cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Second-trimester sonographic comparison of the lower uterine segment in pregnant women with and without a previous cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE To compare measurements of the lower uterine segment during a second-trimester sonographic examination in women with and without a previous cesarean delivery. METHODS Women undergoing second-trimester sonographic examination, 24 with a history of cesarean delivery and 30 control subjects with no history of cesarean delivery, were recruited for transvaginal sonographic evaluation of the lower uterine segment with a high-frequency probe. The uterine niche or previous cesarean scar site was defined as a small triangular anechoic defect in the anterior wall of the uterus. The uterine wall thickness was measured successively at the level where the bladder dome meets the lower uterine segment. Measurements were obtained with cursors at the interface of the urine-bladder and the amniotic fluid-decidua. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, and P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS The uterine niche was identified in 14 (58%) of 24 women with a previous cesarean delivery. The lower uterine segment was significantly thinner in women with a previous cesarean delivery compared with control subjects (mean +/- SD, 4.7 +/- 1.1 versus 6.6 +/- 2.0 mm; P < .001). In the previous cesarean group, the mean lower uterine segment thickness was similar in the 5 women with 2 cesarean deliveries when compared with those with 1 cesarean delivery (4.6 +/- 1.0 versus 4.7 +/- 1.4 mm; P = .91). In a linear regression model, the only variable retaining significance in the prediction of uterine wall thickness was previous cesarean delivery (P= .002). Maternal age, parity, number of previous cesarean deliveries, and gestational age did not attain significance in the model. CONCLUSIONS The lower uterine segment during a second-trimester sonographic examination is significantly thinner in women with a previous cesarean delivery. Identification of the scar niche is possible in most of these women.
High-precision measurements of the Rb 87 D -line tune-out wavelength

An atom interferometry experiment using a Bose-Einstein condensate reveals information about atomic dipole matrix elements with very high precision. The result provides a challenge for atomic theory calculations, and might lead to improvements in many applications involving optical manipulations.
Integrating Technology Into The Freshman Year Experience Classes At Purdue University Calumet

This paper examines a one-credit hour Freshman Year Experience (FYE) course that was implemented within the School of Management at a regional campus of a Big Ten university. Additionally, the paper also discusses the integration of the University’s course management system in order to properly prepare management students to be successful in their academic degreed programs.
Photodefinable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for rapid lab-on-a-chip prototyping.

In this paper, we introduce a new and simple method of patterning polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) directly using benzophenone as a photoinitiator. The photodefinable PDMS mixture (photoPDMS) is positive-acting and only sensitive to light below 365 nm, permitting processing under normal ambient light. Features of the order of 100 µm, which are sufficiently small for most microfluidic applications, were successfully fabricated using this novel process. A parametric study of process parameters was performed to optimize the fabrication. As a demonstration, microfluidic channels of varying dimensions were successfully fabricated using this process and experimentally characterized using fluorescence microscopy. To further demonstrate photoPDMS potential, thin (<30 µm) free-standing films with through patterns were fabricated and successfully used as shadow masks. The photoPDMS process completely eliminates the need for a master, permits processing under normal ambient light conditions, and makes fabrication fast and simple. This process for rapid prototyping of low-cost, disposable LOCs can be accomplished without cleanroom facilities and thus can be employed for a wide range of applications.
Pragmatics, lexicography and dictionaries of English

ABSTRACT: This paper treats the influence of pragmatics on lexicography, with illustrations from several dictionaries of English as well as from other mono- and bilingual dictionaries. In Section 2, the history of the term pragmatics is discussed, and the emergence of pragmatics as a discipline is described as having origins in transformational grammar and in the study of speech acts. Section 3 contains a general discussion of more and less common pragmatic aspects of the dictionary, such as indexicality (deixis). Section 4 focuses on three pragmatic aspects of dictionaries: the cultural setting, equivalence in bilingual dictionaries with English, and the lexicographic definition. It is shown that the cultural setting can influence the choice of pictorial illustrations or of words to be included in the dictionary. Equivalence is a lexicographic problem due to the lack of one-to-one meaning correspondences between words in different languages; finding appropriate translational equivalents is a difficult task for makers of bilingual dictionaries, since they often face situations in which only a partial equivalence exists between words or in which there is no equivalent for a given word due to cultural and other differences between languages. The lexicographic definition, or explanation of meaning, presents three difficulties to lexicographers: circularity, explaining obscurum per obscurius, and hyperonymic regression. The Collins COBUILD is given as example of a monolingual English dictionary that avoids the problems of explanation of meaning in an original way. This paper concludes with observations on how pragmatic competence, as one part of linguistic competence, must be used in the interpretation of dictionary definitions, especially of the type of Collins COBUILD: a comparison is made between dictionaries that rely heavily on human pragmatic knowledge, and those constructed for computational use that must make their pragmatic component explicit.
Design modeling of lithium-ion battery performance.

A computer design modeling technique has been developed for lithium-ion batteries to assist in setting goals for cell components, assessing materials requirements, and evaluating thermal management strategies. In this study, the input data for the model included design criteria from Quallion, LLC for Gen-2 18650 cells, which were used to test the accuracy of the dimensional modeling. Performance measurements on these cells were done at the electrochemical analysis and diagnostics laboratory (EADL) at Argonne National Laboratory. The impedance and capacity related criteria were calculated from the EADL measurements. Five batteries were designed for which the number of windings around the cell core was increased for each succeeding battery to study the effect of this variable upon the dimensions, weight, and performance of the batteries. The lumped-parameter battery model values were calculated for these batteries from the laboratory results, with adjustments for the current collection resistance calculated for the individual batteries.
In vitro hemocompatibility of thin film nitinol in stenotic flow conditions

Because of its low profile and biologically inert behavior, thin film nitinol (TFN) is ideally suited for use in construction of endovascular devices. We have developed a surface treatment for TFN designed to minimize platelet adhesion by creating a superhydrophilic surface. The hemocompatibility of expanded polytetrafluorethylene (ePTFE), untreated thin film nitinol (UTFN), and a surface treated superhydrophilic thin film nitinol (STFN) was compared using an in vitro circulation model with whole blood under flow conditions simulating a moderate arterial stenosis. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed increased thrombus on ePTFE as compared to UTFN or STFN. Total blood product deposition was 6.3 � 0.8 mg/cm
ON SINGULAR BOUNDARY CONDITIONS IN MASS TRANSFER ACROSS RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURES

In modeling mass transfer across rectangular enclosures one is confronted with singular velocity boundary conditions at the geometrical corners of the enclosure. Solutions to such a problem obtained, e.g., from a finite difference scheme, may then depend on the particular way the singularities are handled. The uncertainty in the solutions is studied for a vapor crystal growth sample case, by comparing results obtained in two extreme codes, corresponding to slip and non-slip, respectively, at the corners. It is found that (within the realm of the model used) the total mass transport across the enclosure, the sublimation and the condensation fluxes at the interfaces, and the concentration profile are unaffected by the choice of codes. The velocity field, however, is affected adjacent to the singularities.
Space-variant ambiguity function processor

The ambiguity function that results from the space-variant optical processing of nonlinear coded waveforms is analyzed. The space-variant signal processor considered is realized by coordinate transformations. Specifically we consider x = lnt, which results in a Mellin transform-based Doppler-invariant signal processor. Ambiguity function data are provided for a nonlinearly coded 13-bit Barker code.
A Drosophila seminal fluid protein, Acp26Aa, stimulates egg laying in females for 1 day after mating

Abstract Mating triggers behavioral and physiological changes in the Drosophila melanogaster female, including an elevation of egg laying. Seminal fluid molecules from the male accessory gland are responsible for initial behavioral changes, but persistence of these changes requires stored sperm. Using genetic analysis, we have identified a seminal fluid protein that is responsible for an initial elevation of egg laying. This molecule, Acp26Aa, has structural features of a prohormone and contains a region with amino acid similarity to the egg-laying hormone of Aplysia. Acp26Aa is transferred to the female during mating, where it undergoes processing. Here we report the generation and analysis of mutants, including a null, in Acp26Aa. Females mated to male flies that lack Acp26Aa lay fewer eggs than do mates of normal males. This effect is apparent only on the first day after mating. The null mutation has no other detectable physiological or behavioral effects on the male or the mated female.
Bringing Collaborative Teaching into Doctoral Programs: Faculty and Graduate Student Co-teaching as Experiential Training

We discuss faculty-graduate student collaborative teaching as a model to enhance programmatic graduate teacher training efforts. Co-teaching can improve graduate training through intensive support and engagement, while also enhancing the teaching experience of faculty and the learning experience of undergraduates. This form of classroom collaboration between faculty mentors and graduate students provides important hands-on teacher training, emphasizes pedagogical reflexivity, and offers support within a mentorship relationship. Faculty can use co-teaching with graduate students to explore classroom techniques and reassess their teaching. We conclude with strategies for implementing effective collaborative teaching models.
Surface Control of Oxidation by an Adsorbed RuIV−Oxo Complex

When adsorbed to optically transparent, thin films of TiO2 nanoparticles on glass, the aqua complex [RuII(tpy)(bpy(PO3H2)2)(OH2)]2+ (bpy(PO3H2)2 is 2,2‘-bipyridyl-4,4‘-diphosphonic acid; tpy is 2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-terpyridine) is oxidized by CeIV(NH4)2(NO3)6 in 0.1 M HClO4 to its RuIVO2+ form as shown by UV−visible measurements and analysis of oxidative equivalents by oxidation of hydroquinone to quinone. Kinetic studies on the oxidations of cyclohexene, benzyl alcohol, phenol, and trans-stilbene by surface-bound RuIVO2+ by UV−visible monitoring reveal direct evidence for initial 2-electron steps to give RuII intermediates in all four cases. These steps are masked in solution where RuIV → RuII reduction is followed by rapid reactions between RuII intermediates and RuIVO2+ to give RuIII. Reactions between RuII and RuIVO2+ on the surface are inhibited by binding to the surface, which restricts translational mobility. Rate constants on the surface and in solution are comparable, pointing to comparable reactivities....
Salvage dextranomer-hyaluronic acid copolymer for persistent reflux after ureteral reimplantation: early success rates.

Purpose: Endoscopic injection of dextranomer-hyaluronic acid copolymer is an accepted initial procedure to correct vesicoureteral reflux. Less data are available on its role in treating failed ureteral reimplantation.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts from 2002 to 2008 and identified 21 patients (26 ureteral units) with persistent reflux after reimplantation.Results: Mean age was 7 years (range 2 to 13). Mean followup was 2 years (range 10 to 46 months). Of the 17 patients with a single system ureteral reimplantation was extravesical in 9 and intravesical in 8 with tapering performed in 5. Three patients underwent reimplantation of duplex systems and 1 underwent reimplantation due to ureterocele. Residual reflux grade was 1 to 4 in 3 (11%), 17 (65%), 3 (11%) and 3 ureteral units (11%), respectively. Dextranomer-hyaluronic acid copolymer was injected transurethrally. The mean volume injected was 1.2 ml (range 0.7 to 3). After 1 injection reflux resolved in 15 patients (71%) or a ...
New description of transmission of an SOA-based Sagnac loop and its application for NRZ wavelength conversion

Sagnac interferometric loops with a semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) have found important applications for optical signal processing and communication networks. We derive a new description of the transmission of an SOA-based Sagnac loop by including the influence of loop birefringence. Based on this new description, we theoretically analyze and experimentally demonstrate NRZ wavelength conversion using a Sagnac loop with an SOA at asymmetric position. We also show that the converted signal with an SOA-based Sagnac loop has lower pattern dependent effect and smaller power penalty compared with the converted signal using cross gain modulation effect.
Assessment of Bone Age During Pubertal Age

Received: 5 November, 2011, Accepted: 5 November, 2011 Address for correspondence: Duk Hee Kim M.D. Department of Pediatrics, Sowha Children's Hospital 224-32, Seogyel-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-829, Korea Tel: +82.2-705-9112, Fax: +82.2-705-9000 E-mail: dhkim345@naver.com 여아 세 남아 세가 된다 사춘기동안 앉은 키 13 , 15 . (sitting 는척추와머리높이로여아에서 남아에서 height) 7.5 cm, 8.5 성장된다 하지 는 여아 남아 cm . (lower extremities) 7 cm, 8 성장된다 사춘기시작은신장치와앉은키를 개월간격 cm . 6 으로측정하여성장속도증가여부를찾아낼수있다 신장 . 이 여아에서 남아 되면 6 cm/year, 8 cm/year peak height 에도달하게된다 velocity 6-7) 또한성장속도가증가될때성 . 성숙도 가 단계가된다 이러한 (sexual maturation rate, SMR) 2 . 시기의 는여아 세 남아 세가된다 BA 11 , 13 .
SoftRDMA: implementing iWARP over TCP kernel sockets

Remote direct memory access (RDMA) allows for the minimization of CPU and memory bus loads associated with network I/O. The Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)-based Internet Wide Area RDMA Protocol (iWARP) stack now makes RDMA available for Ethernet local area networks and wide area networks. As 10-Gb/s Ethernet becomes deployed in data centers and Ethernet link speeds continue to increase faster than the memory bus bandwidth, the capability of RDMA to eliminate all intrahost data copy operations related to network I/O makes it attractive for accelerating TCP/IP. Whereas RDMA network adapters offload iWARP/TCP functionality to dedicated hardware, we have designed an onloaded iWARP software implementation, called SoftRDMA, which runs on the host CPU, closely integrated with Linux® TCP kernel sockets. SoftRDMA offers asynchronous nonblocking user-space I/O. It enables iWARP with conventional Ethernet adapters, as well as in mixed iWARP hardware and software environments, facilitating RDMA system integration. Furthermore, SoftRDMA benefits client-server applications with asymmetric loads and high aggregate throughput on the server. With iWARP checksumming turned off, SoftRDMA delivers a throughput exceeding 5 Gb/s using a single CPU core. We suggest zero-copy transmission in software and hardware acceleration for the iWARP framing layer for even higher performance.
Successful Wallstent implantation for extensive iatrogenic renal artery dissection in a patient with fibromuscular dysplasia.

Purpose To describe a case of renal artery stenosis with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and extensive iatrogenic dissection treated with Wallstent implantation. Methods and results An 83-year-old woman with a history of coronary artery disease and hypertension presented at another facility with exertional angina and poorly controlled hypertension. Renal arteriography uncovered a critical right renal artery stenosis with severe FMD. However, angioplasty resulted in extensive dissection of the renal artery, for which the patient was referred to our institution. The renal artery was recanalized via the left brachial approach with restoration of flow using a Wallstent and a Palmaz stent. The patient's blood pressure was controllable after this procedure, and follow-up duplex imaging with flow velocities at 6 months showed patent right renal artery stents. Conclusions Owing to its length and flexibility, the Wallstent endoprosthesis was a useful treatment modality in this case of extensive renal artery dissection.
Concurrent inhibition of the low-affinity Ca2+-stimulated ATPase and MgATP-dependent endocytosis in erythrocyte ghosts by N-naphthylmaleimide and carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone.

Abstract Energy-dependent endocytosis and the low Ca2+ affinity Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity of erythrocyte ghosts were inhibited concurrently by two inhibitors, carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and N-naphthylmaleimide. The conditions required to observe 50% inhibition of this Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity with either inhibitor were the same conditions required to observe this level of inhibition of endocytosis. Under these conditions, none of the other ATPase activities measured were inhibited more than 20% by either of these reagents. This concurrence of inhibition of endocytosis and the low-affinity Ca2+-stimulated ATPase and the possible involvement of this ATPase in the mechanism by which endocytosis occurs is discussed.
Towards error‐free hybrid simulation using mixed variables

Two procedures are developed and implemented in a hybrid simulation system (HSS) with the aim of enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the online, i.e. pseudo-dynamic, test results. The first procedure aims at correcting the experimental systematic error in executing the displacement command signal. The error is calculated as the difference between command and feedback signals and correlated to the actuator velocity using the least-squares method. A feed-forward error compensation scheme is devised leading to a more accurate execution of the test. The second procedure employs mixed variables with mode switching between displacement and force controls. The newly derived force control algorithm is evaluated using a parametric study to assess its stability and accuracy. The implementation of the mixed variables procedure is designed to adopt force control for high stiffness states of the structural response and displacement control otherwise, where the resolution of the involved instruments may favour this type of mixed control. A simple pseudo-dynamic experiment of steel cantilever members is used to validate the HSS. Moreover, two experiments as application examples for the two developed procedures are presented. The two experiments focus on the seismic response of (a) timber shear walls and (b) reinforced concrete frames with and without unreinforced masonry infill wall. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Admissible Diffusion Wavelets and Their Applications in Space-Frequency Processing

As signal processing tools, diffusion wavelets and biorthogonal diffusion wavelets have been propelled by recent research in mathematics. They employ diffusion as a smoothing and scaling process to empower multiscale analysis. However, their applications in graphics and visualization are overshadowed by nonadmissible wavelets and their expensive computation. In this paper, our motivation is to broaden the application scope to space-frequency processing of shape geometry and scalar fields. We propose the admissible diffusion wavelets (ADW) on meshed surfaces and point clouds. The ADW are constructed in a bottom-up manner that starts from a local operator in a high frequency, and dilates by its dyadic powers to low frequencies. By relieving the orthogonality and enforcing normalization, the wavelets are locally supported and admissible, hence facilitating data analysis and geometry processing. We define the novel rapid reconstruction, which recovers the signal from multiple bands of high frequencies and a low-frequency base in full resolution. It enables operations localized in both space and frequency by manipulating wavelet coefficients through space-frequency filters. This paper aims to build a common theoretic foundation for a host of applications, including saliency visualization, multiscale feature extraction, spectral geometry processing, etc.
Rapid impact of beta-amyloid on paxillin in a neural cell line.

β-amyloid1-42 (Aβ) is a naturally occuring peptide whose accumulation in the brain is putatively coupled to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Deleterious effects of Aβ on neurons have been linked to the inappropriate activation of signaling pathways within the cell (reviewed in Yankner, 1996), including tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) (Zhang et al., 1994, 1996a,b). Here we have investigated the effects of Aβ on paxillin in a neural cell line. Paxillin, a substrate for FAK, is thought to act as a signal “integrator,” functioning to link other proteins into multi-molecular signaling complexes (reviewed in Turner, 1994). Treatment of the rat central nervous system B103 cell line with aggregates of Aβ was found to induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin within 30 min, nearly 24 hr prior to significant cell death. Particularly striking was a subsequent “mobilization” of paxillin to the cytoskeleton in Aβ-treated cells. The amount of paxillin associated with the cytoskeleton in Aβ-treated cells was increased 10-fold over controls. The Aβ-induced paxillin accumulation could be visualized immunocytochemically, with an increase in number and size of paxillin-labeled focal contacts upon treatment with Aβ. This effect was specific, in that vinculin, another focal contact protein, was unaffected by Aβ. Disruption of f-actin, which inhibits both Aβ-induced neurotoxicity (Furukawa and Mattson, 1995) and focal contact signaling in B103 cells (Zhang et al., 1996b) was found to block the cytoskeletal paxillin accumulation. The rapid tyrosine phosphorylation and cytoskeletal mobilization of paxillin links Aβ to the activation of focal contact signaling events that may influence neuronal cytoskeletal architecture, gene expression, synaptic plasticity and cell viability. J. Neurosci. Res. 50:979–989, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Computer-mediated humor and ethos: Exploring threads of constitutive laughter in online communities

Abstract Joking seems to be an inescapable part of the culture of email and mailing lists, and yet few have described the rhetorical functions of humor in these text-based forms of computer-mediated communication (CMC). In this article, we argue that humor serves a critical ethos function in online communities created by mailing lists. By connecting what humor theorists already recognize as a social dimension in joking to the contemporary interpretation of ethos as a constitutive force, we find that humor constitutes a virtual group ethos. Our model of ethos-building humor emphasizes its computer mediation, drawing close attention to what we identify as threads of constitutive laughter that form in mailing list discourse. We apply the model to the rhetoric of a university writing center mailing list.
Resistance to Walleye Dermal Sarcoma Tumor Redevelopment

Abstract Walleyes Stizostedion vitreum infected with walleye dermal sarcoma (WDS) virus were rechallenged in two separate trials. Walleyes were rechallenged with a topical application of a cell-free dermal sarcoma tumor filtrate applied to the side of the fish not originally inoculated; these fish were allowed to develop grossly visible tumors at 15°C for 5 months. The rate of tumor redevelopment (calculated as incidence density) was compared with naive fish that received the same inoculum. The incidence of tumor redevelopment was significantly lower in walleyes that had previously been challenged and infected with WDS virus. This resistance to walleye dermal sarcoma recurrence helps explain the epidemiology of WDS in the wild.
Evaluation of Global Atmospheric Solvers Using Extensions of the Jablonowski and Williamson Baroclinic Wave Test Case

AbstractThe hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic atmospheric solvers within the Model for Prediction Across Scales (MPAS) are tested using an extension of Jablonowski and Williamson baroclinic wave test case that includes moisture. This study uses the dry test case to verify the correctness of the solver formulation and coding by comparing results from the two different MPAS solvers and from the global version of the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting Model (ARW-WRF). A normal mode initialization is used in the Jablonowski and Williamson test, and the most unstable mode is found to be wavenumber 9. The three solvers produce very similar normal mode structures and nonlinear baroclinic wave evolutions. Solutions produced using MPAS variable-resolution meshes are quite similar to the results from the quasi-uniform mesh with equivalent resolution. Importantly, the small-scale flow features are better resolved in the fine-resolution region and there is no apparent wave distortion in the fine-to-coars...
The importance of news media in pharmaceutical risk communication: proceedings of a workshop.

In response to mass media's role in the national and global system of pharmaceutical risk communication, the Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) convened a ‘think tank’ session on the ‘Importance of Media in Pharmaceutical Risk Communication’. Prominent journalists and experts from the pharmaceutical industry, academia, medical practice and government were invited to consider the benefits and challenges of improving the way we communicate the benefits and risks of therapeutics via mass media, especially news media. Workshop discussions revealed a paucity of systematic research directed towards understanding how and why news media report on therapeutic risk, the impact of this coverage and how coverage can be improved. Consequently, participants produced a research agenda capturing the key aspects of the flow of information around this topic, including the meaning of risk, how news audiences process and use therapeutic risk information in the news, how and why news organizations report on therapeutic risk, and the role and impact of the pharmaceutical industry, government officials and academic researchers as sources of therapeutic risk information. The workshop ended with a discussion on action items addressing what news professionals, representatives of regulatory agencies and the medical products industry, and academic researchers can and should do to enable news media to effectively report therapeutic risk information. In sum, this proceedings report provides an outline for developing mass media risk communication research, influencing the practices of journalists and expert sources and ultimately, improving the quality of the public's life. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Defect equilibria and chemical expansion in non-stoichiometric undoped and gadolinium-doped cerium oxide

Abstract Chemical expansion and oxygen non-stoichiometry of undoped and Gd-doped cerium oxide exposed to different partial pressures of oxygen was studied at 800 ° C by dilatometry and thermo-gravimetry, respectively. The results were modeled in terms of isolated defects and defect complexes to successfully predict non-stoichiometry and chemical expansion behavior. A chemical expansion coefficient for isolated defects was determined using the model. A separate chemical expansion coefficient for defect complexes was found to match an empirically predicted value for lattice parameter versus dopant concentration from the literature showing that at room temperature, a considerable fraction of defects are in complexes. The chemical expansion coefficients used were the same for both the undoped and Gd-doped cerium oxide displaying consistency in the model. The results of the model are not only useful in interpreting strain behavior upon reduction in ceria based oxides, but are also useful in explaining conductivity behavior.
Mesonephric adenocarcinomas in urethral diverticula.

Abstract Two cases of papillary adenocarcinoma arising from urethral diverticula in women are presented. The resemblance of these tumors to others arising in various sites within the female genital tract suggests origin from an embryonal rest, possibly mesoneprhic or Gartner's ducts.
Moment-Rotation Behavior of Force-Based Plastic Hinge Elements

The moment-rotation behavior of force-based frame elements is expressed as a function of plastic hinge length and moment-curvature parameters for two types of plastic hinge integration under the re...
Prospective evaluation of an emergency medical services-administered alternative transport protocol

Background. The ability of emergency medical services (EMS) providers to offer an alternative means of nonemergent transport for patients with minor medical complaints is a rarely sanctioned concept in U.S. EMS systems. Objective. To prospectively determine if paramedics using transport guidelines can identify patients with minor medical problems who can be safely transported by a nonmedical alternative transport mechanism (taxi). Methods. Paramedics in the city of Norfolk, Virginia, who had more than one year of experience and who had completed the study orientation course were eligible to enroll subjects in the study. Predetermined alternative transport exclusion criteria as well as inclusion guidelines were provided to paramedics. After on-scene evaluation, paramedics identified subjects who met the enrollment criteria and were deemed safe for emergent ambulance transport. Enrolled subjects were provided a prepaid taxi voucher, which allowed for transport to the closest emergency department (ED). Patie...
Gravitational effects on chemically reacting laminar boundary layer flows over a horizontal flat plate

A theoretical study of the chemically reacting laminar boundary layer flow over a horizontal flat plate with gravitationally induced buoyant force is presented. A diffusion flame sheet model was used to describe the combustion process. The effects of gravity on the purely force convection flow can be characterized by a dimensionless coordinate quantity, which is involved in the generation of the governing equations. A numerical solution of the zero and first order governing equations subject to the appropriate physical boundary conditions was obtained. It is shown that the cross stream buoyancy induced body force acts effectively to produce a streamwise pressure gradient in the fluid adjacent to the plate surface. It is concluded that buoyancy plays an important role in boundary layer diffusion flames.
Two lower bounds on the covariance for nonlinear estimation problems

Two Convariance lower bounds for nonlinear state estimation problems are presented. These bounds are based upon the Cramer-Rao bound for treating nuisance parameters and they can be applied to filtering, smoothing, and prediction problems. The tightness of these bounds are examined using a nonlinear system where the recursive equation for covariance computation can be obtained. These results are also compared with the bound of Bobrovsky and Zakai.
Energy metabolism, intracellular Na+ and contractile function in isolated pig and rat hearts during cardioplegic ischemia and reperfusion: 23Na- and 31P-NMR studies.

The purpose of the study was to compare the role of Na ions in the damage caused by cardioplegic ischemia in fast (rat) and slow (pig) hearts. Changes in intracellular Na+ (Na+i), high energy phosphates, and contractile function were assessed during ischemia (36°C) and reperfusion in KCl-arrested perfused hearts using31P-NMR and shift reagent (DyTTHA3−)-aided23Na-NMR spectroscopy. In the pig hearts the rates of decrease of phosphocreatine (PCr), ATP and intracellular pH (pHi) were 3–4 times slower than the rates observed in the rat hearts. In the pig hearts PCr was observable (∼10%) during first 80 min of the ischemic period (90 min). Comparable decreases in ATP (32.0±6 vs. 38±15% of initial) and pHi, (to 6.14±0.06 vs. 6.10±0.15) observed after 90 and 20 min ischemia in pig and rat hearts, respectively, were associated with a smaller Na+i increase in the pig hearts (to 175±31%) than in the rat hearts (to 368±62%). This Na+ increase in the rat hearts preceded development of ischemic contracture (41±6 mmHg at 23.6±0.7 min) while no contracture was observed in pig hearts. Reperfusion of the rat hearts (at 30 min ischemia) was followed by partial recovery of PCr (44±3%) and Na+i (234±69%) and poorer recovery of the pressure-rate product (PRP, 9±4%) and end-diastolic pressure (EDP, 72±5 mm Hg) compared to the pig hearts (PCr, 106±25%; Na+i, 82±17%; PRP, 24±3%; EDP, 4.6±2.5 mmHg). The loss of function in the pig hearts was reversed by increasing Ca++ in the perfusate from 1 to 2.3 mM and resulted in a rise in both PRP and oxygen consumption rate, V(O2), from 24±3.3 to 64.5±5.8% and from 55±10 to 74±10% of the control levels, respectively. The PRP/ΔV(O2) ratio was halved in the post-ischemic pig hearts and returned to the pre-ischemic level following Ca++ stimulation. It is suggested that the higher stability of Na+ homeostasis to ischemic stress in the pig heart may result from: 1) a lower ratio of the rate of ATP hydrolysis to glycolytic ATP production; 2) differences in the kinetic properties of the Na+ transporters. Reduced Na+ accumulation during ischemia and reperfusion is benefical for metabolic and functional preservation of cardiomyocytes.
New Assay Procedure for Thyroxine Analogs

The large increase in rat liver and kidney α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity (GPD) which results from the administration of thyroxine (T4) has been developed into a simple assay procedure for thyromimetic substances. The dose-response curves obtained with T4 and other analogs were analyzed by 2 variations of the usual semilog plot as well as by a new hemisigmoid procedure. The results agreed well with previously reported calorigenic activities. Both weanling and adult rats produced endogenously the equivalent of about 1 μg T4/100 g body wt /day, but the adults were appreciably less sensitive to the hormone. The nature of the diet fed to rats during the assay period modified the response even when the T4 was administered subcutaneously; approximately 3 times as much T4 was required to produce a given response on a chow diet as on a purified diet. (Endocrinology 77: 802, 1965)
Crop-raiding elephants and conservation implications at Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia

Crop raiding by wild elephants is one of the most significant sources of park–people conflict in Sumatra, Indonesia. The distribution, impact and conservation implications of elephant crop-raiding in 13 villages that border Way Kambas National Park in southern Sumatra were studied for 18 months. The data are based on rapid village and field assessments, data logs maintained by village observers and a quantitative household survey. Elephants raided crops year-round at a mean rate of 0.53 elephants per day for the entire study area. The frequency of crop raiding was related to vegetation type along the park border, the size and presence of rivers, and the distance to the park's Elephant Training Center (ETC), which houses about 150 captive elephants. Wild elephants damaged at least 450,000 sq m of corn, rice, cassava, beans and other annual crops, and close to 900 coconut, banana and other perennial trees in the area surveyed. Elephants killed or injured 24 people over a 12-year period in villages near the park. Villagers try to reduce elephant damage by guarding fields, digging trenches between the park and their fields, and modifying their cropping patterns. Elephant–human conflict decreases the probability of support from local people for conservation efforts. We suggest methods to improve the effectiveness of existing elephant trenches, the need to consider electric fences, external support to affected villages, and compensation to villagers for any damage caused.
A Polynomial Subalgebra of the Cohomology of the Steenrod Algebra

Let A be the mod 2 Steenrod algebra and H**(A) = Exti*(Z2, Z2) its cohomology. The ultimate aim in studying H**(A) is the long-standing problem of computing the homotopy groups of spheres via the Adams spectral sequence £1]. H(A) has been computed up to certain values of t — s by Adams £4], Ivanovskii £6] (see also: International Congress of Mathematicians, Moscow 1966), Liulevicius £8], May £12, 13], Tangora £21]. It is of interest to know any "systematic" phenomena in H**(A). In this direction a polynomial "wedge" subalgebra of H**(A) has been obtained by Mahowald and Tangora £9]. Also: Margolis, Priddy and Tangora proved in [[10] that the Mahowald-Tangora "wedge" subalgebra is repeated every 45 stems, under the action of a specific "periodicity" operator. The present writer has described shortly in £24] a polynomial subalgebra of J3"**(^4) generated by J0, eQ, g. This subalgebra will be described here in more detail. The basic technique is to study H**(A) by studying H**(B) for a suitable subalgebra B of A. This technique is due to Adams £3]. It has also been used by Margolis, Priddy and Tangora £10]. Moreover G.W. Whitehead £22] shows that, using the Adams technique, one can obtain many polynomial subalgebras of H**(A). The present paper is organized as follows: In Section 2 we state the main theorem and sketch its proof. The detailed proof involves the Adams technique and the construction of the generators o?0, e0, g. These constructions use known relations between the classes h{ (see Adams £2], Novikov £19]); they also use Steenrod U rproducts in F(A*). In Section 3 we describe briefly these cup-i-products and in Section 4 we give the
Simulation of Chain-length Partitioning in a Microfabricated Channel via Entropic Trapping

A molecular simulation approach has been used to investigate the mechanism of entropic trapping for model linear DNA molecules as they go from a deep channel to a shallow channel driven by an electric field. In such a system, a molecule whose radius of gyration is larger than the gap of the shallow channel will tend to get temporarily trapped at its entrance. The free energy of the molecules as a function of chain position and the trapping times were obtained via Monte Carlo simulations. In weak to moderate electrical fields, the free energy barrier for escape ( F max increases with chain length approaching a plateau value; in a strong electrical field, ( F max exhibits a mild decreasing trend with chain length. At weak electric fields, shorter chains escape faster than longer chains because of their lower associated ( F max . At moderate and strong fields, longer chains escape faster than shorter ones because, in the absence of significant differences in ( F max , larger chains access a larger entrance a...
A discontinuous Galerkin method for the Wigner-Fokker-Planck equation with a non-polynomial approximation space

A discontinuous Galerkin approach to the Wigner-Fokker-Planck equation, a model for quantum devices including environmental effects, is proposed. Evaluation of a pseudo-differential term is the main challenge. The approach can be applied to a variety of potential functions and uses general approximation spaces. Simulations using the method are in agreement with established analytic results and produce reasonable solutions for several potentials. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The mass gap for theP(φ)2 quantum field model with a strong external field

We consider theP(φ)2 hamiltonian whose interaction density is given by $$\lambda P(\phi (x)) + \mu \phi (x)^k $$ wherek is odd and 1≦k<degP. For sufficiently large μ we show that there is a gap in the energy spectrum. In addition we obtain new regions of analyticity in λ and μ for the Schwinger functions and the pressure.
The Relationship Between Codependency and Borderline and Dependent Personality Traits

Abstract This study explored the relationship between the concept of codependency, a term originating in the field of addictions, and DSM-IV (APA, 1994) descriptions of dependent and borderline personality disorders. Seventy-five undergraduates (16 men and 59 women) were administered the Potter-Efron Codependency Scale (Potter-Efron & Potter-Efron, 1989), the borderline and the dependent scales of the MCMI-II (Millon, 1987), and the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS, Weissman, 1979). Pearson Product Moment correlations were computed and revealed a significant positive correlation between codependent and borderline traits and a significant but weaker correlation between codependent and dependent traits. Codependent and borderline personality traits were also similarly correlated on specific cognitive schema assessed by the DAS. These findings are one of only a few first empirical tests of the relationship between borderline personality disorder, dependent personality disorder and codependency, possibly ind...
Recognition of propionic acid vapor after removal of the olfactory bulb area associated with high 2-DG uptake

Rats were trained in an olfactometer to recognize the odor of propionic acid using a go, no-go operant discrimination tasks in which propionic acid vapor served as the negative stimulus and a series of novel odors served as positive stimuli. After training, rats readily responded to all novel odors but not to propionic acid. Removal of the olfactory bulb region previously identified with 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) as being responsive to propionic acid had no effect on recognition of propionic acid, ability to discriminate novel odors from propionic acid or odor mixtures containing propionic acid or to discriminate propionic acid from a very similar odor (acetic acid). These results demonstrate that the 2-DG-identified propionic acid focal area is not essential for detection, discrimination or recognition of the odor. The outcomes are in accord with and extend those of other behavioral studies that have failed to demonstrate a functional correlate for the regional increases in metabolic activity produced by exposure to specific odors.
Critical issues related to real-time fluorescence imaging of renal tissues using confocal microscopy.

To the Editor: The recent article by Horbelt et al. reported a very important methodological development in the area of real-time visualization of renal dynamics. The technique involving time-resolved two-photon microscopy in vivo is surely a step ahead of the more popular LSCM (laser scanning confocal microscopy) technique using in situ examination of different mechanisms in renal glomerular, vascular, and tubular tissues and cells. The authors have presented their findings in a very detailed way, making it easy for others to follow the procedure in an organized way. Our experience while establishing a technique involving real-time [Ca2þ ]i imaging of ‘intact’ renal glomeruli and arterioles using isolated glomeruli and whole-kidney slices in LSCM has been quite challenging. One thing that we came to know was that research in this area is a lot more demanding than many of the other airway and vascular smooth muscle tissues and cells, which we have been regularly using for [Ca2þ ]i imaging. We would like the readers, especially researchers new to this area of research, to have know-how about some of the problems they might experience in designing protocols for real-time imaging of Ca2þ signaling in intact renal glomeruli and resistance arterioles. Table 1 enumerates some key elements related to dissection of animals and experimental conditions, which can be selected after going through the relevant literature and optimized to get the best results. There are usually two thoughts related to acquisition of ‘intact’ renal tissues. Some groups perform microdissection to obtain the required vascular tissues or whole glomeruli from the kidneys with minimally disturbing their integrity, whereas others use chemical (dissociation enzymes) or physical means (sieving) for isolation. We have experienced that the microdissection method of minimal manipulations yields better results. The conclusions given here are a result of repeated trials and we hope that these would be helpful to the researchers new in this area.
An Investigation of Strain Concentration in High-Strength Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy 7085 Subjected to Tensile Deformation

The strain concentration factors were determined for aluminum alloy 7085 in the T7651 temper using multi-hole structural coupon specimens. Samples of the alloy were evaluated for both the 6.25 mm (0.25 in.) thick and 10 mm (0.4 in.) thick specimens having widths of 50 mm (2 in.) and 100 mm (4 in.), respectively. For the case of the specimens that were 50 mm in width, the mechanical tests were conducted for both the open-hole and filled-hole conditions and the corresponding strain concentration value was determined. For the filled-hole test specimens, threaded fasteners having collars were used. In order to provide for some interference, the fasteners had a shank diameter that was slightly larger than the nominal hole size. The strain concentration values were evaluated at both the failure strain (ef) and the strain at maximum load (emax). The average strain concentration value was then used to predict the results for the stack-up tests.
Understanding Brainstorming Through Text Visualization

Automated content analysis software tools have significantly aided in the study of design processes in the recent past. However, they suffer from the lack of domain knowledge and insight that a human expert can provide. In this paper, we adopt the use of text visualization techniques that help in gaining insights and identifying relevant patterns from the results obtained through a content analysis software. We motivate our approach with the observation that examining overall patterns in data aids us significantly in identifying interesting and relevant details concerning specific contexts in the data. We use the proposed approach to study the effect of adopting Laseau’s “design funnel” of alternating divergent and convergent design processes among student teams in a toy design course, and compare it to student teams that follow a free brainstorming process. We demonstrate the application of lexical dispersion plots and text concordances as a means to further examine the output of a conventional content analysis tool, and use these techniques to separate patterns from anomalies. We identify cases of concept consistency across teams using the dispersion plots, and identify cases of multiple word senses through text concordances. Finally, we present insights that were obtained through these visualizations and propose contexts for further studies of the data.Copyright © 2013 by ASME