cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anisotropic plastic potentials for polycrystals and application to the design of optimum blank shapes in sheet forming

Recently, some potentials were proposed to analytically describe the plastic behavior of orthotropic metals. These potentials, when expressed in six-dimensional stress space, were called yield functions or, when expressed in six-dimensional strain-rate space, were called strain-rate potentials. It was shown that these phenomenological potentials provide good approximations of the plastic potentials calculated with polycrystal models. They can be used for any type of loading condition, and they can account for orthotropic anisotropy. In a parallel effort, called ideal forming theory, a forming design theory that optimizes processes and initial blank shapes in sheet forming was developed. This ideal forming theory was implemented in a finite element modeling code in order to design the blank shape directly from the final part shape. The main input to this model includes the final part geometry and the constitutive behavior of the material. In the present article, the constitutive equations describing the plastic behavior of metals as well as the main features of the ideal forming theory are briefly summarized. Then, application of the strain-rate potential to the design of a blank shape for a circular cup drawn from an anisotropic Al-Li sheet is presented. It is shown that the design code efficiently predicts the shape of the blank needed to obtain a cup with minimal earing from a highly anisotropic material.
Biomaterials and biomedical engineering

The current status and future prospects of biomaterials, in the context of chemical engineering science and biomedical engineering, is examined. Research on artificial organs, controlled drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, materials for minimally invasive surgery, medical contrast imaging agents, gene therapy, immobilized enzyme bioreactors, and biosensors is evaluated. Techniques for assessing the performance of biomaterials are considered. The role of new types of materials, not yet used in medicine, such as electrically conducting polymers, is discussed. Finally, an analysis of future educational and training issues in biomaterials in the context of chemical engineering is provided.
Effects of storage on hepatic microsomal cytochromes and substrate-induced difference spectra☆

Abstract Microsomal cytochrome P450, the ethyl isocyanide difference spectrum of dithionite-reduced microsomes (measured at the pH giving equal absorbance of 430 and 455 mμ peaks), and the aniline type II difference spectrum were affected similarly after phenobarbital induction and during the subsequent aging in vitro (about 90 hr at 1° under nitrogen) of hepatic microsomes from rats pretreated with phenobarbital. In these same microsomal preparations from phenobarbital-pretreated rats, type I spectra (caused by adding hexobarbital or (+) benzphetamine to microsomes) were increased to a greater extent and were less stable to aging in vitro than the previously mentioned components. During aging, decreases in the type II spectra paralleled the loss of total heme, but large decreases in the type I spectra were observed with little or no loss of heme. Also, aging did not change the pH giving equal absorbance of the 430 and 455 mμ peaks in the ethyl isocyanide difference spectrum, nor was there any shift in the wavelength of the maximum (450 mμ) in the carbon monoxide difference spectrum of dithionite-reduced microsomes. The binding associated with type I or II spectral changes did not appear to conform to simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Plots of ΔA vs. ΔA/S (where ΔA is the difference in absorbance between the trough and the peak in the 350 to 450 mμ region of the type I or II substrate-induced microsomal difference spectrum, and S is the corresponding substrate concentration) exhibited curvature (concave upwards). During aging, the curvature associated with plots of ΔA vs. ΔA/S using ( + ) benzphetamine increased, while the curvature associated with plots of ΔA vs. ΔA/S using aniline decreased. Some correlation was observed between increases in the rate of N -demethylation of (+) benzphetamine or p -hydroxylation of aniline and the increases in the respective type I or II difference spectra, after phenobarbital treatment of rats. Also it appeared that the rate of p -hydroxylation of aniline decreased to a lesser extent on aging than the rate of N -demethylation of (+) benzphetamine.
Out with a whimper: the final days of Hungarian socialism

Abstract The objective of this article is to provide a snapshot of Hungary's political, social, and to a lesser extent, economic conditions on the eve of the transition. The paper examines the desperate attempts of the socialist political elites to regain their legitimacy through half-hearted political and economic reform proposals, and briefly surveys the country's profound economic difficulties and its pervasive social malaise.
High-throughput multiplexed transcript analysis yields enhanced resolution of 5-hydroxytryptamine2C receptor mRNA editing profiles

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification in which adenosine residues are converted to inosine (adenosine-to-inosine editing). Commonly used methodologies to quantify RNA editing levels involve either direct sequencing or pyrosequencing of individual cDNA clones. The limitations of these methods lead to a small number of clones characterized in comparison to the number of mRNA molecules in the original sample, thereby producing significant sampling errors and potentially erroneous conclusions. We have developed an improved method for quantifying RNA editing patterns that increases sequence analysis to an average of more than 800,000 individual cDNAs per sample, substantially increasing accuracy and sensitivity. Our method is based on the serotonin 2C receptor (5-hydroxytryptamine2C; 5HT2C) transcript, an RNA editing substrate in which up to five adenosines are modified. Using a high-throughput multiplexed transcript analysis, we were able to quantify accurately the expression of twenty 5HT2C isoforms, each representing at least 0.25% of the total 5HT2C transcripts. Furthermore, this approach allowed the detection of previously unobserved changes in 5HT2C editing in RNA samples isolated from different inbred mouse strains and dissected brain regions, as well as editing differences in alternatively spliced 5HT2C variants. This approach provides a novel and efficient strategy for large-scale analyses of RNA editing and may prove to be a valuable tool for uncovering new information regarding editing patterns in specific disease states and in response to pharmacological and physiological perturbation, further elucidating the impact of 5HT2C RNA editing on central nervous system function.
A Systematic Approach to Pharmacotherapy in Patients With Neuroleptic-Resistant Psychoses

The presence or absence of neuroleptic-induced pseudoparkinsonism, the presence or absence of akathisia, and plasma levels of haloperidol are used to distinguish five types of haloperidol-resistant psychotic patients. The five types are patients receiving an inadequate dose, those whose inadequate dose cannot be increased due to the presence of akathisia, those in whom neuroleptic activity at the dopamine type 2 receptors in the brain is inhibited, those receiving a bioavailable but clinically ineffective dose, and those receiving an excessive dose. Management strategies are proposed for each type of patient and include guidelines for adjusting doses of haloperidol, switching to different neuroleptics, and introducing nonneuroleptic somatic therapies.
Cost and Appropriateness of Treating Plasmodium falciparum Infections in the United States.

Background: Although approximately 1000 U.S. citizens per year are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as having acquired malaria infection during foreign travel, little information exists with regard to the cost and appropriateness of malaria therapy received in the United States. Methods: Data on treatment of U.S. citizens reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as having acquired Plasmodium falciparum malaria in 1988-1989 while traveling in subSaharan Africa were collected by phone interview. These data were used to derive a relative index of illness severity, to estimate the costs of malaria-specific therapy, and to assess adherence to existing therapy recommendations. All monetary values throughout this study will be expressed in U.S. dollars. Results: Of 142 patients, 110 (77%) were classified as having mild, 21 (15%) as having moderate, and 11 (8%) as having severe infections. Two (1.4%) deaths were reported. Overall, the mean (6 standard deviation) cost of treatment per case was $2743.51 (6 8416.82; range $191.75 to $79,801.73). Estimated with relation to severity, the median cost for treatment per case was $467.54 for mild, $2701.16 for moderate, and $12,515.52 for severe infections. Forty-two (30%) of these patients had at least one element of therapy that was inconsistent with recommendations current at the time of the study; 27(19%) received chloroquine; 12 (9%) received primaquine unnecessarily; eight (6%) received inappropriate dosages of pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine (Fansidar)*; and three (2%) received potentially inappropriate dosing regimens of quinine. Conclusions: The relatively low fatality rate, and the fact that 70% of patients received appropriate therapy suggests that the overall standard of care for what is a relatively infrequent disease in the United States is good. However, because of rapidly changing drug resistance patterns, both physicians and travelers need to remain informed to avoid the costs and risks of this potentially severe, but easily preventable infectious disease. (J Travel Med 2:16-21, 1995)
NOVEL QUANTITATIVE FLUOROPERFUSION ASSESSMENT OF THE PHYSIOLOGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF CORONARY STENOSES DURING DYNAMIC CINE FLUOROSCOPY

While invasive coronary angiography is the standard for defining percent stenosis, fractional or coronary flow reserve (CFR) measurements are required to determine hemodynamic significance. This study aimed to validate a novel fluoroperfusion (FP) method to measure myocardial blood flow (MBF) and
Phosphoregulation of Arp2/3-dependent actin assembly during receptor-mediated endocytosis

In both yeast and mammals, endocytic internalization is accompanied by a transient burst of actin polymerization1,2. The yeast protein kinases Prk1p and Ark1p, which are related to the mammalian proteins GAK and AAK1, are key regulators of this process3,4,5,6. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which they regulate actin assembly at endocytic sites have not yet been determined. The Eps15-like yeast protein Pan1p is a Prk1p substrate that is essential for endocytic internalization and for proper actin organization7,8,9. Pan1p is an Arp2/3 activator and here we show that this activity is dependent on F-actin binding. Mutation of all 15 Prk1p-targeted threonines in Pan1p to alanines mimicked the ark1Δ prk1Δ phenotype, demonstrating that Pan1p is a key Prk1p target in vivo. Moreover, phosphorylation by Prk1p inhibited the ability of Pan1p to bind to F-actin and to activate the Arp2/3 complex, thereby identifying the endocytic phosphoregulation mechanism of Prk1p. We conclude that Prk1p phosphorylation of Pan1p shuts off Arp2/3-mediated actin polymerization on endocytic vesicles, allowing them to fuse with endosomes.
Detection of nitroaromatic explosives using a fluorescent-labeled imprinted polymer.

Optical sensors have proven to be a useful method in identifying explosive devices by recognizing vapors of explosive compounds that become airborne and emanate from the device. To detect high explosive compounds such as TNT, a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensing mechanism was developed. This mechanism consists of MIP microparticles prepared using methacrylic acid as the functional monomer. The MIP microparticles are then combined with fluorescent quantum dots via a simple cross-linking procedure. The result is a highly robust optical sensing scheme that is capable of functioning in an array of environmental conditions. To study the sensing mechanisms’s ability to detect nitroaromatic analytes, the fluorescent-labeled MIP particles were tested for their performance in detecting aqueous 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), a nitroaromatic molecule very similar to TNT, as well as TNT itself. These preliminary data indicate that the system is capable of detecting nitroaromatic compounds in solution with high se...
Stable creatinine clearance using large-dose HES versus reduced GFR.

,Winkelmayeretal[1]reportedpostoperativerenalimpairment after a relatively low dose of hydroxyethylstarch (HES) 670/0.75 in patients with coronary arterybypass graft (CABG). These data should be comparedwith data from a randomized clinical trial recently pub-lished by our group [2], which do not support the ﬁnd-ings by Winkelmayer et al, but in fact show preservedrenal function when a novel HES 130/0.4 speciﬁcationwasadministeredinrepetitivelargedosesinpatientswithhead injury. In addition, a study of Jungheinrich et al [3]in volunteers with mild-to-severe renal impairment didnot reveal further deterioration of renal function after asingle HES 130/0.4 dose. These contrasting ﬁndings donot surprise. Each different HES solution has its speciﬁcphysicochemical properties (molar substitution [MS],pattern of hydroxyethylation [C2:C6 ratio], mean molec-ular weight [Mw]) that determine the in vivo character-istics. Unfavorable in vivo characteristics of mainly olderHES products with high Mw and high MS (hetastarches,e.g., HES 450/0.7) are known to cause plasma accumula-tion of macromolecules [4], which has been attributed toimpaired renal function and blood coagulation. There-fore, physicochemical characteristics of new generationHES solutions, such as HES 130/0.4, have been modiﬁedand result in negligible plasma accumulation, preservedrenal function, and blood coagulation. Because physic-ochemical characteristics appear to be critical to patientsafety we suggest that properties of HES products shouldbe considered before their use in the clinical setting, andthat ﬁndings with certain HES types must not be gener-alized for other HES solutions.
Carbon‐13 spin–lattice relaxation in strongly associated molecules: Carboxylic acids

13C spin–lattice relaxation times determined for the protonated carbons of carboxylic acids and methyl esters give indications of solution dimerization with the free acids. Since isopthalic and fumaric acids have two carboxyl functions they are able to polymerize in solution. Unlike the case for molecular aggregation due to weak hydrogen bonding in solution (e.g. alcohols, phenols), the 13C T1 values of mono carboxylic acids are not significantly affected by dilution to c. 10−2 M. Variable temperature T1 measurements of both the mono and dibasic acids gave activation energies for molecular reorientation of the order of 2 kcal mol−1, considerably lower than Ea for hydrogen bonded alcohols and comparable with Ea for the unassociated methyl esters of propionic and benzoic acids.
Traumatic brain injury in modern war

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common and especially with military service. In Iraq and Afghanistan, explosive blast related TBI has become prominent and is mainly from improvised explosive devices (IED). Civilian standard of care clinical practice guidelines (CPG) were appropriate has been applied to the combat setting. When such CPGs do not exist or are not applicable, new practice standards for the military are created, as for TBI. Thus, CPGs for prehospital care of combat TBI CPG [1] and mild TBI/concussion [2] were introduced as was a DoD system-wide clinical care program, the first large scale system wide effort to address all severities of TBI in a comprehensive organized way. As TBI remains incompletely understood, substantial research is underway. For the DoD, leading this effort are The Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, National Intrepid Center of Excellence and the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. This program is a beginning, a work in progress ready to leverage advances made scientifically and always with the intent of providing the best care to its military beneficiaries.
Atrio-ventricular and ventriculo-atrial conduction times in patients undergoing pacemaker implant.

Pacemaker mediated reentrant tachycardias have been seen frequently during use of dual chamber sensing pacemakers and are dependent on the presence of intact retrograde (ventriculo-atrial) conduction. The status of a patient's retrograde (VA) conduction cannot be determined from the surface electrocardiogram. At the time of pacemaker implant the state of ante-grade conduction should be determined at incremental atrial pacing rates, the exact timing measured from the intracardiac electrograms, i.e., from the intrinsic deflection of the atrium to the intrinsic deflection of the ventricle. With this information obtained in 53 patients, if was possible to determine which patients could safely receive dual chamber sensing pacemaker devices, the appropriate pacemaker atrial refractory period setting to avoid pacemaker mediated tachycardias in those patients with intact retrograde conduction, and the optimal timing for programming the pacemaker's A V delay. Patients who have been studied in this manner and who were felt to be suitable for a dual chamber sensing device have not displayed pacemaker mediated reentrant tachycardias. Forty-seven percent of all patients who require pacemaker implant have VA 1:1 conduction; 67% of those with sinus node dysfunction and 14% of those with complete antegrade block have VA conduction at a mean interval of 235 ± 50 ms (range 110–380 ms).
Sorption enhanced reaction process for direct production of fuel-cell grade hydrogen by low temperature catalytic steam–methane reforming

Abstract New experimental data are reported to demonstrate that a sorption enhanced reaction (SER) concept can be used to directly produce fuel-cell grade H 2 ( 4 + 2H 2 O ↔ CO 2 + 4H 2 ) in presence of a CO 2 selective chemisorbent such as K 2 CO 3 promoted hydrotalcite at reaction temperatures of 520 and 550 °C, which are substantially lower than the conventional SMR reaction temperatures of 700–800 °C. The H 2 productivity of the sorption enhanced reactor can be large, and the conversion of CH 4 to H 2 can be very high circumventing the thermodynamic limitations of the SMR reaction due to the application of the Le Chetalier's principle in the SER concept. Mathematical simulations of a cyclic two-step SER concept showed that the H 2 productivity of the process (moles of essentially pure H 2 produced per kg of catalyst–chemisorbent admixture in the reactor per cycle) is much higher at a reaction temperature of 590 °C than that at 550 or 520 °C. On the other hand, the conversion of feed CH 4 to high purity H 2 product is relatively high (>99+%) at all three temperatures. The conversion is much higher than that in a conventional catalyst-alone reactor at these temperatures, and it increases only moderately ( 2 from the reaction zone at lower temperatures, and (d) higher cyclic working capacity for CO 2 chemisorption at higher temperature.
Abrogation of IL-2 dependence by recombinant murine retrovirus containing v-myb

Biological consequences of expression of v-myb gene in murine long-term T cell lines (CTLL-2 and HT-2) were studied using murine retroviral vectors. Expression of high levels of v-myb altered responses to interleukin (IL)-2, expression of surface markers, and growth characteristics of these cells. Interestingly, v-myb oncogene brings about growth-factor independence in IL-2-dependent T cell lines with concomitant induction of IL-2 mRNA and downregulation of IL-2 receptor synthesis. These results suggest a role for myb gene products in IL-2 gene expression.
Adolescent pregnancy: An intervention challenge

Even in the best of circumstances, pregnancy is a time of emotional upheaval. This is especially true for pregnant adolescents who are also attempting to adjust to pubertal status and to establish an identity independent from their family. Although research has focused on the etiology of teenage pregnancy, relatively few interventions consider the developmental obstacles encountered when treating pregnant teenagers. In particular, adolescents are cognitively unprepared to predict longterm outcomes, a skill essential for confronting the challenges of pregnancy. One new intervention, known as previewing, seeks to overcome this deficit. Previewing encourages expectant teenage mothers to represent future scenarios with the infant as a means of predicting and rehearsing adaptive outcomes.
Transition to turbulent flow in curved and straight channels with heat transfer at high Dean numbers

Abstract Heat transfer in a channel with a straight portion followed by a portion with mild curvature, an aspect ratio of 40, and 0.979 radius ratio is studied at Dean numbers from 700–1100. The effects of curvature, streamwise development, Dean number, and flow tripping are illustrated by the data. Important Nusselt number increases occur due to laminar-to-turbulent transitional phenomena in the straight portion of the channel. Downstream of these increases, flow approaches fully turbulent behavior, and Nusselt numbers collect into families of curves which show weak dependence on Dean number and strong dependence on normalized streamwise distance.
RANKL regulates Fas expression and Fas-mediated apoptosis in osteoclasts.

Osteoclast apoptosis is an influential determinant of osteoclast bone-resorbing activity. RANKL, a critical factor for osteoclastogenesis, is also important in osteoclast survival. However, the mechanisms by which RANKL prevents osteoclast apoptosis remain largely unknown. Introduction: Fas, a death receptor, mediates apoptosis in multiple types of cells including osteoclasts. Here we report that RANKL acts as a survival factor in osteoclasts by downregulating Fas-mediated apoptosis and Fas expression in mature osteoclasts. Materials and Methods: RAW264.7 and mouse bone marrow macrophage/monocyte progenitors and progenitor-derived osteoclasts, in the presence of various concentrations of RANKL, were used in this study. Western blotting, semiquantitative RT-PCR, flow cytometry, nuclear staining, and a fluorescent caspase-3 activity assay were used to assess the effect of RANKL on Fas expression and Fas-mediated apoptosis. The involvement of NF-κB in the regulation of Fas by RANKL was analyzed by luciferase assay and EMSA. Results: Mature osteoclasts generated in the presence of a high concentration of RANKL (3.33 nM) failed to respond to Fas-induced apoptosis. The lack of responsiveness in mature osteoclasts is caused by the low level of Fas expression, as detected by both semiquantitative PCR and Western blotting. Fas protein and mRNA expression are inhibited by RANKL in concentration-dependent manners. The downregulation of Fas expression by RANKL is not because of modulation of the stability of Fas protein or mRNA. The regulation of Fas expression by RANKL is biphasic. During the early stage of osteoclastogenesis (1 day) when Fas is expressed at a very low level, RANKL upregulates Fas promoter activity by 2.4 ± 0.1-fold in a concentration-dependent manner and increases Fas mRNA and protein. This event correlates with regulation of the binding activity of NF-κB to the Fas promoter by RANKL, as detected by EMSA. In osteoclast precursors, the induction of Fas promoter activity by RANKL was dramatically reduced when NF-κB binding sites on the Fas promoter were mutated. Conclusion: RANKL upregulates Fas expression in osteoclast progenitors through NF-κB, making osteoclasts targets of Fas-stimulated apoptosis. In differentiated mature osteoclasts, RANKL reduces the levels of Fas expression and Fas-mediated apoptosis, acting as a survival factor.
Alternative Modal Basis Selection Procedures For Reduced-Order Nonlinear Random Response Simulation

Three procedures to guide selection of an efficient modal basis in a nonlinear random response analysis are examined. One method is based only on proper orthogonal decomposition, while the other two additionally involve smooth orthogonal decomposition. Acoustic random response problems are employed to assess the performance of the three modal basis selection approaches. A thermally post-buckled beam exhibiting snap-through behavior, a shallowly curved arch in the auto-parametric response regime and a plate structure are used as numerical test articles. The results of a computationally taxing full-order analysis in physical degrees of freedom are taken as the benchmark for comparison with the results from the three reduced-order analyses. For the cases considered, all three methods are shown to produce modal bases resulting in accurate and computationally efficient reduced-order nonlinear simulations.
Aminorex to fen/phen : An epidemic foretold

Over the years, a variety of diets and drugs for the treatment of obesity have come and gone. More recently, newspapers, radio, and television have featured the rise and fall of the latest appetite-suppressants, dexfenfluramine and the combination of fenfluramine and phentermine (fen/phen). The rise occurred after approval of dexfenfluramine by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the fall was prompted by an unexpected outbreak of valvular heart disease related to the use of anorectic agents.1 The outbreak of valvular heart disease was unexpected. Even though alarms had been sounded of an impending epidemic of pulmonary hypertension that would follow the turning loose of the appetite suppressants by the FDA,2 3 previous experience with these medications had not foretold an epidemic of valvular heart disease. In this article, the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the pulmonary vascular and cardiac valvular disease are explored within the larger framework of dietary pulmonary hypertension.4 Insights into these mechanisms appear to be relevant to avoiding similar epidemics caused by anorectic agents and in developing future weight-losing medications. One major weakness in the war against overweight and obesity is the blurred outlines of the targets. Although any degree of overweight is undesirable, not all degrees of obesity call for the same type or vigor of attack. For example, the goal of a 10% reduction in weight in an individual who is mildly obese and at risk for systemic hypertension and diabetes warrants more aggressive measures than does achieving the same weight loss by an individual determined to fit into last year’s bathing suit. In turn, both of these indications are much less compelling than weight loss in a morbidly obese individual in whom quick weight loss may be lifesaving. Moreover, no matter what the goal is in treating overweight and obesity, lasting success …
Home in Jerusalem: the American Colony and Palestinian suburban architecture

Abstract Urban development outside the walls of Jerusalem began only after 1850. These new suburbs embodied the spatial traditions of their different religious and ethnic patrons. Russian, French, English, German, and particularly Jewish emigre complexes have been well researched. Less thoroughly studied are the new Palestinian suburbs. The largest house of the Husseini neighbourhood is the focus of this analysis. An investigation of the fabric of the building and its written and photographic archive allows a reconstruction of the structure's developmental stages. Its changing form records the cultural shifts in Ottoman Jerusalem affected by the growing presence of Western interests in the region.
The future neutron therapy clinical trials in the United States.

Abstract Representatives of radiation oncology groups in the United States, who have received National Cancer Institute awards for clinical neutron studies, have developed controlled clinical trials for evaluating fast neutron therapy, compared to conventional treatment, in certain localised tumors. To date, substantial agreement has been obtained for the following protocols: (1) Neutron Therapy in the Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix, (2) Neutron Therapy in the Treatment of Potentially Operable Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity, Pharynx and Larynx, (3) Neutron Therapy in the Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity, Pharynx and Larynx using Radiation Therapy as the Only Planned Treatment Modality, (4) Neutron Therapy in the Treatment of Malignant Gliomas. Pilot studies are being initiated for other tumors, such as lesions in the esophagus, pancreas, and prostate, and certain superior sulcus lung lesions that are well-differentiated squamous-cell carcinoma.
Predicting the Persistence and Performance of Newly Recruited Telephone Interviewers

The impact of personal characteristics and work environment on telephone interviewer job persistence, efficiency, and effectiveness is examined. Data included interviewer demographics, experience, ...
Improving Problem-solving Skills of Undergraduates Through Computerized Dynamic Assessment☆

A computer-based dynamic assessment (DA) system developed for use in an undergraduate fluid mechanics course is presented. Data collected before and after implementation of this DA indicate significant improvement in student performance after implementation. Student performance is quantified by the % of questions correctly answered in the nationally normed Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam relative to the National average. Since implementation of the DA system, this measure for our students has increased from below National level (mean = 0.942; standard deviation, sd = 0.068) to above National level (mean = 1.04; sd = 0.06). For the same population, performance in fluid mechanics has been higher than that in the other subjects where DA was not used (mean = 1.068; sd = 0.028 vs. mean = 0.837; sd = 0.04). Performance of our students in fluid mechanics has exceeded that of their peers in the top tier programs in the U.S. (mean = 1.068; sd = 0.028 vs. mean = 1.031; sd = 0.03).
Force Fluctuation–induced Relengthening of Acetylcholine-contracted Airway Smooth Muscle

Superimposition of force fluctuations on contracted tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) has been used to simulate normal breathing. Breathing has been shown to reverse lung resistance of individuals without asthma and animals given methacholine to contract their airways; computed tomography scans also demonstrated bronchial dilation after a deep inhalation in normal volunteers. This reversal of airway resistance and bronchial constriction are absent (or much diminished) in individuals with asthma. Many studies have demonstrated that superimposition of force oscillations on contracted airway smooth muscle results in substantial smooth muscle lengthening. Subsequent studies have shown that this force fluctuation–induced relengthening (FFIR) is a physiologically regulated phenomenon. We hypothesized that actin filament length in the smooth muscle of the airways regulates FFIR of contracted tissues. We based this hypothesis on the observations that bovine TSM strips contracted using acetylcholine (ACh) demonstrated ...
Drug-induced proarrhythmia and use of QTc-prolonging agents: clues for clinicians.

Use of drugs with the potential for prolongation of the QTc interval and proarrhythmia is a growing challenge facing clinicians. Many pharmaceutical agents have been denied approval for human use, approved with restrictions and warnings regarding proarrhythmia, or withdrawn from the market based upon arrhythmic risk. Despite known risk factors for QTc prolongation and drug-induced arrhythmia, precise prediction of the risk of torsades de pointes (TdP) in an individual patient remains difficult. The mechanism of drug-induced TdP typically involves use of an agent that blocks the I Kr cardiac potassium current, often in combination with risk-amplifying factors such as high drug levels, reduced drug metabolism, polypharmacy, and patient-specific factors such as gender, age, and genetic polymorphism. For the clinician, an integrated approach involving appreciation of the risk factors for proarrhythmia combined with computer-based risk assessment is the best method for reducing the risk of drug-induced proarrhythmia in clinical practice.
Mechanical performance of sutures in surgery

In this study, we have compared the recommended configuration of a knot with specified sutures as ascertained by mechanical performance tests to that employed by a group of board-certified surgeons. Agreement between the surgeon and the results of the test was encountered in only one fourth of the instances. In another one fourth of the cases the surgeon overestimated the number of throws required for a knot to reach knot break. This additional suture material further handicaps the host's defenses, thereby inviting infection. Surgeons employed knots that untied without reaching knot break in the remaining half of the cases. The holding power of many of the knots that untied was substantially less than that of knots reaching knot break. On the basis of the study, it is recommended that results of the mechanical performance tests be made readily available to the surgeon so that his patient can receive maximal benefits from the knotted suture with the least damage to the host's defenses.
An image correlation procedure for digitally reconstructed radiographs and electronic portal images

Purpose : To study a procedure that uses megavoltage digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) calculated from patient's three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) data as a reference image for correlation with on-line electronic portal images (EPIs) to detect patient setup errors. Methods and Materials : Megavoltage DRRs were generated by ray tracing through a modified volumetric CT data set in which CT numbers were converted into linear attenuation coefficients for the therapeutic beam energy. The DRR transmission image was transformed to the grayscale window of the EPI by a histogram-matching technique. An alternative approach was to calibrate the transmission DRR using a measured response curve of the electronic portal imaging device (EPID). This forces the calculated transmission fluence values to be distributed in the same range as that of the EPID image. A cross-correlation technique was used to determine the degree of alignment of the patient anatomy found in the EPID image relative to the reference DRR. deviation of 0.5 mm Results : Phantom studies demonstrated that the correlation procedure had a standard deviation of 0.5 mm and 0.5° in aligning translational shifts and in-plane rotations. Systematic errors were found between a reference DRR and a reference EPID image. The automated grayscale image-correlation process was completed within 3 s on a workstation computer or 12 s on a PC. Conclusion : The alignment procedure allows the direct comparison of a patient's treatment portal designed with a 3D planning computer with a patient's on-line portal image acquired at the treatment unit. The image registration process is automated to the extent that it requires minimal user intervention, and it is fast and accurate enough for on-line clinical applications.
The Vertebrate Primary Cilium in Development, Homeostasis, and Disease

Cilia are complex structures that have garnered interest because of their roles in vertebrate development and their involvement in human genetic disorders. In contrast to multicellular invertebrates in which cilia are restricted to specific cell types, these organelles are found almost ubiquitously in vertebrate cells, where they serve a diverse set of signaling functions. Here, we highlight properties of vertebrate cilia, with particular emphasis on their relationship with other subcellular structures, and explore the physiological consequences of ciliary dysfunction.
On-wafer magnetically tunable millimeter wave notch filter using M-phase Ba hexagonal ferrite/Pt thin films on Si

A prototype of a fully integrated on-wafer, magnetically tunable band-stop filter operating at millimeter wave frequencies is demonstrated on a Si substrate. In contrast to earlier studies, the filter uses a very thin barium hexagonal ferrite film incorporated into the dielectric layer of a microstrip transmission line to filter the signal. The zero-field operational frequency is about 34 GHz, increasing linearly with the strength of a static, perpendicularly applied magnetic field at a rate of about 2.7 GHz/kOe. Experimentally, high signal attenuation (33–67 dB/cm) at the resonance frequency and insertion losses as low as 4.5 dB were simultaneously observed, while the 3 dB device bandwidths were generally below 1 GHz. Our calculations are in quantitative agreement with the experimental results. We also find an important result that the thickness and conductivity of the Pt ground plane plays a key role in insertion losses, indicating directions for further improvements.
Proportional quota weighted voting system hierarchies

This article completes a characterization of achievable and unachievable hierarchies in weighted voting systems where the quota is a proportion of the total weight, proving the main conjecture of Bean et al. (Soc Choice Welf 34: 397–410, 2010).
Ideology And The Decline Of Management Theory

The article explores the role of ideology in the formation, development and dissemination of management theory. Organizational theorizing is often ideological and based on assumptions they may not be true. This biasing is responsible for the continuation of inappropriate managerial practices. The central belief of the ideology in question here is a faith in the inherent goodness of humanity. Quality of work life, participative management and organizational development are chosen to illustrate the effect of combining research with ideology. There is ample empirical evidence that job dissatisfaction has changed little and that significant number of workers actually prefer jobs typically defined as boring.
The Inverted Brayton Cycle for Waste-Heat Utilization

The inverted Brayton cycle, which can be simply defined as one in which hot gas is first expanded through a turbine to low pressure, is then cooled at constant pressure, and lastly, is recompressed to the initial pressure, has been shown to give attractive incremental gains in thermal efficiency, and large returns on investment, when added to a conventional shaft-power gas turbine exhausting into a waste-heat boiler. When the inverted Brayton cycle is applied by itself as a method of obtaining shaft power from the hot waste gas stream, there appears to be range of temperature and pressure ratios at which the cycle is competitive with other methods of waste-heat utilization.Copyright © 1973 by ASME
Morphological correlates of fluid transport in the isolated intestine of Squalus

Abstract 1. 1. Distension of lateral intercellular spaces was correlated with fluid transport conditions in the isolated intestine of Squalus in the presence of a normal urea gradient. 2. 2. In the absence of stretch effects, elevated mucosal hydrostatic pressure did not eliminate the distended spaces. 3. 3. Only the most basal regions of the lateral spaces were influenced by the adjacent smooth muscle.
Amylolytic enzyme production byRhizopus oryzae grown on agricultural commodities

The amylolytic enzyme production byRhizopus oryzae NRRL 395 grown on different agricultural commodities was datermined. The mould produced much higher enzyme activity from barley, corn, bats, and rice than from cassava. The optimal temperature for enzyme production was 30°C. Neutralization with CaCO3 greatly enhanced the rate of enzyme production. Nitrogen supplementation of cassava resulted in higher enzyme yields.
Coulomb blockade at almost perfect transmission.

We study the equilibrium properties of a quantum dot connected to a bulk lead by a single-mode quantum point contact. The ground-state energy and other thermodynamic characteristics of the grain show periodic dependence on the gate voltage (Coulomb blockade). We consider the case of almost perfect transmission, and show that the oscillations exist as long as the transmission coefficient of the contact is less than unity. Near the points where the dot charge is half-integer, the thermodynamic characteristics show a nonanalytic behavior identical to that of the two-channel spin-1/2 Kondo model. In particular, at any transmission coefficient the capacitance measured between the gate and the lead shows periodic logarithmic singularities as a function of the gate voltage.
Role of Stress in Transgranular Stress Corrosion Cracking of Transmission Pipelines in Near -Neutral pH Environments

Abstract Transgranular stress corrosion cracking (TGSCC) of carbon steel pipelines occurs on buried transmission lines that are protectively coated and subjected to cathodic protection. Analysis of...
Alcohol Use, Alcohol-Related Outcome Expectancies, and Partner Aggression Among Males Court-Mandated to Batterer Intervention Programs A Brief Report

Additional work is needed to determine how and/or why the relationship between alcohol use and increased risk of partner aggression (PA) exists. Researchers have begun to examine whether alcohol-related outcome expectancies (i.e., beliefs about the cognitive and behavioral effects of alcohol) are associated with PA irrespective of alcohol use. We examined the relationship between alcohol use, alcohol expectancies, and PA among 360 males arrested for a domestic violence offense and court-mandated to treatment. Results indicate that certain alcohol expectancies do play a role in the relationship between alcohol use and some forms of PA.
Yield driven gate sizing for coupling-noise reduction under uncertainty

This paper presents a post-route gate-sizing algorithm for coupling-noise reduction that constrains the yield loss under process variations. Algorithms for coupling-noise reduction which do not consider uncertainty in the manufacturing process can make a circuit susceptible to failure. Using probabilistic models, the coupling-noise reduction problem is solved as a fixpoint computation problem on a lattice. A novel gate-sizing algorithm with low area overhead is proposed for coupling-noise reduction under uncertainty. Experimental results are reported for the ISCAS benchmarks and larger circuits with comparisons to traditional approaches.
Discovering causal signaling pathways through gene-expression patterns

High-throughput gene-expression studies result in lists of differentially expressed genes. Most current meta-analyses of these gene lists include searching for significant membership of the translated proteins in various signaling pathways. However, such membership enrichment algorithms do not provide insight into which pathways caused the genes to be differentially expressed in the first place. Here, we present an intuitive approach for discovering upstream signaling pathways responsible for regulating these differentially expressed genes. We identify consistently regulated signature genes specific for signal transduction pathways from a panel of single-pathway perturbation experiments. An algorithm that detects overrepresentation of these signature genes in a gene group of interest is used to infer the signaling pathway responsible for regulation. We expose our novel resource and algorithm through a web server called SPEED: Signaling Pathway Enrichment using Experimental Data sets. SPEED can be freely accessed at http://speed.sys-bio.net/.
Dosing Nomograms: Silos on a Slope

Developing dosing management guidelines or protocol approaches to pharmacotherapy can provide several benefits for standardization of care. Frequently, clinicians may need to incorporate multiple influencing factors to individualize management. In some cases, preestablished, standardized approaches may create barriers to individualized care, potentially categorizing patients into dosing categories (silos) that minimize their individualized needs. Approaches to managing direct thrombin inhibitor therapy have been recently explored and dosing approaches different from those provided in the prescribing information have been proposed. Considerations regarding individualized management of anticoagulant therapy, including the use of standardized dosing or monitoring protocols, are discussed here.
Role of TNF alpha and PLF in bone remodeling in a rat model of repetitive reaching and grasping

We have previously developed a voluntary rat model of highly repetitive reaching that provides an opportunity to study effects of non-weight bearing muscular loads on bone and mechanisms of naturally occurring inflammation on upper limb tissues in vivo. In this study, we investigated the relationship between inflammatory cytokines and matricellular proteins (Periostin-like-factor, PLF, and connective tissue growth factor, CTGF) using our model. We also examined the relationship between inflammatory cytokines, PLF and bone formation processes. Rats underwent initial training for 5 weeks, and then performed a high repetition high force (HRHF) task (12 reaches/min, 60% maximum grip force, 2 h/day, 3 days/week) for 6 weeks. We then examined the effect of training or task performance with or without treatment with a rat specific TNFα antibody on inflammatory cytokines, osteocalcin (a bone formation marker), PLF, CTGF, and behavioral indicators of pain or discomfort. The HRHF task decreased grip strength and induced forepaw mechanical hypersensitivity in both trained control and 6-week HRHF animals. Two weeks of anti-TNFα treatment improved grip strength in both groups, but did not ameliorate forepaw hypersensitivity. Moreover, anti-TNFα treatment attenuated task-induced increases in inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1α, and MIP2 in serum; TNFα in forelimb bone and muscles) and serum osteocalcin in 6-week HRHF animals. PLF levels in forelimb bones and flexor digitorum muscles increased significantly in 6-week HRHF animals, increases attenuated by anti-TNFα treatment. CTGF levels were unaffected by task performance or anti-TNFα treatment in 6-week HRHF muscles. In primary osteoblast cultures, TNFα, MIP2 and MIP3a treatment increased PLF levels in a dose dependent manner. Also in primary osteoblast cultures, increased PLF promoted proliferation and differentiation, the latter assessed by measuring Runx2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin mRNA levels; ALP activity; as well as calcium deposition and mineralization. Increased PLF also promoted cell adhesion in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cell cultures. Thus, tissue loading in vivo resulted in increased TNFα, which increased PLF, which then induced anabolic bone formation, the latter results confirmed in vitro. J. Cell. Physiol. 225: 152–167, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Plasmonic Properties of Copper Nanoparticles Fabricated by Nanosphere Lithography

The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of oxide-free Cu nanoparticles fabricated by nanosphere lithography is examined by UV−vis extinction spectroscopy and electrodynamics theory. The LSPR of the Cu nanoparticles is significantly affected by the presence of copper oxides and the removal of the oxide species yields a dramatic difference in the observed LSPR. From a comparison of the LSPR of Cu, Ag, and Au nanoparticles of similar geometry, we conclude that Cu displays an intense and narrow LSPR peak that is comparable to Ag and Au.
Industrial carcinogens: a need for action.

Presented at President's Cancer Panel meeting. Environmental Factors in Cancer: Industrial and Manufacturing Exposures September 16, 2008 East Brunswick, NJ
Titanium biomaterials: titania needles in the test of the foraminiferan Bathysiphon argenteus

Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive microanalysis confirms the rare occurrence of a titanium mineral in the test of an organism.