cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The risk of volvulus in abdominal wall defects.

Abstract Background Congenital abdominal wall defects are associated with abnormal intestinal rotation and fixation. A Ladd's procedure is not routinely performed in these patients; it is believed intestinal fixation is provided by adhesions that develop post-repair of the defects. However, patients with omphalocele may not have adequately protective postoperative adhesions because of difference in the inflammatory state of the bowel wall and in repair strategy. The aim of this study is to describe the occurrence of midgut volvulus in patients with gastroschisis or omphalocele. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients managed in a single institution born between 1/1/2000 and 12/31/2008 with a diagnosis of gastroschisis or omphalocele. Patient charts were reviewed through 12/31/2012 for occurrence of midgut volvulus or need for second laparotomy. Results Of the 206 patients identified with abdominal wall defects, 142 patients (69%) had gastroschisis and 64 patients (31%) had omphalocele. Patients' follow up ranged from 4years to 13years. The median gestational age was 36weeks (26–41weeks) and the median birth weight was 2.42kg (0.8–4.87kg). None of the patients with gastroschisis developed midgut volvulus, however two patients (3%) with omphalocele developed midgut volvulus. Conclusions No patients with gastroschisis developed midgut volvulus. Therefore, the current practice of not routinely performing a Ladd's procedure is a safe approach during surgical repair of gastroschisis. The two cases of volvulus in patients with omphalocele may be related to less bowel fixation. It is necessary to examine current practice in regards to the need for assessing the risk of volvulus during omphalocele closure and counseling of these patients. This assessment may be achieved via routine examination of the width of the small bowel mesenteric base, whenever feasible; however, the sample size is relatively small to draw any definitive conclusions.
Angiogenic protein therapy.

Therapeutic angiogenesis, in the form of growth factor protein administration or gene therapy, has emerged as a new method of treatment for patients with severe, inoperable coronary artery disease. Improved myocardial perfusion and function after the administration of angiogenic growth factors has been demonstrated in animal models of chronic myocardial ischemia. A recent clinical study reported beneficial long-term effects of therapeutic angiogenesis using FGF-2 protein in terms of freedom from angina and myocardial perfusion on nuclear imaging and suggested that protein angiogenic therapy has the potential to extend treatment options to patients who are not optimal candidates for conventional methods of myocardial revascularization. The ultimate role that angiogenesis will play in the treatment of ischemic heart disease will, however, be determined from adequately powered, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. It is likely that endogenous antiangiogenic influences, intrinsic lack of response of patients with severe endothelial dysfunction, and other limitations will have to be overcome before angiogenesis becomes standard therapy for the treatment of coronary artery disease. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Preoperative assessment of pulmonary vascular resistance – mainstay of evaluation?

Pulmonary hypertension or elevated pulmonary vascular resistance is of prognostic relevance in congestive heart failure and heart transplantation. Pharmacological testing of reversibility is essential in potential transplantation candidates. A reactive, functional and not morphologically fixed pulmonary vasoconstriction is almost always found. Reasons for a very high individual variability in additional reactive pulmonary vasoconstriction in response to a comparable passive pulmonary venous congestion remain unclear. A variable imbalance in vasoconstricting versus vasodilating mediators is suspected. Effective pharmacological reduction of pulmonary vascular resistance can be achieved in heart transplant candidates. Intravenous prostaglandins or inhaled NO are most potent and should be regarded as drugs of choice for testing of reversibility of increased pulmonary vascular resistance. Finally, the proof of reversibility translates into a reduction of postoperative mortality.
New Directions for Inquiry and Practice

With an eye to the other contributions in this volume, the authors provide some recommendations for research and practice.
SUPER PERSISTENT CHAOTIC TRANSIENTS IN PHYSICAL SYSTEMS: EFFECT OF NOISE ON PHASE SYNCHRONIZATION OF COUPLED CHAOTIC OSCILLATORS

A super persistent chaotic transient is typically induced by an unstable–unstable pair bifurcation in which two unstable periodic orbits of the same period coalesce and disappear as a system parameter is changed through a critical value. So far examples illustrating this type of transient chaos utilize discrete-time maps. We present a class of continuous-time dynamical systems that exhibit super persistent chaotic transients in parameter regimes of positive measure. In particular, we examine the effect of noise on phase synchronization of coupled chaotic oscillators. It is found that additive white noise can induce phase slips in integer multiples of 2π's in parameter regimes where phase synchronization is expected in the absence of noise. The average time durations of the temporal phase synchronization are in fact characteristic of those of super persistent chaotic transients. We provide heuristic arguments for the scaling law of the average transient lifetime and verify it using numerical examples from both the system of coupled Chua's circuits and that of coupled Rossler oscillators. Our work suggests a way to observe super persistent chaotic transients in physically realizable systems.
Molecular Dynamics Computations of Flow in Constricted and Wavy Nano Channels

This paper explores flow in complex nano-sized channels by use of molecular dynamics. Due to the small nature of these channels and to better capture wall effects, non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were performed. Straight, constricted and sawtooth channels were studied. The function used for modeling the particle interactions is the Lennard-Jones 6–12 potential. Stochastic boundary conditions are used in conjunction with periodic boundary conditions in a 3D domain. Computational enhancements including cell subdivision and neighbor listing provide increased efficiency. The channels were homogeneous in the depth dimension and the results were averaged in the depth direction in order to improve averages. Velocity profiles at several locations were computed and are presented in the paper. The eventual goal of this research is to study the effects of time-dependent inflow and pressure drops so as to understand the flow in nano channels in the human bone.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Reading up books: Analysis of electric power systems: A discussion of the evolution of power systems analysis tools is followed by a review of several texts, ranging from the better-known to the more obscure

Thomas Edison's Pearl Street Station in New York City, in 1882, became America's first power system, serving customers located near its direct current (dc) generators. The technology of these systems limited service to a few miles at most but gave way within a few decades to the alternating current (ac) systems that persist today. AC systems allow electric power to be transmitted and distributed over much longer distances. Voltage levels can be stepped up or down at key places to reduce loss in transmission and distribution and to regulate the voltage for the user. From the earliest years of practical electric devices, efforts have been made to analyze and control the behavior of these generation, transmission, and distribution systems through detailed load flow, fault, and stability studies. While these analysis tools have been used primarily for planning and design, their role today in the control and operation of electric power systems is increasing.
Seismic Evidence Supporting a New Interpretation of the Cody Terrace Near Cody, Wyoming

Seismic studies of the Cody terrace complex bordering the Shoshone River near Cody, Wyoming, disclose: (1) no relationship between surficial terrace form and underlying bedrock topography; (2) irregular bedrock topography with relief up to 50 feet; (3) thickness of gravel and silt overlying bedrock averaging about 60 feet and reaching a maximum of more than 100 feet. These data suggest that the Cody terrace is an alluvial terrace, not a rock-cut terrace as previously postulated. Although interrupted by the Shoshone canyon, the gravel in the Cody terrace is believed to be the correlative of the gravel in the lower terrace complex in the South Fork valley which is traceable into valley-train deposits fronting the moraine at Ishawooa. The Cody gravel is therefore in part glaciofluvial. The Cody terrace was probably formed in three stages: (1) cutting of the broad bedrock floor beneath the gravel during a period of lateral cutting and slow downcutting from the Powell surface; (2) deposition of a gravel fill to the height of the highest Cody bench during a period of aggradation associated with advance of glaciers in the upper Shoshone Valley; (3) cutting of the benches of the Cody terrace in the fill by lateral planation and slow downcutting during and after retreat of the ice from the Shoshone drainage area. These results underscore the usefulness of seismic studies in geomorphic work.
Bretylium tosylate for suppression of induced ventricular fibrillation

Abstract Bretylium tosylate exerts a potent effect in protecting the canine heart against electrically induced ventricular fibrillation. The protection is observed in normal hearts as well as after coronary ligation. The study suggests a potential clinical use for this agent in the prevention and treatment of ventricular fibrillation that warrants further evaluation.
The Effect of Clay/Epoxy Debonding to the Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposites

Analytical equations using micro- and continuum mechanics approach that can effectively estimate the mechanical properties of polymer composite materials containing clay nanoparticle fillers were developed. Various modeling techniques using the micromechanical approach were investigated, including conventional micromechanical models. An analytical model was proposed based on the consideration of the effects of imperfect bonding between the nanoparticles and the matrix in the composite materials. The mechanical properties of the considered nanocomposites were estimated, and the estimated values were validated using the experimentally determined mechanical properties. For the experimental program, clay/epoxy nanocomposite specimen were fabricated and tested. The developed model was also compared with the conventional and previously developed micromechanical models.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Weather or Not? Examining the Impact of Meteorological Conditions on Public Opinion regarding Global Warming

AbstractPublic opinion surveys in the United States have shown a substantial shift in American public views on global warming between 2008 and 2012. During the period between 2008 and 2010, surveys tracked a significant decline in the number of Americans that believed there was evidence that global warming was occurring. Then, during 2011 and 2012, surveys began to show a rebound in belief among Americans that global warming was indeed happening. This study serves to further establish the significant role that weather played in the short-term fluctuations in public opinion regarding global warming that has been observed since 2008. First, the study shows that individuals regularly refer to weather-related factors when explaining how they arrived at their conclusion that the planet is either warming or not warming and that these explanations correspond with broad weather patterns observed over the 2008–12 time frame. The study also finds that actual weather conditions, and specifically seasonal snowfall, s...
Faith in the Classroom: The Perspective of a Pastor Called to College Teaching

Abstract. Can one uphold a call from an ecclesiastical body while teaching in a college classroom? This paper will argue that the dual roles of pastor and professor can be integrated by the adoption of faith development as a learning goal. This goal seems to stand at odds with three important aspects of academic teaching: the demographic reality of religious pluralism, the ethical requirement to preserve student autonomy, and the overarching goal of a university education to promote critical thinking. My argument will be that, far from violating these three areas, faith development as a broad learning goal can actually provide a valuable deepening of pluralism, autonomy, and critical thought in the educational experience of students. The method of exploration will be autobiographical. I will show how it is that in my dual roles as an ELCA pastor called to a faculty post I articulate and use faith development as an overarching learning goal in the context of (1) a theological pedagogy based on an interfaith logos theology, (2) a value-laden pedagogy vis-a-vis consumerist self-formation, and (3) an adaptation of stages of faith development to the classroom.
Theoretical models for electron energy relaxation in the lower ionosphere

Elastic collisions and rotation inelastic collisions involving quadrupole molecular transitions are important in energy relaxation of electrons in molecular gases. It has been customary in studying the cooling of electrons in a plasma heated by high-frequency waves to characterize this relaxation by the ionospheric G factor. The G factor is first defined in a fundamental way by use of kinetic theory. Then present models for theoretical cross sections for electron collision with O2 and N2 are used to derive expressions for the G factor in the lower ionosphere. Two models are considered: one uses Gerjuoy-Stein models for both N2 and O2; the other uses a Gerjuoy-Stein model for N2 and a Geltman-Takayanaki model for O2. Neither O2 model has been definitely established experimentally. It is found that temperature dependence of G is critically dependent on the O2 model.
Asthma Phenotypes and Interleukin-13 — Moving Closer to Personalized Medicine

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways manifested by reversible airflow obstruction and airway hyperresponsiveness.1 One of the challenges of treating patients with asthma is the known heterogeneity of the disease and differential responses to standard treatments.2–4 For example, in a large clinical trial of patients with moderate asthma, one of three patients had asthma that was not well controlled despite the regular use for 1 year of fluticasone, an inhaled glucocorticoid, and salmeterol, a long-acting beta-agonist.3 In another study involving patients with more severe asthma, 40% were unable to gain control of their asthma with the . . .
Arms Races in the Developing World: Policy Implications

An arms race exists when a country’s propensity to acquire arms is influenced by a potential adversary’s military spending. When evaluating the impact of economic policies towards the developing world, e.g., foreign assistance programs, it is important to identify if an arms race exist between dyads of recipient nations. The reason is that if the impact of the policy is favorable to the country deemed to be “causing” an arms race, then the policy will not only increase the amount of weapons of the recipient country, but of the other as well. This will increase the probability of war if it is positively related to the stock of weapons of these adversaries.Consequently, this paper investigates the direction of prima facie casual relationship between the military expenditures of potential adversaries in the developing world by using parametric causality tests. We conclude that some of these country’s expenditures seem to reflect an arms race while other proposed dyads seem not to be adversaries, i.e., their expenditures are independent and therefore seem to be governed by other than an external threat.
Endotoxin Structures in the Psychrophiles Psychromonas marina and Psychrobacter cryohalolentis Contain Distinctive Acyl Features

Lipid A is the essential component of endotoxin (Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide), a potent immunostimulatory compound. As the outer surface of the outer membrane, the details of lipid A structure are crucial not only to bacterial pathogenesis but also to membrane integrity. This work characterizes the structure of lipid A in two psychrophiles, Psychromonas marina and Psychrobacter cryohalolentis, and also two mesophiles to which they are related using MALDI-TOF MS and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) GC-MS. P. marina lipid A is strikingly similar to that of Escherichia coli in organization and total acyl size, but incorporates an unusual doubly unsaturated tetradecadienoyl acyl residue. P. cryohalolentis also shows structural organization similar to a closely related mesophile, Acinetobacter baumannii, however it has generally shorter acyl constituents and shows many acyl variants differing by single methylene (-CH2-) units, a characteristic it shares with the one previously reported psychrotolerant lipid A structure. This work is the first detailed structural characterization of lipid A from an obligate psychrophile and the second from a psychrotolerant species. It reveals distinctive structural features of psychrophilic lipid A in comparison to that of related mesophiles which suggest constitutive adaptations to maintain outer membrane fluidity in cold environments.
Interspecies scaling of biliary excreted drugs: prediction of human clearance and volume of distribution.

BACKGROUND Interspecies differences in biliary excretion and the differences in bile flow rates make scaling across species difficult for drugs that are excreted in the bile. The objective of this study is to predict clearance (CL) and volume of distribution (V) for humans from animals for drugs that are excreted in the bile. METHODS Clearance values of 10 drugs known to be excreted in the bile were selected from the literature. Scaling of CL was performed using at least three animal species. Using simple allometry and the rule of exponents (ROE), clearances of studied drugs were predicted in humans. Besides using the ROE, a 'correction factor' was applied adjusting bile flow rate based on the species body weight (bile flow mL/day/kg body weight) or liver weight (bile flow mL/day/kg liver weight). Using the ROE and combining it with the 'correction factor', the clearances of biliary excreted drugs were predicted for humans. V for 15 drugs (without any correction factor) that are excreted in the bile was also predicted for humans. RESULTS The results of the study indicated that the ROE in association with the correction factors developed for the biliary excreted drugs substantially improved the prediction of human clearance for drugs that are excreted in the bile. In this study, there was no indication (unlike clearance) that the prediction of volume of drug distribution was affected (systematically under- or over-prediction) because of biliary excretion. CONCLUSIONS The clearance of drugs that are excreted in the bile can be predicted with reasonable accuracy using ROE and a correction factor.
System Health Monitoring for Space Mission Operations

Many spacecraft provide an abundance of system status telemetry that is monitored in real time by ground personnel and archived to allow for further analysis. In the flight control room, controllers typically monitor these values using text or graphical displays that incorporate individual parameter limit checking or simple trend analysis. Recent developments in data mining techniques for anomaly detection make it possible to use the wealth of archived system data to produce more sophisticated system health monitoring applications. These "data driven" applications are capable of characterizing and monitoring interactions between multiple parameters and can complement existing practice to provide valuable decision support for mission controllers. Data driven software tools have been successfully applied to mission operations for both the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. These tools have been applied to engineering analysis of spacecraft data to detect unusual events in the data, and to real-time system health monitoring in the flight control room. Augmenting traditional mission control software with advanced monitoring tools can provide controllers with greater insight into the health and performance of the space systems under their watch. Adding heuristic rule based methods that encode system knowledge obtained from seasoned mission controllers can also be helpful to less experienced personnel. We will describe how such techniques have been applied to NASA mission control operations and discuss plans for future mission control system health monitoring software systems.
Comparison of Lanczos and subspace iterations for hyperspherical reaction path calculations

Abstract In an accurate treatment of 3-dimensional reactive scattering using Adiabatically-adjusting, Principal axes Hyperspherical (APH) coordinates, we obtain a 2-dimensional Schrodinger equation defined on the surface of a hypersphere. The surface Hamiltonian, which depends parametrically on the sector hyperradius ϱ h , must be diagonalized for many (100–200) values of ϱ h . The surface (eigen)functions are expanded in a finite element basis, where a non-uniform finite element mesh is allowed to adjust for each ϱ h . Projection of the finite element basis onto the surface Hamiltonian yields a generalized eigenvalue problem. Typically the lowest 50–100 eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are required at each ϱ h . Since the calculation of the surface functions is currently the expensive step for our reactive scattering procedure, it is necessary to calculate these functions as efficiently as possible. In this paper, we use both the subspace iteration and a particular implementation of the block Lanczos (with selective orthogonalization) method to calculate the surface functions. Using both solution methods, we diagonalize the finite element matrices (of order = 1729 and of half bandwidth = 109) constructed for the LiH + F ⇌ Li + HF system. CPU timings for both methods are examined as a function of the number of converged eigenvalues. Since we can generate a good initial subspace from the eigenvectors calculated at the previous value of ϱ h , we find that the subspace iteration is competitive with the Block Lanczos method when many (90) eigenvalues are calculated. We also consider a larger problem (matrices of order ≈ 3300 and of half bandwidth ≈ 135) constructed for the F + H 2 ⇌ HF + H system. For this problem, we present the CPU timings required to calculate 100 eigenvalues for a sequence of five ϱ h values using the subspace iteration method.
Spectrally based remote sensing of river bathymetry

This paper evaluates the potential for remote mapping of river bathymetry by (1) examining the theoretical basis of a simple, ratio-based technique for retrieving depth information from passive optical image data; (2) performing radiative transfer simulations to quantify the effects of suspended sediment concentration, bottom reflectance, and water surface state; (3) assessing the accuracy of spectrally based depth retrieval under field conditions via ground-based reflectance measurements; and (4) producing bathymetric maps for a pair of gravel-bed rivers from hyperspectral image data. Consideration of the relative magnitudes of various radiance components allowed us to define the range of conditions under which spectrally based depth retrieval is appropriate: the remotely sensed signal must be dominated by bottom-reflected radiance. We developed a simple algorithm, called optimal band ratio analysis (OBRA), for identifying pairs of wavelengths for which this critical assumption is valid and which yield strong, linear relationships between an image-derived quantity X and flow depth d. OBRA of simulated spectra indicated that water column optical properties were accounted for by a shorter-wavelength numerator band sensitive to scattering by suspended sediment while depth information was provided by a longer-wavelength denominator band subject to strong absorption by pure water. Field spectra suggested that bottom reflectance was fairly homogeneous, isolating the effect of depth, and that radiance measured above the water surface was primarily reflected from the bottom, not the water column. OBRA of these data, 28% of which were collected during a period of high turbidity, yielded strong X versus d relations (R2 from 0·792 to 0·976), demonstrating that accurate depth retrieval is feasible under field conditions. Moreover, application of OBRA to hyperspectral image data resulted in spatially coherent, hydraulically reasonable bathymetric maps, though negative depth estimates occurred along channel margins where pixels were mixed. This study indicates that passive optical remote sensing could become a viable tool for measuring river bathymetry. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Design and performance evaluation of a medium flow sampler for airborne brominated flame retardants (BFRs).

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have emerged as important and ubiquitous environmental pollutants, and there is a need to accurately measure airborne levels of these chemicals in both indoor and outdoor applications. We review and suggest performance criteria for BFR sampling systems, and then present the design of a new medium flow active sampler. The sampler uses a PTFE filter (47 mm, 1 µm pore size) in front of a polyurethane foam (PUF) adsorbent plug (22 mm dia, 76 mm length) with a nominal flow rate of 15 L min−1 and a sampling period of one week, giving a sampling volume of 150 m3. The sampler was evaluated using co-located systems to test precision, backup PUFs to test breakthrough, and distributed volume sampling to test linearity. Field experiments were conducted in five commercial buildings, one residence and outdoors at an urban site. A total of 20 BDE congeners were quantified. After appropriate cleaning of the PUF adsorbent, blank levels were negligible. Method detection limits (MDLs) were sufficiently low to quantify BDE congeners 17, 28, 71, 47, 100 and 99 in ambient air, and more than adequate to quantify these and other congeners in indoor air, where levels are typically much higher. The relative absolute deviation (RAD), based on distributed volume samples, ranged from 21% (BDE-71) to 81% (BDE-75) for indoor samples, and was somewhat higher for ambient samples. Only minimal breakthrough was detected in back-up samples, and over 80% of the samples had very low or negligible breakthrough. Humidity did not influence sampler performance. Overall, the medium-flow sampler can accurately measure PBDEs over a wide range of concentrations and applications.
Depression, Service Need, and Use in Vulnerable Populations

Abstract Health care reform has created opportunities for mental health nurses to develop innovative health care delivery models to provide integrated behavioral health and primary health care. A community health analysis is one method to ensure appropriate services are planned. This study examined the health care services most needed and those used by depressed and nondepressed participants ( N = 231), and their satisfaction with these services. Individual and system characteristics were examined using a framework developed by Anderson and Aday. Significant differences were found between the 2 groups for predisposing characteristics, enabling characteristics, need for care, service use, and satisfaction with services. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
Advancing an Aging-Prepared Community: Models and Lessons From Training Initiatives in Gerontological Social Work

For ten years the Geriatric Social Work Initiative has advanced progressively evolving projects to increase gerontological curricular content and aging expertise in faculty. These efforts include the Geriatric Enrichment in Social Work Education (GeroRich) initiative, Curriculum Development Institutes, and the Partnership Program for Aging Education in field placements among others. All of these projects have benefited from Hartford Foundation funding. This article describes the models and lessons learned by one large Midwestern university as it implemented several aging related programs. A competency approach is suggested as effective strategy in curriculum design. Recommendations are provided to assist seminaries and religion programs in developing their own aging focus.
Prolonged Storage of Fixative for Electron Microscopy: Effects on Tissue Preservation for Diagnostic Specimens

Prolonged storage of Karnovsky's fixative, at both 4 and -20 degrees C, is possible in the diagnostic electron microscopy setting. Ultrastructural detail was not compromised in specimens processed in fixative that had been stored for 6 months. Evidence of smooth muscle and neuroendocrine differentiation was present in the form of actin filaments/dense bodies and neurosecretory granules, respectively. No difference in preservation was detected between specimens fixed in freshly prepared Karnovsky's fixative and fixative that had been stored at either 4 or -20 degrees C for up to 6 months. Thus, community hospitals can be provided with Karnovsky's fixative on a semiannual basis for surgical pathology specimens that may require electron microscopy for diagnosis.
Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis in a Male Homosexual With Kaposi's Sarcoma

• Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE), or marantic endocarditis, was found at autopsy in a young male homosexual with Kaposi's sarcoma. Vegetations were seen in the mitral and aortic valves. Embolic phenomena and cytomegalovirus infection were noted in the brain, spleen, liver, lung, gastrointestinal tract, and bone marrow. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of NBTE in a young immunosuppressed homosexual man with Kaposi's sarcoma. ( Arch Intern Med 1983;143:1243-1244)
Computer Aided Design Studies of a Multiple Cylinder Refrigeration Compressor

A multi-cylinder refrigerant compressor was analytically modeled and simulated on a digital computer. The modeling includes the kinematics of the mechanical compressor, the thermodynamic processes in the cylinders and the flow process of the refrigerant gas in and out of the cylinders. In addition the modeling includes the valve dynamics in controlling the gas flow, the thermodynamic processes in the common suction and discharge plenums and the interaction of the cylinder processes through the common plenums. The remainder of the refrigeration system was treated as pressure-temperature drop. The analytical model was compared to experimental data in terms of cylinder pressures, suction-discharge plenum pressures and temperatures, valve motions and the average mass flow rate of the refrigerant gas. The correlation between the comparison variable was quite good with some error in the prediction of suction valve closing time. The analytical model was used to predict the effect of increased compressor speed on the performance of the compressor. The speed was increased from 500 rpm to 2700 rpm with a decrease in volumetric efficiency from 87 percent to 60 percent, an increase in mass flow rate from 0.0378 kg/s to 0.151 kg/s. Valve impact speeds were also calculated to predict degradation in valve life.
Kinetic Mechanism of Enterococcal Aminoglycoside Phosphotransferase 2''-Ib

The major mechanism of resistance to aminoglycosides in clinical bacterial isolates is the covalent modification of these antibiotics by enzymes produced by the bacteria. Aminoglycoside 2''-Ib phosphotransferase [APH(2'')-Ib] produces resistance to several clinically important aminoglycosides in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the product of kanamycin A phosphorylation revealed that modification occurs at the 2''-hydroxyl of the aminoglycoside. APH(2'')-Ib phosphorylates 4,6-disubstituted aminoglycosides with kcat/Km values of 10(5)-10(7) M-1 s-1, while 4,5-disubstituted antibiotics are not substrates for the enzyme. Initial velocity studies demonstrate that APH(2'')-Ib operates by a sequential mechanism. Product and dead-end inhibition patterns indicate that binding of aminoglycoside antibiotic and ATP occurs in a random manner. These data, together with the results of solvent isotope and viscosity effect studies, demonstrate that APH(2'')-Ib follows the random Bi-Bi kinetic mechanism and substrate binding and/or product release could limit the rate of reaction.
Does market maker competition affect the response to insider trading

This study investigates the impact of market maker competition on the relationship between equity bid-ask spreads and informed trading risk from reported insider purchases. It is the first study to provide evidence that the relationship between inside spreads and insider purchases is stronger when there are fewer market makers or more concentrated market making shares. No evidence is found of a relationship between inside ask depth and reported insider purchases. The results are consistent with theoretical expectations that spreads will respond more to informed trading risk under less competitive market making conditions. However, the results are contrary to the DuPont (2000) prediction that market makers alter depth more than spread in response to informed trading risk.
Thermoresponsive Behavior of Semifluorinated Polymer Brushes

The surface rearrangement of polymer brushes composed of diblock copolymer chains with fluoropolymer blocks has been shown to be readily induced using thermal annealing. Changes in surface composition accomplished by the rearrangement were demonstrated by tensiometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Most of the research focused on brushes consisting of a hydrocarbon inner block [either poly(methyl acrylate) or polystyrene] and a fluoropolymer outer block [poly(pentafluorostyrene), poly(heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate), poly(pentafluoropropyl acrylate), or poly(trifluoroethyl acrylate)]. The diblock copolymer brushes were first treated with a block selective solvent for the hydrocarbon block. Rearrangement was complete for all brushes except those in which poly(heptadecafluorodecyl acrylate) was the outer block. Subsequentially, the surfaces were then thermally treated to allow the fluoropolymer to migrate to the surface. The optimal temperature and exposure time for thermal treatment were found to vary wi...
Histochemical localization of acid phosphatase in the ovary of Gerris remigis say (Hemiptera).

The localization of acid phosphatase in the telotrophic ovary of the water strider, Gerris remigis, has been studied by light microscopy, utilizing a simultaneous coupling azo dye technique on frozen sections. The enzyme is demonstrable in the cytoplasm of advanced nurse cells, and to a variable degree in the trophic core. Reactivity is also distributed throughout the cytoplasm of young (germarial) oocytes. As oocytes enlarge and pass into the vitellarium, reactivity becomes confined to a peripheral band, which widens and becomes associated with a peripheral accumulation of preyolk bodies. This reactivity disappears from the ooplasm before vitellogenesis is entirely completed. Oocytes which undergo degeneration before completing maturation display large, internal, phosphatase-reactive areas. Acid phosphatase is first demonstrable in follicle cells at the onset of vitellogenesis. Variations in its intensity and intracellular localization are in conformity with previous suggestions in the literature that follicle cells are implicated in vitellogenesis and in subsequent chorion elaboration. Following ovulation, the follicle cells become intensely reactive and as they degenerate, some of this reactive material is expelled from the ovary through the follicle cell basal surfaces. Reactive residues accumulate in the yellow body at the base of the ovary. Thus the enzyme localization is correlated with physiological autolysis in nurse cells and post-ovulatory follicle cells and with pathological autolysis in oocytes. Its localization in normally developing oocytes and follicle cells suggests involvement in the process of vitellogenesis and chorion formation as well.
DROUGHT-ASSOCIATED SHIFTS IN SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA AND S. CYNOSUROIDES IN THE ALTAMAHA RIVER ESTUARY

In estuarine systems, informed water resource management decisions rely, in part, on evaluating how changes in freshwater inflow and salinity affect a selected management target (i.e., habitat or organismal changes). This study examined the distribution of Spartina alterniflora and S. cynosuriodes species along the Altamaha River estuary in Georgia in association with an extensive drought, during which time freshwater inflow decreased considerably and salty water encroached into previously brackish areas. Bankside vegetation was surveyed along the length of the estuary at the beginning and end of the drought (2000, 2002), and again in 2004 after flows had increased. In addition, a removal experiment, in which one or the other plant was removed from naturally mixed communities, was conducted during the drought (2001–2002). In all surveys, S. cynosuroides densities decreased at a location that corresponded to where average high tide salinities were > 14 psu, such that the downstream border shifted from approximately 3 to 6 km from the mouth of the river between 2000 and 2002 and then back to 3 km in 2004. Although the peak density of S. alterniflora also shifted upstream between 2000 and 2002, upstream densities were high in 2004 and plant distribution did not correspond with salinity. In the removal experiment, densities and relative % cover of S. alterniflora increased in all treatments (including controls), whereas densities of S. cynosuroides remained relatively constant except in treatments where it was purposely removed. We interpret these results to suggest that S. alterniflora is a strong invader that can expand into new habitat under stressful (increased salinity, low flow) conditions, and that once it is established it can co-exist with S. cynosuroides. The more rapid response of S. cynosuroides (shifts occurred within 2 years) suggests that its downstream limit is a potential indicator of changes in inflow conditions in this system.
Disruption of the RIIβ subunit of PKA reverses the obesity syndrome of agouti lethal yellow mice

Agouti lethal yellow (Ay) mice express agouti ectopically because of a genetic rearrangement at the agouti locus. The agouti peptide is a potent antagonist of the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) expressed in neurons, and this leads to hyperphagia, hypoactivity, and increased fat mass. The MC4R signals through Gs and is thought to stimulate the production of cAMP and activation of downstream cAMP effector molecules such as PKA. Disruption of the RIIβ regulatory subunit gene of PKA results in release of the active catalytic subunit and an increase in basal PKA activity in cells where RIIβ is highly expressed. Because RIIβ is expressed in neurons including those in the hypothalamic nuclei where MC4R is prominent we tested the possibility that the RIIβ knockout might rescue the body weight phenotypes of the Ay mice. Disruption of the RIIβ PKA regulatory subunit gene in mice leads to a 50% reduction in white adipose tissue and resistance to diet-induced obesity and hyperglycemia. The RIIβ mutation rescued the elevated body weight, hyperphagia, and obesity of Ay mice. Partial rescue of the Ay phenotypes was even observed on an RIIβ heterozygote background. These results suggest that the RIIβ gene mutation alters adiposity and locomotor activity by modifying PKA signaling pathways downstream of the agouti antagonism of MC4R in the hypothalamus.
Discriminative feature weighting using MCE training for topic identification of spoken audio recordings

In this paper we investigate a discriminative approach to feature weighting for topic identification using minimum classification error (MCE) training. Our approach learns feature weights by optimizing an objective loss function directly related to the classification error rate of the topic identification system. Topic identification experiments are performed on spoken conversations from the Fisher corpus. Features drawn from both word and phone lattices generated via automatic speech recognition are investigated. Under various different conditions, our new feature weighting scheme reduces our classification error rate between 9% and 23% relative to our baseline naive Bayes system using feature selection.
From scripts to specifications: the evolution of a flight software testing effort

This paper describes the evolution of a software testing effort during a critical period for the flagship Mars Science Laboratory rover project at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Formal specification for post-run analysis of log files, using a domain-specific language, LogScope, replaced scripted real-time analysis. Log analysis addresses the key problems of on-the-fly approaches and cleanly separates specification and execution. Mining the test repository suggested the inadequacy of the scripted approach, and encouraged a partly engineer-driven development. LogScope development should hold insights for others facing the tight deadlines and reactionary nature of testing for critical projects. LogScope received a JPL Mariner Award for "improving productivity and quality of the MSL Flight Software" and has been discussed as an approach for other flight missions. We note LogScope features that most contributed to ease of adoption and effectiveness. LogScope is general and can be applied to any software producing logs.
Comments on Competitive Responsiveness

Marketing Science features many and diverse articles that analyze competitive responsiveness. Although recent Marketing Science editorials e.g., Shugan 2002 suggest that competitive responsiveness is only a part of a comprehensive competitive marketing strategy, it remains a vital part. For that reason and many others, Marketing Science is particularly proud of this special issue edited by David J. Reibstein and Dick R. Wittink. Before introducing and vigorously applauding both the editors and authors of this excellent special issue, we emphasize that competitive responsiveness raises numerous issues, including whether one can forecast outcomes of new policies based on past observations made under old policies i.e., the Lucas critique and decisions regarding which variables should be considered endogenous Shugan 2004, i.e., determined within the model. Perhaps, normative models are inherently perishable-evolution in market structure requires modifications over time. Also, although complete consistency within the world of the model is aesthetically pleasing, imposing industry-specific exogenous constraints that might appear unrelated to the modeling assumptions is sometimes necessary.
Thick Oxide Layers on N and P SiC Wafers by a Depo-Conversion Technique

The electrical properties of thick oxide layers onn andp-type 6H-SiC obtained by a depoconversion technique are presented. High frequency capacitance-voltage measurements on MOS capacitors with a ~ 3000 A thick oxide indicates an effective charge density comparable to that of MOS capacitors with thermal oxide. The breakdown field of the depo-converted oxide obtained using a ramp response technique indicates a good quality oxide with average values in excess of 6 MV/cm on p-type SiC and 9 MV/cm onn-type SiC. The oxide breakdown field was observed to decrease with increase in MOS capacitor diameter.
Bioremoval of Chromium, Nickel And Zinc in Electroplating Effluent by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The objective of the present study is to isolate a bacterial strain capable of removing heavy metals from electroplating industrial effluent. The soil and effluent samples were collected from an electroplating industry, near Jaihindpuram at Madurai. Physico-chemical parameters of the effluent were analysed and the parameters like pH, total dissolved solids and total suspended solids exceeded the permissible limits. Based on the biochemical tests the isolated organism was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was exposed to 15, 20 and 25% concentrations of electroplating effluent for twenty days. Optical density and pH were found to increase which indicated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was able to tolerate the heavy metals. The efficiency of the strain in removing the heavy metals was checked by culturing in 20% concentration of the effluent. The samples were analyzed with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) after 0, 10 and 20 days. The highest removal efficiency was noticed for zinc followed by chromium and nickel. The study suggests that the natural isolate, Pseudomonas aeruginosa has potential applications in removing and recovering chromium, nickel and zinc from industrial effluents.
Global stability analysis of a nonlinear principal component analysis neural network

The self-organization of a nonlinear, single-layer neural network is mathematically analyzed, in which a regular Hebbian rule and an anti-Hebbian rule are used for the adaptation of the connection weights between the constituent units. It is shown that the equilibrium points of this system are global asymptotically stable. Following some restrictive assumptions a nonlinear principal component analyzer can be constructed.
Microinfarct Pathology, Dementia, and Cognitive Systems

Background and Purpose—Little is known about the role of microinfarcts in dementia and cognition. We examined microinfarcts and dementia, global cognition, and 5 cognitive systems in community-dwelling older persons. Methods—Four hundred twenty-five subjects enrolled in the Religious Orders Study underwent annual clinical evaluations, including 19 neuropsychological tests and assessment for dementia, and brain autopsy (39% men; mean age at death, 87; Mini-Mental State Examination score, 21). Neuropathologic examination documented the presence, number, and location of chronic microinfarcts on 6-μm hematoxylin–eosin-stained sections from cortical and subcortical regions. Multiple regression analyses adjusted for age at death, sex, education, macroscopic infarcts, Alzheimer disease pathology, and Lewy bodies. Results—Microinfarcts were present in 129 of 425 (30%) persons (54 cortical, 80 subcortical, 49 multiple); 58 of 129 (45%) of persons with microinfarcts did not exhibit macroscopic infarcts. Persons wit...