cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The significance of thermal contact resistance in two-layer thermal-barrier-coated turbine vanes

The importance of thermal contact resistance between layers in heat transfer through two layer, plasma sprayed, thermal barrier coatings applied to turbine vanes was investigated. Results obtained with a system of NiCrAlY bond and yttria stabilized zirconia ceramic show that thermal contact resistance between layers is negligible. These results also verified other studies which showed that thermal contact resistance is negligible for a different coating system of NiCr bond calcia stabilized zirconia ceramic. The zirconia stabilized ceramic thermal conductivity data scatter presented in the literature is ?20 to -10 percent about a curve fit of the data. More accurate predictions of heat transfer and metal wall temperatures are obtained when the thermal conductivity values are used at the ?20 percent level.
Fracture of Brittle Materials under a Simulated Wear Stress System

Currently no data are available for fracture toughnesses associated with the compression/shear (mixed mode) stress distribution of the sliding-wear loading system. To provide such information, diametrically compressed disk specimens of electrical porcelain were tested and used to develop a fracture criterion for a body containing a crack which is subjected to mixed-mode loading. The role of applied shear loads in creating local tensile stresses near the crack tip is discussed. While these stresses are embodied in the maximum-hoop-stress theory of mixed-mode fracture, it was found that the toughness values had only a fair fit with theory. However, the direction of initial crack growth, which is out-of-plane, is consistent with theory. Since effects due to crack-face rubbing were limited by using a finite-thickness notch in the test specimen (instead of a crack), the data, although indicative, are not fully representative of debris formation during sliding wear. The paper concludes with the formulation of a simple model of the formation of a debris particle.
Affective states associated with morphine injections

Rats were placed in one compartment of an alley for 30 min at 1, 4.5, and 7 h after morphine (10 mg/kg) or saline injections on 3 consecutive days. On the 4th day, rats were allowed access to the entire alley while time spent in the compartment where they had experienced the effects following injections was tabulated. This 4-day cycle of training and testing was repeated four times. Additionally, other rats were trained and tested at 4.5 h after injections for the first cycle and decreased to 2 h for the fourth cycle, times corresponding to morphine’s maximum facilitation of hypothalamic self-stimulation. On test days, rats experiencing morphine in a compartment during times corresponding to morphine’s facilitation of self-stimulation, and at 1 h after injections, spent more time in that compartment than rats experiencing saline.
Effect of the acetylator phenotype on amrinone pharmacokinetics

Ten healthy male subjects were phenotyped with isoniazid for their acetylator status and then received intravenous amrinone at a dose of 75 mg during a period of 10 minutes. Blood samples were drawn at specified times during a 24-hour period after dosing. Plasma concentrations of amrinone were determined by a specific HPLC method. The plasma concentration data were fitted to a biexponential model by nonlinear regression. The mean apparent first-order elimination t½ for amrinone in the slow acetylators was 4.4 hours, whereas it was 2.0 hours in the fast acetylators (P < 0.05). There was little difference in the volume of distribution at steady state. Clearance was lower in the slow acetylators, 16.6 L/hr, than in the fast acetylators, 37.2 L/hr (P < 0.05). The AUC was higher for the slow acetylators, 4.96 µg · hr · ml−1, than for the fast acetylators, 2.20 µg · hr · ml−1 (P < 0.01). Concentrations of amrinone and its N-acetyl metabolite in the urine from each volunteer were determined. The ratio of N-acetylamrinone to amrinone was calculated and, as expected, the fast acetylators had a higher ratio than did the slow acetylators (P < 0.01). Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1986) 40, 615–619; doi:10.1038/clpt.1986.235
Truncated exponential versus damped sinusoidal waveform shocks for transthoracic defibrillation

Currently available transthoracic defibrillators use either a damped sinusoidal or truncated exponential (TE) waveform. Truncated exponential waveforms deliver a long pulse if the transthoracic impedance is high; it has been suggested that such a long pulse may be less effective for defibrillation. Our objective was to compare the ability of damped sinusoidal (DS) waveform shocks versus TE waveform shocks to terminate ventricular fibrillation (VF) and achieve survival from witnessed cardiac arrest. We retrospectively reviewed field-recorded electrocardiograms from 86 patients with witnessed VF, treated by prehospital personnel equipped with DS or TE waveform defibrillators. Forty-four patients received 130 shocks from TE defibrillators; 42 patients received 108 shocks from DS defibrillators. There were no significant differences in time from arrest to first shock (8.0 vs 8.1 minutes), nor were there any differences in the size of the communities involved. The shocks resulted in the following rhythms: organized rhythm: TE: 15 of 130 (12%), DS: 24 of 108 (22%), p = 0.10 (NS); persistent VF: TE: 85 of 130 (65%), DS: 45 of 108 (42%), p <0.01; asystole: TE: 30 of 130 (23%), DS: 39 of 108 (36%), p = NS; and survival to hospital discharge: TE: 5 of 44 (11%), DS: 8 of 42 (19%), p = NS. We conclude that DS waveforms terminated VF more frequently than TE, but there was no significant difference in resumption of an organized rhythm or survival. A prospective comparison of these 2 waveforms is needed.
7-N-(Mercaptoalkyl)mitomycins: Implications of Cyclization for Drug Function

The Kyowa Hakko Kogyo and Bristol-Myers Squibb companies reported that select mitomycin C(7) aminoethylene disulfides displayed improved pharmacological profiles compared with mitomycin C (1). Mechanisms have been advanced for these mitomycins that differ from 1. Central to many of these hypotheses is the intermediate generation of 7-N-(2-mercaptoethyl)mitomycin C (5). Thiol 5 has been neither isolated nor characterized. Two efficient methods were developed for mitomycin (porfiromycin) C(7)-substituted thiols. In the first method, the thiol was produced by a thiol-mediated disulfide exchange process using an activated mixed mitomycin disulfide. In the second route, the thiol was generated by base-mediated cleavage of a porfiromycin C(7)-substituted thiol ester. We selected four thiols, 7-N-(2-mercaptoethyl)mitomycin C (5), 7-N-(2-mercaptoethyl)porfiromycin (12), 7-N-(2-mercapto-2-methylpropyl)mitomycin C (13), and 7-N-(3-mercaptopropyl)porfiromycin (14), for study. Thiols 5 and 12−14 differed in the compo...
Celebration and governing: the production of the author as ascetic practice

Lately one seems to encounter a number of authors about whom much is said without ever encountering what has been said by the authors themselves. It is not the significance of the author but the significance of the author’s work that has been “thoroughly consigned to oblivion” as declarations of an author’s productivity, popularity, and visibility increasingly crowd out the author’s declarations. It is not uncommon to learn an author’s name, rank, and awards before one learns what it is that they are writing for. One can quickly discover the “400 most-cited political scientists”3 or the “102 most-cited works in sociology.”4 Publishers rank their most-viewed and most-cited authors on a monthly basis5 and the most-productive authors are celebrated in “Super Author” campaigns.6
An ensemble approach to space-time interpolation

The availability of spatial data on an unprecedented scale as well as advancements in analytical and visualization techniques gives researchers the opportunity to study complex problems over large urban and regional areas. Nevertheless, few individual data sets exist that provide both the requisite spatial and/or temporal observational frequency to truly facilitate detailed investigations. Some data are collected frequently over time but only at a few geographic locations (e.g., weather stations). Similarly, other data are collected with a high level of spatial resolution but not at regular or frequent time intervals (e.g., satellite data). The purpose of this article is to present an interpolation approach that leverages the relative temporal richness of one data set with the relative spatial richness of another to fill in the gaps. Because different interpolation techniques are more appropriate than others for specific types of data, we propose a space-time interpolation approach whereby two interpolation methods-one for the temporal and one for the spatial dimension-are used in tandem to increase the accuracy results. We call our ensemble approach the space-time interpolation environment (STIE). The primary steps within this environment include a spatial interpolation processor, a temporal interpolation processor, and a calibration processor, which enforces phenomenon-related behavioral constraints. The specific interpolation techniques used within the STIE can be chosen on the basis of suitability for the data and application at hand. In this article, we first describe STIE conceptually including the data input requirements, output structure, details of the primary steps, and the mechanism for coordinating the data within those steps. We then describe a case study focusing on urban land cover in Phoenix, Arizona, using our working implementation. Our empirical results show that our approach increased the accuracy for estimating urban land cover better than a single interpolation technique.
Scheduling about a given common due date to minimize mean squared deviation of completion times

Abstract In this paper the problem of minimizing the mean squared deviation (MSDP) of job completion times about a given common due date in n -job, single-machine scheduling is considered. The release times for all jobs are assumed to be zero. No polynomial time algorithms have been found to identify an optimal solution to MSDP. For the tightly restricted version of MSDP, no even pseudo-polynomial time algorithms have been found to identify an optimal solution. We present some dominance properties for MSDP based on which a pseudo-polynomial dynamic programming algorithm which is an extension of the dynamic programming algorithm proposed by Lee, Danusaputro and Lin is presented to optimally solve the tightly restricted version of MSDP. Computational results show that the proposed dynamic programming algorithm can optimally solve tightly restricted instances of MSDP with up to 100 jobs in less than two seconds.
Computer modeling and optimum investment planning in oil refining and petrochemistry

The possibility of using the special option of the RPMS 4.9.1 system for optimum investment planning was demonstrated. This option allows optimizing not only a company’s operation but also its structure, as well as the value of added facilities and the size of investments. An example of preliminary selection of the version for revamping a conventional oil refinery is given. The basic technical and economic indexes of the selected design are calculated and its economic efficiency is demonstrated.
Origin of ecdysosteroid UDP-glycosyltransferases of baculoviruses through horizontal gene transfer from Lepidoptera

Baculoviruses infecting Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) encodes an enzyme known as ecdysosteroid UDP-glycosyltransferase (EGT), which inactivates insect host ecdysosteroid hormones, thereby preventing molt and pupation and permitting a build-up of the viral population within the host. Baculovirus EGT shows evidence of homology to insect UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs), and a phylogenetic analysis supported that the closest relatives of baculovirus EGT are the UGT33 and UGT34 families of lepidopteran UGTs. The phylogenetic analysis thus supported that baculovirus EGT arose by horizontal gene transfer of a UGT from a lepidopteran host, an event that occurred 70 million years ago at the earliest but possibly much more recently. Three amino acid replacements unique to baculovirus EGTs and conserved in all available baculovirus sequences were identified in the N-terminal region of the molecule. Because of their conservation, these amino acids are candidates for playing an important functional role in bacul...
Aircraft observations of the creation of lower positive charges in thunderstorms

[1] The existence of lower positive charges in the so-called tripole thundercloud model has been confirmed by in situ measurements from balloons and by remote measurements from ground-based electric field meters. However, the source of these charges is still not well understood. In this paper, we report on in situ measurements of some distinct lower positive charges using a different platform: instrumented aircraft. Results obtained by interpreting airborne electric field data recorded by two aircraft flying in close formation below, but very near, the estimated 3.4 km mean sea level (msl) cloud base in New Mexico show that, at least in some instances, localized lower positive charge may be the result of deposition by lightning. In one case studied, the deduced charge magnitude of about 1.25 C near 4 km msl is comparable to that obtained by balloons and ground-based electric field meters. A simulation involving aircraft-sampled electric fields in the vicinity of an idealized charge dipole with the instantaneous introduction of a lower positive charge shows good agreement with the observations. The data also show that during the mature stage the horizontal charge distribution in the lower portion of the cloud near cloud base may be quite complex, including side-by-side regions of opposite charge.
Effect of fatty acids on physical properties of microsomes from isolated perfused rat liver.

Abstract A computer-centered spectrofluorimeter was used to examine the physicochemical properties of hepatic microsomes and microsomal lipids obtained from isolated rat livers perfused with medium containing palmitate or oleate. The fatty acid composition and degree of unsaturation of the liver microsomal lipids reflected that the fatty acid present in the perfusate. The absorption corrected fluorescence, relative fluorescence efficiency, polarization, and fluorescence anisotropy of several fluorescent probe molecules were measured to determine if their different microenvironments may be altered by the type of fatty acid infused. The probe molecules β-parinaric acid and 1.6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene had higher values for each of these parameters when incorporated into microsomes obtained from livers perfused with a medium containing palmitate than with oleate. The same parameters measured for cholesta-5,7,9(11)-trien-3β-ol and N -phenyl-1-naphthylamine were not altered. These differences appeared to be primarily due to alterations in microviscosity of the probe microenvironments since the rotational correlation time of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene was 25% lower in the microsomes from livers perfused with oleate as compared to livers perfused with palmitate. Thermal discontinuities in Arrhenius plots were noted in the intact microsomes but not in the isolated microsomal lipids with the fluorescence probe molecule β-parinaric acid. Break points occurred at 10°C and 26°C for microsomes from livers perfused with palmitate and at 12°C and 17°C for microsomes from livers perfused with oleate containing medium. These results suggest that the physicochemical properties of liver microsomes were determined in part by the fatty acid in the perfusate.
Particle dissociation on a composite target

We discuss the Drell-Hiida-Deck (DHD) mechanism for particle dissociation on a composite target. Working in an approximation scheme of the eikonal type (linearized propagators), terms describing interaction with more than one target nucleon are easily included. Several interesting features emerge. Due to cancellations, the only important diagrams are those describing dissociation before the target is encountered. Disregarding cancellations, internal production vanishes like the longitudinal momentum transfer. There is thus no intranuclear cascading at high rapidities. A careful analysis of the rescattering terms for the coherent process $\mathrm{Nd}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(N\ensuremath{\pi})d$ reveals that the target is much more transparent than one would naively think (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{2}={\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{NN}}+{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\pi}N}$), though not as transparent as indicated by experiments. This suggests that the DHD mechanism is not the dominant mechanism for exclusive particle production on nuclei at high energies.
Power-aware architectures and circuits for FPGA-based signal processing

This work showcases a power-aware system design methodology for DSP applications on reconfigurable hardware platforms. In particular, an enhanced FPGA architecture is proposed and analyzed for a deep submicron process technology. These enhancements reduce Configurable Logic Block (CLB) usage for distributed arithmetic implementations of signal processing applications by 50% or more thereby reducing the load on interconnect resources. Multi-Threshold CMOS (MTCMOS) circuit design techniques are aggressively applied to reduce subthreshold leakage using an auto power-down feature for unused logic. Results show a 14x reduction in leakage current for unused CLBs or CLBs in deep sleep mode. CLBs in active mode see up to 2.8x steady-state power reduction. A testchip demonstrating these techniques in 0.13 micron technology has been sent out for fabrication.
Spatial specificity of working memory representations in the early visual cortex

Recent fMRI decoding studies have demonstrated that early retinotopic visual areas exhibit similar patterns of activity during the perception of a stimulus and during the maintenance of that stimulus in working memory. These findings provide support for the sensory recruitment hypothesis that the mechanisms underlying perception serve as a foundation for visual working memory. However, a recent study by Ester, Serences, and Awh (2009) found that the orientation of a peripheral grating maintained in working memory could be classified from both the contralateral and ipsilateral regions of the primary visual cortex (V1), implying that, unlike perception, feature-specific information was maintained in a nonretinotopic manner. Here, we evaluated the hypothesis that early visual areas can maintain information in a spatially specific manner and will do so if the task encourages the binding of feature information to a specific location. To encourage reliance on spatially specific memory, our experiment required observers to retain the orientations of two laterally presented gratings. Multivariate pattern analysis revealed that the orientation of each remembered grating was classified more accurately based on activity patterns in the contralateral than in the ipsilateral regions of V1 and V2. In contrast, higher extrastriate areas exhibited similar levels of performance across the two hemispheres. A time-resolved analysis further indicated that the retinotopic specificity of the working memory representation in V1 and V2 was maintained throughout the retention interval. Our results suggest that early visual areas provide a cortical basis for actively maintaining information about the features and locations of stimuli in visual working memory.
Analysis of HDD thin-film-head read channel performance as a function of media thickness and RLL code d constraint

The performances of various data detectors, including the maximum likelihood sequence detector (MLSD), are analyzed as a function of media thickness and run-length limited (RLL) code d-constraint. The analysis includes the variation of pulse width and magnetic transition width with media thickness. Performance is calculated in the presence of non-linear partial erasure, or transition amplitude reduction, which changes with media thickness. The RLL code d-constraint effects the media non-linearity and detector processing gain. The results presented predict an optimum media thickness for a given detector and show the relative performance of different detectors and RLL d-constraints.
Differential transcription of nonrepeated DNAs in Neurospora crassa mutants.

Transcriptional properties of an “albino” mutant, a “sline” mutant and a wild type strain of Neurospora crassa have been compared by quantitative estimates of DNA:RNA hybridization. The RNAs isolated from these strains were incubated with 32P-DNA of the wild type strain. The DNA:RNA hybrids were isolated by chromatography on hydroxyapatite. 29–34% of the wild type 32P-DNA hybridized with RNA from all of the strains used. The DNA sequences which gave a primary reaction with wild type RNA (tr-DNA) were recovered and again reacted with different RNAs. The tr-DNA sequences reacted to the extent of 92% with the wild type RNA, but only 78% with slime mutant RNA and 85% with the RNA isolated from the albino mutant. The use of tr-DNA sequences thus isolated, proved to have increased the specificity of the hybridization reactions, thus these were useful indicators for identification of transcriptional differences among wild type and mutant strains of N. crassa.
Effect of reserpine and p-chlorophenylalanine on the electrocorticogram of unrestrained rats during short and long recording sessions.

Summary The effect of reserpine and p -chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) on the integrated voltage of the electrocorticogram (ECoG) of unrestrained rats was examined during 15 min and 2½ hr recording sessions. As previously reported, reserpine caused an increase in the ECoG voltage during 15 min sessions. This effect was slightly enhanced by PCPA pretreatment. PCPA treatment alone produced an increase in the ECoG voltage and an increase in synchronized activity similar to that induced by reserpine. Thus, it appears that the ECoG effect of reserpine during 15 min recording sessions does not depend upon increased “free” 5-HT. During 2½ hr sessions, PCPA produced a decrease in voltage with decreased slow-wave activity. A consistent increase in ECoG voltage was observed 4 hr after reserpine injection using the long recording time. By 24 hr, the voltage had returned to the control levels and was lower than the control at 48 hr and later. α-Methyltyrosine restored the decreased voltage to the control levels. PCPA pretreatment antagonized the reserpine-induced increase in ECoG voltage and instead of a return to the control at 24 hr after reserpine, a marked decrease in voltage was seen in the PCPA-pretreated animals at this time period. These results are discussed in terms of reciprocally acting “catecholaminergic” and “serotoninergic” systems.
Robert Mitchell, Experimental Life: Vitalism in Romantic Science and Literature

Review by Jan Golinski (University of New Hampshire) of Robert Mitchell, Experimental Life: Vitalism in Romantic Science and Literature . Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013. Pp. 309. ISBN 9781421410883.
Stone formation on ureteric stents in children.

The use of indwelling ureteric stents, either as definitive treatment for obstructive uropathy or as a temporary adjunct to urinary tract surgery, has been increasing in the last few years. We have used it to support renal tract surgery for varying pathological conditions in which post-operative stricturing, particularly at the vesicoureteric junction, might occur. We have also tried to use such stenting in an attempt to treat a minor degree of obstruction, with a few complications. However, 3 patients have developed calculi associated with their stents.
Relationship of age-0 pollock abundance and distribution around the Pribilof Islands, to other shelf regions of the eastern Bering Sea

The Pribilof Islands region is recognized to be a major nursery for age-0 walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma )i n the eastern Bering Sea. However, the Pribilof Islands’ importance for the recruitment of pollock in the Bering Sea has not been quantified. In this paper, we define the geographic extent of the Pribilof Islands region based on ocean circulation, location of major fronts, and trophic interactions. The abundance and distribution by oceanographic habitat (nearshore, frontal and offshore), of acoustically determined age-0 pollock are compared between the Pribilof Islands and the Inner Front of the eastern Bering Sea, for the summers of 1997–1999. Net samples collected during surveys in 1995–2002 are used to compare the abundance of age-0 pollock in the Pribilof Islands region to locations eastward along the Bering Sea shelf. We found densities of age-0 pollock near the Pribilof Islands to be generally higher than on the surrounding shelf, and higher or non-significantly different from the Inner Front. Through synthesis of our data and inferences of pollock growth and mortality, we estimate the Pribilof Islands region to have comprised 12.5% (1997), 53.7% (1998), and 24.7% (1999) of the total stock of age-0 pollock in the eastern Bering Sea. Since the Pribilof Islands region comprises only 14% of the total eastern Bering Sea area, evidence is given that a disproportionally large fraction of the age-0 pollock population inhabits the Pribilof Islands nursery. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
With Fiddle and Well-Rosined Bow: A History of Old-Time Fiddling in Alabama.

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Joyce H. Cauthen Year: 2001 Pages: xii + 282 Publisher: University of Alabama Press Prices: $19.95
The theory of the jet-flap for unsteady motion

Linearized methods developed in earlier papers (Spence 1956, 1961) are used to discuss the non-stationary flow of a wing with a jet-flap. We consider a thin twodimensional wing at zero incidence in a steady stream of speed U, with a thin jet emerging parallel to the chord at the trailing edge, and study the motion following an instantaneous deflexion of the jet through an angle τ0. If the momentum-flux coefficient CJ of the jet is [Lt ] 4, the governing equations can be put in a form in which CJ does not appear explicitly, and a similarity solution then gives the shape of the jet at small times t from the start of the motion as a function of , without restriction to small μ. Expressions for the lift coefficient at small and large times are found, and the case of an oscillating deflexion angle is treated by the same methods.
Toward Youth Self-Report of Health and Quality of Life in Population Monitoring

This paper addresses population monitoring of youth health and quality of life, including the concepts used, methodological and practical criteria for indicators, and existing surveys and measures. Current population surveys of youth generally focus on poor health, such as disability or health-risk behaviors. Although these are important end points, indicators of illness or risk do not reflect the health or life perspective of the majority of youth who do not experience health problems. The measures used to monitor youth health should be appropriate and sensitive to future needs and capture the perspectives of youths. Two potential concepts for this "scorecard" are self-perceived health and quality of life, which have been shown to be useful in adults. For youth, the quality of life framework seems particularly relevant as it incorporates both positive and negative aspects of health and well-being and also captures salient aspects of health other than physical health, such as sense of self, social relationships, environment and culture, and life satisfaction.
Comparing culture, quality management, and CRM systems: a study of managers in the US and mainland China

Our concern in this paper is with the extent to which cultural differences may affect the way in which organisations respond to changes in the workplace, and we examine Mainland China and the USA. We consider whether there are differences as well as consistencies in the perceptions of managers from the two countries in their experiences with QM Maturity, extent of use and effectiveness of their Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM), their organisations' cultures, and organisational outcomes. In both the US and China, as managers report that their organisations are becoming more QM Mature, we examine whether they will also report changes in related systems, such as CRM and the organisational culture. We provide results from a sample of managers from China and the US, which give evidence of support for these ideas, and we offer suggestions for future research.
Shear Layers and Aperture Effects for Aero-Optics

*† ‡ This paper examines the effect of a finite aperture on wavefronts, especially with regard to aero-optic distortions from a shear layer. When the net deflection of a beam is corrected in real time to bring a beam on target, a common practice in optic applications even if no other corrections are performed, this removal of the off-target tilt and the finite aperture of the beam act as a spatial filter. This restricts the tip-tilt correction and the wavefront correction to separate frequency ranges, causing the rms magnitude of the remaining distortion to be corrected to vary with aperture size. It has also been found that for a shear layer, aperture size is a key factor in scaling the severity of optical distortions, and it is likely to be a key component in scaling other types of optically-aberrating flows.
Effects of initial polarity on defibrillation threshold with biphasic pulses.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that the polarity of epicardial patches significantly affects the defibrillation efficacy of monophasic shocks. However, whether this improvement can be extended to different pulsing methods and lead systems, such as biphasic shocks using endocardial defibrillating electrodes, is unknown. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients undergoing testing and permanent implant using an Endotak lead system with a biphasic device were included in the study. In each patient the defibrillation threshold was determined delivering biphasic pulses with the distal coil as the cathode and the proximal coil as the anode during the positive phase and with the polarity reversed. The initial electrode polarity tested was chosen randomly. The defibrillation threshold was defined as the lowest pulse amplitude that effectively terminated ventricular fibrillation induced with 60-Hz alternating current. For each biphasic pulse peak voltage, pulse duration, resistance, and stored energy were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients, 12 (60%) had lower defibrillation threshold when the proximal coil was negative, whereas only 2 patients had a lower defibrillation threshold when the distal coil was negative. In four patients a subcutaneous patch would have been required if only the biphasic pulse with the distal coil as negative had been tested. The mean stored defibrillation threshold energy was lower with the configuration using the proximal coil as cathode (16.3 +/- 8.8 J vs 21.5 +/- 11 J; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Change in the initial polarity of biphasic shocks may influence defibrillation efficacy and should, therefore, be assessed in each patient to achieve a more satisfactory safety margin and minimize the use of more invasive lead configurations.
Ethnoarchaeology needs a general theory of behavior

Ethnoarchaeology is the study of relationships between human behavior and its material consequences in the present. Practitioners hope to establish consistent links between the two that can be used to interpret archaeological evidence of human behavior in the past. Much of this work is descriptive: analysts seldom attempt to explain variation in the behavior they observe, instead simply documenting its archaeological implications. This limits the utility of their results. At best, they can only identify the past distribution of ethnographically known behavior. Evidence of anything else is uninterpretable; the behavioral variability it reflects inexplicable. This problem can be resolved only by linking ethnoarchaeology with a general theory of behavior. Neo-Darwinian behavioral ecology may provide the necessary framework. Recent ethnoarchaeological work on site structure and faunal remains, especially as applied in research on the Paleolithic, illustrates both the problem and the appeal of the proposed solution.
Chip and board-scale integrated Photonic Networks for next-generation computers

Careful co-design between electronics and photonics is needed to fully leverage the immense bandwidth-density potential of silicon photonics. Key insights are presented, which capture the interplay between process integration, device, circuit and system design strategies.
Real world ASD interference case study with modeled solutions

The installation of adjustable speed drives (ASDs) has been known to cause many types of radiated and conducted emissions-related electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems. Solutions to resolve these problems are often not straightforward and involve the correction application of filtering and shielding devices. The process of identifying effective solutions is also not straightforward. This paper describes a real-world case study where the use of several high horsepower ASDs caused EMI problems with a cable tester in an industrial plant. Included are the approaches for investigating the problem and mitigating the problem. It is shown that the correction application of an isolation transformer combined with the application of a custom power-line filter designed for mitigation of ASD-related conducted emissions resolved the problem. Modeling is also used to show the effects of adding a shield and a filter on the motor drive cables, and then a ground noise filter between the ASD system ground and the chassis ground.
Envenomation by the Mexican beaded lizard: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Envenomations by venomous lizards are rare. A single report of envenomation by a Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum) has been published. Further, anaphylaxis secondary to lizard envenomation has only been reported with the Gila monster. We report an envenomation that resulted in both systemic toxicity and anaphylaxis. CASE REPORT: A 40-year-old male was bitten on his hand by a captive Mexican beaded lizard. The patient experienced severe local pain, dizziness, vomiting, and diaphoresis. Upon arrival to the hospital, he was lethargic, vomiting, and in severe pain with marked swelling of his hand, lips, and tongue. His blood pressure was 110/63 mm/Hg with a pulse of 60 beats/minute. The patient's oxygen saturation decreased to 55%, and he required oxygen, although cyanosis was not observed. He was treated with normal saline, diphenhydramine, methylprednisolone, famotidine, ondansetron, morphine, and hydromorphone. The patient was admitted to intensive care where he continued to complain of severe pain requiring morphine. Local X-ray revealed only soft tissue swelling. Remarkable initial laboratory values included WBC 18,500 k/mm3 with 80% segs. Over the next eight hours, the patient's symptoms gradually improved. He had persistent local swelling at the bite site along with erythematous streaking up the forearm. He had an uneventful hospital course until his eventual discharge the following day. CONCLUSION: Significant envenomations by members of the Helodermatidae family are rare. Systemic toxicity usually resolves within one to two days with supportive care. Prior envenomations may predispose patients to anaphylactic reactions. Language: en
Blending Time and Velocity Variations During Blending in a Tank Using Dual Opposing Jets

Blending times are required for many process industries, and statistical analysis of the measured blending times was used to determine a relationship between CFD (computational fluid dynamics) predictions and experiments. A 95% blending time occurs when tank contents are sufficiently blended to ensure that concentration throughout the tank is within ±5% of the total change in concentration. To determine 95% blending times, acid and base tracers were added to an eight foot diameter tank, and the pH data were recorded to monitor blending. The data for six pH probes located throughout the tank were normalized to a range of 0 to 1. Then the blending time was established when the pH converged between 0.95 and 1.05 on the normalized graphs. Evaluation of results from 79 different tests concluded that the maximum blending time occurred randomly at any one of the six pH probes. The research then considered the calculated 95% blending times, which had uncertainties up to more than 100% at a 95% confidence level. However, this uncertainty is considered to be an actual variation in blending time, rather than an experimental error. Not only were there significant variations in the blending times, but there were significant variations in the velocities measured at different points in the blending tank.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
The Treatment of Shock Associated with Myocardial Infarction

As a background to the problem of shock associated with acute myocardial infarction, a review of 816 recent consecutive and proved cases has been made. One hundred and sixty-one cases met the arbitrary criteria for the definition of shock. Therefore, shock was found to have occurred in 20 per cent of the patients with myocardial infarction. The mortality was 81 per cent (128 patients died). In the present study, 134 patients with acute myocardial infarction in shock were treated. All of these patients were first treated by strictly routine measures, including digitalis when indicated. Sixty of the 134 patients were relieved by prompt routine therapy given within a three-hour period of time. The remaining 74 patients were treated by (1) retrograde arterial infusion, (2) the newer sympathomimetic drugs such as methoxamine, isopropylnorepinephrine and norepinephrine and (3) other agents such as cholinesterase and cortisone. An evaluation of these methods was made and the over-all mortality of shock as associ...
Facilitating knowledge transfer in organizations through incentive alignment and IT investment

Knowledge transfer plays a fundamental role in the success of knowledge management systems. Information technology facilitates knowledge sharing and learning. In this paper, we study the role of incentives and information systems in knowledge transfer. We incorporate both the reward and cost for knowledge sharing and learning in a modeling framework, capture the characteristics of both information system and incentives, and explore how the IT investment complements the incentives in facilitating knowledge transfer. We investigate the appropriate incentive mechanisms that can align the individual responses with the organization's optimal level of knowledge sharing and show that various organizational objectives (e.g., maximal profit, maximal knowledge flow, and minimal technology threshold for full sharing) can be achieved by designing different incentive schemes. We focus on the complementarity between information systems and incentives in knowledge transfer and determine the threshold level of information technology sophistication required to support full knowledge sharing.
Short-Range-Ordering and Fe-Clustering in Au-Fe Alloys

As an “archtypal” spin-glass system, the local atomic arrangement in Au-Fe alloys is still a controversial subject. In the present experiment, Au-Fe alloys with Fe content from 10.7 to 33% were studied as to microstructure evolution, through various transmission electron microscopic techniques. Information derived from aging experiments using real and reciprocal spaces appears to suggest the coexistence of short-range-order and Fe-clusters. At early stages of aging, lobe-like and/or rod-shaped strain contrast images, identified as clusters, were revealed after specimens were further cleaned by an ion-miller. The (1 ½ 0) special point diffuse reflections were prominent in the as-quenched condition and/or early stage aging, and the intensifies decrease gradually as aging proceeds. After a certain period, (1 ½ 0) diffuse reflections disappear but strain contrast images still remain similar. This suggests that the strain contrast images are not related to the (1 ½ 0) diffuse reflections. High resolution electron microscopy was also employed. The results are consistent with the arguments derived from aging experiments.
Combining Laplacian images of different spatial frequencies (scales): implications for remote sensing image analysis

The author proposes a solution to the longstanding problem of how to combine the different scales of analysis in multifrequency image analysis. The premise for combining different scales of analysis is that the absolute value of the result of the difference of two Gaussian filters (DOG) will be at a maximum at different parts of an object for the DOGS passing the spatial frequencies composing those parts. Combining images derived from a DOGS passing a range of frequencies (called Laplacian images or the Laplacian pyramid) is performed by taking the maximum absolute value among the values in the Laplacian image being combined (for each pixel) to form what is called a multifrequency Laplacian image. The rationale for the development of a multifrequency Laplacian pyramid and its implications for multifrequency image analysis and remote-sensing image classification are discussed. >
Diversity associations as stochastic variables

Diversity data from stochastic phylogenies and from uniformly spaced Gaussian curves were subjected to Q-mode factor analysis in order to determine whether a few factors would account for a large percentage of the original variance. In both analyses, a small number of factors show systematic variations in time and account for more than 90% of original data variance. To further study the question of evolutionary pulsations, turnover rates were calculated between successive samples. These turnover rates indicate that sto- chastic phylogenies have pulses similar to those recorded in the fossil record. Large scale environmental changes are not required to explain such pulses. Therefore the observed existence in the real world of biologic diversity associations and evolutionary pulsations can as equally well be accounted for in a stochastic world (in which each species is an inde- pendent variable) as in a deterministic world. This suppolts the notion that there may be
A note on the effects of market inefficiency and portfolio constraints on the relationship between the expected return of an asset and the market

A key assumption of the Capital Asset Pricing Model is that the market portfolio is efficient; when it is inefficient, , the difference between the expected excess return of the asset and the value predicted by the CAPM, is non-zero. In this paper, a simple bound on is given that depends on the efficiency of the market portfolio. Alternatively, the impact of inefficiency may be viewed in terms of its effect on , the coefficient of the expected market return in the CAPM. A simple bound on the difference between , based on an inefficient market portfolio, and , based on an efficient portfolio, is also given. These results are used to assess the impact of portfolio constraints.
Beyond Exports: A Better Case for Free Trade

The 112th Congress begins its term amid renewed optimism about prospects for U.S. trade liberalization. Big labor’s stranglehold over the congressional trade agenda was broken with the election in November. The U.S. government finally appears willing to end its disgraceful ban on Mexican trucks. And in his State of the Union address, President Obama implored Congress to pass the trade agreement with South Korea as soon as possible, and articulated his commitment to bringing the other two pending bilateral agreements, as well as the Transpacific Partnership negotiations and the Doha Round, to successful conclusions.After four years of stasis on the trade front, the new environment is a welcome change. Removing barriers to trade — in both directions — is essential to sustained economic recovery and long-term growth.But how long will this window of opportunity remain ajar? Despite trade’s benefits, American sentiment toward it is lukewarm in the best of times, and always vulnerable to manipulation by politicians and media charlatans looking to blame foreigners for domestic shortcomings. Before the end of this year, the 2012 presidential election campaigns will be in high gear — and trade has been a particularly dirty word in stump speeches and political debates in the past. Indeed, one of the reasons for the energetic trade policy push in 2011 is that the political environment next year is expected to be less hospitable to trade initiatives.The fact that public opinion about trade is so malleable and arguments for restricting it so resonant at times speaks to a failure of free trade’s proponents to make their compelling message stick. It is sad but true that so many Americans need to be reminded of the benefits of being free to choose how and with whom to conduct commerce. But in an atmosphere where demagogues peddle myths to mislead the public into believing that it is preferable for government to limit their choices and direct their resources to chosen ends, it is crucial that the case for free trade be made more clearly, comprehensively, and consistently than it has been in the past.Thus, in addition to securing the immediate goal of concluding and passing trade liberalizing agreements in 2011, advocates of trade in Congress, the administration, the business community, think tanks, academia, and among the general public should update their arguments and invest in the process of winning the trade debate once and for all. Some of the most compelling arguments for free trade have been only modestly summoned or absent from the discussion for too long.
Broadband Microwave-Based Metrology Platform Development: Demonstration of In-Situ Failure Mode Diagnostic Capabilities for Integrated Circuit Reliability Analyses

In this paper, we discuss the use of broadband high frequency electromagnetic waves (RF) to non-destructively identify, classify and characterize performance-limiting defects in emerging nanoelectronic devices. As an illustration, the impact of thermal cycling on the RF signal characteristics (insertion loss (S21) and return loss (S11)) is used to infer thermo-mechanical stress-induced defects in metal interconnects. The inferred defects are supported with physical analytical data where possible. © The Author(s) 2014. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0151501jss] All rights reserved.
Submicron Patterned Anodic Oxidation of Aluminum Thin Films

Alumina formed by the electrochemical anodization of bulk aluminum has a regular porous structure [1]. Sub-100 nm pores with aspect ratios as high as 1000:1 can easily be formed [2] without elaborate processing. Anodization of aluminum thus provides the basis for the inexpensive, high throughput microfabrication of structures with near vertical sidewalls [2]. In this work we explore the patterned anodic oxidation of deposited aluminum thin films, facilitating the integration of this technique with established microfabrication tools. An anodization barrier of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is deposited onto 300 nm thick aluminum films. The barrier film is subsequently patterned and the exposed aluminum anodized in a 10% sulfuric acid solution. Barrier patterning techniques utilized in this study include optical exposure, ion-beam milling and nano-imprint lithography. Sharp edge definition on micron scale patterns has been achieved using optical methods. Extension of this technique to smaller dimensions by ion-beam milling and nano-imprint lithography is presented. We further report on the observation of contrast reversal of anodization with very thin PMMA barriers, which provides a novel means of pattern transfer. Potential applications and challenges will be discussed.