cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the “bang-bang” principle for nonlinear evolution inclusions

In this paper we establish the existence of extremal solutions for a class of nonlinear evolution inclusions defined on an evolution triple of Hilbert spaces. Then we show that these extremal solutions are in fact dense in the solutions of the original system. Subsequently we use this density result to derive nonlinear and infinite dimensional versions of the “bang-bang” principle for control systems. An example of a nonlinear parabolic distributed parameter system is also worked out in detail.
in vitro studies with melphalan and pediatric neoplastic and normal bone marrow cells

Chemotherapeutic agents are used in increasingly high dosages to treat patients with refractory cancers. An in vitro clonogenic assay was used to investigate the effects of melphalan on cultures of human neuroblastoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and osteosarcoma cells, as well as on normal bone marrow cells. A 1-hr incubation with 10(-5) M melphalan significantly inhibited tumor colony growth of both fresh neuroblastoma and osteosarcoma cells (p less than 0.01) while Ewing's sarcoma cells and normal bone marrow appeared resistant to melphalan even at a 100-fold higher concentration. Incubation with melphalan for 8 hr did not significantly increase the sensitivity of neuroblastoma and osteosarcoma or the relative resistance of Ewing's sarcoma cells; however, normal bone marrow which had remained resistant to melphalan after 1 hr of incubation, showed significant inhibition of colony growth after an 8-hr incubation with the agent. Repeated exposure to melphalan increased the degree of inhibition of both tumor and normal marrow colonies. Fresh neuroblastoma cells were significantly more sensitive than long-term cultured neuroblastoma cells at all drug doses tested. HPLC studies demonstrated that the loss of melphalan followed first-order kinetics with a half-life of 69 min, and that in addition to the 2 known breakdown products, mono- and dihydroxy-melphalan, several other peaks were present which were not attributable to the tissue culture medium or the buffer solutions.
Synthesis and characterization of Se-adenosyl-L-selenohomocysteine selenoxide

Selenium is an essential micronutrient in humans due to the important roles of the selenocysteine-containing selenoproteins. Organoselenium metabolites are generally found to be substrates for the biochemical pathways of their sulfur analogs, and the redox chemistry of selenomethionine and some other metabolites have been previously reported. We now report the first synthesis and characterization of Se-adenosylselenohomocysteine selenoxide (SeAHO) prepared via hydrogen peroxide oxidation of Se-adenosylselenohomocysteine. The selenoxide SeAHO, in contrast to its corresponding sulfoxide S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAHO), can form hydrate, has an electrostatic interaction between the α-amino acid moiety and the highly polar selenoxide functional group, and readily oxidizes glutathione (GSH) and cysteine thiols.
The Effect of Neglecting the Virtual Temperature Correction on CAPE Calculations

Abstract A simple theoretical analysis of the impact of neglecting the virtual correction on calculation of CAPE is made. This theory suggests that while ignoring the virtual correction does not introduce much error for large CAPE values, the relative error can become substantial for small CAPE. A test of the theory is done by finding the error made by ignoring the virtual correction to CAPE for all the soundings in 1992 having positive CAPE (when the correction is made). Results of this empirical test confirm that the relative error made in ignoring the correction increases with decreasing CAPE. A number of other “corrections” to CAPE might be considered. In a discussion of the issues associated with the results of the analysis, it is recommended that CAPE calculations should include the virtual correction but that other complications should be avoided for most purposes, especially when making comparisons of CAPE values. A standardized CAPE calculation also is recommended.
Nav1.4 Voltage Sensor Residues Immobilized During Fast Inactivation

We investigated the locus of the charge immobilization in S4 voltage sensing segments of skeletal muscle sodium channels. To do this we compared the effects of charge reversing mutations of outer and central arginine or lysine residues using the cut open oocyte configuration. While reversal of charge at R1448 (R1 in DIV S4) produced a depolarizing effect on IV and QV curves, and limited immobilization of the gating charge, the analogous mutation at K1126 (K1 in DIII S4) had no effect. Reversal of charge at R4 and R5 in both DIII S4 and DIV S4 also limited immobilization of the gating charge. Dependence on charge for the effects of mutations at these loci was examined by substituting the native arginine residue with lysine. Charge substitution at R1 in DIV S4 and at R5 in DIII S4 or DIV S4 partially restored QV and gating charge immobilization parameters to the wild type phenotype, whereas charge substitution at R4 in either DIII S4 or DIV S4 did not. Effects of R1457E and R1457K (R4 in DIV S4) on gating charge remobilization suggested that this residue plays a pivotal role in gating charge movement associated with accessibility of the IFMT motif during fast inactivation. This work was supported by NIH R15NS064556-01 to JRG and NIH P20RR16454 to ISU from the INBRE program of the National Center for Research Resources.
Allium Chemistry: Supercritical Fluid Extraction and LC−APCI−MS of Thiosulfinates and Related Compounds from Homogenates of Garlic, Onion, and Ramp. Identification in Garlic and Ramp and Synthesis of 1-Propanesulfinothioic Acid S-Allyl Ester

Supercritical fluid (SF) extracts of homogenized garlic (Allium sativum L.), ramp (A. tricoccum Ait.), and onion (A. cepa) were characterized with liquid chromatography (LC) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric identification. The major thiosulfinates from garlic and ramp were readily characterized by this technique. Small quantities of ajoene, a potent antithrombotic agent, were also found in SF extracts of garlic homogenates. The profiles of onion juice extracts revealed the usual thiosulfinates, zwiebelanes, and bissulfine reported in prior studies, as well as cepaenes previously identified in extracts of onion juice through extensive isolation steps and spectroscopic methods. The presence of trace quantities of allyl compounds in onion juice and propyl compounds in garlic and ramp homogenates has been verified by LC−mass spectrometry (MS). The presence of these compounds was not readily evident in previous analyses using gas chromatography−MS with cold-on-column injection an...
The prevalence of congenital heart disease in United States college freshmen, 1956-1965.

I N 1956 the Heart Disease and Stroke Control Program and the American College Health Association began a cooperative study to determine the prevalence of rheumatic fever in United States college freshmen. 1,2 The students participating were asked to complete a questionnaire especially designed to elicit a history of rheumatic fever. Each student was then examined by a private or school physician. The examining physician validated the history and, after physical examination, noted the presence of rheumatic or congenital heart disease. The purpose of this report is to present data relative to the prevalence of congenital heart disease noted in the study between 1956 and 1965.
A model of opposed-flow flame spread over charring materials

This paper presents a theoretical description of a diffusion flame spreading against the wind on a semiinfinite charring solid. It extends the previous flame spread models on “vaporizing” solids to charring materials like wood and provides a realistic description of the gas phase. To make the problem analytically tractable, a mixture fraction approach is used in the gas phase and the no-slip boundary condition is satisfied only for x >0. In the solid phase, the charring solid is assumed to decompose abruptly (endothermically or exothermically) into char and fuel gases at a specified pyrolysis temperature. The steady-state coupled elliptic equations for conservation of energy, mixture fraction, and momentum in the gas phase and conservation of energy in the char and the pristine solid are solved by using orthogonal parabolic coordinates. A general analytical solution is presented that reduces to de Ris's flame spread formula in the limit of zero char thickness and with similar assumptions. The growing char layer in the solid phase has considerable influence on the flame spread rate. It is seen that formation of a thicker char layer significantly retards the spread rate. Unique steady-state solutions for the parabolic char-material interface were found to exist only for Stefan number >−1. For Stefan number=−1 (i.e., exothermic), two solutions were found. One of these solutions corresponds to the location of the char-solid interface at infinity, indicating the likelihood of a thermal runaway. This happens regardless of the property values.
An integrated protocol stack for efficient resources management in wireless networks

The area of ATM multihop radio networks has recently become an issue of interest especially with the growing interest in portable multimedia units. Multimedia communication requires a deterministic delivery of isochronous traffic with predefined QoS requirements. In this paper we propose an integrated protocol stack which provides deterministic delivery bounds and efficiently utilizes channel backwidth. By integrating the access, routing and congestion control protocols, a solution is provided which improves bandwidth utilization, maintains shortest route packet delivery and leads to congestion avoidance. A tractable approximate analytical model is developed and verified for networks with finite storage capacity. For large multihop networks the analytical solution is complemented by simulation. Evaluation shows that the proposed protocol integration yields a significant reduction in end-to-end delay, which together with bounded access time at the channel access level, provide two essential features for the support of isochronous traffic in multihop wireless environments.
Self-Reported Processing Bias and Naturally Occurring Mood: Mediators between Personality and Stress Appraisals:

Although past research has shown that neuroticism and extraversion predict stress appraisals, how these traits affect appraisals is not known. In the present study, mood and two processing biases were predicted to mediate between personality and appraisals. Participants (N = 236) completed measures of personality, mood, appraisals for five hypothetical stressors, and whether they relied (when making appraisals) on the positive or negative features of those events. Three months later, participants also made appraisals of a recent stressful event. As predicted, the negative and positive processing biases mediated between neuroticism, extraversion, and appraisals of the hypothetical events and mediated between neuroticism and appraisals of the real-life stressor. Indirect effects also were found from positive mood to appraisals. Because appraisals affect stress responses, these findings have wide implications for adaptational outcomes.
Impending widowhood and health care spending

Abstract Research has established that a household’s needs-adjusted income declines when a spouse dies. However, the process by which this income decline occurs is less clear. This study utilizes the 1996, 1997, and 1998 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS) to investigate whether medical expenditures prior to widowhood contribute to the income decline. Multivariate regressions reveal that both total and out-of-pocket medical expenditures are significantly higher for the about-to-be-widowed compared to an otherwise similar group of continuously married, healthy respondents. The differences are particularly large when the soon-to-be-deceased spouse is not eligible for Medicare.
Analysis of dislocation mechanisms around indentations through slip step observations

Atomic force microscopy has been used to study slip step patterns, which form around indentations in FCC alloys. These patterns form in a consistent and repeatable manner. From these observations it has been determined that slip steps increase in height only in the outer region of the plastic zone leading to the cessation of their growth as the plastic zone expands outward. Electron backscatter diffraction techniques are used to map grain orientation and the effect of different surface orientations as well as different tip geometries on slip step behavior is explored. Changes in resolved shear stress on different slip planes can be observed qualitatively from changes in the slip step patterns as surface orientation and tip geometry are varied. Pile up is shown to form above the regions with the largest amounts of strain downward into the bulk. Changes in slip step patterns can be predicted based on changes in resolved shear stress. Discreet dislocation dynamics simulations have been performed to support these observations.
Quasiequilibrium rate constants for thermionic emission from small particles

Abstract A modified hard-sphere model for electron capture by small aggregates is used to derive an expression for the rate constants for thermionic emission from isolated aggregates of matter. Its connection with earlier models for autoionization is indicated. The use of generalized Arrhenius plots for comparing experiment and theory is outlined.
A Meta-analysis of Peer-Mediated Instructional Arrangements and Autism

We conducted a meta-analysis of 13 instructional arrangement studies that were conducted with children with autism spectrum disorders to improve academic and social communication skills and behavior. Results across the studies indicate that peer-mediated instructional arrangement is a robust method for teaching and improving various academic and other related skills—communication and social. Peer-mediated instructional arrangement strategies also facilitated maintenance and generalization of learned skills in half of the reviewed studies. We discuss the results and make suggestions for future researchers and practitioners.
THE ROLE OF SOME BIRTH‐RELATED VARIABLES IN FATHER ATTACHMENT

Forty-six middle-income couples planning different childbirth methods--natural hospital delivery; home delivery; hospital delivery with anesthesia--were studied from the sixth month of pregnancy until six months after the birth. The father's participation in the birth and his attitude toward it were found to constitute the most significant variable in predicting father attachment. prenatal education and structuring of the birth environment are suggested to obtain maximum participation and involvement of fathers.
Total radiative intensity calculations for 100% CO2 and 90% CO2-10% N2

Abstract Radiative intensity calculations have been performed for plasmas of 100% CO2 and 90% CO2-10% N2 for temperatures of from 10 000 to 20 000°K, densities from 0.0001 to 0.1 earth standard density, and path lengths from 1.0 to 30.0 cm. The actual spectral detail of the continuum absorption coefficient was computed from 240 to 30 000 A. The ultraviolet atomic lines were computed by adding the individual line absorption coefficients to the continuum at 1 2 A intervals, thus accounting for reabsorption due to line-line overlap. The visible and infrared lines are individually integrated and added to the total intensity. The total radiation is found to consist primarily of ultraviolet radiation, the lines being generally more important than the continuum. The addition of small amounts of N2 to CO2 seems to have only a small effect on the total radiant intensity.
Optimal design of clinical trials comparing several treatments with a control

Clinical trials are often designed to compare several treatments with a common control arm in pairwise fashion. In this paper we study optimal designs for such studies, based on minimizing the total number of patients required to achieve a given level of power. A common approach when designing studies to compare several treatments with a control is to achieve the desired power for each individual pairwise treatment comparison. However, it is often more appropriate to characterize power in terms of the family of null hypotheses being tested, and to control the probability of rejecting all, or alternatively any, of these individual hypotheses. While all approaches lead to unbalanced designs with more patients allocated to the control arm, it is found that the optimal design and required number of patients can vary substantially depending on the chosen characterization of power. The methods make allowance for both continuous and binary outcomes and are illustrated with reference to two clinical trials, one involving multiple doses compared to placebo and the other involving combination therapy compared to mono-therapies. In one example a 55% reduction in sample size is achieved through an optimal design combined with the appropriate characterization of power. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Temporal and Spatial Distributions of Ozone in Atlanta: Regulatory and Epidemiologic Implications

ABSTRACT Relationships between ambient levels of selected air pollutants and pediatric asthma exacerbation in Atlanta were studied retrospectively. As a part of this study, temporal and spatial distributions of ambient ozone concentrations in the 20-county Atlanta metropolitan area during the summers of 1993, 1994, and 1995 were assessed. A universal kriging procedure was used for spatial interpolation of aerometric monitoring station data. In this paper, the temporal and spatial distributions of ozone are described, and regulatory and epidemiologic implications are discussed. For the study period, the Atlanta ozone nonattainment area based on the 1-h, exceedance-based standard of 0.12 ppm is estimated to expand—from 56% of the Atlanta MSA by area and 71% by population to 88% by area and 96% by population—under the new 8-h, concentration-based standard of 0.08 ppm. Regarding asthma exacerbation, a 4% increase in pediatric asthma rate per 20-ppb increase in ambient ozone concentration was observed (p-value...
Target tracking using an image sensor with a configurable active area

In this paper, we address the problem of tracking a point target moving in two dimensions using an image sensor with a configurable active area. Our objective is to accurately track the target while minimizing the size of the image (and hence the amount of data) acquired by the image sensor. We propose an adaptive heuristic algorithm to configure the sensor's active area. The target tracker is implemented using a particle filter. Monte Carlo simulation shows that our adaptive algorithm requires a very small active area to provide performance very near that obtained when using the whole sensor field-of-view.
Direction of signal recording affects waveform characteristics of ventricular fibrillation in humans undergoing defibrillation testing during ICD implantation

Summary Introduction In cardiac arrest due to prolonged ventricular fibrillation (VF), defibrillation is more likely to result in a perfusing rhythm if chest compressions are performed first. Furthermore, the VF waveform can predict the shockability of VF and thus automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are being designed to analyze the VF waveform to direct therapies. However, it is unknown whether the VF waveform is dependent on recording direction, which could be altered by incorrect placement of AED patches. Materials and methods VF was induced in 26 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and 19 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and recorded in six limb leads. Frequency characteristics (mean, median, dominant frequency, and bandwidth) were computed as well as amplitude-based measures: amplitude spectral area (AMSA), slope, signal amplitude, and slope divide by signal amplitude (slope-amp). Results Frequency characteristics were similar in all leads. However, AMSA, slope, and signal amplitude were significantly affected ( P P P Conclusions Amplitude measures of VF are significantly affected by limb lead ECG recording direction. This work suggests that AED patches must be correctly and consistently placed if amplitude-based measures are used to decide whether to deliver a defibrillatory shock.
Thermal resistance calculation of AlGaN/GaN on SiC devices

We present an original, accurate, closed-form expression for the thermal resistance of multifingers AlGaN/GaN on SiC FET devices. The model takes into account the thickness of GaN and SiC layers, the gate pitch, length, and width. The model's validity is verified by comparing it with the results of numerical simulations for many different devices. Very close (1-2%) agreement is observed in general. The model is also compared with experimental observations.
Self, Family, and Community in White Mountain Apache Society

dance that was part of the festivities for a girl's puberty ceremony. As I drove, their daughter,julie, who was nine or ten at the time, became upset that we were .going home, and for whatever reason she wanted to return to the dance, which was now five or so miles to the rear.·She became more and more vocal until eventually her father, tired of her petulance, asked me to stop the car. I expected a major show of force, but instead he opened the door and let her out on the dark, deserted road. He then gave her some change that, in her anger at not having been appeased sooner, she dashed into the dust as she stomped offback in the direction from which we hadjust come. He then calmly.said, "Drive on."
An animal model of differential genetic risk for methamphetamine intake

The question of whether genetic factors contribute to risk for methamphetamine (MA) use and dependence has not been intensively investigated. Compared to human populations, genetic animal models offer the advantages of control over genetic family history and drug exposure. Using selective breeding, we created lines of mice that differ in genetic risk for voluntary MA intake and identified the chromosomal addresses of contributory genes. A quantitative trait locus was identified on chromosome 10 that accounts for more than 50% of the genetic variance in MA intake in the selected mouse lines. In addition, behavioral and physiological screening identified differences corresponding with risk for MA intake that have generated hypotheses that are testable in humans. Heightened sensitivity to aversive and certain physiological effects of MA, such as MA-induced reduction in body temperature, are hallmarks of mice bred for low MA intake. Furthermore, unlike MA-avoiding mice, MA-preferring mice are sensitive to rewarding and reinforcing MA effects, and to MA-induced increases in brain extracellular dopamine levels. Gene expression analyses implicate the importance of a network enriched in transcription factor genes, some of which regulate the mu opioid receptor gene, Oprm1, in risk for MA use. Neuroimmune factors appear to play a role in differential response to MA between the mice bred for high and low intake. In addition, chromosome 10 candidate gene studies provide strong support for a trace amine-associated receptor 1 gene, Taar1, polymorphism in risk for MA intake. MA is a trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonist, and a non-functional Taar1 allele segregates with high MA consumption. Thus, reduced TAAR1 function has the potential to increase risk for MA use. Overall, existing findings support the MA drinking lines as a powerful model for identifying genetic factors involved in determining risk for harmful MA use. Future directions include the development of a binge model of MA intake, examining the effect of withdrawal from chronic MA on MA intake, and studying potential Taar1 gene × gene and gene × environment interactions. These and other studies are intended to improve our genetic model with regard to its translational value to human addiction.
Experimental Intra-Abdominal Abscesses in Rats: Quantitative Bacteriology of Infected Animals

An animal model simulating intra-abdominal sepsis was produced by implanting large bowel contents into the pelvic region of rats. Bacteriological analysis of infected sites showed quantitative differences according to the stage of disease. During the initial, often lethal, peritonitis stage, Escherichia coli (mean concentration, 106/ml), enterococci (105) and Bacterioides fragilis (106) were always present. Blood cultures obtained during this phase were uniformly positive, with E. coli being the principal isolate. Animals that survived this early acute peritonitis stage developed indolent intra-abdominal abscesses. The major isolates in abscess contents were B. fragilis (108.7) and Fusobacterium (108.6); E. coli (107.8) and enterococci (105.7) were also present but in lesser concentrations. Rank order analysis of these four species in peritoneal exudates and abscess pus showed that the two aerobes outranked the two anaerobes during the early stage of the disease, whereas the reverse was true in abscesses. These experiments also illustrated that a major simplification of the original fecal inoculum occurred, even though the subsequent infection remained bacteriologically complex.
On labeled paths

Labeled graph theory is the marriage of two common problem domains to computer science—graph theory and automata theory. Though each has been independently studied in depth, there has been little investigation of their intersection, the labeled paths. This dissertation examines three results in the area of labeled path problems. The first result presents an empirical analysis of two context-free labeled all-pairs shortest-path algorithms using MapReduce as the experimental platform. The second and third results examine labeled paths in the context of formal languages beyond the context free languages. The second result is a lower bound on the length of the longest shortest path when the formal language constraining the path is a member of the control language hierarchy. Finally, the third result presents a labeled all-pairs shortest-path algorithm for each level of the infinite KLinear-Hierarchy.
Subtherapeutic anticoagulation: the bane of conventional anticoagulation for cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

Please see page 257 for the article by Corrado et al. (doi: 10.1016/S1525-2167(03)00075-1) to which this editorial pertains. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in clinical practice, affecting slightly less than 1% of the general population.1 Patients with AF suffer from a decrease in functional capacity secondary to a combination of palpitations, dyspnea, myocardial ischemia, congestive heart failure and hypotension.2,3 In addition, unorganized atrial electrical and mechanical activity result in blood stasis and the formation of atrial thrombi placing the patient at risk of systemic thromboembolism.4 It is therefore important, if feasible, to attempt cardioversion (CV) to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) in these patients. The most concerning complication of CV in AF is systemic thromboembolism, and more specifically stroke. In 1960, Goldman reported a 1.5% embolization event rate in 400 AF patients undergoing chemical CV who had not received anticoagulation.5 This study proposed for the first time that anticoagulant therapy initiated prior to CV could stabilize pre-existing thrombus allowing it to organize and adhere to the atrial wall. The first report of thromboembolism associated with electrical CV occurred in 1963 when Lown et al. examined 50 AF patients.6 In this series, 94% of patients had rheumatic heart disease and systemic embolization was reported in 1.7%. Anticoagulation therapy was restricted only to patients with mitral stenosis. A few years later, Lown reported the results of a series of 350 patients undergoing electrical CV for AF.7 This study documented a 0.9% incidence of systemic embolization. Interestingly, only 29% of patients received anticoagulant agents and all embolic events occurred in those not receiving warfarin. The first prospective controlled study of anticoagulation in patients undergoing electrical CV was performed in 1969 by Bjerkelund and Orning.8 In 437 patients with atrial arrhythmia, systemic thromboembolism occurred …
South Pacific Iguanas: Human Impacts and a New Species

The diversity and distribution of Pacific island iguanas were altered drastically following human colonization around 2800 years ago. A giant iguana recovered from archaeological sites in the Ha'apai group of islands, Kingdom of Tonga, became extinct within a century of human arrival. We describe this iguana as a new species of Brachylophus, a genus with two small arboreal species found today in Fiji (Brachylophus fasciatus, Brachylophus vitiensis) and parts of Tonga (Brachylophus fasciatus). Additional evidence suggests that B. fasciatus was probably introduced to Tonga (the type locality) by prehistoric people 2000 years after extinction of the giant form. Lapitiguana impensa, described in 2003 from Fiji by G. K. Pregill and T. H. Worthy was an even larger extinct iguana that also succumbed to human impact. The two living species are relicts of a much richer evolutionary history than previously known.
Biomechanics and control of vocalization in a non-songbird

The neuromuscular control of vocalization in birds requires complicated and precisely coordinated motor control of the vocal organ (i.e. the syrinx), the respiratory system and upper vocal tract. The biomechanics of the syrinx is very complex and not well understood. In this paper, we aim to unravel the contribution of different control parameters in the coo of the ring dove (Streptopelia risoria) at the syrinx level. We designed and implemented a quantitative biomechanical syrinx model that is driven by physiological control parameters and includes a muscle model. Our simple nonlinear model reproduces the coo, including the inspiratory note, with remarkable accuracy and suggests that harmonic content of song can be controlled by the geometry and rest position of the syrinx. Furthermore, by systematically switching off the control parameters, we demonstrate how they affect amplitude and frequency modulations and generate new experimentally testable hypotheses. Our model suggests that independent control of amplitude and frequency seems not to be possible with the simple syringeal morphology of the ring dove. We speculate that songbirds evolved a syrinx design that uncouples the control of different sound parameters and allows for independent control. This evolutionary key innovation provides an additional explanation for the rapid diversification and speciation of the songbirds.
Asymptotic optimality of BestFit for stochastic bin packing

In the static bin packing problem, items of diffierent sizes must be packed into bins or servers with unit capacity in a way that minimizes the number of bins used, and it is well-known to be a hard combinatorial problem. Best-Fit is among the simplest online heuristics for this problem. Motivated by the problem of packing virtual machines in servers in the cloud, we consider the dynamic version of this problem, when jobs arrive randomly over time and leave the system after completion of their service. We analyze the uid limits of the system under an asymptotic Best-Fit algorithm and show that it asymptotically minimizes the number of servers used in steady state (on the uid scale). The significance of the result is due to the fact that Best-Fit seems to achieve the best performance in practice.
Fairness from the Top: Perceived Procedural Justice and Collaborative Problem Solving in New Product Development

The literature on new product development has examined several important determinants of collaboration among project members. However, we are not aware of any study that links top management decisions with project members' collaborative behavior. To address this significant gap, this study examines how perceived procedural justice in top management decisions regarding new products is related to collaborative problem solving among new product development project members. Our results from 109 technology firms---as well as from 91 student-based project groups---suggest that perceived procedural justice in top management decisions is positively related to collaborative problem solving among project members, and that collaborative problem solving mediates the relationship between perceived procedural justice and new product performance. Furthermore, we found that the relationship between perceived procedural justice and collaborative problem solving is positively moderated by environmental uncertainty. Contrary to our expectation, however, our findings show a negative moderating effect of project members' perceived organizational commitment on the relationship between perceived procedural justice and collaborative problem solving.
The female family core explored ethnosociologically

Extended family households of South Asia distinguish their core female personnel as sexually active or inactive, junior or senior, and own or other. (i) Noting similar variables in the region's classical theories and elsewhere in its ethnography, and constructing from these a paradigm to assist fur ther questioning, this paper finds (ii) eight major societal qualities generated by the same paradigm, (iii) eight corresponding domestic role-types, (iv) a common female life-course through those role-types, (v) characteristic relations of worship complementing that female life-course, and (vi) diverse related perspectives on male—female differences. So many results from questioning with this one paradigm make the common and congruent female family core a likely source of the civilisation's diversity as well as of its underlying assumptions.
A real-time, isolated-word, speech recognition system for dictation transcription

The Speech Recognition Group at IBM, Yorktown Heights, has recently completed the implementation of an experimental, real-time, isolated-word, speech recognition system with a 5,000-word vocabulary which can be used for dictating office correspondence. Typical recognition accuracy is greater than 94% correct word recognition for words within the vocabulary. We first describe the architecture of this system, and then give some recent experimental results obtained with it for read and spontaneously dictated speech from five speakers.
On Asymptotic Outage Capacity Distribution of Correlated MIMO Channels

A general sufficient condition for the asymptotic normality of MIMO channel outage capacity is considered. Some physical aspects of this condition are discussed. Simple alternative conditions, which do not require eigenvalue decomposition, are proposed for the MIMO channels whose correlation matrix has a Toeplitz structure. It is demonstrated that some popular correlation matrix models satisfy this condition. In many cases, the convergence to the asymptotic normality is at least as 1radic nt , where nt is the number of Tx antennas.
Planning software and patient-specific instruments in shoulder arthroplasty

Computer planning software and patient-specific instrumentation have been investigated in multiple subspecialties of orthopedics with mixed results. Shoulder arthroplasty has evolved over the last decade with improvements in implant design and surgical instrumentation. Despite these advances, glenoid positioning in shoulder arthroplasty continues to be a difficult problem. Recent advances in three-dimensional imaging techniques and the use of computer planning software may potentially address some of the common difficulties encountered by surgeons. The addition of patient-specific instrumentation and guides provide an option for patients with significant glenoid deformity that may allow improved accuracy of glenoid component implantation compared to using standard instrumentation. Studies have reported improved positioning of the glenoid component in both anatomic and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with patient-specific instrumentation and guides. More research is needed to determine whether these improvements lead to better patient-reported outcomes or implant survival. In addition, further studies will be needed to address whether this technology is cost effective for large-scale implementation in the orthopedic community.
Uncertainty analysis of the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model at multiple flux tower sites

Summary Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important component of the water cycle – ET from the land surface returns approximately 60% of the global precipitation back to the atmosphere. ET also plays an important role in energy transport among the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. Current regional to global and daily to annual ET estimation relies mainly on surface energy balance (SEB) ET models or statistical and empirical methods driven by remote sensing data and various climatological databases. These models have uncertainties due to inevitable input errors, poorly defined parameters, and inadequate model structures. The eddy covariance measurements on water, energy, and carbon fluxes at the AmeriFlux tower sites provide an opportunity to assess the ET modeling uncertainties. In this study, we focused on uncertainty analysis of the Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) model for ET estimation at multiple AmeriFlux tower sites with diverse land cover characteristics and climatic conditions. The 8-day composite 1-km MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (LST) was used as input land surface temperature for the SSEBop algorithms. The other input data were taken from the AmeriFlux database. Results of statistical analysis indicated that the SSEBop model performed well in estimating ET with an R2 of 0.86 between estimated ET and eddy covariance measurements at 42 AmeriFlux tower sites during 2001–2007. It was encouraging to see that the best performance was observed for croplands, where R2 was 0.92 with a root mean square error of 13 mm/month. The uncertainties or random errors from input variables and parameters of the SSEBop model led to monthly ET estimates with relative errors less than 20% across multiple flux tower sites distributed across different biomes. This uncertainty of the SSEBop model lies within the error range of other SEB models, suggesting systematic error or bias of the SSEBop model is within the normal range. This finding implies that the simplified parameterization of the SSEBop model did not significantly affect the accuracy of the ET estimate while increasing the ease of model setup for operational applications. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the SSEBop model is most sensitive to input variables, land surface temperature (LST) and reference ET ( ET o ); and parameters, differential temperature ( dT ), and maximum ET scalar ( K max ), particularly during the non-growing season and in dry areas. In summary, the uncertainty assessment verifies that the SSEBop model is a reliable and robust method for large-area ET estimation. The SSEBop model estimates can be further improved by reducing errors in two input variables ( ET o and LST) and two key parameters ( K max and dT ).
Nest site selection by the red-tailed tropicbird

Criteres de selection du site de nidification etudies pour Phaethon rubricauda sur l'ile Christmas. Caracterisation des nids actuels; comparaison entre les sites et entre divers points d'un meme site
The renal clearance of oxalate in normal subjects and patients with primary hyperoxaluria.

SUMMARY 1. The renal clearance of oxalate was studied in six normal subjects and in two patients with primary hyperoxaluria utilizing a constant infusion of [14C]oxalic acid. 2. The [14C]oxalate clearance in normal subjects was between 101 and 217 ml/min with a range in the ratio ofp4C]oxalate clearance to creatinine clearance of 1,33-2,09. 3. The oxalate clearance in two patients with primary hyperoxaluria was within the range found in the normal subjects. 4. This study does not confirm the previous report of a low oxalate/creatinine clearance ratio in man nor the finding of an elevated oxalate clearance in patients with primary hyperoxaluria. 5. Estimates of serum oxalate concentration based on these clearance values suggest that the serum oxalate concentration in normal subjects is less than 100 jlg/loo ml. The diagnosis and pathogenesis of primary hyperoxaluria has been well delineated in several laboratories (Hockaday, Clayton, Frederick & Smith, 1964; Williams & Smith, 1968a, b; Wyngaarden & Elder, 1966; Hodgkinson & Zarembski, 1968). Despite these extensive investigations relatively little information is available about the renal clearance of oxalate in man. Cattell, Spencer, Taylor & Watts (1962) found that the renal clearance of infused sodium [14C]oxalate was 68 ml/min in the dog (mean of twenty-five observations on six dogs) with average ratio of oxalate clearance to inulin clearance and/or exogenous creatinine clearance of 1·28. In contrast with these studies Zarembski & Hodgkinson (1963) using a fluorimetric method for the determination of oxalate found that oxalate clear­ ance in normal subjects varied between 3'4 and 5'0 nil/min. In addition they noted an elevated renal clearance of oxalate in seven patients with primary hyperoxaluria. These discrepant results suggested a difference between the renal handling of oxalate in man and in the dog. We have infused p4C]oxalic acid, and determined the renal clearance of[ 14C]oxalate in normal
Group CBT versus MBSR for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to investigate treatment outcome and mediators of cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) versus mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) versus waitlist (WL) in patients with generalized social anxiety disorder (SAD). METHOD One hundred eight unmedicated patients (55.6% female; mean age = 32.7 years, SD = 8.0; 43.5% Caucasian, 39% Asian, 9.3% Hispanic, 8.3% other) were randomized to CBGT versus MBSR versus WL and completed assessments at baseline, posttreatment/WL, and at 1-year follow-up, including the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale-Self-Report (primary outcome; Liebowitz, 1987) as well as measures of treatment-related processes. RESULTS Linear mixed model analysis showed that CBGT and MBSR both produced greater improvements on most measures compared with WL. Both treatments yielded similar improvements in social anxiety symptoms, cognitive reappraisal frequency and self-efficacy, cognitive distortions, mindfulness skills, attention focusing, and rumination. There were greater decreases in subtle avoidance behaviors following CBGT than MBSR. Mediation analyses revealed that increases in reappraisal frequency, mindfulness skills, attention focusing, and attention shifting, and decreases in subtle avoidance behaviors and cognitive distortions, mediated the impact of both CBGT and MBSR on social anxiety symptoms. However, increases in reappraisal self-efficacy and decreases in avoidance behaviors mediated the impact of CBGT (vs. MBSR) on social anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSIONS CBGT and MBSR both appear to be efficacious for SAD. However, their effects may be a result of both shared and unique changes in underlying psychological processes.
So you want to see a tsunami

Many people are familiar with the shaking experience of earthquakes, but very few people have experienced a tsunami\---|even a small one. Can we safely watch miniature tsunami waves and learn something about wave propagation? Breaking waves at the beach are a familiar sight and the basis for wave knowledge for most people. Tsunami waves are not a gigantic vertical wall of water that crashes directly onto land, but that persistent notion captures our fascination and awe. While few of us have seen tsunami waves, the pictures of the destruction left behind when the water recedes amply portray the hazards. Public education can mitigate the tsunami hazard from a nearby earthquake: If you are at the beach and you feel earthquake shaking, move away from the water! Great subduction earthquakes can generate tsunami waves that propagate across the ocean and then grow to dangerous heights on distant shores—this hazard underscores the importance of tsunami early warning systems (see http://www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/itc for links to international sites for tsunami warning and information). Of course, one must be at a Pacific Ocean beach to worry about tsunamis, right? While tsunami waves represent a terrible hazard, they also provide an excellent educational vehicle to understand waves. It is a constant challenge to explain seismic wave generation and propagation to students. To help explain basic concepts, it is useful to employ more familiar wave systems such as light waves and sound waves. But our familiarity with seeing and hearing does not translate into an easy grasp of light and acoustic wave propagation. Surface waves on a pond …
Stochastic Pore Blocking and Gating in PDMS–Glass Nanopores from Vapor–Liquid Phase Transitions

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is commonly used in research for microfluidic devices and for making elastomeric stamps for soft lithography. Its biocompatibility and nontoxicitiy also allow it to be used in personal care, food, and medical products. Herein we report a phenomenon observed when patch clamp, a technique normally used to study biological ion channels, is performed on both grooved and planar PDMS surfaces, resulting in stochastic current fluctuations that are due to a nanopore being formed at the interface of the PDMS and glass surfaces and being randomly blocked. Deformable pores between 1.9 ± 0.7 and 7.4 ± 2.1 nm in diameter, depending on the calculation method, form upon patching to the surface. Coulter blocking and nanoprecipitation are ruled out, and we instead propose a mechanism of stochastic current fluctuations arising from transitions between vapor and liquid phases, consistent with similar observations and theory from statistical mechanics literature. Interestingly, we find that [Ru(bp...
Locomotor Reactions of Fundulus Embryos with Abnormal Mauthner's Neurones

SummaryLocomotor reactions have been observed in Fundulus heteroclitus embryos abnormal in number and arrangement of Mauthner's neurones. Five out of 11 embryos lacking Mauthner's axones on one or both sides of the cord were abnormally passive or immobile; the remaining six exhibited vigorous swimming movements. Out of 7 embryos in which the 2 Mauthner's fibers coursed posteriorly both on the same side of the cord, 2 were abnormally passive and 5 exhibited vigorous movements. Axones from supernumerary Mauthner's cells were present in the cord in 22 embryos; one of these embryos was abnormally passive, but the others exhibited no variations of behavior attributable to the altered number of Mauthner's fibers. The apparently negative results of the experiments in which supernumerary axones were added, and the fact that asymmetry in the arrangement of fibers was not reflected in asymmetry of reaction, demonstrate a high degree of regulability of function in the developing brain of Fundulus.