cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Existence, uniqueness, and stability for a class of diffusion problems

Abstract Singular boundary value problems are used to model diffusion of a specimen in a nonhomogeneous environment. Existence and uniqueness results are obtained by establishing a priori bounds for all solutions and then applying a shooting technique to appropriate initial value problems. Asymptotic stability results are obtained by constructing an appropriate Lyapunov function and deriving differential inequalities to be satisfied by the parameters of the problem.
Application of circularly polarized luminescence spectroscopy to the solution structure of racemic polyaminocarboxylate lanthanide (III) complexes

Abstract Circularly polarized luminescence from 1:1 complexes of Eu(III) with triethylenetetra-aminehexaacetic acid (TTHA) following excitation with circularly polarized light is reported. This observation is consistent with a solution structure for this complex that is chiral, and stable on the emission time scale of Eu(III) (approximately 1.2ms). Additional measurements show only a slight dependence on temperature, and an estimate for the activation energy for racemization (23 kcal/mol) may be obtained. Attempts at detecting enantio-selective quenching of Tb(TTHA)3- by optically active Ru(phen)2+3 are also reported. Although significant quenching was observed, and the time-decay of the Tb(III) emission was not mono-exponential, no enantio-selectivity was found. This latter result may be interpreted in terms of the lack of discriminating short-range diastereomeric interactions between the chiral ion pairs.
Chronic drinking, binge drinking, and drunk driving II.

Data from the Brief Risk Factor Surveillance System on 47 states were examined in an ecological analysis of the relationship between rates of binge drinking, chronic drinking, and driving while intoxicated (DWI). DWI rates were significantly associated with rates of binge drinking but not with chronic heavy drinking. This finding has implications for the nature and targets of efforts toward prevention.
Location Patterns of High Growth Industries in Rural Counties

The basic premise of this article is that the historic location determinants literature is unduly pessimistic regarding the economic prospects of rural areas. Most historic location research has treated rural areas as homogeneous regions. This study demonstrates that rural counties should be treated as differentiated sets of economic environments rather than as an aggregate. The locational potential of specific industries differs dramatically among differentiated rural regions. When examined in this way, a number of high-growth industries surface as having development potential under specified rural conditions. In addition this work raises serious questions about the adequacy of product life-cycle theory (Erickson 1976) and high-technology filtering-down theory (Glasmeier 1991) in identifying the variables critical to industrial location. This work indicates that neither small size nor remoteness is as limiting as suggested by earlier research.
Patient education and counseling in the context of modern patient-physician-family communication

The modern understanding of patient education derives from a robust literature from public health and clinical medicine that started to become empirical and rigorous in the mid-1960s. Patient education is one of three functions of the medical interview, each of which must each be accomplished skillfully if the others are to be maximally effective. This article discusses the new conceptualization of patient education and provides examples of how it works. The rule of patient activation is discussed and implications for future research are presented.
Graphene-based hyperbolic metamaterial

We introduce a graphene-based composite multilayer structure that exhibits hyperbolic-like wavevector dispersion at terahertz and mid-infrared frequencies. The multilayer structure comprises graphene sheets separated by dielectric layers. We formulate the effective permittivity tensor of the multilayer using a simple homogenization scheme. In addition, we employ Bloch theory for evaluating the wavevector dispersion for a propagation mode inside the HM, and show that the homogenization scheme is in good agreement with Bloch theory in a very wide spatial spectrum. We report the tunability of transition from elliptic to hyperbolic iso-frequency wavevector dispersion by varying the chemical potential of graphene sheets.
Can the protein occupancy landscape show the topologically isolated chromosomal domains in the E. coli genome?: An exciting prospect

In a recent issue of Molecular Cell, Vora et al. (2009) introduce an in vivo protein occupancy display (IPOD) technology and propose that the domains extensively occupied by proteins with inactive transcription in bacteria are mainly topologically isolated chromosomal domains.
Parameterizations for Natural Exponential Families with Quadratic Variance Functions

Abstract Parameterizations for natural exponential families (NEF's) with quadratic variance functions (QVF's) are compared according to the nearness to normality of the likelihood and posterior distribution. Nonnormality of the likelihood (posterior) is measured using two criteria. The first is the magnitude of a standardized third derivative of the log-likelihood (logposterior density); the second is a comparison of the probability of particular tail regions under the normalized likelihood (posterior distribution) and under the corresponding normal approximation. A relationship is given that links these two criteria. Sample sizes are recommended for adequate normality in the likelihood for various parameterizations of the NEF-QVF models, and these results are extended to Bayesian models with a conjugate prior.
Gas scavenging of insoluble vapors: Condensation of methyl salicylate vapor onto evaporating drops of water

Abstract We have observed the evaporation of acoustically levitated water drops at 0 and 32% relative humidity in a moving gas stream which is nearly saturated with methyl salicylate vapor. The initial evaporation rate is characteristic of a pure water drop and gradually slows until the evaporation rate becomes that of pure methyl salicylate. The quantity of condensed methyl salicylate exceeds its Henry's law solubility in water by factors of more than 30–50. This apparent violation of Henry's law agrees with the concentration enhancements in the liquid phase found by glotfelty et al. (1987, Nature235, 602–605) during their field measurements of organophorus pesticides in fog water. Under our conditions, visual evidence demonstrates the presence of two liquid phases, thus invalidating the use of Henry's law. A continuum evaporation-condensation model for an immiscible two-component system which accounts for evaporative self-cooling of the drop correctly predicts the amount of methyl salicylate condensed onto the water drops.
Primary intraosseous squamous carcinoma. Report of two cases

Two cases of primary intraosseous squamous carcinoma (PIOSC) are reported. One PIOSC is in the mandible of a 24-year-old man and appears to be a keratinizing PIOSC arising de novo. The other PIOSC presented in the edentulous maxilla of a 56-year-old man and was diagnosed as a PIOSC arising from an odontogenic cyst. The 2nd tumor subsequently metastasized to a cervical lymph node. Previous reports have noted a favorable prognosis for PIOC arising in odontogenic cysts, and only 3 other instances of metastases of a PIOSC in an odontogenic cyst have been documented.
A Mössbauer spectroscopic study of the reversible oxidation of ferrous ions in Y zeolite

Abstract The ferrous ions in dehydrated Fe2+-Y zeolite are oxidized to ferric ions by the adsorption of dry oxygen at 400 °C. Approximately one oxygen atom is adsorbed for two iron ions. It is proposed that the oxidation at 400 °C forms iron-oxygen-iron bridges inside the sodalite cages. The adsorption of water, ethanol, ammonia, and piperidine on the oxidized iron zeolite are discussed in terms of the proposed model. The adsorbed oxygen can be removed by hydrogen reduction at 400 °C with restoration of the original material. Much of the adsorbed oxygen is removed by evacuation of the oxidized material at 525 °C with partial regeneration of the same ferrous species observed in dehydrated Fe2+-Y. Oxidation of Fe2+-Y at room temperature in wet oxygen leads to partial formation of ferric ions. The results of this study are in good agreement with those obtained by others who started with a Fe3+-exchanged Y zeolite.
Visual Analytics for Early-Phase Complex Engineered System Design Support

The design and production of complex engineered systems (CES) requires analysis of massive amounts of detailed information, including data on products and materials, engineering designs, manufacturing specifications, supply chain and delivery data, and changing customer needs. Visual analytics promises to offer tools and methods that will help stakeholders interactively explore, discover, and make sense of the underlying data. This article reports on the authors' ongoing experiences in developing visual analytics tools for real-world CES. Their work focuses on the early design phase during which a large design space is explored, poor alternatives are pruned, and valuable alternatives are further considered. The authors demonstrate their ideas with an example of a 2-degrees-of-freedom robot and conclude with opportunities for future work for visualization in manufacturing design.
Low Frequency Combustion Instabilities Imaged in a Gas Turbine Combustor Flame Tube

An “equivalence ratio oscillation” was studied that produced a strong low frequency combustion instability (at 80 and 160 Hz) when a commercial lean premixed prevaporized (LPP) fuel injector was operated using Jet-A fuel at realistic conditions. The elevated pressures, temperatures, air flow rates and overall equivalence ratios were close to conditions at engine idle. However the fraction of fuel diverted to the various injector ports was sufficiently off-design to create an instability. High speed movies showed that the flame base violently moves upstream and downstream at 80 Hz, and that flashback plays a role in the rapid upstream movements. Flame shape also changes at 80 Hz from a flat flame to a more elongated flame, which affects the heat release pattern and causes oscillations in the air flow rate. A regime diagram is reported which contains the boundary that marks the onset of the instability. Other higher frequency instabilities were also present and were due to longitudinal and azimuthal organ tones, but their magnitudes were more than ten times smaller than the pressure fluctuations caused by the equivalence ratio oscillation.
Risk factors for EEG seizures in neonates treated with hypothermia: A multicenter cohort study

Objective: To assess the risk factors for electrographic seizures among neonates treated with therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Methods: Three-center observational cohort study of 90 term neonates treated with hypothermia, monitored with continuous video-EEG (cEEG) within the first day of life (median age at onset of recording 9.5 hours, interquartile range 6.3–14.5), and continued for >24 hours (total recording 93.3 hours, interquartile range 80.1–112.8 among survivors). A pediatric electroencephalographer at each site reviewed cEEGs for electrographic seizures and initial EEG background category. Results: A total of 43 (48%) had electrographic seizures, including 9 (10%) with electrographic status epilepticus. Abnormal initial EEG background classification (excessively discontinuous, depressed and undifferentiated, burst suppression, or extremely low voltage), but not clinical variables (including pH Conclusions: Electrographic seizures are common among neonates with HIE undergoing hypothermia and are difficult to predict based on clinical features. These results justify the recommendation for cEEG monitoring in neonates treated with hypothermia.
Regenerative Treatment for Recession Defects Using Purified Human Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB, Particulate Grafts, and Coronally Repositioned Flaps

Introduction: Recession defects are typically characterized by loss of periodontal attachment, including gingiva, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and cementum. Numerous techniques have been developed for treatment of these defects using soft-tissue grafting procedures with autogenous and allograft materials that generally heal with root coverage and repair of the defects. This case presentation illustrates a technique using a particulate carrier saturated with recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF-BB) and coronally advanced gingival flaps to cover recession defects. Additionally, other scientific evidence from previous studies suggests that this technique may lead to periodontal regeneration, including cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone over previously exposed roots, which might be preferable to other methods that lead to periodontal repair.Case Presentation: This article illustrates a technique to coronally position flaps in combination with rhPDGF-BB-saturated p...
The physician-scientist template.

In a letter by David A. Hume (( Science 's Compass, 2 Apr. p. [49][1]), it is alleged that physician-scientists are no worse off than “harried university professors trying to balance research with increasing teaching and administrative responsibilities,” and it is further questioned whether
A pathogenetic role for TNFα in the syndrome of cachexia, arthritis, and autoimmunity resulting from tristetraprolin (TTP) deficiency

Abstract Tristetraprolin (TTP) is a widely expressed potential transcription factor that contains two unusual CCCH zinc fingers and is encoded by the immediate–early response gene, Zfp-36 . Mice made deficient in TTP by gene targeting appeared normal at birth, but soon manifested marked medullary and extramedullary myeloid hyperplasia associated with cachexia, erosive arthritis, dermatitis, conjunctivitis, glomerular mesangial thickening, and high titers of anti-DNA and antinuclear antibodies. Myeloid progenitors from these mice showed no increase in sensitivity to growth factors. Treatment of young TTP-deficient mice with antibodies to tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) prevented the development of essentially all aspects of the phenotype. These results indicate a role for TTP in regulating TNFα synthesis, secretion, turnover, or action. TTP-deficient mice may serve as useful models of the autoimmune inflammatory state resulting from chronic effective TNFα excess.
Activation Cross Sections for ( n , 2 n ) Reactions at 14.4 MeV in the Region Z = 40 − 60 : Precision Measurements and Systematics

Activation cross sections for the ($n, 2n$) reaction in the region of $Z=40\ensuremath{-}60$ at 14.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 MeV have been measured by using the mixed-powder method and Ge(Li) $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray detection. The total cross sections ($m+g$) measured are (in mb) ${\mathrm{Zr}}^{90}$, 652\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}31; ${\mathrm{Zr}}^{96}$, 1456\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}80; ${\mathrm{Mo}}^{92}$, 217\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}18; ${\mathrm{Mo}}^{100}$, 1389\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}84; ${\mathrm{Ru}}^{96}$, 569\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}30; ${\mathrm{Ru}}^{98}$, 1168\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}96; ${\mathrm{Ru}}^{104}$, 1440\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}80; ${\mathrm{Rh}}^{103}$, 957\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}57; ${\mathrm{Pd}}^{102}$, 637\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}45; ${\mathrm{Pd}}^{110}$, 1416\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}150; ${\mathrm{Cd}}^{108}$, 865\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}100; ${\mathrm{Cd}}^{110}$, 1221\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}150; ${\mathrm{Cd}}^{116}$, 1389\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}71; ${\mathrm{Sn}}^{114}$, 1239\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}130; ${\mathrm{Sb}}^{121}$, 1615\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}63; ${\mathrm{Sb}}^{123}$, 1542\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}80; ${\mathrm{Te}}^{122}$, 1615\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}110; ${\mathrm{Te}}^{128}$, 1661\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}161; ${\mathrm{Te}}^{130}$, 1455\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}55; ${\mathrm{I}}^{127}$, 1649\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}80; ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{133}$, 1542\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}75; ${\mathrm{Ba}}^{132}$, 1574\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}100; ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{136}$, 1318\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}90; ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{140}$, 1593\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}130; and ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{141}$, 1730\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}170. Some partial ($n, 2n$) cross sections also are reported. The measured values are compared with the semiempirical predictions of Pearlstein and of Gardner. No significant shell effects are seen, and the data suggest that 14-MeV ($n, 2n$) reactions are governed predominantly by the statistical model of the compound nucleus. An empirical fit for the ratio of neutron emission to all modes of compound-nucleus decay, $\frac{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{n,M}}{{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{ne}}}$, is deduced from the present results.
Chemisorption of atomic oxygen on Pd(1 1 1) studied by STM

Abstract Atomic oxygen resulting from the dissociation of O2 on Pd(1 1 1) at low coverage was studied in a variable temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM) in the range from 30 to 210 K. Oxygen atoms, which typically appear as 30–40 pm deep depressions on Pd(1 1 1), occupy fcc hollow sites and form ordered p(2 × 2) islands upon annealing above 180 K. The mobility of the atoms diminishes rapidly below 180 K, with an approximate diffusion barrier of 0.4–0.5 eV. Oxygen atom pairs produced by thermal dissociation of O2 at 160 K occupy both fcc and hcp hollow sites. The atoms travel approximately 0.25 nm after dissociation, and the distribution of pairs is strongly influenced by the presence of subsurface impurities within the Pd sample. At much lower temperatures, the STM tip can dissociate oxygen molecules. Dissociation occurs at sample bias voltages exceeding approximately 0.1 V. Following tip-induced dissociation, the product atoms occupy only fcc hollow sites. Oxygen atoms can be manipulated via short range repulsive interactions with the STM tip.
Models for assessing the volatilization of herbicides applied to flooded rice fields

Abstract Volatilization rates of MCPA, thiobencarb, and molinate from water were calculated using the EXAMS aquatic fate computer model, and measured in a laboratory chamber and in flooded rice fields. A fair to good correlation was obtained between EXAMS-calculated and chamber-measured rates for all three herbicides. Field-measured values correlated well with chamber-measured rates for thiobencarb and molinate. For MCPA, field-measured values were much higher than expected for volatilization from water alone. In this case, the presence of plant and other surface residues in the field made the major contribution to observed volatilization. For MCPA, 4-chloro-o-cresol flux was comparable to that of the parent herbicide.
A Fresh Reading for 'Aged Wine' in the Samaria Ostraca

AbstractThough the Samaria Ostraca are of limited use as witnesses to spoken Hebrew in the Iron Age, they hold a greater value when it is recognized that they are relics of an ancient writing system. Scholars typically classify the language of the ostraca as a northern dialect of Hebrew. However, the issue becomes one of semantics when the meaning of 'dialect' is considered. The Samaria Ostraca were products of royal scribes and represent a distinct form of literature (archival lists) that held a limited purpose (recording deliveries of foods). The best way to approach the language of the Samaria Ostraca is to take into consideration their specific use and social context by examining the ostraca's form (or register) and content. This essay will explore the Samaria Ostraca as administrative documents written in a standardized language that recorded shipments of prestige goods, and will focus on the terms 'washed oil,' and 'aged wine.' Both terms stand for high-quality products that were unique to the cultu...
Proteasome Inhibition Modulates Kinase Activation in Neural Cells: Relevence to Ubiquitination, Ribosomes, and Survival

In this study we examined whether established signal transduction cascades, p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2) and Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) pathways, are altered in N2a neural cells in response to proteasome inhibition. Additionally, we sought to elucidate the relative contribution of these signal transduction pathways to the multiple downstream effects of proteasome inhibition. Our data indicate that ERK1/2 and JNK are activated in response to proteasome inhibition. Washout of proteasome inhibitor (MG132) results in an enhancement of ERK1/2 activation and amelioration of JNK activation. Treatment with an established MAPK inhibitor resulted in an increase in proteasome inhibitor toxicity, and incubation with JNK inhibitor was observed to attenuate proteasome inhibitor toxicity significantly. Subsequent studies demonstrated that inhibition of ERK1/2 and JNK activity does not alter the gross increase in ubiquitinated protein following proteasome inhibitor administration. Similarly, ERK1/2 and JNK activity do not appear to play a role in the disruption of polysomes following proteasome inhibitor administration in neural cells. Together these data indicate that ERK1/2 and JNK activation may play differential roles in modulating neurochemical disturbances and neurotoxicity induced by proteasome inhibition.
fluoropyrimidine-induced antagonism to free and tightly bound methotrexate: suppression of [14C] formate incorporation into RNA and protein.

Abstract The inhibitory effect of methotrexate (MTX) on [ 14 C] formate incorporation into RNA and protein in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells is decreased by pretreatment with fluoropyrimidines. When the basal rate of [ 3 H] deoxyuridine (UdR) incorporation into DNA is decreased to 26, 64 and 95% by 5 -fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR), the inhibitory effect of MTX on [ 14 C] formate incorporation into (a) RNA is decreased to 40, 19 and 3% , and (b) protein is decreased to 52, 25 and 7% . MTX alone, however, suppressed [ 14 C] formate incorporation into RNA and protein 56 and 67% , respectively. Free intracellular MTX is required for maximal suppression of [ 14 C] formate incorporation into RNA and protein after pretreatment of cells with FUdR. When high-affinity binding sites for MTX are > 95% saturated with MTX, but free or exchangeable MTX is not present, [ 14 C] formate incorporation into RNA and protein is stimulated in the presence of FUdR. However, as the intracellular levels of MTX in excess of the tightly bound fraction is increased with 1 μM and 10 μM MTX, there is progressive inhibition of [ 14 C] formate incorporation into RNA and protein in cells exposed to FUdR. Theses data support the concept that fluoropyrimidine-induced antagonism to MTX is related, in part, to levels of reduced folates available for purine and protein synthesis.
Are Block Watch volunteers different than volunteers in community-oriented policing programs? Findings from a mature COPS setting

A number of studies have examined the correlates of citizen volunteerism in crime prevention programs, but few studies have systematically compared volunteers in Block Watch and community-oriented policing (COP) programs. This study has two goals. First, this study evaluates the impact that a number of theoretically hypothesized factors have on citizen volunteerism in crime prevention programs, and second, assesses whether the determinants of citizen volunteerism in Block Watch programs differ from COP programs. Results from an urban Western city (n = 850) show that race, victimization, and positive attitudes toward the police are significant predictors of citizen participation in COP programs. Whereas income and perceptions of inadequate police services are significant predictors of citizen participation in Block Watch programs. Contrary to other findings in the literature fear of crime and social cohesion were not significantly associated with participation in either program.
Modification of the Minimum Logit Chi‐Squared Estimator in Simple Linear Logistic Regression

A new modification of Berkson's minimum logit chi-squared estimator in simple linear logistic regression is suggested in order to achieve reduction of first order bias of the estimator as well as in the model. Furthermore, unlike estimators currently available, our procedure is quite simple to apply in practice and is valid even in the presence of zero frequencies in the table.
Apparent evaporative resistance at critical conditions for five clothing ensembles

A limiting factor for clothing ensembles inherent during heat stress exposures is the evaporative resistance, which can be used to compare candidate ensembles and in rational models of heat exchange. In this study, the apparent total evaporative resistance of five clothing ensembles (cotton work clothes, cotton coveralls, and coveralls made of Tyvek® 1424 and 1427, NexGen® and Tychem QC®) was estimated empirically from wear trials using a progressive heat stress protocol and from clothing insulation adjustments based on ISO 9920 (2007) and wetness. The metabolic rate was moderate at 165 W m−2 and relative humidity was held at 50%. Twenty-nine heat-acclimated participants (20 men and 9 women) completed trials for all clothing ensembles. A general linear mixed effects model (ensemble and participants as a random effect) was used to analyze the data. Significant differences (p < 0.0001) among ensembles were observed for apparent total evaporative resistance. As expected, Tychem QC had the highest apparent total evaporative resistance at 0.033 kPa m2 W−1. NexGen was next at 0.017 kPa m2 W−1. These were followed by Tyvek 1424 at 0.015 kPa m2 W−1, and Tyvek 1427, Cotton Coveralls and Work Clothes all at 0.013 kPa m2 W−1. This wear test method improves on past methods using the progressive protocol to determine evaporative resistance by including the effects of movement, air motion and wetness on the estimate of clothing insulation. The pattern of evaporative resistance is the same as that for critical WBGTs and a linear relationship between apparent total evaporative resistance and WBGT clothing adjustment factor is suggested. With the large sample size, a good estimate of sample variance associated with progressive method can be made, where the standard error is 0.0044 kPa m2 W−1 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.0040–0.0050 kPa m2 W−1.
Cross-cultural comparison of the information sources used by first-time and repeat travelers and its marketing implications

Abstract This research is to investigate first-time and repeat German, French, and British travelers’ use of information sources. Three research questions are proposed to explore the differences in the use of information between repeat and first-time travelers and delineate the information usage pattern among the above three groups of travelers. Accordingly, this study analyzed the data collected from a series of in-flight surveys of German, British, and French travelers to the US between January 1997 and December 1997. The differences in regard to first-time and repeat travelers’ use of external information sources were revealed by logit analyses. A correspondence analysis was employed to further visualize travelers’ information usage patterns. This study indicates that past trip experience significantly influenced travelers’ use of information sources. In the conclusion section, various marketing implications are drawn.
LCP droplet deformation in fiber spinning of self-reinforced composites

The development of morphology during fiber spinning of blends of polyesters (PET and PBT) with LCP (PET/HBA) was studied. The quantitative predictions of the blend morphologies under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions were obtained using a droplet deformation criteria based on the reduced capillary number and the affine deformation theory. The temperature, radius, velocity, and strain rate profiles of 60/40 polyester/LCP fibers along the spin line were calculated using Kase and Matsuo's theory for fiber spinning under the steady-state condition. Simulation of breakup of LCP phase during fiber spinning of the blend based on the dimensionless breakup time indicated the absence of their breakup. The flow curves of the blends at various temperatures required to carry out simulation were obtained by a capillary rheometer. An Arrhenius type equation was established for the viscosity variation with the temperature. An interfacial tension between the components was calculated from the interfacial thickness observed by SEM. In the calculation, various viscosity ratios between thermoplastics and LCP components were applied. Initial and final sizes of LCP phase were examined by SEM and image analyzer. The calculated diameters of LCP fibrils in the fibers were found to be in agreement with the measured values.
Spaces with a pretty base

Henriksen, M., Spaces with a pretty base, Journal of Pure and Applied Algebra 70 (1991) 81-87.
Excellent Outcomes Can Be Achieved in Young Pancreas Transplant Alone Recipients by Addition of Sirolimus to Maintenance Immunosuppression Regimen

Abstract Background Pancreas transplant alone (PTA) has evolved into a viable treatment option for nonuremic patients with labile diabetes mellitus. Historically, PTA outcomes were inferior to simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant outcomes, because of the higher rate of graft loss due to rejection in PTA recipients. But with advances in immunosuppression, PTA outcomes have improved significantly—except in young PTA recipients. The more potent immune system in young recipients appears to play a key role. In this study, our objective was to investigate outcomes of PTA, by recipient age, with the use of different immunosuppressive maintenance regimens. Methods Using information from the International Pancreas Transplant Registry and from the United Network for Organ Sharing, we analyzed outcomes of 393 technically successful enteric-drained transplants in the PTA category that were performed from January 2003 through December 2012. All PTA recipients underwent induction immunosuppression with thymoglobulin and pulse steroids and were then maintained on long-term low-dose prednisone. Excluded from our study group were patients who experienced surgical graft loss. We divided the 393 recipients into 2 age groups: Results The overall 3-year graft survival rate, across both age groups, was significantly better with the Srl regimen ( P = .03). Regardless of the immunosuppressive regimen used, outcomes were significantly better in the older group than in the younger group ( P = .05). In the older group, with both regimens, outcomes were similar ( P = .55). But in the younger group, outcomes with the Srl regimen were significantly better ( P = .009) than with the non-Srl regimen and, in fact, were similar to outcomes in the older group. Conclusions Our study shows that adding Srl to the standard maintenance immunosuppressive regimen of Tac and MMF provides the best outcomes in young PTA recipients, the most immunologically robust and therefore the most immunologically challenging age group. To achieve excellent outcomes, more potent immunosuppression is required in this cohort. We think that PTA should be offered to young patients with labile diabetes before secondary complications develop.
Atrial fibrillation surgery in nonrheumatic mitral valve disease

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is present in 30-50% of patients presenting for mitral valve surgery. If left untreated, AF in these patients is associated with increased morbidity and, possibly, increased mortality. Therefore, concomitant management of the arrhythmia is indicated in most mitral valve patients with preexisting AF. The cut-and-sew Cox-Maze III procedure is extremely effective, eliminating AF in 80-95%; however, it has been supplanted by newer operations that rely upon alternate energy sources to create lines of conduction block. Early and midterm results are good with a variety of technologies. Choice of lesion set remains a matter of debate, but success of ablation appears to be enhanced by a biatrial lesion set and exceeds 90% in some series. Targeted areas for improvement in combined mitral valve surgery and AF ablation include acceptance of uniform standards for reporting results, development of improved technology for ablation and intraoperative assessment, and creation of instrumentation that facilitates minimally invasive approaches.
Modeling the growth of Listeria monocytogenes based on a time to detect model in culture media and frankfurters

Abstract In the current study, temperature dependent growth of Listeria monocytogenes strain H7776, with an initial inoculum level of approximately 0.1 CFU/mL or g, was modeled based on “time to detect” (TTD) using the Arrhenius equation. The activation energies ( E a ) obtained from specific growth rate and lag phase duration in tryptic soy broth (TSB) and frankfurters were compared. At 4 °C, the TTD for L. monocytogenes was 217 h in TSB and 48 h in portions of frankfurters. The TTD decreased as temperature increased from 4 to 36 °C in both culture media and frankfurters, and this relationship was modeled using the Arrhenius equation. Based on this model, the E a values for the TTD in TSB and frankfurters averaged 22.7 and 18.7 kcal/mol, respectively, and were not significantly different ( p E a values were also calculated based on the specific growth rate and the lag phase of L. monocytogenes in TSB and frankfurters incubated in the same range of temperatures. The average E a values for the specific growth rates and the lag phase durations in TSB cultures were 19 and 21 kcal/mol, respectively. In frankfurters, the average E a values were slightly greater for both specific growth rate and lag phase duration (29 and 35 kcal/mol, respectively), but these values were not significantly different from the E a calculated for the TTD in each medium. These results indicate that the TTD concept can be used to develop and validate safety-based shelf life models.
Meningococcal disease in South Australia: incidence and serogroup distribution 1971–1980

During the ten-year period 1971-80 isolates of meningococci from 85 cases of meningococcal disease (MD) in South Australia, from 66 children, 6 adolescents and 13 adults, were examined. These comprised 69 cases of meningitis and 16 cases of bacteraemia without meningitis. Thirty-three (39%) of all cases of MD occurred in children less than 1 year of age, the median age was 19 months. Serogroup B accounted for 61 (72%) cases of MD, group A seven (8%), group C seven (8%), group W135 five (6%), group Y three (4%) and group X one (1%); in addition there was a single case of Neisseria lactamica infection. The annual prevalence of MD in South Australia for the period was 11 cases per 100000 for children under the age of 2 years and 0.7 cases per 100000 overall. The prevalence was highest in winter (45% cases) and spring (26%) and lowest in summer (13%). The overall mortality rate was 8%. Four of the 21 infants under the age of 6 months died (mortality rate 19%) whereas none of the 32 children aged from 6 months to 14 years died (P = 0.02). Amongst the survivors, three children had deafness, which was bilateral and severe in two.
VIZIR: an integrated environment for distributed program visualization

VIZIR provides an integrated mechanism for on-line debugging, performance analysis, and data visualization of message-passing parallel applications. The current VIZIR includes: (1) a mechanism to multicast window-based commands, message passing and program execution events among tasks; (2) the ability to select groups of tasks to interact these events; (3) a means to report when these events cause errors in the tasks; and (4) ad hoc visualization of distributed arrays using existing visualizers. >
Aerobic fitness percentiles for U.S. adolescents.

Background: Although aerobic fitness has been well studied, establishing developmental patterns from previous studies has some limitations including selection bias and the statistical modeling of growth-related data. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop age-, gender-, and race-specific smoothed percentiles for aerobic fitness using the LMS (Lskewness, Mmedian, and Scoefficient of variation) statistical procedure in a large, multiethnic, nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents aged 12-18 years. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES (1999 - 2000 and 2001-2002)) were combined. In all, 2997 subjects (1478 boys and 1519 girls) completed a treadmill exercise test from which maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) was estimated from heart rate response. Percentile curves were determined by using the LMS procedure, which fits smooth percentile curves to reference data. Results: Separate LMS curves were initially prepared for each gender and race; however, since the overall distribution of the data was not different for whites, blacks, and Hispanics, the participants were combined, and separate centile curves were prepared for boys and girls. Specific percentile values were created from the LMS curves, and the age- and gender-specific values for LMS are provided for calculation of individual z-scores (SD scores). In general, there is a slight increase in estimated VO2max of boys aged 12-15 years and then it remains stable. In girls, there is slight decrease in estimated VO2max across ages 12-18 years. Boys have higher values than girls at every age-specific percentile. Conclusions: This study presents age- and gender-specific percentiles for U.S. youth aged 12-18 years based on NHANES (1999 -2002), and adds to the recent application of the LMS statistical procedure for the construction of growth percentiles for a variety of outcomes. Comparisons are made to current FITNESSGRAM ® thresholds. (Am J Prev Med 2011;41(4S2):S106 -S110) © 2011 American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Effects of pertussis toxin on resorption of 19-day-old fetal rat long bones.

We tested the effects that pertussis toxin had on bone resorption mediated by cAMP-dependent and cAMP-independent stimuli in 19-day-old fetal rat long bones. Agents that stimulate cAMP were PTH, prostaglandin E2, and calcitonin. Agents that act independent of cAMP were: phorbol 13- myristate 12-acetate (PMA), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, murine interleukin-lα, osteoclast-activating factor, and human tumor necrosis factor-α. Pertussis (1-10 ng/ml) produced a dose-related inhibition of resorption in unstimulated control cultures. The inhibitory effect was not associated with changes in either [3H]thymidine or [3H]proline incorporation into bones. α-Glucuronidase activity in the medium was decreased. PMA was the only agonist whose resorptive effect was completely blocked by pertussis. The resorptive response to other stimulators was reduced, but treated/ control ratios usually remained the same or increased because of the greater effect of pertussis on control resorption. There was a partial inhibition of the r...
Local Dynamic Stability Assessment of Motion Impaired Elderly Using Electronic Textile Pants

A clear association has been demonstrated between gait stability and falls in the elderly. Integration of wearable computing and human dynamic stability measures into home automation systems may help differentiate fall-prone individuals in a residential environment. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the capability of a pair of electronic textile (e-textile) pants system to assess local dynamic stability and to differentiate motion-impaired elderly from their healthy counterparts. A pair of e-textile pants comprised of numerous e-TAGs at locations corresponding to lower extremity joints was developed to collect acceleration, angular velocity and piezoelectric data. Four motion-impaired elderly together with nine healthy individuals (both young and old) participated in treadmill walking with a motion capture system simultaneously collecting kinematic data. Local dynamic stability, characterized by maximum Lyapunov exponent, was computed based on vertical acceleration and angular velocity at lower extremity joints for the measurements from both e-textile and motion capture systems. Results indicated that the motion-impaired elderly had significantly higher maximum Lyapunov exponents (computed from vertical acceleration data) than healthy individuals at the right ankle and hip joints. In addition, maximum Lyapunov exponents assessed by the motion capture system were found to be significantly higher than those assessed by the e-textile system. Despite the difference between these measurement techniques, attaching accelerometers at the ankle and hip joints was shown to be an effective sensor configuration. It was concluded that the e-textile pants system, via dynamic stability assessment, has the potential to identify motion-impaired elderly.
Triplet state photoexcitations in frozen solutions of oligothiophenes

Abstract We present studies of near-steady-state photoinduced absorption (PIA) spectroscopy of well-defined α-oligothiophenes (Tn, n = 6,7,9, and 11) in frozen 2MeTHF solution. The PIA spectra and the excited state lifetimes are consistent with the signatures of a photoexcited triplet state. The triplet photoexcitation is created via an intrachain mechanism and decays nonradiatively with monomolecular kinetics.
Tau estimates for mantle P- and S-waves from global travel-time observations

Summary. Travel-time data from the ZSCBuZZetin were used to determine a 7(p) confidence region for mantle P- and S-waves. One year of P data, amounting to approximately 108 000 travel times, and four years of S data, amounting to approximately 75 000 travel times, were used. Geometrical path corrections were applied to place all sources and receivers at a common radius of 6338 km. A preliminary test was devised and applied to the traveltime data to determine if they were suitable for the estimation of 7(p). This criterion precluded construction of complete tau functions for the mantle, particularly the upper mantle. Thirty-five confidence intervals for the mean ~(p) were computed at the 99.9 per cent confidence level from the P data, and 23 were computed from the S data. Most confidence interval widths were less than 0.2 s for P-waves, and less than 0.8 s for S-waves. Comparison with computed ~(p) for several published velocity models indicates significant differences among the models in the ~(p) domain.
Are Seasonal Anomalies Real? A Ninety-Year Perspective

In recent years there has been a proliferation of empirical studies documenting unexpected or anomalous regularities in security rates of return. In addition to the widely studied relation between firm size and rate of return,1 these include seasonal regularities related to the time of the day [Harris (1986)], the day of the week [see Ball and Bowers (1986), Cross (1973), French (1980), Gibbons and Hess (1981), Jaffe and Westerfield (1985), Keim and Stambaugh (1984), and Lakonishok and Levi (1982)], the time of the month [Ariel (1987)], and the turn of the year [see Haugen and Lakonishok (1988), Jones, Pearce, and Wilson (1987), Lakonishok
Event-based estimation of water budget components using a network of multi-sensor capacitance probes

Abstract A new approach was developed for estimating vertical soil water fluxes using soil water content time series data. Instead of a traditional fixed time interval, this approach utilizes the time interval between two sequential minima of the soil water storage time series to identify groundwater recharge events and calculate components of the soil water budget. We calculated water budget components: surface-water excess (Sw), infiltration less evapotranspiration (I – ET) and groundwater recharge (R) from May 2001 to January 2003 at eight locations at the USDA Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland, USA. High uncertainty was observed for all budget components. This uncertainty was attributed to spatial and temporal variation in Sw, I – ET and R, and was caused by nonuniform rainfall distributions during recharge events, variability in the profile water content, and spatial variability in soil hydraulic properties. The proposed event-based approach allows estimating water budget components ...
Seasonal and Diurnal Dynamics of Beneficial Insect Populations in Apple Orchards Under Different Management Intensity

Limb jarring samples were taken in four experimental apple orchards (one completely unmanaged; one with horticultural management and no pest management; one with horticultural management, no pest management, and interplanted with peach and sour cherry; and one under conventional commercial management practices) at hourly intervals over a 24-h period at four times in 1991. A total of 1,176 individual predators belonging to seven orders and 22 families was collected. The most abundant species was Coniopteryx sp. (Coniopteryigidae: Neuroptera), and the most abundant family was Coccinellidae (Coleoptera). A total of 396 adult parasitoids was collected from 26 families of Hymenoptera and one Diptera family, with Encyrtidae being the most abundant. All other individuals were classified as potential food items and were identified only to order or, in some instances, family. A total of 5,812 potential food items was collected. Diversity of predators and parasitoids was greatest in May and June. Diversity of predators was highest on apple trees that were inter-planted with peach and cherry trees, whereas parasitoid diversity was greatest on peach trees and on insecticide treated apple trees. Chrysopids (Neuroptera), clerids (Coleoptera), and Leptothrips mali (Fitch) (Phlaeothripidae: Thysanoptera) were most commonly collected at dawn or during the night, suggesting that their role in orchards may be underestimated by sampling only during daylight hours. With the exception of Scelionidae and Platygastridae (Hymenoptera), parasitoids were most commonly collected during the night. Results indicate that peach trees are attractive to both predators and parasitoids and therefore may be a valuable addition to apple orchards to enhance the abundance of biological control species.
Modeling solid-solid phase transformations: from single crystal to polycrystal behavior

We introduce a framework for modeling elastic properties of shape memory alloy polycrystals by coupling orientational degrees of freedom with elastic strains. Our method allows us to span the length scales from single crystal to that appropriate to obtain polycrystal properties. The single crystal free energy coefficients can be determined from microscopic calculations (such as electronic structure and molecular dynamics) and/or available experimental structural, phonon and thermodynamic data. We simulate the microstructure and determine the stress-strain response of the polycrystal and compare it with that of a single crystal. For FePd parameters we find that the recoverable strain for a polycrystal is ~ 40% of that for a single crystal. The polycrystal information can, in principle, serve as input to the engineering scale of calculation, where the finite element method is appropriate.
Design Principles of a Universal Protein Degradation Machine

The 26S proteasome is a 2.5-MDa, 32-subunit ATP-dependent protease that is responsible for the degradation of ubiquitinated protein targets in all eukaryotic cells. This proteolytic machine consists of a barrel-shaped peptidase capped by a large regulatory particle, which contains a heterohexameric AAA+ unfoldase as well as several structural modules of previously unknown function. Recent electron microscopy (EM) studies have allowed major breakthroughs in understanding the architecture of the regulatory particle, revealing that the additional modules provide a structural framework to position critical, ubiquitin-interacting subunits and thus allow the 26S proteasome to function as a universal degradation machine for a wide variety of protein substrates. The EM studies have also uncovered surprising asymmetries in the spatial arrangement of proteasome subunits, yet the functional significance of these architectural features remains unclear. This review will summarize the recent findings on 26S proteasome structure and discuss the mechanistic implications for substrate binding, deubiquitination, unfolding, and degradation.