cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Diatom (Bacillariophyceae) Genus Actinella Lewis in Hawai‘i1

We review the occurrence of the diatom genus Actinella Lewis in Hawai‘i. Based on collections from the islands of Kaua‘i, Moloka‘i, and Hawai‘i, we have documented the presence of three species of the genus. Using light and scanning electron microscopy, we illustrate these species, two of which are new to science and described here. Actinella punctata Lewis is distinct in having a bulbous headpole with a short extension at the dorsal margin and a large extension on the ventral margin. This species was observed from Hawai‘i and Moloka‘i. Actinella hawaiiensis Ripple & Kociolek, n. sp., is distinguished by its headpole extension being produced from the dorsal margin, whereas A. molokaiensis Ripple & Kociolek, n. sp., has a headpole protuberance near the center of the apex. Both of the new species are found on the islands of Kaua‘i and Molokai‘i. A previously described endemic, A. punctata var. alakaiensis Main, was not encountered in our collections. Three of the four Actinella taxa from Hawai‘i are currently known as endemics and appear to have their closest allies in either North and/or South America, similar to observations for Gyrosigma krammeri Kociolek et al., another diatom species in Hawai‘i. Further research is necessary to determine the biogeographic patterns of the freshwater diatom flora of Hawai‘i.
Should utopians have perfect bodies

Abstract Is one who imagines a “perfect” (or vastly improved) society also obliged or inclined to imagine a “perfect” (or vastly improved) body as part of her project? If there is in fact a utopian tradition imagining perfect bodies, what new alternatives are conceivable? Should utopian writers pursue any or all of them? Attempts to provide an answer provide critics with perhaps their most penetrating objections to the utopian project since imagining and reproducing perfect bodies entails an intrusiveness even greater than political or economic perfection. But the very intimacy of the body as a site also offers insights into the utopian imagination. Just as certain practices are excised in utopias (private property or money, for instance) and certain ones enhanced (education), so too are utopian bodies, which can be imagined as liberated prisons or improved forms. The utopian body, itself a complex site, becomes the most vivid focus for imaging the nature of perfection itself. New bodies, dramatically enhanced ones such as cyborgs or dramatically reduced ones such as cyber bodies, offer an intense examination of what perfection means and what lengths are worth pursuing to achieve it.
Financial Systems in Northern Thai Villages

Field research attempted to measure the risky environments, the information structures, the institutions, and the risk-response mechanisms of ten villages in northern Thailand. Various key features are then modeled in an abstract but realistic way, either with a full-information risk-sharing model or an information-constrained version of the same model. Observations from some of the villages seem consistent with one or the other of these models, but in many of the villages one is left with risk-response variations across households which suggest that Pareto improvements are possible.
Investigation on lightning attractive width of transmission lines: Experimental Studies

Experimental studies on the lightning attractive width of transmission lines are presented in this paper. Using negative and positive switching impulses to simulate lightning phenomena, studies were performed at the Mississippi State University High Voltage Laboratory. The first study was investigation on the effect of ground wire height, ground wire separation, and polarity of lightning strokes. The second study was investigation on the effect of the dimension of typical transmission line configurations. These effects had impact on the attractive width. Test results were also compared to line observations. Results of the investigations can help utilities to estimate the number of lightning flashes to the transmission line.
Metabolic changes accompanying the inhibition of spore formation in Aspergillus niger.

Abstract A study has been made of the changes in metabolism that result when sporulation in Aspergillus niger is arrested with 6-ethylthiopurine, a compound that arrests spore formation but not growth. It was found that this inhibitor interfered with a specific aspect of methionine metabolism which apparently is necessary to mediate several processes critical for spore formation.
Career goals and expectations of hospitality and tourism students in China.

The purpose of the study was to better understand what undergraduate students in hospitality and tourism management (HTM) in China expected from their future career. Different types of career goals and expectations were examined. A sample of 503 undergraduate students from HTM programs at four different universities in China was surveyed. Results showed that a majority of the undergraduate students were interested in pursuing a career in the hospitality and tourism industry and expressed a desire for an advanced degree. Students reported a variety of topics learned during their HTM studies that proved valuable for their future careers. The topics most reported were management, marketing, economics, tourism psychology, introduction to tourism, industrial practices, English, service attitude, and communication. No interest in the hospitality and tourism industry was cited by the students as the major reason they did not want to enter the industry. Opportunities for personal development and high salaries wer...
Implementation theory and the theory-driven approach to validity.

Abstract The emphasis on validity, a traditionally important question in science, has recently been heavily criticized. The Chen and Rossi approach attempts to answer some of these criticisms by redressing the balance between internal and external validity. The approach opens up the “black box” of process evaluation. Thus, implementation becomes a crucial factor in assessing the validity of program interventions. Inadequate attention to how a program is being or has been implemented poses threats to the four kinds of validity identified by Chen and Rossi. But there are at least four theories of implementation (top-down, bottom-up, adaptive, and evolutionary). These theories and their relationship to validity are discussed. The paper concludes that it may not be possible to achieve external validity, particularly if the adaptive and evolutionary theories of implementation are correct, and that it may be better to move away from causal to other forms of theorizing to get out of the validity dilemma.
Hydrogen induced cracking in a low alloy steel

Stress corrosion cracking behavior of 300M steel under various heat treated conditions was studied. Threshold stress intensity was slightly dependent upon the martensitic substructure, the KIc value, and amounts of retained austenite. The prior austenite grain size exerted the maximum influence. The crack growth rate was directly related to the number of constraint points and, hence, the prior austenite grain size. Increasing the prior austenite grain size increased theK Iscc, although Stage II crack growth rate also increased. The actual crack growth rate in Stage II was intermittent and decreased slightly with increasing applied stress intensity.
Epidemiology of alcohol-related emergency department visits.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the population and geographic patterns, patient characteristics, and clinical presentations and outcomes of alcohol-related ED visits at a national level. METHODS: Cross-sectional data on a probability sample of 21,886 ED visits from the 1995 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were analyzed with consideration of the individual patient visit weight. The annual number and rates of alcohol-related ED visits were computed based on weighted analysis in relation to demographic characteristics and geographic region. Specific variables of alcohol-related ED visits examined included demographic and medical characteristics, patient-reported reasons for visit, and physicians' principal diagnoses. RESULTS: Of the 96.5 million ED visits in 1995, an estimated 2.6 million (2.7%) were related to alcohol abuse. The overall annual rate of alcohol-related ED visits was 10.0 visits per 1,000 population [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.7-11.3]. Higher rates were found for men (14.7 per 1,000, 95% CI 12.5-16.9), adults aged 25 to 44 years (17.8 per 1,000, 95% CI 15.0-20.6), blacks (18.1 per 1,000, 95% CI 14.0-22.1), and residents living in the northeast region (15.2 per 1,000, 95% CI 12.1-18.2). Patients whose visits were alcohol-related were more likely than other patients to be uninsured, smokers, or depressive. Alcohol-related ED visits were 1.6 times as likely as other visits to be injury-related, and 1.8 times as likely to be rated as "urgent" or "emergent." The leading principal reasons for alcohol-related ED visits were complaints of pain, injury, and drinking problems. Alcohol abuse/dependence was the principal diagnosis for 20% of the alcohol-related visits. CONCLUSION: Alcohol abuse poses a major burden on the emergency medical care system. The age, gender, and geographic characteristics of alcohol-related ED visits are consistent with drinking patterns in the general population. Language: en
Lubricious oxide coatings for extreme temperature applications: A review

Abstract This article provides an overview of the latest research developments on binary and ternary oxide coatings that have the potential to be used as solid lubricants at elevated temperatures. The review focuses on understanding the major mechanisms that lead to a reduction in friction and/or wear in high temperature lubricious oxides. Changes in the structural, chemical, and electronic properties of these oxides as a function of temperature will be correlated to their mechanical and tribological performance using a range of experimental tools in addition to modeling based on ab initio calculations and molecular dynamics simulation methods. This review also includes a discussion of the industrial applications of these coatings as well as of potential improvements to the coating design and other anticipated future developments.
How Information Theory Handles Cell Signaling and Uncertainty

Information theory allows analyses of cell signaling capabilities without necessarily requiring detailed knowledge of the signaling networks.
Chemical shift assignments for Rv0577, a putative glyoxylase associated with virulence from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Approximately one-third of mankind has been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiological agent responsible for tuberculosis (TB). As part of an effort to develop a new generation of anti-TB agents, the chemical shifts for the 261-residue, virulence-associated protein Rv0577 from M. tuberculosis has been extensively assigned.
Experiments on Seismic Performance of RC Frames with Hinging Columns

The seismic behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) frames with hinging columns, also known as strong‐beam–weak‐column (SBWC) frames, is studied from earthquake‐simulation test results of two small‐scale models. The models were subjected to scaled earthquake motions of various intensities on a unidirectional shake table. The paper describes some of the dynamic response measurements and their implication for SBWC‐frame performance. The response of the model structures to the “design” motion is found to be acceptable when large discontinuities in the vertical distribution of lateral strength are avoided. Maximum inelastic drifts of the structures were controlled through appropriate member proportioning, and stories comprising hinging columns exhibited adequate force‐deformation behavior and developed moderate displacement ductility factors.
Conserving approximations for the attractive Holstein and Hubbard models.

Conserving approximations are applied to the attractive Holstein and Hubbard models (on an infinite-dimensional hypercubic lattice). All effects of nonconstant density of states and vertex corrections are taken into account in the weak-coupling regime. Infinite summation of certain classes of diagrams turns out to be a quantitatively less accurate approximation than truncation of the conserving approximations to a finite order, but the infinite summation approximations do show the correct qualitative behavior of generating a peak in the transition temperature as the interaction strength increases.
SONGBIRD NEST PREDATORS IN FOREST–PASTURE EDGE AND FOREST INTERIOR IN A FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE

Many studies have compared songbird nesting success between forest edge and interior, but few have addressed potential factors underlying variation in nest predation pressure in relation to edge. We examined the relative abundance and species richness of songbird nest predators and the abundance of Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) in forest edge and interior within a fragmented, agricultural landscape in central Missouri, USA. Avian predators and cowbirds were more abundant in forest edges. There were no differences in small- or medium-sized mammalian predator abundance between edge and interior. Almost twice as many snakes were captured in edge as in interior. Predator species richness was significantly higher in forest edge. Forest vegetation structure was very similar between edge and interior, suggesting that differences in predator abundance and species richness were not driven by variation in habitat structure. Nest predator distribution in relation to habitat edge may therefore depend on factors at larger spatial scales, such as landscape context. We suggest that in areas fragmented by agriculture, nest predator assemblages in forest edges may differ from those in forest interior. Edges may attract a greater number of predator species, and some nest predators may be more abundant near the edges of forest patches, although the trend does not apply across all predator taxa. Generalizations about nest predators and edges should thus be made with caution, and conservation plans should consider the composition of local nest predator assemblages in order to predict potential impacts on nesting birds in edge habitat.
Regulation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator trafficking and protein expression by a Rho family small GTPase TC10

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-interacting protein, CFTR-associated ligand (CAL) down-regulates total and cell surface CFTR by targeting CFTR for degradation in the lysosome. Here, we report that a Rho family small GTPase TC10 interacts with CAL. This interaction specifically up-regulates CFTR protein expression. Co-expression of the constitutively active form, TC10Q75L, increases total and cell surface CFTR in a dose-dependent fashion. Moreover, co-expression of the dominant-negative mutant TC10T31N causes a dose-dependent reduction in mature CFTR. The effect of TC10 is independent of the level of CFTR expression, because a similar effect was observed in a stable cell line that expresses one-tenth of CFTR. Co-expression of TC10Q75L did not have a similar effect on the expression of plasma membrane proteins such as Frizzled-3 and Pr-cadherin or cytosolic proteins such as tubulin and green fluorescent protein. TC10Q75L also did not have a similar effect on the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein. Co-expression of constitutively active and dominant-negative forms of Cdc42 or RhoA did not affect CFTR expression in a manner similar to TC10, indicating that the effect of TC10 is unique within the Rho family. Metabolic pulse-chase experiments show that TC10 did not affect CFTR maturation, suggesting that it exerts its effects on the mature CFTR. Importantly, TC10Q75L reverses CAL-mediated CFTR degradation, suggesting that TC10Q75L inhibits CAL-mediated degradation of CFTR. TC10Q75L does not operate by reducing CAL protein expression or its ability to form dimers or interact with CFTR. Interestingly, the expression of TC10Q75L causes a dramatic redistribution of CAL from the juxtanuclear region to the plasma membrane where the two molecules overlap. These data suggest that TC10 regulates both total and plasma membrane CFTR expression by interacting with CAL. The GTP-bound form of TC10 directs the trafficking of CFTR from the juxtanuclear region to the secretory pathway toward the plasma membrane, away from CAL-mediated degradation of CFTR in the lysosome.
Life in the extreme environment at a hydrothermal vent: haemoglobin in a deep-sea copepod

This is the first study, to my knowledge, quantifying the respiratory pigment haemoglobin discovered in a deep–sea copepod. Haemoglobin in copepods has previously been documented in only one other species from the deep water of an Italian lake. Specimens of the siphonostomatoid Scotoecetes introrsus Humes were collected during submersible dives at 2500 m depth near a hydrothermal vent at the East Pacific Rise (9°N). The haemoglobin content in the copepod’ haemolymph was 4.3 ± 0.6 μg per individual female ( n = 6) and 1.8 ± 0.1 μg per individual male ( n = 6). Weight–specific concentrations of haemoglobin were identical for females and males (0.25 ± 0.04 and 0.26 ± 0.02O NTμg per microgram dry weight, respectively). These haemoglobin concentrations are higher than those found in other small crustaceans. Activity of the electron transport system indicated that the respiration rates in S. introrsus (13.7 ± 7.7 μl O2 per milligram dry weight per hour) were similar to those in the shallow–water copepod Acartia tonsa (9.1 ± 1.3 μl O2 per milligram dry weight per hour). It was concluded that the possession of highly concentrated haemoglobin allows S. introrsus to colonize a geologically young, thermally active site such as the vicinity of a hydrothermal vent, despite the prevailing oxygen depletion.
SU-E-I-89: A Standard Reference Material for Lung CT

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of developing a “standard reference material” for tissue density variations obtained in CT scans. Methods: The Hounsfield unit (HU) is used universally in CTscanners to describe the radiodensity of tissues. The deceptively simple definition of the HU, the linear attenuation coefficient of a material relative to that of water, is made complicated by interactions of materials with the polychromatic beam, and by measurement geometry and detector response. The variations over time and across scanners can be addressed with a “reference standard” that is scanner‐independent. We began the development of one set of such standards by characterizing them in a NIST traceable standard beam quality, whose spectrum has been measured with a Gedetector; the spectrum compared well with IPEM report 78 for the given filtrations. Transmission through polyurethane foams of 4 different densities (nominally from 0.065 g/cm3 to 0.3 g/cm3) were measured in the M80 (80 kVp) beam using a CMOS x‐ray camera, recording the value of ln(I0/I) = mu*x, where x is the thickness of the foam in the range of 1.9 cm to 10 cm. A mu_eff is defined by (ln2)/h where h is the half value layer that can be experimentally measured. Results: For each density, the transmission was performed at 6 different thicknesses with an average statistical uncertainty of about 4%. With 4 densities, mu_eff can be determined to < 1 %. A calculation has been performed by folding in the measured spectrum with mu(E) based on XCOM output for polyurethane. The experimentally determined slope of mu_eff vs density is found to be 2.2% lower than the expected value, possibly due to a scattering contribution. Conclusion: Characterizing a material in a beam of known quality enables a direct assessment of the linear attenuation coefficient, which can serve as a scanner‐independent reference.
Characterization of phospholipase A2 secretion from human platelets

Abstract Human platelets secreted phospholipase A 2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner when challenged with thrombin, 12- O -tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), or collagen. Enzyme release was maximal at concentrations of 0.1 units/ml of thrombin, 100 nM TPA, or 2 μg/ml of collagen; and complete by 2 min in platelets treated with thrombin or TPA. Cells challenged with collagen required up to 5 min for maximal secretion. Besides dose and time functions, phospholipase A 2 secretion was also dependent on platelet concentration and the levels of bovine serum albumin in the incubation medium. The secreted enzyme was soluble and exhibited substrate and Ca 2+ requirements similar to a detergent-solubilized, partially purified phospholipase A 2 from whole platelets [Kramer et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1988) 959, 269–279]. The pH optimum of the secreted enzyme, however, was 1–2 units lower than the pH optimum of the phospholipase A 2 from whole cells. Secreted phospholipase A 2 hydrolyzed phosphatidylethanolamine at 5–12 times the rate of phosphatidylcholine when the substrates were present in pure form. These apparent differences in activity were greatly diminished, though, when 1:1 molar mixtures of the two substrates were employed. Because phospholipase A 2 catalyzes a key reaction during the formation of bioactive arachidonate metabolites, the secretion of this enzyme from platelets may be important in the regulation of thrombosis.
Retrievable versus permanent caval filter procedures: when are they cost-effective for interventional radiology?

Purpose Because many retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are placed without ever being removed, placement of a retrievable device that is not removed incurs greater technical cost for the institution than a cheaper permanent filter (PF), with no clinical benefit for the patient and no additional professional or technical revenue for the interventional radiologist and institution. The purposes of this study are to identify patient characteristics associated with lack of removal of a retrievable filter (RF) and to develop a cost-effective strategy for placement of a retrievable IVC filter. Materials and Methods A retrospective evaluation of 160 consecutive patients who underwent IVC filter placement with or without removal in our interventional radiology (IR) unit over a period of 31 months was performed. Patient characteristics were identified that were associated with lack of removal of retrievable IVC filters, and the cost savings were calculated in the event that a PF had been substituted for an RF in these patients. Results A total of 160 consecutive IVC filters were placed during the study period. Of these, 42 (26%) were PFs and 118 (74%) were RFs. During the study period, only 27 of the 118 RFs (23%) were subsequently removed. Factors associated with lack of removal of an RF included patient age ( P = .003), presence of ongoing malignancy ( P = .04), and indication for filter placement ( P = .01). Retrospectively, the use of retrievable devices only in the presence of two of the three selection criteria (ie, age Conclusions The preferential use of retrievable versus permanent devices for filter placement is financially advantageous for an IR unit only if at least 41% of them are eventually removed. The use of clinical criteria to select device type allows significant cost savings.
Tractable combinatorial auctions and b-matching

Auctions are the most widely used strategic game-theoretic mechanisms in the Internet. Auctions have been mostly studied from a game-theoretic and economic perspective, although recent work in AI and OR has been concerned with computational aspects of auctions as well. When faced from a computational perspective, combinatorial auctions are perhaps the most challenging type of auctions. Combinatorial auctions are auctions where agents may submit bids for bundles of goods. Given that finding an optimal allocation of the goods in a combinatorial auction is in general intractable, researchers have been concerned with exposing tractable instances of combinatorial auctions. In this work we expose the use of b-matching techniques in the context of combinatorial auctions, and apply them in a non-trivial manner in order to introduce polynomial solutions for a variety of combinatorial auctions.
Numerical simulation of the self‐assembly of a polymer–polymer–solvent ternary system on a heterogeneously functionalized substrate

The spinodal decomposition of a polymer–polymer–solvent ternary blend spin coated on heterogeneously functionalized substrate is studied in a three-dimensional numerical model. The Cahn-Hilliard equation was used to describe the free energy profile of the domain. The mechanism of the morphology evolution was studied quantitatively. The well-established linear relationship of the characteristic length, R(t), with t1/3 can be observed in the simulation results. The functionalized substrate greatly affected the morphology evolution of blends with different solvent concentrations. The results indicated that a critical time can be observed, at which the evolution rate changes abruptly, also after which the compatibility of the surface morphology to the functionalized substrate pattern increases at a much lower pace in the diluted solution. In the condensed solution, the compatibility actually decreases beyond the critical time. The influence of solvent evaporation is investigated and a sharper interface was observed in the case with solvent evaporation and film thickness reduction. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers
Phosphorylation-regulated Inhibition of the Gz GTPase-activating Protein Activity of RGS Proteins by Synapsin I

Synapsins are neuronal proteins that bind and cluster synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic space, presumably by anchoring to actin filaments, but specific regulatory functions of the synapsins are unknown. We found that a sub-population of brain synapsin Ia, a splice variant of one of three synapsin isoforms, inhibits the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity of several RGS proteins. Inhibition is highly selective for Galphaz, a member of the Gi family that is found in neurons, platelets, adrenal chromaffin cells, and a few other neurosecretory cells. Gz has been indirectly implicated in the regulation of secretion. Synapsin Ia constitutes a major fraction of the total GAP-inhibitory activity in brain, and its inhibitory activity is absent from the brains of synapsin I(-/-)/II(-/-) mice. Inhibition depends on the cationic D/E domain of synapsin. Phosphorylation of synapsin Ia at serine 9 by either cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase or p21-activated protein kinase (PAK1) attenuates its potency as a GAP inhibitor more than 7-fold. Synapsin can thus act as a phosphorylation-modulated mediator of feedback regulation of Gz signaling by the synaptic machinery.
Household Clustering of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

A 44-year-old-man had the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy since a murmur was detected during a college physical examination. At age 34, he was successfully resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation, after which a cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted. Thereafter, he had stable exertional angina and dyspnea while taking atenolol and verapamil. …
Screening for NIDDM in nonpregnant adults. A review of principles, screening tests, and recommendations.

Abstract The economic burden of diabetes in the U.S. is now more than 90 billion dollars per year (113-115). In the diabetes community, there is a feeling that aggressive measures to detect diabetes in earlier stages may be warranted. Regardless of whether evidence is convincing that there are benefits from early detection of diabetes (3,116,117), screening activities have been sanctioned by many organizations and are now taking place. Operational research is needed to define more clearly the who, when, where, and how of screening and the effectiveness of screening programs (4,118). Diabetes screening programs should be comprehensive and should educate about diabetes and provide appropriate interpretation of both positive and negative screening results. It is essential that programs have diagnostic follow-up and refer those with newly diagnosed diabetes for treatment. In addition, individuals with previously diagnosed diabetes encountered during screening activities should be made aware of the importance of glycemic control and follow-up with their health care providers.
Ka-band feed arrays for spacecraft reflector antennas with limited scan capability-an overview

The design and breadboard of an active transmitting array at Ka-band frequencies and its application to a reflector antenna system is described. The array is intended as a feed array in a near-field Cassegrain or Gregorian dual-reflector antenna system. It uses tapered slot (Vivaldi) elements in a break architecture. The array has been tested for RF performance. Its performance is acceptable, but there are some areas where improvements in the performance are possible. It was found that particular attention must be paid to the losses at the input to the array elements and in the element itself. Variation of the array phase center in different azimuth planes is another area of concern. The Vivaldi elements have a linear polarization and do not lend themselves easily to a circularly polarized arrangement. For lower losses and circular polarization, microstrip patch arrays in a tile configuration were found to be more advantageous. >
Real-time myoelectric decoding of individual finger movements for a virtual target task

This study presents the development of a myoelectric decoding algorithm capable of continuous online decoding of finger movements with the intended eventual application for use in prostheses for transradial amputees. The effectiveness of the algorithm was evaluated through controlling a multi-fingered hand in a virtual environment. Two intact limbed adult subjects were able to use myoelectric signals collected from 8 bipolar electrodes to control four fingers in real-time to touch and maintain contact with targets appearing at various points in the flexion space of the hand. In these tasks, subjects achieved accuracies of 94% when target regions extended ± 11.5° about a target angle and 81% when the target region extended only ± 5.75° about the target angle. The real-time virtual system provides a practical and economic way to develop and train algorithms and amputee subjects using dexterous prostheses.
Radioimmunoassay for Plasma 20a-Dihydroprogesterone

Abstract This report describes a radioimmunoassay method for the measurement of 20adihydro-progesterone (20a-P) in plasma. Utilizing a specific antiserum for 20a-P with o one-step Celite microcolumn chromatographic system, we have measured this steroid in small aliquots of plasma from both male and female subjects. In 10 men, the mean 20a-P level was 0.85 ng/ml. In six premenopausal women studied during one complete menstrual cycle, the mean levels during the follicular and luteal phases were respectively 0.63 ng/ml and 3.7 ng/ml. These values are within the range of levels reported by one group of investigators but higher than those reported by another group.
Cycle-approximate retargetable performance estimation at the transaction level

This paper presents a novel cycle-approximate performance estimation technique for automatically generated transaction level models (TLMs) for heterogeneous multi-core designs. The inputs are application C processes and their mapping to processing units in the platform. The processing unit model consists of pipelined datapath, memory hierarchy and branch delay model. Using the processing unit model, the basic blocks in the C processes are analyzed and annotated with estimated delays. This is followed by a code generation phase where delay-annotated C code is generated and linked with a SystemC wrapper consisting of inter-process communication channels. The generated TLM is compiled and executed natively on the host machine. Our key contribution is that the estimation technique is close to cycle-accurate, it can be applied to any multi-core platform and it produces high-speed native compiled TLMs. For experiments, timed TLMs for industrial scale designs such as MP3 decoder were automatically generated for 4 heterogeneous multi-processor platforms with up to 5 PEs under 1 minute. Each TLM simulated under 1 second, compared to 3--4 hrs of instruction set simulation (ISS) and 15--18 hrs of RTL simulation. Comparison to on-board measurement showed only 8% error on average in estimated number of cycles.
Implementation consideration of code division multiple access sequences

The linear span of a sequence is defined as the minimum number of stages of a linear feedback shift register required to generate the given sequence. Thus, the linear span is a measure of the complexity of the sequence structure. A large complexity or linear span is desired for security of the sequence. The binary No sequence requires nonlinear connections in addition to the linear feedback shift registers. Thus, No sequences have a large complexity and are suited for high security systems. The implementation of Gold, Kasami, and No sequences which are directly applicable for CDMA are presented and compared for complexity. An alternative to the nonlinear connection of the linear feedback shift register for the No sequences is also presented. This alternative is obtained as a direct linear feedback shift register of length equal to the linear span of the No sequence set. >
Laser-promoted nanostructure evolution and nanoparticle alignment

A cone microstructure has been used as a template to generate nanotips and to promote nanoparticle alignment. A quasi-periodic array of nanotips is produced when the laser-induced cone microstructure is subject to chemical etching due to tapering of the cone tips. Nanoparticles can be produced on the surface of a silicon specimen by irradiating it in the presence of an inert gas atmosphere. The backscattered material that is re-deposited on the substrate, upon irradiation at fluences close to the melting threshold, is composed of a thin film intermixed with extremely small nanoparticles. Further irradiation promotes film clustering and nanoparticle formation. In the presence of cones, the nanoparticles become aligned into straight and long (~1 mm) lines whose spacing is close to the laser wavelength. This result suggested an ordering mechanism similar to that occurring for laser-induced periodic surface structures. The relation between nanoparticle line spacing and angle of incidence of the radiation supported this similarity. Nanoparticle ordering also was promoted by laser-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) using polarized light, when a laser-induced periodic surface nanostructure was present in the substrate.
Large Margin Learning of Upstream Scene Understanding Models

Upstream supervised topic models have been widely used for complicated scene understanding. However, existing maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) schemes can make the prediction model learning independent of latent topic discovery and result in an unbalanced prediction rule for scene classification. This paper presents a joint max-margin and max-likelihood learning method for upstream scene understanding models, in which latent topic discovery and prediction model estimation are closely coupled and well-balanced. The optimization problem is efficiently solved with a variational EM procedure, which iteratively solves an online loss-augmented SVM. We demonstrate the advantages of the large-margin approach on both an 8-category sports dataset and the 67-class MIT indoor scene dataset for scene categorization.
THE ROLES OF GENDER AND INTERPERSONAL SUBORDINATION ON BURNOUT AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF

The study examined the roles of gender and interpersonal subordination on burnout and emotional development among academic staff of Nigerian Universities. One hundred and Ninety – Five (195) participants drawn from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State, Imo State University and Madonna University within the Eastern part of the country participated in the study. Their age ranged between 27 to 59 with mean age of 43. three instruments were used for the study which includes the Interpersonal Dependency inventory (Hirschfield, Werman, Gough, Barret, Korchin and Chodoff, 1997), Maslach Burnout Inventory (Maslach, 1983) and Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (Zuckerman and Lubin, 1965). A 2 x 3 factorial design was used in the data analysis. The result of the study showed no statistical significant difference in the domains of the independent variables on burnout and emotional development except on the following LSC on EE; DH; AA on Pra; Gender *ER* LSC on hostility; and LSC* AA on RPA. Discussions of the result together with recommendations were made.
Semiconductor optical amplifiers in access networks

We review the uses of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) in passive optical networks (PONs). SOAs can be used to extend the reach and split ratio of the network. Reflective SOAs can be used as wavelength-agnostic modulators in Wavelength Division Multiplexed PON.
Iron-Catalyzed Reduction of NO by CO and H2 in Simulated Flue Gas

Iron oxide supported on alumina is a promising catalyst/absorbent for use in the simultaneous removal of NOx and SOx from power plant stack gases. The process under development would operate under net reducing conditions at temperatures of 370°–540°C. NOx is converted to H2 or NH3, and SOx is removed as a sulfide or sulfate. The reduction of NO by CO and H2 in a fixed-bed reactor has been studied to determine the effects of temperature, catalyst composition, and the other components of flue gas (excepting fly ash) on the rate of the reaction and the ratio of N2/NH3 produced. Under readily attainable conditions, reaction times of the order of 0.01s are observed. Some of the conditions under which oxygen poisons the reduction of NO have been determined.
High efficiency CDMA RF power amplifier using dynamic envelope tracking technique

This work describes a 2-W peak-envelope linear power amplifier based upon the envelope tracking (ET) technique with application to CDMA cellular radio handsets. Both drain voltages of a two stage monolithic GaAs IC are varied with respect to the long term rms value of the modulated signal using a high efficiency Class-S modulator. The modulator is implemented as a single chip silicon IC to supply currents in excess of 1 A. The RF amplifier IC utilizes two AlGaAs/InGaAs heterostructure insulated-gate FET structures which allows single voltage supply operation with state-of-the-art linearity and efficiency performance. When driven by a CDMA O-QPSK signal, the ET amplifier exhibits desired spectral linearity while achieving a remarkable 5/spl times/ improvement in overall efficiency, compared to fixed supply bias, when measured in a reverse link urban based mobile transmitter power profile.
Influence of Probenecid on Serum Levels and Urinary Excretion of Cinoxacin

Serum levels and urinary excretion of cinoxacin were examined in healthy individuals after a two-step intravenous infusion in the presence and absence of probenecid. After dosing cinoxacin alone, steady-state serum levels were approached in 1 h and were maintained for an additional 2 h with a reduced infusion rate. After probenecid pretreatment, serum levels of cinoxacin continued to increase during 3 h of infusion, reaching levels approximately double those obtained with cinoxacin alone. The mean elimination half-life of cinoxacin from serum was increased from 1.3 to 3.5 h in the presence of probenecid, and renal clearance was significantly reduced, with 46% of dosed drug appearing in 7-h urines of probenecid-treated subjects compared with 68% in subjects receiving cinoxacin alone. Probenecid had no apparent influence on cinoxacin distribution in the body but caused a significant decrease in the rate of cinoxacin extrarenal elimination, possibly due to competition for a common metabolic pathway.
A hedging deficiency in eurodollar futures

The eurodollar futures contract of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is arguably the most successful of all futures contracts. The contract is structured such that its price does not converge to the price of the underlying eurodollar time deposit. Ignoring the daily settlement, one typically assumes that a eurodollar futures contract perfectly hedges an anticipated loan pegged to LIBOR, provided the loan rate is set at the eurodollar expiration. This article demonstrates that this hedge is not perfect, leaving a risk empirically estimated at four basis points, a seemingly small amount but considerably larger than the bid–ask spread on the futures. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 26:189–207, 2006
Climatological Potential for Scirtothrips Dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Establishment in the United States

Abstract Scirtothrips dorsalis is a serious exotic pest that has recently become established in the continental United States. It is of major concern to regulatory agencies because it has a wide host range and high reproductive potential. A weather-based mapping tool, NAPPFAST, was used to predict potential establishment of S. dorsalis in North America. The analysis was based on a degree-day model and cold temperature survival of S. dorsalis. The results demonstrated that S. dorsalis could potentially produce up to 18 generations and was likely to survive in the southern and western coastal plains of the United States. It is concluded that S. dorsalis is likely to be a serious economic pest in the southern United States. Additional maps and information are available at the web site (http://www.nappfast.org).
HABITAT SELECTION, ACOUSTIC ADAPTATION, AND THE EVOLUTION OF REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION

We examined barriers to gene flow in a hybrid zone of two subspecies of the song sparrow (Melospiza melodia). We focused on how mating signals and mate choice changed along an environmental gradient and gathered data on the morphology, genetics, ecology, and behavior across the zone. Melospiza m. heermanni of the Pacific slope of California and M. m. fallax of the Sonoran Desert, each distinct in plumage, meet across a steep environmental gradient in southeastern California. Although both subspecies occur in riparian habitat, their occupied habitat differs structurally, the former subspecies occurring in areas with denser understory and greater vertical heterogeneity. Song elements varied concomitantly, as predicted by the acoustic adaptation hypothesis, with heermanni having lower-pitched, more widely spaced elements. Females of both subspecies responded more strongly to homotypic than heterotypic song, and addition of subspecific plumage cues increased response if song was homotypic but not if heterotypic. Females thus assess multiple male traits, weighing song more heavily. Males of both subspecies showed significantly greater agonistic response to homotypic song. Microsatellite variation is correlated significantly with plumage variation across the zone and suggests limited gene flow between the taxa. The association of song and plumage with the environment and in turn with assortative mating suggests a means by which reproductive isolation may evolve or be maintained in hybrid zones.
Geometric Applications of the Commutant Lifting Theorem

In this chapter we will show how one can use the commutant lifting theorem to solve several classical interpolation problems. Indeed we will treat the Caratheodory interpolation problem, the Nevanlinna-Pick interpolation problem, a Hankel matrix interpolation problem, an extension problem involving contractions intertwining isometries and a Toeplitz inversion problem. We will also use the commutant lifting theorem to obtain some Corona theorems for analytic Toeplitz operators.
Assembly of the mitochondrial membrane system: nuclear suppression of a cytochrome b mutation in yeast mitochondrial DNA.

In a previous study, a mitochondrial mutant expressing a specific enzymatic deficiency in co-enzyme QH2-cytochrome c reductase was described (Tzagoloff, Foury and Akai 1976). Analysis of the mitochondrially translated proteins revealed the absence in the mutant of the mitochondrial product corresponding to cytochrome b and the presence of a new low molecular weight product. The premature chain-termination mutant was used to obtain suppressor mutants with wild-type properties. One such revertant strain was analyzed genetically and biochemically. The revertant was determined to have a second mutation in a nuclear gene that is capable of partially suppressing the original mitochondrial cytochrome b mutation. Genetic data indicate that the nuclear mutation is recessive and is probably in a gene coding for a protein involved in the mitochondrial translation machinery.
A Second Look at Relativistic Wave Equations

Although it has been known for a long time that there exist more general theories besides the Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations, they were mainly considered a mathematical curiosity and no serious attempts were made to determine their physical content like mass spectra, magnetic moments or form factors. Such an attitude was permissible perhaps thirty years ago when only a few elementary particles were known and it still could be believed that only the simplest (=irreducible) mathematical structures should be used for their description. In the meantime it has been learned from experiment that most particles have a rather complicated internal structure and can exist in various excited states. Hence we see no cogent reason why, for example, only the Dirac equation should be used for the description of spin 1/2 — particles.
Money and Morale: Growing Inequality Affects How Americans View Themselves and Others

Dozens of past studies document how affluent people feel somewhat better about life than middle-class people feel and much better than poor people do. New analyses of the General Social Surveys from 1974 to 2012 address questions in the literature regarding aggregate responses to hard times, whether the income-class relationship is linear or not, and whether inequality affects happiness. General happiness dropped significantly during the Great Recession, suggesting that the income-happiness relationship might also exist at the macro level. People with extremely low incomes are not as unhappy as a linear model expects, but there is no evidence of a threshold beyond which personal happiness stops increasing. Comparing happiness over the long term, the affluent were about as happy in 2012 as they were in the 1970s, but the poor were much less happy. Consequently, the gross happiness gap by income was about 30 percent bigger in 2012 than it was in the 1970s. A multivariate model shows that the net effect of i...
Influence of lung inflation reflex on vascular capacitance in the systemic circulation

The effects of sustained lung inflation on systemic vascular capacitance (SVC), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and cardiac sympathetic efferent nerve activity (SENA) were investigated in anesthetized dogs. By use of a total cardiopulmonary bypass, the lungs were inflated to tracheal pressures of 10, 15, and 20 mmHg. Tracheal pressures of 10, 15, and 20 mmHg increased system vascular capacitance by 1.4, 3.1, and 4.3 ml/kg and decreased systemic vascular resistance by 0.11, 0.15, and 0.16 mmHg.kg.min-ml-1, respectively, at low carotid sinus pressure (CSP) of 41 mmHg. SENA showed a concomitant decrease. Bilateral vagotomy attenuated the change in SVR by 69%, SVC by 62%, and SENA by 97% when lungs were inflated to a tracheal pressure of 20 mmHg at a low CSP. These results indicate that lung inflation causes a reflex induced increase in SVC as well as a decrease in both SVR and SENA. The lung inflation reflex is mediated primarily through vagal afferent nerve fibers with a small contribution from other afferent nerve pathways.