cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface Micromachined Sensors for Vehicle Navigation Systems

Today, most vehicle navigation systems use a GPS receiver as the primary source of information to calculate position. While the systems have become increasingly accurate in generating coordinates under ideal conditions of operation, it is a widely acknowledged fact, and studies have shown, that such systems can become highly unreliable in urban environments. Recently, much work has been accomplished and many solutions have been proposed to improve accuracy and minimize problems associated with poor signal reception. Nevertheless, dead reckoning relying on inertial navigation has become the de facto back up method to generate position in the absence of GPS signals. Together with gyroscopes which are an intrinsic part of such inertial navigation systems, accelerometers are now being considered for the function of measuring velocity, one of the requirements of dead reckoning. Recent progress in the development of Integrated MicroElectro Mechanical Systems (iMEMS) using surface micromachining technology are now enabling new form factors and price points for this function. In this paper, we introduce the concept of dead reckoning and its requirements, describe the process of surface micromachining and propose a cost effective solution for velocity measurement in an inertial navigation system with the use of the ADXL202, a low-cost, low-g dual axis accelerometer from Analog Devices.
Site Specific Nematode Management—Development and Success in Cotton Production in the United States

Variability in edaphic factors such as clay content, organic matter, and nutrient availability within individual fields is a major obstacle confronting cotton producers. Adaptation of geospatial technologies such global positioning systems (GPS), yield monitors, autosteering, and the automated on-and-off technology required for site-specific nematicide application has provided growers with additional tools for managing nematodes. Multiple trials in several states were conducted to evaluate this technology in cotton. In a field infested with Meloidogyne spp., both shallow (0 to 0.3 m) and deep (0 to 0.91 m) apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) readings were highly correlated with sand content. Populations of Meloidogyne spp. were present when shallow and deep EC values were less than 30 and 90 mS/m, respectively. Across three years of trials in production fields in which verification strips (adjacent nematicide treated and untreated rows across all soil zones) were established to evaluate crop response to nematicide application, deep EC values from 27.4-m wide transects of verification strips were more predictive of yield response to application of 1,3-dichloropropene than were shallow EC values in one location and both ECa values equally effective at predicting responses at the second location. In 2006, yields from entire verification strips across three soil zones in four production fields showed that nematicide response was greatest in areas with the lowest EC values indicating highest content of sand. In 2008 in Ashley and Mississippi Counties, AR, nematicide treatment by soil zone resulted in 36% and 42% reductions in the amount of nematicide applied relative to whole-field application. In 2007 in Bamberg County, SC, there was a strong positive correlation between increasing population densities of Meloidogyne incognita and increasing sand content. Trials conducted during 2007 and 2009 in South Carolina against Hoplolaimus columbus showed a stepwise response to increasing rates of aldicarb in zone 1 but not in zones 2 and 3. Site-specific application of nematicides has been shown to be a viable option for producers as a potential management tool against several nematode pathogens of cotton.
Reaction of an exofacial sulfhydryl group on the erythrocyte hexose carrier with an impermeant maleimide: relevance to the mechanism of hexose transport

The presence of a reactive exofacial sulfhydryl on the human erythrocyte hexose carrier was used to test several predictions of the alternating conformation or one-site model of transport. The cell-impermeant glutathione-maleimide-I (GS-Mal) irreversibly inhibited hexose entry by decreasing the transport Vmax. This effect was potentiated by phloretin and maltose but decreased by cytochalasin B, indicating that under the one-site model the external sulfhydryl is on the outward-facing carrier but that it does not overlap with the exofacial substrate-binding site. Incubation of erythrocytes with maltose competitively inhibited the binding of [3H]cytochalasin B to the inward-facing carrier (Ki = 40 mM). Furthermore, both equilibrium cytochalasin B binding and its photolabeling of the band 4.5 carrier protein were decreased in ghosts prepared from GS-Mal-treated cells. Thus induction of an outward-facing carrier conformation with either maltose or GS-Mal caused the endofacial substrate-binding site to disappear. Dose-response studies of GS-Mal treatment of intact cells suggested that some functional carriers lack a reactive external sulfhydryl, which can be partially regenerated by pretreatment with excess cysteine. These data provide direct support for the one-site model of transport and further define the role of the external sulfhydryl in the transport mechanism.
Formulation of INL and DNL yield estimation in current-steering D/A converters

Current source mismatch is a major source of nonlinearity in current-steering digital-to-analog converters (DAC). In order to achieve a given linearity specification at a given yield level, it is essential that the designer determine the:: minimum required matching accuracy of the unit current sources. Monte-Carlo simulations are very time-consuming and provide the designer with little insight to choose proper DAC architectures and make tradeoff between design specifications. The limited mathematical formulations that have appeared in the literature are based on nonstandard linearity definitions or oversimplifying statistical assumptions. In this paper, simple formulas are obtained that accurately describe the relationship between nonlinearity, bits of resolution, minimum required matching accuracy, and yield, which make it possible to optimize the DAC structure and achieve high performance with less cost and power consumption.
Transfacet screw placement for posterior fixation of C-7 : Technical note

Object Lateral mass screws are traditionally used to fixate the subaxial cervical spine, while pedicle screws are used in the thoracic spine. Lateral mass fixation at C-7 is challenging due to thin facets, and placing pedicle screws is difficult due to the narrow pedicles. The authors describe their clinical experience with a novel technique for transfacet screw placement for fixation at C-7. Methods A retrospective chart review was undertaken in all patients who underwent transfacet screw placement at C-7. The technique of screw insertion was the same for each patient. Polyaxial screws between 8- and 10-mm-long were used in each case and placed through the facet from a perpendicular orientation. Postoperative radiography and clinical follow-up were analyzed for aberrant screw placement or construct failure. Results Ten patients underwent C-7 transfacet screw placement between June 2006 and March 2007. In all but 1 patient screws were placed bilaterally, and the construct lengths ranged from C-3 to T-5. O...
Evidential Relevance and the Grue Paradox

Goodman's Grue Paradox may be intransigent as a version of the problem of induction, but may be resolved within the more limited context of confirmation theory in which the task is to explicate the basic notion of evidential relevance. Although the green and grue hypotheses are equivalently confirmed if we follow Goodman's use of the Hempelian instance confirmation relation, there are asymmetries than can be exploited if we adopt an "ontic" confirmation theory that uses a causal notion of evidential relevance. I sort out a variety of interpretive confusions about the intended content of the definition of grue and show how the causal approach resolves each in a way that is not paradoxical.
Molecular biology: RNA gets a grip on translation

These are interesting times for those who study RNA. The latest curious discovery is that some messenger RNAs have sequences that sense small molecules directly, so controlling translation of the RNA into protein.
Investigation of engineering fallout caused by package design marginality

This paper had highlighted the packaging design marginality that causing high yield loss in engineering lot. By employing the logic of failure analysis, coupled with a series of conventional sample preparation and inspection methodologies, the effort lead to a full understanding of the failure mechanism that salvaged batches of materials from being assembled.
The Immigration-Crime Nexus: Toward an Analytic Framework for Assessing and Guiding Theory, Research, and Policy

If media accounts are to be believed, immigration to the United States is a primary cause of increased crime rates. Review of recent anticrime policies targeting immigrants would lead one to the sa...
Function of Matrix IGF-1 in Coupling Bone Resorption and Formation

Balancing bone resorption and formation is the quintessential component for the prevention of osteoporosis. Signals that determine the recruitment, replication, differentiation, function, and apoptosis of osteoblasts and osteoclasts direct bone remodeling and determine whether bone tissue is gained, lost, or balanced. Therefore, understanding the signaling pathways involved in the coupling process will help develop further targets for osteoporosis therapy, by blocking bone resorption or enhancing bone formation in a space- and time-dependent manner. Insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) has long been known to play a role in bone strength. It is one of the most abundant substances in the bone matrix, circulates systemically and is secreted locally, and has a direct relationship with bone mineral density. Recent data has helped further our understanding of the direct role of IGF-1 signaling in coupling bone remodeling which will be discussed in this review. The bone marrow microenvironment plays a critical role in the fate of mesenchymal stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells and thus how IGF-1 interacts with other factors in the microenvironment are equally important. While previous clinical trials with IGF-1 administration have been unsuccessful at enhancing bone formation, advances in basic science studies have provided insight into further mechanisms that should be considered for future trials. Additional basic science studies dissecting the regulation and the function of matrix IGF-1 in modeling and remodeling will continue to provide further insight for future directions for anabolic therapies for osteoporosis.
Optics of liquid crystal displays

This tutorial covers an introduction to liquid crystal technology and principles of operation of various modes of liquid crystal displays as well as the development of birefringent optical thin film technologies (e.g., polarizers, compensators) for improving the viewing quality of these displays.
Molecular neuro-oncology and development of targeted therapeutic strategies for brain tumors. Part 2: PI3K/Akt/PTEN, mTOR, SHH/PTCH and angiogenesis.

Brain tumors are a diverse group of malignancies that remain refractory to conventional treatment approaches. Molecular neuro-oncology has now begun to clarify the transformed phenotype of brain tumors and identify oncogenic pathways that might be amenable to targeted therapy. Activity of the phosphoinositide 3´ kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway is often upregulated in brain tumors due to excessive stimulation by growth factor receptors and Ras. Loss of function of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN also frequently contributes to upregulation of PI3K/Akt. Several compounds, such as wortmannin and LY-294002, can target PI3K and inhibit activity of this pathway. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an important regulator of cell growth and metabolism and is often upregulated by Akt. Clinical trials of CCI-779, an inhibitor of mTOR, are ongoing in recurrent malignant glioma patients. The sonic hedgehog/PTCH pathway is involved in the tumorigenesis of some familial and sporadic medulloblastomas. This pathway can b...
Physical Characterization of Ten R Plasmids Obtained from an Outbreak of Nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae Infections

Gentamicin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae involved in an outbreak at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Hospital was due to a transmissible R plasmid. In addition to gentamicin, this plasmid conferred resistance to tobramycin, kanamycin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, and sulfathiazole. R plasmids which transferred this complex antibiogram were identified in several clinical isolates, including four different serotypes of K. pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae , and Proteus morganii . The covalently closed circular form of all R plasmids isolated had a sedimentation coefficient of 76S to 77S, corresponding to a molecular weight of 58 × 10 6 . The possibility that a single R plasmid was responsible for the dissemination of multiple drug resistance among all of these different clinical strains was examined by characterizing the plasmids by using Eco RI restriction endonuclease. The same 15 fragments were obtained from each of the 10 plasmids analyzed. Their molecular weights ranged from 4 × 10 5 to 11 × 10 6 . Thus, we conclude that each of the 10 plasmids present in the various clinical strains isolated from the hospital over a 7-month period originated from a common source and that R plasmid transfer was important in their spread.
LEARNING FROM ACADEMIA: THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL LIFE

In-depth interviews with business school faculty members suggest that work relationships are more than strategically chosen means to career mobility. Relationships are career-defining ends as well, and negative relationships may be as consequential as helpful ties. Findings also showed significant gender differences: women, more than men, told stories about harm; men, more than women, told stories about help. Workplace relationships may play different roles for professionals and managers, and men's and women's different relational experiences may foster different career logics, or ways of striving for success.
Fetal carotid blood flow during videofetoscopy

Abstract Background/Purpose: Intracranial bleeding has been reported as one of the complications of both open and minimally invasive fetal surgery and putatively attributed to intraoperative fluctuations of carotid blood flow. The aim of this study was to look at fetal carotid blood flow and its relationship with umbilical blood flow, blood pressure, oxygen delivery, and acid-base status in the fetus at various intraamniotic pressures with both liquid and gas media during fetoscopic surgery. Methods: Six 115- to 130-day-gestation ewes underwent continuous invasive systemic blood pressure monitoring in the descending aorta. A hysterotomy was performed. A 6-mm ultrasonic blood flow probe was placed around the common umbilical artery at its origin from the fetal aorta. This was followed by placement of a double-lumen, 4F catheter in the fetal descending aorta through a femoral artery. A 4-mm ultrasonic blood flow probe was then placed around the fetal left common carotid artery. A pressuremonitoring, multiperforated catheter was placed inside the amniotic cavity. The fetus was repositioned inside the uterus, which was then closed. The abdominal wall was closed loosely. No further manipulation was performed for 1 hour. Intraamniotic pressure was raised from 0 to 30 mm Hg at 5-mm Hg intervals by infusing either warmed saline or medical air. Common umbilical artery and left carotid artery blood flows, blood pressure, blood gases, bicarbonate, sodium, and hematocrit were recorded in all fetuses at each 5-mm Hg interval. Maternal systemic blood pressure, O 2 saturation, and temperature were kept constant. Results: Carotid blood flow remained stable within the intraamniotic pressure range studied (0 to 30 mm Hg), despite the significant drop in common umbilical artery blood flow uniformly observed above 20 mm Hg when saline was infused and above 15 mm Hg when air was infused. There was fetal hypoxemia and hypercarbia concomitant with decreased common umbilical artery blood flow (however, without fetal acidosis, because of compensatory elevation of bicarbonate). Within the intraamniotic pressure range studied, fetal aortic blood pressure, sodium, and hematocrit did not vary significantly, even when there was decreased umbilical blood flow. Conclusions: Fetal carotid blood flow is protected, possibly autoregulated, remaining stable even after umbilical blood flow decreases as a consequence of elevated intrauterine pressures up to 30 mm Hg during videofetoscopy. These data suggests that perioperative intracranial bleeding related to videofetoscopic surgery is caused by factors other than fluctuations of cerebral blood flow.
Patterns of Fecal Coliform Contamination in Day‐Care Centers

During a six-month period, on four separate occasions, six licensed day-care centers had cultures taken from environmental surfaces as well as the hands of children and teachers. Fecal coliforms were recovered from 64 (9.5%) of the 675 surfaces sampled. Recovery rate was not influenced by a center's socioeconomic status, time of year, or presence of children who were not toilet trained. Recovery rates did differ significantly in different areas, with the kitchen showing a relatively high recovery rate (19%), and toys and toilets showing remarkably low rates (2% and 4%). Centers with formal hand-washing procedures had lower recovery rates than those without such practices. We also demonstrated a high recovery rate from hands of staff (16%); 6% of children had positive cultures. Contamination of hands and classroom objects is a potential source for the transmission of enteric diseases for children in day-care centers. A program directed at reducing contamination would be important in preventing the spread of diarrheal illness.
Cultural Competency of Black Greek-Letter Organization Advisors

Increasing diversity among students in higher education requires culturally competent educators, such as Black Greek-letter organizations (BGLO) advisors, who use cultural knowledge and experiences in their work with ethnically diverse students. Analyzing survey data from 71 BGLO advisors, we describe advising professionals’ cultural competency and identify factors related to race-based differences in advisors’ cultural knowledge and skills. Implications for policy, practice, and research are highlighted.
Highlights from Recent Work on Metal−Metal Bonds†

The study of transition metal compounds with metal−metal (M−M) bonds of various orders (from 1/2 to 4) began in a coherent and productive way in 1964 with the recognition that a strong quadruple bond exists between the metal atoms in the Re2Cl82- ion. For nearly 20 years the field grew exponentially, before settling back to a steady level of activity. While it is now a fairly mature field, it continues to provide scope, challenges, and new results that are often surprising. In this review I shall summarize a few new results, primarily from work in my own laboratory. The selection is somewhat arbitrary; there are other topics of comparable interest, but space is limited. To economize on space, references that may be found in Multiple Bonds between Metal Atoms, 2nd ed., by F. A. Cotton and R. A. Walton, will not be given here.
SU‐E‐J‐77: Inter‐Fractional Variations in Internal Tumor Volumes Using Multiple 4DCTs and CBCTs

Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate the inter-fractional variations in ITVs over the course of treatment using multiple 4DCTs and CBCTs for patients treated with SBRT for lung targets. To compare using ITV generated from all phases of a 4D or average intensity projection (ITV-AIP) as reference contours for image guidance. Methods: An IRB approved study included five patients who received SBRT for a lung target using daily image guidance with a CBCT. Three 4DCTs were acquired before (simulation), during and at the end of treatment. ITV-4Ds (on all 10 phases) and ITV-CBCTs were contoured manually. All CT images and contours were registered to the reference image - AIP1 from 4D1. The registration consists of intensity-based image registration followed by manual soft-tissue alignment, where physicians manually make shift to ensure that the tumor seen on CBCT is encompassed in ITV-4D1 or ITV-AIP1. The relationship between two ITVs was quantified by centroid distance, volume inclusion, and volume overlap (Dice Coefficient). Results: The average volume for ITV-4D, ITV-AIP, and ITV-CBCT were 23.1, 17.2, and 14.1 cm3, respectively. When using ITV-4D1 as a reference contour in the manual soft-tissue alignment, an average of 93% of ITV-CBCTs was included in ITV-4D1, with a centroid distance of 2.0 mm. Only 81% of ITV-4Ds were included in ITV-4D1. The Dice Coefficient between ITV-4D1 and ITV-4Ds was only 0.68, suggesting that the two ITVs were not highly overlapping. For all comparisons, the results were similar using either ITV-AIP1 or ITV-4D1 as a reference contour in the manual soft-tissue alignment. Conclusions: There were noteworthy inter-fractional variations in ITV-4Ds. Compared to ITV-4D, ITV-AIP was much similar to ITV-CBCT. However, there was no significant difference between using ITV-4D1 and using ITV-AIP1 as a reference contour for image guidance. Further dosimetric studies are required to evaluate actual tumor coverage. This study was supported in part by Philips Healthcare.
Cyclic biological expression in mouse mammary tumors

Biological characteristics were assessed in GR mouse mammary tumors during 22 serial transplantations. Although unidirectional progression from hormone dependency to independency was observed, other biological markers such as progesterone receptors, polyploid frequency and thymidine kinase activity demonstrated cyclic phenomena every fourth to sixth transplant generation, suggesting the continued presence of regulatory mechanisms among various cells subpopulations.
Surgical Management of Subglottic Stenosis

a n@ ubglottic stenosis is usually due to either endotrac tube ischemic necrosis or idiopathic larygotracheal osis. The ischemic area involves varying depths of in ausing a spectrum of injury from mucosal to full t ess, including the cartilage. The narrowest portion of irway is the cricoid in the lower larynx. Selection ndotracheal tube that is too large relative to the size ricoid can lead to circumferential injury to the cri ucosa, which may lead to subglottic stenosis. Idiopa aryngotracheal stenosis is an unusual disease that alm lways just affects women with a peculiar nonspecific ing that only affects the lower larynx and upper few heal rings. Autoimmune disease and Wegner’s granu atosis must be eliminated in the differential diagnosi ppropriate blood tests. Stenosis involving the laryn ore complex to repair and the results are less certain imple tracheal resection. Stenosis also may involve lottis from endotracheal tube damage to the vocal c nd arytenoids. An abnormal glottis must be corre efore correction of any tracheal problem as the gl ust provide an adequate airway at the conclusion aryngotracheal resection. Resection should be deferred until the patient fully overs from the original illness that precipitated mech cal ventilation. All necessary operations that require g ral anesthesia (ie, burn patients that require mult xcisions and scar releases) should be completed be mbarking on tracheal resection. Often steroids are m akenly administered to treat new-onset “asthma” a rolonged intubation. Steroids should be rapidly wean ff as they play no role in ameliorating postintuba tenosis and interfere with healing of the anastomo lottic pathologic problems should be corrected bef reating the tracheal pathologic problem. Mucosal infla ation identified by bronchoscopy should be allowed esolve before resection to reduce the chance of an omotic problem. If the patient is in otherwise good s efinitive treatment by resection may be performed. irway can be temporarily opened by rigid bronchosc ilation if only a short period (ie, weeks) of time is n
The Subacute Neurotoxicity of Excess Pyridoxine HCl and Clioquinol (5-Chloro-7-Iodo-8-Hydroxyquinoline) in Beagle Dogs. II. Pathology

The lesions caused by excess oral pyridoxine hydrochloride (150 mg/kg body weight/day) and clioquinol (200 mg/kg body weight/day), given individually and in combination to adult Beagle dogs, were evaluated. The experimental period was 100 to 112 days, except that four dogs in each of the clioquinol and combined-treatment groups were killed early because of severe debilitation or neurologic disease, and one dog given both compounds died on the third day of compound administration. Degenerative neurologic lesions had distribution specific for the compound given. Pyridoxine-treated dogs had lesions limited to tracts and nerves with neuronal bodies of their nerve fibers in the spinal and trigeminal ganglia. Clioquinol-treated dogs had neurologic lesions limited to the central nervous system. The most lesions were in the rostral dorsal funiculus and distal aspects of the optic nerve fibers, but minimal to mild degenerative changes also occurred in distal aspects of the corticospinal and spinocerebellar tracts. Dogs given both pyridoxine hydrochloride and clioquinol had a combination of the lesions in dogs given pyridoxine or clioquinol individually. Several dogs given clioquinol or pyridoxine plus clioquinol had extraneural lesions, including myocardial degeneration and thyroidal alterations.
Beam chopper development at LAMPF

In order to reduce pileup limitations on μSR data rates, a fast chopper for surface muon beams was built and tested at LAMPF. The system allowed one muon at a time to be stopped in a μSR sample in the following way: A surface beam from the LAMPF Stopped Muon Channel was focused through a crossed-field beam separator and onto a chopper slit. With the separator E and B fields adjusted properly, the beam could pass through the slit. The beam to the μSR sample was turned on or off (chopped) rapidly by switching the high voltage applied to the separator plates on or off within approximately 500 ns; with the E field off, the B field deflected the beam, dumping it near the slit. We demonstrated that, with improved electronics, we will be able to stop a single muon in a μSR sample as frequently as once every 20 μs and that data rates for the system can be a factor of five higher than is attainable with unchopped beams. The observed positron contamination of the beam was less than five percent, and the ratio of the muon rate with beam on to the rate with beam off was 1540.
Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Fluvastatin

Fluvastatin, the first fully synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, has been shown to reduce cholesterol in patients with hyperlipidaemia, to prevent subsequent coronary events in patients with established coronary heart disease, and to alter endothelial function and plaque stability in animal models. Fluvastatin is relatively hydrophilic, compared with the semisynthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, and, therefore, it is extensively absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. After absorption, it is nearly completely extracted and metabolised in the liver to 2 hydroxylated metabolites and an N-desisopropyl metabolite, which are excreted in the bile. Approximately 95% of a dose is recovered in the faeces, with 60% of a dose recovered as the 3 metabolites. The 6-hydroxy and N-desisopropyl fluvastatin metabolites are exclusively generated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 and do not accumulate in the blood. CYP2C9, CYP3A4, CYP2C8 and CYP2D6 form the 5-hydroxy fluvastatin metabolite. Because of its hydrophilic nature and extensive plasma protein binding, fluvastatin has a small volume of distribution with minimal concentrations in extrahepatic tissues. The pharmacokinetics of fluvastatin are not influenced by renal function, due to its extensive metabolism and biliary excretion; limited data in patients with cirrhosis suggest a 30% reduction in oral clearance. Age and gender do not appear to affect the disposition of fluvastatin. CYP3A4 inhibitors (erythromycin, ketoconazole and itraconazole) have no effect on fluvastatin pharmacokinetics, in contrast to other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors which are primarily metabolised by CYP3A and are subject to potential drug interactions with CYP3A inhibitors. Coadministration of fluvastatin with gastrointestinal agents such as cholestyramine, and gastric acid regulating agents (H2 receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors), significantly alters fluvastatin disposition by decreasing and increasing bioavailability, respectively. The nonspecific CYP inducer rifampicin (rifampin) significantly increases fluvastatin oral clearance. In addition to being a CYP2C9 substrate, fluvastatin demonstrates inhibitory effects on this isoenzyme in vitro and in vivo. In human liver microsomes, fluvastatin significantly inhibits the hydroxylation of 2 CYP2C9 substrates, tolbutamide and diclofenac. The oral clearances of the CYP2C9 substrates diclofenac, tolbutamide, glibenclamide (glyburide) and losartan are reduced by 15 to 25% when coadministered with fluvastatin. These alterations have not been shown to be clinically significant. There are inadequate data evaluating the potential interaction of fluvastatin with warfarin and phenytoin, 2 CYP2C9 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, and caution is recommended when using fluvastatin with these agents. Fluvastatin does not appear to have a significant effect on other CYP isoenzymes or P-glycoprotein-mediated transport in vivo.
Modeling the Graduate Business School Admissions Process

Each year thousands of individuals seek admission to graduate schools of business in order to pursue courses leading to a master’s degree such as the MBA. From late autumn through early spring, graduate admissions committees within schools of business expend enormous amounts of effort and resources to select an appropriate mix of entering students [1]. The overall decision-making process is usually complex and time consuming. Quantitative and qualitative selection criteria must be agreed upon. Thousands of pieces of application materials must be collected and evaluated. Prospective candidates must be interviewed and their performance judged. Final selections must be made [7]. The entire process must be thorough, fair, and carefully executed.
Magnetic structure of a single crystal of alpha manganese

Abstract Neutron diffraction intensities from a single crystal of α-Mn were collected for nuclear and magnetic reflections. Assuming a colinear spin model, the magnetic moments on each of the four lattice sites were found to be 1.8, 1.4, 1.12 and 0.1 μ B .
Divergence between informant and archival measures of the environment: Real differences, artifact, or perceptual error?

Abstract Although organizational environments are a central concern for researchers in organization theory and strategy, many researchers report that informant assessments and archival measures of the environment do not converge. This study investigates whether the observed divergence can be attributed to perceptual error, to real differences in constructive definitions, to differences between a firm's environment and an aggregate industry environment, or simply to methodological artifacts. Results show that environmental uncertainty and environmental variation are distinct multidimensional constructs even when only informant measures from the same respondents are considered, and that organizational level mediating filters are more strongly related to informant measures of environmental variation than to environmental uncertainty. However, the effects of individual level filters on environmental variation do not decrease after controlling for organizational level filters. We conclude that, although there are some real differences between informant and archival measures of the environment, the possibility of perceptual bias cannot be ruled out.
Measuring Bone Mass in Children: Can We Really Do It?

Bone densitometry is used to assess skeletal health in clinical and research settings, with the goal of achieving reproducible measurements of bone mass that help to identify individuals predisposed to fracture. The search is now on for better methods of capturing additional factors that contribute to bone strength, including bone size, geometry, microarchitecture, and turnover rates. This has proved particularly challenging in growing children, whose bones continually change in size, shape, and mass. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry is the preferred method for measuring bone mass in children, but the technique has several limitations, and interpreting the findings can be problematic. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography is a promising method for assessing bone mass and other indices correlating with bone strength, but a lack of precision and paediatric norms currently restricts its clinical utility. Although bone mineral density is predictive of future fracture risk in adults, the evidence in children is less conclusive, and a diagnosis of osteoporosis in a child should not be made on densitometric findings alone. Developing a clearer understanding of how measures of bone mass and strength correlate with bone fracture in children will help target preventive strategies for those in greatest need.
New friction stir techniques for dissimilar materials processing

Abstract Friction stir processing has been mainly used as a solid state joining process for similar or near similar materials. Now there are new, emerging applications for friction stir such as modifying the surface properties of the work material (friction stir surface modification), transferring material from the end of a consumable tool (friction surfacing) and forcing the work material into useful shapes (friction stir forming). Here we show a new direction in friction stir processing of forming and consumable tool deposition. The friction stir forming and friction surfacing methods show potential for dissimilar material joining and coating, respectively.
Quality Assessment of Panorama Video for Videoconferencing Applications

New video-conference devices based on omnidirectional multi-camera systems have been emerging in the last few years. These devices require innovative and automated video quality assessment in the earlier stages of their design in order to guarantee competitive product development and quality monitoring. Current quality assessment techniques are not adequate since they are mostly tailored to single video cameras. Even if these techniques are capable of assessing the quality of each video stream separately, the overall quality of a composite video stream generated with the outputs of multiple cameras stitched together presents strong deviations from the results of subjective quality tests. In this paper, we present new strategies for assessing the quality of composite video streams with specific emphasis on the following problems: noticeable calibration differences between adjacent cameras, concentration of motion in limited regions of the panoramic scene, combined vignetting problems, non-uniformity of the surfaces in the seam region between two adjacent cameras. Combining different features from high and low level vision, we evaluate the proposed perceptual quality metric using a set of customized test sequences and verify its correlation with subjective quality tests
THE ECONOMY AS A FACTOR IN MOTOR VEHICLE FATALITIES, SUICIDES, AND HOMICIDES

The effect of the economy as reflected by employment and unemployment rates on motor vehicle fatalities, suicides, and homicides is examined using several national databases. First, regression models are fit to these fatality data-overall as well as for a variety of age-race-gender subgroups. Then time series models-autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and structural time series analysis-were fit to the data, both with and without the economic indicators, to examine the relative ability of the models to forecast subsequent fatalities. No evidence was found using any of the modeling techniques that knowledge of yearly values of rates of employment, unemployment, and nonlabor force leads to improved forecasts of the level of motor vehicle fatalities, suicides, or homicides in the total U.S. population or within various subpopulations of interest.
An algorithm for the typing of enteroviruses and correlation to serotyping by viral neutralization.

Abstract Background Human enteroviruses (HEVs) are common pathogens which cause a broad spectrum of illnesses ranging from asymptomatic infection to acute myocarditis and aseptic meningitis. The neutralization assay for serotype determination is labor-intensive and time-consuming. There is a need for a methodology that is more rapid and widely accessible. Objectives Our goals were to develop an algorithm to type enteroviruses which combines both serologic typing, based on indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using type-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and genotyping, by DNA sequence analysis and to assess the correlation of both IFA and genotyping to traditional viral neutralization by type-specific antisera. Study design Clinical specimens initially determined to be enterovirus positive by nucleic acid detection were grown in cell culture and typed using mAbs. Specimens that could not be typed by mAbs were subject to molecular analysis. Genotyping was performed by a combination of either a primary or semi-nested RT-PCR for a region within VP3/VP1 and followed by direct DNA sequencing of PCR products. Database homology comparisons and phylogenetic analysis were performed based on a defined region (303 nt) within the VP1 gene. Results We inoculated 134 enterovirus nucleic acid amplification-positive specimens into culture and 115 (86%) of these isolates were successfully typed by this algorithm. We have demonstrated a strong correlation between serotyping by viral neutralization to both IFA by type-specific mAbs and genotyping. Conclusions Typing of human enteroviruses can be effectively performed using an integration of antibody-based and molecular methods.
Suture granuloma simulating bladder neoplasm

A large suture granuloma rarely may occur long after surgery using nonabsorbable suture. We report a case in which such a lesion simulated a bladder wall neoplasm.
Promoting Engaged Citizenship and Informing Public Debate: A Two-Fold Argument for Contemporary Issues in Education as a Social Science Elective.

A course in contemporary education issues is proposed as a valuable general education vehicle for citizenship education. Such a course offers the advantages of being inherently political and interdisciplinary, and relevant to students’ life experience. Moreover, such a course would help satisfy the academy's responsibility to inform public debate about privatizing public education, an issue of national concern.
Social diffusion and global drift on networks

We study a mathematical model of social diffusion on a symmetric weighted network where individual nodes' states gradually assimilate to local social norms made by their neighbors' average states. Unlike physical diffusion, this process is not state conservational and thus the global state of the network (i.e., sum of node states) will drift. The asymptotic average node state will be the average of initial node states weighted by their strengths. Here we show that, while the global state is not conserved in this process, the inner product of strength and state vectors is conserved instead, and perfect positive correlation between node states and local averages of their self-neighbor strength ratios always results in upward (or at least neutral) global drift. We also show that the strength assortativity negatively affects the speed of homogenization. Based on these findings, we propose an adaptive link weight adjustment method to achieve the highest upward global drift by increasing the strength-state correlation. The effectiveness of the method was confirmed through numerical simulations and implications for real-world social applications are discussed.
Modeling deformation and failure of fast reactor cladding during simulated accident transients

Abstract An analysis is made of burst experiments performed on neutron irradiated cladding tubes. This is done by employing a generalized Voce equation to describe the mechanical deformation of type 316 stainless steel, combined with an empirical creep crack growth law, each modified to account for the effects of irradiation matrix hardening, and irradiation induced grain boundary embrittlement, respectively. The results of this analysis indicate that for large initial hoop stress, failure occurs at relatively low temperature and is controlled by the onset of plastic instability. The increase in failure temperature of irradiated material, in low temperature region, is due to irradiation strengthening. Failure in the case of relatively small initial hoop stress occurs at high temperature where the Voce equation reduces to a power law creep formula. The ductility of irradiated material, in this high tem-temperature region, is adequately described through the use of an empirical intergranular crack growth law used in conjunction with the creep law. The effect of neutron irradiation is to reduce the activation energy for crack propagation from the value for creep to some lower value correlated to independent Dorn rupture parameter measurements. The result is a predicted reduced ductility which translates into a reduction in failure temperature at a given hoop stress value for irradiated material.
PRION PROTEIN GENE HETEROGENEITY IN FREE-RANGING WHITE-TAILED DEER WITHIN THE CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE AFFECTED REGION OF WISCONSIN

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was first identified in Wisconsin (USA) in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in February 2002. To determine if prion protein gene (Prnp) allelic variability was associated with CWD in white-tailed deer from Wisconsin, we sequenced Prnp from 26 CWD-positive and 100 CWD-negative deer. Sequence analysis of Prnp suggests that at least 86–96% of the white-tailed deer in this region have Prnp allelic combinations that will support CWD infection. Four Prnp alleles were identified in the deer population, one of which, resulting in a glutamine to histidine change at codon 95, has not been previously reported. The predominant allele in the population encodes for glutamine at codon 95, glycine at codon 96, and serine at codon 138 (QGS). Less abundant alleles encoded QSS, QGN, and HGS at the three variable positions. Comparison of CWD-positive with CWD-negative deer suggested a trend towards an over-representation of the QGS allele and an under-representation of the QSS allele.
Degradation of bradykinin by isolated neutral endopeptidases of brain and pituitary.

Abstract The degradation of bradykinin by a highly purified preparation of rabbit brain prolyl endopeptidase and by an apparently homogeneous preparation of a bovine pituitary cation-sensitive neutral endopeptidase was studied. Peptide fragments were separated and isolated by high performance liquid chromatography and identified by amino acid analysis. Prolyl endopeptidase rapidly cleaves bradykinin at the Pro 7 -Phe 8 bond. A slower cleavage also occurs at the Pro 3 -Gly 4 bond. Cation-sensitive neutral endopeptidase splits bradykinin at the Phe 5 -Ser 6 bond. These enzymes may participate in the regulation of brain concentrations of bradykinin.
Manufacture of optical waveguide preforms by modified chemical vapor deposition

Manufacture of optical waveguide preforms by modified chemical vapor deposition (MCVD) is theoretically investigated. For the first time, a model accounting for the concurrent heat transfer, chemical kinetics, and silica aerosol dynamics during lightguide preform fabrication by MCVD is presented. Silica particles are formed by high-temperature oxidation of SiCl4, grow by coagulation, and deposit to the preform walls by thermophoresis and Brownian diffusion. Assuming first-order SiCl4 oxidation and approximating the aerosol size distribution by a log normal function throughout the process, five partial differential equations describe this process. The emphasis of this study is on the achievement of high process yield (deposition efficiency of MCVD). Process conditions for operation in the particle transport-limited and reaction-limited regimes are quantitatively identified. Operation in the former regime results in complete oxidation of the inlet SiCl4 but only about half of the product SiO2 particles deposit to the tube wall. Operation in the latter regime results in limited oxidation of inlet SiCl4 (about 40%) but almost all product SiO2 particles deposit to the tube wall. This study shows that high process yields and deposition rate can be achieved in lightguide preform manufacture by MCVD by combining operation in the reaction-limited regime with recycling of the exit gases from the preform tube.
Effect of the thyroid on butyrate oxidation in the rat heart

Abstract Oxidation of butyrate by rat heart homogenates in the presence of malate, nicotinamide or endogenous “sparkers” has been studied. It was found that heart homogenates from hyperthyroid rats oxidized butyrate at a higher rate than those from normal or hypothyroid animals. It is suggested that these findings may have some bearings on the mechanisms of cardiac abnormalities associated with thyroid dysfunction.
Frictional and osmotic effects in the pressure-driven membrane separation of dilute solutions

Abstract A mathematical relationship is developed to describe flux reduction in the pressure-driven membrane separation of a dilute binary solution of a solute strongly rejected from the membrane. When the concentration reduction factor across the membrane changes linearly with flux, the relative flux reduction is a linear function of the solute concentration in the permeate. This result is consistent with data obtained for the pressure-driven membrane separation of dilute aqueous mannitol solutions using asymmetric cellulose acetate membranes. The flux reduction due to frictional effects is related to membrane structure: structures closer to equilibrium have greater frictional effects than those farther from equilibrium. In the systems studied, frictional effects play a central role in determining membrane performance.
A theory of differential photometric stereo for unknown isotropic BRDFs

This paper presents a comprehensive theory of photometric surface reconstruction from image derivatives. For unknown isotropic BRDFs, we show that two measurements of spatial and temporal image derivatives, under unknown light sources on a circle, suffice to determine the surface. This result is the culmination of a series of fundamental observations. First, we discover a photometric invariant that relates image derivatives to the surface geometry, regardless of the form of isotropic BRDF. Next, we show that just two pairs of differential images from unknown light directions suffice to recover surface information from the photometric invariant. This is shown to be equivalent to determining isocontours of constant magnitude of the surface gradient, as well as isocontours of constant depth. Further, we prove that specification of the surface normal at a single point completely determines the surface depth from these isocontours. In addition, we propose practical algorithms that require additional initial or boundary information, but recover depth from lower order derivatives. Our theoretical results are illustrated with several examples on synthetic and real data.