cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review and Analysis of Bluff Body Flame Stabilization Data

This paper compiles and analyzes bluff body stabilized flame blowoff data from the literature. Many of these studies contain semi-empirical blowoff correlations that are, in essence, Damkohler number correlations of their data. This paper re-analyzes these data, utilizing various Damkohler number correlations based upon detailed kinetic modeling for determining chemical time scales. While the results from this compilation are similar to that deduced from many earlier studies, it demonstrates that a rather comprehensive data set taken over a large range of conditions can be correlated from “first-principles” based calculations that do not rely on empirical fits or adjustable constants (e.g., global activation energy or pressure exponents). The paper then discusses the implications of these results on understanding of blowoff. Near blowoff flames experience local extinction of the flame sheet, manifested as “holes” that form and convect downstream. However, local extinction is distinct from blowoff — in fact, under certain conditions the flame can apparently persist indefinitely with certain levels of local extinction. We hypothesize that simple Damkohler number correlations contain the essential physics describing this first stage of blowoff; i.e., they are correlations for the conditions where local extinction on the flame begins, but do not fundamentally describe the ultimate blowoff condition itself. However, such correlations are reasonably successful in correlating blowoff limits because the ultimate blowoff event appears to be correlated to some extent to the onset of this first stage.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The preparation of two, preclinical amino-quinazolinediones as antibacterial agents

This paper describes the synthesis of two amino-quinazolinediones which are potent gyrase/topoisomerase inhibitors and useful as antibacterial agents. The early scale-up work to prepare a chiral side chain on multigram scale and two different amino-quinazolinedione cores is detailed. The enabling synthesis for the side chain employed a previously reported Michael addition of MeNO2 to an enantiomerically enriched δ-amino-enoate and a two-step de-oxygenation of a lactam. Key synthetic steps for core preparation and completion of the amino-quinazolinediones include dianion-promoted cyclization via intramolecular, nucleophilic aromatic substitution, electrophilic amination, nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the side chain to the core, deprotection and isolation of the hydrochloride salt in acceptable yield.
Nosocomial infections from contaminated endoscopes: A flawed automated endoscope washer. An investigation using molecular epidemiology

Approximately 1 year after purchase of one manufacturer's automated endoscope washing machine, we began to detect heavy contamination of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopes cultured after cleaning and disinfection in the washer. During the first 6 months of 1988, 77% of surveillance cultures (20-mL flush through the biopsy channel) were positive for gram-negative bacilli (median concentration, 10(5) cfu/mL), most frequently Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype 10. During the first 19 months of use of the washer, nosocomial post-UGI endoscopy colonization or infections with P. aeruginosa increased 36%. Investigations show that endoscope contamination derives from a flaw in the design of the EW-10 washer: the detergent holding tank, inlet water hose, and air vents cannot be reliably disinfected and contain heavy biofilms that recontaminate the machine after it has been disinfected, as specified by the manufacturer, with glutaraldehyde. Only by rinsing machine-cleansed endoscopes with 70% alcohol followed by forced air drying has reliable disinfection been achieved. Since adaptation of terminal alcohol treatment and drying, post-UGI endoscopy colonization or infection by P. aeruginosa has declined threefold (p less than 0.001). Testing in other centers using the manufacturer's EW-10 or EW-20 washer has shown similar contamination. In three centers, including our own, postendoscopy infections by machine-associated type 10 P. aeruginosa have been confirmed by demonstrating concordance between isolates from contaminated machines or endoscopes and from infected patients by immunoblot of whole cell lysates and by pulsed-field electrophoresis of DraI endonuclease-digested genomic DNA. This problem reaffirms the vulnerability to microbial contamination of water-containing apparatus and equipment in patient care and points up the critical importance of engineering design to prevent contamination.
Dispersal of three species of grain beetles as a function of thermal acclimation, temperature, and larval size☆

Abstract Three species of stored-product insect pests, Tenebrio molitor, Tribolium confusum , and Trogoderma parabile , were acclimated at three temperatures, 15°, 23°, and 30° or 33°C, and then placed in chambers containing an appropriate culture medium held at testing temperatures ranging from 3°C to 14°C. Cold-acclimated insects demonstrated greater dispersal at low temperatures than did warm-acclimated insects. Dispersal was greater at higher than at lower test temperatures. In a given species large larvae generally showed greater dispersal than did small larvae.
Oil Shale Retorting in a Bottom-Burning Retort

An experimental study of a bottom-burning oil shale retort is described. It is shown that for a constant oxidizer flow the combustion front moves at a uniform velocity through the bed. This leads to the use of a moving coordinate system attached to the combustion front in evaluating the various thermal processes occurring in the retort. It is shown that the high quality of oil produced can be tied to a thermal refluxing not present in other retort processes.
On the diophantine approximation of values of functions satisfying certain linear q-difference equations

Abstract Lower bounds are obtained on the simultaneous diophantine approximation of some values of certain functions satisfying q difference equations. In particular, a “best possible” type of result is obtained for the individual diophantine approximation of the numbers 1+ zq −1 1+ zq −2 1+ … zq −n 1+ , where q denotes an integer, z denotes a rational number, |q| > 1, and |z| > 0. For z = 1, the above number equals ∏ n=0 ∞ (1−q −(5n+2) )(1−q −(5n+1) ) −1 (1−q −(5n+3) )(1−q −(5n+4) ) −1
Factors related to coronary heart disease risk among men: validation of the Framingham Risk Score.

Introduction Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of death in the United States. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was developed to help clinicians in determining their patients' CHD risk. We hypothesize that the FRS will be significantly predictive of CHD events among men in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS) population. Methods Our study consisted of 34,557 men who attended the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, for a baseline clinical examination from 1972 through 2002. CHD events included self-reported myocardial infarction or revascularization or death due to CHD. During the 12-year follow-up 587 CHD events occurred. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios generated from ACLS analysis were compared with the application of FRS to the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). Results The ACLS cohort produced similar hazard ratios to the FHS. The adjusted Cox proportional hazard model revealed that men with total cholesterol of 280 mg/dL or greater were 2.21 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.59-3.09) times more likely to have a CHD event than men with total cholesterol from 160 through 199mg/dL; men with diabetes were 1.63 (95% CI, 1.35-1.98) times more likely to experience a CHD event than men without diabetes. Conclusion The FRS significantly predicts CHD events in the ACLS cohort. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a large, single-center cohort study to validate the FRS by using extensive laboratory and clinical measurements.
The legacy of PLATO and TICCIT for learning with computers

By the mid-1970s, the U.S. National Science Foundation was funding two large projects, PLATO and TICCIT, designed to demonstrate the efficacy of teaching with the help of computers. Although neither project proved successful, they nevertheless propelled teaching with computers to a level that laid the foundation for most later efforts. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 8: 127–131, 2000
Applications of Dirac's delta function in statistics

The Dirac delta function has been used successfully in mathematical physics for many years. The purpose of this article is to bring attention to several useful applications of this function in mathematical statistics. Some of these applications include a unified representation of the distribution of a function (or functions) of one or several random variables, which may be discrete or continuous, a proof of a well-known inequality, and a representation of a density function in terms of its noncentral moments.
Eps1, a novel PDI-related protein involved in ER quality control in yeast.

PMA1 is an essential gene encoding the yeast plasma membrane [H + ]ATPase. A pma1‐D378N mutant has a dominant‐negative effect on cell growth because both newly synthesized mutant and wild‐type Pma1 molecules are retained and degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Like other substrates for ER‐associated degradation, Pma1‐D378N is stabilized in mutants defective in components of the ubiquitination machinery. A genetic selection was performed for eps (ER‐retained p ma1 s uppressing) mutants in which the growth defect caused by the D378N allele is suppressed. In an eps1 mutant, both mutant and wild‐type Pma1 molecules are allowed to travel to the plasma membrane; however, normal retention of resident ER proteins Shr3 and Kar2 is not perturbed. Eps1 is a novel membrane protein belonging to the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family, and Eps1 co‐localizes with Pma1‐D378N in the ER. In the absence of Pma1‐D378N, ER export of wild‐type Pma1 is not affected by eps1 deletion, but export of the plasma membrane protein Gas1 is delayed. Because Eps1 is required for retention and degradation of Pma1‐D378N, we propose a model in which Eps1 acts as a novel membrane‐bound chaperone in ER quality control.
Potential for large germanium detector arrays for solar-axion searches utilizing the axio-electric effect for detection

The sensitivities of large arrays of low-background germanium detectors for solar-axion, or axionlike particle, searches are investigated in the context of several coupling scenarios. A search was made for the 14.4-keV axion branch from the M1 transition in the thermally excited $^{57}\mathrm{Fe}$ in the solar core in $80\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{kg}\text{ }\mathrm{d}$ of data from the International Germanium Experiment (IGEX) Dark Matter experiment. In one scenario, the direct couplings of axions to hadrons and to electrons were assumed to be in the range of the Peccei-Quinn scale $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}\ensuremath{\le}{f}_{\mathrm{PQ}}\ensuremath{\le}7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. This scenario is excluded by the IGEX data. In a second case, at the same Peccei-Quinn scale, coupling to photons and to electrons is suppressed. The IGEX data partially exclude this scenario depending on the degree of suppression. In the third case, the Peccei-Quinn scale for all couplings is assumed to be in the range $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}\ensuremath{\le}{f}_{\mathrm{PQ}}\ensuremath{\le}7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. Detection rates in Ge for all three scenarios are presented for several detector arrays.
Human aorta collagens: Evidence for three distinct species

Abstract Three different molecular species of collagen and a soluble form of elastin were obtained by digestion of human aortas with pepsin. Two of the three collagens contain 1 2 cystine, present in interchain disulfide crosslinkages, and appear to represent type IV collagen previously described in basement membranes and type III collagen, recently found in fetal skin. The third collagen species is type I, the molecule found in a wide variety of connective tissues including skin, bone, tendon and ligaments.
Porous Morphology and Oxidation Kinetics in a-Si:H RF Sputtered by He/H2

a-Si:H films rf sputtered in 10 mT He and 0.5 mT H 2 , in contrast to those prepared in Ar/H2 or Xe/H 2 , exhibit port depositional oxidation when sputtered at power levels of 0.55 – 3.3 W/cm 2 (100 – 600W). SEM measurements show that the morphology of the films evolves from a cracked, microcrystalline, glassy one at higher rf power levels to a porous one at low power levels. This trend is also correlated with a sharply increasing density of Si-H 2 dihydride bonds at decreasing rf levels. Auger depth profiles of the oxygen concentration in the films agree with a diffusion controlled process of a source solute of O 2 molecules into a semi-infinite solid solvent. Yet IR absorption measurements indicate that the oxygen is confined to the internal surfaces of the microvoids. The diffusion constant is a very sensitive functi n of the sputtering conditions. At low rf power levels, it is as low as 10 −16 – 10 −1 cm 2 /sec at room temperature, but increases to ∼10 −13 at 250 – 350°C.These results are discussed in terms of a porous network of microvoids, through which the O 2 “squeezes” into the film.
Design considerations for a user oriented discrete-event simulation language

Discrete event simulation languages can be described in terms of simulation perspective and language structure. A useful language should allow an emphasis to be placed on transactions, queues, and item flow. The language structure should be self-documenting, readable, and descriptive rather than algorithmic in philosophy. SIMFO, a newly designed language, provides the necessary definition of a system using a COBOL-like structure, and complying to the above requirements. A system can be defined in terms of the items, facilities, servers, queues, and item flow. Branching involves only an IF - - - THEN construction. Aside from summary information, all analyses are performed off-line.
Data assimilation for transient flow in geologic formations via ensemble Kalman filter

Formation properties are one of the key factors in numerical modeling of flow and transport in geologic formations in spite of the fact that they may not be completely characterized. The incomplete knowledge or uncertainty in the description of the formation properties leads to uncertainty in simulation results. In this study, the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) approach is used for continuously updating model parameters such as hydraulic conductivity and model variables such as pressure head while simultaneously providing an estimate of the uncertainty through assimilating dynamic and static measurements, without resorting to the explicit computation of the covariance or the Jacobian of the state variables. A two-dimensional example is built to demonstrate the capability of EnKF and to analyze its sensitivity with respect to different factors such as the number of realizations, measurement timings, and initial guesses. An additional example is given to illustrate the applicability of EnKF to three-dimensional problems and to examine the model predictability after dynamic data assimilation. It is found from these examples that EnKF provides an efficient approach for obtaining satisfactory estimation of the hydraulic conductivity field with dynamic measurements. After data assimilation the conductivity field matches the reference field very well, and different kinds of incorrect prior knowledge of the formation properties may also be rectified to a certain extent.
Stage-specific behavioral, cognitive, and in vivo changes in community residing subjects with age-associated memory impairment and primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type

Stage-specific relationships between the seven-stage Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) for age-associated memory impairment and primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimerapos;s type and behavioral, cognitive, and neuroradiologic changes were examined in community residing subjects with normal aging or Alzheimerapos;s disease (AD). The results revealed significant decrements between GDS stages 2 and 3; 3 and 4; 4 and 5; and 5 and 6 for most behavioral measures. No decrements were noted between GDS stages 1 and 2. Consequently, the subjective complaints of cognitive decrement, which characterize GDS 2 subjects and which commonly accompany aging, do not appear to be accompanied by objective behavioral or cognitive change. Floor effects for most behavioral and cognitive measures occurred by GDS 6, with nearly uniform bottom scores by GDS stage 7. Computerized tomographic (CT) assessments of brain change revealed significant relationships with global severity on the GDS, but few significant consecutive stage decrements were noted. The magnitude of the relationship between CT assessments of brain change and GDS scores was notably less than the magnitude of the relationship noted between various behavioral measures and GDS. Although behavioral and neurcradiologic measures studied did not reveal decrements in the GDS 2 subjects in comparison with age-matched GDS 1 subjects who do not have subjective decrements, previous studies of a neuroimmunologic measure (brain reactive antibody levels) do appear to have indicated significant differences between these groups. Consequently, there is some current preliminary evidence for the hypothesis of a physiologic substrate for the subjective deficits characteristic of the GDS 2 stage, as well as clear-cut behavioral data distinguishing each of the subsequent GDS stages of aging and AD.
Evidence for cerebral membrane effects of calcium, derived from direct-current gradient, impedance, and intracellular records

Abstract The effects of calcium chloride solutions topically applied to cat cerebral cortex have been tested in locally anesthetized, immobilized preparations, Intracellular records from neurons and “silent” cells have been correlated with EEG records, transcortical d-c gradients and focal impedance measurement in the same Ca-treated cortical domain. Calcium solutions were added in amounts of 30, 60, or 90 μEq every 10 min for 50–60 min to a CSF volume of approximately 1.0 ml overlying the cortex. Calcium levels of CSF were thus raised approximately 10, 20 or 30 times. With the 30-μEq doses, no significant EEG changes occurred. With the 60-μEq doses, isolated EEG spikes or short spike trains appeared briefly for 20–30 min, beginning about 45 min from the start of calcium dosage. With the 90-μEq doses, EEG spikes coalesced to seizure bursts in the period 3–5 hr after Ca exposure. Neither seizures nor spikes occurred in cortex exposed for the same period to normal saline or calcium-free CSF. Electron micrographs after 90 μEq do not indicate osmotically active Ca. The 90-μEq doses raised impedance and abolished or inverted the normal negative transcortical d-c gradient. Combined d-c gradient, impedance, and intracellular records suggest movement of Ca through cortex at around 1.0 mm/hr, or approximately the same as diffusion in free solution. Control records disclosed reversible depolarization of silent cells in response to brief asphyxial episodes. Intermediate (60-μEq) doses of Ca transiently hyperpolarized neuronal membranes but depolarized silent cells 90 min after Ca in the outer 1.0 mm of cortex. By contrast, after 90-μEq doses, very few membrane potentials of either neurons or silent cells were seen in the outer 2.0 mm of cortex in the first 90 min. Neurons and membrane potentials gradually returned 2–5 hr after Ca, but the number encountered appeared related to concurrent EEG seizure episodes. Isolated EEG spikes were accompanied by intracellular polarizing transients up to 5.0 mv in amplitude and occurred with low neuronal membrane potentials. In cortex with established seizures, membrane potentials evolved from low to high values during a seizure and then declined to low values. Since classical views on a stabilizing role for Ca in neuronal membranes appear inadequate, models are discussed based on competitive binding of Ca and H ions to surface polyanions in control of membrane leakage currents, and on its metabolic interactions, as with ionic pumps and with glutamate sodium-current triggering.
A Numerically Efficient Iterative Procedure for Hybrid Power System Optimization Using Sensitivity Functions

Initiatives for all-electric ships and hybrid vehicles necessitate advanced optimal power management to coordinate between heterogeneous sources and loads for dynamic reconfiguration and efficient transient operation. Transient state trajectory optimization associated with hybrid power systems is challenging because of the high dimensional and nonlinear dynamics of the plant models involved. Existing methodologies such as Dynamic Programming (DP), Iterative Dynamic Programming (IDP), etc., incur the "curse of dimensionality" and are exponentially complex in time and/or space and need large scale computational resources. This paper, motivated by the all-electric ship initiative, proposes a new methodology for solving high dimensional, nonlinear, long time horizon trajectory optimization problems, based on the sensitivity function method. The computational complexity of the method is analyzed and compared with other standard iterative optimization procedures. The numerical advantage of the proposed method over other procedures is demonstrated using examples and analysis.
Immunohistochemical and clinical evaluation of p53 in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors.

One hundred twenty-six cutaneous mast cell tumors obtained by excisional biopsy from 106 dogs were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining for the presence of p53 protein. A standard avidin-biotin immunohistochemical protocol was used incorporating a polyclonal antibody of rabbit origin (CM-1) as the primary antibody. Histopathologic grading of tumors was performed on hemotoxylin and eosin-stained samples. There was a significant difference in the percentage of cells staining positive for p53 for the histopathologic grades (P 0.0005). Grade III tumors had a significantly greater p53 content than did grade I or II tumors (P 0.05). Clinical data obtained retrospectively was available for 54 dogs. Tumor recurred in 19 of 54 (35.2%) dogs. Twenty-nine dogs died by the end of the study; 9 of 29 (31.0%) died of mast cell tumor disease. Histopathologic grade showed a significant negative association with survival time. Both clinical stage and histopathologic grade showed a significant negative association with time to recurrence. The percentage of cells staining positive for p53 did not significantly improve the forward analysis. Immunohistochemical detection of p53 did not appear useful in characterizing the clinical association between cutaneous mast cell tumor cellular features and survival time or time to tumor recurrence in dogs.
Facilitating the construction of specification pattern-based properties

Formal specification languages are often perceived as difficult to use by practitioners, and are therefore rarely-used in industrial software development practices. Numerous researchers have developed specification pattern systems to facilitate the construction of formal specifications of system properties. Feedback indicates that these patterns are considered helpful, but many practitioners prefer capturing properties using informal notations, such as natural language, instead of formal specification languages. This paper describes a project that addresses this technology gap. First, we introduce a stepwise process for deriving and instantiating system properties in terms of their natural language representations. The key components of this process are structured natural language grammars and specification pattern systems. Second, we describe SPIDER, a prototype implementation of a tool suite supporting this specification process. We illustrate the use of our approach with a description of a stepwise construction process of property specifications of a real-world automotive embedded system using Spider.
Early Risk Factors and Developmental Pathways to Chronic High Inhibition and Social Anxiety Disorder in Adolescence

Objective Evidence suggests that chronic high levels of behavioral inhibition are a precursor of social anxiety disorder. The authors sought to identify early risk factors for, and developmental pathways to, chronic high inhibition among school-age children and the association of chronic high inhibition with social anxiety disorder by adolescence. MethodA community sample of 238 children was followed from birth to grade 9. Mothers, teachers, and children reported on the children's behavioral inhibition from grades 1 to 9. Lifetime history of psychiatric disorders was available for the subset of 60 (25%) children who participated in an intensive laboratory assessment at grade 9. Four early risk factors were assessed: female gender; exposure to maternal stress during infancy and the preschool period; and at age 4.5 years, early manifestation of behavioral inhibition and elevated afternoon salivary cortisol levels. ResultsAll four risk factors predicted greater and more chronic inhibition from grades 1 to 9,...
The active form of human aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) repressor lacks exon 8, and its Pro 185 and Ala 185 variants repress both AHR and hypoxia-inducible factor.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) repressor (AHRR) inhibits AHR-mediated transcription and has been associated with reproductive dysfunction and tumorigenesis in humans. Previous studies have characterized the repressor function of AHRRs from mice and fish, but the human AHRR ortholog (AHRR715) appeared to be nonfunctional in vitro. Here, we report a novel human AHRR cDNA (AHRRΔ8) that lacks exon 8 of AHRR715. AHRRΔ8 was the predominant AHRR form expressed in human tissues and cell lines. AHRRΔ8 effectively repressed AHR-dependent transactivation, whereas AHRR715 was much less active. Similarly, AHRRΔ8, but not AHRR715, formed a complex with AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT). Repression of AHR by AHRRΔ8 was not relieved by overexpression of ARNT or AHR coactivators, suggesting that competition for these cofactors is not the mechanism of repression. AHRRΔ8 interacted weakly with AHR but did not inhibit its nuclear translocation. In a survey of transcription factor specificity, AHRRΔ8 did not repress the nuclear receptor pregnane X receptor or estrogen receptor α but did repress hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-dependent signaling. AHRRΔ8-Pro185 and -Ala185 variants, which have been linked to human reproductive disorders, both were capable of repressing AHR or HIF. Together, these results identify AHRRΔ8 as the active form of human AHRR and reveal novel aspects of its function and specificity as a repressor.
Venous Blood Flow Recorded with an Isothermal Flowmeter

Mellander, S. and R. F. Rushmer. Venous blood flow recorded with an isothermal flowmeter. An isothermal flowmeter has been developed for recording of steady blood flow such as occurs in veins. The flow recording element consists of a fine heating coil enclosing a thermistor mounted on the tip of a catheter. The sensing element is held in the center of a vessel by five fine spring wires which also hold the dimensions of the vessel at a known constant size during recording. Heat is dissipated from the coil by blood flowing past the heating element. If the temperature of the thermistor is maintained at a constant level slightly above the blood temperature, the heat production in the heating coil has been found to be linear with blood flow over the range of flow met with in large blood vessels. The maximum error was found to be & 5 per cent of full scale deflection. Changes in venous flow can be measured at a single site or the catheter can be advanced along venous channels, sampling blood flow at various positions. The distribution of the blood flow into the inferior caval vein from various vascular beds has been investigated in dogs. Refinements in the design are being performed to make the isothermal flowmeter suitable to clinical studies, if possible.
Wisdom on Stage: The Evolution of Sabiduría in Calderón's autos sacramentales

The allegorical figure of Sabiduria, which appears in several of Calderon's autos sacramentales, evolves throughout the playwright's career. In his earlier plays Sabiduria appears as an elegantly attired dama who wears feathers or flowers, adornments that would have signalled her identity to audiences. This image of Sabiduria derives from a Sophianic tradition that depicts Wisdom as a female, the divine Sophia. However, in the second version of La vida es sueno (1673), which Calderon wrote at the end of his life, Sabiduria appears as a male, first as a galan and then as a pilgrim, without any of the customary accoutrements. The change in gender and costume is not gratuitous, but required by the doctrinal meaning of the auto, which reflects Calderon's mature understanding of the Trinity and his efforts to bring some of the complexities of Thomistic teachings on the subject to his audiences.
Algorithms for symbolic linear convolution

This paper describes algorithms to perform linear convolution of both piecewise continuous functions and discrete functions symbolically. The algorithms manipulate the piecewise representation of the functions to produce a piecewise representation of the result. In our piecewise representation, the end points of and the function defined over each interval may be symbolic expressions. We have encoded the symbolic linear convolution algorithms in both Mathematica and Maple.
Intrinsic viscosity and viscoelastic properties of xanthan/guar mixtures in dilute solutions : Effect of salt concentration on the polymer interactions

Abstract An oscillating capillary rheometer was used to investigate the dynamic viscoelastic and intrinsic viscosity properties of deacetylated xanthan (0.025%), native xanthan (0.025%), guar gum (0.075%), and xanthan–guar mixtures in dilute solutions. Influence of ionic strength on xanthan conformation and interaction with guar gum was elaborated. As the salt concentration increased, a significant ( P η ′) and elasticity ( η ″) values was observed for both native xanthan–guar mixtures and deacetylated xanthan–guar mixtures. In water and 2 mM NaCl solution, the relative viscosity and η ″ of both native xanthan–guar mixtures and deacetylated xanthan–guar mixtures were much higher than of those calculated for mixtures assuming no interaction, whereas no pronounced increase was found for polysaccharide mixtures in 40 mM NaCl. The intrinsic viscosities of deacetylated xanthan–guar mixtures in water and 2 mM NaCl were higher, whereas the intrinsic viscosities of native xanthan–guar mixtures were lower than those calculated from the weight averages of the two individually, assuming no interaction. These results demonstrated that intermolecular interaction has occurred between xanthan and guar mixtures in water and 2 mM NaCl, but may not occur in 40 mM NaCl, and mutual incompatibility may occur. The results suggest that the degree of disordering of xanthan played a critical role in xanthan–guar interaction and may explain the differences in η ′, η ″, and intrinsic viscosity measurements between 2 and 40 mM NaCl.
MODELING INTERMEDIATE BL LAC OBJECTS DETECTED BY VERITAS

Modeling implications of recent VERITAS discoveries of Intermediate BL Lac Objects (IBLs) are presented. Leptonic jet models for the IBLs W Comae (z = 0.102) and 3C 66A (z = 0.444) are, in principle, viable with only synchrotron and synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) components, but more plausible parameters can be achieved including an external infrared radiation field as source for Compton upscattering to produce the observed VHE gamma-ray emission. The unknown redshift of PKS 1424+240 makes a theoretical interpretation difficult. A pure SSC model seems to be sufficient to represent its SED, and modeling results favor a low redshift of z ≲ 0.1.
The rise and fall of stagflation: Preliminary results

Abstract This paper explains the rise and fall of stagflation between 1960 and 1998 in terms of the fall and rise of the cyclically-corrected profit rate as part of a preliminary investigation. Not only is the theory presented and compared to mainstream visions of the Natural Rate of Unemployment, but empirical evidence for my thesis is marshaled
Educating the experienced systems analyst

Education is the "in" word these days in the information systems arena. It's "in" with the government, "in" with the colleges and universities, "in" with the manufacturers, and "in" with the professional societies.
Tear Me Down: Role of Calpain in the Development of Cardiac Ventricular Hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy develops most commonly in response to hypertension and is an independent risk factor for the development of heart failure. The mechanisms by which cardiac hypertrophy may be reversed to reduce this risk have not been fully determined to the point where mechanism-specific therapies have been developed. Recently, proteases in the calpain family have been implicated in the regulation of the development of cardiac hypertrophy in preclinical animal models. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms by which calpain inhibition has been shown to modulate the development of cardiac (specifically ventricular) hypertrophy. The context within which calpain inhibition might be developed for therapeutic intervention of cardiac hypertrophy is then discussed.
Low humidity, moderate temperature, and desiccant dust favor efficacy of Beauveria bassiana (Hyphomycetes: Moniliales) for the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Abstract Entomopathogenic fungi are often considered to be efficacious only with high ambient moisture. When adult female Rhyzopertha dominica were introduced onto wheat kernels with 200 mg/kg of Beauveria bassiana and/or 100 mg/kg of diatomaceous earth (DE) and incubated at 26, 30, 32.5, or 34 °C, there was significantly lower emergence of adult progeny at 43% RH than at 75% RH. On grain that was treated with both the fungus and DE, there were 95–97% reductions in adult progeny vs. controls at 43% RH and 22–91% reductions at 75% RH. On grain that was treated with fungus alone, there were 82–90% reductions in progeny adults at 43% RH and only 8–76% reductions at 75% RH. When adult beetles were exposed to B. bassiana at 30 °C and RHs of 43, 56, 75, or 85%, the mortality means were not significantly different among humidities, but when the beetles were exposed to B. bassiana from egg to adult under the same regimes, the number that survived was lower for B. bassiana -treated beetles than for control beetles at 43, 56, or 85% RH, but did not differ significantly at 75% RH. A temperature of 34 °C had a negative impact on efficacy at 75% RH, but not at 43% RH. Preincubation of conidia at 30 °C and 75% RH, but not 43% RH, for 5 days resulted in reduced mortality of adult beetles. The germination rates of B. bassiana conidia declined more rapidly at the greater RHs and when mixed with wheat than when unmixed, thereby reducing residual activity. The lower progeny adult production at 43% RH than at 75% RH, suggests that stress contributes to the greater fungus and DE effects at the lower humidity.
Special Issue on Transport Infrastructure: A Route Choice Experiment with an Efficient Toll

Traffic congestion is a substantial time cost for many urban commuters. This paper studies the response of subjects in an experimental setting in which subjects choose between a short direct route that becomes increasingly congested as more people travel on it and a more indirect route that does not become congested. More specifically, I investigate how subjects respond to the use of a toll that theory predicts will minimize travel time costs. The experimental results reported in this paper show that this toll comes very close to achieving efficient use of the travel network.
American Public Opinion in the 1930s and 1940s The Analysis of Quota-Controlled Sample Survey Data

The 1930s saw the birth of mass survey research in America. Large public polling companies, such as Gallup and Roper, began surveying the public about a variety of important issues on a monthly basis. These polls contain information on public opinion ques- tions of central importance to political scientists, historians, and policy- makers, yet these data have been largely overlooked by modern researchers due to problems arising from the data collection methods. In this article I provide a strategy to properly analyze the public opinion data of the 1930s and 1940s. I first describe the quota-control methods of survey research prevalent during this time. I then detail the problems introduced through the use of quota-control techniques. Next, I describe specific strategies that researchers can employ to ameliorate these prob- lems in data analysis at both the aggregate and individual levels. Finally, I use examples from several pubic opinion studies in the early 1940s to show how the methods of analysis laid out in this article enable us to utilize historical public opinion data. The study of political behavior has flourished in recent decades with the development of long-term, time series data collected by both academic survey researchers and commercial pollsters. Our understanding of the dynamics of mass opinion and behavior prior to the 1950s has, however, been more limited. Expanding political behavior research to this earlier era is valuable ADAM J. BERINSKY is an associate professor of political science at the Massachusetts Institute of
Familial distal arthrogryposis with craniofacial abnormalities: A new subtype of type II?

We report on 5 relatives in 3 generations with an apparent new type of distal arthrogryposis. These individuals have manifestations of type I distal arthrogryposis, but in addition, have craniofacial anomalies that include facial asymmetry, hypertelorism, downslanting palpebral fissures, high nasal bridge, malar hypoplasia, micrognathia, highly arched palate, notched chin, and posteriorly angulated ears. Their intelligence is normal. Although these manifestations preclude us from placing this family in the type I (isolated) distal arthrogryposis category, we also are unable to place them in any of the recognized subtypes of type II distal arthrogryposis. Thus, we think this family may have a previously undescribed form of autosomal dominant type II distal arthrogryposis.
Developmental phase-specific and dose-related teratogenic effects of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether in CD-1 mice.

Abstract Several animal species have shown a teratogenic response to inhaled or ingested ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME). The present study examined the developmental phase specificity and dose-response characteristics of EGME-induced embryotoxicity. Pregnant CD-1 mice (vaginal plug positive day = gestation Day [gd] 0) received multiple or single doses of EGME by gavage between gd 7 and 14. Fetuses were examined on gd 18 for external and skeletal malformations. EGME was not maternally toxic after multiple doses of 250 mg/kg or a single administration of up to 500 mg/kg. EGME induced embryotoxicity as manifested by reduced gd 18 fetal weights and increased resorptions. The observed malformations were specifically related to the developmental stage at the time of exposure. Exencephaly resulted after EGME exposure between gd 7 to 10 whereas paw anomalies (syndactyly, oligodactyly, and stunted digit No. 1) predominated during later stages of development. Paw anomalies were maximal after administration on gd 11, and forepaws exhibited greater susceptibility than hindpaws. The no observed effect dose for the induction of digit malformations after a single administration of EGME on gd 11 was 100 mg/kg. At 175 mg EGME/kg digit anomalies were induced without any concurrent reduction in fetal body weight while at 250 mg/kg and above, digit anomalies occurred concurrently with reduced fetal body weight.
Closures of discrete sets in compact spaces

We consider the question of whether a compact space will always have a discrete subset whose closure has the same cardinality as the whole space. We obtain many positive results for compact spaces of countable tightness and a consistent negative result for a space of tightness and density ?1.
Amelioration of cyclosporin A effect on microvasculature by endothelin inhibitor.

Background. We have previously shown that endothelial injury by cyclosporin A (CyA) is associated with an increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) release. We now sought to determine, in an animal model of angiogenesis, if inhibiting the effect of ET-1 on endothelial cells (ECs) would reverse the CyA-mediated endothelial injury in an animal model of angiogenesis. Methods. An angiognic mixture of Matrigel (0.5 ml), fibroblast growth factor (1 ng/ml), vascular endothelial growth factor (100 ng/ml), and heparin (64 unit/ml) was injected as a subcutaneous plug in the flank of C3H mice (n = 5). In experimental groups CyA (20 mg/ml), CyA, and BQ 123 (ET-A receptor antagonist), CyA and PI) 142893 (ETA and ET-B receptor antagonist), or cyA and ET-1 antibody were added to the angiogenic mixture. Angiogenesis in the mixture was quantified by modified planimetric point counting method in skin/Matrigel cross-sections stained with factor VIII to highlight endothelial neocapillaries. Mean ± SD of angiogenic area was analyzed with analysis of variance and Bonferroni lest. The survival curves obtained by Kaplan-Meier analysis were compared between the groups, and the statistical significance of survival and mortality rates was computed by log rank's and Fisher's exact test, respectively. Results. The mean ± SD of angiogenic area in control animals (without CyA in the angiogenic mixture) was 56.76 ± 4.2. CyA inhibited angiogenesis in the subcutaneous angiogenic plug. Adding CyA to the angiogenic mixture significantly reduced angiogenic area (5.33 ± 1.4, P <.001) while vehicle for CyA had no such effect (56.33 ± 3.8, P =.10). Polyctonat ET-1 antibody or PD 142893 ameliorated the effect of CyA, whereas BQ 123 did not. The mean angiogenic areas in animals with ET-1 antibody, PD 142893, or BQ 123 in the angiogenic mixture were 57.20 ± 7.5 (P =.06), 46.00 ± 11.5 (P = 1.0), 8.60 ± 2.9 (P <.001), respectively. Conclusions. Our data show that blocking ET-B receptors specifically ameliorates the microvascular injury to the neocapillaries in angiogenesis caused by CyA. Antiendothelin-1 antibody and ETR antagonist (PD 142893) could, therefore, reduce the ill effects of CyA on microvascular endothelium.
Identification of a panel of sensitive and specific DNA methylation markers for lung adenocarcinoma

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of both men and women in the United States. Three quarters of lung cancer patients are diagnosed with regionally or distantly disseminated disease; their 5-year survival is only 15%. DNA hypermethylation at promoter CpG islands shows great promise as a cancer-specific marker that would complement visual lung cancer screening tools such as spiral CT, improving early detection. In lung cancer patients, such hypermethylation is detectable in a variety of samples ranging from tumor material to blood and sputum. To date the penetrance of DNA methylation at any single locus has been too low to provide great clinical sensitivity. We used the real-time PCR-based method MethyLight to examine DNA methylation quantitatively at twenty-eight loci in 51 primary human lung adenocarcinomas, 38 adjacent non-tumor lung samples, and 11 lung samples from non-lung cancer patients. We identified thirteen loci showing significant differential DNA methylation levels between tumor and non-tumor lung; eight of these show highly significant hypermethylation in adenocarcinoma: CDH13, CDKN2A EX2, CDX2, HOXA1, OPCML, RASSF1, SFPR1, and TWIST1 (p-value << 0.0001). Using the current tissue collection and 5-fold cross validation, the four most significant loci (CDKN2A EX2, CDX2, HOXA1 and OPCML) individually distinguish lung adenocarcinoma from non-cancer lung with a sensitivity of 67–86% and specificity of 74–82%. DNA methylation of these loci did not differ significantly based on gender, race, age or tumor stage, indicating their wide applicability as potential lung adenocarcinoma markers. We applied random forests to determine a good classifier based on a subset of our loci and determined that combined use of the same four top markers allows identification of lung cancer tissue from non-lung cancer tissue with 94% sensitivity and 90% specificity. The identification of eight CpG island loci showing highly significant hypermethylation in lung adenocarcinoma provides strong candidates for evaluation in patient remote media such as plasma and sputum. The four most highly ranked loci, CDKN2A EX2, CDX2, HOXA1 and OPCML, which show significant DNA methylation even in stage IA tumor samples, merit further investigation as some of the most promising lung adenocarcinoma markers identified to date.
The effect of yogurt on acetaminophen absorption by activated charcoal and burnt toast.

Although acetaminophen overdose can be treated with N-acetylcysteine, activated charcoal is useful in preventing absorption of acetaminophen from the gut. Mixing activated charcoal with yogurt may make the dose more palatable. We investigated effects of yogurt on absorption of acetaminophen by burnt toast or activated charcoal in intestinal fluid using an in vitro model. The aliquots of phosphate buffer saline (PBS) were supplemented with high concentrations of acetaminophen after adjusting the pH to 7.2 (to mimic intestinal fluid). Then specimens were treated with various dosages (15 mg/mL, 25 mg/mL, or 50 mg/mL) of activated charcoal or burnt toast. A small amount of fluid was withdrawn at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 min and acetaminophen concentrations were measured by the fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). We also treated other aliquots of PBS buffer containing acetaminophen with activated charcoal and yogurt or burnt toast and yogurt. Then small aliquots were withdrawn at specific time intervals to determine concentrations of acetaminophen. Activated charcoal was very effective in removing acetaminophen from intestinal fluids and the presence of yogurt insignificantly affected such absorptions. In contrast, burnt toast had a modest effect on removing acetaminophen from fluids but yogurt significantly increased the capability of burnt toast to absorb acetaminophen. However, the activated charcoal/yogurt combination is more effective than the burnt toast/yogurt combination for absorbing acetaminophen. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 21:393–397, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.