cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simple electromagnetic bandgap structure for the side band suppression of the ring ultra-wideband bandpass filter

Ultra-wideband (UWB) filters are of great interests for the applications in UWB communications due to the growing demand of high volume video and audio data transmission. There are many literatures available for the design of microwave ultra-wideband filters and the sideband suppression is one of the important concerns for the actual implementation. As the passband bandwidth becomes broader, the achievement of sideband suppression would become more difficult since the suppressing circuit must not distort the wide passband. In our previous publications, circuits such as the interdigital lines or high order low pass filters are utilized for the sideband suppression; however, the determination of the structure details somehow is complicated. In this literature, a simple tapered 1D electromagnetic bandgap structure is proposed for the sideband suppression of a ring ultra-wideband filter with ∼8GHz passband ranging from 5GHz to 13GHz. As shown in Figure 1, the bandgap structure is composed by tapered 1D etched circular array serving as the ground plane to attain the sideband suppression. Based on the EM simulation, the sideband can be suppressed ∼20dB; this result is comparable to our previous work but the design is much easier since only the size of the circular hole array has to be worked out.
Nonculture techniques for the detection of bacteremia and fungemia

Bacteremia and fungemia account for a substantial proportion of all cases of severe sepsis. Antibiotic resistance is a contributing factor in many hospital-acquired infection deaths. Traditional phenotypic methods for the identification of bacteria and yeasts from positive blood cultures and determining antimicrobial susceptibility require 48-72 h, delaying optimal therapy and negatively impacting patient outcomes. Molecular methods, including nonamplified DNA probe panels and peptide nucleic acid probes, and nucleic acid amplification methods such as PCR, proteomic methods (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry) and direct biochemical tests provide more rapid identification of bacteria and fungi, and in some cases antimicrobial resistance markers, from positive blood cultures, as well as directly from whole blood. These methods vary in the breadth of organisms that they detect, and equally important, their ease of use. This article examines the principles, performance and practicality of the various rapid, nonculture techniques for the detection of bacteremia and fungemia.
Silicon field-emitter arrays for cathodoluminescent flat-panel displays

— Cathodoluminescent flat-panel displays can be made with field-emitter arrays (FEAs). Using orientation-dependent etching and a linear thermal-oxidation process, uniform and reproducible FEAs which yield more than 10 μA per tip with less than 140-Vdc extraction voltages have been fabricated. Modulation voltages are in the 40-V region. These FEAs can be the basis for a simple and inexpensive cathodoluminescent flat-panel display.
Sex differences in the epidemiology and outcomes of heart disease: population-based trends.

We examined trends in heart disease (HD) mortality and the delivery of cardiac in Olmsted County, MN. Between 1979 and 1994, women experienced 51% of the total number of HD (ICD9 codes 390 — 398,402,404 — 429) deaths (3095). Age-adjusted HD mortality rate declined from 123 per 100,000 (95%CI 102, 144) in 1979 to 81 (67,95) in 1994. The risk ratio (RR) of HD death in 1994 compared to 1979 was 0.69 for women vs 0.53 for men (P = 0.06). This equates to a decline in HD mortality of 2.5%=y in women and 4.2%=y in men. The decline in HD mortality was less pronounced in older age groups (P < 0.001), reflecting a shift of the burden of HD towards women and the elderly. Compared to men, there was less use of stress tests among women, of cardiology visits after stress testing, and of cardiac procedures among women presenting to the emergency room with unstable angina. Further studies are needed to examine causal links between these trends.
Involved-field radiation therapy for locoregionally recurrent ovarian cancer

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of definitive involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) for selected patients with locoregionally-recurrent ovarian cancer.
Emergence of deglutology: a transdisciplinary field.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a well-known manifestation of a large number of acute and chronic neurologic disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD), and is associated with pulmonary complications as a leading cause of mortality in these patients 1. Symptoms of dysphagia in PD patients poorly correlate with objective video fluoroscopic findings 2; in addition, age, severity and duration of the disease are not reliable predictors of dysphagia 3. Deglutitive dysfunction in PD does not improve with levodopa therapy 4-6, and may occasionally deteriorate with dopamine precursor therapy 2. The exact underlying neurogenic mechanisms of swallowing dysfunction in PD are not well established and involvement of non-dopaminergic mechanisms has been suggested 6. Recent comprehensive postmortem neuropathologic studies of PD patients have indicated that brain pathology (Lewy neurites and Lewy bodies) in PD originates in the olfactory bulb and visceromotor projections of dorsal nucleus of the glossopharyngeal and vagal nerves in medulla oblongata years prior to involvement of nigrostriatal pathway and onset of somatomotor dysfunction 7. Furthermore, these histopathologic observations have shown atrophic and denervated pharyngeal constrictors and cricopharyngeus myofibers 8; axonal degenerative changes in vagal and sympathetic motoneurons innervating pharyngeal constrictors and cricopharyngeus 9, along with degenerative changes of predominantly sensory internal superior laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve 10. Collectively these central and peripheral autonomic sensorimotor impairments in dysphagic PD patients may explain compromised cough reflex 11, delayed swallow reflex 3, 12, pharyngeal peristaltic incoordination 3, 13 and incomplete UES relaxation 3, 14. Together these mechanistic abnormalities contribute to self-reported dysphagia (28-41%) 15, objective videofluoroscopic metrics of dysphagia (77-87%) 15 and ultimately aspiration pneumonia (11-45%) in PD patients 16, 17. Current dysphagia management in PD patients is unsatisfactory. A number of approaches including dietary modification and swallowing maneuvers 16, dopaminergic and anticholinergic pharmacotherapy 18, expiratory muscle strengthening 19, video based biofeedback therapy 20, cricopharyngeal myotomy 21 and cricopharyngeus Botolinum toxin injection 22 have all been utilized with variable outcomes, necessitating further research to devise pathophysiology based therapeutic modalities 23.
Differential inhibition by prostaglandins of the renal actions of pressor stimuli

Abstract In chloralose-anesthetized dogs, either PGE 2 , PGA 2 or acetylcholine (ACh) infused into a renal artery inhibited reversibly in the experimental kidney vasoconstriction-antidiuresis produced by renal nerve stimulation (RNS) or by pressor hormones given intravenously. The renal actions of RNS were reversed by PGE 2 and PGA 2 , whereas, those of norepinephrine were least affected. PGF 2α did not modify the renal actions of pressor stimuli. ACh inhibited the renal effects of RNS and norepinephrine to the same degree. PGE 2 (100 ng/min) inhibited the renal actions of adrenergic stimuli and angiotensin II to the same degree as PGA 2 , at a dose one-fifth that of PGA 2 , and at concentrations (ca 0.5 ng/ml blood) comparable to those of a substance, having the properties of PGE 2 , reported in renal venous effluent during escape from the renal vasoconstrictor-antidiuretic actions of pressor hormones.
A localized nonstandard stabilizer for the Timoshenko beam

Abstract The stabilization of the Timoshenko beam system with localized damping is examined. The damping involves the sum of the bending and shear angle velocities; this work generalizes an earlier result of Haraux, established for a system of ordinary wave equations, to the Timoshenko system. First, we show that strong stability holds if and only if the boundary of the support of the feedback control intersects that of the interval under consideration. Next, we use the frequency domain method combined with the multipliers technique to prove the exponential stability of the associated semigroup when the damping support is a neighborhood of one endpoint of the interval under consideration. When the speed of propagation of the wave generated by the bending and that of the wave generated by the shear angle are distinct, the proof is similar to what is known for two ordinary waves similarly damped. However, when the two speeds are equal, an important identity breaks down, and the proof is carried out by the introduction of an appropriate auxiliary equation whose solution plays a critical role in subsequent estimates.
Penser la justice sociale : entre redistribution et revendications identitaires

L’emergence dans le paysage politique des societes modernes de revendications identitaires a eu tendance a recibler l’entendement que l’on a generalement de la justice sociale. Pour plusieurs, desormais, la volonte authentique de reconnaissance des differences identitaires constitue la marque fondamentale d’une societe juste. Cette vision des choses s’oppose a la vision plus traditionnelle de la justice qui pose d’abord la problematique en termes de redistribution des ressources materielles. Cette dichotomisation conceptuelle de la justice est politiquement improductive et ne correspond pas a la realite, car les manifestations d’injustice operent dans les faits sur l’un et l’autre pole a la fois. Cet article developpe un modele theorique et normatif qui integre plutot en un cadre unifie les revendications identitaires et celles formulees a des fins de redressement economique.
The Bainite reaction in Fe-Si-C Alloys: The primary stage

The morphology, crystallography, and substructure of bainitic ferrite formed in silicon alloyed high-carbon steels in the temperature range 290 to 380 °C have been studied. The bainite exhibits a plate shaped morphology, an irrational habit plane, and an irrational orientation relationship. The bainitic ferrite is heavily dislocated, while the surrounding austenite contains thin twins, the density of which is highest in the austenite between closely spaced ferrite plates. The bainite plates can cross these twins in such a manner that the twinned region remains in a crystallographic orientation, which is quite different from that of the other regions of the bainitic ferrite plates. Epsilon carbide subsequently precipitates on the austenite twin/bainitic ferrite boundaries. The bainitic ferrite shape strain direction and magnitude are estimated from displacements of austenite twins inherited in the ferrite. All results, including measurement of the austenite carbon content, are consistent with a shear mode of transformation.
High-Dose-Rate Rotte 'Y' Applicator Brachytherapy for Definitive Treatment of Medically Inoperable Endometrial Cancer: 10-Year Results

Purpose: To assess the intermediate clinical outcomes of medically inoperable patients with endometrial cancer treated with definitive Rotte 'Y' applicator high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRB) over a 10-year period. Methods and Materials: Forty-nine inoperable patients were treated with HDRB from 1997 to 2007. Forty three (84%) were markedly obese (body mass index >35 kg/m{sup 2}). Thirty-one patients (63.3%) underwent two-dimensional treatment planning, whereas 18 patients (36.7%) underwent three-dimensional treatment planning. Thirty five of the patients (71.4%) were first treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). For patients receiving EBRT in addition to HDRB, the median Y-applicator dose was 20 Gy in 5 fractions; for patients receiving HDRB alone it was 35 Gy in 5 fractions. All patients received two Y-applicator treatments per day. Results: Median follow-up time for all patients was 33 months. Acute HDRB toxicities were limited to Grade 1 and 2 occurring in 5 patients. One patient had a myocardial infarction. Four patients had late Grade 2 or 3 toxicity. Three patients had local recurrence (median time to recurrence, 16 months). The 3- and 5-year actuarial cause-specific survival rates were 93% and 87%, respectively; the overall survival rate was 83% and 42%, respectively, at 3 and 5 years. Conclusions: Twice-daily HDRBmore » using a Y-applicator is a well-tolerated and efficacious regimen for the definitive treatment of medically inoperable patients with early-stage endometrial cancer. The recent incorporation of three-dimensional treatment planning has the potential to further decrease treatment morbidities.« less
Effects of Central Airway Shunting on the Mechanical Impedance of the Mouse Lung

The mechanical properties of the lung are embodied in its mechanical input impedance, which it is interpreted in physiological terms by being fit with a mathematical model. The normal lung is extremely well described by a model consisting of a single uniformly ventilated compartment comprised of tissue having a constant-phase impedance, but to describe the abnormal lung it frequently becomes necessary to invoke additional compartments. To date, all evidence of regional mechanical heterogeneity in the mouse lung has been assumed to be of the parallel variety. We therefore investigated the use of a serial heterogeneity model, relative to parallel heterogeneity and homogeneous models, for describing impedance spectra in mice subjected to a variety of interventions designed to make their lungs heterogeneous. We found that functional evidence of the finite stiffness of the airway wall in mice with airways obstruction can sometimes be apparent in lung impedance below 20 Hz. The model estimates of airway stiffness were smaller than direct estimates obtained from micro-CT images of the lung in vivo, suggesting that the conducting airways alone are likely not the precise anatomical correlate of proximal functional stiffness in the lung. Nevertheless, we conclude that central airway shunting in mice can sometimes be an important physiological phenomenon.
Airway management of a patient with facial trauma

Airway management in patients with facial trauma is usually challenging. In this case, we report the airway management of a patient who had multiple midface fractures and a two-inch tree limb implanted into his face.
Trityl isothiocyanate support for solid-phase synthesis.

Trityl isothiocyanate resin 1, prepared from commercially available trityl chloride resin, is a useful precursor of the trityl thiosemicarbazide resin 2. This resin can be employed in the solid-phase synthesis of a variety of supported isatin β-thiosemicarbazones 4 and their Mannich derivatives 6. A variety of thioureas 7 can be easily prepared by the reaction of 1 with amines. The supported thioureas are directly and efficiently converted to 2-aminothiazole-5-carboxylates 8 by reaction with methyl 2-chloroacetoacetate.
Significance of Spatial Isotropy

It has been suggested occasionally that the fine structure constant'' may not be a fixed number, but that it may be determined, in a manner not yet understood, by the distribution of mass in the universe. A simple point-particle picture is used to indicate the significance of this idea for the motion of free test particles. The possible generally covariant equations of motion for a point particle are considered, and it is shown that one can find a suitable model which is consistent with the observed structure independence of gravitational acceleration. However, it is indicated that such a model is not consistent with the precise observations, made by Hughes et al. and Drever, of the local isotropy of space. That is, with the observed structure independence of gravitational acceleration and local isotropy of space, and assuming general covariance, it seems to be necessary to rule out any appreciable variation with position in the value of the fine structure constant. (auth)
Oxygen radicals differentially affect Na+/Cl−-dependent transporters

Abstract Incubation with the oxygen radical-generating enzyme, xanthine oxidase, dramatically reduced striatal dopamine transporter activity, but was unexpectedly without effect on rat hippocampal norepinephrine uptake. To determine whether environmental differences between the striatum and hippocampus contributed to this lack of oxidative effect on norepinephrine transporters, synaptosomal γ-aminobutryic acid (GABA) uptake was assessed in both regions. Xanthine oxidase similarly decreased [ 3 H ]GABA uptake in both the striatum and hippocampus, supporting the conclusion that environmental differences did not account for the lack of effect on norepinephrine transport. These data suggest that norepinephrine transporters are less vulnerable than other Na+/Cl−-dependent transporters to oxidative inactivation.
Zygomatic fractures in the emergency department: Evaluation and treatment

Diagnosis of zygomatic fractures in the emergency department is possible by history and clinical signs together with a routine series of facial bone x-ray films. Three case reports are submitted to illustrate this approach, one case with obvious clinical signs and x-ray findings and two "unclear" cases where either the physical findings or the x-ray findings were equivocal. There may be pain, tenderness, cheekbone displacement subconjuctive hemorrhage and numbness, enophthalmos, and blurred vision. A Water's view is recommended for x-ray films. Zygomatic fractures are best treated in five to seven days; eye signs indicate earlier treatment. To treat, expose the probable fracture site and reduce under direct vision. The zygoma can be immobilized by passing a Kirschner wire through the body of the zygoma medially towards and through the lateral wall of the nose and into the bony nasal septum.
Phase locking in integrate-and-fire models with refractory periods and modulation

It is known [8, 11, 16, 26] that phase locking can entrain frequency information when the leaky integrate-and-fire (IF) model of a neuron is forced by a periodic function. We show that this is still the case when the IF model is made more biologically realistic. We incorporate into our model spike dependent threshold modulation and refractory periods. Consecutive firing times from this model and their respective interspike intervals are related by an annulus map. We prove a general theorem concerning orientation reversing annulus twist homeomorphisms, which shows that our map admits a unique rotation number. This implies, in particular, that chaotic behaviour is not possible in our model and phase locking is predicted.
Gradation and Moisture Effects on Resilient Moduli of Aggregate Bases

Resilient modulus (MR) which properly characterizes the load-deformation response of pavement materials under traffic loading, is evaluated. The MR values due to three different gradations and three different moisture contents were investigated for the Richard Spur and the Sawyer aggregates, which are commonly used in Oklahoma as the subbase or base materials of roadway pavements. The three gradations were finer limit, median, and coarser limit, as specified by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for Type A aggregate. The three moisture contents selected are optimum moisture content (OMC), 2 percent below OMC, and 2 percent above OMC. To investigate the variability of the test results, six duplicate MR tests under identical conditions were performed for each case by using the AASHTO T294-94 method. Furthermore, the material properties, K1 and K2, which are required input in the AASHTO pavement design equation, were evaluated for the MR values obtained. Finally, multiple linear regression models for ...
Structural analysis of QCM aboard the ER-2 ☆

Abstract As a result of recent environmental concerns about ozone layer depletion, several experiments have been proposed to try and capture and evaluate atmospheric samples where supersonic aircraft travel. One method is to mount instrumentation onto the fuselage of an experimental aircraft that retraces the flight path of the supersonic aircraft. Due to the location of the instrumentation on the aircraft, this paper presents a structural analysis to determine if resonance and/or undesirable deformations that could affect the instrumentation readings occur.
Some remarks on Briot-Bouquet differential equations, II

For the coefficient of the (n k)th power of the derivative we write simplyp,(w). It is a polynomial in w of degree Sk where 6, is <2/z in the first order case and <312 in the second order one. These normal forms are necessary but not sufficient if the equations are not allowed to have solutions with movable branch-points. The present note is devoted to a further study of the solutions using the diagram of Puiseux and analytic continuation. In particular, the validity of Painleve’s determinateness theorem is considered. See [5, pp. 87-891.
Lump detection in simulated human breasts

Sixteen observers palpated silicone models of human breasts containing lumps 1.6-12.1 mm in diameter. Detectability depended on the size of the lump, producing a systematic psychometric function. In eight observers who participated in three or more sessions, performance improved with practice, with most improvement occurring within one or two 26-trial sessions. Three-week retention measures disclosed no appreciable decrease in performance, but a significant correlation was found between the number of lumps detected and duration of trial (p < .01). There was no difference in performance between four observers who used their preferred hands and four observers who used their nonpreferred hands. These data establish that examination of breast models for the detection of lumps simulating cancer is a task amenable to experimental analysis.
Television viewing and initiation of smoking among youth.

Background. Smoking is the leading pre- ventable cause of death in the United States, and the risk of disease increases the earlier in life smoking begins. The prevalence of smoking among US adolescents has increased since 1991. Despite bans on television tobacco advertising, smoking on television remains widespread. Objective. To determine whether youth with greater exposure to television viewing exhibit higher rates of smoking initiation. Methods. We used the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Child Cohort to examine longitudinally the association of television viewing in 1990 among youth ages 10 to 15 years with smoking initiation from 1990 - 1992. Television viewing was based on the average of youth and parent reports. We used multiple logistic re- gression, taking into account sampling weights, and con- trolled for ethnicity; maternal education, IQ, and work; household structure; number of children; household pov- erty; child gender; and child aptitude test scores. Results. Among these youth, smoking increased from 4.8% in 1990 to 12.3% in 1992. Controlling for baseline characteristics, youth who watched 5 or more hours of TV per day were 5.99 times more likely to initiate smoking behaviors (95% confidence interval: 1.39 -25.71) than those youth who watched 4 to 5 hours per day were 5.24 times more likely to initiate smoking than youth who watched <2 hours (95% confidence interval: 1.19 -23.10). Conclusions. Television viewing is associated in a dose-response relationship with the initiation of youth smoking. Television viewing should be included in ad- olescent risk behavior research. Interventions to reduce television viewing may also reduce youth smoking initiation. Pediatrics 2002;110:505-508; smoking, adoles- cents, television, youth smoking.
Competition between positive and negative reinforcement in the treatment of escape behavior

We compared the effects of reinforcing compliance with either positive reinforcement (edible items) or negative reinforcement (a break) on 5 participants' escape-maintained problem behavior. Both procedures were assessed with or without extinction. Results showed that compliance was higher and problem behavior was lower for all participants when compliance produced an edible item rather than a break. Treatment gains were achieved without the use of extinction. Results are discussed regarding the use of positive reinforcement to treat escape behavior.
Discriminative Segment Annotation in Weakly Labeled Video

The ubiquitous availability of Internet video offers the vision community the exciting opportunity to directly learn localized visual concepts from real-world imagery. Unfortunately, most such attempts are doomed because traditional approaches are ill-suited, both in terms of their computational characteristics and their inability to robustly contend with the label noise that plagues uncurated Internet content. We present CRANE, a weakly supervised algorithm that is specifically designed to learn under such conditions. First, we exploit the asymmetric availability of real-world training data, where small numbers of positive videos tagged with the concept are supplemented with large quantities of unreliable negative data. Second, we ensure that CRANE is robust to label noise, both in terms of tagged videos that fail to contain the concept as well as occasional negative videos that do. Finally, CRANE is highly parallelizable, making it practical to deploy at large scale without sacrificing the quality of the learned solution. Although CRANE is general, this paper focuses on segment annotation, where we show state-of-the-art pixel-level segmentation results on two datasets, one of which includes a training set of spatiotemporal segments from more than 20,000 videos.
Camouflaged Carborarods Derived from B‐Permethyl‐1,12‐diethynyl‐para‐ and B‐Octamethyl‐1,7‐diethylnyl‐meta‐carborane Modules

Rigid camouflaged carborarods constructed from the corresponding C,C'-diethynyl derivatives of B-decamethyl-1,12-dicarbadodecaborane(12) (6) and B-octamethyl-1,7-dicarbadodecaborane(12) (48) have been synthesized by largely conventional organic transformations. These carborarods are the longest discrete rod species available by this method in which B-methylated p-carborane and m-carborane cages are linked through their carbon vertices by using butadiynylene moieties. They exhibit enhanced solubility in common organic solvents relative to all other presently known carborane-based rigid-rod molecules. The oxidative coupling of bis(ethynyl) derivatives of 6 generates oligomers containing, on average, 16 carborane modules. The structural characterization of the corresponding dimeric species revealed that the carborarods possess a sinusoidal chain distortion in the solid state. The stereoelectronic properties of these and related model carborarods were evaluated by using molecular dimensions as a monitor for the comparison of computational and experimental methods. In addition, the effect of exhaustive B-methylation of 12- and 10-vertex para-carborane cages in a series of model C,C'-diethynyl derivatives was similarly investigated by computational and structural studies. As expected, a correlation of intercage C--C bond lengths with cage size was observed and was attributed to hybridization effects. B-Permethylation had no significant structural effect with either 10- or 12-vertex cage derivatives. Relative to unsubstituted compounds, thermal and chemical stabilities of B-permethylated derivatives were increased through the operation of a steric "bumper-car" process, and solubilities in organic solvents were enhanced. The formation of linear, sterically encumbered platina-carborarods using ethynyl derivatives of 6 as precursors is described.
Performance Comparison Between the Use and Nonuse of an Enteric Health Medication Program Across Five Consecutive Commercial Broiler Flocks

SUMMARY A study was conducted to examine broiler performance and carcass yield across 5 consecutive commercial broiler flocks after the removal of roxarsone (ROX) and growth-promoting antibiotics (GPA) from the feed. Over a 1-yr period, approximately 552,000 broilers were reared in 4 solid-walled, tunnel-ventilated houses, divided into 2 paired-house facilities, and were assigned 1 of 2 dietary treatments. The treated group received basal diets containing salinomycin, ROX, and GPA, whereas the control group received the same diets without ROX and GPA. Average BW were recorded for 200 sample birds/treatment per flock at 18, 35, and 48 d of age. Average BW, feed conversion, adjusted feed conversion, livability, and condemnation were calculated at the completion of each flock. Coccidiosis lesion scores of 10 birds per treatment were recorded at 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 d of age. Before birds were transferred to a commercial processing plant, 280 birds/flock were randomly selected, weighed, and tagged for carcass yield analysis. Livability was significantly negatively affected by the removal of ROX and GPA. Coccidiosis lesion scores were not affected by the treatments. Tender yields showed significant improvement, whereas all other cuts were not affected by removal of ROX and GPA.
Force-matched embedded-atom method potential for niobium

Large-scale simulations of plastic deformation and phase transformations in alloys require reliable classical interatomic potentials. We construct an embedded-atom method potential for niobium as the first step in alloy potential development. Optimization of the potential parameters to a well-converged set of density-functional theory (DFT) forces, energies, and stresses produces a reliable and transferable potential for molecular dynamics simulations. The potential accurately describes properties related to the fitting data, and also produces excellent results for quantities outside the fitting range. Structural and elastic properties, defect energetics, and thermal behavior compare well with DFT results and experimental data, e.g., DFT surface energies are reproduced with less than 4% error, generalized stacking-fault energies differ from DFT values by less than 15%, and the melting temperature is within 2% of the experimental value.
Combining the quantized color instruction set and loop unrolling on portable video processing systems

As wireless video products evolve, they demand more sophisticated processing at higher resolutions and frame rates. Computational performance and energy efficiency have become critical design issues. This paper presents the Quantized Color Pack eXtension (QCPX) combined with a loop unrolling (LU) technique to improve execution performance and energy efficiency of color image and video processing applications. QCPX applied to a 32-bit datapath processor supports parallel operations on two packed 16-bit YCbCr (Y: luminance, Cr and Cb: chrominance) color pixels, providing greater subword-level parallelism by increasing the number of smaller color pixels packed into a word. Instruction-level parallelism can be further enhanced through loop unrolling. These techniques provide greater performance and efficiency for multimedia workloads on mobile systems. Experimental results on a set of media benchmark applications indicate that the LU plus QCPX-optimized version achieves a speedup ranging from 3.8 to 7.9 while reducing the energy consumption from 76% to 87% over the baseline version on identically configured, dynamically scheduled ILP superscalar processors. The LU plus QCPX-optimized version also outperforms the LU plus MDMX-like (MIPS’s multimedia extension) version.
Presacral retroperitoneal approach to axial lumbar interbody fusion: a new, minimally invasive technique at L5-S1: Clinical outcomes, complications, and fusion rates in 50 patients at 1-year follow-up

Background The presacral retroperitoneal approach to an axial lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a percutaneous, minimally invasive technique for interbody fusion at L5-S1 that has not been extensively studied, particularly with respect to long-term outcomes. Objective The authors describe clinical and radiographic outcomes at 1-year follow-up for 50 consecutive patients who underwent the presacral ALIF. Methods Our patients included 24 males and 26 females who underwent the presacral ALIF procedure for interbody fusion at L5-S1. Indications included mechanical back pain and radiculopathy. Thirty-seven patients had disc degeneration at L5-S1, 7 had previously undergone a discectomy, and 6 had spondylolisthesis. A 2-level L4-S1 fusion was performed with a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion at L4-5 in 15 patients. AxiaLIF was performed as a stand-alone procedure in 5 patients and supplemented with pedicle screws in 45 patients. Pre- and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were evaluated and complications were tracked. Fusion was evaluated by an independent neuro-radiologist. Results At 1-year follow-up, VAS and ODI scores had significantly improved by 49% and 50%, respectively, versus preoperative scores. By high-resolution computer tomography (CT) scans, fusion was achieved in 44 (88%) patients, developing bone occurred in 5 (10%), and 1 (2%) patient had pseudoarthrosis. One patient suffered a major operative complication–a bowel perforation with a pre-sacral abscess that resolved with treatment. Conclusion Our initial 50 patients who underwent presacral ALIF showed clinical improvement and fusion rates comparable with other interbody fusion techniques; its safety was reflected by low complication rates. Its efficacy in future patients will continue to be monitored, and will be reported in a 2-year follow-up study of fusion.
Shear flow of assemblies of cohesive granular materials under constant applied normal stress

We have studied plane shear flow of nearly homogeneous assemblies of uniformly sized, spherical, cohesive particles in periodic domains under constant applied normal stress. Our focus has been on (a) exploration of the effect of inter-particle attractive forces on the flow behavior manifested by dense assemblies under constant applied normal stress, and (b) comparison of the rheological characteristics observed under constant-applied normal stress and constant-volume conditions. As a model problem, the cohesion resulting from van der Waals force acting between particles is considered. Simulations were performed for different strengths of cohesion, shear rates, and applied stresses. From each simulation, the volume fraction, shear stress and the average coordination number have been extracted. We find that cohesive assemblies sheared under constant applied normal stress shear differently from those sheared at constant volume only in the dynamic sense, while the time-averaged rheological characteristics are essentially indistinguishable. At constant volume, the fluctuations in shear stress are larger than, but have the same dependence on cohesion as under constant applied normal stress. This study has also exposed a pronounced dependence of the apparent coefficient of friction on particle volume fraction in the quasi-static flow regime.
Protective effects of dietary phytoestrogens in chronic renal disease.

Phytoestrogens are naturally occuring plant compounds that are present primarily in soybeans as isoflavones and in flaxseed as lignans. Because of their structural similarity to endogenous estrogens, phytoestrogens bind to both estrogen receptors (ER)-alpha and beta (but more strongly to ER-beta) and exert estrogen-like effects. There is increasing evidence that dietary phytoestrogens have a beneficial role in chronic renal disease. Nutritional intervention studies have shown that consumption of soy-based protein and flaxseed reduces proteinuria and attenuates renal functional or structural damage in animals and humans with various forms of chronic renal disease. It is not clear which component(s) of the soybean or flaxseed is (are) responsible for the protective effects observed in experimental animals and in limited studies in humans. Vegetable protein has been shown to have a beneficial effect on renal disease in animals and humans. Thus, the role of soy and flaxseed cannot be ruled out. Isoflavones and lignans are readily absorbed from the gut and converted to active metabolites, which may be partly responsible for the beneficial renal effects of soy protein and flaxseed. In addition, an interaction between type of protein and phytoestrogens is also possible. The biological actions of isoflavones and lignans have been well defined in different cell types in vitro and also in vivo, but how these compounds might reduce renal injury remains to be elucidated. Possible mechanisms include inhibition of cell growth and proliferation via ER-mediated mechanisms or non-ER-mediated pathways through inhibition of tyrosine protein kinases, modulation of growth factors involved in extracellular matrix synthesis and fibrogenesis, inhibition of cytokine-induced activation of transcription factors, inhibition of angiogenesis, antioxidative action, suppression of platelet activating factor and platelet aggregation, and immunomodulatory activity. To date, clinical trials in humans are few, of relatively short duration, and involve a small number of patients. Prospective randomized trials are needed to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of dietary phytoestrogens on renal disease progression in patients with chronic renal failure.
Child health insurance and early preventive care in three South American countries

Not much is known about how health insurance affects preventive care for children who have access to general routine paediatric care, especially in less developed settings. This study evaluates the effects of child health insurance on preventive care (measured by whether the child had received all the age-appropriate immunizations) for children with access to routine paediatric care. It uses a unique sample of 1958 children aged 3–24 months attending paediatric practices for routine well-child care in Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador. It compares insured and uninsured children attending the same paediatric clinics for routine care at the time of enrolment into the study and only uses within-clinic variation in insurance status when evaluating its effect on immunization status. Regression models for adequate immunization status adjust for several demographic, socio-economic and health characteristics and are estimated both separately for each country and combining the three countries. The majority of children in the study sample have received all age-appropriate immunizations. However, publicly insured children in Argentina and Ecuador are more likely to have received all age-appropriate immunizations compared with uninsured children by 3.5 and 2.3 percentage points, respectively. In the model that combines the three country samples, insured children (regardless of insurance type) are significantly more likely to have adequate immunization status by 2.5 percentage points compared with uninsured children. The study provides evidence that health insurance may enhance preventive care for young children.
Metocurine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in goats

Non-depolarizing muscle relaxants can facilitate surgery and anaesthesia in numerous species. and volatile inhalational anaesthetics such as isoflurane potentiate their action. We studied the effect of isoflurane on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of metocurine in six goats. Each was studied twice: once during barbiturate-opiate anaesthesia and once during isoflurane anaesthesia. The evoked response to sciatic nerve stimulation was measured using a force transducer attached to the hoof. Metocurine was infused until approximately 80-90% blockade. Plasma metocurine concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Isoflurane increased the potency of metocurine significantly; IC50 (the concentration in the effect compartment at 50% paralysis) was 70 +/- 15 ng/mL during isoflurane anaesthesia and 129 +/- 42 ng/mL during barbiturate-opiate anaesthesia (P < 0.03). Volume of distribution (63 +/- 18 mL/kg), clearance (1.6 +/- 0.4 mL/min.kg) and elimination half-life (99 +/- 9 min) during barbiturate-opiate anaesthesia were not significantly different during isoflurane anaesthesia: 64 +/- 25 mL/kg, 1.5 +/- 0.7 mL/kg.min, 116 +/- 16 min respectively. We conclude that, relative to barbiturate-opiate anaesthesia, isoflurane potentiates metocurine in goats.
Cloud condensation nuclei activity and droplet activation kinetics of wet processed regional dust samples and minerals

Abstract. This study reports laboratory measurements of particle size distributions, cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity, and droplet activation kinetics of wet generated aerosols from clays, calcite, quartz, and desert soil samples from Northern Africa, East Asia/China, and Northern America. The dependence of critical supersaturation, s c , on particle dry diameter, D dry , is used to characterize particle-water interactions and assess the ability of Frenkel-Halsey-Hill adsorption activation theory (FHH-AT) and Kohler theory (KT) to describe the CCN activity of the considered samples. Wet generated regional dust samples produce unimodal size distributions with particle sizes as small as 40 nm, CCN activation consistent with KT, and exhibit hygroscopicity similar to inorganic salts. Wet generated clays and minerals produce a bimodal size distribution; the CCN activity of the smaller mode is consistent with KT, while the larger mode is less hydrophilic, follows activation by FHH-AT, and displays almost identical CCN activity to dry generated dust. Ion Chromatography (IC) analysis performed on regional dust samples indicates a soluble fraction that cannot explain the CCN activity of dry or wet generated dust. A mass balance and hygroscopicity closure suggests that the small amount of ions (from low solubility compounds like calcite) present in the dry dust dissolve in the aqueous suspension during the wet generation process and give rise to the observed small hygroscopic mode. Overall these results identify an artifact that may question the atmospheric relevance of dust CCN activity studies using the wet generation method. Based on the method of threshold droplet growth analysis, wet generated mineral aerosols display similar activation kinetics compared to ammonium sulfate calibration aerosol. Finally, a unified CCN activity framework that accounts for concurrent effects of solute and adsorption is developed to describe the CCN activity of aged or hygroscopic dusts.
Analytical evaluation of laboratories wishing to perform environmental characterization studies

Laboratories competing to analyze bivalve mollusks under contract to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration`s Mussel Watch Project were required to undergo analytical tests of their ability to quantify environmental contaminants as part of the contract evaluation process. During the 1989 selection process laboratories that appeared to qualify on the basis of their written proposals were provided a gravimetrically prepared solution with unknown quantities of an undefined number of organic contaminants that are regularly quantified for the Mussel Watch Project. In 1994, competing laboratories were once again tested but this time using matrix materials for the quantification of both trace elements and organic contaminants. Three laboratory groups participated in the exercises. For the 1989 gravimetrically prepared solutions, all participating laboratories were able to identify the contaminants present and in all but two cases were able to report values to within {+-}25% of the known values. In 1994, all laboratories were within the acceptance criteria for the quantification of trace elements in the homogenate sample. Analytical laboratory testing is an important first step to ensure that environmental characterization studies are successful.
Fingerprinting Diazotroph Communities in the Chesapeake Bay by Using a DNA Macroarray

Investigations of the distribution and diversity of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms in natural environments have often relied on PCR amplification and sequence analysis of a portion of one of the key enzymes in nitrogen fixation, dinitrogenase reductase, encoded by nifH. Recent work has suggested that DNA macroarrays provide semiquantitative fingerprints of diversity within mixtures of nifH amplicons (G. F. Steward, B. D. Jenkins, B. B. Ward, and J. P. Zehr, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:1455-1465, 2004). Here we report the application of macroarrays for a study in the Chesapeake Bay. Samples from different locations in the bay yielded distinct fingerprints. Analysis of replicates and samples from different locations by cluster analysis showed that replicates clustered together, whereas different samples formed distinct clusters. There was a correspondence between the hybridization pattern observed and that predicted from the distribution of sequence types in a corresponding clone library. Some discrepancies between the methods were observed which are likely a result of the high nifH sequence diversity in the Chesapeake Bay and the limited number of sequences represented on this version of the array. Analyses of sequences in the clone library indicate that the Chesapeake Bay harbors unique, phylogenetically diverse diazotrophs. The macroarray hybridization patterns suggest that there are spatially variable communities of diazotrophs, which have been confirmed by quantitative PCR methods (S. M. Short, B. D. Jenkins, and J. P. Zehr, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., in press). The results show that DNA macroarrays have great potential for mapping the spatial and temporal variability of functional gene diversity in the environment.
Analysis of a software product line architecture: an experience report

This paper describes experiences with the architectural specification and tool-assisted architectural analysis of a mission-critical, high-performance software product line. The approach used defines a "good" product line architecture in terms of those quality attributes required by the particular product line under development. Architectures are analyzed against several criteria by both manual and tool-supported methods. The approach described in this paper provides a structured analysis of an existing product line architecture using (1) architecture recovery and specification, (2) architecture evaluation, and (3) model checking of behavior to determine the level of robustness and fault tolerance at the architectural level that are required for all systems in the product line. Results of an application to a software product line of spaceborne telescopes are used to explain the approach and describe lessons learned.
Radar determination of the Astronomical Unit

Abstract : A comprehensive review is given of the Earth-Venus measurements made with the Lincoln Laboratory Millstone radar in 1959 and 1961. The time-delay and Doppler shift data yield a value for the Astronomical Unit of 499.0052 = 0.001 light sec. Using 299 792.5 km/s for the speed of light leads to an AU of 149 598 000 = 300 km. With the radius of Earth taken as 6 378.15 km, the solar parallax then becomes 8 min.79416 = 0 min.00002. This value is consistent with measurements made at various other laboratories to about one part in 100,000. (Author)
Diastereoselective Alkylation of β-Amino Esters: Structural and Rate Studies Reveal Alkylations of Hexameric Lithium Enolates

Alkylation of beta-amino ester enolates proceeds with high diastereoselectivity. Single crystal, powder, and solution X-ray diffraction studies of the enolate show that the racemic enolate forms prismatic hexamers. 6Li NMR spectroscopic studies on partially racemic enolates reveal complex mixtures of homo- and heterochiral hexamers. An implicit fit of the aggregate populations to the Boltzmann distribution provides the free energy differences and equilibrium constants for the ensemble. Rate studies show that enolate alkylation occurs directly from the hexamer with participation by THF. A mechanism based on the alkylation of a ladder-like aggregate is proposed.