cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fine structure of self-field-dominated plasma

Summary form only given, as follows. This extension of previous experiments addresses the estimate of the energy-density lower bound from the local-current lower bound and the ion energy in plasma structures held together by self-consistent fields. Contact prints of plasma structures impacting on a variety of solid targets are obtained via target exposure to plasma focus discharges at powering energy levels W=5 kJ and W=20 kJ (D/sub 2/ filling at 5 Torr). The fine structure is recorded via non-uniform distribution of etched ion tracks. Ion filters of variable thickness /spl delta/>25 /spl mu/m of mylar screen out D/sup +/ ions of energy 1.5 MeV are confined within filaments with sharply defined boundaries of diameter /spl les/100 /spl mu/m, at a distance >25 cm from the end-of-anode region, from which the plasma structures are ejected. An estimate of the filament current is obtained from the magnetic field magnitude in the variable spacing between target and ion filter.
Interactions of neomycin with monomolecular films of polyphosphoinositides and other lipids.

Summary The interactions of calcium and the aminoglycosidic antibiotic, neomycin, with various lipids were investigated in monomolecular films. Lipids were spread over a subphase of 0.05 M N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid, pH 7.0, and NaC1 to give an ionic strength of 0.2. Measurements of surface pressure (Tr) were taken with a Wilhelmy balance. In the absence of Ca 2÷, 1 pM--1 mM neomycin in the subphase decreased 7r (i.e. condensed films) of all acidic lipids tested. In the presence of 1 mM Ca 2÷, neomycin did not change ~r of films of phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid while it lowered 7r of cardiolipin and cerebroside sulfate films. A unique pattern of interaction was observed with polyphosphoinositide monolayers. In the absence of Ca 2÷, 1 pM neomycin decreased ~ followed by an increase of at higher neomycin concentrations. Ca 2* (1 mM) condensed the film significantly more than did neomycin. However, as little as 1 pM neomycin induced expansion of the calcium/lipid film which at 1 mM neomycin reached the same ~r as in the absence of Ca 2+. Such expansion was observed at all pressures of the film including the collapse pressure indicating a strong 'complex' between the drug and polyphosphoinositide not antagonized by Ca 2÷. In the absence of possible hydrophobic interactions, both the condensation and the expansion of the film should be mediated by ionic forces. Combined in vivo and in vitro evidence is discussed to suggest the polyphosphoinositides as the physiological receptors for aminoglycosides in the mammalian cell membrane.
Dysphagia as a predictor of outcome and transition to palliative care among middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke patients

Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) territory strokes can be disabling and may leave patients unable to swallow safely. Decisions regarding artificial nutrition and goals of care often arise in patients with severe strokes leading to dysphagia. This study determined some predictors of early transition to palliative level of care among patients with acute ischemic MCA stroke with dysphagia. This is a retrospective cohort study. Demographic and clinical data of patients presenting to Hartford Hospital with an acute ischemic stroke between January 2005-December 2010 were gathered utilizing the Stroke Center at Hartford Hospital Database. The 236 patients included were divided into “early transition” and “not transitioned” to palliative care cohorts. Primary outcome was transition to palliative care. Factors that were significantly associated with an early transition to palliative level of care in univariate analysis were then entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify potential independent predictors of early transition to palliative level of care. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. 79 patients (34%) were transitioned to palliative level of care after failing the first swallow evaluation within a median of 3 days. Factors predictive of an early transition to palliative level of care after multivariate logistic regression analysis included advancing age (p < 0.001; OR: 1.10; 95% CI :1.056-1.155) , left MCA infarct (p = 0.039; OR: 0.417; 95% CI:0.182-0.956), a high NIHSS score on admission (p = 0.017; OR: 3.038; 95% CI: 1.22-7.555), administration of intra-arterial tPA (p < 0.001; OR: 7.106; 955 CI 2.541-19.873) and the inability to be assessed on the 1st swallow evaluation (p < 0.001; OR 0.053; 95% CI 0.022-0.131). The severity of dysphagia influences early transition to palliative level of care in acute stroke patients. Independent predictors of an early transition to palliative level of care among patients with an acute MCA territory stroke and dysphagia included advancing age, a left MCA infarct, a high NIHSS score on admission, administration of intra-arterial tPA and the inability to be assessed on the 1st swallow evaluation. This information may guide discussions with families of patients with MCA territory strokes regarding artificial nutrition and goals of care.
Diffusion of silver, cobalt and iron in germanium∗☆

Abstract Diffusion of Ag, Co and Fe in Ge are investigated by radiotracer techniques. We found that: (1) In most cases, the concentration varies as exp(− x / L ) rather than the Gaussian or the error function as usually expected from Fick's (second) law. (2) The diffusivities of these elements in Ge are in the range of 10 −6 –10 −7 cm 2 /sec at temperatures around 800°C. The values are higher in low dislocation (less than 10 3 pits/cm 2 ) than in high dislocation (around 10 5 pits/cm 2 ) crystals. (3) The solubilities of Ag, Co and Fe in Ge are very low, in the range of 10 −8 –10 −9 in atomic fraction. (4) The activation energy of Co diffusion in Ge is about 1 eV, nearly the same as those of Ag, Ni and Fe diffusion as obtained by other workers. It is suggested that the anomalous diffusion is due to a double stream process which is composed of free species and trapped ones. This trapping mechanism not only leads to a concentration varying approximately as exp (− x / L ) but also offers reasonable explanations for many other experimental facts.
Development of targeted messages to promote smoking cessation among construction trade workers

Blue-collar workers, particularly those in the construction trades, are more likely to smoke and have less success in quitting when compared with white-collar workers. Little is known about health communication strategies that might influence this priority population. This article describes our formative work to develop targeted messages to increase participation in an existing smoking cessation program among construction workers. Using an iterative and sequential mixed-methods approach, we explored the culture, health attitudes and smoking behaviors of unionized construction workers. We used focus group and survey data to inform message development, and applied audience segmentation methods to identify potential subgroups. Among 144 current smokers, 65% reported wanting to quit smoking in the next 6 months and only 15% had heard of a union-sponsored smoking cessation program, despite widespread advertising. We tested 12 message concepts and 26 images with the target audience to evaluate perceived relevance and effectiveness. Participants responded most favorably to messages and images that emphasized family and work, although responses varied by audience segments based on age and parental status. This study is an important step towards integrating the culture of a high-risk group into targeted messages to increase participation in smoking cessation activities.
Damping Subsynchronous Resonance Using Emergy Storage

A method of damping torsional self excitation due to subsynchronous resonance is presented. This method utilizes a small AC-DC converter connected to the machine bus of the affected generator. The DC side of the converter connects to a large inductor which is used to store energy. Various methods of controlling this inductor converter unit are proposed and analyzed. The effectiveness of these control methods is demonstrated using a detailed computer simulation of a benchmark system known to be affected by subsynchronous resonance.
Time dependent sorption behavior of dinotefuran, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam

Dinetofuran (DNT), imidacloprid (IMD) and thiamethoxam (THM) are among the neonicotinoid insecticides widely used for managing insect pests of agricultural and veterinary importance. Environmental occurrence of neonicotinoid in post-application scenario poses unknown issues to human health and ecology. A sorption kinetic study provides much needed information on physico-chemical interaction of neonicotinoid with soil material. In this research study, time-dependent sorption behavior of DNT, IMD and THM in vineyard soil was studied. Sorption kinetics studies were conducted over a period of 96 hours with sampling duration varying from 0, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 60 and 96 hours. All three neonicotinoids exhibited very low sorption potential for the soil investigated. Overall percent sorption for all three neonicotinoids was below 20.04 ± 2.03% with highest percent sorption being observed for IMD followed by DNT and THM. All three neonicotinoids are highly soluble with solubility increasing with IMD < THM < DNT. Although, DNT has the highest solubility among all three neonicotinoids investigated, it exhibited higher percent sorption compared to THM, indicating factors other than solubility influenced the sorption kinetics. Low sorption potential of neonicotinoids indicates greater leaching potential with regard to groundwater and surface water contamination.
Defining Social Goods and Distributing Them Fairly: The Development of Conceptions of Fair Testing Practices.

Conceptions of fair educational practices develop differently for testing and learning situations. After about age 8, children judged peer tutoring to be an unfair practice during a test. (Most 6–8-year-olds judged it fair). Yet, peer tutoring was seen as the most fair way to help students learn until at least age 17. In addition, 4 levels of conceptions of fair testing practices were found. Adult-like conceptions of fair testing practices emerged at about age 11, which contrasts with about 18 for conceptions of fair learning practices. Conceptions of fair testing practices parallel the development of the concepts of ability and effort as factors limiting immediate performance; whereas conceptions of fair learning practices parallel the development of concepts concerning the long-term acquisition of intelligence. These findings support the conclusion that children's understanding of different types of situations is reflected in their conceptions of social justice.
Compton suppressed LaBr3 detection system for use in nondestructive spent fuel assay

Abstract Current methods for safeguarding and accounting for spent nuclear fuel in reprocessing facilities are extremely resource and time intensive. The incorporation of autonomous passive gamma-ray detectors into the procedure could make the process significantly less burdensome. In measured gamma-ray spectra from spent nuclear fuel, the Compton continuum from dominant fission product photopeaks obscure the lower energy lines from other isotopes. The application of Compton suppression to gamma-ray measurements of spent fuel may reduce this effect and allow other less intense, lower energy peaks to be detected, potentially improving the accuracy of multivariate analysis algorithms. Compton suppressed spectroscopic measurements of spent nuclear fuel using HPGe, LaBr 3 , and NaI(Tl) primary detectors were performed. Irradiated fuel was measured in two configurations: as intact fuel elements viewed through a collimator and as feed solutions in a laboratory to simulate the measurement of a dissolved process stream. These two configurations allowed the direct assessment and quantification of the differences in measured gamma-ray spectra from the application of Compton suppression. In the first configuration, several irradiated fuel elements of varying cooling times from the Penn State Breazeale Reactor spent fuel inventory were measured using the three collimated Compton suppression systems. In the second geometry, Compton suppressed measurements of two samples of Approved Test Material commercial fuel elements were recorded inside the guard detector annulus to simulate the siphoning of small quantities from the main process stream for long dwell measurement periods. Compton suppression was found to improve measured gamma-ray spectra of spent fuel for multivariate analysis by notably lowering the Compton continuum from dominant photopeaks such as 137 Cs and 140 La, due to scattered interactions in the detector, which allowed more spectral features to be resolved. There was a significant advantage demonstrated when measurements were recorded using the beam source configuration as opposed to the standard, enclosed Compton suppression system geometry.
A MAP for Bundling Microtubules

Microtubules assemble into arrays of bundled filaments that are critical for multiple steps in cell division, including anaphase and cytokinesis. Recent structural and functional studies, including two papers in this issue of Cell (Bieling et al., 2010; Subramanian et al., 2010), demonstrate how the MAP65 protein PRC1 crosslinks microtubules and cooperates with kinesin motors to control the dynamics and size of bundled regions.
The University and the State: What Role for Government in Higher Education?

(1980). The University and the State: What Role for Government in Higher Education? The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 51, No. 5, pp. 569-572.
Effect of a lifestyle intervention on change in cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with type 2 diabetes: results from the Look AHEAD Study

To examine the effect of an intensive lifestyle weight loss intervention (ILI) compared to diabetes support and education (DSE) on changes in fitness and physical activity in the Look AHEAD trial. Randomized clinical trial to compare a lifestyle intervention for weight loss with a DSE condition in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Data from 4376 overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes (age=58.7±6.8 years, body mass index (BMI)=35.8±5.8 kg/m2) who completed 1 year of the Look AHEAD trial and had available fitness data were analyzed. Subjects were randomly assigned to DSE or ILI. DSE received standard care plus three education sessions over the 1-year period. ILI included individual and group contact throughout the year, restriction in energy intake and 175 min per week of prescribed physical activity. Fitness was assessed using a submaximal graded exercise test. Physical activity was assessed by questionnaire in a subset of 2221 subjects. Change in fitness was statistically greater in ILI vs DSE after adjustment for baseline fitness (20.9 vs 5.7%; P<0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that change in fitness was greater in overweight vs obese Class II and III (P<0.05). Physical activity increased by 892±1694 kcal per week in ILI vs 108±1254 kcal per week in DSE (P<0.01). Changes in fitness (r=0.41) and physical activity (r=0.42) were significantly correlated with weight loss (P<0.0001). The ILI was effective in increasing physical activity and improving cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. This effect may add to weight loss in improving metabolic control in patients in lifestyle intervention programs.
Optimal matching analysis of negotiation phase sequences in simulated and authentic hostage negotiations

Interaction analysis and phase mapping techniques were used to create phase maps for eight authentic and eight simulated hostage negotiations. Optimal matching distances of each map from a map based on Gulliver's phase model of negotiated disputes revealed variation in resemblance to the model. A dissimilarity matrix generated by optimal matching comparison of all possible pairs of maps in the sample was subjected to multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. A family of Gulliver‐like cases (mostly simulations) emerged from the analysis; other cases resembled neither each other nor the Gulliver model.
Engineering design and assessment of a demand-sensitive LED streetlighting system

Abstract A solid-state lighting technology was demonstrated at a US Navy Research Center in Maryland – where light-emitting diode (LED) luminaires were substituted for existing high pressure sodium (HPS) streetlighting units, and an intelligent lighting control system was deployed. This paper summarizes the prudent engineering design and implementation of the demand-sensitive feature of the LED streetlighting system at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division that provides an annual average electricity and CO2 savings of 74%. In addition, technical system performance and life-cycle assessment of the HPS and the new LED systems are discussed. Best practices and field experience that can help with other similar smart lighting implementation elsewhere are also summarized.
Rate form of the Eshelby and Hill tensors

Expressions are derived for the rates of change of the S and P tensors for transformed homogeneous inclusions in an anisotropic comparison medium undergoing prescribed changes of its elastic moduli. General results are obtained for ellipsoids and then reduced to yield explicit expressions in terms of the Stroh eigenvalues for cylindrical and disk-shaped inclusions in anisotropic solids and for spherical inclusions in isotropic solids. Applications are illustrated by solving the rate problem for an inhomogeneity in a large volume of a comparison medium, which is shown to be readily adaptable to standard averaging techniques for predictions of rates of change of overall moduli of composite materials experiencing evolution of phase moduli.
Isotopic variations in primitive meteorites

Oxygen isotopic variations in carbonaceous chondrites and ordinary chondrites can each be interpreted as mixtures of two isotopically different reservoirs, one consisting of solids, enriched in O-16, the other of a gas, depleted in O-16 relative to terrestrial abundances. The data indicate a common source of the solids for each of the two classes of meteorites, but a different gas reservoir for each. These conditions might obtain in gaseous protoplanets. It is noted that radiogenic Mg-26 is variable in abundance among some classes of Allende inclusions, implying either nebular heterogeneity with respect to Al-26/Al-27 ratios or time differences of crystal formation. The presence of excess Ag-107 from decay of extinct Pd-107 corroborates the evidence from Mg-26 for a time interval of at most a few million years between the last nucleosynthetic event and the accretion of substantial bodies in the solar system.
Synthesis, estrogen receptor binding, and tissue distribution of [18F]fluorodoisynolic acids

Abstract Doisynolic acids, D-ring seco-steroids derived from alkaline fusion of estrones, are hormonal curiosities: Their binding affinity for the estrogen receptor is low (ca. 1–2% that of estradiol), but their in vivo potency is high and they have a long duration of action. To study the in vivo behavior of the doisynolic acids, we prepared fluorine-substituted analogs of both trans -doisynolic acid (with the natural 14α-hydrogen configuration, trans -FDA) and the more active cis -doisynolic acid (with the unnatural 14β-hydrogen configuration, cis -FDA) from estrone and 14β-estrone, respectively. Modification of the D-ring haloform cleavage approach of Meyers allowed us to introduce fluorine (or fluorine-18) on the carbon atom derived from C-16 in the estrones. Fluorine substitution had little effect on the estrogen receptor binding affinity of the doisynolic acids. Tissue distribution of the fluorodoisynolic acids ( trans -[ 18 F]FDA and cis -[ 18 F]FDA) was unusual and very different from that of typical, high-affinity ligands for the estrogen receptor. At 1–3 h in immature female rats, trans -[ 18 F]FDA shows low and rather nonselective uptake in the principal estrogen target tissue (uterus) and slow clearance. By contrast, cis -[ 18 F]FDA shows high uptake in nearly all tissues, with significant uterine uptake that continues to increase over the 1–6-h period. The uterine uptake of this isomer was blocked at the later times by a sufficiently high dose of unlabeled cis -FDA. After administration of the trans -[ 18 F]FDA, a more polar metabolite slowly accumulates in the blood. The cis -[ 18 F]FDA, however, showed no apparent metabolism, with 84% of the blood activity at 5 h assigned as the unmetabolized radioligand. After 5 h, only limited clearance from blood, liver, and kidneys has occurred. No metabolite from this isomer accumulates in the uterus. Although fluorodoisynolic acids will not be useful breast-tumor imaging agents, their behavior was found to be interesting as it deviates from that of other F-18 estrogens. Further long-term studies of cis -doisynolic acid, labeled with tritium, may be needed to explicate fully its unusual distribution properties and high in vivo activity.
Solving Mazes Using Microfluidic Networks

This work demonstrates that pressure-driven flow in a microfluidic network can solve mazelike problems by exploring all possible solutions in a parallel fashion. Microfluidic networks can be fabricated easily by soft lithography and rapid prototyping. To find the best path between the inlet and the outlet of these networks, the channels are filled with a fluid, and the path of a second, dyed fluid moving under pressure-driven flow is traced from the inlet to the outlet. Varying the viscosities of these fluids allows the behavior of the system to be tailored. For example, filling the channels with immiscible fluids of different viscosities enhances the resolution of paths of different fluidic resistances.
Transcriptional regulation of the human GLUT4 gene promoter in diabetic transgenic mice

We previously reported that 2400 base pairs (bp) of 5'-flanking DNA is sufficient for tissue-specific and hormonal/metabolic regulation of the human GLUT4 gene in transgenic mice (Liu, M.-L., Olson, A. L., Moye-Rowley, W. S., Buse, J. B., Bell, G. I., and Pessin, J. E. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 11673-11676). To further define the DNA sequences required for GLUT4 expression, we generated transgenic mice carrying 1975, 1639, 1154, 730, and 412 bp of the GLUT4 5'-flank (hG4) fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. The 1975-hG4-CAT, 1639-hG4-CAT, and 1154-hG4-CAT constructs were expressed in a tissue-specific manner identical to the endogenous murine GLUT4 mRNA. Regulation of these reporter gene constructs in insulin-deficient diabetes also paralleled the endogenous gene. In contrast, 730-hG4-CAT was expressed at high levels only in skeletal muscle and at low levels in all of the other tissues examined. Additionally, expression of 412-hG4-CAT was completely unrestricted. Neither the 730-hG4-CAT nor the 412-hG4-CAT reporter genes displayed any insulin-dependent regulation. These data demonstrate that a skeletal muscle-specific DNA element is located within 730 bp of the GLUT4 5'-flanking DNA but that 1154 bp is necessary to direct the full extent of tissue-specific and insulin-dependent regulation of the human GLUT4 gene in transgenic mice.
Comparative evaluation of an automated ribotyping instrument versus pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for epidemiological investigation of clinical isolates of bacteria.

Abstract A collection of bacterial isolates were typed using the RiboPrinter® Microbial Characterization System (Qualicon, Wilmington, DE, USA), an automated ribotyping system, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Grouping patterns, discrimination, and typeability were compared. The collection consisted of 411 isolates of bacteria from 32 medical centers. The isolates included a total of 18 species (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative), covering the range of concern to a laboratory performing epidemiological investigations. The patterns of groups obtained by both typing systems were similar for all species examined. Ribotyping provided less discrimination than PFGE, especially for Serratia marcescens , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . All strains were typed by the RiboPrinter, but 2.75% were not typeable by PFGE. The RiboPrinter® has proven to be a valuable primary typing method for a high-volume laboratory, even for those species for which it provides a lesser degree of discrimination than PFGE.
Events and Urban Regeneration: The Strategic Use of Events to Revitalise Cities by andrew Smith

Andrew Smith, Events and Urban Regeneration: The Strategic Use of Events to Revitalise Cities (London: Routledge, 2012).Events like the 2012 Olympic Games in London capture the attention of the wor...
Application heartbeats: a generic interface for specifying program performance and goals in autonomous computing environments

The rise of multicore computing has greatly increased system complexity and created an additional burden for software developers. This burden is especially troublesome when it comes to optimizing software on modern computing systems. Autonomic or adaptive computing has been proposed as one method to help application programmers handle this complexity. In an autonomic computing environment, system services monitor applications and automatically adapt their behavior to increase the performance of the applications they support. Unfortunately, applications often run as performance black-boxes and adaptive services must infer application performance from low-level information or rely on system-specific ad hoc methods. This paper proposes a standard framework, Application Heartbeats, which applications can use to communicate both their current and target performance and which autonomic services can use to query these values.The Application Heartbeats framework is designed around the well-known idea of a heartbeat. At important points in the program, the application registers a heartbeat. In addition, the interface allows applications to express their performance in terms of a desired heart rate and/or a desired latency between specially tagged heartbeats. Thus, the interface provides a standard method for an application to directly communicate its performance and goals while allowing autonomic services access to this information. Thus, Heartbeat-enabled applications are no longer performance black-boxes. This paper presents the Applications Heartbeats interface, characterizes two reference implementations (one suitable for clusters and one for multicore), and illustrates the use of Heartbeats with several examples of systems adapting behavior based on feedback from heartbeats.
Kernel mass and assimilate accumulation of wheat: cultivar responses to 50% spikelet removal at anthesis

Abstract Removal of spikelets at anthesis from primary culms of soft red winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) decreased kernel number and induced a range of compensatory growth responses for kernels on the primary culm. Cultivars with kernels on the primary culm that failed to increase in mass were classified as nonresponsive to 50% spikelet removal (SR), while those that increased were classified as responsive. With SR from only the primary culm, differences in assimilate synthesis and export from the primary culm to tillers with intact spikes might explain differential compensatory growth responses for kernels on the primary culm. Consequently, effects were compared for SR from only the primary culm and/or all culms on assimilate levels and kernel mass of two nonresponsive and four responsive cultivars. For nonresponsive cultivars, growth of kernels on the primary culm and tillers was unaffected by either SR treatments. For responsive cultivars, growth of kernels on the primary culm was significantly increased (9 to 23%) to a similar extent for both SR treatments, but growth of tiller kernels increased (10 to 26%) only when all spikes received SR treatment. Apparently, growth of primary-culm kernels after SR was unaffected by the reproductive-sink size of tillers. At maturity, the total water soluble carbohydrate content of stem tissues from both nonresponsive and responsive cultivars was increased by SR, but the higher levels of assimilate were associated with greater kernel growth of only responsive cultivars. Enhanced availability of assimilates and differential kernel responses caused by SR indicate kernel growth of nonresponsive cultivars was sink-limited, while kernel growth of responsive cultivars was initially source-limited and later sink-limited once maximum kernel growth was reached.
The effect of 3-methylfuran inhalation exposure on the rat nasal cavity.

Abstract The acute inhalation toxicity of 3-methylfuran (3MF) was investigated in female CD/CR rats. Animals were killed 1,3,6,9,12,15 and 30 days following a 1-h exposure to 148 μmol 3MF/l. Relatively selective 3MF-induced necrosis of the olfactory epithelium was seen at day 1 post exposure. Subsequent resolution of the acute olfactory necrosis was not complete and resulted in partial occlusive fibrosis of the nasal cavity as at 30 days. Pretreatment of the animals with piperonyl butoxide (PB) did not block 3MF-induced olfactory epithelial necrosis although it prevented Clara cell necrosis when given at a dose of 800 mg/kg intraperitoneally 1 h before exposure to 3MF.
The use of transmission electron microscopy to study the blend morphology of starch/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) thermoplastics

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine the morphology of extruded thermoplastic starch/poly(ethylene-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) blends. Both the starch and EVOH polymers were found to be very beam sensitive: the maximum allowable beam dosages for the crystalline fraction of both components are estimated at less than 3.5×10 −3 C cm −2 at 200 kV and room temperature. In addition, both polymers experienced significant mass thickness contrast variations which at moderate beam dosage (>6.0×10 −3 C cm −2 ) led to contrast-reversal of images of the blend morphology. Noting the effect of the electron beam on the materials, low dose techniques were used with conventional TEM to reliably image the blends. For as-processed starch/EVOH blends, EVOH was observed to be the matrix component even at very high starch concentrations (up to 70%). Domain sizes of starch were observed to range from less than 0.1 μm to greater than 3 μm indicating that all of the starches became destructurized during the preparation of the blends. Variation in the blend structure was also observed at similar starch compositions (50%) for the three corn starch types. An analysis of contrast differences in blends containing Waxy Maize, Native Corn, and high amylose Hylon VII starches with EVOH suggested increasing miscibility with increasing amylose content in the starch component. Finally, structural gradients in thermoplastically formed articles (e.g. a starch/EVOH melt-spun fibre) were observed.
Correlation of North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) angiographic definition of 70% to 99% internal carotid artery stenosis with duplex scanning

Abstract Purpose: The North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) has thus far demonstrated conclusive benefit for carotid endarterectomy for patients with symptomatic 70% to 99% internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. In the NASCET, ICA stenosis was classified angiographically: % ICA stenosis=(1—[narrowest ICA diameter/diameter normal distal cervical ICA]) × 100%. However, widely used duplex scan criteria for ICA stenosis correlate with different angiographic categories of high-grade stenosis (50% to 79%, >80%) and were developed on the basis of estimated bulb diameter. We therefore blindly evaluated with separate observers carotid angiograms from 100 patients who also underwent carotid duplex scanning in our vascular laboratory. Methods: "Angiographic stenosis" was calculated as in NASCET. Duplex scan measurements of ICA peak systolic velocity (PSV), ICA end-diastolic velocity, and the ratio of ICA PSV to common carotid artery (CCA) PSV were analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy to identify a 70% to 99% ICA stenosis. Results: Analysis of the data revealed that an ICA PSV/CCA PSV ratio of 4.0 provided the best combination of sensitivity (91%), specificity (87%), positive predictive value (76%), negative predictive value (96%), and overall accuracy (88%) for detection of a 70% to 99% stenosis. Conclusion: We conclude duplex scan determination of 70% to 99% stenosis as defined in the NASCET requires the adoption of duplex criteria modified from those in current use in most vascular laboratories. (J VASC SURG 1993;17:152-9.)
Nanowire-GMR Integrated Microfluidic Biosensor

Nanowires based GMR is ideal to be integrated in microfluidic devices due to its efficient detection of sensitive magnetic fields. Nanowire based GMR microfluidic sensor is used to detect different fluids based on their magnetic behavior. This paper demonstrates the fabrication and testing of nanowire based GMR biosensors with four different control solutions: 1) DI-water, 2) Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS), 3) polystyrene superparamagnetic beads, and 4) commercially available magnetic Dynabeads. The device is fabricated in PDMS by using a lithographically patterned silicon wafer as the mold. The nanowire based GMR material, 3 mm by 3 mm in size, is inserted inside the PDMS close to the channel during the fabrication. The channel in the PDMS substrate is sealed by bonding it to a glass plate using Reactive-Ion-Exchanger (RIE). GMR device is tested potentiostatically using a computer controlled function generator (Solatron, SI 1287). A highest resistance of 0.748 Ω. is recorded for the sensor, in the absence of magnetic field. A resistance change of 0.6% is obtained in the presence of a magnetic field (B = 0.035T) between water and polystyrene superparamagnetic beads when pumped through the microchannel. The sensor showed a resistance difference of 0.31% between 1X diluted PBS and 100X diluted dynabeads, in the presence of a constant magnetic field of 0.035T. This characterization would be useful in the development of a BioMEMS sensor using nanowire based GMR.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Spontaneous dissection of air into the transverse mesocolon during double-contrast barium enema

Intramural perforation of the colon proximal to the rectosigmoid is a rare complication of the barium enema examination. We present a case in which air and barium entered the wall of the transverse colon, and then dissected through the transverse mesocolon during double-contrast barium enema in an asymptomatic patient with no known underlying colonic disease.
Fas-mediated apoptosis of proliferating, transiently growth-arrested, and senescent normal human fibroblasts.

Abstract Previous studies suggest that apoptotic signaling may require proteins that are critical to cellular proliferation and cell cycle regulation. To further examine this question, proliferating, transiently growth-arrested, and senescent normal human fibroblasts were induced to undergo apoptosis in response to two distinct mediators of apoptosis—Fas (APO-1/CD95) death receptor and staurosporine. Ligation of the Fas receptor in the presence of cycloheximide or actinomycin D resulted in apoptosis of proliferating cells, cells transiently growth arrested by γ-irradiation or serum starvation (i.e., G 0 arrest), and permanently growth-arrested senescent fibroblasts. Proliferating and G 0 -arrested cells were also susceptible to staurosporine-mediated apoptosis. Surprisingly, γ-irradiated cells did not undergo staurosporine-mediated apoptosis, and remained viable for a prolonged time. Fas-mediated apoptosis of senescent fibroblasts was evidenced by chromosome condensation and by activation of caspase-8 and -3, proteases crucial for the execution of the Fas apoptosis pathway. In addition, ligation of the Fas receptor in G 0 -arrested cells did not result in the activation of p34 cdc2 kinase, arguing that activation of this kinase is not essential in this apoptotic process. From these studies we conclude that proliferating, transiently growth-arrested, and senescent normal human fibroblasts are susceptible to apoptotic signals and that apoptosis is not necessarily dependent upon cell cycle or proliferative state of the cell.
A volume and surface source integral formulation for electromagnetic scattering from printed circuit antennas

The authors present a volume integral formulation in conjunction with a method of moments solution for electromagnetic scattering from two- and three-dimensional homogeneous dielectric printed circuit substrates. The theory for printed circuits consisting of dielectric substrates and conducting surfaces is presented. The TE scattering from a dielectric cylinder and a dielectric sheet are computed and compared to other numerical results. The results for electromagnetic scattering from a three-dimensional dielectric cube are compared to other results. >
An exact multinomial test for equivalence

Existing equivalence tests for multinomial data are valid asymptotically, but the level is not properly controlled for small and moderate sample sizes. We resolve this difficulty by developing an exact multinomial test for equivalence and an associated confidence interval procedure. We also derive a conservative version of the test that is easy to implement even for very large sample sizes. Both tests use a notion of equivalence that is based on the cumulative distribution function, with two probability vectors being considered equivalent if their partial sums never differ by more than some specified constant. We illustrate the methods by applying them to Weldon's dice data, to data on the digits of , and to data collected by Mendel. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 47–59; © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada Les tests d'equivalence deja existants pour les donnees multinomiales sont asymptotiquement valides, mais le niveau n'est pas bien controle pour de petits ou moyens echantillons. Nous resolvons ce probleme en developpant un test exact pour l'equivalence et une methode pour obtenir un intervalle de confiance. Nous proposons aussi une methode plus conservatrice qui est facile a implanter meme pour de tres grands echantillons. Chacun de ces tests utilise une notion d'equivalence basee sur la fonction de repartition. Deux vecteurs de probabilites sont dits equivalents si leurs sommes partielles ne different jamais par plus d'une constante prespecifiee. Cette methode est illustree a l'aide des jeux de donnees suivants : les des de Weldon, les decimales de et des donnees rassemblees par Mendel. La revue canadienne de statistique 37: 47–59; © 2009 Societe statistique du Canada
Management of Vascular Complications following Femoral Artery Catheterization with and without Percutaneous Arterial Closure Devices

Percutaneous arterial closure devices allow earlier mobilization and discharge of patients after arterial catheterization than with manual compression for puncture site hemostasis. We reviewed our recent experience managing the complications of femoral artery catheterization with and without these devices on the vascular surgery service at a tertiary hospital. Thirty-one patients presenting over an 18-month period with complications after femoral artery catheterization with manual compression (n = 21) or percutaneous arterial closure devices (n = 10) were retrospectively reviewed.
No quenching in infinite time for degenerate singular semilinear parabolic equations

Let q be any nonnegative real number, and T=<~. For the degenerate singular semilinear parabolic initial-boundary value problemx^qu"t-u"x"x=f(u)for0
I. `DES will be totally insecure within ten years¿

Cryptography. The very name conjures up images of secrecy and spying, with project code names like ?Magic? and ?Lucifer.? And indeed until fairly recently data encryption was a shrouded capability, used almost exclusively by military and diplomatic organizations. The computerization of information processing and transmission has changed this. In response to a growing commercial need, the National Bureau of Standards has promulgated a national Data Encryption Standard, developed by IBM. The standard, called DES, can be implemented in software or on a single LSI chip and can be used with any computer to encrypt and decrypt transmitted data. A single-chip version should sell for about $10 in quantity production. But just how good is the protection offered by DES?
Voyager: 10 years of exploration

On September 5, 1987, Voyagers 1 and 2 kept moving at 15 km/s or so, something they have been doing well for a decade. Last month the Voyager mission marked its 10th anniversary of planetary exploration, as well as the fact that the two spacecraft already traveled nearly 4 billion miles (∼6 billion km) each. On the way they have provided a staggering amount of information about the outer planets in the Solar System, and their work is not yet finished. Soon Voyager 1 will rocket out of the solar system, its instruments in search of the heliopause, the end of the solar wind, and Voyager 2 will be propelled from its recent encounter with Uranus toward a polar flyby of Neptune in August 1989.
Love and Suicide: The Structure of the Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS) and Its Relation to Suicidal Behavior

Background Suicide has been linked to intense negative affect. However, little is known about the range of affects experienced by suicidal persons, or the separate effects of affect valence and intensity. We examine a novel self-report scale, the 17-item Affective Intensity Rating Scale (AIRS), and its relation to suicidality in a high-risk sample. Methodology/Principal Findings Patients presenting with suicidality were recruited from the Emergency Department in a large urban hospital, and completed a battery of assessments there. Structure of the AIRS was assessed using Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis with Oblimin rotation. Convergent and divergent validity were assessed by regressing AIRS subscales against Brief Symptom Inventory subscales. Relation to suicidality was assessed by regression of suicide attempt status against scale and subscale scores, and individual items and two-way item interactions, along with significant clinical and demographic factors. 176 subjects were included in analyses. Three reliable subscales were identified within the AIRS measure: positive feelings towards self, negative feelings towards self, and negative feelings towards other. Only individual AIRS items associated significantly with suicide attempt status; strong ‘feelings of love’ associated positively with actual suicide attempt, while ‘feelings of calm’ and ‘positive feelings towards self’ associated negatively. Interaction analyses suggest ‘calm’ moderates the association of ‘love’ with suicide attempt. Conclusions/Significance Factor analysis of the AIRS is consistent with a circumplex model of affect. Affective dimensions did not predict suicidal behavior, but intense feelings of love, particularly in the absence of protective feelings of calm or positive self-view associated with current attempt.
Codes on graphs: constraint complexity of cycle-free realizations of linear codes

Cycle-free graphical realizations of linear codes generalize trellis realizations. Given a linear code C and a cycle-free graph topology, there exists a well-defined minimal realization for C on that graph in which each constraint is a linear code with a well-defined length and dimension. The constraint complexity of the realization is defined as maximum dimension of any constraint code. There exists a graph that minimizes constraint complexity in which all internal nodes have degree 3 and all interface nodes have degree 2, and which moreover can be put in the form of a "tree-structured trellis realization." The constraint complexity of a general cycle-free graph realization can be less than that of any conventional trellis realization, but not by very much. Such realizations can yield reductions in decoding complexity even when they do not reduce constraint complexity.
Global Kinematics of the Globular Cluster M15

We present velocities for 230 stars in the outer parts of the globular cluster M15 measured with the Hydra multifiber spectrograph on the 3.5 m WIYN telescope. A new Bayesian technique is used for analyzing the data. The mean velocity of the cluster is -106.9 ? 0.3 km s-1. Rotation with an amplitude of 1.5 ? 0.4 km s-1 and a position angle of 125? ? 19? is observed, and a model including rotation is marginally favored over one without rotation. The velocity dispersion decreases from the center out to about 7' and then appears to increase slightly. This behavior is strikingly different from the continued decline of velocity dispersion with increasing radius that is expected in an isolated cluster. We interpret this as an indication of heating of the outer part of M15 by the Galactic tidal field.
Direct sequence spread spectrum parallel acquisition in a nonselective Rician fast fading channel

The authors investigate the performance of the direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) parallel acquisition system, previously proposed by the authors (1989) for a nonselective Rician fading channel. The acquisition system utilizes a bank of parallel I-Q noncoherent matched filters for the search mode, and a coincidence detector for the verification mode. The probabilities of detection, false alarm, and missing are derived for the channel under consideration, from which the mean and variance of the acquisition time are evaluated as a measure of the system performance. It is shown that both the mean and variance decrease when the specular component is stronger. The variance decreases rapidly as the signal-to-noise ratio increases while the mean acquisition time reaches its minimum. It is also shown that the effect of the parameters of the fading process is very small. >
DNA-tethered membranes formed by giant vesicle rupture

We have developed a strategy for preparing tethered lipid bilayer membrane patches on solid surfaces by DNA hybridization. In this way, the tethered membrane patch is held at a controllable distance from the surface by varying the length of the DNA used. Two basic strategies are described. In the first, single-stranded DNA strands are immobilized by click chemistry to a silica surface, whose remaining surface is passivated to prevent direct assembly of a solid supported bilayer. Then giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) displaying the antisense strand, using a DNA-lipid conjugate developed in earlier work [Chan, Y.-H.M., van Lengerich, B., et al., 2008. Lipid-anchored DNA mediates vesicle fusion as observed by lipid and content mixing. Biointerphases 3 (2), FA17-FA21], are allowed to tether, spread and rupture to form tethered bilayer patches. In the second, a supported lipid bilayer displaying DNA using the DNA-lipid conjugate is first assembled on the surface. Then GUVs displaying the antisense strand are allowed to tether, spread and rupture to form tethered bilayer patches. The essential difference between these methods is that the tethering hybrid DNA is immobile in the first, while it is mobile in the second. Both strategies are successful; however, with mobile DNA hybrids as tethers, the patches are unstable, while in the first strategy stable patches can be formed. In the case of mobile tethers, if different length DNA hybrids are present, lateral segregation by length occurs and can be visualized by fluorescence interference contrast microscopy making this an interesting model for interactions that occur in cell junctions. In both cases, lipid mobility is high and there is a negligible immobile fraction. Thus, these architectures offer a flexible platform for the assembly of lipid bilayers at a well-defined distance from a solid support.