cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Double-Tuned Birdcage Coils: Construction and Tuning

General methods for double-tuning birdcage coils are reviewed, and the construction of the four-ring birdcage is described in detail. General methods for tuning a birdcage include a discussion of quadrature linear modes and how they relate to the production of circularly polarized RF fields within the coil interior. A visual description is developed for how the linear modes tune and align with their respective port connections, and this view is used to understand how mode misalignment and mode skewing can occur, especially for a coil using only two-port connections. Methods of tuning the birdcage coil include symmetric addition of tuning capacitance and use of variable capacitors at tuning and isolation points on the coil for alignment and tuning of the linear modes. These concepts are then used to describe the assembly and tuning of the four-ring birdcage. Finally, the hardware implementation of a two-channel RF transmit/receive system and its interconnection with the dual-tuned birdcage are described for acquisition of images and proton-decoupled NMR spectra. Keywords: birdcage; double-tuned birdcage; quadrature; four-ring birdcage; circular polarization; linear mode alignment
Configuring and Scheduling an Eager-Writing Disk Array for a Transaction Processing Workload

Transaction processing applications such as those exemplified by the TPC-C benchmark are among the most demanding I/O applications for conventional storage systems. Two complementary techniques exist to improve the performance of these systems. Eager-writing allows the free block that is closest to a disk head to be selected for servicing a write request, and mirroring allows the closest replica to be selected for servicing a read request. Applied individually, the effectiveness of each of these techniques is limited. An eager-writing disk array (EW-Array) combines these two complementary techniques. In such a system, eager-writing enables low-cost replica propagation so that the system can provide excellent performance for both read and write operations while maintaining a high degree of reliability. To fully realize the potential of an EW-Array, we must answer at least two key questions. First, since both eager-writing and mirroring rely on extra capacity to deliver performance improvements, how do we satisfy competing resource demands given a fixed amount of total disk space? Second, since eager-writing allows data to be dynamically located, how do we exploit this high degree of location independence in an intelligent disk scheduler? In this paper, we address these two key questions and compare the resulting EW-Array prototype performance against that of conventional approaches. The experimental results demonstrate that the eager-writing disk array is an effective approach to providing scalable performance for an important class of transaction processing applications.
Determining the Reading Medium for Visually Impaired Students via Diagnostic Teaching

To gather information on the reading medium of students with visual impairments, a systematic process is required. This article presents information on the application of a diagnostic teaching appr...
Atlas‐based estimation of lung and lobar anatomy in proton MRI

Purpose To propose an accurate methodological framework for automatically segmenting pulmonary proton MRI based on an optimal consensus of a spatially normalized library of annotated lung atlases. Methods A library of 62 manually annotated lung atlases comprising 48 mixed healthy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthmatic subjects of a large age range with multiple ventilation levels is used to produce an optimal segmentation in proton MRI, based on a consensus of the spatially normalized library. An extension of this methodology is used to provide best-guess estimates of lobar subdivisions in proton MRI from annotated computed tomography data. Results A leave-one-out evaluation strategy was used for evaluation. Jaccard overlap measures for the left and right lungs were used for performance comparisons relative to the current state-of-the-art (0.966 ± 0.018 and 0.970 ± 0.016, respectively). Best-guess estimates for the lobes exhibited comparable performance levels (left upper: 0.882 ± 0.059, left lower: 0.868 ± 0.06, right upper: 0.852 ± 0.067, right middle: 0.657 ± 0.130, right lower: 0.873 ± 0.063). Conclusion An annotated atlas library approach can be used to provide good lung and lobe estimation in proton MRI. The proposed framework is useful for subsequent anatomically based analysis of structural and/or functional pulmonary image data. Magn Reson Med, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Conceptual Analysis in Science and Law (draft)

Ever since H. L. A. Hart’s magisterial work, The Concept of Law, conceptual analysis has been viewed as the dominant method of doing jurisprudence. Far less appreciated is the fact that it is also a central tool in the field of cognitive science. That may be surprising to some, given the differences in these disciplines’ mission: Legal theorists struggle with abstract questions about the “nature” of Law and Justice; cognitive scientists explore the workings of the human mind. If cognitive scientists and legal philosophers are doing different things when they do conceptual analysis, how do they differ? This paper offers the first full-scale comparison of the way conceptual analysis is used in these two fields. The paper’s conclusion is provocative and striking. It argues that cognitive scientists employ an appealing and coherent form of this key methodology, while legal theorists employ an approach that might be fairly characterized as a methodological muddle. The implication for legal theory is profound: If legal theory hopes to be a relevant and coherent discipline, it must re-imagine its methodological commitments and seek out a more appealing set of tools and methods. The concluding section of the paper grapples with that challenge, offering some thoughts on how jurisprudence can be placed on a more solid and appealing foundation. [Note: Download has been disabled, pending completion of new draft]
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Following Drowning

Several definitions and multiple terminology have appeared since the 1950s regarding the description of victims who suffer a fatal or near-fatal event from being submerged in water and other liquids. Some of the descriptors have had modifications placed on them and, furthermore, their meaning was somewhat lost when translated into some languages other then English. Because drowning is a global problem, at the World Congress on Drowning in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 2002, a group was convened from multiple countries to develop a definition of “drowning” that would be applicable in multiple languages worldwide (1). Although unanimity may not have been present on every term discussed, there clearly was a consensus to simplify the terminology for international application. What follows is the consensus of that group with comment and, in some cases, slight modification representing the bias of the authors of this chapter.
Heating and Cooling Dynamics of Carbon Nanotubes Observed by Temperature-Jump Spectroscopy and Electron Microscopy

Microscopy imaging indicates that in situ carbon nanotubes (CNTs) irradiation with relatively low dosages of infrared radiation results in significant heating of the tubes to temperatures above 1300 K. Ultrafast temperature-jump experiments reveal that CNTs laser-induced heating and subsequent cooling in solution take tens and hundreds of picoseconds, respectively. Given the reported transient behavior, these observations suggest novel ways for a T-jump methodology, unhindered by the requirement for excitation of water in the study of biological structures. They also provide the rate information needed for optimization of photothermal therapy that invokes infrared irradiation to selectively heat and annihilate cancer cells.
Arresting cancer proliferation by small-molecule gene regulation

A small library of pyrrole-imidazole polyamide-DNA alkylator (chlorambucil) conjugates was screened for effects on morphology and growth characteristics of a human colon carcinoma cell line, and a compound was identified that causes cells to arrest in the G2/M stage of the cell cycle. Microarray analysis indicates that the histone H4c gene is significantly downregulated by this polyamide. RT-PCR and Western blotting experiments confirm this result, and siRNA to H4c mRNA yields the same cellular response. Strikingly, reduction of H4 protein by >50% does not lead to widespread changes in global gene expression. Sequence-specific alkylation within the coding region of the H4c gene in cell culture was confirmed by LM-PCR. The compound is active in a wide range of cancer cell lines, and treated cells do not form tumors in nude mice. The compound is also active in vivo, blocking tumor growth in mice, without obvious animal toxicity.
149 Improving the impact: Recommendations for the use of cleaning chemicals

Objectives Cleaning chemicals are commonly used in the occupational environment and have been associated with increased risks of asthma, upper and lower respiratory symptoms, and dermatitis. It is important that cleaning workers use appropriate products safely. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the United States collaborated to develop educational materials targeted at workers that use cleaning chemicals and their employers. Methods OSHA and NIOSH staff used published data about cleaning chemicals to guide the content of an information sheet and poster, sought input from industry, unions, government and academia, and developed plans for dissemination of these educational materials. Results The information sheet and poster were released to the public in 2012 and are electronically available on the OSHA and NIOSH websites. The information sheet, developed for employers, is 6 pages and includes sections on choosing safer cleaning chemicals, safer work practices, worker training, and resources, including numerous links to sites on the internet that have additional information. The poster, developed for workers, alerts workers to the potentially harmful effects of cleaning chemicals and what they need to know to work safely with these chemicals. The poster, originally in English, has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog, and can be printed in varying sizes. The educational materials were disseminated through a network of partnerships created by the NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda that included unions, safety and health professionals, worker organizations, academia, and government agencies. Conclusions The information sheet and poster have filled a need for clear communication about chemical cleaners that workers handle every day. Efforts to further disseminate these materials are still underway. Additional feedback from stakeholders will determine if additional translated languages are needed.
Parallel garbage collection without synchronization overhead

Abstract : Incremental garbage collection schemes incur substantial overhead which is directly translated as reduced execution efficiency for the user. Parallel garbage collection schemes implemented via time-slicing on a serial processor also incur this overhead, which might even be aggravated due to context switching. It is useful, therefore, to examine the possibility of implementing a parallel garbage collection algorithm using a separate processor operating asynchronously with the main list processor. The overhead in such a scheme arises from the synchronization necessary to manage the two processors, maintaining memory consistency. In this paper, we present an architecture and supporting parallel garbage collection algorithms designed for a virtual memory system with separate processors for list processing and for garbage collection. Each processor has its own primary memory; in addition, there is a small common memory which both processors may access. Individual memories swap off a common secondary memory, but no locking mechanism is required. In particular, a page may reside in both memories simultaneously, and indeed may be accessed and modified freely by each processor. A secondary memory controller ensures consistency without necessitating numerous lockouts on the pages. (Author)
Intravenous hemostatic nanoparticles increase survival following blunt trauma injury.

Trauma is the leading cause of death for people ages 1–44, with blood loss comprising 60–70% of mortality in the absence of lethal CNS or cardiac injury. Immediate intervention is critical to improving chances of survival. While there are several products to control bleeding for external and compressible wounds, including pressure dressings, tourniquets, or topical materials (e.g., QuikClot, HemCon), there are no products that can be administered in the field for internal bleeding. There is a tremendous unmet need for a hemostatic agent to address internal bleeding in the field. We have developed hemostatic nanoparticles (GRGDS-NPs) that reduce bleeding times by ∼50% in a rat femoral artery injury model. Here, we investigated their impact on survival following administration in a lethal liver resection injury in rats. Administration of these hemostatic nanoparticles reduced blood loss following the liver injury and dramatically and significantly increased 1 h survival from 40 and 47% in controls (inactive...
The Performance of Children with Language-Learning Disabilities on Two Types of Cognitive Tasks.

The performance of children with language-learning disabilities on two types of cognitive tasks was compared to that of two groups without language-learning disabilities, one matched for mental age...
Short Changed The Importance of Facilitating Equitable Financial Education in Urban Society

Through this literature review, the authors explore financial education’s relevance to urban society. They consider research measuring children’s financial development by observing environmental in...
A nonlinear composite beam theory

Presented here is a general theory for the three-dimensional nonlinear dynamics of elastic anisotropic initially straight beams undergoing moderate displacements and rotations. The theory fully accounts for geometric nonlinearities (large rotations and displacements) by using local stress and strain measures and an exact coordinate transformation, which result in nonlinear curvature and strain-displacement expressions that contain the von Karman strains as a special case. Extensionality is included in the formulation, and transverse shear deformations are accounted for by using a third-order theory. Six third-order nonlinear partial-differential equations are derived for describing one extension, two bending, one torsion, and two shearing vibrations of composite beams. They show that laminated beams display linear elastic and nonlinear geometric couplings among all motions. The theory contains, as special cases, the Euler-Bernoulli theory, Timoshenko's beam theory, the third-order shear theory, and the von Karman type nonlinear theory.
FULMINANT MENINGOCOCCAL SEPTICÆMIA: A Hospital Experience

In the first 5 months of 1975, 12 cases of meningococcal septicaemia were seen at a children's hospital where in previous years the condition was seen only sporadically. 3 of these children were dead on admission, 5 died shortly after admission, and 4 responded to treatment. Neisseria meningitidis was recovered from cerebrospinal fluid or blood or both in all cases, and the clinical illness was characterised by fever, prostration, and cutaneous purpura of abrupt onset. There were no significant previous illnesses, no recognisable prodromata, and, bacteriology apart, no pattern of laboratory results. There was a suggestion of centre-city clustering in the home background, although 2 of the patients came from rural areas. At necropsy gross adrenal haemorrhage was found in 6 of the 8 fatal cases, and upper gastrointestinal bleeds in the 5 deaths which were not sudden.
Binding of purine nucleoside monophosphates by ribonuclease T1 a model system for protein nucleic acid interaction

Abstract The binding of the three isomeric guanosine nucleoside monophosphates and of several purine nucleoside 2′-phosphates to ribonuclease T1 was studied by separating free nucleotides from the enzyme-nucleotide complex using column chromatography on Sephadex G-25. The conditions of separation did not significantly disrupt the binding equilibrium. The equilibrium constants for the binding were obtained, and the free energies of binding were calculated from the binding constants. The presence of the phosphate group contributes the major portion of the binding energy. The ribose portion can be replaced by a flexible aliphatic side chain without significant change in the binding energy, as long as the base and phosphate maintain their proper orientation and distance with respect to one another. The 2-amino group on the guanine base contributes about 2 kcal to the binding energy. The replacement of the 6-oxo group by a 6-amino group causes a decrease of 1 kcal in the binding energy.
Tropical annual cropping systems: ant ecology.

The ecological role of ants in tropical annual cropping systems is discussed in general and with respect to a specific Mexican agroecosystem Generally, the potential positive contributions of ants to crop yields result from their impact on soil structure, nutrient cycling, and reduction of insect and weed pests In annual wet lowland fields in eastern Mexico, the ant community is simple and dominated by the aggressive fire ant,Solenopsis geminata. The influence of vegetation structure and composition on the ant community and, specifically, on the foraging behavior ofS geminata is discussed
Properties of superdeformed bands in the A = 194 region

At least eighteen superdeformed (SD) bands have been identified in mercury, thallium, and lead nuclei since the report of a SD band in {sup 191}Hg. Systematic information is beginning to emerge on the properties of the SD bands in this mass region, and comparisons with SD bands in the A = 150 region are now possible. Recently, data were obtained with the HERA spectrometer at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory 88'' Cyclotron on SD bands in {sup 194}Pb and {sup 196}Pb. In these experiments, we bombarded {sup 176}Yb with {sup 24}Mg and {sup 26}Mg. The cross bombardment was necessary to make the assignment of the band to {sup 196}Pb certain. These bands are typical of other SD bands in the region in many ways. The gamma rays have energies that range from about 200 to 800 keV. The gamma-ray spacing decreases from about 40 to 30 keV as the transition energy increases. Their intensities gradually increase as the gamma-ray energies decrease over the upper half of of the sequence, and then sustain a constant value until the one or two lowest energy transitions. 18 refs., 4 figs.
Anomalous characteristics of cellular structure related to corking in apples

Abstract Anomalous tissues in relation to cork spot development on ‘York Imperial’ apples ( Malus domestica Borkh.), 45 days prior to fruit maturation, were recorded by scanning electron micrographs. The following significant cellular characteristics were found throughout the cortex: cell proliferation; sclerified cell walls and supportive vascular tissue; pectin increase in cell walls; starch accumulation; thickening of walls; disintegration of cytoplasmic membranes. The potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) levels were determined by electron microprobe analyses for these tissues 30 days before maturation, and showed that both K and Ca levels were low throughout the affected tissues, the Ca content being proportionally lower than K.
The Interpretation and Implementation of Reform: A Case of Simon.

This article is a study of a South African teacher educator's interpretations and approaches to implementing a constructivist approach to teaching. It examines his beliefs about teaching physical science to prospective teachers as it relates to his aligning his teaching with the new reform: outcomes-based education. The goals of the reform include emphasis on cooperative learning, a student-centered approach, and focus on teaching for conceptual understanding. Through observations, interviews, and documents (assignments for students, graded group assignments, and course outlines), I examined this teacher educator's interpretations and approaches to implementing constructivist curriculum and his understanding of the reform. The findings show that without confronting teachers' beliefs about teaching and learning, providing clear meaning of reforms, and facilitating in-depth professional development, the interpretation and implementation of reforms will be hindered.
Flow and Heat Transfer in a Ribbed U-Duct Under Typical Engine Conditions

Computations were performed to study the three-dimensional flow and heat transfer in a ribbed U-shaped duct of square cross section under operating conditions that are typical of industrial gas turbines. Basically, all walls were maintained at a temperature of 800 K, and the coolant air at the duct inlet had a temperature of 550 K and a pressure of 10 atm. Both rotating and non-rotating cases were investigated. When rotating, the angular speed was 3,600 rpm. The Reynolds number based on the duct hydraulic diameter was set at 350,000, which represents an upper limit in coolant flow. The results obtained in this study were compared with those from previous numerical studies with a lower Reynolds number, namely 25,000, which represents a lower limit in coolant flow.This computational study is based on the ensemble-averaged conservation equations of mass, momentum (compressible Navier-Stokes), and energy. Turbulence is modelled by two low-Reynolds number k-ω models: an SST version with isotropic eddy diffusivity and a nonlinear version with anisotropic eddy diffusivity from an explicit algebraic Reynolds stress model. Solutions were generated by using a cell-centered finite-volume method, that is based on flux-difference splitting and a diagonalized alternating-direction implicit scheme with local time-stepping and V-cycle multigrid.© 1998 ASME
Computer-assisted spectroscopy

The logical and timing requirements and the control circuitry of spectrometers in all energy ranges, chromatographs, scanning interferometers and microdensitometers, and a large class of related experimental apparati are very similar. From the standpoint of on-line computation and control, they can be considered parametric variatioan of a single experiment. With a magnetic resonance spectrometer as an example, we describe briefly the central, common elements of the necessary computer-instrument interface and of adequately flexible and open-ended control programs. Some examples of results follow.
Headache symptoms and indoor environmental parameters: Results from the EPA BASE study.

Objective: The objective of this investigation was to determine the prevalence of migraine and headache symptoms in a national sample of US office employees. Also, we explored the association of headache symptoms with indoor environmental parameters of the work place. Background: Sick building syndrome (SBS), which includes headache, is a common global phenomenon, but the underlying environmental cause is uncertain. Materials and Methods: We used data from the 1994-1998 US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Building Assessment and Survey Evaluation, a cross-sectional study of workers employed in 100 public and private office buildings across 25 states. The study used a self-administered questionnaire to assess headache frequency and prevalence of self-reported physician-diagnosed (SRPD) migraine. Indoor environmental parameters (IEP) were collected per EPA protocol from each building over a 1-week period and included carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, temperature, relative humidity, particulate matter, volatile organic compound, illuminance, and sound level. The standards of American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers were used to categorize IEP as either within- or out-of-comfort range for human dwelling. These limits delineate whether a parameter value is safe for human dwelling. Out-of-comfort range IEPs are associated with SBS and other human diseases. SRPD migraine and headache frequency were the primary outcome measures of the study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed for the purpose of assessing the association between the outcome variable and IEPs. Results: Of the 4326 participants, 66% were females and 60% were between 30 and 49 years. Headache frequency during the last 4 weeks was as follows: None in 31%, 1-3 days in 38%, 1-3 days per week in 18%, and every or almost every workday in 8%. Females had higher SRPD migraine prevalence compared to males (27% vs. 11%, P<0.001) and were more likely to report any headache in the last month compared to males (75% vs. 53%, P<0.001). Odds of SRPD migraine were higher (P<0.05) for those exposed to IEP out-of-comfort range, and odds of exposure to out-of-comfort range IEPs were higher in groups who reported higher headache frequencies. Conclusions: Migraine diagnosis and elevated headache frequency are associated with an uncomfortable indoor environment. Periodic assessments and adjustments of IEP may have a beneficial impact on employees who are vulnerable to SBS.
Scaling of Silicon Phase-Change Oscillators

Scalability of silicon-based phase-change oscillators is investigated through experimental and computational studies. These relaxation oscillators are composed of a small volume of silicon, dc biased through a load resistor and a capacitor, which melts due to self-heating and resolidifies upon discharge of the load capacitor. These phase changes lead to high-amplitude current spikes with oscillation frequency that scales with supply voltage, RC time constant, power delivery condition, and heating and cooling rates of the wire. Experimental results are obtained from structures fabricated using silicon-on-insulator substrates. Scaling effects of various parameters are explored using 3-D finite-element simulations coupled with SPICE models.
Acculturation, ethnic consumers, and food consumption patterns.

This article describes an investigation of the impact of acculturation on consumer behavior. The relationship between a four-phased acculturation process and ethnic consumer behavior was studied. Korean immigrants were found to be venturesome in trying new foods during their early acculturation stages, but deferred large adoption until the assimilation stage. This careful adoption process if reflected in the increasing consumption frequency of both American food items and traditional ethnic food items through the first three acculturation stages.
Semiconfirmatory Factor Analysis: The Example of Anxiety and Depression.

The use of an independent clusters basis for restricted factor analysis can be recommended in cases where the known structure of a subset of variables serves to determine the structure of the remaining variables in the set. A comparison of this technique with an appropriate form of restricted factor analysis is illustrated on a large set of anxiety and depression self-report items.
Mammary cancer cell manipulation with embedded passivated-electrode insulator-based dielctrophoresis (EπDEP)

In this paper, we introduce a new embedded passivated-electrode insulator-based dielectrophoresis (EπDEP) device for cell manipulation. This device maximizes the electric field strength in the microfluidic channel by reducing the thickness of the passivation layer to 5μm. The devices are made by polymer molding using 3D glass molds fabricated by melting glass into features created by the RIE-lag technique on silicon. This paper demonstrates the trapping of MDA-MB-468 mammary cancer cells using EπDEP technology with very high efficiency (97%).
Granular particle linear flow velocity measurement using an electronic linear image sensor

Abstract A metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) linear image sensor consisting of an array of 128 self-scanning, linear photodiodes was used to measure the velocity of falling grain. The sensor was used to obtain an image of the falling grain, wait a known time interval, and then obtain a second image. Comparison of the two images permitted determination of the position displacement experienced by the grain. Optical relationships were used to convert the image displacement to grain displacement. Grain displacement divided by the time interval yielded grain velocity. This paper addresses the sensor and data acquisition hardware, the digital signal processing software, calibration of the sensor, and velocity measurement. Average grain flow velocities ranging from 1 to 7 m/s were measured with less than 7% error. The sensor can also be used to measure the flow velocity of similar granular material such as pelleted feed or fertilizer.
Extended Finite Element Analysis of Journal Bearing Dynamic Forced Performance to Include Fluid Inertia Force Coefficients

Reynolds equation governs the generation of hydrodynamic pressure in oil lubricated fluid film bearings. The static and dynamic forced response of a bearing is obtained from integration of the film pressure on the bearing surface. For small amplitude journal motions, a linear analysis represents the fluid film bearing reaction forces as proportional to the journal center displacements and velocity components through four stiffness and four damping coefficients. These force coefficients are integrated into rotor-bearing system structural analysis for prediction of the system stability and the synchronous response to imbalance. Fluid inertia force coefficients, those relating reaction forces to journal center accelerations, are routinely ignored because most oil lubricated bearings operate at relatively low Reynolds numbers, i.e., under slow flow conditions. Modern rotating machinery operates at ever increasing surface speeds to deliver more power in smaller size units. Under these operating conditions fluid inertia effects need to be accounted for in the forced response of oil lubricated bearings, as recent experimental test data also reveal. The paper presents a finite element formulation to predict added mass coefficients in oil lubricated bearings by extending a basic formulation that already calculates the bearing stiffness and damping force coefficients. That is, a small amplitude perturbation analysis of the lubrication flow equations keeps the temporal fluid inertia effects and develops a set of equations to obtain the bearing stiffness, damping and inertia force coefficients. The method does not impose on the cost of the original formulation which makes it very attractive for ready implementation in existing software. Predictions of the computational model are benchmarked against archival test data for an oil-lubricated pressure dam bearing supporting large compressors. The comparisons show fluid inertia effects cannot be ignored for operation at high rotor speeds and with small static loads.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
α-Olefin Polymerization with Ether-Coordinated Chromium(III) Alkyls

Extremely substitution labile chromium(III) alkyls of the type [Cp*Cr(OR2)nCH2SiMe3]+[B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4]- (R = Me, Et, iPr; n = 1, 2) have been prepared; they are homogeneous catalysts for the pol...
Routine Determination of Major Constituents in Geologic Samples by Atomic Absorption

A method for the determination of Al2O3, Fe2O3, TiO2, MnO, CaO, and MgO by atomic absorption is described. A 0.5 to 1.0 g sample is put into solution by treatment with HF, followed by fusion of the HF residue with K2S2O7 and solution of the fused material with HCl. Determination of the various elements is then made using an acetylene-nitrous oxide flame and a premix type burner. The method was developed to eliminate the necessity of changing flame parameters because of the refractory and nonrefractory elements involved. National Bureau of Standards 1-A, G-1, W-1, and U. S. Geological Survey standards BRC-1 and PCC-1 were analyzed by the methods described herein and the results obtained agree within 0.1% or less of the listed values. Standard deviations and coefficients of variation were also calculated for all elements determined on each sample and found to be within acceptable limits.
Excitation of hydrogen by proton impact

Abstract Numerical computations of the cross section for the excitation of hydrogen by proton impact were made. Exact matrix elements were used in a procedure based on the impact parameter method. Cross sections were in good agreement with those of Bell and Skinner, and were too large in relation to experimental observations.
Elevated Anticardiolipin Antibody Titer Is a Stroke Risk Factor in a Multiethnic Population Independent of Isotype or Degree of Positivity

Background and Purpose—Previous studies have produced conflicting results regarding the putative association between anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and infarction in the general stroke population. These inconsistencies may be a function of sample size and methodological differences among the studies. The purpose of the present study, the largest case-control study of this issue to date, was to assess aCL status as an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke in a multiethnic, urban population. Methods—We obtained aCL titers in 524 hospitalized acute stroke patients and 1020 community controls enrolled in the Minorities Risk Factors and Stroke Study. The results were interpreted as negative (≤22.9 IgG phospholipid [GPL] or 10.9 IgM phospholipid [MPL] units), low positive (22.9 to 30.0 GPL or 10.9 to 15.0 MPL units), or high positive (>30.0 GPL or 15.0 MPL units). Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, history of diabetes, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease...
An Energy Optimal Gait for the MSU Active Synthetic Wheel Biped

In this paper, we have determined an analytical solution for a zero-work gait for the MSU Synthetic Wheel Biped [1, 2] by choosing proper constraints. The new optimized gait ensures that the total energy of the system is the same at the beginning and the end of each step. This results in zero total work, regardless of the initial velocity of the leg or step length provided there are no losses due to friction. Furthermore, the correct choice of the gait constraints completely eliminates the ground impact forces during the foot transition. The previously developed nominal gait and the new optimized gait are implemented on a hardware prototype and a comparison of the energy consumption of these two different gait functions indicates a significant reduction in mechanical cost of transport.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Toward Optimal Community Detection: From Trees to General Weighted Networks

Abstract Many networks, including the Internet, social networks, and biological relations, are found to be naturally divided into communities of densely connected nodes, known as community structure. Since Newman’s suggestion of using modularity as a measure to qualify the goodness of community structures, many efficient methods to maximize modularity have been proposed but without optimality guarantees. In this work we study exact and theoretically near-optimal algorithms for maximizing modularity. In the first part, we investigate the complexity and approximability of the problem on tree graphs. Somewhat surprisingly, the problem is still NP-complete on trees. We then provide a polynomial time algorithm for uniform-weighted trees and a pseudopolynomial time algorithm and a PTAS for trees with arbitrary weights. In the second part, we present a family of compact linear programming formulations for the problem in general graphs. These formulations exploit the graph connectivity structure and reduce substa...
Heavy Water Enhances IgE-Mediated Histamine Release from Human Leukocytes: Evidence for Microtubule Involvement

SummaryDeuterium oxide, an agent known to stabilize microtubules, greatly enhances antigen-induced histamine release from human leukocytes. Concentrations as low as 7% are effective and enhancement occurs over a wide range of antigen concentrations. The effects of D2O are partially reversed by colchicine, a drug known to disrupt microtubules. These findings strengthen the view that microtubules are involved in the secretory mechanism by which the mediators of the allergic response leave the IgE containing target cells.We thank J. Harrison and A. Sobotka for their excellent technical assistance.
The long road to institutionalization: the Kenyan Parliament and the 2013 elections

What explains the emergence of a relatively strong legislature in Kenya in a region characterized by “rubber stamp” parliaments? And how do the results of the 2013 election affect the chances of continued strengthening and institutionalization of the Kenyan legislature? This paper addresses these questions by situating the evolution of parliamentary strength and institutionalization in Kenya in the context of the country's political history since independence. The argument advanced is that although the codification of the gains in parliamentary strength and independence only began to take place in the late 1990s, the process that led to the realization of these gains goes back to the first parliament after independence. The paper also analyzes the impact of the constitutional requirement of 50% plus one in the presidential race on party structures in different parts of the country. The findings suggest that while the 2013 elections were marked by a heightened sense of inter-regional alliance-building for ...
An Infrastructure of Network Services for Seamless Integration in Advanced Collaborative Computing Environments

Advanced collaborative computing environments are one of the most important tools for integrating high-performance computers and computations and for interacting with colleagues around the world. However, heterogeneous characteristics such as network transfer rates, computational abilities, and hierarchical systems make the seamless integration of distributed resources a challenge. In this paper, we argue that advanced collaborative computing environments need an infrastructure of network services to support distributed and quality guaranteed multimedia applications. Accordingly, we propose the design of network services for high-performance collaborative computing. We present a collaborative environment network service infrastructure (CENSI) to embed network services into various systems intelligently and elastically. We also discuss three management modules: a three-party matching module (resources, requests, and network services), a module for performance monitoring and evaluation of group communications, and a module for distribution topology analysis
Cardiovascular benefits of exogenous insulin.

Context: Recent studies on mediators of inflammation, experimental models of atherosclerosis, and acute ischemia have identified novel mechanisms through which insulin may exert cardiovascular protective effects. This review aims to summarize current knowledge regarding the cardiovascular, antiinflammatory, and antiatherogenic effects of insulin, and the effect of intensive glycemic control in acute cardiovascular disease. Evidence Acquisition: Publications of interest were identified using preselected MeSH terminology and keywords to search online databases such as PubMed and OVID for the period January 1988 to February 2012. Relevant publications were obtained and reviewed by two independent observers, then evaluated a priori against the following criteria: study quality, main clinical outcomes, and applicability to clinical practice. Evidence Synthesis: Insulin has been shown to exert vasodilatory, antiinflammatory, and antiatherogenic effects in experimental models, independent of its glucose-lowering...
Complex situations: An alternative approach for viewing a System of Systems

Inherent to system of systems (SOS) are wicked problems. This paper generalizes the characteristics of a wicked problem based on a practical example of a System of Systems. In 1994 the Department of Defense (DoD) set into motion a sequence of events that resulted in an unprecedented decision for change, the result of that decision was to standup the joint forces command. The decision carried with it a mandate to change more than processes and doctrine, but more fundamentally, to change how the military thinks and behaves; this decision created a wicked problem. The paper probes the limitations of analysis on a wicked problem going beyond the characteristics of the problem to explore the exacerbating phenomena of the wicked problem: perspective. The paper provides an alternative approach for viewing wicked problems and concludes that system of systems as a wicked problem require a paradigm that is able to deal with this perspective.
Angiotensin II induces water absorption behavior in two species of desert anurans

Abstract The octapeptide, angiotensin II (A-II), induces drinking behavior in several vertebrate species; however, relatively little is understood about A-II-induced thirst in amphibians. Scaphiopus couchii and Bufo cognatus were dehydrated to 90% of their ad libitum weight. This level of dehydration was sufficient to induce water absorption response (WR) behavior in both species. Fully hydrated toads injected intraperitoneally with A-II exhibited a significant amount of WR behavior. The minimum effective dose for inducing WR behavior was 10 μg/100 g-animal for S. couchii and 100 μg/100 g-animal for B. cognatus. When dehydrated toads were treated with the A-II receptor antagonist, Thr8-saralasin, S. couchii, exhibited a significant increase in WR behavior, while B. cognatus did not respond behaviorally. Finally, treatment of dehydrated toads with captopril, a compound that inhibits conversion of angiotensin I to A-II, did not significantly affect WR behavior in either species. These results support other findings that A-II may be involved in WR behavior in amphibians. However, the failure of Thr2-saralasin or captopril to inhibit WR behavior in dehydrated toads suggests that the receptor mechanisms involved in thirst regulation in toads may be different from those in mammals, and the renin-angiotensin system may not be the only potential mediator of WR behavior in these species.
Frequency Multiplexed MEMS Actuators and Switches

We report a novel method for addressing a set of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) actuators using an oscillating signal to drive an actuator into resonance and then into a latched state. Based on the unique frequency response characteristics of individual actuators, multiplexed addressing of multiple devices in an array can be accomplished by selecting and combining appropriate driving signals on a single control line. This simplified control architecture of MEMS actuators eases implementation of multiple devices and enables large-scale integration of programmable microactuator systems, such as MEMS switch arrays.
The Recovery of the Testis over 8 Weeks after Short-Term Dosing with Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether: Histology, Cell-Specific Enzymes, and Rete Testis Fluid Protein

Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) has been found to affect meiotic spermatocytes, spermatids, other stages of spermatocytes, and spermatogonia, depending on the dose used. These studies, which examine testicular recovery from EGME treatment, analyzed tissues from rats treated for 5 days with 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg EGME/kg/day and sacrificed at eight subsequent weekly intervals; some epididymal sperm parameters of these animals have been described. Histologically, the testes of the low-dose group showed very mild changes, while the 100- and 200-mg/kg groups showed widespread damage and cell death which recovered somewhat during the course of the study. There was no treatment-related effect on seminal vesicle or prostate weights. Rete testis fluid protein levels were changed only in the high-dose group, when protein levels rose to a maximum of sixfold the control values at Week 4; by Week 6, there was no difference between groups. Changes in cell-specific enzyme activities were dose dependent and generally mirrored changes in the number of germ cells in the testis.
An energy method for predicting fatigue life, crack orientation, and crack growth under multiaxial loading conditions

A method based on a virtual strain-energy (VSE) concept has been shown to be effective for use in predicting multiaxial fatigue lives of two widely-used commercial alloys subjected to in-phase and out-of-phase biaxial loading conditions ASTM STP 1191 (1993) 67; J Eng Mater Tech 117 (1995) 285. This paper is intended to reaffirm the effectiveness of the VSE method for predicting fatigue life and to demonstrate its inherent ability of describing fatigue behavior such as crack orientations and crack growth characteristics. To this end, the basic concept of the method is briefly reintroduced and validated with fatigue data obtained from two different heats, a domestic and a foreign origin, of type 316 stainless steel subjected to cyclic torsion with static axial loading in tension or compression. Excellent agreement in general was observed between predictions and experimental results except in a case of cyclic torsion with a static compression, which appeared to show beneficial to torsional fatigue life.
The kinetics and shape factors of ultrafine dry grinding in a laboratory tumbling ball mill

The kinetics of batch grinding quartz from a feed of 600 by 425 mm to a product of 80% less than 10 mm have been determined using screening and laser diffractometer sizing for size analysis. The specific rates of breakage decreased by a factor of about three when the material became less than about 100 mm in size, but the primary breakage distribution function also changed to give proportionately more fine material, so that the grinding efficiency expressed as the development of surface area (B.E.T.) per unit of energy input did not decrease. Analysis of the shape of the particles in the 25 × 38 mm size range showed that particles of this size produced by roll crushing or by 8 minutes of grinding of a 425 × 600 mm feed were not different but at long grinding times the particles were rounded. This suggests that the breakage mechanism changes to give more chipping and abrasion and less disintegrative fracture. As the material approached the ultrafine size range it adhered to the mill case and there was no further size reduction. However, a technique for striking the mill case to dislodge the particles was successful in allowing further grinding to 40% by weight less than 2 μm.
Mutual grooming among adult male chimpanzees: the immediate investment hypothesis

Unidirectional grooming is a low-cost behaviour for which the groomer is repaid via kin selection or reciprocity. Return benefits can come in the form of increased probability of being groomed or social benefits such as coalitionary support. By contrast, the reasons for mutual grooming, which occurs when two individuals simultaneously groom each other, are not understood. In this study, we test three hypotheses regarding the function of mutual grooming among wild male chimpanzees, using 16 years of data. The social bonding hypothesis posits that mutual grooming promotes a return benefit by serving to strengthen and maintain social bonds, whereas the immediate investment hypothesis states that it functions as a signal to indicate willingness to invest in (continue) the grooming bout. The switching hypothesis states that mutual grooming results from overlap created when the direction of the grooming interaction is switched. The social bonding hypothesis was not supported: measures of association were not correlated with the probability of mutual grooming. We also found no support for the switching hypothesis, as mutual grooming was equally likely to occur without a switch in the direction of grooming as when a switch occurred. The immediate investment hypothesis was supported by our finding that bouts with mutual grooming (1) were longer, (2) contained a more equitable distribution of unidirectional grooming and (3) had more unidirectional grooming switches than bouts without mutual grooming. We conclude that male chimpanzees use mutual grooming to obtain short-term benefits in the form of prolonging a grooming bout, and suggest that mutual grooming thus represents a form of overlapping parcelling.