cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Every child counts: the global reality of child survival.

There is a paramount need for pediatricians as advocates for children and child health to understand what is going on with the health of the majority of the worlds children. This article provides a review of the current regional inequities in child health statistics and a history of child public health and progress that has been made in reducing child mortality. Emphasis is placed on discussing the major causes of mortality current statistics interventions and suggested improvements of diseases such as acute respiratory infection (ARI) diarrhea malaria measles and HIV as well as of conditions including perinatal/neonatal deaths nutrition armed conflict and poverty. The community of pediatricians is encouraged to change the status quo of child mortality at the local by teaching doctors medical students and residents about the global inequities in child survival. The community must also increase efforts for advocacy donor assistance and program implementation to avoid the nearly 4 million excess deaths if Millennium Development Goal #4 is not met.
Cyclooxygenase inhibition augments central blood pressure and aortic wave reflection in aging humans.

The augmentation index and central blood pressure increase with normal aging. Recently, cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, commonly used for the treatment of pain, have been associated with transient...
A 2.2V 200mW 3GHz Ring Oscillator Based Waveform

This work presents a periodic arbitrary waveform generator based on a ring oscillator structure implemented in a 0.13μm SiGe BiCMOS technology. Using 16 delay stages with control programmable weighted currents, the proposed waveform generator can output 3GHz periodic waveforms. The total power consumption is less than 200mW with a 2.2V power supply. The total area of the SiGe chip is 1.0mm. Index Terms —arbitrary waveform generator, BiCMOS
Cellular discharge in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of the monkey in cognitive tasks

Single-unit activity was recorded in the prefrontal cortex of monkeys performing two visual short-term memory tasks: delayed matching-to-sample and delayed response. The animal had to retain a color (sample) in the first task and a positional cue in the second. Cells reacting to the sample or the cue were found throughout the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, some cells differentiating colors (red and green) and others positions (right and left). About one-half of all cells showed altered discharge during the retention period (delay). In some of them that discharge differed depending on the sample or cue. One cell type showed descending firing frequency in the course of the delay. Another showed the opposite, that is, increasing firing as the delay progressed. Cells with altered delay-period discharge were more common in the cortex of the sulcus principalis and the inferior convexity than in other prefrontal areas. The findings are viewed as reflecting the participation of prefrontal neurons in the temporal structuring of behavior.
Cyclic nucleotides in neuronal and glialenriched fractions from the nerve cord of Manduca sexta

Neuronal and glial fractions were isolated from the CNS of Manduca sexta. The addition of serotonin caused a significant increase in the cyclic AMP levels in both fractions. A lesser increase in cyclic AMP occurred in the presence of norepinephrine. None of the neurotransmitters examined had any appreciable effect on the levels of cyclic GMP.
Evoked potentials and EEG in multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Thirteen patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) were studied with electroencephalogram (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), evoked potentials and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. We attempted to correlate the findings with physical disability as defined by Kurtzke score and presence of dementia or seizures. More severe plaque disease on MRI and increased physical disability correlated significantly with abnormality on brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) while visual evoked potential (VEP) abnormality correlated only with MRI findings. No such correlation was found with the EEG. The close relationship between BAEP and MRI abnormalities probably reflects frequent involvement of brain-stem corticospinal pathways.
Holographic data storage with arbitrarily misaligned data pages.

An improved postprocessing algorithm that can compensate for arbitrary misregistrations between a detector array and the coherent image of a pixelated two-dimensional data page is described. Previously [Opt. Lett.26, 542 (2001)], an algorithm was reported in which both linear and quadratic interpixel cross-talk contributions are reallocated to the appropriate neighboring pixels. However, page misalignments close to ±0.5 pixels could not be corrected to an acceptable bit-error rate because of propagation in the iterative procedure. An improved algorithm is reported in which an intentional magnification error is introduced optically and then corrected during postprocessing. Experimental results from a pixel-matched megapel volume holographic system are presented, showing that the dependence of bit-error rate on transverse detector alignment is entirely removed. This improved procedure can completely bypass constraints on page registration, optical distortion, and material shrinkage that currently hamper page-oriented holographic storage systems.
A particle conveyor belt process in the Columbia River estuary: Evidence from chlorophyll a and particulate organic carbon

Using both the photosynthetically active chlorophylla (chla) content of the organic carbon fraction of suspended particulate matter (chla/POC) and the percentage of photosynthetically, active chla in fluorometrically measured chla plus pheophytina (% chla), we determined that under specified hydrodynamic conditions, neap-spring tidal differentiation in particle dynamics could be observed in the Columbia River estuary. During summer time neap tides, when river discharge was moderate, bottom chla/POC remained relatively unchanged from riverine chla/POC over the full 0–30 psu salinity range, suggesting a benign trapping environment. During summertime spring tides, bottom chla/POC decreased at mid range salinities indicating resuspension of chla-poor POC during flood-ebb transitions. Bottom % chla during neap tides tended to average higher than that during spring tides, suggesting that neap particles were more recently hydrodynamically trapped than those on the spring tides. Such differentiation supported the possibility of operation of a particle conveyor belt process, a process in which low-amplitude neap tides favor selective particle trapping in estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM)., while high-amplitude spring tides favor particle resuspension from the ETM. Untrapped river-derived particles at the surface would continue through the estuary to the coastal ocean on the neap tide; during spring tide some particles eroded from the ETM would combine with unsettled riverine particles in transit toward the ocean. Because in tensified biogeochemical activity is associated with ETM, these neap-spring differences may be critical to maintenance and renewal of populations and processes in the estuary. Very high river discharge (15, 000 m3 s−1) tended to overwhelm neap-spring differences, and significant oceanic input during very low river discharge (5,000 m3 s−1) tended to do the same in the estuarine channel most exposed to ocean input. During heavy springtime phytoplankton blooms, development of a thick bottom fluff layer rich in chla also appeared to negate neapspring differentiation because spring tides apparently acted to resuspend the same rich bottom material that was laid down during neap tides. When photosynthetic assimilation numbers [μgC (μgchl,a)−1h−1] were measured across, the full salinity range, no neap-spring differences and no river discharge effects occurred, indicating that within our suite of measurements the compositional distinction of suspended particulate material was mainly a function of chla/POC, and to a lesser extent % chla. Even though these measurements suggest the existence of a conveyor belt process, proof of actual operation of this phenomenon requires scalar flux measurements of chla properties in and out of the ETM on both neap and spring tides.
A penta-quadrupole instrument for reaction intermediate scans and other MS-MS-MS experiments

Abstract A penta-quadrupole mass spectrometer which utilizes three quadrupole mass filters and two rf-only quadrupole collision cells is described. The instrument allows ion/molecule reactions or collision activated dissociation to be performed in either of the collision regions and is well suited for the acquisition of MS—MS—MS data. The reaction intermediate scan, an MS—MS—MS experiment which interrogates all intermediates which arise from a fixed parent ion and subsequently react to yield a fixed daughter ion, is applied to the examination of peptides, alkyl ketones, and the pyrolysis products of poly(alkylisocyanates). Comparisons are made with reaction intermediate spectra recorded using a sector/quadrupole hybrid instrument. Results from other MS 3 modes, including two-dimensional scans, are presented to illustrate the versatility of the instrument. Access to unique information on ion/molecule chemistry is demonstrated with data on Diels—Alder reactions of 1,3-butadiene.
Hemispheric Lateralization and Aesthetic Judgement

Pairs of slides depicting works of art were presented tachistoscopically to the left or right visual half-fields. Subjects performed an aesthetic judgement task, selecting the better work of art in each pair. Subjects with highly lateralized cerebral organization, as inferred by handedness or sex, performed significantly better in response to slides presented in one visual half-field (VHF) than in response to slides presented in the opposite VHF. Some of these subjects showed a left VHF superiority, while others showed a right RHF superiority. Subjects who were less lateralized showed no significant tendency to perform better in response to slides presented in one VHF or the other. The results are interpreted as an indication that subjects will perform a given task in a lateralized or a non-lateralized manner as a function of the interaction between individual differences in cerebral organization and the cognitive processes used to perform the task.
Low Bone Turnover and Low BMD in Down Syndrome: Effect of Intermittent PTH Treatment

Trisomy 21 affects virtually every organ system and results in the complex clinical presentation of Down syndrome (DS). Patterns of differences are now being recognized as patients’ age and these patterns bring about new opportunities for disease prevention and treatment. Low bone mineral density (BMD) has been reported in many studies of males and females with DS yet the specific effects of trisomy 21 on the skeleton remain poorly defined. Therefore we determined the bone phenotype and measured bone turnover markers in the murine DS model Ts65Dn. Male Ts65Dn DS mice are infertile and display a profound low bone mass phenotype that deteriorates with age. The low bone mass was correlated with significantly decreased osteoblast and osteoclast development, decreased bone biochemical markers, a diminished bone formation rate and reduced mechanical strength. The low bone mass observed in 3 month old Ts65Dn mice was significantly increased after 4 weeks of intermittent PTH treatment. These studies provide novel insight into the cause of the profound bone fragility in DS and identify PTH as a potential anabolic agent in the adult low bone mass DS population.
Tyrosine transporter in larval Leptinotarsa decemlineata midgut brush border membrane

Abstract An ion-dependent tyrosine transporter from Leptinotarsa decemlineata midgut was further characterized using brush border membrane vesicles. Tyrosine transport is not stimulated by Li + , Rb + , Cs + , Ca 2+ , or Mg 2+ . K + paired with SCN − stimulates tyrosine uptake, but K + paired with less permeant PO 4 2− or gluconate anions does not stimulate tyrosine uptake. KSCN stimulates initial tyrosine uptake in a concentration-dependent manner, reaching a maximum at 20 mM. Tyrosine transport is slower when moving against a positive electrical gradient than against a negative or neutral electrical gradient. In the presence of an inward K + gradient, tyrosine is not concentrated in BBMV above the equilibrium concentration. Tyrosine transport is highest at pH 6.4 and 7.4, and significantly lower at pH 9.4. This ion-dependent tyrosine transporter is insensitive to the amino acid analogs methylamino-isobutyric acid and 2-aminobicyclo-[2,2,11-heptane-2-carboxylic acid. None of eight plant lectins tested inhibited initial tyrosine uptake. The Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3A ∂-endotoxin, active against L. decemlineata in vivo , did not affect initial tyrosine uptake rate.
Static field intensity modulation to treat a dominant intra-prostatic lesion to 90 Gy compared to seven field 3-dimensional radiotherapy

Abstract Purpose/Objective: Recent studies supported by histopathological correlation suggest that the combined use of endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allows differentiation of normal and carcinomatous prostate. The goal of this study was to use static field intensity modulated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (SF-IMRT) to treat the entire prostate to a total dose of >70 Gy, while concurrently treating a dominant intraprostatic lesion (DIL) defined by MRI+MRS to 90 Gy while not exceeding normal tissue tolerances. Materials and Methods: For the example chosen, the DIL consisted of a large portion of the peripheral zone of the left lobe of the prostate. University of Michigan (UM-PLAN) three-dimensional treatment planning software was used to design a partially shielded 7 field conformal isodose plan that would treat the entire prostate to >70 Gy at 1.8 Gy per day (80% isodose line), while concurrently treating the DIL to 2.25 Gy per day for a total dose of 90 Gy. Dose volume histograms (DVH) were used to compare the rectal doses to rectum and other adjacent normal tissues using these two techniques. Results: SF-IMRT as described, allowed a total dose of 90 Gy to encompass the DIL, while the rectal dose was slightly lower than that using the standard 7 field technique to the prostate alone. For example, the dose to 30 cm 3 of the rectum was 40 Gy using SF-IMRT and 48 Gy for the standard 7 field technique. Because of differences in the dose per fraction the biologic advantages of the SF-IMRT technique are likely to be even greater. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using SF-IMRT to treat a DIL involving a single lobe of the prostate, as defined by MRI/MRS, to 90 Gy, while simultaneously treating the prostate to >70 Gy without increasing the dose to surrounding normal tissues. A similar approach could be used to treat multifocal disease. This method of treatment is an alternative to dynamic intensity modulation. It is less expensive, and can be adapted to any radiation therapy department without the use of an inverse treatment planning programs.
Soil Remediation Techniques at Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites

The objective of this critical review is to address soil remediation techniques at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites with regard to the following areas: 1) important regulatory and technical issues and information needs concerning soil remediation at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites; 2) approaches for selection of remediation techniques; and 3) the current state of knowledge regarding soil remediation techniques, including applications and limitations. The areas identified above are addressed with regard to current information, selected milestone publications, and specific applications of technologies to provide a synthesis of the topic. The information concerning current issues, approaches, and soil remediation techniques presented was critically reviewed in order to: 1) identify deficiencies in current approaches; 2) develop a conceptual framework for remediation; and 3) recommend improved approaches for selection of remediation technologies.
Synthesis and crosslinking of hyperbranched poly(n‐nonyl acrylate) to form organogels

(2-Bromo-n-nonan-1-oxycarbonyl)ethyl acrylate was synthesized as an inimer for self-condensing vinyl polymerization (SCVP) to produce hyperbranched poly(n-nonyl acrylate), either as a homopolymer or as a copolymer with n-nonyl acrylate. The inimer was homopolymerized and copolymerized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and activator generated by electron transfer ATRP to produce soluble polymers with broad polydispersities (up to Đ = 9.91), which is characteristic of hyperbranched polymers produced by SCVP. The resulting hyperbranched (co)polymers were crosslinked by atom transfer radical coupling in both one-pot and two-step procedures. The radical–radical crosslinking reaction is extremely efficient, resulting in hard plastic particles from the homopolymer of (2-bromo-n-nonan-1-oxycarbonyl)ethyl acrylate synthesized in bulk. Crosslinked organogels that swell in tetrahydrofuran were formed when the rate of crosslinking decreased using acetonitrile solutions. Dynamic shear and stress relaxation experiments demonstrated that the dry network behaves as a covalently crosslinked soft gel, with a glass transition at −50 °C according to differential scanning calorimetry. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 2399–2410
On the Value of Mix Flexibility and Dual Sourcing in Unreliable Newsvendor Networks

We connect the mix-flexibility and dual-sourcing literatures by studying unreliable supply chains that produce multiple products. We consider a firm that can invest in product-dedicated resources and totally flexible resources. Product demands are uncertain at the time of resource investment, and the products can differ in their contribution margins. Resource investments can fail, and the firm may choose to invest in multiple resources for a given product to mitigate such failures.In comparing a single-source dedicated strategy with a single-source flexible strategy, we refine the common intuition that a flexible strategy is strictly preferred to a dedicated strategy when the dedicated resources are costlier than the flexible resource. We prove that this intuition is correct if the firm is risk neutral or if the resource investments are perfectly reliable. The intuition can be wrong, however, if both of these conditions fail to hold, because there is a resource-aggregation disadvantage to the flexible strategy that can dominate the demand pooling and contribution-margin benefits of the flexible strategy when resource investments are unreliable and the firm is risk averse.We investigate the influence that resource attributes, firm attributes, and product-portfolio attributes have on the attractiveness of various supply-chain structures that differ in their levels of mix flexibility and diversification, and we investigate the influence these attributes have on the optimal resource investments within a given supply-chain structure. Our results indicate that the appropriate levels of diversification and flexibility are very sensitive to the resource costs and reliabilities, the firm's downside risk tolerance, the number of products, the product demand correlations and the spread in product contribution margins.
A Location-Aware Routing Metric (ALARM) for Multi-Hop, Multi-Channel Wireless Mesh Networks

The importance of suitable link-aware routing metrics for multi-hop (mesh) wireless networks is well-established. Channel-to-link assignments impact the distribution of co- channel links and contribute to inter-flow and intra-flow interference. In this paper we present a new location-aware routing metric (ALARM) that better captures the resulting co-channel interference as a function of channel assignments. The link metrics used are sensitive to the location of nearby co-channel links that are within interference or carrier sensing range; these can be pre-calculated and used with any routing algorithm. The performance of ALARM is compared with weighted cumulative expected transmission time metric (WCETT) via OPNET over a comprehensive range of network parameters for linear and 2-D grid topologies.
IBUPROFEN-INDUCED INHIBITION OF CYCLOOXYGENASE ISOFORM GENE EXPRESSION AND REGRESSION OF RAT MAMMARY CARCINOMAS

Abstract A single dose of 75 mg/kg 7,12 dimethylbenz[a]anthracene was administered to 50-day-old virgin female Sprague–Dawley rats and 100 days later, animals were randomized and provided with Teklad rodent chow mixed with a dose of 25 mg/rat/day ibuprofen for 35 days. Ibuprofen treatment reduced tumor volume (P
Assessing the fit of two brand personality scales in a Chinese context and revisiting the predictive validity of two methods of measuring self-congruity

Within the existing literature different brand personality scales (BPS) exist. In this article the authors compared two BPSs, namely the American BPS (USBPS) and the Japanese BPS (JPBPS), to measure the three brands’ personality in a Chinese context. The authors used them to measure both brand personality and the respondents’ own personality (human personality). It was found that USPBS yielded more satisfactory fit indices than JPBPS. In addition the authors compared the predictive validity of the traditional measure based on USBPS and the new measure of self-congruity, confirming the new measure's predictive validity over and beyond the traditional method.
Prioritizing JUnit Test Cases: An Empirical Assessment and Cost-Benefits Analysis

Test case prioritization provides a way to run test cases with the highest priority earliest. Numerous empirical studies have shown that prioritization can improve a test suite's rate of fault detection, but the extent to which these results generalize is an open question because the studies have all focused on a single procedural language, C, and a few specific types of test suites. In particular, Java and the JUnit testing framework are being used extensively to build software systems in practice, and the effectiveness of prioritization techniques on Java systems tested under JUnit has not been investigated. We have therefore designed and performed a controlled experiment examining whether test case prioritization can be effective on Java programs tested under JUnit, and comparing the results to those achieved in earlier studies. Our analyses show that test case prioritization can significantly improve the rate of fault detection of JUnit test suites, but also reveal differences with respect to previous studies that can be related to the language and testing paradigm. To investigate the practical implications of these results, we present a set of cost-benefits models for test case prioritization, and show how the effectiveness differences observed can result in savings in practice, but vary substantially with the cost factors associated with particular testing processes.
Hide and seek: the secret identity of the phosphatidylserine receptor

Phosphatidylserine on the dying cell surface helps identify apoptotic cells to phagocytes, which then engulf them. A candidate phagocyte receptor for phosphatidylserine was identified using phage display, but the phenotypes of knockout mice lacking this presumptive receptor, as well as the location of the protein within cells, cast doubt on the assignment of this protein as the phosphatidylserine receptor.
The relationship between shareholder wealth effects, diversity, and publicity as a marketing strategy

Using theFortune diversity elite as a sample, the authors find significant initial shareholder gains, as measured by stock price reaction to firms publicizing their inclusion on the diversity elite list as a part of their marketing communication strategy. However, these initial effects do not materialize into higher annual measures of profitability (i.e., return on equity, return on assets, and return on investment) for these firms when compared with other similarly sizedfirms from similar industries in theFortune 1000 list. This suggests that for firms seeking enhancements in reportable measures of financial performance, having and publicizing a diverse workforce, including sales personnel, does not provide superior financial performance in comparison with other non-diversity elite firms. Shareholder wealth gains to these firms, however, are real and significant.
New game-changing product applications enabled by SOI

GLOBALFOUNDRIES has positioned its technology offerings to provide a variety of innovative and game-changing applications enabled by SOI. The recent product launch of GLOBALFOUNDRIES' 22FDX technology is specifically designed to meet the ultra-low-power requirements of next generation of connected devices. The big advantage of this platform is its ability to provide software control at the transistor level through flexible body-biasing. The ability to provide real-time trade-offs between power and performance via software-controlled body-biasing of the transistor opens up entirely new doors for the designer. Current and future applications from wearables and beyond will be discussed as well as the future scalability of this exciting technology offering. RFSOI is also a critical enabler of technology, evolving in response to the continuously growing consumer demand for mobile data. Every mobile device needs an RF front-end-module to connect to the network, and mobile data must be delivered fast and accurately, with a high degree of quality for the user. With the transition from 2G/2.5G to 3G/4G cellular standards, while adopting long-term evolution (LTE) modulation to achieve faster and faster download speeds, GLOBALFOUNDRIES' RFSOI technology continues to meet the challenges driving RF front-end-module complexity, more complicated smartphone architecture, and tougher RF requirements. The benefits of device stacking, reduced parasitics, higher Q and lower loss enabled by SOI will be discussed, along with the merits of lower cost than III-V's, and readily available capacity enabled by mainstream silicon manufacturing methods. In summary, GLOBALFOUNDRIES' SOI offerings are uniquely poised to move, store, process, and analyze the data generated in this era of pervasive computing, providing the ability to connect a wider array of devices seamlessly via the right protocols and networks. The game-changing applications enabled by SOI are the confluence of technology, market dynamics, substrate supply, and ultra low power requirements, which will continue its dominance for decades to come.
Is Knowledge Power? The Effects of a Victimology Course on Victim Blaming

The current study examines the impact of a victimology course on students’ perceptions of the blameworthiness of crime victims and knowledge of victimization issues. Victim-blaming attitudes among college students enrolled in a victimology course were compared with students enrolled in other courses. Results from a pretest and posttest suggest that the victimology students were significantly less likely to blame victims and these students also gained significantly more knowledge over time compared with the students who did not enroll in the course. Results from the multivariate analysis indicate that less knowledge over time and a higher propensity to blame victims at the beginning of the semester predicted more victim-blaming attitudes on the posttest. Overall, the findings suggest that knowledge of victimology significantly affects students’ propensity to blame victims of crime.
The corporate information agency: Do competitive intelligence practitioners utilize It?

This article reports on a research study investigating the use and perceptions of corporate information agencies by competitive intelligence (CI) practitioners. The corporate information agency is a corporate library or an information/knowledge center. CI practitioner refers to those business professionals, in various organizations, who are particularly committed to strategic and competitive intelligence analysis and production activities. In this study, we administered a survey to a sample of 214 CI practitioners to ascertain the extent to which they utilize, are aware of, and perceive the usefulness of corporate information agencies provided by their organizations. With 63 valid responses, we observed high degrees of use, awareness, and perceived usefulness. Multiple regression results also show significant correlations between perceived usefulness and use of the corporate information agency among the responding CI practitioners. Supported by empirical evidence, these findings provide a benchmark of knowledge regarding the value of corporate information agencies in CI practices.
The Function of Antibody and Complement in the Lysis of Bacteria

The factors controlling lysis of gram-negative bacteria by complement are being investigated systematically. The first question was how smooth Salmonella minnesota, which has on its surface lipopolysaccharide with long O polysaccharide side chains, avoids lysis. Rough organisms are serum sensitive. In both smooth and rough organisms, complement components are deposited on the surface and the lytic sequence proceeds to completion. However, with serum-resistant organisms the membrane attack complex (MAC), composed of late-acting complement proteins, does not successfully insert into the outer membrane to cause membrane damage. At the completion of the lytic sequence, the hydrophobic MAC is shed. C3b, which directs late component assembly, is deposited on the longest O polysaccharide side chains on these smooth organisms, where it does not direct successful insertion of the MAC into the outer membrane. Serum-resistant gonococci sequester the MAC on the organism's surface in association with specific outer membrane components, where it does no damage to the outer membrane. Antibody appears to mediate site-directed complement component deposition in a number of systems. Thus, depending on antibody specificity, complement may be deposited on the organism's surface to cause successful complement attack or may block complement attack induced by bactericidal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies of the same isotype directed at different epitopes on the same bacterial surface antigen may either induce lysis or block lytic attack.
Redundancy elimination within large collections of files

Ongoing advancements in technology lead to ever-increasing storage capacities. In spite of this, optimizing storage usage can still provide rich dividends. Several techniques based on delta-encoding and duplicate block suppression have been shown to reduce storage overheads, with varying requirements for resources such as computation and memory. We propose a new scheme for storage reduction that reduces data sizes with an effectiveness comparable to the more expensive techniques, but at a cost comparable to the faster but less effective ones. The scheme, called Redundancy Elimination at the Block Level (REBL), leverages the benefits of compression, duplicate block suppression, and delta-encoding to eliminate a broad spectrum of redundant data in a scalable and efficient manner. REBL generally encodes more compactly than compression (up to a factor of 14) and a combination of compression and duplicate suppression (up to a factor of 6.7). REBL also encodes similarly to a technique based on delta-encoding, reducing overall space significantly in one case. Furthermore, REBL uses super-fingerprints, a technique that reduces the data needed to identify similar blocks while dramatically reducing the computational requirements of matching the blocks: it turns O(n2) comparisons into hash table lookups. As a result, using super-fingerprints to avoid enumerating matching data objects decreases computation in the resemblance detection phase of REBL by up to a couple orders of magnitude.
A Public Health Model of Alcohol Use and Related Problems: Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth

ABSTRACT Using data from the 1994 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, this paper presents a public health model of alcohol intensity and attendant consequences among adolescents. We use path analyses to examine the influence of agent (beverage of choice), host (individual characteristics), and environment (contexts of drinking) on an index of alcohol intensity and three factor-based indexes of alcohol-related consequences. Our analyses suggest that males, adolescents who begin drinking at a younger age, and older adolescents drink with more intensity. Similarly, teenagers that drink in private contexts, perceive the majority of their friends to be drinkers, and prefer beer over other beverages tend to drink more intensely. Drinking in private contexts is also a contributing factor to Loss of Control and School/Work Problems regardless of other predictors. Implications for prevention practice and future research are offered.
Google: A Chronology of Innovations, Acquisitions, and Growth

SUMMARY This article presents a chronology of major events, initiatives, and milestones of the search engine giant Google and commentary on their impact on libraries, higher education, advertising, and access to information. By placing Google's many milestones, initiatives, and acquisitions into a historical context, this article seeks to illustrate Google's aggressive growth strategy, highlight how rapidly Google has transformed the information landscape, and add to the discussion of how these moves continue to affect the world of libraries, higher education, and access to information in general.
Investigation of nonuniform moisture distribution on determination of hygroscopic swelling coefficient and finite element modeling for a flip chip package

The coefficient of hygroscopic swelling is a material property used to measure the volumetric change with moisture absorption under given humidity/temperature conditions. Current hygroscopic swelling characterization techniques use an averaged approach based on the averaged moisture content. However, the moisture distribution is not uniform across the test specimen during measurement. This introduces analysis errors in determining the material property. In this paper, an exact analytical solution is derived to obtain the accurate coefficient of hygroscopic swelling, with the consideration of 3-dimentional moisture diffusion across the specimen. The correlation between the locally defined hygroswelling coefficient and the averaged hygroswelling coefficient is obtained analytically. The results show that the coefficient of hygroswelling obtained based on the previous method using the averaged approach overestimates the property up to 250%. The methodology and formulation developed in this paper is applied to analyze a set of existing experimental data, and results are compared to the current approach. Based on the locally accurate coefficient of hygroscopic swelling, this paper also investigates the reliability of a flip chip ball grid array package under HAST condition (120/spl deg/C/100%RH). FEA simulation results revealed the significance of contribution of hygroswelling-induced tensile stresses under bump region. The finite element results give an insight of the failure mechanism associated with moisture absorption.
Clarithromycin against Mycobacterium avium complex infections

Abstract The turning point in antimicrobial therapy of Mycobacterium avium infections came with the development of two new macrolides, clarithromycin and azithromycin. Controlled clinical trials, the first ever conducted with any agent among patients with M. avium infection, indicated the high efficiency of clarithromycin, in either acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients having a disseminated infection or non-AIDS patients with localized pulmonary disease. Monotherapy with clarithromycin resulted in elimination of bacteremia in almost all patients with disseminated infection, which is inevitably followed by a relapse of bacteremia in patients who survived long enough to reach this event. The strains susceptible to clarithromycin isolated before therapy contained 10−8 or 10−9 resistant mutants, and the relapses of bacteremia were caused by multiplication of these pre-existing mutants. Clarithromycin-resistance was associated with a mutation in the 23S rRNA gene. Cross-resistance between clarithromycin and azithromycin was confirmed with laboratory mutants and clinical isolates. At least two methods for determining the susceptibility of the M. avium isolates to clarithromycin are available: one is minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination on Mueller-Hinton agar (pH 7.4) supplemented with 10% Oleic acid-albumin-dextrose catalase, the other is MIC determination in 7H12 broth, also at pH 7.4. The breakpoints for ‘susceptible’ for these methods are ≤ 8.0 μg/ml and ≤2.0 μg/ml, respectively. The breakpoints for ‘resistant’ are > 128 μg/ml for the agar method and > 32.0 μg/ml for the broth method. The predictability value of MIC determination was confirmed by comparing the test results with the patients' clinical and bacteriological response to therapy. The remaining major problem in the therapy of the M. avium infections is a selection of companion drugs to be used in combination with clarithromycin (or azithromycin) to prevent the emergence of the macrolide-resistance. A number of clinical trials are now in progress to find a solution to this problem.
Etched corner reflector array lasers: a detailed study

The effect of the corner reflector size on the performance of an etched corner reflector array laser is studied. Experimental evidence is presented to show that the operation of the corner reflector array laser is governed by the diffraction principle. The light output increases markedly if the reflector size is large enough so that diffraction can be neglected. This general principle should prove useful in the design of unguided photonic integrated circuits.
Multi-Modal Interfaces &#8212; Challenges and Opportunities

hris Harding is an assistant professor at Iowa State University’s Human-computerinteraction program and is interested in designing multi-modal interfaces for geoscientists. In his presentation, he will share some of the experiences of working with geoscientific Virtual Environments and multi-modal interfaces over the last years and talk about the opportunities and challenges of increasing the use and interest in multi-modal interfaces. C
Millian Qualitative Superiorities and Utilitarianism, Part II

I continue my argument that Millian qualitative superiorities are infinite superiorities: one pleasant feeling, or type of pleasant feeling, is qualitatively superior to another in Mill's sense if and only if even a bit of the superior is more pleasant (and thus more valuable) than any finite quantity of the inferior, however large. This gives rise to a hierarchy of higher and lower pleasures such that a reasonable hedonist always refuses to sacrifice a higher for a lower irrespective of the finite amounts of each. Some indication of why this absolute refusal may be reasonable is provided in the course of outlining the content of the Millian hierarchy. It emerges that Mill's hedonistic utilitarianism has an extraordinary structure because it gives absolute priority over competing considerations to a code of justice that distributes equal rights and correlative duties for all. His utilitarianism also recognizes that certain aesthetic and spiritual pleasures may be qualitatively superior even to the pleasant feeling of security associated with the moral sentiment of justice. Thus, for instance, a noble individual may reasonably choose to waive his own rights so as to perform beautiful supererogatory actions that provide great benefits for others at the sacrifice of the right-holder's own vital interests.
Influences of Parental Care and Food Deprivation on Regulation of Body Mass in a Burying Beetle

Changes in adult body mass during breeding can reveal how parents prepare energetically for care, the stress of care, and the need to terminate care in a state conducive for future reproduction. Interpreting changes in parent mass can be difficult, however, because temporal variation in body mass may reflect a constraint imposed by the stress of care, revealing conflict within the family, or a shift to a new body mass optimum adaptive for a different stage of the breeding cycle. Here, we examined the effect of food deprivation and parenting on variation in female body mass of Nicrophorus orbicollis, an insect in which parents and offspring share a common food resource (a prepared carrion ball). Female parents demonstrated a remarkable degree of regulation of body mass: Despite varied periods of food deprivation (0–8 d) prior to discovery of a carcass, females attained a similar body mass (108.3–109.2% of pre-deprivation mass) at the time of larval hatching. Females attained a greater body mass in anticipation of rearing a greater number of young. Mothers lost mass during active parental care, and mass at the end of caregiving was less in mothers that reared more and heavier young. Body mass at the end of care was less than the preferred mass for females searching for a carcass, indicating that the mothers sacrificed self-maintenance and future reproductive potential for their current brood. Contrary to prediction, pre-breeding food deprivation had no effect on offspring size or on female condition at the end of care. We conclude that there is a limited degree of conflict over the sharing of food among N. orbicollis parents and offspring, but that this conflict is not exacerbated by food deprivation prior to breeding.
Sexual orientation: its relevance to occupational science and the practice of occupational therapy

This article examines how sexual orientation may be relevant to the study of occupations and the practice of occupational therapy. It is suggested that a lesbian, gay, or bisexual orientation may influence the occupations in which a person engages, the symbolic interpretation of those occupations, and the environmental contingencies of those occupations, and thus is an appropriate topic for occupational scientists to address. With the use of clinical reasoning studies and literature on authentic occupational therapy, it is argued that a person's lesbian, gay, or bisexual orientation may be relevant to the therapeutic process if therapists are to truly achieve an intersubjective understanding of the patient's world and create an environment in which the patient is able to live a meaningful life. Given this argument as a foundation, the article explores why sexual orientation may be overlooked in some of the theoretical perspectives that guide practice. The narrative perspective on identity is introduced as one potentially valuable way that occupational therapy researchers and practitioners may understand sexual orientation and its relationship to occupation. Specifically it is suggested that sexual orientation may be understood, in part, as a symbolic theme of meaning that informs values and convictions that may then be expressed in one's choice of occupations.
Love and marriage in a Sri Lankan Muslim community : toward a reevaluation of Dravidian marriage practices

I argue that structural and transactional models of Dravidian marriage practices cannot adequately account for the variation in mate selection in situations of arranged marriage practices exhibited among the Sri Lankan Muslims of Kutali. The inadequacy of these models is an outcome of three interrelated problems: (1) the assumption of a normative model for marriage; (2) a dichotomous conceptualization of marriage practices that divides them into love and arranged marriage categories; and (3) the absence of romantic love as a valid motivation for mate selection. In this article I show that villagers use a polythetic model for marriage in which core symbols of marriage category types are manipulated to serve as figure or ground depending on situational contingencies. Second, I show that love can be accommodated to an arranged marriage model. [arranged marriages, love marriages, Sri Lanka, love, core symbols, foreground, background]
Is Legal Mediation a Process of Repair - Or Separation? An Empirical Study, and Its Implications

One of mediation's most important characteristics is said to be its ability to repair ruptured relationships between disputing parties. These themes appear in much of the writing about the mediation of legal disputes. This article describes the results of an empirical study of such outcomes. The study examines (1) how frequently disputants in substantial legal disputes who have a significant pre-existing relationship are able to repair their relationship in mediation, (2) how frequently mediation results in a settlement with other integrative terms, and (3) what factors influence the likelihood of a repair. Relationship repairs were reported in 17 per cent, integrative settlements without a repair in 30 per cent, purely-monetary settlements in 27 per cent, and impasses in 27 per cent of the sampled cases. The rate of repair was disproportionately high among mediations that occurred in the state of Maine. The article also analyzes several factors that appear to influence the likelihood that a relationship will be repaired during mediation: How valuable a renewed relationship is as compared to alternatives, how early in a dispute mediation occurs, the attitudes of the parties and lawyers, and whether the mediator is able to lay a foundation for repair before the parties first meet.
Elements of Design-Based Science Activities That Affect Students' Motivation

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the ways in which a 12-week afterschool science and engineering program affected middle school students' motivation to engage in science and engineering activities. We used current motivation research and theory as a conceptual framework to assess 14 students' motivation through questionnaires, structured interviews, and observations. Students reported that during the activities they perceived that they were empowered to make choices in how to complete things, the activities were useful to them, they could succeed in the activities, they enjoyed and were interested in the hands-on activities and some presentations, they felt cared for by the facilitators and received help when they were stuck or confused, and they put forth effort. Based on our examination of data across our three data sources, we identified motivating opportunities that were provided to students during the activities. These motivating opportunities can serve as examples to help both formal and informal science educators better connect motivation theory to practice so that they can create motivating opportunities for students. Furthermore, this study provides a methodological example of how students' motivation can be examined during the context of authentic science and engineering instruction.
Early Language Learning for All: Examination of a Prekindergarten French Program in an Inclusion Setting

This preliminary study examined a prekindergarten multimodal French program conducted for students in an inclusion charter school. Due to the age and varied ability levels of the students, media such as video and songs combined with kinesthetic activities served as the primary instructional approach. Data on children's ability to understand and use simple language were obtained from videorecordings as well as from vocabulary recognition and recall measures. Additional data from teacher questionnaires showed that students of all abilities developed basic communication skills in French and demonstrated enjoyment of the French program.