cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
WE-B-351-01: Patient Dose Estimates From CT Examinations

The assessment of radiation dose from computed tomography has become an important issue due to the increased utilization of computed tomography in a large number of clinical applications, from CT urography to cardiac CT. The traditional metrics used for CTdose assessment (CTDI‐100) have come under assault from a number of investigators, because of its limitations in describing the radiation dose in realistic CT examinations. While there remains no real consensus in the field, a number of groups are working on the development of CTdose metrics which convey a better understanding of the radiation dose received by individual patients for specific CT examinations. In this presentation, the perspective of a number of groups will be presented. Primarily, the work of a committee of the International Commission of Radiological Units (ICRU) commissioned in 2005 will be discussed. The ICRU committee has preliminarily defined a multi‐tier system for the assessment of radiation dose metrics in computed tomography. At the first level, machine‐dependent performance factors are described and measured, and these include the traditional CTDI‐100 metric for the 16 cm and 32 cm diameter polymethylmethacrylate dosimetry phantoms, at the center and at the periphery. There is a consensus amongst the ICRU community that radiation dose to patients undergoing CT examinations is best established using the known geometry of the CT examination, coupled with measured output characteristics of the specific CT scanner (including bow‐tie characteristics), combined with Monte Carlo computations. In the rare instance in which the CTdose to a specific patient needs to be computed, image‐based methodologies will be presented which enable these computations with a high degree of accuracy. It is emphasized that the effective dose (measured in milliseiverts) is not an appropriate measure for individual patient doses, as this metric includes population‐based radiation epidemiological data which may not be applicable to a specific individual. Therefore, the ICRU efforts towards radiation dosimetry of the individual patient focus on dosimetric units which are physical in nature, and describe the individual organdoses and the overall average dose to the patient, depending upon the specific CT examination and the patient's physical characteristics. Educational Objectives: 1. Convey some of the issues in accurate dose assessment in CT. 2. Describe some of the ongoing efforts of the ICRU committee on CT towards dose assessment.
Optical absorption in Al and dilute alloys of Mg and Li in Al at 4. 2 K

The absorptances of Al and alloys of up to 5.5 at.% of Li and Mg in Al were measured at 4.2 K in the 0.2-3.0-eV range. The theory of Ashcroft and Sturm was fitted to the data. The fit obtained is reasonably good, provided three relaxation times are used, one for the Drude term and one for each type of transition between parallel bands. The fit is slightly better for the more concentrated alloys. In all cases the discrepancy between the fit and the data is greatest in the region between the two interband peaks in the optical conductivity, and known extensions to the theory do not qualitatively improve the fit. Pseudopotential Fourier coefficients ${U}_{200}$ and ${U}_{111}$ obtained from the fits vary with solute type and concentration. The variation can be explained semiquantitatively with a virtual-crystal pseudopotential.
Calibration of Side, Tip, and Total Resistance Factors for Load and Resistance Factor Design of Drilled Shafts

This paper presents a reliability-based analysis for the calibration of side, tip, and total resistance factors for axially loaded drilled shafts. Twenty-two drilled shafts that had been tested with the Osterberg cell (O-cell) method were collected from project archives at the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. This database was carefully selected to represent the typical subsurface soil conditions and design practice in Louisiana. The prediction of the load-settlement curves of the drilled shafts from soil borings was determined with the FHWA O'Neill and Reese design method and the SHAFT 6.0 computer program. The interpreted and predicted axial nominal resistances for the drilled shafts were determined with the FHWA 5% shaft diameter settlement criterion from predicted load-settlement curves. The measured nominal side, tip, and total axial resistances for drilled shafts were determined from the O-cell measurements. Statistical analyses...
Advanced technologies for future environmental satellite systems

Environmental satellites today are designed to meet the most requirements possible within the constraints of budget, reliability, availability, robustness, manufacturability, and the state of the art in affordable technology. As we learn more and more about observing and forecasting, requirements continue to be developed and validated for measurements that can benefit from for advances in technology. The goal is to incorporate new technologies into operational systems as quickly as possible. Technologies that exist or are being developed in response to growing requirements can be categorized as "requirements pull" whereas technologies rooted in basic research and engineering exploration fall in to a "technology push" category. NOAA has begun exploration into technologies for future NOAA satellite systems. Unmet requirements exist that drive the need to locate, explore, exploit, assess, and encourage development in several technologies. Areas needing advanced technologies include: atmospheric aerosols; cloud parameters; precipitation; profiles of temperature, moisture, pressure, and wind; atmospheric radiation; trace gas abundance and distribution; land surface; ocean surface; and space weather components such as neutral density and electron density. One of the more interesting ideas in the technology push category is a constellation of satellites at Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) altitudes, here described as circular orbits near 11,000 km altitude. Consider the vision of being able to observe the environment anywhere on the Earth, at anytime, with any repeat look frequency, and being able to communicate these measurements to anyone, anywhere, anytime, in real time. Studies suggest that a constellation of MEO satellites occupying equatorial and polar orbits (inclination = 90 degrees) could, in principle, accomplish this task. Also new on the horizon is solar sail technology. NOAA has been looking at solar sails as providing a propulsive system that could be used to maintain a satellite in a position closer to the Sun than L1. L1 is that point between the Earth and the sun where the gravitational forces of the Earth and the sun are equal. The sail would allow the increased gravitational force from the Sun to be balanced by the propulsive force of the solar sail. This capability could increase the lead-time for measuring and predicting the impact of solar events. Solar sails could also allow a satellite to be positioned over the Earth's polar regions continuously, filling a critical gap in current orbital observations and services. The combination of these technologies will enable the NOAA Satellites and Information Service to meet important requirements currently unmet and help satisfy NOAA strategic goals.
Monetary shocks, the exchange rate, and the trade balance

Abstract This paper investigates the response of the exchange rate and the trade balance to monetary policy innovations for the US economy during the period 1973:01–1993:12. The empirical findings indicate that contractionary monetary policy shocks lead to transitory appreciations of the real and the nominal exchange rate. Exchange rate appreciations that are caused by a temporary contractionary shock to monetary policy are correlated with a short-lived improvement in the trade balance which is then followed by a deterioration, giving support to the J -curve hypothesis.
Anomalous Behavior of the Atmospheric Surface Layer over a Melting Snowpack

During March, 1978 on a snow-covered field near Lee Vining, California, measurements were made that included: (1) variations above the snow surface of the net radiative flux and the profile of wind speed, air temperature and relative humidity; and (2) variations beneath the snow surface of the conductive heat flux and the temperature profile. The period was marked by clear skies, warm air and calm winds during the day, and cold air and moderate winds at night. During the day, a highly stable sublayer formed near the surface, with a persistent warm layer at approximately 0.5 m above the surface. At night, profiles agreed more with classical log-linear forms found in stable air. Numerical simulation of long and shortwave radiative fluxes near the surface, using observed humidity profiles, produced the daytime warm level in agreement with observations. It was concluded that in the absence of turbulent mixing, strong solar radiation and a supply of moisture from the snow will cause a raised maximum of temperature during the day.
Affinity chromatography purification of a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase using immobilized modulator protein, a troponin C-like protein from brain.

Abstract Modulator protein, a brain troponin C-like protein, has been coupled to Sepharose 4B using conditions that allow retention of phosphodiesterase stimulatory activity. This conjugate has been used to directly demonstrate the calcium dependent formation of a reversible modulator protein-phosphodiesterase complex and to purify a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase by affinity chromatography.
Sexual selection and cycling parasites: A simulation study of Hamilton's hypothesis*

Hamilton has suggested that the coevolution of a population with its parasites can lead to oscillating directional selection, and that this form of selection can favor the adaptive evolution of female mating preferences. The hypothesis predicts that male secondary sexual characters will become exaggerated as an evolutionary side-effect of this process. The mechanism was studied by simulating a genetic model consisting of three diallelic haploid loci. Results show that genes for increase of male secondary sexual traits and the mating preference for them will not spread when rare. It is found, however, that if mating preferences for extreme male traits become sufficiently common, then a “runaway process” leading to increase of the male trait and the preference is possible. Some additional mechanism must be invoked in order to cause the preference to reach the frequency necessary for this to occur. Population fitness is not increased by evolution in this model.
Equilibrium properties of double-screened dipole-barrier SINIS Josephson junctions

We report on a self-consistent microscopic study of the dc Josephson effect in SINIS junctions, where screened dipole layers at the $\mathrm{SN}$ interfaces generate a double-barrier multilayered SIN structure. Our approach starts from a microscopic Hamiltonian defined on a simple cubic lattice, with an attractive Hubbard term accounting for the short coherence length superconducting order in the semi-infinite leads, and a spatially extended charge distribution (screened dipole layer) induced by the difference in Fermi energies of the superconductor S and the clean normal metal interlayer N. We analyze the influence of such spatially inhomogeneous barriers on the proximity effect, the current-phase relations, the critical supercurrent and the normal-state junction resistance, for different normal interlayer thicknesses and barrier heights. These results are of relevance for high-${T}_{c}$ grain boundary junctions, and also reveal one of the mechanisms that can lead to low critical currents of apparently ballistic $\mathrm{SNS}$ junctions while increasing its normal-state resistance in a much weaker fashion. When the N region is a doped semiconductor, we find a substantial change in the dipole layer (generated by a small Fermi-level mismatch) upon crossing the superconducting critical temperature, which is a signature of the proximity effect and which might be related to recent Raman studies in Nb/InAs bilayers.
A methodological framework for optimally reorganizing liver transplant regions

Background. The United States is divided currently into 11 transplant regions, which vary in area and number of organ procurement organizations (OPOs). Region size affects organ travel time and organ viability at transplant. Purpose. To develop a methodologic framework for determining optimal configurations of regions maximizing transplant allocation efficiency and geographic parity. Methods. An integer program was designed to maximize a weighted combination of 2 objectives: 1) intraregional transplants, 2) geographic parity—maximizing the lowest intraregional transplant rate across all OPOs. Two classes of functions relating liver travel time to liver viability were also examined as part of the sensitivity analyses. Results. Preliminary results indicate that reorganizing regions, while constraining their number to 11, resulted in up to 17 additional transplants/year depending on the travel-viability function; when not constrained, it resulted in up to 18/year of increase. Conclusion. Our analysis indicates that liver transplantation may benefit through region reorganization. The analytic method developed here should be applicable to other organs and sets of organs. Key words: transplant regions; organ procurement organizations; liver transplants. (Med Decis Making 2005;25:35–46)
Emergent Use of Anticoagulation for Treatment of Patients With Ischemic Stroke

Background — Several clinical trials have tested the potential utility of emergent anticoagulation for acute ischemic stroke. Summary of Review — Rather than performing a meta-analysis that combines the data from several trials, this review focuses on individual studies. Although these trials do have inherent limitations, they demonstrate that emergent use of an anticoagulant is associated with a modest but significantly increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation of the ischemic stroke or serious nonneurological bleeding. The trials do not demonstrate a benefit from emergent anticoagulation in improving outcome, reducing mortality, and preventing early recurrent stroke. Conclusions — These results suggest that most patients with acute stroke should not be treated with unfractionated heparin or other rapidly acting anticoagulants after stroke. Prevention of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism among bedridden patients is the only established indication for early anticoagulation after acute ischemic stroke.
Biochemical and biological characterization of ruminal Fusobacterium necrophorum

Biochemical characteristics, biological activities, and antimicrobial susceptibilities of ruminal Fusobacterium necrophorum (eight subsp. necrophorum and eight subsp. funduliforme) and of isolates (three of each subsp.) obtained from bovine hepatic abscesses were determined. F. necrophorum subsp. necrophorum strains had higher phosphatase and DNase activities, produced more leukotoxin, and were more pathogenic to mice than subsp. funduliforme strains. The leukotoxin titer for culture supernatants of ruminal subsp. necrophorum strains was approximately 15 times lower than that of hepatic subsp. necrophorum strains. Hemagglutination activity was present in all hepatic, but only in some ruminal, strains of subsp. necrophorum. The antimicrobial sensitivity profile of the ruminal isolates was similar to that of hepatic isolates.
Dioxygen and nitric oxide scavenging by Treponema denticola flavodiiron protein: a mechanistic paradigm for catalysis

Flavodiiron proteins (FDPs) contain a unique active site consisting of a non-heme diiron carboxylate site proximal to a flavin mononucleotide (FMN). FDPs serve as the terminal components for reductive scavenging of dioxygen (to water) or nitric oxide (to nitrous oxide), which combats oxidative or nitrosative stress in many bacteria. Characterizations of FDPs from spirochetes or from any oral microbes have not been previously reported. Here, we report characterization of an FDP from the anaerobic spirochete, Treponema (T.) denticola, which is associated with chronic periodontitis. The isolated T. denticola FDP exhibited efficient four-electron dioxygen reductase activity and lower but significant anaerobic nitric oxide reductase activity. A mutant T. denticola strain containing the inactivated FDP-encoding gene was significantly more air-sensitive than the wild-type strain. Single turnover reactions of the four-electron-reduced FDP (FMNH2-Fe(II)Fe(II)) (FDPred) with O2 monitored on the milliseconds to seconds time scale indicated initial rapid formation of a spectral feature consistent with a cis-μ-1,2-peroxo-diferric intermediate, which triggered two-electron oxidation of FMNH2. Reaction of FDPred with NO showed apparent cooperativity between binding of the first and second NO to the diferrous site. The resulting diferrous dinitrosyl complex triggered two-electron oxidation of the FMNH2. Our cumulative results on this and other FDPs indicate that smooth two-electron FMNH2 oxidation triggered by the FDPred/substrate complex and overall four-electron oxidation of FDPred to FDPox constitutes a mechanistic paradigm for both dioxygen and nitric oxide reductase activities of FDPs. Four-electron reductive O2 scavenging by FDPs could contribute to oxidative stress protection in many other oral bacteria.
Road Rage: Risk Factors, Assessment, and Intervention Strategies.

The term 'road rage' is used to describe incidents of angry and aggressive driving, incidents that are becoming more and more commonplace in everyday driving. Counseling interventions are often recommended to help manage driving anger and aggression. This article reviews research on road rage risk factors and provides a description of inventories for assessing angry and aggressive driving tendencies. Also described are intervention strategies to reduce angry driving behavior.
Inhibition by estramustine phosphate on estradiol and androgen binding in benign and malignant prostate in humans.

Abstract Specific cytoplasmic androgen and estrogen binding has been measured in human benign prostatic hypertrophy and carcinomatous tissue. In vitro support for the binding of estramustine phosphate (Estracyt) to both estradiol- and dihydrotestosterone-binding sites is presented, which in part could explain the clinical effect of estramustine phosphate when pure estrogenic compounds are not effective.
1-Torsion of finite modules over semiperfect rings

Abstract We initiate the study of 1-torsion of finite modules over two-sided noetherian semiperfect rings. In particular, we give a criterion for determining when the 1-torsion submodule contains minimal generators of the module. We also provide an explicit construction for a projective cover of the submodule generated by the torsion elements in the top of the module. Some of the obtained results hold without the noetherian assumption. We also give several applications to local algebra.
COPING WITH COMPLEXITY

Although the rapid spread of information processing technology is widely expected to have dramatic social impacts, the argument most commonly advanced for this position, a simple appeal to the speed of technical progress, is quite weak. Any more compelling case must identify the attributes of information technology which distinguish it from other, less disruptive, technical innovations. One such is informa‐tion technology's combination of high reactivity, coupled with a basic lack of understanding of its underlying conceptual structure on the part of those who have to adapt to it. This lack of understanding not only implies that users will become alienated from their environment, but also presents practical difficulties to applications of information technology such as office automation. This analysis makes the basic cognitive skills, such as procedural reasoning, underlying any effective use of information processing devices a topic of central concern. However, neither the difficulty nor the importance of these skills are widely appreciated. Most of the techniques which have been proposed to facilitate the use of complex, programmed devices are simply incommensurate in scope with the problem. A Gendanken analysis of programming is advanced to indicate why this is so and to serve as the basis for an agenda of cognitive science research.
R Aquarii Jet: Lorentz Force-Driven Parcel Model

The R Aqr symbiotic star system shows directed flow in the form of individual jet parcels. A parcel model for the R Aqr jet is developed that depends upon the strong stellar magnetic field of the rotating hot companion in the system. The model accounts for observed velocities seen in both the radio and ultraviolet regimes and for helical structure seen in ultraviolet emission, and suggests a parcel structure with its ultraviolet emission forming a low-density sheath surrounding its radio region, which is denser by a factor of ~ 30. The model predicts that the rotation of the hot companion is ~ 18 yr, which is a significant fraction of the ~ 44 yr orbital period, and frozen magnetic field flux conservation suggests that the hot companion has a surface field between 9 × 107 and 4.6 × 109 G if it is a subdwarf of radius 7 × 109 cm, or, alternatively, between 4.4 × 109 and 2.3 × 1011 G if it is a white dwarf of radius 109 cm. The implications of such a model are discussed.
Family routines and parental monitoring as protective factors among early and middle adolescents affected by maternal HIV/AIDS.

The influence of parenting skills on adolescent outcomes among children affected by maternal HIV/AIDS (N = 118, M age = 13) was investigated. Among families with more frequent family routines, over time adolescents showed lower rates of aggression, anxiety, worry, depression, conduct disorder, binge drinking, and increased self-concept. Among families with higher levels of parental monitoring, adolescents showed significant declines in anxiety and depression, conduct disorder, and binge drinking, along with increased self-concept. Mothers’ level of illness was associated with parenting. Greater variability in parental monitoring resulted in higher levels of problem behaviors.
Sleep Is Not for Slackers

Sufficient sleep is as important as healthy eating and regular exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, many individuals do not obtain enough sleep or follow healthy sleep hygiene recomme...
Selective excitation double Mössbauer studies (SEDM) of electron hopping in magnetite (Fe3O4)

Abstract Using the SEDM technique, we have established that the electron hopping time at the octahedral (B) sites in magnetite is zero or less than 10-11 s at room temperature. Electrical conductivity measurements have predicted such a value. In addition, unexpected relaxation effects were observed at the tetrahedral (A) sites.
Human liver phenol sulfotransferase: assay conditions, biochemical properties and partial purification of isozymes of the thermostable form

Abstract Phenol sulfotransferase (PST) catalyzes the sulfate conjugation of phenolic and catechol drugs and neurotransmitiers. Human platelets and brain contain at least two forms of PST. One form is relatively thermolabile (TL) and catalyzes the sulfate conjugation of monoamines such as dopamine. The other is thermostable (TS) and catalyzes the sulfation of “simple” phenols such as phenol and p -nitrophenol. We found that homogenates of human liver also contain two forms of PST that are similar to brain and platelet TL and TS PST with regard to substrate specificities, thermal stabilities and sensitivities to inhibitors. Optimal conditions were determined for the assay of these two activities in human liver homogenates. The apparent K m of liver homogenate TL PST for dopamine was 27 μM. The apparent K m of the TS form of the enzyme for p -nitrophenol was 0.94 μM. Human liver TS PST also catalyzed the sulfate conjugation of dopamine, but with an apparent K m of 5 mM, over two orders of magnitude higher than that of TL PST. Two different peaks of TS PST activity were separated from the TL activity by ion exchange chromatography of human liver preparations. Both peaks of TS PST activity were partially purified and characterized. Both had similar substrate specificities and inhibitor sensitivities. K m values of TS PST peak I for p -nitrophenol and for 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate were 0.91 and 0.86 μM, respectively, while the K m values of TS PST peak II for these two cosubstrates for the reaction were 0.43 and 0.64 μM, respectively. However, the TS PST activity in peak II was significantly more thermolabile than was the activity in peak I. These results are compatible with the conclusion that human liver homogenates contain at least two forms of PST, forms with properties similar to those of TS and TL PST in homogenates of human cerebral cortex and platelets. In addition, human liver contains two isozymes of TS PST.
1825 THE ROLE OF GRANULOCYTES IN THE LUNG FUNCTION RESPONSE TO GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL TOXIN IN YOUNG LAMBS

1825 THE ROLE OF GRANULOCYTES IN THE LUNG FUNCTION RESPONSE TO GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL TOXIN IN YOUNG LAMBS
Exploring the Function of Neural Oscillations in Early Sensory Systems

Neuronal oscillations appear throughout the nervous system, in structures as diverse as the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, subcortical nuclei and sense organs. Whether neural rhythms contribute to normal function, are merely epiphenomena, or even interfere with physiological processing are topics of vigorous debate. Sensory pathways are ideal for investigation of oscillatory activity because their inputs can be defined. Thus, we will focus on sensory systems as we ask how neural oscillations arise and how they might encode information about the stimulus. We will highlight recent work in the early visual pathway that shows how oscillations can multiplex different types of signals to increase the amount of information that spike trains encode and transmit. Last, we will describe oscillation-based models of visual processing and explore how they might guide further research.
Physicochemical properties of surimi gels fortified with dietary fiber

Although dietary fiber provides health benefits, most Western populations have insufficient intake. Surimi seafood is not currently fortified with dietary fiber, nor have the effects of fiber fortification on physicochemical properties of surimi been thoroughly studied. In the present study, Alaska pollock surimi was fortified with 0-8 g/100 g of long-chain powdered cellulose as a source of dietary fiber. The protein/water concentrations in surimi were kept constant by adding an inert filler, silicon dioxide in inverse concentrations to the fiber fortification. Fiber-fortified surimi gels were set at 90 °C. The objectives were to determine (1) textural and colour properties; (2) heat-induced gelation (dynamic rheology); and (3) protein endothermic transitions (differential scanning calorimetry) of surimi formulated with constant protein/water, but variable fiber content. Fiber fortification up to 6 g/100 g improved (P<0.05) texture and colour although some decline occurred with 8 g/100g of fiber. Dynamic rheology correlated with texture and showed large increase in gel elasticity, indicating enhanced thermal gelation of surimi. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that fiber fortification did not interfere with thermal transitions of surimi myosin and actin. Long-chain fiber probably traps water physically, which is stabilized by chemical bonding with protein within surimi gel matrix. Based on the present study, it is suggested that the fiber-protein interaction is mediated by water and is physicochemical in nature.
Pyrophosphate: fructose 6-phosphate phosphotransferase in germinating castor bean seedlings

Abstract The distribution of enzymes interconverting fructose 6-phosphate and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate has been studied in a range of tissues from castor bean seedlings. In each tissue the activity of PP i :fructose 6-phosphate phosphotransferase was greater than phosphofructokinase and substantial compared with fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase. PP i :fructose 6-phosphate phosphotransferase in endosperm is apparently confined to the cytoplasm. The role of this latter enzyme in vivo is discussed.
Nonlinear approach to aircraft tracking problem

A nonlinear approach to the problem of tracking a maneuvering aircraft is presented. A nonlinear aircraft maneuver model is proposed for state estimation as well as prediction. The nonlinear model describes planar trajectories. A geometric nonlinear filter (GNF) is presented. The results show a significant overall improvement over the extended Kalman filter (EKF) approach. The GNF was found to be stable in most cases where the EKF was not stable. For the stable cases, the tracking performance of the GNF compares favorably with the EKF. The GNF offers a substantial savings in computational time.
Experimental characterization of the forest as a medium for HF radio propagation

The forest is often modeled as an anisotropic homogeneous medium filling a slab above the lossy dielectric ground. As with a true dielectric material, a section of forest may be characterized by a complex permittivity or equivalently by a real relative permittivity and conductivity. Measurement of these properties in the forest has been problematic, with no existing technique able to appropriately sample a large enough section of forest. Methods such as extrapolation via a dielectric mixing formula [1], transmission-line-based sampling [2], and inference from an analytic model [3] have been tried. We have devised and performed a novel technique to directly sample a fairly large section of the forest and retain phase information, which allows us to extract a medium permittivity. Because of the primarily vertical orientation of tree trunks, the forest is highly anisotropic at HF and VHF frequencies, and our method is able to extract the forestpsilas permittivity for both horizontal and vertical polarization. Results of the measurements are surprising but may be understood by considering the forest as a composite medium comprised primarily of vertically-oriented scatterers.
Resistance Scaling Factor of the Pillow and Fractalina Fractals

Much is known in the analysis of a finitely ramified self-similar fractal when the fractal has a harmonic structure: a Dirichlet form which respects the self-similarity of a fractal. What is still an open question is when such a structure exists in general. In this paper, we introduce two fractals, the fractalina and the pillow, and compute their resistance scaling factor. This is the factor which dictates how the Dirichlet form scales with the self-similarity of the fractal. By knowing this factor one can compute the harmonic structure on the fractal. The fractalina has scaling factor , and the pillow fractal has scaling factor .
Emotional Intelligence And Cross-Cultural Communication Competence: An Analysis Of Group Dynamics And Interpersonal Relationships In A Diverse Classroom

This study discusses the significance of emotional intelligence and intercultural communication competence in globally diverse classroom settings. Specifically, the research shows a correlation between degrees of emotional intelligence and human communication competence (age, gender, and culture). The dataset consists of 364 participants. Nearly six tenths (n = 215; 59.1%) were women. About two-thirds of participants were undergraduate students (n = 243; 66.8%), and onethird were graduate students (n = 121; 33.2%). Further, most respondents were African American (n = 303; 83.2%). The remaining students were of African and Caribbean origin (n = 61; 61.8%). Among the African/Caribbean students, they had the following national origins: Nigerian, 45 students; Jamaican, 5, Ghanaian, 4; Ugandan, 3; Trinidadian, 2; and Liberian, 2.
A framework for mapping periodic real-time applications on multicomputers

This short paper presents a framework for periodic execution of task-flow graphs that enables schedulability analysis of the communication requirements. The analysis performs the steps of segmenting messages, assigning the segments to specific links and time intervals, and ordering them within the intervals to generate node switching schedules that provide contention-free message routing at run-time. The analysis is also used to integrate task allocation with message routing using a contention-based objective function. Usefulness of the proposed scheme in ensuring guaranteed communication performance is demonstrated by an appropriate example. >
PREGNANCY-ASSOCIATED CARDIOMYOPATHY: CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND A COMPARISON BETWEEN EARLY AND LATE PRESENTATION

Background— Cardiomyopathy associated with pregnancy was first described more than half a century ago. However, because of its rare occurrence and geographical differences, the clinical profile of this condition has remained incompletely defined. Methods and Results— Data obtained from 123 women with a history of cardiomyopathy diagnosed during pregnancy or the postpartum period were reviewed. One hundred women met traditional criteria of peripartum cardiomyopathy; 23 were diagnosed with pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy earlier than the last gestational month. Peripartum cardiomyopathy patients had a mean age of 31±6 years and were mostly white (67%). Common associated conditions were gestational hypertension (43%), tocolytic therapy (19%), and twin pregnancy (13%). Left ventricular ejection fraction at the time of diagnosis was 29±11% and improved to 46±14% (P≤0.0001) at follow-up. Normalization of left ventricular ejection fraction occurred in 54% and was more likely in patients with left ventricular...
Maternal HIV Infection: Parenting and Early Child Development

Examined whether support could offset the potential stress of maternal HIV infection with regard to parenting and early child development in two studies of low income, urban, drug-using mothers of infants and toddlers. In one study, support was provided through home intervention; in the other, support was measured through self-report. There were few differences in parenting and early child development related to maternal HIV infection. HIV+ mothers reported less child-related stress among their toddlers, more normative levels of child abuse potential following 18 months of home intervention, and displayed more positive involvement with their children. Results, interpreted from ecological theory, suggest that although the early stages of maternal HIV infection may have been too distal to influence the lives of high-risk mothers of infants and toddlers, when differences existed, HIV+ mothers demonstrated more positive attitudes and behaviors toward parenting and were more able to benefit from home intervention than HIV- mothers.
Src mediates the mechanical activation of myogenesis by activating TNFα-converting enzyme.

Mechanical stimulation affects many biological aspects in living cells through mechanotransduction. In myogenic precursor cells (MPCs), mechanical stimulation activates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a key regulator of myogenesis, via activating TNFα-converting enzyme (TACE, also known as ADAM17), to release autocrine TNFα. However, the signaling mechanism of mechanical activation of TACE is unknown. Because TACE possesses the structural features of substrates of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src, we tested the hypothesis that Src mediates mechanical activation of TACE in MPCs. We observed that mechanical stretch of C2C12 or primary rat myoblasts rapidly activates Src, which in turn interacts and colocalizes with TACE, resulting in tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of TACE. Particularly, Src activates TACE via the phosphorylation of amino acid residue Tyr702 in the intracellular tail of TACE, resulting in increased TNFα release and p38 activation. Src inhibition or deficiency blocks stretch activation of the TACE–p38-MAPK signaling, resulting in impaired myogenic gene expression. In response to functional overloading, Src and TACE are activated in mouse soleus muscle. Further, overloading-induced myogenesis and regeneration are impaired in the soleus of Src+/− mice. Therefore, Src mediates mechano-activation of TACE and myogenesis.
Insulator surface flashover due to UV illumination

The surface of an insulator under vacuum and under electrical charge will flashover when illuminated by a critical dose of ultra-violet (UV) radiation - depending on the insulator size and material, insulator cone angle, the applied voltage and insulator shot-history. A testbed comprised of an excimer laser (KrF, 248 nm, ∼16 MW, 30 ns FWHM,), a vacuum chamber, and a negative polarity dc high voltage power supply (≤ −60 kV) were assembled to test 1.0 cm thick angled insulators for surface-flashover. Several candidate insulator materials, e.g. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), RexoliteR 1400, Macor™ and Mycalex, of varying cone angles were tested against UV illumination. Commercial energy meters were used to measure the UV fluence of the pulsed laser beam. In-house designed and fabricated capacitive probes (D-dots, ≫12 GHz bandwidth) were embedded in the anode electrode underneath the insulator to determine the time of UV arrival and time of flashover. Of the tested insulators, the +45 degree Rexolite insulator showed more resistance to UV for surface flashover; at UV fluence level of less than13 mJ/cm2, it was not possible to induce a flashover for up to −60 kV of DC potential across the insulator's surface. The probes also permitted the electrical charge on the insulator before and after flashover to be inferred. Photon to electron conversion efficiency for the surface of Rexolite insulator was determined from charge-balance equation. In order to understand the physical mechanism leading to flashover, we further experimented with the +45 degree Rexolite insulator by masking portions of the UV beam to illuminate only a section of the insulator surface; 1) the half nearest the cathode and subsequently, 2) the half nearest the anode. The critical UV fluence and time to flashover were measured and the results in each case were then compared with the base case of full-beam illumination. It was discovered that the time for the insulator to flash was earlier in time for the cathode-half beam illumination case than the anode-half illumination case which led us to believe that the flashover mechanism for the UV illumination is initiated from the cathode side of the insulator. Qualitatively stated, the testing revealed that the shielding of the cathode triple point against UV is more important than the anode triple junction in the design of vacuum insulators and electrodes.
Transmit Receive Modules for Geodesic Dome Phase Array Antenna For Satellite TT&C

Current SATOPS require a more flexible and efficient antenna system. The ESA offers superior performance, operability, adaptability and maintainability for satellite operation. This paper proposes a TR module design that can provide two separate Transmit (Tx) and Receive (Rx) links to a satellite. The TR module will be part of a dome shaped antenna which can provide multiple simultaneous ground to satellite links with pointing and acquisition taking only seconds. One dome antenna can replace the capability of three parabolic dishes. The low cost TR module has been developed by the AFRL/ Information Grid Division (IFGE) and the Princeton Microwave Technology Inc. for the next generation of the AF Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). A six-panel subarray was successfully demonstrated at a NASA Flight Test Facility in Aug 2004, where a subarray of 468 TR modules provided TT&C to a low earth orbit satellite. This paper provides detail of the TR module and its measured characteristics.
Identification of free radicals in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion by spin trapping with nitrone DMPO

The spin trapping ESR technique was applied to investigate oxygen-derived radicals in ischemic and post-ischemic rat hearts. Using 5,5'-dimethyl-l-pyrroline-N-oxide, carbon-centered radicals were identified during ischemia and oxy-radical adducts (superoxide anion radical, O.-2 and hydroxyl radicals, .OH) in post-ischemic rat heart. The formation of these spin adducts was inhibited by superoxide dismutase, suggesting that superoxide plays a role in the adducts' formation. The results demonstrate that oxygen derived free radicals are important byproducts of abnormal oxidative metabolism during myocardial ischemic and reperfusion injuries.
Mycobacterial phagosome maturation, rab proteins, and intracellular trafficking

One of the most prominent features of pathogenic mycobacteria, which include the potent human pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae and their opportunistic relatives Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium marinum, is their ability to survive and multiply in phagosomes of mononuclear phagocytic cells. The phagocytosed mycobacteria reside in a vacuolar compartment which is exempted from maturation into the phagolysosome. Recently, the arrest of the maturation of phagosomes containing M. tuberculosis complex organisms (Mycobacterium bovis BCG) has been linked to the accumulation on the phagosomal membrane of the small GTP binding protein rab5, specific for the control of fusion within the early endosomal compartment. Furthermore, M. bovis BCG phagosome is devoid of rab7, a rab protein associated with the late endosome. The selective accumulation of rab5 and exclusion of rab7 defines the check point that has been compromised in mycobacterial phagosome maturation. Here we summarize these observations and relates them to other phenomena in the area of membrane and protein trafficking with the emphasis on phagosomes containing intracellular pathogens.
Fictions within fictions

This paper examines the logic of fictions within fictions. I argue that consistently nested consistent fictions must have certain formal characteristics. The most important is that they form a tree structure. Depending on one’s theory of fictional objects, additional constraints may apply regarding the appearance of a fictional object in two or more fictional universes. The background motivation for the paper is to use iterated fiction operators as a tool for making sense of iterated modal operators; I conclude by noting briefly where the results about nested fictions can, and where they cannot, be extended to nested possible worlds.
Iatrogenic vertebral artery injury during anterior cervical spine surgery

Abstract Background context Iatrogenic injury to the vertebral artery during an anterior cervical decompression is a rarely mentioned but potentially catastrophic complication. Purpose This study was designed to examine the incidence and management of iatrogenic vertebral artery injury (IVAI) in a large database. Study design/setting This was a retrospective study performed at a large teaching institution over a 7-year period (1994–2001). Patient sample All anterior cervical spinal procedures performed for herniated or degenerative disc disease, or cervical spondylosis were identified, as were incidences of IVAI. Anterior cervical procedures performed for trauma, neoplasia, or infection were excluded from this study. Outcome measures Neurological and associated morbidity as well as mortality were recorded. Methods Data were accessed through an institution-wide electronic medical record search through the operative reports of 10 spine surgeons. Hospital and clinical charts of IVAI cases were subsequently reviewed. Demographic data and intraoperative strategies for repair were recorded. Results A total of 1,976 patients underwent anterior cervical spinal procedures in the review period. Six cases of IVAI were identified. In three of the six patients, arterial bleeding was controlled with hemostatic agents. Of these three, two suffered complications. The initial management of controlling arterial bleeding is by hemostatic agents; however, one must also consider repair or ligation. The remaining three patients were treated with primary repair or ligation, and no complications were noted. Conclusions IVAI is a rare complication (0.3%) of anterior cervical procedures. The arterial bleeding can usually be controlled with topical hemostatic agents, but mortality may occur in instances where it cannot be adequately addressed in a timely fashion.
Do infants find snakes aversive? Infants’ physiological responses to “fear-relevant” stimuli

In the current research, we sought to measure infants' physiological responses to snakes-one of the world's most widely feared stimuli-to examine whether they find snakes aversive or merely attention grabbing. Using a similar method to DeLoache and LoBue (Developmental Science, 2009, Vol. 12, pp. 201-207), 6- to 9-month-olds watched a series of multimodal (both auditory and visual) stimuli: a video of a snake (fear-relevant) or an elephant (non-fear-relevant) paired with either a fearful or happy auditory track. We measured physiological responses to the pairs of stimuli, including startle magnitude, latency to startle, and heart rate. Results suggest that snakes capture infants' attention; infants showed the fastest startle responses and lowest average heart rate to the snakes, especially when paired with a fearful voice. Unexpectedly, they also showed significantly reduced startle magnitude during this same snake video plus fearful voice combination. The results are discussed with respect to theoretical perspectives on fear acquisition.
A study of deep-submicron MOSFET scaling based on experiment and simulation

The scaling relationships among three fundamental quantities of deep-submicron MOSFET's, i.e., effective channel length L/sub eff/, device speed g/sub m//WC/sub ox/, and drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) /spl delta/V/sub t///spl delta/V/sub ds/, are investigated using both device measurements and numerical simulations. It is found that these relationships can be expressed in power-law forms with excellent statistical significance for both experimental and simulation data samples. The dependence of these scaling relationships on two sets of device parameters is also investigated experimentally and confirmed by numerical simulations. These two sets of parameters are: 1) channel parameters-gate oxide thickness t/sub ox/ threshold voltage V/sub t/, and channel doping profile; and 2) source/drain parameters-junction depth x/sub j/, parasitic resistance R/sub sd/, and junction abruptness (e.g., "halo" doping structure). In the deep-submicron regime with L/sub eff/ from 0.5 /spl mu/m down to sub-0.1 /spl mu/m, it is found that certain relationships among the three fundamental quantities are insensitive or "universal" with respect to particular subsets of device parameters. The relationship between g/sub m//WC/sub ox/ and /spl delta/V/sub t///spl delta/V/sub ds/ with L/sub eff/ as an implicit variable is found to be insensitive to t/sub ox/, V/sub t/, and channel doping profile within their respective experimental ranges. The trade-off between device performance (represented by g/sub m//WC/sub ox/) and short channel effect (represented by /spl delta/V/sub t///spl delta/V/sub ds/) is dominated by source/drain parameters x/sub j/, R/sub sd/ and junction abruptness, rather than channel parameters t/sub ox/, V/sub t/ and channel doping profile. Also, the power coefficient relating /spl delta/V/sub t///spl delta/V/sub ds/, to L/sub eff/ is found to be insensitive to t/sub ox/, V/sub t/, and channel doping. >
Frontiers of financial econometrics and financial engineering

Abstract The papers in this volume represent the most recent advances in the intersection of the fields of financial econometrics and financial engineering. A collection of papers presented at a conference organized by the Guest Editors in collaboration with Robert E. Whaley at the Fuqua School of Business of Duke University was supplemented with several additional articles to make up this volume. The articles cover four topics: (1) option pricing, (2) fixed income securities, (3) stochastic volatility and jumps, (4) general asset pricing and portfolio allocation. It concludes with a review essay by David Bates that provides a general perspective on the interface between financial econometrics and financial economics, including current issues and the research agenda for the future.