cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
105. VITALS ARE VITAL

Background In our pediatric clinic, there were repeated cases of ill patients failing to receive care in a timely fashion. Our clinic is the continuity site for our pediatric residency program, and a site for family med interns and med students. Using a fishbone diagram, residents and nurses outlined problems and areas for improvement. One major area identified was accuracy/completeness of vital signs. Chart review pre-intervention showed that 0% of patients had a full set of vitals for acute and well visits. Vital signs are essential, giving providers objective data to help determine the level of acuity. Insufficient/inaccurate vital signs can lead to poor patient care. An intervention was designed to address this problem. Aim Statement To increase the percentage of patients in our clinic with a full set of vitals during well and acute visits from 0% to 80% over a 2-month time period. Interventions Pre-intervention, nurses were using a card that indicated which vitals to check for each visit type. No visit types included a full set of vitals. A new evidence-based protocol for vital signs was created. We identified a nurse leader who was key for execution. A fact sheet was created to explain the updated expectations. The new protocol was introduced at a meeting with the nurses. A vital signs manual, with instructions for proper techniques, normal ranges by age and references used, was provided. The new protocol stated: a full set of vitals (Wt/Ht/Temp/BP/HR/RR) should be taken for all well and acute visits, with BP excluded for patients less than 3 years with a few exceptions. A month later, a 2nd meeting was held to reestablish the expectations and discuss problems nurses had identified, e.g. the need for more equipment. This project received exemption from our local IRB. Measures Charts for all acute and well visits were reviewed from 3 one-week time periods to determine the percentage of patients with a full set of vitals: pre-intervention, 1-week post-intervention, and 7 weeks post-intervention. Results There was an increase from 0% to a median of 52% and 44% for well and acute visits, respectively, over 2 months (see run charts). Conclusions and Next Steps This protocol can easily be applied in any outpatient clinic setting. We will explore further interventions, such as using the EMR to prompt nurses and posting signs. Additionally, we will begin skills sessions led by nurses to further ensure consistency/accuracy of vital signs.
Chapter 3—Fatigue Damage Mechanisms

This book provides practicing engineers, researchers, and students with a working knowledge of the fatigue design process and models under multiaxial states of stress and strain. Readers are introduced to the important considerations of multiaxial fatigue that differentiate it from uniaxial fatigue.
Giant Actinomyces brain abscess in an immunocompetent child: A management strategy.

Background Intraparenchymal brain abscess is a collection of microbes caused by inoculation through direct extension or hematogenous spread. Although rare, intraparenchymal abscesses are potentially fatal and can be detected when patients are symptomatic due to local mass effect on adjacent neural tissue. Brain abscess treatment includes medical management with appropriate antibiotics alone or medical management in combination with surgical debridement. Treatment strategies depend on the size and location of disease, as well as the virulence of the microorganism. Similar to medical management strategies, surgical strategies among providers are not uniform, with variation in approaches from complete extirpation of the abscess, including the abscess wall, to minimally invasive stereotactic needle aspiration. In particular, for children, there are no guidelines for therapy. Case Description We report a case of giant Actinomycosis right frontal brain abscess in an immunocompetent child without risk factors. A review of the literature for the treatment of brain abscess caused very rarely by Actinomyces in children is performed. Conclusion Successful treatment of brain access depends on organism and location. The even more uncommon giant intraparenchymal abscesses can be managed with minimal access and prolonged antibiosis, especially when slow-growing organisms are identified. Long-term follow-up should be employed to mitigate missed late failures.
Parkinsonism-Hyperpyrexia Syndrome in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinsonism-hyperpyrexia syndrome (PHS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PHS was first described in 1981 and has been reported in dozens of cases since then. The clinical presentation of PHS includes hyperpyrexia, rigidity, altered consciousness, dysautonomia, leukocytosis, and elevated creatine kinase. Although PHS and NMS are phenotypically nearly identical, PHS is a distinct entity in that it is triggered by removal or effective loss of dopaminergic therapy in a parkinsonian patient. The mainstay of PHS treatment is rapid replacement of effective anti-parkinsonian therapy. While abrupt levodopa withdrawal is the classic trigger of PHS, a variety of other inciting scenarios have been described. The pathophysiology underlying PHS is generally accepted to be a hypo-dopaminergic state, and its clinical features can be explained as sequelae of central dopamine depletion. PHS is a neurological emergency, with significant morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and rapid reintroduction of anti-parkinsonian medications are keys to the successful management of this syndrome.
Vertical coupled-cavity surface emitting laser diodes

We report the first electrically injected vertical coupled-cavity surface emitting laser (VCCSEL) and demonstrate two methods for chirpless modulation of the laser. Cleaved coupled-cavity (C/sup 3/) devices have been used to achieve mode suppression and frequency stabilization in edge-emitting lasers (Tsang et al, 1983). Using composite resonators within a vertical cavity laser opens up new possibilities due to the unique ability to: (i) tailor the coupling between the cavities; (ii) dynamically modify the cavity interaction; and (iii) incorporate passive or active resonators which are spectrally degenerate or slightly detuned. Previous photopumping studies of VCCSELs have demonstrated three mode coupling (two photonic and one excitonic) (Stanley et al, 1994), dual wavelength emission (Michler et al, 1997), and short pulse generation (Pellandrin et al, 1997). Our simulations show that VCCSELs can be utilized to control spectral and temporal properties within the laser. In the paper, we show two methods for "external" laser modulation arising from novel cavity coupling phenomena.
Oswald de Andrade e André Breton. Paixões loucas, loucos textos

Resumo Uma comparacao do album de garconniere de Oswald de Andrade, O Perfeito Cozinheiro das Almas Deste Mundo , de 1918, com o romance Nadja , de 1926, por Andre Breton. Ambas as obras documentam encontros inesperados na cidade com uma musa, Oswald com Miss Ciclone e Breton com Nadja, onde a jovem encanta o narrador, que transforma a experiencia em escritura e os corpos em livros.
Regulation of induced colonic inflammation by Lactobacillus acidophilus deficient in lipoteichoic acid

Imbalance in the regulatory immune mechanisms that control intestinal cellular and bacterial homeostasis may lead to induction of the detrimental inflammatory signals characterized in humans as inflammatory bowel disease. Induction of proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-12) induced by dendritic cells (DCs) expressing pattern recognition receptors may skew naive T cells to T helper 1 polarization, which is strongly implicated in mucosal autoimmunity. Recent studies show the ability of probiotic microbes to treat and prevent numerous intestinal disorders, including Clostridium difficile-induced colitis. To study the molecular mechanisms involved in the induction and repression of intestinal inflammation, the phosphoglycerol transferase gene that plays a key role in lipoteichoic acid (LTA) biosynthesis in Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (NCK56) was deleted. The data show that the L. acidophilus LTA-negative in LTA (NCK2025) not only down-regulated IL-12 and TNFα but also significantly enhanced IL-10 in DCs and controlled the regulation of costimulatory DC functions, resulting in their inability to induce CD4+ T-cell activation. Moreover, treatment of mice with NCK2025 compared with NCK56 significantly mitigated dextran sulfate sodium and CD4+CD45RBhighT cell-induced colitis and effectively ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium-established colitis through a mechanism that involves IL-10 and CD4+FoxP3+ T regulatory cells to dampen exaggerated mucosal inflammation. Directed alteration of cell surface components of L. acidophilus NCFM establishes a potential strategy for the treatment of inflammatory intestinal disorders.
Role of echocardiography in evaluation of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: experience in 103 patients.

Abstract Objectives. The purpose of this prospective study was to examine the role of echocardiography in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). Background. The reported incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) among patients with SAB varies widely. Distinguishing patients with uncomplicated bacteremia from those with IE is therapeutically and prognostically important, but often difficult. Methods. One hundred-three consecutive patients undergoing both transthoracic (TTE) echocardiography and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography were prospectively evaluated. All patients presented with fever and ≥1 positive blood culture and were followed up for 12 weeks. Results. Although predisposing heart disease was present in 42 patients (41%), clinical evidence of infective endocarditis (IE) was rare (7%). TTE revealed anatomic abnormalities in 33 patients, but vegetations in only 7 (7%), and was considered indeterminate in 19 (18%). TEE identified vegetations in 22 patients (aortic valve in 5, mitral valve in 9, tricuspid valve in 4, catheter in 2 and pacemaker in 2, abscesses in 2, valve perforation in 1 and new severe regurgitation in 1; 26 total [25%]). Using Duke criteria for the diagnosis of IE, definite IE was present in 26 patients (25%). Clinical findings and predisposing heart disease did not distinguish between patients with and without IE. The sensitivity of TTE for detecting IE was 32%, and the specificity was 100%. The addition of TEE increased the sensitivity to 100%, but resulted in one false positive result (specificity 99%). TEE detected evidence of IE in 19% of patients with a negative TTE and 21% of patients with an indeterminate TTE. At follow-up, cure of staphylococcal infection occurred in a similar percentage of patients with and without IE (77% and 75%, respectively). However, death due to sepsis was significantly more likely among patients with IE (4 of 26 [15%]) than among those without IE (2 of 77 [3%]) (p = 0.03). Conclusions. Our results suggest that IE is common among patients admitted to the hospital with SAB and is associated with an increased risk of death due to sepsis. TEE is essential to establish the diagnosis and to detect associated complications. Therefore, the test should be considered part of the early evaluation of patients with SAB.
Human Skin Mast Cell Carboxypeptidase: Functional Characterization, cDNA Cloning, and Genealogy

We functionally characterized human skin mast cell carboxypeptidase A (MC-CPA), and explored its evolutionary relationship to other carboxypeptidases to understand further the structural basis for the substrate preferences of this enzyme. Purified human skin MC-CPA displayed more activity than did bovine pancreatic carboxypeptidase A (CPA) against carboxyl-terminal leucine residues, about equal activity with phenylalanine and tyrosine residues, and no activity with tryptophan or alanine. To correlate kinetic data with structure, we isolated and sequenced a cDNA encoding MC-CPA from human skin, and directly sequenced 30% of the purified protein. These sequences agreed with that of human lung MC-CPA, and further support the evidence for a single MC-CPA gene in humans. Four amino acid replacements, resulting in a net positive change in non-hydrogen atoms in the S1' subsite of MC-CPA, were associated with less alteration in substrate specificity, relative to bovine CPA, than might be expected from studies using rat CPA1 and CPA2. We noted two consensus N-linked glycosylation sites in human MC-CPA that are not found in rat and mouse MC-CPA, or in bovine CPA; that at least one of these sites is glycosylated in vivo was verified by N-glycosidase F treatment, lentil lectin binding, and Concanavalin A–Sepharose chromatography. Evolutionary trees constructed from the known carboxypeptidase sequences suggested that MC-CPA most likely evolved from a carboxypeptidase B-like enzyme, independent of the pancreatic CPA. Thus, in the carboxypeptidase gene family, MC-CPA displays a unique genealogy and several amino acid replacements in its S1' binding pocket that result in substrate specificity quite similar to bovine CPA.
Discrimination of normal and atherosclerotic aorta by laser-induced fluorescence

Precise targeting of laser energy to atherosclerotic plaque is crucial for the safe performance of laser angioplasty. The present study was designed to evaluate whether laser-induced fluorescence could distinguish atherosclerotic from normal aorta. Segments of human aorta obtained at necropsy were classified grossly and histologically as normal aorta (n = 7), thin yellow fatty plaque (n = 5), and thick white atheromatous plaque (n = 9), and analyzed by laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy using a pulsed nitrogen laser. Fluorescence spectra were recorded over a wavelength range from 385 to 725 nm. Normal specimens had maximal fluorescence intensity at 514 nm. A prominent fluorescence peak at 448 nm was present in specimens characterized as white atheromatous plaque and at 538 nm in specimens characterized as yellow fatty plaque. The ratios of fluorescence intensity at 448 nm/514 nm and at 538 nm/514 nm correctly classified all specimens according to their gross and histologic type (p less than .001). Thus, a "smart" laser angioplasty catheter system might incorporate low-power laser radiation for arterial fluorescence spectroscopy to guide delivery of high-power laser radiation for plaque ablation.
Characterization of an unusual folding pattern in a catalytically active guanine quadruplex structure.

In the presence of certain metal ions, DNA and RNA can form guanine quadruplex structures, which have been proposed to play a functional role in a variety of biological processes. An 18-nucleotide DNA oligomer, PS2.M, d(GTG3TAG3CG3T2G2), was previously reported to bind hemin and the resulting complex exhibited peroxidase activity. It was proposed that PS2.M folds unimolecularly into an antiparallel quadruplex with unusual, single-base loops and terminal guanines positioned in adjacent quartets. Here we describe structural and stability properties of PS2.M alone in different buffers and metal ions, using gel electrophoresis, circular dichroism (CD), ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopies, and one-dimensional 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Native gel behavior of PS2.M in the presence of either Na+ or Pb2+ suggests the formation of unimolecular structures but, in the presence of K+, both unimolecular and multistranded structures are observed. In the presence of Pb2+ ions, PS2.M forms a unimolecular quadruplex containing three guanine quartets. CD titrations reveal that binding of Pb2+ ions to PS2.M is stoichiometric, and a single lead cation suffices to fully fold PS2.M. The PS2.M–Na+ system also forms a similar unimolecular quadruplex. In the presence of K+, the PS2.M–K+ system forms mixed species. With increasing time and PS2.M concentration, the contribution of unimolecular species decreases while that of multimolecular species increases, and this behavior is independent of buffer media. These results suggest that the catalytically active form, studied in the presence of K+, may be a parallel, multistranded quadruplex rather than an antiparallel, unimolecular quadruplex. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 82:558–569, 2006 This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Jackknife empirical likelihood tests for error distributions in regression models

Regression models are commonly used to model the relationship between responses and covariates. For testing the error distribution, some classical test statistics such as Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Cramer-von-Mises test suffer from the complicated limiting distribution due to the plug-in estimate for the unknown parameters. Hence some ad hoc procedure such as bootstrap method is needed to obtain critical points. Recently, Khmaladze and Koul (2004) [7] have proposed an asymptotically distribution free test via some Martingale transforms. However, the calculation of such a test becomes quite involved, which usually requires numeric integration when the Cramer-von-Mises type of test is employed. In this paper we propose a novel jackknife empirical likelihood method which is easy to compute and has a chi-square limit so that critical values are ready at hand. A simulation study confirms that the new test has an accurate size and is powerful too.
An investigation of the generalizability of the Houghton and Neck Revised Self‐Leadership Questionnaire to a Chinese context

Purpose – Seeks to examine the psychometric properties and construct validity of the Houghton and Neck Revised Self‐Leadership Questionnaire (RSLQ) in a Chinese context.Design/methodology/approach – The RSLQ was administered to 559 Chinese employees of a large petroleum transportation company. Analyses included reliability assessments, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and tests of association with creativity and performance.Findings – The RSLQ did not uniformly generalize to a Chinese context. The best fitting model included the self‐leadership dimensions of goal‐setting, visualizing successful performance, self‐talk, self‐reward, and self‐punishment. The modified RSLQ was positively associated with creativity and in‐role performance.Research limitations/implications – Although this study supports some components of self‐leadership generalizing to a Chinese context, the results suggest that further validation work is required on the RSLQ.Practical implications – Managers will be well served t...
Serotonin accumulation by skeletal muscle

Abstract The properties of serotonin accumulation by rat extensor digitorum longus muscles have been characterized. No evidence was found for an active transport process because serotonin accumulation was unaffected by ouabain, metabolic inhibitors, or structural analogs. Serotonin transport was dependent on temperature and the external concentration of serotonin, was not saturable, and accumulated two- to threefold higher than urea. These findings suggest that serotonin transport into skeletal muscle is mediated via passive diffusion followed by tissue binding. In vivo imipramine and chlorpheniramine, drugs which given with serotonin produce an acute myopathy, also inhibited its accumulation by rat extensor digitorium longus muscles. This supports the notion that the myopathy produced by serotonin plus membrane-active drugs may be mediated by the action of serotonin upon the sarcolemma or upon the skeletal muscle vasculature in combination with the membrane action of imipramine and chlorpheniramine upon skeletal muscle membranes.
Where is the randomness for the human computer

Psychologists traditionally have employed both statistical and process assumptions in models of human learning and performance. The corresponding tradition in the field of artificial intelligence is to minimize or eliminate the use of statistical assumptions. This article reviews some stochastic and nonntochastic models of human memory, probability learning, medical diagnosis, and concept identification. Some stochastic models are found to have a larger deterministic component than was previously realized; deterministic models applicable with random selection of stimuli can be represented in stochastic form. A policy of methodological determinism is recommended in which the model builder originally assumes that no random processes take place within the organism. If necessary, and as a last resort, such processes can be appended to an otherwise deterministic model for predictive convenience.
Differences between genomes of two strains of mouse mammary tumor virus as shown by partial RNA sequence analysis.

Two biologically distinct strains of mouse mammary tumor virus, MMTV-S and MMTV-P, have been shown to have nucleotide sequence differences. 32P-labeled viral 70 S RNA was digested with RNAse T1 and the resultant oligonucleotide products separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and displacement chromatography (“homochromatography”). The resultant patterns showed both similarities and differences in the positions of large oligonucleotides. The large T1-resistant oligonucleotides were analyzed by RNAse A digestion and paper electrophoresis, revealing similarities and differences in the composition of oligonucleotides derived from the genomes of the two viral strains. Using the same techniques the genomic complexity of both viruses was calculated to be approximately 3 × 106 daltons. This complexity together with the estimated molecular weight of the 70 S RNA suggests that the genomes from these viruses are polyploid.
Effect of the change from supine to sitting position on the chest leads.

Abstract 1. 1. The electrocardiographic changes from the supine to the sitting position were analyzed in V2, V6, and V6R for twenty-three healthy men. 2. 2. The mean differences of the QRS and T amplitudes were small and were not significantly different from zero except for the mean decrease of the R wave (−0.47 mm.). 3. 3. There was no significant difference in the response in men with horizontal or semihorizontal hearts when compared with men with vertical or semivertical hearts. 4. 4. The range limits of the expected change were calculated for 98 per cent of the men in a “normal” population. 5. 5. The apparent discrepancy of these results and the electrocardiographic responses to the standing position in the standard leads is discussed.
Teaching object-oriented programming in python

Python's use in education has grown rapidly, due to its elegantly simple syntax. Though often viewed as a "scripting language," Python is a fully object-oriented language with an extremely consistent object model and a rich set of built-in classes. In this tutorial, we share our experiences using Python in the context of an object-oriented CS1 course. We will begin with an overview of the language, with particular emphasis on the object-orientation. We then present several coherent teaching strategies and a variety of graphical and non-graphical projects. Both new and experienced Python users are welcome.
Isoxazole Ionotropic Glutamate Neurotransmitters

Analogs of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate are potential medicinal agents for a wide variety of neurological disorders. The isoxazole glutamate derivatives represent an important class of compounds because of their receptor specificity and binding affinity. Since the discovery of (S)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolyl) propionic acid (AMPA) in 1980, numerous analogs built around the isoxazole scaffold have shown remarkable selectivity for specific ionotropic glutamate receptors, but strong side effects in human clinical trials have shown the need for improvement. Trends revealed by structure activity relationship and crystallographic studies indicate the role of stereochemistry may be important in uncovering the prerequisite selectivity, which would give rise to effective therapeutics for neurological dysfunction of the glutamate receptor.
Assessing Secondary Students' Liking of Short Stories

The development of a survey designed to assess secondary school students' liking of particular stories is explained. Through a self-study and an analysis of 169 seventh through twelfth graders' written explanations of why they liked their favorite book or story, three different aspects of lik ing were identified: liking the effects of a story, liking the expe rience of reading a story, and liking the surface features of a story. The survey operationalized these aspects of liking by asking respondents to strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with 26 items that were designed to reflect these three different aspects of liking. An analysis using item response theory of the responses of 118 ninth through twelfth graders who were randomly assigned one of four stories after they were nested by class, sex, and ability was done to evalu ate the instrument. The respondents had similar understand ings of the items, the items remained relatively stable across trials, the spread of the items was sufficiently great to assess a range of students, and the survey had construct validity. These findings suggest that the survey implements a single variable well enough that teachers and researchers can have confidence in using it to assess secondary school students' liking of par ticular stories.
An interdiffusion study of a NiAl alloy using single-phase diffusion couples

The intermetallic compound NiAl is highly ordered at stoichiometry, even at high temperatures. For instance, its point-defect concentration at 900 °C is on the order of 10−3 at this composition. Moreover, its enthalpy of formation is highly negative and exhibits a minimum at stoichiometry. All of these data suggest that the interdiffusion coefficient should exhibit a minimum at this composition. Yet, the literature data show that the minimum interdiffusion coefficient occurred between 48 and 49 at. pct Al. Accordingly, we have carried out diffusion-couple measurements employing single-phase NiAl wafers over the temperature interval from 700 °C to 1000 °C. The measured concentration profiles were analyzed in terms of the lattice mole fraction, yielding interdiffusion coefficients as a function of composition and temperature. For all the temperatures studied, the interdiffusion coefficients were found to exhibit a minimum at the stoichiometric composition, with a corresponding maximum in the activation energies obtained from the temperature dependence of the interdiffusion coefficients.
Synthesis and structure of 2,3,3a,4,9,9a-hexahydro-3,9a-epoxy-1H-cyclopenta[b]quinoline and 5,7-dibromo-2,3,3a,4,9,9a-hexahydro-3,9a-epoxy-1H-cyclopenta[b]quinoline

A novel fused oxonorbornyl ring system synthesized by reaction of substituted aniline and methacrolein dimer in acidic media has been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Two such structures are reported herein. These compounds represent the first reported structures of fused oxonorbornyl derivatives.
Proteins of ribosomes formed from “relaxed particles”

During starvation for methionine, a methionine-requiring, relaxed mutant of Escherichia coli accumulates subribosomal relaxed particles. The proteins of the particles are mostly derived from pre-existing proteins of the cell. These proteins are electrophoretically identical with some of the normal ribosomal proteins. When methionine is restored to the starved culture, the relaxed particles combine with preferentially synthesized new ribosomal proteins to form ribosomes. These ribosomes, separated from the pre-existing ribosomes by the density-transfer technique, contain both old and new ribosomal proteins. In acrylamide gel electrophoresis, both old and new ribosomal proteins labeled with different radioisotopes appear in most, if not all, of the ribosomal protein components although they are different in quantity.
Sulfur, Protein Size Distribution, and Free Amino Acids in Flour Mill Streams and Their Relationship to Dough Rheology and Breadmaking Traits

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to analyze sulfur content, protein size distribution, and free amino acids in flour mill streams (FMS) and their associations to dough rheology and breadmaking traits. Break FMS had higher nitrogen and sulfur quantities than reduction FMS. The third break FMS had the highest nitrogen and sulfur contents among FMS but low bread loaf volume partly due to high ash content. Sulfur quantity had greater or equivalent correlations with dough rheology and breadmaking properties compared with nitrogen quantity when the effect of percent ash content was removed statistically. FMS also showed significant quantitative variation in HMW polymeric proteins of the SDS-unextractable fraction that had greater association with sulfur content and dough rheology and breadmaking traits than other protein fractions. Asparagine, which is a major amino acid in flour, was found at higher levels in the third break and third reduction FMS. Ratio of nitrogen to sulfur was significantly correlated wi...
Three-dimensional numerical simulations of dynamic fracture in silicon carbide reinforced aluminum

The three-point bending test by Kolsky-bar apparatus is a convenient technique to test the dynamic fracture properties of materials. This paper presents detailed three-dimensional finite element simulations of a silicon particle reinforced aluminum (SiCp/Al) experiment (Li et al., [Proceedings of the US Army Symposium on Solid Mechanics]). In the simulations, the interaction between the input bar and the specimen is modeled by coupled boundary conditions. The material model includes large plastic deformations, strain-hardening and strain-rate hardening mechanisms. Furthermore, crack initiation and propagation processes are simulated by a cohesive element model. The simulation results quantitatively agree with the experimental measurements on three fronts: (1) the structural response of the specimen, (2) the time of unstable crack propagation, and (3) the local deformations at the crack-tip zone. The simulations reveal crack propagation characteristics, including crack-tip plastic deformation, crack front curving, and crack velocity profile. The effectiveness of Kolsky-bar type fracture tests is verified. It is shown that a rate-independent cohesive model can describe the complicated dynamic elastic-plastic fracture process in the SiCp/Al material. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A correlative histofluorescence and light microscopic study of the formation of the sympathetic trunks in chick embryos

The appearance and development of the primary and secondary sympathetic trunks in staged chick embryos was studied using the Falck-Owman histochemical method for the demonstration of primary monoamines. The earliest appearance of catecholamine (stage 20) was in individual fluorescent cells located in the region of the dorsal root ganglia about two stages prior to the formation of primary trunk aggregates. These cells are believed to be sympathetic precursor cells and correspond to formaldehyde-induced fluorescent cells observed in recent explantation experiments. Aggregates of fluorescent cells had formed bilaterally dorsolateral to the aorta at stage 22. These aggregates became continuous to form primary trunks by stage 24. The secondary sympathetic trunks were first seen in stage 25 and appeared to form at least partially by dorsal migration of cells from the primary trunks. Fluorescent cell processes were first observed at this stage. Secondary trunk formation was essentially complete by stage 28, and the primary trunks had become small and discontinuous. Definite rami communicantes could be observed by the early part of stage 28 in silver preparations. The significance of the development of two successive trunks in avians is discussed.
Modelling of individual pharmacokinetics for computer-aided drug dosage.

Abstract A conceptual scheme and associated statistical methodology is presented which is designed to provide the basis for a clinically useful computer program to suggest optimal dosage regimens for a number of drugs for individual patients. Routinely available clinical observations will be used to predict the parameters of a pharmacokinetic model, and subsequent blood level determinations used to refine these predictions, so that dosages can be designed to produce therapeutically desirable blood levels of agents. The system is intended to deal with most, if not all, of the influences on drug pharmacokinetics, to improve its performance by learning about the individual patient as well as the underlying population, and to modify its suggestions for an individual, should his clinical characteristics change. It may be used to discover new relationships between physiological states and drug pharmacokinetics. The system can exploit prior information in the form of theoretical and published data when its data base is small. An encouraging preliminary test of the system is reported.
Metabolism of absorbed aspartate, asparagine, and arginine by rat small intestine in vivo

Abstract l -[U- 14 C]aspartate, l -[U- 14 C]asparagine, and l -[U- 14 C]arginine were administered luminally into isolated segments of rat jejunum in situ , and the radioactive products appearing in venous blood from the segment were identified and quantified, in a continuation of similar studies with l -glutamate and l -glutamine (Windmueller H.G. and Spaeth, A. E. (1975) Arch. Biochem. Biophys . 171 , 662–672). Aspartate, administered alone (6 m m ) or with 18 other amino acids plus glucose, was absorbed more rapidly than glutamate, but, as with glutamate, less than 1% was recovered intact in intestinal venous blood. More than 50% of aspartate carbon was recovered in CO 2 , 24% in organic acids, mostly lactate, 12% in other amino acids (alanine, glutamate, proline, ornithine, and citrulline), and 10% in glucose, apparently the first demonstration of gluconeogenesis by intestine in vivo . In contrast to aspartate and glutamine, nearly all asparagine was absorbed intact, less than 1% being catabolized. About 4% of the absorbed dose was incorporated into the acid-insoluble fraction of intestine, as was the case with all the amino acids studied. In conventional or germ-free rats, only 60% of arginine was absorbed intact, while 33% was hydrolyzed to ornithine and urea. The urea and 38% of the ornithine were released into the blood; the remaining ornithine was metabolized further by intestine to citrulline, proline, glutamate, organic acids, and CO 2 . Catabolism of several amino acids from the lumen plus glutamine from arterial blood may provide an important energy source in small intestine.
Solid modeling for production design

This paper describes a solid modeling and interactive graphics computer system which is being used for conceptual and detailed design by the mechanical design community at IBM's Data Systems Division Laboratory in Poughkeepsie, New York. The system has evolved from research on solid modeling begun at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center in the mid-70s. Its development has resulted in one of the first major production uses of solid modeling in industry. The system was first tested in pilot and limited production environments in 1981, and is now in production use as the primary design tool for mechanical portions of IBM's large computer mainframes. Its introduction, development, integration, and use are described, and its functional and performance characteristics as well as requirements for future enhancements are discussed. We conclude from our experience that solid modeling has become a significant new production tool for mechanical design.
Overall acceptability and sensory profiles of peanut spreads fortified with protein, vitamins, and minerals

: Three amino acid-balanced, vitamin-, and mineral-fortified peanut spreads were investigated for consumer acceptability and sensory profile. An all-peanut spread had the highest consumers' ratings on all of the “likings”, whereas peanut/soy spread with 40.5% fat (PSSA) had the lowest ratings on the overall liking, spreadability, flavor, and texture (< 6, “like slightly”). Overall, consumers accepted all-peanut, peanut/non-fat dry milk spread (PSM) and peanut/soybean spread with 44.5% fat (PSSB), but not PSSA. Significant differences (α= 0.05) existed in the descriptive attributes including brown color; surface oiliness; spreadability; roasted peanutty, roasted soybean, milk, woody/hulls, and sweet flavors; stickiness; hardness, graininess; adhesiveness; cohesiveness; cohesiveness of mass; mouthcoating; mouthdryness; and adhesiveness to teeth. PSSA and all-peanut control were significantly different on most of the textural attributes. PSM exhibited no significant difference (α= 0.05) from all-peanut control.
A global variational approach to vortex core identification

Abstract We present a global variational definition of a vortex core in three-dimensional flows, and describe its implementation for tracking principal vortex cores in a viscous fluid. Our definition is motivated by the observation that the line integral of vorticity along any path worthy of being called a vortex core is likely to be large. Inverting this observation, we define a vortex core as a curve for which this line integral is a local maximum in the space of all such curves (with appropriate boundary conditions). We present an algorithm by which candidate curves are evolved using a Ginsburg–Landau equation in order to locate vortex cores. We demonstrate the implementation of this algorithm using initial vorticity fields generated with clearly identifiable vortex cores, and evolved using a lattice Boltzmann Navier–Stokes solver.
Acoustic front-end optimization for bird species recognition

The goal of this work was to explore the optimization of the feature extraction module (front-end) parameters to improve bird species recognition. We explored optimizing the spectral and temporal parameters of a Mel cepstrum feature-based front-end, starting from common parameter values used in speech processing experiments. These features were modeled using a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) system. We found an important improvement when increasing the spectral bandwidth and increasing the number of filter banks. We found no improvement when switching the filter bank distribution from the perceptually based Mel frequency scale to a linear frequency scale. In addition, no improvement was found when we either reduced or increased the time resolution. On the other hand, we found that the best time resolution is species dependent. We did find great improvements from a species-specific combination of different front-ends with different time resolutions relative to using the same front-end time resolution for all species.
The Role of Surfactant Protein A in Bleomycin-induced Acute Lung Injury

Rationale: Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is a collectin family member that has multiple immunomodulatory roles in lung host defense. SP-A levels are altered in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and serum of patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, suggesting the importance of SP-A in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury.Objectives: Investigate the role of SP-A in the murine model of noninfectious lung injury induced by bleomycin treatment.Methods: Wild-type (WT) or SP-A deficient (SP-A−/−) mice were challenged with bleomycin, and various indices of lung injury were analyzed.Measurements and Main Results: On challenge with bleomycin, SP-A−/− mice had a decreased survival rate as compared with WT mice. SP-A−/− mice had a higher degree of neutrophil-dominant cell recruitment and the expression of the inflammatory cytokines in BAL fluid than did WT mice. In addition, SP-A−/− mice had increased lung edema as assessed by the increased levels of intravenously injected Evans bl...
Free vibrations of a continuous beam on elastic supports

Summary The determination of natural frequencies and mode shapes for a continuous beam on uniformly spaced elastic supports is discussed. The elastic constraints provided at each support are characterized by a displacement spring and a torsion spring. All the interior supports are assumed to be identical, giving rise to a 4th order symmetrical difference equation, common to problems of “repeated structures”. When one of the two spring constants at the supports tends to infinity the governing equation reduces to one of the second order. It is shown that the two exterior supports may be completely arbitrary for the present approach to be valid; however, relatively simple solutions exist for certain exterior supports for which the corresponding mode shapes conform to spatial periodicities. Numerical examples are presented for a 6-span continuous, beam with various combinations of spring constants at the supports.
Tokamak Fusion Generators for Nuclear Radiation Effects Testing

The potential utilization of near-term tokamak test reactors for nuclear radiation damage evaluation and hardening programs is examined. Physical layouts of the irradiation modules and methods of neutron spectrum tailoring are described. Tokamak fusion generators provide much larger test volume and can give more faithful spectral simulations of thermonuclear threat environments than do accelerator-driven point neutron sources or pulsed fast-fission reactors. However, the tokamak is basically a long-pulse source producing relatively low neutron dose rates (~105 rads/s) that limit its application to damage programs with devices and subsystems that are sensitive to integrated radiation dose rather than dose rate.
Implications of seismic reflection and potential field geophysical data on the structural framework of the Yucca Mountain-Crater Flat region, Nevada

Seismic reflection and gravity profiles collected across Yucca Mountain, Nevada, together with geologic data, provide evidence against proposed active detachment faults at shallow depth along the pre-Tertiary-Tertiary contact beneath this potential repository for high-level nuclear waste. The new geophysical data show that the inferred pre-Tertiary-Tertiary contact is offset by moderate-to-high-angle faults beneath Crater Flat and Yucca Mountain, and thus this shallow surface cannot represent an active detachment surface. The reflection lines reveal that the Amargosa Desert rift zone is an asymmetric half-graben having a maximum depth of about 4 km and a width of about 25 km. The east-dipping Bare Mountain fault that bounds this graben to the west can be traced by seismic reflection data to a depth of at least 3.5 km and possibly as deep as 6 km, with a constant dip of 64{degree} {+-} 5{degree}. Along the profile the transition from east- to west-dipping faults occurs at or just west of the Solitario Canyon fault, which bounds the western side of Yucca Mountain. The interaction at depth of these east- and west-dipping faults, having up to hundreds of meters offset, is not imaged by the seismic reflection profile. Understanding potential seismic hazards at Yucca Mountain requiresmore » knowledge of the subsurface geometry of the faults near Yucca Mountain, since earthquakes generally nucleate and release the greatest amount of their seismic energy at depth. The geophysical data indicate that many fault planes near the potential nuclear waste facility dip toward Yucca Mountain, including the Bare Mountain range-front fault and several west-dipping faults east of Yucca Mountain. Thus, earthquake ruptures along these faults would lie closer to Yucca Mountain than is often estimated from their surface locations and could therefore be more damaging.« less
Electromyographic Analysis of the Circumoral Muscles of Facial Expression

Electromyography of the circumoral muscles was undertaken with the use of fine-wire electrodes that were inserted into of hair follicles of ten patients with full dentitions and normal occlusion. The inferior circumoral muscles, which initiated many oral activities, had a higher degree of activity than did the superior circumoral muscles. Tonic discharge during mandibular rest was infrequent.
Optimal bearing and bearing rate estimator using an ambiguity surface

A method for developing a bearing and bearing rate estimates that have Cramer-Rao bound accuracy near detection levels using a bearing-bearing rate ambiguity surface is presented. The ambiguity surface is generated from averaged line array cross correlation data by integrating according to predefined hypotheses of possible contact motion. The hypotheses assume constant rate of the estimation level. Simulation results indicate near optimal track accuracy within a decibel of the detection SNR. >
Traumatic Thoracic Arteriovenous Fistula—A Case Report

Traumatic thoracic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a rare vascular lesion. Proctor first reported a traumatic AVF between the thoracic aorta and left in nominate vein in 1950. Since that time, fewer than 20 such cases have been re ported. The authors present the rare case of a stab-induced AVF between the innominate artery and superior vena cava. The keys to a successful outcome with this injury include a high index of suspicion, careful physical examination, liberal use of angiography, and immedi ate operative repair.
Davisite, CaScAlSiO6, a new pyroxene from the Allende meteorite

Davisite, ideally CaScAlSiO_6, is a new member of the Ca clinopyroxene group, where Sc^(3+) is dominant in the M1 site. It occurs as micro-sized crystals along with perovskite and spinel in an ultra-refractory inclusion from the Allende meteorite. The mean chemical composition determined by electron microprobe analysis is (wt%) SiO_2 26.24, CaO 23.55, Al_2O_3 21.05, Sc_2O_3 14.70, TiO_2 (total) 8.66, MgO 2.82, ZrO_2 2.00, Y_2O_3 0.56, V_2O_3 0.55, FeO 0.30, Dy_2O_3 0.27, Gd_2O_3 0.13, Er_2O_3 0.08, sum 100.91. Its empirical formula calculated on the basis of 6 O atoms is Ca_(0.99)(Sc_(0.50)Ti^(3+)0.16^(Mg)0.16Ti^(4+)0.10 Zr_(0.04)V^(3+)_(0.02)Fe^(2+)_(0.01)Y_(0.01))_(∑1.00)(Si_(1.03)Al_(0.97))_(∑2).00O_6. Davisite is monoclinic, C2/c; a = 9.884 A, b = 8.988 A, c = 5.446 A, β =105.86°, V = 465.39 A^3, and Z = 4. Its electron back-scattered diffraction pattern is an excellent match to that of synthetic CaScAlSiO6 with the C2/c structure. The strongest calculated X-ray powder diffraction lines are [d spacing in A (I) (hkl)]: 3.039 (100) (221), 2.989 (31) (310), 2.943 (18) (311), 2.619 (40) (002), 2.600 (26) (131), 2.564 (47) (221), 2.159 (18) (331), 2.137 (15) (421), 1.676 (20) (223), and 1.444 (18) (531). The name is for Andrew M. Davis, a cosmochemist at the University of Chicago, Illinois.
Performance analysis of different types of sensor networks for cognitive radios

We consider the problem of using multiple sensors to detect whether a certain spectrum is occupied or not. Each sensor sends its spectrum sensing result to a data fusion center, which combines all the results for an overall decision. With the existence of wireless fading on the channels from sensors to data fusion center, we examine three different mechanisms on the transmissions from sensors to data fusion center: (1) direct transmissions; (2) transmissions with the assistance of relays and (3) transmissions with the assistance of an intermediate fusion helper which fuses the sensing results from the sensors and sends the fused result to the data fusion center. For each mechanism, we analyze the correct probability of the overall decision made by the data fusion center. Our evaluation establishes that a sensor network with an intermediate fusion helper performs almost as good as a sensor network with relays, but providing energy and spectral advantages. Both networks significantly outperform the sensor network without relay or intermediate fusion helper. Such analysis facilitates the design of sensor networks. Furthermore, we generalize this evaluation to sensor networks with an arbitrary number of sensors and to sensor networks applying various information combining rules. Our simulations validate the analytical results.