cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Interferon Alfa-2b in Treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia

The clinical benefits as well as the cost benefits of use of recombinant interferon (IFN) alfa-2b instead of conventional chemotherapy (primarily chlorambucil) for progressive hairy cell leukemia were assessed retrospectively on the basis of 12 months of clinical data from 128 patients treated with IFN alfa-2b. Data from 71 matched historical control patients who had received conventional treatment were used for survival analysis. Hematologic response (reversal of cytopenias) was achieved by 18% of the control patients versus 73% of the IFN-treated patients. This response was associated with virtual elimination of the need for transfusions and splenectomy as well as dramatic decreases in the frequency of fatal infections (22.5% vs. 1.6%) and the 12-month mortality rate (28% vs. 3.1%). Direct costs per patient per year for medical care (transfusions, antibiotic treatment, splenectomy, and chemotherapy) of those receiving IFN alfa-2b were 2.8-fold lower than costs for medical care of control patients ($5,027 vs. $14,046). Indirect costs, which reflect the present value of future earnings lost due to premature death, were 13.3-fold lower for IFN-treated patients than for control patients ($4,771 vs. $63,507). Our analysis demonstrates that IFN alfa-2b offers substantial clinical and cost advantages to patients with hairy cell leukemia and that the introduction of this therapy using novel biotechnology furthers the health care community's commitment to cost containment.
On commutative nonassociative algebras

In this paper we study a class of commutative nonassociative algebras which includes those special Jordan algebras which arise as the set of all elements fixed by an involution in a primitive ring with nonzero socle and with centralizer which is a field of characteristic not 2. Perhaps the most unusual feature of our approach is that we do not assume that our algebras satisfy any identity, but only that enough primitive idempotents exist satisfying certain properties that follow from the Jordan identity. (For an introduction to the standard theory, see [6].) We also need an axiom which insures that the discrete topology (Jacobson’s finite topology) will suffice. More specifically, we assume that the following four axioms on idempotents hold in our algebra A over the field @ (A will be assumed to be commutative and of characteristic not 2 hereafter):
The moiré method for measuring large-plane nonhomogeneous deformations: The techniques and equations for measuring and calculating deformation and strain-tensor components for large-plane nonhomogeneous deformations are presented

Moire-fringe equations have been developed for directly determining the components of Green's and Cauchy's deformation tensors from measurements of fringe pitch and angle. The equations, which were previously verified for large-plane homogeneous deformations, are used to determine the deformation-tensor components for nonhomogeneous strain fields. The results are compared to theoretical values. Specifically, the deformations investigated are pure bending of a rectangular block, and extension of a tapered plane specimen.
High Fluoride Exposure in Hemodialysis Patients

The observation of higher plasma flouride levels in our hemodialysis (HD) patients than our continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients (4.0 +/- 0.5 mumol/L [n = 17] v 2.5 +/- 0.3 mumol/L [n = 17], P less than 0.005) prompted an evaluation of fluoride metabolism during HD. We found that serum fluoride was completely ultrafiltrable across cuprophane membranes (99% +/- 4%) and that HD produced acute changes in plasma fluoride levels that correlated well with the fluoride gradient between plasma and dialysis fluid at the start of dialysis. Our HD fluids contained significantly higher fluoride concentrations than were present in commercially prepared peritoneal dialysis fluid. Our fluids are prepared from fluoridated tap water that is purified by reverse osmosis (RO). We conclude that the different concentrations of fluoride in our dialysis fluids account for the differences in the plasma flouride concentrations between our dialysis groups. Since many HD units rely on RO systems to purify fluoridated tap water, it is likely that many HD patients are being exposed inadvertently to increased concentrations of fluoride.
Optical pH, oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring using a microdialysis approach

Abstract Microdialysis coupled with optical absorbance or fluorescence measurement has been used to monitor pH, pCO2, and pO2 in blood and buffer solutions. The system employs micro-flow streams of reagents, a simple optical system and a method of achieving steady microliter per minute flow rates. When integrated in a recirculating flow loop, the sensor has an excellent resolution in the physiologic range in buffer of ±0.003 pH units, ±0.5 mm Hg pCO2, and ±1.5 mm Hg pO2 with response times in heparinized bovine blood of 4.8 min, 1.8 min, and 2.1 min for pH, pCO2, and pO2, respectively.
Resonant frequency calculations using a hybrid perturbation-Galerkin technique

A two-step hybrid perturbation Galerkin technique is applied to the problem of determining the resonant frequencies of one or several degrees of freedom nonlinear systems involving a parameter. In one step, the Lindstedt-Poincare method is used to determine perturbation solutions which are formally valid about one or more special values of the parameter (e.g., for large or small values of the parameter). In step two, a subset of the perturbation coordinate functions determined in step one is used in Galerkin type approximation. The technique is illustrated for several one degree of freedom systems, including the Duffing and van der Pol oscillators, as well as for the compound pendulum. For all of the examples considered, it is shown that the frequencies obtained by the hybrid technique using only a few terms from the perturbation solutions are significantly more accurate than the perturbation results on which they are based, and they compare very well with frequencies obtained by purely numerical methods.
Stability and thermodynamic properties of supersaturated solid solution and amorphous phase formed by ball milling in the Zr- Al system

Zr 100-xA1x (x ≤ 40) metastable alloys were synthesized by high- energy ball milling of elemental Zr and Al powders: supersaturated substitutional cph solid solution for x ≤ 15 and an amorphous phase for x ≥ 17.5. We performed a calorimetric study of the thermodynamics and kinetics of the metastable- to- equilibrium transformations of these phases. Their stability range (temperature/composition), as well as the apparent activation energies associated with the transformations, were determined. The transformation enthalpies were measured and used to determine the enthalpy of formation for these metastable phases. For both as- milled and relaxed amorphous phases, the measured enthalpy of crystallization is compared with those estimated for an undercooled liquid. Different amounts of retained entropy at the glass transition temperature were used to estimate the enthalpy loss upon undercooling due to the excess specific heat.
Computer modeling of Si and SiC surfaces and surface processes relevant to crystal growth from the vapor

Abstract It has been shown that many-body effects are essential for the description of atomic clusters and surfaces for most real materials. We have developed Potential Energy Functions (PEF's) for both silicon and silicon carbide which include the many-body effect via a parameterized three-body term. Thus, our PEF's include both two-body and three-body terms parameterized to fit cluster and bulk thermodynamic data for their respective systems. Our computations utilize these PEF's in a two step process: (i) select initial positions for several hundred atoms to represent the surface element or defect desired, and (ii) relax the positions of all or a portion of the atoms to find the stable or metastable energy configurations. This paper focuses on the following useful information for Si and SiC (111) surfaces in contact with the vapor phase. (1) Equilibrium geometries for planar surfaces, ledges and kinks (i.e., surface reconstruction features), (2) adsorption or formation energies for ad-atoms and vacancies at various surface locations, (3) excess quantities such as surface, ledge and kink site energies, and (4) stress tensor components around the various surface features and their penetration into the subsurface region.
Further Observations on Nannizzia persicolor (= 'N. quinckeani')

The second type culture ofNannizzia quinckeana (# 1672) was found to be self fertile. By single microconldial and monoascospore isolations, it was shown that # I672 was a mixture of both mating types. F1 monoascospore progeny derived from # 1672 were compatible with the + and - tester strains of N. persicolor and also with the first type culture (# 331) of N. quinckeana. Studies with additional isolates showed that N. persicolor occurs outside of Europe and that it is also found in soil.
A cross‐cultural study: deaf students in a public mainstream school setting

The 1000 primary school students in this study included a minority population of nine deaf children. The underlying foundation of this mainstream environment allowed for accommodations, but only to the extent that the non‐deaf majority was not overtly impacted. Explicit messages of equality and implicit notions of normal were often in conflict. Deaf students learned that acceptance was granted to those who complied with the mores of the majority. The author draws on current pedagogical theory and study findings to offer four principles that will help insure a more inclusive educational experience for deaf and non‐deaf students as they are educated together: (1) care must be taken to understand the lived experience of all students; (2) consideration must be given to scheduling issues; (3) sign language interpreters must be provided for all curricular activities; and (4) all students should be acculturated in the dynamics and issues pertaining to a cross‐cultural learning experience.
Theoretical Prediction of Onset of Horizontal Slug Flow

A criterion for the onset of a slug flow in a horizontal duct is derived theoretically. A potential flow analysis is carried out by considering waves of finite amplitude. The stability criterion is obtained by introducing the wave deformation limit and the “most dangerous wave” concept in the stability analysis. The present theoretical criterion for slug formation shows very good agreement with a large number of experimental data and with some empirical correlations.
Differential activity among wide-field neurons of the cat postcruciate cerebral cortex.

Extracullular recordings were made of the evoked activity of neurons in sensorimotor cortex of cat following cutaneous stimulation of each limb. Neurons responding only to stimulation of the somatotopically “on focus” limb (CFP) were classed as s and separated from those responding to stimulation of at least one additional limb; the latter “wide-field” neurons were classed as m. The ratio of m to s increased from “sensory” to “motor” recording sites. Analysis was focused on m neurons of the postcruciate recording site—here 80% of the pyramidal tract (PT) cells were m neurons. Both “fast” and “slow” PT cells were identified, the latter residing more superficially and firing later than the former. Despite the wide receptive fields of these cells, a unique pattern of PT activity develops in the cortex that is somatotopically related to the cutaneous site of stimulation. This pattern results from a facilitatory action of s neurons on the PT,m elements, particularly the “slow” PT cells. The PT response patterns following stimulation at any other site are remarkably similar and suggest a “coadunating” function either in thalamus or cortex itself. The non-PT,m elements behave in a similar manner. These results restore a measure of somatotopic organization to the wide-field neurons. However, consideration of the anatomical distribution of PT elements and the physiological data supports the hypothesis that the pyramidal-tract elements originating in the postcruciate cortex of the cat serve primarily in an excitability-modulating capacity.
The Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors: Safety and Effectiveness

OBJECTIVE:To review the development of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors and discuss specific agents that are currently under investigation or have been marketed.DATA SOURCES:Primary literature on selective COX inhibitors was identified from a comprehensive MEDLINE, English-literature search from January 1966 through September 1998, with additional studies selected by review of the references. Abstracts from recent meetings and package insert literature from approved agents were also used as source material. Indexing terms included COX-2 inhibitors, meloxicam, celecoxib, rofecoxib, flosulide, SC-58635, and MK-966.STUDY SELECTION:Human clinical, pharmacokinetic, and dose-ranging trials performed in Europe and the US and randomized comparative trials were reviewed.DATA SYNTHESIS:With the discovery of at least two COX isoforms, a better understanding of the mechanism of action and gastrointestinal toxicity of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been realized. While COX-1 is involved in physiol...
Enhancing Students Learning:Instant Feedback Cards

This study illustrates an active learning approach using instant feedback cards in the first course in accounting. The objectives of this study are to (1) describe instant feedback cards and (2) show how this tool, when used in an active learning environment, can enhance learning. We examined whether students exposed to immediate feedback scratch-off cards in an active learning environment would perform better on subsequent objective exams than students in a traditional lecture review setting. Students enjoyed the active learning aspect of working in groups, debating answers, and then using the scratch-off cards to select the correct multiple-choice responses. Scratch-off cards are a tool that educators may find very useful to enhance their lectures and add a component of active learning into their courses.
On-the-fly wrapping of web services to support dynamic integration

Service-oriented development has gained much attentionin recent years with the advent of technologiessuch as Web Services, .NET, and Jini. Standards forspecifying, publishing, and delivering services has enabledapproaches for specifying applications that canintegrate and bind at run-time with services that meetapplication requirements. Jini is a service-based frameworkthat was originally developed to support integrationof devices as services. Web services are services thatare delivered over the World Wide Web using WSDL as adescriptor and SOAP as the delivery mechanism. In thispaper, we describe a wrapping technique that facilitatesthe integration of web services into Jini service applicationson-the-fly. As a result, an application can take advantageof run-time service lookup facilities provided byJini without needing a priori knowledge of the web servicesit eventually uses.
The Entrepreneurial Theory of the Firm

There is often great power in an interesting question. Some 70 years ago, Ronald Coase (Coase, 1937) posed just such a question: Why do firms exist? And here we are, 70 years later, struggling to understand the answer to this question for one particularly important class of firms, entrepreneurial firms. This special issue brings together some leading scholars – scholars who study entrepreneurship and scholars who study the theory of the firm – to begin a conversation about why entrepreneurial firms exist. This represents a theoretical challenge for both these group.
Merit and Power in the Thai Social Order1

QINCE the studies of Graham (1913), Wales (1934), Benedict (1943) and J Embree (1950), scattered through half a century, a sufficient body of new materials dealing with Thailand has accumulated in just a decade to warrant rethinking the older formulations.2 This paper treats the scene ahistorically, though it refers to the period from the beginning of the 19th century to the present. Instead of presenting a vista of persons occupying fixed positions in the social order, I emphasize persons moving in their fixed setting, like players with their rules and tactics on a football field.
Application of effect-compartment model to bumetanide-indomethacin interaction in dogs

Analyses of bumetanide's dose-response relationship have been complicated by the hysteresis observed between the drug's urinary excretion rate and its sodium excretion. This apparent time lag reflects the disequilibrium between the urine concentration and effect compartment (biophase) which occurs during the early distribution phase. In the present article, an expanded pharmaco-dynamic model has been introduced in which the hypothetical effect compartment is linked, by a first-order process (Kue),to the urine compartment. Drug dissipation from the effect compartment occurs by means of the first-order rate constant, Keo.This representation accommodates bumetanide's luminal site of action in the kidney tubule as well as the drug's temporal component. Application of this model to the bumetanide-indomethacin interaction in dogs is examined.
Song-level multi-pitch tracking by heavily constrained clustering

Given a set of monophonic, harmonic sound sources (e.g. human voices or wind instruments), multi-pitch estimation (MPE) is the task of determining the instantaneous pitches of each source. Multi-pitch tracking (MPT) connects the instantaneous pitch estimates provided by MPE algorithms into pitch trajectories of sources. A trajectory can be short (within a musical note), or long (an entire piece of music). While note-level MPT methods usually utilize local time-frequency proximity of pitches to connect them into a note, song-level MPT is much more difficult and needs more information. This is because pitches evolve discontinuously from note to note, and pitch trajectories can even interweave. In this paper, we cast the song-level MPT problem as a constrained clustering problem. The constraints are time-frequency locality of pitches and the clustering objective is their timbre consistency. Due to this problem's unique properties, existing constrained clustering algorithms cannot be directly applied. We propose a new constrained clustering algorithm. Experiments show that our approach produces good results on real-world music recordings of 4 musical instruments.
Dissolution Kinetics Of CaCO3 In Common Laboratory Solvents

ABSTRACT The dissolution of calcium carbonate with both organic and aqueous solvents was examined quantitatively and kinetically. Neither ethanol and nor acetone at 25°C dissolved appreciable aragonite or calcite, even after nearly ten days. Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) was a much less effective solvent than deionized water, producing little or no net calcium in solutions in contact with calcium carbonate. Although exposure to sodium hydroxide solutions also yielded relatively small concentrations of calcium in the fluid, characterization of the exposed carbonate grains by X-ray powder diffraction and by light microscopy revealed extensive replacement of the CaCO3 by Ca(OH)2, calcium hydroxide (portlandite). A solution of AlconoxTM, a commercial laboratory nionic detergent, was about half again as potent as deionized water, and hydrogen peroxide proved to be many times more corrosive of calcium carbonate than deionized water. These results are consistent with published and anecdotal observations of the effects of laboratory preparation protocols on calcium carbonate. Our quantitative data permit the researcher to assess the potential for a treatment procedure using any of these solutions to compromise the integrity of a sample of calcium carbonate.
Rapidity distributions and nuclear transparency in heavy ion collisions

Abstract We have measured the rapidity distributions for charged particles produced in SiAu collisions at 14.6× A GeV/ c . No evidence is seen for enhanced production of protons at high rapidity as recently postulated based on fits to earlier data.
Performance of an observer state-space identification in the presence of mild nonlinearities

The eigensystem realization algorithm with an observer Kalman filter (ERA-OKID) operates under the assumption that the system is linear and time invariant. Most practical engineering structures, however, behave in a nonlinear fashion to a certain extent. The aim of the investigation reported in the paper is to examine how the system parameters identified by the ERA-OKID algorithm vary as nonlinearity is introduced in the system that generates the response data. The paper presents a brief review of the ERA-OKID approach and discusses the results of two numerical examples. The first example is a two-dimensional, four-story shear building and the second is a three-dimensional building with plan eccentricity, also with four stories in elevation. In all cases, the excitation is taken as horizontal ground acceleration with bidirectionality considered in the three-dimensional case. In the cases considered, the nonlinear hysteretic behavior is reflected in an increase in the damping of the fundamental mode, with little effect on the identified eigenvalues. Identification of the underlying linear systems is shown possible using small amplitude data from the early part of the response. The difference between the response predicted with the realization obtained from the early portion and the computed response is explored as a potential source of information in characterizing the nonlinear behavior.
Transport and Mixing Patterns over Central California during the Carbonaceous Aerosol and Radiative Effects Study (CARES)

Abstract. We describe the synoptic and regional-scale meteorological conditions that affected the transport and mixing of trace gases and aerosols in the vicinity of Sacramento, California during June 2010 when the Carbonaceous Aerosol and Radiative Effects Study (CARES) was conducted. The meteorological measurements collected by various instruments deployed during the campaign and the performance of the chemistry version of the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF-Chem) are both discussed. WRF-Chem was run daily during the campaign to forecast the spatial and temporal variation of carbon monoxide emitted from 20 anthropogenic source regions in California to guide aircraft sampling. The model is shown to reproduce the overall circulations and boundary-layer characteristics in the region, although errors in the upslope wind speed and boundary-layer depth contribute to differences in the observed and simulated carbon monoxide. Thermally-driven upslope flows that transported pollutants from Sacramento over the foothills of the Sierra Nevada occurred every afternoon, except during three periods when the passage of mid-tropospheric troughs disrupted the regional-scale flow patterns. The meteorological conditions after the passage of the third trough were the most favorable for photochemistry and likely formation of secondary organic aerosols. Meteorological measurements and model forecasts indicate that the Sacramento pollutant plume was likely transported over a downwind site that collected trace gas and aerosol measurements during 23 time periods; however, direct transport occurred during only eight of these periods. The model also showed that emissions from the San Francisco Bay area transported by intrusions of marine air contributed a large fraction of the carbon monoxide in the vicinity of Sacramento, suggesting that this source likely affects local chemistry. Contributions from other sources of pollutants, such as those in the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Valley, were relatively low. Aerosol layering in the free troposphere was observed during the morning by an airborne Lidar. WRF-Chem forecasts showed that mountain venting processes contributed to aged pollutants aloft in the valley atmosphere that are then entrained into the growing boundary layer the subsequent day.
Steel and Titanium Hollow Sphere Foams

Metal hollow sphere foams are fabricated by bonding millimeter sized metal alloy hollow spheres at points of contact. The spheres are formed as powder shells from slurries. For stainless steel spheres, the starting powder is a mixture of iron and chromium oxide. Thermal treatment in hydrogen reduces the oxides to Fe/Cr alloys with less than 2% porosity in sphere walls. The nominal composition is close to that of 405 stainless. Carburization in CO/CO2 atmosphere followed by heat treatment produces foams of either 410 or 420 type stainless steels depending on carbon content. Compressive stress-strain behavior was measured on point contact bonded stainless foams both before and after carburization. Hardness measurements on steel sphere walls were used to estimate the yield strength. Relative strengths of the foams were positioned between open and closed cell models. This was encouraging because bonding in the foams was less than optimum and the hollow sphere walls contained defects. As processing improves, strengths should increase. To produce titanium alloy spheres, the starting powder is titanium alloy hydride. Thermal treatment in an inert atmosphere decomposes the hydride and sinters the titanium powder in the sphere walls to greater than 96% relative density. Both titanium and Ti-6V-4V spheres and foams have been produced. Oxygen contents are a concern for titanium compositions and processing is being altered to reduce oxygen levels to increase ductility
A novel fractionation approach for water constituents – distribution of storm event metals

A novel fractionation method, based on both particle size and settling characteristics, was employed to examine metal distributions among five fractions. In-stream and stormwater runoff samples were collected from four land use types: highway, urban, agricultural (storm event and irrigation), and natural. Highway samples contained the highest dissolved concentrations for most metals, and freshwater ambient water quality criteria were exceeded for Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the first storm of the water year. Anthropogenic sources were indicated for Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in highway and urban samples, and total metal loadings (mg km−2) were observed to be as follows: highway > urban > agricultural storm event ∼ natural > agricultural irrigation. Notably, ∼10-fold higher suspended solids concentration was observed in the agricultural storm event sample, and suspended solids-associated metals were correspondingly elevated. Distribution coefficients revealed the following affinities: Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb to large dense particles; and Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Pb to colloidal organic matter.
Confocal, two-photon laser-induced fluorescence technique for the detection of nitric oxide.

We describe a confocal two-photon laser-induced fluorescence scheme for the detection of gaseous NO. Excitation from a simple YAG-pumped Coumarin 450 dye system near 452.6 nm was used to promote the two-photon NO(A (2)?(+), nu? = 0 ? X (2)?, nu? = 0) transition in the gamma(0, 0) band. Subsequent fluorescence detection in the range 200-300 nm permitted almost total rejection of elastic and geometric scatter of laser radiation for excellent signal/noise ratio characteristics. The goal of the research was to apply NO fluorescence to a relatively realistic limited optical access combustion environment. A confocal optical arrangement was demonstrated for single-point measurements of NO concentration in gas samples and in atmospheric-pressure flames. The technique is suitable for applications that offer only a single direction for optical access and when significant elastic scatter is present.
Post‐Irradiation Vascular Proliferations: Potential Mimic of Kaposi’s Sarcoma

A variety of benign and malignant cutaneous vascular lesions occur in irradiated skin. We report two cases of vascular lesions that developed on the breast within a year after radiation therapy for breast carcinoma. Both cases mimicked Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) histologically. We compare these with one case of post-irradiation angiosarcoma and 3 cases of acquired progressive lymphangioma (APL) unrelated to radiation therapy. The post-irradiation vascular lesions showed slit-like vessels dissecting through superficial dermal collagen, leading to an initial diagnosis of KS by one contributing pathologist. Immunohistochemically, the vessels in both cases expressed CD31 and CD34, stained only partially for actin, and had a low Ki67 proliferation index. Neither case expressed HHV8. The post-irradiation angiosarcoma occurred three years after radiation, and also exhibited a focal slit-like growth pattern resembling KS. However, there was marked cytologic atypia, a high proliferation rate, and negative staining for HHV8. The APL were characterized by more ectactic vascular spaces and deeper involvement of the dermis than was present in the post-irradiation lesions. These cases also failed to stain for HHV8. Recognition of the phenomenon of post-irradiation vascular proliferations is important, especially because such lesions may resemble KS, yet invariably follow a benign clinical course.
Two Studies of Personality: Female Graduate Students in Physical Education

In Study I, scores for 35 female graduate students in physical education were compared to the norms for the general population on the 1962 16 PF test; Ss were higher on Intelligence and lower on Outgoingness and Shrewdness. Centiles derived from the raw scores deviated markedly also on these traits. In Study II, scores of 35 similar Ss were compared to the norms for the 1970 16 PF test; Ss were higher on Intelligence and Ego Strength and lower on Outgoingness and Tender-mindedness. Centiles deviated markedly on Intelligence and Ego Strength.
The design and implementation of HomeRF: a radio frequency wireless networking standard for the connected home

The HomeRF Working Group (WG) is a consortium of more than 100 companies from the computer, telecommunications, and consumer electronics industries. This group has developed an open specification called the Shared Wireless Access Protocol-Cordless Access (SWAP-CA) that enables radio frequency (RF) wireless connectivity between a diverse set of devices and computing resources in and around a typical home. Built around an RF spectrum with worldwide availability, SWAP-CA includes operational support for both managed and ad hoc networks of devices. It combines and extends wireless networking and cordless telephony into a single unified protocol allowing mobile devices to communicate via both voice and data traffic simultaneously over the Internet and/or over the public switched telephone network (PSTN). For batter-operated devices, it includes a power management mechanism than ensures connection longevity. The technology has been specifically optimized for consumer applications and price points, and, consequently, the HomeRF WG has the broad backing of the major corporate stakeholders interested in enabling tetherless networking within the home.
Thermal Decomposition of a Melt-Castable High Explosive: Isoconversional Analysis of TNAZ

The thermal decomposition kinetics of the high explosive 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine (TNAZ) have been measured by nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Samples of TNAZ in open pans and pierced pans undergo mainly melting (ΔHfus = 27 ± 3 kJ mol-1) and vaporization (ΔHvap = 74 ± 10 kJ mol-1) during heating. However, when confined in sealed high-pressure crucibles, exothermic thermal decomposition is observed. The activation energy for thermal decomposition has been determined as a function of the extent of reaction by isoconversional analysis. The initial value of 184 kJ mol-1 at the start of the reaction decreases to 38 kJ mol-1 near the end of the reaction. The rates clearly exhibit acceleratory behavior that is ascribed to autocatalysis. The measured heat release of thermal decomposition (Q = 640 ± 150 kJ mol-1) is independent of the heating rate and the sample mass. These results are consistent with proposed mechanisms of TNAZ decomposition in which the initial step is preferential loss of ...
Concise, open-ended implementation of Rys polynomial evaluation of two-electron integrals

A quadrature-point-driven implementation of the standard Rys polynomial method for computing two-electron repulsion integrals of gaussian basis functions has been found to be both concise and openended with respect to the angular momentum of the gaussian functions (i.e., s,p,d,f,g,…). These are important features in certain applications, such as molecular properties and property gradients.
Grassmannian Differential Limited Feedback for Interference Alignment

Channel state information (CSI) in the interference channel can be used to reduce the dimension of received interference and helps achieve the channel's maximum multiplexing gain through what is known as interference alignment (IA). Most interference alignment algorithms require knowledge of all the interfering channels to compute the alignment precoders. CSI, considered available at the receivers, can be shared with the transmitters via limited feedback. When IA is done by coding over frequency extensions in a single antenna system, the required CSI lies on the Grassmannian manifold and its structure can be exploited in feedback. Unfortunately, the number of channels to be shared grows with the square of the number of users, creating too much overhead with conventional feedback methods. This paper proposes Grassmannian differential feedback to reduce feedback overhead by exploiting both the channel's temporal correlation and Grassmannian structure. The performance of the proposed algorithm is characterized both analytically and numerically as a function of channel length, mobility, and the number of feedback bits. The main conclusions are that the proposed feedback strategy allows IA to perform well over a wide range of Doppler spreads, and to approach perfect CSI performance in slowly varying channels. Numerical results highlight the trade-off between the frequency of feedback and the accuracy of individual feedback updates.
Controllability of excitable systems

Mathematical models of cell electrical activity typically consist of a current balance equation, channel activation (or inactivation) variables and concentrations of regulatory agents. These models can be thought of as nonlinear filters whose input is some applied current I (possibly zero) and output is a membrane potential V. A natural question to ask is if the applied current I can be deduced from the potential V. For a surprisingly large class of models the answer to this question is yes. To show this, we first demonstrate how many models can be embedded into higher dimensional quasilinear systems. For quasilinear models, a procedure for determining the inverse of the nonlinear filter is then described and demonstrated on two models: (1) the FitzHugh-Nagumo model and (2) the Sherman-Rinzel-Keizer (SRK) [Sherman et al., (1988, Biophysics Journal, 54, 411–425)] model of bursting electrical activity in pancreatic β-cells. For the latter example, the inverse problem is then used to deduce model parameter values for which the model and experimental data agree in some measure. An advantage of the correlation technique is that experimental values for activation (and/or regulatory) variables need not be known to make the estimates for these parameter values.
New Public Management and the new professionalism in education: Framing the issue

This article provides an introductory frame for this special issue dedicated to New Public Management and the New Professional Educator. We will intoduce the five articles and how they analyze the characteristics of NPM and this emerging new professional as well as forms of educator resistance and advocacy.
Heeding more than the top template

We present a method of classifying a pattern using information furnished by a ranked list of templates, rather than just the best matching template. We propose a parsimonious model to compute the class-conditional likelihood of a list of templates ranked on the basis of their match scores. We discuss the estimation of parameters used in the model. The results of maximum likelihood classification on isolated digit patterns consistently show a 10-20% relative gain in recognition accuracy when we use more than one top-template.
Graphical Passwords for Older Computer Users

Computers and the internet have been challenging for many computer users over the age of 60. We conducted a survey of older users which revealed that the creation, management and recall of strong text passwords were some of the challenging aspects of modern technology. In practice, this user group based passwords on familiar facts such as family member names, pets, phone numbers and important personal dates. Graphical passwords formed from abstract graphical symbols or anonymous facial images are feasible, but harder for older computers users to grasp and recall. In this paper we describe initial results for our graphical password system based on recognition of culturally-familiar facial images that are age-relevant to the life experiences of older users. Our goals are to design an easy-to-memorize, graphical password system intended specifically for older users, and achieve a level of password entropy comparable to traditional PINs and text passwords. We are also conducting a user study to demonstrate our technique and capture performance and recall metrics for comparison with traditional password systems.
Nodular Fasciitis of the Hand

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is applied very uncommonly to soft tissue masses and even more infrequently to lesions of the hand. Nodular fasciitis, an uncommon pseudosarcomatous lesion of soft tissue, rarely occurs in the hand and, because of this, is not often considered in the differential diagnosis of hand masses. We report 3 cases (2 men and 1 woman; mean age, 44.3 years) of soft tissue masses of the hand, which, after clinical and radiologic evaluation, were strongly suspected by an experienced orthopedic oncologist as harboring a soft tissue sarcoma. Each patient underwent FNAB, which showed markedly hypercellular smears with overlapping, relatively isomorphic spindle cells that were mistaken cytologically as possible sarcoma in 2 cases; 1 case was considered probable nodular fasciitis. All lesions eventually were diagnosed as nodular fasciitis after thorough histologic and immunohistologic evaluation. Nodular fasciitis remains a difficult diagnosis by FNAB, particularly when it occurs in locations such as the hand.
Efficient and stereocontrolled synthesis of 1,2,4-trioxolanes useful for ferrous iron-dependent drug delivery.

Ferrous iron-promoted reduction of a hindered peroxide bond underlies the antimalarial action of the 1,2,4-trioxane artemisinin and the 1,2,4-trioxolane arterolane. In appropriately designed systems, a 1,2,4-trioxolane ring can serve as a trigger to realize ferrous iron-dependent and parasite-selective drug delivery, both in vitro and in vivo. A stereocontrolled, expeditious (three steps), and efficient (67–71% overall yield) synthesis of 1,2,4-trioxolanes possessing the requisite 3″ substitution pattern that enables ferrous iron-dependent drug delivery is reported. The key synthetic step involves a diastereoselective Griesbaum co-ozonolysis reaction to afford primarily products with a trans relationship between the 3″ substituent and the peroxide bridge, as confirmed by X-ray structural analysis of a 3″-substituted 4-nitrobenzoate analogue.
Experimental Study of Aerodynamic Performance of Locust and Model Wings

Aerodynamic characteristics of freshly isolated hind-wings of locusts and synthetic wing models were investigated in the present study. The experimental setup included a pair of wings mounted atop a flapping-pitching device executing wings motion through a transmission shaft. The resulting kinematics consists of flapping with amplitude of 85o and pitching about the wing axis with amplitude of 60o. The device was mounted on a custom 6-component microbalance to measure the forces and moments generated by the flapping wings. Model wings made of balsa wood, composite materials and locust wings were tested in still air at flapping frequencies ranging from 5 Hz to 30 Hz. The experimental results are presented for stroke-averaged thrust and lift as well as respective coefficients averaged over several consecutive flapping cycles. Aerodynamic efficiency of insect wings and manmade wings are compared and commented on.
Biophysical Influence of Airborne Carbon Nanomaterials on Natural Pulmonary Surfactant

Inhalation of nanoparticles (NP), including lightweight airborne carbonaceous nanomaterials (CNM), poses a direct and systemic health threat to those who handle them. Inhaled NP penetrate deep pulmonary structures in which they first interact with the pulmonary surfactant (PS) lining at the alveolar air-water interface. In spite of many research efforts, there is a gap of knowledge between in vitro biophysical study and in vivo inhalation toxicology since all existing biophysical models handle NP-PS interactions in the liquid phase. This technical limitation, inherent in current in vitro methodologies, makes it impossible to simulate how airborne NP deposit at the PS film and interact with it. Existing in vitro NP-PS studies using liquid-suspended particles have been shown to artificially inflate the no-observed adverse effect level of NP exposure when compared to in vivo inhalation studies and international occupational exposure limits (OELs). Here, we developed an in vitro methodology called the constrained drop surfactometer (CDS) to quantitatively study PS inhibition by airborne CNM. We show that airborne multiwalled carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets induce a concentration-dependent PS inhibition under physiologically relevant conditions. The CNM aerosol concentrations controlled in the CDS are comparable to those defined in international OELs. Development of the CDS has the potential to advance our understanding of how submicron airborne nanomaterials affect the PS lining of the lung.
Drugs and Drug Policy in America: A Documentary History

Introduction Timeline of Key Events in American Drug Policy American Drug Policy in the 19th Century The Early Expansion of Federal Drug Control The Harrison Act Supreme Court Decisions on the Harrison Act Overview of State Anti-Drug Laws Marijuana Policy: The Early Years American Drug Policy to World War II Drug Policy from World War II through the 1950s: The Escalation of Punishment The Medicalization of Addiction: Drug Treatment and Anti-Drug Policy Drug Policy in the 1960s and 1970s: A Changing View Marijuana Policy after the 1960s Crack Cocaine and Drug Policy from the 1980s The Debate over Drug Legalization Suggested Readings Index
Influence of Thin Film Confinement on Surface Plasticity in Polystyrene and Poly(2-vinylpyridine) Homopolymer and Block Copolymer Films

Delamination is used to impart a quantifiable local stain on thin films of homopolymer polystyrene and poly(2-vinylpyridine), as well as block copolymers made of styrene and 2-vinylpyridine. Direct observation of the damage caused by bending with atomic force microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy leads to the identification of a critical strain for the onset of plasticity. Moving beyond our initial scaling analysis, delamination shapes are fit to two model functions and a more precise value for curvature is used in the calculation of surface strain. The analysis presented here shows strain levels in thick films to be comparable to bulk measurements. Monitoring the critical strain leads to several observations: (1) as-cast PS-P2VP has a low critical strain, (2) annealing slowly increases critical strain as microstructural ordering takes place, and (3) similar to the homopolymer, both as-cast and ordered films both show increasing critical strain under thin-film confinement.
An Empirical Examination of U.S. Dollar Swap Spreads

The structure of a plain vanilla interest rate swap is such that its cash flows can be replicated by a portfolio of two bonds or by a portfolio of short-term interest rate futures contracts. Swap pricing, therefore, should be closely related to the pricing of these underlying instruments. This paper estimates the determinants of U.S. dollar swap spreads to test whether the pricing relationships between swaps, bonds and futures hold. Swap spreads are positively related to interest rate volatility and the corporate quality spread, and negatively related to the term spread and level of the interest rate. Short-term over-the-counter swap rates are highly correlated with swap rates calculated using Eurodollar futures prices. While exchange-traded implied swap spreads are statistically related to yield curve factors, they are not related to corporate quality spreads. Overall, the results in this paper suggest that swaps are not equivalent to portfolios of bonds or futures contracts due in part to the differences in the credit risk in each instrument.
FOLLOWING WATER INJECTION SIMULATION AFTER PROFILE CONFORMANCE

The injected water in the treated area can be divided into three different effects: the pure compression, the compression and micro flow, the macro flow. In this paper, according to the three different courses the flow model was set up to describe them and the model was used to simulate the water flow in treated area. Secondly, the core flooding experiment was done, the experiment results had the good consistence with the simulation results, so the model can describe the followed water flow. The results provided the theoretical foundation for the local application.
Renal synthesis and urinary excretion of eicosanoids during pregnancy in rats

We tested whether vasodilatory prostaglandins (PGs) mediate the adaptation of the maternal renal circulation to pregnancy by assessing production of PGs by kidney tissues in vitro. We reasoned that if PGs are crucial, then local synthetic rates of these hormones would most likely be increased. Glomeruli harvested from gravid rats of gestational days 6, 12, and 20 did not demonstrate greater basal or stimulated syntheses of PGF2 alpha, PGE2, or 6-keto-PGF1 alpha than those from virgin controls. Production of PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha by renal cortical slices obtained from pregnant rats was not greater than that of virgins either. Urine 24-h excretory rates of PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, but not PGF2 alpha, were significantly increased during pregnancy (all P less than 0.05 from prepregnant levels). During midgestation, when urinary excretion of PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was greatest, medullary syntheses of these PGs were found to be comparable between virgin and gravid animals. The present study, which fails to show augmented synthesis of PGs by renal tissues derived from gravid rats, is consistent with our previous investigation in which cyclooxygenase inhibition did not reduce the gestational increase of renal hemodynamics or restore the attenuated renal pressor responsiveness to exogenous angiotensin II. Taken together, we conclude that in rats, PGs most likely do not mediate the alterations in the renal circulation observed during pregnancy.
Body Image among African Americans

Research concerning racial difference in body image has produced the consensus that African Americans express positive body image more often than do White Americans, and do so at higher body weights. Based on this evidence, it has been reasoned that the weaker association between positive body image and weight undermines African Americans’ motivation to maintain a healthy weight or lose weight once they are overweight. For eating disorders, the reasoning reverses: African Americans are buffered from the pressure to be fit, lean, and muscular that has increased in the majority culture over the past few decades. This reasoning has not been borne out by research, which has identified variability in body satisfaction and eating disordered behaviors in this group.