High-Pressure Receptors

The high-pressure or arterial baroreceptors and low-pressure or atrial receptors are believed to participate in the reflex control of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and renin secretion. The current concept of the control system is that at normal blood volume and pressure, afferent impulses from the receptors tonically inhibit central mechanisms controlling secretion of AVP and renin. Thus, a reduction in blood volume or pressure causes a decrease in receptor activity and a reflex increase in hormone secretion; conversely an increase in blood volume causes the opposite sequence of events. Furthermore, it is widely believed that cardiac atrial receptors are more important than arterial baroreceptors in the reflex control of AVP and renin secretion. Evidence presented in this review challenges the traditional view that cardiac receptors are importantly involved in the reflex control of AVP secretion. Recent evidence indicates that plasma AVP does not increase during progressive hypovolemia until volume loss causes a frank fall in arterial pressure. Furthermore, the evidence suggests that it is the sudden unloading of arterial baroreceptors that triggers the surge in AVP secretion and not signals from cardiac receptors. There is also very little evidence that increasing the load on cardiac receptors inhibits AVP secretion. In contrast, there is considerable evidence that renal sympathetic nerve activity, and hence reflex control of renin secretion, is tightly and inversely coupled to changes in blood volume. Furthermore, the evidence supports the concept that atrial receptors are the mediators of the fine reflex control of renin secretion in response to changes in blood volume.
Differential expression of steroid sulphatase locus on active and inactive human X chromosome

The X chromosome in mammalian somatic cells is subject to unique regulation—usually genes on a single X chromosome are expressed while those on other X chromosomes are inactivated1. The X-locus for steroid sulphatase (STS; EC 3.1.6.2), the microsomal enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of various 3β-hydroxysteroid sulphates, is exceptional because it seems to escape inactivation. Evidence for this comes from fibroblast clones in females heterozygous for mutations that result in a severe deficiency of this enzyme in affected males; all clones from these heterozygotes have STS activity, and enzyme-deficient clones that are expected if the locus were subject to inactivation2, have not been found3. Further evidence that the STS locus escapes inactivation is that the human inactive X chromosome contributes STS activity to mouse–human hybrid cells4. On the basis of these hybrid studies5,6 the STS locus has been mapped to the distal half of the short arm (p22–pter) of the human X chromosome. Although the STS locus on both X chromosomes in human female cells is expressed, quantitative measurements of STS activity in males and females do not accurately reflect the sex differences in number of X chromosomes7–13 (Table 1). The ratio of mean values for normal females to that of normal males is greater than 1:1 but less than the ratio of 2:1 expected if STS loci on all X chromosomes were equally expressed. The incomplete dosage effect suggests that the STS locus on the inactive X chromosome might not be fully expressed. To test this hypothesis, we examined two heterozygotes for X-linked STS deficiency who were also heterozygous for the common electrophoretic variants of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD A and B). Studies of fibroblast clones from these females provide evidence, presented here, for differential expression of STS loci on the active and inactive X chromosome.
Electric glass welding

THE ELECTRIC welding of metal is a relatively new and rapidly growing process in the metal fabrication industries. Even newer and currently enjoying a more rapid expansion is the electric welding of glass. While there is some similarity between the techniques employed, the widely differing physical properties of the two materials make the electrical requirements quite distinct.