cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of a score based on urinalysis to improve the management of urinary tract infection in children.

Abstract Background The need for reducing unnecessary antibiotic treatment is being emphasized in the management of urinary tract infections (UTI), a disease frequent in childhood. An ideal test should provide early diagnosis without the waiting times of urine culture, but even a simple test of exclusion could significantly improve patient management. Methods We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value of automated microscopy IRIS iQ200 combined with the dipstick analyses in children with suspected UTI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the set of variables that best predict positive culture results and develop a numerical risk score. Results Of 474 consecutive urine samples retrospectively analyzed, 69 were positive at urine culture with prevalence of infection of 14.6%. Parameters significantly associated with the presence of infection in multivariable analysis were age Conclusions This routine method could improve the management of UTI in children by early identifying patients with low probability of infection, for whom antibiotic treatment can be withheld until the results of urine culture become available.
Boundary conditions in the vicinity of the contact line at a vertically oscillating upright plate: an experimental investigation

To determine a suitable boundary-condition model for the contact line in oscillatory flow, an upright plate, oscillated vertically with sinusoidal motion in dye-laden water with an air interface, is considered experimentally. Constrained by the desirability of a two-dimensional flow field, eight frequencies in the 1-20 Hz range, each with seven different stroke amplitudes (0.5-6 mm) are chosen. The Reynolds number varies from 1.6 to 1878.3 in the experiments, large relative to the Reynolds number in the conventional uni-directional contact-line experiments (e.g. Dussan V.'s 1974 experiments). To facilitate prediction, a high-speed video system is used to record the plate displacement, the contact-line displacement, and the dynamic behaviour of the contact angle. Several interesting contact-line phenomena are shown in the present results. An expression for λ, the dimensionless capillary coefficient, is formulated such that the dynamic behaviour at the contact line is predicted reasonably well. A particle-tracking-velocimetry (PTV) technique is used to detect particle trajectories near the plate such that the boundary condition along the entire plate can be modelled. Two sets of PTV experiments are conducted. One set is for stick contact-line motion, the other set is for stick-slip contact-line motion. The results from the PTV experiments show that a vortex is formed near the meniscus in the stick-slip contact-line experiments ; however, in the stick contact-line experiments, no such vortex is present. Using the present experimental results, a model is developed for the boundary condition along the vertically oscillating vertical plate. In this model, slip occurs within a specific distance from the contact line while the flow obeys the no-slip condition outside this slip region. Also, the mean slip length is determined for each experimental stroke amplitude.
Reformulation of Possio's kernel with application to unsteady wind tunnel interference

An efficient method for computing the Possio kernel has remained elusive up to the present time. In this paper the Possio is reformulated so that it can be computed accurately using existing high precision numerical quadrature techniques. Convergence to the correct values is demonstrated and optimization of the integration procedures is discussed. Since more general kernels such as those associated with unsteady flows in ventilated wind tunnels are analytic perturbations of the Possio free air kernel, a more accurate evaluation of their collocation matrices results with an exponential improvement in convergence. An application to predicting frequency response of an airfoil-trailing edge control system in a wind tunnel compared with that in free air is given showing strong interference effects.
The distribution and morphology of LGN K pathway axons within the layers and CO blobs of owl monkey V1

The lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of primates contains three classes of relay cells, the magnocellular (M), parvocellular (P), and koniocellular (K) cells. At present, very little is known about either the structure or function of the K relay cells in New or Old World monkeys (simian primates). In monkeys, K cells are located between the main LGN layers and adjacent to the optic tract. For convenience, these intercalated cell layers are numbered K1-K4 starting closest to the optic tract with K1. The objective of this study was to examine the details of K axon morphology in the primary visual cortex (V1) of owl monkeys and to determine if different K layers give rise to distinct axon types. For this purpose, injections of WGA-HRP or PHA-L were made into specific K LGN layers and the distribution and morphology of the resulting labeled axons were analyzed. Injections of fluorescent tracers also were made within the superficial layers of V1 to further document connections via analysis of the patterns of retrogradely labeled cells in the LGN. Our main finding is that K axons in owl monkeys terminate as delicate focused arbors within single cytochrome oxidase (CO) blob columns in cortical layer III and within cortical layer I. Overall, the morphology of the K axons in these monkeys is quite similar to what we described previously for K geniculocortical axons in the distantly related bush baby (prosimian primate), suggesting that the basic features of this pathway are common to all primates. Our results also provide evidence that the axon arbors from different K layers are morphologically distinct; axons from LGN layer K1 project mainly to cortical layer I, while axons from LGN layer K3 chiefly terminate in cortical layer III. Taken together, these results imply that the basic features of axons within the K pathway are conserved across primates, and that the K axons from different K layers are likely to differ in function based upon their different morphologies.
Backscattering of electrons in EBIS collectors

Abstract Analysis of the effects of electron backscattering off an EBIS collector surface is presented. Results show that electron backscattering is a much more severe problem than secondary electrons. These electrons can accumulate in an EBIS collector and can eventually re-enter an EBIS. To our knowledge, this is the first time that electron backscattering problems in an EBIS have been considered.
Pseudoaneurysm of the abdominal aorta a case report and review of the literature

Pseudoaneurysm of the abdominal aorta is a rare finding, accounting for only 1% of all abdominal aneurysms. Abdominal pseudoaneurysms have been reported only in males, and two-thirds of the cases are the result of penetrating trauma. Pain, abdominal mass, and vascular occlusion are the most common presenting signs and symptoms. The interval between injury and rupture may range from hours to years, and accordingly, a high index of suspicion is needed to make the diagnosis.
High-pressure EPR study of the calcite-CaCO3(II) displacive phase transformation near 1.6 GPa.

Single-crystal EPR data have been obtained and interpreted for a ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ ion at pressures above the calcite-${\mathrm{CaCO}}_{3}$(II) displacive phase transition near 1.6 GPa. In the ${\mathrm{CaCO}}_{3}$(II) phase the ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ ion (substitutional for Ca) sits at a point with point-group symmetry of 1 (no symmetry). The ${B}_{20}$${O}_{20}$ and ${B}_{22}$${O}_{22}$ terms dominate the spin Hamiltonian and allow one to define for the crystal field an effective principal axis which is not along any of the crystal-lattice directions. The data can be fit using a spin Hamiltonian of the form scrH=(H\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\cdot}gbdyad\ensuremath{\cdot}S\ensuremath{\rightarrow})+AI\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\cdot}S\ensuremath{\rightarrow} +${B}_{20}$${O}_{20}$+${B}_{22}$${O}_{22}$ ${\mathrm{O}}_{43}$ where the ${B}_{43}^{\mathcal{'}}$${O}_{43}^{\mathcal{'}}$ term is referred to the original calcite-site coordinate axes, and the unprimed terms are referred to the reoriented effective principal axes of the site. The new effective axes are rotated by Eulerian angles of (30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, +17\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}) from the original calcite lattice axis. At 25 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and 1.80 GPa, ${B}_{20}$=31.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and ${B}_{22}$=36.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$, compared to ${B}_{20}$=25.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and ${B}_{22}$=0 in calcite. The values of ${B}_{20}$, ${B}_{22}$, and the Eulerian angle \ensuremath{\theta} (\ensuremath{\simeq}17\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}) vary significantly with pressure in the ${\mathrm{CaCO}}_{3}$(II) phase.
Nurses’ Ethical Conflicts: what is really known about them?

The purpose of this article is to report what can be learned about nurses’ ethical conflicts by the systematic analysis of methodologically similar studies. Five studies were identified and analysed for: (1) the character of ethical conflicts experienced; (2) similarities and differences in how the conflicts were experienced and how they were resolved; and (3) ethical conflict themes underlying four specialty areas of nursing practice (diabetes education, paediatric nurse practitioner, rehabilitation and nephrology). The predominant character of the ethical conflicts was disagreement with the quality of medical care given to patients. A significant number of ethical conflicts were experienced as ‘moral distress’, the resolution of which was variable, depending on the specialty area of practice. Ethical conflict themes underlying the specialty areas included: differences in the definition of adequacy of care among professionals, the institution and society; differences in the philosophical orientations of ...
The preparation and properties of the germyltrihydroaluminate ion

Abstract Germane (GEH4) and LiAlH4 in etheral solvents react, liberating H2 and forming LiGeH3A1H3. Reaction of KGeH3 with AlH3 yields KGeH3AlH3 along with other less well defined products. The GeH3AlH3− ion is marginally stable in solution at 25 °C, and decomposes rapidly upon solvent removal. The GeH3AlH3− ion-containing solutions are characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectral data and analysis of H2O, HCl and DCl cleavage products. The GeH3AlH3− ion functions poorly as a germylating agent; with CH3I or Me3SiBr, low yields of CH3GeH3 or Me3SiGeH3, respectively arise. The relative importance of GeH3AlH3− ion secondary reactions which involve the GeH3AlH3− ion alone, or it with GeH4 or the AlH4− ion, are discussed.
A Web-Services-Based Personal Information Integration Framework

Managing fast-growing personal Web information is a time-consuming, laborious task that affects peopleâ€™s daily lives. A framework is highly desired that will allow people to collect and fuse personal information without dealing with complex emerging technologies. In this paper, we present our E-Service-Based Information Fusion Framework for end users. This framework enables end users to collect scattered information from diverse autonomous sources and to transparently create a repeatable process by which newer instances of the same information can be obtained in the future. By exploiting this framework, users do not need to repeat the manual information-gathering task over and over again. We present our framework and provide some implementation details.
Practicing Critical Thinking in an Educational Psychology Classroom: Reflections from a Cultural-Historical Perspective.

Present standards include creative and critical thinking among dispositions essential for the teaching profession. While teaching introductory courses in educational psychology, I have noticed that even though students can easily describe critical thinking in the abstract, they rarely and reluctantly engage in thinking critically about their own educational experiences. Emphasis on assessment of critical thinking dispositions and skills requires students to demonstrate “the right way to think.” This emphasis, I argue, decreases students' inclination to practice critical inquiry and to feel this experience as intrinsically rewarding. Exploration of socio-cultural contexts of my own and my students' upbringing helps understand how such contexts condition the critical thinking practice. I offer the cultural-historical theory of Lev Vygotsky as an alternative frame of reference that will help students practice critical thinking in an educational psychology classroom.
Using flow perturbations to enhance mixing of dry powders in V-blenders

Experiments were conducted to compare mixing performance in a conventional V-blender and in a V-blender that incorporates perturbations of the particle flow by rocking the mixing vessel during rotation. Mixing was investigated using glass beads with sizes from 40 to 800 μm in vessels of approximately one liter volume. Mixture uniformity was assessed qualitatively using two different methods. One method used a transparent mixing vessel to visualize particle flow patterns and assess the state of homogeneity at the mixture's surface during the entire experiment. The second method involved solidification of the mixture by infiltration with a binder inside disposable aluminum mixing vessels. Using this method, it was possible to assess the state of the entire mixture, including its interior structure, by slicing the solidified structure after completion of each experiment. Mixture uniformity was also assessed quantitatively using image analysis to determine the composition of the solidified samples. In all cases, mixing was greatly enhanced in the rocking V-blender compared to the conventional V-blender.
Calcitermin, a novel antimicrobial peptide isolated from human airway secretions

The human airways are protected from pathogenic colonization by a blanket of fluid impregnated with innate antimicrobial effector molecules. Among several previously uncharacterized components, we isolated a peptide that had activity primarily targeting Gram-negative bacteria. We named the peptide 'calcitermin' since its amino acid sequence and mass were equivalent to the 15 C-terminal residues of the S100 protein, calgranulin C. The antimicrobial activity of calcitermin was enhanced in acidic buffers (pH 5.4) and in the presence of micromolar concentrations of ZnCl(2). Analysis revealed a putative zinc-binding consensus sequence as well as an alpha-helical conformation in structure-promoting solvents.
Optimum quantization and reconstruction of power flows from voltage measurements at dispersed buses

In this paper, optimum quantization and reconstruction is studied for a DC power flow model and voltage measurements taken at dispersed buses. Necessary conditions are provided for the optimum parameters that describe the quantization and reconstruction processes. Algorithms are described to employ these necessary conditions to search for the optimum parameters. When the voltage measurements are statistically independent, the necessary conditions decouple for each of the measurements, significantly simplifying the solution process. Suppose the sets of measurements at different buses can be broken into several groups. If all the measurements in a given group must be modeled as being statistically dependent but if measurements from different groups can be approximated as independent of one another, then it is shown that the necessary conditions are uncoupled from group to group. In this case, small problems, for each group, must be solved and then the solutions of the smaller problems can be combined to solve the overall problem. The resulting approach significantly reduces the complexity of finding the optimum quantization and reconstruction parameters. Further, this approximation appears reasonable in modeling power networks, where measurements at neighboring nodes may require a statistically dependent model but nodes where are far apart may not.
Auger recombination, internal loss, and other processes in interband cascade lasers

Lifetimes, Auger coefficients, and internal losses were deduced for 25 different type-II "W" interband cascade laser structures, from correlations of the experimental threshold current densities and slope efficiencies with calculated threshold carrier densities and optical gains. The room-temperature Auger coefficients for a number of lowthreshold devices emitting at wavelengths from 2.9 μm to 5.2 μm fall in the narrow range 3-11 × 10 -28 cm 6 /s, which represents a much stronger suppression of Auger decay than was implied by most earlier experiments and theoretical projections. The estimated internal loss is lowest at intermediate wavelengths, and the most recent designs display additional reduction to as little as 8 cm -1 at 300 K.
Thyroid plasma membrane-associated protein kinases: properties and substrates of solubilized and insoluble enzymes.

The protein kinase activities of thyroid plasma membranes were characterized after treatment by the nonionic detergent, Triton X-100. With endogenous substrate the protein kinase activity of intact plasma membranes appeared to be cAMP independent, whereas the solubilized plasma membranes contained a cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of intact plasma membranes demonstrated approximately 30 protein bands, of which several were substrates for endogenous protein kinase. cAMP had a slight, but reproducible, stimulatory effect on some of these. In solubilized plasma membranes cAMP significantly augmented phosphorylation of at least seven of these proteins.Solubilized plasma membranes bound significantly more cAMP per mg protein than intact plasma membranes. The inability to unequivocally detect cAMP-dependent protein kinase in intact membranes using endogenous substrate probably reflects the much greater activity of the cAMP-independent enzyme activity The ...
Modification of anomalous deposition of Zn-Ni alloy by using tin additions

Abstract One of the common examples of anomalous deposition in electrolytic processing is the Zn-Ni alloy coating system. These alloys, in the range 10–15% Ni, are also of commercial interest in electrogalvanizing for protecting steel from corrosion while retaining good formability, weldability and paintability. The primary objective of this research was to obtain a better fundamental understanding of anomalous deposition and to identify ways to modify its influence. Specifically, the effects of tin additions on the composition, structure and surface morphology of Zn-Ni alloy deposits from electrolyte containing 80 g 1 −1 Zn and 10 g 1 −1 Ni were studied. Previous work had shown that low concentrations (parts per million) of cations such as antimony and arsenic were very effective in countering the anomalous deposition and increasing the relative nickel content of the deposits. Unfortunately, the morphology and current efficiency were adversely affected by use of these additives. It was found that the addition of tin also appreciably increased the nickel content of the alloy deposit, as well as giving smooth, dense deposits with a current efficiency of about 90%. The surface morphology of the deposits was correlated with the amount of tin added. The limited electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests conducted showed that the low concentrations of tin did lower the charge transfer resistance of the reaction. Overall, the results were promising but considerably more research is needed to elucidate the basic factors that influence zinc alloy electrocrystallization mechanisms.
Interactions between Gravity Waves and Cold Air Outflows in a Stably Stratified Uniform Flow

Interactions between gravity waves and cold air outflows in a stably stratified uniform flow forced by various combinations of prescribed heat sinks and sources are studied using a hydrostatic two-dimensional nonlinear numerical model. The formation time for the development of a stagnation point or reversed flow at the surface is not always directly proportional to the Froude number when wave reflections exist from upper levels. A density current is able to form by the wave-otuflow interaction, even though the Froude number is greater than a critical value. This is the result of the wave-outflow interaction shifting the flow response to a different location in the characteristic parameter space. A density current is able to form or be destroyed due to the wave-outflow interaction between a traveling gravity wave and cold air outflow. This is proved by performing experiments with a steady-state heat sink and an additional transient heat source. In a quiescent fluid, a region of cold air, convergence, and upward motion is formed after the collision between two outflows produced by two prescribed heat sinks. After the collision, the individual cold air outflows lose their own identity and merge into a single, stationary, cold air outflow region. Gravity waves tend to suppress this new stationary cold air outflow after the collision. The region of upward motion associated with the collision is confined to a very shallow layer. In a moving airstream, a density current produced by a heat sink may be suppressed or enhanced nonlinearly by an adjacent heat sink due to the wave-outflow interaction.
Symptom clusters during the late menopausal transition stage: observations from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study.

Objective The aims of this study were to identify groups of women in the late menopausal transition stage who experienced the same cluster of symptoms and to identify indicators that predicted membership in these distinct groups. Methods The sample consisted of a subset of Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study participants who were in the late menopausal transition stage and provided self-report data on symptoms experienced between 1990 and 2005. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify groups of women who experienced similar clusters of the following five symptoms: problem concentrating, hot flashes, joint ache, mood changes, and awakening at night. LCA with multivariate logistic regression was used to identify covariates that predicted membership in each group. Results Four groups of women were identified: (1) low severity for all symptoms except for joint ache, which was moderate (65%); (2) high severity for all symptoms except for hot flashes, which was moderate (13%); (3) high severity for hot flashes, joint ache, and awakening at night (12%); and (4) high severity for problem concentrating and joint ache (10%). A clear delineation between groups based on individual characteristics was not fully elucidated. Conclusions This analysis demonstrates that LCA may be useful to identify women who may experience poorer outcomes related to a higher propensity for severe symptoms. Shifting the focus from single symptoms to symptom clusters will aid in the identification of phenotypic profiles, thus facilitating symptom management strategies that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual women.
Pointwise minimum norm control laws for hybrid systems

Minimum-norm control laws for hybrid dynamical systems are proposed. Hybrid systems are given by differential equations capturing the continuous dynamics or flows, and by difference equations capturing the discrete dynamics or jumps. The proposed control laws are defined as the pointwise minimum norm selection from the set of inputs guaranteeing a decrease of a control Lyapunov function. The cases of individual and common inputs during flows and jumps, as well as when inputs enter through one of the system dynamics, are considered. Examples illustrate the results.
Time-lapse Seismic Measurements on a Small Earthen Embankment during an Internal Erosion Experiment

The failure of earthen embankments is associated with erosion, overtopping, seepage, piping, slope failures, and slides. Precursory evidence for certain failures can be identified by visual inspection; however, others are not so easily detected. Seismic imaging and monitoring may provide unique and valuable precursory information about the onset of piping, seepage, and anomalous pore pressures to assist in the evaluation of the integrity of an earthen embankment.
DESIGN CURVES FOR STRUCTURAL RESPONSE DUE TO IMPACT LOADING

A method is developed to produce a design curve for predicting the response of a given type of structure to impact loading. This curve gives the maximum strain in the structure, which may have various size and material properties, due to impacts involving different masses and velocities. An example of a simply supported beam under central impact is presented in detail. Both experimental results and numerical calculations were used in establishing the design curve. This curve implies that, for large impactor masses, the controlling parameter is the ratio of structural to impactor mass; the strain is linearly proportional to impact velocity and inversely proportional to the square root of the mass ratio. (Author)
Synthesis of multiphase intermetallic compounds by mechanical alloying in Ni–Al–Ti system

Abstract In this paper, we based our investigations on the isothermal (900 °C) of the Ni-rich corner of the Ni–Al–Ti phase diagram and chose the compositions corresponding to the corners and inner of the tie-triangle of the equilibrium phase diagram to proceed high-energy ball milling. Nano-crystalline Ni(Al,Ti), Ni 2 AlTi and Ni 3 (Al,Ti) phases in the Ni–Al–Ti system were synthesized by mechanical alloying of elemental powders in a horizontal rotary ball mill. The crystallite size was the finest ∼7.5 nm when Ni(Al,Ti), Ni 2 AlTi and Ni 3 (Al,Ti) phases co-exist after prolonged milling. Formation kinetics was also analyzed using Johnson–Mehl–Avrami (JMA) equation. The Avrami exponent n is less than 2.5, which indicates that the reaction of solid solution formation is diffusion controlled. After annealing the milled powders at 1150 °C for 2 h and then at 900 °C for 100 h, the Ni(Al,Ti), Ni 2 AlTi and Ni 3 (Al,Ti) phases co-exist very clearly.
Building a robust manufacturing strategy

Abstract The competitive edge and consequently the survival of organizations in 21st century will depend upon how will they harness their capabilities and supplier capabilities. Striving for technological breakthrough, quality and productivity are absolutely necessary. High performance companies rely heavily on process-oriented thinking, teamwork, involvement and innovations. The principle of TQM coupled with tools like QPD, QFD, SPC, TRIZ and Taguchi Methods help organizations develop robust manufacturing strategies, products and processes as part of continuous improvement plan to survive in the global market. These tools can be incorporated into the classic steps of corporate planning to make strategy work more effectively.
Rethinking Typhoid Fever Vaccines: Implications for Travelers and People Living in Highly Endemic Areas

Enteric (typhoid or paratyphoid) fever is a systemic infection caused by Salmonella enterica , including S enterica serotype Typhi ( S typhi ) and serotypes Paratyphi A, B, and C ( S paratyphi ). Humans are the only host for these pathogens, which are transmitted by fecal contamination of food and water. Salmonella typhi caused an estimated 22 million illnesses and 200,000 deaths, and S paratyphi caused 5.4 million illnesses worldwide during the year 2000. 1 The actual global burden of enteric fever is difficult to determine because many cases are unrecognized, particularly in young children who may have a nonspecific illness, 2–4 and it is not a notifiable disease in endemic countries. In addition, there are no specific clinical diagnostic criteria, and the laboratory techniques for diagnosis lack sensitivity and specificity. 5 According to the recently estimated global incidence, the highest concentration of typhoid fever is in Asia, especially in the Indian subcontinent (Table 1). 1 Southern Africa and Latin America also have a high disease burden (Table 1). View this table: Table 1 Crude typhoid fever incidence rates by region, 2000 Previously, S paratyphi was thought to have caused 10% of cases of enteric fever and a milder form of disease than S typhi. 6,7 However, recent reports suggest that these two pathogens cause similar diseases 8–10 and that there has been a disproportionate increase in the incidence of enteric fever caused by S paratyphi , with up to 50% of enteric fever cases caused by S paratyphi in some highly endemic areas of the world. 9,11–15 Enteric fever also affects short‐term and long‐term travelers bound to highly endemic areas. 16 Among the travel‐related cases, most occur in foreign‐born residents who visited friends or family in their country of origin. 17 Travel to the Indian subcontinent is associated with the highest risk of contracting enteric fever. 18–20 … Corresponding Author: Carlos Franco‐Paredes, MD, MPH, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, 550 Peachtree Street, MOT, 7th Floor, TravelWell, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA. E‐mail: cfranco{at}sph.emory.edu
ZrW2O8/ZrO2 composites by in situ synthesis of ZrO2 + WO3: Processing, coefficient of thermal expansion, and theoretical model prediction

Abstract The in situ synthesis of WO 3 and ZrO 2 in a particular mass ratio enables us to produce ZrW 2 O 8 , a material with negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). By increasing the proportion of ZrO 2 , the products were made into a wide variety of ZrW 2 O 8 /ZrO 2 composites. The temperature dependences of the CTEs of those materials were measured and the experimental data were compared with the predictions from several models. The Levin model yielded the predictive values most close to the experimental CTEs. This was the first time the micromechanics models were applied to predict the CTEs of composite materials containing a negative thermal expansion material. A ZrW 2 O 8 /ZrO 2 composite with a designed CTE can be fabricated and utilized to meet a special thermal requirement in many industrial applications.
Physical Properties of Erythrocyte Ghosts That Determine Susceptibility to Secretory Phospholipase A2

Artificial membranes may be resistant or susceptible to catalytic attack by secretory phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) depending on the physical properties of the membrane. Living cells are normally resistant but become susceptible during trauma, apoptosis, and/or a significant elevation of intracellular calcium. Intact erythrocytes and ghosts were studied to determine whether the principles learned from artificial systems apply to biological membranes. Membrane properties such as phospholipid and/or protein composition, morphology, and microscopic characteristics (e.g. fluidity) were manipulated by preparing ghosts under different experimental conditions such as in the presence or absence of divalent cations with or without ATP. The properties of each membrane preparation were assessed by biochemical and physical means (fluorescence spectroscopy and electron and two-photon microscopy using the membrane probes bis-pyrene and laurdan) and compared with sPLA(2) activity. The properties that appeared most relevant were the degree of phosphatidylserine exposure on the outer face of the membrane and changes to the membrane physical state detected by bis-pyrene and laurdan. Specifically, vulnerability to hydrolysis by sPLA(2) was associated with an increase in bilayer order apparently reflective of expansion of membrane regions of diminished fluidity. These results argue that the general principles identified from studies with artificial membranes apply to biological systems.
The Effect of Musical Training and Cerebral Asymmetries on Perception of an Auditory Illusion

Twenty-seven right- and fourteen left-handed subjects with varying amounts of musical training listened to dichotic octave patterns. Each pattern consisted of twenty 250-msec. tones which oscillated from 400 to 800 Hz. Patterns were combined in such a way that while one ear received a 400 Hz tone, an 800 Hz tone was simultaneously present in the opposite ear. Reported perception of these patterns was significantly related to the handedness of the subjects. In addition, responses of subjects with musical training differed significantly from those of untrained subjects. An hypothesis is suggested that musical training serves to establish a sharper psychophysical criterion for judging unfamiliar sounds. Further research should be directed toward understanding the relationship between the octave illusion and cerebral dominance.
Metabolism of phospholipids by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

By incubating homogenates of polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from rabbit-peritoneal exudates with various 32P-labeled phosphoglycerides the following reactions were identified: Lecithin → Lysolecithin and fatty acid (1) Lysolecithin → Glycerylphosphorylcholine and fatty acid (2) Lysolecithin → Lecithin (3) The mechanism of the last reaction appears to be the recently postulated (Erbland and Marinetti) pathway: 2 lysolecithin → lecithin and glycerylphosphorylcholine. This conclusion is based upon: (a) [32P]lysolecithin accumulation occurred without appreciable incorporation of [14C]linoleic acid. (b) Lysolecithin carrying 32P in the phosphorylcholine moiety and 14C in the fatty acid yielded lecithin with a 14C/32P ratio 2 times that of the original lysolecithin. (c) ATP and CoA did not stimulate [32P] lecithin formation nor incorporation of [14C]linoleic acid. Lysolecithin is a membrane-lytic agent. Its production and removal by conversion to glycerylphosphorylcholine and lecithin may therefore play a role in the lysis and renewal of cellular membranes.
The absence of wall effects during benzonitrile hydrolysis

Abstract The kinetics of benzonitrile hydrolysis were used to probe the effect of reactor walls on hydrothermal reaction chemistry. The three key issues of: (1) reactor use history; (2) material of construction; and (3) surface area to volume ratio (S/V) were investigated with respect to reaction rate constant and hydrolysis product yield. A series of identical reactions revealed no effect of repeated reactor use on either the rate constant or product selectivity. Likewise, use of stainless steel and titanium reactors with the same volume and surface area produced no statistical difference in either rate constant or product yield. Finally, the kinetics and product yields were not affected by variation of reactor S/V from 3.68 to 14.84 cm−1. Analysis of possible parallel homogeneous and heterogeneous (wall) reaction at 300°C and 200 bar revealed rate constants of 1.02×10−2 min−1 and 1.22×10−4 cm min−1, respectively. The maximum heterogeneous contribution to the overall rate (5.6±2.0%) was within the experimental uncertainty for the homogeneous rate constant (6.1%). This suggests that the laboratory-deduced rate constants will provide a faithful model for the true kinetics at commercial conditions.
Enclosings of λ -fold 5-cycle systems for u = 2

A k -cycle system of a multigraph G is an ordered pair ( V , C ) where V is the vertex set of G and C is a set of k -cycles, the edges of which partition the edges of G . A k -cycle system of λ K v is known as a λ -fold k -cycle system of order v . A k -cycle system of λ K v ( V , C ) is said to be enclosed in a k -cycle system of ( λ + m ) K v + u ( V ? U , P ) if C ? P and u , m ? 1 . In this paper the enclosing problem for 5 -cycle systems is settled in the general situation where the three parameters λ , m , and v are allowed to vary freely and u is constrained to the difficult case of adding two vertices. New graph theoretic approaches are introduced to handle this situation developing an avenue of research that is of interest in its own right.
Outsourcing Industry Medical Information Services

This article addresses the potential areas for outsourcing partnerships in medical information and issues to consider when selecting a vendor. Suggested criteria with which to measure vendor performance once a program has been initiated are provided. Continual evaluation of the process and services will determine if the outsourcing partnership continues to support the business needs of the company.
Using proximity and quantized RSS for sensor localization in wireless networks

For wireless sensor networks, received signal strength (RSS) and proximity (also known as connectivity) measurements have been proposed as simple and inexpensive means to estimate range between devices and sensor location. While RSS measurements are recognized to suffer from errors due to the random nature of the fading channel, proximity measurements, ie., knowing only whether or not two devices are in communication range, are often discussed without considering that they are affected by the same fading channel. Proximity measurements are actually just a binary quantization of RSS measurements. We use the Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) to compare the minimal attainable variances of unbiased sensor location estimators for the cases of RSS and proximity measurements. For completeness, we also present the CRB for sensor localization with systems using K-level quantized RSS (QRSS) measurements, of which proximity measurements are the special case: K=2. Examples are presented for the case of one unknown-location sensor, and for the case of a 5 by 5 grid of sensors. These examples show that lower bounds for standard deviation in proximity-based systems are, as a rule of thumb, about 50% higher than the bounds for RSS-based systems. Furthermore, results are presented which show how many bits of quantization are necessary for a QRSS-based system to nearly achieve the bounds of an unquantized RSS system.
A Bayesian genome screening of maximum number of drinks as an alcoholism phenotype with the new Haseman-Elston method

Common human disorders, such as alcoholism, may be the result of interactions of many genes as well as environmental risk factors. Therefore, it is important to incorporate gene × gene and gene × environment interactions in complex disease gene mapping. In this study, we applied a robust Bayesian genome screening method that can incorporate interaction effects to map genes underlying alcoholism through its application to the data of the Collaborative Studies on Genetics of Alcoholism provided by Genetic Analysis Workshop 14. Our Bayesian genome screening method uses the regression-based stochastic variable selection, coupled with the new Haseman-Elston method to identify markers linked to phenotypes of interest. Compared to traditional linkage methods based on single-gene disease models, our method allows for multilocus disease models for simultaneous screening including both main and interaction (epistatic) effects. It is conceptually simple and computationally efficient through the use of Gibbs sampler. We conducted genome-wide analysis and comparison between scans based on microsatellites and single-nucleotide polymorphisms. A total of 328 microsatellites and 11,560 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (by Affymetrix) on 22 autosomal chromosomes and sex chromosome were used.
Post-fabrication laser trimming of micromechanical filters

Semi-automatic post-fabrication laser trimming of a second order vibrating micromechanical clamped-clamped beam (CCB) filter has been demonstrated via a pole-correcting algorithm that identifies the individual resonators associated with each peak in a distorted filter response, then uses this information to compute correction factors needed to trim each resonator towards the desired filter passband. Both increases or decreases in resonator frequency are possible via the laser trimming due a geometrically-derived location-dependence, where the direction of the frequency change depends strongly on the location at which the laser removes material. By compensating for dimensional errors due to finite absolute and matching tolerances in planar processes, this trim procedure might eventually be instrumental in making available the banks of very small percent bandwidth micromechanical filters presently targeted for RF-channel selection in future multi-band wireless handsets.
Reliability of 0.1 mu m InP HEMTs

The results of an extensive life test program of state-of-the-art InP HEMTs with 0.1- mu m gate lengths are presented. High-temperature DC life tests revealed at least two degradational and one catastrophic failure mode. A decrease in g/sub m/ was observed which is a function of temperature, and which is greater for devices with higher I/sub dss/. A decrease in I/sub dss/, was observed which was a function of temperature, with an activation energy of 1.25 eV. The catastrophic failures were due to migration of ohmic metal from the contact to the gate. A median life of 30 years at 100 degrees C is predicted from the DC data. A 10000-h, 50 degrees C life test was also run, with little or no RF degradation. >
Decreased neointimal formation in Mac-1–/– mice reveals a role for inflammation in vascular repair after angioplasty

Inflammation plays an essential role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, but its role in vascular repair after mechanical arterial injury (i.e., percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, PTCA) is unknown. In animal models of vascular injury, leukocytes are recruited as a precursor to intimal thickening. Furthermore, markers of leukocyte activation — in particular, increased expression of the β2-integrin Mac-1 (αMβ2, or CD11b/CD18), which is responsible for firm leukocyte adhesion to platelets and fibrinogen on denuded vessels — predict restenosis after PTCA. To determine whether Mac-1–mediated leukocyte recruitment is causally related to neointimal formation, we subjected mice lacking Mac-1 to a novel form of mechanical carotid artery dilation and complete endothelial denudation. We now report that the selective absence of Mac-1 impairs transplatelet leukocyte migration into the vessel wall, reducing leukocyte accumulation over time. Diminished medial leukocyte accumulation was accompanied by markedly reduced neointimal thickening after vascular injury. These data establish a role for inflammation in neointimal thickening and suggest that leukocyte recruitment to mechanically injured arteries may prevent restenosis.
Requirement tracking: a streamlined approach

The streamlined approach is a midrange approach to requirement tracking that rejects both a high degree of formality (such as requirements matrices) and informal techniques (such as "user stories"). The basic requirement unit is the requirement statement, not the document, or the use case. Typically, requirements statements are from one to four sentences long. The key concept of the streamlined approach is that of the concrete software requirement. The two primary characteristics are: 1) The requirement is linked to a single software deliverable which it specifies. 2) There exists a well defined completion criterion for determining when the deliverable satisfies the requirement.
Using semiconvex duality and max-plus analysis to obtain a new fundamental solution for the differential riccati equation

Semiconvex duality and max-plus analysis are used to obtain a surprising new fundamental solution for the ubiquitous matrix differential Riccati equation (DRE). We consider the DRE as a finite-dimensional solution to a deterministic linear/quadratic control problem. Taking the semiconvex dual of the associated semigroup, one obtains the solution operator as a max-plus integral operator with quadratic kernel. The kernel is equivalently represented as a matrix. Using the semigroup property of the dual operator, one obtains a matrix operation whereby the kernel matrix propagates as a semigroup. The propagation forward is through some simple matrix operations. This time-indexed family of matrices forms a new fundamental solution for the DRE. Solution for any initial condition is obtained by a few matrix operations on the fundamental solution and the initial condition. This fundamental solution has a particularly nice control interpretation.
Structure and Function of Intercellular Junctions in Human Cervical and Vaginal Mucosal Epithelia

The mucosal epithelium is a major portal for microbial invasion. Mucosal barrier integrity is maintained by the physical interactions of intercellular junctional molecules on opposing epithelial cells. The epithelial mucosa in the female reproductive tract provides the first line of defense against sexually transmitted pathogenic bacteria and viruses, but little is known concerning the structure and molecular composition of epithelial junctions at this site. In the present study, the distribution of tight, adherens, and desmosomal junctions were imaged in the human endocervix (columnar epithelium) and ectocervix (stratified squamous epithelium) by electron microscopy, and permeability was assessed by tracking the penetration of fluorescent immunoglobulin G (IgG). To further define the molecular structure of the intercellular junctions, select junctional molecules were localized in the endocervical, ectocervical, and vaginal epithelium by fluorescent immunohistology. The columnar epithelial cells of the endocervix were joined by tight junctions that excluded apically applied fluorescent IgG. In contrast, the most apical layers of the ectocervical stratified squamous epithelium did not contain classical cell-cell adhesions and were permeable to IgG. The suprabasal and basal epithelial layers in ectocervical and vaginal tissue contained the most robust adhesions; molecules characteristic of exclusionary junctions were detected three to four cellular layers below the luminal surface and extended to the basement membrane. These data indicate that the uppermost epithelial layers of the ectocervix and vagina constitute a unique microenvironment; their lack of tight junctions and permeability to large-molecular-weight immunological mediators suggest that this region is an important battlefront in host defense against microbial pathogens.
On immanants of Jacobi-Trudi matrices and permutations with restricted position

Abstract Let χ be a character of the symmetric group Ln. The immanant of an n × n matrix A = [aij] with respect to χ is Σw ϵ Sn χ(w) a1,w(1) … an,w(n). Goulden and Jackson conjectured, and Greene recently proved, that immanants of Jacobi-Trudi matrices are polynomials with nonnegative integer coefficients. This led one of us (Stembridge) to formulate a series of conjectures involving immanants, some of which amount to stronger versions of the original Goulden-Jackson conjecture. In this paper, we prove some special cases of one of the stronger conjectures. One of the special cases we prove develops from a generalization of the theory of permutations with restricted position which takes into account the cycle structure of the permutations. We also present two refinements of the immanant conjectures, as well as a related conjecture on the number of ways to partition a partially ordered set into chains.
An autonomous self-replicating robotic system

The concept of self-replicating machines was introduced more than fifty years ago by John von Neumann. However, to our knowledge a fully autonomous self-replicating robot has not been implemented until now. Here we describe a fully autonomous prototype that demonstrates robotic self replication. This work builds on our previous results in remote-controlled robotic replication and semi-autonomous replicating robotic systems.