cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rheological properties of nanopowder alumina coated with adsorbed fatty acids.

Abstract The rheological properties of a nanosized alumina powder coated with fatty acid steric stabilizers of varying chain length were investigated. The storage and loss moduli of the complex modulus were measured to characterize the behavior of the flocculated systems. As chain length increased, there was a transition from an elastic response to fluid behavior. However, the fluid system developed elastic characteristics at relatively low volume fractions of 22%. The length of the steric barrier required to produce the fluid dispersion was estimated to be ∼2 nm and correlates with attractive interactions on the order of the system thermal energy. Moreover, in the flocculated systems, the storage modulus was found to be higher than reported previously in the literature. These higher values were related to the additional attractive forces due to van der Waals attractions between the hydrocarbon tails of the adsorbed fatty acid layers.
Development of the benethic nepheloid layer on the south Texas continental shelf, western Gulf of Mexico

Abstract A monitoring study of suspended sediment on the South Texas Continental Shelf indicates that a turbid benthic nepheloid layer is regionally persistent. A sequence of quasi-synoptic measurements of the water column obtained during six cruises in an 18-month period indicates substantial spatial and temporal variability in nepheloidlayer characteristics. Regionally, the thickness of the shelf nepheloid layer increases both seaward and in a convergent alongshelf direction. Greatest thicknesses occur over a muddy substrate, indicating a causal relationship; maximum observed local thickness is 35 m which occurs along the southern shelf break. Analyses of suspended particulate matter in shelf bottom waters indicate mean concentrations ranging from 49 · 10 4 to 111 · 10 4 particle counts/cc; concentrations persistently increase shoreward throughout the region. Bottom particulate matter is predominantly composed of inorganic detritus. Admixtures of organic skeletal particles, primarily diatoms, are generally present but average less than 10% of the total particulate composition. Texturally, the particulate matter in bottom waters is predominantly poorly sorted sediment composed of very fine silt (3.9–7.8 μm). The variability in nepheloid-layer characteristics indicates a highly dynamic shelf feature. The relationship of nepheloid-layer characteristics to hydrographic and substrate conditions suggests a conceptual model whereby nepheloid-layer development and maintenance are the results of the resuspension of sea-floor sediment. Bottom turbulence is attributed primarily to vertical shear and shoaling progressive internal waves generated by migrating shelf-water masses, especially oceanic frontal systems, and secondarily to shoaling surface gravity waves.
Health related quality of life using serum testosterone as the trigger to re-dose long acting depot luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists in patients with prostate cancer.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Health related quality of life was assessed in patients with prostate cancer on androgen suppression therapy re-dosed based on serum testosterone, and observations were confirmed regarding the safety, efficacy and cost per patient treated with this method of re-dosing luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists.Materials and Methods: The study comprised 22 patients with prostate cancer prospectively enrolled in a control-crossover designed trial of dosing depot luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist based on serum testosterone. Health related quality of life using the Expanded Prostate Index Composite and SF-36 instruments was the primary outcome assessed.Results: Median duration of castrate testosterone was 5.5 months (range 3.5 to 10). Longer durations of castrate testosterone significantly correlated with lower pretreatment serum testosterone and smaller body mass index. No significant change from nadir prostate specific antigen was observed during castrate duration. The year...
Evidence for regulation of the PTEN tumor suppressor by a membrane-localized multi-PDZ domain containing scaffold protein MAGI-2

PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene mutated in human cancers. Although many mutations target the phosphatase domain, others create a truncated protein lacking the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif or a protein that extends beyond the PDZ-binding motif. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we isolated a membrane-associated guanylate kinase family protein with multiple PDZ domains [AIP-1 (atrophin interacting protein 1), renamed MAGI-2 (membrane associated guanylate kinase inverted-2)]. MAGI-2 contains eight potential protein–protein interaction domains and is localized to tight junctions in the membrane of epithelial cells. PTEN binds to MAGI-2 through an interaction between the PDZ-binding motif of PTEN and the second PDZ domain of MAGI-2. MAGI-2 enhances the ability of PTEN to suppress Akt activation. Furthermore, certain PTEN mutants have reduced stability, which is restored by adding the minimal PDZ-binding motif back to the truncated protein. We propose that MAGI-2 improves the efficiency of PTEN signaling through assembly of a multiprotein complex at the cell membrane.
Women Exposed to the Scents of Fertile-Phase and Luteal-Phase Women: Evaluative, Competitive, and Endocrine Responses

Men prefer the scents of fertile-phase women to the scents of luteal-phase women. Very little research, however, has examined women’s responses to other women’s scents. The current research did so by asking female participants to smell one of two sets of t-shirts: One set that was worn by women during the fertile phase of their cycle, and one set that was worn by the same group of women during their luteal phase, and then rate the “pleasantness” of the scent of each shirt. Women preferred the scents of shirts worn during the fertile phase. Evidence suggested that exposure to luteal phase shirts may prime more assertive responses to other young women. In women with high estradiol and low progesterone during the session, testosterone became elevated. A number of possible explanations may account for these effects. Additional research is needed to assess them and establish the robustness of these effects.
Effect of colestipol and clofibrate on plasma lipid and lipoproteins in Type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia

The effects of 2.0 g of clofibrate and 15, 20 and 30 g of colestipol on plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels were evaluated in adult patients with Type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia. Clofibrate treatment was associated with decreases in 11.0% in plasma cholesterol. 15.2% in LDL cholesterol, 26.1% in triglycerides, and an 11.3% increase in HDL cholesterol. The reductions in total cholesterol with the various doses of colestipol ranged from 11.9 to 17.8% and reductions in LDL cholesterol ranged from 16.1 to 27.3%. Colestipol treatment was not associated with any significant change in HDL cholesterol levels and minor increases in triglycerides. The addition of clofibrate to patients receiving colestipol resulted in a significant increase in HDL cholesterol and a decrease in triglycerides, but no additional reduction in total or LDL cholesterol.
Vibration response of an elastically point-supported plate with attached masses

Experimentally determined natural frequencies and modes shapes are presented for an elastically point-supported isotropic plate with attached masses under impulsive loading. These results are compared to frequencies and to modes shapes determined from the Rayleigh–Ritz method and a finite element analysis using COMSOL. Accelerometers mounted at three locations on the plate, provide input for ME’Scope Modal Analysis Software to identify frequency peaks and modes shapes. Orthogonal polynomials, which meet free–free plate boundary conditions, are selected as the basis functions used in the Rayleigh–Ritz method. A Mindlin plate theory, adjusted for negligible transverse shear effects, is used in COMSOL. Frequencies and mode shapes for four plate configurations are presented, compared using each method, and indicate good agreement between the numerical, analytical and experimental results.
Ovulation and embryo recovery rates following immunization of mares against an inhibin alpha-subunit fragment.

Abstract Six normally cycling mares were immunized 5 times at 3-week intervals with a synthetic porcine inhibin alpha-subunit fragment which had been conjugated to bovine serum albumin and emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Immunized mares ovulated a significantly larger (P
A Robust Optimization Approach to Dynamic Pricing and Inventory Control with no Backorders

In this paper, we present a robust optimization formulation for dealing with demand uncertainty in a dynamic pricing and inventory control problem for a make-to-stock manufacturing system. We consider a multi-product capacitated, dynamic setting. We introduce a demand-based fluid model where the demand is a linear function of the price, the inventory cost is linear, the production cost is an increasing strictly convex function of the production rate and all coefficients are time-dependent. A key part of the model is that no backorders are allowed. We show that the robust formulation is of the same order of complexity as the nominal problem and demonstrate how to adapt the nominal (deterministic) solution algorithm to the robust problem.
Environmental factors in the development of eating in chicks

Summary Each of 240 newly hatched chicks was exposed to one of the eight experimental rearing conditions which differed in the variety and/or quality of exteroceptive stimulation. The development of sufficient eating behaviour to ensure the survival of neonate chicks, in the presence of commodities appropriate for survival, and the total body weight gained in the first 10 days after hatching, were found to be determined by the intensity of illumination, the texture of the feed and the factor of isolation versus rearing in groups of 4 to 8 birds. No one of the factors associated with survival was found to be necessary, but rather any one alone was sufficient to facilitate survival. It was concluded that exteroceptive stimulation, in any of a variety of forms, plays a significant role in the development of eating in chicks.
Demonstration of the outer surface of freeze-etched normal human platelets: correlation with buoyant density.

Summary. . The external surface of the normal human platelet shows clusters of spherical particles in a reticular pattern with smooth and regular surface membrane in adjacent areas. Labelling with cationic ferritin demonstrates a diffuse distribution of ferritin particles which stop at the fracture face of the intramembranous surface. The intramembranous surface is not labelled. Previously discrepant observations on the plasma membrane surface are probably due to different techniques of platelet preparation for freeze-etch electron microscopy. Density-dependent platelet subpopulations do not differ with respect to the ultrastructural features of their external surface and intramembranous portions of the plasma membrane. Based upon the relationship between platelet density and age, it appears that the ultrastructure of the normal platelet plasma membrane does not change with in vivo ageing.
Evaluating time/cost factors of implementation via GERT simulation

Abstract Managers in striving for system implementation often disregard the time and cost that must be expended in achieving implementation success. This paper explores the use of GERT network analysis as a tool for planning and ascertaining the expected time and cost of implementation. The supporting base for the study is an implementation process that employs computer gaming for achieving organizational change.
Hospitalization Costs for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated With Intravenous Thrombolysis in the United States Are Substantially Higher Than Medicare Payments

Background and Purpose—It is important to know the costs for hospitalization for ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis so that comparisons can be made with payments to hospitals. Methods—Using the National Inpatient Sample, we evaluated hospitalization costs for patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke in the United States from 2001 to 2008. Cost data were correlated with demographics and clinical outcome. Results—Intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke was received by 63 472 patients; 24 094 patients were younger than age 65 years and 40 780 patients were 65 years or older. Median hospital costs in 2008 dollars were $14 102 (interquartile range, $9987–$20 819) for patients with good outcome, $18 856 (interquartile range, $13 145–$30 423) for patients with severe disability, and $19 129 (interquartile range, $11 966–$30 781) for patients with in-hospital mortality. Average 2008 Medicare payments were $10 098 for intravenous thrombolysis w...
An in-depth view

Two fluorescence microscopy techniques provide alternative routes to obtaining three-dimensional super-resolution images with greater axial depth.
NATURAL FREQUENCIES AND MODE SHAPES OF A FREE–FREE BEAM WITH LARGE END MASSES

Abstract An analytical solution is presented for the natural frequencies, mode shapes and orthogonality condition, of a free–free beam with large off-set masses connected to the beam by torsion springs. Results are given for a range of masses with various fixed orientations and the validity of the method is confirmed against established results for natural frequencies of beams with five different boundary conditions. The study lays the foundation for investigations into the dynamics and vibration control of multi-link articulated systems such as the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator.
Recovery from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity: A case report and review

We present a pediatric case report of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity with subsequent recovery. The patient experienced tinnitus and fluctuating mild high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) with a concomitant decrease in distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE). There was recovery of hearing loss and return of DPOAE at 1 year after completion of cisplatin therapy. Reports of recovery from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in humans are limited in the literature, especially in the pediatric population. A review of cisplatin ototoxicity and mechanisms of recovery are discussed, with an emphasis on the particular chemotherapy regimen and dosing schedule in this case, given at 4-11 week intervals.
Microhotplates for low power, and ultra dense gaseous sensor arrays using recessed silica aerogel for heat insulation

In the operation of air pitted gaseous sensor the microhotplate (µHP) consumes almost all the power used by the sensor. The required area to micromachine the air pit for the µHP of a single sensor is several times more than the actual area required by the sensor itself. The feasibility of implementing low power and ultra dense gaseous sensor array is investigated by developing a new µHP structure using recessed silica aerogel. In comparison with the conventional µHP structure, the recessed aerogel not only has decreased the utilized area of the chip almost ten folds (181 × 181 µm2 vs. 573 × 573 µm2) to maintain a temperature of 360 °C but also has decreased the power consumed by each µHP more than two folds (1 mW vs. 2:1 mW). As the number of sensors increases in a sensor array, the saved area of the chip increases quadratic by using the new structure. Moreover, the power consumed by the new designed structure reduces drastically.
Compact X-ray Binaries in and out of Core Collapsed Globulars

We review new Chandra and HST observations of the core collapsed cluster NGC 6397 as a guide to understanding the compact binary (CB) populations in core collapse globulars. New cataclysmic variables (CVs) and main sequence chromospherically active binaries (ABs) have been identified, enabling a larger sample for comparison of the Lx, Fx/FV and X-ray vs. optical color distributions. Comparison of the numbers of CBs with Lx ≳ 1031 erg s−1 in 4 core collapse vs. 12 King model clusters reveals that the specific frequency SX (number of CBs per unit cluster mass) is enhanced in core collapse clusters, even when normalized for their stellar encounter rate. Although core collapse is halted by the dynamical heating due to stellar (and binary) interaction with CBs in the core, we conclude that production of the hardest CBs – especially CVs – is enhanced during core collapse. NGC 6397 has its most luminous CVs nearest the cluster center, with two newly discovered very low luminosity (old, quiescent) CVs far from the core. The active binaries as well as neutron star systems (MSP and qLMXB) surround the central core. The overall CB population appears to be asymmetric about the cluster center, as in several other core collapse clusters observed with Chandra, suggesting still poorly understood scattering processes.
Male-to-Female Transgender Veterans and VA Health Care Utilization

ABSTRACT This study examined rates of military veteran status in an American male-to-female transgender community sample (n = 141). Thirty percent were veterans (n = 43), a rate that is triple the proportion of veteran status noted in the general population (10.1%). Among the veteran subsample, we examined health care utilization, including Veterans Health Administration (VA), health, and barriers to care. Use of VA services was higher among transgender veterans (transvets) than published rates of VA use in the general population of veterans (annual 6.2% to 15.8%), with 16.3% of all transvets seeking some VA care in the past 6- months. The most common physical health problems treated at the VA in the past year were high cholesterol, blood pressure, and vision problems. Irrespective of VA use, the majority of transvets reported getting routine health care (88.4%), and their physical health ratings were commensurate with population norms. Mental health services (e.g., depression, posttraumatic stress disord...
OnionUML: An Eclipse plug-in for visualizing UML class diagrams in onion graph notation

This paper presents OnionUML, an Eclipse plug-in that reduces the number of visible classes in a UML class diagram while preserving structure and semantics of the UML elements. Compaction of class elements is done using onion graph notation. The goal is that developers will be able to view and understand subsystems of a large software system while being able to visualize how that subsystem fits into the whole system.
Nucleation behavior of Al–Mn icosahedral phase

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) atomization has been used to rapidly solidify micron and submicron size droplets of Al-14 at. % Mn to study nucleation behavior of icosahedral phase. Icosahedral grain size has been found to decrease continuously with decreasing droplet size. Based on this result, formation of the icosahedral phase is explained by homogeneous nucleation. Extremely low resistance to nucleation of icosahedral phase can be understood if possible topological similarities between liquid and icosahedral quasicrystal are considered. Formation of glass as configurationally frozen liquid in Al-Mn and similar alloy systems is questionable, implying that the reported Al-Mn glass probably has a microquasicrystalline structure.
An in vitro biomechanical comparison of equine proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis techniques: two parallel transarticular headless tapered variable pitch screws versus two parallel transarticular AO cortical bone screws inserted in lag fashion.

Objectives: To compare the mean number of cycles to failure under axial compression of equine proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthrodesis constructs created by 2 parallel transarticular Acutrak Plus screws (AP-TS) or 2 parallel transarticular 5.5 mm cortical screws inserted in lag fashion (AO-TLS). Study Design: Paired in vitro biomechanical testing of 2 methods of stabilizing cadaveric adult equine forelimb PIP joints. Sample Population: Cadaveric adult equine forelimbs (n=5 pairs). Methods: For each forelimb pair, 1 PIP joint was stabilized with AP-TS and 1 with AP-TLS. The 5 construct pairs were tested for cyclic fatigue under axial compression. Mean number of cycles to failure for each fixation method were compared by a paired t-test within each group with statistical significance set at P<.05. Results: The mean number of cycles to failure under axial compression for AO-TLS fixation and AP-TS fixation were 57,723±8488 and 35,322±4698, respectively. Conclusion: The AO-TLS was superior to the AP-TS in resisting cyclic fatigue under axial compression.
Treatment of Pediatric Refractory Coccidioidomycosis with Combination Voriconazole and Caspofungin: A Retrospective Case Series

Background Coccidioidomycosis is a spectrum of diseases caused by the dimorphic fungi Coccidioides. Current regimens for severe or disseminated disease include fluconazole, itraconazole, or amphotericin; newer triazoles (ie, voriconazole, posaconazole) have been demonstrated to be useful in refractory disease. Previous reported experience with combination triazole and caspofungin therapy has been very limited; however, the utility of this combination for treatment of other invasive fungal diseases suggests potential benefit in refractory coccidioidomycosis. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 9 pediatric patients treated with combination voriconazole and caspofungin (V/C) salvage therapy for refractory coccidioidomycosis at two children's hospitals between January 2000 and June 2012. Results Nine children with refractory coccidioidomycosis were treated with V/C salvage therapy after failing conventional therapy consisting of a triazole, amphotericin B, or a combination of both. Eight of the 9 patients are currently in remission; 1 patient with central nervous system involvement continues to progress. Conclusions We report our positive clinical experience treating medically refractory coccidioidomycosis in the pediatric population with concurrent voriconazole and caspofungin therapy. Additional in vitro and in vivo evaluations are warranted to support the role of V/C salvage therapy for refractory coccidioidomycosis.
Development of a home food production frequency scale

This paper reports on the development of a home food production frequency scale. The scale is survey based and consists of the summed score of six items answered on a five-point Likert scale. Similar to other assessment scales that measure family characteristics such as family cohesion, adaptability or family stress, home food production frequency can be used as a convenient alternative to time-use measures of home production. The scale's validity and reliability is assessed revealing considerable potential for its use to ascertain relationships between home food production activity and other family variables and to specify more fully empirical models in home economics research.
Evaluating the validity of multidimensional computer-based test interpretation programs

Abstract Evaluating the validity of multidimensional computer-based test interpretation (CBTI) programs presents challenges that are not present in evaluating unidimensional CBTI programs, such as personality assessment programs. There are differences in the nature of the raters, reports and rating scales, evaluation criteria, clinical versus actuarial output and classification schema, single-test versus multiple-test input and decision making, and interpretive elements. Additional issues unique to evaluating multidimensional CBTI programs are discussed.
Developmental plasticity of mating calls enables acoustic communication in diverse environments.

Male calls of the katydid Neoconocephalus triops exhibit substantial developmental plasticity in two parameters: (i) calls of winter males are continuous and lack the verse structure of summer calls and (ii) at equal temperatures, summer males produce calls with a substantially higher pulse rate than winter males. We raised female N. triops under conditions that reliably induced either summer or winter phenotype and tested their preferences for the call parameters that differ between summer and winter males. Neither generation was selective for the presence of verses, but females had strong preferences for pulse rates: only a narrow range of pulse rates was attractive. The attractive ranges did not differ between summer and winter females. Both male pulse rate and female preference for pulse rate changed with ambient temperature, but female preference changed more than the male calls. As a result, the summer call was attractive only at 25°C, whereas the slower winter call was attractive only at 20°C. Thus, developmental plasticity of male calls compensates for differences in temperature dependency between calls and preferences and enables the communication system to function in heterogeneous environments. The potential role of call plasticity during the invasion of new habitats is discussed.
Characteristics of short‐period wavelike features near 87 km altitude from airglow and lidar observations over Maui

[1] Small-scale (less than 15 km horizontal wavelength) wavelike structures known as ripples are a common occurrence in OH airglow images. Recent case studies attribute their origin to the presence of either convective or dynamical instabilities. However, little is known about their frequency of occurrence and period. The Maui-MALT Observatory, located at Mt. Haleakala, is instrumented with a Na wind/temperature lidar, which allows the determination of whether the atmosphere is dynamically or convectively unstable, and a fast OH airglow camera which takes images every 3 s with a sensitivity high enough to see the ripples. This study reports on 2 months of observations in October/November 2003 and in August 2004, eight nights of which also included Na lidar measurements. The imager results suggest that instability features occur in the 85- to 90-km region of the atmosphere for around 20% of the time. The nominal observed period for the ripples is between 2 and 4 min. While there are clear night-to-night variations, the average observed period is similar for both the 2003 and 2004 observations. In addition, a few of the small-scale structures are not ripples caused by instabilities but rather have features consistent with their being short horizontal wavelength evanescent waves. Their fractional intensity fluctuations are as large or larger than those of the ripple instabilities. Unlike the instabilities, the origin of the evanescent waves is not determined.
High-Speed 2×2 switch for multi-wavelength message routing in on-chip silicon photonic networks

A 2 times 2 multi-wavelength silicon switch, enabling low-power on-chip message routing with ultra-compact footprints, is designed, fabricated, and tested with switching ratios, transition times, and power penalties reported.
Function of Protonatable Residues in the Flagellar Motor of Escherichia coli: a Critical Role for Asp 32 of MotB

Rotation of the bacterial flagellar motor is powered by a transmembrane gradient of protons or, in some species, sodium ions. The molecular mechanism of coupling between ion flow and motor rotation is not understood. The proteins most closely involved in motor rotation are MotA, MotB, and FliG. MotA and MotB are transmembrane proteins that function in transmembrane proton conduction and that are believed to form the stator. FliG is a soluble protein located on the cytoplasmic face of the rotor. Two other proteins, FliM and FliN, are known to bind to FliG and have also been suggested to be involved to some extent in torque generation. Proton (or sodium)-binding sites in the motor are likely to be important to its function and might be formed from the side chains of acidic residues. To investigate the role of acidic residues in the function of the flagellar motor, we mutated each of the conserved acidic residues in the five proteins that have been suggested to be involved in torque generation and measured the effects on motility. None of the conserved acidic residues of MotA, FliG, FliM, or FliN proved essential for torque generation. An acidic residue at position 32 of MotB did prove essential. Of 15 different substitutions studied at this position, only the conservative-replacement D32E mutant retained any function. Previous studies, together with additional data presented here, indicate that the proteins involved in motor rotation do not contain any conserved basic residues that are critical for motor rotation per se. We propose that Asp 32 of MotB functions as a proton-binding site in the bacterial flagellar motor and that no other conserved, protonatable residues function in this capacity.
CRONBACH'S α, REVELLE'S β, AND MCDONALD'S ωH : THEIR RELATIONS WITH EACH OTHER AND TWO ALTERNATIVE CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF RELIABILITY

We make theoretical comparisons among five coefficients—Cronbach’s α, Revelle’s β, McDonald’s ω h , and two alternative conceptualizations of reliability. Though many end users and psychometricians alike may not distinguish among these five coefficients, we demonstrate formally their nonequivalence. Specifically, whereas there are conditions under which α, β, and ω h are equivalent to each other and to one of the two conceptualizations of reliability considered here, we show that equality with this conceptualization of reliability and between α and ω h holds only under a highly restrictive set of conditions and that the conditions under which β equals ω h are only somewhat more general. The nonequivalence of α, β, and ω h suggests that important information about the psychometric properties of a scale may be missing when scale developers and users only report α as is almost always the case
Intermodulation distortion in YBCO at the intrinsic limit: Implications for filters

Recently, evidence has been presented by this group that the measured intermodulation distortion (IMD) in YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) films of high quality is consistent with the intrinsic limit, given by the d-wave order parameter. This intrinsic nonlinearity is also known as the nonlinear Meissner effect. The measurements and theory of the IMD agree in magnitude, temperature dependence, and power dependence. We present our latest results of IMD measurements that strongly support the agreement with the d-wave theory. Thus, a detailed understanding of the nonlinearity in YBCO is emerging from the measurements and calculations. We present results of modeling the IMD in YBCO resonators with very good agreement with measurement. We also present simulations of the IMD in multipole filters assuming intrinsic nonlinearity. While the IMD results depend on geometry and filter design parameters, our simulation results can be used to draw some conclusions regarding IMD in filters and the effect on the dynamic ranges of systems with YBCO filters at the front end.
The role of envelope shape in the localization of multiple sound sources and echoes in the barn owl

Echoes and sounds of independent origin often obscure sounds of interest, but echoes can go undetected under natural listening conditions, a perception called the precedence effect. How does the au...
MPL_Connect managing heterogeneous MPI applications interoperation and process control

Presently, different vendors' MPI implementations cannot interoperate directly with each other. As a result, performance of distributed computing across different vendors' machines requires use of a single MPI implementation, such as MPICH. This solution may be sub-optimal since it can not utilize the vendors' own optimized MPI implementations. MPL_Connect, a software package currently under development at the University of Tennessee, provides the needed interoperability between different vendors' optimized MPI implementations. This project grew out of the PVMPI project that utilized PVM to provide inter-platform communication and process control, and was upgraded to use the new MetaComputing SNIPE system which has proven more flexible and less restrictive than PVM when operating upon certain MPPs. MPI_Connect provides two distrinct programming models to its users. The first is a single MPICOMM_WORLD model similar to that provided by the contempary PACX project. Where inter-communication is completely transparent to MPI applications thus requiring no source level modification of applications. The second is that of uniquely identified process groups that inter-communicate via MPI point-to-point calls. Both systems use the MPI profiling interface to maitain portability between MPI implementations. A unique feature of this system is its ability to allow MPI-2 dynamic process control and inter-operation between MPI implementations. Currently supported implementation include MPICH, LAM 6, IBM MPIF and SGI MPI.
Spatially coherent clustering applied to cardiac angiograms

Digitized X-ray angiograms of the left ventricle were clustered using a weighted Euclidean distance criterion with the constraint that the pixels in a cluster are spatially coherent. A three-dimensional feature space was used: position along x and y coordinates and image intensity. The spatial coherence constraint is based upon the belief that pixels within a cluster should be coherent in a spatial as well as an intensity sense. The results indicate that the clusters separate the left ventricle from other anatomical objects in the image and that this approach should be useful in cardiac volumetric analysis and wall-motion studies. >
Membrane wounding triggers ATP release and dysferlin-mediated intercellular calcium signaling

Dysferlin is a Ca2+-binding protein found in many different cell types. It is required for membrane wound repair in muscle, but it is not known whether it has the same function in other cells. Here we report the activation of an intercellular signaling pathway in sea urchin embryos by membrane wounding that evokes Ca2+ spikes in neighboring cells. This pathway was mimicked by ATP application, and inhibited by apyrase, cadmium, and ω-agatoxin-IVA. Microinjection of dysferlin antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides blocked this pathway, whereas control morpholinos did not. Co-injection of mRNA encoding human dysferlin with the inhibitory morpholino rescued signaling activity. We conclude that in sea urchin embryos dysferlin mediates Ca2+-triggered intercellular signaling in response to membrane wounding.
Post-2015 Development Agenda: Human Agency and the Inoperability of the Sustainable Development Architecture

AbstractAlthough the post-2015 development agenda is commendable in several ways, I content that it pays inadequate attention to human agency and, therefore, to human development and capabilities, which are necessary to meet sustainable development goals. First, I critique the post-2015 UN development agenda and associated sustainable development goals. I focus those critiques on the notions of development as if it were charity and associated illusion of human rationality, and the partial conceptualization and operationalization of human agency as if agency depended only on contexts. Through these critiques, I illustrate human irrationality and the consequent unsustainability of the charity approach to development. I identify and characterize the development architect and the development agent, to facilitate necessary understanding and operationalization of the behavioral attributes of psychological agency, which I argue to be fundamental to human development and capabilities and, therefore, to sustainabl...
Reliability and accuracy of bootstrap and Monte Carlo methods for demand distribution modeling

Estimation of demand is one of the most important tasks in new product development. How customers come to appreciate and decide to purchase a new product impacts demand and hence profit of the product. Unfortunately, when designers select a new product concept early in the product development process, the future demand of the new product is not known. Conjoint analysis is a statistical method that has been used to estimate a demand of a new product concept from customer survey data. Although conjoint analysis has been increasingly incorporated in design engineering as a method to estimate a demand of a new product design, it has not been fully employed to model demand uncertainty. This paper demonstrates and compares two approaches that use conjoint analysis data to model demand uncertainty: bootstrap of respondent choice data and Monte Carlo simulation of utility estimation errors. Reliability of demand distribution and accuracy of demand estimation are compared for the two approaches in an illustrative example.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Evasion mechanisms to Igf1r inhibition in rhabdomyosarcoma

Inhibition of the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (Igf1r) is an approach being taken in clinical trials to overcome the dismal outcome for metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), an aggressive muscle cancer of children and young adults. In our study, we address the potential mechanism(s) of Igf1r inhibitor resistance that might be anticipated for patients. Using a genetically engineered mouse model of ARMS, validated for active Igf1r signaling, we show that the prototypic Igf1r inhibitor NVP-AEW541 can inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in vitro in association with decreased Akt and Mapk phosphorylation. However, drug resistance in vivo is more common and is accompanied by Igf1r overexpression, Mapk reactivation, and Her2 overexpression. Her2 is found to form heterodimers with Igf1r in resistant primary tumor cell cultures, and stimulation with Igf2 leads to Her2 phosphorylation. The Her2 inhibitor lapatinib cooperates with NVP-AEW541 to reduce Igf1r phosphorylation and to inhibit cell growth even though lapatinib alone has little effect on growth. These results point to the potential therapeutic importance of simultaneous targeting of Igf1r and Her2 to abrogate resistance.
Institutional Repository Literature: A Bibliometric Analysis

The Institutional Repository (IR) concept has given a new dimension to information management in the Internet age. The introduction of an IR can help to redefine the production, dissemination, and the use of resources. This study found that a total of 436 IR research papers published in 118 journals originated from 68 countries. These research papers contain 2,071 citations with an average of ˜4.8 citations per publication. Moreover, out of the total 159 institutions involved in IR research, a majority of them are located in the United States and the United Kingdom. Mainly, out of the fourteen most productive countries eight have recorded TAIs of >100, and six countries recorded TAIs of <100. Most published papers have a single author, i.e., 176 (40.4%), followed by two authors: 152 (34.9%). Interestingly, India, Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Malaysia, and Italy have not published any paper with more than five authors. Purdue University has witnessed the highest (˜2) relative citations impa...
A coarse-grained model for synergistic action of multiple enzymes on cellulose

Background Degradation of cellulose to glucose requires the cooperative action of three classes of enzymes, collectively known as cellulases. Endoglucanases randomly bind to cellulose surfaces and generate new chain ends by hydrolyzing β-1,4-D-glycosidic bonds. Exoglucanases bind to free chain ends and hydrolyze glycosidic bonds in a processive manner releasing cellobiose units. Then, β-glucosidases hydrolyze soluble cellobiose to glucose. Optimal synergistic action of these enzymes is essential for efficient digestion of cellulose. Experiments show that as hydrolysis proceeds and the cellulose substrate becomes more heterogeneous, the overall degradation slows down. As catalysis occurs on the surface of crystalline cellulose, several factors affect the overall hydrolysis. Therefore, spatial models of cellulose degradation must capture effects such as enzyme crowding and surface heterogeneity, which have been shown to lead to a reduction in hydrolysis rates.
The genetic analysis of meiosis in female Drosophila melanogaster

The three major features of meiosis are first synapsis, then exchange, and finally, disjunction of homologous chromosomes; these phenomena occur before pachytene, during pachytene, and after pachytene respectively. The effects of meiotic mutants, or other perturbations, either endogenous or exogenous, on the meiotic process may be assigned tentatively to one of these intervals, based on the earliest discernible abnormality. Thus mutants exhibiting abnormal disjunction and normal exchange affect post-pachytene functions; mutants exhibiting abnormal disjunction and exchange but with ultrastructurally normal appearing synaptonemal complex affect pachytene functions; and mutants with abnormal disjunction, exchange, and synaptonemal complex affect prepachytene functions. This rationale is applied to the temporal seriation of effects of meiotic mutants and chromosomal abnormalities on the meiotic programme.
Optimierung von Batch- und Semibatchprozessen

Batch- und Semibatchanlagen sind meist flexibel einsetzbar und erlauben die Produktion eines breiten Produktspektrums in einer Anlage. Die Optimierung von Batch- und Semibatchprozessen beruht auf den vier Saulen Produkt- und Prozessoptimierung, Erstellen von Steuerrezepten, Einhalten der Steuerrezepte und der Optimierung der betrieblichen Ablaufe. In diesem Beitrag vermitteln Beispiele konkreter Optimierungsmasnahmen einen Eindruck des aktuell Moglichen, und es werden vorhandene Herausforderungen aufgezeigt, die eine ganzheitliche Optimierung von Batch- und Semibatchprozessen erschweren.
Ozone Crazing of Biaxially Stressed GR-S Vulcanizates

Abstract Typical crazing of stressed GR-S vulcanizates can be produced by exposure of biaxially stressed specimens to ozone in the absence of light.
Relationships between Managers Who are Innovators/Early Adopters of Flexible Work Options and Team Performance

AbstractThis article discusses the findings of an exploratory study that examined perceptions of managers (N = 332) about flexible work options (FWOs), an innovation in human resource practice. Using logistic regression, we created an index to identify managers who were Innovators/Early Adopters. The index included measures of managers' perceptions of risks and benefits, their perceptions of the extent to which they felt that it would be possible to implement FWOs, and reports of the percentage of their work units using FWOs. For the second part of the study, we focused on managers' perceptions of work unit performance, using linear regression to compare the responses of Innovators/Early Adopters with the other managers. We found that Innovators/Early Adopters perceived fewer barriers to the implementation of FWOs and were more likely to report that their work teams were high performing than managers who were not Innovators/Early Adopters.
Selling Expensse as a Barrier to Entry

I. Introduction, 112. — II. The selling expense barrier to entry, 113. — III. Probabilistic considerations, 124. — IV. Relevance to the theory of imperfect competition, 127.
Acute gastrointestinal vaso-occlusive ischemia in sickle cell disease: CT imaging features and clinical outcome

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, specific imaging features, and outcome of gastrointestinal vaso-occlusive ischemia (GVOI) in sickle cell patients undergoing CT for acute abdominal pain. This HIPAA-compliant, IRB-approved retrospective study evaluated sickle cell patients with an abdominal pain crisis and acute gastrointestinal abnormalities on CT from 1/2006 to 1/2014. CT findings were divided into those compatible and incompatible with bowel ischemia or clinical diagnosis of GVOI. Two abdominal radiologists (1, 13 years’ experience) reviewed the CTs for specific imaging features of ischemia. Clinical laboratory values (lactate, WBC) and outcome were recorded. Descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney two-sample rank-sum test were performed. Of 217 CTs, 33 had acute gastrointestinal abnormalities: 75% (25/33) consistent with ischemia and clinical GVOI. Complications of ischemia occurred in 16% (4/25): ileus (50%), perforation (25%), and pneumatosis (25%). In uncomplicated cases, all had bowel wall thickening: segmental 52% (11/21) or diffuse 48% (10/21). The colon was commonly involved (76%, 16/21), particularly the ascending (57%, 12/21). Most abnormalities (52%, 11/21) were in the superior mesenteric artery distribution. Average lactate (4.3 ± 4.0 mmol/L, p = 0.02) and WBC count (20.1 ± 10.4, ×1000 cells/μL, p = 0.01) were significantly higher in GVOI. Overall mortality in patients with GVOI was 17% (3/18). GVOI is an important feature of the acute abdominal crisis in patients with sickle cell disease and can be seen in up to 75% of patients with abnormal bowel findings on CT. The diagnosis should be strongly considered in sickle cell patients with CT findings of diffuse or segmental bowel wall thickening, particularly involving the colon.
DECREASED RISK OF ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH SJGREN’S SYNDROME: AN ANALYSIS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL DATABASE

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis but the risk of IHD in Sjogren’s Syndrome (SjS) is relatively unknown. To fill this knowledge gap we estimated
The effect of deltoid lengthening on functional outcome for reverse shoulder arthroplasty

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is based on the biomechanical advantages of lengthening the deltoid while medializing its center of rotation (COR). Little evidence exists describing the clinical benefits of these biomechanical advantages. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between deltoid lengthening and medialization of the COR with functional outcomes for RSA patients. We retrospectively reviewed patients treated with primary RSA. Radiographic measurements of deltoid length and COR, assessment of forward elevation (FE) and external rotation (ER), and functional outcome scores were obtained pre- and postoperatively. Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between these radiographic measurements and changes in shoulder functionality. On average, patients improved significantly in function and functional outcome scores. Postoperative COR correlated weakly with postoperative FE. There were weakly negative correlations between increase in acromion to greater tuberosity distance and postoperative FE, and between deltoid lengthening and FE improvement. Our results suggest that deltoid lengthening does not correlate with improvements in active FE or ER. These findings could indicate that change in deltoid length is less important than previously thought. Furthermore, the negative correlations seen could indicate that there is over-tensioning of the deltoid in specific cases. Further studies are needed to better assess the role of deltoid length and other factors that may impact RSA outcomes.
Semidefinite Programming for Computable Performance Bounds on Block-Sparsity Recovery

In this paper, we use fixed point theory and semidefinite programming to compute the performance bounds on convex block-sparsity recovery algorithms. As a prerequisite for optimal sensing matrix design, computable performance bounds would open doors for wide applications in sensor arrays, radar, DNA microarrays, and many other areas where block-sparsity arises naturally. We define a family of quality measures for arbitrary sensing matrices as the optimal values of certain optimization problems. The reconstruction errors of convex recovery algorithms are bounded in terms of these quality measures. We demonstrate that as long as the number of measurements is relatively large, these quality measures are bounded away from zero for a large class of random sensing matrices, a result parallel to the probabilistic analysis of the block restricted isometry property. As the primary contribution of this work, we associate the quality measures with the fixed points of functions defined by a series of semidefinite programs. This relation with fixed point theory yields polynomial-time algorithms with global convergence guarantees to compute the quality measures.