cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A robust optimization approach to enhancing reliability in production planning under non-compliance risks

Certain regulated industries are monitored by inspections that ensure adherence (compliance) to regulations. These inspections can often be with very short notice and can focus on particular aspects of the business. Failing such inspections can bring great losses to a company; thus, evaluating the risks of failure against various inspection strategies can help it ensure a robust operation. In this paper, we investigate a game-theoretic setup of a production planning problem under uncertainty in which a company is exposed to the risk of failing authoritative inspections due to non-compliance with enforced regulations. In the proposed decision model, the inspection agency is considered an adversary to the company whose production sites are subject to inspections. The outcome of an inspection is uncertain and is modeled as a Bernoulli-distributed random variable whose parameter is the mean of non-compliance probabilities of products produced at the inspected site and, therefore, is a function of production decisions. If a site fails an inspection, then all its products are deemed adulterated and cannot be used, jeopardizing the reliability of the company in satisfying customers' demand. In the proposed framework, we address two sources of uncertainty facing the company. First, through the adversarial setting, we address the uncertainty arising from the inspection process as the company does not know a priori which sites the agency will choose to inspect. Second, we address data uncertainty via robust optimization. We model products' non-compliance probabilities as uncertain parameters belonging to polyhedral uncertainty sets and maximize the worst-case expected profit over these sets. We derive tractable and compact formulations in the form of a mixed integer program that can be solved efficiently via readily available standard software. Furthermore, we give theoretical insights into the structure of optimal solutions and worst-case uncertainties. The proposed approach offers the flexibility of matching solutions to the level of conservatism of the decision maker via two intuitive parameters: the anticipated number of sites to be inspected, and the number of products at each site that are anticipated to be at their worst-case non-compliance level. Varying these parameters when solving for the optimal products allocation provides different risk-return tradeoffs and thus selecting them is an essential part of decision makers' strategy. We believe that the robust approach holds much potential in enhancing reliability in production planning and other similar frameworks in which the probability of random events depends on decision variables and in which the uncertainty of parameters is prevalent and difficult to handle.
Evaluation of angiographically occult spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae with surgical microscope-integrated intraoperative near-infrared indocyanine green angiography: report of 3 cases.

BACKGROUND: Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVFs), are lesions involving an aberrant connection between a radicular feeding artery and the venous system of the spinal cord at the dural sleeve of the nerve root. When rare dAVFs are occult on digitally subtracted catheter-based angiography, they present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. OBJECTIVE: We report 3 cases of angiographically occult spinal dAVFs that were evaluated during surgery with indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescent microscope-integrated angiography. METHODS: Three patients with clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features suggestive of a spinal dAVF but no abnormality on digital subtraction angiography underwent surgical exploration with the aid of microscope-integrated ICG video-angiography. RESULTS: In all 3 cases, ICG identified the intradural vein draining the fistula, clearly distinguishing it from an artery or uninvolved medullary vein. CONCLUSION: ICG angiography can rapidly identify a draining vein as it enters the spinal canal even in dAVFs not identifiable on catheter-based digital subtraction angiography.
Least-cost decision rules for dynamic information management

Abstract Least-cost decision rules for transferring documents from primary to secondary storage are developed from a dynamic programming model of an information system. The program is constrained to provide for a minimum acceptable level of user benefits. Knowledge of the physical size of the primary storage area and the fraction of documents returned from secondary to primary storage in each decision period is required. Transfer, handling and circulation costs are considered. Increase in the total size of the document collection is assumed to be an uncontrolled random process.
Regulation of the association of membrane skeletal protein 4.1 with glycophorin by a polyphosphoinositide

Many of the physical properties of the erythrocyte membrane appear to depend on the membrane skeleton, which is attached to the membrane through associations with transmembrane proteins1–5. A membrane skeletal protein, protein 4.1, is pivotal in the assembly of the membrane skeleton because of its ability to promote associations between spectrin and actin5–9. Protein 4.1 also binds to the membrane through at least two sites: a high-affinity site on the glycophorins2,10 and a site of lower affinity associated with band 3 (ref. 11). The glycophorin–protein 4.1 association has been proposed to be involved in maintenance of cell shape2,12,13. Here we show that the association between glycophorin and protein 4.1 is regulated by a polyphosphoinositide cofactor. This observation suggests a mechanism which may explain the recently reported dependence of red cell shape on the level of polyphosphoinositides in the membrane14–16.
Association Members' Meeting Participation Behaviors: Development of Meeting Participation Model

Abstract Understanding meeting participation behaviors of association members is the key to a well-attended meeting, which is a common goal of both associations and host destinations. However, little research has contributed to theoretical development in this area, and the lack of a theoretical framework may negatively influence the validity of research. This study attempts to explain association members' meeting participation behaviors by introducing the meeting participation model (MPM) derived from existing human behavior models (the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior). The proposed MPM was examined empirically using the data collected from 245 members of the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE). The results reveal that the MPM fits the data very well, providing a fuller understanding of association meeting participation. In addition, findings from this study suggest that past behavior and subjective norm are strong predictor of meeti...
Comments on “Moore's paradox and self-knowledge”

L'A. etudie le paradoxe de Moore a la lumiere des deux articles precedents qui lui sont consacres: celui de D. M. Rosenthal intitule «Self-Knowledge and Moore's Paradox» ( «Philosophical Studies», vol.77, n°2-3, mars 1995, pp.195-209) et celui de S. Shoemaker intitule «Moore's Paradoxe and Self-Knowledge» (ibid., pp. 211-239). L'A. y denonce la mauvaise interpretation semantique des «Investigations philosophiques» de Wittgenstein
Biological implications of the Viking mission to Mars

A central purpose of Viking was to search for evidence that life exists on Mars or may have existed in the past. The missions carried three biology experiments the prime purpose of which was to seek for existing microbial life. In addition the results of a number of the other experiments have biological implications: (1) The elemental analyses of the atmosphere and the regolith showed or implied that the elements generally considered essential to terrestrial biology are present. (2) But unexpectedly, no organic compounds were detected in Martian samples by an instrument that easily detected organic materials in the most barren of terrestrial soils. (3) Liquid water is believed to be an absolute requisite for life. Viking obtained direct evidence for the presence of water vapor and water ice, and it obtained strong inferential evidence for the existence of large amounts of subsurface permafrost now and in the Martain past. However it obtained no evidence for the current existence of liquid water possessing the high chemical potential required for at least terrestrial life, a result that is consistent with the known pressure-temperature relations on the planet's surface. On the other hand, the mission did obtain strong indications from both atmospheric analyses and orbital photographs that large quantities of liquid water flowed episodically on the Martian surface 0.5 to 2.5 G years ago.
Partial excess molar properties of water in amphiphile + water systems

Abstract An account is given of the manner in which plots, against mole fraction, of the partial excess molar properties of water in amphiphile + water systems provide a sensitive means of identifying composition ranges over which significant variations take place in the prevalent modes of molecular aggregation. Examples are provided of instances where one may explore the effects of varying the alkyl chain lengths and polar head group sizes in the aqueous mixtures of alkyl polyethylene glycol) monoethers.
Lithic Analysis and Activity Patterns at Labras Lake

Lithic assemblages from four small Late Archaic (1850–800 BC) settlements at the Labras Lake site (ll-S-299) on the American Bottom, Illinois were examined and compared with the chipped stone artifacts associated with the Late Woodland (AD 900) and Mississippian (AD 1235) components at the site in an investigation of changes in stone tool utilization and lithic technology. The distribution of stone tools, debitage, and debris was examined, refitted artifacts were plotted, and microwear analysis was conducted in order to define areas of tool manufacturing and repair, determine tool function, and isolate activity areas. Activities associated with each component were then summarized and compared.
Level crossing rate of sea clutter: theory and measured data

Proposed and computed are the level crossing rate (LCR), average calm duration (ACD) and average surge duration (ASD) in the context of radar clutter and false alarm analysis. The derived formulas for the LCR, ACD and ASD are then compared to their measured values calculated from experimental radar sea clutter and are shown to be in good agreement.
Competition, size and age affect tree growth response to fuel reduction treatments in mixed-oak forests of Ohio

Abstract Prescribed fire and thinning treatments are increasingly used to mitigate potential wildfire hazards, alter stand structure and restore forest functions. In this study, the effects of competition, tree size and age on tree growth following prescribed fire and thinning treatments were examined to better understand the consequences of these management tools on forest systems. Tree-ring data from 348 trees, comprising five species (white oak, black oak, chestnut oak, hickories, and yellow-poplar) were analyzed following standard dendrochronological protocols. Data were collected from 80 0.1-ha plots in two study sites, each with four treatment units (control, thin-only, burn-only, thin + burn) in mixed-oak forests of Ohio. A neighborhood analysis was used to assess the competitive status of each sampled tree. Basal area increment (BAI) and tree size were positively related, with the strongest correlation found in the burn-only treatment. Age was negatively related to BAI, though weakly. Competition was inversely correlated with BAI, with trees from the thin-only unit showing the strongest correlation. BAI was greater for larger trees when competition was low and declined at a steeper rate as competition increased. Smaller trees grew less in general but decreases in BAI were not as steep as competition increased. Overall, tree size, age, and competition explained ∼40% of total variance in BAI across all species. Values for individual tree species ranged from 30% to 57%, indicating considerable variation in the responses of species to these factors. Yellow-poplar exhibited greater sensitivity to competition than the other species analyzed. Altogether, competition was more important than size and age for tree growth in these managed stands. Variation in competitive status of trees within treatments supports the view that prescribed fire and thinning influence forest growth by creating heterogeneity among stands, and thus demonstrates the need for individual tree-based analysis to fully understand prescribed fire and thinning impacts on forest ecosystems.
Light-Induced Toxic Effects of Tamoxifen: A Chemotherapeutic and Chemopreventive Agent.

Abstract Tamoxifen is a powerful drug used to treat breast cancer patients, and more than 500,000 women in the U.S. are being treated with this drug. In our study, tamoxifen is found to be photomutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium TA102 at concentrations as low as 0.08 μM and reaches maximum photomutagenicity at 0.4 μM under a light dose equivalent to 20 min sunlight. These concentrations are comparable to the plasma tamoxifen concentration of 0.4–3 μM for patients undergoing tamoxifen therapy. The toxicity seems to be the result of DNA damage and/or lipid peroxidation caused by light irradiation of tamoxifen. The DNA damage caused by irradiation of ФX174 DNA in the presence of tamoxifen appears to be formation of DNA–tamoxifen covalent adducts, not single strand/double strand cleavages, and there is no oxygen involvement. This is confirmed by EPR experiments that carbon-centerd radicals are formed by light irradiation of tamoxifen and there is no singlet oxygen formation. Although superoxide radical is formed, it is not involved in DNA damage.
Coal tar in Hamilton Harbour: Attempts at biological restoration guidelines

Sediments in Hamilton Harbour contain extremely high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other contaminants. Two bioassays were used initially to find areas with the worst contamination. Three bioassays were used to develop criteria for cleanup. The bioassays in these sediments yielded the following 50% lethal and 50% effective concentrations for PAHs; Hexagenia 329 μg/g, Daphnia 254 μg/g, and Microtox 89 μg/g. The mean bioassay toxicity was rounded down to 200 μg/g and used to define areas in need of treatment. Simple aspects like oil content, ship traffic, and water depth were also used to prioritize PAH cleanup.
Bias sputtering: its techniques and applications

Abstract The theories, mechanisms, techniques and applications of bias sputtering are discussed. It is noted that the primary purpose of biasing is to prevent the deposited film becoming contaminated with gas atoms and other gas/metal reaction products. Film purity is maintained by applying a small negative (bias) potential to the substrate during deposition, thus assuring an ionic cleaning action at the substrate surface, which prevents gettering and burial of contaminants. Getter sputtering and getter/bias sputtering, too, are seen to be effective in producing high-purity thin films. A further modification of the biasing technique is also proposed—one in which photon desorbtion acts as the primary cleaning mechanism. Bias sputtering is seen to have many useful applications, especially where it is required to produce high-quality superconducting, semiconducting, and magnetic thin films, where it is required to improve adhesion of a metal to a substrate, and where it is desirable to achieve various material redistribution effects.
Future-Oriented Job Analysis: A Description of the Process and Its Organizational Implications

An application of a future-oriented job analysis (FOJA) procedure used to gain an understanding of newly formed entry-level positions in a large insurance organization is described. A brief review of the relevant literature is presented to serve as a foundation upon which to consider the current FOJA procedure. Specific assumptions, stages, and results of the current procedure are detailed. The benefits of this application of FOJA are also discussed.
A preliminary study of dopamine D4 receptor genotype and structural brain alterations in adults with ADHD

An emerging literature has demonstrated an association between the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene and volumetric brain abnormalities in children with ADHD. However, these results have not been extended to adults and have not addressed the impact of comorbidity. Our objective was to examine the DRD4 7R gene and volumetric brain abnormalities in adults with ADHD while accounting for comorbidity with bipolar disorder (BPD). Subjects were male and female adult outpatient referrals stratified into two diagnostic groups: 24 with ADHD, 19 with ADHD and BPD, as well as 20 male and female adult community controls without ADHD or BPD. We measured volumes (cm(3)) of a priori selected brain regions (superior frontal, middle frontal, anterior cingulate, and cerebellum cortices) by structural magnetic resonance imaging. Among adults with ADHD, subjects with the 7-repeat allele of the DRD4 gene had a significantly smaller mean volume in the superior frontal cortex and cerebellum cortex compared to subjects without this allele. In contrast, no such effects were detected in the adults with ADHD + BPD or controls. Our findings suggest that volumetric abnormalities in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cerebellum may represent an intermediate neuroanatomical phenotype between DRD4 genotype and the clinical expression of ADHD in adults, but only in ADHD subjects without comorbid BPD. These result support the heterogeneity of ADHD and provides insights as to its underlying pathophysiology.
Comprehensive Bench- and Pilot-Scale Investigation of Trace Organic Compounds Rejection by Forward Osmosis

Forward osmosis (FO) is a membrane separation technology that has been studied in recent years for application in water treatment and desalination. It can best be utilized as an advanced pretreatment for desalination processes such as reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) to protect the membranes from scaling and fouling. In the current study the rejection of trace organic compounds (TOrCs) such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, plasticizers, and flame-retardants by FO and a hybrid FO-RO system was investigated at both the bench- and pilot-scales. More than 30 compounds were analyzed, of which 23 nonionic and ionic TOrCs were identified and quantified in the studied wastewater effluent. Results revealed that almost all TOrCs were highly rejected by the FO membrane at the pilot scale while rejection at the bench scale was generally lower. Membrane fouling, especially under field conditions when wastewater effluent is the FO feed solution, plays a substantial role in increasing the rejectio...
Induced resistance to alkylating agent toxicity obtainable by pretreatment with combinations of trace elements

Survival (monitored as colony-forming ability) of Chinese hamster Cdr 20F4 cells following exposure to the alkylating agent melphalan was enhanced by pretreating cells with combinations of the trace elements zinc, selenium, and copper. Cultures simultaneously pretreated with any two trace elements prior to exposure to melphalan exhibited survival values that were either equivalent to (Zn + Cu or Zn + Se) or somewhat greater than (Se + Cu) the sum of survivals obtained in cultures pretreated with singly administered elements. Simultaneous pretreatment with all three trace element inducers produced dramatic increases in survival level upon subsequent challenge with melphalan that ranged from 20-to 130-fold over the levels achieved in non-induced cultures.
Fast Automatic Adjustment of On-Axis Shims for High-Resolution NMR

A one-dimensional approach for fast, robust, automatic adjustment of on-axis shims on high-resolution NMR spectrometers based on polynomial fitting of field inhomogeneity is described. Spherical harmonic and nonspherical harmonic terms of the field distribution of shim coils are precalibrated as polynomial coefficients by successively changing shim settings. This method greatly simplifies the shim precalibration and optimization procedures and is readily to be extended to three-dimensions to include off-axis shims.
SU‐GG‐T‐141: Current Status of the Histogram Analysis in Radiation Therapy (HART): An Open‐Source Software System

Purpose: HART is a useful tool in radiation therapy research utilizing 3D conformai radiation therapy (3DCRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) techniques in the treatment of cancer. Various applications of the software were also presented and published earlier in different journals (Med Phys 36(6), p.2547 (2009); J Appl Clin Med Phys 11 (1), 2010). The main objective of this work was to review the applications of the program, and to present its current status. Method and Materials: Matlab based codes were primarily designed to read RTOG data formats exported from the Pinnacle3treatment planning system (TPS; Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherlands), and to write into a simpler HART format. This format is the basis to execute various applications in the software, such as the conventional and spatialdose‐volume (or surface) histogram (CSDH) analyses, universal plan indices (UPI) evaluation, biological modeling based outcome analyses (BMOA), radiobiological dose response modeling (DRM), and physical parameterization (PP) modules to estimate the differential attenuation coefficients and center of mass of a region of interest. The program executes efficiently due to the simple computational mechanism, graphical simulations, and flexible interactive modes. The CSDH computational module was the most applicable feature for the global users of HART in the past three years. The fundamental results in various applications were validated with the Pinnacle3 data. Results: Currently, HART offers CSDH computational modules, UPI evaluations, BMOA features, DRM simulations, and PP modules respectively for the IMRT and 3DCRT plans. The program is also available online. Conclusion: Several applications have been upgraded into a simpler, user‐friendly, and automated software package (HART). The open‐source mechanism would be useful to the radiation oncology community. We expect to develop HART for various applications in radiotherapy research, and its expansion to other TPSs in the future. This work was partially supported by NIH/NIDCD grant.
Urinary tract infections in infants and children: a comprehensive overview.

Purpose of reviewUrinary tract infections are the most common serious bacterial infections in infants and young children. This review focuses on new additions to the literature for the period August 22, 2002, to August 21, 2003.Recent findingsThere is still considerable interest in determining which
Traumatic severance of prostatomembranous urethra without associated fractured pelvis

The second case of complete severance of the prostatomembranous urethra without an associated pelvic fracture is reported.
Stability after mandibular setback: mandible-only versus 2-jaw surgery.

Purpose The objective of this study was to evaluate whether changes in the technique for mandibular setback surgery since the introduction of rigid internal fixation have improved postoperative stability in Class III correction with setback alone and 2-jaw surgery. Patients and Methods Cephalometric (skeletal and dental) outcomes for 17 patients with mandibular setback alone were compared with outcomes in 83 patients with 2-jaw surgery for Class III correction. Demographic characteristics in the 2 groups were similar, and the mean amount of setback (−4.7 mm) was the same; however, given a mean maxillary advancement of 4.9 mm, the 2-jaw patients had a greater total Class III correction. Results Greater than 4 mm of posterior movement of the gonion at surgery and a resulting significant change in ramus inclination were found in 8 of the mandible-only patients (47%) but only 1 of the 2-jaw patients (1%). Postoperatively, the mean changes for the 2 groups were similar, with mean forward movement of the chin (pogonion) of 2.8 mm in both groups, but the mechanism was different. In the mandible-only patients, the major reason for forward movement of the chin was recovery of ramus inclination. In the 2-jaw group, about half the change in chin position was because of forward movement of the gonion; the other half was because of small upward movement of the maxilla that allowed upward-forward rotation of the mandible. In both groups there was a significant correlation ( r = 0.42, P Conclusions Despite improvements in surgical techniques for mandibular setback since 1995, postoperative stability still leaves something to be desired, but there is better control of the ramus position when 2-jaw surgery is performed.
Pharmacist detection of peripheral arterial disease through the use of a handheld Doppler.

Study Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of a program in which pharmacists screened at-risk patients for peripheral arterial disease using a handheld doppler device. Design. Prospective study. Setting. Primary care and consultative outpatient clinic. Patients: Forty-one physician-referred patients older than 55 years who had no documented history of peripheral arterial disease. Intervention. The pharmacists administered the San Diego Claudication Questionnaire and performed doppler examinations to calculate ankle-to-brachial indexes (ABIs). Patients with symptoms of claudication or with an ABI of 0.9 or less were considered to have possible peripheral arterial disease. Each diagnosis was confirmed by a physician. These patients were either referred for further evaluation, provided with immediate treatment, or told to continue their current drug regimen, if appropriate. Measurements and Main Results. Eight (19.5%) of the 41 patients were diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease. Antiplatelet therapy was started in five patients, and one patient was referred to a vascular specialist. Conclusion. This pharmacist-initiated program effectively detected peripheral arterial disease in previously unscreened patients.
Nuclear data sheets for A=225

Abstract Nuclear structure information for all nuclei with mass number A = 225 is evaluated. The results from various decay experiments are compared. Adopted data, levels, and spin assignments are given.
Radiation damage to 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazoles

Abstract The fluorescent organic compound 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole (HBT) has been modified by substitution at various positions of the phenyl ring in order to increase its quantum yield. Each derivative has been tested as a dopant in a polystyrene matrix for plastic scintillator applications. The transmittance, fluorescence, scintillation light yield, and radiation damage characteristics of these compounds in polystyrene have been determined. In addition, a comparative study of the HBT derivatives and 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF) has been performed. Only samples doped with the 4CNHBT derivative exhibit light yield and radiation resistance similar to those doped with 3HF.
Characterization of postsynaptic β-adrenergic receptors and presynaptic muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the rat spleen

The beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the splenic homogenates of control and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treated rats were characterized. The specific binding of [3H]dihydroalprenolol (DHA) and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) in the rat spleen were saturable and of high affinity and showed pharmacological specificity of splenic beta-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Following 6-OHDA treatment, the Bmax value for specific [3H](-)DHA binding to the rat spleen was significantly increased by 26 percent and 22 percent compared to control at 2 and 3 weeks without a change in the Kd. In contrast, there was a 38 percent decrease in the Bmax for [3H](-)QNB in the 6-Ohda treated rat spleen at 2 and 3 weeks respectively without a change in the Kd. The Bmax value at 5 weeks was significantly greater than that at 2 or 3 weeks. The splenic norepinephrine (NE) concentration was markedly reduced by the 6-OHDA treatment at 1 to 3 weeks, while there was a significant recovery in the splenic NE concentration at 5 weeks. Thus, our results strongly suggest that we are biochemically localizing muscarinic cholinergic receptors on the sympathetic nerves of the rat spleen and that the beta-adrenergic receptors of the spleen are localized postsynaptically.
A new approach to measure socioeconomic inequality in health

This paper introduces a new approach to rank and measure socioeconomic inequality in health. A novel feature of the approach is the use of an income-health matrix that relates socioeconomic class with health status; each row of the matrix corresponds to a socioeconomic class and contains the respective probability distribution of health. By invoking a monotone assumption on the income-health matrix, which is a direct translation of the well-known hypothesis of social gradients in health outcomes, we derive a set of welfare-dominance and inequality-dominance conditions for ranking health distributions. Unlike other existing health inequality measures, our conditions require no cardinal specification of ordinal heath data and, hence, are robust. We then apply the dominance conditions to compare socioeconomic health inequality in the US and Canada using the newly released JCUSH data.
Aggregation and dispersion of spheres falling in viscoelastic liquids

Abstract This paper focuses on the settling on one sphere near another or near a wall. We find maximum differences between Newtonian and viscoelastic liquids, with repulsion between nearby bodies in the Newtonian case and attraction in the viscoelastic case. Side-by-side arrangements of sedimenting spheres are unstable in exactly the same way that broadside-on settling of long bodies is unstable at subcritical speeds in a viscoelastic fluid. The line of centers between the spheres rotates from across to along the stream as the spheres are sucked together. The resulting chain of two spheres is a long body which is stable when the line between centers is parallel to the fall, but this configuration breaks up at subcritical speeds where inertia again dominates. To explain the orientation of particles in the supercritical case, we correlate the aggregative power of a viscoelastic fluid with a zero shear value of the coefficient of ratio of the first normal stress difference to the shear stress and for exceptional cases we introduce the idea of the memory of shear-thinning leading to corridors of reduced viscosity.
PHOTOCATALYTIC OXIDATION OF ALDEHYDES/PCE USING POROUS ANATASE TITANIA AND VISIBLE-LIGHT-RESPONSIVE BROOKITE TITANIA

We have synthesized an annealed porous aerogel titania (LUAG2), which demonstrates a very high photocatalytic activity for aldehydes and perchloroethylene (PCE) photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) in gas phase under blacklight and fluorescent light irradiation. LUAG2 has a BET surface area of 237 m2/g and a porosity of 0.31 (volume fraction). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows LUAG2 is nearly pure anatase. It has improved the destruction of PCE and aldehydes as a group by 10–34% with black light compared to Degussa P-25. The optimum water vapor to butyraldehyde molar ratio is around 1/3. LUAG2 also shows better mineralization to CO2 than Degussa P-25 TiO2 does. Under irradiation of a 4 W fluorescent lamp LUAG2 gives a consistently higher conversion than that of Degussa P-25. The highly active photocatalyst indicates potential applications in indoor and outdoor environmental pollution control. A visible-light-responsive TiO2, NTB 200, is also investigated for comparison purposes.
Ventricular septal defect in tetralogy of Fallot.

Abstract A study of 67 surgically unaltered specimens of tetralogy of Fallot at The Johns Hopkins Hospital revealed a group of 28 hearts in which the ventricular septal defect was surrounded entirely by muscular tissue. Since part of this muscle lay in the space between the tricuspid and aortic valve annuli, where it occupied a position taken by the parietal band in the normal heart, it is postulated that this muscle represents an inferior division of the embryonic infundibular septum (parietal band) in these specimens. The superior division of the parietal band forms the anterior margin of the ventricular septal defect and the superior border of the stenotic infundibulum. A similar but more rudimentary inferior portion of the infundibular septum may have been present in another 16 of the 67 specimens, as represented by a fibrous or fibromuscular band separating the aortic and tricuspid valve annuli.
SCAN: SNP and copy number annotation

Motivation: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) generate relationships between hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and complex phenotypes. The contribution of the traditionally overlooked copy number variations (CNVs) to complex traits is also being actively studied. To facilitate the interpretation of the data and the designing of follow-up experimental validations, we have developed a database that enables the sensible prioritization of these variants by combining several approaches, involving not only publicly available physical and functional annotations but also multilocus linkage disequilibrium (LD) annotations as well as annotations of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). Results: For each SNP, the SCAN database provides: (i) summary information from eQTL mapping of HapMap SNPs to gene expression (evaluated by the Affymetrix exon array) in the full set of HapMap CEU (Caucasians from UT, USA) and YRI (Yoruba people from Ibadan, Nigeria) samples; (ii) LD information, in the case of a HapMap SNP, including what genes have variation in strong LD (pairwise or multilocus LD) with the variant and how well the SNP is covered by different high-throughput platforms; (iii) summary information available from public databases (e.g. physical and functional annotations); and (iv) summary information from other GWAS. For each gene, SCAN provides annotations on: (i) eQTLs for the gene (both local and distant SNPs) and (ii) the coverage of all variants in the HapMap at that gene on each high-throughput platform. For each genomic region, SCAN provides annotations on: (i) physical and functional annotations of all SNPs, genes and known CNVs within the region and (ii) all genes regulated by the eQTLs within the region. Availability: http://www.scandb.org Contact: ude.ogacihcu.dsb.enicidem@xocn Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Resistive transition of crystalline Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x in magnetic fields

Abstract Transport and a.c. susceptibility data on a crystalline sample of Y 1 Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7− x in fields up to 9 T along the c-axis are presented. Careful study of the I–V curves and the frequency dependent a.c. susceptibility indicate that the critical current develops suddenly at a line in the H–T phase diagram that coincides with the irreversibility line as measured by a.c. susceptibility. Above this line, which is interpreted as the melting of a pinned vortex regime, the I–V curves are linear and the resistance has a flux flow like character. However, the R versus T behaviour in the melted region supports the interpretation of two different regions of flux flow viscosity.
Multivariate data modelling by metric approximants

Shepard developed a method for the interpolation of arbitrarily spaced discrete data points of two variables. We extend this scheme to approximate, by a smooth function, discrete sets of multivariate data points. No regularity is assumed for the data distribution, and we allow the dependent variable to contain error. The method presented here can be applied to the statistical analysis of experimental data as well as to the compression of data in computer graphics and computer aided design.
Efficient Filtering and Clustering Methods for Temporal Video Segmentation and Visual Summarization

Automatic temporal segmentation and visual summary generation methods that require minimal user interaction are key requirements in video information management systems. Clustering presents an ideal method for achieving these goals, as it allows direct integration of multiple information sources. This paper proposes a clustering-based framework to achieve these tasks automatically and with a minimum of user-defined parameters. The use of multiple frame difference features and short-time techniques are presented for efficient detection of cut-type shot boundaries. Generic temporal filtering methods are used to process the signals used in shot boundary detection, resulting in better suppression of false alarms. Clustering is also extended to the key frame extraction problem: Color-based shot representations are provided by average and intersection histograms, which are then used in a clustering scheme to identify reference key frames within each slot. The technique achieves good compaction with a minimum number of visually nonredundant key frames.
Photochemical Reactions of Alkyl Phenylglyoxylates1

Three new photoproducts, ethyl O-benzoyl mandelate (5a), ethyl O-acetylmandelate (6a), and biphenyl triketone (7a) are isolated and identified in the reactions of ethyl phenylglyoxylate (1a) in benzene. Quantum yields and initial rate constants of product formation are shown to be concentration dependent. For the formation of carbonyl product 3 at lower starting material concentrations (<0.01 M), quantum yields greater than 1 are observed. Variations in the quantum yields as a function of reaction time are due to the accumulation of α-hydroxyphenyl ketene (D). The relative reactivities of triplet excited states of phenylglyoxylates 1 and phenyl ketones are compared. A mechanism involving both intramolecular γ-H abstraction and intermolecular H abstraction, which leads to radical chain reaction, is proposed. Rate constants for intramolecular γ-H abstraction (kN) and intermolecular H abstraction (kI) of methyl phenylglyoxylate (1d) are measured.
Maskelynite: Formation by explosive shock

When high pressure (250 to 300 kilobars) was applied suddenly (shock-loading) to gabbro, the plagioclase was transformed to a noncrystalline phase (maskelynite) by a solid-state reaction at a low temperature, while the proxene remained crystalline. The shock-loaded gabbro resembles meteorites of the shergottite class; this suggests that the latter formed as a result of shock. The shock-loading of gabbro at 600 to 800 kilobars raised the temperature above the melting range of the plagioclase.
Gyroradius Scaling of Helium Transport

The scaling of the transport rate of helium ash with normalized gyroradius has been measured for the first time, utilizing ELMing H-mode plasmas on the DIII-D tokamak. The helium diffusivity is found to scale in a gyro-Bohm-like manner, similar to the thermal diffusivity. Even though the extrapolation in normalized gyroradius from DIII-D to a reactor-grade device is large, sensitivity studies indicate that helium ash dilution in such a device will be primarily dependent on the helium exhaust efficiency at the plasma edge and not on the core transport rates.
Classical conditioning of skeletal avoidance responses in two strains of rats.

Summary.-Anticipatory skeletal responses can be directly elicited during classical aversive conditioning in the shuttlebox. Under the classical CS-UCS contingency Long-Evans rats shuttle at moderate rates, while Fischerndr rats display high rates of anticipatory responding, even though the instrumental avoidance contingency is absent. The classical contingency is also exceedingly important in determining the differences between these strains, as well as their initial and terminal rates of anticipatory responding, when the avoidance contingency is present. In an avoidance-conditioning situation it is possible for an animal to prevent the occurrence of an aversive event by responding before it is presented. While some investigators (Bolles, 1970; Herrnstein, 1969) claim that these anticipatory responses are primarily controlled by the instrumental-avoidance contingency, others (D'Amato, 1967; Woodard & Bitterman, 1973) report a substantial rate of responding in the presence of the classical contingency, where shock (UCS) inevitably follows the conditioned stimulus (CS), independently of the animal's behavior. Hn order to clarify the interaction between the classical and avoidance contingencies in controlling behavior in this situation, the following experiment directly compared their effects during the acquisition of anticipatory responding in the shuctlebox. At the same time, this study attempted to determine which of these contingencies is the principal factor contributing to the differences between strains of rats which have been widely reported (Barrett & Ray, 1970; Bignami, 1965; Potts, 1970) to occur during shuttlebox-avoidance learning. METHOD Szdb jects Thirty-six female albino rats, evenly divided between the highly inbred (F 104) Fis~her~~~ strain and random bred Long-Evans strain, were employed in this study. The rats were obtained from Simonsen Laboratories, Gilroy, California, at 80 to 100 days of age. The mean body weight of the rats was 170 gm., with a range from 160 to 180 gm. The rats were maintained on ad lib. food and water throughout the experiment. A pparatas
Simulation based alternatives for overall process improvement at the cardiac catheterization lab

Abstract Cardiac catheterization is one of the critical procedures in patient care. It is pertinent for all process related issues in this department to be handled with due priority. This research is a cross-functional effort with a leading hospital that was in its planning stage to implement an overall process improvement at its cardiac catheterization lab department. It has been determined that significant process delays exist in this department. One of the identified key factors to process improvement was to reduce patient turnaround time. Process mapping was used to study the system and identify potential sources of delays in the system. A set of qualitative recommendations were put forward. These recommendations, include the reduction of wait time of outpatients and inpatients and the reduction of non-value-added times such as transfer time of patients, were evaluated using a discrete event simulation approach. The simulation study shows that the daily operating hours at the catheterization lab could be reduced, aiding to reallocate staff for discharging other duties, as the hospital may require.
Effect of liberalized U.S.-Mexico rice trade: a spatial, multiproduct equilibrium analysis

A spatial, multiproduct equilibrium model featuring United States–Mexico long-grain rice trade is developed to determine the effect of removing Mexico's rice tariffs in 2003 on U.S. rough and milled rice exports to that country. Analysis considers rice milling costs and yields in the United States and Mexico, transportation costs associated with U.S. rice exports to Mexico, mill by-product prices in Mexico and the United States and the changing tariff levels. Results show Mexico's graduated decline in rice tariffs over the 1997 to 2003 period to increase U.S. rice exports to Mexico about 1% per year or a total of 7% over the 6-year period. United States' long-grain rice price and production is modestly affected by the increased exports, while the impact on Mexico's rice production and price is comparatively large. Further, results show the historic incentive to export rough rice to Mexico will be replaced by an incentive to export milled rice, thus opportunities for the U.S. rice milling industry to form alliances with Mexican packers and increase direct relationships with large retailers in Mexico. [EconLit citations:C61, Q17, and R40.] © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 19: 1–17, 2003.
State Systems Change in Prevention Resource Management

Federally funded initiatives have provided resources to develop comprehensive substance abuse prevention strategies. Historically, most awards were made directly to communities. Beginning in 1997, ...
Evaluation of a Fuel Cell for Powering the Electrical Load of ICE Vehicles

This paper describes the implementation and testing of a fuel cell system for powering the on-board electrical load of a pick-up truck that is being converted to a hydrogen-internal combustion engine. The fuel cell is assisted by a supercapacitor bank during engine starting which requires a much larger current. The sizing of the system components is determined from actual current demand of various loads. This new power source will replace the 12 Volt battery and alternator found in the conventional vehicle. Laboratory tests including supercapacitor charging, engine starting, and load switching are presented.
Progression of hepatic neoplasia in medaka (Oryzias latipes) exposed to diethylnitrosamine

Progression of hepatic neoplasia was assessed in medaka (Oryzias latipes) following aqueous exposure to diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Larvae (2 weeks old) were exposed to 350 or 500 p.p.m. DEN for 48 h, while adults (3-6 months old) were exposed to 50 p.p.m. DEN for 5 weeks. Fish were maintained as long as possible to determine malignant potential of resultant neoplasms. A total of 423 medaka with 106 hepatic neoplasms were examined. There were marked differences in tumor prevalence between exposure groups including: (i) higher prevalence of hepatocellular carcinomas in medaka exposed as adults (100% of hepatocellular tumors in adult-exposed medaka were malignant, while only 51.5% of larval hepatocellular tumors were malignant); (ii) higher prevalence of biliary tumors in medaka exposed as larvae (46.4% of all tumors in larval-exposed medaka were biliary versus 8.1% in adult-exposed fish); (iii) higher prevalence of mixed hepato-biliary carcinomas in adult-exposed medaka (24.3%) compared with those exposed as larvae (3%). In addition, a unique hepatocellular lesion termed 'nodular proliferation' was only observed in adult-exposed medaka. The lesion was characterized by small size (50-300 microm), complete loss of normal tubular architecture and variable megalocytosis. Nodular proliferation was distinct from preneoplastic foci of cellular alteration and may represent microcarcinomas. There was a step-wise increase in mean diameter with age (days post-exposure) from nodular proliferation (174 microm, 17 days) to hepatocellular carcinoma (1856 microm, 62 days) and mixed carcinomas (3209 microm, 93 days) in adult-exposed medaka. Metastasis was observed with 19 neoplasms and tumors with the highest metastatic potential were hepatocellular and mixed carcinomas. The most common form of metastasis was trans-coelomic, followed by direct invasion and distant metastasis, presumably via the vascular route. Differences in tumor prevalence between exposure groups were believed to be the result of length of DEN exposure rather than age of fish at the time of exposure. In larval medaka with brief (48 h) DEN exposure, neoplasms are thought to be the result of dedifferentiation of hepatic cells, with slow progression of foci of cellular alteration to benign and then malignant tumors. In contrast, with adult medaka and prolonged (5 week) DEN exposure, neoplasms are believed to result from initiation of committed stem cells and formation of microcarcinomas ('nodular proliferation'), before progressing to larger hepatocellular and then mixed carcinomas.