cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A note on LPT scheduling

A bound is given for the worst case performance of a variant of the LPT scheduling algorithm for independent jobs on a uniform set of non-identical processors. We show that if the jobs are selected by a processor as it becomes free then the ratio of this finish time to the optimal finish time is bounded by one half the relative speed of the fastest processor.
Thermodynamical study of the electron-hole system in ultrathin films of pure bismuth in quantizing magnetic fields

Etude numerique du potentiel chimique, de la densite en porteurs de charge, de la chaleur specifique electronique, de l'aimantation, et de la susceptibilite magnetique en fonction de la temperature et du champ magnetique applique. La couche est supposee suffisamment mince de telle sorte que l'effet dimensionnel quantique peut etre realise. Les electrons et les trous suivent approximativement un mouvement bidimensionnel. Analyse de la structure de bande
An iterative route construction and improvement algorithm for the vehicle routing problem with soft time windows

The solution of routing problems with soft time windows has valuable practical applications. Soft time window solutions are needed when: (a) the number of routes needed for hard time windows exceeds the number of available vehicles, (b) a study of cost-service tradeoffs is required, or (c) the dispatcher has qualitative information regarding the relative importance of hard time-window constraints across customers. This paper proposes a new iterative route construction and improvement algorithm to solve vehicle routing problems with soft time windows. Due to its modular and hierarchical design, the solution algorithm is intuitive and able to accommodate general cost and penalty functions. Experimental results indicate that the average run time performance is of order O(n2). The solution quality and computational time of the new algorithm has been compared against existing results on benchmark problems. The presented algorithm has improved thirty benchmark problem solutions for the vehicle routing problems with soft time windows.
Devising HDG methods for Stokes flow: An overview

Abstract We provide a short overview of our recent work on the devising of hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin ( HDG ) methods for the Stokes equations of incompressible flow. First, we motivate and display the general form of the methods and show that they provide a well defined approximate solution for arbitrary polyhedral elements. We then discuss three different but equivalent formulations of the methods. Next, we describe a systematic way of constructing superconvergent HDG methods by using, as building blocks, the local spaces of superconvergent HDG methods for the Laplacian operator. This can be done, so far, for simplexes, parallelepipeds and prisms. Finally, we show how, by means of an elementwise computation, we can obtain divergence-free velocity approximations converging faster than the original velocity approximation when working with simplicial elements. We end by briefly discussing other versions of the methods, how to obtain HDG methods with H (div)-conforming velocity spaces, and how to extend the methods to other related systems. Several open problems are described.
Literacy Is Vital To Survival in the Technical Classroom and Workplace

Brawn is no longer the pre-eminent qualification for the majority of jobs in the technical-vocational field; the ability to read technical manuals and to use computer applications is. Schools must provide literacy instruction to help students prepare for work in today's increasingly demanding environment.
Estimation of output loss from allocative inefficiency: A comparison of the Soviet Union and the U.S.

This paper presents two different estimates of the output loss resulting from allocative inefficiency in the Soviet Union and the United States. Surprisingly, the evidence from our examination of nine industrial sectors during the period 1960–1984 shows only small differences in measured allocative inefficiency between the United States and Soviet economies. Instead of immediately rejecting this result as the product of unreliable data and insurmountable methodological difficulties, we present a plausible explanation for the unexpectedly strong performance of Soviet-type economies in the allocation of labor and capital across sectors. If true, the finding of relatively low levels of resource misallocation implies that the source of poor economic performance in Soviet-type economies must be due to technical inefficiency, slow technological change, and/or production of the wrong mix of outputs.
Ascaris suum: purification and characterization of an intestinal aminopeptidase.

Abstract Semipurified preparations of an aminopeptidase from intestinal extracts of Ascaris suum had low specific activity (.03 units per milligram of protein), a large molecular size, and a limited solubility. Treatment of these preparations with a mixture of chymotrypsin and trypsin resulted in the release of ninhydrin-staining components during the incubation period (6 hours at 37 °C) but the aminopeptidase retained over 90% of its enzymatic activity. The enzyme was now soluble at pH 5 and migrated as a single band by starch-gel electrophoresis after it had been further purified by sucrose-density gradient centrifugation. The purified aminopeptidase was maximally activated by Co2+ compared to other divalent metallic ions. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 6.8, a specific activity of 2.7 units per milligram of protein, and a calculated Michaelis constant of 2.0 × 10−4M. Progressive autolysis of crude intestinal homogenates also resulted in increasing amounts of a component which appeared similar to that of the purified aminopeptidase.
Nausea, Vomiting, and Hiccups: A Review of Mechanisms and Treatment

Nausea, vomiting, and hiccups are troubling complications associated with sedation and general anesthesia. This article will review the basic pathophysiology of these events and current recommendations for their prevention and management.
Isohormones of human growth hormone. 3. Isolation by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and characterization

Human growth hormone (hGH) isohormones B and E were isolated by preparative polyaerylamide gel electrophoresis; two other fractions containing predominantly the 2 isohormones (B and C), (D and E), were prepared. Specific activities of the 4 preparations containing isohormones B, BC, DE and E were determined in the rat tibial-line bioassay for hGH; the pigeon crop-sac bioassay for prolactin; and in a radioimmunoassay for hGH. The immunological activity of the 4 preparations was the same. Tibial-line bioactivity increased progressively from hGH-B to hGH-E by a total factor of 8. Prolactin bioactivity increased progressively from isohormone B to E by a total factor of 3. Since isohormone E can be generated from isohormone B by digestion with plasmin, these findings may potentially increase the pool of available hGH biological activity. (Endocrinology 93: 866, 1973)
Parameter-free correlation for a composition-based prediction of the dielectric constant of amorphous organosilicate materials

Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the polarisability of systematically varied compositional motifs representative of motifs within SiCOH systems, we have provided a correlation ...
Endoscopic Guided Pancreatobiliary Sampling without Rapid On-site Evaluation in One Primary Care Center, Savings or Losses?

s S73 Results: Out of 3832 EUS-FNA, we identified three cases (0.1%) that were diagnosed as acinar cell carcinoma. On cytology, only one was considered possible acinar cell carcinoma. Of the two other cases, one was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma and the other as neoplasm present, with a differential that did not include acinar cell carcinoma. On histology, two cases were diagnosed as acinar cell carcinoma, and the third was diagnosed as ductal adenocarcinoma with acinar differentiation. The PAS stain and IHC studies for trypsin and chymotrypsin show positive staining. Electron microscopy shows cytoplasmic dense zymogen granules, and one case shows elongated filamentous structures that have been reported in association with acinar cell carcinoma. Conclusions: On fine needle aspiration cytology, the differential diagnosis of acinar cell carcinoma of the pancreas includes pancreatic endocrine neoplasm, ductal carcinoma, and solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas. In order to differentiate between these neoplasms, one must incorporate the use of ancillary techniques such as IHC. Positive staining for trypsin, chymotrypsin and PAS, along with electron microscopy, are useful markers to indicate the presence of acinar cell differentiation.
Real-time digital-filter-based data-acquisition system for the detection of neural signals

A data-acquisttion system has been built which performs real-time digital finite-impulse-response filtering to aid in the detection of neural signals. The system acts as an intelligent peripheral to a host laboratory computer, Digital filtering is done by a special-purpose LSI signal-processing chip, while the system's controller is a standard microprocessor, The system is programmable, permitting many acquisition modes to be exectuted, and can be replicated to create a multiple-channel system. A typical sampling rate is 20 kHz; maximum rates depend on the acquisition mode. Significant data compression can be achieved using the system resulting in longer permissible experimental recordings.
Business-to-business electronic commerce from first- and second-tier automotive suppliers' perspectives: a preliminary analysis for hypotheses generation

Abstract This paper empirically studies Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) adoption and implementation by US automobile suppliers by focusing on their incentive systems. Based on our survey data from 103 first-tier and second-tier suppliers and personal interviews, our study found that: (1) there was a gap of understanding about EDI benefits between firms that use EDI and those that don't; (2) the distinction between first-tier and second-tier suppliers was becoming ambiguous because of more competitive supplier selection practices; (3) EDI adoption among second-tier suppliers was low, primarily because of perceptions of low benefits and high costs and asymmetric benefits in favor of customers and also because of a lack of trading partners with EDI capability; (4) there were no essential differences between the US firms and Japanese transplants; and (5) proactive companies perceived EDI as having significant competitive advantages, while reactive companies considered EDI as only a necessity.
A sequential integer programming method for discontinuous labor tour scheduling

Abstract General set-covering formulations (GSCFs) of labor tour scheduling problems have recently received substantial attention in the research literature. The most successful heuristic approaches to these problems have used the linear programming (LP) solution to the GSCF as a starting point and subsequently applied heuristic augmentation and improvement procedures to obtain feasible integer solutions. Integer programming (IP) methods eliminate the need for augmentation and improvement procedures, but have generally been considered intractable for large GSCFs. In this paper we present a sequential mixed-integer programming (SMIP) heuristic for discontinuous (
Advantages of Mobile Broadband Communications Services for Military Applications

Military operations continually evolve in response to threats and regardless of budget stress the need for quality communications is essential to modern military effectiveness. In particular, highly asymmetric opposition and non-traditional conflicts put a significant emphasis on intelligence gathering and real-time dissemination of that information to military leaders and operators. Additionally, current conflict experience shows that the location of operation of military and intelligence forces can change dramatically over short periods of time, leading to highly dispersed forces and the need to provide for worldwide reach of those forces. With such dynamic vectoring of these operations it is clear that communications over a global scale is needed. Furthermore, the minimum communications need has shifted from basic voice and data communications to highly multimedia-intensive video and other broadband communications, both in regional operational areas and for communications enroute to forward operating locations. The sheer amount of required broadband communications to support operations overwhelms MILSATCOM systems such as DSCS and WGS and thus a majority of such communication is currently supported by commercial satellites and commercial services on those satellites. In fact a variety of enabling services are being provided on global shared, global private, and regional private networks to military forces and in a significant number of cases provide more value to the military end user than could be provided with solely military-owned and operated networks. This paper examines key system advantages of commercially provided mobile broadband services, when such services makes sense compared to government-owned and operated systems/networks, when amalgams of multiple networks make sense, and describes why such architectures of services and systems can provide superior value to military end users now and in the future.
The importance of schedule on diethyldithiocarbamate modulation of drug-induced myelosuppression

Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) has been investigated as a biochemical modulator of the toxicity associated with clinically used cancer chemotherapeutic agents. In the present study, we assessed the ability of DDTC to accelerate recovery of the granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cel (GM-CFC) population following treatment with the myelosuppressive drugs carboplatin (CBDCA), tetrachloro(d,l-trans)1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum(IV) (tetraplatin), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and etoposide (VP-16) in B6D2F1 mice. Myelotoxicity was assessed 24 h after the injection of the anticancer drug using a GM-CFC clonogenic assay. In the case of all four anticancer drugs, the timing of DDTC administration appeared to be a critical parameter with regard to protection. A delay time of 1 h between the injection of the myelotoxic drug and treatment with DDTC (30 mg/kg) resulted in a significant reduction in cytotoxicity to GM-CFC, whereas a longer delay time did not. These results suggest that the timing of DDTC administration may be essential in modulating the myelosuppression associated with many chemotherapeutic regimens used in the clinic.
Optimal placement of tuning masses on truss structures by genetic algorithms

Optimal placement of tuning masses, actuators and other peripherals on large space structures is a combinatorial optimization problem. This paper surveys several techniques for solving this problem. The genetic algorithm approach to the solution of the placement problem is described in detail. An example of minimizing the difference between the two lowest frequencies of a laboratory truss by adding tuning masses is used for demonstrating some of the advantages of genetic algorithms. The relative efficiencies of different codings are compared using the results of a large number of optimization runs.
The Business of Relief Work: A Victorian Quaker in Constantinople and Her Circle

This article explores how Victorian notions of charity translated to evangel - ical mission projects in the Near east. Focusing on Quaker philanthropist Ann mary Burgess, it traces the trade networks that she established to serve the Armenian commu - nity living in the Ottoman empire. Burgess's vast network of supporters throughout Britain, europe, and the Near east enabled her to fund relief projects using profits from goods produced by the orphans and widows served by the Friends' Constantinople mission. The mapping of these networks reveals the evolving relationship between evan - gelicalism, the humanitarian movement, and the marketplace in imperial Britain.
Culture Change in an Amish Community

Since 1934, the Amish-Mennoite community of Plain City, Ohio has shifted its religious affiliation from the Old Order Amish Church to several more liberal Mennoite denominations. Research conducted in this community in 1977 indicates that this change in religious affiliation has resulted in major changes in other aspects of culture, including language, family patterns, occupations, and education. The results of this study suggest that the Mennonite churches may serve to facilitate the movement of Amish individuals into mainstream American culture.
Three-dimensional effects on the linear adiabatic molecular wavefunctions in the H + H2 system

Abstract The adiabatic molecular wavefunctions in the H + H 2 system are obtained in one dimension by solving the double-well potential problem. In three dimensions, the corresponding linear adiabatic molecular wavefunctions are obtained. A comparison between these wavefunctions clearly suggests that the probability of reaction is smaller in three dimensions.
Synthesis and characterization of Nb-doped TiO2(110) surfaces by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract Epitaxial films of Nb-doped TiO 2 rutile were grown on TiO 2 (110) rutile at 600°C by molecular beam epitaxy. These films grow in a layer-by-layer fashion for doping levels up to 20 at.%. In addition, reflection high-energy and low-energy electron diffraction, along with X-ray photoelectron diffraction, reveal that the overlayers possess excellent long- and short-range structure order up to 20 at.%. However, strain-induced disorder becomes prevalent for higher doping levels, and the surfaces roughen accordingly, X-ray photoelectron diffraction reveals that Nb atoms substitutionally incorporate at cation sites in the rutile lattice for all doping levels, leading to a mixed rutile Nb x Ti 1− x O 2 phase. Analysis of Nb 3d and Ti 2p core-level binding energies reveal that the oxidation state of both Ti and Nb is 4 +.
Selective use of palmitic acid over stearic acid for synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol in lung.

The incorporation of [3H]palmitic acid and [14C]stearic acid into phospholipids in rabbit lung tissue was studied. Under equal molar concentrations of palmitate and stearate, palmitate was incorporated to the 1- and 2-positions of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) 2–3 times more than stearate. By contrast, palmitate was 30% less than stearate in phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine. These results suggest that preferential utilization of palmitate over stearate, rather than substrate availability, determines the high content of palmitoyl at the 1- and 2-positions of PC and PG in lung.
Development of a facility for fatigue and fracture testing of stainless steels at liquid helium temperature

Abstract A facility for fracture toughness testing of stainless steel base metal and welds in liquid helium has been developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to qualify material selected for the mirror fusion programme. The purpose of the test facility is to perform fracture toughness tests (J lc ) on candidate materials in an environment simulating the superconducting ‘mirror’ magnet. This paper discusses the design, development and implementation of the cryogenic test system as well as a brief interpretation of the data.
Sarcoidosis of testis and epididymis

Abstract A case of sarcoidosis involving the testes and epididymis is reported. The disease was bilateral, and evolved one year after discontinuation of corticoid therapy and was not accompanied by signs of systemic sarcoidosis.
Approximate solutions for compressible turbulent boundary layers in three-dimensional flow.

The governing equations for a compressible turbulent boundary layer in three-dimensional flow are treated in a coordinate system based on the trace of the inviscid streamline on the body. The equation set is simplified by assuming that, within the boundary layer, the component of flow normal to the direction of the inviscid streamline (cross-flow) is small. As a result, the continuity, energy, and streamwise-momentum equations decouple from the cross-flow-momentum equation. An approximate method of solution for the stream wise flow is based on a method given by Sasman and Cresci for two-dimensional flows. The crossflow-momentum equation is then solved, dependent on the streamwise solution. A yawed, infinite-cylinder example is considered in some detail, and analytic heat-transfer results are compared with experiment. Cross-flow solutions provide an indication of the applicability of the small-cross-flow postulate. The cross-flow-velocity profile shape, wall-cooling rate, and streamwise form factor are each shown to have a significant effect on solutions of the cross-flow-momentum equation.
3D-Monte Carlo study of short channel tri-gate nanowire MOSFETs

Abstract As a result of recent trends in processor speed and core temperature, III–V semiconductors have become a tempting replacement for Si in semiconductor logic. However, as device geometries shrink, the advantages of such a switch are put into question. In this paper we present a computational survey of III–V materials in a tri-gate nanowire MOSFET geometry as compared with Si to determine an optimal material choice for this geometry using a 3D semi-classical Monte Carlo simulation tool. We show that InSb and InAs show promise as future materials for next generation switching devices.
Clutter and anomaly removal for enhanced target detection

In this paper we investigate the use of anomaly detection to identify pixels to be removed prior to covariance computation. The resulting covariance matrix provides a better model of the image background and is less likely to be tainted by target spectra. In our tests, this method results in robust improvement in target detection performance for quadratic detection algorithms. Tests are conducted using imagery and targets freely available online. The imagery was acquired over Cooke City, Montana, a small town near Yellowstone Park, using the HyMap V/NIR/SWIR sensor with 126 spectral bands. There are three vehicle and four fabric targets located in the town and surrounding area.
Schwarz–Pick Type Estimates

We obtain estimates on higher-order derivatives that generalize the classical Schwarz–Pick inequality for analytic self-maps of the unit disk. We discuss further extensions involving certain weight functions, converse results, and versions of all of these results in the setting of the unit ball in .
A partial adjustment approach to evaluating and measuring the business value of information technology

Abstract In this paper we develop a partial adjustment approach, based on the theory of partial adjustment, to assess the value of information technology. We also propose a performance measure derived from the approach. The constrained (structural or implicit) and unconstrained (non-structural or explicit) models derived from the approach are fitted into a set of panel data at the country level, covering the period from 1993 to 2006 for a sample of 12 countries including the G7 nations; and are estimated by the seemingly unrelated regression estimation. The results produced by the models are robust with respect to the choice of the production function representing the true (desired or maximum) output and challenge the widely held belief that the productivity paradox has disappeared and the view that the productivity paradox exists in developing economies only. The proposed approach compares favorably with the time-varying stochastic production frontier approach since it is easier and simpler to apply. But, unlike the non-parametric data envelopment analysis approach, it is parametric.
Materialism and clothing post-purchase behaviors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate materialistic consumers' apparel purchase, compulsive buying, environmental attitudes, and post-purchase behaviors regarding hoarding, disposing, and participation in recycling. Design/methodology/approach – Clothing is used to express the self. Materialistic consumers tend to be young and highly involved with clothing, and purchase compulsively and more than needed. They are more interested in getting possessions than disposing of them. This study was designed to uncover materialistic consumers' post-purchase behaviors. A survey questionnaire was developed and a total of 333 college students completed it in a classroom setting. Findings – Results of a k-mean cluster analysis suggested two groups (materialistic consumers and non-materialistic consumers). Findings of independent t-tests indicated that materialistic consumers had significantly higher scores for apparel purchase, compulsive buying, value-oriented hoarding, and disposing, but lower scores ...
Polydnaviruses as Symbionts and Gene Delivery Systems

Textbooks define viruses as infectious agents with nucleic acid genomes (RNA or DNA), which replicate inside living host cells to produce particles (virions) that can transfer the genome to other cells [1], [2]. The Polydnaviridae was recognized as a family of viruses in 1995, and is currently divided into two genera named the Bracovirus and Ichnovirus [3]. Polydnavirus (PDV) virions consist of enveloped nucleocapsids and package multiple circular, double-stranded (ds) DNAs with aggregate sizes that range from 190 to more than 500 kbp [4]. PDVs are also strictly associated with insects called parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera), which are free living nectar feeders as adults but which develop during their immature stages by feeding inside the body of another insect (the host) [3], [4]. Recent studies, however, indicate that PDVs differ from all other known viruses in ways that challenge traditional views of what viruses are and how they function.
Selectivity in Reactions of Allyl Diazoacetates as a Function of Catalyst and Ring Size from γ-Lactones to Macrocyclic Lactones

Catalytic reactions of diazoacetates tethered through zero, one, two, and three ethylene glycol units to an allyl group have been investigated for chemoselectivity, diastereoselectivity, and enanti...
The shame of addiction.

ABSTRACT: Addiction is a person level phenomenon that involves twin normative failures. A failure of normal rational effective agency or self-control with respect to the substance; and shame at both this failure, and the failure to live up to the standards for a good life that the addict himself acknowledges and aspires to. Feeling shame for addiction is not a mistake. It is part of the shape of addiction, part of the normal phenomenology of addiction, and often a source of motivation for the addict to heal. Like other recent attempts in the addiction literature to return normative concepts such as “choice” and “responsibility” to their rightful place in understanding and treating addiction, the twin normative failure model is fully compatible with investigation of genetic and neuroscientific causes of addiction. Furthermore, the model does not re-moralize addiction. There can be shame without blame.
The dependence of activation of platelets by a plasminogen activator on the evolution of thrombin activity

Abstract Both augmentation of thrombin activity and activation of platelets have been reported to accompany administration of plasminogen activators in vivo. To determine whether the platelet activation is a consequence or a cause of the procoagulant effects, we assessed the effects of t-PA on spontaneous activation and aggregation of platelets and on clotting in recalcified human whole blood. Spontaneous activation of platelets occurred in the stirred samples 8.9 ± 2 minutes (n = 5) after recalcification. Aggregation and clotting followed immediately afterward. Activation, aggregation and clotting were accelerated in a dose-dependent manner by 3 minutes of preincubation with t-PA (2 – 30 μg/ml) before recalcification. The procoagulant effect of t-PA (5 μg/ml) was abolished by concomitant incubation with hirudin (0.5 nM) or aprotinin (200 KIU/ml) consistent with the hypothesis of plasmin-mediated evolution of thrombin being responsible for the procoagulant effect. However, platelets could be activated independently by other agonists (collagen, 3 μg/ml; and ADP, 25 μM) in the presence of hirudin. Despite the procoagulant effect of t-PA, aggregation to collagen (2 – 5 μg/ml) and PAF (0.9 μM) was diminished in samples incubated with t-PA for 30 minutes (37°C). Fibrinogen degradation products elaborated during this interval (25.6 μg/ml; n = 3) were responsible for this antiaggregatory effect. The results indicate that platelet activation in recalcified whole blood depends on procoagulant effects of t-PA.
The luminosity functions of embedded stellar clusters. 1: Method of solution and analytic results

We describe a method for computing the history of the luminosity function in a young cluster still forming within a molecular cloud complex. Our method, which utilizes detailed results from stellar evolution theory, assumes that clusters arise from the continuous collapse of dense cloud cores over a protracted period of time. It is also assumed that stars reaching the main sequence are distributed in mass according to a prescribed initial mass function (IMF). We keep track separately of the contributions to the luminosity function from the populations of protostars, pre-main-sequence stars, and main-sequence stars. We derive expressions for the fractional contribution of these populations to both the total number of stars produced and the total cluster luminosity. In our model, the number of protostars rises quickly at first, but then levels off to a nearly constant value, which it maintains until the dispersal of the cloud complex. The number fraction of protostars always decreases with time. Averaged over the life of the parent cloud, this fraction is typically a few percent. The protostar mass distribution can be expressed as an integral over the IMF.
High Intensity Beam Profile Monitors for the LAMPF Primary Beam Lines

Two types of beam profile monitors are in use at LAMPF to measure the properties of the 800 MeV, 500 ?A proton beam external to the linac. Both types use secondary electron emission from a wire to produce a current signal proportional to the amount of proton beam that intercepts the wire. The wire scanner system uses a pair of orthogonal wires which are passed through the beam and the harp system uses two fixed planes of parallel wires. Most of the harps are not retractable and are exposed continuously to the primary beam. The high beam intensities available lead to a number of technical problems for instruments that intercept the beam or are close to primary beam targets. The thermal, electrical, radiation-damage, and material selection problems encountered, and some solutions which have been implemented are discussed.
A study of the ultrastructure of the developing spleen in the albino rat

Spleens from developing rats of ages 16 days' gestation to 4 days after birth were prepared for electron microscopic study. At 16 days the spleen consists of a meshwork of intercommunicating spaces surrounded by mesenchymal or early reticular cells which show indications of collagen-forming activity. By 17 days these spaces are connected with the blood vessels and an open circulation is established. Some spaces are dilated and by 20 days begin to assume the characteristics of sinuses while the reticular cells are crowded together to form the sinus walls. Similar spaces, when collapsed against the contained cells, resemble the pulp cords. The endothelium of the blood vessels is differentiated by the 21st day and by 4 days after birth, basement membranes have appeared between cells lining adjacent sinuses. Erythropoiesis, established by 17 days, persists at least through the fourth postnatal day. White pulp formation is initiated on the second postnatal day.
Refrigerated Storage of Channel Catfish Sperm

Abstract.— Refrigerated storage of sperm is useful for genetic study and artificial breeding of fishes. Due to the potential loss of donor males, storage is important in species such as channel catfish Icralurus punctatus from which sperm cannot be stripped. This study addresses short-term storage (at 4 C) of channel catfish sperm by evaluation of storage methods employed for other species and for cryopreservation of channel catfish sperm. The objectives were to evaluate: 1) storage of intact testes and storage of sperm suspended in an extender solution; 2) use of various storage containers with and without supplemental oxygen; 3) use of extender solution with and without the addition of an antibiotic/antimycotic cocktail; 4) use of extender solution with and without the addition of methanol; and 5) use of extender solution with and without the addition of glucose and methanol. Sperm suspended in extender solution retained motility significantly longer (9 d) than did sperm in intact testis (2 d). Sperm stored in Zip-loc® plastic bags inflated with pure oxygen retained motility significantly longer (12 d) than did sperm stored in Zip-loc® plastic bags without supplemental oxygen (7 d), or sperm stored in plastic beakers (8 d) or test tubes (8 d) without supplemental oxygen. Sperm stored with the addition of antibiotic/antimycotic cocktail or methanol retained motility significantly longer (10–12 d) than did sperm stored without additives (6–8 d). Sperm stored in extender solution without glucose retained motility significantly longer (19–21 d) than did sperm stored in extender with glucose (13–16 d). Motility was retained for as long as 21 d in sperm stored in extender solution with 5% methanol and without glucose. In each experiment, loss of motility was associated with bacterial growth.
Image registration using conformal log polar mapping

Image Registration is the process of fusing or overlaying of two images of the same scene that were taken at different times and/or from different viewing angles and/or by sensors with different modality or resolution. The variations in the imaging environment induce the difference between the images of the same scene. In our situation, we have two images of the same scene taken with different sensors, one image is in the visible domain and the other is an IR image. The images are captured using a visible camera and a thermal camera by placing the two devices adjacent to each other and taking the images simultaneously without a significant change in time and spatial location. Using image registration we project the visible image into the infrared image to rectify both images to the same co-ordinate system. This is done to match the sensor output and then produce an information product from the two which can be used to further analyze and assess the scene. In this paper we use the conformal log polar mapping (CLPM) for image registration. The CLPM is invariant to changes in rotation and scale: rotational changes map to a shift along one of the axes and scale changes a shift long the other. Thus the CLPM for the two images mentioned above should essentially be the same even though the two were taken from different sensors. The amount of shift can be used to determine the angle of rotation of the rotated image with respect to the original image. The same holds for the change in scale of the two images were the shift along the x-axis or the magnitude axis in the log polar mappings of the two images can be used to find the scaling factor between the two images. This method calculates the transformation parameters for rectifying the reference image to the original image or vice-versa, and can be used to register the two images that vary in phase and scale. In this paper, we present a robust approach for image registration that uses these shifts to compute the parameters representing rotation and scale change, and registers a pair of images. An application of this approach is in detecting wave height for efficient navigation of a watercraft where the images to be fused are taken from multiple sensors which are fixed on the craft. The wave parameters can be determined by looking at the common features in the edge profile of the images taken from different sensors. The goal here is to provide real time assessment of the sea state from the information obtained from the sensor suite for possible route and speed changes to increase safety and improve ride quality.
Dynamic Behavior and Autonomic Regulation of Ectopic Atrial Pacemakers

Background—Heart rate (HR) variability reflects the neural regulation of normal pacemaker tissue, but the autonomic nervous regulation of abnormal atrial foci originating outside the sinus node has not been well characterized. We compared the HR variability of tachycardias originating from the ectopic foci and the sinus node. Methods and Results—R-R–interval variability was analyzed from 24-hour Holter recordings in 12 patients with incessant ectopic atrial tachycardia (average HR 107±14 bpm), 12 subjects with sinus tachycardia (average HR 106±9 bpm), and 24 age- and sex-matched subjects with normal sinus rhythm (average HR 72±8 bpm). Time- and frequency-domain HR variability measures, along with approximate entropy, short- and long-term correlation properties of R-R intervals (exponents α1 and α2), and power-law scaling (exponent β), were analyzed. Time- and frequency-domain measures of HR variability did not differ between subjects with ectopic and sinus tachycardia. Fractal scaling exponents and approx...
The low magnetic field properties of superconducting bulk yttrium barium copper oxide - Sintered versus partially melted material

A comparison of the low magnetic field properties of sintered (990°C) and partially melted samples (1050°C) has been performed. Changes in the microstructure produced by recrystallization from the melt result in a significant increase in flux pinning at 77 K. Low-frequency (10–100 Hz), low-a.c. magnetic field (0.01–9.0 Oe) a.c. susceptibility data show that gross changes in the a.c. loss component accompanies the observed changes in microstructure. The effects of applied d.c. magnetic fields (10–220 Oe) on the a.c. responses of these microstructures have also been probed. Data are analyzed and critically discussed in terms of current models appropriate for granular superconductors and in terms of older models appropriate for metallic alloys and compounds. Particular attention is given to published interpretations of the in-phase or loss component of the a.c. magnetic susceptibility and to the possible roles which minority phases and sample inhomogeneities may play in determining the detailed a.c. responses of these high-T coxides.
HISTORICAL FUNCTIONALISM OR THE FOUR FACTOR THEORY

L'A. defend la validite de sa propre definition de l'art en tant que fonctionnalisme contre les objections d'ordre historique ou institutionnel qui lui sont couramment opposees, rejetant la notion de fonction de l'art au nom des formes centrales de l'oeuvre
Integrating a Vision System With a Coordinate Measuring Machine to Automate the Datum Alignment Process

Inspection is an important stage in the manufacturing process of machined parts. Coordinate measuring machines (CMM) have become more automatic, programmable, and capable of fulfilling the growing demands of inspection. However, fixturing (datum alignment) of parts is still done manually, consuming valuable inspection time. In this paper, we describe an automated datum alignment technique which integrates a vision system with the CMM to avoid part fixturing. The rough position of the part is estimated through image analysis. This initial reference frame drives the CMM through an automatic datum alignment procedure, thereby automatically establishing the reference frame without the use of fixtures. This technique has been demonstrated for two and a half dimensional (2.5D) machined parts with well-defined features that exhibit a stable position on a flat table.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Pin assignment with global routing for general cell designs

The author presents an algorithm which combines the pin assignment step and the global routing step in the physical design of VLSI circuits. The algorithm is based on two key theorems: the channel pin assignment theorem and the block boundary decomposition theorem. These two theorems deal successfully with the high complexity resulting from combining the pin assignment and global routing steps. According to these two theorems, one only needs to generate a coarse pin assignment and global routing solution. The exact pin locations and global routing topology can be determined optimally later by a linear time algorithm. The author implemented a pin assignment and global routine package named BeauticianGR based on the proposed algorithm. This package produces satisfactory results on test circuits. >
Lorentzian Sasaki-Einstein metrics on connected sums of S2 × S3

We settle completely an open problem formulated by Boyer and Galicki in [5] which asks whether or not #kS2 × S3 are negative Sasakian manifolds for all k. As a consequence of the affirmative answer to this problem, there exists so-called Sasaki η-Einstein and Lorentzian Sasaki-Einstein metrics on these five-manifolds for all k and moreover all of these can be realized as links of isolated hypersurface singularities defined by weighted homogenous polynomials. The key step is to construct infinitely many hypersurfaces in weighted projective space that contain branch divisors \({\Delta=\sum_{i}\left(1-\frac{1}{m_{i}}\right)D_i}\) such that the Di are rational curves.
ELISPOT Assay for Monitoring Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CTL) Activity in Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trials

The profiling and monitoring of immune responses are key elements in the evaluation of the efficacy and development of new biotherapies, and a number of assays have been introduced for analyzing various immune parameters before, during, and after immunotherapy. The choice of immune assays for a given clinical trial depends on the known or suggested immunomodulating mechanisms associated with the tested therapeutic modality. Cell-mediated cytotoxicity represents a key mechanism in the immune response to various pathogens and tumors. Therefore, the selection of monitoring methods for the appropriate assessment of cell-mediated cytotoxicity is thought to be crucial. Assays that can detect both cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) frequency and function, such as the IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) have gained increasing popularity for monitoring clinical trials and in basic research. Results from various clinical trials, including peptide and whole tumor cell vaccination and cytokine treatment, have shown the suitability of the IFN-γ ELISPOT assay for monitoring T cell responses. However, the Granzyme B ELISPOT assay and Perforin ELISPOT assay may represent a more direct analysis of cell-mediated cytotoxicity as compared to the IFN-γ ELISPOT, since Granzyme B and perforin are the key mediators of target cell death via the granule-mediated pathway. In this review we analyze our own data and the data reported by others with regard to the application of various modifications of ELISPOT assays for monitoring CTL activity in clinical vaccine trials.
Optimal Treatment of Carotid Artery Disease

Extracranial carotid artery disease accounts for approximately 25% of ischemic strokes. Although carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the established gold standard for carotid revascularization, carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS) is continually developing into a safer and more efficacious method of stroke prevention. Embolic protection, improving stent designs, and ever-increasing surgeon experience are propelling CAS towards equipoise with and possible superiority to CEA. One multicenter randomized trial and several nonrandomized registries have successfully established CAS as an accepted treatment for high-risk patients. Clinicians must strive to perform well-designed clinical trials that will continue to aid understanding and improve application of both endovascular and open techniques for extracranial carotid revascularization. We review the data published to date regarding the indications for and recent developments in the use of CAS.
Optimal Spot Pricing: Practice and Theory

A new concept of electricity pricing referred to as "spot pricing" is presented. Spot pricing is shown to encompass and achieve more fully the objectives of load management techniques and other rate structures proposed so far. The contribution of this paper is the derivation of optimal spot prices and a discussion of and proposals on a number of implementation issues which arise when the theory of spot pricing is turned into practice. A set of rates related to optimal spot prices are proposed and their applicability is discussed in view of different customer characteristics, metering, and communication costs. The impact of spot pricing on line losses and reactive energy, the quality of supply and rationing is elaborated. Issues related to customer response, utility revenues, investments and generation deregulation are also discussed.
Absence of myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) mRNA as a result of a triplet repeat expansion in myotonic dystrophy.

Myotonic dystrophy is an autosomally dominant inherited disease in which system-wide abnormalities are caused by a triplet repeat expansion within the 3[prime] untranslated region of the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) gene. To determine the effect an expanded repeat region has on DMPK expression, the authors have separated the chromosome 19 homologues from a 36-year-old woman with myotonic dystrophy into different cell lines by way of somatic cell hybridization. Hybrid DM9101 contains the normal DMPK allele (13 repeats), whereas hybrid DM1115 harbors the mutant allele ([approximately]133 repeats). Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR) amplification of coding sequences from the DMPK gene has shown both reduced levels of primary DMPK transcripts and impaired processing of these transcripts in hybrid cell line DM1115. These findings suggest that the presence of a large number of repeats in the 3[prime] untranslated region of the DMPK gene reduces both the synthesis and the processing of DMPK mRNA, resulting in undetectable levels of processed DMPK mRNA from the mutant allele. 41 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.
Restricted partition pairs

Abstract The generating function for sets of pairs of partitions that have an ordering relation between parts of the two pairs is obtained by an inclusion-exclusion argument. Some of the sets of pairs can, by virtue of the extra ordering relation, be interpreted as single partitions. When this is the case an identity between the two generating functions is established. A number of identities including Euler's theorem and the Rogers-Ramanujan identities are obtained by these means in a doubly bounded form. Each doubly bounded identity combines two known but previously unrelated identities into a single one. The generating functions can be summed to produce another of the same type but with different restrictions. By using this summation an infinite number of identities between a single and a multiple summation can be established.
Multiprocessing: An Annotated Bibliography

The years since the advent of multiprocessing have witnessed the proliferation of journal articles, conferences, and symposia on multiprocessing systems and closely related topics. The body of literature so generated is both vast and scattered–a situation that can be quite disheartening to one unfamiliar with this area of computer science.