cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive adhesion by a beetle: manipulation of liquid bridges and their breaking limits.

A drop brought into contact with a nearby substrate can wet and spread against the substrate, forming a liquid bridge that exerts a capillary force. This force due to surface tension can be used to “grab” the substrate, pulling it toward the drop. “Wet” adhesion results from the parallel action of an array of small liquid bridges. The Florida palm beetle, Hemisphaerota cyanea, uses wet adhesion to defend itself against attacking predators by adhering to the palm leaf using an array of about 120 000 μm-sized liquid bridges. The beetle's survival depends on the strength of adhesion which, in turn, depends on how liquid bridges break. Individual bridges break when they go unstable, according to their response curves. However, the ultimate strength of an individual bridge depends on the class of disturbances to which it is subjected, and it has been speculated that the beetle may have some control over this class. The authors experimentally study families of liquid bridge equilibria for their breaking limits when subjected to constant-length (L) and constant-force (F) disturbances. While to control constant-L disturbances is straightforward, to apply and control constant-F disturbances on a liquid bridge requires more ingenuity. The authors introduce an apparatus with a lever-arm and a ball-bearing slide. The authors then compare our experimentally measured bridge response curves to the force trace from experiments on the beetle (prior literature) to infer the mode of beetle detachment. Under normal loads, the beetle detaches as a constant-L instability for smaller loads and as a constant-F instability for larger loads. The beetle's ability to adjust the type and magnitude of loading in real time is not only crucial to its survival but has implications for the design of various engineering devices.
Dynamic maintenance scheduling for power systems incorporating hurricane effects

An effective preventive maintenance program plays a critical role in improving the reliability of electric power systems. In this paper, the impact of potential damage due to hurricane is incorporated in the power system maintenance scheduling problem. The proposed model considers component deterioration, as well as two competing and independent failure modes, i.e., failure due to loss of reliability and failure due to hurricane damages. Furthermore, the interrelationship between the component, the grid, and the associated downtime cost dynamics are incorporated in the problem. The downtime cost of the power system due to component outage is formulated using mixed-integer programming. The obtained downtime cost is used in a stochastic dynamic programming model to derive the optimal maintenance policy for the component.
Multiple Structures in Supramolecular Solids: Benzophenone Embedded in Three Different C-Methylcalix[4]resorcinarene/bipyridine Frameworks

Three different supramolecular frameworks based on C-methylcalix[4]resorcinarene (CMCR) and 4,4‘-bipyridine are described. All contain benzophenone molecules as guests and are prepared by almost identical hydrothermal procedures, indicating that variations during the cooling process, rather than templating, can lead to different phases. The benzophenone molecules show significantly different conformations, with energies calculated to be 10−17 kJ/mol higher than that of the isolated benzophenone molecule. CMCR exhibits chair, boat, and crown-like conformations in the three solid phases.
A potometric determination of the effects of X-irradiation on water, K and Ca flux in isolated roots

Abstract A micropotometric technique was used to determine the effects of X-irradiation on the rates of water, calcium and potassium efflux from excised onion roots (Allium cepa). Calcium and K flux were determined with the aid of an atomic-absorption spectrophotometer. Water efflux was decreased significantly immediately following air exposures of 75 and 100 kR; whereas 50 kR brought about an enhancement of water efflux. Concomitantly, 50 kR appeared to have produced an increase in K and Ca influx and efflux in excised roots. Interestingly, 75 and 100 kR brought about an increase in K efflux from the basal portion as well as an increased K loss into the bathing solution. On the other hand, the higher exposures brought about an increase in Ca efflux from the cut basal end only. There was no leakage of Ca into the bathing solution. The data indicate separate action of irradiation on water and cation flux in root systems.
Lead and child development

A group of independent epidemiological studies shows that fetal exposure to levels of lead previously considered safe is linked to impairment of infant mental development.
Idetic: A high-level synthesis approach for enabling long computations on transiently-powered ASICs

We develop Idetic, a set of mechanisms to enable long computations on ultra-low power Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) with energy harvesting sources. We address the power transiency and unpredictability problem by optimally inserting checkpoints. Idetic targets highlevel synthesis designs and automatically locates and embeds the checkpoints at the register-transfer level. We define an objective function that aims to find the checkpoints which incur minimum overhead and minimize recomputation energy cost. We develop and exploit a dynamic programming technique to solve the optimization problem. For real time operation, Idetic adaptively adjusts the checkpointing rate based on the available energy level in the system. Idetic is deployed and evaluated on cryptographic benchmark circuits. The test platform harvests RF power through an RFID-reader and stores the energy in a 3.3μF capacitor. For storage of checkpointed data, we evaluate and compare the effectiveness of various non-volatile memories including NAND Flash, PCM, and STTM. Extensive evaluations show that Idetic reliably enables execution of long computations under different source power patterns with low overhead. Our benchmark evaluations demonstrate that the area and energy overheads corresponding to the checkpoints are less than 5% and 11% respectively.
Object-Oriented Model for Freeway Work Zone Capacity and Queue Delay Estimation

Current computer models used to estimate queue delay upstream of the work zone have several shortcomings. They do not provide any model to estimate work zone capacity, which has a significant impact on the congestion and traffic queue delays. They cannot be used to perform scenario analysis for work zones with various characteristics such as work zone layout, number of closed lanes, work intensity, and work time. In this paper, an object-oriented (OO) model is presented for freeway work zone capacity and queue delay and length estimation. The model is implemented into an interactive software system, called IntelliZone, using Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) and a hierarchy of multiple specialized frameworks. A 3-layer application architecture is created to separate the application functions and classes from MFC classes. The high-level application domain layer is divided into packages. IntelliZone's capacity estimation engine is based on pattern recognition and neural network models incorporating many factors impacting the work zone capacity. This research provides the foundation for a new generation of advanced decision support systems for effective management of traffic at work zones.
σ Receptor ligand N,N'-di-(ortho-toIyl)guanidine inhibits release of acetylcholine in the guinea pig ileum

The inhibition of stimulated contractions of the guinea pig ileum longitudinal muscle/myenteric plexus preparation by sigma receptor ligands has been previously described. In this study, the stimulated release of [3H]acetylcholine from cholinergic nerve terminals in this same preparation was monitored in the presence and absence of sigma receptor ligands. N,N'-Di-(orthotolyl)guanidine (DTG) and other compounds selective for the sigma receptor inhibited stimulated [3H]acetylcholine release. These results suggest that their inhibition of stimulated contractions in this preparation was mediated by inhibition of acetylcholine release.
Effects of surface roughness and the chemical structure of materials of construction on wall slip behavior of linear low density polyethylene in capillary flow

The presence of wall slip during the flow of polymeric melts has significant ramifications on the melts' processability. In this study, the effects of materials of construction and surface roughness on the wall slip behavior of a linear low density polyethylene were investigated, using capillary flow. Capillaries, constructed from copper, stainless steel, aluminum, and glass, were used. The inner surface roughness of the capillaries were characterized by the employment of a profilometer and scanning electron microscopy. The roughness profiles of copper capillaries were also altered by the employment of chemical etching. Using Mooney's analysis, the wall slip velocity values were determined to be in the range of 0.09 to 1.34 mm/s. The wall slip velocity values were the highest for stainless steel and were negligible for aluminum. The relative work of adhesion values of polyethylene were the smallest for stainless steel and copper and the highest for glass. Overall, the wall slip velocity values increased with decreasing surface roughness of the capillaries and with decreasing work of adhesion. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Millipolar Theory for Twisted Cord‐Reinforced Composites

Abstract Based on the torque‐axial load coupling properties of twisted cord, a new unipolar composite theory is developed. Overall, the full complement of the so‐called micropolar stress/moment‐strain/rotation gradient coupling is accommodated. This includes the handling of the skew‐symmetric stress to relative matrix wind‐up interaction which is a central feature of continuous twisted cord‐reinforced composites. To establish various interaction effects, both analytical and finite element models of unit cell behavior are employed. Due to the mixed tensor‐vector properties of the constitutive formulation, a specially anisotropic polar formulation is developed. To illustrate the millimeter level importance of polarity, i.e., millipolarity, the results of several case study problems are also presented for cord‐reinforced elastomeric composites. These include both square and alternating (triangular) packing morphologies. To generalize the results, the investigations include a wide range of packing densities.
Diagnostic techniques of mixing effectiveness: the effect of shear and elongation in drop production in mixing tanks

Abstract Results on drop-size distributions produced in mixing tanks using Rushton turbine, anchor and blade impellers are presented. The goal is to assess the relative importance of shear and elongational flows on the drop breakup process. The ratio of the dispersed- to continuous-phase viscosity was varied from 0.08 to 11.9 by varying the viscosity of the dispersed phase. The interfacial tension was varied from 0.00327 to 0.0118 N/m. Correlations of drop diameter as a function of the Weber number, percentage of the organic (dispersed) phase and viscosity ratio of dispersed to continuous phase are presented for the Rushton turbine and blade impeller, and they are valid for Reynolds numbers from 750 to 2700. Shear and elongational flows have different efficiencies in breaking liquid drops: at viscosity ratio of one, shear and elongation contribute equally to breakup but, at a higher viscosity ratio, only elongational flow produces breakup. This allows us to quantify the relative strengths of shear and elongational flows in complex geometries by considering the largest surviving drops. Using drop breakup data, we found that the anchor impeller produced higher elongation rates than the Rushton turbine, and the blade impeller produced the same elongation rates as the Rushton turbine. The anchor impeller was found to produce the smaller sized drops per unit of specific power input; but the Rushton turbine produced the smallest drops when the three impellers are considered at the same rotational speed. Finally, the turbulence intensity factor for the anchor and the blade impellers was found to be 2.9 and 2.0 times that of the Rushton turbine, respectively.
Enzyme inducing antiepileptic drugs are associated with mitochondrial proliferation and increased cytochrome c oxidase activity in muscle of children with epilepsy.

Summary Purpose To evaluate the effects of epilepsy-related factors associated with mitochondrial pathology and function in skeletal muscle of children with suspected mitochondrial disorders. Methods This case–control study evaluated patients and age-matched controls with muscle biopsies at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center obtained between January, 2000 and December, 2008. Results A total of 65 epilepsy patients and 65 age-matched controls met the inclusion criteria. No significant clinical, pathological, or biochemical differences were found between the epilepsy and control groups. Treatment resistance was associated with decreased electron transport chain (ETC) complex II + III activity compared to treatment-responsive patients. Only patients receiving enzyme inducer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) had ETC complex activities equivalent to or greater than other study groups. Robust regression modeling found a significant effect between percentage of myofibers with subsarcolemmal mitochondrial aggregates (SSMA) and ETC complex IV activity for the enzyme inducer AED group. Least squares regression showed that only complex IV/citrate synthase ratio was strongly correlated with SSMA percentage for the enzyme inducer AED group. As far as we can determine this is the first study to show an association between enzyme inducer AED treatment and enhanced ETC complex IV activity. Conclusions In skeletal muscle mitochondrial density, assessed by SSMA percentage, and ETC complex IV activity are positively correlated in patients receiving enzyme inducer AED treatment.
Changes in low-temperature specific heats of Cu-Pd alloys resulting from changes in short-range order

Abstract Studies of the effects of short-range order on low temperature specific heats show that γ values of quenched Cu-Pd alloys decrease on aging.
The Reciprocal Development Model for Field Schools

A successful applied anthropology research training program depends on establishing and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships between the three major participants: the university (including students, faculty, and administration); the client (usually an agency in charge of the project proposal and funding); and the host community (local people who would be affected by a development project). The crucial importance of such mutually beneficial relationships for the organization, operation, and evaluation of applied training programs can be seen in the two types of applied anthropology field schools offered for undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside over the period of a decade.
Receptor-bound Somatostatin and Epidermal Growth Factor Are Processed Differently in GH4C1 Rat Pituitary Cells

GH4C1 cells, a clonal strain of rat pituitary tumor cells, have high-affinity, functional receptors for the inhibitory hypothalamic peptide somatostatin (SRIF) and for epidermal growth factor (EGF). In this study we have examined the events that follow the initial binding of SRIF to its specific plasma membrane receptors in GH4C1 cells and have compared the processing of receptor-bound SRIF with that of EGF. When cells were incubated with [125I-Tyr1]SRIF at temperatures ranging from 4 to 37 degrees C, greater than 80% of the specifically bound peptide was removed by extraction with 0.2 M acetic acid, 0.5 M NaCl, pH 2.5. In contrast, the subcellular distribution of receptor-bound 125I-EGF was temperature dependent. Whereas greater than 95% of specifically bound 125I-EGF was removed by acid treatment after a 4 degrees C binding incubation, less than 10% was removed when the binding reaction was performed at 22 or 37 degrees C. In pulse-chase experiments, receptor-bound 125I-EGF was transferred from an acid-sensitive to an acid-resistant compartment with a half-time of 2 min at 37 degrees C. In contrast, the small amount of [125I-Tyr1]SRIF that was resistant to acid treatment did not increase during a 2-h chase incubation at 37 degrees C. Chromatographic analysis of the radioactivity released from cells during dissociation incubations at 37 degrees C showed that greater than 90% of prebound 125I-EGF was released as 125I-tyrosine, whereas prebound [125I-Tyr1]SRIF was released as a mixture of intact peptide (55%) and 125I-tyrosine (45%). Neither chloroquine (0.1 mM), ammonium chloride (20 mM), nor leupeptin (0.1 mg/ml) increased the amount of [125I-Tyr1]SRIF bound to cells at 37 degrees C. Furthermore, chloroquine and leupeptin did not alter the rate of dissociation or degradation of prebound [125I-Tyr1]SRIF. In contrast, these inhibitors increased the amount of cell-associated 125I-EGF during 37 degrees C binding incubations and decreased the subsequent rate of release of 125I-tyrosine. The results presented indicate that, as in other cell types, EGF underwent rapid receptor-mediated endocytosis in GH4C1 cells and was subsequently degraded in lysosomes. In contrast, SRIF remained at the cell surface for several hours although it elicits its biological effects within minutes. Furthermore, a constant fraction of the receptor-bound [125I-Tyr1]SRIF was degraded at the cell surface before dissociation. Therefore, after initial binding of [125I-Tyr1]SRIF and 125I-EGF to their specific membrane receptors, these peptides are processed very differently in GH4C1 cells.
Lithium corrosion/mass transfer test facility

Liquid lithium is a leading candidate as a tritium-breeding material for fusion reactors because of its good breeding and heat-transfer characteristics. The self-cooled blanket concept is particularly attractive because of the inherent simplicity associated with the use of lithium as both breeder and coolant. In addition to liquid metal magnetohydrodynamic issues (LMMHD), two major compatibility concerns arising from the use of lithium are corrosion/mass transfer and degradation of mechanical properties of the containment material. This paper describes a new experimental facility for investigating the corrosion/mass transfer/deposition mechanisms at characteristic velocities and system temperatures. This test facility, which is constructed of ferritic/martensitic steel (Fe-9Cr-1Mo), simulates conditions projected for a liquid metal heat transport system. The test facility will provide test velocities to 0.5 m/s, and temperatures to 550 °C, and system ΔTs up to 150 °C. The corrosion test region simulates the blanket region with a low inlet temperature and a higher (ΔT ~ 150 °C) outlet temperature. Test specimens in the deposition region provide a measure of the deposition processes that will occur in a heat exchanger as the liquid metal is cooled (ΔT ~ 150 °C). In addition to temperature and flow control, the facility provides for control and monitoring of impurities in the liquid.
Polyribosomes from maize leaves. Isolation at high pH and amino acid incorporation.

Abstract 1. Ribosomes high in polymeric species (80 % to 85 %) and reflecting more closely the situation in vivo were obtained from green Zea mays shoots relatively high in ribonuclease using high pH (8.5) isolation media. With more mature tissue, bentonite had to be added to the homogenizing buffer to preserve the larger polysomes. The polysomes were relatively stable when incubated at 30 °C. 2. Polysomes isolated at pH 8.5, although higher in polymers, were unexpectedly no better than those isolated at pH 7.5 in in vitro amino acid incorporation. Supernatant factors obtained at pH 8.5 were more active than those obtained at pH 7.5, suggesting that the high pH dissociated some essential factors of protein synthesis from the polysomes. Nevertheless, high pH media appear to be effective for obtaining functional polysomes with minimal degradation from ribonuclease-rich tissue.
A comparison of simple and complex population models to reduce uncertainty in ecological risk assessments of chemicals: example with three species of Daphnia

Ecological risk assessments (ERA) are mostly based on effects on survival (S) and fertility (F) of individuals. However, the protection goals are most often defined on the population or community levels. It has been argued that population models can be a useful link between the individual and the population in ERA. However, for population models to be efficiently and routinely used in ERA, the level of model complexity that is needed has to be clearly determined. In the present study, complex age classified matrix population models and simple 2-stage models were developed for three species of Daphnia. The population growth rate (λ) from the simple 2-stage model correlated strongly to the results of the complex matrix model, which included density dependence and temporary reductions in S and F. This shows that the information that can be provided by more complex models also can be relatively well predicted with the simpler model. The output of the complex matrix population models were also compared to the reductions in S that were used in the models. This was done because acute mortality is the most commonly used estimate of toxic effects. The results showed that λ from the 2-stage model correlated stronger to the endpoints of the matrix model than S did in all cases except for pulsed exposures, where S and λ correlated equally well.
Comparison of the ID3 algorithm versus discriminant analysis for performing feature selection

Having obtained disappointing results in a small medical data set despite the fact that our data seemed to be well suited for induction via ID3, we decided to compare the performance of ID3 to discriminant analysis. Performance was gauged by the percentage of correct classification in a second, independent data set. Examples were obtained from a cardiology project on the accuracy of auscultation. There were 107 examples in the first data set and 67 cases in the second. We found that ID3 and discriminant analysis performed equally poorly, with ID3 classifying only 60% of the second set correctly and discriminant analysis classifying 66% of the second set correctly. Also, the ID3 probability statistic for estimating the accuracy of ID3 for classifying further cases was markedly optimistic compared to our actual second data set results. Moreover, with an increase in sample size, ID3 seemed to break down, producing a large, complex decision tree of dubious generality, whereas discriminant analysis, with a larger sample size, used more independent variables but maintained its first set accuracy. These data suggest that there is a need for more sophisticated algorithms than ID3, even at the risk of giving up some computational efficiency.
FAMILY DYNAMICS AND MEDICATION COMPLIANCE IN TEENAGED EPILEPTICS

Optimal seizure control for a teenager epileptic requires compliance with the prescribed regimen. We tested the hypothesis that poor medication compliance is associated with parental restrictiveness and family disharmony, since both thwart the attainment of the teens' developmental goals of independence and acceptance in the family. Twenty-five epileptic young people (ages 9-17 yrs. being treated with phenobarbital were observed for one year). Teens' perceptions of their Personal Freedom (TPF) in daily activities and Teens' views of harmony in their Family Relations (TFR) were measured using scales from the California Test of Personality. Similar scales assessed Parents' views of the teens' Personal Freedom (PPF) and Parents' views of Family Relations (PFR). Saliva Compliance Scores (SCS) were calculated from phenobarbital levels in saliva samples obtained monthly (by mail from the subjects' homes and at clinic and home visits). SCS was correlated with TPF (r=0.38,p=0.06), PPF (r=0.52, p=0.007), TFR (r=0.39, p=0.04), and PFR (r=0.40,p=0.04). The SCS was more highly correlated with TPF after partialling out the effects of age (r=0.41,p=0.04), and sex (r=0.42,p=0.03). These family issues have potential causal relationships to medication compliance in epileptic youth. Clinicians should monitor and address family-adolescent interaction in order to assure the desired outcome in the treatment of adolescents with epilepsy.
Common ground: Measuring intrainstitutional mortality among pediatric surgical procedures

Background For adult populations, hospitals that have low mortality rates for one surgical discipline tend to have low mortality rates for other surgical disciplines. We sought to determine to what degree mortality rates for high-risk pediatric surgical procedures were correlated within institutions. Methods High-risk operations performed on patients ≤10 years of age were identified in the 2003/2006 Kids' Inpatient Databases and grouped into cardiac surgical, neurosurgical, and general surgical categories. We calculated the hospital-level risk-adjusted mortality rates of each category (“categorical mortality”) and of the other 2 categories combined (“other mortality”); then we calculated the correlation between these groups. Hospitals also were placed into quintiles based on excess other mortality and grouped categorical mortality were estimated. Results Categorical mortality was correlated with other mortality (R = 0.22–0.26) for all 3 categories. Other mortality was a good predictor of categorical mortality, with categorical mortality rates at hospitals in the bottom quintile of other mortality, on average 1.58 times greater than those in the top quintile (P Conclusion Hospitals with low mortality rates for 1 high-risk pediatric surgical specialty tended to have low rates for other specialties. This observation suggests that diverse surgical fields share institutional resources and processes that affect their mutual performance. Implementation of these common pillars may lead to broader improvements in quality than efforts focused on individual disciplines.
Placental vasa previa.

In April, 2010, a 25-year-old woman at 33 weeks’ gestation in her fi rst pregnancy presented to us for examination of a previously identifi ed velamentous umbilical cord insertion into the placenta. Ultrasonography showed a fundal placenta, and the cord insertion site was not visible inserting into the placental surface. Transvaginal ultrasonography was performed because of our patient’s reports of vaginal spotting. Doppler ultrasonography showed fetal blood vessels coursing over the internal cervical os, consistent with a diagnosis of vasa previa (fi gure A). Uterine tocometry demonstrated frequent contractions. After administration of betamethasone for enhancement of fetal lung maturity, a caesarean section was done because of the risk of impingement or laceration of the vulnerable cord vasculature. She delivered a vigorous male neonate weighing 2115 g. Examination of the placenta was consistent with our diagnosis of a velamentous cord insertion site, with fetal blood vessels present over the cervix indicating vasa previa (fi gure B). At last follow-up in June, 2010, our patient and her infant were doing well.
The Influence of Dairymen's Knowledge on Their Success and Actions

Summary The results of a knowledge test, which quizzed 151 central Pennsylvania dairymen over selected dairy management practices, suggest that a high proportion of our dairymen lack much of the basic knowledge required for proper decision making. Scores on the test ranged from 96 down to 10 with an average score of 66 and a Standard deviation of 18. The gap between the present state of knowledge of many dairymen and that required to actually adopt improved practices is apparently greater than frequently appreciated. The importance of overcoming knowledge deficiencies is suggested by the fact that the 44 operators who made high scores on the knowledge test had herds averaging nearly 1,000 lb. higher production per cow, with $40 higher returns above feed costs per cow, and were operating farms earning labor incomes averaging $2,000 over those farms operated by the 45 operators who made lower scores on the same knowledge test. Knowledge is particularly important for dairymen operating with high capital investment. The associated response in labor incomes to improved knowledge was four times as great on farms operating with a high capital investment as on farms operating with a low capital investment. Likewise, the operators making the higher scores possessed many other characteristics or traits usually considered desirable, had adopted more of the recommended dairy management practices, were anticipating future increases in milk production, and were seriously concerned about taking measures to further improve their dairy operations.
Clockspeed and Informational Response: Evidence From the Information Technology Industry

This paper presents evidence on ways in which firms in the IT industry respond to increased business dynamics. We show that the use of internal and external communication technologies and the adoption of informational "focus" strategies increase with the "clockspeed," or dynamics, of the business environment. Our results support the information processing view of the firm.
Selecting a loudspeaker

Discusses the special features of loudspeakers and presents a detailed explanation of its technology and communications capabilties.
Population-based perspective of long-term outcomes after surgical repair of partial atrioventricular septal defect.

Background This investigation was designed to determine long-term survival, reoperation rates, and functional status after surgical repair of partial atrioventricular septal defect (PAVSD). Methods This population-based cohort study with cumulative, prospective follow-up by questionnaire and medical record review included all patients aged younger than 19 years old in the state of Oregon who underwent surgical repair of a PAVSD from 1958 to 2000. The incidence of early death, late death, and reoperation for left atrioventricular valve pathology were determined. Patient-reported health status as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 12 (SF-12) was obtained for patients without Down syndrome when they were aged older than 15 years. Results Repair of PAVSD was done in 133 patients. Median follow-up was 8.7 years for a total of 1541 person-years. Mean age at the initial operation was 5.2 ± 5.1 years (median, 3.4 years). Mean weight was 19.2 ± 16.0 kg (median, 13.2 kg). Survival was 95% at 30 days, 87% at 10 years, and 78% at 30 years. Reoperation for left atrioventricular valve pathology was done 15 patients (11.3%). Lower weight, absence of Down syndrome, and lack of mitral valve cleft repair were significantly associated with undergoing reoperation. Patient-reported health status was obtained in 35 patients. For this group, the mean SF-12 summary scores for the physical component (52.8 ± 9.0) and the mean mental component (50.3 ± 11.0) were not significantly different from age-adjusted norms. Conclusions The survival rate for this simple cardiac defect is lower than the general population. In addition, the reoperation rate is significant. Despite this, in general, patients without Down syndrome can expect normal functional health status.
Statistics of the sparse spectrum turbulent phase

A recently published sparse spectrum (SS) model of the phase front perturbations by atmospheric turbulence [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A30, 479 (2013)] is based on the trigonometric series with discrete random support. The SS model enables fewer computational efforts, while preserving the wide range of scales typically associated with turbulence perturbations. We present an improved version of the SS model that accurately reproduces the power-law spectral density of the phase fluctuations in the arbitrary wide spectral band. We examine the higher-order statistics of the SS phase samples for four versions of the SS model. We also present the calculations of the long-exposure Strehl numbers and scintillation index for the different versions of the SS model. A nonoverlapping SS model with a log-uniform partition emerges as the most appropriate for the atmospheric turbulence representation.
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS COMES OF AGE: 320 BILLION ATOM SIMULATION ON BlueGene/L

As computational power is increasing, molecular dynamics simulations are becoming more important in materials science, chemistry, physics, and other fields of science. We demonstrate weak and strong scaling of our classical molecular dynamics code SPaSM on Livermore's BlueGene/L architecture containing 131 072 IBM PowerPC440 processors. A maximum of 320 billion atoms have been simulated in double precision, corresponding to a cubic piece of solid copper with an edge length of 1.56 μm.
An advanced high voltage CMOS process for custom logic circuits with embedded EEPROM

An advanced high-voltage CMOS process has been developed for custom products with on-chip electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The minimum feature size is 1.2 mu m. Process adjustments to achieve >18-V high-voltage operation are explained in detail. Performance of short-channel transistors with L/sub eff/ >
Challenges for interdiction of nuclear threats at borders

Countries around the world are deploying radiation detection instrumentation to interdict the illegal shipment of radioactive material crossing international borders at land, rail, air, and sea ports-of-entry. These efforts include deployments in the U.S. by the Department of Homeland Security and in a number of European and Asian countries by governments and international agencies, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency. Items of concern to be interdicted include radiation dispersal devices, special nuclear material, and nuclear warheads. Radiation portal monitors are used as the main screening tool for vehicles and cargo at borders, supplemented by handheld detectors, personal radiation detectors, and x-ray imaging systems. This paper focuses on the challenges of background radiation, radionuclide identification, and interference sources to interdiction.
Evolution in heterogeneous environments: Effects of migration on habitat specialization

Richard Levins introduced fitness sets as a tool for investigating evolution within heterogeneous environments. Evolutionary game theory permits a synthesis and generalization of this approach by considering the evolutionary response of organisms to any scale of habitat heterogeneity. As scales of heterogeneity increase from fine to coarse, the evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) switches from a single generalist species to several species that become increasingly specialized on distinct habitats. Depending upon the organisms' ecology, the switch from one to two species may occur at high migration rates (relatively fine-grained environment), or may only occur at very low migration rates (coarse-grained environment). At the ESS, the evolutionary context of a species is the entire landscape, while its ecological context may be a single habitat.
Mineralogical composition of sands in Meridiani Planum determined from Mars Exploration Rover data and comparison to orbital measurements

Constraints on the mineralogical composition of low-albedo, low-sulfur sands at Meridiani Planum are determined from Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES), Mossbauer, and Alpha Proton X-Ray Spectrometer measurements. Results of this work show that the sand is olivine basaltic in composition, with minor amounts of sulfate and a high-silica phase (glass or secondary amorphous silica). Measurements from all three instruments indicate that pyroxene is twice as abundant as olivine, and that the pyroxene composition is dominated by the low-calcium variety. The volume abundance of olivine is constrained to be 10-15%. Results from detailed analyses of MER data are used to ground truth the spectral emissivity and mineral abundances derived from orbit with Mars Global Surveyor TES data. TES-derived mineral abundances are within 5% of those derived from MER data, which is generally within the statistical errors associated with TES-derived phase abundances. The agreement lends support to global- and regional-scale variations in mineralogical composition determined from TES data in previous studies. An alternative method of least squares minimization is used for modeling the TES and Mini-TES data; the benefits of this method are demonstrated by comparison with conventional least squares techniques previously used by TES data users.
Rab11-family interacting protein 2 and myosin Vb are required for CXCR2 recycling and receptor-mediated chemotaxis.

Agonist-stimulated internalization followed by recycling to the cell membrane play an important role in fine-tuning the activity of chemokine receptors. Because the recycling of chemokine receptors...
Regional vegetation die-off in response to global-change-type drought

Future drought is projected to occur under warmer temperature conditions as climate change progresses, referred to here as global-change-type drought, yet quantitative assessments of the triggers and potential extent of drought-induced vegetation die-off remain pivotal uncertainties in assessing climate-change impacts. Of particular concern is regional-scale mortality of overstory trees, which rapidly alters ecosystem type, associated ecosystem properties, and land surface conditions for decades. Here, we quantify regional-scale vegetation die-off across southwestern North American woodlands in 2002-2003 in response to drought and associated bark beetle infestations. At an intensively studied site within the region, we quantified that after 15 months of depleted soil water content, >90% of the dominant, overstory tree species (Pinus edulis, a pinon) died. The die-off was reflected in changes in a remotely sensed index of vegetation greenness (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), not only at the intensively studied site but also across the region, extending over 12,000 km2 or more; aerial and field surveys confirmed the general extent of the die-off. Notably, the recent drought was warmer than the previous subcontinental drought of the 1950s. The limited, available observations suggest that die-off from the recent drought was more extensive than that from the previous drought, extending into wetter sites within the tree species' distribution. Our results quantify a trigger leading to rapid, drought-induced die-off of overstory woody plants at subcontinental scale and highlight the potential for such die-off to be more severe and extensive for future global-change-type drought under warmer conditions.
Guidance, tracking and radar resource management for self defense

In command-all-the-way (CAW) guidance, an interceptor missile receives all acceleration commands from guidance laws in the weapons system at the launch platform, where a radar is used to track both the missile and the target. Since the missile uses no terminal homing in CAW, highly accurate state estimates for both the interceptor missile and the target are needed for the guidance algorithms to provide acceleration commands to the interceptor missile that are sufficiently accurate to ensure intercept of the target. An interacting multiple model (IMM) algorithm is considered for tracking highly maneuvering targets for support of CAW intercepts. In addition to improved filtering, a guidance scheme that assumes the launch platform is the goal of the target and a method that manages radar resources in the end game are developed. These methods were incorporated into a simulation of an intercept of an airborne target by a surface-to-air-missile (SAM). The simulation was executed for various intercept ranges and the results are summarized.
Biological effects of low-level low-frequency electric and magnetic fields

The extent of penetration into tissue of extremely low frequency (ELF) and very low frequency (VLF) electric and magnetic fields is discussed. Experimental results on the biological effects of such fields of low amplitude are reviewed. The author concludes that while numerous effects have been reported, it is not possible at the present time to decide whether they constitute a health hazard. Information is insufficient for establishing firm exposure guidelines. Nevertheless, prudence would suggest, particularly on the basis of epidemiological evidence, that long-period human exposure above relatively low-field intensity levels should be avoided. >
Dynamic Changes in Lymphocyte GRK2 Levels in Cardiac Transplant Patients: A Biomarker for Left Ventricular Function

G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), which is upregulated in the failing human myocardium, appears to have a role in heart failure (HF) pathogenesis. In peripheral lymphocytes, GRK2 expression has been shown to reflect myocardial levels. This study represents an attempt to define the role for GRK2 as a potential biomarker of left ventricular function in HF patients. We obtained blood from 24 HF patients before and after heart transplantation and followed them for up to 1 year, also recording hemodynamic data and histological results from endomyocardial biopsies. We determined blood GRK2 protein by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. GRK2 levels were obtained before transplant and at first posttransplant biopsy. GRK2 levels significantly declined after transplant and remained low over the course of the study period. After transplantation, we found that blood GRK2 significantly dropped and remained low consistent with improved cardiac function in the transplanted heart. Blood GRK2 has potential as a biomarker for myocardial function in end-stage HF.
Optimal Subassembly Partitioning of Space Frame Structures for In-Process Dimensional Adjustability and Stiffness

A method for optimally synthesizing multicomponent structural assemblies of an aluminum space frame (ASF) vehicle body is presented, which simultaneously considers structural stiffness, manufacturing and assembly costs and dimensional integrity under a unified framework based on joint libraries. The optimization problem is posed as a simultaneous determination of the location and feasible types of joints in a structure selected from the predefined joint libraries, combined with the size optimization for the cross sections of the joined structural frames. The structural stiffness is evaluated by finite element analyses of a beam-spring model modeling the joints and joined frames. Manufacturing and assembly costs are estimated based on the geometries of the components and joints. Dissimilar to the enumerative approach in our previous work, dimensional integrity of a candidate assembly is evaluated as the adjustability of the given critical dimensions, using an internal optimization routine that finds the optimal subassembly partitioning of an assembly for in-process adjustability. The optimization problem is solved by a multiobjective genetic algorithm. An example on an ASF of the midsize passenger vehicle is presented, where the representative designs in the Pareto set are examined with respect to the three design objectives.
Beyond homogeneous decomposition: scaling long-range forces on Massively Parallel Systems

With supercomputers anticipated to expand from thousands to millions of cores, one of the challenges facing scientists is how to effectively utilize this ever-increasing number. We report here an approach that creates a heterogeneous decomposition by partitioning effort according to the scaling properties of the component algorithms. We demonstrate our strategy by developing a capability to model hot dense plasma. We have performed benchmark calculations ranging from millions to billions of charged particles, including a 2.8 billion particle simulation that achieved 259.9 TFlop/s (26% of peak performance) on the 294,912 cpu JUGENE computer at the Julich Supercomputing Centre in Germany. With this unprecedented simulation capability we have begun an investigation of plasma fusion physics under conditions where both theory and experiment are lacking--in the strongly-coupled regime as the plasma begins to burn.Our strategy is applicable to other problems involving long-range forces (i.e., biological or astrophysical simulations). We believe that the flexible heterogeneous decomposition approach demonstrated here will allow many problems to scale across current and next-generation machines.
Adaptation under probabilistic error for estimating linear functionals

The problem of estimating linear functionals based on Gaussian observations is considered. Probabilistic error is used as a measure of accuracy and attention is focused on the construction of adaptive estimators which are simultaneously near optimal under probabilistic error over a collection of convex parameter spaces. In contrast to mean squared error it is shown that fully rate optimal adaptive estimators can be constructed for probabilistic error. A general construction of such estimators is provided and examples are given to illustrate the general theory.
Cuba después de la Guerra Fría : ¿cuál debería ser la política de los Estados Unidos?

En los ultimos cuatro anos ha cambiado espectacularmente el lugar que Cuba ocupa en el mundo. Con el derrumbe de la Union Sovietica y la mayoria de los estados comunistas, actualmente es un fenomeno aislado y no representa una amenaza para nadie. Su ejercito salio por completo de Africa; ya no apoya movimientos revolucionarios en ningun lugar del mundo; sus vinculos militares con Rusia estan disminuyendo y en todo caso no constituyen ya una amenaza para los Estados Unidos.
The Establishment of Standards in Photo-optical Instrumentation

Standards provide bases for comparison of performance of measuring devices used in any field of instrumentation. To establish tolerances, the performance of many instruments must be measured and analyzed. A method of analysis employed in setting performance requirements covering distortion and resolution of lenses used in photo-grammetric cameras is described.
Weight status, parent reaction, and self-concept in five-year-old girls.

Objective This study examined the relationship between weight status and self-concept in a sample of preschool-aged girls and whether parental concern about child overweight or restriction of access to food are associated with negative self-evaluations among girls.
Pitch-catch Active Sensing Methods in Structural Health Monitoring for Aircraft Structures

This study presents active sensing methods in structural health monitoring, for detecting cracks and debonds in metallic and composite structures, which can be potentially implemented into airframe structures. First, a pitch-catch method using a pair of piezoelectric actuator and sensor is introduced to generate a damage indeX which can be used to characterize damage at a known location. Tests on airbus fuselage panels are conducted to verify the method and damage indeX. The damage indeX relates changes in the energy content of a specific Lamb wave mode selected by group velocity analysis to the eXtent of damage. Second, an imaging method based on multiple pitch-catch information, a network of piezoelectric actuator/sensors, is presented for characterizing damage (location and size) without need for a structural or damage model. The imaging method with an autofocusing feature is applied to aluminum plates and a stiffened composite panel for method verification.
Evaluation of anthralin for mycosis fungoides

The form of anthralin used in this study was AnthraDerm ointment (Dermik Laboratories, Inc., Blue Bell, Pa.). The ointment base consistsof mineral oil and white petrolatum. Patients with histopathologically confirmed MF were instructed to apply the ointment to the lesions dailyat bedtime without occlusionand to washit off in the morning. After preliminary testing for tolerance, all patients weretreated with the 0.25% to 1.0% ointments,most with 0.5%to 1.0%. Treatment was continued until the development of erythema, which was almost alwaysaccompanied by dark staining, and then stopped. With the 0.5% to 1.0%strengths this usually developed in 1 to 2 weeks, and with 0.25% in 1 to 4 weeks. The erythema usually subsidedwithin 2 weeks,at which time responding lesions were clear. Treatment was usually applied to one or severallesions, occasionallyto a regional area, but never to more than 10% of the body surface at anyone time.