cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generalization of S3 mass-matrix symmetry

Abstract It is proposed that the mass matrix of the three generations of fermions should be analyzed in terms of a discrete symmetry consisting of the operators of the permutation group on three objects (S 3 ), applied to the generation labels in the obvious way, and of changes of sign of the fields corresponding to each generation. It is shown that this group of symmetry operations is isomorphic to the group S 4 . Only one assignment of the representations of the fermions is logical, and it is the same as the assignment used in an empirically successful model previously proposed by S. Pakvasa, H. Sugawara, and collaborators.
Identification of diamine linkers with differing reactivity and their application in the synthesis of melamine dendrimers

Abstract Diamine linkers for the synthesis of dendrimers based on melamine were identified using competition reactions. The relative reactivity of the surveyed cyclic monoamines varies by 40 times, expanding the previously identified series to an overall relative reactivity range of 320 times. Azetidine is 40 times more reactive than the cyclic, nine-membered ring (C 8 H 17 N), and 320 times more reactive than benzylamine. Reactivity differences are attributed to p K a values and sterics. Diamines incorporating these groups are useful linkers that can be employed in dendrimer synthesis. Specifically, the nucleophilicity of the individual amine groups comprising 3-aminoazetidine, 3-aminopyrrolidine, and 4-aminopiperidine varies by 100 times, 70 times, and 20 times, respectively. These linkers are incorporated into a generation three dendrimer.
Rectangular waveguides with two conventional and two superconducting walls

The propagation properties of transverse electric TE(sup pm) modes and their dispersion relations in rectangular waveguides with two conventional and two superconducting walls, derived by using the Meissner boundary conditions on the superconducting walls, are presented. In addition to recovering some previously known results, some novel results have been obtained: the cut-off wavelength of the dominant TE(sup 10) mode is greater than that of the conventional TE(sub 10) mode, and the tangential electric field and normal magnetic field for the dominant mode TE(sup 10) exist on the superconducting surfaces. Expressions for electromagnetic components, surface currents, attenuation coefficient, maximum transmitted power, dispersion and wave impedance are also presented.
Conditional over-expression of RAGE by embryonic alveolar epithelium compromises the respiratory membrane and impairs endothelial cell differentiation.

Background Receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) are cell surface receptors prominently expressed by lung epithelium. Previous research demonstrated that over-expression of RAGE by murine alveolar epithelial cells during embryogenesis caused severe lung hypoplasia and neonatal lethality. However, the effects of RAGE over-expression on adjacent matrix and endothelial cells remained unknown.
Commentary on Training, Co-Training, and Cross Training of Domestic Violence and Child Welfare Agencies Commentary on Training, Co-Training, and Cross Training of Domestic Violence and Child Welfare Agencies

The recent article “Training, Co-Training, and Cross Training of Domestic Violence and Child Welfare Agencies” (Nuszkowski et.al, 2007) raises many important questions regarding the content and purpose of joint training. The authors seem to conclude that there is clearly a need for a change. They contend that the joint training of these agencies concerning the behavioral and psychological consequences of intimate partner violence on both women and children would prove beneficial. In fact, educating staff on the barriers women face when attempting to leave a violent relationship would have the desired consequence of decreasing “the re-victimization of battered women [caused by child protective service staff] blaming them for failing to protect their children” (p. 40, Nuszkowski et.al, 2007). This conclusion is at best conceptually biased, at worst normatively irresponsible, and may, in fact, be counter-productive to improved inter-disciplinary casework. What is at stake is not the development of an adequat...
Ethanol Effects on N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptors in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis

The extended amygdala is a series of interconnected, embryologically similar series of nuclei in the brain that are thought to play key roles in aspects of alcohol dependence, specifically in stress-induced increases in alcohol-seeking behaviors. Plasticity of excitatory transmission in these and other brain regions is currently an intense area of scrutiny as a mechanism underlying aspects of addiction. N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs) play a critical role in plasticity at excitatory synapses and have been identified as major molecular targets of ethanol. Thus, this article will explore alcohol and NMDAR interactions first at a general level and then focusing within the extended amygdala, in particular on the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST).
Optical laboratory realization of a symbolic production system

An optical symbolic neural net is described. It uses an optical symbolic correlator. This produces a new input neuron representation space that is shift-invariant and can accommodate multiple objects. No other neural net can handle multiple objects within the field of view. Initial optical laboratory data are presented. An optical neural net production system processes this new neuron data. This aspect of the system is briefly described.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
FTIR-ATR studies of protein adsorption on plasma derivatized polyurethanes

Abstract The adsorption of human fibronectin (FN) and human fibrinogen (FGN) on a polyurethane and a glow discharge plasma treated polyurethane was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR/ATR) optics. Adsorption experiments using protein solution concentrations of 0.2, 0.1, and 0.02 mg/ml were performed under static conditions for 90 min. The plasma-treated polyurethane adsorbed less FGN than the untreated polymer. Enhanced FN adsorption was observed on the plasma-treated polyurethane. The protein adsorption kinetics were modeled by numerically solving the diffusion equation with various kinetic reaction rate expressions as part of the boundary condition at the wall. The protein infrared spectra were enhanced using Fourier self-deconvolution, and spectral changes during adsorption were interpreted in terms of protein conformation changes. An increase in the β-structure content of fibronectin and fibrinogen was observed upon adsorption.
FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE USE OF PNEUMOCOCCUS EXTRACTS IN EFFECTING TRANSFORMATION OF TYPE IN VITRO.

Pneumococcus extracts highly active in inducing the in vitro transformation of the specific types of Pneumococcus have been prepared by dissolving S cells with sodium desoxycholate, precipitating the dissolved material in alcohol in which the bile salt remains soluble, and extracting the precipitate in salt solution. Further purification of these active extracts has been attained by the removal of considerable inactive material by charcoal adsorption and by reprecipitation of the adsorbed extract in alcohol or acetone. The importance of using young cultures for extraction, and of preventing autolysis during the preparation of the extracts, is emphasized. Extracts prepared by the method described have been filtered through Berkefeld Candles (V, N, and W) without appreciable loss in activity, provided the reaction of the extract was slightly alkaline at the time of filtration. The purified and filtered extracts are water-clear, and sterile by rigid cultural and animal tests. They have been heated to temperatures of 60°C. for 30 minutes without appreciable loss in their capacity to induce specific changes in type. And although they have generally shown definite decrease in potency after heating to temperatures above 80° C., some extracts have been found active even after an exposure of 10 minutes to a temperature of 90°C. They have been completely inactivated by boiling. Relatively small amounts of extract have been effective when added to a broth medium containing normal serum or serous fluid. In this medium, R pneumococci, irrespective of their type derivation, have developed and thereafter retained all the type-specific characteristics of the encapsulated S cells from which the extract was prepared. The specific action of the extracts is discussed with reference to their transforming and antigenic properties.
Interfacial capacitance of single layer graphene

The interfacial capacitance of large area, single layer graphene was directly measured with electrolyte accessing both sides of the graphene sheet. PMMA and photoresist patterns were used as supports to suspend the CVD grown graphene in electrolyte during electrochemical testing. Both one and two sides of single layer graphene films were measured and compared. The results show that the area normalized charge that can be stored simultaneously on both sides is significantly lower than could be stored on just one side of single layer graphene, consistent with charge storage having a quantum capacitance component. These measurements are also consistent with the specific capacitance of graphene materials as previously measured in supercapacitor cells and provide a basis for the further understanding and development of graphene based materials for electrical energy storage.
Characterizing cortical dynamics using a large-scale model of turtle visual cortex

Visual stimuli evoke waves of electrical activity that propagate across the visual cortex of freshwater turtles. The experimental methods used to demonstrate these waves measure the activity of populations of pyramidal cells. However, turtle visual cortex contains pyramidal cells and at least three populations of inhibitory interneurons. This study uses a large-scale model to characterize the time course of activity of each of the major populations of neurons in turtle visual cortex.
The Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal Regulates rhl Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses intercellular signals to control the density-dependent expression of many virulence factors. The las and rhl quorum-sensing systems function, respectively, through the autoinducers N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone and N-butyryl-L-homoserine lactone (C(4)-HSL), which are known to positively regulate the transcription of the elastase-encoding gene, lasB. Recently, we reported that a second type of intercellular signal is involved in lasB induction. This signal was identified as 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone and designated the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS). PQS was determined to be part of the quorum-sensing hierarchy since its production and bioactivity depended on the las and rhl quorum-sensing systems, respectively. In order to define the role of PQS in the P. aeruginosa quorum-sensing cascade, lacZ gene fusions were used to determine the effect of PQS on the transcription of the quorum-sensing system genes lasR, lasI, rhlR, and rhlI. We found that in P. aeruginosa, PQS caused a major induction of rhlI'-lacZ and had lesser effects on the transcription of lasR'-lacZ and rhlR'-lacZ. We also observed that the transcription of both rhlI'-lacZ and lasB'-lacZ was cooperatively effected by C(4)-HSL and PQS. Additionally, we present data indicating that PQS was not produced maximally until cultures reached the late stationary phase of growth. Taken together, our results imply that PQS acts as a link between the las and rhl quorum-sensing systems and that this signal is not involved in sensing cell density.
Quinone Reductase Inhibitors Block SAPK/JNK and NFκB Pathways and Potentiate Apoptosis

Abstract A variety of environmental stresses stimulate the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEKK) > stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)-ERK kinase (SEK) > SAPK/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) stress-activated protein kinase cascade and coordinately activate the transcription factor NFκB. Mechanisms of stress activation upstream of MEKK1 have not been precisely determined. Redox mechanisms involving sulfhydryls are likely because N-acetyl-cysteine at millimolar concentrations blocks stress signals. Because intracellular sulfhydryl concentrations can be regulated through redox cycling involving reactive quinones (1), we tested the ability of quinone reductase inhibitors to alter stress signaling. Several quinone reductases are inhibited by dicoumarol, a coumarin derivative. Dicoumarol prevented SAPK activation in vivo by chemical cell stressors and also prevented SAPK activation induced by expression of the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) receptor-associated protein TRAF2 but not by expression of truncated active MEKK1. Other coumarin derivatives failed to block SAPK activation, but other inhibitors of quinone reductases, particularly menadione, similarly blocked SAPK activation. Cells deficient in a major quinone reductase, NQO1, displayed hypersensitivity to dicoumarol stress inhibition, whereas SAPK in cells reconstituted with the NQO1 gene displayed relative dicoumarol resistance. Consistent with the proposed role of overlapping upstream signaling cascades in activation of NFκB, dicoumarol also blocked NFκB activation in primary macrophages stimulated with either lipopolysaccharide or TNFα. In addition, dicoumarol strongly potentiated TNFα-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells, probably by blocking the anti-apoptotic effect of NFκB. The ability of dicoumarol to simultaneously inhibit SAPK and NFκB activation and to potentiate apoptotic cell death suggests that SAPK is not an obligate participant in apoptosis. Dicoumarol, currently in clinical use as an oral anticoagulant, represents a potential therapeutic inhibitor of the SAPK and NFκB response.
The Influence of Media on Penal Attitudes

This study examines the influence of crime-related media consumption on individuals’ perceptions of the most important purpose of criminal sentencing, using a statewide survey of 4,245 California r...
Helping and Hurting Predictors of Maltreatment of Patients in Nursing Homes

Despite evidence indicating that deliberate maltreatment of patients exists in nursing homes, little is known about factors that increase the likelihood that such abuse will occur. This study emplo...
THE INFLUENCE OF pH UPON THE CONCENTRATION POTENTIALS ACROSS THE SKIN OF THE FROG.

The production of concentration P.D.'s across the skin of the frog is very intimately related to the pH of the applied solutions. On the alkaline side of an isoelectric point the dilute solution is electropositive; on the acid side this solution becomes electronegative. When the pH is suddenly lowered from a value more alkaline than this isoelectric point to one considerably more acid the change in polarity may occur within a few seconds. The effect is reversible. When a series of unbuffered solutions at different pH values are applied reversal curves may be obtained. When the concentration gradient is .1 N-.001 N KCl the reversal points lie between pH 4.1 and 4.8. When studied in acetate buffers this electromotive reversal is found to be closely correlated with the electrical charge upon the membrane, as determined by electroendosmosis through it. Reversal occurs between pH 4.9 and 5.2. It is concluded that the electromotive behavior of this material is controlled by some ampholyte, or group of ampholytes, within the membrane. This ampholyte is probably a protein. On both sides of their isoelectric point these membranes, in common with protein membranes, behave as if they retarded or prevented the movement through them of ions of the same electrical sign as they themselves bear, while permitting the movement of ions of the opposite sign. It is suggested that this correlation arises because of electrostatic effects between the charged surfaces and ions in the solution.
Baldwin Hills, Los Angeles, California--Rates of Late Cenozoic Uplift: ABSTRACT

Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and paleomagnetic stratigraphy of late Cenozoic cores of the North Pacific suggest that the major polar planktonic foraminiferal invasions in southern California occurred in the last 800,000 years. In the Baldwin Hills of the Los Angeles basin, relations of the base of these polar planktonic assemblages and probable water depths at that time, on the basis of associated benthic assemblages, indicate an average rate of uplift of about 0.075 m/100 years. On the basis of relation of radiocarbon dates with environments of deposition for the late Cenozoic, rates of uplift have increased to about 0.63 m/100 years for the past 36,000 years. Marine waters, approximately 100 m in depth 36,000 years ago, gave way gradually, through sedimentation and uplift, to nonmarine deposition in this area of the basin about 28,000 years ago. These early nonmarine deposits have been uplifted since then to elevations of 145 m atop the Baldwin Hills. Localized uplifts along the Newport-Inglewood fault trend may have formed recently, representing actively rising modern structural features along this trend in the Los Angeles basin. End_of_Article - Last_Page 768------------
A new system of impact excitation of continuous electrical oscillations and their application to wireless telephony

Abstract During the development of radio-telegraphy and radio-telephony there have appeared many devices, including various forms of discharge gaps and arcs, for the production of high-frequency oscillations. The following contribution presents yet another method, which was discovered by the author, for the production of oscillatory currents of high frequency; an arrangement which at first sight may appear to differ but slightly from some hitherto known systems, but which, on closer study, will be seen to be new in electrical action. Besides being new, this system possesses some interesting characteristics and some advantages over the other systems, which render it useful. A brief study' of the system is given in the following pages, together with some notes on its successful application to wireless telephony.
PHOSPHATE REGENERATION BY ZOOPLANKTON IN CAYUGA LAKE

Rates of liberation of phosphate by the zooplankton in Cayuga Lake were measured in late summer when the lake was strongly stratified. About 80% of the phosphorus was liberated in the epilimnion, apparently principally by cladocerans. The regeneration of phosphorus by the zooplankton in the epilimnion appears to be sufficient to supply the requirements of the phytoplankton populations of that period.
A Comparative Study of the Phosphotriester Versus the Phosphoramidite Approach to Nitroxide Labeled Oligo dT

Abstract Deoxyuridine labeled in C-5 with a one-atom-tehered 6-memberedring mitroxide (DUTA) was incorporated into the oligomer d(T)7(DUTA)d(T)7 by either the phosphotriester or phosphoramidite method. While the EPR specific activity (AEPR) of the phosphotriester product concurs with EPR data of nucleic acids spin labeled enzymatically, a lower AEPR is observed with the phosphoramidite product. The effects of the chemically harsher phosphoramidite conditions the DUTA label are held accountable for these results.
DivMCuts: Faster Training of Structural SVMs with Diverse M-Best Cutting-Planes

Training of Structural SVMs involves solving a large Quadratic Program (QP). One popular method for solving this QP is a cutting-plane approach, where the most violated constraint is iteratively added to a working-set of constraints. Unfortunately, training models with a large number of parameters remains a time consuming process. This paper shows that significant computational savings can be achieved by adding multiple diverse and highly violated constraints at every iteration of the cutting-plane algorithm. We show that generation of such diverse cuttingplanes involves extracting diverse M-Best solutions from the loss-augmented score of the training instances. To find these diverse M-Best solutions, we employ a recently proposed algorithm [4]. Our experiments on image segmentation and protein side-chain prediction show that the proposed approach can lead to significant computational savings, e.g., 28% reduction in training time.
Experimental verification of conventional phase advancement method for surface permanent magnet motor with fractional-slot concentrated windings

The ability of permanent magnet synchronous motors to operate over a wide constant power speed ratio depends on the motor winding inductance [1]. Previous work has shown that PM motors with "sufficiently high" inductance, if operated with conventional phase advancement [4] method, can widen the CPSR significantly [3]. Compared to traditional vector control, this method is computationally very simple and does not involve any transformations. Only speed and rotor angle feedback is needed to produce the required power. It does not require any motor current or voltage feedback. Surface PM machines with distributed windings have lower phase winding inductance. Recently a method has been developed to use fractional slot concentrated windings to significantly increase the surface PM machine inductance [5]. The increased inductance method is compatible with a voltage source inverter (VSI) controlled by the sinusoidal pulse width modulation (PWM).This paper presents the analysis of the CPA controller for high inductance PM machines for traction drive application.
Physical exercise capacity is associated with coronary and peripheral vascular function in healthy young adults

Short-term exercise training has been shown to improve cardiovascular function, whereas long-term effects of a physically active lifestyle, on coronary artery function in particular, are still not ...
Paths toward Democracy: The Working Class and Elites in Western Europe and Latin America. By Ruth Berins Collier. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. 230p. $49.95 cloth, $17.95 paper.

Ruth Collier has written an important contribution to the literatures on democracy and on labor, one that should reorient much discussion and work on democratization. Collier makes a powerful case that labor has been a far more important and decisive actor in redemocratization than con- ventionally thought, and her reconceptualization of the cases on this basis yields an important new typology of regime transitions. The book casts a wide empirical net, examining the contribution of labor to the emergence of democracy in numerous countries in both the Americas and Europe.
Biexciton quantum yield of single semiconductor nanocrystals from photon statistics.

Biexciton properties strongly affect the usability of a light emitter in quantum photon sources and lasers but are difficult to measure for single fluorophores at room temperature due to luminescence intermittency and bleaching at the high excitation fluences usually required. Here, we observe the biexciton (BX) to exciton (X) to ground photoluminescence cascade of single colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) under weak excitation in a g(2) photon correlation measurement and show that the normalized amplitude of the cascade feature is equal to the ratio of the BX to X fluorescence quantum yields. This imposes a limit on the attainable depth of photon antibunching and provides a robust means to study single emitter biexciton physics. In NC samples, we show that the BX quantum yield is considerably inhomogeneous, consistent with the defect sensitivity expected of the Auger nonradiative recombination mechanism. The method can be extended to study X,BX spectral and polarization correlations.
Investigation of PAH Biomarkers in the Urine of Workers Exposed to Hot Asphalt

Airborne emissions from hot asphalt contain mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including several carcinogens. We investigated urinary biomarkers of three PAHs, namely naphthalene (Nap), phenanthrene (Phe), and pyrene (Pyr) in 20 road-paving workers exposed to hot asphalt and in 6 road milling workers who were not using hot asphalt (reference group). Our analysis included baseline urine samples as well as postshift, bedtime, and morning samples collected over three consecutive days. We measured unmetabolized Nap (U-Nap) and Phe (U-Phe) as well as the monohydroxylated metabolites of Nap (OH-Nap), Phe (OH-Phe), and Pyr (OH-Pyr) in each urine sample. In baseline samples, no significant differences in biomarker levels were observed between pavers and millers, suggesting similar background exposures. In postshift, bedtime, and morning urine samples, the high pairwise correlations observed between levels of all biomarkers suggest common exposure sources. Among pavers, levels of all biomarkers were significantly elevated in postshift samples, indicating rapid uptake and elimination of PAHs following exposure to hot asphalt (biomarker levels were not elevated among millers). Results from linear mixed-effects models of levels of U-Nap, U-Phe, OH-Phe, and OH-Pyr across pavers showed significant effects of work assignments with roller operators having lower biomarker levels than the other workers. However, no work-related effect was observed for levels of OH-Nap, apparently due to the influence of cigarette smoking. Biological half-lives, estimated from regression coefficients for time among pavers, were 8 h for U-Phe, 10 h for U-Nap, 13 h for OH-Phe and OH-Pyr, and 26 h for OH-Nap. These results support the use of U-Nap, U-Phe, OH-Phe, and OH-Pyr, but probably not OH-Nap, as short-term biomarkers of exposure to PAHs emanating from hot asphalt.
First-principles thermal modeling of electric double layer capacitors under constant-current cycling

Abstract This study aims to develop physical modeling and understanding of the coupled electrodiffusion, heat generation, and thermal transport occurring in electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs) during constant-current cycling. To do so, the governing energy equation was derived from first principles and coupled with the modified Poisson–Nernst–Planck model for transient electrodiffusion in a binary and symmetric electrolyte. In particular, irreversible Joule heating and reversible heat generation rates due to ion diffusion, steric effects, and changes in entropy of mixing in EDLCs were rigorously formulated. Detailed numerical simulations of the temperature rise in the electrolyte were performed for planar electrodes. The results qualitatively reproduced experimental data reported in the literature under various charging/discharging conditions.
Steady shear and dynamic properties of biodegradable polyesters

The rheological properties of three biodegradable partially crystalline alipathic polyesters-poly e caprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV)-were investigated. Low shear viscosity (η), first normal stress difference (N 1 ), and dynamic properties (G' and G), were measured for each polymer using rotational instruments. High shear viscosity data was obtained using a capillary rheometer. Gel permeation chromatography indicates that both PLA and PHBV undergo degradation during processing. Thermal degradation rate constants for PLA and PHBV were determined from the time-sweep data. Data indicates that material functions are proportional to the molecular weight for PCL and PLA samples, and directly related to the HV content in the PHBV samples. The relaxation spectra were calculated from the G' and G data using the regularization method and the applicability of the nonlinear Wagner equation was checked on these materials. Results are discussed in terms of variations in the molecular characteristics on rheological properties and their possible influence on the processability.
Numerical Study of Spallation Phenomenon in an Arc-Jet Environment

It is hypothesized that spallation could affect the aerodynamic heating rates of reentry vehicles using ablative heat shields. To investigate spallation effects, a code is developed to compute the dynamics of spalled particles. The code uses a finite-rate chemistry model to study the chemical interactions of the particles with the flow field. The spallation code is one-way coupled to a computational fluid dynamics solver that models the hypersonic flow field around an ablative sample. Spalled particle behavior is numerically studied in both argon and air flow fields.
Aligning Incentives at Systemically Important Financial Institutions: A Proposal by the Squam Lake Group

To address the moral hazard problem that can motivate bank executives to take excessive risks and to fail to raise capital when needed, a group of 13 distinguished financial economists recommends that systemically important financial institutions be required to issue contingent convertible debt (CoCos) and to hold back a substantial share-as much as 20%-of the compensation of employees who can have a meaningful impact on the survival of the firm. This holdback should be forfeited if the firm's capital ratio falls below a specified threshold. The deferral period should be long enough-the authors suggest five years-to allow much of the uncertainty about managers' activities to be resolved before the bonds mature. Except for forfeiture, the payoff on the bonds should not depend on the firm's performance, nor should managers be permitted to hedge the risk of forfeiture. The threshold for forfeiture should be crossed well before a firm violates its regulatory capital requirements and well before its contingent convertible securities convert into equity. The Swiss Bank UBS has paid bonuses to its top 6,500 executives that have been structured in exactly this way. Management forfeits its deferred compensation if the bank's regulatory capital ratio falls below 7.5%, and its contingent convertible debt is set up to convert into equity if the bank's capital ratio falls below 5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Incidental Finding of Cor Triatriatum Sinistrum in an Adult

Cor triatriatum is a congenital heart defect often diagnosed in infancy or childhood. This case study presents an adult with metastatic breast cancer, anemia, and an incidental finding of cor triat...
Per-survivor processing for channel acquisition, data detection and modulation classification

Per-survivor processing (PSP) is a technique for jointly estimating the data sequence and unknown parameters of a communications signal which exhibits memory. PSP utilizes a trellis to retain and update distinct data sequence and channel estimates. We apply PSP to signals affected by ISI due to a FIR channel. The unknown channel acquisition performance of PSP is compared to that obtained from two blind equalization techniques. PSP may also be used to perform modulation classification of signals in ISI environments. Independent trellises matched to the modulations are created and metrics from each trellis are compared to produce a classification decision. >
A cellular-automata, slider-block model for earthquakes II. Demonstration of self-organized criticality for a 2-D system

SUMMARY It has been suggested that distributed seismicity is an example of self-organized criticality. If this is the case, the Earth’s crust in an active tectonic zone is in a near-critical state and faults can interact over large distances. Observed seismicity and earthquake statistics are consequences of the dynamical interaction of seismic faulting over a wide range of scales. We address this problem by considering a two-dimensional array of slider blocks with static/dynamic friction. The twodimensional system is treated as a cellular automaton such that only one slider block is allowed to slip at a given time and interacts only with its nearest neighbours through connecting springs. Because of this treatment, the amount of slip for each failed block can be obtained analytically, and the system is deterministic with no stochastic inputs or spatial heterogeneities. In many cases, the slip of one block induces the slip of adjacent blocks. The size of an event is specified by the number of blocks that participate in the event. The number of small events with a specified size has a power-law dependence on the size with a power close to -1.36. The distributions of normalized recurrence times for most events are close to a Poisson process, and gradually deviate towards periodicity for large events. The recurrence time statistics are generally insensitive to parameter variations. Large events may occur at stress levels considerably lower than the failure strength of an individual block, and the stress drops associated with large events are generally small. This may provide an explanation for observed low stress levels in tectonically active
Capillary-Driven Evaporation-Enhanced Heat Sink

Heat sinks with the same form factor but lower thermal resistance are desirable in many applications. For example, they would benefit electronics packaging by accommodating increased heat dissipation or enabling smaller overall system dimensions. An enhanced longitudinally finned heat sink that exploits evaporative cooling to significantly reduce its thermal resistance is conceptualized, modeled, fabricated, and tested. A wick in the form of a 1-mm-thick layer of (porous) sintered copper powder coated the (32 mm × 28 mm footprint × 14 mm tall) heat sink and (porous) sintered copper powder legs are immersed in an underlying water reservoir maintained at its base temperature. The assembly is placed in a wind tunnel in the fully shrouded configuration. Capillary forces maintained a film of evaporating water in the wick on the surface of the fins. The thermal resistance of the coated heat sink is 3.4-4.7 times lower than that of an uncoated heat sink of the same geometry. When (upstream) velocity equaled 2 m/s the conventional and enhanced heat sinks were tested for heat loads up to 20 and 60 W, respectively. At a heat load of 10 W, (upstream) velocity is varied from 1 to 4 m/s. External flow over a coated flat plate is investigated as well and similar reductions in thermal resistance observed.
Coagulopathy in pediatric abusive head trauma

Objectives. Coagulopathy is a potential complication of head trauma that may be attributable to parenchymal brain damage. The objectives of this study were to assess the frequency of coagulation defects in pediatric abusivehead trauma and to analyze their relationship to parenchymal brain damage. Methods. We reviewed the records of 265 pediatric patients hospitalized for head trauma. One hundred forty-seven patients met study inclusion criteria: (1) radiologic evidence of head trauma, (2) multidisciplinary validation that head trauma had been inflicted, and (3) coagulation screening performed within 2 days of presentation. Using nonparametric analysis, initial coagulation test results were compared between study patients without parenchymal brain damage and those with parenchymal brain damage. Results. Mild prothrombin time (PT) prolongations (median 13.1) occurred in 54% of study patients with parenchymal brain damage and only 20% of study patients withoutparenchymal brain damage. Among pediatric abusive head trauma patients with parenchymal brain damage who died, 94% displayed PT prolongations (median 16.3) and 63% manifested evidence of activated coagulation. Conclusions. PT prolongation and activated coagulation are common complications of pediatric abusive head trauma. In the presence of parenchymal brain damage, it is highly unlikely that these coagulation abnormalities reflect a preexisting hemorrhagic diathesis. These conclusions have diagnostic, prognostic, and legal significance.
Response to Intervention With Secondary School Students With Reading Difficulties

The authors summarize evidence from a multiyear study with secondary students with reading difficulties on (a) the potential efficacy of primary-level (Tier 1), secondary-level (Tier 2), and tertiary-level (Tier 3) interventions in remediating reading difficulties with middle school students, (b) the likelihood of resolving reading disabilities with older students with intractable reading disabilities, (c) the reliability, validity, and use of screening and progress monitoring measures with middle school students, and (d) the implications of implementing response to intervention (RTI) practices at the middle school level. The authors provide guidance about prevailing questions about remediating reading difficulties with secondary students and discuss future directions for research using RTI frameworks for students at the secondary level.
Making Web services dependable

Web services offer great promise for integrating and automating software applications within and between enterprises over the Internet. However, ensuring that Web services are dependable, and can satisfy their clients' requests when the clients need them is a real challenge because, typically, a business activity involves multiple Web services and a Web service involves multiple components, each of which must be dependable. In this paper, we describe fault tolerance techniques, including replication, checkpointing, and message logging, in addition to reliable messaging and transaction management for which Web services specifications exist. We discuss how those techniques can be applied to the components of the Web services involved in the business activities to render them dependable.
Can Democracy Take Root in Post-Soviet Russia? Explorations in State Society Relations. By Harry Eckstein, Frederic J. Fleron, Jr., Erik P. Hoffman, and William M. Reisinger, with Richard Ahl, Russell Bova, and Philip G. Roeder. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 1998. 420p. $64.00 cloth, $21.95 paper.

A decade after communism's collapse, what do we have to report? For one thing, some states certainly have it easier than others. A handful of the postcommunist states located in close proximity to the West have made admirable progress in constructing viable market economies and meaningful insti- tutions of democratic representation, but a much larger group has yet to taste the fruits of what Western politicians in the 1990s called "market democracy." Among this latter group, some retain at the time of this writing a formal commitment to democracy, but others have never moved very far from the authoritarian cronyism where they started.
Intertester Reliability for Measuring Pelvic Tilt in Standing

The purpose of this study was to examine intertester reliability using a method of measuring the relaxed standing pelvic-tilt angle, active anterior and posterior pelvic-tilt angles and ranges of motion, and the total pelvic-tilt ROM in the sagittal plane. After an instructional session, 6 testers measured the pelvic-tilt angles of the right side of 12 subjects. Pelvic-tilt angles were calculated using trigonometric functions. Degrees of ROM were determined from the pelvic-tilt angles obtained. The intraclass correlation coefficient was .95 for standing pelvic-tilt angle, .93 for the anterior pelvic-tilt angle, .93 for the posterior pelvic-tilt angle, .88 for the anterior pelvic-tilt ROM, .93 for the posterior pelvic-tilt ROM, and .90 for the total pelvic-tilt ROM. We concluded that intertester reliability, using this method, was very high for measuring pelvic tilt in the sagittal plane.
High Job Satisfaction Despite Low Income: A National Study of Kenyan Journalists

This Kenya national survey of journalists conducted in 2012 to 2013 (n = 504) examines job satisfaction, income satisfaction, and predictors of job satisfaction. Findings indicate that the vast maj...
Intelligent Dashboard for augmented reality based incident command response co-ordination

Communication in a mass casualty disaster scene is limited and difficult for medical personnel in the absence of necessary communication infrastructure and collaboration technologies. It leads to misdirected and delayed triage of scene-wide critically injured patients, especially when there is a large volume of patients needing diverse care levels. In this paper, we describe a novel Intelligent Dashboard that provides augmented reality benefits with minimal human communication through integration of a standardized Incident Command System (ICS) with Internet of Things (IoT) such as heads-up displays, virtual beacons, QR-code cards, and wireless mesh network elements. We conduct a usability evaluation with a two-incident ‘Task Force 1 Rescue’ simulation to show the ease-of-use and effectiveness of our Intelligent Dashboard. Our work lays the foundation for next-generation ICS for an Incident Commander to deploy resources at the right locations more efficiently, and reduce triage time, mitigate over/under triage, and thus increase triage care levels.
NON-BACTERIAL THROMBOTIC ENDOCARDITIS IN A PATIENT WITH PRIMARY ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME

Non bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE)/Libman Sacks is described in patients with mucin-producing cancers & connective tissue disorders (usually SLE); commonly involving the mitral & aortic valves. We report NBTE in primary Antiphopholipid antibody syndrome (APLS). A 65 yo female with breast
H2 Activation in Aqueous Solution: Formation of trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)2H(H2)]+ via the Heterolysis of H2 in Water

The water-soluble iron phosphine complex trans-Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)Cl(2) (DMeOPrPE = 1,2-bis(bis(methoxypropyl)phosphino)ethane) reacts with H(2) in water to produce trans-[Fe(DMeOPrPE)(2)H(H(2))](+) and H(+). The product is a water-soluble eta(2)-H(2) metal hydride complex, formed via the heterolysis of coordinated H(2) in water.
A randomized controlled trial of a moderate-fat, low-energy diet compared with a low fat, low-energy diet for weight loss in overweight adults

CONTEXT: Long-term success in weight loss with dietary treatment has been elusive. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a diet moderate in fat based on the Mediterranean diet compared to a standard low-fat diet for weight loss when both were controlled for energy. DESIGN: A randomized, prospective 18 month trial in a free-living population. PATIENTS: A total of 101 overweight men and women (26.5–46 kg/m2). INTERVENTION: (1) Moderate-fat diet (35% of energy); (2) low-fat diet (20% of energy). MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Change in body weight. RESULTS: After 18 months, 31/50 subjects in the moderate-fat group, and 30/51 in the low fat group were available for measurements. In the moderate-fat group, there were mean decreases in body weight of 4.1 kg, body mass index of 1.6 kg/m2, and waist circumference of 6.9 cm, compared to increases in the low-fat group of 2.9 kg, 1.4 kg/m2 and 2.6 cm, respectively; P≤0.001 between the groups. The difference in weight change between the groups was 7.0 kg. (95% CI 5.3, 8.7). Only 20% (10/51) of those in the low-fat group were actively participating in the weight loss program after 18 months compared to 54% (27/50) in the moderate-fat group, (P<0.002). The moderate-fat diet group was continued for an additional year. The mean weight loss after 30 months compared to baseline was 3.5 kg (n=19, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: A moderate-fat, Mediterranean-style diet, controlled in energy, offers an alternative to a low-fat diet with superior long-term participation and adherence, with consequent improvements in weight loss.
In-Situ Acoustic Measurements of Temperature Profile in Extreme Environments

A gasifier’s temperature is the primary characteristic that must be monitored to ensure its performance and the longevity of its refractory. One of the key technological challenges impacting the reliability and economics of coal and biomass gasification is the lack of temperature sensors that are capable of providing accurate, reliable, and long-life performance in an extreme gasification environment. This research has proposed, demonstrated, and validated a novel approach that uses a noninvasive ultrasound method that provides real-time temperature distribution monitoring across the refractory, especially the hot face temperature of the refractory. The essential idea of the ultrasound measurements of segmental temperature distribution is to use an ultrasound propagation waveguide across a refractory that has been engineered to contain multiple internal partial reflectors at known locations. When an ultrasound excitation pulse is introduced on the cold side of the refractory, it will be partially reflected from each scatterer in the US propagation path in the refractory wall and returned to the receiver as a train of partial echoes. The temperature in the corresponding segment can be determined based on recorded ultrasonic waveform and experimentally defined relationship between the speed of sound and temperature. The ultrasound measurement method offers a powerful solution to provide continuous more » real time temperature monitoring for the occasions that conventional thermal, optical and other sensors are infeasible, such as the impossibility of insertion of temperature sensor, harsh environment, unavailable optical path, and more. Our developed ultrasound system consists of an ultrasound engineered waveguide, ultrasound transducer/receiver, and data acquisition, logging, interpretation, and online display system, which is simple to install on the existing units with minimal modification on the gasifier or use with new units. This system has been successfully tested with a 100 kW pilot scale down flow oxyfuel combustor, capturing in real time temperature changes during all relevant combustion process changes. The ultrasound measurements have excellent agreement with thermo- couple measurements, and appear to be more sensitive to temperature changes before the thermocouples response, which is believed to be the first demonstration of ultrasound measurements segmental temperature distribution across refractories. « less
Periadventitial drug delivery for the prevention of intimal hyperplasia following open surgery

Abstract Background Intimal hyperplasia (IH) remains a major cause of poor patient outcomes after surgical revascularization to treat atherosclerosis. A multitude of drugs have been shown to prevent the development of IH. Moreover, endovascular drug delivery following angioplasty and stenting has been achieved with a marked diminution in the incidence of restenosis. Despite advances in endovascular drug delivery, there is currently no clinically available method of periadventitial drug delivery suitable for open vascular reconstructions. Herein we provide an overview of the recent literature regarding innovative polymer platforms for periadventitial drug delivery in preclinical models of IH as well as insights about barriers to clinical translation. Methods A comprehensive PubMed search confined to the past 15 years was performed for studies of periadventitial drug delivery. Additional searches were performed for relevant clinical trials, patents, meeting abstracts, and awards of NIH funding. Results Most of the research involving direct periadventitial delivery without a drug carrier was published prior to 2000. Over the past 15 years there have been a surge of reports utilizing periadventitial drug-releasing polymer platforms, most commonly bioresorbable hydrogels and wraps. These methods proved to be effective for the inhibition of IH in various animal models (e.g. balloon angioplasty, wire injury, and vein graft), but very few have advanced to clinical trials. There are a number of barriers that may account for this lack of translation. Promising new approaches including the use of nanoparticles will be described. Conclusions No periadventitial drug delivery system has reached clinical application. For periadventitial delivery, polymer hydrogels, wraps, and nanoparticles exhibit overlapping and complementary properties. The ideal periadventitial delivery platform would allow for sustained drug release yet exert minimal mechanical and inflammatory stresses to the vessel wall. A clinically applicable strategy for periadventitial drug delivery would benefit thousands of patients undergoing open vascular reconstruction each year.