cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paediatric autoimmune inner ear disease: A case series

AbstractObjective: Autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED) is an uncommon cause of sensorineural hearing loss which may present differently in paediatric patients. The fluctuating nature of the hearing loss and the inherent challenges of audiological assessment of children can make this disease difficult to diagnose and treat. We present our experience of diagnosis and management of AIED in children in this case series. Study design: This is a retrospective case series review of paediatric AIED patients. Diagnosis was made through clinical presentation, audiometric evaluation, and serological testing. Patients were treated with corticosteroids and/or methotrexate. An improvement in pure tone averages (PTA) or speech reception threshold (SRT) of 10dB or greater was considered a clinically significant improvement. Results: The clinical history of four patients is presented. We observed significant differences in disease presentation and progression in these patients. Patients were largely responsive to steroid ...
The design of anisotropically etched III-V solar cells

Abstract A solar cell with negligible reflectivity requires a departure from conventional planar design. An anisotropically etched (grooved) surface modifies the geometry of the cell to permit multiple reflections and enhanced absorption. Two distinct groove geometries can be generated in III–V semiconductors because of the lack of inversion symmetry in zinc blende lattices. The grooves are said to be “V shaped” or “inverted”. In this paper, ray-tracing models are developed to analyze novel solar cells based on these two groove types. The models treat groove angle, spacing and aspect ratio as variables, and appropriate conclusions are drawn for the case where the grooves are formed by intersecting {111}A planes. It is shown (1) that, for a structure with V-grooves, the maximum conversion efficiency can be increased by about 38% with respect to a planar structure and (2) that, for a structure with inverted grooves, the efficiency increase can be as high as 26%.
DETERMINATION OF ORGANOLEPTICALLY DETECTABLE CONNECTIVE TISSUE PARTICLES IN GROUND BEEF BY ENZYME HYDROLYSIS

Cartilage and adhering connective tissue were ground and added to ground beef at levels of 0, 3, 6 and 9% of the sample weight. Each ground beef sample was treated with an enzyme solution. Corresponding cooked samples were evaluated by a trained sensory panel for detectable connective tissue particles. After enzyme hydrolysis, connective tissue particles 3 mm or larger in diameter were counted and weighed. Mean values for counts of hard and soft connective tissue particles were consistently different (P< 0.05) between treatments. High correlation coefficients indicated that hard particle count could be used as an indicator of the amount of organoleptically perceivable connective tissue in a sample.
Iatrogenic Marginal Artery Dissection during Superselective Microcoil Embolization for Colonic Bleeding.

Superselective embolization has become the primary endovascular treatment of choice for lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage refractory to medical management. Untoward events, particularly ischemic complications, are rare with this technique. To my knowledge, iatrogenic marginal artery dissection has not been reported.
Sectoral Demand for Petroleum in Thailand

This paper examines the short-run and long-run effects determinants final oil consumption in seven major economic sectors in Thailand. Two different approaches are compared. The first approach uses dynamic panel data estimation techniques taking into account oil consumption of the whole economy in an aggregate manner. The second approach employs the ADL error correction framework to model oil demand in each economic sector separately. The results show that the dynamic panel data approach appears to give estimates consistent with the economic theory. The signs on the coefficients are correct and the magnitude of long-run responses is larger than that of the short-run responses. The single sector model approach yields similar but richer results. Since constant slopes are not imposed across sectors the characteristics and dynamics and responses can differ across sectors.
Interpersonal childhood trauma and the use of the therapeutic community in recovery

Purpose – This paper aims to explore an integrated therapeutic care approach for a group of children and young people who have experienced chronic and enduring interpersonal trauma.Design/methodology/approach – This paper aims to emphasise the need to routinely assess for that which could have been relationally traumatic, as this is the context in which many looked‐after children's and young people's developmental experiences occur. In particular, it explores the need to have trauma‐informed assessments, clinically effective interventions based on this knowledge, and the need to ensure that a therapeutically enabling environment and organisational functioning is maintained, in order to improve outcomes. It builds on existing work on trauma systems theory, both within an organisational context and within a holistic completely integrated (therapy/assessment, care, education) residential child care treatment process.Findings – This research raises consideration of the manner in which interpersonally traumati...
Washing and trypsin treatment of in vitro derived bovine embryos exposed to bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Abstract Gametes, somatic cells and materials of animal origin in media are potential sources for introducing bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) into systems for production of IVF bovine embryos. Further, the efficacy of washing and trypsin treatment for removal of BVDV from IVF embryos is questionable. Washing and trypsin treatments recommended by the International Embryo Transfer Society for in vivo-derived embryos were applied to in vitro-derived, virus-exposed, bovine embryos in this side-by-side comparison of treatments. Embryos for the study were produced in a virus-free system in which follicular oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro and presumptive zygotes were co-cultured with bovine uterine tubal cells for 7 d. A total of 18 trials was performed, 9 using a noncytopathic BVDV and 9 using a cytopathic BVDV. In each trial, 4 equal groups of 10 or less, zona pellucida-intact embryos/ova were assembled, including 2 groups of morulae and blastocysts (M/B) and 2 groups of nonfertile or degenerated ova (NFD). Each group was prewashed and exposed to 104 to 106 TCID50/mL of either noncytopathic (SD-1) or cytopathic (NADL) BVDV for 2 h. Following in vitro viral exposure, one group of M/B and one group of NFD were washed. The other groups of M/B and NFD were trypsin-treated. Both treatments were consistent with IETS guidelines. After in vitro exposure to noncytopathic BVDV and washing, viral assays of 100 % ( 9 9 ) and 78 % ( 7 9 ) of the groups of M/B and NFD ova, respectively, were positive. After in vitro exposure to cytopathic BVDV and washing, viral assay of 33 % ( 3 9 ) of the groups of both M/B and NFD ova were positive. After in vitro exposure to noncytopathic BVDV and trypsin treatment, viral assay of 44 % ( 4 9 ) of groups of M/B and 67 % ( 6 9 ) of groups of NFD ova were positive. Finally, after in vitro exposure to cytopathic BVDV and trypsin treatment, viral assay of 22 % ( 2 9 ) of the groups of M/B and 44 % ( 4 9 ) of the groups of NFD ova were positive. Contingency table analysis, in which data was stratified by embryo type and virus biotype, was used to compare results. While a difference existed between results of the 2 treatments of groups of M/B within the noncytopathic biotype (P = 0.01, Mantel Haenszel Chi-square), no difference was observed between comparison of treatment between all groups in both biotypes (P > 0.05).
Heating and Kinetic Energy Dissipation in the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model

Conservation of energy and the incorporation of parameterized heating in an atmospheric model are discussed. Energy conservation is used to unify the treatment of heating and kinetic energy dissipation within the Community Atmosphere Model, version 2 (CAM2). Dry static energy is predicted within the individual physical parameterizations and updated following each parameterization. Hydrostatic balance leads to an efficient method for determining the temperature and geopotential from the updated dry static energy. A consistent formulation for the heating due to kinetic energy dissipation associated with the vertical diffusion of momentum is also derived. Both continuous and discrete forms are presented. Tests of the new formulation verify that the impact on the simulated climate is very small.
Controlled-aperture wavepath-wave-equation migration

Summary We propose a new implementation of wave-equation migration with controlled apertures determined by the wavepath migration approach. The new method, denoted as controlled-aperture wavepath-wave-equation migration, employs a two-step strategy to migrate common-shot seismic data. In the first step, an efficient wavepath migration is performed for a given shot using ray incidence angles computed directly from the data to determine controlled migration apertures. In the second step, a wave-equation migration is conducted on the shot data using the controlled apertures. For each shot, these apertures include: (1) the imaging aperture, (2) the aperture for the source-wavefield extrapolation, and (3) the aperture for the receiver-wavefield extrapolation. Compared to the uncontrolled-apertures used in conventional wave-equation migration methods, controlled apertures are much narrower and more localized, leading to a more accurate treatment of local slowness variations. Numerical results with the SEG/EAGE salt model show that the new method performs better in resolving salt boundaries and sub-salt weak reflectors than the corresponding uncontrolled-aperture migration.
DNA-based Positive Control Mutants in the Binding Site Sequence of 434 Repressor

As detected by chemical nuclease treatments, the conformation of the 434 repressor-DNA complex depends on the sequence of the bound DNA (Bell, A. C., and Koudelka, G. B. (1993)J. Mol. Biol. 234, 542–553). We show here that these DNA sequence-dependent conformational changes alter the efficiency with which the repressor activates transcription from 434 PRM. Several lines of evidence suggest that binding site sequence affects the repressor's ability to activate transcription by altering the accessibility of the activation surface on the repressor to RNA polymerase. The results presented here show that in addition to affecting transcription by altering the overall binding affinity of protein for DNA, DNA sequence may also modulate the activity of the DNA-bound protein.
Finite element appendage equations for hybrid coordinate dynamic analysis.

The increasingly common practice of idealizing a spacecraft as a collection of interconnected rigid bodies to some of which are attached linearly elastic flexible appendages leads to equations of motion expressed in terms of a combination of discrete coordinates describing the arbitrary rotational motions of the rigid bodies and distributed or modal coordinates describing the small, time-varying deformations of the appendages: such a formulation is said to employ a hybrid system of coordinates. In the present paper the existing literature is extended to provide hybrid coordinate equations of motion for a finite element model of a flexible appendage attached to a rigid base undergoing unrestricted motions and some of the advantages of the finite element approach are noted. Transformations to the modal coordinates appropriate for the general case are provided.
Korea: the Post-war War

Americans like wars with nicknames. The Spanish-American War (recently re-named Spanish-American-Cuban War, and by the more meticulous, Spanish-American-Cuban-Philippine War) was the 'splendid little' war; World War One, here in the U.S. and abroad, was 'great', World War Two was 'good', the Vietnam war was 'bad' and the Korean War 'forgotten'. Falling between the good war and the bad, ending neither in the total victory of the former nor the total defeat of the latter, the Korean War was an anomaly which historians, politicians and the public seem to have long thought best left out altogether, as the cartoonist Danzinger, perhaps unconsciously, did in his 1990 Thanksgiving Day cartoon in the Christian Science Monitor. Soldiers of past wars, from the Revolution through to the Gulf, sit down to share a turkey dinner, each dressed in the combat outfit of his particular era. But no veteran of the Korean War seems to have been invited to the feast.1 One would think that for a war to be forgotten it has to have taken place in the far past. What is odd about Korea is that even as it was being fought, it was deemed forgotten. How is it that the most unpopular war in UnitedStates history seems to have had so little impact on the country at the time and thereafter?2 The vivid presence of the Vietnam war even now, almost three decades after its conclusion, is usually attributed to that war's exceptional character: the brutality with which it was fought, the high rate of casualties, the impossibility of distinguishing friend from foe among the Vietnamese, indeed, the uncertainty about what would constitute victory. 'Vietnam', Lance Morrow intoned in Time magazine in 1980, 'was different from other wars ... There were no front lines. Reality tended to melt into layers of unknowability'.3 These factors, along with a glancing nod at the alleged power of television, are offered in explanation of national division,
Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in children

Abstract Purpose To report the safety of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in three children. Design Retrospective interventional noncomparative case series. Methods Children identified from all patients treated with verteporfin therapy at a university-based practice had records reviewed for adverse retinal or systemic events. Results Patients aged 11, 11, and 13 years, with subfoveal idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) received verteporfin therapy with no ocular complications recognized either immediately after the procedure or during the follow-up from 7 to 12 months. Treatment resulted in cessation of fluorescence leakage from CNV by the last follow-up visit in two patients and reduced leakage from the lesion in one. The visual acuity change was + 4, +7, and 0 lines. Conclusion Verteporfin therapy in three children with subfoveal CNV was associated with stable or improved vision during short-term follow-up in the absence of serious ocular or systemic adverse events.
A study of peptic activity by means of the double histamine test.

It would seem that histamine performs two functions so far as the presence of pepsin in the stomach is concerned: First, it causes a washing out of the preformed pepsin and, second, it stimulates an actual secretory increase in the function of the parietal cells.
On majority domination in graphs

Abstract A majority dominating function on the vertex set of a graph G=(V,E) is a function g:V→{1,−1} such that g(N[v])⩾1 for at least half of the vertices v in V. The weight of a majority dominating function is denoted as g(V) and is ∑ g(v) over all v in V. The majority domination number of a graph is the minimum possible weight of a majority dominating function, and is denoted as γmaj(G). We determine the majority domination numbers of certain families of graphs. Moreover, we show that the decision problem corresponding to computing the majority domination number of an arbitrary disjoint union of complete graphs is NP-complete.
Soot formation in shock-tube pyrolysis of acetylene, allene, and 1,3-butadiene

Abstract Soot formation in argon-diluted mixtures of acetylene, allene, and 1,3-butadiene was studied behind reflected shock waves by monitoring attenuation of a laser beam in both the visible (632.8 nm) and the infrared (3.39 μm) regions of the spectrum. Experiments were conducted for temperatures in the range 1500–3100K, reflected shock pressures in the range 0.3–7.0 bar, and total carbon atom concentrations in the range (2–20) × 1017 atoms/cm3. During the pyrolysis of individual hydrocarbons, a bell-shaped dependence of soot yield on temperature, similar to that previously reported for toluene, was observed for all three compounds. For acetylene, a decrease in total pressure shifted the soot bell to higher temperatures with a significant increase in the maximum soot yield. The analysis of a computer simulation for acetylene pyrolysis indicated that the reactions involving C2H3, C4H3, and C4H4 may be those which lead to the formation of aromatic structures. The experimental results also show that soot is formed much faster and in much larger quantities from allene than from 1,3-butadiene. A conceptual model which explains the observed phenomena is suggested.
Changes in regulation of ribosome synthesis during different stages of the life cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Diploid strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, each homozygous for one of the temperature sensitive mutations rna2, rna4, rna6 or rna8, are temperature sensitive for ribosome synthesis during vegetative growth, but are not inhibited for ribosomal synthesis at the restrictive temperature under sporulation conditions. The continued ribosome biosynthesis at the restrictive temperature (34° C) during sporulation includes de novo synthesis of both ribosomal RNA and ribosomal proteins. This lack of inhibition of ribosome biosynthesis is found even when cells committed to complete sporulation are returned to vegetative growth medium. The ribosomes synthesized at 34° C are apparently functional, as they are found in polyribosomes. Although the rna mutants do not regulate ribosome synthesis during sporulation, all of these diploid strains fail to complete sporulation at 34° C. The cells are arrested after the second meiotic nuclear division but before ascus formation. The failure to complete sporulation at the restrictive temperature and the inhibition of ribosome biosynthesis during growth are caused by the same mutation, because revertants selected for temperature independent growth were also able to sporulate at 34° C.
Digital control laws for the space shuttle orbiter

The purpose of this paper is to describe the Space Shuttle Orbiter manual command augmentation (CAS) control law. The paper addresses the configuration as presently baselined for the approach/land test (ALT) program. The requirements and problems associated with the ALT CAS control mode as well as the design/analysis approach used with it are representative of those associated with the operational atmospheric flight. The pertinent stability and performance requirements are summarized from the specifications. These considerations then lead to the selection of feedbacks, gains and filters where the last opens up the question of digital filter design. Special features of the resultant control laws include provision for command signal limiting (CSL) and the mechanization of the pitch axis proportional plus integral control. Digital filter design techniques used in obtaining bending filters differ from those used in obtaining lower frequency filters for rigid body control. These techniques and the rationale for their choice are summarized.
Observations on the theoretical and experimental foundations of thermoplasticity

Abstract The thermodynamics of materials with internal state variables has been employed to study the properties of a class of thermoplastic materials in which the evolution equation for the internal variables is given by equation k(i) = g(i)(σkl, ϵ''kl, k(i), θ, · ϵ''kl) where (i) is homogeneous of order one in · ϵ''kl. The most general form of the Helmholtz potential consistent with the assumption of insensitivity of the elastic relations to inelastic deformation has been derived and a geometric interpretation of the Clausius-Duhem restriction has been made employing the concept of a thermodynamic reference stress. Experimental results of one of the authors have been correlated with the theory.
AN UNIQUELY PURIFIED HCV NS3 PROTEASE AND NS4A21-34 PEPTIDE FORM A HIGHLY ACTIVE SERINE PROTEASE COMPLEX IN PEPTIDE HYDROLYSIS

Abstract The N-terminal domain of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) polyprotein containing the NS3 protease (residues 1027 to 1206) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a soluble protein under the control of the T7 promoter. The enzyme has been purified to homogeneity with cation exchange (SP-Sepharose HR) and heparin affinity chromatography in the absence of any detergent. The purified enzyme preparation was soluble and remained stable in solution for several weeks at 4°C. The proteolytic activity of the purified enzyme was examined, also in the absence of detergents, using a peptide mimicking the NS4A/4B cleavage site of the HCV polyprotein. Hydrolysis of this substrate at the expected Cys–Ala scissile bond was catalyzed by the recombinant protease with a pseudo second-order rate constant ( k cat / K M ) of 205 and 196,000 M −1 s −1 , respectively, in the absence and presence of a central hydrophobic region (sequence represented by residues 21 to 34) of the NS4A protein. The rate constant in the presence of NS4A peptide cofactor was two orders of magnitude greater than reported previously for the NS3 protease domain. A significantly higher activity of the NS3 protease–NS4A cofactor complex was also observed with a substrate mimicking the NS4B/5A site ( k cat / K M of 5180 ± 670 M −1 s −1 ). Finally, the optimal formation of a complex between the NS3 protease domain and the cofactor NS4A was critical for the high proteolytic activity observed.
Serum antibodies in young adult humans reactive with periodontitis associated treponemes.

The present study was undertaken to determine whether young adults with generalized severe periodontitis (SP) or the more localized juvenile periodontitis (JP) have serum antibody reactive with a panel of periodontitis associated treponemes more frequently or at higher titer than a group of young adults with a healthy periodontium (HP). The human subjects consisted of 52 SPs, 47 JPs, and 52 HPs. The panel of treponemes included three strains of Treponema denticola and several strains of newly described treponemes, Treponema socranskii ss. socranskii, Treponema socranskii ss. buccale, and Treponema socranskii ss. paredis. The frequency and magnitude of serum antibody titers were determined using a sensitive radioimmunoassay. Subjects with JP were more frequently seropositive than were HP subjects to several strains of the treponemes tested (p<0.01 for Treponema socranskii ss. buccale [D40PE2], Treponema denticola [D3A9], and Treponema socranskii ss. paredis [D28C3]). However, the most surprising result was the low level and frequent lack of antibody in SP sera reactive with these periodontitis-associated treponemes. Excluding data where only two points above the cut off were required for seropositivity, neither the frequency of seropositivity nor the magnitude of antibody titers of SP subjects exceeded those respective values for HP subjects. The frequency of seropositivity in SP subjects to T. socranskii ss. socranskii (D43BR1) was significantly depressed as compared to HP subjects (p<0.01). In short, it appeared that SP subjects either failed to mount a significant anti-treponemal antibody response or those responses were specifically suppressed.
Decreased atherosclerosis in mice deficient in both macrophage colony-stimulating factor (op) and apolipoprotein E

To develop a murine model system to test the role of monocyte-derived macrophage in atherosclerosis, the osteopetrotic (op) mutation in the macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene was bred onto the apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient background. The doubly mutant (op/apoE-deficient) mice fed a low-fat chow diet had significantly smaller proximal aortic lesions at an earlier stage of progression than their apoE-deficient control littermates. These lesions in the doubly mutant mice were composed of macrophage foam cells. The op/apoE-deficient mice also had decreased body weights, decreased blood monocyte differentials, and increased mean cholesterol levels of approximately 1300 mg/dl. Statistical analysis determined that atherosclerosis lesion area was significantly affected by the op genotype and gender. The confounding variables of body weight, plasma cholesterol, and monocyte differential, which were all affected by op genotype, had no significant additional effect on lesion area once they were adjusted for the effects of op genotype and gender. Unexpectedly, there was a significant inverse correlation between plasma cholesterol and lesion area, implying that each may be the result of a common effect of macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels. The data support the hypothesis that macrophage colony-stimulating factor and its effects on macrophage development and function play a key role in atherogenesis.
Comparing Logit and Probit Coefficients Across Groups

In logit and probit regression analysis, a common practice is to estimate separate models for two or more groups and then compare coefficients across groups. An equivalent method is to test for int...
Current-generated noise recorded on ocean bottom seismometers

High-amplitude, anrrow band noise that correlates with periods of high ocean bottom currents and the tidal cycle is occasionally observed on ocean bottom seismometers (OBS). The geophones on OBSs of different configurations are not equally sensitive to this noise and hydrophones are almost unaffected. With a suitable design, it should be possible to eliminate this noise problem.
Drainage Asymmetry and the Carolina Capes

The Carolina capes are the present stage in long sequences of capes which began at the Fall Zone because of a great coastal prominence, and were self-maintaining because a continuous series of capes resulted from the emergence of off-cape shoals. Even during the rise of sea level, relict capes were able to localize new ones, as in the case of the present Cape Fear. These sequences or lines of capes became asymmetric drainage divides. Drainage areas of major extended-consequent streams where they cross the coastal plain are compartmented between such lines of relict capes. The main streams lie immediately northeast of the lines of capes. The significant tributaries rise on the southeast flank of the next line of capes to the northeast. North of the cape zone the major extended-consequent streams were not controlled by such topographic barriers. They were repeatedly deflected down-drift and their mouths are far south of the places where they first enter the Coastal Plain at the Fall Zone. Chesapeake Bay (Susquehanna River estuary) is an example.
Facets of extraversion related to life satisfaction

Abstract The relationship between six facets of extraversion (activity, assertiveness, excitement-seeking, gregariousness, positive emotion, warmth) and life satisfaction was studied in a sample of 162 university students. Positive emotion and assertiveness showed the strongest relationships, followed by gregariousness and warmth. Separating the data by gender indicated that life satisfaction for women was primarily related to levels of positive emotion and warmth, while for men the most important facets were assertiveness and gregariousness. Regression analyses indicated that the only significant predictor of life satisfaction for males was assertiveness, and the only such predictor for females was positive emotion. The results underscore the importance of gender as a context for trait expression, and the consequences of this for life satisfaction.
Parapubic hernia following radical retropubic prostatectomy

We report a parapubic hernia in a 54-year-old patient following radical retropubic prostatectomy. This complication can occur when the musculotendinous insertions of the rectus abdominis muscle are divided from the pubis. Bowel contents herniate over the pubic crest and can be misdiagnosed as an incisional or inguinal hernia. Successful repair depends on closure of the entire defect. Elective repair necessitates the use of prosthetic mesh.
Phosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin by type II Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase

Brain type II Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase was found to phoshorylate smooth muscle myosin, incorporating maximally ∼ 2 mol of phosphoryl per mol of myosin, exclusively on the 20,000 dalton light chain subunit. After maximal phosphorylation of myosin or the isolated 20,000 dalton light chain subunit by myosin light chain kinase, the addition of type II Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase led to no further incorporation indicating the two kinases phosphorylated a common site. This conclusion was supported by two dimensional mapping of tryptic digests of myosin phosphorylated by the two kinases. By phosphoamino acid analysis the phosphorylated residue was identified as a serine. The phosphorylation by type II Ca 2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase of myosin resulted in enhancement of its actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase activity. Taken together, these data strongly support the conclusion that type II Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase phosphorylates the same amino acid residue on the 20,000 dalton light chain subunit of smooth muscle myosin as is phosphorylated by myosin light chain kinase and suggest an alternative mechanism for the regulation of actin-myosin interaction.
Thickness of the American woodcock eggshell, 1971.

Eggs or empty shells of the American woodcock were collected from 10 states in 1971 and shell thickness (mean of clutch means) was compared with that of eggs collected from 16 states during the years 1859–1939. The 1971 shells (n=91) from hatched eggs or those containing fully developed embryos were about 10 percent thinner (P<0.001) than both unembryonated shells (n=26) from the same year and the 1859–1939 shells (n=169) from essentially unembryonated eggs. The difference is attributed to the transfer of calcium from the shells to the embryos and not to environmental pollutants.
Design of international assembly systems and their supply chains under NAFTA

Although NAFTA has encouraged U.S.-based companies to locate assembly operations in Mexico, no widely-accepted tools provide decision support for the strategic design of an assembly system in this international environment. This paper provides such a decision support aid. The problem is to design an assembly system by prescribing facilities, including the location, technologies to be employed and capacity of each. Strategic aspects of the supporting supply chain are designed by selecting suppliers; locating distribution centers; planning transportation modes; and allocating target levels for production, assembly and distribution. The objective is to maximize after-tax profits. A mixed integer programming model is presented that represents the complexities of the international design problem as well as relevant enterprise-wide decisions in the US-Mexico business environment under NAFTA. It deals with a broad set of design issues (e.g., bill-of-material restrictions, international financial considerations, and material flow through the entire supply chain) using effective modeling devices. Several cases are investigated to demonstrate how managers might apply the model as a decision support aid. The examples show that the model can be successfully used to evaluate a variety of factors and analyze a number of tradeoffs related to the design of international assembly systems and supply chains.
Polynomial indexing of integer lattice-points II. Nonexistence results for higher-degree polynomials

Denoting the nonnegative (resp. signed) integers by N (resp. Z) and the real numbers by R, let S ⊂ R2 and f: R2 → R. This current portion of our work specializes the basic concepts of Part I: Here f is a storing (resp. packing) function on S when f|(Z2 ∩ S) is an injection into (resp. bijection onto) N; and the density S ÷ f is limr→∞(1n) # {Z2 ∩ S ∩ f−1([−n, +n])}. Take a rational sector of the plane R2 to mean a closed sector with rational boundary rays, and consider the plane itself as a rational sector. Define the function f to be sectorially increasing on a set S if this f is eventually increasing on some rational sectors Si constituting finite family which covers S. This paper obtains the following conclusions: A nonquadratic polynomial f(x, y) on a rational sector S with nonvoid interior, provided either f is sectorially increasing or deg(f) ≤ 4, cannot be a storing function with unit density on the sector S. Our proofs of these conclusions involve a strong criterion for zero density. These results support a nonexistence conjecture in Part I of our work, and extend an earlier remark of Polya and Szego. Indeed these results, under any one of our auxiliary assumptions, exclude nonquadratic storing functions with unit density on the arrays Z2, Z × N, N2.
Empirical fragmentation distribution and its implications based on an independent cluster emission model

We study multiparticle production in high-energy pp collisions from the point of view of an independent cluster emission model which as far as this work is concerned, can also be viewed as a simple modification of the Chew-Pignotti model. Our main points are as follows. (i) The π−, K− and p inclusive y-distributions are approximately described by a common shape. In particular, besides the dominance of triple-Regge behavior near the physical boundary, an empirical fixed-power extrapolation of the triple-Regge formula approximately described the distribution in the fragmentation region, which then smoothly joins onto the plateau region. (ii) The average multiplicities in the energy region near threshold have the behavior [ln(s/sth)] 1−2αB ≈ ln3 (s/sth), which is governed by the same empirical extrapolation. (iii) Based on an independent cluster emission model and our empirical inclnsive distribution, we get a reasonable simultaneous description to the σT, 〈n〉 and σn versus n data.
Long-Lived Pollutants in Sediments from the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

DDT and some heavy metals are long-lived pollutants which may be retained in sedimentary layers and may be relocated by post-depositional biological or mechanical processes. Because DDT has a half life of up to 17 yr and it is concentrated in higher ecological levels, even a few parts per billion in the sedimentary substrate can be harmful to wildlife. The potential danger and the persistence of many long-lived pollutants create a genuine need for environmental studies made by geologists.
The Importance of Read-Aloud and Dialogue in an Era of Narrowed Curriculum: An Examination of Literature Discussions in a Second-Grade Classroom.

This research focuses on read-aloud discussions in the classroom of an exemplary second-grade teacher, Mae Graham, during an academic year. We found the classroom environment Mae created, along with her instructional moves, fostered engagement and student-initiated talk. Our analysis affirms the importance of teachers' language in building positive classroom environments (Allington & Johnston, 2001; Johnston, 2004; Pressley, Allington, Wharton-McDonald, Block, & Morrow, 2001), and contributes to research on literature discussion by emphasizing the power of dialogue in providing space for students to meaningfully use language; understand and engage with literature; develop and share ideas, opinions and feelings; and, develop an appreciation for multiple perspectives. We argue that read-aloud and dialogue should be a priority in an era of high-stakes testing and narrowed curriculum.
Genomic mapping of a calicivirus VPg

We identified a primate calicivirus (Pan-1) VPg in Pan-1-infected cells. The Pan-1 VPg was associated with both genomic and subgenomic RNAs. RNase digestion of Pan-1 RNA yielded a residual protein of 16 kDa. The N-terminal sequence of Pan-1 VPg was determined by direct amino acid sequencing and mapped to a region of the genome equivalent to picornavirus VPgs. Alignment of this protein sequence with similar regions of other calicivirus genomes allowed identification of conserved amino acid motifs and potential boundaries of the calicivirus VPg genes. Proteinase K treatment abolished the infectivity of Pan-1 RNA, suggesting that Pan-1 VPg is required for RNA infectivity.
Adapting Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for the Treatment of Psychopathy

Few mental abnormalities create more havoc for society than the psychopathic personality, however interventions specifically designed to address this form of psychopathology are few. One treatment that has received growing attention in the forensic mental health community is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This paper describes an adaptation of DBT for the treatment of psychopathic offenders. A case study is used to highlight salient elements of this treatment approach, as well as the challenges to successful treatment posed by this population of offenders.
Diels–Alder reaction of maldoxin with an isopropenylallene

The Diels-Alder reaction of maldoxin with an isopropenylallene at 60-75 °C afforded an adduct closely related to chloropestolide A (24%) and a second adduct (0-11%) that underwent an ene reaction to generate the chloropupukeanolide D (11-22%) skeleton. The Diels-Alder reaction occurred with good selectively (>5:1) from a single face of maldoxin under much milder conditions than previously reported for the analogous dimethoxycyclohexadienone. Furthermore, the ene reaction took place under mild conditions whereas the analogous Diels-Alder adduct from the dimethoxycyclohexadienone did not undergo an ene reaction.
Estimation of non linear attenuation using frequency agility processing

A technique is developed to estimate frequency-dependent attenuation in reflection which does not depend on a prior knowledge of the linearity property of the attenuation. It is accepted that attenuation increases linearly with frequency for normal soft tissue but is more generally described by alpha (f)= beta f/sup /n. The author expands on a time-domain procedure introduced recently to cases of nonlinear frequency attenuation by estimating beta and n using a frequency agility technique. The predicted variance is comparable to frequency-domain methods while simultaneously estimating an additional parameter and not being restricted to linear cases. Experimental results are compared to theoretical predictions. >
The acidity of surface silanol groups. A theoretical estimate based on ab initio calculations on a model surface

Abstract Quantum chemical SCF calculations on a double four-membered silicate ring model, H8Si8O20, of silica yield a theoretical estimate of 1400±25 kJ/mol for the heat of deprotonation of surface silanol groups, in close agreement with a value of 1390±25 kJ/mol inferred from spectroscopy. The predicted 1H NMR chemical shift of 2.3 ppm falls in the range of shifts (1.8–2.3 ppm) observed for surface silanol groups. When comparison is made with the results for the silanol molecule (the smallest model of a surface silanol group) differences as large as 106 kJ/mol and 1.4 ppm emerge for the heat of deprotonation and the 1H NMR chemical shift, while the OH stretching force constant is virtually identical. This shows that the convergence of predictions for surface sites with the size of the model used in the calculations strongly depends on the property considered.
Design considerations for wide-area distribution of digital x-ray images

The increasing backbone speeds of Wide Area Networks, along with the growing numbers of users of these networks, have created an opportunity for the development of remotely accessible and highly data-intensive digital libraries. The National Library of Medicine is building a prototype system for the storage of several thousand digital x-ray images, while providing remote access to these images across the Internet. This paper discusses the design factors analyzed for this system, and presents performance statistics collected. The design factors considered include: network protocol selection, endpoint tuning of protocol, image compression, and application data handling. Research toward application data handling includes plans to stage groups of images from an optical archive to memory for the efficient transmission of large numbers of images. To maximize image data transmission speed, experimental protocols are being studied as alternatives to TCP/IP. TCP overhead processing is being researched, and approaches to tuning TCP performance for transmission of large image files are being analyzed. To minimize the storage capacity required and to decrease transmission time, lossy compression techniques are being considered. Research is proceeding toward the selection of a compression technique and optimum compression ratio consistent with the image quality required to produce standardized readings.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Entropy, complexity, and Markov diagrams for random walk cancer models

The notion of entropy is used to compare the complexity associated with 12 common cancers based on metastatic tumor distribution autopsy data. We characterize power-law distributions, entropy and Kullback-Liebler divergence associated with each primary cancer as compared with data for all cancer types aggregated. We then correlate entropy values with other measures of complexity associated with Markov chain dynamical systems models of progression. The Markov transition matrix associated with each cancer is associated with a directed graph model where nodes are anatomical locations where a metastatic tumor could develop and edge weightings are transition probabilities of progression from site to site. The steady-state distribution corresponds to the autopsy data distribution. Entropy correlates well with the overall complexity of the reduced directed graph structure for each cancer and with a measure of systemic interconnectedness of the graph, called graph conductance. The models suggest that grouping cancers according to their entropy values, with skin, breast, kidney and lung cancers being prototypical high entropy cancers, stomach, uterine, pancreatic and ovarian being mid-level entropy cancers and colorectal, cervical, bladder and prostate cancers being prototypical low entropy cancers, provides a potentially useful framework for viewing metastatic cancer in terms of predictability, complexity and metastatic potential.
Damage Progression in the Vicinity of a Hole

Numerical simulations of damage progression in laminated composites with a hole are presented. The finite element procedure which incorporates two-phase continuum damage constitutive relations is utilized for the numerical predictions. The pre dictions from the numerical simulations are compared with the experimental results. The similarities and contradictions between predictions and experimental observations are dis cussed. Overall, the predictions are qualitatively close to experimental observations. The qualitative difference between predictions and experimental observations is obvious in laminates where delamination and edge stresses play a significant role in damage evolution up to ultimate failure. The discrepancy in results in these cases is due to limitation of the failure modes incorporated in the model and the damage induced by the out-of-plane stresses.
An examination of the relationship between research productivity in prestigious business journals and popular press business school rankings

Abstract This paper examines the relationship between an objective measure of research productivity in prestigious business journals from 1986–1998 and recent undergraduate and masters business school ratings determined by U.S. News & World Report . These findings are validated over separate sets of U.S. News measures for undergraduate and MBA programs, extended to a smaller set of MBA rankings from Business Week , and address institutions' residuals that indicate whether ratings of the schools are under- or overestimated when research productivity is used as a predictor. The relationship between discipline research productivity and undergraduate and masters business school program rankings also are examined. Results indicate that research productivity is strongly related to undergraduate program ratings with more than 50% of the variance in ratings explained by a school's research productivity scores. Research productivity is more strongly related to undergraduate business school program ratings/rankings than to masters programs ratings/rankings.
CORRELATION OF RADIATION QUALITY AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECT

Adequacy of dose-effect curves for supplying a complete and accurate picture of damage hinges of two important variables: interpretation of the interaction process (whether multitarget or multihit), and assessment of the quality of radiation involved. Radiation quality is discussed from the point of view of linear energy transfer for both single- and multihit concepts. (H.M.G.)
Transient photoconductivity in NiO

Extensive experimental observations have failed to confirm reported observations of transient photoconductivity in single crystal NiO. The negative results are due either to rapid deep trapping, low quantum efficiency for carrier photogeneration, or to carrier drift mobilities μ < 4 × 10−5 cm2/V sec at 300K.
Comparison of Dietary Intakes of Husbands and Wives

Abstract This study was designed to examine the similarities in husbands’ and wives’ dietary intake and to investigate these similarities in relationship to the life stage of the family. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was completed separately by 151 married couples. Intraclass correlation coefficients for the energy-adjusted nutrient intake of all husbands and wives ranged from 0.04 for iron intake to 0.38 for saturated fat intake. Simple linear regression of the husband's intake (dependent) on the wife's intake (independent) was significantly different from zero for most energy-adjusted nutrients. However, this pattern was not consistent across the family life stages.This suggests that although spouses’ nutrient intakes are more similar than different, one spouse's nutrient intake may not be a particularly good indicator of the intake of the other spouse.These results have important implications for the design and evaluation of interventions to change the dietary habits of family members.
Irradiation-induced recrystallization of cellular dislocation networks in uranium molybdenum alloys.

We developed a rate-theory-based model to investigate the nucleation and growth of interstitial loops and cavities during low-temperature in-reactor irradiation of uranium-molybdenum alloys. Consolidation of the dislocation structure takes into account the generation of forest dislocations and capture of interstitial dislocation loops. The theoretical description includes stress-induced glide of dislocation loops and accumulation of dislocations on cell walls. The loops accumulate and ultimately evolve into a low-energy cellular dislocation structure. Calculations indicate that nanometer-size bubbles are associated with the walls of the cellular dislocation structure. The accumulation of interstitial loops within the cells and of dislocations on the cell walls leads to increasing values for the rotation (misfit) of the cell wall into a subgrain boundary and a change in the lattice parameter as a function of dose. Subsequently, increasing values for the stored energy in the material are shown to be sufficient for the material to undergo recrystallization. Results of the calculations are compared with SEM photomicrographs of irradiated U- 10Mo, as well as with data from irradiated UO2.