cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mitral Valve Translocation: A Novel Operation for the Treatment of Secondary Mitral Regurgitation

Abstract Background Conventional annuloplasty repair of secondary (functional) ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is associated with a 60% recurrence of moderate or greater mitral regurgitation at 2 years. We developed a novel repair technique for IMR that addresses the underlying geometric alterations of the mitral valve apparatus and compared outcomes with those of conventional repair in a swine model. Methods Chronic IMR was induced by percutaneous embolization of the circumflex artery. Swine with severe IMR (median 9 weeks after infarction) underwent undersized rigid annuloplasty (n = 5) or translocation repair (n = 6). Translocation repair consisted of detaching the mitral valve en bloc at the annulus, creating a 1 cm wide frustum-shaped pericardial patch, and suturing the outer circumference of the patch to the annulus and inner circumference to the mitral valve. Results Operative survival was 92% (11 of 12). All animals had none/trace residual central mitral regurgitation, and mean inflow gradients were similar (1 mm Hg [interquartile range, 1 to 2] vs 2 mm Hg [interquartile range, 1 to 2]; P = .75) in the annuloplasty and translocation groups, respectively. Median coaptation length marginally improved in conventional swine (3 to 4 mm, P = .05), but dramatically improved in translocation swine (3 to 8 mm, P = .003). Posterior leaflet angle increased from 39 to 80 degrees (P = .05) in annuloplasty swine but decreased from 50 to 31 degrees (P = .03) in translocation swine. The posterior leaflet was immobile after annuloplasty but had preserved motion after translocation (excursion, 1 degree vs 24 degrees; P = .045). Conclusions Mitral valve translocation effectively treats mitral regurgitation by relieving leaflet tethering. Compared with annuloplasty, mitral valve translocation creates a larger surface of coaptation and preserves leaflet mobility without compromising diastolic function.
Application of flywheel energy storage device in vital places

Flywheel energy storage technology, as an advanced energy storage technology with a complete technical theoretical system, in-depth research progress, and rapid follow-up of new technologies and materials at this stage, has the theoretical foundation conditions for application. Flywheel energy storage equipment can be used to support high-power loads in important places. In application, it is necessary to fully consider the power quality indicators of the power supply system. Power quality can be described by various indicators systematically. This article introduces several energy storage methods, and introduces several types of more common voltage-sensitive electrical equipment. A practical application case is introduced. The application shows that when flywheel energy storage equipment is equipped with high-power sensitive electrical equipment in important places, its output is stable and reliable.
Attention Factors Compared to Other Predictors of Simulated Driving Performance Across Age Groups

Groups of young, middle-aged, and older adults performed a battery of computer-based attention tasks, the UFOV® and neuropsychological tests, and simulated low-speed driving in a suburban scenario. Results from the attention tasks were submitted to Maximum Likelihood factor analysis and 6 factors were extracted that explained more than 57% of the task variance. The factors were labeled speed, switching, visual search, executive, sustained, and divided attention in descending order of amount of task variance explained. The factor scores were used to predict simulated driving performance. Step-wise regressions were computed with driving performance as the criterion, and age, sex and the factor scores, the UFOV® scores, or the neuropsychological test scores as predictors. Results showed that the perceptual-motor speed and divided attention measures from the UFOV® and attention battery were more likely to explain driving performance variance than the neuropsychological tests.
Coping With Preclinical Disability: Older Women's Experiences of Everyday Activities

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe coping practices used by older women during preclinical disability. Design: This paper was derived from qualitative data gathered during a larger multimethod longitudinal study. Twelve women (60 to 80 years of age) participated in baseline functional performance measures and then repeated in-depth interviews and participant observations over 18 months. Methods: A hermeneutic approach was used to interpret the in-depth interviews, participant observations, and field notes using three interrelated processes of thematic, exemplar, and identification of paradigm cases to identify coping practices. Findings: Women coped with functional decline, such as difficulty getting up from the floor, in many different ways. Coping practices were grouped into five themes: resist, adapt, substitute, endure, and eliminate. Clinical Relevance: These findings suggest that nurses need to realize outward appearances may mask the level of effort required for older women to complete daily activities.
Saving Energy with Buoyancy and Balance Control for Underwater Robots with Dynamic Payloads

We have developed an underwater robot that can pick up and place objects during an autonomous underwater mission. This robot will have changing weight and dynamics during a mission. We have developed an efficient method for buoyancy control to achieve adaptation to weight changes without the need to increasing the work of the robot’s thruster system. In this paper we describe the mechanism used for buoyancy and balance control. We also describe the adaptive control algorithms and data from physical experiments.
An existential perspective on the need for self-esteem.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that people want to feel good about themselves. This desire plays a fundamental role in our lives, affecting virtually everything we do. Sometimes even the distortion of reality and inaccurate perception of ourselves and others is not too steep a price to pay to maintain a positive view of ourselves. In this chapter, we adopt an existential perspective to address some basic questions about the self-esteem motive: What is self-esteem? Why do people need it? How do they get it, lose it, and maintain it? And what role does it play in adaptive goal-directed behavior, psychological dysfunction, and the maximization of one’s capacities?
Bosch and the Jews

El Nuevo triptico de Hieronymus Bosch pide una revision en su interpretacion: representa escenas de sensualidad y de cupido, es decir, de esferas con las cuales los judios estaban especialmente vinculados, en su mayoria de una forma despreciativa. El caminante (Rotterdam), en el recuadro externo, transmite una imagen de trueque que se consideraba tipica del judio errante, asi como la imagen del peregrino de la vida, de pie entre vita mundi y el castigo eterno. La imagen correspondiente del Nuevo triptico, el Carro de heno en Madrid, presenta a un buhonero que aparece en un mundo que existe solo en el placer del dinero, y que no se da cuenta de que esto lo conducira al infierno. El heno simboliza el interes ascendente que entre los judios ha tenido el privilegio (y, como ha resultado, el destino) de recolectar. El ensayo discute la pregunta de si las Bodas de Cana (Rotterdam) pudiera ser de hecho la mitad faltante del cuadro Nuevo triptico. Aqui de nuevo las ideas judias y cristianas estan fusionadas. En el pueblo natal de Bosch, 's-Hertogenbosch, el burgues y el rey visitante platican con la gente judia, a la que se espera convertir al cristianismo. En ambos tripticos (el nuevo y el de Madrid), Bosch parece expresar la idea de abundancia. En los dos hay buhoneros que tienen que elegir entre el mundo del pecado y el de la virtud. Pareceria que algunos de los simbolos en la obra de Bosch se refieren al miedo cristiano, a la aberracion heretica y a la seduccion de los placeres mundanos, para lo cual el mundo judio sirve como ejemplo de advertencia.
Simple Examples of Symplectic Four-manifolds with Exotic Properties

We construct examples of simply connected nonalgebraic symplectic four-manifolds with a prescribed number of nonintersecting symplectic curves with positive self-intersections.
Procedural learning, consumer decision making, and marketing communication

We examine the applicability of Anderson's (1982) procedural learning framework to consumer decision making within the context of how marketing communications influence people's procedural knowledge about selecting decision criteria for a buying decision. In particular, we explore the importance of explicit, conditional “if-then” statements (e.g., “if you are choosing amongst ..., then you should ...”) in which the recommended decision-making operation is compatible with prior procedural knowledge. We test this framework in an exploratory study on advertising effects on women's decision criteria for fitness centers.
Weighted Hellinger distance as an error criterion for bandwidth selection in kernel estimation

Ever since the pioneering work of Parzen [Parzen, E., 1962, On estimation of a probability density function and mode. Annales of Mathematics and Statistics, 33, 1065–1076.], the mean-square error (MSE) and its integrated form (MISE) have been used as the criteria of error in choosing the window size in kernel density estimation. More recently, however, other criteria have been advocated as competitors to the MISE, such as the mean absolute deviation or the Kullback–Leibler loss. In this note, we define a weighted version of the Hellinger distance and show that it has an asymptotic form, which is one-fourth the asymptotic MISE under a slightly more stringent smoothness conditions on the density f. In addition, the proposed criteria give rise to a new way for data-dependent bandwidth selection, which is more stable in the sense of having smaller MSE than the usual least-squares cross-validation, biased cross-validation or the plug-in methodologies when estimating f. Analogous results for the kernel distribu...
Lipases and lipids in human milk: effect of freeze-thawing and storage.

ABSTRACT: Frozen storage is often used by milk banks to preserve expressed human milk for later use. Optimal storage and handling conditions which ensure minimum alteration of lipid composition have not been well defined. Therefore we investigated the effect of rapid freeze−thawing and storage conditions (−20 and −70° C) on the free fatty acid (FFA) levels and on the activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and bile salt−stimulated lipase (BSSL) in human milk. Since during mechanical expression leakage of serum components into milk may occur, we also investigated the effect of the presence of serum on human milk LPL during storage. Lipase activity levels were unaffected by rapid freeze−thawing (×3) followed by storage for 1 month at −20 or −70° C. LPL activity (nmol FFA released/ml milk/min) was 414 ± 128, 451 ± 37, and 351 ± 20 and BSSL activity (μmol FFA/ml milk/min) was 5.7 ± 0.7, 5.5 ± 0.8, and 5.7 ± 0.2 in fresh, freeze−thawed, and stored milk, respectively. FFA levels (% of total lipid) were 3.01 ± 1.05 and 10.3 ± 1.6 in fresh−frozen milk stored at −7 0 and −20° C for 5 months, and 3.78 ± 1.08 and 13.60 ± 1.25 in specimens of freeze−thawed (x3) before storage at −70 or −20° C. Addition of serum had no effect on milk LPL at either temperature. We conclude that LPL and BSSL remain fully active during frozen storage of human milk and that milk fat is hydrolyzed at −20° C but not at −70° C. We suggest that banked human milk be stored routinely at −70° C.
Separation of Aldoses and Alditols Using Thermostable Open Tubular Glass Capillary Columns

Abstract Successful GLC separation of complex mixtures of aldoses and alditols has been achieved. Aldoses are analyzed as the poly-O-acetylaldonic nitriles (Wohl derivatives), and polyols are analyzed as the polyacetyl esters. When mixtures of aldoses and alditols are subjected to the conditions of the Wohl synthesis, each component forms a single derivative. Terminal dissymmetry is retained for aldoses. Analyses are made using 60 m SE-30 open tubular glass capillary columns with temperature programming.
Is exchange rate pass-through symmetric? Evidence from US imports

This study addresses the question of whether exchange rate pass-through into the import price is symmetric between appreciation and depreciation of the home currency. The dramatic increase of the dollar in the early 1980s and the subsequent decline provided a necessary setting for testing whether there was a structural change in the exchange rate pass-through. Examining import price data for 98 disaggregated SIC industries in the US manufacturing sector and the US import price for all commodities, mixed evidence is found regarding the stability of exchange rate pass-through.
A 2-D Comparison of Kirchhoff and Full-Wave Migrations over the SEG/EAGE Physical Model

Summary The Kirchhoff and the full-wave reverse-time methods are used to migrate a 2-D line from the SEG/EAGE physical model data using shot records. The result shows that while Kirchhoff method accurately images the layers above the salt, it fails to show bottom of salt and subsalt structures. The full wave method gives a much better image of both the top and bottom surfaces of the salt. This difference is due to that the conventional Kirchhoff migration uses only the primary reflection while the full-wave reverse-time method utilized additional multiples and mode-converted waves.
Finding Optimal Model Parameters from Measurements with Severe Multipath

A model-weighted root-mean-square cost function is presented for finding slowly-varying model parameters from communication channel measurements in cases where frequent, deep multipath nulls are present. The new cost function is shown to produce an excellent estimate of the loss exponent in a log-distance model with much less sensitivity to extreme dips in the data relative to the root-mean-square function commonly used. Two test cases are presented based on two-ray propagation and the resulting model parameters agree well with theory. Also shown are examples of application to measurement data from moderately urbanized areas, where severe multipath signal level drops are typical at short range in line-of-sight in built-up environments.
Mesh deformation based on fully stressed design: The method and 2-D examples

Mesh deformation in response to redefined boundary geometry is a frequently encountered task in shape optimization and analysis of fluid-structure interaction. We propose a simple and concise method for deforming meshes defined with three-node triangular or four-node tetrahedral elements. The mesh deformation method is suitable for large boundary movement. The approach requires two consecutive linear elastic finite element analyses of an isotropic continuum using a prescribed displacement at the mesh boundaries. The first analysis is performed with homogeneous elastic property and the second with inhomogeneous elastic property. The fully stressed design is employed with a vanishing Poisson ratio and a proposed form of equivalent strain (modified Tresca equivalent strain) to calculate, from the strain result of the first analysis, an element-specific Young's modulus for the second analysis. The theoretical aspect of the proposed method, its convenient numerical implementation using a typical linear elastic finite element code in conjunction with very minor extra coding for data processing, and results for examples of large deformation of 2-D meshes are presented in this paper.
Further Studies on Factors Affecting the Efflux of Betacyanin from Beet Root: A Note on Thermal Effects

As judged by betacyanin efflux, beet root tissue differs in stability toward O2 at low and high temperatures (45–60°C and 60–100°C respectively). The effect of temperature itself can he divided into a high activation energy (93 Kcal mol−1) process in the lower temperature range and a low activation energy process (19 Kcal mor−1) in the higher range (> 60°C). From these data it is suggested that initially, elevating temperatures bring about reversible conformational changes in the membrane. With continuing increase in temperature in the presence of O2, membrane chemical groups susceptible to oxidation are exposed and, upon oxidation, render conformational changes irreversible.
Myopia — A treatable “Disease”?

Abstract The authors cite various information and misinformation regarding proposed treatments (atropinization, contact lenses, orthokeratology, wearing glasses, not wearing glasses) for the progression of myopia. They conclude that there is insufficient evidence to support the more vigorous approaches to treatment of myopia, and provide some useful explanations for patients and their parents who question the ophthalmologist's decision to treat conservatively.
Transient Attenuation In Optical Fibers

Low and high energy pulsed electron beams were used to generate radiation-induced transient attenuation in high-OH, Suprasil core, PCS fibers, demonstrating the energy dependence of the radiation damage and recovery mechanisms. A radiation resistant low-OH fiber was studied and its performance contrasted to that of high-OH material. Several fibers with differing core compositions were also studied.
Fracture, Fractography and internal stress of BaTiO3 ceramics

Abstract As a result of the ferroelectric phase transition, piezoelectric ceramics develop complex internal stresses, which affect both the strength and electrical properties (dielectric constant and aging). However, very little quantitative information on these stresses is presently available. Furthermore, the effect of microstructure (e.g. grains, domains and pores), flaw sizes and internal stress on strength has not been understood. Thus, this paper presents a study of the mechanical properties of BaTiO3 showing that the strength of ∼99% dense BaTiO3 with typical machining flaws is 6.28 × 107 N/m2 higher at 150°C, which is above the Curie temperature of 120°C, than at 25°C. This measured difference in strength was relatively independent of grain size. Analysis of measured flaw sizes, elastic constants, and fracture energies show that the measured difference in strength is due to internal stresses. Studies of specimens with flaws of controlled size, introduced by hardness indenting at variable load, sho...
The issue of privacy reviewed

Increasing demands for information about higher education lead the authors to reconsider the issue of privacy from an ethical point of view. Both individuals and institutions, it is argued, should be treated alike as “subjects.” Threats to privacy include (1) collection of information without consent, (2) unwarranted interpretation of information, and (3) dissemination of information beyond subjects' intent. It is contended that the burdens of justification, gaining cooperation and trust of subjects, and bearing responsibility for protection of subjects' privacy lie with the researcher. Failure on his part to assume these burdens justifies refusal of cooperation on the part of subjects.
A novel high-speed PLC communication modem

An innovative design for power line carrier (PLC) communication using digitally modulated signals is presented. The major contribution is a new signal coupler to the power line that achieves a stable transmission bandwidth of 4 kHz on distribution lines over long distances. Preliminary field tests achieved half-duplex operation at 1.2 kbaud over a distribution power line on the 120 V network and back with a symbol error rate of about 2% using less than about 10 W of average transmitted power, which was considerably superior to the present state-of-the-art PLC modems. Full-duplex operation over 120/240 V intrabuilding wiring has also been field tested at 9.6 kbaud over distances of 3000 ft. using 1 W of average transmitted power. >
Eating on the run. A qualitative study of health agency and eating behaviors among fast food employees.

Abstract Understanding the relationship between obesity and fast food consumption encompasses a broad range of individual level and environmental factors. One theoretical approach, the health capability framework, focuses on the complex set of conditions allowing individuals to be healthy. This qualitative study aimed to identify factors that influence individual level health agency with respect to healthy eating choices in uniformly constrained environments (e.g., fast food restaurants). We used an inductive qualitative research design to develop an interview guide, conduct open-ended interviews with a purposive sample of 14 student fast food workers (aged 18–25), and analyze the data. Data analysis was conducted iteratively during the study with multiple coders to identify themes. Emergent themes included environmental influences on eating behaviors (time, cost, restaurant policies, social networks) and internal psychological factors (feelings associated with hunger, food knowledge versus food preparation know-how, reaction to physical experiences, perceptions of food options, delayed gratification, and radical subjectivity). A localized, embedded approach to analyzing the factors driving the obesity epidemic is needed. Addressing contextual interactions between internal psychological and external environmental factors responds to social justice and public health concerns, and may yield more relevant and effective interventions for vulnerable communities.
Asymptotic Theory of an Infectious Disease Model

In this paper, we present asymptotic theory as a viable alternative solution method for infectious disease models. We consider a particular model of a pathogen attacking a host whose immune system responds defensively, that has been studied previously [Mohtashemi and Levins in J. Math. Biol. 43: 446-470 (2001)]. On rendering this model dimensionless, we can reduce the number of parameters to two and note that one of them has a large value that suggests an asymptotic analysis. On doing this analysis, we obtain a satisfying qualitative description of the dynamic evolution of each population, together with simple analytic expressions for their main features, from which we can compute accurate quantitative values.
Cross-year Peer Tutoring in Healthcare and Dental Education: A Review of the Literature

Cross-year peer tutoring (CYPT) programs show promise of potential benefits not only to the tutees and tutors, butalso to the entire dental education field. A critical review of the literature was performed to determine thecharacteristics of studies assessing CYPT programs in the healthcare field, to see if there are adequate resources inthe literature to aid dental institutions in making evidence-based decisions about their curriculum.A PubMed literature search was conducted to identify pertinent research. Only those articles that demonstratedprograms that paired junior and senior students were included. A total of twenty articles were identified and analyzedfor the characteristics of the CYPT program, the study groups compared, and the outcomes assessed. In the fewstudies that examined qualitative outcomes, many found success measured in positive outcomes for the tutors.However, there are too few studies that examine the qualitative outcomes of tutor interest in careers in dentaleducation.With more contributions to literature in the dental field that specifically target preclinical dental education and tutorinterest in careers in education, published within the context of the curriculum, dental education institutions canbegin making more evidence-based decisions on the incorporation of CYPT programs into their curricula.
Feasibility Study of Spectral Imaging for Differential Phase Contrast Cone Beam CT: Computer Simulations

In principle, differential phase contrast (DPC) imaging allows the use of a hospital grade x-ray tube that has a large focal spot size and a wide polychromatic spectrum. It should be noted that due to the integration of interference patterns over the entire spectrum, the fringe contrast in the final intensity image is lower than that from a monochromatic spectrum. Therefore better image quality should be potentially obtained if the energy-dependent interference patterns can be analyzed separately. The key idea of the proposed spectral DPC imaging approach is to acquire DPC images for each photon energy channel, which is named spectral DPC images. The final DPC image can be computed by summing up these spectral DPC images or just computed using certain 'color' representation algorithms to enhance desired features. This research is a feasibility study based on computer simulations to investigate how the spectral DPC method works for a DPC-based cone beam CT (DPC-CBCT) system. The spectral DPC imaging approach is applied to an x-ray spectral centered at 30keV, which is divided into four energy channels in simulation. A simple numerical phantom with low contrast inserts is used and the entire imaging process is simulated using Fresnel diffraction theory. Phase stepping approach is used to manifest and retrieve phase information. The phantom is scanned over a full circular trajectory and the Hilbert filter-based FBP algorithm is used to compute the DPC-CBCT reconstruction. The reconstruction from the proposed spectral DPC-CBCT is compared to that from the conventional DPC-CBCT that only takes detector images for the integrated polychromatic spectrum. The uniformity, noise level and contrast of the inserts in the reconstruction are measured and compared. Simulation results indicate that the spectral DPC imaging approach can improve object contrast and reduce noise for DPC-CBCT.
The structural significance of doubly charged ion spectra. Phenylenediamine derivatives

The distribution of doubly charged ions found in the mass spectra of various N, N′-alkyl substituted phenylenediamines is compared to that of their singly charged counterparts. Structural and electronic requirements for the resonance stabilization of doubly charged organic ions are suggested and it is shown that doubly charged ions could be used to differentiate between certain structural isomers which give practically identical singly charged ions. The doubly charged ions were distinguished from singly charged ions of the same integral m/e value by high resolution techniques.
Response to a cholesterol-lowering diet: Efficacy is greater in hypercholesterolemic subjects even after adjustment for regression to the mean☆

Abstract purpose: To define how much regression to the mean confounds apparent responsiveness in subgroup analyses, and to test, using techniques that remove regression to the mean, whether hypercholesterolemic subjects are more likely to respond to diet. patients and methods: Data collected on 812 men and women participating in the Minnesota Coronary Survey Dietary Trial who had at least 2 total cholesterol measurements on a high-saturated-fat diet and 1 cholesterol measurement on a low-saturated-fat diet were analyzed for the effects of initial serum cholesterol and regression toward the mean on measurement of diet responsiveness. results: If regression towards the mean is not taken into account, dietary responsiveness in patients with mean cholesterol levels of 280 mg/dL was -25%, whereas dietary responsiveness in subjects with mean serum cholesterol levels of 156 mg/dL was -5%. After regression toward the mean was taken into account, subjects with high initial serum cholesterol levels had an 18% reduction in serum cholesterol levels whereas subjects with lower levels had an 11% reduction. Even after regression toward the mean is accounted for, subjects with high serum cholesterol levels were significantly more diet-responsive (p conclusion: The efficacy of a cholesterol-lowering diet for individuals can be overestimated or underestimated if only single measurements are used to determine response. Subjects with hypercholesterolemia, even after adjustment for regression towards the mean, are more diet-responsive than subjects with lower cholesterol levels. Dietary therapy should remain the first step in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, and should also be effective in reducing cholesterol levels in the population at large.
Transient retinofugal pathways in the developing chick.

The central retinal projections have been examined in normal chick embryos early in development to determine if a transient ipsilateral projection is present. Anterograde transport of HRP identified using tetramethyl benzidine as a chromogen and degeneration techniques were used on embryos of successive ages between 6 and 16 days of incubation to show the central distribution of the retinal axons from one eye. Besides the anticipated contralateral projection, a small projection was identified to primary visual nuclei on the side of the brain ipsilateral to the injected or lesioned eye in embryos between days 6 and 12 of incubation. A projection from the injected eye into the contralateral optic nerve was also identified in a number of embyos. By embryonic day 15 the retinal projection to the ipsilateral side of the brain and into the contralateral optic nerve had disappeared. This loss of the anomalous projections coincides with a period of substantial cell death in the retinal ganglion cell layer. It appears, therefore, that in the chick, like the rat, the ipsilateral retinofugal projection resulting from an embryonic enucleation may in part be due to retention of a normal ipsilateral projection.
Individual Differences in the Experience of Sexual Motivation: Theory and Measurement of Dispositional Sexual Motives

A construct consisting of eight dispositional sexual motives was proposed to expand upon and integrate earlier theory and research. The eight motives are desire for (a) feeling valued by one's partner, (b) showing value for one's partner, (c) obtaining relief from stress, (d) providing nurturance to one's partner, (e) enhancing feelings of personal power, (f) experiencing the power of one's partner, (g) experiencing pleasure, and (h) procreating. Based on this formulation, a self‐report questionnaire was developed to measure stable interest in the eight incentives hypothesized to influence sexual motivation and behavior. Initial factor analyses supported the proposed model in that items clustered predominantly into the theoretically proposed dimensions. The questionnaire was revised, and two subsequent factor analyses supported the earlier factor structure. AMORE scales were moderately correlated with erotophobic versus erotophilic attitudes, attitudes about uncommitted sex, sensation‐seeking tendencies, ...
LES and DES Investigations of Turbulent Flow over a Sphere at Re = 10,000

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) using a dynamic Smagorinsky type subgridstress (SGS) model and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) are applied toprediction and investigation of the flow around a sphere at a Reynoldsnumber of 104 in the subcritical regime. In this regime the boundarylayers at separation are laminar, and transition to turbulence occursfarther downstream in the separated shear layers via Kelvin–Helmholtz(K–H) instabilities. The dynamic eddy viscosity model of Germano et al.(Physics of Fluids3 (1991) 1760–1765) is used in the LES, while the current implementation of the DESemploys a formulation based on the Spalart–Allmaras (S–A) model. DES isa hybrid approach in which the closure is a modification to theproduction/destruction term of the original Reynolds-AveragedNavier–Stokes (RANS) model, reducing to RANS in the attached regions,and to LES away from the wall. In the present work where we simulate theflow over a sphere in the subcritical regime in which the boundarylayers at separation are laminar, DES can be viewed as LES with adifferent SGS model. Effects of the discretization scheme used toapproximate the convective terms are considered, along with sensitivityof predictions to changes in the additional model coefficient, CDES, in the DES formulation. DES and LES yield similar predictions of the wakestructure, large-scale vortex shedding and the Strouhal numberassociated with the low frequency mode in the wake. Predictions ofquantities such as the drag coefficient, wake frequencies, position oflaminar separation on the sphere, and the mean pressure andskin-friction distributions along the sphere are in good agreement withthe measurements of Achenbach (Journal of Fluid Mechanics54 (1972) 565–575). Predictions of the primaryReynolds shear stress, turbulent kinetic energy, eddy viscosity, andturbulent dissipation for the two models are also similar. In addition,both models successfully resolve the formation of the vortex tubes inthe detached shear layers along with the value of the Strouhal numberassociated with the high frequency instability mode, provided that thelevel of numerical dissipation introduced by the discretization schemeremains sufficiently low. Flow physics investigations are focused onunderstanding the wake structure in the subcritical regime.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry protocol for monitoring the progress of enzymatic 13C/15N-labeled DNA syntheses

Abstract We demonstrate that a simple matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry protocol provides a rapid and accurate method for monitoring the stage and completeness of enzymatic DNA syntheses. A crucial step of these syntheses is to quench the reaction at the desired nucleotide length. This is especially important when expensive, e.g., 13C/15N-labeled DNA segments, are synthesized for multinuclear magnetic resonance purposes to reveal detailed structural information. The analyses of three templates for a human telomeric 22-mer, a wild type, and a mutant human c-MYC promoter (18- and 22-mer) DNA and their reactions with the 3′–5′ exo− Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I demonstrate the usefulness of our protocol. Small amounts of samples (ca. 1–2 μl each) were taken from the reaction mixtures at different times and analyzed promptly by MALDI-TOF, applying our successive on-plate desalting method that eliminates the insensitivity of the MALDI technique at high salt content. The progress of the reaction was detected by monitoring the relative intensity ratios of ions corresponding to the desired products and the primer–template complexes. The effectiveness of NH3 cleavage leading to final products was also followed by MALDI-TOF in successful enzymatic reactions.
When actions speak louder than words: examining collective political protests in Central Asia

What explains the dynamics of contentious collective political action in post-Soviet Central Asia? How do post-Soviet Central Asian citizens negotiate the tensions between partaking in and abstaining from elite-challenging collective protests? By analysing cross-national attitudes in two Central Asian states, this article (1) systematically analyses the variation in collective protests by testing rival macro-, meso-, and micro-level theories; (2) reintroduces a conceptual and empirical distinction between low-risk and high-risk collective protests; and (3) examines the conditions under which individuals participate in two distinct types of elite-challenging collective actions. Three conclusions are reached. First, the evidence suggests that nuanced consideration of multi-level theoretical perspectives is necessary to explain contingencies of elite-challenging actions. Second, economic grievances and resource mobilization emerge as leading factors driving both low-risk and high-risk protests. Third, Islami...
Intelligent design retrieval and packaging system : application of neural networks in design and manufacturing

We describe a hybrid intelligent design retrieval and packaging system by utilizing techniques such as fuzzy associative memory, backpropagation neural networks, and adaptive resonance theory. As an illustrative example, a prototype of the proposed system has been developed to intelligently retrieve a design from a standard set of chair designs that can satisfy the required needs. The system then automatically passes the design to an intelligent packaging system which locates the parts needed from a designated area and packages the parts in the packaging area. This novel application of neural networks could establish the basic foundation of a true intelligent manufacturing system.
MAINSTREAMING KIDS WITH READING AND WRITING PROBLEMS: SPECIAL CHALLENGES OF THE MATHEMATICS CLASSROOM

This article describes the changes in mathematics classrooms since the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards have been proposed and the difficulties those changes pose for students with reading and writing problems. These students may have specific learning disabilities, use English as a second language, or have other risk factors such as attention deficits or previous inadequate instruction. Specific suggestions are offered for preparing students for mainstreaming into regular math classes and for providing the supports students may need to succeed.
Scanning currents in Stokes flow and the efficient feeding of small organisms

The feeding behaviour of many small, free-swimming organisms involves the creation of a scanning current by the coordinated movement of a group of appendages. In this paper, we study the generation of scanning currents in Stokes flow in a number of simple models, utilizing the movement of Stokeslets, spheres, or stalks to set up an average scanning drift in a suitable far-field formulation. Various mechanisms may then be classified by the rate of decay at infinity of the mean scanning current. In addition, optimal scanning can be investigated by minimizing the mean power-required to create a current of prescribed amplitude. The simple mechanisms for scanning described here provide a framework within which the appendage movements of small aquatic organisms can be analysed and the relative merits of scanning and swimming strategies can be investigated.
Subclass specificity of anti-idiotypic anti-opiate receptor antibodies in rat brain, guinea pig cerebellum, & neuroblastoma x glioma (NG 108-15)

Receptor subclass recognition properties of affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal anti-idiotypic anti-opiate receptor antibodies in various membrane preparations have been determined. The anti-receptor immunoglobulins significantly decrease binding of 3H-[D-Ala2,-MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin, a highly selective mu agonist, in rat neural membrane. In the presence of a concentration of the unlabeled ligand sufficient to block existing mu sites, the antibodies compete, to a lesser degree with 3H-[D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin for delta site occupancy in both rat neural membrane, and neuroblastoma x glioma membrane preparations. The antibodies do not displace 3H-ethylketocyclazocine from rat brain or guinea pig cerebellum.
Self-intersections of 1-dimensional random walks

Consider a random walk Snon the integers, where the steps ξi have mean 0 and variance σ2. Let T be the time of first self-intersection of the random walk. It is shown that, as σ→∞, T grows at rate σ2/3. More precisely, Tσ2/3 has a non-degenerate limit distribution which can be described in terms of Brownian motion local time.
Evidence of oxidative injury during aging of the liver in a mouse model.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether oxidative stress contributes to aging of the liver in a mouse model. Liver was obtained from young (3–5 months old) and aged (18–24 months old) mice. No age-induced gross changes in liver morphology were detected by light microscopy. Apoptosis was measured using the fragment end labeling of DNA for the immunohistochemical identification of the apoptotic nuclei. The total apoptotic cells represented 1% of the total cells in livers of young mice and 8% in those of aged mice. Among the total apoptotic cells in livers of aged animals, 15% were hepatocytes, 40% sinusoidal endothelial cells, and 45% bile duct cells. Hepatic lipid peroxidation, expressed as malonaldehyde levels, protein oxidation, measured by protein carbonyl content, and DNA oxidation, measured as 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (oxo(8)dG), were significantly increased in the livers of aged animals as compared to younger mice. The apoptotic cells presented elevated levels of oxidized DNA, detected by immunohistochemistry using an antibody directed against oxo(8)dG in serial sections. These results suggest that livers of aged animals presents evidence of increased oxidative injury and apoptosis. Because the apoptotic cells in the aged livers are mostly bile duct cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells, the cells most sensitive to oxidative stress injury, it can be hypothesized that reactive oxygen species-induced apoptosis in these cells contributes to the aging of the liver.
Effectiveness of a Hand Removal Program for Management of Nonindigenous Apple Snails in an Urban Pond

Abstract Introduced applesnails (Ampullariidae: Pomacea) have been responsible for crop and habitat damage in freshwater systems around the world. Two Pomacea species known to damage aquatic vegetation, P. maculata (Island Apple Snail) and P. canaliculata (Channeled Apple Snail), have been introduced into Florida. This investigation was conducted to evaluate efficacy of a hand-removal program for the management of nonindigenous Pomacea in a small (1.62 ha), relatively isolated urban pond. We removed snails and egg masses from the pond by hand at pre-determined time intervals during May 2008—June 2011. We made a total of 107 collections; 21,343 snails and 20,244 egg masses were removed during the study period with >90% of both removed during the first year (20,961 and 18,934, respectively). Snail densities were reduced in the wadeable near-shore habitat from 1–3/m2 to <0.001/m2. The total cost of the project (salary, supplies, travel) was $10,475. At the time of the final collection in year 3, we observed ...
Abstract A129: Development of turmerax therapeutic compounds in aggressive, refractory B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Acquired chemoresistance (ACR) is currently the most important cause of treatment failure and early mortality in DLBCL, arguably the most important but greatest unmet need in lymphoma therapy today. Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common human lymphoma, comprises a genetically and clinically diverse group of aggressive B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL-B), among a small group of important human cancers increasing in incidence in the US over the last four decades. NHL-B are the fifth most common cancers in the USA (>62,000 new cases/20,000 deaths) expected in 2011. The molecular biologic and genetic basis of the patho-physiology of these important lymphoid tumors is still mostly unresolved. Relapsed/refractory (r/rDLBCL) DLBCL is one of the most difficult scientific challenges and severe unmet therapeutic needs in clinical oncology today. This is due largely to 1.) very drug resistant tumor cells with very poor responses ( 1000x more effective than curcumin in inhibiting DLBCL growth and survival in vitro, and show no toxicities in normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. Liposomal-TMX (L-TMX) also targets multiple growth and survival signaling pathways, such as NF-kB and AKT, and key cellular regulatory proteins in drug resistance (MDR) in r/r DLBCL. We have also shown in vivo that L-TMX increases in survival time with decreases in lymphoma tumor burden in preliminary studies in SCID/MCL xeno-transplant (XT-SCID) models, without evidence of significant host toxicities. The development of our new agent nano-liposomal Turmerax, has provided a multi-targeted, non-toxic nano-therapeutic small molecule with the critical growth/survival (G/S) targeting specificities similar to natural product therapeutic agents (curcumin) but without the many foibles involving solubility, bioavailability, and poor in vivo potency problems, by providing a well-tolerated, well-delivered (in vivo) effective small molecule therapeutic agent, showing very promising preliminary activities on r/r DLBCL in xeno-transplant human DBLCL models, that appears to be an excellent candidate for future clinical trials. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A129.
Sex differences in drug and alcohol use among ethnic groups in Laos, 1965-1975

AbstractLaos in the period 1965–1975 provided an opportunity to study sex differences in drug and alcohol use, as influenced by ethnicity. Several psychoactive substances were locally consumed, including opium, heroin, alcohol, tobacco, betel-areca, and cannabis, Much diversity occurred among the various ethnic groups with regard to male-female use of drugs and alcohol. Trends in these use patterns suggested the existence of certain principles which govern the male-female dimension of drug use. Social changes going on in the society were reflected in choice of substance forms by younger people as compared to their elders (e.g., cigarettes vs pipes or cigars, heroin vs opium, manufactured vs village-produced alcohol). Ecological factors, which contributed to drug availability, also were powerful in determining type of drugs and patterns of use.
Response: Scientific Progress in a Nontheoretical Discipline: History and Constructive Realism

I agree with essentially all of Philip Gorski's arguments. His critiques of Hempel, Burawoy, Lieberson, and Skocpol seem to me entirely correct. I see his alternative "constructive realist" approach as providing a cogent philosophical underwriting of what the best historical and cultural sociologists have in fact been doing in practice for years. Moreover, Gorski argues that constructive realism describes what quantitative sociologists have been doing in practice as well. The philosophy of science Gorski espouses provides a big tent. Although formulated from the standpoint of a historical and cultural sociologist, it does not attempt to cast quantitative research into the outer darkness by claiming that only explicitly "interpretivist" methods and theories are worthwhile-although it does, properly in my opinion, indicate that self-consciously positivist researchers in fact engage in a lot more interpretative work than they would like to believe. I am pleased to have at hand such a clear, concise, convincing, astute, and sensible philosophical statement, which I expect to come in handy in many future debates. One of the most attractive features of Gorski's constructive
The international telephone network and democratization

This study examines the relationship between the international telephone network and the process of democratization. It attempts to answer two research questions: (1) Who are the core, semiperiphery, periphery countries in the international telephone network? (2) What is the relationship between a country's network position and its level of democracy? The results indicate that various network indicators (e.g., system density, centrality, connectedness, and integrativeness) are consistent over time. Network analysis identified one large group in the global telephone network. Further, the results are consistent with the main argument of world system theory that a country's position in the network affects its political development and its patterns of interaction. Telecommunication also plays a paradoxical role in the development of democracy. On the one hand, it facilitates interaction among different segments of people and enables popular participation. On the other hand, it generates electronic colonialism and exacerbates the gap between the core and the periphery countries. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.