cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the time‐dependent strain field at seismogenic depths using first‐motion focal mechanisms: Observations of large‐scale decadal variations in stress along the San Andreas Fault system

[1] We present a method for summing moment tensors derived from first-motion focal mechanisms to study temporal dependence in features of the subsurface regional strain field. Time-dependent processes are inferred by comparing mechanisms summed over differing time periods. We apply this methodology to seismogenic zones in central and southern California using focal mechanisms produced by the Northern and Southern California Seismograph Networks for events during 1980–1999. We find a consistent pattern in both the style of deformation (strike-slip versus compressional) and seismicity rate across the entire region. If these temporal variations are causally related, it suggests a temporal change in the regional-scale stress field. One change consistent with the observations is a rotation in the regional maximum horizontal compressive stress direction, followed by a reversal to the original direction. Depending upon the dominant style of deformation locally, this change in orientation of the regional stress will tend to either enhance or hinder deformation. The mode of enhanced deformation can range from increased microseismicity and creep to major earthquakes. We hypothesize that these temporal changes in the regional stress field are the result of subtle changes in apparent relative plate motion between the Pacific and North American plates, perhaps due to long-range postseismic stress diffusion. Others have hypothesized that small changes in plate motion over thousands of years, and/or over decades, are responsible for changes in the style of deformation in southern California. We propose that such changes, over the course of just a few years, also affect the style of deformation.
Something important is missing in the ACC/AHA cholesterol treatment guidelines

Abstract Objective To discuss factors surrounding development of the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) cholesterol guidelines and reasons they have not yet been adopted by clinicians. Summary The new ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines were released in November 2013. The guidelines are based on randomized controlled trial evidence and, if fully implemented, are likely to result in a reduction of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in Americans. Despite this, the guidelines have not been adopted by clinicians. This is because the guidelines are missing something very important—guidance for the clinician and the public. Guidelines are supposed to give guidance to clinicians on how to manage the various clinical presentations encountered in daily practice and to help them translate science into practice. Guidelines are also supposed to help the public define dyslipidemias in a way they can understand and thus seek treatment and actively follow the progress of their treatment. Conclusion The National Lipid Association (NLA) stepped in to help fill the void in the ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines and offered recommendations for treating individual patients who have increased risk of ASCVD. The NLA recommendations give clinicians the expert guidance and LDL-C goal rudder they need to successfully manage their patient's cholesterol.
Osteopathic Medicine and Primary Care:a new journal for changing times

Osteopathic Medicine and Primary Care is dedicated to the rapid and universal dissemination of peer-reviewed research and scholarly work within its scope. It aims to bridge diverse professional communities by providing a common forum for the publication of research relevant to the clinical practice of primary care.
Structural and functional relationships of enzyme activities induced by nitrate in barley

1. Nitrate induces the development of NADH-nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1), FMNH2–nitrate reductase and NADH–cytochrome c reductase activities in barley shoots. 2. Sucrose-density-gradient analysis shows one band of NADH–nitrate reductase (8S), one band of FMNH2–nitrate reductase activity (8S) and three bands of NADH–cytochrome c reductase activity (bottom layer, 8S and 3.7S). Both 8S and 3.7S NADH–cytochrome c reductase activities are inducible by nitrate, but the induction of the 8S band is much more marked. 3. The 8S NADH–cytochrome c reductase band co-sediments with both NADH–nitrate reductase activity and FMNH2–nitrate reductase activity. Nitrite reductase activity (4.6S) did not coincide with the activity of either the 8S or the 3.7S NADH–cytochrome c reductase. 4. FMNH2–nitrate reductase activity is more stable (t½ 12.5min) than either NADH–nitrate reductase activity (t½ 0.5min) or total NADH–cytochrome c reductase activity (t½ 1.5min) at 45°C. 5. NADH–cytochrome c reductase and NADH–nitrate reductase activities are more sensitive to p-chloromercuribenzoate than is FMNH2–nitrate reductase activity. 6. Tungstate prevents the formation of NADH–nitrate reductase and FMNH2–nitrate reductase activities, but it causes superinduction of NADH–cytochrome c reductase activity. Molybdate overcomes the effects of tungstate. 7. The same three bands (bottom layer, 8S and 3.7S) of NADH–cytochrome c reductase activity are observed irrespective of whether induction is carried out in the presence or absence of tungstate, but only the activities in the 8S and 3.7S bands are increased. 8. The results support the idea that NADH–nitrate reductase, FMNH2–nitrate reductase and NADH–cytochrome c reductase are activities of the same enzyme complex, and that in the presence of tungstate the 8S enzyme complex is formed but is functional only with respect to NADH–cytochrome c reductase activity.
Distance Dependence of Electron Tunneling through Self-Assembled Monolayers Measured by Conducting Probe Atomic Force Microscopy: Unsaturated versus Saturated Molecular Junctions

Electron tunneling through self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) composed of either unsaturated or saturated molecules was investigated using conducting probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM). SAMs of unsaturated oligophenylene thiolates or saturated alkanethiolates were assembled on Au substrates and contacted with a Au-coated AFM tip at constant applied load. The current−voltage (I−V) characteristics of both types of SAMs were linear over ±0.3 V. Resistance (R) increased exponentially with molecular length (s) in both cases according to the expected relationship, R = R0 exp(βs), but the rate of increase, as quantified by the structure-dependent factor β, was much less for the unsaturated SAMs than for the saturated alkanethiolate SAMs. Average β values were 0.42 ± 0.07 A-1 for the oligophenylene thiolate SAMs and 0.94 ± 0.06 A-1 for the alkanethiolate SAMs. Extrapolation of semilog plots of resistance versus molecular length to zero length yielded an estimate of the metal−molecule contact resistance, which w...
Expert system for energization of lightly loaded transmission lines

Abstract This paper describes an expert system which has been developed to assist in the decision making of voltage control during energizing a high voltage line. A set of rules is used to select the appropriate control action to rectify voltage violations. Controls such as shunt reactors and generator voltages are selected, based on the sensitivity factors. The expert system is built using a command language called COPE. The developed system is implemented on an IBM4381 type computer and tested for the reduced Western Systems Coordinating Council power flow data.
Nervous system transplantation in hydra

Cnidarians are the most primitive metazoans possessing a nervous system. The hydroid nervous system consists of single sensory, neurosecretory and ganglionic cells concentrated at the extremities of the animal. Present evidence suggests that nerve tissue arises from the differentiation of interstitial cells. Exposure of hydra to nitrogen mustard (methyl bis (beta-chloro ethyl) amine hydrochloride) causes the selective elimination of interstitial cells (Diehl and Burnett, '64). Cells which normally arise from interstitial cell differentiation subsequently become depleted. Distoproximal grafts between normal hydra and nitrogen mustard treated animals of a different species result in interstitial cell migration across the graft junction. Autoradiographic evidence demonstrates that the host hydra accepts the donor's interstitial cells which proliferate and differentiate into nerve tissue and functional cnidocytes. Although newly established cnidocyte populations are normal in seven day old grafts, nerve and interstitial cell populations are reduced. Furthermore, there is an abnormal apico-basal distribution of interstitial cells in these grafts. A comparison of “nervous system transplant” animals with those treated with nitrogen mustard for a similar time period but not grafted suggests that the transplanted nervous system is functional. The ultimate death of experimental animals supports speculation that nitrogen mustard causes irrevocable gastrodermal damage. Various parameters germane to the function of the nervous system in hydra are being established, including developmental, behavioral and electrophysiological correlates. Once nervous system transplant chimeras are reared in sufficient numbers, a comparison of these with host and donor species should provide insight into the functional nature of hydra's nervous system.
Ein Beitrag zu den Untersuchungsmethoden der Austauscherkinetik an Ionenaustauschern

Die Kinetik eines Ionenaustauschprozesses wird mittels einer speziellen polarographischen Untersuchungsmethode untersucht. Die polarisierbare Hg-Elektrode beruhrt die DONNAN-Flussigkeit im Zentrum der zylindrischen Ionenaustauschermembran. Das austauschende Ion, zugleich der Depolarisator, diffundiert radial in die Ionenaustauschermembran ein. Durch Vergleich der experimentell erhaltenen Konzentrations-Zeit-Diagramme mit den theoretischen Diagrammen, die sich aus den NERNST-PLANK'schen Beziehungen ergeben, konnen die Diffusionskoeffizienten des Depolarisators bestimmt werden. Mit dieser Methode wurde die Austauschreaktion von K+ gegen Cd2+ an einem Phenolsulfonsaureharz untersucht, und der Diffusionskoeffizient von Cd2+ im Harz wurde bestimmt.
WE‐A‐134‐10: Non‐Ionizing, Non‐Invasive, Non‐Contact, and Real‐Time Tumor Detection Using Ultra‐Wideband (UWB) Radar: A Feasibility Study

Purpose: We introduce a revolutionary tumor‐detection technology using the Ultra‐Wideband (UWB) radar. The UWB is electromagnetic pulses with around nanosecond width encompassing 3.1‐10.6 GHz. The UWB is well known in radar world as a through‐the‐wall imaging technology. We investigate penetration capability of the UWB through biological tissues to detect tumors. Methods: To experimentally demonstrate UWB penetration, our setup consists of transmitter/receiver radar system to measure the reflected signal off from the aluminum plate behind the biological tissues (pig skins, cow muscles, bones, fat, and wet‐sponges (lung‐substitute)). We perform a series of two complementary measurements: 1) a tissue sample with an aluminum plate under the tissue, 2) tissue only. The two measurements are subtracted to extract only the reflected signal from the aluminum back through the tissue to the receiver. Additionally, a phantom consisting of 0.2‐cm skin, 2.0‐cm fat, 0.5‐cm muscle, and 2.4‐cm wet sponge stacked in series was used as a miniature version of a human thorax. Instead of an aluminum plate, a 20‐ml water balloon (diameter=5 cm) was placed under the phantom to mimic lung‐tumor. Results: We confirm that the UWB can penetrate through all biological tissues with varying transmission. Specifically, the 1/e (36.7%) transmission depths from air to bone, fat, skin, muscle, and wet sponge are 1.52, 1.24, 0.09, 0.24, and 1.74cm, respectively. For the phantom‐tumor experiment, the reflected signal from the water balloon was detected with a SNR of ∼2 and its amplitude was reduced to 11.1% compared to the reflected signal measured without the phantom. Conclusion: The UWB is a revolutionary technology for tumor detection with multiple advantages including non‐contact, non‐invasive, non‐ionizing, real‐time, and low cost. This technology shows great promise as a real‐time sensing and imaging technique for radiation oncology.
Object-oriented model construction in production scheduling decisions

Abstract The importance of rapid and automated model development for decision support is recognized in production scheduling applications, where problem instances are often similar to some general model but not necessarily consistent with it, and yet there is little of either time or modeling expertise available. In the modeling literature, there are few, if any, constructs of model development from component parts. Model construction is closely associated with the structure and representation of model information and with the abstraction of problem information from the user. Proceeding from a taxonomy of general production scheduling models, we develop a schema to represent model information in an object-oriented framework that relies on the definitions of natural entities, rather than on a collection of models from past experience. We show the interactions of user information with the model objects in the construction of a model to support a decision in a problem instance.
A TOOLBOX FOR ANALYZING PROGRAMS

As program behavior becomes complex, it’s increasingly important to analyze their behavior statistically. The article describes two separate but synergistic tools for statistically analyzing large Lisp programs. The first tool, called CLIP (Common Lisp Instrumentation Package), allows the researcher to define and run experiments, including experimental conditions (parameter values of the planner or simulator) and data to be collected. The data are written out to data files that can be analyzed by statistics software. The second tool, called CLASP (Common Lisp Analytical Statistics Package), allows the researcher to analyze data from experiments by using graphics, statistical tests, and various kinds of data manipulation. CLASP has a graphical user interface (using CLIM, the Common Lisp Interface Manager) and also allows data to be directly processed by Lisp functions. Finally, the paper describes a number of other data-analysis modules that have been added to work with CLIP and CLASP.
Dental outpatients: Health locus of control correlates

Examined relationships between the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) Scales, Beck Depression Inventory, Trait subscales of the State-Trait Personality Inventory, and dental ratings of oral hygiene and presence of periodontal disease with dental outpatients (N = 101) at a Veterans Administration Medical Center Dental Clinic. Results indicated that this sample of outpatients scored comparably on MHLC Health Internality and Health Externality to a sample reported by Wallston and Wallston. Older dental patients, in the present sample, scored significantly higher on Powerful Others Externality in contrast to younger Ss, which suggests greater reliance on health professionals for dental health. Confirmatory evidence is presented on the negative correlations of depression, anger, and anxiety with Health Internality. Differential approaches to dental treatment are discussed.
Immunoanalysis of ultraviolet radiation induced DNA damage and repair within specific gene segments of plasmid DNA.

The region-specific heterogeneity of repairing DNA damage has been established in several biological systems. A flexible and sensitive approach, based upon DNA damage specific antibodies, is described to monitor the repair of specific lesions within discrete genomic segmennts. Membrane transblotted DNA restriction fragments are immunoanalyzed for the initial formation and repair of 254 nm radiation induced pyrimidine dimers. Sensitivity of dimer immunodetection increases proportional to fragment concentration and size. Antibody binding was detectable in a 0.5 kb fragment obtained from approx. 100 ng of restriction digested phage λ DNA irradiated with 50 J m −2 . Dimers within larger fragments (> 5 kb) could be detected at ultraviolet doses as low as 1 to 2 J m −2 . To determine the occurrence of preferential repair in prokaryotic cells, damage was assessed in DNA sequences established in various Escherichia coli strains. In vivo repair of 8.9 kb vector and 6.4 and 3.2 kb gene inserts occurred with an approximate t 1/2 of min in UvrABC excision repair-proficient strains. Antibody binding sites were retained by DNA within repair-deficient strains. Compared to UvrABC , the repair of DNA fragments mediated by T4 endonuclease V was rapid and complete within 30 min of cellular irradiation. The efficient repair in DenV + strain is attribute to a highly processive repair enzyme rather than to selective repair of actively replicating target genes. The results demonstrate the exceptional ability of antibodies specific for altered biomoclear lesions to map damage and repair in gene segments episomally established within cells.
Hemozoin production by Plasmodium falciparum: variation with strain and exposure to chloroquine

Synchronized Plasmodium falciparum parasites were grown in erythrocytic culture for measurement of malaria pigment (hemozoin) production using a simple method based on the insolubility of beta-hematin, the principal pigment of hemozoin. In the last 44 h of the life cycle, one strain (chloroquine-susceptible) incorporated an average of 960 pmol of ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) from hemoglobin into beta-hematin per 10(6) parasitized erythrocytes. By comparison, another strain (chloroquine-resistant) incorporated 515 pmol of FP into beta-hematin. When exposed to 25 ng of chloroquine per ml of culture medium, chloroquine-susceptible P. falciparum incorporated 240 pmol of FP into beta-hematin per 10(6) parasitized erythrocytes in one intraerythrocytic life cycle. In contrast chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum exposed to 100 ng of chloroquine per ml incorporated 630 pmol of FP into beta-hematin. Thus, chloroquine inhibits hemozoin production in chloroquine-susceptible P. falciparum but not in chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum. On the contrary, sublethal concentrations of chloroquine partially reverse a deficiency of hemozoin production in chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum. These results indicate that the adaptation responsible for chloroquine resistance in P. falciparum prevents the accumulation of toxic FP by preventing chloroquine from uncoupling the processes of hemoglobin degradation and hemozoin production.
Plasma Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I/Somatomedin-C in Acromegaly: Correlation With the Degree of Growth Hormone Hypersecretion

We measured plasma insulin-like growth factor I/somatomedin-C (IGF-I/SmC) concentrations and mean 24-h GH secretion serially before and during therapy with the long-acting somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 in 21 patients with acromegaly. When mean plasma GH was elevated above 12.0 +/- 0.6 (+/- SE) micrograms/L, plasma IGF-I/SmC concentrations were uniformly high, but a decline of mean plasma GH below this value was accompanied by a linear decrease in IGF-I/SmC concentrations (r = 0.89; P less than 0.001). Even mildly abnormal mean GH concentrations (greater than 4.6 but less than 10 micrograms/L) were accompanied by high plasma IGF-I/SmC values. The log dose-response interrelation between mean 24-h plasma GH and IGF-I/SmC concentrations was linear (r = 0.86; P less than 0.001). We conclude that 1) an excellent log dose-response correlation between mean 24-h plasma GH and IGF-I/SmC concentrations is present in patients with acromegaly; 2) normalization of plasma IGF-I/SmC occurs only in patients with mean daily GH output within the normal range; and 3) determination of plasma IGF-I/SmC is an accurate indicator of normalcy of GH secretion and should be used in the diagnosis of active acromegaly as well as in monitoring the progress of therapy.
“Grow up!” The Devaluation and Stigmatization of Childhood as a Threat to Progress in Contemporary Social Thought

Abstract This paper describes how in modern industrial society childhood has become a devalued and stigmatized condition. The terms child, childishness, and child-like are used to broadcast to society that there is something that is not quite right about a point of view, an individual or a political position. The paper describes the rhetorical stigmatization of childhood in contemporary social thought and examines the ideological significance of this devaluation.
Ponderomotive instabilities and microphonics—a tutorial☆

Abstract Phase and amplitude stabilization of the fields in superconducting cavities in the presence of ponderomotive effects and microphonics was one of the major challenges that had to be surmounted in order to make superconducting rf accelerators practical. This was of particular concern in low-velocity proton and ion accelerators since the beam loading was often negligible, but was usually not relevant in electron accelerators since the beam loading was often high and the gradients low. More recent or future applications of electron linacs—for example JLab upgrade, energy recovering linacs (ERLs)—will operate at increasingly higher gradients with little beam loading, and the issues associated with microphonics and ponderomotive instabilities will again become relevant areas of research. This paper will describe the ponderomotive instabilities and the conditions under which they can occur, and review the methods by which they, and microphonics, can be overcome.
Single retinal ganglion cell responses in the dark-reared rat: grating acuity, contrast sensitivity, and defocusing.

Abstract The visual acuity, refractive state, and depth of focus of the dark-reared hooded rat's dark-adapted eye were determined by recording the responses of retinal ganglion cell axons in the optic tract. The smallest square-wave grating to which the units responded subtended 0.22 c/deg. The contrast sensitivity function for sine-wave gratings peaked at 0.02–0.07 c/deg. Corrective lenses of ± 14 D reduced the responsiveness of optic tract units to 100% contrast square-wave gratings by only 20%, implying (1) that objects from 7 cm in front of the eye to optical infinity are in equivalent focus, and (2) that the depth of focus of the rat's eye is enormous.
First inductively coupled plasma-distance-of-flight mass spectrometer: instrument performance with a microchannel plate/phosphor imaging detector

Here we describe the first combination of a Distance-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (DOFMS) instrument and an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) ion source. DOFMS is a velocity-based MS technique in which ions of a range of mass-to-charge (m/z) values are detected simultaneously along the length of a spatially selective detector. As a relative of time-of-flight (TOF) MS, DOFMS leverages benefits from both TOFMS and spatially dispersive MS. The simultaneous detection of groups of m/z values improves dynamic range by spreading ion signal across many detector elements and reduces correlated noise by signal ratioing. To ascertain the performance characteristics of the ICP-DOFMS instrument, we have employed a microchannel-plate/phosphor detection assembly with a scientific CCD to capture images of the phosphor plate. With this simple (and commercially available) detection scheme, elemental detection limits from 2–30 ng L−1 and a linear dynamic range of 5 orders of magnitude (10–106 ng L−1) have been demonstrated. Additionally, a competitive isotope-ratio precision of 0.1% RSD has been achieved with only a 6 s signal integration period. In addition to first figures of merit, this paper outlines technical considerations for the design of the ICP-DOFMS.
High-Density Discharges in the Alcator Tokamak

Peak plasma densities in excess of ${10}^{15}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ have been obtained in the Alcator tokamak with $60l~{B}_{T}l85$ kG. The highest average density so far achieved is ${\overline{n}}_{e}=6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$; the corresponding ${n}_{0}{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{E}=2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ s. These ultrahigh-density discharges exhibit (i) nearly complete energy equilibration between electrons and ions, (ii) severe attenuation of energetic-neutral-particle fluxes, (iii) a minor role of impurities, and (iv) energy-confinement properties consistent with neoclassical estimates.
Isolation and characterization of human gingival microvascular endothelial cells.

Background and Objective: Endothelial cells have a substantial role in maintaining vascular homeostasis, and their dysregulation can contribute to the development of pathology. The plasminogen activators and their inhibitors may, arguably, be the single most important proteolytic system of the endothelium for vascular maintenance by controlling plasminogen activation and other proteolytic cascades that impact on clotting, hemodynamics, angiogenesis and the character of the vascular wall. In chronic periodontal disease, significant changes to the microvasculature occur in association with the severity of the disease. Investigation of the role played by endothelial cells in periodontal health and disease has been limited to in situ immunolocalization or to the use of endothelial cells of nongingival origin, such as human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The objective of this research was to establish a replicable protocol for isolating microvascular endothelial cells from the gingiva. Material and Methods: From inflamed gingiva, isolated cells were characterized by morphology, the expression of factor VIII-related antigen, the expression of UEA-1 ligand, the uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein, network formation on Matrigel, and by the expression levels of urokinase plasminogen activator, tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and collagen IV. Results and Conclusion: Gingival endothelial cells were most readily obtained from inflamed gingival tissues, and these endothelial cells, when isolated by the protocol established herein, demonstrated endothelial characteristics and constitutively secreted plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in culture.
Optimal distribution of immobilized enzyme in a pellet for a substrate-inhibited reaction

This article sets out to show how the enzyme should be distributed within a porous pellet so that the enzyme effectiveness is maximized, given a fixed total amount of enzyme and a set of diffusion and reaction parameters. The general behaviour of substrate-inhibited reactions and application and function of the optimal enzyme distribution is discussed.
Perceived security and World Wide Web purchase intention

While Web‐based consumer activity is poised on the brink of dramatic growth, concerns about security have the potential to limit this growth by arousing shopper’s concerns about the Web‐based channel. One key aspect to consumer participation in Web commerce may be the extent to which they perceive risk to their sensitive information. This study describes the creation of a scale to measure perceived Web security. We apply the scale in a causal model to investigate the relative impact of beliefs about Web shopping on intent to purchase products using the World Wide Web. Data from two samples is used to develop the scale and to perform the causal analysis. Our findings indicate the favorable psychometric properties of the scale, and the causal analysis from our sample indicates that security is a greater influence on intent to purchase using the Web than is the ease and utility of purchasing products.
Synthesis and biological properties of 12-fluoroprostacyclins

Abstract The synthesis of the sodium salts of enantiomerically pure 12-fluoroPGI 2 (9), (±)-12-fluoroPGI 2 (9), (±)-15-epi-12-fluoroPGI 2 (10), (±)-12-fluoro-13,14-dihydroPGI 2 (11), (±)-12-fluoro-4(E)-isoPGI 2 (12), and (±)-5,6-dihydro-12-fluoroPGI 2 (13) is detailed starting from the corresponding derivatives of 12-fluoroPGF 2α methyl ester. Prostacyclins 9, (±)-9, (±)-10, (±)-11, (±)-12, and (±)-13 have been evaluated for their ability to inhibit human platelet aggregation and their effect on smooth muscle (isolated cat coronary artery).
Fast and Better Distributed MapReduce Algorithms for k-Center Clustering

In this paper we introduce a new network scheduling model. Here jobs need to be sent via routers on a tree to machines to be scheduled, and the communication is constrained by network bandwidth. The scheduler coordinates network communication and job machine scheduling. This type of scheduler is highly desirable in practice; yet few works have considered combing networking with job processing. We consider the popular objective of total flow time in the online setting. We give a (1+e)-speed O(1/e7)-competitive algorithm when all routers are identical and all machines are identical for any fixed e >0. Then we go on to show a (2+e)-speed O(1/e7)-competitive algorithm when the routers are identical and the machines are unrelated. To show these results we introduce an interesting combination of potential function and dual fitting techniques as well as a reduction of general tree scheduling to a special case of trees.
Urine pentamidine as an indicator of lung pentamidine in patients receiving aerosol therapy.

To determine if urine pentamidine was reflective of lung pentamidine, we compared levels of the drug in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and simultaneously obtained urine. Thirty-one patients who were receiving aerosolized pentamidine either as treatment or as prophylaxis underwent BAL and submitted urine samples for pentamidine analysis. Pentamidine was analyzed in both phases of BAL fluid (supernatant and cell pellet) and in urine using high performance liquid chromatography. Urine results were normalized for creatinine. Patients were categorized as prophylaxis failures (active Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia on prophylaxis), electives (free from PCP on prophylaxis), treatment (daily AP in treatment doses for active PCP, or miscellaneous (single dose of AP). Levels in BAL fluid and urine varied widely over several orders of magnitude. However, for all patients, we found a highly significant relationship between BAL supernatant and urine (r = 0.97, p
Schedulable garbage collection in CLI virtual execution system

Virtual software execution environment, known as Virtual Machine (VM), has been gaining popularity through Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and Common Language Infrastructure (CLI). Given their advantages in portability, productivity, and safety, etc., applying VM to real-time embedded systems can leverage production cost, fast time-to-market, and software integrity. However, this approach can only become practical once the VM operations and application tasks are made schedulable jointly. In this paper, we present a schedulable garbage collection algorithm applicable on real-time applications in CLI virtual machine environment. To facilitate the scheduling of real-time applications and garbage collection operations, we make the pause time due to garbage collection controllable, and the invocation of garbage collection predictable. To demonstrate the approach, a prototype for a schedulable garbage collection has been implemented in CLI execution environment. The garbage collection is carried out by a concurrent thread while meeting a targeted pause time and satisfying the memory requests of applications. A cost model of garbage collection is established based on measured WCET such that the execution time and overhead of garbage collection operations can be predicted. Finally, we illustrate a joint scheduling algorithm to meet the time and memory constraints of real-time systems.
Factors predicting the importance of libraries and research activities for undergraduates.

Abstract While prior research has established linkages between undergraduate students' library use, research participation, and success, researchers know little about the importance undergraduates place upon libraries and research activities. Utilizing data from the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) survey, the purpose of this paper was to examine factors associated with the importance of libraries and research among undergraduates at nine large, public research universities. The results of this study suggest a variety of factors are positively associated with the importance of libraries and research for students, including participation in research activities, interest in medical or research careers, academic engagement, faculty interactions, library satisfaction, and development of library skills, among others.
Augmented Gaussian-orbital basis for atomic-cluster calculations within the density-functional formalism: Application to Cu 2

The principle of augmentation, used to introduce inner-atom core structure into slowly varying basis functions, is applied to Gaussian orbitals to define a new basis set for highly accurate total-energy calculations for atomic clusters within the density-functional formalism. Diffuse Gaussian-orbital tails are matched continuously and differentiably to inner-atom numeric radial functions at the atomic-sphere radius. Major advantages of Gaussian-orbital basis sets are acquired without the need for numerous Gaussians of large exponent for the core region. The numeric functions used inside the atom permit essentially exact solutions for that region. Procedures are described which recover use of the efficient integral algorithms for the Gaussian-orbital-tail matrix elements. The interactions over the structured inner-atom region are treated by efficient integrand smoothing and integration procedures for the sphere. The new augmented Gaussian basis removes the primary limitations on the use of Gaussian orbitals for heavy atoms. As an illustration the method is applied to the copper dimer in an all-electron framework within the local-spin-density approximation (LSDA). The calculated binding energy, equilibrium separation, and first ionization potential of ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$ are within 2% of experiment within the $X\ensuremath{\alpha}$ model. Excitation energies are better described within more recent refined exchange-correlation functionals. These all-electron results show the LSDA model predicts a slightly contracted bond length for ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$, consistent with bulk LSDA calculations for the $3d$ transition-metal series.
Lay theories of psychotherapy and perceptions of therapists: A replication and extension of furnham and wardley

This study examined laypersons' perceptions of psychotherapy, the experience of psychotherapy clients, and therapist credibility. Most of Furnham and Wardley's recent findings of positive and realistic lay views on psychotherapy and therapists were replicated. Age, sex, and psychological experience mediated some beliefs about therapy and clients' experience. Although positive views were associated with higher ratings on some aspects of therapist credibility, only the modality of the therapy (behavior vs. client-centered vs. rational-emotive individual therapy) influenced perceptions of overall credibility. Neither the fee charged nor the participant's sex had any effect on perceptions of therapist credibility.
Development of an instrument to assess critical thinking constructs in nutrition audiovisual materials

Abstract An instrument was constructed to evaluate critical thinking components in nutrition education audiovisual materials. A conceptual framework that synthesized critical thinking constructs and nutrition education principles was developed as a foundation for the instrument. Scores from the Critical Thinking and Nutrition instrument indicate the relative strength of an audiovisual in four critical thinking categories: metacognition, performance, knowledge-acquisition, and dispositions. The instrument is an evaluation tool for educators who wish to incorporate critical thinking into their nutrition instruction, and it may also serve as a guide for developers of nutrition audiovisuals. Validity of the instrument was established based on the ratings of an expert panel. Satisfactory reliability measures were obtained in three pilot evaluations of videocassettes. When a sample of 13 videocassettes on nutrition and osteoporosis was evaluated using the instrument, a fairly wide range of scores was attained, indicating that critical thinking constructs were being addressed to varying degrees. Further study is needed to determine if the instrument could be adapted for the evaluation of other types of curriculum materials and/or subjects other than nutrition education.
Smad7 is a transforming growth factor-beta-inducible mediator of apoptosis in granulosa cells.

Objective To determine the functional role of Smad7 in granulosa cells. Design Granulosa cell culture and molecular biological techniques were used to investigate regulation and function of Smad7. Setting Research laboratory. Animal(s) C57bl/j hybrid mouse. Intervention(s) Primary mouse granulosa cells were isolated and grown in culture for all messenger RNA expression experiments. Smad7 promoter constructs were evaluated with a luciferase reporter system in SIGC cells to determine sites activating Smad7 expression. Main Outcome Measure(s) Overexpression (Smad7 complementary DNA) and downregulation (Smad7 small interfering RNA) of Smad7 in primary mouse granulosa cells were used to evaluate the functional role of Smad7 in granulosa cells. Result(s) Smad7 expression was upregulated by treatment with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) but not activin or activation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate pathway. The promoter of Smad7 was activated by TGF-β. Truncation of the promoter or mutation of the Smad response element at −141 eliminated TGF-β activation of the promoter. Smad3 was not specifically required for TGF-β–stimulated expression of Smad7, though activation of the TGFBR1 receptor was. When Smad7 was overexpressed in granulosa cells, apoptosis was markedly increased. When Smad7 expression was reduced with small interfering RNA, then the TGF-β–induced apoptosis was blocked. Conclusion(s) Smad7 mediates apoptosis induced by TGF-β in mouse granulosa cells, suggesting that dysregulation of Smad7 could impair folliculogenesis.
Comparison of Phase Rotation, Phase Spectrum, and Two-Dimensional Correlation Methods in Step-Scan Fourier Transform Infrared Photoacoustic Spectral Depth Profiling

This paper compares three photoacoustic phase-related analytical approaches for spectral depth profiling of heterogeneous materials, particularly in conjunction with step-scan Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The three approaches compared are (1) the phase rotation method, (2) the direct analysis of the phase spectrum, and (3) the calculation of two-dimensional (2D) frequency correlation maps. The experimental data for a representative two-layer sample consisting of a 12-μm-thick layer of ethylene−vinyl acetate on a 60-μm-thick polypropylene substrate are compared for the three approaches. Similar/identical phase difference information can be obtained from either the continuous phase rotation plot or the phase spectrum. However, the phase spectrum method provides more accurate, direct, and efficient results with a higher depth resolution than does the phase rotation method. Qualitative agreement between the 2D correlation analysis and the photoacoustic phase analysis is observed, although the 2D a...
Internal mammary artery graft angioplasty: Acute and long-term outcome

Secondary to the low attrition rate of internal mammary artery grafts, limited data are available on the clinical and angiographic outcome of patients who have undergone balloon angioplasty of an internal mammary artery stenosis. This study examined a consecutive series of 68 patients who underwent balloon angioplasty of an internal mammary artery graft over a 9-year period. Procedural success was achieved in 60 of 68 (88%) patients. The primary reason for procedural failure was extreme vessel tortuosity. There were no major in-hospital complications. Angiographic follow-up was obtained in 78% of the patients with an angiographic restenosis rate of 19%. The overall event-free survival in patients with an initially successful procedure was 92%. In conclusion, internal mammary artery balloon angioplasty has both an excellent initial success rate as well as a low incidence of restenosis and repeat target lesion revascularization. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 44:153–156, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
β-blockers or calcium antagonists in silent ischaemia?

Unrecognized or silent myocardial ischaemia during daily life has generated considerable recent interest as it occurs in all forms of coronary artery disease, ranging from those who are totally asymptomatic to those who have had a myocardial infarction. A characteristic diurnal cycle of both frequency and duration of these ischaemic episodes occurs and is the same as the diurnal variation observed in frequency of acute myocardial infarction and out-of-hospital sudden death. These findings suggest common underlying triggering mechanisms which may couple transient ischaemia to these morbid events. The presence of daily-life silent ischaemia is associated with a two- to five-fold increase in risk of death and similar increases in risk of non-fatal infarction. Multivariate analysis suggests that silent ischaemia is the best independent predictor of outcome (e.g. death, or myocardial infarction) among a number of factors that include coronary angiography and exercise test results. Anti-anginal agents (e.g. nitrates, β-blockers, calcium antagonists) also reduce or prevent daily-life silent ischaemia. While anti-anginal treatment can control both symptomatic and silent ischaemic episodes, therapy directed towards symptom control alone may be insufficient to control recurrent silent ischaemia in many individuals. A recent report suggests that suppression of painless ischaemia by anti-ischaemic treatment is associated with a reduced risk of adverse outcome. Additional advances in this area will require the results of large, well-controlled multicentre clinical trials, several of which are currently in progress. We anxiously await the results of these important trials: the Total Ischaemic Burden European Trial (TIBET), the Atenolol Silent Ischaemia Trial (ASIST) and the Asymptomatic Cardiac Ischaemia Pilot (ACIP).
Durability of Fe-Co thin films on Ti-6Al-4V

The durability of Fe-Co thin films bonded on Ti-6Al-4V was studied as a function of layer thickness at ambient temperature. Interface toughness of the thin films was characterized by indentation and analyzed using an interface fracture model. The critical stresses for interface debonding and the fatigue life response of Ti-6Al-4V with and without Fe-Co thin films were evaluated by three-point bend fatigue at a stress ratio R of 0.1. The results indicated that the critical stress for interface debonding increased with decreasing layer thickness according to a critical energy release rate criterion. The Fe-Co thin films did not alter the fatigue life of the Ti-6Al-4V substrate. The presence of microcracks and interface debonds in the thin films did not affect the functionality of the sensor to detect strain via the inverse magneto-elastic effect. The overall durability of the films was in the range needed for practical application of the film as an embedded sensor.
The role of carotenoids and their derivatives in mediating interactions between insects and their environment

Carotenoids are long conjugated isoprenoid molecules derived mainly from plants and microbial organisms. They are highly diverse, with over 700 identified structures, and are widespread in nature. In addition to their fundamental roles as light-harvesting molecules in photosynthesis, carotenoids serve a variety of functions including visual and colouring pigments, antioxidants and hormone precursors. Although the functions of carotenoids are relatively well studied in plants and vertebrates, studies are severely lacking in insect systems. There is a particular dearth of knowledge on how carotenoids move among trophic levels, influence insect multitrophic interactions and affect evolutionary outcomes. This review explores the known and potential roles that carotenoids and their derivatives have in mediating the ecological interaction of insects with their environment. Throughout the review, we highlight how the fundamental roles of carotenoids in insect physiology might be linked to ecological and evolutionary processes.
Geographies of Urban Sound

Torsten Wissmann. Farnham, UK: Ashgate, 2014. x and 264 pp., maps, photos, tables, illustrations, bibliography, index. $109.95 cloth (ISBN 978-1-4094-6219-4); $195.55 e-book (ISBN 978-1-4094-6220-0...
A note on the analysis of subjective judgment matrices

Abstract Saaty (1977–1983) presents an eigenvector (EV) procedure for analyzing matrices of subjective estimates of the utility of one entity relative to another. The procedure is an especially effective tool for analyzing hierarchical problems where the dependence of the entities at one level on the entities in adjacent levels is estimated subjectively. Despite the absence of a formal proof that the procedure has desirable qualities as an estimator of the underlying relative utilities, the process has gained an active following. This paper derives a comparable estimate, the geometric mean (GM) vector (also known as the logarithmic least squares method or LLSM), that can be applied to hierarchical problems in exactly the same way but is developed from statistical considerations. It is shown to be optimal when the judge's errors are multiplicative with a lognormal distribution. The GM shares the desirable qualities of the EV and is preferable to it in several important respects.
Chlorine Penetration into Artificial Biofilm Is Limited by a Reaction−Diffusion Interaction

The retarded penetration of chlorine into artificial biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa entrapped in agarose gel slabs was investigated experimentally and shown to be consistent with an unsteady reaction−diffusion model. A chlorine microelectrode was used to measure transient chlorine concentration profiles in artificial biofilms in a flow cell. While chlorine penetrated relatively quickly into pure agarose films (∼15 min), its penetration into biofilms was greatly retarded when cells were present. The degree of retardation was proportional to the initial cell density in the biofilm. After 3 h of treatment with a flowing chlorine solution, the chlorine concentration at the substratum under a 526 μm thick biofilm containing 14 400 mg L-1 cell mass had only risen to 10% of the bulk solution value. A mathematical model of the transient reaction−diffusion interaction correctly captured the qualitative behavior of experimentally measured chlorine concentration profiles. Parameter values for the simulations wer...
Elektrostatik, die chemische Bindung und Stabilität von Molekülen

Auf dem Virial-Theorem basierende elektrostatische Modelle verheisen eine zuverlassige und genaue Methode zur Voraussage der Bildungswarmen von Molekulen und Radikalen. So wird das „Prinzip der alternierenden Polaritat”, wonach diejenigen Verbindungen am stabilsten sind, in denen Atome gegensatzlicher Polaritat aneinander gebunden sind, quantitativ durch elektrostatische Modelle beschrieben. Modelle mit fixierten Partialladungen geben ΔH von Kohlenwasserstoffmolekulen und -radikalen wieder. Durch Berucksichtigung von Polarisationseffekten, deren Energiebeitrage klein sind, werden auch Dipolmomente von Kohlenwasserstoffen vorhersagbar. Ein allgemeineres Modell mit starker Polarisationswechselwirkung befindet sich noch in Entwicklung; sein Anwendungsbereich soll sowohl ΔH-Werte als auch Dipolmomente polarer Molekule erfassen.