cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shellfish Growing Water Classification

Seafood-related illnesses in the United States are primarily associated with the consumption of bivalve molluscan shellfish. These animals are water filter feeders and are often consumed raw, and the quality of their growing waters affect the safety and quality of the shellfish. Water authorities, usually producer states, monitor the quality of the water in and around the shellfish beds or reefs according to guidelines adopted by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. For commercial markets, harvesting is only permitted from approved growing areas. Growing areas are classified for their microbiological acceptability on the basis of a sanitary survey of the shoreline to detect potential pollution sources and bacteriological analysis of water samples taken from the area. In general, each growing area is classified as approved, conditionally approved, restricted, conditionally restricted, or prohibited based on the results of the surveys. Rules for classification of shellfish growing waters have been established to provide the safest shellfish possible. Illness caused by the consumption of human pathogens that are present in raw molluscan shellfish are rare because of these rules for classification. Keywords: molluscan shellfish; shellfish sanitation; water quality; coliforms; NSSP
A SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: OVERSEAS ELECTRONIC RESOURCES ON CHINESE CULTURAL REVOLUTION

The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) represents a highly tragic and complex chapter in contemporary Chinese history. Many scholars have called for the establishment of a Cultural Revolution Museum to preserve a nation's memories, but because of government censorship, there is currently no real possibility of building such a museum in China. However, with the help of modern technology, overseas Chinese scholars and librarians have recently accomplished two major museum-like projects, namely, The Chinese Cultural Revolution Database CD-ROM and The Virtual Museum of the Cultural Revolution. This paper focuses on how modern technology has provided many scholarly opportunities to enhance librarianship, including the promotion of the free flow of information and facilitation of battles against government censorship. The 21 st Century is marked by fast growing modern technology that provides many scholarly opportunities to enhance librarianship. Today more than ever librarians as information specialists ought to undertake difficult tasks by using computerized technology, including the strong promotion of free flow of information and facilitation of battles against government censorship. Based on two crucial achievements in the field of recent Cultural Revolution studies, The Chinese Cultural Revolution Database CD-ROM and the "The Chinese Cultural Revolution Virtual Museum," this paper has made it crystal clear that the utilization of modern technology can play a vital role in preserving true history and a nation's collective memories.
QGMA: a new MAC protocol for supporting QoS in wireless local area networks

We propose a novel MAC protocol, called quality-of-service guarantee multiple access (QGMA), in wireless local area networks to support the quality-of-service required by embedded real-time applications and multimedia-integrated distributed control. As compared to other existing MAC protocols, QGMA achieves high system utilization, and provides a deterministic bound on the connection establishment delay and temporal QoS for real-time applications. In particular by having the base station handle resource arbitration and utilize different scheduling algorithms to arbitrate access to data slots on a wireless channel, mobile hosts (MHs) are relieved from the burden of coordinating all the ongoing activities, and moreover different levels of temporal QoS can be easily achieved.
Advent’s Answer to the Problem of Evil

Traditional Christian answers to the problem of evil may be identified as either theistic or christological. While theistic theodicies enjoy greater philosophical interest, christological theodicies are more practical, remaining embodied in the semiotics of the worshipping church, and are utimately more successful. The Christian church’s liturgical practice of Advent – where Christology, soteriology and eschatology come together – is a common and coherent response to the problem of evil. The practice of Advent comprises an eschatological ethics of justice and mercy which embraces their evil side-effects and the tension of present and future justice. Advent thus presents the problem of evil as a constructive part of Christian theology and ethics.
An integrated stormwater management/GIS software system

Abstract Computing pollutant loadings are increasingly important for master planning flood control and environmental systems. In this paper, a stormwater pollutant estimation analog is coupled to a flood control master planning procedure linked to a GIS capability. The GIS functions develop land use versus area tabulations that readily input into pollutant loading equations. Because the linkage between the master plan of drainage databases and the pollutant loading equations is direct, an important advancement can be made in stormwater quantity and quality evaluation by a modest integration effort between software applications. For application in urban storm runoff management, a simple rainfall-runoff volumetric model can be linked to the stormwater pollutant model to estimate pollutant loadings on a storm event basis. Calibration of the model is achieved by matching mean annual loadings to NURP estimates.
SU-DD-A1-01: IMRT Monitor Unit Efficiency Comparison of Treatment Planning/delivery Systems

Purpose:Treatment planning system/delivery system combinations affect IMRT optimization. Delivery method (step and shoot vs. dynamic), leakage radiation variations (lack of secondary collimators on the Elekta SL‐S MLC head), hardware constraints and leaf edge shape all factor in when a radiation treatment planning system (RTPS) optimizes MLC segments. Different optimization algorithms within treatment planning systems influence IMRT planning results as well. In our study we evaluated delivery efficiencies from Elekta, Varian and Siemens machines coupling with two different treatment planning systems. Method and Materials: 16 IMRT plans were created for prostate and headneck (HN) sites (5 and 6 co‐planar beams respectively) using CMS Xio and Philips ADAC Pinnacle. Plans were optimized using the same dose and DVH objectives and modulated using clinical thresholds. The monitor units needed to deliver the weight point dose for each field were tabulated for each site and machine source data. Results: All plans have similar quality meeting the objectives. HN plans have an average MU efficiency of 5.02 +/− 1.09 MU/cGy. The plans created on the Pinnacle RTPS had a lower mean efficiency but was not statistically significant due to the high standard deviation. Prostate plans were more efficient than the HN plans with an average value of 2.19 +/− 0.47 MU/cGy. Pinnacle prostate plans had a mean MU efficiency of 1.69 +/− 0.18 MU/cGy compared to 2.51 +/− 0.22 MU/cGy from Xio. Conclusion: There is no statistical difference in MU efficiency for HN plans from different planning/delivery system combinations. Prostate plans have higher delivery MU efficiencies than those from HN plans, most likely due to less modulation. For the prostate plans there exist slight differences in MU efficiencies with unknown clinical significance between different planning/delivery systems.
An Evaluation of Effects of Groundwater Exchange on Nearshore Habitats and Water Quality of Western Lake Erie

Abstract Historically, the high potentiometric surface of groundwater in the Silurian/Devonian carbonate aquifer in Monroe County, MI resulted in discharge of highly mineralized, SO 4 -rich groundwater to the Lake Erie shoreline near both Erie State Game Area (ESGA) and Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (PMSGA). Recently, regional groundwater levels near PMSGA have been drawn down as much as 45 m below lake level in apparent response to quarry dewatering. From August to November of 2003, we conducted preliminary studies of groundwater flow dynamics and chemistry, shallow lake water chemistry, and fish and invertebrate communities at both sites. Consistent with regional observations, groundwater flow direction in the nearshore at ESGA was upward, or toward Lake Erie, and shallow nearshore groundwater chemistry was influenced by regional groundwater chemistry. In contrast, at PMSGA, the groundwater flow potential was downward and lake water, influenced by quarry discharge seeping downward into nearshore sediments, produced a different lake and shallow groundwater chemistry than at ESGA. Although the invertebrate and young fish community was similar at the two sites, taxonomic groups tolerant of degraded water quality were more prevalent at PMSGA. Sensitive taxa were more prevalent at ESGA. We propose a conceptual model, based on well-described models of groundwater/seawater interaction along coastal margins, to describe the interconnection among geologic, hydrologic, chemical, and biological processes in the different nearshore habitats of Lake Erie, and we identify processes that warrant further detailed study in the Great Lakes.
Ice, Clouds and Land Elevation (ICESat-2) Mission

In recent years, the melting ice shelf and global warming headlines continue to remain prominent in the media circuits. The public and our science community want to know why and what can be done accurately to evaluate the changes and respond accordingly to the threat. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced ICESat-2 as the next environmental mission. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland, is responsible for the implementation of the ICESat-2 Mission.
Technology needs of future planetary missions

Abstract This paper presents the findings of a series of planetary mission studies which supported development of the Space Science Strategic Plan. The studies evaluated the feasibility, science return, and cost of missions that were candidates for inclusion in the Strategic Plan and also assessed the effects of advanced technology on these parameters. The mission set covered includes high priority missions to planets and/or comets and asteroids subsequent to Pluto Express and Europa Orbiter (i.e., launching after 2004) except for missions to Mars (handled by a different office at JPL). A wide range missions were studied with emphasis on nine mission targets in two priority groups identified in the Strategic Plan. The first group are leading candidates for launch slots in the middle of the next decade: a comet nucleus sample return mission, a Jupiter deep multi-probe mission, and a Mercury Orbiter/solar physics mission. These are feasible today but can use advanced technology to enhance performance and/or reduce cost. The second group are future technology drivers, high priority science missions that require technology breakthroughs prior to implementation. These include comet deep coring and advanced sampling, Europa Lander, Io Volcano Observer, Neptune Orbiter, and investigations of the atmospheres and surfaces of Titan and Venus by aerobots or other means. The paper describes the mission concepts and the enabling and enhancing technologies developments identified for each mission. The current trend toward miniaturization of avionics will benefit all of the missions. Several were found to be enabled or strongly enhanced by advances in low thrust propulsion, either solar electric or solar sail. Another critical area is in-situ technologies, including precision approach; landing; surface mobility; sample collection, analyses and packaging; and sample return to Earth.
Apples and oranges: a comparison of RDF benchmarks and real RDF datasets

The widespread adoption of the Resource Description Framework (RDF) for the representation of both open web and enterprise data is the driving force behind the increasing research interest in RDF data management. As RDF data management systems proliferate, so are benchmarks to test the scalability and performance of these systems under data and workloads with various characteristics.In this paper, we compare data generated with existing RDF benchmarks and data found in widely used real RDF datasets. The results of our comparison illustrate that existing benchmark data have little in common with real data. Therefore any conclusions drawn from existing benchmark tests might not actually translate to expected behaviours in real settings. In terms of the comparison itself, we show that simple primitive data metrics are inadequate to flesh out the fundamental differences between real and benchmark data. We make two contributions in this paper: (1) To address the limitations of the primitive metrics, we introduce intuitive and novel metrics that can indeed highlight the key differences between distinct datasets; (2) To address the limitations of existing benchmarks, we introduce a new benchmark generator with the following novel characteristics: (a) the generator can use any (real or synthetic) dataset and convert it into a benchmark dataset; (b) the generator can generate data that mimic the characteristics of real datasets with user-specified data properties. On the technical side, we formulate the benchmark generation problem as an integer programming problem whose solution provides us with the desired benchmark datasets. To our knowledge, this is the first methodological study of RDF benchmarks, as well as the first attempt on generating RDF benchmarks in a principled way.
Gene therapy strategies for cardiac electrical dysfunction

Cardiac disease is frequently associated with abnormalities in electrical function that can severely impair cardiac performance with potentially fatal consequences. The available therapeutic options have some efficacy but are far from perfect. The curative potential of gene therapy makes it an attractive approach for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. To date, gene therapy research strategies have targeted three major classes of cardiac arrhythmias: (1) ventricular arrhythmias, (2) atrial fibrillation, and (3) bradyarrhythmias. Various vehicles for gene transfer have been employed with adeno-associated viral gene delivery being the preferred choice for long-term gene expression and adenoviral gene delivery for short-term proof-of-concept work. In combination with the development of novel delivery methods, gene therapy may prove to be an effective strategy to eliminate the most debilitating of arrhythmias. This article is part of a Special Section entitled "Special Section: Cardiovascular Gene Therapy".
Atmospheric conditions at a site for submillimeter-wavelength astronomy

At millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, pressure broadened molecular spectral lines make the atmosphere a natural limitation to the sensitivity and resolution of astronomical observations. Tropospheric water vapor is the principal culprit. The translucent atmosphere both decreases the signal, by attenuating incoming radiation, and increases the noise, by radiating thermally. Furthermore, inhomogeneities in the water vapor distribution cause variations in the electrical path length through the atmosphere. These variations result in phase errors that degrade the sensitivity and resolution of images made with both interferometers and filled aperture telescopes. To evaluate possible sites for the Millimeter Array, NRAO has carried out an extensive testing campaign. At a candidate site at 5000 m altitude near Cerro Chajnantor in northern Chile, we deployed an autonomous suite of instruments in 1995 April. These include a 225 GHz tipping radiometer that measures atmospheric transparency and temporal emission fluctuations and a 12 GHz interferometer that measures atmospheric phase fluctuations. A sub-millimeter tipping photometer to measure the atmospheric transparency at 350 micrometer wavelength and a submillimeter Fourier transform spectrometer have recently been added. Similar instruments have been deployed at other sites, notably Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and the South Pole, by NRAO and other groups. These measurements indicate Chajnantor is an excellent site for millimeter and submillimeter wavelength astronomy. The 225 GHz transparency is better than on Mauna Kea. The median 225 GHz transparencies measured at Chajnantor and at the South Pole are comparable.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Influence of endophyte infection, plant age and harvest interval on Rhopalosiphum padi survival and its relation to quantity of N‐formyl and N‐acetyl loline in tall fescue

Rhopalosiphum padi L. (Homoptera: Aphididae) is sensitive to loline alkaloids present in tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Shreb., infected with the endophytic fungus, Acremonium coenophialum Morgan-Jones & Gams. Aphid survival was higher on endophyte-free plants regardless of plant age after germination or age of regrowth tissue after clipping. Survival of aphids on endophyte-infected grass was lower on young tissue but increased as plants aged, although it never reached the same level on endophyte-free plants. Both N-formyl and N-acetyl loline increased as uncut or regrowth tissue aged; however, this was influenced by the age of the plant at the initial cut and the clipping frequency. Although even small amounts of loline cause high aphid mortality, the aphids are able to survive on endophyte-infected plants if the tillers have senescing leaves which contain lower amounts of loline. Preference for senescing leaves may help R. padi avoid plant parts containing high amounts of toxic allelochemicals, thus contributing to higher numbers of aphids on older, endophyte-infected plants.
Use of orexigenic medications in geriatric patients

Abstract Background The loss of appetite, anorexia, is commonly observed in older persons and associated with adverse outcomes. It is becoming increasingly apparent that anorexia is the chief factor in producing weight loss in older adults. Although common and expected in acute illness, anorexia is also frequently associated with chronic diseases and leads to inadequate nutrient intake. Objective The aim of this paper was to review clinical studies on the use of orexigenic drugs to stimulate appetite. Methods Clinical trials were identified related to improving appetite and/or weight gain in older persons. Articles were identified by Ovid search using terms nutrition, anorexia, cachexia, weight loss, orexigenic drugs, and by searching references from retrieved papers. Results Environmental and nutritional interventions to improve intake should be the first intervention. When these fail to produce adequate intake, orexigenic drugs should be considered. No drug has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for geriatric anorexia. Conclusions In the presence of adequate food, weight loss most often is due to cytokine-associated cachexia and anorexia. Assessment of changes in appetite is essential to evaluating older persons with weight loss. When anorexia is identified, a search for reversible causes should be instituted. Intervention should first be aimed at the provision of adequate calories and protein, often in the form of high-density nutritional supplements. Failure to respond to adequate nutrition or supplements should trigger a concern for cachexia. Orexigenic drugs have been reported to improve appetite and produce weight gain. The mechanism is unknown, but it may relate to suppression of proinflammatory cytokines.
Origins of the somatic N20 and high-frequency oscillations evoked by trigeminal stimulation in the piglets

Abstract Objective In humans, the somatic evoked potentials (SEPs) and magnetic fields (SEFs) elicited by peripheral nerve stimulation contain high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) around 600 Hz superimposed on the initial cortical response N20. Responses elicited by snout stimulation in the swine also contain similar HFOs during the rising phase of the porcine N20. This study examined the generators of the N20 and HFOs in the swine. Methods We recorded intracortical SEPs and multi-unit activities in the sulcal area of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) simultaneously with SEFs. The laminar profiles of the potential and current-source-density (CSD) were analyzed. Results The CSD analysis revealed that the N20 was produced by two dipolar generators, both directed toward the cortical surface. After the arrival of the initial thalamocortical volley in layer IV, the sink of the first generator shifted toward shallower layers II–III with a velocity of 0.109±0.038 m/s (mean±SD). The sink of the second generator moved to layer V. The initial thalamocortical axonal component of the HFO was produced by repolarizing current with the sink in layer IV. The CSD laminar profile of the postsynaptic component was very similar to the profile of intracortical N20. The current sink within each cycle of HFO propagated upward with a velocity of 0.633±0.189 m/s, indicating backpropagation. Conclusions We propose that the N20 is generated by two sets of excitatory neurons which also produce the HFOs. Although the loci of synaptic inputs are unknown, these neurons appear to fire initially in the soma and produce backpropagating spikes toward distal apical dendrites. Significance These conclusions relate the N20 to the HFO and provide a new explanation of how the current underlying the N20 is invariantly directed toward superficial layers across species.
Inhibition of Benzo(a)pyrene Diol-Epoxide-induced Transactivation of Activated Protein 1 and Nuclear Factor κB by Black Raspberry Extracts

Freeze-dried black raspberries have been shown to inhibit the development of chemically induced esophageal and colon cancer in rodents. In addition, organic extracts of black raspberries inhibit benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-induced cell transformation in vitro. The molecular mechanisms through which black raspberries inhibit carcinogenesis remain unclear. We investigated the effects of black raspberry extracts on transactivation of activated protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) induced by BaP diol-epoxide (BPDE), the ultimate carcinogen of BaP, in mouse epidermal JB6 Cl 41 (Cl 41) cells. Black raspberries were extracted with methanol, and the methanol extract was partitioned and chromatographed into several fractions designated RU-F003, RU-F004, RU-DM, and RU-ME. Pretreatment of Cl 41 cells with RU-F003, RU-DM, or RU-ME resulted in an inhibition of BPDE-induced AP-1 and NFkappaB activities. The RU-ME fraction was the most potent inhibitor among the fractions tested. In contrast, fraction RU-F004 did not inhibit BPDE-induced AP-1 or NFkappaB activities in Cl 41 cells. The inhibitory effects of RU-ME on BPDE-induced activation of AP-1 and NFkappaB appear to be mediated via inhibition of mitogen activated protein kinase activation and inhibitory subunit kappaB phosphorylation, respectively. Pretreatment of cells with berry fractions did not result in an inhibition of BPDE binding to DNA; thus, this was not a mechanism of reduced AP-1 and NFkappaB activities. None of the fractions was found to affect p53-dependent transcription activity. In view of the important roles of AP-1 and NFkappaB in tumor promotion/progression, these results suggest that the ability of black raspberries to inhibit tumor development may be mediated by impairing signal transduction pathways leading to activation of AP-1 and NFkappaB. The RU-ME fraction appears to be the major fraction responsible for the inhibitory activity of black raspberries.
Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on phospholipase and other enzymes regulating arachidonate metabolism

delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) caused a marked stimulation of phospholipase A2 when incubated with intact human platelets that were prelabeled with [14C] arachidonate. CBD was about 1.5 x as potent as THC in the same concentration range (10 leads to 80 microM) Most of the released arachidonate was converted to lipoxygenae products. When [14C] arachidonate was incubated with lysed platelet extracts, THC inhibited both thromboxane synthetase and prostaglandin cyclooxygenase, so that the net effect was a redistribution of products toward the lipoxygenase pathway at the same time that a decrease in total cyclooxygenase product formation occurred. THC did not directly affect arachidonate lipoxygenase. Both TCH and CBD also stimulated release from prelabeled neuroblastoma cells (NBA2), which do not contain an active lipoxygenase pathway. In this case, accumulation of free arachidonate was detected by autoradiography. The multiple effects of THC and CBD on phospholipase A2 and arachidonate metabolism may mediate some of the pharmacological actions of these compounds, such as their anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, and hypotensive properties.
Carbon-14 kinetic isotope effects and mechanisms of addition of 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfenyl chloride to substituted styrenes in the presence of lithium perchlorate

The k/αk isotope effect for addition of ArSCI to p-methylstyrene is small and unchanged by addition of LiClO ; k/βk is high and unchanged. For styrene and p-chlorostyrene k/βk values are high and unchanged, while k/αk increases from ∼ 1.025 to ∼ 1.04. p-Methylstyrene reacts through an open carbenium ion and the other two have cyclic intermediates.
Amplification of high-power picosecond 10-μm pulses in atmospheric CO 2 laser

3 ps pulses are amplified to >10 GW peak power in a TEA CO 2 laser using ac Stark broadening. Demonstration of such broadband amplification opens opportunities for a powerful mid-IR source at a high-repetition rate.
Responses to exercise in the pregnant pygmy goat

Pregnant Pygmy goats were trained to walk on a treadmill up a 10° grade at a rate of 1.5 mile/hr for 10 min. Hemodynamic measurements were made in duplicate during late pregnancy and postpartum, at rest and after 3 min of exercise. All kids were weighed within 12 hr of delivery to assess the effect of exercise on fetal growth. Pulse rate, cardiac output and oxygen consumption were higher during pregnancy than postpartum, at rest and also during exercise. Stroke volume increased significantly with exercise. Peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) at rest was lower during pregnancy than postpartum, and decreased significantly during exercise, especially in pregnancy. Exercise was associated with a fall in arterial PCO2 during pregnancy and postpartum. In goats, as in humans, the increased oxygen demands of pregnancy, during exercise and at rest, are met by an increased cardiac output rather than by increased peripheral oxygen extraction. The individual birth weights of twins, triplets and quadruplets from Pygmy goats who were exercised during late pregnancy were smaller than the birth weights of matched newborns from control animals.
Topographical Analysis of Pitting Corrosion in AA7075-T6 Using Laser Profilometry

Abstract Laser profilometry (LP) is explored as a means for mapping and quantifying the corrosion damage of AA7075-T6 (UNS A97075) specimens exposed to cyclic prohesion spray for various times. Analysis tools were developed and used to provide quantitative measurements of the distribution of damage site shape, area and volume, and depth. Evolution of these parameters with exposure time was examined. The measured maximum damage site depths of 22 μm to 55 μm agree well with values obtained using other techniques. Modeling the damage sites as elliptical surface flaws yielded maximum ΔK values for the individual fatigue specimens (2 MPa√m to 5 MPa√m) that are equal to or higher than typical fatigue crack growth thresholds available in the literature. The maximum (or average) ΔK values calculated from the corrosion damage distributions correlate well with measured fatigue life.
A comparison of skin-to-skin contact and radiant heaters in promoting neonatal thermoregulation

Abstract This prospective study compared standard newborn care under radiant heat with two methods of warming babies that provided immediate parent-infant contact. Fifty-one mother-infant dyads were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Control group babies had no skin-to-skin contact with their mothers during the study period. One group of experimental infants began skin-to-skin contact after completion of initial nursing care in a radiant heater. The second group of experimental babies had the earliest, most continuous skin-to-skin contact with their mothers and were never under radiant heat. Skin temperatures of all 51 newborns were noted every 3 minutes for 45 minutes using an electronic thermometer. Rectal temperatures were also taken at 21 and 45 minutes after birth. Results supported the hypothesis that body temperatures would be warmest in experimental babies given the earliest skin-to-skin contact, less warm in experimental infants beginning skin-to-skin contact after initial nursing care, and coolest in control babies given no skin-to-skin contact with their mothers (p
An intriguing empirical rule for computing the first normal stress difference from steady shear viscosity data for concentrated polymer solutions and melts

The Cox–Merz rule and Laun’s rule are two empirical relations that allow the estimation of steady shear viscosity and first normal stress difference, respectively, using small amplitude oscillatory shear measurements. The validity of the Cox–Merz rule and Laun’s rule imply an agreement between the linear viscoelastic response measured in small amplitude oscillatory shear and the nonlinear response measured in steady shear flow measurements. We show that by using a lesser-known relationship also proposed by Cox and Merz, in conjunction with Laun’s rule, a relationship between the rate-dependent steady shear viscosity and the first normal stress difference can be deduced. The new empirical relation enables a priori estimation of the first normal stress difference using only the steady flow curve (i.e., viscosity vs shear rate data). Comparison of the estimated first normal stress difference with the measured values for six different polymer solutions and melts show that the empirical rule provides values that are in reasonable agreement with measurements over a wide range of shear rates, thus deepening the intriguing connection between linear and nonlinear viscoelastic response of entangled polymeric materials.
Vibration of a string wrapping and unwrapping around an obstacle

The problem of a string vibrating against a smooth obstacle is investigated in this paper. The obstacle is located at one of the boundaries and the string is assumed to wrap and unwrap around the obstacle during vibration. The wrapping of the obstacle is modeled by a series of perfectly inelastic collisions between the obstacle and adjacent segments of the string and unwrapping is assumed to be energy conserving. The geometry of the string is determined iteratively starting from an initial configuration where the string is vibrating in a single mode and is not in contact with the obstacle. The obstacle can be regarded as a passive mechanism for vibration suppression in which the energy lost during each cycle of oscillation depends on the energy content of the string at the beginning of the cycle. Numerical simulation results are provided for the string vibrating in different modes for circular- and elliptic-shaped obstacles. The loss of energy is found to be greater for higher modes of oscillation and for obstacles that induce greater length of wrapping.
Why race is differentially classified on U.S. birth and infant death certificates: an examination of two hypotheses.

Among U.S. infants who die within a year of birth, classification of race on birth and death certificates may differ. I investigate two hypotheses: (1) The race of infants of different-race parents is more likely to be differentially classified at birth and death than the race of infants of same-race parents. (2) States with a greater proportion of infant deaths of a given race are less likely to differentially classify infants of that race on birth and death certificates than states with a smaller proportion of infant deaths of that race. Using the Linked Birth/Infant Death data tape for 1983-1985, I assessed the first hypothesis by comparing rates of differential classification for infants with different-race parents and same-race parents. To assess the second hypothesis, I examined the correlations between the proportion of infant deaths of each race in each state and the proportion of infants of that race consistently classified. Differential racial classification on birth and death certificates was more than 31 times as likely with different-race than with same-race parents. The second hypothesis was confirmed for white, black, American Indian, and Japanese infants. As the U.S. population becomes more heterogeneous, attention to these methodologic issues becomes increasingly critical for the measurement and redress of differential racial health status.
Long-Term Monitoring and Evaluation of the Lower Red River Meadow Restoration Project, Idaho, U.S.A.

Although public and financial support for stream restoration projects is increasing, long-term monitoring and reporting of project successes and failures are limited. We present the initial results of a long-term monitoring program for the Lower Red River Meadow Restoration Project in north-central Idaho, U.S.A. We evaluate a natural channel design’s effectiveness in shifting a degraded stream ecosystem onto a path of ecological recovery. Field monitoring and hydrodynamic modeling are used to quantify post-restoration changes in 17 physical and biological performance indicators. Statistical and ecological significance are evaluated within a framework of clear objectives, expected responses (ecological hypotheses), and performance criteria (reference conditions) to assess post-restoration changes away from pre-restoration conditions. Compared to pre-restoration conditions, we observed ecosystem improvements in channel sinuosity, slope, depth, and water surface elevation; quantity, quality, and diversity of in-stream habitat and spawning substrate; and bird population numbers and diversity. Modeling documented the potential for enhanced river–floodplain connectivity. Failure to detect either statistically or ecologically significant change in groundwater depth, stream temperature, native riparian cover, and salmonid density is due to a combination of small sample sizes, high interannual variability, external influences, and the early stages of recovery. Unexpected decreases in native riparian cover led to implementation of adaptive management strategies. Challenges included those common to most project-level monitoring—isolating restoration effects in complex ecosystems, securing long-term funding, and implementing scientifically rigorous experimental designs. Continued monitoring and adaptive management that support the establishment of mature and dense riparian shrub communities are crucial to overall success of the project.
Solutions to N-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equations

Abstract We extend the Lewis-Riesenfeld technique of solving the time-dependent Schrodinger equation to N -dimensional Ermakov systems.
Coping with complexity

'structuredness' from well-structured to ill-defined. Some real problems are shown to be ill-defined and the causes of their inherent imprecision are traced. A model for coping with ill-defined problems enables us to estimate an optimal degree of precision in both dealing with the problem and in requesting information to help cope with it. This has interesting implications for the design of information systems.
Deoxythymidine kinase induced in heLa TK− cells by herpes simplex virus type I and type II. Substrate specificity and kinetic behaviour

Deoxythymidine kinases (EC 2.7.1.—) induced in HeLa TK− cells by Herpes simplex Type I and Type II viruses both had a requirement for divalent cations. The enzymes had the highest activities in the presence of Mg2+, followed by Mn2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, and in that order, whereas they were inactive in the presence of Zn2+ and Cu2+. The amount of Mg2+ required for optimal activity was dependent on the amount of ATP present, so that optimal activities were found when the concentration of Mg2+ was equal to that of ATP; an excess of Mg2+ inhibited the reaction. The activities of various nucleoside triphosphates as phosphate donors for Herpes simplex virus Type I deoxythymidine kinase were in the order: ATP = dATP = ara ATP > CTP > dCTP > UTP > dUTP > GTP > dGTP. Those for Herpes simplex virus Type II deoxythymidine kinase were in the order: CTP > dCTP = ara CTP > dATP > ATP > UTP > GTP > dUTP = dGTP. For both deoxythymidine kinases induced by Herpes simplex virus, the nucleoside triphosphates tested exerted cooperative effects. The Km values of ATP and CTP for the Herpes simplex virus Type I enzyme were 30 and 70 μM respectively; whereas those for the Herpes simplex virus Type II enzyme were 140 and 450 μM. Studies on binding of various thymidine analogs with free 5′-OH to these deoxythymidine kinases indicated that 5-substituted ethyl-, vinyl-, allyl-, propyl-, iodo- and bromo-dUrd as well ad iodo5 dCyd and bromo5 dCyd had good affinity to both enzymes. In contrast, vinyl5 Urd, iodo5 Urd and arabinosylthymidine had good affinity only to the Herpes simplex virus Type I enzyme but not to the Herpes simplex virus Type II deoxythymidine kinase. All of these thymidine analogs were competitive inhibitors, with KI values in the range of 0.25 to 1.5 μM. Herpes simplex virus Type I deoxythymidine kinase was less sensitive to either dTTP or iodo dUTP inhibition than Herpes simplex virus Type II. Both dThd and dCyd could serve as substrates and competed with each other for Herpes simplex viruses Type I and Type II induced kinases, but they differed in their Km values for these enzymes. The Km values of dThd and dCyd were 0.59 μM and 25 μM for Herpes simplex virus Type I deoxythymidine kinase; while they were 0.36 μM and 88 μM respectively for ther Herpes simplex virus Type II enzyme.
The inhibition of certain mitochondrial enzymes by fatty acids oxidized by ultraviolet light or ascorbic acid.

Abstract 1. 1. The relation between lipide oxidation and the activity of succinoxidase, choline oxidase, and aminoxidase of rat liver mitochondria has been examined following ultraviolet irradiation, incubation of mitochondria with ultraviolet-irradiated methyl linolenate and methyl linoleate, and incubation with ascorbic acid. 2. 2. Ultraviolet irradiation of mitochondria produced an oxidation of lipide which was directly proportional to the period of irradiation. Succinoxidase and choline oxidase were inhibited in direct proportion to the extent of lipide oxidation. Incubation of irradiated mitochondria with reduced glutathione gave a partial ( 3. 3. Incubation of mitochondria with ascorbic acid resulted in an inhibition of succinoxidase, choline oxidase, and aminoxidase which was directly proportional to lipide oxidation, as in the case of ultraviolet irradiation. Liver slices incubated with ascorbic acid also showed an increased lipide oxidation and decreased succinoxidase activity. 4. 4. Succinoxidase was inhibited by ultraviolet-irradiated methyl linolenate and its water-soluble oxidation products. The unoxidized ester had little or no effect. Methyl linolenate and methyl linoleate oxidized to the same degree by ultraviolet irradiation had equal inhibitory action on succinoxidase. 5. 5. The results indicate that the effects of ultraviolet light on cells may be mediated in part by the oxidation products of lipide constituents.
Simulations of helix unwinding in ferroelectric liquid crystals

In bulk ferroelectric liquid crystals, the molecular director twists in a helix. In narrow cells, this helix can be unwound by an applied electric field or by boundary effects. To describe helix unwinding as a function of both electric field and boundary effects, we develop a mesoscale simulation model based on a continuum free energy discretized on a two-dimensional lattice. In these simulations, we determine both the director profile across the cell and the net electrostatic polarization. By varying the cell size, we show how boundary effects shift the critical field for helix unwinding and lower the saturation polarization. Our results are consistent with experimental data.
Strained Dissipation and Reaction Layer Analyses of Nonequilibrium Chemistry in Turbulent Reacting Flows

Abstract A physically based formulation relating the chemical state of nonequilibrium combustion in turbulent flows to the mixing state of a conserved scalar is presented. The present strained dissipation and reaction layer approach is motivated by results from detailed imaging studies of scalar mixing in turbulent flows, which show that essentially all the instantaneous scalar energy dissipation rate field is confined to locally one-dimensional layer-like structures. These dissipation layers are a direct consequence of the dynamics of scalar mixing in turbulent flows and are independent of the extent of chemical nonequilibrium in the flow. The presence of these layer-like scalar dissipation structures in turn indicates a locally one-dimensional structure in the underlying chemical species fields. The resulting strained dissipation and reaction layer model has certain similarities with the classical “flamelet” model; however, it is based on entirely different physical observations, derived from entirely different arguments, and limited by an entirely different and more widely applicable set of conditions. Moreover, the boundary conditions for solution of the local chemical state differ fundamentally from those used in flamelet models. Results for OH concentration fields obtained from experimental imaging measurements of conserved scalar fields in turbulent flows for conditions ranging from near equilibrium to deep nonequilibrium demonstrate remarkable resemblances to direct OH PLIF measurements under similar combustion conditions. In particular, species concentration and reaction rate fields obtained clearly show the predominance of thin (flamelet-like) reaction zones under conditions of relatively weak chemical nonequilibrium, and the natural emergence and dominance of broad (distributed) reaction zones for increasing equilibrium departures. Detailed nonequilibrium O-atom concentration fields obtained via this formulation, unattainable by direct experimental techniques, provide insights into Zel'dovich NO formation in turbulent jet diffusion flames.
Enlargement of the pancreatic head in patients with pancreas divisum

Pancreas divisum (PD) is a congenital anomaly present in 6-10% of the population. Computed tomography (CT) examinations in eight of 15 patients (53%) with endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERCP)-proven PD were interpreted as showing enlargement of the pancreatic head. Two of these had carcinoma, three had pancreatitis limited to the ventral pancreas, and three were normal. Criteria to distinguish nonpathologic enlargement of the pancreatic head due to PD alone from pathologic causes may include homogeneous parenchyma and an absence of other abnormal signs on CT. Because PD may simulate a pancreatic head mass, the radiologist should be familiar with this variant, and ERCP should precede biopsy unless other evidence of malignancy is present.
Therapeutic Apheresis in Critically Ill Patients

Therapeutic apheresis procedures in critically ill patients comprises of therapeutic plasma exchange in most cases but also less commonly, erythrocytapheresis (red cell exchange), thrombocytapheresis, or leukocytapheresis. These procedures present a number of challenges to the apheresis healthcare team, and there are myriad beneficial and adverse effects for patients. In this patient population, one has to weigh the risks against the benefits and especially in those situations where apheresis is requested as a treatment when other alternative therapies have failed. Therapeutic plasma exchange is capable of removing toxins, pathologic auto- and allo-antibodies but will also remove beneficial medications, clotting factors and cations which are chelated by citrate anticoagulant. Herein, we review clinically significant issues that are commonly encountered in patients that are in the intensive care unit and have conditions that require therapeutic apheresis.
Association of working memory deficit and eye tracking dysfunction in schizophrenia

This study replicates our earlier findings that schizophrenic but not bipolar patients are impaired on oculomotor delayed response tasks, analogous to those used to assess spatial working memory functions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in monkeys (Park and Holzman, 1992). In addition, we examined the relation between working memory deficits and smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) dysfunction, since data from human neuropsychological and animal lesion studies implicate prefrontal pathology in both deficits. Schizophrenic patients showed marked deficits in the oculomotor memory task and the SPEM task relative to the control groups. However, they were not impaired on the oculomotor sensory task in which their responses were guided by external cues rather than by working memory. This result from outpatients replicates our earlier study which was conducted with inpatients. Within the schizophrenic group those patients with good eye tracking performed better than those with impaired pursuit on the oculomotor memory task but there was no correlation between SPEM and performance on the sensory task. These findings support the hypothesis that schizophrenics show a deficit in representational processes and add to the growing evidence for involvement of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenic pathology.
Preferential Solvation within Hydrophilic Nanocavities and Its Effect on the Folding of Cholate Foldamers

The conformations of three cholate foldamers and one molecular basket were studied by fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy. In nonpolar solvents (e.g., hexane/ethyl acetate or ethyl acetate) mixed with a small amount of a polar solvent (e.g., alcohol or DMSO), the cholate oligomer folded into a helix with the hydrophilic faces of the cholates turned inward. Folding created a hydrophilic nanocavity preferentially solvated by the entrapped polar solvent concentrated from the bulk. This microphase separation of the polar solvent was critical to the folding process. Folding was favored by larger-sized polar solvent molecules, as fewer such molecules could occupy and solvate the nanocavity, thus requiring a smaller extent of phase separation during folding. Folding was also favored by smaller/acyclic nonpolar solvent molecules, probably because they could avoid contact with the OH/NH groups within the nanocavity better than larger/cyclic nonpolar solvent molecules.
Resource sharing interconnection networks in multiprocessors

Circuit-switched interconnection networks for resource sharing in multiprocessors are studied. Resource scheduling in systems with such an interconnection network entails the efficient search for a mapping from requesting processors to free resources such that circuit blockages in the network are minimized and resources are maximally used. The optimal mapping is obtained by transforming the scheduling problems into various network flow problems to which existing algorithms can be applied. A distributed architecture to realize a maximum flow algorithm using token propagations is described. The method is applicable to any general loop-free network configuration in which the requesting processors and free resources can be partitioned into two disjoint subsets. >
Thermal interactions between normal and neoplastic tissues in the rat, rabbit, swine, and dog during hyperthermia

Thermal interactions between normal and neoplastic tissues in mammalian species are modeled by a set of simultaneous first order nonlinear differential equations. Thermal regulation is introduced in the model, accounting for increases in the rates of metabolism, blood flow, and respiration of the normal tissues, taking under consideration the modes of reaction of the specific animals to thermal stress. The model adequately simulated the available temperature distributions data for localized hyperthermia in the rat and is also used for predictions of temperature distributions during localized and whole body hyperthermia in the rat, rabbit, swine, and dog.