cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reproducibility of genotypes as measured by the affymetrix GeneChip ® 100K Human Mapping Array set

Genotyping errors that are undetected in genome-wide association studies using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may degrade the likelihood of detecting true positive associations. To estimate the frequency of genotyping errors and assess the reproducibility of genotype calls, we analyzed two sets of duplicate data, one dataset containing twenty blind duplicates and another dataset containing twenty-eight nonrandom duplicates, from a genome-wide association study using Affymetrix GeneChip^(R)100 K Human Mapping Arrays. For the twenty blind duplicates the overall agreement in genotyping calls as measured with the Kappa statistics, was 0.997, with a discordancy rate of 0.27%. For the twenty-eight nonrandom duplicates, the overall agreement was lower, 0.95, with a higher discordancy rate of 4.53%. The accuracy and probability of concordancy were inversely related to the genotyping uncertainty score, i.e., as the genotyping uncertainty score increased, the concordancy and probability of concordant calls decreased. Lowering of the uncertainty score threshold for rejection of genotype calls from the Affymetrix recommended value of 0.25 to 0.20 resulted in an increased predicted accuracy from 92.6% to 95% with a slight increase in the ''No Call'' rate from 1.81% to 2.33%. Hence, we suggest using a lower uncertainty score threshold, say 0.20, which will result in higher accuracy in calls at a modest decrease in the call rate.
Seesaw modification of gravity

We discuss a model in which the fundamental scale of gravity is restricted to ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\mathrm{eV}.$ An observable modification of gravity occurs simultaneously at the Hubble distance and at around 0.1 mm. These predictions can be tested both by the table-top experiments and by cosmological measurements. The model is formulated as a brane-world theory embedded in a space with two or more infinite-volume extra dimensions. Gravity on the brane reproduces the four-dimensional laws at observable distances but turns to the high-dimensional behavior at larger scales. To determine the crossover distance we smooth out the singularities in the Green's functions by taking into account softening of the graviton propagator due to the high-dimensional operators that are suppressed by the fundamental scale. We find that irrespective of the precise nature of microscopic gravity the ultraviolet and infrared scales of gravity modification are rigidly correlated. This fixes the fundamental scale of gravity at ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\mathrm{eV}.$ The result persists for nonzero thickness branes.
Efficient skyline retrieval with arbitrary similarity measures

A skyline query returns a set of objects that are not dominated by other objects. An object is said to dominate another if it is closer to the query than the latter on all factors under consideration. In this paper, we consider the case where the similarity measures may be arbitrary and do not necessarily come from a metric space. We first explore middleware algorithms, analyze how skyline retrieval for non-metric spaces can be done on the middleware backend, and lay down a necessary and sufficient stopping condition for middleware-based skyline algorithms. We develop the Balanced Access Algorithm, which is provably more IO-friendly than the state-of-the-art algorithm for skyline query processing on middleware and show that BAA outperforms the latter by orders of magnitude. We also show that without prior knowledge about data distributions, it is unlikely to have a middleware algorithm that is more IO-friendly than BAA. In fact, we empirically show that BAA is very close to the absolute lower bound of IO costs for middleware algorithms. Further, we explore the non-middleware setting and devise an online algorithm for skyline retrieval which uses a recently proposed value space index over non-metric spaces (AL-Tree [10]). The AL-Tree based algorithm is able to prune subspaces and efficiently maintain candidate sets leading to better performance. We compare our algorithms to existing ones which can work with arbitrary similarity measures and show that our approaches are better in terms of computational and disk access costs leading to significantly better response times.
DEVELOPMENT AND MODIFICATION OF A RESPONSE CLASS VIA POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT: A TRANSLATIONAL APPROACH

When responses function to produce the same reinforcer, a response class exists. Researchers have examined response classes in applied settings; however, the challenges associated with conducting applied research on response class development have recently necessitated the development of an analogue response class model. To date, little research has examined response classes that are strengthened by negative reinforcement. The current investigation was designed to develop a laboratory model of a response class through positive reinforcement (i.e., points exchangeable for money) and through negative reinforcement (i.e., the avoidance of scheduled point losses) with 11 college students as participants and clicks as the operant. Results of both the positive and negative reinforcement evaluations showed that participants usually selected the least effortful response that produced points or the avoidance of point losses, respectively. The applied implications of the findings are discussed, along with the relevance of the present model to the study of punishment and resurgence.
Positron emission tomography imaging of endometrial cancer using engineered anti-EMP2 antibody fragments.

Purpose As imaging of the cell surface tetraspan protein epithelial membrane protein-2 (EMP2) expression in malignant tumors may provide important prognostic and predictive diagnostic information, the goal of this study is to determine if antibody fragments to EMP2 may be useful for imaging EMP2 positive tumors.
Novel Approach for High-Resolution Elastic Behavior Assessment of Alloyed Strained Nanostructures

The quantification of the strain/stress state with high spatial resolution of nanostructured materials is essential for several applications and recent technologies. Several methods have been proposed and applied to address the strain state of such materials, for example, the traditional strain state analysis from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images. However, most of these methods fail when dealing with alloyed strained nanostructured materials. Such systems presents both intrinsic (due to chemical variations) and extrinsic (due to externally imposed stresses) strain which make proper analysis difficult. Here is presented a new methodology for high-resolution elastic behavior (strain, stress, elastic energy) assessment of alloyed strained nanostructures based on quantitative high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The application of this technique to quantify the elastic behavior of the model system Si−Ge:Si(001) shows that this methodology arises as a remarkable tool...
History writing as a state ideological project in Ethiopia

In this article I argue that Ethiopian history reserves a privileged site for successive states as incontestable sites of knowledge, truth, legitimacy, and national identity. It shows how the state reconstructs memory of its past as total knowledge, and how the state utilizes this ‘truth’ of the past to command legitimacy. The state‐authorized history has been packaged as a foundational knowledge for the nation, national identity, and raison d'etre of state power. As much as Ethiopia's history has been always a totalizing narrative, the historians have also been strategically selective in reflecting the history of the militarily and politically dominant groups. Ethiopian history has been reductionist and history writing has been a state project. This study critically examines how the state's history as a metanarrative claims totality; and how everything else is silently subsumed under its totalized discourse. It excludes marginalized populations, ethnic and religious polities. As much as the state attempt...
Helicase and Polymerase Move Together Close to the Fork Junction and Copy DNA in One-Nucleotide Steps

By simultaneously measuring DNA synthesis and dNTP hydrolysis, we show that T7 DNA polymerase and T7 gp4 helicase move in sync during leading-strand synthesis, taking one-nucleotide steps and hydrolyzing one dNTP per base-pair unwound/copied. The cooperative catalysis enables the helicase and polymerase to move at a uniformly fast rate without guanine:cytosine (GC) dependency or idling with futile NTP hydrolysis. We show that the helicase and polymerase are located close to the replication fork junction. This architecture enables the polymerase to use its strand-displacement synthesis to increase the unwinding rate, whereas the helicase aids this process by translocating along single-stranded DNA and trapping the unwound bases. Thus, in contrast to the helicase-only unwinding model, our results suggest a model in which the helicase and polymerase are moving in one-nucleotide steps, DNA synthesis drives fork unwinding, and a role of the helicase is to trap the unwound bases and prevent DNA reannealing.
Broadening the Search for Minority Science and Engineering Doctoral Starts

This analysis looked at doctorate completion in science and engineering (S&E) by underrepresented minorities: blacks, Hispanics and Indian Americans. These are the groups we must increasingly depend upon to make up for shortfalls in science and engineering doctorate production among American citizens. These shortfalls derive from truncated birth rates among white people, for the most part. The analysis answered several questions officials will need to know the answers to if we are to plan effectively to develop the talents of these individuals. Specifically, the National Science Foundation asked us to look at the feasibility of involving nontraditional minority science and engineering graduates (baccalaureates at 25+) as doctoral starts, along with minority S&E graduates who had taken jobs with corporations to pay off student loans and military personnel involved in S&E study and S&E work (see NSF report of research under grant SED-9107756). We found that nontraditional minority S&E doctorate recipients matched their traditional counterparts in elapsed time to degree and similar indicators. They had less in the way of support for doctoral study, however. We found that minority S&E graduates who took jobs in corporations were keenly interested in returning to campus to complete degrees. We also found that many bright minority youngsters are studying S&E subjects in the Community College of the Air Force and in U.S. Army SOC colleges. Some have enrolled in baccalaureate programs on university campuses and plan to continue on to the PhD. We concluded that money is important in tapping these talent pools to make up for the demographically driven shortfalls discussed above.
MECHANICS OF A MULTIPLE NEEDLE TENDEROMETER FOR RAW MEAT

The mechanics of an “Armour Tenderometer” type of probe used for quality evaluation of raw meat was investigated. The geometry of the probe was simulated in a series of conical indenters and used to test two non-food materials. The results indicated that it is possible to employ a conical indenter to evaluate a material property, yield pressure, independent of probe geometry and depth of penetration. This information should facilitate the development of an instrumentation system for use with meat. Suggestions are given for continuation of this research.
Location of the Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C-Kinase Substrate (MARCKS) Effector Domain in Negatively Charged Phospholipid Bicelles

The effector domain of the myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS-ED) is a highly basic, unstructured protein segment that is responsible for attaching MARCKS reversibly to the membrane interface. When attached to the interface, it also has the capacity to sequester phosphoinosities, such as PI(4,5)P2, within the plane of the bilayer. Here, the position of the MARCKS-ED was determined when bound to phospholipid bicelles using high-resolution NMR methods. Two sets of data indicate that the phenylalanine residues of the MARCKS-ED are positioned within the membrane hydrocarbon a few angstroms from the aqueous-hydrocarbon interface. First, short-range nuclear Overhauser effects are detected between the aromatic side chains and the lipid acyl chain methylenes. Second, paramagnetic enhancements of nuclear relaxation, produced by molecular oxygen, are similar for the phenylalanine aromatic protons and those observed for protons in the upper portion of the acyl chain. The rates of amide-water proton exchange are fast and only slightly hindered when the peptide is bound to bicelles, indicating that the backbone does not lie within the membrane hydrocarbon. These results indicate that highly charged peptides such as the MARCKS-ED penetrate the membrane interface with aromatic amino acid side chains inserted into the hydrocarbon and the peptide backbone lying within the bilayer interface. This position may serve to enhance the electrostatic fields produced by this basic domain at the membrane interface and may play a role in the ability of the MARCKS-ED to sequester polyphosphoinositides.
A filamentous molecular chaperone of the prefoldin family from the deep-sea hyperthermophile Methanocaldococcus jannaschii

Prefoldin is a molecular chaperone found in the domains eukarya and archaea that acts in conjunction with Group II chaperonin to correctly fold other nascent proteins. Previously, our group identified a putative single subunit of prefoldin, γ PFD, that was up-regulated in response to heat stress in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanocaldococcus jannaschii. In order to characterize this protein, we subcloned and expressed it and the other two prefoldin subunits from M. jannaschii, α and β PFD, into Eschericia coli and characterized the proteins. Whereas α and β PFD readily assembled into the expected hexamer, γ PFD would not assemble with either protein. Instead, γ PFD forms long filaments of defined dimensions measuring 8.5 nm × 1.7–3.5 nm and lengths exceeding 1 μm. Filamentous γ PFD acts as a molecular chaperone through in vitro assays, in a manner comparable to PFD. A possible molecular model for filament assembly is discussed.
The Effect of Design and Placement of Work-Zone Warning Signs on Driver Speed Compliance: A Simulator-Based Study

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS In this work, simulated driving was used to test how characteristics of dynamic message signs impact driver behavior when entering designated work zones. Driver compliance with posted speed limits was measured in response to signs that differed in terms of placement distance and type of sign design. Signs should be placed farther ahead of the work zone to enhance speed compliance. Such compliance can also be enhanced by using concise sign content. TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background and Rationale: In recent years, the number of occupational fatalities occurring as a result of workers being struck by vehicles while on the job has remained high. Fatalities are especially apparent at road construction sites, where nearly half of the fatal occupational injuries were classified as a worker being struck by a moving vehicle, highlighting the need for research to identify techniques to reduce the incidence of injury in future years. Purpose: This project investigated how the characteristics of...
Expert system modeling of a vision system

The proposed artificial intelligence-based vision model incorporates natural recognition processes depicted as a visual pyramid and hierarchical representation of objects in the database. The visual pyramid, with based and apex representing pixels and image, respectively, is used as an analogy for a vision system. This paper provides an overview of recognition activities and states in the framework of an inductive model. Also, it presents a natural vision system and a counterpart expert system model that incorporates the described operations.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
3-D simulation of directional transport in coupled nanoscale MOS channels

Abstract The directional properties in coupled MOS channels are studied using a non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) method coupled with Poisson equation for self-consistency. Acoustic scattering and lowest order inter-valley optical scattering are included through self-energy terms in Green's function. The simulations show that, by changing the voltage on control gates, carrier conductance can be switched from one channel to the other with an on/off ratio of up to ≈105.
Evaluating motivational enhancement therapy adherence and competence among Spanish-speaking therapists

Despite the fact that the number of Hispanic individuals in need of treatment for substance use problems is increasing internationally, no studies have investigated the extent to which therapists can provide empirically supported treatments to Spanish-speaking clients with adequate fidelity. Twenty-three bilingual Hispanic therapists from five community outpatient treatment programs in the United States were randomly assigned to deliver either three sessions of motivational enhancement therapy (MET) or an equivalent number of drug counseling-as-usual (CAU) sessions in Spanish to 405 Spanish-speaking clients randomly assigned to these conditions. Independent ratings of 325 sessions indicated the adherence/competence rating system had good to excellent interrater reliability and indicated strong support for an a priori defined fundamental MET skill factor. Support for an advanced MET skill factor was relatively weaker. The rating scale indicated significant differences in therapists' MET adherence and competence across conditions. These findings indicate that the rating system has promise for assessing the performance of therapists who deliver MET in Spanish and suggest that bilingual Spanish-speaking therapists from the community can be trained to implement MET with adequate fidelity and skill using an intensive multisite training and supervision model.
The consistency strength of projective absoluteness

Abstract It is proved that in the absence of proper class inner models with Woodin cardinals, for each n ϵ {1,…, ω }, ∑ 3 + n 1 absoluteness (i.e., the stability of the ∑ 3 + n 1 theory of the reals under set forcing in a strong sense) implies there are n strong cardinals in K (where this denotes a suitably defined global version of the core model for one Woodin cardinal as exposed by Steel. Combined with a forcing argument of Woodin, this establishes that the consistency strength of ∑ 3 + n 1 absoluteness is exactly that of n strong cardinals so that in particular projective absoluteness is equiconsistent with the existence of infinitely many strong cardinals. It is also argued how this theorem is to be construed as the first step in the long range program of showing that projective determinacy is equivalent to its analytical consequences for the projective sets which would settle positively a conjecture of Woodin and thereby solve the last Delfino problem.
Fixed scalars and suppression of Hawking evaporation

For an extreme charged black hole some scalars take on a fixed value at the horizon determined by the charges alone. We call them fixed scalars. We find the absorption cross section for a low-frequency wave of a fixed scalar to be proportional to the square of the frequency. This implies a strong suppression of the Hawking radiation near extremality. We compute the coefficient of proportionality for a specific model.
Trait impulsiveness and executive function in healthy young adults

Abstract Performance-based neuropsychological tests are often used to assess planning and impulse control, but the extent to which these measures reflect trait impulsiveness or specific dimensions of trait impulsiveness is not clear. This study used the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11; [Patton, J. H., Stanford, M. S., & Barratt, E. S. (1995). Factor structure of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51 , 768–774.]) to examine the relationship between various dimensions of trait impulsiveness and performance on several executive function tests in healthy young adults. Total BIS-11 scores correlated with performance on measures of planning and impulse control. Higher non-planning impulsiveness scores, which indicate poorer self-control and lower cognitive complexity, correlated most strongly with performance on a maze test that measures planning and impulse control ( r = .58). These results provide support for the convergent validity of pencil-and-paper maze-based measures of planning and impulse control.
Query Expansion with Freebase

Large knowledge bases are being developed to describe entities, their attributes, and their relationships to other entities. Prior research mostly focuses on the construction of knowledge bases, while how to use them in information retrieval is still an open problem. This paper presents a simple and effective method of using one such knowledge base, Freebase, to improve query expansion, a classic and widely studied information retrieval task. It investigates two methods of identifying the entities associated with a query, and two methods of using those entities to perform query expansion. A supervised model combines information derived from Freebase descriptions and categories to select terms that are effective for query expansion. Experiments on the ClueWeb09 dataset with TREC Web Track queries demonstrate that these methods are almost 30% more effective than strong, state-of-the-art query expansion algorithms. In addition to improving average performance, some of these methods have better win/loss ratios than baseline algorithms, with 50% fewer queries damaged.
Event-Specific Cannabis Use and Use-Related Impairment: The Relationship to Campus Traditions

Objective:Despite high rates of college cannabis use, little work has identified high-risk cannabis use events. For instance, Mardi Gras (MG) and St. Patrick’s Day (SPD) are characterized by more college drinking, yet it is unknown whether they are also related to greater cannabis use. Further, some campuses may have traditions that emphasize substance use during these events, whereas other campuses may not. Such campus differences may affect whether students use cannabis during specific events. The present study tested whether MG and SPD were related to more cannabis use at two campuses with different traditions regarding MG and SPD. Further, given that Campus A has specific traditions regarding MG whereas Campus B has specific traditions regarding SPD, cross-campus differences in event-specific use were examined.Method:Current cannabis-using undergraduates (N = 154) at two campuses completed an online survey of event-specific cannabis use and event-specific cannabis-related problems.Results:Participants...
Prevalence of root and coronal caries in a noninstitutionalized older population

This paper describes the prevalence of coronal caries and root caries in a sample of 520 people representative of the noninstitutionalized, dentate population older than age 65 in two rural Iowa counties. The subjects were examined in their homes by trained dental examiners. All prevalence rates were age- and gender-adjusted. Both types of caries were prevalent in the population age 65 and older. If projections of increased numbers of older people and increased retention of teeth are reasonably accurate, caries in older populations may become a significantly greater dental problem, and increased prevention and treatment of caries will be needed for these people.
The Flexibility of Carboxylate Ligands in Methane Monooxygenase and Ribonucleotide Reductase: A Density Functional Study

Available experimental data for the active sites of the hydroxylase component of methane monooxygenase (MMOH) and the R2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase (R2) indicates high flexibility of the ligand environment of the iron centers in these two metalloproteins, suggesting that carboxylate ligands may play a special role for proper enzymatic functioning. By using quantum chemical methods, here we have investigated (1) the so-called 1,2-carboxylate shift (i.e., shift of a bridging carboxylate ligand from μ-1,1 to μ-1,2 between two metal centers), and (2) the monodentate ↔ bidentate rearrangement of terminal carboxylate ligands (bound to only one metal center), in the reduced forms of MMOH and R2. Our results show that (i) MMOH-like and R2-like structures, with a μ-1,1 and μ-1,2 bridged carboxylate ligand, respectively, are energetically very close; (ii) complexes with lower coordination numbers in the Fe2 center are computed to be slightly more stable than those with higher coordination numbers, and (iii...
Effects of leaf nitrogen availability and leaf position on nitrogen allocation patterns in Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Vaccinium uliginosum

Nitrogen allocation patterns from leaves of Vaccinium vitis-idaea (evergreen) and Vaccinium uliginosum (deciduous) were assessed using a foliar application of 15N labeled ammonium sulfate. These are wild perennial shrubs inhabiting arctic and subarctic regions. More label was transported from labeled leaves of Vaccinium uliginosum then Vaccinium vitis-idaea. In Vaccinium uliginosum, the amount of label transported from the labeled leaf increased as the concentration of nitrogen in the label increased. Current growth in Vaccinium uliginosum was a strong sink for nitrogen because most of the 15N transported from the labeled leaf was contained in this region. In addition, when greater quantities of nitrogen were applied, larger quantities were retained in current growth. Current growth of Vaccinium vitis-idaea, on the other hand, was not as strong a sink because regardless of the nitrogen available thru various label concentrations, the enrichment of current growth was not affected and was not significantly different from older stems or leaves. Yet, in both species, nitrogen was transported freely from leaves of all positions along the stem to all parts of the plant including roots and rhizomes. The position of the leaf along the stem had no effect on the patterns of allocation to other organs.
Cerebral cysticercosis: occurrence in the immigrant population.

Six cases of cerebral cysticercosis have been diagnosed at the Neurological Institute of New York during the past 18 years. Three recent cases are discussed, with emphasis on the variability of signs and symptoms and the best available diagnostic techniques. One must have a high index of suspicion when evaluating patients who have immigrated to the United States from endemic areas, although the disease may be acquired through food contaminated by carriers in nonendemic areas. Conventional radiography (e.g., plain films and pneumography) and, more recently, computerized tomography are the most effective tests to confirm this diagnosis. Cerebrospinal fluid and serum eosinophilia and indirect hemagglutination titers are nonspecific but occasionally helpful. Therapy is currently confined to surgical excision of lesions where possible and symptomatic treatment otherwise.
Correlation between plasma B-Type natriuretic peptide and N-Terminal Pro–B-Type natriuretic peptide in dyspneic emergency and hospitalized patients

Study objectives: Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been described as an advance in congestive heart failure (CHF) diagnosis, risk stratification, and management. The N-terminal portion of the BNP precursor molecule (NT-proBNP) is characterized as a serum marker with application similar to BNP. Methods: We prospectively evaluated consecutive emergency department (ED) and hospitalized dyspneic patients with simultaneous measurements of BNP (Biosite Triage plasma BNP) and NT-proBNP (Roche Elecsys plasma NT-proBNP). Patient clinical and demographic data were collected by medical record survey and included age, sex, weight, history of CHF diagnosis, serum creatinine level, and discharge diagnosis. Assay results were assessed by Pearson correlation coefficient ( r ) with derivation of a regression equation, including logarithmic transformation. Clinical and demographic data were tested for impact on assay findings and correlation. Results: There were 107 patients in the study cohort (mean age 75 years). A medical history of CHF was documented in 46% of patients, with the principle ED or hospital discharge diagnosis noted to be CHF in 36% of patients. Laboratory BNP and NT-proBNP results demonstrated a moderate linear correlation ( r =0.6; regression equation: BNP×6.5+2,527=NT–proBNP). This correlation increased to high with logarithmic transformation ( r =0.8; regression equation: ln[BNP]×1.003+1.915=ln[NT-proBNP]). Patient weight and age effected no improvement in correlation, whereas creatinine inclusion allowed for a small, although statistically significant, improvement in the logarithmic r 2 to from 0.65 to 0.70. The variance of NT-proBNP increased as BNP levels increased. Conclusion: We were able to demonstrate a moderately high correlation between BNP and NT-proBNP levels in dyspneic patients within the ED and hospitalized population. The impact of age, creatinine level, and body weight on this correlation appears to be minimal.
Effects of varying argon ion laser intensity and exposure time on the ablation of atherosclerotic plaque.

Abstract Using continuous wave (CW) argon ion laser light, a total of 253 laser exposures of varying power (1.5, 3, 5, 8 or 10 W) and duration (20-1,333 ms) were delivered to four segments of human atheromatous aorta obtained at autopsy. Exposure conditions were controlled by using an optically shielded laser catheter that provided a 500 micron spot of light of known power. Two thresholds for consistently reproducible ablation could be defined-an intensity threshold at 25.5 W/mm2 and a fluence threshold at 3.2 J/mm2. Above threshold, a fluence of 5.1 J/mm2 was found to produce the most efficient ablation, ie, removed the greatest volume (mm3) per energy delivered (J) compared to other fluence levels employed (p less than 0.0001). Between aortic segments, however, considerable variability in efficiency (mm3/J) was observed, possibly owing to different optical properties and/or plaque composition. Low-intensity laser radiation produced inconsistent ablation and extensive coagulation effects to surrounding tissue. When a fluence of 5.1 J/mm2 was constructed with a high-intensity laser beam and a short exposure time, consistent and efficient tissue removal resulted without histologic evidence of coagulation necrosis.
Bacterial growth in refrigerated human milk.

• Unprocessed breast milk is currently being used as a desirable feeding alternative for premature infants. To assess some of the potential risks of this practice, we studied the bacterial growth in 41 samples of unprocessed human milk for a period of five days. No bacteria were cultured in eight samples of milk; the bacteria that were cultured in the remaining 33 samples were similar to those found on the skin and nipple of the breast. With the exception of three samples, two with Klebsiella and one with Pseudomonas , all identified bacteria have been reported as normal skin flora. The initial concentration of bacteria found in milk was low, with a mean of 10 000 colonies (range, 1000 to 140 000 colonies). Bacterial colony counts progressively decreased throughout the five-day refrigeration period.
Initial result on management problem of battery storage system in PEM fuel cell based hybrid power sources

The goal of this paper is to address management problem of battery storage system in PEM fuel cell based hybrid power sources. Our idea of design is to utilize “feedback control”mechanism to handle possible dynamic uncertainty of hybrid power source introduced by battery failure or insert of a new battery. The detailed battery model and the converter model are derived to facilitate the development of dynamic optimal management algorithm. Simulation results are also given.
Influence des étanchéités sur le comportement vibratoire des compresseurs centrifuges

The multi-stage process centrifugal compressors are operated over their first lateral natural frequency, and their behaviour must be free of any subsynchronous frequency. The shaft end sealing devices tighten the flamable and sometimes toxic gas inside the casing: the internal seals limit the recirculations between stages. These devices are considered in the rotordynamic analyses, because they have a significant effect on the damping of the first natural mode, overall at high pressure levels (over 100 bar). Full load and full pressure tests are frequently carried out to check the vibratory behaviour of the most sensitive units. Several very useful models have been developped for ten years in order to characterize the gas seals; nevertheless, the development of more accurate models is yet necessary, which is made very difficult by the nature of the gaseous flows themselves.
Adhesion and Wetting of Nanoparticles on Soft Surfaces

We study adhesion of spherical and cylindrical nanoparticles on soft (gel-like) substrates using a combination of the molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical calculations. The substrate deformation is obtained as a function of the gel shear modulus, nanoparticle size, surface tension of nanoparticles and substrate, and work of adhesion. It was shown recently that the classical JKR model can only be applied to describe nanoparticle adhesion on relatively stiff substrates. In this so-called adhesion regime the deformation of the substrate is determined by balancing the elastic energy of indentation and the work of adhesion between a nanoparticle and a gel. However, in the case of soft gels when substrates undergo moderate deformations the depth of the indentation produced by a nanoparticle is determined by the surface tension of the gel and the work of adhesion (the wetting regime). We present an analytical model describing crossover between adhesion and wetting regimes. In the framework of this mode...
Canalscape: Practising Integral Urbanism in Metropolitan Phoenix

Just as a good manager builds on existing strengths of an organization, so good urbanism builds upon given assets of a place. ‘Integral urbanism’ begins by engaging communities to identify such assets and consider how best to leverage them. In this way, it sets a generative and dynamic self-adjusting feedback mechanism into motion, where communities build creatively upon their strengths, sometimes in the process even converting their greatest problems into the greatest solutions. In Metropolitan Phoenix, integral urbanism has been practised with canalscape, a distributed system of vital urban hubs where canals meet major streets. Canalscape will offer an alternative to sprawl, highly desirable live/work settings, and much-needed places to gather, significantly contributing to urban and economic revitalization. Practising integral urbanism, this re-orientation of urban growth and development along the canal banks leverages an existing asset, offering an authentic and sustainable desert urbanism for the Pho...
Saturated Hydrocarbons from Autoxidizing Methyl Linoleate

EXAMINATION of the vapours of autoxidizing methyl linoleate by gas-liquid chromatography has revealed the presence of several compounds with retention times corresponding to methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane. Identification of these compounds from autoxidation of a purified unsaturated ester has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported. This finding confirms a prediction made by C. D. Evans et al. that low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons would be produced by autoxidation of unsaturated fatty acids1,2. They also reported saturated and unsaturated short chain hydrocarbons had been found in products from autoxidation of soybean oil3. Buttery and associates identified C1 to C5 normal saturated hydrocarbons in dehydrated potatoes, in which linoleic acid is the principal unsaturated acid in the lipids4. They speculated that the hydrocarbons might have been formed in autoxidizing dehydrated potatoes by hexanal decomposition that had been catalysed by fat peroxides. However, our findings with methyl linoleate show that the saturated hydrocarbons arise early in the autoxidation process, when aldehydes are either absent or present in undetectable amounts. Therefore, the hydrocarbons are being formed either by an extremely rapid decarboxylation of aldehydes present at a low steady-state concentration or by a totally different mechanism. Japanese workers identified ethane and higher molecular weight alkanes and alkenes from air-oxidation of soybean oil at 240° C (refs. 5 and 6). Their results cannot be compared with ours, however, because our ester was relatively pure and our experiments were performed at room temperature.
Analytical Solutions for Solute Transport in a Spherically Symmetric Divergent Flow Field

Exact analytical solutions for an equation describing advection, dispersion, first-order decay, and rate-limited sorption of a solute in a steady, hemispherical or spherically symmetric, divergent flow field are presented for constant concentration and constant flux boundary conditions in a porous medium. The partial differential equation describing transport is a confluent hypergeometric equation that may be solved with variable substitution and Laplace transform, and the solutions are expressed by parabolic cylindrical functions. The novel solutions derived here may be applied to predict concentration distributions in space and time for porous media transport in a spherically symmetric flow field or for the special case where injection is just below a confining layer (hemispherical flow). The analytical solutions can be used to simulate wastewater injection from short-screened wells into thick formations or to analyze tracer tests that use short-screened wells to create approximately spherical flow fields in thick formations.
Comparison of phased-array Bragg cells operating in the second order.

Three phased-array techniques for acoustooptic generation of light in the more frequency sensitive second order are discussed and compared numerically. A design formalism is developed that may be used on any cascaded configuration of phased arrays. To evaluate the three techniques discussed a broadly applicable strong interaction multiorder numerical method is also introduced.
Determination of Hg(II) in acidic media by stripping voltammetry with collection.

Stripping voltammetry with collection at a rotating ring—disk electrode having a platinum ring and a glassy-carbon disk was used for the determination of Hg(II) in 1·0M H2SO4 medium in the range 0·10–4·00 ppM. Satisfactory results were obtained only after a thin film of Au (two monolayer equivalents) was electroplated on the disk electrode. The average relative deviation of the results for determination at the 0·10-ppM level was 7·5 %. The limit of detection for the technique is approximately 0·01 ppM.
Impact of personality, sex, and generation on resident operative role

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to determine if gender, generation, or personality traits influence resident perception of their operative role. Materials and methods Over a 4-wk period, daily surveys were sent to residents and staff to assess the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) role of residents on operative cases. Personality was assessed on completion of the survey period using the big five inventory (BFI). Results In 184 paired responses, resident perception of their operative role and staff reported resident role coincided in 82.1% surveys. In instances when resident perception differed from staff assessment, neither gender nor generation correlated with discrepancy between resident and staff assessment. High BFI agreeableness of staff was associated with more disparity, and high BFI neuroticism scores of staff translated to less disparity between resident-perceived and staff-assessed operative roles (odds ratio 2.63, P = 0.003 and odds ratio 0.44, P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions This study demonstrates agreement between resident and staff reports of ACGME resident operative role in most cases; however, staff personality traits influenced resident's perception of their operative role. Perceived underparticipation in operative cases may influence a resident's experience during training, which may impact their reporting of operative experience to the ACGME.
What is sepsis? What is severe sepsis? What is septic shock? Searching for objective definitions among the winds of doctrines and wild theories.

More than 100 years ago, William Osler observed: ‘Except on few occasions, the patient appears to die from the body’s response to infection rather than from … [the infection itself]’ [2]. Osler mad...
φX174 Genome-Capsid Interactions Influence the Biophysical Properties of the Virion: Evidence for a Scaffolding-Like Function for the Genome during the Final Stages of Morphogenesis

During the final stages of X174 morphogenesis, there is an 8.5-A radial collapse of coat proteins around the packaged genome, which is tethered to the capsid’s inner surface by the DNA-binding protein. Two approaches were taken to determine whether protein-DNA interactions affect the properties of the mature virion and thus the final stages of morphogenesis. In the first approach, genome-capsid associations were altered with mutant DNA-binding proteins. The resulting particles differed from the wild-type virion in density, native gel migration, and host cell recognition. Differences in native gel migration were especially pronounced. However, no differences in protein stoichiometries were detected. An extragenic second-site suppressor of the mutant DNA-binding protein restores all assayed properties to near wild-type values. In the second approach, X174 was packaged with foreign, single-stranded, covalently closed, circular DNA molecules identical in length to the X174 genome. The resulting particles exhibited native gel migration rates that significantly differed from the wild type. The results of these experiments suggest that the structure of the genome and/or its association with the capsid’s inner surface may perform a scaffolding-like function during the procapsid-tovirion transition.
Dynamic response of adhesively bonded single-lap joints with a void subjected to harmonic peeling loads

The only viable method to join some components is by using adhesives. These components are often subjected to dynamic loading, which may cause initiation and propagation of failure in the joint. In order to ensure the reliability of these structures, their dynamic response and its variation with the presence of defects in the bonded area must be understood. The dynamic response of a single-lap joint subjected to an out-of-plane harmonic force is evaluated. The bonded joint is modelled as a Euler-Bernoulli beam joined with an adhesive and constrained at one end and subjected to a harmonic force at the free end. The results show that the system response is not sensitive to a range of adhesive loss factor of 0-1. Furthermore, the system response is little affected by the presence of void in the bond area. The system response seems to be more sensitive to the void location than to its size. Peel and shear stresses in the bond area are obtained and found to be cone ned to the edge of the overlap. For the adhesive and adherent properties and geometries investigated the maximum peel and shear stresses in the bond area are little affected by the presence of a central void, covering up to 60 per cent of the overlap length for all applied loading frequencies. However, when the frequency of the applied load is close to the natural frequencies of the structure, a void may increase or decrease both the maximum peel and shear stresses.
Single-facility resource allocation under capacity-based economies and diseconomics of scope

We consider the optimal allocation of a resource in a single-facility production environment in the presence of capacity-based economies and diseconomies of scope. This setting generalizes the usual approach to single-facility resource allocation by allowing for the effective capacity of a facility to be a nonlinear function of the number of different items produced or the services delivered by the facility. Economies or diseconomies of scope are attributable to factors such as production changeover time, overall process management requirements, and complementary production requirements that vary with the product or service mix. We consider the problem setting in which the effective capacity depends on the number of tasks assigned to the facility. The resulting model SCOPE generalizes the well-known 0-1 knapsack problem. We also consider the more general problem GENCAP in which capacity consumption depends on the specific set of tasks assigned to the facility. We define tabu-search heuristics, as well as exact branch-and-bound algorithms for SCOPE and GENCAP. On the basis of extensive computational experience, the solution procedures are seen to be extremely effective. In particular, the heuristics consistently obtain high-quality solutions to the test problems. Furthermore, the tractability of solving problems to optimality is demonstrated through the solution of SCOPE problems having as many as 500 tasks and GENCAP problems involving as many as 50 tasks and more than 16,500 nonlinear capacity interactions.
Connectionism for Music and Audition

This workshop explored machine learning approaches to 3 topics: (1) finding structure in music (analysis, continuation, and completion of an unfinished piece), (2) modeling perception of time (extraction of musical meter, explanation of human data on timing), and (3) interpolation in timbre space.
A Look at Some Important Factors in Assessing Readiness for School

Previous articles in the Journal cited by the author have argued that some children either have insufficient intelligence or lack readiness for first-grade work, despite an appropriate chronological age. Retainment or delayed entry have been suggested as remedies. Gredler presents arguments and supporting data which seriously question these otherwise reasonable assertions. Those concerned at this time of year with decisions of retainment or delayed entry should find this article thought-provoking. — G.M.S.There has been an increased interest in the learning disabled child and the need for sophisticated diagnosis and remediation. However, many still believe that manipulation of the entrance age to school and grade retention will solve the problems of children retarded in reading. The efficacy of these approaches is analyzed. There is a need to examine the excessively high failure rate found in the primary grades and reconceptualize the factors involved in such failure.
MATERIALS AND METHODS OF TEACHING BUSINESS FINANCE (I)

When first requested to discuss the objectives and content of courses in business or corporation finance, I sympathized with the sleepy student who had not heard the question of the instructor, "What is a vacuum?" and when realizing that he had to give an answer to some question replied, "I've got it in my head, but I can't explain it." So there were two problems. First, to get it in my head and, second, to explain it.
Bacillus cereus Necrotizing Cellulitis Mimicking Clostridial Myonecrosis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

We describe a case of rapidly progressive necrotizing cellulitis in an immunocompromised farmer caused by Bacillus cereus, and review 15 additional cases of serious soft tissue infection due to this organism reported in the English language literature. These cases illustrate the potential for B. cereus to cause fulminant soft tissue disease indistinguishable from that caused by clostridia.