cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calculating Distributions

The ways we reason about probability distributions and explore their applications have been naturally shifting: away from thoughtful proving with definitions using first principles, and towards mechanical calculation with expressions using derived principles. This talk reviews three useful operations on distributions that we have started to express using equational derivations and even to automate as program transformations. These operations are (1) to recognize a density function as belonging to a known distribution family, (2) to eliminate an unused random variable by summation or integration, and (3) to disintegrate a joint measure into a marginal and a conditional measure. It is thus promising to support probabilistic reasoning by drawing techniques from both programming languages and computer algebra. Ongoing challenges include how to handle a wide variety of container data types and generating programs, and how human guidance should interact with machine assistance.
Response of the HealthCare Systems to the Pandemic

Abstract This chapter covers the rapid clinical changes undertaken at the Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) in Detroit, Michigan in response to the surge of patients admitted to the five HFHS hospitals as representative of changes made at health systems across the United States and globally. The chapter discusses changes undertaken to maintain surge capacity use of an incident command center to coordinate a total focus on providing sufficient inpatient services for COVID-19 patients by the expansion of beds and redeployment of personnel along with an almost overnight switch to telemedicine care for outpatients to keep them safe by sheltering at home. The impact of these changes on health-care finances is discussed. Finally, the importance of communication by use of daily phone and video conferencing team huddle calls to inform the team of almost daily strategic changes, obtain reports from frontline providers, and to convey words of support and options for emotional and psychological support for caregivers who might be feeling distressed.
Structuring the Hierarchy to Make Trade-Offs: Benefits, Costs, Perceived Benefits, and Perceived Costs

(a) They had no way to measure the importance and value of intangible factors which can dominate the process; (b) They had no overall unifying structure to organize and prioritize issues and concessions; (c) They had no mechanism to trade off concessions by measuring their worth; (d) They had no way to capture each party’s perception of the other side’s benefits and costs; (e) They had no way to provide confidence for the other party that the opposing party is not gaining more than they are; (f) They had no way to avoid the effect of intense emotions and innuendoes which negatively affect the negotiation process; and (g) They had no way to test the sensitivity and stability of the solution to changes in their judgments with respect to the importance of the factors that determined the best outcome. The AHP is about breaking a problem down and then aggregating the solutions of all the sub-problems into a conclusion. It facilitates decision-making by organizing perceptions, feelings, judgments, and memories into a framework that exhibits the forces that influence a decision.
Cytochromes from Mycobacterium phlei. I. Isolation and spectral properties of a mixture of cytochromes (a + a3) (o).

Abstract A complex containing cytochromes a + a3 and cytochrome o was isolated from Mycobacterium phlei by solubilization with Triton X-100 and subsequent digestion with trypsin. Further purification was achieved by fractionation with ammonium sulfate. The spectra of the oxidized, the reduced, the pyridine hemochromogens, the carbon monoxide, and the cyanide complexes of cytochromes a + a3 and cytochrome o were presented. The results obtained with cytochromes a + a3 were similar to those described for mammalian systems. Over a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0 both cytochrome a3 and o were reducible by ascorbate-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylphenylenediamine or by NADH plus a catalytic amount of M. phlei electron transport particles. However, cytochrome o was reducible by dithionite only when carbon monoxide or cyanide treatment preceded chemical reduction. The chemical reduction of cytochrome a3 was found to be independent of the order of addition of carbon monoxide or cyanide.
An Integral Method for the Analysis of Wall Motion in Gated Myocardial SPECT Studies

Our aim was to investigate and further develop a system of analysis of complex left ventricular wall kinetics. The proposed method is specically adapted to gated myocardial perfusion SPECT data. The unique properties of gated SPECT data in this respect are the lack of duciary points, the relatively low spatial resolution and the conservation of total counts during the cardiac cycle
Coelum Britannicum: Inigo Jones and Symbolic Geometry

Inigo Jones’s conclusion that Stonehenge was a Roman circular temple in Tuscan order dedicated to Coelum, the god of the heavens, appeared in a posthumous publication (1655) by John Webb, and drew extensively from mythology, history, and astrology. Jones’s interpretation was an important part of his grand vision Coelum Britannicum, which drew a macro- and microcosm parallels between the heavens and Britain. For Jones, this symbolism presented a specific geometrical scheme and therefore turned immediately into an architectural form. It appeared in other designs by the architect and arguably in works by others under his influence. This paper will discuss the role of mathematics in architecture, as stated by Robert Recorde and John Dee among others, Jones’s written statements in this regards, other works by Jones, and court paintings by Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony Van Dyck.
Effects of video exposure to cluttering on undergraduate students’ perceptions of a person who clutters

Background Previous research suggests a negative stereotype toward people with fluency disorders (i.e. stuttering and/or cluttering), although recent findings suggest that exposure to an actual person who stutters (e.g. a live or video presentation) leads to more positive perceptions of some personality traits. However, there is a paucity of research examining perceptions of a person who clutters and whether these perceptions can be modified via video exposure to cluttering. Aims To examine the effects of video exposure to cluttering on university students’ perceptions of a person who clutters. It was hypothesized that participants in the video condition would rate personality traits more positively than those who did not view the video clip. Methods & Procedures A total of 105 undergraduate students served as participants; 54 were provided with written definition of cluttering, whereas 51 were provided with both a definition and short segment of an instructional DVD on cluttering. Students then rated a person who clutters on a variety of speech skills and personality scales. Outcomes & Results Independent samples t-tests yielded no significant group differences in ratings of any speech skills or personality traits. However, a significantly greater number of students who viewed the video clip reported a reluctance to hire a person who clutters specifically because of the individual's fluency disorder. Additionally, participants who did not view the video clip reported having more previous instructors who cluttered than those who did view the video clip; this increased familiarity with persons who clutter may have impacted perceptions of a person who clutters. Conclusions & Implications The present results indicate that viewing the brief video clip did not significantly influence ratings towards more positive perceptions, but also did not influence ratings to be significantly more negative on any traits. Further research is needed to compare the differences in the perceptions of listeners who have had long-term exposure to cluttered speech with those of listeners who have had brief exposure. Implications discussed include the impact of prior exposure to fluency disorders, as well as potential confusion between cluttering and ‘fast speech’. These two factors may have influenced the identification rate of individuals with who clutter in the present study, which may have affected perceptions of a person who clutters.
Difference Work: A Conversation with Lilly Irani

In this interview, Lilly Irani draws on her decade of ethnographic research into globally distributed micro-labor and her experiences with Turkopticon to sharply articulate for us what’s at stake in these processes—and how and why "virtual work" and "digital labor" matter conceptually for the politics of feminist science and technology studies.
Panic-Fear in asthma: Generalized personality trait vs. specific situational state

Previous studies have found that both ASC and MMPI Panic-Fear scale scores are related to the maintenance of the medical intractability of asthma. Despite the large overlap of these two scales, they measure somewhat different aspects of "Panic-Fear". The ASC measures a situational response (state variable) to breathing difficulties, while the MMPI measures a more stable, diffuse, and global personality characteristic (trait variable). The present study analyzes the relationship between these state and trait variables as they relate to the intensity of prescribed discharge medication. The results indicate that it is the trait variable which is more important in the maintenance of the medical intractability of asthma. The state variable is implicated in maintaining the illness only to the extent that it is a specific manifestation of the trait variable.
Polynomial length MDS codes with optimal repair in distributed storage

An (n, k) maximum distance separable (MDS) code can be used to store data in n storage nodes, such that the system can tolerate the failure of any (n−k) storage nodes. Recently, MDS codes have been constructed which satisfy an additional optimal repair property as follows: the failure of a single storage node can be repaired by downloading a fraction of 1/(n − k) of the data stored in every surviving storage node. In previous constructions satisfying this optimal repair property, the size of the code is polynomial in k for the high-redundancy regime of k/n ≤ 1/2, but the codes have an exponential size (w.r.t. k) for the practically important low-redundancy regime of k/n > 1/2. In this paper, we construct a class of polynomial size codes in this low redundancy regime.
On a graph theorem by dirac

Abstract It is shown that the maximal length c of a circuit in a graph satisfies c≧2ϱ0+1, ϱ0=minaϱ(a) except for two special classes of graphs.
Immunofluorescent studies on titin and myosin in developing hearts of normal and cardiac mutant axolotls

Homozygous recessive cardiac mutant gene c in the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, results in a failure of the embryonic heart to initiate beating. Previous studies show that mutant axolotl hearts fail to form sarcomeric myofibrils even though hearts from their normal siblings exhibit organized myofibrils beginning at stage 34-35. In the present study, the proteins titin and myosin are studied using normal (+/+) axolotl embryonic hearts at stages 26-35. Additionally, titin is examined in normal (+/c) and cardiac mutant (c/c) embryonic axolotl hearts using immunofluorescent microscopy at stages 35-42. At tailbud stage 26, the ventromedially migrating sheets of precardiac mesoderm appear as two-cell-layers. Myosin shows periodic staining at the cell peripheries of the presumptive heart cells at this stage, whereas titin is not yet detectable by immunofluorescent microscopy. At preheartbeat stages 32-33, a myocardial tube begins to form around the endocardial tube. In some areas, periodic myosin staining is found to be separated from the titin staining; other areas in the heart at this stage show a co-localization of the two proteins. Both titin and myosin begin to incorporate into myofibrils at stage 35, when normal hearts initiate beating. Additionally, areas with amorphous staining for both proteins are observed at this stage. These observations indicate that titin and myosin accumulate independently at very early premyofibril stages; the two proteins then appear to associate closely just before assembly into myofibrils. Staining for titin in freshly frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues of normal embryonic hearts at stages 35, 39, and 41 reveals an increased organization of the protein into sarcomeres as development progresses. The mutant siblings, however, first show titin staining only limited to the peripheries of yolk platelets. Although substantial quantities of titin accumulate in mutant hearts at later stages of development (39 and 41), it does not become organized into myofibrils as in normal cells at these stages.
Unique aspects of anticipated shipboard vascular trauma

This article mentions notable historical examples of vascular injuries that occur at sea. It traces the development of modern ships and the concomitant capability to provide medical care to the personnel who go in harm's way on these ships. The importance of vascular surgery training for the general surgeon assigned to sea duty is stressed.
Optical properties and electron energy-loss diagnostics of vanadium dioxide thin films

Deposition of AIN by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) with NF 3 and NH 3 as the nitrogen source was conducted at low temperatures (below 500°C). The resultant films were examined by scanning electron microscopy (AES), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Rough, polycrystalline films were produced with NF 3 as the nitrogen source while smooth, featureless films were obtained with NH 3 .
Oocyte donation: insights into implantation

Abstract Objective: To ascertain whether obstetric, gynecologic, or congenital variables affect implantation efficiency or eventual delivery in donor oocyte recipients. Design: Clinical study. Setting: Academic tertiary care infertility clinic. Patient(s): A total of 370 recipients. Intervention(s): Fresh ET following oocyte donation in a hormone replacement cycle. Main Outcome Measure(s): Regression analyses were performed to detect any statistically significant difference in the pregnancy rate (PR), delivery rate, miscarriage rate, or implantation rate associated with different obstetric, gynecologic, and congenital independent variables while accounting for the age of the recipient in each analysis. Result(s): For all recipients, a clinical PR per transfer of 58.9% was achieved, with an implantation rate of 30%. A significant decline in the implantation rate was noted in relation to increasing age of the recipient. A history of tubal disease was associated with a significantly lower implantation rate and a significantly lower ongoing and delivered PR. Asherman's syndrome, despite surgical correction, appeared to negatively affect the ongoing and delivered PR. Conclusion(s): With the exceptions of recipient age and a history of tubal disease, all other uterine factors studied did not appear to influence the implantation potential of an embryo resulting from oocyte donation. A history of tubal disease had a distinctly negative effect on implantation efficiency and delivery potential for a given recipient. This finding highlights the need to identify the mechanisms underlying the negative effect of tubal disease so that donor oocyte recipients and all other patients with this cause of infertility can benefit from directed therapy.
Examining the Role of Gender in the Relationship Between Use of Condom-Related Protective Behavioral Strategies when Drinking and Alcohol-Related Sexual Behavior.

The present research aimed to examine the relationships among gender, condom-related protective behavior strategies (PBS), and condom use during alcohol-related sexual behavior. Heavy drinking, sexually active U.S. undergraduate college students from a large northwest university (N = 454; 61.7% female) completed a web-survey that included measures of drinking, sexual behavior, and condom-related PBS. MANOVA findings suggested that males were more likely to use condom-related PBS than females. Negative binomial regression results suggested that use of condom-related PBS by both genders was positively associated with condom use during alcohol-related sexual behavior, but especially for women. These results suggest that condom-related PBS may be useful to incorporate in interventions targeting alcohol-related sexual behavior among heavy drinking college students.
The role of the atmosphere in the provision of ecosystem services

Abstract Solving the environmental problems that we are facing today requires holistic approaches to analysis and decision making that include social and economic aspects. The concept of ecosystem services, defined as the benefits people obtain from ecosystems, is one potential tool to perform such assessments. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the need for an integrated approach that explicitly includes the contribution of atmospheric processes and functions to the quantification of air–ecosystem services. First, final and intermediate air–ecosystem services are defined. Next, an ecological production function for clean and clear air is described, and its numerical counterpart (the Community Multiscale Air Quality model) is introduced. An illustrative numerical example is developed that simulates potential changes in air–ecosystem services associated with the conversion of evergreen forest land in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia to commercial crop land. This one-atmosphere approach captures a broad range of service increases and decreases. Results for the forest to cropland conversion scenario suggest that although such change could lead to increased biomass (food) production services, there could also be coincident, seasonally variable decreases in clean and clear air–ecosystem services ( i.e. , increased levels of ozone and particulate matter) associated with increased fertilizer application. Metrics that support the quantification of these regional air–ecosystem changes require regional ecosystem production functions that fully integrate biotic as well as abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystems, and do so on finer temporal scales than are used for the assessment of most ecosystem services.
Motion-picture screening device for the identification of perceptual disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the Purdue Motion Picture Screening Test for the identification of perceptual disabilities in 360 rural Appalachian fourth grade children....
Equilibration during mantle melting: a fractal tree model

Abstract Many basalts from oceanic islands, ridges, and arcs show strong trace element evidence for melting at great depths, where garnet is a stable phase in mantle peridotites. If partial melts ascend to the surface by porous (intergranular) flow processes, the high-pressure garnet signature will be obliterated by diffusive reequilibration at shallower depths in the mantle. Spiegelman and Kenyon [Spiegelman, M. & Kenyon, P. (1992) Earth Planet Sci. Lett. 109, 611-620] argued that partial melts must therefore be focused into a coarser transport network, for high-speed delivery to the surface. Numerous natural network systems, such as rivers and the human vascular and bronchial systems, have fractal structures that are optimal for minimizing energy expenditure during material transport. I show here that a fractal magma "tree" with these optimal properties provides a network in which magma rapidly loses diffusive chemical "contact" with its host matrix. In this fractal network, magma conduits combine by twos, with the radius and flow velocities scaling as (2)n/3, where n is the generation number. For reasonable values of volume diffusivities, viscosities, and aspect ratios, melts will experience only limited diffusive reequilibration once they have traveled some hundreds of meters from their source. Melts thus represent rather local mantle domains, and there is little problem in delivering melts with deep (<100 km) geochemical signatures to the surface.
The nature of local news media issue coverage of U.S. House members

In this paper, I examine local newspaper issue coverage of House members after the campaign season has ended. While research on news coverage of campaign issues has been thorough, considerably less attention has been placed on issue coverage outside of campaigns. This is particularly the case for the local news media. Using an extensive content analysis of House member local newspaper coverage over a one-year period, I examine the nature of local and national issue coverage. I find that local issues are covered slightly more than national issues in reporting on House members. Further, members’ strategic use of press releases and the presence of newspapers’ Washington bureaus help explain whether a story will cover a local or national political issue.
Rate-distortion optimized video streaming with rich acknowledgments

We consider an unconventional procedure for communicating to the server the receipt of media packets for Internet video streaming. Instead of separately acknowledging each media packet as it arrives, we periodically send to the server a single acknowledgment packet, denoted rich acknowledgment , that contains information about all media packets that have arrived at the client by the time the rich acknowledgment is sent. We investigate rate-distortion optimized sender-driven streaming that employs rich acknowledgments. Performance gains of up to 1.3 dB for streaming packetized video content are observed over rate-distortion optimized sender-driven systems that employ conventional acknowledgments.
Ammonia adsorption on the Ag(110) surface

Abstract Adsorption of ammonia on the Ag(110) surface has been studied by thermal desorption spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Ammonia adsorbs in molecular form; no dissociation was observed by thermal desorption or vibrational spectroscopy. Three desorption peaks were observed and were correlated with vibrational spectra. Chemisorbed ammonia desorbs in a broad peak in the 145 to 210 K temperature range. Comparison of vibrational and desorption results with similar data from the Pt(111) surface [1–4] indicates that chemisorbed ammonia is adsorbed by charge transfer from the nitrogen lone pair into the metal surface. The second layer of ammonia hydrogen bonds to the chemisorbed ammonia and desorbs at 122 K. Sublimation of solid ammonia occurs at 109 K. In all three states the vibrational transitions of ammonia occur at the same energies as the vibrational transitions of solid ammonia indicating no significant perturbation of molecular geometry. The smaller adsorption strength for ammonia chemisorbed on silver relative to ammonia adsorbed on platinum suggests that the work function (electron affinity) may be a primary factor which influences charge transfer bonding.
Primative mathematical concepts in the chimpanzee: proportionality and numerosity

Comparison of quantitative reasoning in nonhuman animals has suffered, on the one hand, from the methodological failure to do properly controlled studies of number (for review, recent examples and exceptions see refs 1, 2; 3, 4; and 5, 6 respectively), and on the other, from the conceptual failure to consider forms of quantitative reasoning other than number. An approach to mathematical reasoning may profit from the study of proportion, a continuous quantity, in addition to number, a discrete quantity. In the experiments reported here, an adult chimpanzee and four juveniles were tested for their knowledge of ‘proportion’ and ‘number’ with conceptual match-to-sample tasks. The juveniles failed but the adult successfully matched exemplars of the proportions 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 1, and the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, when the sample and alternatives were highly dissimilar physically (such as in shape, colour) and in other quantitative (for example mass, area, length) dimensions. The results reveal the presence of simple ‘proportion’ and ‘number’ concepts in a nonhuman primate.
Theoretical ab Initio Study of CN2O2 Structures: Prediction of Nitryl Cyanide as a High-Energy Molecule

Structures, energies, and harmonic vibrational frequencies of CN2O2 isomers have been investigated theoretically at the ab initio CCSD(T)/TZ2P//MBPT(2)/6-31G* level in search of new high-energy molecules and in a study of the mechanism of the reaction between NCO and NO radicals. Nitrosoisocyanate, ONNCO (1), earlier studied as a collision complex in the reaction of NCO and NO (Lin, M. C.; Melius, C. F. J. Phys. Chem. 1993, 97, 9124) is the most energetically favorable CN2O2 isomer, but its 18 kcal/mol unimolecular dissociation barrier is very low. Thus 1 can only be observed as a short-lived intermediate. However, nitrosofulminate, ONCNO (8), and nitryl cyanide, NCNO2 (12), higher energy isomers (69 and 38 kcal/mol above trans-1a, respectively), are more stable than 1 toward decomposition. This offers species 8 and 12 as interesting molecules for experimental study. Moreover, 12 can be a reasonably stable molecule as its C−N bond dissociation energy (59 kcal/mol) and the barrier to decomposition into N2 ...
Preparation of a Monoclonal Antibody against Rat MnSOD, Using a COOH-Terminal Peptide

Abstract In the present paper we report the production of a monoclonal antibody against rat MnSOD, a supposed tumor-suppressor protein, using a purified synthetic peptide encompassing amino acids 184-198 to immunize mice, without conjugation to a carrier. The resulting antibody is able to recognize the native form of the protein, since it can immunoprecipitate the MnSOD activity in rat liver homogenate. In Western blot studies, the antibody recognizes a protein of 24 KD Mr, whose concentration varies according to the MnSOD activity and it apparently recognizes also human and mouse MnSODs. The protocol of immunization gives high yield of secreting lines. This monoclonal antibody will allow the detection of structural and functional alterations of MnSOD.
Synaptic organization of the outer plexiform layer of the turtle retina: an electron microscope study of serial sections.

Neural connections in the outer plexiform layer of thePseudemys turtle retina have been studied by electron microscopy of serial ultrathin sections. While the distinguishing features of the photoreceptors have been described elsewhere, in this paper we describe the patterns of connectivity between identified second order neurons and identified photoreceptors or amongst second order neurons themselves. Basal telodendria emitted from double cone pedicles interconnect the two members of the double cone. Three morphologically different types of junction are made between bipolar cells and cone pedicles. H1 horizontal cells can be distinguished from H2 horizontal cells and synapses occur between them. Axon terminals of H1 cells are presynaptic to H1 cell bodies. Photoreceptors, H1 cell bodies and H1 axon terminals engage in electrical junctions while chemical synapses occur from both types of horizontal cell to bipolar cells. On rare occasions, bipolar cell dendrites were seen to be presynaptic to other bipolar cell dendrites. The significance of some of these contacts for the electrophysiological findings on the OPL of the turtle retina is discussed.
Panning data for gold: the search for master regulators of cell fate

An approach for analyzing gene expression data identifies putative lineage-specifying transcription factors that may prove useful in cellular reprogramming.
Effects of Small Additions of Tin on High-Temperature Oxidation of Fe-Cu-Sn Alloys for Surface Hot Shortness

Steel produced in an electric arc furnace contains a high amount of copper (Cu) that causes a surface-cracking phenomenon called surface hot shortness. It is known that tin (Sn) can exacerbate the hot shortness problem. A series of iron (Fe)-0.3 wt pct Cu-x wt pct Sn alloys with an Sn content ranging from 0.03 to 0.15 wt pct was oxidized in air at 1423 K (1150 °C) for 60 seconds, 300 seconds, and 600 seconds using thermogravimetry. A numerical model developed in a previous article was applied to predict the liquid–γFe interface concentrations and interface morphology in the Fe-Cu-Sn ternary system. Scanning electron microscopy investigations show that (1) The interface between the oxide and the metal is planar as predicted by the numerical model, (2) Sn leads to severe Cu-rich liquid penetration and cracking along the grain boundaries, and (3) open cracks with Fe oxides were found beneath the oxide–metal interface. The focused ion beam serial-sectioning technique was used to reveal a three-dimensional structure of cracks in the grain boundary containing Cu-rich liquid and Fe oxides.
Oncogenic Potential of Mouse Translation Elongation Factor-1δ, a Novel Cadmium-responsive Proto-oncogene

Abstract The molecular mechanisms potentially responsible for cadmium-induced cell transformation and tumorigenesis were investigated using Balb/c-3T3 cells transformed with cadmium chloride. Differential display analysis of gene expression revealed consistent and reproducible overexpression of a transcript in the transformed cells compared with the nontransformed cells. The full-length cDNA corresponding to the differentially expressed transcript was cloned and was identified as mouse translation elongation factor-1 δ subunit (TEF-1δ; GenBankTMaccession number AF304351). Nucleotide sequence analysis of TEF-1δ cDNA revealed an open reading frame encoding the predicted protein of 281 amino acids and exhibited significant conservation with the corresponding protein of human, Xenopus laevis, and Artemia. The presence of a leucine zipper motif, characteristic of translation elongation factor-1δ, was also found in the mouse TEF-1δ. A 31-kDa protein was detected in eukaryotic cells transfected with an expression vector containing the TEF-1δ cDNA. Overexpression of the TEF-1δ protein by transfection was oncogenic in NIH3T3 cells as evidenced by the appearance of transformed foci exhibiting anchorage-independent growth and the potential to grow as tumors in nude mice. Blocking the translation of TEF-1δ with antisense TEF-1δ mRNA resulted in a significant reversal of the oncogenic potential of cadmium-transformed Balb/c-3T3 cells as evidenced from suppression in anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenesis in nude mice. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that the cell transformation and tumorigenesis induced by cadmium are due, at least in part, to the overexpression of TEF-1δ, a novel cadmium-responsive proto-oncogene.
Starch flavor: apparent discrimination between amylopectin and amylose by rats.

Abstract Rats given a choice between dilute suspensions of corn amylopectin and corn amylose generally preferred amylopectin. The preference threshold for amylopection was lower than the preference threshold for amylose (0.1% and 0.5%, respectively). Two sources of evidence indicate that the difference in prefernce for these two types of starch is due to an off-taste component in corn amylose rather than to an ability to discriminate between amylopectin and amylose per se: 1) rats given a choice of purified amylopectin and amylose from potato did not show a significant preference, and 2) aqueous extracts of amylose reduce preference for water and amylopectin, respectively. Extensive washing of corn amylose with ammonia-methanol, water and methanol did not completely remove the off-taste of corn amylose. Despite the difference in off-taste, rats trained to avoid amylopectin also avoided amylose. It is proposed that starch has two flavor components: a component due to starch itself that induces preference, and a component due to impurities that reduces preference.
BEHAVE—An automated data analysis system for observed events

This paper first defines the context of automated data analysis systems and then mentions approaches to analysis of data by systems of this type. It then briefly describes the BEHAVE data structure and proceeds to a discussion of the BEHAVE data analysis package which provides the user with summary information concerning organization of data.
A Low Force Magneto-rheological (MR) Fluid Damper: Design, Fabrication and Characterization

This study focuses on the theoretical analysis, design, fabrication and characterization of a small Magneto-Rheological (MR) fluid damper. It can be potentially applied to a horizontal axis, front-loading washing machine. In such washing machines, although washing cycle is slow, spin cycle is much faster. During acceleration from washing cycle to spin cycle, the tub passes through its resonant speed requiring relatively high damping. On the other hand, high damping results in increased force transmission to the housing and noise at high-speed spin cycle. Controllability of the MR fluid damper allows adjustment of damping requirements for different cycles and helps to reduce the noise at high speed spin cycle while limiting the tub motion at resonance. A patented geometry of an MR valve developed by Composite and Intelligent Materials Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno is used as the basis of this new design to satisfy the requirements of the application. Fabricated prototype damper is characteri...
A computational study of solution effects on the disproportionation of electrochemically generated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical anions. Thermodynamics and structure

Abstract Density functional quantum chemical methods are used to predict the thermodynamics of disproportionation of electrochemically generated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical anions ( 2 ) into the corresponding neutral species ( 1 ) and dianions ( 3 ). The computations reveal the overwhelming influence of solvation effects upon the disproportionation equilibrium. By comparison, the effect of ion pairing between 3 and the cation of the supporting electrolyte (R 4 N + ) is modest but real. The computational results can be combined with a variety of entropy effects to calculate the spacing Δ E between the first and second reduction potentials of 1 within 100–150 mV. The highly asymmetric structures of the ion pairs between 3 and R 4 N + show little evidence for steric hindrance to ion pairing, yet the computations do show that the strength of the ion pairs does appear to diminish with increasing size of the R group. The strength of the ion pairs with small cations appears to arise out of the large charge-to-size ratio in such cations.
Kinetic pathway in Stranski-Krastanov growth of Ge on Si(001).

The transition from 2D to 3D growth of Ge on Si(001) has been investigated with scanning tunneling microscopy. A metastable 3D cluster phase with well-defined structure and shape is found. The clusters have a {105} facet structure. Results suggest that these clusters define the kinetic path for formation of ``macroscopic'' Ge islands.
Stereotactic Resection of Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytomas of the Thalamus and Basal Ganglia

Six patients with juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas of the thalamus or basal ganglia underwent seven computer-assisted stereotactic laser craniotomies with complete or nearly complete removal of the tumor in all cases. The tumor was located in the right basal ganglia in one patient, the left basal ganglia in one patient, and the left thalamus in four patients. Postoperative assessment of the completeness of tumor removal was confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scanning within the first 2 weeks after operation. None of the patients was neurologically worse after the procedure, and five were improved. The duration of follow-up ranged from 6 months to 3.5 years. In this group of patients, the computer-assisted, stereotactically guided resection of these deeply located, benign tumors was accomplished with no morbidity or mortality.
How Important Is U.S. Location for Research in Science

Abstract This paper asks whether being located outside the United States lowers research productivity in a data set of foreign-born, U.S.-educated scientists. Instrumenting location with visa status that requires return to home countries, we find a large negative relationship between non-U.S. location and research output for countries with low income per capita but none for countries with high income per capita. This suggests that a scientist exogenously located in a country at the top of the income distribution can expect to be as productive in research as he or she would be in the United States.
Site-specific detection of S-nitrosylated PKB α/Akt1 from rat soleus muscle using CapLC-Q-TOFmicro mass spectrometry

Protein Kinase Bα(PKBα, or Akt1) is believed to play a crucial role in programmed cell death, cancer progression and the insulin-signaling cascade. The protein is activated by phosphorylation at multiple sites and subsequently phosphorylates and activates eNOS. Free cysteine residues of the protein may capture reactive, endogenously produced nitric oxide (NO) as S-nitrosothiols. Site-specific detection of S-nitrosylated cysteine residues, usually at low stoichiometry, has been a major challenge in proteomic research largely due to the lack of mass marker for S-nitrosothiols that are very labile under physiologic conditions. In this report we describe a sensitive and specific MS method for detection of S-nitrosothiols in PKB α/Akt1 in rat soleus muscle. PKB α/Akt1 was isolated by immunoprecipitation and 2D-gel electrophoresis, subjected to in-gel tryptic digestion, and cysteinyl nitrosothiols were reacted with iodoacetic acids [2-C12/C13 = 50/50] under ascorbate reduction conditions. This resulted in the production of relatively stable carboxymethylcysteine (CMC) immonium ions (m/z 134.019 and m/z 135.019) within a narrow argon collision energy (CE = 30 ± 5 V) in the high MS noise region. In addition, free and disulfide-linked cysteine residues were converted to carboxyamidomethylcysteines (CAM). Tryptic S-nitrosylated parent ion was detected with a mass accuracy of 50 mDa for the two CMC immonium ions at the triggered elution time during capillary liquid chromatography (LC) separation. A peptide containing Cys296 was discriminated from four co-eluting tryptic peptides under lock mass conditions (m/z 785.8426). S-nitrosothiol in the tryptic peptide, ITDFGLBKEGIK (B: CAM, [M + 2H]2+ = 690.86, Found: 690.83), is believed to be present at a very low level, since the threshold for the CMC immonium trigger ions was set at 3 counts/s in the MS survey. The high levels of NO that are produced under stress conditions may result in increased S-nitrosylation of Cys296 which blocks disulfide bond formation between Cys296 and Cys310 and suppresses the biological effects of PKB α/Akt1. With the procedures developed here, this process can be studied under physiological and pathological conditions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of microscopic tissue structure in shock-induced activation assessed by optical mapping in myocyte cultures.

Introduction: Termination of ventricular fibrillation by electric shocks is believed to be due to the direct activation of large tissue mass that may be caused by microscopic virtual electrodes formed at discontinuities in tissue structure. Here, microscopic shock-induced activation was measured optically in myocyte cultures; spatially averaged microscopic Vm measurements were compared with macroscopic measurements from left ventricular (LV) tissue. Methods and Results: Experiments were performed in linear cell strands of different width (∼0.1 and 0.8 mm) and isolated porcine LV preparations. Uniform field shocks were applied across strands or LV preparations during diastole and action potential (AP) plateau. Depending on shock strength, three different types of activation were observed in cell strands. Weakest shocks produced “delayed make” activation that started on the cathodal strand side after long latency and rapidly spread to the anodal side. Stronger shocks caused “make” activation with short latency and rapid spread across strands. Strongest shocks caused nonuniform “make-break” activation where the cathodal side was activated with a short latency but activation of the anodal side was delayed until after the shock end due to a large negative shock-induced polarization. Spatial averaging of Vm responses across 0.1-mm (but not 0.8-mm) strands resulted in AP upstrokes and plateau polarizations that closely resembled the Vm responses measured in LV myocardium. The shock strength for the transition between fast and delayed activation in 0.1-mm cell strands and LV myocardium was similar as well. Conclusion: These data provide evidence that microscopic tissue structures with dimensions of approximately hundred microns are responsible for shock-induced activation of ventricular tissue.
Expansion, Morphological, and Mechanical Properties of Starch−Polystyrene Foams Containing Various Additives†

Starch and polystyrene (PS) were mixed at 70:30, 80:20, and 85:15 ratios with 0.5 and 1% talc and extruded into loose-fill packaging foams. Azodicarbonamide (ADC), at 0, 0.2, and 0.4 wt %, and citric acid, at 0, 0.25, and 0.5%, were added as blowing agents to enhance the radial expansion and functional properties of foams. As the concentration of ADC in the starch−PS mixtures was increased from 0 to 0.2%, the expansion ratios increased, and consequently the bulk densities decreased. However, with a further increase in the concentration of ADC to 0.4%, the expansion ratios dropped considerably. The effects of citric acid on radial expansion and other properties were similar to those of ADC. Compared to ADC, citric acid produced foams with higher radial expansion and correspondingly lower densities. Extrudates containing citric acid had large-sized cells, but the cell walls were structurally damaged due to degradation of starch. The spring indices of foams treated with various additives were not significant...
Concurrency characterization of MapReduce applications for improved performance on the cloud

Driven by the increasing and successful prevalence of MapReduce as an analytics engine on the cloud, this work characterizes the Map phase in Hadoop MapReduce to guide its configuration and improve overall performance. MapReduce is one of the most effective realizations of large-scale data-intensive cloud computing platforms. Hadoop is an open source implementation of MapReduce and is currently enjoying wide popularity. Hadoop has a high-dimensional space of configuration parameters (~200 parameters) that poses a burden on practitioners, like computation scientists, system researchers, and business analysts, to set for efficient and cost-effective execution. In this work we observe that MapReduce application performance is highly influenced by Map concurrency, defined in terms of two configurable parameters, the number of available map slots and the number of map tasks running over the slots. As Map concurrency is varied, we show that some inherent MapReduce characteristics allow systematic and well-infor...
Cost analysis of the M/M/R machine repair problem with spares operating under variable service rates

Abstract This paper studies the M/M/R machine repair problem consisting of M operating machines with S spares, and R repairmen in the repair facility under steady-state conditions. Spares are considered to be either cold-standby, or warm-standby, or hot-standby. The repairmen are servicing either at a fast rate or at a slow rate. A cost model is developed in order to determine the optimal number of repairmen and spares simultaneously. Under the optimal operating conditions, several system characteristics are evaluated for three types of standby.
Statistics for Quality and Productivity: A New Graduate-Level Statistics Course

Abstract The growing popular realization that American product quality and productivity are no longer without challenge for world leadership presents an opportunity for the American statistical community to make stronger contributions to sound industrial practice than it has in the past. Management consultants, such as Deming and Juran, are promoting philosophies that contain strong statistical components and are being heard by top U.S. executives. There are thus growing opportunities for industrial statisticians. Upon reviewing the content of typical graduate-level statistical quality control courses and books in the light of the present situation, we find them to be inadequate and in some cases to suffer from inappropriate emphases. In this article we discuss our perceptions of what is needed in the way of a new graduate-level course in statistics for quality and productivity (SQP). We further offer for discussion a syllabus for such a course (which is a modification of one used at Iowa State in the 198...
Multilevel analysis of couple congruence on pain, interference, and disability

Couple congruence on ratings of pain severity and disability were examined using hierarchical linear modeling. Older community Individuals with Chronic Pain (ICPs) and their spouses completed the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (pain severity, interference, negative spouse responses to pain), Sickness Impact Profile (physical disability, psychosocial disability), and the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire (psychological distress). Both spouses reported on ICPs' pain and disability as well as their own psychological distress. Spousal incongruence was observed on interference and physical disability such that ICPs reported greater disability than their spouses reported for them. No significant incongruence was observed in pain severity or psychosocial disability. Predictors of couples' mean ratings of pain and disability were identified. Specifically, couples in which the ICP was female reported higher couples' ratings of pain severity and interference. ICP distress was related to higher couples' ratings of all pain and disability variables whereas spouse distress was related to higher psychosocial disability ratings. ICPs' perceptions of negative spouse responses were also positively associated with couples' ratings of physical and psychosocial disability. In terms of congruence, ICP distress was associated with incongruence on interference, physical disability, and psychosocial disability whereas spouse distress predicted incongruence on pain severity, and interference. This study suggests that understanding couples' pain outcome ratings involves an awareness of factors that might influence their perceptions and behaviors.
Increased activity following fornix transection in the female rat.

Abstract A knife cut technique was utilized to transect the fibers of the fornix. This operation resulted in a large increase in wheel running activity and altered the pattern of consummatory responding in a novel environment. These effects which accompany discrete damage to the fornix are, in part, directly opposed to those produced by septal lesions.
The Estimation of Set Size by Potentially Gifted Kindergarten-Age Children

The study explored young children's ability to estimate set sizes and use reference points such as 10. Eighteen children in a preschool-kindergarten program for the potentially gifted were asked to estimate the number of dots in a set (range 3 to 35); to gauge whether a set of dots was larger or smaller than a stated reference point of 5, 10, or 20; and to judge where a set fit in regard to two given reference points. With sets of 8, most estimates were within 25% of the actual value; with sets of 15 or larger, most estimates were not. A majority of children were successful on the task with a single reference point; performance varied on the task with two reference points. An error analysis indicated that many children could accurately place sets somewhat smaller than a reference point but had difficulty placing sets somewhat larger than a reference point. These results suggest that the children had not constructed accurate perceptual anchors but appeared to have an overexaggerated mental image of 5, 10, and 20.