cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In-vivo tissue repair using light-activated surgical adhesive in a porcine model

An in vivo study was conducted to investigate the feasibility, mechanical function, and chronic biocompatibility of a new light-activated surgical adhesive for achieving rapid hemostasis of the puncture site following diagnostic catheterization and interventional cardiac procedures. Porcine carotid arteries (nequals6) and femoral arteries (nequals6) were exposed, and an incision was made in the arterial walls using a 16G needle. The surgical adhesive, composed of a poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffold doped with the traditional protein solder mix of serum albumin and indocyanine green dye, was used to close the incisions in conjunction with an 805-nm diode laser. Blood flow was restored to the vessels immediately after the procedure and the incision sites were checked for patency. The strength and hemostatic abilities of the new surgical adhesive were evaluated in the context of arterial pressure, persistence of hemostatis and presence of any inflammatory reaction after 3 days. After this evaluation period, the surgical procedure was repeated on the carotid arteries (nequals6) and femoral arteries (nequals6) of three additional animals that had been heparinized prior to surgery to closer approximate the conditions seen in a typical vascular surgical setting.
Effects of exercise test results on physician perceptions of coronary artery disease probability using a threshold analysis

Abstract The incremental diagnostic value of exercise electrocardiographic testing compared with clinical data alone in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) was found to be of limited value in a previous study. That study used a computer algorithm for diagnosing disease. Thus, the strict use of the results apply only to computerized disease diagnosis rather than physicians' diagnoses. The aim of the present study was to determine whether exercise test data improve a physician's ability to detect the presence or absence of CAD and 3-vessel or left main CAD, and whether the data effect the decision to perform angiography. The study sample comprised a data base of 312 patients whose clinical data, exercise test results and coronary anatomy were known. Individual cases were presented to 8 cardiologists with and without exercise data. The cardiologists provided estimates of disease probability and were asked whether they would request coronary angiography. Receiver-operating characteristic curves and goodness-of-fit analysis showed better discrimination and calibration of the estimates for the presence of CAD and 3-vessel/left main CAD after exercise test results were known. Individualized probability thresholds for deciding whether to request angiography were determined for each physician. Forty-three percent of patients crossed ≥1 threshold, with 64% of the crossings in the correct direction. For estimating the presence of any CAD, 84% of crossings from below to above a threshold were correct, whereas only 36% from above to below were correct. For 3-vessel/left main CAD, 36% of crossings from below to above a threshold were correct, whereas 88% from above to below were correct. Fifty-two percent of patients with 3-vessel/left main CAD were above a threshold for angiography before stress testing compared with 68% post-test, with 15 additional patients with 3-vessel or left main CAD above thresholds post-test. Thus, exercise testing is useful in the diagnosis of CAD and particularly in the selection of patients with 3-vessel or left main CAD for angiography.
Energetic particles in space

Particles ranging in energy from just above solar wind, ≳1 keV, to galactic cosmic rays of many GeV or greater are observed to be always present in the interplanetary medium. These suprathermal particles appear to come from many different sources: among them the galaxy and nearby interstellar medium, the Sun, planetary magnetospheres and bow shock waves. Recent studies have shown that the interplanetary medium itself is a major source of low energy, ≲102 MeV ions, particularly during solar quiet times. Although the physical mechanisms by which various suprathermal particle populations are produced are not well understood, it appears that collisionless shock waves are often involved in the acceleration of these particles. Here we review previous observations of these suprathermal particles and present some preliminary new observations of low energy, <102 keV particles from experiments aboard the ISEE-1, 2, and 3 spacecraft.
Treadmill exercise stress cardiac MRI for the assessment of left ventricular wall motion: a comparison with stress echocardiography in healthy volunteers.

Background Although exercise stress echo is commonly used for ischemic assessment, acoustic window limitations can often affect diagnosis. Recently, treadmill exercise stress CMR has become feasible (Foster et al, MRM, 2011); however, a direct comparison with stress echo has not been performed. The objective of this study was to compare exercise stress CMR to echo in healthy volunteers to assess left ventricular wall motion at peak stress.
Psychometric evaluation and comparison of three retrospective, multi-item measures of childhood sexual abuse

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the psychometric qualities of three retrospective, multi-item measures of childhood sexual abuse (CSA): the CSA Frequency Scale, CSA Count Index, and CSA Multiple Characteristics Index. METHODS: Two samples of women 20-50 years old who experienced CSA were recruited from a family practice clinic (N=132) and the community (N=19). The measures were designed to represent the three most commonly used approaches for multi-item measurement of past CSA, as determined by a review of literature. Items were derived from a self-administered instrument from a larger study. The CSA Frequency Scale was evaluated for test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and criterion-related validity. The CSA Count and CSA Multiple Characteristics Indexes were evaluated for content specification, indicator specification, indicator collinearity, external validity, criterion-related validity, and test-retest reliability. Criterion-related validity variables were (a) physical and psychosocial symptomatology and (b) depression. RESULTS: Upon evaluation, all three measures met criteria for satisfactory quality, with one exception: external validity for both indexes. When compared across test-retest reliability and criterion-related validity results, none of the measures proved superior. Intraclass correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability ranged from .92 to .94; correlations with the criterion-related validity variables ranged from r=.36 to .41. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the continued use of established scales similar to the CSA Frequency scale. In addition, the results suggest further development and standardization of indexes similar to the CSA Count and Multiple Characteristics Indexes is warranted. Language: en
Preparing Performers and Composers for Effective Educational Work with Children

(2005). Preparing Performers and Composers for Effective Educational Work with Children. Arts Education Policy Review: Vol. 106, No. 6, pp. 31-38.
Suppression of post-ischemic-induced fos protein expression by an antisense oligonucleotide to c-fos mRNA leads to increased tissue damage.

Activation of c-fos, an immediate early gene, and the subsequent upregulation of Fos protein expression occur following neural injury, including focal cerebral ischemia (fci). Fos and Jun form a heterodimer known as activator protein 1, which regulates the expression of many late effector genes. To study the downstream effects of c-fos expression following ischemia, we suppressed the translation of c-fos by administering an antisense oligonucleotide (AO) to c-fos mRNA. Eighteen hours prior to fci, male, Long Evans (LE) rats received intraventricular injections of AO, mismatched AO (MS) or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF). Fci was induced by permanent right middle cerebral artery occlusion. At 24-h post-occlusion, neurological function was assessed, and the animals were sacrificed. The brains were removed and stained with triphenyltetrazolium chloride for infarct volume determination. Fos immunohistochemistry was performed in separate animals to determine the effects of treatment on Fos expression number of Fos positive cells. AO administration reduced the number of cells with fci-induced Fos expression by approximately 75%. No differences in neurological scores existed between any of the groups. AO-treated LE developed larger infarcts (40.1+/-1.0%, mean+/-S.D., p<0.001) than MS- or aCSF-treated controls (34.3+/-1.0%, 34.6+/-1.0%, respectively). These results suggest that c-fos activation and subsequent Fos protein expression exerts a neuroprotective effect, which is likely via upregulation of neurotrophins, following focal cerebral ischemia. This response, among others, may contribute to brain adaptation to injury that underlies functional recovery after stroke.
Leon Knopoff (1925–2011)

Leon Knopoff, a preeminent seismologist, died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on 20 January. His extraordinary talents spanned fields as diverse as quantum mechanics and musicology, earning him a reputation as a Renaissance man of the modern era.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus versus the burn patient

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a frequent cause of nosocomial infection, its increasing prevalence posing serious therapeutic and infection control problems within the hospital environment. MRSA is a major challenge to the burn patient, with potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Burn patients have been shown to become colonised and infected more readily than other patient groups. Extensive burn injuries are particularly susceptible to infection as a result of the disruption of the normal skin barrier and accompanying depression of immune responses. Extended hospitalisation and antibiotic therapy have been identified as additional risk factors for MRSA carriage and infection. Microbial surveillance, epidemiological studies and the introduction of strict infection control regimes can reduce the prevalence of MRSA but may be insufficient for erradication or prevention of outbreak situations. Recognition of the clinical importance of MRSA to the burn patient highlights the need to take appropriate measures to minimise transmission and infection in this vulnerable group of patients.
Explanation-based learning: a problem solving perspective

Abstract This article outlines explanation-based learning (EBL) and its role in improving problem solving performance through experience. Unlike inductive systems, which learn by abstracting common properties from multiple examples, EBL systems explain why a particular example is an instance of a concept. The explanations are then converted into operational recognition rules. In essence, the EBL approach is analytical and knowledge-intensive, whereas inductive methods are empirical and knowledge-poor. This article focuses on extensions of the basic EBL method and their integration with the prodigy problem solving system. prodigy 's EBL method is specifically designed to acquire search control rules that are effective in reducing total search time for complex task domains. Domain-specific search control rules are learned from successful problem solving decisions, costly failures, and unforeseen goal interactions. The ability to specify multiple learning strategies in a declarative manner enables EBL to serve as a general technique for performance improvement. prodigy 's EBL method is analyzed, illustrated with several examples and performance results, and compared with other methods for integrating EBL and problem solving.
Evaluating Online Information Regarding the Direct Anterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract We evaluated the quality of information available on the Internet regarding the direct anterior approach (DAA). The top 50 Web sites from three major search engines (Google, Yahoo!, and Bing) were tabulated utilizing the search term direct anterior hip replacement. Of these, only 22% were authored by a hospital/university, while 60% were by a private physician/clinic. Most Web sites presented the DAA as “better” than other surgical approaches describing benefits, such as accelerated recovery though only 35% described risks of the approach. While only 39% of sites presented patient eligibility criteria, greater than 75% had the ability to make an appointment. Web sites regarding the DAA provide patients with a limited perspective and may be focused on attracting new patients, as opposed to accurately educating them.
Synthesis and properties of ribosomal RNA in Drosophila.

Abstract The ribosomal RNA of Drosophila has been found to have properties which distinguish it from any other type of ribosomal RNA investigated in a comparable manner. However, it is clearly related to the ribosomal RNA of other eukaryotic organisms. Drosophila “28 s” ribosomal RNA sediments considerably slower than the corresponding molecule from HeLa cells. The unfractionated RNA of D. virilis , the species used throughout this study, has a base composition similar to that of other species of Drosophila ; the guanine plus cytosine content is 42%. The 28 s component, but not its precursors, is specifically converted by heating for five minutes at 60 °C in 0.11 m -Na + to products sedimenting at 18 s. The first distinct component to be labeled when larval RNA is labeled by injection of radioactive precursors sediments at 38 s. The 38 s component seems to give rise simultaneously to 18 s ribosomal RNA and a molecule sedimenting at 30 s. The 30 s component eventually gives rise to 28 s ribosomal RNA. Drosophila ribosomal RNA is selectively labeled by [ methyl - 3 H]methionine at the level of the 38 s precursor. Salivary glands incubated in Schneider's culture medium form the 38 s and 30 s precursors of ribosomal RNA, but not 28 and 18 s ribosomal RNA.
Human rights considerations and U.S. foreign policy: The Latin American experience

Abstract The question of the nature of the relationship between U.S. foreign policy and international human rights remains unanswered. While research exists, there is little consensus on the matter. Moreover, most of the research is limited in scope and methodology to case studies, analyses of a single year, or focusses solely on economic aid allocations as a proxy for U.S. foreign policy. This study comprehensively conceptualizes U.S. foreign policy by analyzing U.S. trade, investment, military arms sales, and various categories of foreign aid with the human rights practices of recipient nations in Latin America over a three year period. It was found that human rights tended not to be a consideration in allocating foreign aid and that it was linked to foreign investments and arms sales during only one of the three years studied. However, a strong relationship existed between human rights and bilateral trade with Latin America, in that the United States traded with nations having the best human rights records.
Application of weighted-majority minimum-range filters in the detection and sizing of tumors in mammograms

In image processing the solution is often unique to the problem. To be more specific, the importance of the filter window and sampling pattern chosen to filter, pass, or enhance a specific shape is very specific to the problem at hand. We detect suspect tumors in mammograms using a weighted majority minimum range filter and different sampling patterns and windows as a demonstration of this fact. Several methods have been developed to automate the process of detecting tumors in mammograms. We show that traditional windowing or sampling methods may be replaced by a hexagonal method that more accurately reflects the geometry of the problem and could improve the techniques already in existence. Several theorems involving a hexagonal filter window are presented, followed by the results of our application to mammograms.
An attempt to demonstrate the minimal number (estimated by probit analysis) of biological units of chicken embryo-propagated distemper virus required to immunize ferrets and minks.

The method of probit analysis was applied to the estimation of chicken embryo-propagated distemper virus infectivity.
Bridging the unstructured and structured worlds: an adaptive self learning medical form generating system

The prevalence of medical report standards and structured reporting systems reflects the increasing demand for representing and preserving medical and clinical data with controlled vocabularies in well structured format. Strictly formatted medical reports offer high human readability and facilitate further data processing, such as querying, statistical analysis, and reasoning to support decision making. However, many medical reports, such as pathology reports, nursing notes and physician's notes, are written in free-text narration. Manually extracting free text reports by filling predefined data fields is cumbersome and error-prone. Meanwhile, information extraction tools try to automate such process, for example, through machine learning based methods. Such methods often require large volumes of training datasets annotated manually by humans, which is expensive to obtain. Furthermore, they are also limited by their accuracy (both precision and recall).To facilitate the process of extracting information from narrative medical reports and transforming extracted data into standardized structured forms, we present in this paper a semi-automatic system, ASLForm, that interacts with users, analyzes free text input and generates normalized answers to populate forms in real-time. This system learns from users' feedback transparently and establishes decision models incrementally. It requires no additional configurations and training datasets. ASLForm is not constrained to any domain, and is adaptable to free text input in any format. These features of the system offer high usability and portability. Its design also enables easy integration with existing reporting systems.
Finite element based hybrid evolutionary optimization approach to solving rigid pavement inversion problem

This paper focuses on the development of a new backcalculation method for concrete road structures based on a hybrid evolutionary global optimization algorithm, namely shuffled complex evolution (SCE). Evolutionary optimization algorithms are ideally suited for intrinsically multi-modal, non-convex, and discontinuous real-world problems such as pavement backcalculation because of their ability to explore very large and complex search spaces and locate the globally optimal solution using a parallel search mechanism as opposed to a point-by-point search mechanism employed by traditional optimization algorithms. SCE, a type of evolutionary optimization algorithms based on the tradeoff of exploration and exploitation, has proved to be an efficient method for many global optimization problems and in some cases it does not suffer the difficulties encountered by other evolutionary computation techniques. The SCE optimization approach is hybridized with a neural networks surrogate finite-element based forward pavement response model to enable rapid computation of global or near-global pavement layer moduli solutions. The proposed rigid pavement backcalculation model is evaluated using field non-destructive test data acquired from a full-scale airport pavement test facility.
Development of dynamic impact factor for performance evaluation of existing multi-girder concrete bridges

Abstract The dynamic effect of moving vehicles on bridges is generally treated as a dynamic load allowance (or dynamic impact factor) in many design codes. Due to the road surface deterioration of existing bridges, studies have shown that the calculated impact factors from field measurements could be higher than the values specified in design codes that mainly target at new bridge designs. This paper develops a 3D vehicle–bridge coupled model to simulate the interaction between a bridge and vehicles and investigates the impact factor for multi-girder concrete bridges. The effects of bridge span length, vehicle speed, and road surface condition on the impact factor are examined. Chi-square tests are then performed on the impact factors and it is found that the impact factors obtained under the same road surface condition follow the Extreme-I type distribution. Finally, simple expressions for calculating the impact factors are suggested applicable to both new and existing bridges. Corresponding confidence levels with the proposed impact factors for the five studied bridges indicate that the proposed expressions can be used with considerable confidence. The proposed expressions for impact factor can be used as a modification of the AASHTO specifications when dealing with short bridges and old bridges with poor road surface condition for which the AASHTO specifications may underestimate the impact factor.
Micropore filter assay of human granulocyte locomotion: problems and solutions.

Abstract The problems encountered with the measurement of granulocyte migration by the micropore filter methods were discussed in detail. In evaluation by counting the number of cells that has reached a predetermined distance, the problems include: (i) the well-known errors created by cell detachment from the distal filter surface when the cells are allowed to completely penetrate the filter, (ii) the magnification or minification of results produced when incompletely migrated cell are disregarded, and (iii) problems in field selection and bias as a result of the nonuniform deposition of cells on the filter. When the distance migrated by the fastest-migrating cells is used (the “leading front technique”), the problems include: (i) nonusefulness in detecting abnormalities of mass migration and (ii) the potential problem of the faster-moving subpopulation's not truly representing the migration characteristics of the total cell population, since two subpopulations of cells with distinct migration characteristics in micropore filters have been identified in human peripheral blood granulocytes. Consequently, a new method was developed to avoid these problems. This was accomplished by grading the cells according to their speed of migration, thus incorporating in the index the number of cells migrating and their distances of migration. This new method has been found to be reproducible and devoid of the above-mentioned problems.
An overview of NSPCG: A nonsymmetric preconditioned conjugate gradient package

Abstract The most recent research-oriented software package developed as part of the ITPACK Project is called “NSPCG” since it contains many nonsymmetric preconditioned conjugate gradient procedures. It is designed to solve large sparse systems of linear algebraic equations by a variety of different iterative methods. One of the main purposes for the development of the package is to provide a common modular structure for research on iterative methods for nonsymmetric matrices. Another purpose for the development of the package is to investigate the suitability of several iterative methods for vector computers. Since the vectorizability of an iterative method depends greatly on the matrix structure, NSPCG allows great flexibility in the operator representation. The coefficient matrix can be passed in one of several different matrix data storage schemes. These sparse data formats allow matrices with a wide range of structures from highly structured ones such as those with all nonzeros along a relatively small number of diagonals to completely unstructured sparse matrices. Alternatively, the package allows the user to call the accelerators directly with user-supplied routines for performing certain matrix operations. In this case, one can use the data format from an application program and not be required to copy the matrix into one of the package formats. This is particularly advantageous when memory space is limited. Some of the basic preconditioners that are available are point methods such as Jacobi, Incomplete LU Decomposition and Symmetric Successive Overrelaxation as well as block and multicolor preconditioners. The user can select from a large collection of accelerators such as Conjugate Gradient (CG), Chebyshev (SI, for semi-iterative), Generalized Minimal Residual (GMRES), Biconjugate Gradient Squared (BCGS) and many others. The package is modular so that almost any accelerator can be used with almost any preconditioner.
The Role of Placental Trophoblast in the Pathophysiology of the Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

PROBLEM: The antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody syndrome is characterized by severe pregnancy complications, the cause of which remains unknown. We hypothesized that the placental trophoblast is a target for aPLs. METHOD OF STUDY: The effects of monoclonal aPLs on trophoblast function, including the invasion of JAR into matrigel-coated filters and the effects of annexin V expression on BeWo, were investigated using choriocarcinoma models. RESULTS: aPLs against phosphatidylserine (PS) significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the migration of JAR across the membrane. In the annexin V studies, undifferentiated BeWo did not express surface annexin V. After differentiation, BeWo expressed surface annexin V, which was removed in the presence of aPLs, resulting in increased binding of prothrombin. CONCLUSIONS: PS is expressed on the trophoblast surface during differentiation and invasion of extracellular matrix. Our data suggest that aPLs against PS can directly affect trophoblast function by limiting the depth of decidual invasion and by concurrently creating a procoagulant surface on trophoblast exposed to the maternal circulation.
A child with progressive multiple tracheal diverticulae: A variation of the Mounier–Kuhn syndrome†‡

Mounier-Kuhn syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by tracheobronchomegaly. Most commonly presenting in adults, a broad spectrum of clinical abnormalities has been described. We report a young woman followed since 4 years of age for respiratory symptoms who was eventually found to have tracheobronchomegaly and multiple tracheal diverticulae.
Phosphoproteins of adenovirus 2.

Abstract Analysis of [ 32 P]orthophosphate-labeled extracts of adenovirus 2 (AD2)-infected HeLa cells revealed three major adenovirus-specific phosphorylated species, of molecular weights (MW) 100,000, 72,000, and 33,000. The 72,000 MW species became detectable as a phosphorylated entity at about 15 hr after infection, the 33,000 and 100,000 MW species, at about 20–30 hr after infection. A variety of chemical and enzymatic tests indicated that each of the 32 P-labeled species was a phosphoprotein, with the label esterified to serine and threonine residues. In the 100,000 and 33,000 MW proteins, the 32 P was associated primarily with serine residues; the 72,000 MW protein contained approximately equimolar amounts of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine. Digestion of each protein with trypsin, followed by two-dimensional fingerprint analysis, suggested that the 72,000 MW protein contains two, or possibly three, sites for phosphorylation and that the 100,000 MW protein may be multiply phosphorylated. Two of the phosphoproteins exhibited an apparent increase in molecular weight during a pulse/chase labeling experiment (32,000 to 34,000 MW; 70,000 to 74,000 MW) which may reflect the post-translational phosphorylation of those proteins. None of the three major phosphoproteins is a structural component of purified adenovirions. Subcellular fractionation of infected cell lysates with the detergents NP-40 and Tween 40-sodium deoxycholate revealed that the 100,000 MW protein is located primarily in the cytoplasm, the 72,000 MW protein primarily in the nucleus, and the 33,000 MW protein in the nuclear membrane. The subcellular distribution of each protein was identical whether the proteins were labeled with [ 32 P]orthophosphate or with radioactive amino acids. Analysis of the tryptic peptides of 14 C-labeled amino acid-labeled proteins showed that many of the 14 C-labeled tryptic peptides of the 33,000 MW protein were also present in the 100,000 MW protein. Why two such closely related proteins are sequestered in disparate regions of the infected cells is not known. Although 32 P-labeled Ad2 structural proteins could not be visualized above the background of host phosphoproteins in a crude lysate, electrophoretic analysis of purified adenovirus virions revealed one major phosphorylated protein, of molecular weight 66,000 (Protein III a ). With long exposures of the fluorograms, it was possible to detect nine additional phosphorylated virion products. Four of these (molecular weights 54,000, 39,000, 29,000 and 19,000) were present at low levels in the virion and have not previously been described. Subfractionation of the virions with pyridine revealed that two of these previously undescribed proteins (54,000 and 19,000 MW) are located in the DNA-containing core of the virion particle. The other five phosphoproteins [core V (48,500 MW), VI (24,000 MW), VII (18,500 MW), IX (12,000 MW), and XI (6000 MW)] were present in greater quantities, but only a small fraction of each of the molecules was phosphorylated.
Specificity reversal in phospholipase A2 hydrolysis of lipid mixtures.

Abstract The activity and specificity of phospholipase A2 from cobra venom ( Naja naja naja ) toward binary mixtures of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in mixed micelles with the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 were examined. In mixtures containing 5–50 mol % phosphatidylcholine, the rate for phosphatidylethanolamine hydrolysis was enhanced greatly over that for phosphatidylcholine. This is in marked contrast to previous studies with individual phospholipid species in mixed micelles where phosphatidylcholine was found to be the preferred substrate and phosphatidylethanolamine was found to be a very poor substrate. Possible explanations for this specificity reversal are considered.
Supply, wealth effects, negative multipliers, and stability☆

Abstract This paper is concerned with the Blinder-Solow contention that negative government expenditures multipliers are trivial inasmuch as the resulting equilibrium is unstable in a conventional IS-LM model with constant prices. An aggregate supply side, which features progressive taxation of labor income and a real balances effect in the labor supply equation, is added to the model, and it is shown that negative multipliers are not necessarily inconsistent with local asympototic stability.
Permutated OOK-QPSK in OFDM to reduce the ICI due to carrier frequency offset

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) has attracted significant interests in wireless communications due to its robustness against multi-path fading and high-data-rate transmission. However, conventional OFDM systems are sensitive to the Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO), which causes the Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) and greatly degrades the system performance. In this paper, we proposed a novel OFDM system using a permutated On-Off-Keying Quadrature-Phase-Shift-Keying (OOK-QPSK) modulation to reduce the ICI. The performance analysis and the simulation results show the proposed OFDM system performs better than conventional OFDM systems using QPSK modulation under the impact of the CFO.
UN transformation in an era of soft balancing

Between 2003 and 2006 UN Secretary General Kofi Annan pursued the most ambitious overhaul of the United Nations since its inception. This transformation effort aimed to make the UN more effective in addressing non-traditional threats and to persuade the United States to re-engage with the world body. Launched during a time that was unpropitious for achieving far-reaching change, the effort nonetheless produced some surprising agreements. Several factors prevented greater achievement: the episodic attention of the Bush administration and the personal agenda of John Bolton, the US permanent representative to the UN; the failure of the UN Secretariat to pursue a capital based strategy that engaged heads of state and foreign ministers; and the decision by many member states that they would rather have an ineffective United Nations than an effective one that furthered the interests of the Bush administration. Whether future efforts to transform collective security will fall victim to the same fate depends in part on the actions and words of a new American president in 2009.
Broadband characteristics of surface plasmon enhanced solar cells

The surface plasmon characteristics of metal nanostructures have the potential to improve optical absorption in thin film photovoltaics. We present a novel method for simulating and analyzing absorption in the active region of metal nanoparticle enhanced solar cells, capable of determining broad spectrum behavior from a single simulation and accurately accounting for optical losses in the metal. This method has several advantages over alternative simulations, and can be applied to modelling any number of thin film material systems.
Nanofluid Suspensions as Derivative of Interface Heat Transfer Modeling in Porous Media

Spectacular heat transfer enhancement has been measured in nanofluid suspensions. Attempts in explaining these experimental results did not yield yet a definite answer. Modeling the heat conduction process in nanofluid suspensions is being shown to be a special case of heat conduction in porous media subject to Lack of Local thermal equilibrium (LaLotheq). The topic of heat conduction in porous media subject to Lack of Local thermal equilibrium (LaLotheq) is reviewed, introducing one of the most accurate methods of measuring the thermal conductivity, the transient hot wire method, and discusses its possible application to dual-phase systems. Maxwell’s concept of effective thermal conductivity is then introduced and theoretical results applicable for nanofluid suspensions are compared with published experimental data.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
NONLINEAR KINETIC FLUID EQUATIONS

Fluid equations are derived that describe wave-particle resonances, which usually require kinetic theory. Unlike previous such efforts the closure is not linearized, and so retains many nonlinear wave-particle effects never before described by fluid equations. To demonstrate utility, we show that the new equations can retain trapping, time reversibility, and rectify a discrepancy between full kinetic theory and linear kinetic fluid closures. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
PIR: PMaC's Idiom Recognizer

The speed of the memory subsystem often constrains the performance of large-scale parallel applications. Experts tune such applications to use hierarchical memory subsystems efficiently. Hardware accelerators, such as GPUs, can potentially improve memory performance beyond the capabilities of traditional hierarchical systems. However, the addition of such specialized hardware complicates code porting and tuning. During porting and tuning expert application engineers manually browse source code and identify memory access patterns that are candidates for optimization and tuning. HPC applications typically contain thousands to hundreds of thousands of lines of code, creating a labor-intensive challenge for the expert. PIR, PMaC’s Static Idiom Recognizer, automates the pattern recognition process. PIR recognizes specified patterns and tags the source code where they appear using static analysis. This paper describes the PIR implementation and defines a subset of idioms commonly found in HPC applications. We examine the effectiveness of the tool, demonstrating 95% identification accuracy and present the results of using PIR on two HPC applications.
A Probabilistic Approach to Engine Balance

The paper presents an original probabilistic model of the balance of internal combustion engines. The model considers the manufacturing tolerances and predicts the most probable value of the first-order residual unbalance for engines that-theoretically-have the first order forces and moments balanced. It has been found that, assuming normal distributions of the geometric and mass parameters of the reciprocating mechanisms of a multicylinder engine, the unbalancing forces and moments are statistically distributed according to a Rayleigh law. The mode of the Rayleigh distribution, which represents the most probable value of the residual unbalance, is expressed in terms of the statistical characteristics of the parameters subjected to manufacturing tolerances. In this way, the tolerances and, especially the ones admitted for the reciprocating masses, are directly correlated to the expected value of the residual unbalance making it possible to establish reasonable limits for these tolerances. Validation of the probabilistic balance model is demonstrated by computer simulation.
MODELING OF LEAKAGE THROUGH CRACKED CLAY LINERS ‐I: STATE OF THE ART1

: The existence and importance of macro-pores to the containment efficiency of cover clay liners at waste landfills is documented. Macro-pores exist as voids, or cracks, and act to increase the volume and rate of leakage through cover liners. Existing numerical models used to simulate flow through clay liners are shown to neglect the macro-pore aspect of the problem. Current theories of macro-pore flow developed from related areas of research are presented, and applications to the landfill liner problem are considered.
Cyclic ADP-ribose metabolism in rat kidney: High capacity for synthesis in glomeruli

Cyclic ADP-ribose metabolism in rat kidney: High capacity for synthesis in glomeruli. Recent discovery of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) as an agent that triggers Ca 2+ release from intracellular stores, through ryanodine receptor channel, is an important new development in the investigation of intracellular signaling mechanisms. We determined the capacity of kidney and its components for synthesis of cADPR from β -NAD, that is catalyzed by enzyme ADP-ribosyl cyclase, and enzymatic inactivation that is catalyzed by cADPR-glycohydrolase. Little or no activity of ADP-ribosyl cyclase was found in extracts from the whole rat kidney, renal cortex, outer and inner medulla. On the other hand, incubation of β -NAD with similar extracts from rat liver, spleen, heart, and brain resulted in biosynthesis of cADPR. In addition, extracts from suspension of proximal tubules or microdissected proximal convoluted tubules virtually lacked ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity. In sharp contrast to proximal tubules and cortex, extracts from glomeruli had high ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity, similar to that found in non-renal tissues. Authenticity of cADPR biosynthesized in glomeruli was documented by several criteria such as HPLC analysis, effect of inhibitors and homologous desensitization of Ca 2+ -release bioassay. On the other hand, the activity of cADPR-glycohydrolase was similar in extracts from glomeruli and in extracts from kidney cortex. Mesangial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells grown in primary culture displayed considerable ADPR-ribose cyclase activity. Our results show that extracts from glomeruli, unlike extracts from renal tissue zones and proximal tubules, have a singularly high capacity for synthesis of cADPR. We surmise that cADPR-triggered Ca 2+ -releasing system can serve as an intracellular signaling pathway that may be operant in regulations of glomerular cell functions.
A Discourse Approach to the Study of Language Educators' Coherence Systems

This article proposes a discourse-based approach to the analysis of coherence in the teaching philosophies of language instructors. Background for the approach is provided by the reflective practice model, which highlights the social ontology and personal appropriation of foreign language teaching expertise. Initial findings from an exploratory study confirm the utility of examining conceptual metaphors and folklinguistic theories in teachers' philosophies and suggest an iterative process of teacher development via integration of expertise into personal coherence systems. This study suggests further applications of the method and discusses implications for teacher education.
Primary vs delayed surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax in children: which is better?

Abstract Background Controversy exists regarding the timing of surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax (SP), which can be performed either after the first development of pneumothorax or after a recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax has occurred. Treatment after recurrence is often adopted because of the purported low recurrence of SP treated nonoperatively and the historical morbidity of open surgery. However, the effectiveness of VATS (to video-assisted bullectomy and pleurodesis) has raised the possibility of performing primary VATS (PV) in all patients. The authors therefore hypothesized that PV is safe and effective for SP and sought to perform a cost-benefit analysis of PV vs secondary VATS (SV). Methods After institutional review board approval, consecutive patients with SP (1991-2003) and no comorbidities were retrospectively divided into PV vs SV. Demographics, recurrent pneumothorax after VATS, length of stay, and costs were compared by Student's t test/ χ 2 . The predicted incremental cost of PV was (cost of PV) − {[cost of nonoperative treatment × (1 − recurrence rate)] + cost of SV × recurrence rate}. Data are means ± SEM. Results There were 54 spontaneous pneumothoraces in 43 patients (11 bilateral), of whom 3 were excluded because of open thoracotomy. Of 51 pneumothoraces, nonoperative treatment was attempted in 37, of whom 20 recurred and thus required SV. Primary VATS was performed in 14. Both groups had similar age, sex, weight, height, admission heart rate, and room air oxygen saturation. Total treatment length of stay was significantly shorter for PV vs SV (7.1 ± 0.96 vs 10.5 ± 1.2, P = .04). However, morbidity from recurrent pneumothorax after VATS occurred more frequently after PV than SV (4/14 vs 0/20 P Conclusions Contrary to the hypothesis, the increased morbidity and cost do not justify a strategy of PV blebectomy/pleurodesis in children with SP. Instead, secondary treatment is recommended.
Language Development and Social Uses of Literacy: A Study of Literacy Practices in Cameroonian Minority Language Communities

In Northwest Cameroon, the emergence of literacy in the mother tongue is providing minority language communities with new alternatives for learning and communication. To some extent, these alternatives are shaped by existing literacy practices in English, as English is the language of formal education. However, new spaces are also emerging in society for the use of literacy in the mother tongue. This paper examines the impact of mother-tongue literacy on attitudes towards, and uses of, written text in the Bafut, Kom and Nso' language communities of North-west Cameroon. The paper is based on qualitative case study research conducted in these communities in 2002–2003. The paper concludes with a discussion of the future of mother-tongue literacy in the Bafut, Kom and Nso' language communities.
STRUCTURE IN THE ELECTRIC POTENTIAL EMANATING FROM DNA

We present an analytical model, based on a Green-function technique, for the electric potential surrounding dissolved DNA which treats the full, discrete charge distribution of homopolymer B-DNA and the aqueous solvent as concentric, dielectric cylinders. The resulting expressions manifest the symmetry of the system, with terms equivalent to a continuous line charge and with distinctive helical terms both due to the sugar-phosphate backbone and due to the base pairs. This theoretical approach quantifies the structural information in the potential with continuing approach to the DNA surface.
A photometric model of the zodiacal light.

An intercomparison of published photometric investigations of the zodiacal light and gegenschein is made, leading to a compilation of brightnesses over the entire sky in a reseau with 5-deg intervals. The results are given in absolute units. Several graphical representations illustrate the compilation.
A Reconstruction Theorem for Riemannian Symmetric Spaces of Noncompact Type

Let f be a rapidly decreasing radial function on a Riemannian symmetric space of noncompact type whose spherical Fourier transform has compact support. We prove a reconstruction theorem which recovers f from the values of an integral operator applied to f on a discrete subset. When G/K is of the complex type we prove a sampling formula recovering f from its own values on a discrete subset. We give explicit results for three dimensional hyperbolic space.
Anti-Industrialism and the Old South: The Agrarian Perspective of John C. Calhoun

There has been an unending debate in American historiography about the distinctive features of the ante-bellum South. One widely shared view is that the South, by virtue of its dominant agricultural character, was committed to a set of values “inconsistent with a high rate of industrialization”. Writers in this tradition have assumed that agrarian interests entail an anti-industrial bias. They look upon the civilization of the ante-bellum North as “coarse and materialistic” and that of the South as highly refined and aristocratic. The opposite view is that ante-bellum Southerners were no less commercial capitalists than their Northern brethren. Agrarian capitalism, these critics assume, has conflicts of interest with industrial capitalism, not cultural conflicts. The question this essay seeks to answer is whether Calhoun, admittedly a prominant spokesman of agricultural interests, was thereby committed to either an anti-industrial bias or a conventional capitalist position.
Differential ability of specific regions of Plasmodium falciparum sexual-stage antigen, Pfs230, to induce malaria transmission-blocking immunity.

Antibodies raised against an Escherichia coli-produced recombinant protein encoding a 76-kDa section (region C) of malaria transmission-blocking vaccine candidate, Pfs230, have previously been shown to significantly reduce the ability of Plasmodium falciparum parasites to infect mosquitoes (71.2–89.8%). To further define the region of the Pfs230 required for transmission-blocking activity, four recombinant proteins each encoding a section of region C (Pfs230 amino acids 443–1132) were produced using the same E. coli expression system and tested for immunogenicity in mice: (i) r230/MBP.C5′ encodes the first half of region C (amino acids 443—791, six cysteines); (ii) r230/MBP.CM1 encodes only cysteine motif (CM) 1 (amino acids 583—913, eight cysteines); (iii) r230/MBP.C1.6 (amino acids 453–913, eight cysteines) also includes all of CM1; and (iv) r230/MBP.C2 encodes only CM2 (amino acids 914–1268, 11 cysteines). All the recombinant proteins induced antibodies that recognized parasite-produced Pfs230, but the titre of the Pfs230 specific-antibodies generated varied, C = C1.6 = C5′ > CM1 > CM2. Two recombinants, r230/MBP.C5′ and r230/MBP.C1.6, induced antibody titres that were equivalent to or greater than the titre generated by r230/MBP.C. However, in contrast to r230/MBP.C, none of the recombinants induced antibodies that effectively blocked parasite infectivity to mosquitoes. This suggests that the inclusion of amino acids 914–1132 is important for the production of the transmission-blocking epitope present in region C.