cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What can the police learn from “excellent companies”?

Abstract In In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies (Peters and Waterman, 1982), the authors identify eight attributes that characterize excellent American companies. Basically, these attributes can be described as elements of a management philosophy centered on humanism, folklore wisdom, and simple pragmatism. Their applicability to police organizations and the benefits resulting from such an application are discussed.
Enhancement of the c11 elastic constant of Ag/Pd superlattice films as determined from longitudinal guided modes.

In Brillouin-light-scattering studies of a series of Ag/Pd superlattice films we have observed scattering from longitudinal guided modes (LGMs) whose velocities are determined primarily by the ${\mathit{c}}_{11}$ elastic constant. From the measured velocity of the first-order LGM, we have obtained the first accurate determination of ${\mathit{c}}_{11}$ for metallic thin films. For the Ag/Pd superlattice films, large increases in both the longitudinal (${\mathit{c}}_{11}$) and shear (${\mathit{c}}_{55}$) elastic constants were observed as the superlattice modulation wavelength \ensuremath{\Lambda} was decreased below \ensuremath{\Lambda}=60 \AA{}.
Corn–Soybean Rotation Effects on Nitrate Leaching

Because agricultural production is a primary nonpoint source of NO 3 - in the nation's waters, a better understanding of the effects of cropping systems on NO 3 - leaching is required for developing agricultural production practices that reduce NO 3 - leaching. A 4-yr experiment was conducted to study the effect of a corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation on NO 3 - leaching using passive capillary fiberglass wick lysimeters. The experiment had five N rates on corn (0-200 kg N ha - 1 in 50-kg increments). Corn was planted in 1997 and 1999, and soybean was planted in 1998 and 2000. The increase of soil residual NO 3 --N concentrations in the surface 25 cm of soil after crop harvest was not significant (p = 0.05) when N fertilizer rates applied to corn increased from 0 to 100 kg ha - 1 but was significant when N rate increased from 100 to 200 kg ha - 1 in the corn years. The 2-yr average soil residual NO 3 --N concentrations and annual flow-weighted NO 3 - -N concentrations in leachate were significantly higher (p = 0.05) in soybean years than in corn years at 0 and 100 kg N ha - 1 applied to corn, but the differences at the 200 kg N ha - 1 rate were not significant. The results indicate that at recommended N rates applied to corn in a corn-soybean rotation, NO 3 - leaching potential is similar for corn and soybean, but at less than 100 kg N ha - 1 rate, a greater NO 3 - leaching potential exists under soybean than under corn.
Blood nicotine levels in hamsters after smoking and subcutaneous nicotine.

Abstract Information is limited on blood nicotine levels among laboratory animals subjected to smoking or nicotine injections. This study was done to provide such information on blood nicotine levels in hamsters to better investigate nicotinerelated pathology, using levels similar to those of human smokers. Blood nicotine levels were quantitated by gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometry among adult hamsters smoking one of three different strength cigarettes and hamsters injected with four different doses of subcutaneous nicotine, and their controls. The recorded levels rose dose dependently with increasing cigarette strengths and increasing doses of injected nicotine. Based upon regression equations, blood nicotine levels in the hamster model approximating human habitual ad lib. smoking are achieved by using a 1.56-mg nicotine cigarette or injecting 0.15 mg kg nicotine. The Syrian golden hamster provides a good model for acute or chronic studies involving cigarette smoking.
Preconditioning in Cardiomyocytes Protects by Attenuating Oxidant Stress at Reperfusion

Abstract—Cardiomyocyte death after ischemia/reperfusion correlates with oxidant stress, and antioxidants confer protection in that model. Preconditioning (PC) with hypoxia or adenosine also confers protection, leading us to hypothesize that PC protects by attenuating oxidant generation during subsequent ischemia/reperfusion. Chick cardiomyocytes were preconditioned with 10 minutes of hypoxia or adenosine (100 μmol/L), followed by 1 hour of simulated ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion. Adenosine PC decreased cell death from 50±3% to 18±4% and enhanced the return of contractions during reperfusion, as observed previously with hypoxic PC. A transient burst of dichlorofluorescein (sensitive to H2O2) oxidation that was significantly attenuated by PC initiated by hypoxia or adenosine was seen at reperfusion. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Go-6976 and the mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel inhibitor 5-hydroxydecanoate each abolished protection and abrogated the PC-induced attenuation of reperfu...
9.2.3 Standardized Process as a Tool for Higher Level Systems Thinking

Standardized processes are being used to address three issues in engineering today: increasing system complexity; shifting demographics; and longer development cycles that result in a dearth of experiential learning for young engineers. There is obvious value in having engineers who can see the big picture and effectively broker design tradeoffs: engineers capable of systems thinking. However, what is the impact of standardized processes on the ability of teams of engineers to make these critical tradeoffs? This paper lays the groundwork for research investigating ways in which standardized process usage facilitates or hinders systems thinking within engineering teams—termed collaborative systems thinking.
Effects of Torabolic supplementation on strength and body composition during an 8-week resistance training program

Methods 47 Resistance trained men completed all phases of testing. Subjects were matched according to body weight and randomly assigned to ingest in a double blind manner 75 g of dextrose (N = 15, 20 ± 1.1 yrs, 177 ± 6 cm, 87 ± 11 kg, 16 ± 5.6 %BF), 75 g of dextrose/5 g creatine in powdered form (N = 14, 21 ± 4 yrs, 181 ± 7.1 cm, 89 ± 12 kg, 18 ± 5.5 %BF) or 900 mg BIOCREAT/3.5 g creatine capsules (N = 17, 21 ± 2 yrs, 179 ± 6 cm, 85 ± 10 kg, 15 ± 6 %BF). Subjects participated in a supervised 4-day per week periodized resistance-training program split into two upper and two lower extremity workouts per week for a total of 8-weeks. At 0, 4, and 8-weeks, subjects were tested on body composition via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, 1 RM strength, muscular endurance, and anaerobic capacity. Statistical analyses utilized a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures for all criterion variables (p ≤ 0.05). Data are presented as mean ± SD changes from baseline values.
Mediators and dynamics of DNA methylation

As an inherited epigenetic marker occurring mainly on cytosines at CpG dinucleotides, DNA methylation occurs across many higher eukaryotic organisms. Looking at methylation patterns genome-wide classifies cell types uniquely and in several cases discriminates between healthy and cancerous cell types. DNA methylation can occur allele-specifically, which allows the cellular regulatory machinery to recognize each allele separately. Although only a small number of allele specifically methylated (ASM) regions are known, genome-wide experiments show that ASM is prevalent throughout the human genome. These DNA methylation patterns can be modified via DNA demethylation, which is important for induced pluripotent stem reprogramming and primordial germ cells. Recent evidence shows that the protein activation-induced cytidine deaminase plays a critical role in these demethylation events. Many transcription factors mediate DNA methylation patterns. Some transcription factors bind specifically to methylated or unmethylated sequences and other transcription factors protect genomic regions (e.g., promoter regions) from nearby DNA methylation encroachment. Possibly acting as another epigenetic regulatory layer, methylated cytosines are also converted to 5-hydroxyethylcyotines, which is a new modification type whose biological significance has yet been defined. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 281–298 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.124 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website
Employer-initiated elections, 1968–1992

In 1968, employers filed 1,091 petitions resulting in 377 elections, 42.4 percent of which unions won. In 1992, the most recent year for which data are available, employers filed 247 petitions, 66 elections were held, and the union victory rate was less than 25 percent. This research examines both the legal environment and the activity levels of employer-initiated (RM) elections over the past 25 years.
Asymmetric Sensorineural Hearing Loss in a Community-Based Population:

Abstract Asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) is fairly common, but it can be an indication of retrocochlear pathology. The incidence of acoustic neuroma (AN) has been estimated at 1/100,000; however, the incidence of AN in patients with ASNHL is unknown. The limitation of health care resources challenges otolaryngologists to develop reasonable cost-containment guidelines for the evaluation of patients with ASNHL for the presence of retrocochlear pathology. A 5-year (1990 to 1994) retrospective study of all patients with ASNHL who were evaluated in a community-based general otolaryngology practice was performed. Demographic, historic, and audiologic data and results from ABRs and radiologic studies were summarized. ASNHL was present in 325 patients. Auditory brain stem response tests were performed in 179 patients (55%), and 92% (164 of 179) were normal. Patients with abnormal or inconclusive auditory brain stem responses and patients with severe SNHL were evaluated with radiologic studies (46 patients). Among the 193 patients who had diagnostic studies, 4 were found to have ANs, for a prevalence of 2.1%. The charge of diagnosis per AN was more than $41,000. In summary, a small percentage of patients with ASNHL have retrocochlear pathology, and the charge of diagnosis per AN can be excessive. A cost-containment approach for the evaluation and management of patients with ASNHL is proposed. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;120:808-14.)
A Natural and Extremely Severe Occurrence of Aflatoxicosis in Laying Hens

Abstract The reports of naturally occurring outbreaks of aflatoxicosis in poultry are limited in both number and description. This disease was called originally turkey “X” disease (Blount, 1961) because of its prevalence and high mortality in turkeys in England. The histopathology of this disease was described by Wannop (1961). Siller and Ostler (1961) described an outbreak in turkey poults under the name of enterohepatic syndrome. Asplin and Carnaghan (1961) described the occurrence of aflatoxicosis in ducklings and chickens in England and reported an outbreak of the disease in ducklings in Kenya. Outbreaks of the disease in ducks occurred in Austria and Hungary and in chickens in Spain (Allcroft and Carnaghan, 1963). Brown and Abrams (1965) reported on its symptomology and widespread occurrence in ducks and chickens in South Africa. Gardiner and Oldroyd (1965) gave a historical and pathological description of aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens in Western Australia. The first report in…
The synthesis and structures of two dimolybdenum(II) complexes that contain derivatives of the 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine ligand

Abstract The reactions of Mo2(μ-O2CMe)4 with the ligands 2-(diphenylphosphino)-6-(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (L1) and 2-chloro-6-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine (L2) in dichloromethane in the presence of HBF4·Et2O afford the complexes trans-[Mo2(μ-O2CMe)2(μ-L1)2](BF4)2 (1) and trans-[Mo2(μ-O2CMe)2(μ-L2)2](BF4)2 (3), respectively, in which the bridging ligands L1 and L2 exhibit P∩N∩N and P∩N coordination to the [Mo2]4+ cores. The compound Mo2(μ-O2CMe)4 reacts with Me3SiCl in the presence of L1 and L2 to give Mo2Cl4(μ-L1)2 (2) and Mo2Cl4(μ-L2)2 (4), respectively. The structural identities of these pairs of complexes have been established by single crystal X-ray structure determinations of 1 and 4.
Cervical Cancer Screening

of the Clinical Problem Approximately 12 000 new cases of cervical cancer are expected to occur in the United States in 2014, with 4000 deaths from the disease.1 Women younger than 50 years have the highest incidenceofcervicalcancer,andthedisease ismoreprevalent inHispanic andblackwomen. Fifty percent of women diagnosed with cervical cancer were never screened,andanadditional 10% werenot screened in the5-yearperiodbefore thediagnosis.1 Fordecades, screening has been performed via cytological examination of cells fromthecervical transformationzone (Papanicolaousmear). More recently, testing forHPV, the causative agent inmost cases of cervical cancer, has been added as a screeningmodality.
Assessment of Surgical Effects on Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations.

Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is one of the most common sleep disorders. To treat patients with this health problem, it is important to detect the severity of this syndrome and occlusion sites in each patient. The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that the cure of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by maxillomandibular advancement surgery can be predicted by analyzing the effect of anatomical airway changes on the pressure effort required for normal breathing using a high-fidelity, 3-D numerical model. The employed numerical model consists of: (1) 3-D upper airway geometry construction from patient-specific computed tomographic scans using an image segmentation technique, (2) mixed-element mesh generation of the numerically constructed airway geometry for discretizing the domain of interest, and (3) computational fluid dynamics simulations for predicting the flow field within the airway and the degree of severity of breathing obstruction. In the present study, both laminar and turbulent flow simulations were performed to predict the flow field in the upper airway of the selected patients before and after maxillomandibular advancement surgery. Patients of different body mass indices were also studied to assess their effects. The numerical results were analyzed to evaluate the pressure gradient along the upper airway. The magnitude of the pressure gradient is regarded as the pressure effort required for breathing, and the extent of reduction of the pressure effort is taken to measure the success of the surgery. The description of the employed numerical model, numerical results from simulations of various patients, and suggestion for future work are detailed in this paper.
Scoliosis after extended hemipelvectomy.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective review plus 2 representative case reports. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence of scoliosis after extended hemipelvectomy (EH) and illustrate the problem's severity. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA No published series has analyzed this problem. Data are needed to decide the potential need for and timing of spine fusion in these patients. METHODS We treated 14 patients with EH over 10 years. Mean age was 47 years. Diagnoses included osteosarcoma (6); chondrosarcoma (4); metastatic cancer (2); and MFH and undifferentiated sarcoma (1 each). Operating time ranged from 7 to 15 hours, and mean estimated blood loss was 8 L. Patients were observed for scoliosis, functional results, and for oncological outcome (survival, disease progression). Two patients who became scoliotic after EH illustrate the problem: a 31-year-old man underwent EH for pelvic osteosarcoma and progressively developed a painful 44° scoliotic curve; and a 27-year-old woman who developed a 60° painful scoliotic curve and radiculopathy years after EH including L5-S1 disc disruption. RESULTS Of 12 patients, 8 died within 7 months of EH. Only 2 of 12 patients are long-term survivors free of disease (3 and 6 years after surgery), and 2 are alive with disease more than 1 year after surgery. In patients >1 year survival, 3 of 4 patients had curves greater than 20°. Of 10 evaluable patients, 2 developed a curve greater than 30° that warranted fusion. Four others had curves between 20° and 30°. Of these 6, 5 developed a sharp-angled lumbar curve with the concavity away from the operated side. Risk factors for symptomatic scoliosis after EH include disc disruption, paraspinal muscle/ligament resection, or facetectomies in ambulatory patients with a lengthy survival. CONCLUSION Primary spinal fixation should be avoided because of the high morbidity and early mortality of EH. Selected high-risk patients can be stabilized later if they develop painful instability.
Species Inegalitarianism as a Matter of Principle

Most critics of species egalitarianism point to its counter-intuitive implications in particular cases. But this argumentative strategy is vulnerable to the response that our intuitions should give way in the face of arguments showing that species egalitarianism is required by our deepest, most fundamental moral principles. In this article, I develop an argument against deontological versions of species egalitarianism on its own terms. Appealing to the fundamental moral ideal of proportionality, I show that deontological species egalitarianism is morally objectionable as a matter of principle: it is committed to treating two individuals who are extraordinarily similar in morally relevant respects drastically differently. I then illustrate how an inegalitarian account of moral standing might be incorporated into traditional moral theories in ways that make them far more promising as theories of our obligations to the non-human world.
Attention biases in female survivors of chronic interpersonal violence: relationship to trauma-related symptoms and physiology.

Background: Exposure to chronic interpersonal violence (IPV) has been associated with psychiatric impairment; however, few studies have investigated attention processes and psychophysiology in this population. Objective: We investigated self-report and physiological correlates of attention biases in 27 IPV-exposed women. Method: Participants completed self-report measures of trauma history, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and dissociation; were monitored physiologically during baseline; and responded to an emotional dot probe task. Results: Participants showed bias away from positive and anxiety words, and toward IPV words. Lower baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and higher skin conductance levels were associated with bias away from anxiety cues. Greater total PTSD symptoms were associated with bias toward IPV cues, and greater PTSD intrusion and avoidance symptoms were associated with lower RSA. Individuals exposed to more types of trauma had lower heart rates. Conclusions: These data extend the research on emotioncognition interactions in PTSD and other anxiety disorders to chronic IPV survivors, in part confirming avoidance and intrusion symptom and attention bias relations found in studies. The present work also draws attention to a group that tends to experience a range of severe symptoms associated with apparent blunting in autonomic activity, and suggests that self-report may not be sensitive to physiological and attention alterations in chronic IPV samples. Keywords: Posttraumatic stress disorder; interpersonal violence; psychophysiology; attention bias For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files in the column to the right (under Article Tools) (Published: 4 March 2013) Citation: European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2013, 4 : 19135 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v4i0.19135
Stochastic box limits for nonhomogeneous markov chains

Limiting sets were developed to allow the use of nonhomogeneous Markov chains in studying the long run behavior of a finite state system. Except for small systems, previous limiting sets were difficult tocompute. In this paper, a limiting set is developed which can be computed for much larger systems.
Range queries in OLAP data cubes

A range query applies an aggregation operation over all selected cells of an OLAP data cube where the selection is specified by providing ranges of values for numeric dimensions. We present fast algorithms for range queries for two types of aggregation operations: SUM and MAX. These two operations cover techniques required for most popular aggregation operations, such as those supported by SQL.For range-sum queries, the essential idea is to precompute some auxiliary information (prefix sums) that is used to answer ad hoc queries at run-time. By maintaining auxiliary information which is of the same size as the data cube, all range queries for a given cube can be answered in constant time, irrespective of the size of the sub-cube circumscribed by a query. Alternatively, one can keep auxiliary information which is 1/bd of the size of the d-dimensional data cube. Response to a range query may now require access to some cells of the data cube in addition to the access to the auxiliary information, but the overall time complexity is typically reduced significantly. We also discuss how the precomputed information is incrementally updated by batching updates to the data cube. Finally, we present algorithms for choosing the subset of the data cube dimensions for which the auxiliary information is computed and the blocking factor to use for each such subset.Our approach to answering range-max queries is based on precomputed max over balanced hierarchical tree structures. We use a branch-and-bound-like procedure to speed up the finding of max in a region. We also show that with a branch-and-bound procedure, the average-case complexity is much smaller than the worst-case complexity.
Most likely origin-destination link uses from equilibrium assignment

Abstract This paper formulates the problem of finding the most likely distribution of origin-destination (O-D) specific link volumes (called “link uses”) from equilibrium assignment. Although an equilibrium assignment is unique in terms of aggregate link volumes, trips between different O-D pairs assigned to alternative paths between any node pair can be swapped among these paths such that total link volumes remain unchanged. Alternative link uses that yield identical aggregate link volumes can affect O-D specific estimates of fuel consumption, pollution emissions or development impacts. Equilibrium assignments found by methods of linear combinations, such as the Frank-Wolfe algorithm, may not represent most likely link uses. The problem of finding maximum entropy link uses (MELU) formulated herein is a multi-commodity optimum flow (max-flow at min-cost) problem with nonlinear flow-dependent link use costs. MELU does not require path enumeration or knowledge of used paths between zones, but it is NP-hard to solve and very sizable for large networks. An approximate solution technique is presented that finds likely link uses for realistic size problems. The method is to linearly combine successive F-W solutions using step sizes that seek a maximum entropy mix. The examples include other comparisons of trial link uses that indicate the extent to which they differ.
Two rule-based Urban Growth Boundary Models applied to the Tehran Metropolitan Area, Iran

Abstract Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs) that limit urban expansion out are being implemented by planning agencies worldwide. Thus, there is a need to create models that can simulate changes in urban boundaries. The aim of this paper is to present two rule-based spatial–temporal models, one which employs a Distance Dependent Method (DDM) and the other a Distance Independent Method (DIM), to simulate UGBs. These rule-based Urban Growth Boundary Models (UGBMs) use azimuths and distances, vector-based predictive variables, directed from central points within the urban area, to simulate UGB change. DDM employs a single urban boundary in the initial time step to predict the urban boundary in any subsequent time according to the increment of distances across different azimuths. Similarly, the DIM uses the change in distance between two boundaries, one in the initial time step and one in subsequent time step, across different azimuths, to predict the future urban boundary. We use the two rule-based models, DDM and DIM, to project the urban boundary of the Tehran Metropolitan Area in 2012 using data from 1988 to 2000. We compare these rule-based simulation UGBMs to a null UGBM developed from the same data but lacking in specificity of predictive variables. Percent Area Match (PAM) quantity and location goodness of fit metrics are used to assess the agreement between simulated and observed urban boundaries. Results indicate that rule-based UGBMs have a better goodness of fit compared to a null UGBM using PAM quantity and location goodness of fit metrics. We discuss how UGBMs can be used to assist planners in developing future UGBs.
Single gene control of resistance to cutaneous leishmaniasis in mice.

A series of inbred, congenic resistant, and hybrid strains of mice were intradermally inoculated with 106 promastigotes of Leishmania tropica. These mice were divided into susceptible and resistant groups using the criteria of lesion size, development of metastatic foci and skin-test reactivity. At 16 weeks of infection, resistant strains A/J, DBA/1J, AKR/J, CBA/J, C3H/HeJ, NZB/BINJ, C57BL/6J, C57BL/10Sn, B10.D2, B10.129(10M), and B10.CE(30NX) had completely resolved their lesions, while susceptible SWR/J and BALB/cJ mice demonstrated large, nonhealing cutaneous lesions. In addition, BALB/cJ developed metastatic lesions on the extremities which progressively increased in size. All BALB/cJ and SWR/J mice died by 7 1/2 months of infection. The BALB/cJ♀ x C57BL/6J♂F1 hybrid behaved in an intermediate fashion showing a slower expansion of cutaneous ulcers and a delayed development of metastatic foci, however, the infection ultimately proved fatal. The F2 generation could be separated into three distinct groups: resistant, intermediate, and susceptible mice with a lesion size distribution pattern in conformity with a 1:2:1 ratio. Male/female susceptibility differences were not noted. These data indicated that development of acquired resistance may be under the control of a single, autosomal gene. The gene did not appear to be H-2-, Ir-2-, or H-11-linked as is seen with Leishmania donovani infections.
Dual wavelength absorption edge spectrometry

Abstract A General Electric XRD-6 X-ray diffractometer has been modified to permit quantitative absorption edge studies at only one goniometer position. The radiation from the X-ray tube is dispersed by a flat analyzing crystal to produce a band of X rays that is separated into two X-ray beams by a slit system having two juxtaposition openings. The spacing between the openings encompasses the width of the absorption edge. By sequentially opening and closing these two slits, measurements can be made on both sides of the absorption edge with only monochromatic radiation passing through the sample cell. A single detector senses the difference in the intensity of the two X-ray beams. Spectral scans are recorded as difference plots with absorption edges displayed as positive peaks. The application of this instrument to a number of elements by transmission and fluorescence measurements is discussed.
Temporal effects of castration on emotionality and shock-induced aggression in adult make rats

Alterations in shock-induced aggressive behavior, general emotional reactivity and flinch thresholds in 61 and 82 day old male rats were analyzed at either 3 or 6 weeks following castration. Castrated animals were significantly less aggressive than sham-operated controls at the 6 week but not the 3 week interval. These findings could not be attributed to changes in flinch threshold as neither treatment nor time affected this measure. With regard to emotionality, castrated animals were significantly more reactive than the control animals at the 3 week but not 6 week interval. The data are interpreted as indicating that castration altered shock-induced aggression by preventing a maturational increase in such behavior. These behavioral alterations are compared to previously reported time-dependent changes in brain monoaminergic dynamics following gonadectomy. The conclusions support the concept of a necessary balance between catecholaminergic and serotonergic systems with regard to affective behavior.
Golgi Export of the Kir2.1 Channel Is Driven by a Trafficking Signal Located within Its Tertiary Structure

Mechanisms that are responsible for sorting newly synthesized proteins for traffic to the cell surface from the Golgi are poorly understood. Here, we show that the potassium channel Kir2.1, mutations in which are associated with Andersen-Tawil syndrome, is selected as cargo into Golgi export carriers in an unusual signal-dependent manner. Unlike conventional trafficking signals, which are typically comprised of short linear peptide sequences, Golgi exit of Kir2.1 is dictated by residues that are embedded within the confluence of two separate domains. This signal patch forms a recognition site for interaction with the AP1 adaptor complex, thereby marking Kir2.1 for incorporation into clathrin-coated vesicles at the trans-Golgi. The identification of a trafficking signal in the tertiary structure of Kir2.1 reveals a quality control step that couples protein conformation to Golgi export and provides molecular insight into how mutations in Kir2.1 arrest the channels at the Golgi.
One less for the road. International trends in alcohol consumption and vehicular fatalities.

Abstract We used data for the years 1965 to 1987 from 19 countries to study the relationship between per capita alcohol consumption and vehicular fatalities. Cross-sectional data for the most recent years show a strong relationship between per capita alcohol consumption and vehicular deaths (r = .83, P
Synthesis of Oroselol

Abstract The chemical reactions leading to the structure elucidation of oroselol (1), an angular furanocoumarin first isolated1 from the roots of Athamanta oreoselinum L. (Peucedanum oreoselinum) have been reviewed.2 This product has also been isolated from Nardostachys jatamansi D. C. (Valerianaceae)3 and various Umbelliferae.4 We here describe an exceedingly simple synthesis from readily available starting materials.
Prediction Techniques for Cavity-Crystal Receivers

A technique is presented for the reliable prediction of spurious response and intermodulation interference characteristics for microwave receivers of the cavity-crystal type. Calculation procedures, data collection, and simplification measures are given. The results of a test prediction using a typical microwave communication receiver are presented.
Climbing to reach females: Romeo should be small.

Abstract The race for reaching mates by the time they are receptive, or sexual selection by scramble competition, has received little attention. We argue that smaller males are favored in species in which the male must climb to reach females located in high habitat patches. This new explanation we term the “gravity hypothesis” of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). We show that a simple biomechanical model of animal movement predicts that: (1) selection should favor a comparatively smaller size in the searching sex when searching involves climbing; and (2) this effect should be stronger in larger species than in smaller species. In reaching high habitats, smaller, faster searchers will be favored either through sexual selection by scramble competition and/or by escaping predation easier by running faster on vertical surfaces. Different spider species are found at a wide range of heights. We compiled a dataset of spider taxa and arranged their habitats according to four height categories, ranked from soil surfac...
Hyperthreading technology in the netburst microarchitecture

Hyperthreading technology, which brings the concept of simultaneous multithreading to the Intel architecture, was first introduced on the Intel Xeon processor in early 2002 for the server market. In November 2002, Intel launched the technology on the Intel Pentium 4 at clock frequencies of 3.06 GHz and higher, making the technology widely available to the consumer market. This technology signals a new direction in microarchitecture development and fundamentally changes the cost-benefit tradeoffs of microarchitecture design choices. This article describes how the technology works, that is, how we make a single physical processor appear as multiple logical processors to operating systems and software. We highlight the additional structures and die area needed to implement the technology and discuss the fundamental ideas behind the technology and why we can get a 25-percent boost in performance from a technology that costs less than 5 percent in added die area. We illustrate the importance of choosing the right sharing policy for each shared resource by describing, examining, and comparing three different sharing policies: partitioned resources, threshold sharing, and full sharing. The choice of policy depends on the traffic pattern, complexity and size of the resource, potential deadlock/livelock scenarios, and other considerations. Finally, we show how this technology significantly improves performance on several relevant workloads.
Treatment of waste containing EDTA by chemical oxidation

Abstract Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a chelating agent that has been extensively used to enhance the solubilization of heavy metal cations and release of EDTA contributes to environmental problems. EDTA is recalcitrant to microbial metabolism and chemical oxidation is considered a possible method of remedial treatment. The use of the commercially available process of MIOX Corporation generates mixed oxidants on site and this solution is markedly effective in the destruction of the chelating characteristic and the decarboxylation of EDTA. When measuring the release of C-14 from carboxyl labeled EDTA, the mixed oxidant solution was comparable to the Fenton's reaction over a broad pH range. The presence of Mn 2+ , Cr 3+ , or Fe 3+ at levels equal to that of EDTA stimulated the rate of EDTA decomposition; however, the rate of EDTA breakdown was inhibited when the concentration of Cr 3+ or Mn 2+ exceeded the concentration of EDTA. The treatment of Co 2+ –EDTA or Cu 2+ –EDTA with mixed oxidants in the presence of ultra violet light resulted in the loss of chelation ability of EDTA. In the absence of chelated metals, over 75% of the chelation property of a 70 mM EDTA solution was destroyed in 45 min. The reaction products resulting from the use of mixed oxidants added to EDTA were non-toxic to bacteria and should not contribute to additional environmental problems.
Does type of modified output correspond to learner noticing of feedback?: A closer look in face-to-face and computer-mediated task-based interaction

This study examines if type of learner-modified output differentially demonstrates noticing and whether or not this relationship holds in both face-to-face (FTF) and synchronous computer-mediated chat (SCMC) environments. Twenty-four learners of Spanish as a foreign language interacted one-on-one with an interlocutor in the FTF and the SCMC modes, during which they received corrective feedback. After each interaction, learners participated in a mode-specific stimulated recall session to measure their noticing of feedback. Data were coded for (a) feedback episode, (b) type of modified output (none, partial, or full), and (c) accurate noticing. Binary logistic regressions indicated that after feedback, partial modified output was the greatest predictor of accurate noticing of feedback. This finding applied in both FTF and SCMC.
Scanning fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of carbon and oxygen microsegregation in silicon

Abstract Quantitative microsegregation data for oxygen and carbon in silicon have been obtained using an FTIR system equipped with a scanning IR microscope. The necessary sensitivity and resolution have been achieved by adjusting the field aperture to the spatial distribution of the impurity elements, depth focusing to the center position of the wafer, and by defining the integration ranges so as to minimize fringe and baseline shift effects.
Prebirth Prediction of the Quality of the Mother-Infant Interaction The First Year of Life

A predictive method involving the assessment of prebirth functioning and the anticipated quality of parenting is described and developed in order to facilitate identification of families at risk for future parenting. The association between these predictions and selected outcome criteria was studied in a representative sample of 46 families. Both the quantitative and qualitative results support the hypothesis that those families where mother and father were both characterized during the prebirth assessments as above average on adaptation-competence, capacity for relationships, and their positive view of their marriage, and who were expected to provide an optimal parent care environment, did in fact enhance a mother-infant relationship characterized by positive mutuality and responsiveness. It is assumed that the prebirth assessments and predictions, even though global in nature, effectively reflect a profile of family system and individual characteristics that are likely to enhance the development of posi...
Nagging and other drinking control efforts of spouses of uncooperative alcohol abusers: Assessment and modification ☆

This article presents a conception of spouse drinking control and an approach to assessment and modification to reduce the customary drinking control efforts of spouses of alcohol abusers unmotivated to enter treatment. Modification of the nonalcoholic spouse's customary drinking control is offered as an important early step in helping to prepare him or her to become a positive rehabilitative influence. Based on its use in unilateral family therapy with 68 spouses of uncooperative alcohol abusers, procedural guidelines, criteria for use, and two case examples from a crossover experimental dyad are described. Also presented are clinical results illustrating the success of the program, benefits and conditions relating to its use, and areas of possible application.
Molecular Cloning and Expression of Murine Liver Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase

A clofibrate-induced mouse liver cDNA library was prepared and used to isolate the coding sequence for soluble epoxide hydrolase. A 1668-base pair (bp) clone was isolated and found to contain a 1269-bp open reading frame coding for 423 amino acids. Subsequent RNA polymerase chain reaction resulted in the isolation of 396 bp of additional 5'-sequence. Translation of the resulting 1659-bp open reading frame produced a 553-residue protein (62,527 Da) containing deduced peptide segments that matched the amino acid sequences of six peptide fragments isolated previously from CNBr digests of pure murine soluble epoxide hydrolase. Neither the DNA nor the protein sequence showed significant similarity to other currently published sequences. Structural analysis of the soluble epoxide hydrolase coding region suggested at least one potential regulatory motif. Expression of the composite cDNA in COS-7 cells resulted in a 5-10-fold increase in soluble epoxide hydrolase activity and a similar increase in soluble epoxide hydrolase protein amount compared to mock-transfected or vector control-transfected cells. Treatment of C57BL/6J mice with clofibrate led to an approximately 4-fold increase in both soluble epoxide hydrolase enzyme activity and steady-state mRNA levels.
Is Arm Span an Accurate Measure of Height in Young and Middle-Age Adults?:

Height is used to determine many important clinical measurements, but height may be difficult or impossible to measure accurately in some patients. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of arm span as a measure of height in young and middle-age adults. A sample of 83 people between the ages of 20 and 61 years participated in this anthropometric study. Height and arm span were measured with a metal rule. A prediction equation was derived from regression analysis. Arm span is a valid measure of height in young and middle-age adults, and the accuracy is improved when using the prediction equation.
Simultaneous multispectral reflectance imaging and laser speckle flowmetry of cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in focal cerebral ischemia

Real-time investigation of cerebral blood flow (CBF), and oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin concentration (HbO, HbR) dynamics has been difficult until recently due to limited spatial and temporal resolution of techniques like laser Doppler flowmetry and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The combination of laser speckle flowmetry (LSF) and multispectral reflectance imaging (MSRI) yields high-resolution spatiotemporal maps of hemodynamic and metabolic changes in response to functional cortical activation. During acute focal cerebral ischemia, changes in HbO and HbR are much larger than in functional activation, resulting in the failure of the Beer-Lambert approximation to yield accurate results. We describe the use of simultaneous LSF and MSRI, using a nonlinear Monte Carlo fitting technique, to record rapid changes in CBF, HbO, HbR, and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO(2)) during acute focal cerebral ischemia induced by distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) and reperfusion. This technique captures CBF and CMRO(2) changes during hemodynamic and metabolic events with high temporal and spatial resolution through the intact skull and demonstrates the utility of simultaneous LSF and MSRI in mouse models of cerebrovascular disease.
Traffic management of a satellite communication network using stochastic optimization

The performance of nonhierarchical circuit switched networks at moderate load conditions is improved when alternate routes are made available. Alternate routes, however, introduce instability under heavy and overloaded conditions, and under these load conditions network performance is found to deteriorate. To alleviate this problem, a control mechanism is used where, a fraction of the capacity of each link is reserved for direct routed calls. In this work, a traffic management scheme is developed to enhance the performance of a mesh-connected, circuit-switched satellite communication network. The network load is measured and the network is continually adapted by reconfiguring the map to suit the current traffic conditions. The routing is performed dynamically. The reconfiguration of the network is done by properly allocating the capacity of each link and placing an optimal reservation on each link. The optimization is done by using two neural network-based optimization techniques: simulated annealing and mean field annealing. A comparative study is done between these two techniques. The results from the simulation study show that this method of traffic management performs better than the pure dynamic routing with a fixed configuration.
Volume of exercise and fitness nonresponse in sedentary, postmenopausal women.

SISSON, S. B., P. T. KATZMARZYK, C. P. EARNEST, C. BOUCHARD, S. N. BLAIR, and T. S. CHURCH. Volume of Exercise and Fitness Nonresponse in Sedentary, Postmenopausal Women. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 539-545, 2009. There is a wide individual heterogeneity in the maximal aerobic fitness (VO2max) response to exercise training. Purpose: To examine predictors of VO2max nonresponse after aerobic exercise training in postmenopausal women. Methods: The Dose Response to Exercise in Women (DREW) study was a randomized, controlled trial examining the effects of incremental training doses on sedentary postmenopausal women (45-75 yr). Participants were randomized to one of three exercise treatment groups (4, 8, or 12 kcalIkg j1 Iwk j1 ) for 6 months. Participants exercised 3-4 dIwk j1 at 50% VO2max. Predictors of baseline VO2max were determined by ANOVA. We used a logistic regression analyses with categorical (ethnicity and treatment group) and standardized continuous variables (age, body mass index (BMI), and baseline VO2max) to determine predictors of nonresponse ($ e 0L Imin j1 ). Our analysis included 310 women because the control group was excluded. Results: A total of 44.9%, 23.8%, and 19.3% of the 4-, the 8-, and the 12-kcalIkg j1 Iwk j1 treatment groups (P G 0.0001), respectively, were nonresponders. Maximal effort, BMI, age, and race significantly predicted baseline VO2max. Treatment group (8 and 12 kcalIkg j1 Iwk j1 vs 4 kcalIkg j1 Iwk j1 ; P = 0.0003), baseline VO2max (P G 0.0001), and age (P G 0.05) were significant predictors of nonresponse. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 2.13 (1.53-2.95) for baseline VO2max; 1.35 (1.00-1.83) for age; 0.45 (0.24-0.85) for the 8- versus the 4-kcalIkg j1 Iwk j1 group; and 0.27 (0.13-0.53) for the 12- versus the 4-kcalIkg j1 Iwk j1 group. Conclusion: Women that were younger, less fit, or exercised more during the DREW trial had greater odds of improving their fitness with training. The most important finding of this study was that greater volumes of exercise were associated with a lower probability of being a nonresponder. Key Words: INDIVIDUAL VARIABILITY, TRAINABILITY, AEROBIC TRAINING, DOSE RESPONSE
Back-propagation algorithm with controlled oscillation of weights

Error back propagation (EBP) is a training algorithm for feedforward artificial neural networks (FFANNs). Certain simple but effective modifications to the EBP algorithm to improve its convergence are proposed. The methods watch for oscillation of weights as the training algorithm proceeds. When such an oscillation is observed, the learning rate for only that weight is temporarily reduced. Effective methods are found for temporary reduction of learning rate for individual oscillating weight. To study the performance of the authors' modified learning algorithm, extensive simulation with one complex learning problem is performed. The simulation results favorably compare the modified algorithms. The modified EBP algorithms, like the EBP algorithm, monotonically reduce the sum-of-the-squared error as the training proceeds. >
Heat Transfer in Rotating Rectangular Cooling Channels (AR=4) With Angled Ribs

An investigation into determining the effect of rotation on heat transfer in a rib-roughened rectangular channel with aspect ratio of 4:1 is detailed in this paper. A broad range of flow parameters have been selected including Reynolds number (Re=5000-40000), rotation number (Ro=0.04-0.3) and coolant to wall density ratio at the inlet (Δρ/ρ) i =0. 122. The rib turbulators, attached to the leading and trailing surface, are oriented at an angle (α=45 deg) to the direction of flow. The effect of channel orientations of β=90 deg and 135 deg with respect to the plane of rotation is also investigated. Results show that the narrow rectangular passage exhibits a much higher heat transfer enhancement for the ribbed surface than the square and 2:1 duct previously investigated. Also, duct orientation significantly affects the leading and side surfaces, yet does not have much affect on the trailing surfaces for both smooth and ribbed surfaces. Furthermore, spanwise heat transfer distributions exist across the leading and trailing surfaces and are accentuated by the use of angled ribs. The smooth and ribbed case trailing surfaces and smooth case side surfaces exhibited a strong dependence on rotation number
An iterative domain decomposition method for the solution of a class of indefinite problems in computational structural dynamics

The FETI-DP domain decomposition method (DDM) is extended to address the iterative solution of a class of indefinite problems of the form (A - σM)x = b, where A and M are two real symmetric positive semidefinite matrices arising from the finite element discretization of second-order elastodynamic problems, and σ is a positive number. A key component of this extension is a new coarse problem based on the free-space solutions of Navier's homogeneous displacement equations of motion. These solutions are waves, and therefore the resulting DDM is reminiscent of the FETI-H method. For this reason, it is named here the FETI-DPH method. For a given σ, this method is numerically shown to be scalable with respect to all of the problem size, subdomain size, and number of subdomains. Its intrinsic CPU performance is illustrated for various ranges of σ with the solution on an Origin 3800 parallel processor of several large-scale structural dynamics problems.