cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pressure distributions in a static physical model of the hemilarynx: measurements and computations.

Summary An experimental study of the pressure distributions in an asymmetric larynx, hereafter referred to as a hemilarynx, was carried out at a glottal diameter of 0.04cm and transglottal pressures of 3, 5, 10, 20, and 40cm H 2 O. In each case, the glottal wall "on the left" was chosen to have an angle of 0° with the midline, and the angle of the glottal wall "on the right" was varied through converging angles of 5°, 10°, and 20° and diverging angles of 5°, 10°, and 20°. The case of two parallel glottal walls, or the uniform glottis, was also examined. With the exception of the 20° convergent case, the pressure distributions for most angles and pressures were bistable; that is, a stable flow situation persisted when the glottal exit flow jet was directed downstream either to the right or to the left in the rectangular "pharynx" tunnel. Bistability also occurred for the uniform glottis. Pressure differences arising from the different directions of the flow jet were often found to be small; however, differences for the diverging 10° case were as large as 7% or 8%, and for the 20° divergent case, 12%. Calculations with FLUENT, a computational package, gave excellent agreement with observed pressures. Implications of the pressure distribution data for the functional similarity of normal and hemilaryngeal phonation, hypothesized by Jiang and Titze, are discussed. In particular, the intraglottal pressures for converging and diverging angles for the hemilarynx were found to be quite similar to those of the full larynx with the same diameter and included angle or twice the diameter and twice the included angle, suggesting that the same mechanism of energy transfer operates in the two cases. Nondimensionalizing the pressure distributions with the transglottal pressures suggests that the shapes of the distributions at P =3, 5, 10, 20, and 40cm H 2 O for a given geometry are similar. The pressure average of these dimensionless distributions may be interpreted as a template at that geometry, a description referred to as successful pressure scaling. When the entire data set is considered, variations from consistent pressure scaling averaged 1.4%, although these variations tend to be somewhat larger near the glottal entrance and for diverging angles of 10° and 20°. Some possible implications of the observed pressures for phonosurgery are discussed.
On the Occasion of the Centennial of Weber's Birth*

(1964). On the Occasion of the Centennial of Weber's Birth. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 313-315.
Reversibility of Lead-Induced Depression of Growth

The overall objective of this investigation was to determine whether the growth-depressive effects of lead (Pb) are reversible. The animal model used was the female weanling rat. In Study 1, one group of animals was exposed to Pb for 10 days, a second group was exposed for an additional 21 days, and a third group of animals served as controls. Animals whose Pb was terminated after 10 days caught up completely with controls in terms of linear growth but only partially in terms of ponderal growth. There was no growth catch-up vis-a-vis controls among animals whose Pb exposure was continued for an additional 21 days, to the end of the study. In Study 2, Pb was terminated after only 3 days of exposure. Depression of body weight gain was completely reversed within 1 day after termination of exposure. In Study 3, the role of undernutrition alone (food restriction) was investigated. Depression of body weight gain was immediately apparent and, as with Pb, decrease in linear growth (tail length) was not apparent until later. Catch-up to controls in terms of weight was achieved within 1 day of free access to food when food restriction was for 3 days. Catch-up was also complete after 10 days of food restriction, but was slower (7 days). Evidence for catch-up in terms of linear growth was equivocal. It is concluded that the reversibility of the effects of Pb on growth is dependent on the duration of Pb-induced reduction of food consumption and that linear growth depression is more readily reversible than ponderal growth depression. A final study (Study 4) was undertaken to assess the role of reduced water consumption in limiting food intake and growth. Comparison groups were (1) control, (2) Pb via drinking water, and (3) Pb via sc osmotic pumps. Water consumption was significantly decreased only with Pb by drinking water. Thus, the reduced water consumption with Pb delivered orally seems not to be causally related to the associated depression of food consumption and growth.
A remark on the regularity for the landau-lifshitz equation

We consider the initial value problem of the Landau-Lifshitz equation in the pure isotropic case and without external magnetic fields. It is proved that in two space dimensional cases any weak solution with finite energy is unique and is smooth with the exception of at most finitely many points.
Finite-temperature properties of quasi-two-dimensional Bose-Einstein condensates

Using the finite-temperature path integral Monte Carlo method, we investigate dilute, trapped Bose gases in a quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) geometry. The quantum particles have short-range, s-wave interactions described by a hard-sphere potential whose core radius equals its corresponding scattering length. The effect of both the temperature and the interparticle interaction on the equilibrium properties such as the total energy, the density profile, and the superfluid fraction is discussed. We compare our accurate results with both the semiclassical approximation and the exact results of an ideal Bose gas. Our results show that for repulsive interactions (i) the minimum value of the aspect ratio, where the system starts to behave quasi-2D, increases as the two-body interaction strength increases; (ii) the superfluid fraction for a quasi-two-dimensionally Bose gas is distinctly different from that for both a quasi-1D Bose gas and a true 3D system, i.e., the superfluid fraction for a quasi-2D Bose gas decreases faster than that for a quasi-1D system and a true 3D system with increasing temperature, and shows a stronger dependence on the interaction strength; (iii) the superfluid fraction for a quasi-2D Bose gas lies well below the values calculated from the semiclassical approximation; and (iv) the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature decreasesmore » as the strength of the interaction increases.« less
Three-dimensional structure of a photosynthetic membrane

The photosynthetic membranes in a variety of organisms are involved in the conversion of energy from sunlight into chemically useful forms1–3. Rhodopseudomonas viridis is a purple non-sulphur photosynthetic bacterium offering unique advantages for the study of photosynthetic membranes. Its internal photosynthetic membranes form large flat sheets which, as first described by Giesbrecht and Drews4, contain subunits organized into a regular repeating pattern. The membranes are ideally suited to the use of Fourier image analysis techniques, and have been studied in two dimensions5,6. We have now determined the three-dimensional structure of photosynthetic membranes of R. viridis by electron microscopy. A large central structure protrudes from both surfaces of the membrane, and is surrounded by six smaller centres of mass. Comparison of these data with studies on the polypeptide composition of the membrane suggests a membrane in which a photosynthetic reaction centre is surrounded by light-harvesting bacteriochlorophyll protein complexes.
Perception, ontology, and word meaning.

In their commentary on our paper (Soja, Carey, & Spelke, 1991), Landau, Jones and Smith (1992) (hereafter LJS) clarify the position taken by Landau, Smith, and Jones (1988), and briefly describe results from several subsequent papers. As they describe their research program, they are concerned with the relations between the syntactic category of a newly heard word (count noun, adjective, preposition), the ontological category of the word’s referent, and the perceptual basis of projecting the meaning from the referent to other entities. Their experiments provide evidence that, by age 3, a count noun referring to an object is projected on the basis of shape similarity to the referent, an adjective is projected on the basis of color or texture similarity to the referent, and prepositions are projected on the basis of spatial relations between the referent and other objects. On some points, we are in agreement with LJS. Like them, we are concerned with the role of syntax in lexical development. Of most relevance to our concerns is LJS’s restriction of the projection of word meaning on the basis of shape to cases of count nouns referring to rigid objects. They state that “implicit in our
Uneventful epidural labor analgesia and vaginal delivery in a parturient with Arnold-Chiari malformation type I and sickle cell disease

Arnold-Chiari malformation is a disorder of the hindbrain which can lead to altered craniospinal pressures and abnormal flow of cerebrospinal fluid. The possibility of increased intracranial pressure imparts significant risk during labor and delivery, and has led to concern over the use of neuraxial anesthesia. Sickle cell disease is a disorder of abnormal hemoglobin that is prone to sickling under stressful conditions. The physiologic and metabolic changes associated with pregnancy and labor can precipitate sickling, which increases risks for both the mother and the fetus. Vaso-occlusive pain crisis in a parturient with sickle cell disease has been shown to improve with the initiation of neuraxial anesthesia. We present the first reported case of a parturient with both Arnold-Chiari malformation type I and sickle cell disease who presented to labor and delivery with acute pain crisis and who subsequently received epidural labor analgesia and underwent successful vaginal delivery. We include a discussion of the risks associated with pregnancy, labor, neuraxial anesthesia, and delivery in a patient with Arnold-Chiari malformation type I and sickle cell disease.
Effect of Thermal Processing and Agitation in 100% Steam on the Seal Strength of Retortable Pouches

Retortable pouch seals were tested before, during and after rotary and still processing in 100% steam. Evaluation included tensile, compression, and static load testing. As expected, thermal processing had an effect on the pouch material, but rotary agitation did not affect seal strength.
Coordination of security levels for Internet architectures

Internet systems provide a variety of ways for exchanging information, contain a large amount and variety of data, and have become quite complex, making them vulnerable to attacks from determined hackers. There are many products currently being used to stop these attacks but they suffer from a lack of completeness, only applying to one type of attack. Several mechanisms are needed for a comprehensive defense but this incurs the problem of their lack of coordination, which can be exploited for attacks. We propose a way to coordinate different mechanisms based on a unified object-oriented modeling approach and a hierarchical architecture whose layers define the scope of each security mechanism.
Intermittency in a highly accelerated boundary layer

Highly accelerated boundary layer turbulence structure, measuring intermittency factor distribution with hot-wire probe
Idealist Activism and Meaning Management in Social Movement Organizations

ABSTRACTTransnational social movement organizations manage meaning and transmit meaning across borders. Organizations in the peace and human rights sector also often deal overtly in the construction, framing, translation, and distribution of meanings. This article describes a hybrid form of idealism that is defined herein as ‘idealist activism’. In describing idealist activism, this article identifies a form of meaning management that emphasizes engagement with humanity both in the service of and in the quest for universal truths and tenets, as opposed to the more widely acknowledged cosmopolitanism emphasis on engagement with universal truths and tenets in the service of humanity. The significance of idealist activism is explained not just in terms of the depth and breadth of its influence, but also with regard to its pertinence as an alternative to both political cosmopolitanism and religious idealism.
Kinetics and mechanism of degradation of epothilone-D: An experimental anticancer agent

The objective of this study was to investigate the stability and the degradation pathway of epothilone-D (Epo-D), an experimental anticancer agent. In pH range 4-9, Epo-D displayed pH-independent stability and the highest stability was observed at pH 1.5-2 where its thiazole group is protonated. Increasing the pH >9 or <1.5 resulted in an increase in the degradation rate. Epo-D contains an ester group that can be hydrolyzed. The formation of the hydrolytic product was confirmed by the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy and liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy/mass spectroscopy techniques. The largely sigmoidal pH-rate profile is not consistent with the normal pH dependency of ester hydrolysis involving an addition/elimination mechanism. Hence, a hydrolysis mechanism through a carbonium ion was suggested. At pH 4 and 7.4, no buffer catalysis was observed (0.01, 0.02, and 0.05 M buffers) and no significant deuterium kinetic solvent isotope effect was noted. The degradation was very sensitive to changes in the dielectric constant of the solvents as significant enhancement in the stability was observed in buffer-acetonitrile and 0.1 M (SBE)7m-beta-cyclodextrin solutions compared with just buffer, suggesting that the rate-determining step in the degradation pathway involved formation of a polar transition state. Mass spectral analysis of the reaction run in 18O water was consistent with incorporation of the 18O in the alcohol hydroxyl rather than the carboxylate group. These observations strongly support the carbonium ion mechanism for the hydrolysis of Epo-D in the pH range 4-9. A pKa value of 2.86 for Epo-D was estimated from the fit of the pH-rate profile. This number was confirmed independently by the changes in ultraviolet absorbance of Epo-D as a function of pH (pKa 3.1) determined at 25 degrees C and the same ionic strength.
Skeletal muscle $$\dot V_{O_2 }$$ in rat and lemming: Effect of blood flow rate

The rate of oxygen consumption ( $$\dot V_{O_2 }$$ ) by skeletal muscle was investigated in isolated perfused hindlimbs of laboratory rats and lemmings (Lemmus). In both species, $$\dot V_{O_2 }$$ increased in proportion to blood flow rate, even at flow rates 4–5 times above resting level. The slope of the line relating $$\dot V_{O_2 }$$ to skeletal muscle blood flow was significantly greater in the lemming than in the rat. This may be related to the inverse relationship between body weight and metabolic rate. These data support the hypothesis that in small animals a dependent relationship exists between blood flow and skeletal muscle $$\dot V_{O_2 }$$ .
Qualitative fatty acid and n-alkane stratigraphy of the Lake Turkana Basin, Kenya

Abstract In order to improve understanding of the stratigraphy of the Lake Turkana Basin, one of the important sites in the evolution of early man, this study evaluates the usefulness of organic biological marker compounds, n -alkanes and fatty acids, for correlation of isolated sedimentary strata. Eighty-five paleosol samples were collected from well-defined sedimentary horizons in two regions (Area 103 and Area 130) of the Koobi Fora area of Lake Turkana. Results indicate that most of the organic matter present was derived from terrestrial plant waxes. In sediments where extensive diagenesis has occurred, microbial input of organic matter may have been substantial. Algae were either not an important source of organic matter, or their marker compounds have been removed or altered by degradative processes. The fate of the original paleosol organic matter has been governed to some extent by weathering processes, especially in Area 130. Weathering decreased the amount of extractable lipids, particularly fatty acids and the low molecular weight alkanes (C 17 C 20 ); produced or retained relatively large amounts of alkanes greater than C 21 within a unimodal distribution; and lowered CPI values. Consequently, stratigraphic correlation by unique alkane and fatty acid distributions has been confined to short distances (many meters). Both n -alkanes and fatty acids have been retained better by association with clay minerals than by sand matrices. The alkane distribution of sandstones differs from that of clay organics in having a narrower carbon chain length distribution and lower CPI values. In Area 103, where weathering was less severe, compositional variations with stratigraphic position indicate that lipid material has been retained within each of the facies examined.
Designing orthopedic implant surfaces: harmonization of nanotopographical and chemical aspects

Evaluation of: Charest JL, Eliason MT, Garcia AJ, King WP, Talin AA, Simmons BA: Polymer cell culture substrates with combined nanotopographical patterns and micropatterned chemical domains. J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 23(6), 3011–3014 (2005) [1]. This paper investigates bone-forming cell (osteoblast) responses on surfaces of a well-defined chemistry and topography. Many studies have demonstrated that nanotopography (created by nano-grains, -pores, -particles, -ridges or -valleys) stimulates more positive responses from osteoblasts compared with conventional (nanosmooth) materials. In addition, manipulating the surface chemistry of implants has been another approach to enhance implant performance. In spite of the advantages of nanotopography and chemistry, the relative influence of nanotopography versus chemistry on cell responses has not been well distinguished to date. Specifically, several studies have assessed combined variations in topography and chemistry on bone formation. However, the influence of the...
Abstract 4597: Characterization and targeting of radiation-inducible neoantigens in multiple cancer types

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Targeted therapy remains one of the biggest challenges in the effective treatment of cancer. Due to their heterogeneity, not all tumors respond to a particular treatment regimen with similar efficacy. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop targeted therapies that are not only highly specific to cancer subtypes but also have minimal toxicity towards normal tissue. Currently, development of anti-cancer antibodies is limited to antigens that are either overexpressed or antigens that are only expressed in a few patients. This limits both the number of available targets and their selectivity for tumors. Using phage display technology, we have identified proteins that are induced by clinical doses of ionizing radiation (IR): tax-interacting protein 1 (TIP-1) and TATA box-associated factor 15 (TAF-15). Following IR treatment, cell surface expression of both TIP-1 and TAF-15 is enhanced in a number of human cancers, including brain, lung, breast and pancreatic cancer. The underlying premise is that IR induces a stress response resulting from DNA strand breaks and activation of ATM repair pathways. After IR stress, these antigens translocate to the surface where they can be targeted for therapeutic purposes. These radiation-inducible neoantigens present a new synergistic model for the treatment of cancer using IR. In this study, we characterized both radiation-inducible targets in vitro and in vivo. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry data all demonstrated increased cell surface expression of both TIP-1 and TAF-15 after irradiation. We also developed a monoclonal antibody and a single chain antibody against TIP-1 and are currently in the process of developing antibodies against TAF-15. ELISA and near infra-red whole mouse imaging results demonstrate high affinity and high specificity of our lead anti-TIP-1 antibody and anti-TAF15 peptide in lung, brain, breast and pancreatic cancer. Dosimetry studies using immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis show a dose-dependent increase in expression of TIP-1 and TAF15, suggesting that these proteins may play a key role in the cancer cell's response to radiation stress. We are currently in the process of characterizing the mechanisms of how these proteins contribute to radioresistance and cancer survival processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis. Citation Format: Lincoln Muhoro, Heping Yan, Jeremy Hunn, Dinesh Thotala, Daniel Ferraro, Dennis Hallahan. Characterization and targeting of radiation-inducible neoantigens in multiple cancer types. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4597. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4597
Comparison of flavor changes in cooked-refrigerated beef, pork and chicken meat patties.

Abstract Beef and pork longissimus dorsi (LD) and semimembranosus (SM) and chicken breast (B) and thigh (T) muscles excised 24 h postmortem were ground by muscle/species group, formed into patties, pan-fried, refrigerated for 0, 3 or 6 days, and evaluated by a trained sensory panel for intensity of specific flavors. The rate of decline in species-specific natural meat flavor intensity and the rate of increase in “cardboard” (CBD) flavor intensity during the first half of the 6-day storage were fastest for beef, while such decline and increase during the entire storage period were slowest for chicken B. Overall trends of natural meat flavor and CBD intensity changes for chicken T appeared more like those for the red meats than chicken B. It was concluded that, while flavor deterioration can occur in cooked–stored meats from all the species, quantitative or the magnitude of differences between species would depend on muscle types and sensory terms/method used.
Matching Segments of Images

This correspondence describes research in the development of symbolic registration techniques directed toward the comparison of pairs of images of the same scene to ultimately generate descriptions of the changes in the scene. Unlike most earlier work in image registration, all the matching and analysis will be performed at a symbolic level rather than a signal level. We have applied this registration procedure on several different types of scenes and the system appears to work well both on pairs of images which may be analyzed in part by signal based systems and those which cannot be so analyzed.
A Holistic Description of Beginning Trainee Experiences in Live Observation GIM Supervision

Supervision is regarded as an integral component of GIM training. Live–observation is the preferred method of supervision for beginning trainees. The effectiveness of supervision, however, has never been examined through research, nor has the experience of beginning trainees who have had supervision been examined. The purpose of this study was to provide a holistic description of beginning trainee experiences in three live–observation supervisions. The results showed that beginning trainees were able to provide insights about themselves, their guiding abilities, and their relationship with clients. Trainees also provided insights into their feelings about the supervisor and the supervision process.
The Precision of Classical Rock Analysis

Three rock reference samples. W-2, DNC-1, and BIR-1, were analysed five times over several months by classical chemical methods using a Youden Square as the experimental design. A significant variation for the data classified by months was found for SiO2, CaO, H2O-, and TiO2 among the 15 constituents determined. Nevertheless, most standard deviations for the five data for each oxide in any sample, as well as the error standard deviations from the analyses of variance, are less than or approximately equal to the allowable difference between duplicate determinations traditionally used as limits of error. We also determined nine constituents in three portions each of two samples, W-2 and DNC-1, the six portions being analysed concurrently. F ratios for 16 comparisons of the variances of the five data for an oxide obtained over several months and of the three data determined as a group were significant for only one oxide, total iron as Fe2O3 in W-2. We conclude that, if a chemist analyses rock samples carefully, the variation of the determinations will be the same for portions analysed as a group, or analysed over a time interval.
Structural and kinetic properties of nitric oxide adsorbed on clean Mo(100) using auger and thermal desorption spectroscopies

Abstract NO adsorbs onto Mo(100) via precursor state kinetics with an initial sticking probability of 1.0. The saturation NO coverage following room temperature and low temperature (80 K) adsorption is 0.75 and 1.0, respectively. N 2 and O 2 desorption are detected, indicating that a portion of the NO is dissociated on Mo(100). Coadsorbed oxygen from the NO decreases the N 2 desorption activation energy. Two molecular NO desorption states are detected corresponding to desorption activation energies of 82 and 45 kJ/mol. No molecular NO desorption is detected following adsorption at 270 K for NO coverages less than 0.5 monolayers, which is taken to mean that all chemisorbed NO is dissociated. Molecular NO, however, does desorb at higher coverages. Evidence is presented for competition between dissociation and desorption following NO adsorption at 80 K.
Facile and Reversible Cleavage of C−F Bonds. Contrasting Thermodynamic Selectivity for RuCF2H vs FOsCFH

In the presence of a catalytic amount of F-(CsF), Me3SiRf (Rf = CF3 and C6F5) exchanges Rf with fluoride of the 16-electron complexes MHF(CO)L2 (M = Ru, Os; L = PiPr3, PtBu2Me) to give Me3Si−F and the unsaturated pentafluorophenyl complexes, MH(C6F5)(CO)L2, or (when Rf = CF3) saturated fluorocarbene complexes, MHF(CF2)(CO)L2, via α-fluorine migration. X-ray crystal structure and solution 19F NMR studies reveal that, in the ground state, the three atoms of the CF2 group lie in a plane perpendicular to the P−Ru−P axis so that the π-back-donation is maximized and the carbene substituents are inequivalent. Having hydride trans to the CF2 ligand, MHF(CF2)(CO)L2 is a kinetic product, which converts to a thermodynamic isomer. For Ru, the final product is a 16e complex, RuF(CF2H)(CO)L2, formed by combination of CF2 and hydride. For Os, the product is an 18e complex, OsF2(CFH)(CO)L2, resulting from exchange of one carbene fluoride with the hydride. The distinct difference between Os and Ru demonstrates the princip...
Mutations in the Nucleotide Binding Domain 1 Signature Motif Region Rescue Processing and Functional Defects of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ΔF508

Abstract The gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), an ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter that functions as a phosphorylation- and nucleotide-regulated chloride channel, is mutated in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Deletion of a phenylalanine at amino acid position 508 (ΔF508) in the first nucleotide binding domain (NBD1) is the most prevalent CF-causing mutation and results in defective protein processing and reduced CFTR function, leading to chloride impermeability in CF epithelia and heterologous systems. Using a STE6/CFTRΔF508 chimera system in yeast, we isolated two novel ΔF508 revertant mutations, I539T and G550E, proximal to and within the conserved ABC signature motif of NBD1, respectively. Western blot and functional analysis in mammalian cells indicate that mutations I539T and G550E each partially rescue the CFTRΔF508 defect. Furthermore, a combination of both revertant mutations resulted in a 38-fold increase in CFTRΔF508-mediated chloride current, representing 29% of wild type channel activity. The G550E mutation increased the sensitivity of CFTRΔF508 and wild type CFTR to activation by cAMP agonists and blocked the enhancement of CFTRΔF508 channel activity by 2 mm 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. The data show that the ΔF508 defect can be significantly rescued by second-site mutations in the nucleotide binding domain 1 region, that includes the LSGGQ consensus motif.
Liquid crystalline order from ortho-phenylene ethynylene macrocycles.

Triangular ortho-phenylene ethynylene (o-PE) cyclic trimers represent a novel member of shape-persistent macrocycles. Shape-persistent cyclic structures remain of great interest as molecular components in the fields of supramolecular materials, host−guest chemistry, and materials science. Novel discotic liquid crystalline properties are reported from triangular-shaped o-PE macrocycles containing branched alkoxy- and/or triethylene glycol (TEG) side chains using polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The macrocycles self-assemble into thermotropic rectangular columnar (Colr) (for M1), hexagonal columnar (Colh) (for M2), and discotic nematic (for M3) mesophases at room temperature. This work shows clearly that electron-rich PE macrocycles can form LC materials. Alkyl side chains in M1 promote order, while hydrophilic side chains of M2 generate an amphiphilic structure that provides a different driving force for organization. The ability to c...
Robust supervisory control policies for manufacturing systems with unreliable resources

Manufacturing practitioners and researchers have recognized the need to develop effective supervisory controllers for automated manufacturing systems. One active area of research has been developing deadlock avoidance methods for these systems. Almost all work to date has assumed that allocated resources do not fail. In this paper, we consider deadlock and blocking problems in systems with unreliable resources. Our objective is to develop supervisory control policies that allocate resources so that the failure of any given resource does not propagate through blocking to effectively stall other portions of the system. In other words, when a resource fails, we want the system to automatically continue producing all part types that do not require the failed resource. To accomplish this, the supervisory controller must ensure safety for the original system while avoiding states that do not serve as feasible initial states for the reduced system when an unreliable resource fails. The policy must then ensure safety for the reduced system while avoiding states that do not serve as feasible initial states for the original system so that transition to normal operation is smooth when the failed resource is restored. This paper illustrates this class of problems through several examples, identifies properties that controllers must satisfy to deal effectively with these problems, and develops two polynomial control policies that satisfy these properties.
Compositional control of continuously graded anode functional layer

Abstract In this work, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC's) are fabricated with linear-compositionally graded anode functional layers (CGAFL) using a computer-controlled compound aerosol deposition (CCAD) system. Cells with different CGAFL thicknesses (30 um and 50 um) are prepared with a continuous compositionally graded interface deposited between the electrolyte and anode support current collecting regions. The compositional profile was characterized using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic mapping. An analytical model of the compound aerosol deposition was developed. The model predicted compositional profiles for both samples that closely matched the measured profiles, suggesting that aerosol-based deposition methods are capable of creating functional gradation on length scales suitable for solid oxide fuel cell structures. The electrochemical performances of the two cells are analyzed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).
Performance and scalability of M/M/c based queuing model of the SIP Proxy Server - a practical approach

In recent years, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based Voice over IP (VoIP) based applications are alternative to the traditional Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN) because of its flexibility in the implementation of new features and services. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is becoming a popular signaling protocol for Voice over IP (VoIP) based applications. The SIP Proxy server is a software application that provides call routing services by parsing and forwarding all the incoming SIP packets in an IP telephony network. The efficiency of this process can create large scale, highly reliable packet voice networks for service providers and enterprises. Since, SIP Proxy server performance can be characterized by its transaction states of each SIP session, we proposed the M/M/c performance model of the SIP Proxy Server and studied some of the key performance benchmarks such as server utilization, queue size and memory utilization. Provided the comparative results between the predicted results with the experimental results conducted in a lab environment.
Differences in Drinking Patterns, Occupational Stress, and Exposure to Potentially Traumatic Events among Firefighters: Predictors of Smoking Relapse

Inthisreport,drinkingchanges,traumaexposure,and occupational stress were compared among firefighters(N =81) who reported a relapse to cigarette smoking (n =27), a lifetime former history of smoking (n = 27), or nohistory of smoking (n = 27). Mechanisms behind tobaccorelapse occurring after employment in fire service were ex-plored.
Caffeine protects against oxidative stress and Alzheimer's disease-like pathology in rabbit hippocampus induced by cholesterol-enriched diet

Cholesterol has been linked to the pathogenesis of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a risk factor increasing beta-amyloid (Abeta) and oxidative stress levels. Caffeine has antioxidant properties and has been demonstrated to reduce Abeta levels in transgenic mouse models of familial AD. However, the effects of caffeine on cholesterol-induced sporadic AD pathology have not been determined. In this study, we determined the effects of caffeine on Abeta levels, tau phosphorylation, oxidative stress generation, and caffeine-target receptors in rabbits fed a 2% cholesterol-enriched diet, a model system for sporadic AD. Our results showed that the cholesterol-enriched diet increased levels of Abeta, tau phosphorylation, and oxidative stress measured as increased levels of reactive oxygen species and isoprostanes, glutathione depletion, and increased levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress marker proteins. Additionally, the cholesterol-enriched diet reduced the levels of adenosine A(1) receptors (A(1)R) but not ryanodine or adenosine A(2A) receptors. Caffeine, administered at 0.5 and 30mg/day in the drinking water, reduced the cholesterol-induced increase in Abeta, phosphorylated tau, and oxidative stress levels and reversed the cholesterol-induced decrease in A(1)R levels. Our results suggest that even very low doses of caffeine might protect against sporadic AD-like pathology.
The Impact of Federal Alcohol and Drug Abuse Block Grants on State and Local Government Substance Abuse Program Expenditures: The Role of Federal Oversight

Are the federal Alcohol and Drug Abuse (ADA) block grant funds sub- stituting for or supplementing state and local government spending on substance abuse? Using panel data on state and local government substance abuse programs, this study explores the fiscal effects of the ADA block grant money and the increased enforcement (after 1989) of federal restrictions on state spending of ADA block grants. The findings here reveal that for the current period, the federal ADA grant has no statistically significant effect on state and local government substance abuse spending both before and after 1989, and the increased enforcement of federal restrictions on the ADA grants after 1989 does not change this result. An additional finding is that lagged ADA grants have had a large effect on substance abuse spend- ing both before and after 1989— a feature of the program not considered in previous studies.
Three measures of decoder complexity

Three measures of the complexity of error correcting decoders are considered, namely, logic complexity, computation time and computational work (the number of logical operations). Bounds on the complexity required with each measure to decode with probability of error Pe, at code rate R are given and the complexity of a number of ad hoc decoding procedures is examined.
The Economics of the International Trade of Waste

International trade in hazardous and nonhazardous waste and scrap products has been growing at an exceptional rate the past two decades. This review presents current data on the magnitude and trends regarding this growth and discusses the recent literature as it pertains to the economic incentives and drivers of international waste trade. Differences in environmental policy, taxes, disposal fees, and transport costs are important determinants across countries. However, the illegal nature of many types of hazardous waste also means that organized crime may play a role in some countries. Gaps in our understanding regarding microeconomic incentives as they relate to upstream and downstream recyclers and to the social welfare implications for wages, environmental quality, and human health are also discussed.
Momentum evolution of ejected and entrained fluid during laminar vortex ring formation

The evolution of total circulation and entrainment of ambient fluid during laminar vortex ring formation has been addressed in a number of previous investigations. Motivated by applications involving propulsion and fluid transport, the present interest is in the momentum evolution of entrained and ejected fluid and momentum exchange among the ejected, entrained fluid and added mass during vortex ring formation. To this end, vortex rings are generated numerically by transient jet ejection for fluid slug length-to-diameter (L/D) ratios of 0.5–3.0 using three different velocity programs [trapezoidal, triangular negative slope (NS), and positive slope (PS)] at a jet Reynolds number of 1,000. Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) were utilized to identify ejected and entrained fluid boundaries, and a Runge-Kutta fourth order scheme was used for advecting these boundaries with the numerical velocity data. By monitoring the center of mass of these fluid boundaries, momentum of each component was calculated and related to the total impulse provided by the vortex ring generator. The results demonstrate that ejected fluid exchanges its momentum mostly with added mass during jet ejection and that the momentum of the entrained fluid at jet termination was < 11% of the total ring impulse in all cases except for the triangular NS case. Following jet termination, momentum exchange was observed between ejected and entrained fluid yielding significant increase in entrained fluid’s momentum. A performance metric was defined relating the impulse from over-pressure developed at the nozzle exit plane during jet ejection to the flow evolution, which increased preferentially with L/D over the range considered. An additional benefit of this study was the identification of the initial (i.e., before jet initiation) location of the fluid to be entrained into the vortex ring.
High performance spike detection and sorting using neural waveform phase information and SOM clustering

Neural spike detection is the very first step in the analysis of recorded neural waveforms for brain machine interface applications and for neuroscientific studies. Spike detection accuracy and algorithm robustness is an important consideration in developing detection algorithms. For real neural recording data without respective ground truth, the evaluation of detection performance is a challenge. In the present paper we evaluate the detections by inspecting the detected spike waveforms for their compliance with neural spike electrophysiological properties. After classifying similar waveforms into one cluster, those qualified detections are determined to be spikes with high confidence. This new spike detection evaluation method is based on using the waveform phase information for cluster analysis. By including clustering as an integral step in the detection algorithm, we can refine detection results and improve detection performance. The new algorithm is easy to implement and is effective as demonstrated using both artificial and real neural waveforms.
On effect-measure modification: Relationships among changes in the relative risk, odds ratio, and risk difference

It is well known that the presence or absence of effect-measure modification depends upon the chosen measure. What is perhaps more disconcerting is that a positive change in one measure may be accompanied by a negative change in another. Therefore, research demonstrating that an effect is 'stronger' in one population when compared with another, but based on only one measure, for example, the odds ratio, may be difficult to interpret for researchers interested in another measure. The present article investigates relationships among changes in the relative risk, odds ratio, and risk difference from one stratum to another. Monte Carlo integration shows that the three measures change in the same direction for 78 or 89 per cent of the volume of the geometric space defined by the four underlying proportions, depending on whether the strata are presumed to share the same direction of effect or not. Analytic results are presented concerning necessary and sufficient conditions for the measures to change in opposite directions. In general, the conditions are seen to be quite complicated, though they do give way to some interesting results. For example, when exposure increases risk but all risks are less than 0.5, it is impossible for the relative risk and risk difference to change in the same direction but opposite to that of the odds ratio. Both data-analytic and hypothetical examples are presented to demonstrate circumstances under which the measures change in opposite directions.
Using High Pressure Phase Stability to Determine the Internal Pressure of Silica/Surfactant Composites

We examine the pressure and temperature dependences of a nanoscale structural rearrangement in periodic silica/surfactant composites with a goal of understanding how the silica framework modifies the molecular environment of the organic surfactant. Hydrothermal treatment is used to force surfactant-templated silica to undergo a phase transition from a hexagonal phase to a lamellar phase; the experiment is carried out both at 0.001 and at 1 GPa. The transition midpoint shifts to a higher temperature when the composite transforms under elevated pressure. Applying the concepts of surfactant packing and compressibility to this curvaturedriven transition leads us to estimate the pressure felt by the composite’s organic phase when the composite is subjected to an external pressure of 1 GPa. Our results indicate that this internal pressure is approximately 0.1 GPa, which is significantly smaller than the applied pressure of 1 GPa. The results confirm the idea that the high rigidity of the silica framework provides a protected molecular scale environment within the organic domains of the composite.
Mutually exclusive data encoding for realization of a full duplexing self-steering wireless link using a retrodirective array transceiver

A two-way communication link is established between an interrogator and retrodirective antenna array. The link is realized by using standard time-domain modulation for data uplink to the retrodirective array, while outgoing data is coded onto the antenna polarization sense of the signal sent back to the interrogator. Using these noninterfering mutually exclusive modulations schemes, this system architecture is able to resolve the difficulty of dealing with the corruption of the outgoing retrodirected signal by the incoming interrogation signal inherent when using phase-conjugation mixers (PCMs). This paper will discuss the development of a novel PCM also used for polarization modulation and a polarization state detector for demodulation. Analysis of circuit design tolerances and affects of jammers on proper polarization detection is also shown. Demonstration of simultaneous data transfer is presented in simulation and measurement along with the array's automatic beam-steering ability.
Multi-dimensional dissention

To estimate how close the positions of different experts are, W. J. Tastle and M. J. Wierman proposed numerical measures of dissention and consensus, and showed that these measures indeed capture the intuitive ideas of dissent and consensus. Karen Villaverde and Olga Kosheleva showed that the Tastle-Wierman formulas can be naturally derived from the basic formulae of fuzzy logic. Here we build on this work to examine how to deal with consensus in a multidimensional setting.
Epidemiology of artificial knee implantation in the USA

Abstract Data on artificial knee implantation in the USA were obtained from the Medical Device Implant Supplement to the 1988 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative, population-based survey of 47 485 households and 122 310 individuals. The survey identified 214 knee implant recipients with 263 implants. Projected to the 1988 non-institutionalized USA adult population, these represent an estimated 424 036 persons with 521 076 knee implants. An estimated 8% of current implants (43 140) were replacements for previous implants. Implant prevalence increased significantly with age. Implant prevalence did not vary by gender, race, level of education or income, but was higher in those reporting a limitation in activity and in obese individuals than in those without these characteristics. There were bilateral implants in 23% of recipients. Bilateral recipients were more likely than unilateral recipients to be women (age-adjusted proportions, 76% versus 41%). The most commonly reported reason for implantation in men was injury (36%) and in women, osteoarthritis (25%). Recipients reported one or more problems or complications (including blood clots, infection, loosening, pain, unspecified defects or failure) in 34% of current implants. Improved mobility of the joint(s) since implant was reported by 70% of unilateral implant recipients and 85% of bilateral recipients. Population-based data on medical device use provide clinicians with a more complete picture of the entire group of device recipients than either clinical trials or case reports. Such data are also useful for public health planners and epidemiologists involved in assessing the health status and needs of the population. This report provides the first nationwide population-based data on knee implantation in the USA.
Landscape variation of seasonal pool plant communities in forests of northern Minnesota, USA.

Seasonal forest pools are abundant in the northern Great Lakes forest landscape, but the range of variation in their plant communities and the relationship of this variation to multi-scale landscape features remains poorly quantified. We examined seasonal pools in forests of northern Minnesota USA with the objective of quantifying the range of variation in plant communities within and among different geomorphic and forest settings. Abundances of plant functional groups were highly variable among pools, ranging from those having abundant upland trees, sedges, and perennial forbs to those having abundant wetland sedges, grasses, and forbs. Glacial landform and ecological landtype (local forest and soil type) explained little of this variation, while physical characteristics of the pools (primarily duration of flooding) explained 36% of the variation. Understanding landscape variation in seasonal pool plant communities is important for their conservation and management. If range of variation is understood, representative examples of all variants of pool systems can be identified for conservation, and management prescriptions can be tailored to different landscape settings.