cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adipose tissue angiogenesis: Impact on obesity and type-2 diabetes ☆

The growth and function of tissues are critically dependent on their vascularization. Adipose tissue is capable of expanding many-fold during adulthood, therefore requiring the formation of new vasculature to supply growing and proliferating adipocytes. The expansion of the vasculature in adipose tissue occurs through angiogenesis, where new blood vessels develop from those pre-existing within the tissue. Inappropriate angiogenesis may underlie adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity, which in turn increases type-2 diabetes risk. In addition, genetic and developmental factors involved in vascular patterning may define the size and expandability of diverse adipose tissue depots, which are also associated with type-2 diabetes risk. Moreover, the adipose tissue vasculature appears to be the niche for pre-adipocyte precursors, and factors that affect angiogenesis may directly impact the generation of new adipocytes. Here we review recent advances on the basic mechanisms of angiogenesis, and on the role of angiogenesis in adipose tissue development and obesity. A substantial amount of data points to a deficit in adipose tissue angiogenesis as a contributing factor to insulin resistance and metabolic disease in obesity. These emerging findings support the concept of the adipose tissue vasculature as a source of new targets for metabolic disease therapies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Modulation of Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease.
X-ray K-edge absorption spectra of Fe minerals and model compounds: Near-edge structure

Synchrotron radiation has been used to collect high-resolution Fe K absorption near-edge spectra of a suite of Fe minerals and compounds having a range of Fe environments. These spectra, along with those of previous workers, indicate that the number, position, and intensity of near-edge features are characteristic of Fe valence and general site geometry. For example, the crest of the K-edge for Fe2+ in a six-coordinated site in the oxides studied is about 3 eV lower in energy than that for Fe3+ in a similar site. The K-edge crest for Fe3+ in a four-coordinated site is 1 to 2 eV lower than for Fe3+ in a regular site. The shape of the edge crest is sensitive to the details of first-neighbor bonding distances, tending to be broader in species with irregular Fe sites and varying in energy according to the average bond length. Comparison with Ca2+ and Zn2+ spectra from the literature is made and the applicability and utility of edge measurements discussed.
Allosteric regulation by oleamide of the binding properties of 5-hydroxytryptamine7 receptors.

Oleamide belongs to a family of amidated lipids with diverse biological activities, including sleep induction and signaling modulation of several 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor subtypes, including 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A/2C, and 5-HT7. The 5-HT7 receptor, predominantly localized in the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and frontal cortex, stimulates cyclic AMP formation and is thought to be involved in the regulation of sleep–wake cycles. Recently, it was proposed that oleamide acts at an allosteric site on the 5-HT7 receptor to regulate cyclic AMP formation. We have further investigated the interaction between oleamide and 5-HT7 receptors by performing radioligand binding assays with HeLa cells transfected with the 5-HT7 receptor. Methiothepin, clozapine, and 5-HT all displaced specific [3H]5-HT (100 nM) binding, with pKD values of 7.55, 7.85, and 8.39, respectively. Oleamide also displaced [3H]5-HT binding, but the maximum inhibition was only 40% of the binding. Taking allosteric (see below) cooperativity into account, a KD of 2.69 nM was calculated for oleamide. In saturation binding experiments, oleamide caused a 3-fold decrease in the affinity of [3H]5-HT for the 5-HT7 receptor, without affecting the number of binding sites. A Schild analysis showed that the induced shift in affinity of [3H]5-HT reached a plateau, unlike that of a competitive inhibitor, illustrating the allosteric nature of the interaction between oleamide and the 5-HT7 receptor. Oleic acid, the product of oleamide hydrolysis, had a similar effect on [3H]5-HT binding, whereas structural analogs of oleamide, trans-9,10-octadecenamide, cis-8,9-octadecenamide, and erucamide, did not alter [3H]5-HT binding significantly. The findings support the hypothesis that oleamide acts via an allosteric site on the 5-HT7 receptor regulating receptor affinity.
Random and best-first document selection models

Most document retrieval systems based on probabilistic models of feature distributions assume random selection of documents for retrieval. The assumptions of these models are met when documents are randomly selected from the database or when retrieving all available documents. A more suitable model for retrieval of a single document assumes that the best document available is to be retrieved first. Models of document retrieval systems assuming random selection and best-first selection are developed and compared under binary independence and two Poisson independence feature distribution models. Under the best-first model, feature discrimination varies with the number of documents in each relevance class in the database. A weight similar to the Inverse Document Frequency weight and consistent with the best-first model is suggested which does not depend on knowledge of the characteristics of relevant documents.
Mechanism of monoterpene volatilization in Salvia mellifera

Abstract Monoterpene volatilization in Salvia mellifera is primarily dependent on the vapor pressures of the terpenes as they are influenced by temperature, the humidity of the air surrounding the leaf and the surface area of oil present on the leaf.
11th Annual Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition: team approaches to intelligent driving and machine vision

The Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) is one of three, unmanned systems, student competitions that were founded by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) in the 1990's. The IGVC is a multidisciplinary exercise in product realization that challenges college engineering student teams to integrate advanced control theory, machine vision, vehicular electronics, and mobile platform fundamentals to design and build an unmanned system. Both the U.S. and international teams focus on developing a suite of dual-use technologies to equip ground vehicles of the future with intelligtent driving capabilities. Over the past 11 years, the competition has challenged both undergraduates and graduates, including Ph.D. students with real world applications in intelligent transportation systems, the military, and manufacturing automation. To date, teams from over 40 universities and colleges have participated. In this paper, we describe some of the applications of the technologies required by this competition, and discuss the educational benefits. The primary goal of the IGVC is to advance engineering education in intelligent vehicles and related technologies. The employment and professional networking opportunities created for students and industrial sponsors through a series of technical events over the three-day competition are highlighted. Finally, an assessment of the competition based on participant feedback is presented.
Struggle and moral purpose in American education 50 years after Brown

Fifty years ago, on 17 May 1954, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine that had effectively legalized ‘educational apartheid’ some 58 years earlier deprived racially segregated children of the equal protection of laws guaranteed by the fourteenth Amendment. The historical significance of Brown is overviewed in this article, the continuing struggle in America for equality of educational opportunity is documented, and the need for advancing moral purposes in the education of young children is highlighted.
Control CPR: a branch height reduction optimization for EPIC architectures

The challenge of exploiting high degrees of instruction-level parallelism is often hampered by frequent branching. Both exposed branch latency and low branch throughput can restrict parallelism. Control critical path reduction (control CPR) is a compilation technique to address these problems. Control CPR can reduce the dependence height of critical paths through branch operations as well as decrease the number of executed branches. In this paper, we present an approach to control CPR that recognizes sequences of branches using profiling statistics. The control CPR transformation is applied to the predominant path through this sequence. Our approach, its implementation, and experimental results are presented. This work demonstrates that control CPR enhances instruction-level parallelism for a variety of application programs and improves their performance across a range of processors.
Investigation of the thermomechanical response of a titanium aluminide/silicon carbide composite using a unified state variable model in ADINA

Abstract The stress response of a titanium aluminide/silicon carbide-fiber-reinforced metal-matrix composite has been studied. The investigation was conducted using a two-dimensional axisymmetric finite element model of a unit cell of the composite. The model was generated with the ADINA-IN finite element program preprocessor. A strain-rate dependent unified state variable constitutive model was implemented into the ADINA finite element program to analyze the materials time-dependent inelastic response. The composite system was subjected to various time-dependent cooling profiles in an effort to reduce the residual stresses that initiate radial cracks in the matrix. The cracks originate at the fiber-matrix interface as the material is cooled from its consolidation temperature to room temperature.
Probabilistic analysis of the next fit decreasing algorithm for bin-packing

We use a simple deterministic inequality to simplify and strengthen previous results on the probabilistic analysis of Next Fit Decreasing for Bin-Packing.
Psychometric Validation of the Temptation and Restraint Inventory in Two Samples of College Drinkers1

Drinking restraint, commonly measured by the Temptation and Restraint Inventory (TRI; Collins & Lapp, 1992), refers to a cycle of temptation to drink alcohol and attempts to control alcohol use that results in excessive consumption. Recent research has examined college drinkers using the TRI, however, it has been validated only in adult samples. This study validated the TRI in two samples of college drinkers, designated as “hazardous” (n = 480) and “harmful” (n = 231) drinkers. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the previously reported higher order two-factor structure was identified in both samples. In addition, multiple regression analyses using derived component scores demonstrated that TRI performance was associated with degree of alcohol dependence in both samples. These data support the use of the TRI in college samples.
Leadership and Knowledge Management in an E-Government Environment

This article investigates the relationship between aspects of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award's leadership triad and knowledge management in an e-government context.
Design of photonic crystal optical waveguides with singlemode propagation in the photonic bandgap

The authors present a systematic method for designing dielectric-core photonic crystal optical waveguides that support only one mode in the photonic bandgap (PBG). It is shown that by changing the sizes of the air columns (without perturbing the positions of the centres of the air column) in the two rows that are adjacent to the middle slab, the higher order mode(s) can be pushed out of the photonic bandgap, resulting in singlemode wave propagation in the bandgap.
Exploring what “Drink Responsibly” Means to College Students

Abstract The alcohol industry has developed its own alcohol moderation advertising to combat the rising criticism about the industry's marketing and advertising practices. Today, many brewers and distillers promote “drink responsibly.” This paper attempts to explore what “drink responsibly” means to college students, a target audience who partakes in risky drinking behaviors. The results indicate that these words convey a variety of pro-health and -safety messages, yet don't address other topics, such as being of age. Implications for alcohol marketers, health advocates and public policy makers are presented, and future research directions are offered to stimulate further investigation into these advertising campaigns.
Infusion of Afrocentric Content into the School Curriculum: Toward an Effective Movement

This article is a discussion of significant incidents and issues that pertain to recent efforts to infuse Afrocentric content into the U.S. public school curriculum.2 The focus here is on developments within the past decade, as highlighted by a case study of the School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Two distinct historical developments among African American people inform what can be called a movement for Afrocentric content infusion. The first is the late 1960s mass call by parents and community leaders for more control over their schools. The second development is the popularization of the Afrocentric idea and the embracing of African culture by African Americans. In addition, the seemingly increasing severity of social problems confronting African American youths is an alarming development that has lent urgency to this movement. Carpenter-Huffman, Hall, and Sumner (1974) provide a useful method by which any attempt to introduce a school reform can be evaluated. This method is used here applied to the Afrocentric curriculum movement. An examination of the efforts to infuse Afrocentric content into the curriculum of Philadelphia's public
The effect of same-gender teacher assignment on student achievement in the elementary and secondary grades: Evidence from panel data

Abstract We utilize information from a rich administrative panel dataset following the universe of test-taking public school students in Florida over a period of five years to estimate the relationship between same-gender teacher assignment and student achievement. We estimate how a student's achievement changes as he/she is assigned to teachers of different genders throughout his/her academic career, holding constant both observed and unobserved factors related to academic outcomes. We also provide estimates from models that evaluate how the relative performance of male and female student assigned to the same teacher or in the same classroom relates to the gender of the teacher. We find no statistically distinguishable relationship between same-gender teacher assignments and student math or reading achievement in elementary school. We find a statistically significant relationship between being assigned to a female teacher and student achievement in middle and high school, however the magnitude of the effect is small.
Mastication, submandibular gland enlargement and the periodontal syndrome in the rice rat.

Abstract A series of preliminary experiments in which the amount of mastication of food was altered and in which occlusal disturbances were attempted failed to demonstrate any significant relationships to the periodontal syndrome. In a periodic incisor amputation experiment, no significant influence upon the periodontal syndrome was observed; however, enlargement of the submandibular salivary glands occurred similar to comparable experiments in the white rat. Shorter term incisor amputation resulted in more pronounced influence upon the submandibular glands. The administration of Serpasil in the drinking water had no influence upon the periodontal syndrome and did not affect the size of the submandibular glands. Dietary variations from liquid to fine particles to coarser particles only influenced the initiation and development of the periodontal syndrome in minor ways.
Overexpression of Dicer as a Result of Reduced let-7 microRNA Levels Contributes to Increased Cell Proliferation of Oral Cancer Cells

Recent reports have demonstrated that Dicer, an RNase III endonuclease required for microRNA (miRNA) maturation, is aberrantly expressed in different types of cancer. Furthermore, Dicer has been reported to be regulated by the let-7 family of miRNA genes. We hypothesize that Dicer is aberrantly expressed in oral cancer cells due to altered expressions of let-7 and that Dicer contributes to the development and progression of the disease. Western blot examination of Dicer protein levels in four head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines, including two oral cancer cell lines, demonstrated that Dicer had between 4- and 24-fold higher expression levels when compared to normal human primary gingival epithelial cells. Furthermore, five of six oral cancer tissues analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence had increased Dicer protein expression, compared to normal gingival epithelial tissue. The Dicer mRNA levels were not found to correlate well with protein expression in the HNSCC cell lines, suggesting that Dicer protein expression was post-transcriptionally regulated. Analysis of let-7a and let-7b levels in HNSCC cell lines by real-time PCR demonstrated that let-7b, but not let-7a, was significantly reduced in the HNSCC cell lines compared to control cells. Lastly, transfection of oral cancer cells with chemically synthesized let-7b and small interfering RNAs targeting Dicer significantly inhibited cell proliferation up to 83% and >100%, respectively, as early as 3 days post-transfection. Together, these data demonstrate that elevated expression levels of Dicer in oral cancer cells correlate with downregulation of let-7b and increased cell proliferation. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of Carbon Fillers on Tensile and Flexural Properties in Polypropylene-Based Resins

A potential application for conductive resins is in bipolar plates for use in fuel cells. The addition of carbon filler can increase the electrical and thermal conductivities of the polymer matrix but will also have an effect on the tensile and flexural properties, important for bipolar plates. In this research, three different types of carbon (carbon black, synthetic graphite, and carbon nanotubes) were added to polypropylene and the effects of these single fillers on the flexural and tensile properties were measured. All three carbon fillers caused an increase in the tensile and flexural modulus of the composite. The ultimate tensile and flexural strengths decreased with the addition of carbon black and synthetic graphite, but increased for carbon nanotubes/polypropylene composites due to the difference in the aspect ratio of this filler compared to carbon black and synthetic graphite. Finally, it was found that the Nielsen model gave the best prediction of the tensile modulus for the polypropylene based composites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
The usual medical care for irritable bowel syndrome

Summary Aims : To determine what constitutes usual medical care for irritable bowel syndrome, which patient characteristics influence choice of treatment and how satisfied patients are with care. Methods : Patient encounters in a health maintenance organization were prospectively monitored to identify visits coded irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhoea. Within 2 weeks these patients were sent postal questionnaires (n = 1770, 59% participation) to assess patient characteristics and treatment recommendations. Responders were sent follow-up questionnaires 6 months later (77% participation) to assess adherence and satisfaction with treatment. Results : Treatments employed most frequently were dietary advice, explanation, exercise advice, reassurance, advice to reduce stress and antispasmodic medications. Primary care physicians and gastroenterologists provided similar treatments. Patient confidence was higher for lifestyle advice (63–67, 100-point scale) than for medications (46–59). However, adherence was greater for medications (62–79 vs. 59–69, 100-point scale). Satisfactory relief was reported by 57%, but only 22% reported that symptom severity was reduced by half. Usual medical treatment was less effective for irritable bowel syndrome than for constipation, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain. Conclusions : Usual medical care for irritable bowel syndrome emphasizes education and lifestyle modification more than drugs; patients have a greater expectation of benefit from lifestyle modification than drugs. Overall 57% of irritable bowel syndrome patients report satisfactory relief.
State Education Finance and Governance Profile: Georgia.

Population (2008)9,685,744Total K-12 enrollment1,609,681Nonpublic enrollment as% of total enrollmentUnavailableCurrent expenditures per pupil$8,965.24Public K-12 education current expenditures (all...
Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the wetland monocot Typha latifolia L. (Broadleaf cattail).

An Agrobacterium-mediated model transformation system was standardized for the wetland monocot Typha latifolia L. to achieve the long-term objective of introducing candidate genes for phytoremediation. Two binary plasmid vectors, pCAMBIA1301/EHA105 and pTOK233/LBA4404, both containing the gus (β-glucuronidase) and hptII (hygromycin phosphotransferase II) genes, were used for transformation. Fifty-day-old 5 mg/l picloram-derived calli were cocultivated and selected on medium containing 20 mg/l or 40 mg/l hygromycin. Resistant calli were regenerated on medium supplemented with 5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine, with or without 20 mg/l or 40 mg/l hygromycin and with or without charcoal (10 g/l). Transient GUS activity in explants ranged between 28% and 36%. Hygromycin-resistant calli, selected after 3 months, showed stable GUS expression. A total of 46 plants were regenerated and established in the greenhouse; 13 showed stable GUS expression. Cocultivation of dark culture-derived calli, directly selected on regeneration medium containing 20 mg/l hygromycin and rooted on medium with 20 mg/l hygromycin was the best protocol. The addition of charcoal did not have any effect on regeneration. PCR and Southern analyses of transgenic calli and transgenic plants confirmed the presence of the introduced genes. In conclusion, T. latifolia could be genetically transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Thermal interactions of the Huygens probe with the Titan environment : Constraint on near-surface wind

The Huygens probe lost heat to its cold environment during its descent through Titan’s atmosphere and after landing. Here I report measurements of the probe’s thermal behavior and comparison with ground tests (1) to provide a context for other scientific investigations, such as the release of volatiles from the landing site, and (2) to place constraints on Titan environmental parameters directly, such as the thermal conductivity of the surface material and the strength of winds at the surface. Near-surface winds are constrained to be less than 0.2 m s −1 , and probably much less.  2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Immunization Against Infectious Disease.

Mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases in the United States have declined more than 90 percent since 1900. Factors believed to be responsible for this decline include changes in the natural history of disease, sanitation, quarantine measures, control of nonhuman vectors, antibacterial drugs, and immunization. The contributions of each of these factors differ among the various infectious diseases; except for smallpox and diphtheria control, immunization had little effect until after World War II. The success of present and future immunization programs is endangered by public and physician complacency and by complex legal and ethical problems related to informed consent and responsibility for rare, vaccine-related injury.
α-Tocopheryloxyacetic acid: a novel chemotherapeutic that stimulates the antitumor immune response.

α-Tocopheryloxyacetic acid (α-TEA) is a novel ether derivative of α-tocopherol that has generated interest as a chemotherapeutic agent because of its selective toxicity toward tumor cells and its ability to suppress tumor growth in various rodent and human xenograft models. We previously reported that oral α-TEA inhibited the growth of both a transplanted (4T1) and a spontaneous MMTV-PyMT mouse model of breast cancer. Because little is known about the possible immunological mechanisms underlying the in vivo α-TEA effects, we evaluated the impact of α-TEA therapy on the immune response by characterizing immune cell populations infiltrating the tumor site. α-TEA treatment resulted in higher frequencies of activated T cells in the tumor microenvironment and twofold and sixfold higher ratios of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to regulatory T cells, respectively. This finding was correlated with an increased ability of tumor-draining lymph node cells and splenocytes from α-TEA-treated mice to secrete interferon (IFN)-γ in response to CD3 or to mediate a cytolytic response in a tumor-specific fashion, respectively. That the α-TEA-mediated antitumor effect had a T cell-dependent component was demonstrated by the partial abrogation of tumor suppression when CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were depleted. We also determined the intratumoral cytokine and chemokine profile and found that α-TEA treatment increased intratumoral IFN-γ levels but decreased interleukin (IL)-4 levels, suggesting a shift toward a TH1 response. In addition, α-TEA induced higher levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and the chemokine CCL5. Taken together, these data suggest that α-TEA treatment, in addition to its direct cytotoxic effects, enhanced the anti-tumor immune response. This study provides a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of α-TEA and its effect on the immune system and may prove useful in designing immune-stimulating strategies to boost the antitumor effects of α-TEA in breast cancer patients.
Functional automatic differentiation with dirac impulses

Functional Reactive Programming (FRP) is a framework for reactive programming in a functional setting. FRP has been applied to a number of domains, such as graphical animation, graphical user interfaces, robotics, and computer vision. Recently, we have been interested in applying FRP-like principles to hybrid modeling and simulation of physical systems. As a step in that direction, we have extended an existing FRP implementation, Yampa, in two new ways that make it possible to express certain models in a very natural way, and reduces the amount of work needed to put modeling equations into a suitable form for simulation. First, we have added Dirac impulses that allow certain types of discontinuities to be handled in an easy yet rigorous manner. Second, we have adapted automatic differentiation to the setting of Yampa, and generalized it to work correctly with Dirac impulses. This allows derivatives of piecewise continuous signals to be well-defined at all points. This paper reviews the basic ideas behind automatic differentiation, in particular Jerzy Karczmarczuk's elegant version for a lazy functional language with overloading, and then considers the integration with Yampa and the addition of Dirac impulses.
Diagnosis of breast cancer in women age 40 and younger: delays in diagnosis result from underuse of genetic testing and breast imaging

Abstract Background The impact of newer breast imaging technologies and genetic testing on the detection of breast cancer in women age 40 and younger remains unknown. Methods A records review identified 628 women age 40 and younger diagnosed with breast cancer from 1996 to 2008. Patient and tumor characteristics, means of diagnosis, imaging results, and genetic testing were examined. Results Tumors were first detected by self-examination in 71%, with a median invasive tumor size of 2.0 cm. Imaging performed at or after diagnosis visualized most tumors; mammography visualized 86%, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visualized 96%, and mammography plus MRI visualized more than 98% of tumors. For 81% of patients, the mammogram at diagnosis was their first mammogram. Although 50% had a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, few underwent genetic testing before their cancer diagnosis; 61 of 247 (25%) ultimately tested had a BRCA mutation. Conclusions Better use of genetic testing, mammography, and MRI could improve breast cancer detection in young women.
Two Banach space methods and dual operator algebras

Abstract In this paper we present several new slightly nonlinear variants of the bipolar and the open mapping theorems in Banach spaces, which we abstracted from the recent developments in the theory of dual operator algebras. A new application of our techniques to the theory of operator algebras is also given.
Defensiveness in Female College Students and Its Impact on Their MAST and CAGE Scores

This study found a statistically significant inverse relationship between defensiveness and female college students' Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (M. L. Selzer, 1971) and CAGE (J. A. Ewing, 1984) scores. Female college students who produce negative screening scores were more defensive than those whose alcohol use screens were positive.
Induction of macrophage elastase (MMP-12) gene expression by statins

The statins (including mevastatin and lovastatin) are a widely prescribed class of serum-cholesterol lowering drugs that function by inhibiting 3-hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase activity and cellular sterol synthesis. Statins are also widely being appreciated for their inhibitory effects upon inflammation, primarily mediated through direct regulation of inflammatory gene expression. Here we report that statins are also capable of increasing the expression of macrophage elastase (MMP-12). The induction of MMP-12 in mouse macrophages by statins is specific for HMG CoA reductase inhibition, rescued by mevalonate and not observed after inhibition of subsequent steps in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Modulation of cholesterol metabolism may lead to changes in MMP-12 expression and subsequent impacts during physiological and pathophysiological states. We conclude that statins, in addition to their previously described anti-inflammatory properties, may promote the production of some proteinases from activated macrophages.
A partitioned control scheme for mobile robot path tracking

An approach to autonomously navigate a full-sized autonomous vehicle that treats vehicle control and obstacle detection separately is considered. The vehicle control that has enabled an autonomous vehicle to travel at speeds up to 35 km/h is discussed. The limitations of existing schemes that restrict their consideration to kinematic models are pointed out, and it is shown that it is possible to obtain an increase in performance through the use of approximate dynamical models that capture first-order effects. The present approach combines such a modeling philosophy with accurate feedback in world coordinates from sensors that have only recently become available. Experimental results of an implementation are presented. >
A Historical Picture of Family and Consumer Science Careers in Children's Literature

Five family and consumer sciences career novels written for young people were reviewed for commonalities in theme, experience and setting. Professionals in these books were portrayed as resourceful in designing effective solutions to solve local problems. Since most of the books are about Extension careers and the last book was written in the 1960s, additional promotion of family and consumer sciences as a career is suggested.
An evaluation of the haemostatic suture in hysterotomy closure in the mare.

Summary This study was designed to evaluate the haemostatic suture as a means of preventing haemorrhage from the hysterotomy in mares after caesarean section. At 2 university hospitals 1982–1994, 48 mares had caesarean section for dystocia, 10 as an elective, and 8 mares concurrently with colic surgery. The haemostatic suture was used in 31 of 66 mares (47%) and surgery period was significantly (P<0.05) shorter when it was not applied. Anaemia (PCV<30%) was recorded in 13 (22%) of 58 mares, excluding the colic group, and the haemostatic suture did not after this proportion of mares that had anaemia. Anaemia was 5 times more probable following caesarean section than vaginal delivery, evidence that bleeding from the hysterotomy is a serious and common complication of caesarean section in mares. Severe uterine haemorrhage was recorded in 3 mares that had an haemostatic suture (10%) and in 2 mares that did not (6%). The latter two mares died of haemorrhage. The suture, therefore did not eliminate post operative anaemia and severe uterine haemorrhage. If omitted, the hysterotomy should be closed with a full thickness pattern that is sufficiently tight to compress vessels in the uterine wall.
Thermal and pressure stresses in cylindrical reactor pressure vessels

Abstract Transient thermal stresses and steady pressure stresses developed in long, cylindrical pressure vessels of nuclear reactors are determined analytically. The computed results of the tangential thermal and pressure stress distributions in elastic and plastic states of the pressure vessels are obtained and shown by curves. For purpose of comparison, the maximum tangential thermal and pressure stresses for different absorption coefficients (or attenuation parameters) and combined tangential thermal and pressure stresses are also found. The conditions of creep and thermal fatigue for limit design which prevent a fracture failure of the reactor pressure vessels is discussed.
Human Factors Applications to the Design of Legal Offices

A programming study was undertaken to examine diverse human factors considerations associated with a renovation design appraisal for a small public defender clinic. The study used a multimethod approach involving interviews, a questionnaire, and a participatory design session. Subsequently, the programming team was able to describe a variety of design implications arising from human functional concerns within the firm. These ranged from appropriate workplace arrangement of the legal secretary to the social/professional image of client accessed interview spaces.
Concurrency control in trusted database management systems: a survey

Recently several algorithms have been proposed for concurrency control in a Trusted Database Management System (TDBMS). The various research efforts are examining the concurrency control algorithms developed for DBMSs and adapting them for a multilevel environment. This paper provides a survey of the concurrency control algorithms for a TDBMS and discusses future directions.
The intelligent database interface: integrating AI and database systems

The Intelligent Database Interface (IDI) is a cache-based interface that is designed to provide Artificial Intelligence systems with efficient access to one or more databases on one or more remote database management systems (DBMSs). It can be used to interface with a wide variety of different DBMSs with little or no modification since SQL is used to communicate with remote DBMSs and the implementation of the IDI provides a high degree of portability. The query language of the IDI is a restricted subset of function-free Horn clauses which is translated into SQL. Results from the IDI are returned one tuple at a time and the IDI manages a cache of result relations to improve efficiency. The IDI is one of the key components of the Intelligent System Server (ISS) knowledge representation and reasoning system and is also being used to provide database services for the Unisys spoken language systems program.
Multi-physics modeling of a microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition reactor for diamond growth

A multi-physics numerical simulation was developed for simulating the operation of a Microwave Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (MPACVD) reactor for synthetic diamond growth. The major components of the simulation included a finite-difference frequency domain (FDFD) electromagnetic simulation; a steady-state plasma simulation (including the electron energy balance and continuity equations); a time-dependent plasma convection simulation; and a temperature profile routine; all coupled together in a self-consistent loop. Global solution convergence was calculated as the total absolute difference in absorbed power between successive global iterations. Simulation results, and comparisons between experimental results these will be presented at the time of the conference.
Absorption and attenuation in soft tissues. II. Experimental results

For pt.I see ibid., vol.35, no.2, p.242 (1988). To determine the relative contributions of ultrasonic loss mechanisms in tissues, independent measurements of total attenuation and local absorption were obtained at discrete frequencies within the range of medical diagnostic equipment, 1-13 MHz. Automation techniques were applied to aspects of experimentation where extensive averaging or curve fitting could be used to improve accuracy. Novel approaches were also implemented to calibrate focused beams for use in pulse-decay absorption measurements which covered a wider frequency range, utilizing smaller sample volumes than were previously practical. These approaches enable comparisons of the magnitude and frequency dependence of attenuation and absorption in biological media, and permit some inferences to be made as to the relative contribution of scattering to total attenuation. The results of studies on agar-gelatin phantoms, calf liver, and collagenous pig liver indicate that absorption comprises 90-100% of total attenuation in these materials. Studies on bovine brain matter and leg muscle are less definitive because complications include the inhomogeneous grey and white matter composition of brain, and fiber anisotropy in muscle. However, average results from these tissues also show a major contribution of absorption to attenuation. >
Robust control of servo-systems with induction motors

We develop a control law for induction motors to ensure the constant volts per hertz operational principle from closed-loop perspectives. The constant volts per hertz concept has been researched from open-loop standpoints, and beneficial advantages of V/f control have not been utilized. To ensure a spectrum of advantages, offered by the constant volts per hertz concept, a controller is designed. This paper offers a nonlinear feedback mappings framework, and nonquadratic Lyapunov functions are used to stabilize electric drives and servos under time-varying norm-bounded parameters. These innovations allow one to design state-of-the-art electromechanical motion devices which utilize the full efficiency of induction motors with the bounded control (phase voltages), admissible disturbances (rated load torques), and inherent uncertainties (parameter variations). Our approach supports previous activity and motivates promising innovative developments in control of induction motors.
Active compensator to improve transient response delay for future generation of microprocessor

Normally, socket inductance is very small and it seldom influences the performance of chips. However, for new generation of microprocessor, the slew rate of load change is so large that the socket inductance response delay is dominant in transient response. The existing of a socket generates large voltage spike under such a load-change transient due to the current response delay of inductance. A novel active compensator is presented to minimize total voltage variation within 2.5% when microprocessor operates at 1V, 100A and 2A/ns of current slew rate with the package capacitance decreasing to less than one-half of Pentium 4 level.
Gift-giving as a courtship or mate-retention tactic?: Insights from non-human models.

Biology and social science research has studied gift-giving, but the former has been more concerned with courtship and the latter has come from either a cultural-relativistic perspective or a handi...
Parametric analysis of resistance spot welding lobe curve

A linearized lumped parameter heat balance model was developed and is discussed for the general case of resistance welding to see the effects of each parameter on the lobe shape. The parameters include material properties, geometry of electrodes and work piece, weld time and current, and electrical and thermal contact characteristics. These are then related to heat dissipation in the electrodes and the work piece
Navigation around an unknown obstacle for autonomous surface vehicles using a forward-facing sonar

A robotic boat is moving between two points when it encounters an obstacle of unknown size. The boat must find a short path around the obstacle to resume its original course. How should the boat move when it can only sense the proximity of the obstacle, and does not have prior information about the obstacle's size? We study this problem for a robotic boat with a forward-facing sonar. We study two versions of the problem. First, we solve a simplified case when the obstacle is a rectangle of known orientation but unknown dimensions. Second, we study a more general case where an arbitrarily shaped obstacle is contained between two known parallel lines. We study the performance of the algorithms analytically using competitive analysis and present results from field experiments. The experimental setup is relevant for harbor patrol or autonomous navigation in shallow water.
97 OPTIMIZING EMERGENCY DETECTION OF BLUNT TRAUMATIC AORTIC INJURY.

Blunt traumatic injury to the thoracic aorta is a common and deadly consequence of motor vehicle collisions and falls from significant heights. A relatively simple detection algorithm for traumatic aortic injury has been developed at Harborview Medical Center. This algorithm relies on the initial chest radiograph (CXR) to inform the decision of whether to proceed to chest computed tomographic angiogram (chest CTA) or catheter angiography (CA). In an attempt to improve this algorithm, Blackmore et al developed a clinical prediction rule to determine the probability of aortic injury based on a number of clinically evident risk factors. The probability of injury can then further inform the decision of whether to proceed to more sensitive and specific, yet more costly, invasive and time-intensive imaging modalities. The purpose of the present study was to (1) evaluate the current detection algorithm and (2) validate the previously developed clinical prediction rule. A 3-year single-institution retrospective case-control study with 25 cases of aortic injury and 181 controls was conducted. Chart review was performed for each subject, and the effectiveness and efficiency of the current imaging algorithm were determined. The detection algorithm correctly identified 96% of all cases of aortic injury. A definitive diagnosis was established within 12 hours for 88% of the patients. However, only 1 in 400 CXRs lead to a positive diagnosis of aortic injury, suggesting that much energy is invested in screening an injury that is relatively rare. Compared with the previous clinical prediction rule only four of the seven composite risk factors were significant predictors of aortic injury. The probability of injury ranged from 0 with no risk factors to 1.8% with three or four risk factors. Since this is not a clinically useful range of probabilities, the previously developed clinical prediction rule cannot be used to stratify patients according to probability of injury and thus cannot be used to inform the current detection algorithm. Any future clinical prediction rule that is developed must either consider different clinical factors or include a greater number of cases to increase the power of the study in the hope of elucidating a greater number of significant predictors. Until that time, the CXR-based detection algorithm appears to be a highly effective, albeit marginally efficient, method for detecting traumatic aortic injury.
Academic levels in colleges and universities of Hebei Province based on their papers covered in three major international databases

A bibliometric analysis was performed for the academic papers published by 6 universities with a doctor training station that were covered in the three major international databases in 2004-2008.The academic level and position of these universities were discussed.The reasons why their levels in scientific research were different were found.Measures for the improvement were proposed.
Creation of a Resource Wiki and Scenario-Based Workshop as an Aid to Prepare Junior Pathology Residents for Clinical Pathology After-Hours Calls

Curriculum structures of combined anatomic pathology and clinical pathology (CP) residency programs provide limited exposure to CP topics during the first year of training. Residents entering their second academic year become responsible for out-of-hospital, after-hours CP calls without sufficient guidance, often creating a sense of anxiety in our trainees. At our institution we developed a system to familiarize residents with …
Symmetry reduction of information inequalities

Information inequalities can be used to bound the fundamental limits of communication systems and data storage systems. Information inequalities, particularly Shannon-type inequalities, and the problem-specific constraints are usually either linear equalities or inequalities of joint entropies, and thus outer bounding the fundamental limit can be viewed and solved as a linear program (LP). However, for many practical engineering problems, the resultant LP is very large. It was shown previously that symmetry in these problems can be used to reduce the scale of the LP, however the precise amount of reduction was not well understood. In this work, we provide a generic method to pinpoint this reduction. In particular, three problems are studied: extremal pairwise cyclic entropy inequalities, the regenerating code problem, and the caching problem. By viewing the symmetry as an induced permutation group on certain set, Polya counting theorem can be applied, which however requires identifying the cycle index of the induced permutation.
Percutaneous revascularization in patients treated with thoracic radiation for cancer.

Objectives To assess coronary revascularization outcomes in patients with previous thoracic radiation therapy (XRT). Background Previous chest radiation has been reported to adversely affect long term survival in patients with coronary disease treated with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Methods Retrospective, single center cohort study of patients previously treated with thoracic radiation and PCI. Patients were propensity matched against control patients without radiation undergoing revascularization during the same time period. Results We identified 116 patients with radiation followed by PCI (XRT-PCI group) and 408 controls. Acute procedural complications were similar between groups. There were no differences in all-cause and cardiac mortality between groups (all-cause mortality HR 1.31, P =.078; cardiac mortality 0.78, P =.49). Conclusion Patients with prior thoracic radiation and coronary disease treated with PCI have similar procedural complications and long term mortality when compared to control subjects.