cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opcodes as predictor for malware

This paper discusses a detection mechanism for malicious code through statistical analysis of opcode distributions. A total of 67 malware executables were sampled statically disassembled and their statistical opcode frequency distribution compared with the aggregate statistics of 20 non-malicious samples. We find that malware opcode distributions differ statistically significantly from non-malicious software. Furthermore, rare opcodes seem to be a stronger predictor, explaining 12 63% of frequency variation.
Global stabilization and restricted tracking for multiple integrators with bounded controls

Abstract Necessary and sufficient conditions for globally stabilizing linear systems with bounded controls are known. However, it has been shown in [5] that, for single-input systems, no saturation of a linear feedback can globally stabilize a chain of integrators of order n , with n ≥ 3 . In this paper, we propose a nonlinear combination of saturation functions of linear feedbacks that globally stabilizes a chain of integrators of arbitrary order. The appealing feature of the proposed control is that it is fairly easy to construct. It is linear near the origin and can also be used to achieve trajectory tracking for a class of trajectories restricted by the absolute on the input.
Implementations of Urgent Computing on Production HPC Systems

Abstract The requirements of urgent computing applications distinguish those applications from other jobs running within a production batch system. To accomodate urgent computing, specific strategies may be used to allow fast job start time, while mitigating adverse effects on the other parts of the workload. San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) has provided high-performance computing resources in a production-oriented environment to urgent computing appli-cations using several techniques. Processing of data, triggered by real-world disaster events has been accomplished. An on-demand reservation capability to support urgent computing applications has been developed and is currently available on the SDSC Trestles machine.
A Note on the Solution of Transient Dispersion Problems

A solution is developed for the problem of transient mass dispersion in fully developed laminar flow in a tube. The method can be extended to more general geometries, and by superposition to include more general boundary conditions such as those which occur in forced convection heat transfer.
CONGENITAL FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF VENTILATION GASTROINTESTINAL HOTILITY, AND HEART RATE

We report a new syndrome with the simultaneous failure of control of ventilation (Ondine's Curse), esophageal and intestinal motility (Hirschsprung's disease), and heart rate in three infants, who died in the first few months of life; two were siblings. Detailed physiologic studies were performed in one, and pathologic studies in three. Ventilation was measured by the barometric method or by pneumotachography. Sleep was staged using the EEG, EOG, and EMG. Minute Ventilation (V) and respiratory rate (f) were lower in Quiet sleep (V=315ml, f=18/min) than in both REM sleep (V=477ml, f=22/min) and wakefulness (V=654ml, f= 29/min). Respiratory pauses >5 sec occurred more frequently in Quiet than in REM sleep. V increased by 25% after IV doxapram but not following aminophylline, progesterone or imipramine. Minimal short term (beat to beat) variability of the ECG R-R interval (interquartile ranged <±1.5 msec.) in both Quiet and REM sleep indicated abnormal control of heart rate. Histologic studies revealed aganglionosis of the colon in all three patients; serial sections of the brain stem in the siblings failed to reveal any abnormality. The Riley-Day Syndrome was excluded. We believe that a congenital abnormality in the autonomic nervous system is responsible for this syndrome.
Requiem For The CLASS Act

The demise of a national voluntary long-term care insurance program has left advocates uncertain where the political and financial support for a similar measure will come from in the future.
Mid-ranging control of a multi-cylinder HCCI engine using split fuel injection and valve timings*

Abstract Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI), though a promising piston-engine strategy for the future, presents a significant control challenge due to the presence of cycle-to-cycle dynamics and the absence of a direct combustion trigger. Several actuators can be used for controlling HCCI, but each of them presents unique hurdles to practical implementation. This paper presents an approach for controlling HCCI with exhaust recompression that addresses these challenges using the principle of mid-ranging control. The controller is based on a physical, discrete-time model of HCCI presented in previous work. A split injection strategy is used, with the timing of a small pilot injection of fuel during recompression being used to control the phasing of combustion on a cycle-by-cycle basis. A slower valve motion, easily achievable on an engine equipped with cam phasers, is then used to keep the injection timing in the middle of its range of influence, maintaining the control authority to handle fast transients while respecting actuator constraints. The controller is seen to be effective in tracking desired load and phasing trajectories in simulation, and on a multi-cylinder engine testbed. In particular, the controller enables steady operation at low load conditions on the engine.
Evolutionary relationships among large double-stranded DNA viruses that infect microalgae and other organisms as inferred from DNA polymerase genes.

Abstract In order to examine genetic relatedness among viruses that infect microalgae, DNA polymerase gene (DNA pol ) fragments were amplified and sequenced from 13 virus clones that infect three genera of distantly related microalgae ( Chlorella strains NC64A and Pbi, Micromonas pusilla and Chrysochromulina spp. ). Phylogenetic trees based on DNA pol sequences and hybridization of total genomic DNA showed similar branching patterns. Genetic relatedness calculated from the hybridization and sequence data showed good concordance ( r = 0.90), indicating that DNA pol sequences can be used to determine genetic relatedness and infer phylogenetic relationships among these viruses. The phylogenetic tree inferred from the deduced amino acid sequences of DNA pol from 24 dsDNA viruses, including phycodnaviruses, herpesviruses, poxviruses, baculoviruses, and African swine fever virus corresponded well with groupings based on the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Microalgal viruses are more closely related to each other than to the other dsDNA viruses and form a distinct phyletic group, suggesting that they share a common ancestor and belong to the Phycodnaviridae. Moreover, the Phycodnaviridae are more closely related to the Herpesviridae than to other virus families for which DNA pol sequences are available.
Clinical indications for patient counseling

Abstract An analysis of patient care data from nationwide surveys of general practitioners, family practitioners and internists was conducted to identify clinical factors associated with patient counseling. Results of the study indicate that high rates of counseling occur when the physician identifies addiction to alcohol, drugs or tobacco, depression/anxiety, or nutrition/weight as the patient's primary problem. Lower than average rates of counseling were found for care of eye, ear, nose, and throat problems, upper respiratory infections and allergies. Rates of counseling were found to be positively associated with the number of problems the patient had and the amount of time the physician spent with the patient.
Prediction of the band profiles of the mixtures of the 1-indanol enantiomers from data acquired with the single racemic mixture

Abstract The adsorption isotherm data of R- and S-1-indanol and of their racemic mixture on cellulose tribenzoate were measured by frontal analysis. These data were then fitted to the Langmuir, the Bilangmuir, the Toth, and the Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm models. The single component data fitted well to both the Bilangmuir and the Toth models. Combined with the lumped pore diffusion model (POR) of chromatography, these isotherms were used to calculate overloaded elution profiles of the pure enantiomers. The calculated and the experimental profiles agree excellently in all cases if the former are derived from the Bilangmuir model. The competitive experimental data also gave excellent agreement with the Bilangmuir model. The simultaneous fit of all the data, for the single components and the racemic mixture, gave again superior agreement with the bilangmuir model. The overloaded elution profiles of samples of the racemic mixture calculated with the Bilangmuir isotherm model combined with the POR model of chromatography gave results in very good agreement with the experimental band profiles of large samples of the racemic mixture. This confirms that in numerous cases the whole set of competitive isotherms of two enantiomers can be derived from the experimental data obtained only with the racemic mixture.
Tissue transglutaminase during mouse central nervous system development: lack of alternative RNA processing and implications for its role(s) in murine models of neurotrauma and neurodegeneration.

Abstract Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is a member of a multigene family principally involved in catalyzing the formation of protein cross-links. Unlike other members of the transglutaminase family, tTG is multifunctional since it also serves as a guanosine triphosphate (GTP) binding protein (Gαh) and participates in cell adhesion. Different isoforms of tTG can be produced by proteolysis or alternative splicing. We find that tTG mRNA is expressed at low levels in the mouse CNS relative to other tissues, and at lower levels in the CNS of mouse in comparison to that of human or rat. tTG mRNA levels are higher in the heart compared to the CNS, for example, and much higher in the liver. Within the CNS, tTG message is lowest in the adult cerebellum and thalamus and highest in the frontal cortex and striatum. In the hippocampus, tTG expression is highest during embryonic development and falls off dramatically after 1 week of life. We did not find alternative splicing of the mouse tTG. At the protein level, the predominant isoform is ∼62 kDa. In summary, tTG, an important factor in neuronal survival, is expressed at low levels in the mouse CNS and, unlike rat and human tTG, does not appear to be regulated by alternative splicing. These findings have implications for analyses of rodent tTG expression in human neurodegenerative and neurotrauma models where alternative processing may be an attractive pathogenetic mechanism. They further impact on drug discovery paradigms, where modulation of activity may have therapeutic value.
Tumor Response after Yttrium-90 Radioembolization for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Comparison of Diffusion-weighted Functional MR Imaging with Anatomic MR Imaging

Purpose Anatomic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) response to yttrium-90 ( 90 Y) radioembolization may require 3 months before therapeutic effectiveness can be determined. The relationship between anatomic MR and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) changes after 90 Y therapy is unclear. The present study tested the hypothesis that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values on DWI at 1 month precede anatomic tumor size change at 3 months after 90 Y radioembolization. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, 20 patients with HCC (16 men) enrolled between April 2005 and July 2006 underwent lobar 90 Y therapy with mean doses of 141 Gy (right lobe) and 98 Gy (left lobe). Anatomic 1.5-T MR imaging (gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted gradient-recalled echo) and DWI (single-shot spin-echo echo-planar imaging; b value of 0, 500 sec/mm 2 ) were performed at baseline (0–3 weeks before 90 Y therapy) and at 1 and 3 months after 90 Y therapy. Tumor size and ADC values were measured and compared, and the percentage change in ADC was compared to the change in tumor size (minimum >5% change in size), with use of a paired t test (α = .05). Results Yttrium-90 therapy was successfully delivered in all patients. The mean baseline ADC of 1.64 × 10 −3 mm 2 /sec ± 0.30 significantly increased to 1.81 × 10 −3 mm 2 /sec ± 0.37 at 1 month ( P = .02), and to 1.82 × 10 −3 mm 2 /sec ± 0.23 at 3 months ( P = .02). The mean baseline tumor size of 83.0 cm 2 ± 63.7 did not change statistically at 1 month (84.1 cm 2 ± 62.1; P = .75) or 3 months (74.0 cm 2 ± 57.0; P = .10). The overall mean ADC percentage change at 1 month of 10.5% ± 23.1% preceded an overall mean tumor size percentage change at 3 months of −18.5% ± 31.5% ( P = .03). Conclusions HCC tumor response assessed with DWI at 1 month preceded anatomic size changes at 3 months after 90 Y therapy. DWI may assist in early determination of the response or failure of 90 Y therapy for HCC.
Relation Between Late Potentials on the Body Surface and Directly Recorded Fragmented Electrograms in patients With Ventricular Tachycardia

The relation between low-amplitude, late potentials on the body surface and directly recorded electrograms in 8 patients with and 11 patients without ventricular tachycardia (VT) was studied. Bipolar X,Y,Z leads were signal-averaged and filtered with a digital technique. All patients had catheter endocardial left ventricular maps. The VT group had medically intractable VT and an endocardial excision was performed for control of VT. Before bypass, epicardial maps were obtained in the operating room. All studies were performed during normal sinus rhythm. Four patients without VT, each with a previous myocardial infarction, had fragmented endocardial electrograms recorded at 2.0 ± 1.2 sites. The latest electrogram for each patient ended 87 ± 8 ms after QRS onset, within the high-amplitude portion of the filtered QRS complex. All patients with VT had fragmented electrograms recorded at 6.1 ± 3.1 sites/patient. Eighty-eight percent of the fragmented electrograms were endocardial. The latest fragmented electrogram for each patient ended 161 ± 43 ms after QRS onset, significantly later than the fragmented electrograms from the patients without VT (p = 0.002). Six VT patients had low-amplitude, late potentials at the end of the filtered QRS complex. In these patients, the last 40 ms of the filtered QRS complex contained a higher proportion of fragmented electrograms compared with earlier segments of the QRS complex (68% versus 27%, p It is concluded that the late potential corresponds to delayed, fragmented electrographic activity. Failure to record a late potential may arise from delayed ventricular activation at other sites from bundle branch block or fragmented electrograms of a brief duration.
Fourier transform-second-harmonic generation imaging of biological tissues

Fourier transform-second-harmonic generation imaging is employed to obtain quantitative metrics of collagen fibers in biological tissues. In particular, the preferred orientation and maximum spatial frequency of collagen fibers for selected regions of interest in porcine trachea, ear, and cornea are determined. These metrics remain consistent when applied to collagen fibers in the ear, which can be expected from observation. Collagen fibers in the trachea are more random with large standard deviations in orientation, and large variations in maximum spatial frequency. In addition, these metrics are used to investigate structural changes through a 3D stack of the cornea. This technique can be used as a quantitative marker to assess the structure of collagen fibers that may change due to damage from disease or physical injury.
Performance characterization of a volumetric breast ultrasound scanner

The purpose of this project was to design, build, and characterize the performance of a volume breast ultrasound (VBUS) scanner that images the pendant breast. VBUS scanner design includes a: 1) clinical ultrasound scanner and transducer; 2) scanning table with a hole for the pendant breast; 3) rotational gantry; 4) probe mounting assembly; 5) compressionless breast stabilization device; 6) acquisition, control, reconstruction, and display software. Performance assessment characterized a variety of parameters including: spatial resolution, uniformity, and distortion using high and low contrast test objects in both horizontal and vertical scanning modes. The VBUS scanner modules have been constructed and initial performance evaluated. Approximately 300 scans are acquired over 360 degrees in 18 seconds. Reconstruction requires 25 ms per slice. Test object images depicted hyper- and hypo-echoic masses and demonstrated good resolution, soft tissue contrast and reduced speckle compared to conventional US images. Although scanner performance is satisfactory, additional developments including reduced spacing transducer - scanned object spacing and corrections for sound velocity and aberrations will improve operation. Future work will continue system optimization.
BAPV arrays: Side-by-side comparison with and without fan cooling

The hot stagnant air underneath the BAPV (building applied photovoltaics) arrays can be extracted to improve the array lifetime, performance and thermal uniformity, and can also be used for residential space heating and water heating. This work is an effort to compare and understand the effect of fan cooling on the temperature of rooftop photovoltaic modules by comparing two side-by-side arrays (control array without fan cooling and test array with fan cooling) under identical ambient conditions of irradiance, air temperature, wind speed and wind direction. This work investigates the effect of fan cooling on the performance, thermal uniformity under low/high wind speed conditions and the thermal models previously developed at Arizona State University.
Long-tailed probability distributions in turbulent-pipe-flow mixing

Exponential-tailed scalar probability density functions (PDF's) are obtained by high-pass filtering scalar concentration time series measured in turbulent pipe flow. This behavior reflects the scale separation of scalar and velocity fluctuations that develops in this flow, such that the low-wave-number scalar fluctuations act as an imposed scalar gradient stirred by finer-scale wall-generated shear. This observation broadens the class of flows in which long-tailed scalar PDF's are anticipated to occur.
Weak F-Regularity Deforms in Q-Gorenstein Rings

weakly F-regular? Inother words, does the property of weak F-regularity deform? It has beenshown by Singh that in general, weak F-regularity does not deform Si2 .wxIt is known that F-rationality deforms HH2, 4.2 and the proof iswxstraightforward. However, the same difficulties that arise when trying to
The integration of pathology into the clinical years of undergraduate medical education: a survey and review of the literature

Pathology as a basic science discipline traditionally is a component of the preclinical medical school curriculum. While there have been regional and nationwide surveys reporting on the curricular organization and instructional formats of preclinical pathology instruction, the extent of required pathology integration into the clinical medical school curriculum, particularly as it relates to practical issues of patient management, has not been studied. A survey soliciting information about required pathology programs in the clinical years was distributed to the members of the Undergraduate Medical Educators Section of the Association of Pathology Chairs (APC). A literature search of such programs was also performed. Thirty-seven respondents representing 30 medical schools (21% of the 140 Liaison Committee on Medical Education-accredited medical schools in the APC) described a total of 16 required pathology programs in the clinical years. An additional 10 programs were identified in the literature. Advantages of required pathology activities in the clinical years include educating medical students in effective utilization of anatomic and clinical pathology for patient care and exposing them to the practice of pathology. Reported challenges have been competition for curricular time in the clinical years, attitudinal resistance by clerkship directors, failure to recognize pathology as a clinical discipline, and insufficient number of faculty in pathology departments. By survey sample and literature review, there has been relatively little progress in the integration of required pathology exposure into the clinical years. Development of practice-related pathology competencies may facilitate introduction of such curricular programs in the future.
Estimate of three-dimensional flexural-isostatic response to unloading: Rock uplift due to late Cenozoic glacial erosion in the western United States

Alpine glacial erosion may strongly influence mountain building through erosionally driven rock uplift and relief production. In this paper I use a three-dimensional model for the flexural-isostatic response of the lithosphere to estimate the potential for late Cenozoic erosionally driven rock uplift in the western United States. Specifically, I present a map of the ratio of erosionally driven rock uplift to glacial erosion for this region. This ratio depends on the magnitude of the flexural bending stresses that act to limit differential uplift. The map is created by constraining the extent of Pliocene–Quaternary alpine glacial erosion in the western United States and solving the three-dimensional flexure equation for the resulting lithospheric deflection. The map indicates that the magnitude of erosionally driven uplift depends sensitively on the size of the glaciated range and the presence of nearby glaciated ranges. As a result, regional-scale patterns must be considered in order to correctly estimate local amounts of erosionally driven rock uplift. The ranges in the western United States with the greatest ratios of uplift to erosion are the San Juan Mountains and the Yellowstone Plateau–Absaroka Range, because these are extensively glaciated and have glaciated ranges nearby. In contrast, the Wind River Range and Sierra Nevada have ratios of uplift to erosion that are only half as large. These results identify which ranges likely underwent the greatest erosionally driven uplift and relief production and provide a widely applicable technique for modeling the flexural-isostatic response to loading and unloading in three dimensions.
Abstract A71: Perceived stress management skills and quality of life in ethnic minority men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer

Ethnic group differences exist in the diagnosis and treatment outcomes of prostate cancer (PC). African American men have the highest PC incidence, are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and are twice as likely to die of PC than are Non-Hispanic White men. Previous research has shown ethnic minority men report poorer general and health-related quality of life (QOL) prior to initiating PC-related treatment. However, little is known about psychosocial factors associated with pre-treatment levels of QOL. This study examined the relationship between perceived stress management skills (PSMS) and QOL in men recently diagnosed with PC who had not initiated treatment. Sixty-two men completed a baseline assessment prior to initiating PC-related treatment. Participants’ mean age was 61.77 (SD= 6.39) and had been diagnosed within the past 3 months. All were ethnic minorities (53% Hispanic and 47% African American/Black). Measures included the Measure of Current Status, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, and the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite to assess PSMS, general QOL, and disease-specific QOL, respectively. Several hierarchical regression models were tested to examine whether PSMS were positively related to QOL at baseline, controlling for relevant covariates (e.g., age and ethnicity). Results indicated that PSMS associated with better general and disease specific QOL and accounted for a significant amount of the variance (i.e., 14 to 20%) in several functioning and QOL domains (i.e., urinary functioning [R1,58)= 4.55, p Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):A71.
Mariculture of shellfish in controlled environments: A prognosis

Abstract This paper seeks to define biological specifications for the design of highly controlled cultural systems for oysters and hard clams. Much of the biological information necessary for design either is not available in the literature or is available only in an inferential manner. Particularly lacking are equations describing relationships between size of the animals and their various physiological processes. Equations that estimate some of these relationships are presented, and safe levels of several water quality variables are defined.
Raman spectroscopic study of human erythrocyte membranes

Abstract The Raman spectrum of human erythrocyte membranes in the 1000–1500 cm −1 region is reported. The results indicate the presence of considerable fluidity in the hydrocarbon chains of the phospholipids.
Interpersonal Conflict in Heterocultural Dyads

Abstract Conflit interpersonal entre deux individus de culture differente. - Des sujets arabes et americains sont groupes par deux et doivent prendre une decision commune en matiere de politique etrangere. On fait systematiquement varier les dyades du point de vue de la similitude cognitive des sujets (opinions semblables ou dissemblables en matiere de politique etrangere) et de la composition culturelle (couples d'americains ou couples comprenant un arabe et un americain). Sur un total de 28 dyades en conflit, les resultats montrent que ie conflit inter- personnel peut ětre valablement manipule en laboratoire et que les compromis et la reduction des conflits sont affectes a la fois par les caracteristiques des sujets et la composition des dyades.
Letter by Mahajan et al Regarding Article, “Systematic Review of Patients Presenting With Suspected Myocardial Infarction and Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries”

We read with great interest the systematic review by Pasupathy et al1 that synthesized information about prevalence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and additional diagnostic testing in patients with myocardial infarction and nonobstructive coronary artery disease (MINOCA). The authors report that the prevalence of MINOCA among patients undergoing angiography for clinical myocardial infarction ranges from 1% to 14%. Our group previously reported an even higher prevalence of MINOCA, 18%, in a multiethnic urban population.2 Unfortunately, this …
Cost analysis of composite sampling for classification

When an environmental sampling objective is to classify all the sample units as contaminated or not, composite sampling with selective retesting can substantially reduce costs by reducing the number of units that require direct analysis. The tradeoff, however, is increased complexity that has its own hidden costs. For this reason, we propose a model for assessing the relative cost, expressed as the ratio of total expected cost with compositing to total expected cost without compositing (initial exhaustive testing). Expressions are derived for the following retesting protocols: (i) exhaustive, (ii) sequential and (iii) binary split. The effects of both false positive and false negative rates are also derived and incorporated. The derived expressions of relative cost are illustrated for a range of values for various cost components that reflect typical costs incurred with hazardous waste site monitoring. Results allow those who are designing sampling plans to evaluate if any of these compositing/retesting protocols will be cost effective for particular applications.
Effects of wildfire on sea otter (Enhydra lutris) gene transcript profiles

Wildfires have been shown to impact terrestrial species over a range of temporal scales. Little is known, however, about the more subtle toxicological effects of wildfires, particularly in downstream marine or downwind locations from the wildfire perimeter. These down-current effects may be just as substantial as those effects within the perimeter. We used gene transcription technology, a sensitive indicator of immunological perturbation, to study the effects of the 2008 Basin Complex Fire on the California coast on a sentinel marine species, the sea otter (Enhydra lutris). We captured sea otters in 2008 (3 mo after the Basin Complex Fire was controlled) and 2009 (15 mo after the Basin Complex Fire was controlled) in the adjacent nearshore environment near Big Sur, California. Gene responses were distinctly different between Big Sur temporal groups, signifying detoxification of PAHs, possible associated response to potential malignant transformation, and suppression of immune function as the primary responses of sea otters to fire in 2008 compared to those captured in 2009. In general, gene transcription patterns in the 2008 sea otters were indicative of molecular reactions to organic exposure, malignant transformation, and decreased ability to respond to pathogens that seemed to consistent with short-term hydrocarbon exposure.
Rethinking Instructional Leadership, a Review: What Do We Know About Principal, Teacher, and Coach Instructional Leadership, and Where Should We Go From Here?

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to uncover what scholars know and do not know about instructional leadership, paying particular attention to what they have learned about how this work is done and where knowledge falls short. The author takes a first step at integrating three distinct literatures: (a) the traditional instructional leadership literature (centered primarily on the principal), (b) the teacher instructional leadership literature, and (c) the coach instructional leadership literature. Research Design: The author utilizes a distributed lens to examine the principal, teacher leader, and coach instructional leadership literatures. This lens illuminates what scholars know about instructional leaders in interaction with one another, their followers, and particular contexts as they work toward the improvement of teaching and learning. The author proposes that analyzing these three literatures together may allow scholars to apply findings from one research area to another, as well as to genera...
Swelling kinetics of a hydrogel of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(acrylamide-co-styrene)

A hydrogel incorporating the hydrophilic polymer poly(ethylene glycol) and a copolymer of acrylamide and styrene was synthesized, and the dynamics of the water-sorption process were studied. The effects of the composition of the hydrogel and the temperature of the swelling medium were investigated with respect to the water-sorption characteristics of the hydrogel, and the kinetic parameters, including the swelling exponent and diffusion constant, were evaluated. The hydrogel was also judged for the antithrombogenic property of its surface. The experimental findings were explained on the basis of the core–shell polymeric structure of the hydrogel. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 1419–1428, 2002
Coverage metric for acoustic receiver evaluation and track generation

Acoustic receiver track generation has been the subject of active research, both academic and operational, since at least 1946. In general, track generation algorithms operate by maximizing some measure of effectiveness or performance for a particular receiver in a particular environment. Current probability-based receiver performance measures are difficult to visualize, time consuming to calculate and are not easily subject to strict scientific analysis. Although great strides have been made in the ability to model and predict oceanography (temperature, salinity, currents, etc.) accurately, there exists the need to develop measures of receiver performance which more readily lend themselves to analysis of sensitivity to environmental variation or uncertainty. With the increasing dependence on optimization algorithms in acoustic receiver placement and track generation in the presence of variable or uncertain environments, the desire for a more environmentally-sensitive metric of acoustic receiver performance has arisen. A measure of performance based upon acoustic coverage area has shown promise as a basis for acoustic receiver utilization and optimized track generation applications and is presented here. Coverage can be defined as the areas throughout which a receiver has a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio or, alternatively, probability of making positive observations. For the purposes of determining optimal receiver placement and track generation the area of interest is divided into a sufficiently sampled grid of calculation points. Computing and compiling acoustic receiver coverage area information for grid points throughout the area of interest into an acoustic receiver coverage map gives immediate visual feedback on locations of optimal performance for a specific acoustic receiver in use in the current ocean environment. By making use of multiple calculation layers in an N × 2-D fashion, acoustic coverage volumes can be constructed for the purposes of three dimensional receiver placement or track generation. The use of an acoustic coverage-based metric for optimal track generation is shown to compare favorably with current track optimizers which use cumulative probability measures of performance, offering faster calculation times and a stronger connection to the acoustic environment.
Microwave integrated circuits using thin-film BST

We discuss the development and potential applications of a microwave varactor technology using thin-film BST on inexpensive substrates. BST thin-films have been developed and optimized specifically for microwave integrated circuits, using both MOCVD-grown and RF magnetron-sputtered films. The material optimization efforts have concentrated on achieving high tunability and simultaneous low loss, and also developing robust electrode systems for circuit fabrication on silicon substrates. We present advances in monolithic microwave integrated capacitors and application to high performance and low-cost phase-shifters circuits. Efforts in frequency multiplication devices will also be presented.
Robust Structural Design for Active Aeroelastic Wing with Aerodynamic Uncertainties

Presented at the 41st AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference and Exhibit, Atlanta, GA, April 3-6, 2000.
Effect of polymer composition on ultrasound contrast agent performance

Polymer composition was evaluated for its contribution to the acoustic enhancement with a polymeric ultrasound contrast agent using poly (co-lactic-glycolic) acid (PLGA). Contrast agents were prepared from two different polymer compositions with varying ratios of lactic (LA) to glycolic acid (GA) (LA:GA): 100:0 and 50:50 and tested in vitro at room temperature and 37/spl deg/C. The results indicate that the 100:0 sample preformed better than the 50:50 sample and was able to withstand further processing. The performance of the contrast agents was dependent on the ratio of LA to GA and should be considered in the design of polymeric contrast agents.
Ceestatin, a Novel Small Molecule Inhibitor of Hepatitis C Virus Replication, Inhibits 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A Synthase

Background. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects .170 million persons worldwide and is a leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The identification of more effective and better-tolerated agents for treating HCV is a high priority. We have reported elsewhere the discovery of the anti-HCV compound ceestatin using a high-throughput screen of a small molecule library. Methods. To identify host or viral protein targets in an unbiased fashion, we performed affinity chromatography, using tandem liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify specific potential targets. Results. Ceestatin binds to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase and irreversibly inhibits HMG-CoA synthase in a dose-dependent manner. Ceestatin’s anti-HCV effects are reversed by addition of HMG-CoA, mevalonic acid, or geranylgeraniol. Treatment with small interfering RNA against HMG-CoA synthase led to a substantial reduction in HCV replication, further validating HMG-CoA synthase as an enzyme essential for HCV replication. Conclusions. Ceestatin therefore exerts its anti-HCV effects through inhibition of HMG-CoA synthase. It may prove useful as an antiviral agent, as a probe to study HCV replication, and as a cholesterol-lowering agent. The logical stepwise process employed to discover the mechanism of action of ceestatin can serve as a general experimental strategy to uncover the targets on which novel uncharacterized anti-HCV compounds act.
Prostaglandin associated periorbitopathy in patients using bimatoprost, latanoprost and travoprost.

Background To investigate the frequency of prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy among bimatoprost, latanoprost and travoprost users. Design Retrospective observational case series. Participants The study group included 105 patients who were using one of the drugs in one eye for more than 1 month, and the other eye was used as a control. Main Outcome Measures The frequency of prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy. Methods Special care was taken to detect five prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy findings. Hertel exophthalmometry measurements and colour pictures of the periocular area were taken. Results Statistically significant differences were found among the groups regarding the presence of all prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy findings (P < 0.05). Periorbital fat loss was the most frequent and was observed in nearly all prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy patients except those who were relatively young. The overall frequency of prostaglandin-associated periorbito pathy was 93.3% in the bimatoprost group, 41.4% in the latanoprost group and 70% in the travoprost group. The frequency of deepening of the upper lid sulcus was 80% in the bimatoprost group, 15.7% in the latanoprost group and 45% in the travoprost group. The frequency of milder changes (the presence of either only periorbital fat loss or dermatochalasis involution or the presence of both) was higher in the latanoprost group (62%) than in the travoprost (35.7%) and bimatoprost (7.1%) groups. Conclusions Prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy is as common as other adverse effects when careful examinations are performed and is more frequent and more severe in bimatoprost users. The loss of the periorbital fat pad is the first sign to occur during the evolution of prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy, especially in older patients.
Development and Performance Evaluation of High Temperature Concrete for Thermal Energy Storage for Solar Power Generation

Thermal energy can be stored by the mechanism of sensible or latent heat or heat from chemical reactions. Sensible heat is the means of storing energy by increasing the temperature of the solid or liquid. Since the concrete as media cost per kWhthermal is $1, this seems to be a very economical material to be used as a TES. This research is focused on extending the concrete TES system for higher temperatures (500 AÂoC to 600 AÂoC) and increasing the heat transfer performance using novel construction techniques. To store heat at high temperature special concretes are developed and tested for its performance. The storage capacity costs of the developed concrete is in the range of $0.91-$3.02/kWhthermal Two different storage methods are investigated. In the first one heat is transported using molten slat through a stainless steel tube and heat is transported into concrete block through diffusion. The cost of the system is higher than the targeted DOE goal of $15/kWhthermal The increase in cost of the system is due to stainless steel tube to transfer the heat from molten salt to the concrete blocks.The other method is a one-tank thermocline system in which both the hot and cold fluid occupy the more » same tank resulting in reduced storage tank volume. In this model, heated molten salt enters the top of the tank which contains a packed bed of quartzite rock and silica sand as the thermal energy storage (TES) medium. The single-tank storage system uses about half the salt that is required by the two-tank system for a required storage capacity. This amounts to a significant reduction in the cost of the storage system. The single tank alternative has also been proven to be cheaper than the option which uses large concrete modules with embedded heat exchangers. Using computer models optimum dimensions are determined to have an round trip efficiency of 84%. Additionally, the cost of the structured concrete thermocline configuration provides the TES capacity cost of $33.80$/kWhthermal compared with $30.04/kWhthermal for a packed-bed thermocline (PBTC) configuration and $46.11/kWhthermal for a two-tank liquid configuration. « less
Nutrient Compostion of Feed-Grade and Pet-Food-Grade Poultry By-Product Meal

ABSTRACT Pet-food manufacturers have specified to renderers the need for poultry by-product meal (PBM) to be manufactured without lower quality by-product fractions, such as feathers and heads, leading to a higher protein product than conventional feed-grade PBM. One result is that nutritionists are faced with greater nutrient variation among PBM sources. Thirty-six PBM samples (26 = feed grade and 10 = pet-food grade) were collected from commercial feed mills during a 3-mo period to assess nutrient composition and its variation. Pet-food-grade PBM had higher protein, less ash, and lower calcium than feed-grade PBM. Amino acid analyses indicated the pet-food-grade PBM had higher lysine and methionine, and the amino acids in pet-food-grade PBM exhibited higher digestibility compared with those in the feed-grade samples. Nutrient variability was more pronounced in the feed-grade PBM.
Multilevel models for the experimental psychologist: foundations and illustrative examples.

Although common in the educational and developmental areas, multilevel models are not often utilized in the analysis of data from experimental designs. This article illustrates how multilevel models can be useful with two examples from experimental designs with repeated measurements not involving time. One example demonstrates how to properly examine independent variables for experimental stimuli or individuals that are categorical, continuous, or semicontinuous in the presence of missing data. The second example demonstrates how response times and error rates can be modeled simultaneously within a multivariate model in order to examine speed—accuracy trade-offs at the experimental-condition and individual levels, as well as to examine differences in the magnitude of effects across outcomes. SPSS and SAS syntax for the examples are available electronically.
The Origin and Growth of the Medieval Universities

(1944). The Origin and Growth of the Medieval Universities. The Social Studies: Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 70-75.
Diencephalic Involvement in Sodium Excretion in the Rat

Supervision of the third ventricle of the brain of anesthetized rats with 0.85M NaCl at the rate of 0.7μl/min for 6 hr caused an increase in sodium excretion that was about 10- fold greater than the preinfusion level. A small but significant increase in urine flow accompanied the increased urinary sodium. Natriuresis was not induced by ventricular superfusion with 0.15M NaCl or 1.7M glucose or by intravenous infusion of 0.85M NaCl. (Endocrinology 86: 1112, 1970)
Instruction in Metacognitive Strategies to Increase Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students’ Reading Comprehension

The purpose of this intervention study was to examine the use of a metacognitive strategy—the Comprehension, Check, and Repair Strategy—on strategic reading behavior, nonstrategic reading behavior, and reading comprehension of students who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH). A multiple baseline design was used across 3 teacher–student dyads. Frequency data were collected on students’ strategic reading behavior. Reading comprehension was assessed by counting the number of details the students retold after reading a content area passage. Results showed (a) an increase in strategic reading behavior for Students A, B, and C; and (b) an increase in reading comprehension for Student A, and possibly for Student B. Social validity data indicated high acceptability of the intervention. Teachers not only continued to use the strategy with their students after the study ended but also introduced it to other students with whom they worked. Instruction in metacognitive strategies to increase strategic reading behavior may be an effective means by which to increase reading comprehension for D/HH students.
Mode competition in fourth-harmonic magnicon amplifiers

In the magnicon RF amplifier, the drive and gain cavities are cylindrical deflection cavities which operate in a rotating TM/sub 110/-mode and spin up an electron beam to high transverse momentum. As a result of the rotating-mode interaction, the electron beam entry point into the output cavity rotates about the axis at the drive frequency. The gyrotron-like output cavity can be operated at m times the drive frequency by using a mode with an azimuthal index of m, as this mode rotates at m/sup -1/ times its RF frequency, thus maintaining synchronism with the electron beam. Previous frequency-multiplying magnicons have used m=2; in this paper it is shown that magnicons with m=4 may be practical, provided one also operates the output cavity at the m/2 harmonic of the cyclotron frequency. Operation at higher harmonics lowers the frequency of the deflection cavities allowing lower RF fields, reducing cavity breakdown problems; lower magnetic fields, reducing magnet cast and complexity; and a larger electron beam, relaxing beam quality constraints. On the other hand, higher order azimuthal-index magnicon modes interacting at higher order cyclotron interactions are subject to competition with nonsynchronous (gyrotron) modes and are more sensitive to electron beam scanning angle spread. A time-dependent multimode gyrotron code has been modified to examine competition in the output cavity between the phase-synchronous operating mode and other nonsynchronous modes which interact via the conventional gyrotron interaction. Calculations have been carried out for fourth-harmonic magnicons with TM/sub 410/ and TE/sub 411/ mode output cavities and include the effects of mode competition with nonsynchronous modes as well as a spread in entry-point angles of the scanning electron beam.
On-chip 90° polarization rotator using wave coupling through an intermediate, multimode, uniform waveguide

We propose an ultra-short broadband 90° polarization rotator using wave coupling through a multimode waveguide. A 21-µm conversion length is achieved with 17 dB extinction ratio.
Exploring kinase inhibitors as therapies for human arenavirus infections

Arenaviruses are rodent-borne RNA viruses, and some have the capacity to cause hemorrhagic fever and death in infected individuals and thus have been identified as a potential bioterrorism threat. Ribavirin and supportive care are currently the approved therapeutic options for individuals suffering from arenavirus-induced hemorrhagic fever. However, new research has suggested that immune plasma treatment or kinase inhibitors may provide a therapeutic option for treating arenavirus infections in humans. This article puts forth a perspective as to the potential use of kinase inhibitors as an antiviral therapeutic for arenavirus infections.