cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lactose intolerance in the adolescent

What do Oriental adults, some American blacks, Eskimos, American Indians, American Jews, and some adolescents with abdominal pain have in common? The answer is lactose intolerance. An individual with lactose intolerance is unable to adequately digest a large lactose load equivalent to one or two quarts of milk. Approximately half of such lactose intolerant adults will have recognized that one or two glasses of milk will cause bloating, flatulence or a laxative effect (1). In these otherwise healthy adolescents and adults, this carbohydrate digestion problem is due to a postinfancy fall in intestinal lactase levels which is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Adults with isolated low lactase levels comprise over 90% of many populations including Orientals, Australian Aborigines, Peruvian Indians, American Indians, and certain Nigerian tribes believed to be the ancestors of many American Blacks. The prevalence of lactose intolerance is 70% in American blacks, 60% in American Jews and Mexican-Alnericans, and 10-15% in the U.S. white population who are of northwestern European or Scandinavian extraction (2). These otherwise healthy' people, who could drink large quantities of milk as children, are apparently genetically programed to have low intestinal lactase levels and to become milk: intolerant as adults. Do they first become aware of milk intolerance during teenage? Is lactose intolerance a factor in some teenagers with recurrent abdominal pain? Is this something to be considered in such patients? How can one test for lactose maldigestion in the adolescent? Is milk the appropriate protein-calcium source for all teenagers with special nutritional needs, such as pregnancy or illness? These are some of the ques-
A Pilot Trial of a Computerized Renal Template Note to Improve Resident Knowledge and Documentation of Kidney Disease

Background: Kidney disease is under-documented in physician notes. The use of template-guided notes may improve physician recognition of kidney disease early in training. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether a computerized inpatient renal template note with clinical decision support improves resident knowledge and documentation of kidney disease. Methods: In this prospective study, first year medical residents were encouraged to use the renal template note for documentation over a one-month period. The renal template note included an option for classification of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) categories with a link to standard classifications. Pre- and post-knowledge of AKI and CKD categories was tested with a quiz and surveys of resident experience with the intervention were conducted. Appropriate AKI and/or CKD classification was determined in 100 renal template notes and 112 comparable historical internal medicine resident progress notes from approximately one year prior. Results: 2,435 inpatient encounters amongst 15 residents who participated were documented using the renal template note. A significantly higher percent of residents correctly staged earlier stage CKD (CKD3) using the renal template note compared to historical notes (9/46 vs. 0/33, p<0.01). Documentation of AKI and more advanced CKD stages (CKD4 and 5) did not improve. Knowledge based on quiz scores increased modestly but was not significant. The renal template note was well received by residents and was perceived as helping improve knowledge and documentation of kidney disease. Conclusions: The renal template note significantly improved staging of earlier stage CKD (CKD3) with a modest but non-significant improvement in resident knowledge. Given the importance of early recognition and treatment of CKD, future studies should focus on teaching early recognition using template notes with supplemental educational interventions.
CYCLOPENT[bc]ACENAPHTHYLENE: A PUTATIVE INTERMEDIATE ON THE PATHWAY FOR THERMAL CYCLODEHYDROGENATION OF PHENANTHRENE

Phenanthrene, the archetypal “bay region” polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), loses two hydrogen atoms when subjected to flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) at 1100 °C and suffers a major skeletal rearrangement to form pyracylene (1), along with 1-, 3-, and 4-ethynylacenaphthylene (2, 3, and 4, respectively). Evidence is presented that implicates cyclopenta[bc]acenaphthylene (7) as a key intermediate on the reaction pathway from phenanthrene to these four C14H8 products.
Painless Ischemia Provoked by Mental Stress in the Coronary Care Unit

A 30-year-old man suffered a cardiac arrest after setting fire to his home. Continuous ST segment electrocardiographic monitoring in the Coronary Care Unit detected painless ST segment depression during an interview with a police officer. At angiography, the patient proved to have severe three-vessel coronary artery disease. This case demonstrates the clinical value of continuous ST segment monitoring in the ICU. In addition, the case illustrates that mental stress is a potential trigger for acute myocardial ischemia in the ICU.
Effect of centrally administered endothelin agonists on systemic and regional blood circulation in the rat: role of sympathetic nervous system

The aims of the present study were to determine (1) the hypotensive and regional circulatory effects of centrally administered endothelin (ET) ETA and ETB agonists, and (2) the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the mediation of hypotensive effects due to centrally administered ET-1. The systemic haemodynamics and regional blood circulation in urethane anaesthetized rats following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of ET-1, ET-2, SRT6b, ET-3 and SRT6c (10, 30 and 90 ng) were determined by a radioactive microsphere technique. The effect of centrally administered ET-1 on sympathetic nerve activity was also analysed. Systemic haemodynamics and regional blood circulation were determined before (baseline) and 30 min after administration of ET agonists. Cumulative administration of three doses of saline (5 microliters, i.c.v. at 30 min intervals) did not produce any significant cardiovascular effects. ET-1, ET-2 and SRT6b produced a decrease in blood pressure (51%, 47% and 41%, respectively) along with a decrease in cardiac output (58%, 60% and 45%, respectively) and stroke volume. Heart rate and total peripheral resistance were not affected. ET-1, ET-2 and SRT6b also produced a significant reduction in blood flow to the brain, kidneys, heart, portal, mesentery and pancreas, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and musculoskeletal system. The effect of ET-2 on the cardiovascular system was less intense in comparison with ET-1 and SRT6b. Centrally administered specific ETB receptor agonists ET-3 and SRT6c did not produce any change in systemic haemodynamics and regional blood flow. Centrally administered ET-1 (90 ng) produced a significant decrease (61%) in sympathetic nerve activity 30 min after drug administration, along with a fall in blood pressure. It is concluded that centrally administered ETA agonists produce significant cardiovascular effects mediating through the sympathetic nervous system.
Is there a disposition to avoid the fundamental attribution error

Abstract Two studies investigated the possibility that personality variables might relate to the magnitude of the cognitive attributional error. In the first, participants received either a pronuclear or anti-nuclear weapons essay, and were asked to rate the writer's personal beliefs (attitude attribution). As expected, certain Myers-Briggs Type Indicator indices of cognitive processing preferences did not predict variations in attribution in the Choice condition, but did so in the Constraint condition. In the Constraint condition, subjects expressing the Intuitive Thinking preference showed no significant attributional error (i.e., no tendency to rate in line with essay content). Other subjects in this condition showed the usual attributional error. These findings were generally replicated in the second study, which used the Constraint condition only. The Self-Monitoring scale was added as a predictor; it did not relate to the attributional error. It was suggested that measures of cognitive processing style may be more relevant to attribution than the various measures of sensitivity to environmental variation.
Local newspapers, House members, and source usage

Political communication scholarship has established the standard operating procedures for national media sourcing of government and politicians. The literature shows a strong reliance by the news media on official and national-level news sources that support the status quo. This paper investigates the less known subject of local newspaper sourcing practices on local House members. House members rely on the local media to communication with constituents but we have little insight into who provides the source material for coverage. Results show that local papers often parallel the national political media by depending on official and nonlocal sources for reporting ostensibly local political angles. Further, members’ press releases, papers’ size, and presence of a Washington bureau help explain local papers’ sourcing practices.
Deciphering transcription dysregulation in FSH muscular dystrophy

DUX4, a homeobox-containing gene present in a tandem array, is implicated in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a dominant autosomal disease. New findings about DUX4 have raised as many fundamental questions about the molecular pathology of this unique disease as they have answered. This review discusses recent studies addressing the question of whether there is extensive FSHD-related transcription dysregulation in adult-derived myoblasts and myotubes, the precursors for muscle repair. Two models for the role of DUX4 in FSHD are presented. One involves transient pathogenic expression of DUX4 in many cells in the muscle lineage before the myoblast stage resulting in a persistent, disease-related transcription profile ('Majority Rules'), which might be enhanced by subsequent oscillatory expression of DUX4. The other model emphasizes the toxic effects of inappropriate expression of DUX4 in only an extremely small percentage of FSHD myoblasts or myotube nuclei ('Minority Rules'). The currently favored Minority Rules model is not supported by recent studies of transcription dysregulation in FSHD myoblasts and myotubes. It also presents other difficulties, for example, explaining the expression of full-length DUX4 transcripts in FSHD fibroblasts. The Majority Rules model is the simpler explanation of findings about FSHD-associated gene expression and the DUX4-encoded homeodomain-type protein.
McCune-Albright syndrome presenting with unilateral macroorchidism and bilateral testicular masses

Bilateral synchronous intratesticular masses are rare but can be caused by metastatic disease to the testicle, primary testicular masses or benign etiologies such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia and granulomatous orchitis. We present an unusual case of McCune-Albright syndrome presenting with unilateral testicular enlargement and bilateral testicular masses secondary to Sertoli cell hyperplasia. To our knowledge, this is a unique case of testicular masses secondary to McCune-Albright syndrome.
A Investigation of the Pinch and Roll Process of Compressor Airfoil Manufacture

Abstract This paper is concerned with a scientific study of the pinch and roll process that is currently used to produce compressor blades for jet engines. The investigation jointly uses experimental data and validated 3-dimensional finite element analysis to improve the process. A unique data acquisition system was developed to gather process data as well as to improve the press set up for production runs. The data acquisition system provides process information such as die separation forces and displacements, and rotational die mismatch. Designed experiments were carried out on both the actual process and the simulations. The process experiments identified the intricacies of this complex process. The simulation experiments clarified the significant factors for proper simulations of the process. All of these methods of analysis are combined to improve the competitiveness of the pinch and roll process by improving the quality of the product while reducing the number of roll passes required, thus reducing the overall cost.
OXIDATIVE STABILITY, COOKING YIELD AND TEXTURE OF PORK TREATED WITH A LOW-SODIUM SALT

The effect of a low-sodium salt mixture (LSSM) on the characteristics of cooked ground pork was investigated. LSSM, similar to NaCl, exhibited a minor but definite prooxidative effect in the system examined. The cooking yield of meat containing 1% LSSM was 69.8% compared to 74.3% for 1% NaCl. The cooking yields of samples with 2 and 3% LSSM were similar to those containing 2 and 3% of NaCl, respectively (p > 0.05). Maximum shear force values of samples containing 1% LSSM and 1% NaCl were similar. However, the maximum shear force values of meats treated with LSSM at 2 and 3% LSSM (19.1 and 24.8 kg) were lower (P < 0.05) than those containing 2 and 3% NaCl (21.9 and 27.0 kg). Addition of LSSM or NaCl to ground pork also enhanced the cooking yield and firmness over those containing no salt. The color characteristics of cooked pork remained generally unaffected by LSSM.
Varieties of barbiturate-induced suppression burst activity in the cat.

Abstract Activity that appears to be analogous to human suppression burst activity was produced and studied in 11 cats. Three distinct types of activity were identified and arbitrarily labeled as types A, B, and C. Each showed a regular pattern of appearance and disappearance, as well as differential susceptibility to block by barbiturate. Type A was rhythmic activity resembling barbiturate spindles appearing in the early and late stages of a suppression burst episode. It was especially prominent after pentobarbital. Type B activity generally resembled ongoing background activity, except that it was periodically interrupted by brief periods of EEG suppression. Type C activity, brief pleomorphic spike bursts, dominated the EEG and was seen best against a virtually isoelectric recording. It was most resistant to suppression by barbiturate and disappeared from the spontaneous EEG. We suggest that suppression burst as ordinarily conceived is not a single EEG entity but has a substructure which deserves further study.
Estimation of the effect of differential fuel swelling

Abstract When there is a large difference between the core and rim temperatures of a fuel, the creep strength at the surface may be much greater, and the unrestricted swelling there may be much less than at the centre. In these circumstances appreciable pressures (100–500 lb/in 2 ) will exist near the centre. The swelling and the ratio of this central pressure to absolute temperature are functions of the product of the absolute temperature and the creep rate per unit stress and dose when the unrestrained swelling after a particular dose is given. For a material in the range 410°–500°C, a small homogeneous specimen of which would swell 20 per cent after 2000 MWD/T, this pressure would increase by about half in the absence of the surface tension restraint.
Changes in Scores on the Profile of Mood States following a Single Bout of Physical Activity: Heart Rate and Changes in Affect

28 college age students participating in a weight lifting class exhibited significant decreases in negative affect and increases in positive affect. Changes in affect were correlated with average exercise heart rates. Higher heart rates were correlated with reductions in negative affect and increases in positive affect. Correlations of .37 and .40 suggest that, in accordance with earlier studies, exercise intensity may be indirectly related to exercise.
Reduction of robust stabilization problems to standard H ∞ problems for classes of systems with structured uncertainty

We consider the problem of robustly stabilizing a family of linear time-invariant systems with a linear time-invariant controller. For classes of robust stabilization problems with unmodelled dynamics, recent breakthroughs in H^~ theory lead to solution via two Riccati equations. For systems with structured real uncertainty, however, a similar comprehensive theory does not exist. The objective of this paper is to delineate classes of linear time-invariant systems with structured uncertainty (either real or complex) for which a similar solution to the robust stabilization problem is possible. The theory has the following salient features. First, for classes of uncertainty structures, no conservatism is introduced. For structured real parametric uncertainty, we make a connection with H^~ theory that does not amount to any crude overbounding via complex discs; the stabilizability conditions we obtain are not only sufficient but also necessary. The second salient feature in the theory is a special weighting function which we construct. For example, for the case when the structured uncertainty enters only in the denominator, the robust stabilization problem is replaced by a standard H^~ sensitivity minimization problem with our special weighting function. A similar H^~ complementary sensitivity problem is associated with numerator uncertainty.
Ecological Risk Assessment and Regulation for Genetically-Modified Ornamental Plants

Classic plant breeding has increased the beauty and utility of ornamental plants, but biotechnology can offer completely new traits for plants used in homes and gardens. The creation of blue petal color in carnations and roses are examples where biotechnology has created novelty that conventional hybridization cannot match. However, all innovations have benefits and risks, and future commercialization of transgenic ornamental plants raises complex questions about potential negative impacts to managed landscapes and natural ecosystems. Predictive ecological risk assessment is a process that uses current knowledge to estimate future environmental harms or benefits arising from direct or indirect exposure to a genetically-modified (GM) plant, its genes, or gene products. This article considers GM ornamental plants in the context of current ecological risk assessment principles, research results, and current regulatory frameworks. The use of ecological risk assessment by government agencies to support decisio...
Regional catecholamine levels in brains of normal and ethanol-tolerant long-sleep and short-sleep mice.

Abstract The objective of this study was to further investigate neurochemicals which might modulate congenital differences in sensitivity to the acute and chronic effects of ethanol. Catecholamine levels were measured in the cortex, hippocampus, midbrain and cerebellum of long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) mice. These measurements revealed that norepinephrine (NE) levels were equivalent in all these brain regions of both strains except for a significantly greater concentration in the midbrain of LS mice. The hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum of SS mice contained more epinephrine (E) than for LS mice. Likewise, the hippocampus and cerebellum of SS mice had higher levels of dopamine (DA), while in the midbrain this amine was more abundant in LS mice. Following 7–10 days of ethanol ingestion, both LS and SS mice exhibited a significant reduction in the duration of ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex. This tolerant state was associated with a depletion of NE in the hippocampus and cortex of both strains. NE was also significantly reduced in the midbrain of LS and the cerebellum of SS mice. On the other hand, E levels were unaltered except for a reduction in the hippocampus of tolerant SS mice. DA levels declined in all brain regions of tolerant mice except for the cerebellum of LS mice and the midbrain of SS mice where a significant increase and no change in DA concentration was detected, respectively. Interestingly, the brain levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol were uniformly increased during the tolerant state for both strains. This suggests that the generalized reduction of brain catecholamines during the tolerant state is secondary to an enhanced activity of the neuronal pathways which these chemicals mediate.
Why do OR nurses return to school

Many nurses are going back to school to obtain their bachelor's degrees. We asked several operating room nurses who have returned to school to discuss their decisions to obtain a degree, their objectives in returning to school, their choice of program, and some of the frustrations and positive experiences of returning to school. Here are their thoughts.
Temperature Distribution during Friction Stir Spot Welding of Magnesium Alloy AM60B

This study investigated the effects of welding parameters on temperature distribution of magnesium alloy AM60B during Friction Stir Spot Welding (FSSW). The welding parameters included tool rotational velocity, plunge depth, and holding time. These parameters were selected from previous test results. The temperature distributions were measured with type-K thermocouples during FSSW with various welding parameter combinations. The measurement locations were placed along the centerline in longitudinal direction of the coupons. The temperature distributions during FSSW were also calculated with finite element analysis (FEA) for each combination of the welding parameters. The experimental results were compared with those obtained from FEA.
Development and Validation of a Risk Stratification Score for Ventral Incisional Hernia after Abdominal Surgery: Hernia Expectation Rates in Intra-Abdominal Surgery (The HERNIA Project)

Background Ventral incisional hernias (VIH) develop in up to 20% of patients after abdominal surgery. No widely applicable preoperative risk-assessment tool exists. We aimed to develop and validate a risk-assessment tool to predict VIH after abdominal surgery. Study Design A prospective study of all patients undergoing abdominal surgery was conducted at a single institution from 2008 to 2010. Variables were defined in accordance with the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project, and VIH was determined through clinical and radiographic evaluation. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was built from a development cohort (2008 to 2009) to identify predictors of VIH. The HERNIAscore was created by converting the hazards ratios (HR) to points. The predictive accuracy was assessed on the validation cohort (2010) using a receiver operator characteristic curve and calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Results Of 625 patients followed for a median of 41 months (range 0.3 to 64 months), 93 (13.9%) developed a VIH. The training cohort (n = 428, VIH = 70, 16.4%) identified 4 independent predictors: laparotomy (HR 4.77, 95% CI 2.61 to 8.70) or hand-assisted laparoscopy (HAL, HR 4.00, 95% CI 2.08 to 7.70), COPD (HR 2.35; 95% CI 1.44 to 3.83), and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 (HR1.74; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.91). Factors that were not predictive included age, sex, American Society of Anesthesioloigsts (ASA) score, albumin, immunosuppression, previous surgery, and suture material or technique. The predictive score had an AUC = 0.77 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.86) using the validation cohort (n = 197, VIH = 23, 11.6%). Using the HERNIAscore: HERNIAscore = 4∗Laparotomy+3∗HAL+1∗COPD+1∗ BMI ≥ 25, 3 classes stratified the risk of VIH: class I (0 to 3 points),5.2%; class II (4 to 5 points),19.6%; and class III (6 points), 55.0%. Conclusions The HERNIAscore accurately identifies patients at increased risk for VIH. Although external validation is needed, this provides a starting point to counsel patients and guide clinical decisions. Increasing the use of laparoscopy, weight-loss programs, community smoking prevention programs, and incisional reinforcement may help reduce rates of VIH.
Synthetic aperture radar processing by a multiple scale neural system for boundary and surface representation

Abstract A neural network model of boundary segmentation and surface representation is developed to process images containing range data gathered by a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor. The boundary and surface processing are accomplished by an improved Boundary Countour System (BCS) and Feature Countour System (FCS), respectively, that have been derived from analyses of perceptual and neurobiological data. BCS/FCS processing makes structures such as motor vehicles, roads, and buildings more salient and interpretable to human observers than they are in the original imagery. Early processing by ON cells and OFF cells embedded in shunting center-surround network models preprocessing by lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). Such preprocessing compensates for illumination gradients, normalizes input dynamic range, and extracts local ratio contrasts. ON cell and OFF cell outputs are combined in the BCS to define oriental filters that model corticla simple cells. Pooling ON and OFF outputs at simple cells overcomes complementary processing deficiencies of each cell type along concave and convex contours, and enhances simpl;e cell sensitivity to image edges. Oriented filter outputs are rectified and outputs sensitive to opposite contrast polarities are pooled to define complex cells. The complex cells output to stages of short-range spatial competition (or endstopping) and orientational competition among hypercomplex cells. Hypercomplex cells activate long-range cooperative bipole cells that begin to group image boundaries. Nonlinear feedback between bipole cells and hypercomplex cell segments image regions by cooperatively completing and regularizing the most favored boundaries while suppressing image noise and weaker boundary groupings. Boundary segmentation is performed by three copies of the BCS at small, medium, and large filter scales, whose subsequent interaction distances covary with the size of the filter. Filling-in of multiple surface representations occurs within the FCS at each scale via a boundary-gated diffusion process. Diffusion is activated by the normalized LGN ON and OFF outputs within ON and OFFfilling-in domains. Diffusion is restricted to the regions defined by gating signals from the corresponding BCS boundary segmentation. The filled-in opponent ON and OFFsignals are subtracted to form double opponent surface representations. These surface representations are shown by any of three methods to be sensitive to both image ratio contrasts and background luminance. The three scales of surface representation are then added to yield a final multiple-scale output. The BCS and FCS are shown to perform favorably in comparison to several other techniques for speckle removal.
Chandra and his students at Yerkes Observatory

S. Chandrasekhar’s interactions with graduate students in his more than a quarter century at Yerkes Observatory are described. His graduate teaching, Ph.D. thesis students, colloquia and colloquium series, and seminar series were all important aspects of this side of his scientific research career. His managing editorship ofThe Astrophysical Journal, his one experience in observational astrophysics, a second paper he wrote describing some of the early observational work at Yerkes Observatory, and a third on “the case for astronomy” are all discussed. A famous myth about one of his courses is corrected, and the circumstances under which the “S. Candlestickmaker” parody was written are recounted. Chandra’s computers, recruited in the Williams Bay community, are mentioned. A complete or nearly complete table of all the thesis students who received their Ph.D. degrees under his supervision, at Yerkes and on the campus in Chicago up through his last one in Astronomy and Astrophysics in 1973, is presented, with references to their published thesis papers.
Temperature dependent X-ray observations of TTF-TCNQ

Abstract Single crystal X-ray oscillation photographs of the organic solid TTF-TCNQ have been recorded at temperatures above and below the conductivity maximum. No evidence of a multiplicative enlargement of the unit cell in a direction parallel to the conducting chains has been observed.
Nuclear expression of an environmentally friendly synthetic protein based polymer gene in tobacco cells

We report here expression of a protein based polymer gene (Gly-Val-Gly-Val-Pro)121, coding for three amino acids in a pentamer sequence repeated 121 times via the nuclear genome of tobacco cells. Transformed tobacco cells were obtained by particle bombardment. Stably transformed cells show the presence of the polymer gene in the tobacco nuclear genome (2–5 copies); introduced polymer gene is transcribed efficiently as revealed by Northern blots; Western blots show the presence of the polymer protein. To the best of our knowledge, this report represents the first demonstration of expression of a synthetic gene (with no natural analog) in higher plants.
Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering As A Probe In Reactive Media

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) has become a very powerful tool in the measurement of temperature and concentrations in practical combustion environments. The technique is also proving to be useful in the study of other types of reactive media including plasmas, photodissociation studies, and excited-state relaxations. This paper reviews several research areas involving reactive or transient species where the spectral and temporal properties of CARS have been exploited.
Electron donor-acceptor orbital correlations. III. Syn and anti correlation schemes for cofacial complexes of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarbonitrile with some aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract Correlations of two highest bonding and two lowest anti-bonding π-orbitals of tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) with the corresponding orbitals of some aromatic donors are examined for cofacial complex isomers of C 2v and C 5 symmetry. It is concluded that C 2v isomers behave either as exciplexes (benzene, pyrene), “weak” complexes (anthracene) or as EDA complexes (naphthalene), whereas in lower C 5 symmetry all these systems are predicted to have relatively stable ground states.
Rubber dam use during post placement influences the success of root canal-treated teeth.

Abstract Introduction Salivary leakage after root canal therapy is of great concern and can lead to failure of the endodontic therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of a rubber dam (RD) during post placement impacts the success of root canal–treated teeth. Methods Retrospective chart reviews of 185 patients with an average recall of 2.7 years were assessed for the incidence of a new periapical lesion (periapical index score >2) after root canal therapy and post placement. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of an RD clamp in the verification radiograph during post placement. Results Twenty-six patients (30 teeth) had a post placed with the use of an RD, and 159 patients (174 teeth) had a post placed without an RD. In the non-RD group, 128 (73.6%) teeth were considered successful at follow-up. In the RD group, 28 (93.3%) teeth were considered successful at follow-up. Based on the bivariate GEE model, the difference in success between these 2 groups was statistically significant ( P = .035). Conclusions The use of an RD during prefabricated post placement provides a significantly higher success rate of root canal–treated teeth. Using an RD is already considered a standard of care for nonsurgical root canal therapy; in addition, using an RD during restorative procedures that involve open teeth should also become a standard of care.
Fast Competitive Reactions in Taylor−Couette Flow

Similarity parameters are derived to correlate the selectivity of mixing controlled parallel reactions within Taylor−Couette reactors. For the common case of laminar reactant feed the Kolmogoroff time is shown to correlate selectivity in turbulent, Taylor−Couette flows provided the reactor Reynolds number Re ReC, the inertial time scale defined in terms of a reactor feed length is shown to correlate selectivity. The latter scaling law is used to correlate the present data and for comparison with similar stirred tank data. The advantages of the Taylor−Couette geometry are discussed. Attempts to improve selectivity with rotor-generated cavitation, however, were unsuccessful.
Computational Analysis of Marine-Propeller Performance Using Transition-Sensitive Turbulence Modeling

Almost all computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of flow around marine propellers use turbulence models that are only well suited for fully turbulent flows, which in some cases may lead to accuracy degradation in the prediction of propeller performance characteristics. The discrepancy between computed thrust and torque and corresponding experimental data increases with increasing propeller load. This is due in part to the fact that a large laminar flow region is found to exist and turbulence transition takes place on propeller blades of model scale and/or under high-load conditions. In these cases, it may be necessary to consider boundary-layer transition to obtain accurate results from CFD simulations. The objective of this work is to perform simulations of a marine propeller using a transition-sensitive turbulence model to better resolve the propeller flow characteristics. Fully turbulent flow simulations are also performed for comparison purposes at various propeller load conditions. Computational results are analyzed and compared with water-tunnel and open-water experimental data. It is found that the applied transition-sensitive turbulence model is better able to resolve blade-surface stresses, flow separations, and tip-vortex originations, and, consequently, improve the prediction accuracy in propeller performance, especially under high-load conditions. Furthermore, solutions obtained using the transition-sensitive turbulence model show tip-vortex flows of higher strength, whereas results by the standard k-x SST turbulence model indicate excessive dissipation of the vortex core. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4005729] Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations employing Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models have made considerable contributions to propeller theory and become useful tools for propeller design and analysis. Among many unresolved issues in RANS calculations of marinepropeller performance, turbulence transition has been recognized as a key factor directly associated with viscous effects of propeller flows, such as boundary-layer development, scale effects, and tip and hub vortices. Nevertheless, few, if any, RANS calculations in the open literature have been performed that consider laminar-toturbulent transition in marine-propeller simulations. The objective of this study is to perform marine-propeller CFD simulations using both fully turbulent and transition-sensitive eddy-viscosity turbulence models, and to compare the results between the two approaches. Results are also compared to experimental data to determine whether or not boundary-layer transition plays an important role in the calculation of performance characteristics, and
Microelectrode analysis of light responses in the brain of the cricket (Gryllus domesticus).

Electrical activity in response to light stimuli was recorded from the brain of the cricket (Gryllus domesticus) using stainless steel microelectrodes. Four basic types of elements were observed as follows: (1) units which registered ambient light intensity by frequency of firing as well as responding with transient changes in rate to stepwise increases or decreases in intensity; (2) units which fired at a higher frequency in dark than in light; (3) units which fired continuously at low level in light and responded with a transient high frequency burst to light off; and (4) units which responded with a brief burst to on and off, but tended to be “on-dominant” or “off-dominant.” Also observed were synchronized spikes in mushroom body responding primarily to light off, but also on occasion to light on, and often accompanied by single unit responses. The units registering intensity are probably homologous with units showing similar properties recorded from the visual systems of several other arthropods and usually referred to as “sustaining units.” On-off, off, and dark units are also known from other forms. The mushroom body light responses were similar to synchronized spikes recorded in cockroach mushroom body following antennal stimulation.
SPIL: A language for construction of reliable system software

Structured programming is gaining wide acceptance as a technique for increasing the reliability and understandability of software. Nowhere is the need for better software felt more keenly than in the area of systems programming. In the near future it is likely that systems will be programmed in structured programming languages, just as systems have been programmed in higher level languages in the past.This paper describes SPIL: a structured programming language intended to be used for system design and implementation. The paper discusses how the objectives of structured programming and system programming may be realized in a programming language, and delineates the influence of the objectives on the design of SPIL. The most important features of the language are briefly described. The paper concludes by evaluating SPIL as a language for system design and implementation.
SRAM cell design using tri-state devices for SEU protection

A new SRAM cell model, SRAMT, is presented providing a scalable solution to soft error for various energy levels of protection with minimal power consumption and write time penalties. Our model is based on a classic 6 transistor inner core SRAM cell and an outer core consisting of enhanced tri-state inverters. The outer core will absorb a particle strike at a sensitive node of the SRAM cell without a major impact on write time performance or area overhead. The model provides an on-demand protection due to the fact that the outer core can be shut off during non-essential operating mode. The on-demand aspect of the design provides a much more favorable power consumption overhead compared to the existing hardening technique. The gains in power consumption overhead reduction increase as we scale down the process technology from 90nm to 32nm. We simulated extensively our model and provided results for various energy levels of soft error protection. We also compared our method to the standard hardening technique in terms of layout area, performance and power consumption overhead for for 90nm, 65nm, 45nm and 32nm process technologies.
Photodetector Arrays For Optical Processing

Significant advances have been made in recent years in the development of photodetector arrays for optical processing applications. The dynamic range of optical processors has been until now limited mainly by photodetector arrays. Detector performance issues and developments in detector arrays for optical processing are reviewed with emphasis on time-integrating arrays. A first report of a 60 dB dynamic range photodetector array developed at Loral Fairchild Imaging Sensors is also presented.
An α-helix determines the DNA-binding specificity of a repressor

Abstract We redesigned the bacteriophage-434 repressor so that its ‘DNA recognition' α-helix was replaced by the corresponding α-helix of another DNA-binding protein. The binding specificity of the resulting hybrid repressor was that of the protein that donated its α-helix.
Integrated design and new product success

Abstract Do integrated approaches to design promote the commercial success of new products? Data from 126 U.S. manufacturers were used to test five hypotheses in a structural model of integrated design approaches which go beyond concurrent engineering. New product success was significantly associated with market need understanding which incorporates information, significantly, from integrated design into new product development. Integrated design was found to be significantly associated with early-mover strategy, benchmarking best practices and, to a lesser extent, customized or proprietary hardware-software systems.
Integrated microinstrumentation systems: smart peripherals for distributed sensing and control

The diagram of a typical microinstrumentation system is shown. With software-based digital compensation, the individual precision trimming of each front-end analog circuit block is replaced with a single end-to-end characterization of the chain, lowering overall system cost and changing circuit requirements. A monolithic mass flowmeter front-end containing sensors for flow rate, direction, gas type, pressure, and temperature is shown. Also shown is a micromachined 16-channel CMOS probe for the study of biological neural nets and for use in neural prostheses. In addition, a multielement gas analyzer front-end, consisting of two dual element gas detectors and an interface chip that controls the temperatures of ultrathin gas-sensitive metal films from ambient to over 1000 degrees C, is shown. >
Suspended sediment and hydrodynamics above mildly sloped long wave ripples

[1] We investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of suspended sediment and the associated hydrodynamics over mildly sloped long wave ripples on the inner shelf. These bedforms had wavelengths of approximately 1 m and heights of approximately 5 cm, in a mean water depth of 4 m. The vertical and temporal structures of the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) are consistent with the entrainment of sediment on the offshore flank of the ripple, and rapid vertical mixing at the time of flow reversal, followed by advection onshore by the onshore fluid motion. This work confirms that the mechanism for sediment suspension above low-amplitude, long wave ripples is similar to the vortex formation process expected over steeper vortex ripples. Numerical simulations of the flow using the Dune2d model indicate that a separated rotational flow structure is generated at the flank of the ripple on the seaward side of the ripple crest, near the time of flow reversal. The simulations indicate that only one vortex is formed during each wave period, in agreement with the field observations. This asymmetry is due mainly to the presence of an offshore mean near-bed current of approximately 6 to 8 cm/s. The SSC is calculated by the model and compared to the field observations. A hydraulic bed roughness of 10 to 15 median grain diameters (d50) was used in order to match the model prediction to the observed SSC approximately 1 cm above the seabed (cab). However, the modeled SSC and turbulent kinetic energy were significantly lower than the field observations at elevations exceeding approximately 2 cab.
Medication and the elderly. Issues of prescription and use.

Use of medication has become an increasingly important issue in the health and health care of older populations. The demographic changes resulting in greater numbers of individuals 65 and over. accompanied by a higher prevalence of chronic disease, focus attention on prescription and over-the-counter drugs, the major strategy in treatment regimens for these conditions. In addition. the numbers of new and powerful drugs being developed increase daily. This article reviews and evaluates existing information on the prevalence of medication use and adverse drug reactions. It examines the role of physicians and patients in occurrence and management of side effects of drugs and in patterns of prescription and use. Following this, it identifies areas of research necessary to address the gaps in the current state of knowledge in these areas and discusses the need for strong and substantial information about this essential therapeutic strategy in health care for older people.
Determining the Efficiency of Ice Cream Mix Pasteurization through the Use of the Phosphatase Test

Summary 1. Using the phosphatase test, as modified by Scharer, it was found possible to detect variations in the time and temperature of pasteurization of ice cream mixes, provided they had not been colored or flavored. 2. The use of all raw or partially pasteurized milk products in building a mix had no effect on the final phenol value, if the mix was pasteurized at temperatures of 150° F. or above. However, at temperatures of 147° F. or below, the mix made from all raw milk products gave a considerably higher final phenol value than in the case of the mix made from partially pasteurized milk products. 3. Subjecting raw milk and ice cream mix made from all raw milk products to the same heat treatment by heating to temperatures of 150° F. or above and holding for 30 minutes resulted in the same final phenol value for both the milk and mix. Temperatures below 150° F. resulted in a higher final phenol value for the ice cream mix than that of the milk. 4. The condensing process decreased the amount of phosphatase enzyme present. 5. Increasing the serum solids content of the mix had no effect on the final phenol value when the mix was pasteurized at 150° F. for 30 minutes. 6. Storing pasteurized, unflavored and uncolored ice cream mix at 40° F. for a period of two weeks did not appreciably alter the phenol value. 7. Storing unflavored and uncolored ice cream at −20° F. over a period of twelve weeks resulted in marked decreases in the phenol values of all the samples except those made from mix samples taken 20, 25 and 30 minutes after reaching 150° F. The samples heated for a period of time less than 20 minutes, however, still showed sufficient phenol content for them to be considered underpasteurized. 8. Pure vanilla had no effect on the phenol value while artificial and imitation vanilla compounds caused a slight increase and coumarin and vanillin caused appreciable increases in the phenol value of the mix. 9. Flavoring extracts (other than vanilla) added to the mix did not appreciably alter the phenol value, while the addition of “Cold-Pak” fruits increased the phenol value. 10. The addition of coloring material to ice cream mix in many instances affected the phenol value unless the coloring matter was precipitated with the protein upon the addition of the lead acetate. This, however, was not always possible. 11. Tests run on commercial samples of ice cream mix gave indication of complete pasteurization in all but one case.
State estimation for high-dimensional chemical processes

Abstract The application of conventional observer designs for high-dimensional systems may not always be practical due to high computational requirements or the resulting observers being too sensitive to measurement noise. In order to address these issues, this paper presents two observer design techniques for state estimation of high-dimensional chemical processes. One technique is used for systems with inputs, whereas the other one is specifically geared towards systems that are not excited from the outside. Both of these observers are applicable to linear and with a modification to non-linear systems. The main idea behind the presented observer designs is that a reduced-order observer is implemented instead of a conventional state estimator. The motivation is that subspaces, which are close to being unobservable, cannot be correctly reconstructed in a realistic setting due to measurement noise and inaccuracies in the model. The presented approaches make use of this observation and only reconstruct the parts of the system where accurate state estimation is possible. The observer designs are illustrated on a 30-tray distillation column model. Additionally, it has been shown that the location of process measurements has a major effect on the performance of the presented reduced-order observers.