cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noise characterization for LISA

We consider the general problem of estimating the in-flight Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) noise power spectra and cross-spectra, which are needed for detecting and estimating the gravitational wave signals present in the LISA data. For the LISA baseline design and in the long wavelength limit, we bound the error on all spectrum estimators that rely on the use of the fully symmetric Sagnac combination $(\ensuremath{\zeta}).$ This procedure avoids biases in the estimation that would otherwise be introduced by the presence of a strong galactic background in the LISA data. We specialize our discussion to the detection and study of the galactic white-dwarf--white-dwarf binary stochastic signal.
Nonlinear analysis of store-induced limit cycle oscillations

Flight tests of modern high-performance fighter aircraft reveal the presence of limit cycle oscillation (LCO) responses for aircraft with certain external store configurations. Conventional linear aeroelastic analysis predicts flutter for conditions well beyond the operational envelope, yet these store-induced LCO responses occur at flight conditions within the flight envelope. Several nonlinear sources may be present, including aerodynamic effects such as flow separation and shock-boundary layer interaction and structural effects such as stiffening, damping, and system kinematics. No complete theory has been forwarded to accurately explain the mechanisms responsible. This research examines a two degree-of-freedom aeroelastic system which possesses kinematic nonlinearities and a strong nonlinearity in pitch stiffness. Nonlinear analysis techniques are used to gain insight into the characteristics of the behavior of the system. Numerical simulation is used to verify and validate the analysis. It is found that when system damping is low, the system clearly exhibits nonlinear interaction between aeroelastic modes. It is also shown that although certain applied forcing conditions may appear negligible, these same forces produce large amplitude LCOs under specific realizable circumstances.
Effect of complex nitrogen sources on the production of penicillin acylase byBacillus megaterium

The following complex nitrogen sources were evaluated for the production of penicillin acylase byBacillus megaterium: casein hydrolysate, corn steep liquor, stick water concentrate, blood meal and defatted sunflower meal. Experiments were run in shake flasks at 30‡C and pH 7.0. Best results were obtained with casein hydrolysate: 244 IU/I were produced with a productivity of 20.3 IU/l/h and yield of 717.6 IU/g of nitrogen. The lowest results correspond to sunflower meal with 39 IU/1.
Dynamics of sulfate particle production and growth in smog chamber experiments

Abstract The dynamics of sulfate particle production from diluted and filtered coal-fired power plant flue gases and from similar NO x -SO 2 -air mixtures were studied in a smog chamber. The results revealed that the rate of SO 2 to SO 4 4 -conversion in clean air is slower than the rate measured in the atmosphere. Similar SO 2 to SO 4 2 -conversion rates were measured for both filtered stack gas and synthetic stack gas mixtures. An excellent correlation was found between the rate of particulate sulfate formation and the rate of particle volume growth as measured with electrical aerosol size analyzer (EASA). From this correlation, sulfuric acid concentration in the aerosols was estimated to be 4.6 ± 0.3 molar. These two rates showed first order dependence on SO 2 at the sub-part per million range. Above 1 ppm, the reaction rates were independent of SO 2 concentration. Particle formation was interpreted in terms of the following major processes: nucleation, condensation and coagulation. The values of the nucleation and coagulation rate coefficients, k 4 and k 14 , respectively, were found to be k 4 = 6.9 ppm −1 min −1 , and k 14 = 1.4 × 10 7 ppm −1 min −1 respectively. The value of the condensation rate constant (k 10 ) was estimated to be 2.3 × 10 7 ppm −1 min −1 in the initial stages of particle production and is expected, according to the collision theory, to increase with particle size. Computer simulations of the reaction sequence involving particle formation and growth were conducted. Very good agreement was obtained between the particle number densities predicted by the simple model and those determined experimentally.
Ab initio calculation of the stoichiometry and structure of the (0001) surfaces of GaN and AlN

We have investigated the stoichiometry and the atomic and electronic structure of the anion- and cation-terminated (0001) surfaces of wurtzite-phase GaN and AlN, using ab initio local-orbital calculations based on the local-density approximation and the pseudopotential method. All stable surface configurations studied differ in atomic composition and periodicity from the ideal bulklike termination. We compare the total energy computed for various $p(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$ geometries of GaN and AlN(0001). Vacancy structures are found to be the most stable configurations for the anion- and cation-terminated surfaces. For metal-rich growth conditions, our calculations favor the adsorption of metal atoms on the cation-terminated surface. Anion- and cation-derived dangling-bond states appear in the bulk band gap as a result of the formation of vacancies or the adsorption of group-III atoms. Flat surfaces of both types are found to be stabilized by a $\frac{3}{4}$ ML adsorption of hydrogen.
Muscle and Movement Representations in the Primary Motor Cortex

What aspects of movement are represented in the primary motor cortex (M1): relatively low-level parameters like muscle force, or more abstract parameters like handpath? To examine this issue, the activity of neurons in M1 was recorded in a monkey trained to perform a task that dissociates three major variables of wrist movement: muscle activity, direction of movement at the wrist joint, and direction of movement in space. A substantial group of neurons in M1 (28 out of 88) displayed changes in activity that were muscle-like. Unexpectedly, an even larger group of neurons in M1 (44 out of 88) displayed changes in activity that were related to the direction of wrist movement in space independent of the pattern of muscle activity that generated the movement. Thus, both "muscles" and "movements" appear to be strongly represented in M1.
p21WAF1/CIP1 induction by 5-azacytosine nucleosides requires DNA damage

Decitabine (DAC) and 5-azacitidine have recently been approved for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome. The pharmacodynamic effects of DAC and 5-azacitidine outside their known activity as inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) require further investigation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of DAC on the expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1), a gene with a putative CpG island surrounding its promoter region. Promoter methylation analysis of p21(WAF1/CIP1) in leukemia cells revealed the absence of CpG methylation. However, DAC upregulated p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression in a dose-dependent manner (ED(50)=103.34 nM) and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest in leukemia cells. Sequential application of DAC followed by different histone deacetylase inhibitors induced expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) synergistically. Upregulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) paralleled DAC-induced apoptosis (ED(50)=153 nM). Low doses of DAC induced gamma-H2AX expression (ED(50)=16.5 nM) and upregulated p21(WAF1/CIP1) in congenic HCT 116 colon cancer cells in a DNMT-independent and p53-dependent fashion. Inhibition of p53 transactivation by pifithrin-alpha or the kinase activity of ATM by either the specific ATM inhibitor KU-5593 or caffeine abrogated p21(WAF1/CIP1) upregulation, indicating that DAC upregulation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) was p53- and ATM-dependent in leukemia cells. In conclusion, DAC upregulates p21(WAF1/CIP1) in DNMT-independent manner via the DNA damage/ATM/p53 axis.
Incisor size and wear in Australopithecus africanus and Paranthropus robustus

Abstract Comparisons based upon recent body size estimates indicate that the maxillary central incisors of Paranthropus robustus are relatively smaller than those of Australopithecus africanus. The MD diameters of A. africanus incisors are similar to expected values for a large-bodied catarrhine. The P. robustus crowns are noticeably smaller, being comparable to those of modern humans among extant catarrhines. This suggests that P. robustus may have ingested foods that required less extensive incisal preparation than the foods consumed by A. africanus. I1 bevelling patterns suggest that a horizontal incisal wear surface was probably maintained in both taxa through posterior tipping of these teeth. This indicates that the incisal surfaces of differently worn crowns may be legitimately compared in microwear analyses. The ratio of microwear pits to scratches, scratch orientations and wear feature dimensions do not differ significantly between the two early hominid taxa. Indeed, the differences among the labial, incisal and lingual surfaces within each species are commonly more noticeable than the differences between the two species. Microwear feature densities in A. africanus, however, are significantly higher for all three I1 surfaces. Comparisons with extant primates suggest that A. africanus incisors may have been employed to process a greater variety of foods, including larger, more abrasive items than were encountered by P. robustus.
Non-Occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV: 10-Year Retrospective Analysis in Seattle, Washington

Despite treatment guidelines in place since 2005, non-occupational post-exposure HIV prophylaxis (nPEP) remains an underutilized prevention strategy. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients presenting to a publicly-funded HIV clinic in Seattle, Washington for nPEP between 2000 and 2010 (N = 360). nPEP prescriptions were provided for 324 (90%) patients; 83% of prescription decisions were appropriate according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, but only 31% (N = 111/360) of patients were considered “high risk.” In order to use limited resources most efficiently, public health agencies should target messaging for this high-cost intervention to individuals with high-risk HIV exposures.
Tachyarrhythmias in young athletes.

Nineteen young athletes with documented symptomatic tachyarrhythmia were systematically evaluated. There were 15 men and 4 women, aged 14 to 32 years (mean 22 ± 6). Documented tachyarrhythmias were paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in five patients, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in five, paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia in eight (sustained in five, nonsustained in three) and ventricular fibrillation in one patient. Abnormal substrates were demonstrated in 15 (79%) of the 19 athletes: 5 had an anomalous atrioventricular (AV) pathway and 10 had heart disease (mitral valve prolapse in 9 patients and dilated cardiomyopathy in 1 patient). In 13 (68%) of the 19 athletes, all spontaneous attacks of tachyarrhythmia had started during strenuous exercise. Tachyarrhythmia that closely resembled clinical arrhythmia was induced by programmed cardiac stimulation in 13 athletes (68%) and was reproducibly provoked by treadmill exercise in 8 athletes (42%). In four of seven athletes with ventricular tachycardia, tachycardia closely resembling clinical arrhythmia was provoked by infusion of isoproterenol. In summary: 1) young athletes can have any of several tachyarrhythmias; 2) abnormal substrates can be demonstrated in many athletes with symptomatic tachyarrhythmia; and 3) tachyarrhythmias in young athletes frequently occur during exercise.
Hair and Serum Copper, Zinc, Calcium, and Magnesium Concentrations in Alzheimer-type Dementia

Several research groups have reported alterations in mineral concentrations in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). A study of serum copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and albumin concentrations in outpatients with Alzheimer's disease (in the early-to-middle stages) and in these patients' healthy spouses is reported. Hair concentrations of copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and manganese were also measured in these AD patients and controls. No differences in serum of hair concentrations were found, and determinations of these hair and serum mineral concentrations do not appear to be of use in the diagnosis of AD. Significant positive correlations were found between age and hair manganese (Mn) in the control spouses, and a similar (but statistically nonsignificant) trend in the AD patients.
Bioautography of cell attachment proteins.

Abstract A simple method, termed bioautography, is described which permits the visualization of bands of biologically active collagen-dependent cell attachment protein (c-CAP) after gel electrophoresis. The principle of bioautography depends on the “staining” of electrophoretically separated c-CAP's by live mammalian cells. Bioautography demonstrates ( a ) two bands of cell attachment protein (c-CAP) in serum; and ( b ) electrophoretic mobility differences between c-CAP's derived from the sera of various mammalian species.
Cannabis und Jugendalter – psychoaktive Substanzen und seelische Entwicklung

Der Konsum von Cannabis hat in den letzten Jahrzehnten stark zugenommen. Eltern und Lehrer sind verunsichert. Vielen Arzten und Therapeuten fehlen Instrumente um hier erfolgreich Hilfe anzubieten. Damit Behandlungen Erfolg versprechend sind, mussen wir ausreichendes Wissen uber die Substanz, deren Wirkung, Nebenwirkung, allfallige Schadigungen haben. Gleichzeitig mussen wir die Entwicklungsphase der Adoleszenz, in der der Konsum stattfindet, kennen. Die Fragen, ob der Cannabiskonsum Psychosen auslost, Suchtentwicklungen moglich sind oder die seelische und korperliche Entwicklung gestort werden kann, sind dabei besonders wichtig. In diesem Beitrag wird das Problem des Cannabiskonsums im Jugendalter in Beziehung zu den Aufgaben, die im Jugendalter geleistet werden mussen, dargestellt und es werden Interventionsansatze die sich bewahrt haben vorgestellt.
Abstract 5258: PTEN levels are controlled by a nuclear transport receptor in lung cancer.

The maintenance of PTEN protein levels is critical for tumor suppression. Yet, the ubiquitination system has been shown to affect PTEN levels both adversely through degradation, as well as positively through nuclear import, and it has remained unclear how these two processes are integrated to prevent cancer. Here we show, that a nuclear import receptor is at the heart of a failsafe system that maintains PTEN levels by mediating its nuclear transport. Loss of import receptor function not only leads to cytoplasmic PTEN accumulation but also prompts PTEN degradation through a novel component of the PTEN ubiquitination system. By testing the consequences of importin loss in vivo, we found that hypomorphic mice developed lung adenocarcinoma, which presented with aberrant cytoplasmic PTEN localization and degradation, as predicted by our in vitro findings. Since the corresponding human locus suffers frequent deletion as well as inactivating mutations in lung cancer, we propose that this import receptor is a novel tumor suppressor that antagonizes PI 3-Kinase signaling in settings with at least one intact PTEN gene.
The Reflectance Spectra of Metallic Oxides in the 300 to 1000 Millimicron Region

The reflectance spectra of forty metallic oxides and oxide-like materials have been obtained in the spectral region from 300 to 1000 millimicrons. The data are discussed in relation to the electronic structure of the materials.
Potential Renal Biomarkers in Experimental Left Ventricular Dysfunction

NGAL levels would identify patients at risk of subsequent AKI in ED patients with AHF. Methods: We selected participants from an ongoing prospective trial of patients who were treated for AHF in the ED and had a baseline urine NGAL [corrected for urine creatinine (Cr)] and serum Cr as well as at least one follow-up serum Cr. The criterion standard for AKI was defined as either: 1) creatinine increase $ 0.3 mg/dl during hospitalization; or 2) RIFLE criteria stages 1-3: defined as a creatinine increase of 1.5, 2.0 or 3.0 time baseline or a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decrease of O25%, O50%, or O75%, respectively. Groups were compared with the MannWhitney U test. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used as the overall measure of diagnostic accuracy. Results: There were 134 patients enrolled, with a median age of 65 (range 33-90), 58% Caucasian and 39% female. 23 patients (17.2%) fulfilled the definition of AKI during their hospital stay. Patients who did not develop AKI had significantly lower NGAL levels upon ED presentation than patients who developed AKI (median 13.0 ng NGAL/mg urine Cr vs 63.5 ng NGAL/mg urine Cr, respectively; p ! 0.001). The area under the ROC curve shown in the figure was 0.75 (95%CI 0.63 to 0.86). At a cutoff of 8.4 ng NGAL/mg urine Cr the sensitivity, specificity, negative, positive likelihood ratio were 89%, 33%, 0.08, 0.32, respectively. Conclusion: NGAL is significantly elevated in patients who develop subsequent AKI during hospitalization for AHF. These findings need to be explored further in a larger cohort of patients with AHF and AKI.
Sodium dodecyl sulfate induces plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 expression in epidermal keratinocytes in vivo and in vitro

The detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate is a well-known inducer of irritant contact dermatitis. In this study we show that sodium dodecyl sulfate induces the serine proteinase inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2, in epidermal keratinocytes. The enhancement in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 mRNA and antigen is observed both when sodium dodecyl sulfate is applied topically to normal human skin as well as when it is added to the growth medium of cultured human keratinocytes. In vitro , plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 mRNA is increased within 4–8 h after addition of the detergent, and the increase in plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 antigen occurs slightly later. The enhancing effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 is not related to nonspecific cell lysis nor is it secondary to induction of tumor necrosis factor α. Similarities between our in vitro and in vivo findings lead us to hypothesize that sodium dodecyl sulfate may exert its effect on epidermal plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 via interaction with the keratinocyte.
MEMS safety switch for controlling critical software operations

This work is intended to help improve the safety of software-controlled safety-critical systems, while also helping to improve the mathematical characterization of such systems. Software processing is an essential part of many safety-critical operations. However, safety and reliability vulnerabilities are inherent in typical software logic and in hardware implementations representing the software logic, because it is impossible to assure perfect software, and it is difficult to make microelectronics invulnerable to many environments. Also, the safety of systems depending on software control is very difficult to assure probabilistically. In the approach described, system safety and reliability are improved by shifting the performance burden insofar as possible from software and firmware performance to a unique signal-driven MEMS switch (or switches). In order to improve safety, the information that would be necessary to inadvertently drive the switch is excluded from the system. Mathematical characterization and probabilistic analysis is improved by adhering to a signal derivation methodology. The approach utilizes strategically chosen metrics, which are then processed by a logical translator in a manner that substantially reduces undesired response in the presence of errors in the measured values, as well as substantially reducing undesired response in the measurement and translation processes.
Cyclic oxidation-induced cracking of platinum-modified nickel-aluminide coatings

Short cracks, extending to the interdiffusion zone, have been observed in platinum-modified nickel-aluminide diffusion coatings on single-crystal CMSX-4 superalloys after these have been subject to short (10 min) rapid thermal cycles. The cracks were revealed after removing the thermally grown oxide formed during cycling on the coating surfaces. Cracking was observed for coatings subject to thermal cycling between 1150 and 1050 °C, with and without an applied compressive stress, as well as on thermal cycling between 1150 °C and room temperature.
Deep-UV lithography for prototype 64-megabit DRAM fabrication

Deep UV lithography is an enabling technology for the fabrication of 64 megabit DRAM class devices. Wafer steppers operating at 248 nm currently provide both the resolution and the overlay capability to meet the stringent reguirements imposed by next generation memory device design. To demonstrate this, a prototype 64 megabit DRAM has been produced using exclusively DUV lithography. We chose two resist processes: a single level negative tone resist for noncritical levels and a surface imaging resist for critical levels. We show the process capability results for each resist approach, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each. We also discuss outstanding issues relating to implementation of deep UV lithography, including equipment reliability, resist performance and availability, and process throughput
Facilitators of and barriers to healthy eating and physical activity for Black women: a focus group study in Florida, USA

Black women’s experiences of, perceptions of, and attitudes to healthy eating and physical activity have been suggested as contributors to their high rates of obesity. This paper uses data from four focus groups with Black women aged 18–45 years in Broward County, Florida, to explore their views. Findings suggest that participants were aware of the importance of healthy eating and physical activity, and motivated by wanting to model healthy behaviors for their families, but that ‘healthy’ behavior was perceived as requiring considerable ‘pre-planning’ and commitment. Programs addressing Black women that incorporate their perceptions and work with them to overcome challenges are needed.
Gender Attitudes, Feminist Identity, and Body Images among College Women.

Cultural forces influence body-image development in gender-contingent ways, such that women in our society possess more dysfunctional body-image attitudes than men do. However, few studies have examined how women’s body-image experiences relate to their own gender attitudes and ideologies. This investigation of 122 college women assessed multiple parameters of body image (i.e., evaluation, investment, and affect) and different facets of gender attitudes and feminist identity development. Results revealed minimal relationships between body-image attitudes and either feminist identity or adherence to traditional gender beliefs at individual/stereotypic or societal levels. On the other hand, traditional gender attitudes at the level of male-female social interactions were associated with stronger and more dysfunctional investments in cultural and personal appearance standards. The scientific, social, and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Robust, inexpensive resonant frequency based contact detection for robotic manipulators

This paper presents a method for detecting contact on a compliant link utilizing a method to sense changes in the resonant frequency of the link due to external contact. The approach uses an inexpensive accelerometer mounted on or inside the compliant link and a phase locked loop circuit to oscillate the link at its resonant frequency. Using this approach, we are able to reliably sense contact anywhere on the link with a contact force threshold sensitivity of between 0.05 and 0.15 N depending on the contact location.
Intracoronary thrombolysis in the treatment of graft closure immediately after CABG

A patient with a hypercoagulable state underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and was recovering uneventfully until diffuse electrocardiographic changes and cardiogenic shock developed within hours of the operation. Because of severe hemodynamic compromise on high-dose inotropic drugs and intraaortic balloon pump support, she was taken to the catheterization laboratory, where the patient was discovered to have thrombotic occlusion of all grafts, including the left internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending artery. Multiple graft percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and thrombolysis with urokinase successfully opened the grafts, without bleeding complication. Anastomoses were all free of significant anatomic lesion. She has remained free of cardiac symptoms for 3.5 years after operation.
Direct interferometric measurements of quantum-confined Stark effect in InAs/GaAs short period strained-layer superlattice MQWs

The electrorefraction within and below the band edge of multiple (50) InAs/GaAs short period strained-layer superlattice quantum wells has been measured. An index change of 4×10 -3 was measured near the excitonic resonance with an applied electric field of 27 kV/cm, corresponding to a quadratic electro-optic coefficient of -3×10 -13 cm 2 /V 2 . These results agree with predictions from the Kramers-Kronig relations based on measurements of electroabsorption
Scalable Parallel Approach for High-Fidelity Steady-State Aeroelastic Analysis and Adjoint Derivative Computations

Aeroelastic systems achieve the best performance when the aerodynamic shape and structural sizing are optimized concurrently, but such an optimization is challenging when high-fidelity aerodynamic and structural models are required. This paper addresses this challenge through several significant improvements. Fully coupled Newton–Krylov methods are presented for the solution of aerostructural systems and for the corresponding adjoint systems. The coupled adjoint method presented can compute gradients with respect to thousands of multidisciplinary design variables accurately and efficiently. This is enabled by several improvements in the computation of the multidisciplinary terms in the coupled adjoint. The parallel scalability of the methods is demonstrated for a full aircraft configuration using an Euler computational fluid dynamics model with more than 8×106 state variables and a detailed structural finite element model of the wing with more than 1×106 degrees of freedom. The coupled Newton–Krylov metho...
Relativistic nuclear fluid dynamics and Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck kinetic theory.

Relativistic kinetic theory may be used to understand hot dense hadronic matter. We address the questions of collective flow and pion production in a three-dimensional relativistic fluid dynamic model and in the Vlasov-Uehling-Uhlenbeck microscopic theory. Collective flow and pion data point to a stiff equation of state. The effect of the nuclear equation of state on the thermodynamic parameters is discussed. The properties of dense hot hadronic matter are studied in Au+Au collisions from 0.1 to 10 GeV/nucleon.
Optimization of the clubface shape of a golf driver to minimize dispersion of off-center shots

Abstract The objective was to optimize the post-impact conditions of a golf driver and golf ball in order to minimize dispersion of a drive for off-center hits. When a golf ball is struct by a clubhead at a point away from the “sweetspot” on the clubface, spin is induced on the ball which makes it curve during flight. Over the years, clubmakers have made the clubface slightly convex in shape in order make off-center hits land as close to the fairway as possible. A general, three-dimensional impact model using principles of momentum conservation on rigid bodies was used to extract the spin and velocity vectors of the ball after impact. An aerodynamic model including drag, lift and skin friction was then used to obtain the landing position of the ball. An optimization routine was used to calculate the optimum clubface shape to minimize golf ball dispersion from the middle of the fairway, for off-center hits. In order to have an accurate simulation of impact on a computer, the mass and inertia tensor of the clubhead was experimentally measured. The clubface shape relative to the center of gravity of the clubhead was also measured. The impact computer program and golf ball trajectory computer programs were verified by using the golfing robot “Iron Byron” to hit various shots on the clubface of a particular driver. The computer simulation yielded results of ball landing positions from the middle of the fairway that fell within the standard deviations of those experimentally measured. The optimization routine was used to find the optimum clubface shape to minimize golf ball dispersion for off-center hits, for a particular driver swung at a certain initial velocity in a certain direction. The clubface shape was modeled in the impact program as an ellipsoid. After running the optimization program, the average dispersion from the middle of the fairway for the worst possible off-center hit locations was reduced on the average from 8.075 to 2.198 yards. The optimization program demonstrated its effectiveness in determining the optimum clubface to minimize dispersion of off-center hits.
Experimental studies on the blood flow through tapered tubes

Abstract An investigation of the problem of steady laminar blood flow in small angle, uniformly tapering tubes of circular cross section has been conducted. An approximate pressure flow relationship was obtained by adding an empirical inertial correction to the analytical solution for the pressure drop for the case of slow flow (along radial stream lines) in a tapered tube. The approximate pressure-flow relationship was found to describe data obtained with water for a modified Reynolds Number which ranged from 0 · 2 to 10. This range of modified Reynolds Number corresponds to values encountered in the larger arteries. Pressure-flow data were obtained with tapered tubes of 1° and 2°. Data obtained for blood flow were found to be well described by the approximate relationship and blood viscosities calculated from these relations and the pressure-flow data agreed to 5 per cent with independently determined viscosities.
Reliability of Fine Pitch Plastic Quad Flat Pack Leads and Solder Joints under Bending, Twisting, and Thermal Conditions

The thermal and mechanical responses of a 304-Pin, 0.5 mm pitch, 40 mm by 40 mm body size plastic quad flat pack (QFP) solder joints and leads have been determined in this study. The thermal stress and strain in the leads and solder joints have been obtained by a 3-D nonlinear finite element method and the thermal fatigue life of the QFP corner solder joint was then estimated based on the calculated plastic strains, Coffin-Manson law, and isothermal fatigue data of solders. The effects of overload environmental stress factors on the mechanical responses of the leads and solder joints have been determined by bending and twisting experiments.
Analysis on the Dynamic Responses of the Broken Conductors in Transmission Lines

Impact loads from the broken conductors are common for transmission lines, which can bring threaten to the safe operation of the transmission lines. Dynamic analysis of the conductors in transmission lines under broken load was carried out. A finite element model of seven span conductors in transmission line was established in general software ANSYS. The insulator and the phase spacer were considered in the FEA model. The broken load case can be realized by the birth-death element method in ANSYS. Stiffness of the broken conductor or insulator element was changed to be a near zero value in a very short time. Effect of the damping property of the conductors was considered by the Rayleigh damping method. Dynamic responses of displacements at the broken points and the reaction forces of the insulators were obtained. Dynamic responses for the broken conductors with different damping ratios and bundle numbers were compared.
Effects of doxazosin, an α1-adrenergic inhibitor, on plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels, low density lipoprotein metabolism and cholesterol absorption in cynomolgus monkeys

Abstract The mechanism(s) by which doxazosin, an a, inhibitor, regulates plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and apolipoprotein B (apo B) levels were investigated in ‘normocholesterolemic’ (average total cholesterol (TC) of 218 mg/dl) and ‘hypercholesterolemic’ (average TC of 350 mg/dl) cynomolgus monkeys. Twelve weeks of doxazosin treatment (1 mg/kg per day) significantly reduced plasma TC and LDL-C levels in both groups while high density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I concentrations rose. Despite these changes in plasma lipids, LDL and HDL lipid composition was not affected by doxazosin. The reduction in LDL-C and apo B in the doxazosin-treated ‘hypercholesterolemic’ group was associated with a significant increase in both receptor-dependent and -independent LDL apo B fractional catabolic rates. Similar associations were noted in the ‘normocholesterolemic’ group. LDL apo B production or transport rate was not affected by doxazosin. Cholesterol absorption was also significantly reduced by doxazosin which may also contribute to lowering plasma LDL-C levels. These studies suggest that doxazosin treatment can produce beneficial changes in the plasma lipid profile over a wide rage of plasma cholesterol levels by up-regulating LDL fractional clearance.
Pseudo-guide wave propagation in stratified, inverted temperature distributions in the atmosphere

We have developed a theoretical model and a simulation model of wave propagation through stratified, inverted temperature distributions in the atmosphere. These conditions are present when local weather conditions cause a warm layer of air to exist above a cool layer of air, rather than the more common situation at low altitude, where the air temperature gradually decreases with increasing altitude. In this situation a sort of guided wave propagation is possible for laser beams. The ray describing the beam propagation direction is found to follow a path through the inverted layer similar to the path a guided ray follows through a gradient-index optical fiber, but without the phase matching condition being satisfied in general, leading to our use of the term pseudo-guided wave for this propagation phenomenon. For the temperature inversion to exist, it is necessarily the case that the vertical component of the wind must be very weak, and we conjecture that as a result the turbulence is quite weak in this layer, and possibly anisotropic. In this paper we describe this phenomenon, and establish the realistic nature of the phenomenon by examining real vertical temperature profiles. Ray optics and wave optics propagators are used to show that propagation through these layers leads to much higher beam quality at a target plane than would be expected under more typical atmospheric conditions. We also use the measured vertical temperature profiles to show that these conditions are quite common.
Immunotherapy of breast cancer, malignant melanoma, and acute leukemia with BCG: Prolongation of disease free interval and survival

Results of immunotherapy with BCG in patients with malignant melanoma, breast cancer, and acute leukemia are described. The first study demonstrated that high doses of living BCG organisms (6×108 viable units) delivered by scarification in the upper arms and legs prolonged the disease-free interval and survival of 52 malignant melanoma patients with regional lymph node metastases compared to 218 comparable surgical control patients. Patients with trunk and extremity, but not head and neck melanoma, benefited from BCG, suggesting the importance of the delivery of BCG into the tumor-involved lymphatics.
A case for using service availability to characterize IP backbone topologies

Traditional service-level agreements (SLAs), defined by average delay or packet loss, often camouflage the instantaneous performance perceived by end-users. We define a set of metrics for service availability to quantify the performance of Internet protocol (IP) backbone networks and capture the impact of routing dynamics on packet forwarding. Given a network topology and its link weights, we propose a novel technique to compute the associated service availability by taking into account transient routing dynamics and operational conditions, such as border gateway protocol (BGP) table size and traffic distributions. Even though there are numerous models for characterizing topologies, none of them provide insights on the expected performance perceived by end customers. Our simulations show that the amount of service disruption experienced by similar networks (i.e., with similar intrinsic properties such as average out-degree or network diameter) could be significantly different, making it imperative to use new metrics for characterizing networks. In the second part of the paper, we derive goodness factors based on service availability viewed from three perspectives: Ingress node (from one node to many destinations), link (traffic traversing a link), and network-wide (across all source-destination pairs). We show how goodness factors can be used in various applications and describe our numerical results.
The “relevance” of cultural identity in audiences' interpretations of mass media

This article discusses the promise of “relevancy” as a concept for analyzing socially situated meaning processes. It does so through an analysis of how gay male spectators make a “gay discourse” relevant in their interpretations of Harvey Fierstein's teleplay Tidy Endings. The study illustrates how the gay viewers' knowledge of Fierstein's works, oppression, AIDS, and issues of gay identity interact in the construction of meaning. The article demonstrates the value of relevancy for overcoming conceptual boundaries in studies of mass media interpretation. Particular attention is paid to the ways relevancy synthesizes sociopsychological, textual, and conversational resources in given moments of interpretation.
TREATMENT ACCEPTABILITY OF ALTERNATIVE MARITAL THERAPIES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Client acceptability of treatment procedures has recently become a significant concern in the assessment of psychotherapeutic effectiveness (Kazdin, French & Sherick, 1981; Wolf, 1978). Formally, acceptability refers to the fairness, appropriateness and intrusiveness of the treatment procedure as judged by clients, lay persons and nonprofessionals (Kazdin, 1980a). Unfortunately, marital and family therapists have yet to utilize this criterion in an evaluation of their psychotherapeutic interventions. Consequently, the purpose of the present investigation was to examine the acceptability of four differing therapeutic models (psychoanalytic, behavioral, systems and eclectic) used in the treatment of marital discord.
Comparison of standard carbidopa–levodopa and sustained-release carbidopa–levodopa in parkinson's disease: Pharmacokinetic and quality-of-life measures

We compared clinical, pharmacokinetic, and quality-of-life measures in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who were on standard carbidopa-levodopa (Std-L) and after conversion to sustained-release carbidopa-levodopa 50/200 (L-CR). A total of 20 PD patients with motor fluctuations participated in the study and 18 completed it. There were 10 women and eight men, with a mean age of 67.5 years and a mean disease duration of 9.9 years. All patients underwent 10-h pharmacokinetic and clinical evaluations while on Std-L and again while on L-CR. The patients maintained diaries for 2 days before the 10-h evaluations and completed a sickness impact profile (SIP) while on Std-L and again while on L-CR. The total daily levodopa intake was significantly greater with L-CR because of the reduced bioavailability of the L-CR. The mean daily levodopa dosage was 569 mg for Std-L compared with 751 mg for L-CR. The patients performed better in walking time, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (motor score), and tapping total with L-CR, although the improvement was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in dyskinesias between the two preparations. The plasma levodopa levels and the areas under the curve were significantly greater with L-CR. "On" time as measured by patient diaries was significantly greater for L-CR. There was no significant difference in the total SIP scores for patients on the two preparations, but patients had significantly better home management and mobility while on L-CR. In conclusion, L-CR resulted in more "on" time with greater plasma levodopa levels, which resulted in better home management and mobility.
Energy router: Architectures and functionalities toward Energy Internet

The next-generation electric power system, known as the smart grid, will incorporate a large number of renewable energy resources that fundamentally change the energy management paradigm. In order to manage efficiently the energy supply and demand in the power grid, energy routers are required which adjust dynamically the energy distribution in the grid, which is so called the Energy Internet. We discuss in this paper the functional expectations on the energy router design and present our preliminary research results on the energy router architectural construction and communication performance. This paper documents our work-in-progress on the design and implementation of energy router, a critical equipment to enable intelligent energy management in the smart grid.
Job 28 and Modern Theories of Knowledge

This article offers an interpretation of Job 28 in terms of modern theological discourse, with a focus on epistemology. The poem sets two ancient models of wisdom and knowledge in opposition: wisdom through individual exploration and wisdom through revelation. The first model finds its contemporary analogue in the Cartesian quest by a rational mind to possess objective knowledge. The second model, which the poem commends as its solution, is analogous to Michael Polanyi’s articulation of personal knowledge as submission to and embodiment of the superior knowledge of another.
Thirsty for H2O? Multiple essences and psychological essentialism

Abstract Within psychology, essentialism has often been understood as the imputation of a hidden natural underpinning that determines the identity and membership of a given category. This naturalistic understanding has failed to address the varied and multi-faceted manner in which essentialist beliefs function on a cognitive level. Specifically, such an understanding does not account for essentialist beliefs that are related to functional categories derivative of a particular individual's present needs or social context. A parsimonious theory of psychological essentialism that accounts for beliefs in essences with respect to all categories, including those believed to be “natural”, is found in the writing of James (The Principles of Psychology, Vol. 2, Dover, New York, NY, 1890/1950). After accounting for the manner in which James’ theory addresses the limitations of the naturalistic view and extends it, it is recommended that his theory be incorporated into future empirical study of psychological essentialism.
Facial expressions as modeled by shade gradient manipulations

The ability to model facial expressions by applying shading gradient manipulations to Langer stress lines was assessed in the current experiments. It was hypothesized that the perceived intensity of expressions and the judged faceness of the schematic stimuli would vary as a function of the depth or density of stress lines as measured by shading differences; light and dark contrasts on the facial surface. Expressiveness differences based on the shading manipulations were observed for some stimulus configurations with some differences differentiating the upper and lower halves of the face. The results implicate the shading manipulations as a potential notation system for describing the informational support for the perception of facial expressions, thus providing an empirical measure of relevant stimulus parameters.
Integrator Contracts with Many Agents and Bankruptcy

This article analyzes optimal livestock production contracts between an integrator company and many independent growers in three similar industries: broiler, turkey, and swine. The analysis provides an explanation for the simultaneous existence of distinct incentive schemes in these industries by examining the effects of bankruptcy. The key factors are shown to be the output price volatility and the firm size. With large companies dominating the broiler industry, a small price volatility facilitates the use of two-part piece rate tournaments. By contrast, given the prevalence of smaller companies in the swine industry, a larger price volatility generates a bankruptcy risk which renders the use of tournaments infeasible. Given the combination of medium-size companies in the turkey industry, an intermediate price volatility produces a mixed result where tournaments and fixed performance standards exist simultaneously.
Effects of Nosema heliothidis on fatty and amino acids in larvae and pupae of the bollworm, Heliothis zea☆

1. 1. Nosema heliothidis had a total fatty acid calorie value of 9.92 × 10−9/spore; H. zea larvae (4th and 5th instar), male pupae, and female pupae had averages of 0.64, 1.36, and 0.75 calories, respectively. 2. 2. The change in weight of healthy and infected larvae with age was significantly different (P < 0.01). 3. 3. The change of fatty acid caloric value of healthy and infected H. zea larvae with age was significantly different (P < 0.01, r = 0.40). 4. 4. The change in fatty add caloric value of healthy and infected male pupae with age was not significantly different, but the change in age was significant at the 99% level. 5. 5. Fresh weight was constant in healthy and infected pupae, but the fatty acid caloric value was significantly different (P < 0.01). 6. 6. The difference in the fatty acid caloric value of healthy male and female pupae was highly significant (P < 0.01). The infected male and female showed a significant difference at the 99% level. 7. 7. Amino acids n healthy H. zea were not significantly different from those in infected H. zea.
Neck dessection: Concepts, Controversies, and Technique

The various types of neck dissections are described. The indications for each type of neck dissection are discussed for patients with necks staged N0, N+, for the patient with an unknown primary and for the patient whose neck dissection is in conjunction with radiation. The technical aspects of modified neck dissections are addressed but not in great detail. The indications for the use of postoperative radiation are emphasized. The nodal groups at risk for metastases from various primary sites are identified and a terminology for neck dissection is suggested.
Early assessment of the effect of map-guided transcatheter intracardiac electric shock on sustained ventricular tachycardia secondary to coronary artery disease

Abstract Short-term efficacy of transcatheter intracardiac electric shock was evaluated in 25 patients with recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) secondary to coronary artery disease. Pace mapping and activation sequence mapping during VT were both used to direct intracardiac electric shocks applied between the distal electrode of the catheter (cathode) and a chest wall plate (anode) using a mean total energy of 588 ± 209 J/patient. The short-term outcome of the procedure was considered successful in 3 patients (12%) who neither developed spontaneous VT nor had sustained VT in response to programmed electrical stimulation 1 week after the procedure. The short-term outcome in the remaining 22 patients (88%) was considered unsuccessful: 7 of the 22 patients developed spontaneous sustained VT and in 19 patients, including 15 with no spontaneous VT, sustained VT was still inducible by programmed electrical stimulation 7 ± 2 days after the intracardiac electric shock. All 22 patients were subsequently treated with other modes of antiarrhythmic therapy. Using the technique described, the short-term efficacy of map-directed transcatheter intracardiac electric shock in eliminating VT is poor.