cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unique characteristics of surface relief fiber Bragg gratings and their application to multi axis sensing

We recently reported on a new fiber Bragg grating etched into the flat surface of a D-fiber and its potential use as a high temperature sensor. Since then we have investigated more in depth many of the characteristics that are unique due to the surface relief nature of the grating. In this paper we show that a surface relief fiber Bragg grating exhibits some significant advantages when compared to standard fiber Bragg gratings including: high temperature operation, polarization selectivity, and the ability for multi axis strain sensing. We also show the uniqueness of these gratings for bend sensing with two degrees of freedom.
The Index of Medical Underservice as a Predictor of Ability to Obtain Physicians' Services

This paper presents an evaluation of the Index of Medical Underservice (IMU) as a predictor of a population's ability to obtain physicians' services. Evidence from California's Medi-Cal program shows that the IMU fails to reflect the experience of persons who are nonwhite or rural. An adjustment to the IMU is suggested that may produce a more adequate measure. The IMU was developed by the Health Services Research Group at the University of Wisconsin. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare used the IMU to designate areas as underserved for the health maintenance organization program. Priority was given to applications for grants, loans, and contracts where at least 30% of the persons served by a health maintenance organization would come from underserved areas or populations. The index was computed for all U.S. counties, and all counties scoring below the median were designated as underserved. For counties not so designated the computations were repeated for census tracts (metropolitan counties) or census county divisions (nonmetropolitan counties). The same cutoff point was used to choose tracts and divisions for designation as underserved (Health Services Research Group 1975a). The use of an index to identify underserved populations is increasing. The federal government is attempting to make an index part of an identification scheme to be shared by a number of agencies (U.S. Dep. Health, Education, and Welfare 1975, pp. 47-52). The identified areas are to be targets for coordinated programs. Within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), the Health Underserved Rural Area initiative and the Rural Health Initiative are efforts to coordinate and concentrate the resources of the National Health Service Corps, Maternal and Child Health Services, Neighborhood Health Centers, and other programs in rural areas. Each program has its own eligibility criteria, but funds for coordination of services are available only if the area is underserved according to the IMU.
On physical properties of aerosol at Ross Island, Antarctica

Abstract We report on the physical characteristics of Aitken nuclei and their relation to air mass type at Ross Island, Antarctica. The size distribution spectrum of the particles was derived with a diffusion battery and non-linear mathematical inversion and is considered to be quite accurate over the particle diameter range 0.01 d μ m. The Aitken nuclei concentration, n o , decreased at Ross Island by about an order of magnitude from summer ( n o = 600 cm −3 ) to winter ( n o = 100 cm −3 ). Particle size varied with air mass type: Maritime polar air masses had a geometric mean particle diameter d g = 0.011 μ m, while continental Antarctic, cA, air masses possessed somewhat smaller particles (i.e. d g ∼ 0.005 μ m). The anomalously small particles associated with cA air suggests the presence of an upper tropospheric or partly stratospheric origin of nuclei perhaps associated with mixing formed by breaking waves over the Ellsworth Range in Marie Byrd Land.
Origins of the African hominoids: an assessment of the palaeobiogeographical evidence

Abstract The origin of the African hominoid clade is a matter of current debate, with one hypothesis proposing that chimpanzees, humans, and gorillas originated in tropical Africa, while another suggests they originated in Eurasia. Support for the latter hypothesis includes biogeographical patterns inferred from the fossil record and proposed Miocene hominoid phylogenetic relationships. The absence of fossil apes from the African Late Miocene has been used as evidence that crown hominoids were not present in Africa during this period. An alternative explanation for the paucity of these hominoids is that biases in collection and preservation have affected the African Miocene fossil record. A survey of currently known African Later Miocene sites and their faunas shows that these sites generally do not contain hominoids because of small sample sizes, poor preservation, or inappropriate habitat sampling. These preservation biases have important implications for evaluating the origins of the Homininae. To cite this article: S.M. Cote, C. R. Palevol 3 (2004).
Digital Workload In A Large Radiology Department

As Radiology becomes more invested in direct digital imaging techniques, the potential for moving these images throughout the department, interpreting them directly in digital mode and archiving them in computer form is a topic of high current interest. A fundamental consideration is the amount of digital data to be handled. Even the low and medium resolution images now handled in digital mode require immense amounts of digital storage space. The first quantification of the amount of digital data was by Dwyer, et al, in a report concerning the workload in a 614-bed hospital. Their assumptions and calculations are reviewed and applied to the workload data from a 1082-bed hospital. Storage requirements for PET and MRI workload are calculated, and an estimate of digital radiography data is presented. The digitization of plain film radiographs will virtually increase the storage requirements by a factor of 10.
Regular-like tree expressions

Regular-like expressions provide a compact notation for the explicit description of context-free languages. In this paper we extend these concepts by establishing a one-to-one correspondence between expansive tree languages and regular-like sets of trees. Algorithms are developed for constructing an expansive tree grammar whose language is defined by a given regular-like tree (RLT) expression, and vice versa. These results are then used to obtain RLT equations that describe sets of tree resulting from regularity-preserving transformations associated with three types of errors commonly found in practice.
Analysis of Free Drug Fractions by Ultrafast Immunoaffinity Chromatography

A chromatographic method was developed for measuring the nonbound (or free) fraction of drugs by using millisecond-scale extractions on small immunoaffinity columns. The design of this system was developed by considering the dissociation rates of (R)- and (S)-warfarin from the binding protein human serum albumin (HSA) and by performing computer simulations of the immunoaffinity extraction of these drugs. The final system was tested by using it to measure the free fractions of (R)- or (S)-warfarin in samples with known concentrations of these agents and HSA. The free warfarin fraction was extracted in 180 ms by a 2.1-mm-i.d. sandwich microcolumn that contained a 1.1-mm layer of an anti-warfarin antibody support. The nonretained peaks from this immunoaffinity column were passed through a series internal surface reversed-phase columns and a fluorescence detector for the analysis of any protein-bound warfarin that remained in the sample. The experimental results were found to have good agreement with those predicted from the known equilibrium constants for the binding of (R)- and (S)-warfarin with HSA. This approach can be modified for other analytes by changing the types of antibodies that are used in the immunoaffinity column and by using an appropriate detector for the nonretained drug fraction.
Open-Ended Stories: Extinction Narratives in Genome Time

As a mode of narrative, scientific accounts of extinction trace the decline of species into total loss. With anthropogenic extinction, the narrative of loss becomes an apocalyptic mode of expression: extinction, the endpoint in the drama of threatened and endangered species, resists representation in both popular science writing and fiction. This paper examines how techniques of genetic science and assisted reproduction, such as DNA extraction from recently extinct animals and cross-species surrogacy in backbreeding, work within and against the apocalyptic mode of expression in extinction accounts. Hypothetical and fictional scenarios of recuperating extinction through these techniques reflect the bodiless, multi-medial viability of DNA. Developing Jay Clayton's notion of "genome time," the sense of a "perpetual present" created by the infinite mutability of the DNA molecule, I examine woolly mammoth and thylacine recuperation efforts to show how such projects revise evolutionary narratives to fulfill cultural imperatives.
Array of molecularly mediated thin film assemblies of nanoparticles: correlation of vapor sensing with interparticle spatial properties.

The ability to tune interparticle spatial properties of nanoparticle assemblies is essential for the design of sensing materials toward desired sensitivity and selectivity. This paper reports findings of an investigation of molecularly mediated thin film assemblies of metal nanoparticles with controllable interparticle spatial properties as a sensing array. The interparticle spatial properties are controlled by a combination of α,ω-difunctional alkyl mediators (X−(CH2)n−X) such as alkyl dithiols, dicarboxylate acids, and alkanethiol shells capped on nanoparticles. Alkanethiolate-capped gold and gold−silver alloy nanoparticles (2−3 nm) were studied as model building blocks toward the thin film assemblies, whereas the variation of alkyl chain length manipulates the interparticle spacing. The thin films assembled on an interdigitated microelectrode array platform are characterized for determining their responses to the sorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The correlation between the response sensit...
Thermal sensation and substrate utilization differs among low- and high-fat women exposed to 17°C water

Objective Thermal sensation and the physiological responses of women (follicular phase) exposed to 17°C immersion for 120 minutes were investigated. Methods The subjects were divided into 2 groups by percent body fat (low fat [LF] = 21%±2% [mean ± SD] vs high fat [HF] = 30%±3%). A 2-way analysis of variance was used to determine differences between the groups in metabolism, metabolism derived from carbohydrate, metabolism derived from fat, blood glucose, rectal temperature, skin temperature, and thermal sensation. Results As anticipated, pooled metabolism increased across the 120-minute immersion. Metabolism derived from carbohydrate was significantly higher in the LF than in the HF group and increased across time. Blood glucose decreased significantly across time, yet there was no group difference, suggesting that the LF group may have utilized a greater proportion of intramuscular glycogen. The HF group demonstrated a higher rectal temperature compared to their LF counterparts. Overall, rectal temperature demonstrated a group × time interaction as immersion continued. However, rectal temperature for all subjects remained above 35°C. Surprisingly, the HF group perceived significantly greater thermal discomfort than did their LF counterparts. Conclusions Since intramuscular glycogen utilization is associated with shivering thermogenesis, the suspected greater utilization of this fuel by the LF group may have contributed to less thermal discomfort than in the HF group. However, since glycogen utilization was not directly measured, this speculation cannot be validated. It is also possible that the modified thermal sensation scale we used may not be an adequate marker of thermal discomfort in females with a high percentage of body fat (28% to 35%) exposed to cold water immersion.
Oxidation of n-alkanes to ketones by an Arthrobacter species.

AnArthrobacter strain isolated from soil and selected for poor ability to utilize hexadecane as sole C-source was grown in a hexadecane (or pentadecane) — salts medium supplemented with yeast extract or corn steep liquor as the source of carbon for growth. It accumulated mono-hexadecanones (or pentadecanones). The percentages to which the individual ketones were accumulated depended on the distance of the carbonyl group from the terminal end of the substrate hydrocarbon; the greater the distance, the lower the percentage. The percentages did not depend on the composition of the medium. No other hydrocarbon oxidation products were observed.
Development, Reliability, and Validation of an Infant Mammalian Penetration–Aspiration Scale

A penetration–aspiration scale exists for assessing airway protection in adult videofluoroscopy and fiberoptic endoscopic swallowing studies; however, no such scale exists for animal models. The aim of this study was threefold: (1) develop a penetration–aspiration scale (PAS) for infant mammals, (2) test the scale’s intra- and interrater reliabilities, and (3) validate the use of the scale for distinguishing between abnormal and normal animals. After discussion and reviewing many videos, the result was a 7-point infant mammal PAS. Reliability was tested by having five judges score 90 swallows recorded with videofluoroscopy across two time points. In these videos, the frame rate was either 30 or 60 frames per second and the animals were either normal, had a unilateral superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) lesion, or had hard palate local anesthesia. The scale was validated by having one judge score videos of both normal and SLN lesioned pigs and testing the difference using a t test. Raters had a high intrarater reliability [average κ = 0.82, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.92] and high interrater reliability (average κ = 0.68, ICC = 0.66). There was a significant difference in reliability for videos captured at 30 and 60 frames per second for scores of 3 and 7 (P < 0.001). The scale was also validated for distinguishing between normal and abnormal pigs (P < 0.001). Given the increasing number of animal studies using videofluoroscopy to study dysphagia, this scale provides a valid and reliable measure of airway protection during swallowing in infant pigs that will give these animal models increased translational significance.
Shiryayev sequential probability ratio test for redundancy management

An essential aspect in the design of fault-tolerant digital flight control systems is the design of failure detection and redundancy management systems. A decision rule, the Shiryayev sequential probability ratio test (SPRT), is derived from a dynamic programming approach and is used to detect failures between similar instruments, as well as between dissimilar instruments through analytic redundancy. Unlike the Wald SPRT, which tests for the presence of failure or no failure in all of the data sequence, the Shiryayev SPRT detects the occurrence of a fault in the data sequence in minimum time if certain conditions are met. The performance of the Shiryayev SPRT in detecting a failure between two rate gyros as compared to standard fixed interval schemes is presented, as well as the performance of a single accelerometer failure using translational kinematic equations to form a parity relation for analytic redundancy.
A Comparative Study of Models to Predict Protein Adsorption

Two different models for preducing the adsorption of protein on packed beds of resins are examined. The models are compared by predicting the experimental breakthrough curve of Bovine Serum Albumin on two different resins at different flow rates. The first model fits the experimental breakthrough curves better, but the second one fits them reasonably well and requires no separate measurements of an effective particle diffusivity.
Learning high-dimensional networks with nonlinear interactions by a novel tree-embedded graphical model

We propose a novel network learning method that can detect network structure with both linear and nonlinear interactions.Most existing network learning methods focus on linear interactions.Integration of generalized linear model, sparse learning, and decision tree learning.Interesting clinical associations are discovered from a real-world application using the proposed method. Network models have been widely used in many domains to characterize relationships between physical entities. Although extensive research efforts have been conducted for learning networks from data, many of them were developed for learning networks with linear relationships. As both linear and nonlinear relationships may appear in many applications, in this paper, we developed a novel graphical model, the sparse tree-embedded graphical model (STGM), which is able to uncover both linear and nonlinear relationships from a large number of variables. We further proposed an efficient regression-based algorithm for learning the STGM from data. We conducted simulation studies that demonstrated the superiority of the STGM over other network learning methods and applied the STGM on a real-world application that demonstrated its efficacy on discovering interesting nonlinear relationships in practice.
Anti-idiotype antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) against idiotype-bearing cells

The present report demonstrates that cells expressing idiotypic determinants on their surfaces can be specifically destroyed by anti-idiotypic antibodies acting as inducers of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Lysis of surface-idiotype-positive hybridoma cells was effected by mouse spleen cells, mouse peritoneal cells, or human blood mononuclear cells, in the presence of anti-idiotypic antibodies. In order for lysis to occur, the simultaneous presence of Fc receptor-bearing cytotoxic cells and anti-idiotypic antibodies was required. Specificity of lysis was conferred by the anti-idiotypic antibody. Hybridoma cells expressing a different idiotype could not be lysed. Anti-idiotypic antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against 51Cr-labeled cells expressing a particular idiotype could be induced by the specific anti-idiotypic antibodies and inhibited by unlabeled idiotype-positive cells or by idiotype in a soluble form. Cytotoxicity could not be inhibited by the presence of bystander cells or monoclonal antibodies expressing a different idiotype. It is proposed that ADCC lysis of idiotype-positive cells has important implications for understanding the regulation of immune responses by an idiotype-anti-idiotype network. This cytolytic pathway provides an extremely specific and effective mode of control of idiotype-positive cells by anti-idiotype antibody. Previous observations that an intact Fc fragment was necessary for anti-idiotype antibodies to exert suppressive effects in vivo further support this hypothesis.
A new action of the Kudo–Araki–May algebra on the dual of the symmetric algebras, with applications to the hit problem

The hit problem for a cohomology module over the Steenrod algebra A asks for a minimal set of A‐generators for the module. In this paper we consider the symmetric algebras over the field Fp , for p an arbitrary prime, and treat the equivalent problem of determining the set of A ‐primitive elements in their duals. We produce a method for generating new primitives from known ones via a new action of the Kudo‐Araki‐ May algebra K, and consider the K‐module structure of the primitives, which form a sub K‐algebra of the dual of the infinite symmetric algebra. Our examples show that the K‐action on the primitives is not free. Our new action encompasses, on the finite symmetric algebras, the operators introduced by Kameko for studying the hit problem.
The Northeast Kingdom batholith, Vermont: magmatic evolution and geochemical constraints on the origin of Acadian granitic rocks

Five Devonian plutons (West Charleston, Echo Pond, Nulhegan, Derby, and Willoughby) that constitute the Northeast Kingdom batholith in Vermont show wide ranges in elemental abundances and ratios consistent with major crustal contributions during their evolution. The batholith consists of metaluminous quartz gabbro, diorite and quartz monzodiorite, peraluminous granodiorite and granite, and strongly peraluminous leucogranite. Contents of major elements vary systematically with increasingSiO 40) and have small negative Eu anomalies. The strongly peraluminous Willoughby leucogranite has unique trace-element abundances and ratios relative to the rest of the batholith, including low contents of Hf, Zr, Sr, and Ba, low values of K/Rb (80–164), Th/Ta (<9), Rb/Cs (7–40), K/Cs (0.1–0.5), Ce/Pb (0.5–4), high values of Rb/Sr (1–18) low to moderate REE contents and light-REE enriched patterns (with small negative Eu anomalies). Flat REE patterns (with large negative Eu anomalies) are found in a small, hydrothermally-altered area characterized by high abundances of Sn (up to 26 ppm), Rb (up to 670 ppm), Li (up to 310 ppm), Ta (up to 13.1 ppm), and U (up to 10 ppm). There is no single mixing trend, fractional crystallization assemblage, or assimilationscheme that accounts for all trace elementvariations from quartz gabbro to granite in the Northeast Kingdom batholith. The plutons originated by mixing mantle-derived components and crustal melts generated at different levels in the heterogeneous lithosphere in a continental collisional environment. Hybrid rocks in the batholith evolved by fractional crystallization and assimilation of country rocks (<50% by mass), and some of the leucogranitic rocks were subsequently disturbed by a mild hydrothermal event that resulted in the deposition of small amounts of sulfide minerals.
Effect of nitric oxide production on the redox modulatory site of the NMDA receptor-channel complex

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important messenger both systemically and in the CNS. In digital Ca2+ imaging and patch-clamp experiments, clinically available nitroso compounds that generate NO are shown to inhibit responses mediated by the NMDA subtype of the glutamate receptor on rat cortical neurons in vitro. A mechanism of action for this effect was investigated by using the specific NO-generating agent S-nitrosocysteine. We propose that free sulfhydryl groups on the NMDA receptor-channel complex react to form one or more S-nitrosothiols in the presence of NO. If vicinal thiol groups react in this manner, they can form a disulfide bond(s), which is thought to constitute the redox modulatory site of the receptor, resulting in a relatively persistent blockade of NMDA responses. These reactions with NO can afford protection from NMDA receptor-mediated neurotoxicity. Our results demonstrate a new pathway for NO regulation of physiological function that is not via cGMP, but instead involves reactions with membrane-bound thiol groups on the NMDA receptor-channel complex.
Rates of Asymptomatic Nonurethral Gonorrhea and Chlamydia in a Population of University Men Who Have Sex With Men

Abstract Objectives: The study determined prevalence of asymptomatic nonurethral gonorrhea and chlamydia in men who have sex with men (MSM) seen at the Columbia University Health Service for routine care. Participants: The study enrolled 200 participants from March 2007 to May 2010. Results: Specimens were tested using culture and nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT): 3.5% (n = 7) tested positive for pharyngeal gonorrhea by NAAT, none were positive by culture; 3% (n = 6) tested positive for rectal chlamydia by NAAT and 0.5% (n = 1) by culture. Conclusions: The incidence of pharyngeal gonorrhea and rectal chlamydia in MSM who visited the Columbia Health Service was similar to rates of asymptomatic nonurethral gonorrhea and chlamydia in studies conducted in the MSM population in non-university settings. This suggests that, following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, 1 3-site testing for MSM seen at the Columbia clinic is indicated. NAAT is more sensitive than culture for nonure...
Collaborative care management for depression: comparison of cost metrics and clinical response to usual care.

The collaborative care management (CCM) model has been demonstrated to be significantly more effective compared to usual care (UC) in depression management although an initial increase in cost meas...
Highly Reflecting Stable White Paint for the Detection of Ultraviolet and Visible Radiations

The use of polyvinyl alcohol polymer as a binder for barium sulfate does not allow the intrinsically high reflectance of barium sulfate in the 200-300-nm range to be optimally employed. In an effort to better utilize this property, totally inorganic coating systems are described. Potassium sulfate turns out to be the preferred binder for reflectance enhancement. Compositions, formulating procedures, and application techniques are included. For completeness, absolute and relative reflectance data are included for intrasystem and intersystem comparisons.
The CLEO-III trigger: level 1 decision and gating

The Level 1 Decision and Data Flow/Control subsystems of the CLEO-III Trigger produce and distribute a trigger decision every 42 ns based on input from calorimetry and tracking subsystems. This paper describes the free-running pipelined trigger decision logic that correlates axial and stereo tracking information, and combines time-aligned calorimetry information onto a common backplane. Programmable trigger decision boards monitor this backplane, and can be configured as desired to respond to a wide variety of trigger conditions. The resulting trigger decision is regulated by a throttling mechanism that allows the data acquisition system to modulate the trigger rate to maximize throughput without buffer overrun. A central signal distribution mechanism delivers the trigger decision and system clock to the front-end electronics.
Unspeakable: The Story of Junius Wilson

While all individuals have a story, not all individuals’ stories offer great insights about American history. This account of Junius Wilson's life (1908–2001) provides a devastating critique of Nor...
N-gram support vector machines for scalable procedure and diagnosis classification, with applications to clinical free text data from the intensive care unit

Background Existing risk adjustment models for intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes rely on manual abstraction of patient-level predictors from medical charts. Developing an automated method for abstracting these data from free text might reduce cost and data collection times. Objective To develop a support vector machine (SVM) classifier capable of identifying a range of procedures and diagnoses in ICU clinical notes for use in risk adjustment. Materials and methods We selected notes from 2001–2008 for 4191 neonatal ICU (NICU) and 2198 adult ICU patients from the MIMIC-II database from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Using these notes, we developed an implementation of the SVM classifier to identify procedures (mechanical ventilation and phototherapy in NICU notes) and diagnoses (jaundice in NICU and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in adult ICU). On the jaundice classification task, we also compared classifier performance using n-gram features to unigrams with application of a negation algorithm (NegEx). Results Our classifier accurately identified mechanical ventilation (accuracy=0.982, F1=0.954) and phototherapy use (accuracy=0.940, F1=0.912), as well as jaundice (accuracy=0.898, F1=0.884) and ICH diagnoses (accuracy=0.938, F1=0.943). Including bigram features improved performance on the jaundice (accuracy=0.898 vs 0.865) and ICH (0.938 vs 0.927) tasks, and outperformed NegEx-derived unigram features (accuracy=0.898 vs 0.863) on the jaundice task. Discussion Overall, a classifier using n-gram support vectors displayed excellent performance characteristics. The classifier generalizes to diverse patient populations, diagnoses, and procedures. Conclusions SVM-based classifiers can accurately identify procedure status and diagnoses among ICU patients, and including n-gram features improves performance, compared to existing methods.
Active Confinement of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns Using Shape Memory Alloys

This paper presents experimental and analytical work conducted to explore the feasibility of using an innovative technique for seismic retrofitting of RC bridge columns using shape memory alloys SMAs spirals. The high recovery stress associated with the shape recovery of SMAs is being sought in this study as an easy and reliable method to apply external active confining pressure on RC bridge columns to improve their ductility. Uniaxial compression tests of concrete cylinders confined with SMA spirals show a significant improvement in the concrete strength and ductility even under small confining pressure. The experimental results are used to calibrate the concrete constitutive model used in the analytical study. Analytical models of bridge columns retrofitted with SMA spirals and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer CFRP sheets are studied under displacement-controlled cyclic loading and a suite of strong earthquake records. The analytical results proves the superiority of the proposed technique using SMA spirals to CFRP sheets in terms of enhancing the strength and effective stiffness and reducing the concrete damage and residual drifts of retrofitted columns.
Monoterpene Dissimilation: Chemical and Genetic Models

(1971). Monoterpene Dissimilation: Chemical and Genetic Models. CRC Critical Reviews in Microbiology: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 291-310.
Effects of hematocrit and red blood cell-independent viscosity on canine thromboelastographic tracings.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that hematocrit (Hct) influences whole blood thromboelastography (TEG) tracings. Previous studies showed hypercoagulable TEG tracings in anemic patients despite clinical expectations that anemia often prolongs bleeding. TEG is a viscoelastic assessment of clot kinetics, and Hct is the main determinant of whole blood viscosity. TEG changes in anemia may be an in vitro artifact due to Hct effect on blood viscosity rather than true in vivo changes in hemostasis. The effect of changes in whole blood viscosity on TEG independent of Hct is not well understood. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-one blood samples from seven dogs were manipulated to produce one of three Hct conditions (45, 20, and 10%). Each was tested in two situations: viscosity adjusted to normal by adding alginate (ALG) or dilution with equal volume of saline (SAL). Both samples were analyzed with TEG simultaneously. RESULTS: Twenty percent Hct plus ALG and 10% Hct plus ALG were significantly more viscous than their SAL counterparts (p = 0.0156). Ten percent Hct plus SAL, 20% Hct plus SAL, and 45% Hct plus SAL all had different viscosities (p = 0.006). Twenty percent Hct plus SAL and 10% Hct plus SAL had significantly shorter K and higher angle, MA, and G compared to their ALG counterparts as well as 45% Hct plus SAL (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ALG samples with low Hct, normal viscosity showed hypocoagulable tracings, whereas SAL samples with low Hct, low viscosity showed hypercoagulable tracings. TEG variables are influenced by whole blood viscosity altered with ALG, independently of Hct. T hromboelastography (TEG) is a whole blood hemostatic assay that has recently undergone ar enaissance in human and veterinary medicine as the role of cellular components in coagulation have become better understood.
Check image compression using a layered coding method

An emerging trend in the banking industry is to digitize checks for storage and transmission. An immediate requirement for efficient storage and transmission is check image compression. General purpose compression algorithms such as JPEG and wavelet-based methods produce annoying ringing or blocking artifacts at high compression ratios. In this paper, a layered approach to check image compression is proposed in which a check image is represented in several layers. The first layer describes the foreground map; the second layer specifies the gray levels of foreground pixels; the third layer is a lossy representation of the background image; and the fourth layer describes the error between the original and the reconstructed image of the first three layers. The layered coding approach produces images of better quality than traditional JPEG and wavelet coding methods, especially in the foreground, i.e., the text and graphics. In addition, this approach allows progressive retrieval or transmission of different image layers.
Distributed parameter filtering: boundary noise and discrete observations

The linear distributed parameter filtering problem is considered for systems of engineering interest. Formal derivations arc employed to develop filters for systems with stochastic boundary conditions and for observation processes which are continuous, discrete, or average in time and discrete in space.
Interactive acquisition and sharing: Understanding the dynamics of HIV-AIDS information networks

HIV-AIDS information is an important resource for people affected by the disease, particularly information that they obtain from other people. Although existing studies reveal that people with HIV-AIDS (PHAs) rely extensively on personal relationships for HIV-AIDS information, they explain little about how this happens as a social process. To investigate how PHAs and their friends-family members acquire and share network-mediated HIV-AIDS information, semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted in three rural regions of Canada. Interviews were carried out with 114 PHAs, their friends-family members, and health care and service providers. A network solicitation and chain-referral recruitment procedure was used to delineate HIV-AIDS information networks for participants. Interview data were analyzed qualitatively and compared to Haythornthwaite's ([1996]) concepts of network-mediated information processes and Talja and Hansen's ([2006]) collaborative information behavior framework. Findings revealed that participants obtained HIV-AIDS information from their networks through five interactive processes: joint seeking, tag-team seeking, exposure, opportunity, and legitimation. The results of this study advance information behavior theory by pointing to the interactive character of information behavior and introducing new concepts to describe everyday life collaborative information behavior. This research also demonstrates the extensive interplay between health information exchange and the sharing of emotional support. The insights emanating from this study suggest that health information practice might benefit from a focus on program strategies such as building information network capacity, developing collaborative information retrieval systems and relationship-building, in addition to the more traditional library-related concerns of reference encounters, collections, and institutional Web sites. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Designing and developing curriculum innovations with teams of engineering students and faculty

Rensselaer has been following a strategy for both horizontal and vertical integration of computing throughout the undergraduate curriculum. This strategy is being applied in a context where basic science courses are being taught to engineering students by creating new courses combining Physics and Engineering Dynamics, Chemistry and Materials Science, and Mathematics and Engineering Analysis. Redesigning the curriculum has been one of the great challenges of the last few years, and, in most cases, the redesign has been accomplished using teams of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty working together to create new learning environments and materials. The team approach builds on the strength of each of the team members. >
Pentoxifylline therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive persons with tuberculosis: A randomized, controlled trial

Macrophage activation and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production are critical in tuberculosis immunity but may result in increased human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) expression and accelerated HIV disease progression in HIV-infected persons. Pentoxifylline inhibits expression of TNF-alpha and HIV. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of adjunctive therapy with pentoxifylline (1800 mg/day) as a timed-release formulation was done in Ugandan HIV-infected patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Subjects had early HIV disease (mean CD4 cell count, 380/microL) and did not receive other antiretroviral drugs. Pentoxifylline resulted in decreased plasma HIV RNA and serum beta 2-microglobulin and, in a subset of moderately anemic patients, improved blood hemoglobin levels. Trends were noted toward reduced TNF-alpha production in vitro and improved performance scores, but these did not reach statistical significance. No effect was noted on body mass, CD4 cell count, or survival. Additional studies of more potent TNF-alpha inhibitors in HIV-positive subjects with tuberculosis are warranted.
A Simplified Two-Terminal HVDC Model and Its Use in Direct Transient Stability Assessment

The use of the Transient Energy Function (TEF) method in transient stability analysis is extended to include an ac/dc system with a two terminal HVDC. A simple, yet accurate, dc model which is valid for first swing transient stability studies is developed and tested. The model used includes the steady-state converter model with the static dc line representation, the fast changing dc power, and voltage dependent current order limit (VDCOL); while the dynamics of the dc internal controls are neglected. With this model, the dc operation mode is determined by an inference method, and the corresponding dc variables are computed. Using the simplified dc model, the Transient Energy Function is modified to include the effect of the two terminal HVDC. A procedure for first swing transient stability assessment of an ac/dc system is proposed and is tested on a 20-generator test system. Transient stability assessment with the new method is presented and compared with results obtained with the EPRI transient stability program.
Development of a Course Sequence for an Interdisciplinary Curriculum

Interdisciplinary curriculum development is challenging in the sense that materials from more than one discipline have to be integrated in a seamless manner. A faculty member has to develop expertise in multiple disciplines in order to teach an interdisciplinary course, or the course has to be team-taught. Both approaches are difficult to implement. There are administrative issues, such as proportional posting of expenditures across departmental budgets for the courses taught collaboratively, or courses with students from multiple departments. This paper describes the development and teaching of a sequence of bioinformatics related interdisciplinary courses for incorporation into undergraduate biology curricula. Three courses were developed with collaboration between the Departments of Biology and Computer Science at Tuskegee University. Each course contains contents from different subjects, traditionally considered to be virtually independent of each other. The courses have contents from biology, computer science, statistics, mathematics and biochemistry. The first two courses, Introduction to Bioscience Computing and Biological Algorithms & Data Structures, cover the computing and computer science fundamentals necessary for the informed use of bioinformatics tools. The third is an introductory course in bioinformatics. The focus was on teaching the effective use of bioinformatics tools, as compared to development of bioinformatics tools which is more relevant at the graduate level. Administrative issues encountered are also discussed. This work was supported by a NSF HBCU-UP grant.
MR monitoring of MR-guided radiofrequency thermal ablation of normal liver in an animal model

The purpose of this study was to determine the suitability of MRI to accurately detect radiofrequency (RF) thermoablative lesions created under MR guidance. In vivo RF lesions were created in the livers of six New Zealand White rabbits using a 2-mm-diameter titanium alloy RF electrode with a 20-mm exposed tip and a 50-W RF generator. This was performed using a 0.2T clinical C-arm MR imager for guidance and monitoring. Each animal was sacrificed and gross evaluation was performed. Histologic correlation was performed on the first two animals. The MR-compatible RF electrode was easily identified on rapid gradient-echo images used to guide electrode placement. A single lesion was created in each rabbit liver. Lesions ranged from approximately 10 to 17 mm in diameter (mean, 13.5 mm). T2-weighted and short T1 inversion recovery (STIR) images demonstrated lesions ranging in diameter from 12 to 18 mm (mean, 14.6 mm). Lesion dimensions determined from images closely correlated with those determined at gross examination with the discrepancy never exceeding 2 mm, for an r2 value of .87. MRI performed at the time of MR-guided RF ablation accurately demonstrated created lesions. This modality may provide a new option for the treatment of local and regional neoplastic disease.
Simulation for characterizing a progressive registration algorithm aligning as-built 3D point clouds against as-designed models

Construction engineers compare as-built data against as-designed models for monitoring construction defects or changes. As laser scanners can collect 3D point clouds as as-built data in a few minutes, engineers start to compare point clouds against the as-designed model. Such comparison requires a reliable data-model registration that precisely distinguishes data-model differences (e.g., displacements) from the well-matched parts. Previously developed registration methods have limitations on aligning two geometries with geometric differences. Target-based registration methods pose challenges of installing targets and ensuring their visibilities on job sites. Feature-based registration algorithms need engineers to manually set proper parameters to precisely reject data-model differences. Through the simulation of a progressive data-model registration process, this study characterizes a progressive 3D registration approach that can precisely reject data-model differences. Sensitivity analysis results of this approach in a case study show that this approach outperforms previous methods in terms of precision without losing substantial computational efficiency.
Monoaxial Pedicle Screws Are Superior to Polyaxial Pedicle Screws and the Two Pin External Fixator for Subcutaneous Anterior Pelvic Fixation in a Biomechanical Analysis

Purpose. Comparison of monoaxial and polyaxial screws with the use of subcutaneous anterior pelvic fixation. Methods. Four different groups each having 5 constructs were tested in distraction within the elastic range. Once that was completed, 3 components were tested in torsion within the elastic range, 2 to torsional failure and 3 in distraction until failure. Results. The pedicle screw systems showed higher stiffness (4.008 ± 0.113 Nmm monoaxial, 3.638 ± 0.108 Nmm Click-x; 3.634 ± 0.147 Nmm Pangea) than the exfix system (2.882 ± 0.054 Nmm) in distraction. In failure testing, monoaxial pedicle screw system was stronger (360 N) than exfixes (160 N) and polyaxial devices which failed if distracted greater than 4 cm (157 N Click-x or 138 N Pangea). The exfix had higher peak torque and torsional stiffness than all pedicle systems. In torsion, the yield strengths were the same for all constructs. Conclusion. The infix device constructed with polyaxial or monoaxial pedicle screws is stiffer than the 2 pin external fixator in distraction testing. In extreme cases, the use of reinforcement or monoaxial systems which do not fail even at 360 N is a better option. In torsional testing, the 2 pin external fixator is stiffer than the pedicle screw systems.
Moderating effects of rumination and gender on context‐specific aggression

Angry rumination has been linked previously to increased aggression. The effects of trait rumination on men and women's emotional and aggressive responses under different cueing contexts were examined. Aggressive behavior, not resulting from direct insult or provocation, was indexed by a laboratory paradigm that measured the intensity and the duration of shocks delivered to a putative “employee”. Frustration about, and cognitive focus on, the employee's poor performance was manipulated through the cover story and procedures; however, half the participants were exposed to a fearful/distracting stressor (stress focused) whereas the other half were not (confederate focused). Emotional responses and evaluations of the confederate were also assessed. Results indicated that rumination enhanced the effects of context, so that it related to greater fear and sadness in the stress-focused context and to increased aggression and motives to aggress in the confederate-focused context. These effects, however, were more robust for women than men. Ruminative men tended to show more hostile behaviors and motives across both conditions. Mechanisms for the effects of rumination on aggression, and gender differences in these processes, are discussed. Aggr. Behav. 00:1–17, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
EFFECT OF FREE PARKING ON COMMUTER MODE CHOICE: EVIDENCE FROM TRAVEL DIARY DATA

This study assesses the effect of free parking on mode choice and parking demand. A multinomial logit model is developed to evaluate the probabilities that commuters who do and do not receive free parking at work will choose to drive alone, ride in a carpool, or use transit for the trip to work in the central business district (CBD) of Portland, Oregon. The mode choice model predicts that with free parking, 62 percent of commuters will drive alone, 16 percent will commute in carpools, and 22 percent will ride transit; with a daily parking charge of $6, 46 percent will drive alone, 4 percent will ride in carpools, and 50 percent will ride transit. The mode choice model predicts that a daily parking charge of $6 in the Portland CBD would result in 21 fewer cars driven for every 100 commuters. This translates to a daily reduction of 147 vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per 100 commuters and an annual reduction of 39,000 VMT per 100 commuters. These findings are consistent with previous studies on how parking cos...