cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COMPARISON AND EVALUATION OF A CLASS OF IDA* ALGORITHMS

In this paper, we study the performance of various IDA*-style searches and investigate methods to improve their performance by predicting in each stage the threshold to be used for pruning. Without loss of generality, we consider minimization problems in this paper. We first present three models to approximate the distribution of the number of search nodes by lower bounds: exponential, geometric, and linear, and illustrate these distributions based on some well-known combinatorial search problems. Based on these distributions, we show the performance of an ideal IDA* algorithm and identify reasons why existing IDA*-style algorithms perform well. In practice, we will be able to know from experience the type of distribution for a given problem instance, but will not be able to know the parameters of this distribution until the instance is solved. Hence, we develop RIDA*, a method that estimates dynamically the parameters of the distribution, and predicts the best threshold to be used in each stage. Finally, we compare the performance of several IDA*-style algorithms—Korf’s IDA* and RBFS, RIDA*, IDA*_CR and DFS*—on several application problems, and identify conditions under which each of these algorithms will perform well.
Out-of-School Activities and Achievement among Middle School Students in the U.S. and South Korea.

This study examined the relationships between American and South Korean students' achievement and their time spent in out-of-school activities. Analyzing nationally representative data for 8,912 U.S. and 5,309 Korean middle school students from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2003, we found differences in students' time-spending patterns for out-of-school activities and associations between out-of-school activities and academic achievement in the two countries. Although watching TV and playing with friends are the most common activities in both countries, Korean students spent more than 30% of their out-of-school hours using the Internet and playing PC games, whereas American students spent about 27% of their out-of-school hours playing sports and working at home or a paid job. Regarding the associations between out-of-school activities and achievement, playing sports was a positive predictor of achievement in the U.S. but a negative predictor in Korea, and doing homework...
Efficient generation of single and entangled photons on a silicon photonic integrated chip

We present a protocol for generating on-demand, indistinguishable single photons on a silicon photonic integrated chip. The source is a time-multiplexed spontaneous parametric down-conversion element that allows optimization of single-photon versus multiphoton emission while realizing high output rate and indistinguishability. We minimize both the scaling of active elements and the scaling of active element loss with multiplexing. We then discuss detection strategies and data processing to further optimize the procedure. We simulate an improvement in single-photon-generation efficiency over previous time-multiplexing protocols, assuming existing fabrication capabilities. We then apply this system to generate heralded Bell states. The generation efficiency of both nonclassical states could be increased substantially with improved fabrication procedures.
‘It was Hard, But it was Good’: a qualitative exploration of stress-related growth in Division I intercollegiate athletes

Recent research suggests that many individuals not only survive, but thrive as a result of life stress and trauma. Both scientific and anecdotal evidence support the notion of psychosocial growth and development following stress in athletes. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of stress-related growth (SRG) in Division I intercollegiate athletes. Criterion sampling was used to select athletes, who indicated a moderate to large degree of growth on a self-report measure for in-depth interviews. Four dimensions emerged from interviews with 11 athletes: (a) personal and sociocultural context, (b) disruption, (c) social support and (d) positive psychosocial outcomes. Based on these four dimensions, a conceptual model of SRG was developed. Athletes’ struggles and attempts to work through their most difficult sport stressor led them to perceive personal growth in the form of a new life philosophy, self-changes and interpersonal changes. Social support was critical in facilitating athletes’ att...
Computational Forecasting of Wavelet-converted Monthly Sunspot Numbers

Abstract Monthly average sunspot numbers follow irregular cycles with complex nonlinear dynamics. Statistical linear models constructed to forecast them are therefore inappropriate, while nonlinear models produce solutions sensitive to initial conditions. Two computational techniques – neural networks and genetic programming – that have their advantages are applied instead to the monthly numbers and their wavelet-transformed and wavelet-denoised series. The objective is to determine if modeling wavelet-conversions produces better forecasts than those from modeling series' observed values. Because sunspot numbers are indicators of geomagnetic activity their forecast is important. Geomagnetic storms endanger satellites and disrupt communications and power systems on Earth.
Results of Late Surgery for Presumed Congenital Cataracts

We reviewed the results of cataract extraction and visual rehabilitation in 76 eyes of 47 infants and children with presumed congenital cataracts who were first seen after they were 10 months old. Eighteen patients underwent surgery for unilateral cataracts, including five patients with persistent hyperplastic vitreous, five with posterior lenticonus, one with a nuclear cataract, six with posterior subcapsular cataracts, and one with a lamellar cataract. Of these 18 patients, seven (39%) attained a visual acuity of 20/60 or better, one (6%) had a visual acuity of 20/100, and ten (60%) had a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse. Twenty-nine patients (62 eyes) underwent bilateral cataract extraction. The visual acuity could be measured in 22 patients (44 eyes). Visual acuity improved to 20/60 or better in 32 eyes (73%), was between 20/70 and 20/150 in 11 eyes (25%), and became worse than 20/200 in one eye (2%). Results were good in patients with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous, posterior lenticonus, and bilateral cataracts.
Quantitation of contact-feeding between somatic cells in culture☆

Abstract In search for genetic variation among strains of human fibroblasts, we have developed a quantitative assay for contact-feeding between HGPRT + and HGPRT − cells. The assay, based on the recovery of 6-thioguanine-resistant clones from mixtures of these cells, reflects the transfer of 6-thioguanylic acid from wild-type to mutant cells. Results indicate that contact-feeding is cell density dependent and a stable characteristic of adult human fibroblasts. No differences in the degree of contact-feeding were noted among 9 strains of Lesch-Nyhan fibroblast recipients, while skin fibroblasts from 17 adults and 9 children, either normal or with various genetic diseases, did not differ in their ability to act as donors. Using the contact-feeding assay as a potential indicator of mutations involving membrane functions, we noted no differences when fibroblasts from a child with Menkes syndrome and two children with cystic fibrosis were used as donor cells. However, when the human donor cell was of fetal origin, a small, but significant decrease in contact-feeding was noted. When this assay was carried out in the presence of cytochalasin B (0.5–0.7 μg/ml), a small decrease in contact-feeding resulted. The same effect also was observed in autoradiographs of cells exposed simultaneously to cytochalasin B (2 μg/ml) and 3 H-hypoxanthine. The results of our studies of contact-feeding between Chinese hamster ovary cells and human fibroblasts are compatible with the hypothesis that gap junctions are the ultrastructural basis for this kind of intercellular communication between cells in vitro [1] and suggest that the extent of communication may be determined by the cell which forms the least number of gap junctions.
The Financial Rationality of Consumer Loan Choices: Revealed Preferences Concerning Interest Rates, Down Payments, Contract Length, and Rebates

A choice-based conjoint experiment was employed to identify consumer preferences for automobile loan attributes. Respondents prefer loans with low interest rates and moderate contract lengths. Less important are high rebates and moderate down payments. Rebates are most important to choice when down payment is high. Even when choosing among interest-free loans, respondents do not prefer long terms, conflicting with traditional financial rationality. Respondents appear to focus attention on the first digit of the monthly payment (payment, a function of the other attributes, was provided to respondents). This tendency was stronger among those with less education. Public policy recommendations are discussed.
Chemical models for sulfate reduction in closed anaerobic marine environments

Abstract Reactions models, based on mass transfer calculations, have been computed for sulfate reduction in closed, anaerobic, marine systems containing 1. (1) inert sediment, 2. (2) CaCO3, 3. (3) Fe2O3, and 4. (4) Fe2O3 + CaCO3. The diagrams resulting from the computations show variations in the concentrations of aqueous species as a function of grams of organic matter oxidized. The calculations show that the buffering capacity increases from system (1) to system (4). The computations also reveal that the asymptotic limit of pH reduction in systems (1) and (2) is 6.60 whereas in systems (3) and (4) it is pH 6.92. The models predict that in system (2) CaCO3 should dissolve as a result of sulfate reduction whereas in systems (3) and (4) CaCO3 should precipitate along with iron sulflde. Three natural occurrences of sulfate reduced marine waters are used to show the application of the models. The models are useful in that they illustrate the major factors that control the pH of anoxic waters.
Ruthenium (II) sulfoxides-catalyzed hydrogenolysis of glycols and epoxides

Abstract New selective deoxygenation reactions are needed for the efficient conversion of biomass-derived oxygenates to useful chemicals, including fuels. A new catalytic system is reported here for the selective hydrogenolysis of glycols to hydrocarbons. We find that cis -[RuCl 2 (sulfoxide) 4 ] {sulfoxides: TMSO = tetramethylene sulfoxide; DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide} catalyze the hydrogenolysis of glycols to alcohols and hydrocarbons by molecular hydrogen at 190–200 °C and 6.8–26 atm; the product yields range from moderate to excellent. The acid generated by catalysts in situ serves the purpose of dehydration step, hence added Bronstead acid as co-catalyst is not a prerequisite. Under similar conditions epoxides are converted primarily to mono-alcohols and hydrocarbons.
Prevalence of impingements sign in 1992 hips from the mros cohort: preliminary results

s / Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 20 (2012) S54–S296 S245 three cases from each groups one year after the surgery and revealed that cartilage damage deteriorated in all three cases of BCL (+). Conclusions: Fleming et al. reported that dGEMRIC index decreased especially at medial femoral condyle after ACL rupture. This means that cartilage compositional change is already there after ACL injury. The present results showed that the longer the interval between the initial traumatic episode and the reconstruction surgery becomes the more likely meniscal damage is, leading to cartilage damage described here as the “Barcode-like lesion” at the medial femoral condyle. This cartilage damage did not essentially improve one year after the surgery.
The Anti‐inflammatory Activiy of Metal Complexes of Heterocyclic Thiosemicarbazones, 2‐Substituted Pyridine N‐Oxides and 2‐Pyridylthioureas

The thiosemicarbazones and their related metal complexes were shown to be potent anti-inflammatory agents in rodents at 8 mg kg -1 . They were effective in blocking induced edema and endotoxic shock while blocking both local and central pain processes. The ability of the agents to function as anti-inflammatory agents is multifold. First, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNFα) and Interleukin-1 (IL-1) release was markedly reduced by the agents. Second, high-affinity receptor binding on fibroblasts of TNFα and IL-1 was significantly inhibited. Third, cellular events, e.g. lysosomal enzymes of specific cells, such as macrophages, were inhibited and prostaglandin cyclo-oxygenase and leukotriene 5'-lipoxygenase enzymic synthetic rates were significantly reduced, which should cause an overall reduction of the inflammatory process.
Metabolic acceleration quantifies biological systems' ability to up-regulate metabolism in response to episodic resource availability

Precipitation often arrives discretely in semi-arid ecosystems. Under these conditions, natural selection might favor rapid metabolic responses to the sudden availability of otherwise limiting resources. We introduce and define metabolic acceleration (α) as the first derivative of the metabolic rate of a living system with respect to time. As such, α describes the capacity of a biological system to up- and down-regulate metabolism and may be applied across scales and processes. To better understand the responses of roots and soil microbes to seasonal patterns of rainfall and plant activity, we compared soil respiratory acceleration (αsoil) derived from soil respiration time-series among three microhabitats (under mesquite, under bunchgrasses, and in intercanopy soils) in a semi-arid shrubland near Tucson, Arizona. Across microhabitats, αsoil was greatest during the warm, wet summer months and lowest during cool winter months. Throughout the year, αsoil beneath mesquite was greater than beneath bunchgrasses or in intercanopy soils. Finally, microhabitat-specific responses of αsoil to spring and monsoonal rainfall events were consistent with seasonal contrasts in the photosynthetic activity of deeply-rooted mesquite shrubs and warm-season bunchgrasses. By quantifying the capacity of living systems to respond to episodic resource availability, metabolic acceleration provides a new perspective and potentially unifying metric for biological responses to environmental heterogeneity.
Lithium responsive fluorophores derived from Monoaza-12-crown-4 and coumarin. The influence of a methoxy side-arm on photophysical properties

Abstract The syntheses of fluorescent macrocycles in which monoaza-12-crown-4 is attached through nitrogen to the 7-position of a coumarin are described. Complexation with the lithium ion in MeCN solution results in large hypsochromic shifts in absorption maxima. Li + binding shifts the fluorescence maximum to shorter wavelengths with an enhancement in intensity only if a methoxy side-arm is present.
PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENT ORGANIZATION IN DIATOMS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1

The isolation and characterization of six pigment-protein complexes from five diatom species (Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin, Chaetoceros gracilis Schutt, Nitzschia sp. Mono Lake, Nitzschia laevis Hust. and Thalassiosira pseudonana (Hust.) Hasle and Heimdal) was accomplished by membrane dissociation with digitonin followed by gel electrophoresis. Six analogous complexes obtained from all species were correlated in spectral characteristics and relative mass with complexes from higher plants obtained by the same procedure. The largest of these complexes, comprising about 15% of the total Chl a, contained reaction centers of Photosystem I (PSI) and antenna pigments (LHC1).Some PSI complexes also separated from LHC1 in the gel. For the first time in diatoms, a Photosystem II complex was isolated and identified from its position in the gels, absorption and fluorescence spectra, lack of P700, and enrichment carotene. Three antenna pigment-protein complexes in addition to LHC1 occurred in varying proportion under different experimental conditions but in sum, they accounted for 70% of the total Chl a. All three bands were highly enriched in Chl c and fucoxanthin, although the ratio of Chl c/ xanthophyll decreased between the slowest migrating LHC2 and fastest moving LHC4 LHC3 contained the highest proportio of pigment-protein and was composed primarily of polypeptides of about 18,000 D. Essentially all α- and β-carotene was bound to the reaction center complexes. The Nitzschia from Mono Lake differed from the other species in that PSI complexes could not be readily dissociated from its membrane by digitonin treatment, a characteristic which may reflect a different chloroplast membrane structure in this alga.
Characteristics of poly(ether ether ketone) microporous membranes prepared via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS)

The morphology and bulk properties of microporous membranes based on poly (ether ether ketone) (PEEK) have been investigated as a function of initial casting composition and thermal and mechanical processing history. Membranes were prepared via solid—liquid phase separation of miscible blends of PEEK and polyetherimide (PEI), with subsequent extraction of the PEI diluent. Scanning electron microscopy studies revealed a microporous morphology with two distinct pore size scales corresponding to diluent extraction from interfibrillar and interspherulitic regions, respectively. The membrane structure was sensitive to both initial blend composition and crystallization temperature, with the resulting pore size distribution reflecting the kinetics of phase separation. For membranes prepared with lower initial diluent content or at lower crystallization temperatures, mercury intrusion porosimetry indicated a relatively narrow distribution of fine interfibrillar pores, with an average pore size of approximately 0.04 microns. Membranes prepared at higher diluent content or at higher crystallization temperatures displayed a broad pore distribution, with a sizeable population of coarse, interspherulitic pores (0.1 to 1 μm in size). Uniaxial drawing led to a fibrillated network structure with markedly higher water flux characteristics compared to the as-cast membranes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 2347–2355, 1997
Tyrosine availability prevents tyramine-induced tachyphylaxis in the isolated rat heart

Abstract Isolated rat hearts perfused with Chenoweth-Koelle solution exhibit tachyphylaxis to tyramine. This tachyphylaxis was prevented if tyrosine was included in the perfusion solution. Other amino acids, including glycine, serine, phenylalanine, valine, tryptophan, glutamate, aspartate, arginine, lysine and d -tyrosine, failed to prevent the tyramine-induced tachyphylaxis. Hearts from reserpinized animals showed increased chronotropy after tyramine only when tyrosine was present in the medium. This response could be blocked by alpha-methyl -p- l -tyrosine , m -hydroxybenzyl-hydrazine and d , l -propanolol, indicating that it was mediated by the synthesis and release of catecholamines. These experiments suggest that sympathetic nerves in the isolated rat heart exhibit a requirement for tyrosine when catecholamine release is enhanced.
Recovery processes in lotic ecosystems: Limits of successional theory

The concept of succession has a distinguished history in general ecology and has been applied to stream ecosystems with some success. Succession in streams is largely secondary, follows initial floristics models, and occurs through a variety of mechanisms. The process is moderately predictable but is highly influenced by “climatic” factors, particularly nutrient chemistry. In desert streams, succession does not result in a climax state. While evidence is slim, succession may not be a significant process in streams of certain types or in certain regions.
The amino-terminal domain of ClpB supports binding to strongly aggregated proteins

Bacterial heat-shock proteins, ClpB and DnaK form a bichaperone system that efficiently reactivates aggregated proteins. ClpB undergoes nucleotide-dependent self-association and forms ring-shaped oligomers. The ClpB-assisted dissociation of protein aggregates is linked to translocation of substrates through the central channel in the oligomeric ClpB. Events preceding the translocation step, such as recognition of aggregates by ClpB, have not yet been explored, and the location of the aggregate-binding site in ClpB has been under discussion. We investigated the reactivation of aggregated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) by ClpB and its N-terminally truncated variant ClpBΔN in the presence of DnaK, DnaJ, and GrpE. We found that the chaperone activity of ClpBΔN becomes significantly lower than that of the full-length ClpB as the size of G6PDH aggregates increases. Using a "substrate trap" variant of ClpB with mutations of Walker B motifs in both ATP-binding modules (E279Q/E678Q), we demonstrated that ClpBΔN binds to G6PDH aggregates with a significantly lower affinity than the full-length ClpB. Moreover, we identified two conserved acidic residues at the surface of the N-terminal domain of ClpB that support binding to G6PDH aggregates. Those N-terminal residues (Asp-103, Glu-109) contribute as much substrate-binding capability to ClpB as the conserved Tyr located at the entrance to the ClpB channel. In summary, we provided evidence for an essential role of the N-terminal domain of ClpB in recognition and binding strongly aggregated proteins.
Health concerns of adolescents: impact of family status, sex, family size, and birth order.

This paper reports results of a study of 149 early adolescents' self-perceptions of their health concerns, as related to certain familial characteristics. Of these adolescents (aged 12 to 15 yr.) those in single-parent families expressed fewer concerns than those in traditional homes. Girls in smaller families (less than 4.55 persons) were more concerned about physical appearance—skin, etc. Girls in larger families (more than 4.55 persons) expressed psychological worry about “tension.” In contrast, boys expressed no significant health concerns, regardless of family size. Finally, ordinal position in the family was important: boys who were oldest or youngest siblings were concerned about their muscles. Girls, in contrast, who were oldest siblings expressed concern about nervousness and being down in the dumps; girls who were youngest siblings noted facial appearance as a concern, along with worries about feeling good about themselves, their future, emotions, and feelings.
Molecular folds in polyethylene observed by atomic force microscopy

Abstract Folded chain lamellar crystals of polyethylene were examined by atomic force microscopy. Particular care was taken to ensure that the areas examined at high magnification were on the fold-containing surface of the crystals. High spots observed on this surface formed a 2D array. The spacings and angles of the array were consistent with the positions expected for the folds when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the fold-containing surface and were not the same as expected if viewed along the chain axis. Spacings appropriate for the usual orthorhombic unit cell and for the monoclinic unit cell that can be produced by mechanical deformation were observed. Local variations in the shape and position of the spots indicate that folds of different orientation and structure were present. In many observations of similar fold surfaces at high magnification, only images of lower quality which did not show the periodic arrays of spots were observed. Reasons for the images without periodic order are proposed.
Toward a new STATe: The role of STATs in mitochondrial function

Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STATs) have been studied extensively and have been associated with virtually every biochemical pathway. Until recently, however, they were thought to exert these effects solely as a nuclear transcription factor. The finding that STAT3 localizes to the mitochondria and modulates respiration has opened up a new avenue through which STATs may regulate the cell. Recently, other members of the STAT family (STAT1, STAT2, STAT5, and STAT6) have also been shown to be present in the mitochondria. Coordinate regulation at the nucleus and mitochondria by these proteins places them in a unique position to drive cellular processes to achieve a specific response. This review summarizes recent findings that have led to our current understanding of how STATs influence mitochondrial function in health and disease.
Observational evidence for mixing and dust condensation in core-collapse supernovae

Recent findings of isotopic anomalies of Ca-44 (the decay product of Ti-44) and the enhanced ratio of Si-28/Si-30 in SiC grains X, TiC subgrains, and graphite dust grains within primitive meteorites provides strong evidence that these presolar grains came from core-collapse supernovae. The chemical composition of the presolar grains requires macroscopic mixing of newly nucleo-synthesized elements from explosive silicon burning at the innermost zone of the ejects to higher velocities where C exists and where C/O > 1 in either the outer edge of the oxygen zone or in the He-C zone. To date, the only core-collapse supernova observed to form dust is the brightest supernova of the past four centuries, SN1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Observations of SN1987A confirm large scale macroscopic mixing occurs in the explosions of massive stars. Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities macroscopically mix most of the ejects into regions which are still chemically homogeneous and which cool with different time scales. Only small clumps in the ejects are microscopically mixed. Observations show that dust condensed in the ejects of SN1987A after approx.500 days in the Fe-rich gas. Neither silicates nor SiC grains were seen in the dust emission spectrum of SN1987A. SN1987A, the Rosetta Stone of core-collapse supernovae, shows that while the mixing required to explain presolar grains occurs, the rapid cooling of the Fe zone and the sustained high temperatures of the O-Si, O-C, and He-C zones favor the formation of iron-rich rather than oxygen- or carbon-rich grains.
Etoposide induction of tumor immunity in Lewis lung cancer.

Purpose: To determine if the antineoplastic effect of etoposide includes alteration in Lewis lung cancer cells which evoke an immunologic response in C57B1/6 host mice. Methods and results: Of C57Bl/6 mice injected with 106 Lewis lung cancer (3LL) cells followed by treatment with a single 50 mg/kg dose of etoposide (VP-16), 60% survived over 60 days, in contrast to untreated control mice which died within 30 days. Approximately 40% of surviving mice rejected a subsequent challenge with 3LL. Their splenocytes protected naive mice injected with 3LL. To test if VP-16 treatment produced alterations in 3LL cells, which induce host immunity, leading to tumor rejection, C57Bl/6 mice were injected with 3LL cells that had survived an 80–90% lethal concentration of VP-16 in vitro. These cells killed 75% of recipient mice but 60% of the surviving mice rejected challenge with 3LL. Splenocytes harvested from tumor-rejecting mice protected naive mice injected with 3LL. Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that in addition to its antineoplastic cytotoxic effect, VP-16 induces changes in 3LL cells which are recognized by the host immune system resulting in immune rejection of 3LL.
Evaluation of Exercise Capacity by Expired Gas during Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

健常男子大学生17名を対象として，呼気ガスによる運動耐容能評価の有用性について検討するために，心肺運動負荷試験を行った。運動負荷は自転車エルゴメーター法により症候限界最大運動負荷に至るまで実施した。その際負荷のプロトコールは2分の休息後，2分間30Wのウォーミングアップをさせた後，1分間に15W増のランプ負荷とした。呼気ガス測定項目はbreath-by-breathにて酸素摂取量(VO2)，二酸化炭素排泄量(VCO2)，分時換気量(VE)を連続的に測定した。その結果最大酸素摂取量(VO2max)と嫌気的代謝閾値(AT)，HRmaxとHRATに相関が認められ，またATはVO2maxの56.2%であった。
A framework for information services: benchmarking for countries and companies

Purpose – The typology developed in this research allows one to compare a variety of information services around the world. A properly built typology ensures a methodologically‐valid framework.Design/methodology/approach – In this research typology‐building methodologies developed in social sciences and strategic management are imported to provide an example of how a typology may be built for information services.Findings – The prescriptive element derived from this framework helps to benchmark countries relative to different information services as a function of their level of development and cultural characteristics.Originality/value – This research enables managers of multinationals to distribute their information globally by taking advantage of the relative differences among countries.
Modeling of operators' emotion and task performance in a virtual driving environment

Emotional human-computer interactions are attracting increasing interest with the improvement in the available technology. Through presenting affective stimuli and empathic communication, computer agents are able to adjust to users' emotional states. As a result, users may produce better task performance. Existing studies have mainly focused on the effect of only a few basic emotions, such as happiness and frustration, on human performance. Furthermore, most research explored this issue from the psychological perspective. This paper presents an emotion and performance relation model in the context of vehicle driving. This general emotion-performance model is constructed on an arousal-valence plane and is not limited to basic emotions. Fifteen paid participants took part in two driving simulation experiments that induced 115 pairs of emotion-performance sample. These samples revealed the following: (1) driving performance has a downward U-shaped relationship with both intensities of arousal and valence. It deteriorates at extreme arousal and valence. (2) Optimal driving performance, corresponding to the appropriate emotional state, matches the ''sweet spot'' phenomenon of the engagement psychology. (3) Arousal and valence are not perfectly independent across the entire 2-D emotion plane. Extreme valence is likely to stimulate a high level of arousal, which, in turn, deteriorates task performance. The emotion-performance relation model proposed in the paper is useful in designing emotion-aware intelligent systems to predict and prevent task performance degradation at an early stage and throughout the human-computer interactions.
Transverse shear and rotatory inertia effects on nonlinear vibration of orthotropic circular plates

Abstract In this paper a nonlinear vibration theory which includes the effects of transverse shear deformation and rotatory inertia is formulated for orthotropic circular plates using the Berger approximation. Solutions to the governing equations are obtained on the basis of a single-mode approach by use of Galerkin's method and numerical Runge-Kutta procedure. Results indicate significant influence of these effects on the nonlinear vibration behavior of orthotropic circular plates. Present results are in good agreement with those available in the literature for all special cases. It is observed that there is a substantial saving in the analytical and computational efforts in using the Berger approach and that this approach yields reasonably good results comparable with those obtained by the corresponding von Karman type theory.
Role of the electrocardiogram in determining electrophysiologic end points of drug therapy

Electrocardiographic monitoring can be a useful adjunct to antiarrhythmic therapy, since the electrocardiogram is a simple indicator of net cardiac drug effect, irrespective of factors such as pharmacokinetic variability, drug-metabolite interactions or intraindividual variability in drug sensitivity. Changes associated with antiarrhythmic drug therapy include markers of sodium channel block, such as increased QRS or sinus-ectopic coupling intervals and increased QT interval, a marker of action potential prolongation. Electrocardiographic changes can serve 3 purposes: They can correlate with arrhythmia suppression, they may be a guide to impending drug toxicity, and they can indicate the presence of an antiarrhythmic drug at some electrophysiologically active site in the heart. This latter indication may be used as an assessment of compliance, as a clue to drug-drug interactions that may lower antiarrhythmic drug concentrations or preparatory to electrophysiologic testing when it is desirable to avoid testing patients who have no demonstrable drug effect. Drug-induced changes in the microelectrophysiologic environment may sometimes fail to express themselves on the surface electrocardiogram. Overall, however, the electrocardiogram is an inexpensive, readily available tool to monitor net antiarrhythmic drug effects on the heart. Monitoring of the electrocardiogram should, therefore, be an integral part of managing antiarrhythmic drug therapy in patients with arrhythmias.
Identification and interpretation of longitudinal gene expression changes in trauma.

RATIONALE The relationship between leukocyte gene expression and recovery of respiratory function after injury may provide information on the etiology of multiple organ dysfunction. OBJECTIVES To find a list of genes for which expression after injury predicts respiratory recovery, and to identify which networks and pathways characterize these genes. METHODS Blood was sampled at 12 hours and at 1, 4, 7, 21 and 28 days from 147 patients who had been admitted to the hospital after blunt trauma. Leukocyte gene expression was measured using Affymetrix oligonucleotide arrays. A linear model, fit to each probe-set expression value, was used to impute the gene expression trajectory over the entire follow-up period. The proportional hazards model score test was used to calculate the statistical significance of each probe-set trajectory in predicting respiratory recovery. A list of genes was determined such that the expected proportion of false positive results was less than 10%. These genes were compared to the Gene Ontology for 'response to stimulus' and, using Ingenuity software, were mapped into networks and pathways. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The median time to respiratory recovery was 6 days. There were 170 probe-sets representing 135 genes that were found to be related to respiratory recovery. These genes could be mapped to nine networks. Two known pathways that were activated were antigen processing and presentation and JAK-signaling. CONCLUSIONS The examination of the relationship of gene expression over time with a patient's clinical course can provide information which may be useful in determining the mechanism of recovery or lack of recovery after severe injury.
Extended self and possessions in the workplace

This study of the meanings of possessions displayed in the offices of employees in a high technology firm suggests extensions to the concept of extended self. Work self and home self contend for dominance in these displays. Employees must decide which aspects of the self belong to the domain of work and which belong elsewhere. In these ongoing negotiations self may be extended, but it may also be retracted and hidden. Furthermore, although possessions can serve to stabilize the self, they also facilitate shifting among various self-aspects in response to workplace events. We explicate these processes and discuss implications for extended self theory.
Thrombosis in patients with connective tissue diseases treated with specific cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors: A report of four cases

Specific inhibitors of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) have been approved for the treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Unlike nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, specific COX-2 inhibitors do not inhibit platelet activation. However, these agents significantly reduce systemic production of prostacyclin. As a result, theoretical concerns have been raised that specific COX-2 inhibitors could shift the hemostatic balance toward a prothrombotic state. Patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD), who may be predisposed to vasculopathy and thrombosis, often have arthritis or pain syndromes requiring treatment with antiinflammatory agents. Herein we describe 4 patients with CTD who developed ischemic complications after receiving celecoxib. All patients had a history of Raynaud's phenomenon, as well as elevated anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, or a history compatible with antiphospholipid syndrome. It was possible to measure a urinary metabolite of thromboxane A2 in 2 of the patients as an indicator of in vivo platelet activation, and this was markedly elevated in both. In addition, the patients had evidence of ongoing inflammation as indicated by elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hypocomplementemia, and/or elevated levels of anti-DNA antibodies. The findings in these 4 patients suggest that COX-2 inhibitor-treated patients with diseases that predispose to thrombosis should be monitored carefully for this complication.
How Parents Support Home Literacy with Deaf Children.

Six case studies of young deaf children from deaf and hearing families are presented. A model home literacy program at the Indiana School for the Deaf is described. Case studies and the home literacy program describe activities which link sign language and finger spelling to early reading and writing at home. Activities include the daily reading of whole storybooks, explaining environmental print, labeling drawings with letters and words, writing lists and notes to family members and playing and experimenting with writing.
A films based approach to intensity imbalance correction for 65nm node c:PSM

Intensity imbalance between the 0 and π phase features of c:PSM cause gate CD control and edge placement problems. Strategies such as undercut, selective biasing, and combinations of undercut and bias are currently used in production to mitigate these problems. However, there are drawbacks to these strategies such as space CD delta through pitch, gate CD control through defocus, design rule restrictions, and reticle manufacturability. This paper investigates the application of an innovative films-based approach to intensity balancing known as the Transparent Etch Stop Layer (TESL). TESL, in addition to providing a host of reticle quality and manufacturability benefits, also can be tuned to significantly reduce imbalance. Rigorous 3D vector simulations and experimental data compare through pitch and defocus performance of TESL and conventional c:PSM for 65nm design rules.
Modeling of Crosstalk in Through Silicon Vias

This paper presents analytical formulas to extract an equivalent circuit model for coupled through silicon via (TSV) structures in a 3-D integrated circuit. We make use of a multiconductor transmission line approach to model coupled TSV structures. TSVs are embedded in a lossy silicon medium, hence they behave as metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) transmission lines. The models we present can accurately capture the transition between slow-wave and dielectric quasi-TEM modes, which are characteristic for MIS transmission lines, as well as the metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) varactor capacitance. The results agree well with 2-D quasi-static simulations and 3-D full-wave electromagnetic simulations. The derived equivalent circuit models can easily be applied in circuit simulators to analyze crosstalk behavior of TSVs in a 3-D integrated system.
Total Homocysteine Is Associated With White Matter Hyperintensity Volume The Northern Manhattan Study

Background— Total homocysteine (tHcy) has been implicated as a risk factor for stroke and dementia, but the mechanism is unclear. White matter hyperintensities may be a risk factor for both, but studies of the relationship between tHcy and quantitative measures of white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) are lacking, especially in minority populations. Methods— A community-based sample of 259 subjects with baseline tHcy levels underwent pixel-based quantitative measurement of WMHV. We examined the relationship between tHcy and WMHV adjusting for age, sociodemographics, vascular risk factors, and B12 deficiency. Results— Higher levels of tHcy were associated with WMHV adjusting for sociodemographics and vascular risk factors. Conclusions— These cross-sectional data provide evidence that tHcy is a risk factor for white matter damage.
Use of ultraviolet irradiation and hydrogen peroxide for the control of solvent contamination in small water utilities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently regulated several industrial solvents. The treatment technologies available for these contaminants are air stripping or adsorption on granular activated carbon. Both have disadvantages: with air stripping, the off-gases may have to be treated prior to discharge and granular activated carbon must periodically be thermally reactivated. The process being researched is a combination of oxidation and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The oxidant to be investigated is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The general concept is that because H2O2 is easy to feed, because UV technology is improving, and because the waters to be treated are low in TOC, the likelihood of unknown oxidant by-products being produced is small, as is the likelihood of fouling of the UV Lamps, and because no waste streams are produced, this would be an attractive treatment possibility for small utilities. Thus far, benzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene have been tested at high concentrations in head-space free Teflon® bags in the dark. In addition, benzene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, trichloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride have been tested in the presence of UV irradiation with H2O2, and the results compared as follows: Compound Total conversion (mg/L/hour) Factor of improvement with UV irradiation dark reaction UV irradiation Trichloroethylene 0.03 30 1000 Benzene 0.12 60 500 1,1,1-Trichloroethane 0.11 13 120 Carbon Tetrachloride 0.02 5 250 Batch test studies will be completed for several other compounds in future research and all the compounds will also be tested under flow-through conditions.
Evolution of an alkane-inducible biosensor for increased responsiveness to short-chain alkanes

Abstract Synthetic alkane-inducible biosensors have applications as detectors for environmental hydrocarbon contamination and as novel inducible expression systems with low-cost inducers. Here, we have assembled and evolved an alkane-responsive biosensor with a fluorescence output signal in Escherichia coli by utilizing regulatory machinery from Pseudomonas putida's alkane metabolism. Within our system, the transcriptional regulator, AlkSp, is activated by the presence of alkanes and binds to the PalkB promoter, stimulating transcription of a Green Fluorescent Protein reporter. Through two successive rounds of directed evolution via error prone PCR and fluorescence activated cell sorting, we isolated alkS mutants enabling up to a 5 fold increase in fluorescence output signal in response to short-chain alkanes such as hexane and pentane. Further characterization of selected mutants demonstrated altered responsiveness to a wide range of linear alkanes (pentane to dodecane). Sequence analysis highlighted the S470T mutation as a likely candidate responsible for increased effectiveness of the AlkS protein for short-chain alkanes. This work represents the first evolution of a synthetic biosensor system for alkanes.
Curriculum strategy framework: investigating patterns in teachers' use of a reform-based elementary mathematics curriculum

The goal of this paper is to introduce the curriculum strategy framework as a way to characterize teachers’ interactions with curriculum materials. The framework focuses on three key interpretive activities: reading, evaluating, and adapting curriculum materials. Describing an individual teacher’s curriculum strategy involves identifying the manner in which a teacher engages with each of these activities before, during, and after instruction. This paper presents the results of a study in which the framework was used to identify patterns in the curriculum strategies of 10 elementary‐school teachers who were using a reform‐based mathematics curriculum for the first time. It concludes with directions for further research using the curriculum strategy framework, and implications of this work for curriculum designers.
Quality measurement and use of pre-processing in image compression

Abstract Traditional quality measures for image coding, such as the peak signal-to-noise ratio, assume that the preservation of the original image is the desired goal. However, pre-processing images prior to encoding, designed to remove noise or unimportant detail, can improve the overall performance of an image coder. Objective image quality metrics obtained from the difference between the original and coded images cannot properly assess this improved performance. This paper proposes a new methodology for quality metrics that differentially weighs the changes in the image due to pre-processing and encoding. These new quality measures establish the value of pre-processing for image coding and quantitatively determine the performance improvement that can be thus achieved by JPEG and wavelet coders.
Quantitative analysis of alachlor protein adducts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Abstract This study examined the potential use of hemoglobin (Hb)– and serum–protein adducts of alachlor as potential biomarkers of alachlor exposure, a genotoxic and carcinogenic herbicide. The method developed was based on the observation that cleavage ofS-cysteinyl alachlor–protein adducts by methanesulfonic acid gave the rearrangement product 3-(2′,6′-diethylphenyl)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-one (TZO). The structure of TZO was confirmed by mass spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and independent synthesis. In the assay, treatment of alachlor–cysteinyl protein adducts by methanesulfonic acid was followed by extraction and analysis. TZO was detected and quantitated by electron-impact GC/MS in the single ion-monitoring mode. [ring-13C6]Alachlor–N-acetylcysteine was added as an internal standard prior to treatment and was converted to [ring-13C6]TZO, allowing response factors to be used to quantitate TZO concentrations. Incubations of alachlor (0–1000 μM) with human albumin and bovine serum albumin (BSA) resulted in linear adduct formation with both proteins. Maximal adduction levels of 613–1130 pmol alachlor–albumin adducts/mg protein were observed, with BSA binding close to twice that of human albumin. A linear concentration response of alachlor–Hb adducts was observed when whole blood from female CD rats was incubated with alachlorin vitroat concentrations up to 300 μM. Maximal binding was 1860 pmol alachlor–Hb adducts/mg globin. Male CD rats treated with alachlor at 150 mg/kg body wt/day ip for 0, 1, 2, and 3 days were sacrificed 4 days after final dosing. A maximal binding of 2250 pmol alachlor–Hb adducts/mg globin was observed. This assay provides a new approach for biomonitoring alachlor levels in experimental animals and has the potential for use in humans.
Streaming QSplat: a viewer for networked visualization of large, dense models

Steady growth in the speeds of network links and graphics accelerator cards has brought increasing interest in streaming transmission of three-dimensional data sets. We demonstrate how streaming visualization can be made practical for data sets containing hundreds of millions of samples. Our system is based on QSplat, a multiresolution rendering system for dense polygon meshes that employs a bounding sphere hierarchy data structure and splat rendering. We show how to incorporate view-dependent progressive transmission into QSplat, by having the client request visible portions of the model in order from coarse to fine resolution. In addition, we investigate interaction techniques for improving the effectiveness of streaming data visualization. In particular, we explore color-coding streamed data by resolution, examine the order in which data should be transmitted in order to minimize visual distraction, and propose tools for giving the user fine control over download order.