cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement and simulation of residual stress in type 304 weld overlay stainless steel pipe

Abstract Repair by welding overlay is a commonly used method mainly employed to rebuild piping systems suffering from intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC). It is desirable that the overlay welding technique, by attaching an overlay weld to the pipe and sustaining a heat sink of flowing water inside the pipe, induces a compressive residual stress at the inner surface of the welded pipe for prevention of IGSCC. A better understanding of the effect of a welding overlay repair on the residual stresses at the inner and outer surfaces of weld overlay is thus required. To obtain this understanding, it is necessary to investigate the distribution of residual stresses on the welded pipe. In this study, the hole-drilling strain-gauge method was adopted to determine the residual stresses at the inner and outer surfaces of the weld overlay pipe. The incremental drilling technique was used on pipes with outside diameters of 267 mm. In addition, the Weld 3 code was applied to simulate the residual stress distribution for comparison and verification with the measured results. The results obtained from the experimental and from the computational methods are in good agreement. The residual stress at the inner surface of the pipe is compressive with a magnitude approaching the yield stress of the material; that at the outer surface is tensile, also with a magnitude close to yield stress but smaller than the compressive stress. The experimental residual stress magnitude is generally greater than that from computation. This observation can be attributed to several factors including applied mechanics, temperature distribution, original residual stress, strain gauge location, mechanical grinding and the oxidation layer.
Neutrophil Adhesion in Central Nervous System Ischemia in Rabbits

Activated neutrophils appear to be directly involved in potentiating central nervous system ischemic injury. After initial endothelial adherence, neutrophils can potentiate ischemia by causing capillary plugging and infiltrating ischemic tissue to release toxic metabolites. We used an endothelial component adherence assay to characterize neutrophil adhesion following reversible central nervous system ischemia. Rabbit spinal cord ischemia was produced by 40 min of reversible arterial occlusion. Neutrophils were isolated using density gradient centrifugation and adherence to laminin or fibronectin was determined using a myeloperoxidase assay. The baseline (N = 26) percentage of adherent neutrophils was 3.8 +/- 0.3/5.6 +/- 0.6 (laminin/fibronectin), sham-operated controls (2 h post) (N = 6) 3.3 +/- 0.5/3.9 +/- 0.4, 30 min post ischemia (N = 6) 2.5 +/- 1.1/4.1 +/-1.9, 2 h (N = 6) 7.6 +/- 1.4/9.9 +/- 2.6 (p < .05 to baseline and sham), 18 h (N = 8) 4.9 +/- 1.5/7.1 +/- 3.1, and 42 h (N = 6) 3.4 +/- 0.4/6.6 +/- 2.1. Concurrent serum fibrinogen values were baseline 142 +/- 12, sham (18 h) 141 +/- 14, 2 h 166 +/- 21, 18 h 512 +/- 43 (p < .01), and 42 h 580 +/- 86 (p < .01). These results suggest that neutrophil adherence is increased after acute central nervous system ischemia. There appears to be a limited period of increased adherence that occurs earlier than other acute phase reactants.
A phase-plane analysis of bursting in the three-dimensional Bonhoeffer-van der Pol equations

With the use of perturbation expansions and asymptotic matching, bursting in the three-dimensional Bonhoeffer–van der Pol equations is shown to be the result of the interaction of two oscillatory modes, one of small amplitude and the other of large amplitude. The large oscillations are similar to the relaxation oscillations found in the two-dimensional van der Pol system, but the small oscillations have not been fully understood before. This analysis also explains the transition in the two-dimensional system from stable equilibrium to relaxation oscillations: the intermediate stage between the two are the small oscillations.
Output-Sensitive Parallel Algorithm for Polygon Clipping

Polygon clipping is one of the complex operations in computational geometry. It is a primitive operation in many fields such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Computer Graphics and VLSI CAD. Sequential algorithms for this problem are in abundance in literature but there are very few parallel algorithms solving it in its most general form. We present the first output-sensitive CREW PRAM algorithm, which can perform polygon clipping in O(logn) time using (n + k + k') processors, where n is the number of vertices, k is the number of edge intersections and k' is the additional temporary vertices introduced due to the partitioning of polygons. The current best algorithm by Karinthi, Srinivas, and Almasi [1] does not handle self-intersecting polygons, is not output-sensitive and must employ aodash;(n2) processors to achieve O(logn) time. Our algorithm is developed from the first principles and it is superior to [1] in cost. It yields a practical implementation on multicores and demonstrates 30x speedup for real-world dataset. Our algorithm can perform the typical clipping operations including intersection, union, and difference.
The heart of the precautionary principle in democracy.

© 2002 Association of Schools of Public Health The cornerstones of the precautionary principle—transparency and inclusiveness of decision-making, action in the face of uncertainty, and accountability— are fundamental, not only to the practice and science of public health, but also to the success and maintenance of democracy. Both public health and democracy flourish when information is broadly disseminated and understood, when principles, benefits, and costs are publicly debated, when decision-making is shared by those affected by the policies, and when public interest is seen as more valuable than private gain. Both are diminished when information is withheld and data twisted, when the terms of the argument predict its outcome, when actions to protect and advance the health of the public are defeated by small private interest groups, and when government gives equal weight to corporate interests as to public well being. In the case of the public health debate, the danger is increased with the deification of a skewed view of science. The precautionary principle, which says that action should be taken when there is evidence that not to do so would cause harm, is being used increasingly to shape policy in Europe and elsewhere. Decades—sometimes centuries— before the understanding of germs, bacteria, viruses, infection, and immunology, leaders in public health improved health by implementing policies that were later supported and explained by an advanced understanding of basic science. The precautionary principle is based in science, in the two branches of science central to public health: epidemiology and bio-statistics. It is no coincidence that so many contributors to this special topic issue of Public Health Reports have cited the model and experience of John Snow. The branch of science that he established has laid the foundation for the greatest improvements in health in mankind’s history. Now, instead of developing policy to improve health and protect the public based on these proven scientific methodologies, proponents of an activist public health are fighting a rear-guard action to protect the cornerstones of public health. Where opponents of an activist public health agenda, which includes the implementation of the precautionary principle, have succeeded is in having health science narrowly defined in terms of laboratory science, physiology, and biochemistry. This limited definition ignores the breakthroughs in occupational safety, environmental science, maternal and childcare, infection control, sanitation, and behavioral The Heart of the Precautionary Principle in Democracy
The mesenchymal cell, its role in the embryo, and the remarkable signaling mechanisms that create it

This review centers on the role of the mesenchymal cell in development. The creation of this cell is a remarkable process, one where a tightly knit, impervious epithelium suddenly extends filopodia from its basal surface and gives rise to migrating cells. The ensuing process of epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) creates the mechanism that makes it possible for the mesenchymal cell to become mobile, so as to leave the epithelium and move through the extracellular matrix. EMT is now recognized as a very important mechanism for the remodeling of embryonic tissues, with the power to turn an epithelial somite into sclerotome mesenchyme, and the neural crest into mesenchyme that migrates to many targets. Thus, the time has come for serious study of the underlying mechanisms and the signaling pathways that are used to form the mesenchymal cell in the embryo. In this review, I discuss EMT centers in the embryo that are ready for such serious study and review our current understanding of the mechanisms used for EMT in vitro, as well as those that have been implicated in EMT in vivo. The purpose of this review is not to describe every study published in this rapidly expanding field but rather to stimulate the interest of the reader in the study of the role of the mesenchymal cell in the embryo, where it plays profound roles in development. In the adult, mesenchymal cells may give rise to metastatic tumor cells and other pathological conditions that we will touch on at the end of the review.
Gα–Gβγ dissociation may be due to retraction of a buried lysine and disruption of an aromatic cluster by a GTP-sensing Arg–Trp pair

The heterotrimeric G protein α subunit (Gα) functions as a molecular switch by cycling between inactive GDP-bound and active GTP-bound states. When bound to GDP, Gα interacts with high affinity to a complex of the β and γ subunits (Gβγ), but when bound to GTP, Gα dissociates from this complex to activate downstream signaling pathways. Gα's state is communicated to other cellular components via conformational changes within its switch I and II regions. To identify key determinants of Gα's function as a signaling pathway molecular switch, a Bayesian approach was used to infer the selective constraints that most distinguish Gα and closely related Arf family GTPases from distantly related translational and metabolic GTPases. The strongest of these constraints are imposed on seven residues within or near the switch II region. Likewise, constraints imposed on Gα but not on other, closely related molecular switches correspond to four nearby residues. These constraints are explained by a proposed mechanism for GTP-induced dissociation of Gα from Gβγ where an Arg–Trp pair senses the presence of bound GTP leading to conformational retraction of a nearby lysine and to disruption of an aromatic cluster. Within a complex of Giα, Giβγ, and GDP, this lysine establishes greater surface contact with Giβ than does any other residue in Giα, whereas the aromatic cluster packs against a highly conserved tryptophan in Giβ that establishes greater surface contact with Giα than does any other residue in Giβ. Other structural features associated with Gα functional divergence further support the proposed mechanism.
Urban growth controls and intercity commuting

Abstract This paper incorporates the possibility of intercity commuting (IC) in a growth control model. As controls restrict the labor supply, the wage rate increases in the city. Land rents capitalize the wage differential, but when this differential reaches the IC cost, IC starts to occur, keeping wages constant. Thus, if controls are adopted in the benefit of landowners, IC weakens the incentive for tighter controls compared to case where IC is not possible. However, if firms' profits (which decrease with higher wages) are also taken into consideration in the choice of controls, then the possibility of IC may induce tighter controls.
Vitamin B12 Concentrations in Human Tissues

THE development of microbiological technique for evaluating vitamin B12 concentration has made it possible to measure the wide variations in the quantity of vitamin B12 present in sera from humans in normal and various pathological states. By this means, the concentration of serum B12 has been found to be above normal in hepatitis1, cirrhosis2 and myelogenous leukaemia3, but below normal in pernicious anaemia4, total gastrectomy5, sprue6, old age7 and pregnancy8.
New enzymes for "warheads".

Characterization of novel multifunctional proteins involved in assembly of the enediyne natural products C-1027 and calicheamicin furthers the potential of combinatorial biosynthesis.
Improvement of the performance of a fixed-bed catalytic reactor by relaxed steady state operation

The relaxed steady state operation of a tubular fixed-bed catalytic reactor under control of the inlet composition is investigated. It is shown that the performance of such a reactor can be improved under certain conditions by periodically varying inlet concentrations rather than keeping these concentrations time invariant.
Enhancement of CsNO3 extraction in 1,2-dichloroethane by tris(2-aminoethyl)amine triamide derivatives via a dual-host strategy

A systematic study of a dual-host system exhibiting pairwise anion/cation separations has been performed for CsNO3 extraction. Tripodal triamides 1−4 and 9 derived from condensation of hexanoic (for 1), octanoic (for 2), decanoic (for 3), lauric (for 4), and p-tert-butylbenzoic (for 9) acid with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) were used together with tetrabenzo-24-crown-8, a well-known Cs+ cation receptor. By using 5 mM crown ether in the organic phase and 10 mM CsNO3 with 0.1 mM HNO3 in the aqueous phase, tripods 1, 2, and 9 enhance CsNO3 extraction by factors of 2.4, 1.7, and 4.4, respectively (for 50 mM amide concentration), while the corresponding monoamide controls 5−8 derived from n-propylamine (5, 6) or N,N‘-dimethylethylenediamine (7, 8) and hexanoic (5, 7) or octanoic (6, 8) acid derivatives gave no significant enhancement under the same conditions. This behavior may be ascribed to nitrate complexation by the triamides, which lowers the overall thermodynamic barrier for the salt transfer to the or...
Tectonic evolution of the Proterozoic Colorado province, Southern Rocky Mountains: A summary and appraisal

The Colorado province is a major component of a >1000-km-wide belt of Paleoproterozoic ocean-arc rocks that occupies the southwestern United States. Known as the Transcontinental Proterozoic provinces, this belt of largely juvenile rocks was added to the southern margin of the North American craton during the interval 1.8–1.70 Ga by convergent tectonism along the Cheyenne belt. A growing body of data suggests that these rocks were deposited, at least locally, on older rocks of earliest Proterozoic and Archean ages, probably correlative with the Trans-Hudson and Penokean orogens. The volcano-plutonic and associated sedimentary rocks of the Colorado province record two major, regional orogenies: (1) an older, protracted thermotectonic episode (1.78–1.70 Ga), named the Colorado orogeny, which involved mainly amphibolite-facies metamorphism during piecemeal assembly of various ocean-arc terranes; and (2) a younger, Mesoproterozoic intra-continental orogeny, named the Berthoud orogeny, which involved associated regional heating and A-type plutonism chiefly during the interval 1.45–1.40 Ga. The term “Colorado orogeny” is proposed for the regional Paleoproterozoic dynamothermal deformation. To distinguish differences in the geodynamics and ages of deformation and facilitate comparisons from place to place, type localities are proposed for separate phases or events of the Colorado orogeny. The central Front Range is suggested as a type area for the Berthoud orogeny, because the character and orientation of structures there are readily distinguished from those of the older Colorado orogeny.
Previous Learning Experience, Strategy Beliefs, and Task Definition in Self-Regulated Foreign Language Learning.

Abstract This study investigated relationships among individuals′ foreign language learning experiences, their beliefs about the effectiveness of different language learning strategies, and their definition of the learning task. Participants were 194 college students. The study distinguished between functional learning strategies, involving communicative use of the foreign language, and formal learning strategies, involving conscious study of the language. Individuals with experience in a foreign language community or immersion program placed greater emphasis on functional strategies and defined the task as being less dependent on grammar than individuals with traditional instruction only. Strategy beliefs were also related to individuals′ definition of the learning task, such that individuals who defined the task as involving more procedural knowledge (e.g., knowledge of communication strategies) emphasized functional learning strategies, while individuals who defined the task as involving more declarative knowledge (e.g., knowledge of grammar) emphasized formal learning strategies.
Fantasy Testing for ESP in a Fourth and Fifth Grade Class

(1961). Fantasy Testing for ESP in a Fourth and Fifth Grade Class. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 491-503.
PI3 Kinase inhibition on TRAIL-induced apoptosis correlates with androgen-sensitivity and p21 expression in prostate cancer cells.

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can induce apoptosis in many types of cancer cells. TRAIL is considered a therapeutic target, therefore, it was of interest to examine molecular mechanisms that may modulate sensitivity to TRAIL signaling in prostate cancer cells. LNCaP cells were found to be relatively resistant to TRAIL induced cell death while PC3 cells were sensitive. PI3-kinase (PI3 K) inhibitors were able to render LNCaP cells sensitive to TRAIL but conferred resistance to PC3 cells. PI3 K inhibitors were associated with an increase in p21waf1, cip1 expression in PC3 cells where as p21 decreases in LNCaP cells suggesting that p21 may impart TRAIL resistance. Since androgen receptor (AR) signaling can be modulated by AKT, and p21 is an AR responsive gene, the impact of PI3 K inhibition on TRAIL sensitivity was evaluated in AR transfected PC3 cells (PC3AR). The expression of AR was significantly downregulated by PI3 K inhibition in LNCaP cells, which have an intact AR signaling axis. PC3AR cells expressed higher levels of p21 protein and were relatively resistant to TRAIL compared to control cells. Finally, using adenoviral p21 gene transfer we directly demonstrated that p21 can confer resistance to TRAIL-induced cell death. These results suggest that TRAIL resistance is not regulated simply by a PI3 K/AKT survival pathway associated with inactivating PTEN mutations but may also be modulated by downstream AR responsive targets such as p21. These findings may have significant clinical implications for the utility of TRAIL in the management of prostate cancer.
Maturationally Natural Cognition, Radically Counter-Intuitive Science, and the Theory-Ladenness of Perception

Theory-ladenness of perception and cognition is pervasive and variable. Emerging maturationally natural (MN) perception and cognition, which are on-line, fast, automatic, unconscious, and, by virtue of their selectivity, theoretical in import, if not in form, define normal development. They contrast with off-line, slow, deliberate, conscious perceptual and cognitive judgments that reflective theories, including scientific ones, inform. Although culture tunes MN systems, their emergence and operation do not rely on culturally distinctive inputs. The sciences advance radically counter-intuitive (RCI) representations that depart drastically from MN systems’ deliverances. Extensive experience with RCI scientific theories can result in a practiced naturalness with their perceptual and cognitive consequences; nevertheless, automatic MN verdicts persistently intrude. Fodor suggests that the uniformity of the biases MN systems introduce can serve as a theory-neutral means for adjudicating scientific disputes. Findings about vision challenge Fodor’s proposal for circumventing problems that MN theory-ladenness presents. These considerations indicate that RCI scientific ideas are difficult to learn, master, and deploy; consequently, the corrective import of science’s social and institutional arrangements plays a critical role in its epistemic stature.
C incorporation mechanisms on Si(001) investigated by ab initio calculations

Substitutional C in Si or SiGe alloys is desirable for heterobipolar transistors. How to incorporate C substitutionally during film deposition and growth is critical and has been the subject of much experimental research. In this paper we describe a recent development in understanding C incorporation mechanisms on Si using ab initio calculations at the atomic level. Both substitutional and interstitial incorporation mechanisms were elucidated based on the results of C adsorption and diffusion on the Si(001) surface and subsurface. Favorable deposition and growth conditions were predicted and are consistent with the findings of several experimental groups.
Room temperature elastic properties of gadolinia-doped ceria as a function of porosity

Abstract Gadolinia doped ceria (GDC) is commonly used in chemical reactors, gas sensors, gas separation membranes, and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). In the present study, the room temperature elastic properties of GDC10 (Ce 0.9 Gd 0.1 O 1.95 ) were measured as a wide function of porosity for the first time. GDC10 specimens with volume fraction porosities ranging from 0.07 to 0.60 were produced by hard die pressing and sintering GDC10 powders in air at temperatures ranging from 825 to 1475 °C. The room temperature Young's modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus and Poisson's ratio were measured using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. The elastic moduli decreased exponentially with increasing porosity.
Osteomalacia due to vitamin D depletion: a neglected consequence of intestinal malabsorption

Abstract purpose: Osteomalacia due to vitamin D depletion is believed to be rare in the United States because of the routine fortification of milk and other dairy products with vitamin D. We present a series of patients with histologically verified osteomalacia due to vitamin D depletion to emphasize the need for more careful and systematic surveillance of patients at risk of this metabolic bone disease. methods: Between 1989 and 1994, 17 patients with osteomalacia due to vitamin D depletion were seen in the Bone and Mineral Division of Henry Ford Health System, Detroit. All patients had a transiliac bone biopsy after in vivo double tetracycline labeling. Biochemical indexes of vitamin D nutritional status, parathyroid function, markers of bone turnover, and bone mineral density were assessed at the time of bone biopsy. The duration of symptoms, the lag between the cause of vitamin D depletion and the development of symptoms, and the radiologic findings were recorded. results: Osteomalacia was suspected by the referring physician in only 4 of the 17 patients, although a gastrointestinal disorder that can lead to vitamin D depletion was present in every patient. Thirteen of the patients had sustained at least one osteoporotic fracture (wrist, spine, or hip), and most had low appendicular and axial bone mineral density. All patients had one or more biochemical abnormalities consistent with vitamin D depletion. In 4 patients, a progressive rise in the serum alkaline phosphatase level was recorded but was not investigated until the patient presented with bone pain, muscle weakness, or fracture. conclusions: Osteomalacia due to vitamin D depletion appears not to be suspected or diagnosed promptly in susceptible patients, perhaps because their physicians were not sufficiently aware of this condition.
On the Treatment of Fixed and Sunk Costs in the Principles Textbooks.

The author argues that, although the standard principles level treatment of fixed and sunk costs has problems, it is logically consistent as long as all fixed costs are assumed to be sunk costs. As long as the instructor makes that assumption clear to students, the costs of making the changes recently suggested by X. Henry Wang and Bill Z. Yang in the Journal of Economic Education are greater than the benefits.
Mineral Concentrations of Forage Legumes and Grasses Grown in Acidic Soil Amended with Flue Gas Desulfurization Products

Considerable quantities of flue gas desulfurization products (FGDs) are generated when coal is burned for production of electricity, and these products have the potential to be reused rather than discarded. Use of FGDs as soil amendments could be important in overall management of these products, especially on acidic soils. Glasshouse studies were conducted to determine shoot concentrations of calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), boron (B), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), sodium (Na), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa), white clover (Trifolium repens), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) grown in acidic (pH 4) soil (Typic Hapludult) amended with various levels of three FGDs and the control compounds CaCO3, CaSO3, and CaSO4. Shoot concentrations of Ca, S, Mg, an...
Erosion study of different materials affected by coal ash particles

Abstract Alloys in contact with coal particles or coal ash are exposed to erosion. The problem of predicting erosion is very complex. The present paper describes he test facility which is designed in such a way that the aerodynamic effects are an integral part of the erosion test parameters. Some results from the alloys studied (aluminum, stainless steel and titanium) in this investigation are reported.
Development of the High Altitude Student Platform

Abstract The High Altitude Student Platform (HASP) was originally conceived to provide student groups with access to the near-space environment for flight durations and experiment capabilities intermediate between what is possible with small sounding balloons and low Earth orbit rocket launches. HASP is designed to carry up to twelve student payloads to an altitude of about 36 km with flight durations of 15–20 h using a small zero-pressure polyethylene film balloon. This provides a flight capability that can be used to flight-test compact satellites, prototypes and other small payloads designed and built by students. HASP includes a standard mechanical, power and communication interface for the student payload to simplify integration and allows the payloads to be fully exercised. Over the last two years a partnership between the NASA Balloon Program Office (BPO), Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF), Louisiana State University (LSU), the Louisiana Board of Regents (BoR), and the Louisiana Space Consortium (LaSPACE) has led to the development, construction and, finally, the first flight of HASP with a complement of eight student payloads on September 4, 2006. Here we discuss the primary as-built HASP systems and features, the student payload interface, HASP performance during the first flight and plans for continuing HASP flights. The HASP project maintains a website at http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp/ where flight application, interface documentation and status information can be obtained.
Variability of TKR Knee Kinematics and Relationship with Gait Kinetics: Implications for Total Knee Wear

Several factors, including compressive load and knee kinematics, have been shown to influence wear. External knee moments (a surrogate for load) have recently been correlated with the medial and lateral wear scar areas of an unconstrained, PCL retaining knee design. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether differences in kinetics during level walking are accompanied by specific differences in relative knee kinematics. Thirty TKR patients were gait tested using the point cluster technique to obtain 3D motions of the knee. External knee moments were calculated from ground reaction forces recorded with a multicomponent force plate. The subjects were separated into two distinct anteroposterior (AP) motion categories: a low motion group and a high motion group. Similarly, the low and high motion groups for internal-external (IE) rotation were also identified. For the IE motion, there was no significant difference between the transverse internal rotation moments between the two IE motion groups. However for the AP motion groups, a higher external peak flexion moment was found for the group displaying less AP motion. These observations suggest that subjects with higher joint moments execute smaller ranges of AP motion and thus are likely to incur less wear.
Optimizing treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with coronary artery disease in the managed-care environment (the Rocky Mountain Kaiser Permanente Experience)

Rocky Mountain Kaiser Permanente has taken aggressive steps to ensure optimal treatment of all modifiable cardiac risk factors, especially low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, in patients with coronary artery disease. In this article, we are presenting (1) the basic rationale for our approach, (2) the critical steps translating philosophy into practice, and (3) justification for all health plans to pursue a similar course. The continuum of physician-directed disease management systems that have evolved in our region-one administered by cardiology nurses in the perihospitalization period and the other by pharmacists in the long-term, outpatient setting-is then detailed. Although the relatively short duration that our comprehensive systems have been in place precludes any assessment of their impact on cardiac death, coronary artery disease events, or coronary artery disease procedure rates, the improvements in intermediate surrogate outcomes are promising. Virtually all surveyed patients participating in our management systems have been "very" or "extremely" satisfied with their experience. The LDL-cholesterol screening rate in the approximately 2,500 participants in the programs to date has reached 97%. Of these patients, 84% have LDL cholesterol 130 mg/dL (2.5% overall) are currently not receiving lipid-lowering therapy. The proportions of patients on aspirin/antiplatelet and beta-blocker therapy after myocardial infarction are 97% and 92%, respectively. The lipid-screening and treatment rates, especially, represent significant improvement from our own baseline, and compare favorably with outcomes from other practice settings. In conclusion, health maintenance organizations have tremendous incentive and the unique opportunity and ability to develop systems to better manage large numbers of individuals with coronary artery disease.
A note on a constrained replacement model for ships subject to degradations in utility

In a recent paper, Peter J. Kalman considers a stochastic constrained optimal replacement model using the case of ship replacement as an example. However, the development of the constrained model proposed is not pursued and the optimal interval between replacements is determined in the absence of constraints. Among other things, it is the purpose of the present paper to extend the previous results to develop explicit types of constraints for the case of ship replacement and to determine how the optimal replacement interval may change as a result of these constraints. The constraints are concerned with the state of readiness of each ship in a group of ships. Readiness is assumed to be measured on an ordinal valued utility scale. It is proposed that ordinal valued data on ship combat readiness ratings collected by the Navy may be a useful source of empirical information for a model of the type discussed.
Tension pneumocephalus following insertion of ventriculoatrial shunt after severe head trauma. Case report.

Summary In the present paper, we report about a patient suffering from hydrocephalus following a severe head trauma, who received a ventriculocardial shunt and subsequently developed tension pneumocephalus. The mechanisms leading to this condition are discussed, drawing a parallel to the development of subdural hematoma after CSF shunting.
A Learning Control of Underwater Robotic Vehicles with Thruster Dynamics

Most vehicle control systems based on the simplified vehicle model often result in poor performance because of the nonlinear and time-varying vehicle dynamics as well as thruster dynamics. It is desired to have an advanced control system with capability of learning and adapting to changes in the vehicle dynamics and parameters. This paper describes a learning control system using neural networks for under-water robotic vehicles having a velocity-controlled thruster system. Its effectiveness was investigated by simulation with a single thruster system.
Mackie's treatment of miracles

La probabilite de l'existence d'un miracle depend de la probabilite de l'existence de Dieu. La probabilite d'un miracle donne a partir de temoignages depend egalement de la probabilite de l'existence de Dieu. Il apparait donc que l'acceptation rationnelle d'un miracle sur la base d'un temoignage dependra de la probabilite de l'existence de Dieu. L'A. affirme ne connaitre aucun argument qui conduise a la conclusion selon laquelle un theisme est improbable et qu'une personne rationnelle peut croire qu'il est tres probable que Dieu existe. Neanmoins, une personne rationnelle peut accepter un miracle sur la base d'un temoignage
Sensory deprivation during development decreases the responsiveness of cricket giant interneurones

1. The effect sensory deprivation, early in development, has on the adult response properties of identified neurones was studied in the abdominal nervous system of the cricket Acheta domesticus. 2. Neural activity in the cercal-to-giant interneurone system was lowered by blocking the movement of the mechanosensitive hairs, located on each cercus, with a facial cleansing cream. 3. When specimens were treated unilaterally one of a pair of homologous neurones exhibited drastically altered response properties. The neurone which received its afferent input from the treated receptors was much less sensitive to tones. Its threshold was increased approximately 20 db with respect to its untreated homologue. 4. Bilateral treatment lowered the responsiveness of both of the bilaterally homologous neurones. 5. Increased levels of inhibition impinging on the treated neurones accounts for part of the altered responsiveness. The inhibitory pathway is activated by the untreated mechanoreceptors. 6. Control experiments demonstrate that the sensory apparatus is not injured or modified by the treatment. 7. The results suggest that normal development of some invertebrate neural pathways may be more dependent on experience during ontogeny than has previously been assumed.
Failure of Flawed Utility Poles in Wind Gusts

The purpose of this study is to account for failures of wood utility poles in wind storms based on dynamic analysis and pole imperfections. The utility pole supporting multiple overhead transmission lines is modeled as a uniform Bernoulli-Euler cantilevered beam fixed at the base and subjected to three types of suddenly applied transverse loads that simulate a wind gust: a uniform pole pressure, a point load at the tip accounting for line and transformer drag, and another point load near midlength, accounting for drag on lines strung from that location. The dynamic pole moments are based on normal mode calculations rather than static calculations with a dynamic impact factor, and the critical flexural stresses include stress concentrations arising from pole imperfections such as holes, knots, and surface gouges. A case study illustrates the results for one of about 400 failed wood poles downed in a single New Jersey storm in 2003 with 107 km/h (67 m/h) wind gusts. Here, the critical pole stress based on the dynamic model and a hole imperfection exceeded the proportional limit stress of the wood. The predicted dynamic stresses are higher than those based on the National Electrical Safety Code.
Hormone receptor status of breast tumors in black, Hispanic, and non‐Hispanic white women: An analysis of 13,239 cases

BACKGROUND It has been postulated that different biologic characteristics of a tumor might account for at least a portion of the disparity in breast cancer survival for patients across racial and ethnic groups. The hormone receptor status of breast tumors is one characteristic with prognostic significance. Results of several studies indicate a higher proportion of estrogen receptor negative (ER-) breast tumors among black or Hispanic women compared with non-Hispanic whites. We investigated whether the association between race and ethnicity and the joint combination of ER and progesterone receptor (PR) status was independent of age and other tumor characteristics at diagnosis. METHODS Relevant data were obtained from 13,239 breast cancer cases identified as part of the 1990 Patient Care Evaluation Study of Breast Cancer. RESULTS In univariate analysis, the proportions of ER+PR+, ER+PR−, ER−PR+, and ER−PR− tumors among non-Hispanic whites were 59%, 15%, 6%, and 20%, respectively; among Hispanics the proportions were 58%, 12%, 8%, and 22%, respectively; and among blacks the proportions were 44%, 14%, 7%, and 35%, respectively. After controlling for age, tumor size, and histology, using polychotomous logistic regression, there was no difference in hormone-receptor status between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. However, ER−PR− tumors were more likely to occur in blacks than in non-Hispanic whites (odds ratio = 1.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.6, 2.1) CONCLUSIONS The results of this study corroborate differences in hormone-receptor status between non-Hispanic white and black women, but not between Hispanics. Future studies of breast cancer should examine differences in epidemiologic risk factors between blacks and whites stratified on ER/PR status. Cancer 1996; 77:1465-71.
Unfolding properties of tryptophan-containing alpha-subunits of the Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase.

Abstract The urea-induced unfolding of the Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase α-subunit is examined via fluorescence measurements with tryptophan-containing α-subunit mutants, constructed by in vitro mutagenesis. Early unfolding studies with urea and guanidine suggested that the wild type protein unfolded in a two-step process with a stable intermediate composed of a native α-1 folding unit (residues 1-188) and a completely unfolded α-2 folding unit (residues 189-268). Recently, more detailed spectroscopic and calorimetric data from the Matthews and Yutani groups indicate that such a structure for the intermediates seems unlikely. Previously, we described the introduction of Trp residues as unfolding reporter groups separately into each of the folding domains and showed that these proteins are wild type enzymatically and in their stability to urea. The unfolding behavior of these α-subunits, monitored by fluorescence intensity changes at the discrete emission λmax for each, in both equilibrium and kinetic experiments, suggest that: (a) both folding units commence unfolding simultaneously (near 2 M urea); (b) the larger α-1 unit unfolds in a multistep process, initially yielding a partially unfolded intermediate form which subsequently appears to unfold progressively to completion; and (c) the smaller α-2 unit unfolds in a single step event. These results are also clearly incompatible with the early proposals on the structure of the intermediate. It is suggested here that the intermediate is heterogeneous, consisting of a stable, partially unfolded form of α-1 attached to either a completely folded or completely unfolded form of α-2. These results are consistent with and provide an added dimension to the recent description of the proposed structure of the intermediate.
Racial and insurance disparities in the utilization of supportive care after inpatient admission for proximal humerus fracture.

Background: Post-discharge supportive services such as home health assistance and rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities are often utilized after inpatient care for fracture of the proximal humerus. It is unclear whether sociodemographic disparities exist in the utilization of post-hospital supportive care. The present study aimed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of race and insurance status on the utilization of supportive services after hospital admission for fracture of the proximal humerus. Methods: Among the more than 40,000 patients with a proximal humerus fracture identified in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2008 to 2011), 85% were white, 7.7% were Hispanic and 7.0% were black. More black patients (19%) and Hispanic patients (15%) were uninsured compared to white patients (8.7%). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the effect of race/ethnicity and insurance status on the utilization of post-hospital supportive care. Results: Sixty-nine percent of patients were discharged home, 13% went to home health care and 15% went to rehabilitation or skilled nursing facilities. Compared to white patients, Hispanic patients [odds ratio (OR) ¼0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI) ¼0.64 to 0.79] and black patients (OR ¼0.79; 95% CI ¼0.71 to 0.88) exhibited lower odds for the utilization of specialized post-hospital supportive services. Uninsured patients were significantly less likely to use post-discharge supportive services (OR ¼0.38; 95% CI ¼0.33 to 0.42) compared to privately insured patients. Even when insured at levels comparable to whites, Hispanic and black patients tended to experience decreased rates of discharge to post-acute supportive care. Conclusions: The utilization of post-hospital supportive services varies by race, ethnicity and insurance status after an inpatient admission for proximal humerus fracture.
Recurrent Third-Trimester Fetal Loss and Maternal Mosaicism for Long-QT Syndrome

Background— The importance of germ-line mosaicism in genetic disease is probably underestimated, even though recent studies indicate that it may be involved in 10% to 20% of apparently de novo cases of several dominantly inherited genetic diseases. Methods and Results— We describe here a case of repeated germ-line transmission of a severe form of long-QT syndrome (LQTS) from an asymptomatic mother with mosaicism for a mutation in the cardiac sodium channel, SCN5A. A male infant was diagnosed with ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac decompensation in utero at 28 weeks and with LQTS after birth, ultimately requiring cardiac transplantation for control of ventricular tachycardia. The mother had no ECG abnormalities, but her only previous pregnancy had ended in stillbirth with evidence of cardiac decompensation at 7 months’ gestation. A third pregnancy also ended in stillbirth at 7 months, again with nonimmune fetal hydrops. The surviving infant was found to have a heterozygous mutation in SCN5A (R1623Q), pre...
Prevention of vitamin D deficiency in mothers and infants worldwide — a paradigm shift

Vitamin D deficiency in mothers and infants is a global health disorder despite recognition that it is preventable. Recent data support the theory that vitamin D deficiency in adults and children may increase the risk of infections and auto-immune diseases. In most cases, vitamin D deficiency is caused by sunlight deprivation and inadequate corrective vitamin D intake. There is a strong mother/infant vitamin D relationship that affects vitamin D status both in utero and in infancy. Recognition that vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide mother/infant health problem is a basis on which to modify public health strategies to reduce the burden of disease and improve maternal and child vitamin D nutrition. This review provides an update on vitamin D function and the global scope and implications of vitamin D deficiency as it relates to pregnancy and infancy. It also addresses a combined strategy to prevent vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy, lactation and infancy.
Lossless convexification of Powered-Descent Guidance with non-convex thrust bound and pointing constraints

A numerically-efficient, convex formulation of PDG (Powered-Descent Guidance) for Mars pinpoint and precision landing has been enhanced to include thrust pointing constraints. The original algorithm was designed to enforce both control and state constraints, including maximum and minimum thrust bounds, maximum speed limits and descent within a glideslope cone (surface impact avoidance). The thrust bounds are non-convex, so the original formulation developed a lossless convexification of these constraints. Likewise, thrust pointing constraints are non-convex. In this paper we present a relaxation for the thrust pointing constraint such that the enhanced PDG algorithm generates a lossless convexification for both the thrust bound and thrust pointing constraints. Pointing constraints are needed for onboard terrain-relative sensors that have specific field-of-view requirements during landing.
Fibronectin modulation of cell shape and lipogenic gene expression in 3t3-adipocytes

The differentiation of 3T3-F442A cells is accompanied by changes in cell morphology, decreased synthesis and assembly of cytoskeletal proteins, and increased biosynthesis of lipogenic enzymes. The differentiation-dependent alterations in actin assembly can be prevented by culture of cells on fibronectin matrices. Under these conditions, morphological change is prevented and the induction of lipogenic enzymes such as glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and fatty acid synthetase is sharply reduced. In contrast, the differentiation-linked decreases in actin and tubulin biosynthesis occur normally. Hybridization of cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA to cloned cDNA probes indicates that the inhibition of lipogenic protein biosynthesis occurs because of reduced levels of specific mRNA production. The inhibitory effects of fibronectin can be reversed by keeping cells in a rounded configuration or by exposing cells to either cytochalasin D, which disrupts the actin cytoskeleton, or insulin, a key lipogenic hormone. These results demonstrate that fibronectin can regulate gene expression for lipogenic proteins and they suggest that it interferes with cytoskeletal and morphological changes necessary for new gene expression.
Mating of a PROSTALAC spacer with an intramedullary nail for reconstruction of an infected interprosthetic femoral shaft fracture: a case report

Reconstruction for concurrent infection of an ipsilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a challenge. We report a 2-stage reconstruction of a THA for chronic infection of both the THA and TKA with severe femoral bone loss secondary to interprosthetic fractures. The reconstruction involved using a custom-made, temporary, antibiotic-impregnated PROSTALAC spacer mated with an intramedullary nail. The acetabulum was then exposed and the necrotic cartilage was removed and curetted. The acetabulum was reamed to accept a PROSTALAC acetabular shell. The shell was cemented into the acetabulum with antibiotic cement. The custom-made spacer was then inserted distally first into the tibia. The distal end of the intramedullary nail was interlocked with a bicortical bolt to minimise nail rotation. Antibiotic-impregnated cement was moulded around the nail and spacer. The proximal end of the spacer was then reduced into the acetabular socket, and the joint was irrigated and the wound closed. A customised abduction brace was fitted, and partial weight bearing was allowed. Sufficient leg length, soft-tissue tension, and range of hip motion were restored, and a total femur and constrained liner was re-implanted 4 months later. Mating of an intramedullary nail with a PROSTALAC spacer is a viable reconstructive option.