cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designing a distributed computing environment for global-scale systems: challenges and issues

With the phenomenal growth of the Internet and other related technological advancements in both hardware and software, the field of computing has reached a state, where we need to think ahead and plan for future needs of computing for developing global-scale systems. Unfortunately, the present computing environments have many shortcomings that may act as bottlenecks for the development of the next generation of global information systems. Since the current scenario envisions a major shift in the way of computing and the way in which computers affect lives, we need to look far define the characteristics of a new computing environment that will address the pitfalls of the present alternatives. In this paper, we identify the common characteristics of a network-based distributed computing environment. Various design and implementational issues, associated with such an environment, are analyzed and a few solutions are proposed.
Environmental and natural-resource crime

Over the past two decades, criminologists and policy-makers have started to pay more attention to the issue of environmental and natural-resource crime. These “green crimes” are often global in sco...
Effects of deletions on mitotic stability of the Paternal-Sex-Ratio (PSR) chromosome from Nasonia

Paternal-Sex-Ratio (PSR) is a B chromosome that causes all-male offspring in the parasitoid wasp Nasonia vitripennis. It is only transmitted via sperm of carrier males and destroys the other paternal chromosomes during the first mitotic division of the fertilized egg. Because of haplodiploidy, the effect of PSR is to convert diploid (female) eggs into haploid eggs that develop into PSR-bearing males. The PSR chromosome was previously found to contain several families of repetitive DNA, which appear to be present in local blocks. PSR chromosomes with irradiation-induced deletions have decreased rates of transmission and increased variation in transmission. This study investigates whether these differences in transmission of deletion chromosomes are due to mitotic instability. Two deletion chromosomes (E306 and F316) and the wild-type PSR chromosome were examined. A cytogenetic assay of testes revealed that wild-type PSR males contained the chromosome in 98%-100% of their spermatocytes. Similar counts from carriers of two deletion chromosomes were lower and varied between individuals from 50%-100%. One F316 male did not contain the chromosome in any of its spermatocytes although the chromosome was present in somatic tissues based on hybridization to PSR-specific repetitive DNA. A molecular analysis of males found the wild-type PSR chromosome to be present in all somatic tissues. Tissue specific differences in the presence of PSR were found in several males from the two deletion lines. The results show that deletions can result in mosaicism due to increased mitotic instability of PSR. Such individuals sometimes partially or completely fail to transmit the chromosome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in human newborns and adults. II. Level effects

This study varied the levels of the primaries and recorded distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) from human newborns and adults. Preterm as well as term newborns were tested. The 2 f1-f2 DPOAE was the most reliably recorded DPOAE, especially at low levels of the primaries. Amplitude and phase reproducibility deteriorated with decreasing level of the primaries. Newborn DPOAEs were slightly less reproducible than adult DPOAEs. The underlying DPOAE I/O functions were nonmonotonic for both newborns and adults. Unity gain characterized the initial increasing portion of those functions in most subjects. Although newborn and adult I/O functions were similar, they did differ. In particular, adult functions tended to be more linear with saturation at higher primary levels. Some of the newborn functions saturated at very low stimulus levels. Although differences in cochlear mechanics may explain developmental difference in DPOAE I/O functions, developmental differences in the resonance characteristics of the outer and middle ears may also be involved.
Two photon Imaging of the Oxygen Partial Pressure in Cerebral Microvasculature

We report the first practical in vivo two-photon pO2 measurements in cortical microvasculature, made possible by using a two-photon-enhanced phosphorescent nanoprobe. New method features ~250-µm measurement depth, sub-second temporal resolution and requires low probe concentration.
Flumazenil for the reversal of refractory benzodiazepine-induced shock

Benzodiazepines are known to cause central nervous system and centrally mediated cardiovascular depression. The benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil has been shown to antagonize benzodiazepine-induced central nervous system depression. We report a case in which cardiovascular depression secondary to benzodiazepine use was reversed by this agent.
What potential role is there for medication treatment in anorexia nervosa

Objective: To review selected issues regarding the development of drug treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN). Method: The existing pharmacotherapy literature for AN is reviewed, and the theoretical and practical considerations are discussed. Results: A very wide variety of drugs have been examined in AN, generally with negative results. There are a number of potential reasons for this finding, including compliance, nutritional deficits, selection of the wrong targets or the wrong outcome measures, use of monotherapy, lack of animal models, or factors intrinsic to AN. Conclusion: Pharmacotherapy provides little benefit in the treatment of AN at present. Several strategies might lead to the identification of more effective agents, including new measurement strategies, identification of novel pharmacologic targets, and consideration of a clinical trials network. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009
Development of the multiple molecular forms of acetyl-cholinesterase in chick paravertebral sympathetic ganglia: An in vivo and in vitro study

Abstract The development of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and the distribution of this enzyme among its multiple forms was studied in both tissue extracts and dissociated cell cultures of chick paravertebral sympathetic ganglia. In agreement with previous findings, total AChE (expressed either per ganglion or per μg protein) increased in vivo between the time of formation of the paravertebral chain (embryonic day 7; E7) to hatching (E20-E21). After this time, enzyme activity changed much more slowly. Sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis of AChE in ganglia of post-hatching chicks revealed multiple forms of AChE with S values of approximately 6.5, 11 and 19.5 Developmental studies showed that 6.5 S and 11 S forms are present as early as day E7. Much of the pre-hatching increase in total AChE is due to increased levels of the 6.5 S form of the enzyme. By hatching, this form comprised approximately 85–90% of the total AChE activity. In contrast, during the first week after hatching, the activity of the 11 S form increased several-fold while that of the 6.5 S remained approximately unchanged. The 19.5 S form, which is thought to be associated with the synaptic membrane, was not detected prior to day E17 and reached adult levels (2–3% of total AChE activity) by the first week after hatching. Development of AChE was also studied in dissociated cell cultures of embryonic ganglia. Essentially all the AChE activity in such cultures was found to be associated with the neurons. Total AChE activity of cultured E11 ganglia increased in a pattern which was both qualitatively and quantitatively similar to that which occured in vivol. Furthermore, it was found that development of both the 6.5 and 11 S forms of AChE took place in vitro. In cultures of E8, E11, E15, and E19 ganglia, the distribution of activity between the two forms after various times in vitro was similar to that which was found for in vivo ganglia at an equivalent embryonic stage. Such changes were not affected by the elimination of non-neuronal cells from the cultures. Two aspects of in vitro development, however, differed from that which occured in vivo. First, an increase in 11 S AChE did not occur at ages equivalent to the first week post-hatching. Second, the 19.5 S form did not develop (even after several weeks) in cultures of E8, E11 and E15 ganglia, nor was this form (which was removed during dissociation of the ganglia) regenerated in cultures of E19 ganglia. Such findings suggest that the pattern of development of AChE and its multiple forms in chick sympathetic neurons is in part intrinsically programmed into these cells at an early stage of development as well as in part regulated by extrinsic signals that these cells receive from their chemical and cellular environment.
Hyperspectral imagery and LiDAR for Geological Analysis of Cuprite, Nevada

Fusion of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Hyperspectral Imagery (HSI) products is useful for geological analysis, particularly for visualization of geomorphology and hydrology. In early 2007, coincident hyperspectral imagery and LiDAR were acquired over Cuprite, Nevada. The data were analyzed with ENVI and the ENVI LiDAR Toolkit. Results of the analysis of these data suggest, for some surfaces, a correlation between mineral content and surface roughness. However, the LiDAR resolution (~1 meter ground sampling distance) is likely too coarse to extract surface texture properties of clay minerals in some of the alluvial fans captured in the imagery. Though not demonstrated in this particular experiment (but a goal of the research), the relation between surface roughness and mineral composition may provide valuable information about the mechanical properties of the surface cover-in addition to generating another variable useful for material characterization, image classification, and scene segmentation. Future mission planning should include consideration of determining optimal ground sampling to be used by LiDAR and HSI systems. The fusion of LiDAR elevation data and multi- and hyperspectral classification results is, in and of itself, a valuable tool for imagery analysis and should be explored further.
Effects of nicotine on growth and development in larval zebrafish.

In this study, larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) were chronically exposed to nicotine concentrations of 5, 10, or 20 mg/L (corresponding to 10, 20, or 40μM) beginning at 1 day postfertilization. Larval growth, morphology, and behavior were examined at day 10. Results indicate that nicotine exposure significantly reduces notochord length and eye diameter (growth), adversely affects the startle responses (behavior), and decreases survival. These findings parallel results on the deleterious effects of nicotine on development in other animals and indicate that zebrafish may be a good model to further study factors affecting vertebrate development.
On regulation of linear systems over rings: Coefficient-assignment and observers

A theory of regulators is developed for finite-free split linear systems over a commutative ring K. This is achieved by developing a theory of coefficient-assignment and observers.
The specification of distributed sensing and control

Logical Sensor System Specification (LSS) has been introduced as a convenient means for specifying multi-sensor systems and their implementations. In this article we demonstrate how control issues can be handled in the context of LSS. In particular, the Logical Sensor Specification is extended to include a control mechanism which permits control information to (1) flow from more centralized processing to more peripheral processes, and (2) be generated locally in the logical sensor by means of a micro-expert system specific to the interface represented by the given logical sensor. Examples are given including a proposed scheme for controlling the Utah/MIT dextrous hand.
A simple, rapid method for preparation of virus isolates from cell culture for electron microscopy

A simple procedure for the rapid preparation of virus isolates from cell culture for negative-contrast electron microscopy was devised. Using only conventional centrifugation steps (i.e. without ultracentrifugation), the procedure produced consistent, fine-quality preparations of a variety of virus types differing in size/shape and buoyant density.
Sharp, vertical-walled tips for SFM imaging of steep or soft samples

Abstract For samples with steep-walled features, for example semiconductors devices and mammalian cells, the STM or SFM will produce faithful images only if the probe tip is very sharp, that is, if the end radius of curvature and the opening angle are small. Sharp tips are also less strongly attracted to the sample surface by van der Waals interactions, and so can be operated at smaller net force. This is important for soft samples or samples that are not well anchored to the substrate, i.e., biological molecules. Two methods are described by which essentially cylindrical, vertical-walled tips can be made. In the first method a long thin “flagpole” is carved from a tungsten STM tip by a beam of focused gallium ions. In the second method a focused electron beam is used to deposit tall thin spikes of hard carbon on commercial silicon-nitride SFM cantilevers. SFM images of steep-walled grating structures made using e-beam tips show the correct dimensions and sidewall angles, in sharp contrast to the distorted images that result when standard commercial tips are used. The e-beam method can also be used to create hooked tips with well-defined geometry for imaging undercut structures.
Computed Body Tomography and Gray Scale Ultrasonography: Anatomic Correlations and Pitfalls in the Upper Abdomen

From over 1,000 computed body tomographic and 10,000 gray scale ultrasonographic studies of the abdomen, a number of close anatomic relationships leading to the commonest pitfalls in diagnosis are reviewed. Scanning techniques developed to prevent interpretive errors are described.
Citric acid improves phytate phosphorus utilization in crossbred and commercial broiler chicks

Previous research in our laboratory has shown that citric acid (CA) improves phytate P utilization in New Hampshire x Columbian (NHC) crossbred chicks fed a P-deficient corn-soybean meal diet. The current study was conducted to determine if CA is also effective in commercial broiler chicks (Ross x Ross). In 3 experiments, 4 replicate groups of 5 male NHC chicks and male commercial chicks were fed corn-soybean meal diets varying in CA and nonphytate P (NPP) from 8 to 22 d of age. In experiment 1, a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial treatment arrangement was used to evaluate the effect of 2 levels of CA (0 and 3%) and NPP (0.13 and 0.28%) in NHC chicks and commercial chicks. The commercial chicks, but not the NHC chicks, fed the 0.13% NPP diet had to be removed from the experiment after 3 to 5 d due to very poor growth and severe leg problems. Chick weight gain and tibia ash were significantly increased (P < 0.05) by CA in both types of chicks. In experiment 2, the same 2 x 2 x 2 factorial treatment arrangement was again used except that the NPP levels were 0.18 and 0.28%. Tibia ash was increased significantly (P < 0.05) with the addition of CA in both breeds of chicks; response was greater at 0.18% NPP than at 0.28% NPP. In experiment 3, graded levels of CA (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4%) were evaluated in commercial chicks fed diets containing 0.18% NPP. Tibia ash increased linearly (P < 0.05) as CA increased from 0 to 4%. The average increase in bone ash resulting from 3% CA supplementation in experiments 2 and 3 was 41%. These results indicate that CA markedly improved phytate P utilization in NHC and Ross x Ross commercial broiler chicks.
Effects of drugs on γ-aminobutyric acid receptors, uptake, release and synthesis in vitro

The effects of various convulsant and anticonvulsant drugs have been studied using in vitro assays for the postsynaptic action of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA caused a receptor-ionophore mediated increase in chloride permeability in crayfish muscle. At 100 μM concentrations, benzyl penicillin, bicuculline, diethyl barbiturate, diazepam, imipramine, and haloperidol partially inhibited this response while picrotoxinin inhibited it 100% (I50 = 3 μM). Muscimol (potently) andβ-(p-chlorphenyl) GABA (weakly) mimic GABA action in this assay. Muscimol and bicuculline (potent), and benzyl penicillin andβ-(p-chlorphenyl) GABA (weak), but not the other drugs, probably exerted their effects at the GABA receptor level, because only these four drugs among those tested were inhibitors of GABA receptor binding sites in mouse brain homogenates (sodium-independent sites having the specificity expected of receptor sites). Pentylenetetrazol weakly inhibited GABA receptor binding and GABA-induced chloride flux. Several other convulsants suspected of GABA antagonist activity, such as trimethyl caprolactam, isopropyl bicyclophosphate, tetramethylene disulfotetramine, andD-tubocurarine, showed no direct inhibition of either GABA receptor sites in mouse brain or of GABA-stimulated chloride flux in crayfish muscle. The drugs were also examined for effects on in vitro assays of GABA uptake, glutamate decar☐ylase activity (GAD), and Ca2+-stimulated GABA release with mouse brain homogenates. GABA uptake by mouse brain particulate fractions was inhibited 50% by approximately 100μM haloperidol, imipramine, chlorpromazine, diazepam, benzyl penicillin, bicuculline, andβ-(p-chlorophenyl) GABA, but by muscimol only at concentrations near1m M. Diazepam and benzyl penicillin also stimulatedCa2+-independent efflux of GABA from mouse brain fractions enriched in synaptosomes. Diazepam, chlorpromazine, imipramine, and haloperidol inhibitedCa2+-dependent release of GABA from brain particles enriched in synaptosomes. No drugs tested were found to inhibitL-glutamate decar☐ylase (GAD) activity at concentrations under100 μM. The drugs diphenylhydantoin and diethyl barbiturate showed no effects on these GABA neurochemical assays which could be related to anticonvulsant action. Convulsant activity of benzyl penicillin appears to be related to competitive antogonism of GABA receptors, although the drugs is not very potent or specific. Diazepam at concentrations of50–100 μM affected GABA transport in a manner consistent with anti-convulsant activity, although at similar concentrations it also could inhibit GABA release and postsynaptic action. Lioresal seems to be a definite GABA agonist, although weak and non-specific, while muscimol is a very potent and specific GABA agonist. Analogues of both these compounds are promising candidates for treatment of neurological disorders involving GABA dysfunction.
Commitment of neural crest cells to the sensory neuron lineage

Clonal cultures and monoclonal antibodies against a lineage-specific epitope, stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) were used to analyze the commitment of quail neural crest cells to the sensory neuron pathway. There were two distinct populations of sensory cells at the time of gangliogenesis. Postmitotic neuroblasts that remained in close association with the neural tube coexisted with a large number of pluripotent cells that formed the leading edge of the emigrating cells and gave rise to sensory and autonomic neuroblasts and to melanocytes. The data suggest a dual origin of spinal sensory neuroblasts and a predominantly late divergence of the autonomic and sensory lineages.
Model Calculations of the 13C NMR Shieldings in the Crystalline Cyclic Pentamer of Poly(p-phenylene sulfide)

The cyclic pentamer of poly(p-phenylene sulfide) [c-(PS)5] cystallizes in an interesting manner. Though only a single c-(PS)5 molecule constitutes the asymmetric unit of its crystalline unit cell, the conformation about and the geometry of the C−S bonds vary widely around the cycle. The high-resolution, solid-state 13C NMR spectrum of c-(PS)5 reflects this heterogeneity of structural environments, where multiple resonances (at least six) are observed for both protonated (CP) and nonprotonated (CQ) carbons spread over 18 and 8 ppm chemical shift ranges, respectively. Crystalline c-(PS)5 provides us with a unique model system with which we may test our ability to calculate NMR nuclear shieldings with ab initio quantum mechanical methods. For this purpose, a gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) approach was implemented with the use of locally dense basis sets. Diphenyl sulfide was adopted as a fragment model for c-(PS)5, with the S, CQ, and two CP atoms on a single adjacent phenyl ring treated with the loca...
Is Discretionary Pricing Discretionary? The Case of Overages in Mortgage Lending

Research on moral hazard and adverse selection indicates that restricting the ability of lenders to price loans could result in less credit being extended to those in the riskiest credit tier. Given that blacks have worse credit than similarly situated whites, then they would be worse off if overages were banned. Second, borrowers who are unfamiliar with the financial system, such as first-time customers, may require more effort by the loan officer to guide the applicant through the process. Unless lenders can recover the cost of this service, the number of loans to such borrowers will probably decrease. Third, research indicates that blacks do not bargain or comparison shop as much as whites. This implies that, ceteris paribus, markup differences will persist even after accounting for risk, service and demographic variables. Finally, these differences may vary across local markets throughout the country. Future research efforts should analyze loan payment performance after controlling for market forces within the relevant local market. If unexplained pricing differentials exist between minorities and whites, yet loan payments performance is the same, then clearly there exists an arbitrary component to pricing that is probably discriminatory. Alternatively, if unexplained differentials correspond to payment performance, then these differentials are not arbitrary and discriminatory but market driven. Thus, policy makers and regulators should not strive to eliminate differential pricing but should concern themselves with those differences that are unrelated to market forces.
Disease implications of the Hippo/YAP pathway.

The Hippo signaling pathway is important for controlling organ size and tissue homeostasis. Originally identified in Drosophila melanogaster , the core components of the Hippo pathway are highly conserved in mammals. The Hippo pathway can be modulated by a wide range of stimuli, including G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, changes in the actin cytoskeleton, cell–cell contact, and cell polarity. When activated, the Hippo pathway functions as a tumor suppressor to limit cell growth. However, dysregulation by genetic inactivation of core pathway components or amplification or gene fusion of its downstream effectors results in increased cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis and differentiation. Unsurprisingly, this can lead to tissue overgrowth, tumorigenesis, and many other diseases.
“Feet of Beasts”: Tracking the Animal in Blake

William Blake depicts nonhuman creatures, wild and domesticated, less as materialist delusions or temptations to false selfhood, or for that matter as mere symbols, than as visionary instances of what exceeds and challenges the fallen human senses. Repeatedly, Blake's illuminated works put us on the track of the animal and of the animal's relation to the human and to our embodied animality. Hence, in the later epics' apocalypse of the Human Form, multifarious animal being becomes a vital source and regained portion of a corporeal otherness and expanded genius, forming a mingled, divine being – a being sublimely shared. Blake's representations of animals, including human-animals, thereby unsettle any simple, too-simply anthropocentric, sense of animality in his oeuvre and its ultimate “Human Form Divine.”
Primary calvarial bone grafting in oro-ocular clefts

Summary Oro-ocular clefts were classified by Tessier as 3–11 or 4–10 facial clefts. These rare clefts require both bony and soft tissue correction and present a significant challenge to the innovative skill of the craniofacial surgeon. A review of three male children with oro-ocular clefts and their management (including surgical planning and operative treatment) is presented. We would propose that the use of calvarial bone grafting as part of the primary closure is regarded as desirable based on our experience.
Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors in the cardiovascular system

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)s are a family of three nuclear hormone receptors, PPARα, -δ, and -γ, which are members of the steriod receptor superfamily. The first member of the family (PPARα) was originally discovered as the mediator by which a number of xenobiotic drugs cause peroxisome proliferation in the liver. Defined functions for all these receptors, until recently, mainly concerned their ability to regulate energy balance, with PPARα being involved in β-oxidation pathways, and PPARγ in the differentiation of adipocytes. Little is known about the functions of PPARδ, though it is the most ubiquitously expressed. Since their discovery, PPARs have been shown to be expressed in monocytes/macrophages, the heart, vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, and in atherosclerotic lesions. Furthermore, PPARs can be activated by a vast number of compounds including synthetic drugs, of the clofibrate, and anti-diabetic thiazoldinedione classes, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a number of eicosanoids, including prostaglandins, lipoxygenase products, and oxidized low density lipoprotein. This review will aim to introduce the field of PPAR nuclear hormone receptors, and discuss the discovery and actions of PPARs in the cardiovascular system, as well as the source of potential ligands.
Thermal conversion of municipal solid waste via hydrothermal carbonization: Comparison of carbonization products to products from current waste management techniques

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a novel thermal conversion process that may be a viable means for managing solid waste streams while minimizing greenhouse gas production and producing residual material with intrinsic value. HTC is a wet, relatively low temperature (180-350 °C) thermal conversion process that has been shown to convert biomass to a carbonaceous residue referred to as hydrochar. Results from batch experiments indicate HTC of representative waste materials is feasible, and results in the majority of carbon (45-75% of the initially present carbon) remaining within the hydrochar. Gas production during the batch experiments suggests that longer reaction periods may be desirable to maximize the production of energy-favorable products. If using the hydrochar for applications in which the carbon will remain stored, results suggest that the gaseous products from HTC result in fewer g CO(2)-equivalent emissions than the gases associated with landfilling, composting, and incineration. When considering the use of hydrochar as a solid fuel, more energy can be derived from the hydrochar than from the gases resulting from waste degradation during landfilling and anaerobic digestion, and from incineration of food waste. Carbon emissions resulting from the use of the hydrochar as a fuel source are smaller than those associated with incineration, suggesting HTC may serve as an environmentally beneficial alternative to incineration. The type and extent of environmental benefits derived from HTC will be dependent on hydrochar use/the purpose for HTC (e.g., energy generation or carbon storage).
Diversity of Francisella Species in Environmental Samples from Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

We determined whether Francisella spp. are present in water, sediment, and soil from an active tularemia natural focus on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, during a multiyear outbreak of pneumonic tularemia. Environmental samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting Francisella species 16S rRNA gene and succinate dehydrogenase A (sdhA) sequences; evidence of the agent of tularemia was sought by amplification of Francisella tularensis-specific sequences for the insertion element ISFTu2, 17-kDa protein gene tul4, and the 43-kDa outer membrane protein gene fopA. Evidence of F. tularensis subsp. tularensis, the causative agent of the human infections in this outbreak, was not detected from environmental samples despite its active transmission among ticks and animals in the sampling site. Francisella philomiragia was frequently detected from a brackish-water pond using Francisella species PCR targets, and subsequently F. philomiragia was isolated from an individual brackish-water sample. Distinct Francisella sp. sequences that are closely related to F. tularensis and Francisella novicida were detected from samples collected from the brackish-water pond. We conclude that diverse Francisella spp. are present in the environment where human cases of pneumonic tularemia occur.
Sex ratio and subdioecy in Fragaria virginiana: the roles of plasticity and gene flow examined.

Summary •Here we examined the roles of sex-differential plasticity (SDP) and gene flow in sex ratio evolution of subdioecious Fragaria virginiana. •We assessed whether female frequency varied with resource availability in 17 natural populations and then characterized plasticity and mean investment in allocation to female function at flower and plant levels in the sex morphs in the glasshouse. We estimated patterns of population divergence using five microsatellite markers. •We reveal SDP in fruit production substantial enough to translate into a higher equilibrium female frequency at low resources. Thus SDP can account, in part, for the strong negative relationship between female frequency and resources found in the field. Pollen-bearing morphs varied in plasticity across populations, and the degree of plasticity in fruit number was positively correlated with in situ variation in nitrogen (N) availability, suggesting an adaptive component to sex-allocation plasticity. Low neutral genetic differentiation, indicating high gene flow or recent divergence, may contribute to the absence of population differentiation in fruit-setting ability of pollen-bearing morphs despite considerable sex ratio variation. •We consider how these processes, in addition to other features of this system, may work in concert to influence sex ratios and to hinder the evolution of dioecy in F. virginiana.
Performance evaluation of supercomputers

Contributors to Performance. Supercomputer Performance Evaluation: The Comparative Analysis of High-Speed Architectures Against Their Applications (J.L. Martin). Using Algorithm Characteristics to Evaluate Parallel Architectures (L.H. Jamieson). Issues in Compiler Performance (J.R.B. Davies). The Effects of Operating Systems on Supercomputer Performance (E. Williams). Measurement and Analysis of Memory Conflicts on Vector Multiprocessors (D.A. Calahan, D.H. Bailey). Measurements and Metrics. Performance Analysis on the CEDAR System (K.A. Gallivan et al.). The Livermore FORTRAN Kernels Test of the Numerical Performance Range (F.H. McMahon). PSIMUL - A System for Parallel Simulation of Parallel Systems (K. So et al.). Problem Related Performance Parameters for Supercomputers (R.W. Hockney). Methods, Models, and Directions. Graph Structured Performance Models (J.C. Browne, A.K. Adiga). Workload Characterization for Supercomputers (M. Calzarossa, G. Serazzi). Empirical Computer Performance Measurement (E.N. Miya). Performance Estimates for Applications: an Algebraic Framework (D. Muller-Wichards). Research Questions for Performance Analysis of Supercomputers (P.J. Denning, G.B. Adams III).
Effects of a Group Treatment Model for the Predivorced on Participants' Level of Ambivalence:

A group treatment model designed for individuals in the predivorce stage of the divorce process was designed and tested. The pretest-posttest experimental versus control group design was used to me...
First-principles vibrational studies of pentaerythritol crystal under hydrostatic pressure

Abstract First-principles calculations for the vibrational frequencies of the pentaerythritol crystal are presented, at ambient and hydrostatic pressure. The C rystal 03 program with the Hartree–Fock potential and B3LYP density functional were used with 6-31G and 6-31G ∗∗ basis sets, respectively. The calculated OH stretching mode vibrational frequencies using this approach are about 200 cm −1 lower using C rystal 03 than those calculated using the G aussian 98 program. The effect of hydrostatic pressure on vibrational frequencies is calculated and compared with experimental data, up to 4 GPa. The OH-stretching mode frequency decreased as a function of increasing pressure, in agreement with experiment.
Molecular medicine: the writing is on the vessel wall.

Using an integrated approach, it is possible to identify the molecular addresses on blood-vessel walls that are read by blood cells — and, at least in rats, to deliver imaging agents and drugs to specific tissues.
Conocimiento útil después de todo, la diversificación corporativa sí puede funcionar.

Concentrarse fue el mantra estrategico de la decada de los anos no- venta de las Juntas Directivas en Wall Street y en la academia. Pe- ro ahora, gracias a los nuevos descubrimientos de la investigacion, la forma de pensar en cuanto a la diversificacion corporativa ha ex- perimentado un giro sorprendente y esta nueva perspectiva tiene implicaciones para tareas tan dispares como la asignacion de recur- sos corporativos, la planeacion estrategica, el diseno de politicas gubernamentales y las inversiones personales. En este articulo el autor expone algunos consejos sobre como actuar frente a los nuevos descubrimientos en relacion con la diversificacion y la concentracion en los negocios.
Effects of storage and aging on properties of phosphofructokinase from jerusalem artichoke tubers.

The dramatic and complex metabolic changes which occur as a result of aerating tuber or storage root slices in dilute salt solutions (aging) include a rise in respiratory rate. The increased respiratory increment is sensitive to inhibition by malonate while the basal respiration of freshly prepared slices is insensitive to this inhibitor (12). There is other evidence that the increased respiration of aged tissue is due to release of inhibition of tricarboxylic acid cycle activity (6). Both pentose phosphate and Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas glycolytic pathway activities increase in aged root and tuber tissues (12), and an increase in the amount of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from aged slices of red beet roots has been observed (11). After a lag period, auxinmediated water uptake is associated with the respiratory rise of aged tissue (1). Phosphofructokinase plays a key role in regulation of the glycolytic pathway in plants as well as other organisms (4). The enzyme from higher plants differs from that isolated from animals, yeast and E. coli in that inhibition by ATP 'is not released by AMP or ADP; indeed, these nucleotides are inhibitory to the plant enzyme. Inorganic phosphate is proposed as the positive effector for plant phosphofructokinase (3).
The stigma of having an abortion: development of a scale and characteristics of women experiencing abortion stigma.

Context Although abortion is common in the United States, women who have abortions report significant social stigma. Currently, there is no standard measure for individual-level abortion stigma, and little is known about the social and demographic characteristics associated with it. Methods To create a measure of abortion stigma, an initial item pool was generated using abortion story content analysis and refined using cognitive interviews. In 2011, the final item pool was used to assess individual-level abortion stigma among 627 women at 13 U.S. Planned Parenthood health centers who reported a previous abortion. Factor analysis was conducted on the survey responses to reduce the number of items and to establish scale validity and reliability. Differences in level of reported abortion stigma were examined with multivariable linear regression. Results Factor analysis revealed a four-factor model for individual-level abortion stigma: worries about judgment, isolation, self-judgment and community condemnation (Cronbach's alphas, 0.8–0.9). Catholic and Protestant women experienced higher levels of stigma than nonreligious women (coefficients, 0.23 and 0.18, respectively). On the subscales, women with the strongest religious beliefs had higher levels of self-judgment and greater perception of community condemnation than only somewhat religious women. Additional differences were found by race, age, education, religiosity and motherhood status on the subscales. Conclusion This valid and reliable scale can be used in research examining abortion stigma and related outcomes (e.g., women's health, relationships and behavior). The scale can also be used to evaluate programs and interventions that aim to reduce the stigma experienced by women who have abortions.
The grammar of emotive and exclamatory sentences in English

This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation through Grant GN-534.1 from the Office of Science Information Service to the Computer and Information Science Research Center, The Ohio State University.
Postpartum Contraception Use by Urban/Rural Status: An Analysis of the Michigan Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Data.

Abstract Objective We sought to examine rural/urban differences in postpartum contraceptive use, which are underexplored in the literature. Methods We analyzed phase 5 (2004–2008) of the Michigan Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey. Using Rural–Urban Commuting Area codes and weighted multinomial logistic regression, we examined the association between self-reported postpartum contraceptive method and rural/urban residence among postpartum women not desiring pregnancy ( n = 6,468). Results Postpartum (mean, 16.5 weeks after delivery), 14.4% of respondents were using sterilization, 6.7% long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), 37.3% moderately effective hormonal methods, 38.4% less effective methods or no method, and 3.2% abstinence. Multivariable analysis yielded sporadic geographic patterns. Odds of method use varied significantly by age, parity, body mass index, and breastfeeding status. Not discussing contraception with a prenatal healthcare provider decreased odds of postpartum LARC use (odds ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.36–0.75). Number of prenatal visits and weeks since delivery were not associated with postpartum contraception method. Conclusions We did not observe strong variation in postpartum contraceptive use based on geography. Low uptake of highly effective contraception across rural and urban areas suggests a need for education and outreach regarding these methods.
The relevance of reliability and validity to usability testing

The authors argue that while usability testers have drawn on demonstrated practices from a variety of the social and clinical sciences in developing their methods, they have not concerned themselves with the reliability and validity of the data produced. The authors suggest that the concepts of reliability and validity are relevant to usability testing and that a concern for reliability and validity will enhance the credibility and effectiveness of usability testers. >
Implementation of a Standardized Process for Ordering and Dispensing of High-Alert Emergency Medication Infusions

OBJECTIVES Pharmacies encounter challenges when ensuring safe, timely medication dispensing to patients in the pediatric intensive care unit, when high-alert medications are needed in emergent situations. Removal of these medications from nursing stock presented challenges to providing timely administration to critical patients. The project's purpose was to develop a new method for reducing dispensing time while improving patient safety in pediatric intensive care units. METHODS A committee of physicians, nurses, a clinical pharmacist, and pharmacy administration collaborated for process development. The process established a list of compounded, ready-to-use infusions stored in the pharmacy, immediately available for dispensing. The dispensing mechanism includes ordering and dispensing processes using an “Urgent Drip Request” form. Most frequently ordered infusions (dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were added to automated dispensing cabinets in critical care units in concentrations that could be s...
Diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of follicular thyroid carcinoma

Background. There have been numerous studies concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, but relatively few addressing patients with follicular carcinoma. Methods. The authors analyzed their experience with 65 patients who underwent 96 thyroid operations for pure follicular thyroid carcinoma from 1956 to 1990. Results. The patients were 43 women and 22 men with a mean age of 45 years who were followed postoperatively for a mean of 10.4 years. Fifty-two patients (80%) were seen initially with a solitary thyroid nodule, and 24 (37%) had symptoms at presentation. Median tumor size was 2.2 cm. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed in 20 patients, revealing a follicular neoplasm in 18 patients (90%) and an inadequate specimen in 2 patients. Nineteen patients received thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-suppressive thyroid hormone therapy for an average of 4.5 months before surgery; tumor size remained the same in 10 patients (53%), increased in 5 (26%), and decreased in 2 (11%). At presentation, six patients had lymph node involvement, three had locally invasive tumors, and two had distant metastases. Initial operative treatment was lobectomy in 32 patients (49%), total thyroidectomy in 15 patients (23%), lobectomy plus contralateral partial or subtotal lobectomy in 11 patients (17%), and lesser procedures in 7 patients (11%). Twenty-nine patients had a completion total thyroidectomy, so that final surgical treatment consisted of total thyroidectomy in 44 patients (68%). Among 39 patients having intraoperative frozen section, only 3(8%) were correctly diagnosed as having cancer. Permanent complications occurred during 3 of the 96 operations. Three patients (5%) have died of thyroid cancer (one with anaplastic transformation) since thyroidectomy, and two are living with distant metastatic disease. Conclusions. Patients with follicular thyroid cancer, when first examined, usually have solitary thyroid nodules that are follicular neoplasms by aspiration cytology, and these nodules fail to regress in response to TSH-suppressive therapy. Frozen section rarely aids in management. The preferred treatment for follicular neoplasms is lobectomy followed by completion total thyroidectomy for histologically proven carcinomas larger than 1.0 cm. Total thyroidectomy allows use of thyroglobulin and radioiodine scanning to detect and treat metastatic disease. Complications of thyroidectomy were uncommon, and the mortality rate in treated patients was relatively low.
Layout Driven Decomposition with Congestion Consideration

We present a novel algorithm that applies physical layout information during common subexpression extraction to improve wiring congestion and delay, resulting in improved design closure. As feature sizes decrease and chip sizes increase, the traditional separation of physical design and logic synthesis proves to be increasingly detrimental. Interconnect delay and wiring congestion, among the most critical objective functions to meet design closure, are not considered during logic synthesis. On the other hand, physical design is too deep in the design process to be able to significantly restructure the already technology mapped netlist. While this problem has been addressed previously, the existing solutions only apply simple synthesis transforms during physical design. Hence they are generally unable to reverse decisions made during logic restructuring which have a major negative impact on the circuit structure. In our novel approach, we propose a layout driven algorithm for the concurrent extraction of common subexpressions, one of the most important steps that affect the overall circuit structure, and consequently congestion and wire length during logic synthesis. In addition, we consider dependency relations between cube divisors to improve the extraction process. As a result, our layout driven decomposition algorithm combines logic synthesis and physical layout information to effectively decrease wire length and improve congestion for improved design closure.
Orthodoxy, Heterodoxy, and the Structure of Value in Chinese Rituals:

Chinese religion is inseparable from the entire spectrum of discourses and texts (including, in addition to written and printed texts, all kinds of rituals, shamanism, architecture, economic transactions, knowledge, even daily conversation) through which meaning is produced, reproduced, and fought for, and in which individuals create themselves socially and (which amounts to the same thing) society socializes individuals. The meaning generated in all forms of symbolic action is premised on, and perpetuates, what is almost always an unspoken, usually unconscious epistemology. I take these to be among the central insights of the deconstructionist movement in Western academia (see, for example, Sturrock, 1979). An important corollary of this view of things is that such epistemologies and the institutions in which they are embodied and reproduced depend on suppressing consciousness of their own genesis in social reproduction. This suppression is not
Surface and bulk properties of cholesteryl stearate

Abstract We report for the first time temperature scanning density for a cholesteryl ester, as well as temperature scanning surface tension data on a sample of the same liquid crystal of known purity.
Radiation-induced life-shortening and premature aging

Publisher Summary Although it was generally recognized during the late 1950s and early 1960s that the definition of aging is an extremely difficult and perhaps impossible task, it seemed clear that such a definition is extremely important for the consideration of a hypothesis involving radiation-induced life-shortening. It was noted in 1939 that the death rate in chronically irradiated rats exceeded that for their unirradiated counterparts and that the irradiated rats looked old and decrepit and seemed to age more quickly than unirradiated rats. This has led to the hypothesis that radiation-induced life-shortening is mechanistically related to natural senescence. This chapter presents two experiments on the late somatic effects of radiation in mice with the focus on the above-mentioned hypothesis. The principal weight of evidence in its support is that radiation-induced life-shortening is not due to the induction of one or more specific diseases but due to the bringing forward in time of all the causes of death. Despite the broad acceptance of the hypothesis that radiation-induced life-shortening is described as a premature aging, occasional objections were raised and discussed. The chapter re-examines the hypothesis that radiation-induced life-shortening is equivalent to premature aging. The new hypothesis that is proposed is that radiation is a physical environmental toxic agent that induces or accelerates some but not all specific diseases, depending on the genetic susceptibility of the subject and the environmental conditions of the exposure.
The Efficacy and Safety of Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement Use To Prevent Cancer and Chronic Disease in Adults: A Systematic Review for a National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference

This background review supports the National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Panel statement on the use of multivitamin and mineral supplements.