cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A survey of software project managers on software process change

Software project managers play an important role in selecting their software development process. In this study we conducted a survey of software project managers about software process change. The result of the survey revealed several factors affecting this type of decision making. It also revealed critical issues in software development projects. In particular, the findings point to the importance of a piloting strategy in technology transfer, as well as the importance of highlighting cost, quality, and schedule information in reporting evidence of a new technique's effectiveness. We expect that the findings of this study could facilitate research on technology transfer and adoption.
Comparison of two methods of UV laser-induced surface ionization

Abstract Two different methods of UV laser-induced desorption ionization are compared by measuring the dependence of each on the laser pulse repitition rate. At an aniline sample pressure of 2.3 × 10 -8 torr, the ionization signal obtained with a prism internal reflection geometry increases linearly with the time between laser pulses. In contrast, the signal obtained with light incident on the surface from the gas phase side is independent of the laser repetition rate, as in conventional gas phase ionization experiments. These observations, in conjunction with measurements of the time of flight peak distribution, enable us to ascertain the locations where ionization takes place in the two experiments. UV laser-induced surface ionization with prism internal reflection is found to be appropriate for studying adsorption/desorption kinetics in experiments where gas phase molecules are continuously adsorbing and desorbing from a metal surface.
Refinement of pepsin digestion method for isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from infected tissues

Modification of the acid pepsin digestion procedure to isolate Toxoplasma gondii from animal muscular tissues is described. Muscles were incubated for 60 min instead of 90 min and acid was neutralized with 1.2% (w/v) sodium bicarbonate instead by repeated washings and centrifugations.
Shoulder impingement, an uncommon complication of distal clavicle fracture treated arthroscopically: a case report.

Clavicle fracture is commonly treated conservatively. However uncommon complication can arise causing impingement. We report a patient who sustained distal clavicle fracture and was treated conservatively. However he developed persistent shoulder pain that affected his daily life. Shoulder impingement was diagnosed and arthroscopic subacromioclavicular decompression was done. Following early physiotherapy the early recovery was good with full range of motion of the shoulder. Key Words Clavicle fracture, shoulder impingement, arthroscopic subacromioclavicular decompression
Triphala and Its Active Constituent Chebulinic Acid Are Natural Inhibitors of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Mediated Angiogenesis

Triphala churna (THL) is a combination of three fruits that has been used for many years in India for the treatment of various diseases. There are now reports which indicate that THL can inhibit growth of malignant tumors in animals. However, the mechanisms by which THL mediates its anti-tumor actions are still being explored. Because vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF) induced angiogenesis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of cancer, we therefore investigated whether tumor inhibitory effects of THL or its active constituents are through suppression of VEGF actions. We herein report that THL and chebulinic (CI) present in THL can significantly and specifically inhibit VEGF induced angiogenesis by suppressing VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) phosphorylation. These results are of clinical significance as these inexpensive and non-toxic natural products can be used for the prevention and treatment of diseases where VEGF induced angiogenesis has an important role.
Isee 1 charged particle observations indicative of open magnetospheric field lines near the subsolar region

On November 20, 1977, at 0230-0300 UT, ISEE 1 encountered unusual charged particle distributions within the magnetosphere. The three-dimensional distribution observations for energetic (greater than 24 keV) ions and plasma show the development of field-aligned asymmetries in the energetic ion distributions simultaneously with a marked change in plasma flow. It is concluded that the most likely explanation for these observations is that ISEE 1 encountered open magnetospheric field lines at its position within the magnetosphere (1030 LT and 1200 plus or minus 300 km from the magnetopause). Field lines were open near the geomagnetic equator, and the geometry was spatially or temporally variable. Other features of the field line topology are presented.
Contributions of N-Linked Glycosylation to the Expression of a Functional α7-Nicotinic Receptor in Xenopus Oocytes

The alpha7 subunit of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, forms homooligomeric ligand-gated ion channels that are blocked by a snake toxin, alpha-bungarotoxin. The amino-terminal extracellular domain of the alpha7 sequence has three consensus sites for asparagine-linked glycosylation (N46DS, N90MS, and N133AS). In this study, we show that alpha7 expressed either in vivo or in vitro is a glycoprotein of 57 kDa. In addition, we demonstrate by site-directed mutagenesis that all three consensus sites are used for glycosylation. To elucidate the role(s) of asparagine-linked glycosylation in the formation and function of the alpha7 receptor, wild-type and glycosylation-deficient alpha7 subunits were expressed in COS cells and oocytes. We examined biochemical and physiological properties of expressed receptors and found that alpha7 glycosylation mutations do not affect homooligomerization and surface protein expression of the alpha7 receptor but do affect surface expression of alpha-bungarotoxin binding sites and the function of the receptor. Our data indicate that asparagine-linked glycosylation is required for the expression of a functional alpha7 receptor in oocytes.
Evolution of the Volume-Outcome Relation for Hospitals Performing Coronary Angioplasty

Background —Hospitals performing more surgical procedures tend to yield better outcomes. This study examines the evolution of this volume-outcome relation over time. Methods and Results —The relation between the number of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures performed at hospitals (volume) and in-hospital bypass surgery and death for 353 488 patients treated in California between 1984 and 1996 was examined. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to compare outcomes for 3 periods: 1984 to 1987, 1988 to 1992, and 1993 to 1996. The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.5% for hospitals performing 400 procedures per year in 1984 to 1987. By 1993 to 1996, mortality rates in these 2 volume categories narrowed to 1.7% and 1.3%, respectively. Bypass surgery rates also narrowed and fell in low-volume ( 400 procedures) hospitals from 12.4% versus 6.9% in 1984 to 1987 to 4.6% versus 3.3% in 1993 to 1996. In a logistic regression, PTCA procedures significantly predicted in-hospital mortality and bypass surgery rates in all 3 time periods. However, coefficient estimates indicate that improvements over time in outcomes for hospitals performing <200 procedures were comparable to the predicted benefits of increasing volume above 400 procedures within time periods. Conclusions —Over time, the disparity in outcomes between low- and high-volume hospitals has narrowed, and outcomes have improved significantly for all hospitals. Given these improvements, lower minimum volume standards may be advisable in less populated areas, where the alternative is no angioplasty at all.
Association between adaptations to ACGME duty hour requirements, length of stay, and costs.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine whether adaptations to comply with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) duty hour requirements are associated with changes in total cost and length of stay. DESIGN Retrospective, interrupted time-series cohort study using concurrent control patients. SETTING UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA. PATIENTS Inpatients newborn to 18 y on the primary pediatrics medical-surgical unit. Medical patients were studied before and after an intervention, and surgical patients served as a concurrent control group. INTERVENTION Pediatrics trainees' work schedules were changed from those that relied on prolonged call shifts to those primarily based on shorter day shifts and night shifts. RESULTS We detected significant relative reductions in length of stay but not in total cost. When the analysis was limited to the subset of patients who did not receive intensive care unit care, length of stay decreased by 18% and total cost decreased by 10%. We did not detect similar changes in the control group. CONCLUSIONS A trainee staffing model that included shorter shifts as consistent with current ACGME duty hour requirements was associated with reduced length of stay and total costs for patients not in the intensive care unit.
Severe low back pain secondary to acute interstitial nephritis following administration of ranitidine

Acute interstitial nephritis is a disease characterized by renal inflammation and is thought to be secondary to a hypersensitivity reaction. Although the causes of acute interstitial nephritis are numerous, adverse reactions to many common drugs, particularly antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, are important etiological factors. Acute interstitial nephritis has many clinical manifestations, most notably fever and rash. Flank pain is an uncommon presentation. A case of acute, severe, low-back pain and rash in a healthy woman found to be secondary to acute interstitial nephritis is reported. The etiology of acute interstitial nephritis in this patient's case is suspected to be ranitidine (Zantac; Glaxo Pharmaceuticals, Research Triangle Park, NC), which has not been previously associated with this syndrome.
Late complications of revascularization for radiation-induced arterial disease

Abstract During a 14-year period 23 patients underwent 25 revascularizations for radiation-induced arterial obstructive disease. An average of 5000 rads was delivered, 3 to 24 (mean 9) years before arterial insufficiency, for malignancies of the following origin: gynecologic ( n = 9), lymphoma ( n = 7), head and neck ( n = 5), testicular ( n = 1), and lower extremity sarcoma ( n = 1). Arterial occlusive disease occurred in the aortic arch vessels ( n = 8), visceral aortic vessels ( n = 1), and aortofemoral vessels ( n = 16). Presenting symptoms were claudication ( n = 8), rest pain or nonhealing ulcers ( n = 7), transient ischemic attacks ( n = 6), asymptomatic bruit ( n = 1), and renal insufficiency ( n = 1). Reconstructive operations included anatomic bypass ( n = 10), extraanatomic bypass ( n = 4), patch angioplasty ( n = 5), endarterectomy ( n = 3), and resection with interposition graft ( n = 1). In this group of patients there were no major perioperative wound complications or other major radiation-associated morbidity. Five patients had late graft infections that manifested from 2 to 5 years after surgery. All occurred in anatomic regions where the bypass graft passed through previously irradiated tissues. Presenting symptoms of infection included a draining groin sinus ( n = 3) or soft tissue abscess ( n = 2). In all cases the graft had not incorporated into the surrounding tissues when passing through the irradiated area. Treatment included graft excision and extraanatomic bypass through nonirradiated tissue. One patient died of systemic sepsis. Vascular reconstructive surgery can safely be performed for radiation-induced arterial disease. We found a 21% incidence of late graft infection, all of which occurred when a bypass traversed previously irradiated tissue. Use of autologous conduits and extraanatomic bypass to avoid irradiated areas may decrease associated morbidity. (J Vasc Surg 1992;16:921–5.)
Thermal aware task sequencing on embedded processors

We seek to maximize the throughput of a periodic application by obtaining an optimized task sequence and dynamic voltage/frequecy scaling schedules subject to a peak temperature constraint. We first derive an optimal initial temperature that can generate optimum solutions. We next present optimal solutions for several subproblems. Finally, we propose novel algorithms for the general instances of the problem. Experimental results show that our techniques out perform existing approaches in both design quality and solution times.
Assessing the need for follow-up: The relationship of prognosis to posthospitalization adjustment

Parents of children (N-64) hospitalized at a psychiatric hospital between the years 1971 and 1976 rated their child's adjustment in a number of behavioral areas. Problems in school, making friends, acting age-appropriately, and handling aggression were reported to be the major sources of difficult), for 40% of the former patients. No statistical relationship was found between clinicians' prognosis at discharge and children's post-hospitalization adjustment. The authors discuss some of the variables that mitigate against accurate outcome prediction and argue for the integration of an organized follow-up program into their treatment program. The study was designed to determine the need for organized follow-up of children discharged from the Children's Psychiatric Hospital (CPH) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the past, follow-up has been conducted informally, subject to the whim of individual staff members. In an effort to assess the need for follow-up, the authors sought to determine whether postdischarge adjustment could be predicted by prognosis at discharge.
Selective imitation of the passive construction through modeling

Abstract Six 4- to 5-yr-old subjects were exposed to five sessions in which an adult model used passive sentences to describe a set of modeling stimuli. Probe stimuli, which the subjects were asked to describe without benefit of modeling and without selective reinforcement were interspersed among modeling stimuli. A matched group of control subjects received probletrials but no modeling trials. Both groups of subjects were subsequently tested on their ability to comprehend active and passive sentence forms. Every subject in the experimental group produced passive sentences on probe trials even though there was considerable variability in the number of passives produced. No control subject produced passives. The modeling procedure increased the comprehension scores of the experimental group above those of the control group though the scores of both groups were above chance. The results were contrasted with earlier studies in which modeling was ineffective in producing passive usage and in which comprehension of the passive was not demonstrated by even older children.
Predicting differential effects of climate change at the population level with life‐cycle models of spring Chinook salmon

Habitat conditions mediate the effects of climate, so neighboring populations with differing habitat conditions may differ in their responses to climate change. We have previously observed that juvenile survival in Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon is strongly correlated with summer temperature in some populations and with fall streamflow in others. Here, we explore potential differential responses of the viability of four of these populations to changes in streamflow and temperature that might result from climate change. First, we linked predicted changes in air temperature and precipitation from several General Circulation Models to a local hydrological model to project streamflow and air temperature under two climate-change scenarios. Then, we developed a stochastic, density-dependent life-cycle model with independent environmental effects in juvenile and ocean stages, and parameterized the model for each population. We found that mean abundance decreased 20-50% and the probability of quasi-extinction increased dramatically (from 0.1-0.4 to 0.3-0.9) for all populations in both scenarios. Differences between populations were greater in the more moderate climate scenario than in the more extreme, hot/dry scenario. Model results were relatively robust to realistic uncertainty in freshwater survival parameters in all scenarios. Our results demonstrate that detailed population models can usefully incorporate climate-change predictions, and that global warming poses a direct threat to freshwater stages in these fish, increasing their risk of extinction. Because differences in habitat may contribute to the individualistic population responses we observed, we infer that maintaining habitat diversity will help buffer some species from the impacts of climate change.
Nanomedicine: how it could reshape clinical practice.

Fabrice Jotterand1,2 1The University of Texas at Dallas, School of Arts and Humanities (Philosophy), Center for Values in Medicine, Science, & Technology, Richardson, TX 75080, USA Tel.: +1 972 883 6782; E-mail: jotterandf@ utdallas.edu 2The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Department of Psychiatry, Program in Ethics in Science and Medicine Department of Clinical Sciences, Research Ethics Division, Dallas, TX 75390, USA ‘The development of procedures and devices in medicine generate great hopes for the improvement of the human condition...’
Comments on "Energy stored in permanent magnets"

For the original paper see ibid., vol. 35, no. 1, p. 505-7 (1999). The commenter considers that a recent paper by Lovatt and Watterson on the energy stored in permanent magnets was based upon some erroneous assumptions. He presents these comments in an effort to explain some aspects about the energy exchanges in a magnetic circuit containing a permanent magnet.
Designing Teaching Cases That Integrate Course Content and Diversity Issues.

Excerpt only. Full-text article is available through licensed access provided by the publisher. Published in Teacher Education Quarterly, 42(1), 67-81. Members of the USF System may access the full-text of the article through the authenticated link provided below.
Robust fault diagnosis of state and sensor faults in nonlinear multivariable systems

The paper presents a robust fault diagnosis scheme for detecting and approximating state and sensor faults occurring in a class of nonlinear multi-input multi-output systems. The changes in the system dynamics due to a fault are modeled as nonlinear functions of the control input and measured output variables. Both state and sensor faults can be modeled as slowly developing (incipient) or abrupt, with each component of the state/sensor fault vector being represented by a separate time profile. The robust fault diagnosis scheme utilizes online approximators and adaptive nonlinear filtering techniques to obtain estimates of the fault functions. Robustness, fault sensitivity and stability conditions of the learning scheme are rigorously derived.
A rare metastases of a colorectal primary to the clavicle.

INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer is the third commonest cancer in the UK. The commonest site of colorectal cancer metastases is the liver, followed by lungs. Metastases to small bones are recognized but are a rare occurrence of colorectal malignancy.
The Epstein-Barr Virus BRRF1 Protein, Na, Induces Lytic Infection in a TRAF2- and p53-Dependent Manner

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BRRF1 lytic gene product (Na) is encoded within the same immediate-early region as the BZLF1 (Z) and BRLF1(R) gene products, but its role during EBV infection has not been well defined. We previously showed that Na cooperates with the R protein to induce lytic gene expression in latently infected EBV-positive 293 cells, and in some EBV-negative cell lines it can activate the Z promoter in reporter gene assays. Here we show that overexpression of Na alone is sufficient to induce lytic gene expression in several different latently infected epithelial cell lines (Hone-Akata, CNE2-Akata, and AGS-Akata), while knockdown of endogenous Na expression reduces lytic gene expression. Consistent with its ability to interact with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) in a yeast two-hybrid assay, we demonstrate that Na interacts with TRAF2 in cells. Furthermore, we show that TRAF2 is required for Na induction of lytic gene expression, that Na induces Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) activation in a TRAF2-dependent manner, and that a JNK inhibitor abolishes the ability of Na to disrupt viral latency. Additionally, we show that Na and the tumor suppressor protein p53 cooperate to induce lytic gene expression in epithelial cells (including the C666-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line), although Na does not appear to affect p53 function. Together these data suggest that Na plays an important role in regulating the switch between latent and lytic infection in epithelial cells and that this effect requires both the TRAF2 and p53 cellular proteins.
Racial Settlement and Metropolitan Land-Use Patterns: Does Sprawl Abet Black-White segregation?

This paper advances a theory of how metropolitan land-use patterns affect racial settlement patterns and tests it by measuring the relationship between seven dimensions of land-use patterns and five dimensions of segregation of Blacks and Whites for a representative sample of 50 large metropolitan areas, using multiple regression analysis. We find substantial, nonlinear relationships between changes in multiple dimensions of segregation and multiple dimensions of land use, with most evincing a direct relationship between more compact patterns and segregation once a threshold value is exceeded. The results can be explained holistically by positing that variations in different dimensions of land-use patterns differentially affect land/housing prices, inter-group propinquity, interracial commonality of commuting destinations, and spatial mismatch, which in turn appear to affect the ability of a metropolitan area to desegregate. But alterations in certain aspects of land use—density/continuity and job compact...
Many Faces of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Aortic Aneurysms

Accumulating evidence links the remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM) with vascular diseases. In particular, many studies have established the impact of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in various aspects of vascular biology.1 Twenty-three MMP family members are classified into 4 groups: (1) archetypal MMPs, (2) matrilysins, (3) gelatinases, and (4) furin-activated MMPs.2 Archetypal MMPs include 3 collagenases, MMP-1, MMP-8, and MMP-13, major macrophage products that degrade the fibrillar collagens. MMP-collagenases degrade collagen in atherosclerotic lesions3 and may impair the mechanical stability of the plaques, leading to physical disruption (plaque rupture) and acute thrombotic events. After the initial cleavage by collagenases, gelatinases, MMP-2 and MMP-9, degrade collagen fragments, contributing to plaque instability.4 In addition, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-12 (metalloelastase) cleave elastin, another major vascular ECM. Evidence has recognized that elastin degradation by MMPs contributes to the pathogenesis of aortic aneurysms.5 Some cleaved products of ECM are biologically active (matrikines) and promote cell activation and additional monocyte/macrophage infiltration. Thus, MMPs may enhance the positive feedback loop of the proinflammatory milieu in atherosclerotic plaques and aneurysmal aortas. See accompanying article on page 888 Thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms (TAA and AAA, respectively) typically show signs of elastin degradation, increased collagen, and accumulation of inflammatory cells. Aneurysmal aortas contain high levels of elastolytic MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-12.5 Examining the causal role of each enzyme in vivo typically uses a genetic manipulation and one of the established models of aortic aneurysms, involving systemic infusion of angiotensin II (AngII), or local administration of calcium chloride (CaCl2) or elastase. Several mouse studies demonstrated …
Comparison of two storage models in data-driven multithreaded architectures

Multithreaded execution models attempt to combine some aspects of dataflow-like execution with von Neumann model execution, with the objective of masking the latency of inter-processor communications and remote memory accesses in multiprocessors. An important issue in the analysis and evaluation of multithreaded execution is the design and performance of the storage hierarchy. Because of the sequential execution of threads, the locality of access within an executing thread can be exploited using registers and cache. At the inter-thread level, however, the locality of accesses to memory and its effect on the cache is not yet well understood. Two storage hierarchy models, that attempt to capture and exploit this locality, are described and evaluated in this paper.
Coinfection with Streptococcus pneumoniae Modulates the B Cell Response to Influenza Virus

Pathogen-specific antibodies (Abs) protect against respiratory infection with influenza A virus (IAV) and Streptococcus pneumoniae and are the basis of effective vaccines. Sequential or overlapping coinfections with both pathogens are common, yet the impact of coinfection on the generation and maintenance of Ab responses is largely unknown. We report here that the B cell response to IAV is altered in mice coinfected with IAV and S. pneumoniae and that this response differs, depending on the order of pathogen exposure. In mice exposed to S. pneumoniae prior to IAV, the initial virus-specific germinal center (GC) B cell response is significantly enhanced in the lung-draining mediastinal lymph node and spleen, and there is an increase in CD4(+) T follicular helper (TFH) cell numbers. In contrast, secondary S. pneumoniae infection exaggerates early antiviral antibody-secreting cell formation, and at later times, levels of GCs, TFH cells, and antiviral serum IgG are elevated. Mice exposed to S. pneumoniae prior to IAV do not maintain the initially robust GC response in secondary lymphoid organs and exhibit reduced antiviral serum IgG with diminished virus neutralization activity a month after infection. Our data suggest that the history of pathogen exposures can critically affect the generation of protective antiviral Abs and may partially explain the differential susceptibility to and disease outcomes from IAV infection in humans. Importance: Respiratory tract coinfections, specifically those involving influenza A viruses and Streptococcus pneumoniae, remain a top global health burden. We sought to determine how S. pneumoniae coinfection modulates the B cell immune response to influenza virus since antibodies are key mediators of protection.
Nosocomial bacterial pneumonia: An overview

Nosocomial pneumonia accounts for 10% to 20% of all nosocomial infections and represents one of the most serious complications of hospitalization. This review focuses on the etiology, pathogenesis, and prevention of nosocomial pneumonia, with emphasis on infection control procedures to prevent and minimize its occurrence.
CRITICAL BEHAVIOR IN SIMPLICIAL QUANTUM GRAVITY

Abstract Recent results for simplicial quantum gravity in four dimensions are reviewed. Effects of both higher derivative terms and gravitational measure contributions are investigated. Prospects for solving numerically quantized gravity in four dimensions are discussed.
Humoral immunity due to long-lived plasma cells

Conventional models suggest that long-term antibody responses are maintained by the continuous differentiation of memory B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells. This is based on the notion that plasma cells are short-lived and need to be continually replenished by memory B cells. We examined the issue of plasma cell longevity by following the persistence of LCMV-specific antibody and plasma cell numbers after in vivo depletion of memory B cells and by adoptive transfer of virus-specific plasma cells into naive mice. The results show that a substantial fraction of plasma cells can survive and continue to secrete antibody for extended periods of time (>1 year) in the absence of any detectable memory B cells. This study documents the existence of long-lived plasma cells and demonstrates a new mechanism by which humoral immunity is maintained.
Genetic testing for susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer: evaluating the impact of a direct-to-consumer marketing campaign on physicians' knowledge and practices.

Purpose: To assess the impact of direct-to-consumer marketing of genetic testing for risk of breast and ovarian cancer by a biotechnology company on: 1) physicians' knowledge; 2) reasons given when asking questions about the test; and 3) physicians' practice patterns in two pilot cities where the campaign took place and two control cities. Methods: Survey of randomly selected family physicians, internists, obstetrician-gynecologists, and oncologists from May 1–May 21, 2003. Results: Physicians' knowledge did not differ between pilot and control cities. Significant differences (pilot versus control cities) were seen in the reasons patients gave for asking questions about testing. More physicians in pilot cities (14%) than control cities (7%) reported an increase in the number of times they ordered genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer risk in the previous 6 months (adjusted odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval, 1.2–3.1). Awareness of professional guidelines and being in a practice with a policy on genetic testing for risk of breast and ovarian cancer were associated with physicians' behaviors and interest among patients in testing. Conclusions: Given the complexity and limitations of genetic testing for risk of breast and ovarian cancer, the development and broad dissemination of clinical guidelines and education of physicians are needed.
Hydrodynamic Properties of Dilute and Concentrated Polymer Latexes: a Study by Quasielastic Light Scattering

The concentration dependence of the translational diffusion coefficient of monodisperse latex spheres has been measured by quasielastic light scattering over the range 0–10%. In very dilute solution, the diffusion coefficient is accurately given by the Stokes-Einstein equation. The diffusion coefficient increases rapidly by up to 30% over the concentration range 0.0 to 0.1%. This rise is attributed to latex charge repulsion and qualitative agreement is found with the theory of M. J. Stephen (J. Chem. Phys., 55, 3878 (1971)). At higher concentration, hard sphere excluded volume and frictional effects become important. By combining the diffusion coefficient with integrated intensity measurements, both the concentration and scattering vector dependences of the friction coefficient have been determined. It has been found that the friction coefficient, f, can be expanded as f = fo (1 + Kf (qd) ϕ + …) where Kf is a function of the product of the scattering vector, q, and the latex diameter, d, and ϕ is the volume fraction of latex. Values of Kf decrease from 6.1 at qd 0 to 0 at qd ≥ 6. The value at qd = 0 is in good agreement with calculated values.
Mesa: geo-replicated, near real-time, scalable data warehousing

Mesa is a highly scalable analytic data warehousing system that stores critical measurement data related to Google's Internet advertising business. Mesa is designed to satisfy a complex and challenging set of user and systems requirements, including near real-time data ingestion and queryability, as well as high availability, reliability, fault tolerance, and scalability for large data and query volumes. Specifically, Mesa handles petabytes of data, processes millions of row updates per second, and serves billions of queries that fetch trillions of rows per day. Mesa is geo-replicated across multiple datacenters and provides consistent and repeatable query answers at low latency, even when an entire datacenter fails. This paper presents the Mesa system and reports the performance and scale that it achieves.
Control of parallel dry methane and steam methane reforming processes for Fischer–Tropsch syngas

Abstract The ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in the synthesis gas required for feeding to the gas-to-liquid Fischer–Tropsch (FT) process to produce liquid transportation fuel is about two. The dry methane reforming (DMR) process feeds carbon dioxide and methane and produces a syngas with a H 2 /CO ratio of about unity. The steam methane reforming (SMR) process feeds water and methane and produces a syngas with a H 2 /CO ratio of about four. This paper studies the plantwide control of a process with DMR and SMR units operating in parallel to produce FT syngas. The total methane fresh feed is split between the two parallel processes in the appropriate fraction so as to produce the desired H 2 /CO ratio in the mixed syngas stream from the process. Both the SMR and DMR reactions are highly endothermic and the reactors are fired furnaces with combustion of fuel providing the endothermic heat of the reactions. Reactor exit temperatures are controlled by manipulating the flowrates of fuel to each furnace, with combustion air ratioed to the fuel. Dynamic reactor models assume tubular SMR and DMR reactors in which heat fluxes are determined by the heat generated in their associated fuel/air combustion reactors. The plantwide control structure effectively handles large 20% disturbances in throughput and large setpoint changes in the desired H 2 /CO ratio (1.7–2.3).
The British National Press and the 2012 Royal Family Photo Scandals

Determining whether or not to publish controversial photographs is a challenge for any editor, particularly when questions arise regarding invasion of privacy. Further complications occur when thes...
Pharmacist provision of patient medication education groups.

In the United States, medication nonadherence accounts for 10% of all hospital admissions and 33–69% of medication-related admissions, resulting in direct costs of $100–$289 billion annually.[1][1]–[6][2] Inadequate information about medication and a lack of understanding are barriers to
Dynamic Maximization of Oxygen Yield in an Elevated-Pressure Air Separation Unit using Multiple Model Predictive Control

In a typical air separation unit (ASU) utilizing either a simple gaseous oxygen (GOX) cycle or a pumped liquid oxygen (PLOX) cycle, the flowrate of the liquid nitrogen stream connecting the high- and low-pressure columns has a major impact on the total oxygen yield. It is shown that this yield reaches a maximum at a certain optimal flowrate of LN2 stream, creating a challenging feedback controller design problem. To dynamically maximize the oxygen yield while the ASU undergoes a load-change and/or a process disturbance, a multiple model predictive control (MMPC) algorithm is proposed. It is shown that at any operating point of the ASU, the MMPC algorithm, through model-weight calculation based on plant measurements, naturally and continuously selects the dominant model(s) corresponding to the current plant state, while making control-move decisions that approach the maximum oxygen yield point. This dynamically facilitates less energy consumption in form of compressed feed-air compared to a simple ratio control during load-swings. In addition, since a linear optimization problem is solved at each time step, the approach involves much less computational cost than a model predictive controller (MPC) based on a first-principles model.
Planar biochip system for combinatorial electrokinetics

This study presents a methodology of integrating dielectrophoresis (DEP) and electrorotation (ROT) on to a planar open electrode system platform to combinatorially characterize and separate organic and inorganic micro particles separate We have optimized methods to develop “biochip” prototype device that is easy to fabricate with an electrode geometry that enables unique combination of programmed input electrical signals that induces DEP and ROT simultaneously for micro-particle separation. We have demonstrated the isolation of target organic/inorganic particles from a heterogeneous sample population using dynamic DEP and ROT induced electric fields. Target particles were effectively separated and simultaneously analyzed for its dielectric properties using dynamic electrode geometry. In this study we have successfully shown the separation of two study models with separation efficiency of >96% from heterogeneous mixture of organic (HeLa and HEK cells) and inorganic (polystyrene beads) particles as a proof-of-feasibility suitable for translation research.
Dynamics of Na + (Benzene) + Benzene Association and Ensuing Na + (Benzene) 2 * Dissociation

Chemical dynamics simulations were used to study Bz + Na+(Bz) → Na+(Bz)2* association and the ensuing dissociation of the Na+(Bz)2* cluster (Bz = benzene). An interesting and unexpected reaction found from the simulations is direct displacement, for which the colliding Bz molecule displaces the Bz molecule attached to Na+, forming Na+(Bz). The rate constant for Bz + Na+(Bz) association was calculated at 750 and 1000 K, and found to decrease with increase in temperature. By contrast, the direct displacement rate constant increases with temperature. The cross section and rate constant for direct displacement are approximately an order of magnitude lower than those for association. The Na+(Bz)2* cluster, formed by association, dissociates with a biexponential probability, with the rate constant for the short-time component approximately an order of magnitude larger than that for the longer time component. The latter rate constant agrees with that of Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory, consistent wit...
Differential expression of toll-like receptors in the human placenta across early gestation.

Abstract Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are an essential component of the innate immune system. While a number of studies have described TLR expression in the female reproductive tract, few have examined the temporal expression of TLRs within the human placenta. We hypothesized that the pattern of TLR expression in the placenta changes throughout the first and second trimester, coincident with physiological changes in placental function and the demands of innate immunity. We collected first and second trimester placental tissue and conducted quantitative PCR analysis for TLRs 1–10, followed by immunohistochemistry to define the cell specific expression pattern of a subset of these receptors. Except for the very earliest time points, RNA expression for TLRs 1–10 was stable out to 20 weeks gestation. However, the pattern of protein expression evolved over time. Early first trimester placenta demonstrated a strong, uniform pattern predominantly in the inner villous cytotrophoblast layer. As the placenta matured through the second trimester, both the villous cytotrophoblasts and the pattern of TLR expression within them became disorganized and patchy, with putative Hofbauer cells now identifiable in the tissue also staining positive. We conclude from this data that placental TLR expression changes over the course of gestation, with a tight barrier of TLRs forming a wall of defense along the cytotrophoblast layer in the early first trimester that breaks down as pregnancy progresses. These data are relevant to understanding placental immunity against pathogen exposure throughout pregnancy and may aid in our understanding of the vulnerable period for fetal exposure to pathogens.
Locating Mobile Stations with Non-line-of-sight Measurements

We consider the problem of locating mobile stations using range measurements from several base stations when the direct path from transmitter to receiver may be intermittently or, quite possibly, continuously blocked. This non-line-of-sight phenomenon is known to be a major source of error in position location because it systematically causes the mobile to appear farther away from the base station than it actually is. In this paper, we present a first order model for the non-line-of-sight error and show that, under certain conditions, it is possible to (1) detect the non-line-of-sight error using a hypothesis testing procedure and to (2) reconstruct the line-of-sight by exploiting a priori knowledge of the statistics of the standard measurement noise. Simulation examples are presented in order to demonstrate performance of this algorithm.
Probing Chemical and Physical Properties of Poplar Tension Wood Using Confocal Raman Microscopy and Pulsed Force Mode Atomic Force Microscopy

Lignocellulosic biofuels have been identified as a possible solution to contribute to the world’s demands in energy and environmental sustainability. However, the fundamental understanding of the physical and chemical traits hindering key reactions during biomass to biofuel conversion processes has been limited by the lack of suitable tools and by the large natural variability in such systems. Reaction wood constitutes a good model system to study variations of cellulose content, given the increase in cellulose content in the cell walls of the region under tension in the plant during growth. In this work, we use confocal Raman mapping and Pulsed Force Mode Atomic Force Microscopy (PFM) to explore the effect of variation in cellulose content on the structure and composition of the plant cell wall at the nanoscale. Using statistical analysis on Raman datasets, the characteristic peaks for cellulose and lignin are examined to reveal changes in peak positions across the different scanned regions of the cross section. PFM is used to study local mechanical properties of the different layers of the cell wall. Our approach facilitates the correlation of structure-composition traits of the plant cell wall for a more fundamental understanding of processes involved in biofuel research.
A Test of Soccer Cleats Compared to Football Cleats during Football Speed and Agility Drills: Do Soccer Cleats Make You Faster or More Agile?

Background: Football players have many options in cleat styles and designs today. Skill position players especially may opt for soccer cleats over football cleats in the belief that the soccer cleats will help them run faster. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare soccer cleats to football cleats during common American football field drills. Methods: Sixteen young adult males performed a circuit of four American football speed and agility drills (forty yd-dash, ladder drill, 5-10-5-drill, and six-route route tree) in both soccer and football cleats. Performance measures (such as time or steps) were recorded for each drill. Subjects were asked to score the shoes in terms of comfort, heaviness, stability, and traction at various times. Results: Two significant differences were found as a result of this study. Out route times (seconds) were significantly different between football cleats and soccer cleats. The other significant difference occurred in the perceived heaviness of each cleat. Conclusion: This study found minimal difference between football and soccer cleats in performance and perception. Participants in this study showed split preferences as to which cleat was better for performance. Of four studied perceptual outcomes, only the heaviness perception was significantly different. This was further backed by performance data that had only one significant difference among seventeen performance-associated measurements.
Towards a Biometric Authentication-Based Hybrid Trust-Computing Approach for Verification of Provider Profiles in Online Healthcare Information

With the advent of the Internet and the growth in the use of cyberspace by consumers for online healthcare information (OHI), various researchers from different disciplines have been working on the challenges and threats posed by the issue of cyberchondria, which is related to the cyber psychological aspects of uncertainty, anxiety, quality, and credibility. However, there are few research efforts, which have directly treated the case of cyberchondria as an interdisciplinary trust-computing problem in information assurance. None of these efforts has encountered the reliability issues with OHI, leading to cyberchondria, by handling provider level trust antecedents. OHI based trust research has also never used biometrics to validate multi-dimensional trust constructs, including visual appearance, reputation, familiarity and social identity. Additionally, this research avenue has not handled the trustworthiness of OHI at the provider level through verification of institutional profiles and affiliations. Hence, in order to enhance trustworthiness through verification at the trustee level, this paper conceptualizes and proposes a novel trust-computing model, which is driven by visual recognition based biometric authentication of physician profiles. The uniqueness of this hybrid trust model lies in its biometric-inspired basis and provider-centric approach, along with its fine blend of soft trust and hard trust elements. As an initial proof-of-concept prototype for the proposed approach, an experiment is conducted to demonstrate a potential implementation of this trust-computing model. The experimental results obtained through this prototype implementation are shared as part of this paper. This prototype will drive further innovative experiments with the proposed trust-computing model, and shall form the basis of future trust related research in OHI for addressing cyberchondria.
Avalanche Forecasting: Using Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART)

During the ski season, professional avalanche forecasters working for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) monitor one of the most dangerous highways in the world. These forecasters continually evaluate the risk of avalanche activity and make road closure decisions.
Cross-Linguistic Comparative Approaches to Language Acquisition

Cross-linguistic studies of child language seek to compare the acquisition of comparable and contrasting languages in order to discover the mechanisms and processes that drive the course of development in general. Studies of first-language acquisition have been carried out on a great range of languages, both spoken and signed, revealing common developmental patterns. The comparative method makes it possible to determine the roles of many interacting factors in the acquisition process, such as perceptual saliency, type of linguistic construction, semantic categories, frequency of use, and communicative functions of linguistic forms.
Developments and research directions in pipe jacking and microtunneling

Abstract This paper provides a review of the history and development of pipe jacking and microtunneling methods with extensive referencing to the published literature. The application of such methods in comparison with other trenchless technologies is discussed and the various planning, design and construction aspects are introduced. The emphasis of the paper is to trace the academic research and field monitoring results covering critical aspects of design and construction with a particular emphasis on jacking force estimation and the effect of lubrication on jacking forces.