cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Capillary electrophoresis as a clinical tool. Determination of organic anions in normal and uremic serum using photodiode-array detection.

We report the use of free solution capillary electrophoresis to identify and quantify low-molecular-mass compounds found in normal and uremic serum as well as in hemodialysate fluid. The method reported provides a multicomponent analysis, allowing a single-step screening for more than 19 metabolites in less than 16 min. Serum samples from healthy individuals and from patients who have been diagnosed with chronic renal failure are analyzed using a borate buffer system at pH 9.0, and an extended light path capillary. Several ionic sample constituents are identified by electrophoretic mobility, UV spectra, and spiking with authentic standards. An analysis of the relative concentration of several metabolites, including hypoxanthine, pseudouridine, hippuric acid, and uric acid is presented. Each of these four metabolites is found in both normal and uremic serum samples (limits of detection 1 to 6 μM). Moreover, each of these metabolites is present at significantly elevated levels in uremic patients. The method reported is shown to have promising clinical utility for profiling serum sample constituents, and for quantitative determination of a few important metabolites.
Transdermal selegiline and intravenous cocaine: safety and interactions

Because the dopamine system appears to be involved in both acute and chronic effects of cocaine, medication development efforts for cocaine addiction have focused largely on agents that interact with the dopamine system. Selegiline, a selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor, indirectly modulates dopamine levels, and research suggests selegiline may modify subjective effects of cocaine. To evaluate further the safety and potential of transdermal selegiline as a treatment for cocaine dependence, interactions between transdermal selegiline and intravenous cocaine were studied in cocaine-dependent volunteers. Pharmacokinetics and subjective, physiological, and endocrinological effects of intravenous cocaine (0,20 and 40 mg) were evaluated both before and during transdermal selegiline treatment (20 mg/day, 10 days) in 12 cocaine-dependent subjects. A transdermal selegiline formulation was used to avoid the risks associated with oral administration of MAO inhibitors. Selegiline attenuated some physiological (systolic blood pressure and heart rate) and subjective (good effects, liking, stimulated, high, desire for cocaine) effects of cocaine. Selegiline did not affect cocaine’s pharmacokinetics or cocaine-induced prolactin decrease and growth hormone increase. The combined administration of the transdermal selegiline patch and up to 40 mg cocaine was well tolerated. Selegiline may reduce physiological and subjective effects of cocaine. A randomized trial is needed to evaluate the efficacy of selegiline for cocaine abuse.
Chemistry of the liver cytoplasm of normal, fasted and cirrhotic mice.

Summary and discussionChemical changes in the cytoplasm of the mouse liver cell after a short fast and at cirrhosis are reported. These changes occur most dramatically in the lipide fraction during a 24 hour fast resulting in an increase of 3 to 4 fold above normal. This lipide is non-phospholipide in character. Fasted cirrhotic liver differs from the fasted normal liver cytoplasm in that the lipide does not increase so markedly and the phospholipide decreases to about 60% of the normal fasted value. The iodine values of the normal-fasted and the cirrhotic-fasted liver cytoplasm fatty acids decrease below that of the normal values.In addition to a lipide increase in the fasted-cirrhotic liver cytoplasm there is also a decrease of “ribonucleic acid” and phospholipide in one gram wet weight of the ground fasted cirrhotic liver.It is possible that there is an interchange of phospholipide during a fast as evidenced by the lipide nitrogen to phosphorus ratio. This interchange would consist of substituting norm...
Scheduling independent tasks on uniform processors

A worst-case analysis is given for the LPT (longest processing time) heuristic applied to the problem of scheduling independent tasks on uniform processors. A bound of $\frac{19}{12}$ is derived on the ratio of the heuristic to the optimal makespan and an example is given where the error is greater than $\frac{{3}}{{2}}$. A generalization of the classic result of Graham for the case of identical processors is given. Here tight bounds are derived for the ratio of the heuristic to the optimal makespan which depends on the ratio of the longest task to the makespan.
GLYDE—an expressive XML standard for the representation of glycan structure

Abstract The amount of glycomics data being generated is rapidly increasing as a result of improvements in analytical and computational methods. Correlation and analysis of this large, distributed data set requires an extensible and flexible representational standard that is also ‘understood’ by a wide range of software applications. An XML-based data representation standard that faithfully captures essential structural details of a glycan moiety along with additional information (such as data provenance) to aid the interpretation and usage of glycan data, will facilitate the exchange of glycomics data across the scientific community. To meet this need, we introduce GLYcan Data Exchange (GLYDE) standard as an XML-based representation format to enable interoperability and exchange of glycomics data. An online tool ( http://128.192.9.86/stargate/formatIndex.jsp ) for the conversion of other representations to GLYDE format has been developed.
The crystal structure of Bombyx mori silk fibroin at the air–water interface

A new crystalline polymorph of Bombyx mori silk, which forms at the air–water interface, has been characterized. A previous study found this structure to be trigonal, and to be distinctly different than the two previously observed silk crystal structures, silk I and silk II. This new structure was named silk III. Identification of this new silk polymorph was based on evidence from transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, coupled with molecular modeling. In the current paper, additional data enables us to refine our model of the silk III structure. Some single crystal electron diffraction patterns indicate a deviation in symmetry away from a perfect trigonal unit cell to monoclinic unit cell. The detailed shape of the powder diffraction peaks also supports a monoclinic cell. The monoclinic crystal structure has an nonprimitive unit cell incorporating a slightly distorted hexagonal packing of silk molecular helices. The chains each assume a threefold helical conformation, resulting in a crystal structure similar to that observed for polyglycine II, but with some additional sheet-like packing features common to the threefold helical crystalline forms of many glycine-rich polypeptides. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 42: 705–717, 1997
A First Course in Database Systems

Written by well-known computer scientists, this accessible and succinct introduction to database systems focuses on database design and use. It provides in-depth coverage of databases from the point of view of the database designer, user, and application programmer. The authors provide an overview of important programming systems (e.g., SQL, JDBC, PSM, CLI, PHP, XQuery, etc.) and the intellectual framework to put them into context. For software engineers, database engineers, and programmers.
Liquid chromatographic determination of carotenoids in human serum using an engineered C30 and a C18 stationary phase

A C30 stationary phase was specifically engineered for carotenoid separations, and carotenoid measurements using this column are compared with those obtained using a somewhat more conventional C18 column. Both methods were used to contribute measurements for the certification of carotenoids in Standard Reference Material 968b, Fat-Soluble Vitamins and Cholesterol in Human Serum. Analytes were extracted from the serum into hexane. Measurements on the C18 column were made using a gradient of acetonitrile, methanol, and ethyl acetate, which is described in detail elsewhere. Measurements on the C30 column were made using a gradient of water, methanol, and methyl tert.-butyl ether.
Surface matching for object recognition in complex three-dimensional scenes

We present an approach to recognition of complex objects in cluttered three-dimensional (3D) scenes that does not require feature extraction or segmentation. Our object representation comprises descriptive images associated with oriented points on the surface of an object. Using a single point basis constructed from an oriented point, the position of other points on the surface of the object can be described by two parameters. The accumulation of these parameters for many points on the surface of the object results in an image at each oriented point. These images, localized descriptions of the global shape of the object, are invariant to rigid transformations. Through correlation of images, point correspondences between a model and scene data are established. Geometric consistency is used to group the correspondences from which plausible rigid transformations that align the model with the scene are calculated. The transformations are then refined and verified using a modified iterative closest point algorithm. The effectiveness of our representation comes from its ability to combine the descriptive nature of global object properties with the robustness to partial views and clutter of local shape descriptions. The wide applicability of our algorithm is demonstrated with results showing recognition of complex objects in cluttered scenes with occlusion.
Feasibility of generating a useful laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy plasma on rocks at high pressure: preliminary study for a Venus mission

Abstract Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is being developed for future use on landers and rovers to Mars. The method also has potential for use on probes to other planets, the Moon, asteroids and comets. Like Mars, Venus is of strong interest because of its proximity to earth, but unlike Mars, conditions at the surface are far more hostile with temperatures in excess of 700 K and pressures on the order of 9.1 MPa (90 atm). These conditions present a significant challenge to spacecraft design and demand that rapid methods of chemical data gathering be implemented. The advantages of LIBS (e.g. stand-off and very rapid analysis) make the method particularly attractive for Venus exploration because of the expected short operational lifetimes (≈2 h) of surface instrumentation. Although the high temperature of Venus should pose no problem to the analytical capabilities of the LIBS spark, the demonstrated strong dependence of laser plasma characteristics on ambient gas pressures below earth atmospheric pressure requires that LIBS measurements be evaluated at the high Venus surface pressures. Here, we present a preliminary investigation of LIBS at 9.1 MPa for application to the analysis of a basalt rock sample. The results suggest the feasibility of the method for a Venus surface probe and that further study is justified.
Influence of a Nationwide Social Marketing Campaign on Adolescent Drug Use

In this study, we examined whether awareness (recall) of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign (NYADMC) benefited youth by attenuating their drug use. Data were obtained from the National Survey of Parents and Youth (NSPY), an evaluative survey tool designed to monitor campaign progress over 4 years. A growth modeling strategy was used to examine whether change in message recall or campaign brand awareness was related to declining patterns of drug use. Two distinct growth trajectories were modeled to account for growth among younger (12 to 14) versus older (15 to 18) youth. Growth trajectories indicated steady and positive increases in alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use over time. During the early portion of adolescence, youth reported more “brand” awareness, remembered more of the video clips depicting campaign messages, recalled more media stories about youth and drugs and more antitobacco ads, and reported more radio listening and less television watching. When they were older, these same yout...
The Digital Temple: A Preview of Features, Current and Potential

The Digital Temple is an electronic scholarly edition of George Herbert’s English verse. When complete, it will include diplomatic and modern-spelling transcriptions linked to corresponding digital images of three essential artifacts: Williams Manuscript Jones B62, Bodleian Manuscript Tanner 307, and a copy of The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations (first edition, 1633). The transcriptions are accompanied by critical annotations and glosses, and all materials – transcriptions, images, and apparatus – are presented through a customized user interface. The transcription files are marked up according to the Text Encoding Initiative P5 standard, a robust encoding protocol rendering the texts susceptible to an array of display and data search-and-retrieval operations. This essay briefly introduces the resource, its principal features and potential, and discusses some of the technical underpinnings that make it a potentially powerful research tool.
SuperWeb: towards a global Web-based parallel computing infrastructure

The Internet, best known by most users as the World-Wide-Web, continues to expand at an amazing pace. We propose a new infrastructure to harness the combined resources, such as CPU cycles or disk storage, and make them available to everyone interested. This infrastructure has the potential for solving parallel supercomputing applications involving thousands of cooperating components. Our approach is based on recent advances in Internet connectivity and the implementation of safe distributed computing embodied in languages such as Java. We developed a prototype of a global computing infrastructure, called SuperWeb, that consists of hosts, brokers and clients. Hosts register a fraction of their computing resources (CPU time, memory, bandwidth, disk space) with resource brokers. Client computations are then mapped by the broker onto the registered resources. We examine an economic model for trading computing resources, and discuss several technical challenges associated with such a global computing environment.
Drug-Using Women's Sexual Risk: An Event Analysis

Using event analysis, this study describes the most recent sexual events of drug-using women and their male partners and identifies relationship-specific and event-specific determinants of condom use. Women drug users (n = 320) were recruited from the streets of East Harlem. After validation of drug use, they participated in structured interviews and were offered HIV testing and counseling. Interview topics included the following: (1) demographic characteristics of respondents, (2) relationship factors, including age difference, race/ethnicity concordance, and HIV serostatus of partners, and (3) event-specific factors, including sexual repertoire, communication about condom use, and perception of HIV risk. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified five major variables associated with event-specific condom use: (1) closeness to partner, (2) perceived dyadic serostatus, (3) sexual repertoire, (4) communication about condoms, and (5) perceived control of condom use. Behavioral interventions to reduce sexual risk should target dyads with long-standing sexual relationships and focus on the dynamics of the relationship, especially the issues of dyadic serostatus, intimacy, communication, and control.
Solute exclusion from cellulose in packed columns: Process modeling and analysis

In this investigation, process modeling and analysis were used to explore the behavior of solute exclusion from cellulose in packed columns. The study focused on modeling the effects of dispersion, mass transport, and pore diffusion. Three mathematical models were used to predict the behavior of the columns: an equilibrium model, a mass transfer model, and a combined mass transfer and pore diffusion model. Computer implementations of these models were tested against experimental conditions where cellulose particle size and solution velocity were used to either amplify or minimize dispersion or skewness in the elution curves. For small cellulose particles (200-300 mesh), all three models accurately predicted the shape of the elution curve and the particle porosity. For larger particles (45-60 mesh), the mass transfer model and the combined mass and pore diffusion model best represented the behavior of the column. At high solution velocities (0.63 cm(3) min(-1)) and large particles, only the combined mass transfer and pore diffusion model accurately represent the column behavior. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the mass transfer coefficient had little effect on the elution curves for the range of values (10(-6)-10(-3) cm s(-1)) calculated from the experimental data. The combined mass transfer and pore diffusion model presented in this article can be used to design solute exclusion measurement experiments for the larger cellulose particles found in a commercial cellulose-to-ethanol plant.
Improving clinical practice using clinical decision support systems: a systematic review of trials to identify features critical to success

Abstract Objective To identify features of clinical decision support systems critical for improving clinical practice. Design Systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Data sources Literature searches via Medline, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register up to 2003; and searches of reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews. Study selection Studies had to evaluate the ability of decision support systems to improve clinical practice. Data extraction Studies were assessed for statistically and clinically significant improvement in clinical practice and for the presence of 15 decision support system features whose importance had been repeatedly suggested in the literature. Results Seventy studies were included. Decision support systems significantly improved clinical practice in 68% of trials. Univariate analyses revealed that, for five of the system features, interventions possessing the feature were significantly more likely to improve clinical practice than interventions lacking the feature. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified four features as independent predictors of improved clinical practice: automatic provision of decision support as part of clinician workflow (P Conclusions Several features were closely correlated with decision support systems9 ability to improve patient care significantly. Clinicians and other stakeholders should implement clinical decision support systems that incorporate these features whenever feasible and appropriate.
A study on the tie‐set graph theory and network flow optimization problems

Aiming at establishing a firm basic theory to ring-based information network management systems, our paper proposes a tie-set graph theory. We define a binary vector representing a tie-set in a biconnected undirected graph G=(V,E) as a tie-set vector. The set of tie-set vectors forms a vector space over the proposed law of composition, then a basis of the vector space, μ linear independent tie-set vectors, is defined as a tie-set basis. The essential key concept in our theory is a tie-set graph, which has a one-to-one correspondence to a tie-set basis and represents a relation between two tie-set vectors of the basis. Some important properties of tie-set graphs and their application to survivable mesh networks in modern high-speed backbone networks are also presented. Furthermore, as a general approach to network flow optimization problems, tie-set flow vector space is proposed based on the tie-set graph theory. A distributed algorithm for the network flow optimization problems and its application are also presented in this paper. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
P02.97. Lipoic acid supplementation induces a transient stress response and improves episodic memory and cholesterol efflux in humans.

Purpose Lipoic acid (LA) shows promise as a beneficial micronutrient in improving health, particularly in the elderly. Clinical and in vitro reports show that LA induces endogenous antioxidants and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. LA also increases nerve conductance, improves diabetes-induced polyneuropathies, and remediates the age-associated cognitive decline in canines. Furthermore, LA significantly improves hypertriglyceridemia and glucose handling. From our preclinical research we have found that LA primarily influences three areas of health: cognition, stress response, and lipids. This study examines the effects of LA on human subjects in components of each of the three aforementioned areas of health.
Limited live-time measurements of frequency spectra

Frequency-difference-of-arrival (FDOA) can be used to monitor and track an emitter's location by observing Doppler frequency shifts of the carrier during short pulsed transmissions. This specific application needs to consider two frequency-stability levels: the short τ on -average frequency measurements and the sampling time interval between measurements, denoted by τ s . We show the advantage of using “dynamic” TheoH for τ on frequency measurements. Between τ on transmissions while powered off, the emitter's reference-oscillator frequency will change due to power-start thermal variations, vibration, stress, and other frequency disturbances. If we regard long-term frequency instability as an uncertainty on an oscillator's expected or designated frequency, then the dominant error of frequency prediction is likely to be the error due to frequency drift and/or random walk FM, indicating the non-stationary behavior or disturbances. A two-sample variance is devised, called “Psi-variance,” that has desirable statistical properties similar to those of the Allan variance. From this, we compute the power spectral density of frequency fluctuations, S y (f), from which phase noise, L(f), can be derived.
The similarity join database operator

Similarity joins have been studied as key operations in multiple application domains, e.g., record linkage, data cleaning, multimedia and video applications, and phenomena detection on sensor networks. Multiple similarity join algorithms and implementation techniques have been proposed. They range from out-of-database approaches for only in-memory and external memory data to techniques that make use of standard database operators to answer similarity joins. Unfortunately, there has not been much study on the role and implementation of similarity joins as database physical operators. In this paper, we focus on the study of similarity joins as first-class database operators. We present the definition of several similarity join operators and study the way they interact among themselves, with other standard database operators, and with other previously proposed similarity-aware operators. In particular, we present multiple transformation rules that enable similarity query optimization through the generation of equivalent similarity query execution plans. We then describe an efficient implementation of two similarity join operators, e-Join and Join-Around, as core DBMS operators. The performance evaluation of the implemented operators in PostgreSQL shows that they have good execution time and scalability properties. The execution time of Join-Around is less than 5% of the one of the equivalent query that uses only regular operators while e-Join's execution time is 20 to 90% of the one of its equivalent regular operators based query for the useful case of small e (0.01% to 10% of the domain range). We also show experimentally that the proposed transformation rules can generate plans with execution times that are only 10% to 70% of the ones of the initial query plans.
Measuring the elastic properties of anisotropic materials by means of indentation experiments

Abstract The unloading process in an indentation experiment is usually modeled by considering the contact of a rigid punch with an elastically isotropic half space. Here we extend the analysis to elastically anisotropic solids. We review some of the basic formulae for describing the indentation of elastically anisotropic solids with axisymmetric indenters. We show how the indentation modulus can be calculated for arbitrary anisotropic solids and give results for solids with cubic crystal symmetry. We have calculated the contact stiffness for a flat triangular punch on a half space for various anisotropic materials. The indentation modulus for a triangular indenter is typically 5–6% higher than that for an axisymmetric indenter and varies only slightly with the orientation of the indenter in the plane of the indentation. We have conducted microindentation experiments to measure the indentation moduli of differently oriented surfaces of both cubic and hexagonal single crystals. For copper and β-brass, the (111) indentation moduli are approximately 10 and 25% larger than the {100} modulus. The (110) moduli are typically slightly smaller than the (111) moduli. The indentation modulus of zinc varies by as much as a factor of two, depending on the sample orientation. The hardnesses of the single crystals do not vary much with the orientation of the plane of indentation. For /gb-brass, the hardness of a {110} surface is only about 13% lower than the hardness of a {100} or {111} surface; for copper, the {110} hardness is 6% higher than for the other orientations. For zinc the maximum change in hardness with orientation is 20%.
A critical look at the problem of small antenna design and a review of physics-based performance limitations of these antennas

The purpose of this review paper is to critically examine some the physics-based fundamental limitations. Using metamaterials and/or other exotic physical phenomena for performance. This, in turn, prompts us to critically examine the effective medium theories, and rigorously model the physical structures that show promise rather than their effective medium equivalents to see if indeed their actual performance is consistent with that predicted by their effective medium representation. The paper investigates several representative structures, such as substrates and superstrates for microstrip patch antennas, to sort out the issue mentioned above, and concludes that the only reliable approach to characterizing these media is to simulate the physical structure, and not rely solely on their effective medium representations. Next, the paper develops a systematic strategy to designing antenna/meta-material composites that totally bypasses the effective medium approach.
Exercise training augments the peripheral insulin-sensitizing effects of pioglitazone in HIV-infected adults with insulin resistance and central adiposity

The prevalence and incidence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are higher in people treated for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) infection than in the general population. Identifying safe and effective interventions is a high priority. We evaluated whether the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist pioglitazone with exercise training improves central and peripheral insulin sensitivity more than pioglitazone alone in HIV-infected adults with insulin resistance and central adiposity. Forty-four HIV-infected adults with baseline insulin resistance and central adiposity were randomly assigned to 4 mo of pioglitazone (30 mg/day) with or without supervised, progressive aerobic, and resistance exercise training (1.5–2 h/day, 3 days/wk). The hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp was used to evaluate alterations in central and peripheral insulin sensitivity. Thirty-nine participants completed the study. Hepatic insulin sensitivity improved similarly in both groups. Exercise training augmented the beneficial effects of pioglitazone on peripheral insulin sensitivity. Greater improvements in peripheral insulin sensitivity were associated with reductions in total body and limb adipose content rather than increases in limb adiposity or pioglitazone-induced increases in adiponectin concentration. We conclude that supplementing pioglitazone with increased physical activity improved insulin sensitivity more effectively than pioglitazone alone in HIV-infected adults with insulin resistance and central adiposity. Pioglitazone alone did not significantly increase limb adipose content. Potential cardiovascular benefits of these interventions in HIV need investigation.
Covalently Bonded Organic Monolayers on a Carbon Substrate: A New Paradigm for Molecular Electronics

We report herein the fabrication of a molecular junction in which a thin (8−15 A) layer of oriented organic molecules is positioned between two electronic conductors. The molecular layer becomes a component in an electronic circuit and exhibits properties that depend strongly on molecular structure. Bonding between the carbon substrate and the molecular layer is covalent and conjugated, and thus differs fundamentally from that of the widely studied self-assembled monolayers of alkane thiols on metal surfaces. The chemisorbed molecular layer is densely packed and stable and does not contain the tunneling barrier imposed by a sulfur atom. The current/voltage behavior of methyl-phenyl, n-butyl phenyl, tert-butyl phenyl, and stilbene monolayers between pyrolytic carbon and mercury indicates a negligible pinhole density and shows weak dependence on temperature. The action of a nitroazobenzene molecular junction as a bistable switch is demonstrated, and switching behavior persisted for many on−off cycles and ov...
Does delayed graft function in the first kidney transplant influence graft outcome in a subsequent transplant

Abstract Background In kidney transplantation, delayed graft function (DGF) portends adverse graft and patient outcomes. It is unclear whether DGF in the first kidney transplant would adversely impact the outcome of a subsequent transplant. Methods Utilizing data from the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, we identified patients ≥ 18 years of age who underwent at least two deceased donor kidney transplantation (DDKT) between 1987 and 2010. Patients were then divided into two groups based on whether or not they developed DGF in the first transplant (1st TXP DGF group and 1st TXP no-DGF group). Unadjusted and adjusted graft survivals (Cox regression) between the groups were compared. Results A total of 10,628 patients were identified who received more than one DDKT (3672 patients in the 1st TXP DGF group and 6956 patients in the 1st TXP no-DGF group). A higher incidence of DGF was observed with the second transplant in patients who had DGF in the first transplant (34% vs 26%, P = .001). Unadjusted graft survival for the second transplant was superior in the 1st TXP no-DGF group (P = .002). After correction for confounding variables, DGF in the first transplant did not have significant adverse impact on the graft survival of the second transplant (hazard ratio 1.2 with 95% confidence interval 0.96–1.09, P = .44). Conclusions In patients undergoing more than one DDKT, DGF in the first transplant is associated with higher incidence of DGF in the subsequent transplant but did not have independent adverse influence on the outcome of that graft.
PROCESSOR LOWER BOUND FORMULAS FOR ARRAY COMPUTATIONS AND PARAMETRIC DIOPHANTINE SYSTEMS

Using a directed acyclic graph (dag) model of algorithms, we solve a problem related to precedence-constrained multiprocessor schedules for array computations: Given a sequence of dags and linear schedules parametrized by n, compute a lower bound on the number of processors required by the schedule as a function of n. In our formulation, the number of tasks that are scheduled for execution during any fixed time step is the number of non-negative integer solutions dn to a set of parametric linear Diophantine equations. We present an algorithm based on generating functions for constructing a formula for these numbers dn. The algorithm has been implemented as a Mathematica program. Example runs and the symbolic formulas for processor lower bounds automatically produced by the algorithm for Matrix-Vector Product, Triangular Matrix Product, and Gaussian Elimination problems are presented. Our approach actually solves the following more general problem: Given an arbitrary r× s integral matrix A and r-dimensional integral vectors b and c, let dn(n=0,1,…) be the number of solutions in non-negative integers to the system Az=nb+c. Calculate the (rational) generating function ∑n≥ 0dntn and construct a formula for dn.
Early left ventricular regional contractile impairment in chronic mitral regurgitation occurs in a consistent, heterogeneous pattern

Objectives The clinical guidelines for asymptomatic patients with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) use the ejection fraction (EF) to trigger surgical referral. We hypothesized that the EF is not sensitive enough to detect the earliest contractile injury in chronic MR and that the injury associated with chronic MR is not global but heterogeneous, occurring regionally and predictably, before the onset of global left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Methods Fifteen patients with chronic MR and normal LVEF by echocardiography underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with tissue tagging. Point-specific comparisons (at 15,300 LV grid points) of multiple strain parameters to a normal human strain database allowed normalization of patient-specific regional contractile function. Data were mapped over patient-specific 3-dimensional geometry and averaged across 6 LV regions. Results Global LV longitudinal and circumferential myocardial strains were normal for all 15 patients with MR compared with normal controls ( P > .05). Despite preserved global function, the anteroseptum and posteroseptum demonstrated significantly worse contractile function compared with other LV regions ( P = .003 and P = .035, respectively). Hypercontractile regions (lateral walls) appeared to compensate ( P = .002) for the reduced septal contractile function, masking injury detection by global indexes. Conclusions The earliest contractile injury seen in patients with MR is heterogeneous and consistently distributed along the LV septum. Compensatory responses include hypercontractility of other regions. These data suggest that rather than relying on global LV contractile metrics, which cannot detect early injury, patients might be better served by undergoing directed surveillance of "sentinel" LV regions (LV septum) with high-resolution metrics of regional contractile function.
Unfolding Face-Neighborhood Convex Patches: Counterexamples and Positive Results

We address unsolved problems of unfolding polyhedra in a new context, focusing on special convex patches|disklike polyhedral subsets of the surface of a convex polyhedron. One long-unsolved problem is edge-unfolding prismatoids. We show that several natural strategies for unfolding a prismatoid can fail, but obtain a positive result for \petal unfolding" topless prismatoids, which can be viewed as particular convex patches. We also show that the natural extension of an earlier result on face-neighborhood convex patches fails, but we obtain a positive result for nonobtusely triangulated faceneighborhoods.
Nonwoven textiles in automotive interiors

Abstract: This chapter provides an overview of the current market for automotive textiles and also a discussion of key issues for safety, economics, aesthetics, acoustics, and ecology involved in the design and production of automotive nonwoven materials. Auto makers’ major requirements for automotive textiles are described and some constraints for auto nonwoven producers are explained. Typical nonwoven applications in auto interior manufacturing are illustrated and the primary specifications of nonwoven materials for these particular applications are described. New challenges and opportunities for automotive nonwoven producers are reviewed and the future trends of auto nonwoven development are summarized.
Influence of intermittent hyperglycemic glucose levels on the phagocytosis of microorganisms by human granulocytes in vitro.

Repeated brief exposures to glucose in concentrations of 0.8g/100 ml significantly depresses in vitro phagocytic ingestion of opsonized Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by human peripheral polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN's), while the same concentration of L-aminoacid mixtures (Freamine) under the same conditions has no influence on it.
Dimethylamine Addition to Formaldehyde Catalyzed by a Single Water Molecule: A Facile Route for Atmospheric Carbinolamine Formation and Potential Promoter of Aerosol Growth

We use ab initio calculations to investigate the energetics and kinetics associated with carbinolamine formation resulting from the addition of dimethylamine to formaldehyde catalyzed by a single water molecule. Further, we compare the energetics for this reaction with that for the analogous reactions involving methylamine and ammonia separately. We find that the reaction barrier for the addition of these nitrogen-containing molecules onto formaldehyde decreases along the series ammonia, methylamine, and dimethylamine. Hence, starting with ammonia, the reaction barrier can be “tuned” by the substitution of an alkyl group in place of a hydrogen atom. The reaction involving dimethylamine has the lowest barrier with the transition state being 5.4 kcal/mol below the (CH3)2NH + H2CO + H2O separated reactants. This activation energy is significantly lower than that for the bare reaction occurring without water, H2CO + (CH3)2NH, which has a barrier of 20.1 kcal/mol. The negative barrier associated with the singl...
Human red cells enhance the formation of 5-lipoxygenase-derived products by neutrophils.

Upon activation, human neutrophils generate 5-lipoxygenase products which are involved in inflammation as well as other physiological and pathophysiological processes. We have examined the influence of red cells on the generation of lipoxygenase-derived products by neutrophils utilizing high pressure liquid chromato-graphy system which permitted quantitation of SHETE, leukotriene B4 (and its isomers) and the omega oxidation products of leukotriene B4 (20-hydroxyleukotriene B4, 20-carboxyleukotriene B4) within the same sample. Co-incubation of red cells with neutrophils (50:1, red cells:neutrophils) resulted in a 722 percent increase in 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid production and a slight increase in leukotriene B4 and its omega oxidation products which were not accompanied by increases in 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid production. The role of the sulfhydryl status of the red cell and its ability to scavenge hydrogen peroxide were assessed in relationship to the interaction of red cells on the neutrophi...
On the impact of journal papers: The Muskingum-Cunge flood-routing method

(2003). On the impact of journal papers: The Muskingum-Cunge flood-routing method. Journal of Hydraulic Research: Vol. 41, No. 6, pp. 563-563.
Sacred Property: Searching for Value in the 9/11 Rubble

Officials and others designated property damaged in the attacks of September 11, 2001 as ‘sacred.’ Some of the objects in question were unremarkable, often nothing more than rubble; some were even considered trash and sent to a landfill; but for those who possessed them they seem to have transcended such banal categorizations. This Chapter seeks to document and analyze the form of value created through destruction and the implicit norms that emerged around the use and circulation of various ‘sacred’ objects. Working through a number of detailed case studies — including the investigation of Federal Bureau of Investigation agents for taking souvenirs from ‘ground zero,’ as well as the litigation initiated by family members seeking to recover the remains of their loved ones from the Fresh Kills garbage dump on Staten Island — this Chapter examines who lays claim to this sacred form of value, to what purposes it is directed, and whether it momentarily overwhelmed the usual legal understandings of property and ownership
Passive rGE or Developmental Gene-Environment Cascade? An Investigation of the Role of Xenobiotic Metabolism Genes in the Association Between Smoke Exposure During Pregnancy and Child Birth Weight

There is considerable evidence that smoke exposure during pregnancy (SDP) environmentally influences birth weight after controlling for genetic influences and maternal characteristics. However, maternal smoking during pregnancy-the behavior that leads to smoke exposure during pregnancy-is also genetically-influenced, indicating the potential role of passive gene-environment correlation. An alternative to passive gene-SDP correlation is a cascading effect whereby maternal and child genetic influences are causally linked to prenatal exposures, which then have an 'environmental' effect on the development of the child's biology and behavior. We describe and demonstrate a conceptual framework for disentangling passive rGE from this cascading GE effect using a systems-based polygenic scoring approach comprised of genes shown to be important in the xenobiotic (substances foreign to the body) metabolism pathway. Data were drawn from 5044 families from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children with information on maternal SDP, birth weight, and genetic polymorphisms in the xenobiotic pathway. Within a k-fold cross-validation approach (k = 5), we created weighted maternal and child polygenic scores using 18 polymorphisms from 10 genes that have been implicated in the xenobiotic metabolism pathway. Mothers and children shared variation in xenobiotic metabolism genes. Amongst mothers who smoked during pregnancy, neither maternal nor child xenobiotic metabolism polygenic scores were associated with a higher likelihood of smoke exposure during pregnancy, or the severity of smoke exposure during pregnancy (and therefore, neither proposed mechanism was supported), or with child birth weight. SDP was consistently associated with lower child birth weight controlling for the polygenic scores, maternal educational attainment, social class, psychiatric problems, and age. Limitations of the study design and the potential of the framework using other designs are discussed.
Drop Test Simulation of Table Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) with Finite Element Method

Table grapes is a second industry in viticulture in Turkey and have been grown in primarily Mediterranean region a popular fruit for local consumption and export to many European and Asian countries as a fresh dessert and for this reason this product has to be transport so long distances for marketing. This simulated drop test experiment with Alphonse Lavallee and Antep Karasi (Vitis vinifera L.) table grape cultivars grown in Konya province was conducted in lab condition Selcuk University Faculty of Agriculture. To produce main knowledge, and to improve the application of resources used to produce, pack, transport, and merchandise Turkish table grapes by increasing efficiency, controlling cost and managing risk throughout the supply chain. This study focuses on the deformation behavior of the grape berries under drop case. In the drop test the mechanical parameters such as maximum force, deformation, Poisson ratio, modulus of elasticity and deformation energy of grape berries were determined. These parameters were used in the drop test packaged program of Solidworks 2010. For modeling the grape berry; a three dimensional scanner and high speed camera were used. Eventually, the important parameters as stress and displacement were determined according to finite element results. The results of this study shed light on new investigations of mechanical parameters of fruits by using finite element method.
Feature-driven illustrative visualization and graphics

We present several feature-driven illustrative visualization and graphics techniques to enhance the representation of the features of interest in volume datasets. While the magnitude and resolution of real-life datasets keep increasing dramatically, there is a limit on the screen pixel density the human eye can resolve, and a bound on the information a human brain can visually process at any given time. Therefore, we devise techniques to facilitate the perception of the visual information. First, we propose a GPU-based focus+context framework that uses various standard and advanced magnification lens rendering techniques to magnify the features of interest, while compressing the remaining volume regions without clipping them away completely. Our technique allows the user to interactively manage the available screen area, dedicating more area to the more resolution-important features. A generalization of this concept is multiperspective rendering, which is also studied in our framework to show the spatial relationships of features. Second, when features are simply magnified, there will always be a limit on the available level of detail and the resolution of the data. To address these shortcomings, we present a technique to extend regular zooms to semantic zooms. Our technique generates the missing detail from any available and plausible high-resolution datasets, using constrained texture synthesis. We demonstrate our approach by ways of a medical application – the visualization of a human liver – but its principles readily apply to any scenario, as long as data at all resolutions are available. The third topic is related to surface texture mapping and synthesis, where we present two methods that preserve both scale and angle. By using global conformal parameterization, the 3D surface texture synthesis problem can be converted to a 2D image synthesis problem. Our multi-scale synthesis method maintains a more uniform area scaling factor. By employing a conformal factor-driven mass-spring relaxation on global parameterization, our second method helps preserve orthogonality and size in texture mapping. This thesis also seeks to break new grounds in embedding concepts from human perception, cognition, and visual processing into visualization design. We present a rule based color design system to provide better control for task-driven or feature-driven visualization tasks. Our system not only assists in the selection of proper colors, it also helps to avoid poor color mixing in semi-transparent rendering and the apparent change in brightness in color harmonization. Then, inspired by our work on volume rendering and color design, we propose a general multi-layer multi-volume rendering framework. Finally, we investigate the influence and settings of various volume rendering parameters by conducting a user study with 750 participants, assessing the results via conjoint analysis, a promising paradigm to conduct user studies in visualization developed by close collaborators.
The Influence of Duct Development Distance on Screen-Generated Total Pressure Distortion Profiles

The rising interest in fan performance subject to total pressure distortion, a topic of fundamental interest for integrated airframe/engine architectures, has led to increased research in ground based testing environments. Included in these studies is the generation of simulated total pressure distortion profiles using wire mesh screens. Although the development of total pressure distortion patterns has been studied in a historical context since distortion effects on engine performance were of first interest, these were typically simplified experimental studies for low-speed flows. To aid in the study of total pressure distortion evolution, a series of experiments were completed to fill in the knowledge gaps that have not been researched in modern distortion literature. Presented is an extensive experimental program to investigate the development of a simulated total pressure distortion profile in a constant diameter inlet duct. Included is a detailed statistical analysis quantifying the attenuation of the distortion profile for increasing development length. The unsteady nature of the distortion profile is also investigated. Recommendations are made regarding the placement of total pressure distortion screens for future ground-based testing and research.