cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determining manufacturing batch sizes for a lumpy delivery system with trend demand

Abstract This paper considers a manufacturing system that procures raw materials and converts them to a finished product. The life cycle of the product usually has three distinct phases: increasing (inception), level (maturity) and declining (phasing out) demand. The finished products are supplied to the consumer at a fixed interval of deliveries with trend delivery quantities following the demand pattern, composed of piece-wise linear functions. This paper developed a decision rule for the manufacturer to determine the delivery quantities, the production start time and batch sizes with trend demands during increasing, level and declining phases of the life cycle of a product. It is found that when the demand is constant, the cost model becomes convex and a simple closed form solution can be obtained, but an algorithm is employed here under other cases to find a minimal cost of maintaining the system.
High throughput sample introduction system for the analysis of drinking waters and wastewaters by ICP-MS

The application of a high-throughput introduction system to the analysis of natural and certified water samples is described. The introduction system consists of an autosampler, a switching valve, a high efficiency PFA-ST nebulizer and Peltier-cooled cyclonic spray chamber to perform analysis by direct nebulization. The potential benefits of this introduction system include increased throughput, reduced memory effects, increased stability, lower reagent consumption and less instrument maintenance. These parameters were evaluated as the system was applied to U.S. EPA Method 200.8. Particular attention was paid to the retention of Hg and long term stability during the analysis of samples containing high total dissolved salts. Analyses (according to Method 200.8 protocol) were accomplished in 90 s with significantly improved washout compared with that of conventional introduction, thereby doubling the throughput.
MITOCHONDRIAL GENOTYPES HAVE NO DETECTABLE EFFECTS ON MERISTIC TRAITS IN CUTTHROAT TROUT HYBRID SWARMS.

Efforts to detect effects of cytoplasmic genes are confounded by the problem of parti- tioning nuclear and cytoplasmic effects. In this study we test for effects of mtDNA haplotype on development in hybrid populations of cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) with randomly as- sociated nuclear and mtDNA genotypes. We have previously described several intraspecific hybrid swarms formed by interbreeding of westslope cutthroat trout (0. c. lewisi) and Yellowstone cutthroat trout (0. c. bouvieri). Genetic distance between these subspecies is high (Nei's D = 0.30; mtDNA P = 0.02), and diagnostic alleles at multiple nuclear loci and two distinct mtDNA haplotypes are present in the hybrids. Historical associations between alleles at nuclear loci and between cytotypes and nuclear alleles have largely decayed. We test for differences in meristic characters between fish with alternate mtDNA haplotypes. Counts and fluctuating bilateral asymmetry for these characters have been previously shown to be sensitive indicators of genetic differences that affect development. No differences were found between mtDNA types in meristic counts or fluctuating asymmetry. Therefore, the alternate mtDNA haplotypes had no detectable effect on development as measured by meristic counts in these hybrid populations. However, diagnostic alleles at one nuclear allozyme locus (CK-CJ) were associated with several fin ray counts.
Ventricular arrhythmias in aortic valve disease: Analysis of 102 patients

Frequency and grade of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with isolated aortic stenosis (AS) or regurgitation (AR) were determined by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. The occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with aortic valve disease was compared with that in matched control subjects without aortic valve disease. Complex arrhythmias were significantly more prevalent in patients with valve disease than in control subjects (40 of 102 vs 19 of 102); the significant difference occurred in patients without concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). In patients with valve disease without CAD, complex arrhythmias were significantly more common than in normal control subjects (22 of 65 vs 4 of 64); in the presence of CAD, complex arrhythmias were as prevalent in those with aortic valve disease as in those without it (18 of 37 vs 15 of 37, respectively). Among patients with AS or AR, arrhythmia occurrence and grade of ventricular ectopic activity were not related to the degree of AS or AR, ventricular hemodynamics or the presence or absence of concomitant CAD.
Sensor management for multiple target tracking with heterogeneous sensor models

Modern sensors are able to rapidly change mode of operation and steer between physically separated objects. While control of such sensors over a rolling planning horizon can be formulated as a dynamic program, the optimal solution is inevitably intractable. In this paper, we consider the control problem under a restricted family of policies and show that the essential sensor control trade-offs are still captured. The advantage of this approach is that one can obtain the optimal policy within the restricted class in a tractable fashion, in this case by using the auction algorithm. The approach is well-suited for problems in which a single sensor (or group of sensors) is being used to track many targets using a heterogeneous sensor model, i.e., where the quality of observations varies with object state, such as due to obscuration. Our algorithm efficiently weighs the rewards achievable by observing each target at each time to find the best sensor plan within the restricted set. We extend this approach using a roll-out algorithm, to handle additional cases such as when observations take different amounts of time to complete.
Cardiovascular Medications and Risk of Cancer

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are 2 of the leading causes of death globally. Certain cardiovascular medications have been linked to an increased risk for cancer. Although individual reviews of specific classes of cardiovascular medications have been published previously, a more complete review of several classes has not been performed. The aim of this review is to evaluate the associations of various cardiovascular agents with the risk for developing cancer and provide guidance for clinicians. A comprehensive search of published research was conducted using MEDLINE from 1994 to 2011. Three trials demonstrated an increased risk for cancer using angiotensin II receptor blockers. Additionally, risk for cancer was shown in a number of trials that included the use of angiotensin II receptor blockers in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. Five trials suggested that diuretics increased the risk for specific cancers, especially in women and those who had been using diuretics for >4 years. Statins and ezetimibe, in contrast, did not show this increased risk. Prasugrel was shown to be associated with an increased risk for cancer in 1 study. It appears that the use of certain cardiovascular medications is associated with an increased risk for cancer. In conclusion, clinicians need to balance the risks and benefits of the use of these agents and provide the appropriate therapy on an individual basis.
Power lines and the geomagnetic field.

The metric of prime interest in power line epidemiological studies has been AC magnetic intensity. To consider also possible geomagnetic involvement, the orientation of a long straight power line is examined relative to a uniform geomagnetic field (GMF) with dip angle {alpha}. An expression is derived for the component of the total GMF that is parallel, at an elevation {beta}, to the circular magnetic field that surrounds the line. This component is a function of the angles {alpha} and {beta}, the total geomagnetic intensity B{sub T}, and the angle {theta} between the axis of the power line and magnetic north. Plotting these geomagnetic parameters for known leukemia residences allows one to test for possible ion cyclotron resonance or other GMF interactions. This approach, in principle, is an easy addition to existing or planned studies, because residential access is not required to obtain local values for {alpha}, {beta}, {theta}, and B{sub T}. The authors recommend including these parameters in the design of epidemiological studies examining power line fields and childhood leukemia.
Engineering a segmented dual-reservoir polyurethane intravaginal ring for simultaneous prevention of HIV transmission and unwanted pregnancy

The HIV/AIDS pandemic and its impact on women prompt the investigation of prevention strategies to interrupt sexual transmission of HIV. Long-acting drug delivery systems that simultaneously protect womenfrom sexual transmission of HIV and unwanted pregnancy could be important tools in combating the pandemic. We describe the design, in silico, in vitro and in vivo evaluation of a dual-reservoir intravaginal ring that delivers the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor tenofovir and the contraceptive levonorgestrel for 90 days. Two polyether urethanes with two different hard segment volume fractions were used to make coaxial extruded reservoir segments with a 100 µm thick rate controlling membrane and a diameter of 5.5 mm that contain 1.3 wt% levonorgestrel. A new mechanistic diffusion model accurately described the levonorgestrel burst release in early time points and pseudo-steady state behavior at later time points. As previously described, tenofovir was formulated as a glycerol paste and filled into a hydrophilic polyurethane, hollow tube reservoir that was melt-sealed by induction welding. These tenofovir-eluting segments and 2 cm long coaxially extruded levonorgestrel eluting segments were joined by induction welding to form rings that released an average of 7.5 mg tenofovir and 21 µg levonorgestrel per day in vitro for 90 days. Levonorgestrel segments placed intravaginally in rabbits resulted in sustained, dose-dependent levels of levonorgestrel in plasma and cervical tissue for 90 days. Polyurethane caps placed between segments successfully prevented diffusion of levonorgestrel into the tenofovir-releasing segment during storage.Hydrated rings endured between 152 N and 354 N tensile load before failure during uniaxial extension testing. In summary, this system represents a significant advance in vaginal drug delivery technology, and is the first in a new class of long-acting multipurpose prevention drug delivery systems.
Famous talker effects in spoken word recognition

Previous work has demonstrated that talker-specific representations affect spoken word recognition relatively late during processing. However, participants in these studies were listening to unfamiliar talkers. In the present research, we used a long-term repetition-priming paradigm and a speeded-shadowing task and presented listeners with famous talkers. In Experiment 1, half the words were spoken by Barack Obama, and half by Hillary Clinton. Reaction times (RTs) to repeated words were shorter than those to unprimed words only when repeated by the same talker. However, in Experiment 2, using nonfamous talkers, RTs to repeated words were shorter than those to unprimed words both when repeated by the same talker and when repeated by a different talker. Taken together, the results demonstrate that talker-specific details can affect the perception of spoken words relatively early during processing when words are spoken by famous talkers.
Anti-Stokes' light converter based on graded-band-gap semiconductors☆

Abstract The anti-Stokes' mechanism of photo-excitation in the smaller band-gap region, followed by radiative recombination in the larger band-gap region is considered. For transport by diffusion the additional photon energy originates from thermal energy; for transport in applied electrical fields, from electrical energy. The requirements on band edge gradients, carrier lifetimes, mobilities, and applied field for the photon conversion are analyzed. A graded heterojunction with a position-independent majority carrier density permits the formation of a uniform applied electric field which can enhance the motion of minority carriers into the larger band-gap region.
Early histopathologic changes in the retina and optic nerve in canine primary angle‐closure glaucoma

Objective To characterize the morphology of canine globes enucleated 1–5 days after the onset of overt clinical disease recognized by the owner. Procedures Paraffin-embedded globes from 47 dogs with acute primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and 10 control dogs free of ocular disease were sectioned in the vertical plane sampling the optic nerve. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections were used to count ganglion cell numbers. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to quantify cell death, and MHCII immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate for antigen-presenting phagocytes in a smaller subset of cases. Results MHCII-labeled phagocytes were present in the optic nerve and retina within the first 24 h of documented glaucoma suggesting an early up-regulation. Globes removed within 1 day of overt clinical disease had a mild neutrophilic infiltrate in the retina and optic nerve as well as marked ganglion cell necrosis. By 5 days after clinical signs appear, there is a rapid decline in the number of ganglion cells and cell death detected by TUNEL labeling in the outer and inner nuclear layers of the retina, but not the ganglion cell layer. The neuropil of the optic nerve progresses from edema and neutrophilia to malacia. Conclusions These findings suggest that retinal and optic nerve degeneration in dogs with PACG progresses rapidly to irreversible tissue loss within days of recognizable clinical disease.
'Vanishing' prostate cancer in radical prostatectomy specimens: incidence and long-term follow-up in 38 cases.

OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence and long-term follow-up of the ‘vanishing cancer’ phenomenon, as complete sampling of some radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens reveals no residual cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Mayo Clinic prostate cancer RP database for 1966–1995 was searched for all cases in which there was no residual adenocarcinoma (pathological stage pT0). Each case was confirmed by a review of all tissue specimen slides. Various clinical and pathological features were evaluated, and the follow-up obtained for all patients. RESULTS Among 6843 RPs there were 38 in which no residual cancer was identified despite careful sampling. There was a 10-fold decline in the incidence of this finding, from 2.1% before 1980 to 0.2% in 1993–95; this decline appeared to be caused by a decrease in the frequency of diagnosis of cancer by transurethral resection from > 10% before 1990 to < 2% in 1993–95. The mean (range) age of the patients was 63 (38–75) years. All cancers on biopsy or transurethral resection were well or moderately differentiated; clinical stages included T1a (42% of cases), T1b (45%) and T2 (13%). Six patients had a nerve-sparing RP, all after 1990. The mean follow-up was 9.6 (1.0–28.5) years, and there were no recurrences of cancer; the serum prostate specific antigen concentration remained at < 0.2 ng/mL in surviving patients. Six patients (16%) died from intercurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of ‘vanishing cancer’ declined between 1966 and 1995, probably as a result of the decline in the use of transurethral resection, occurring in 0.2% of RPs. The prognosis in such patients is excellent, indicating that there is no apparent clinical significance to microscopic foci of cancer that remain undetected after reasonably complete pathological sampling. The inability to identify cancer in a prostate removed for biopsy-confirmed carcinoma does not indicate technical failure.
Further evidence for a hypothalamus-parotid gland endocrine axis in the rat

Abstract The existence of a hypothalamus-parotid gland endocrine axis that stimulates intradentinal dye penetration (IDDP) in rat teeth was suggested in earlier studies and IDDP-stimulating factors were isolated or purified from porcine parotid glands and hypothalamic tissues, respectively. In the present study, infusion of carbamyl- dl -aspartic acid (CAA) into rats was used to demonstrate the role of the endogenous hormones of the hypothalamus-parotid gland endocrine axis in stimulating IDDP, as observed by fluorescence microscopy of longitudinal sections of molar teeth. Intra-arterial infusion of CAA into intact rats stimulated IDDP in a dose-related fashion (between 49–390 nmol/100 g body weight); however, infusion of 390 nmol into parotidectomized rats was ineffective. Infusion of plasma from CAA-treated rats was equally effective in stimulating IDDP in intact and in parotidectomized animals. In contrast, plasma obtained from parotidectomized, CAA-treated rats stimulated IDDP in intact recipient animals but not in parotidectomized ones. Moreover, plasma from adult rats treated with CAA after an electrolytic lesion of the hypothalamus, and infused back into young intact rats, was ineffective in stimulating IDDP. These results indicate that: (1) CAA requires the functional integrity of the parotid gland to express its IDDP-stimulating activity, (2) a hormonal factor is secreted by the parotids in response to CAA stimulation and is directly responsible for IDDP stimulation, (3) release of the endocrine parotid IDDP-stimulating factor after infusion of CAA involves a second endocrine factor that appears to originate from the hypothalamus. It is concluded that these two factors represent the parotid hormone and the parotid hormone-releasing factor that have been purified earlier from parotid and from hypothalamus-thalamus tissue, respectively. This confirms physiologically the existence of a hypothalamus-parotid gland endocrine axis.
An ultrastructural comparison of normal and Hurler syndrome dermal fibroblasts.

Extract: Cultured skin fibroblasts from normal individuals and patients with Hurler's syndrome were examined by electron microscopy at different phases of the culture cycle at 7, 21, and 35 days after retrypsinization and inoculation. Cultures were incubated for 0.5–24 hr with colloidal gold, incubated to localize acid phosphatase and aryl sulfatase B activities histochemically, and assayed for these enzymes biochemically. Both types of fibroblasts grew to saturation densities of 4 × 106 cells/dish. The large vacuoles seen in the cytoplasm of Hurler fibroblasts appeared to be secondary lysosomes, for they accumulated particles of colloidal gold and contained myelin-like figures. They seemed to derive from the Golgi membranes which tended to show a higher frequency of dilated cisternae than those of normal cells. Specific activities of the assayed enzymes in normal and Hurler cells were equal. In normal cells, acid phosphatase was demonstrated in the same vacuoles which accumulated colloidal gold. Speculation: The large vacuoles of Hurler fibroblasts appear to be secondary lysosomes and to derive from the Golgi apparatus rather than from the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
Emerging Issues in Vitamin K Research

Vitamin K is traditionally recognized for its role in blood clotting. More recently, new roles for vitamin K have emerged. The current evidence for the role of vitamin K in bone, cardiovascular, and reproductive health will be discussed. There will be a particular focus on populations who could be at risk for vitamin K deficiency.
Pseudozeros of multivariate polynomials

The pseudozero set of a system f of polynomials in n complex variables is the subset of Cn which is the union of the zero-sets of all polynomial systems g that are near to f in a suitable sense. This concept is made precise, and general properties of pseudozero sets are established. In particular it is shown that in many cases of natural interest, the pseudozero set is a semialgebraic set. Also, estimates are given for the size of the projections of pseudozero sets in coordinate directions. Several examples are presented illustrating some of the general theory developed here. Finally, algorithmic ideas are proposed for solving multivariate polynomials.
Incorporation of labelled glucose and glycerol into phospholipids and triglycerides by rat and rabbit aorta.

[1-14C]Glycerol and [Ul-l4C]glucose were incorporated into aortic phospholipids and triglycerides by isolated rat and rabbit aorta. The major portion of radioactivity was found in the glycerol moiety of triglycerides and phospholipids. Within the range of concentrations studied the rate of incorporation of [1-14C]glycerol was dependent on substrate concentration, whereas the rate of incorporation of [Ul-l4C]glucose was not. The distribution of radioactivity in the glycerophosphatides was found mainly in phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid when [1-14C]glycerol was used as substrate. On the other hand, the major portion of radioactivity was found in phosphatidylcholine when [Ul-l4C]glucose was the substrate. The incorporation of [1-14C]glycerol and [Ul-14C]glucose into aortic triglycerides and phospholipids was markedly increased by aortae obtained from rabbits fed an atherogenic diet as compared to aortae from control animals. Results from double-labeled glycerol containing both [2-3H]glycerol and [1-14C]glycerol indicated that the biosynthesis of triglycerides and phospholipids in the rat aorta did not use phosphatidic acid from the same pool.
A phase diagram for mid-ocean ridge basalts: Preliminary results and implications for petrogenesis

Samples of a primitive mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) glass were encapsulated in a mixture of ol (Fo90) and opx (En90) and melted at 10, 15, and 20 kbar. After quenching, the basaltic glass was present as a pool within the ol+opx capsule, but its composition had changed so that it was saturated with ol and opx at the conditions of the experiment. By analyzing the quenched liquid, the location of the ol+opx cotectic in the complex, multicomponent system relevant to MORB genesis was determined.
Centrosomal Localization of Cyclin E-Cdk2 is Required for Initiation of DNA Synthesis

Summary Cyclin E-Cdk2 is known to regulate both DNA replication and centrosome duplication during the G1-S transition in the cell cycle [1–4], and disruption of centrosomes results in a G1 arrest in some cell types [5–7]. Localization of cyclin E on centrosomes is mediated by a 20 amino acid domain termed the centrosomal localization sequence (CLS), and expression of the GFP-tagged CLS displaces both cyclin E and cyclin A from the centrosome [8]. In asynchronous cells, CLS expression inhibits the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) into DNA, an effect proposed to reflect a G1 arrest. Here we show in synchronized cells that the reduction in BrdU incorporation reflects not a G1 arrest but rather direct inhibition of the initiation of DNA replication in S phase. The loading of essential DNA replication factors such as Cdc45 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen onto chromatin is blocked by CLS expression, but DNA synthesis can be rescued by retargeting active cyclin E-Cdk2 to the centrosome. These results suggest that initial steps of DNA replication require centrosomally localized Cdk activity and link the nuclear cycle with the centrosome cycle at the G1-S transition.
Effects of High Pressure on Amorphous Polymers. II. Annealing of Densified Polymethyl Methacrylate

The annealing at atmospheric pressure of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) densified in various pressure‐temperature‐time cycles has been examined in the temperature range 25°–90°C. PMMA densified in the glassy state was found to be less stable than that densified by cooling through the glass transition under pressure, in agreement with previous results on inorganic glasses. Moreover, the relative stability of densified PMMA depended on the sample residence time in the glass transition region at pressure. In the one case where an energy spectrum for annealing could be calculated, the data indicated a multiplicity of molecular processes with activation energies in the range 14–19 kcal/mole.
Current Therapy for Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable plasma cell malignancy that accounts for 10% of all hematologic cancers. For decades the mainstay of therapy has been the use of melphalan and prednisone; with this regimen, the median survival is approximately 3 years. Recently, important advances were made that have substantially altered the manner in which patients with myeloma are treated. Newly diagnosed patients with good performance status are now treated with autologous stem cell transplantation, resulting in improved survival. Because of the increasing use of transplantation as initial therapy, several therapeutic issues have emerged: the role of tandem transplantation, early vs delayed transplantation, and the role of allogeneic transplantation. The pronounced activity of thalidomide in patients with refractory myeloma represents another important advance. This has prompted the study of several novel agents in the treatment of myeloma, at least 2 of which appear promising. Supportive care measures also have improved, including the use of bisphosphonates to prevent osteolytic lesions. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent advances and provide an evidence-based approach to the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Developmental expression of somatostatin receptors in the rat retina.

Abstract The ontogeny of somatostatin receptor binding was studied in developing rat retina using the iodinated derivative of the somatostatin analog, SMS 204-090. Specific binding of the ligan was seen as early embryonic day (E) 15 in the region of the inner neuroblastic layer. At E19 binding was localized to the ganglion cell and developing inner plexiform layers. At postnatal day (P) 2, there was diminished binding on autoradiography in this region. At P11, binding was more intense in the inner plexiform layer, and there was discernible binding in the outer plexiform layer. In the adult retina, the binding was seen clearly in two distinct bands corresponding to the inner plexiform layer and the outer plexiform layer. There was a single saturable binding site with the dissociation constant (Kd of 0.25 ± 0.04 nM. Binding sites were fairly constant throughout development except for a significant decline during the first postnatal week (Bmax = 1.8). These results demonstrate the early appearance of somatostatin receptors in the rat retina with high levels present embryologically followed by a brief decline in the early postnatal period with a return to high levels by synapse formation (P11). These receptor data parallel previous reports of the appearance of the somatostatin mRNA and peptide in rat retina.
Graph modulations for massive MIMO systems

A new graph modulation scheme is proposed for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with a large number of transmit antennas. Each data symbol is transmitted in the form of multiple weighted replicas. The replicas from different symbols are multiplexed onto a two-dimensional (2D) space-time grid, which is formed by multiple transmit antennas in the space domain and different transmission instants in the time domain. Multiplexing repeated symbols onto a 2D space-time grid achieves performance gains in terms of both diversity gain and high degree-of-freedom of the received signals. In addition, it enables a bipartite graph representation of the system, with one set of nodes being the transmitted symbols and the other set containing the received space-time samples. A modified message passing algorithm is proposed to iteratively detect the transmitted symbols by exploiting the structure of the bipartite graph. The proposed graph modulation scheme can flexibly adjust the tradeoff among energy efficiency, spectral efficiency, space diversity, and detection complexity by choosing different design parameters based on application requirements. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach can achieve significant performance gains over the conventional spatial multiplexing scheme used in MIMO systems.
Beef-heart malic dehydrogenases. III. Comparative studies of some properties of M-malic dehydrogenase and S-malic dehydrogenase.

Abstract The two malic dehydrogenases from beef heart, identified as being supernatant and mitochondrial in origin, have been compared further with regard to kinetic behavior and additional striking differences have been observed. With respect to sulfhydryl groups of mitochondrial malic dehydrogenase and supernantant malic dehydrogenase the following have been established. First, mitochondrial malic dehydrogenase has twice the number of half-cystine residues contained in supernatant malic dehydrogenase (12 as opposed to 6). Secondly, all sulfhydryl groups of undenatured mitochondrial malic dehydrogenase can be titrated with p -mercuribenzoate, although reaction occurs slowly, while only half of the sulfhydryl groups of supernantant malic dehydrogenase can be titrated even in presence of excess reagent. Finally, the titration of mitochondrial malic dehydrogenase with p -mercuribenzoate results in loss of enzymic activity after addition of only three equivalents of reagent, whereas no loss of activity of supernatant-malic dehydrogenase occurs after half its sulfhydryl groups have been titrated. Significant differences in amino acid composition exist between mitochondrial malic dehydrogenase and supernatant malic dehydrogenase. The latter enzyme contains more lysine, arginine, tyrosine, methionine, aspartic acid and tryptophan than does the former. On the other hand, mitochondrial malic dehydrogenase contains more phenylalanine, glycine, proline and threonine.
The Climate of the McMurdo, Antarctica, Region as Represented by One Year of Forecasts from the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System*

Abstract In response to the need for improved weather prediction capabilities in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program’s Antarctic field operations, the Antarctic Mesoscale Prediction System (AMPS) was implemented in October 2000. AMPS employs a limited-area model, the Polar fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU–NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5), optimized for use over ice sheets. Twice-daily forecasts from the 3.3-km resolution domain of AMPS are joined together to study the climate of the McMurdo region from June 2002 to May 2003. Annual and seasonal distributions of wind direction and speed, 2-m temperature, mean sea level pressure, precipitation, and cloud fraction are presented. This is the first time a model adapted for polar use and with relatively high resolution is used to study the climate of the rugged McMurdo region, allowing several important climatological features to be investigated with unprecedented detail. Orographic effects exert an impor...
A comparison of multivariate LIBS and chemiluminescence-based local equivalence ratio measurements in premixed atmospheric methane–air flames

Abstract In the present work, a comparative study of fuel–air equivalence ratio measurements in premixed atmospheric methane–air flames with ungated laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and natural chemiluminescence emission spectroscopy is presented. With ungated LIBS, the strong elastically scattered laser light greatly reduces the measurement dynamic range and sensitivity. For effectively suppressing the elastically scattered laser light in ungated LIBS detection, a polarizer and a notch filter in the signal collection system were tested. It was observed that the polarizer performed better compared to the notch filter in suppressing the elastically scattered laser light. The LIBS spectra collected at ten different equivalence ratios ranging from 0.74 to 1.42 were used to develop the equivalence ratio calibration model using atomic line peak intensity ratios (for H656nm, N 500 nm + , and O777nm) as well as broad spectral features with a multivariate, partial least squares regression (PLS-R) approach. The developed calibration models were tested with an unknown data set comprising LIBS spectra taken at similar experimental conditions used in developing the calibration model. The LIBS-based prediction results were also compared with chemiluminescence-based predictions from the same experimental setup. It was found that the LIBS-based calibration provides a more robust measurement approach with better predictions of equivalence ratios compared to the chemiluminescence-based calibration.
Broadening Diversity in the Geosciences Through Teacher-Student Workshops That Emphasize Community-Based Research Projects

ABSTRACT The Geosciences Institute for Research and Education at the University of Michigan–Dearborn has been an example of a successful and effective model in increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in the geosciences. The program emphasizes involving middle school and at-risk high school students from the Detroit area public schools, along with their teachers in geoscience research projects, through a series of spring and summer workshops. The workshops introduce students to the geosciences by emphasizing how geology can be used as a tool to solve community-based environmental problems. Students work alongside their teachers and university faculty on projects ranging from an assessment of brownfield sites in southwestern Detroit to the installation of groundwater monitoring wells to the evaluation of how former land use is impacting groundwater and surface water quality. Spring workshops focused on students from three African-centered middle schools in Detroit, while the summer workshops...
Distribution of forebrain diffuse axonal injury following inertial closed head injury in miniature swine.

Abstract Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is one of the most frequently encountered types of brain damage resulting from closed head injury. This study was designed to verify whether DAI could be produced in miniature swine by rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head in the coronal plane. Hanford miniature swine (16-19 kg) were anesthetized with 3% isoflurane and their heads accelerated rapidly once through a 60-105° arc in the coronal plane, producing only transient post-traumatic unconsciousness without prolonged coma. All animals made a good recovery and were sacrificed between 6 h and 10 days after injury. The response of forebrain projection systems to this injury was studied using neurofilament immunohistochemistry with antisera to nonphosphorylated (SMI-32) and phosphorylated (SMI-31) epitopes common to heavy (200 kDa) and medium (160 kDa) neurofilament proteins. In 9 of 12 animals, lesions characterized by foci of SMI-32 positive axonal retraction balls were present at the white matter/gray matter junction at the crests of gyri in the dorsolateral regions of the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices and along margins of the lateral ventricles. A high density of pyramidal neuron perikarya in layers III and V within cortical gyri associated with subcortical DAI were intensely positive for SMI-31 immunohistochemistry. These results validate the use of miniature swine in studies of axonal injury and demonstrate that axonal injury analogous to that seen in the mildest form of DAI (grade I) can be produced in these animals without producing prolonged coma.
Viscosity, Density and Excess Volume of Acetone + Carbon Dioxide Mixtures at High Pressures

The densities and viscosities of acetone, carbon dioxide, and acetone + carbon dioxide mixtures containing 10, 25, 50, and 75 wt % carbon dioxide were determined at nominal temperatures of 325, 348, 373, and 398 K and at pressures up to 35 MPa using a falling-cylinder type high-pressure viscometer. The densities of carbon dioxide and acetone + carbon dioxide mixtures were found to show crossovers at around 18 MPa for mixtures with CO2 content less than 50 wt % and at around 23 MPa for mixtures with CO2 content greater than 50 wt % at 325 K, which shifts to higher pressures with temperature. Acetone displayed higher viscosities than the mixtures. At 325 K, the mixtures were found to show negative excess volumes at all compositions for pressures lower than 28 MPa. The excess volumes become less negative with increasing pressure and are positive above 28 MPa for high carbon dioxide content; at pressures above 55 MPa, they become positive for all compositions. Assessments of several mixing rules for viscosity...
FURTHER EXPLORATIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS' SATISFACTION WITH THEIR MARRIAGES

In earlier studies, it was found that police officers reported more satisfaction with their marriages if they were already police officers when they married, if they had fewer children (I), and if they felt less stressed (2). To check upon the reliabiliry of these results, 31 married patrolmen (mean age 31.5 yr., SD = 4.4) in a small police department completed questionnaires anonymously. They rated their satisfaction with their marriages on a six-point scale, completed a stress test (3) and rated on a four-point scale each of 15 sources of stress as to their importance. Satisfaction with their marriages was not related to whether the husband was already a police officer when he married (r = -0.07), or to his age, his wife's age, the number of years married, the existence of prior marriages, the number of children, the years of work as a police officer, or the differences in the ages of husband and wife. Higher satisfaction with the marriage was related to the officer's perception of his wife's satisfaction with his career (r = 0.30, one-tailed p = 0.05). Satisfaction with marriage was not related to the scores on the stress test (7 = 0.02), to the extent of stress perceived from the 15 sources (7 = 0.07), or the extent to which they felt that their work created scress and problems for their marriage (r = -0.27). Satisfaction with the marriage was associated with reporting less stress from shift-work and more stress from having to intervene in crises. Thus these results did not confirm the results reported in the earlier studies. The bases for the discrepancies require assessment. However, it may be noted that the present sample was of municipal police officers in a small department, whereas Cherry and Lester (1) surveyed officers from several small departments and Lester and Karsevar (2) studied troop of state police officers. The differences in these samples may account in part for the inconsistent results.
Fuzzy logic approach to extraction of intrathoracic airway trees from three-dimensional CT images

Accurate assessment of intrathoracic airway physiology requires sophisticated imaging and image segmentation of the three-dimensional airway tree structure. We have previously reported a rule-based method for three-dimensional airway tree segmentation from electron beam CT (EBCT) images. Here we report a new approach to airway tree segmentation in which fuzzy logic is used for image interpretation. In canine EBCT images, airways identified by the fuzzy logic method matched 276/337 observer-defined airways (81.9%) while the fuzzy method failed to detect the airways in the remaining 61 observer-determined locations (18.1%). By comparing the performance of the new fuzzy logic method and that of our former rule-based method, the fuzzy logic method significantly decreased the number of false airways (p less than 0.001).© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Formation of Covalently Attached Polymer Overlayers on Si(111) Surfaces Using Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization Methods

We describe a method for growing uniform, covalently attached polymer onto crystalline Si(111) surfaces. H-Terminated Si was first chlorinated, and the surface-bound chlorine was then replaced by a terminal olefin using a Grignard reaction. A ruthenium ring-opening metathesis polymerization catalyst was then crossed onto the terminal olefin, and the resulting surface was subsequently immersed into a solution of monomer to produce the desired surface-attached polymer. The method provides a direct linkage between the polymer and the Si without the presence of an electrically defective oxide layer. Growth of the polymeric layer could be controlled by varying the concentration of monomer in solution, and polynorbornene films between 0.9 and 5500 nm in thickness were produced through the use of 0.01−2.44 M solutions of norbornene.
Converged quantum dynamics calculations of vibrational energies of CH4 and CH3D using an ab initio potential

Exact variational calculations of vibrational energies of CH4 and CH3D are carried out using a two-layer Lanczos algorithm based on the ab initio potential energy surface of D. W. Schwenke and H. Partridge, Spectrochim. Acta, Part A 57, 887 (2001). The convergence of the calculated vibrational energies is discussed in detail. In addition, we report all well converged vibrational energy levels up to 6600 cm−1 for CH4, and those up to 5000 cm−1 for CH3D, respectively. These results clearly outperform previous theoretical calculations. And a comparison with experimental results available is also made.
Aggregate-level demand management in evacuation planning

Abstract Without successful large-scale regional evacuations, threats such as hurricanes and wild-fires can cause a large loss of life. In this context, automobiles are oftentimes an essential transportation mode for evacuations, but the ensuing traffic typically overwhelms the roadway capacity and causes congestion on a massive scale. Congestion leads to many problems including longer, costlier, and more stressful evacuations, lower compliance rates, and increased risk to the population. Supply-based strategies have traditionally been used in evacuation planning, but they have been proven to be insufficient to reduce congestion to acceptable levels. In this paper, we study the demand-based strategies of aggregate-level staging and routing to structure the evacuation demand, both with and without congestion. We provide a novel modeling framework that offers strategic flexibility and utilizes a lexicographic objective function that represents a hierarchy of relevant evacuation-based goals. We also provide insights into the nature and effect of network bottlenecks. We compare our model with and without congestion in relation to tractability, normative optimality, and robustness under demand uncertainty. We also show the effectiveness of using demand-based strategies as opposed to using the status quo that involves a non-staged or simultaneous evacuation process. Effective solution procedures are developed and tested using hypothetical problem instances as well as using a larger study based on a portion of coastal Virginia, USA.
Site-directed mutagenesis of the highly perturbed copper site of auracyanin D

Abstract Type-1 copper proteins participate in redox reactions and biological catalysis. Significant variation exists within the electronic structure of type-1 copper sites, producing both blue and green proteins. Classical, “blue” sites have been extensively studied, but “green” sites have been poorly characterized. We recently discovered a green copper protein, called auracyanin D. Here, we report a series of axial ligand mutations in auracyanin D, and characterize the resulting spectral and redox changes. The resulting mutants appear blue, green, and red and vary in redox potential from +56 mV to +786 mV. This is the largest change in redox potential to date for any type-1 center. We found that in this green protein, modifications of the axial ligand produce significantly larger changes than similar mutations in blue type-1 copper sites.
Time-optimal control switching times using entire function theory†

The switching times for the bang-bang control of linear time-invariant systems are investigated using the complex variable theory of entire functions. A general technique is presented which yields the switching times as the solution to a set of non-linear algebraic equations. Specific results are derived for three types of system transfer functions; (1) real poles—no zeros; (2) real poles and zeros; and (3) complex pole pair— no zeros. The complex pole case requires an algorithm to determine the number of switching times. The principal advantage of this approach is computational simplicity as compared to present iterative techniques.
Making People Our Policy: Grounding Literacy in Lives

In previous columns in this department, scholars have taken to task the decontextualized and dehumanizing policies of recent and current federal education policies in the United States. While deconstruction of these policies is crucial, these moves must be followed by reconstruction. In this edition of the Adolescent Literacy Policy column, Patrick Camangian discusses what it means to make literacy policy on the ground, to educate students to maximize their interactions in the world around them, and to redefine what it means to be a highly qualified teacher. He also provides concrete examples of literacy-based assignments that empower students to study self, society, and the world while identifying issues of privilege, social control, and oppression in society.
Cytochrome P4502E1 sensitizes to tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced liver injury through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in mice.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) potentiation of lipopolysaccharide or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)–induced liver injury. Treatment of C57/BL/6 mice with pyrazole (PY) plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced liver injury compared with mice treated with PY or LPS alone. The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 or p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 prevented this liver injury. PY plus LPS treatment activated p38 MAPK and JNK but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). PY plus LPS treatment triggered oxidative stress in the liver with increases in lipid peroxidation, decrease of glutathione (GSH) levels, and increased production of 3-nitrotyrosine adducts and protein carbonyl formation. This oxidative stress was blocked by SP600125 or SB203580. PY plus LPS treatment elevated TNF-α production, and this was blocked by SP600125 or SB203580. Neither SP600125 nor SB203580 affected CYP2E1 activity or protein levels. Treating C57/BL/6 mice with PY plus TNF-α also induced liver injury and increased lipid peroxidation and decreased GSH levels. Prolonged activation of JNK and p38 MAPK was observed. All of these effects were blocked by SP600125 or SB203580. In contrast to wild-type SV 129 mice, treating CYP2E1 knockout mice with PY plus TNF-α did not induce liver injury, thus validating the role of CYP21E1 in this potentiated liver injury. Liver mitochondria from PY plus LPS or PY plus TNF-α treated mice underwent calcium-dependent, cyclosporine A–sensitive swelling, which was prevented by SB203580 or SP600125. Conclusion: These results show that CYP2E1 sensitizes liver hepatocytes to LPS or TNF-α and that the CYP2E1-enhanced LPS or TNF-α injury, oxidant stress, and mitochondrial injury is JNK or p38 MAPK dependent. (HEPATOLOGY 2008.)
The Hydrodynamics of a Run-and-Tumble Bacterium Propelled by Polymorphic Helical Flagella

To study the swimming of a peritrichous bacterium such as Escherichia coli, which is able to change its swimming direction actively, we simulate the "run-and-tumble" motion by using a bead-spring model to account for: 1), the hydrodynamic and the mechanical interactions among the cell body and multiple flagella; 2), the reversal of the rotation of a flagellum in a tumble; and 3), the associated polymorphic transformations of the flagellum. Because a flexible hook connects the cell body and each flagellum, the flagella can take independent orientations with respect to the cell body. This simulation reproduces the experimentally observed behaviors of E. coli, namely, a three-dimensional random-walk trajectory in run-and-tumble motion and steady clockwise swimming near a wall. We show that the polymorphic transformation of a flagellum in a tumble facilitates the reorientation of the cell, and that the time-averaged flow-field near a cell in a run has double-layered helical streamlines, with a time-dependent flow magnitude large enough to affect the transport of surrounding chemoattractants.