cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Leprosy-Like Disease in a Chimpanzee

The clinical and laboratory findings of a spontaneous disease, resembling human leprosy, in a chimpanzee are described. The disease was a chronic progressive dermatitis characterized by nodular thickenings of the dermis and involving the ears, eyebrows, nostrils, and lips. A maculopapular rash was also present. Numerous acid-fast organisms were found in nasal swabs and in dermal lesions, including nerves. Attempts to culture acid-fast organisms in artificial media have failed. At this time, the only features of the etiologic agent of this disease that are inconsistent with those of Mycobacterium leprae are failure of the organisms to oxidize 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and failure to pyridine to remove the acid-fast staining property of the bacilli.
Distributed garbage collection for managed X10

X10 is a programming language that incorporates distributed processing functions. The execution model of X10 is called "APGAS", where each object belongs to a specific place (an abstraction of a shared-memory computer), but can be remotely referenced from other places using a mechanism named GlobalRef. This means that a remotely-referenced object must not be collected as garbage even if there is no local reference to it.There is an implementation of X10 named "Managed X10", which uses multiple Java virtual machines (JVMs) to run an X10 application. In a Managed X10 environment, X10 objects are represented by Java objects, and unneeded objects are collected by the GC in the JVM. Each place is implemented as an individual JVM, so distributed processing is possible by using multiple JVMs on multiple computers. However, in the early implementation of Managed X10, objects that were ever remotely referenced through GlobalRef were registered in a management table and would never be collected. Therefore, if an application uses GlobalRefs periodically, its heap area is consumed by uncollectable objects and an OutOfMemoryError condition may eventually occur.To solve this problem, we developed a distributed GC for Managed X10. The core part of this GC is provided by an internal data structure called the "Globalized Object Tracker" (GOT), which is prepared for each remotely-referenced (globalized) object. GOT tracks the number of remote references to the object and handles the mapping between the object and its ID. When all remote references are removed, the distributed GC makes the object collectable by the local JVM GC.This paper first introduces the distributed execution model of X10 and the mechanism of GlobalRef, then explains how the distributed GC is implemented in Managed X10. The implementation does not modify the JVM, so it is highly portable. Through various evaluation experiments, we show that the remotely-referenced objects are correctly collected and there is almost no performance degradation in the proposed distributed GC.
Pd/SiO2: II. Effects of pretreatment on structure

Experiments employing extended X-ray absorption fine structure and wide-angle X-ray diffraction, at the Cornell University High Energy Synchrotron Source, have shown that Pd catalysts of high percentage metal exposed stored in air consist primarily of crystalline PdO. Reduction of these catalysts in hydrogen results in the formation of palladium, whereas similar treatment of catalysts of low percentage metal exposed leads to palladium hydride.
Front tracking for hyperbolic systems

A method of front tracking yields a zero diffusion calculation of fluid interface discontinuities. The method is applied to the problem of petroleum reservoir simulation. Unstable interfaces with multiple fingers can be resolved by this method even on a coarse grid.
Spectroscopic ellipsometry study of nickel oxidation in alkaline solution

Abstract Spectroscopic ellipsometry and cyclic voltammetry were used to study the oxidation of nickel in alkaline solutions. Electrode surface films were formed by air exposure and by electrochemical oxidation at various potentials during the first voltammetric scan. Using a self-compensating ellipsometer and a previously developed data fitting program, it was possible to characterize the surface films formed in situ. We found that oxide layers formed during the polishing of nickel in air have a significant optical effect, and normal polishing conditions can produce NiO of 10 A thickness. During the positive-going sweep at potentials between −0.9 V and −0.4 V (vs Hg/HgO), a compact film of β-Ni(OH)2 is formed. The surface layer that appears after the second anodic peak at +0.5 V contains a mixture of Ni(OH)2 and NiOOH with an overlayer of β-NiOOH. This overlayer is completely reduced after the cathodic peak at +0.2 V is reached during the negative-going sweep, and the layer remaining at this potential consists of a mixture of Ni(OH)2 and NiOOH. At very cathodic potentials (−0.9 V) NiOOH is still found on the electrode surface, and some electrode roughness appears. During a potentiostatic hold at this potential, NiOOH is reduced to Ni(OH)2, and the Ni(OH)2 is very slowly reduced to Ni with a decrease in electrode roughness.
A non-gradient based algorithm for the determination of surface tension from a pendant drop: Application to low Bond number drop shapes

The pendant drop method is one of the most widely used techniques to measure the surface tension between gas-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces. The method consists of fitting the Young-Laplace equation to the digitized shape of a drop suspended from the end of a capillary tube. The first use of digital computers to solve this problem utilized nonlinear least squares fitting and since then numerous subroutines and algorithms have been reported for improving efficiency and accuracy. However, current algorithms which rely on gradient based methods have difficulty converging for almost spherical drop shapes (i.e. low Bond numbers). We present a non-gradient based algorithm based on the Nelder-Mead simplex method to solve the least squares problem. The main advantage of using a non-gradient based fitting routine is that it is robust against poor initial guesses and works for almost spherical bubble shapes. We have tested the algorithm against theoretical and experimental drop shapes to demonstrate both the efficiency and the accuracy of the fitting routine for a wide range of Bond numbers. Our study shows that this algorithm allows for surface tension measurements corresponding to Bond numbers previously shown to be ill suited for pendant drop measurements.
A potent superoxide dismutase mimic: manganese beta-octabromo-meso-tetrakis-(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin.

Abstract Variously modified metalloporphyrins offer a promising route to stable and active mimics of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Here we explore bromination on the pyrroles as a means of increasing the redox potentials and the catalytic activities of the copper and manganese complexes of a cationic porphyrin. Mn(II) and Cu(II) octabrominated 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin, MnIIOBTMPyP4+, and CuIIOBTMPyP4+were prepared and characterized. The rate constants for the porphyrin-catalyzed dismutation of O•−2as determined from the inhibition of the cytochrome c reduction arekcat= 2.2 × 108and 2.9 × 106 m −1s−1, i.e., IC50was calculated to be 12 n m and 0.88 μ m , respectively. The metal-centered half-wave potential wasE1/2= +0.48 V vs NHE for the manganese compound. CuIIOBTMPyP4+proved to be extremely stable, while its Mn(II) analog has a moderate stability, logK= 8.08. Nevertheless, slow manganese dissociation from MnIIOBTMPyP4+enabled the complex to persist and exhibit catalytic activity even at the nanomolar concentration level and at biological pH. The corresponding MnIIIOBTMPyP5+complex exhibited significantly increased stability, i.e., demetallation was not detected in the presence of a 400-fold molar excess of EDTA at micromolar porphyrin concentration and at pH 7.8. The β-substituted manganese porphyrin facilitated the growth of a SOD-deficient strain ofEscherichia coliwhen present at 0.05 μ m but was toxic at 1.0 μ m . The synthetic approach used in the case of manganese and copper compounds offers numerous possibilities whereby the interplay of the type and of the number of β substituents on the porphyrin ring would hopefully lead to porphyrin compounds of increased stability, catalytic activity, and decreased toxicity.
The object advantage can be eliminated under equiluminant conditions.

A key phenomenon supporting the existence of object-based attention is the object advantage, in which responses are faster for within-object, relative to equidistant between-object, shifts of attention. The origins of this effect have been variously ascribed to low-level “bottom-up” sensory processing and to a cognitive “top-down” strategy of within-object attention prioritization. The degree to which the object advantage depends on lower-level sensory processing was examined by differentially stimulating the magnocellular (M) and parvocellular (P) retino-geniculo-cortical visual pathways by using equiluminant and nonequiluminant conditions. We found that the object advantage can be eliminated when M activity is reduced using psychophysically equiluminant stimuli. This novel result in normal observers suggests that the origin of the object advantage is found in lower-level sensory processing rather than a general cognitive process, which should not be so sensitive to differential activation of the bottom-up P and M pathways. Eliminating the object advantage while maintaining a spatial-cueing advantage with reduced M activity suggests that the notion of independent M-driven spatial attention and P-driven object attention requires revision.
Shape Effect of Platelet Clay Filler on Mechanical Behaviors of Pultruded Polymer Composites under Shear Loading

An analytical investigation aimed at examining the mechanical behavior of pultruded polymer composites under shear loading is presented. Micromechanical models that account for the presence and shapes of inhomogeneities in composite matrix materials were developed for estimating the extensional and in-plane shear moduli, and Poisson's ratio. The inhomogeneities in composite matrices include platelet clay fillers and voids in this study. The analytical results were compared with the properties obtained by experiments. For the experiments, three different pultruded polymer composites containing clay fillers as well as E-glass fiber and vinylester resin were selected, analyzed and tested under shear loading. The effects of the volume fractions of the constituents on the mechanical properties of the composites were also investigated.
Online stochastic control of dimensional quality in multistation manufacturing systems

In the current paper, a control law is devised for flexible tooling element adjustments in a multistation manufacturing system based on the in-process product measurements and the state-space model of dimensional error flow through this system. The control law is devised so that the dimensional product quality at the end of the line is as close to the nominal as possible in the least squares sense, taking into account the measurement and process noise, as well as the accuracy of actuation of flexible tooling elements. The condition of controllability of product quality is introduced and dimensional quality variations of the product with and without the newly introduced stochastic quality control law are compared. It is proven that the newly proposed control algorithm reduces variations of dimensional product errors and that the controllability condition is beneficial to both the expected product quality as well as for its variations. Capabilities of the newly proposed method for stochastic control of dimensional quality in multistation manufacturing systems are illustrated in an example of a machining system used for the manufacturing of an automotive cylinder head by a major automotive manufacturer.
Improved oxygen delivery in a continuous-roller-bottle reactor

Variations to the original aeration system in a continuous roller bottle reactor of novel design have been tested and compared for optimal oxygen (O) delivery. Reactor operating parameters that affect O transfer are rotation rate, liquid-volume level, fresh-feed rate, and supplementary-aeration rate. Design modifications to enhance gas-liquid O transfer include the addition of wall baffles and center baffles. The number and location of each of these baffles are compared for their effect on kLa values in the reaction chamber. The liquid feed into the system has been modified to improve the axial liquid mixing and O transfer.
Structure of Molybdenum and Tungsten Sulfide MxSy+ Clusters: Experiment and DFT Calculations

A combination of experiment and density functional theory was used to investigate the energetics of CO adsorption onto several small M(x)S(y)(+) (M = Mo, W; x/y = 2/6, 3/7, 5/7, 6/8) clusters as a probe of their atomic and electronic structure. Experimentally, tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the relative yields of M(x)S(y)(+)(CO)(n) cluster adducts formed by collisions between a beam of mass-selected M(x)S(y)(+) cluster ions and CO molecules in a high-pressure collision cell (hexapole ion guide). The most probable M(x)S(y)(+)(CO)(n) adducts observed are those with n 6. In general, the ability of these small M(x)S(y)(+) clusters to bind more CO molecules than the number of metal atoms is a balance between the gain in CO adsorption energy versus the strain introduced into the cluster structure caused by CO crowding, the consequences of which can be fragmentation of the M(x)S(y)(+)(CO)(n) cluster adduct (n > x).
Relative quantitation of ricin in Ricinus communis seeds by image processing

Abstract Quantitative and qualitative assays for specific seed proteins could be used as a screening tool in breeding for improved seed characteristics. These assays could be especially useful for selection of castor seeds for altered expression of the toxin ricin. The technique described here includes extraction of water soluble proteins from partial seed samples so that the remaining seed is viable and can be used for genetic evaluation. Individual proteins are resolved by SDS-PAGE and identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Once toxin proteins are correlated with bands in stained SDS-PAGE gels, image processing is used to estimate the relative quantities of these proteins in extracts from individual seeds. The results indicate that this method can serve as a relatively inexpensive and reliable assay for ricin content in castor endosperm tissues and this approach could facilitate the selection of low ricin castor varieties.
Modifications of motoneuron development following transplantation of thoracic spinal cord to the lumbar region in the chick embryo: evidence for target-derived signals that regulate differentiation.

In order to examine the role of target cells in the development of spinal motoneurons, the neural tube from thoracic segments was transplanted to the lumbar region on embryonic day (E) 2, and allowed to innervate hindlimb muscles in the chick embryo. When examined at later stages of development, the proportion of white and gray matter in the thoracic transplant was altered to resemble normal lumbar cord. Many thoracic motoneurons were able to survive up to posthatching stages following transplantation. The branching and arborization of dendrites of thoracic motoneurons innervating hindlimb muscles, as well as motoneuron (soma) size, were also increased to an extent approximating that seen in normal lumbar motoneurons. In support of previous studies using a similar transplant model, we have also found that the peripheral (intramuscular) branching pattern of thoracic motoneuron axons innervating hindlimb muscles was similar to that of normal lumbar motoneurons. Axon size and the degree of myelination of transplanted thoracic motoneuron axons were also increased so that these parameters more closely resembled axons of normal lumbar than normal thoracic spinal motoneurons. Virtually all of the changes in motoneuron properties noted above were observed irrespective of whether or not the transplanted spinal cord had developed in anatomical continuity with the host rostral cord. Accordingly, it is unlikely that the changes in the development of transplanted thoracic motoneurons reported here are induced either entirely, or in part, by signals derived from the host central nervous system. Rather, these changes appear to be mediated by interactions between the transplanted motoneurons and the hindlimb. We favor the notion that retrograde trophic signals derived from the hindlimb act to modulate the development of innervating motoneurons. Whether this signal involves a diffusible trophic agent released from target cells, or acts by some other mechanism is presently unknown. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Physical and perceptual benefits of yoga asana practice: results of a pilot study

Summary Twenty-six healthy adults age 20–58 (Mean 31.8) participated in six weeks of either astanga yoga or hatha yoga class. Significant improvements at follow-up were noted for all participants in diastolic blood pressure, upper body and trunk dynamic muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, perceived stress, and health perception. The improvements differed for each group when compared to baseline assessments. The astanga yoga group had decreased diastolic blood pressure and perceived stress, and increased upper body and trunk dynamic muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and health perception. Improvements for the hatha yoga group were significant only for trunk dynamic muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. The findings suggest that the fitness benefits of yoga practice differ by style.
Novel Select Gate Lateral Coupling Single Poly eNVM for an HVCMOS Process

We present a novel select gate (SG) lateral coupling embedded nonvolatile memory without any additional steps on a 90-nm high-voltage CMOS process. Usually, the SG coupling devices use a complex double poly process. However, continuing technology shrinkage makes the lateral coupling method possible for a single poly process. The SG of the novel cell is designed to function as a control gate and an SG at the same time, using only lateral capacitance coupling. Because of this distinct cell structure and operating principle, the memory cell has relatively small cell size, over-erase free, and multitime programmable features. The proposed cell is programmed by channel hot electron method and erased by band-to-band tunneling-assisted hot hole method, resulting in a 20- μs programming time and 100-ms erasing time. In addition, using this condition, we can achieve over 3 V threshold voltage (VT) window over 500 cycles and an estimated over 10 year retention lifetime at 85 °.
Synthesis of ordered large pore SBA-15 spherical particles for adsorption of biomolecules.

Abstract The synthesis of spherical particles of mesoporous silicates (SBA-15) with mesopore diameter upto 127 A, and particle diameter of 4–10 μm has been achieved. The SBA-15 spheres were obtained using pluronics P123 (EO20PO70EO20) as a surfactant coupled with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a co-surfactant. Ethanol played a very important role in the formation of silica spheres, as it delays the reaction rate of the SBA-15 synthesis. A wide range of pore diameters (28–127 A) of these spherical SBA-15 materials with large surface area >700 m2/g has been synthesized. The effects of temperature, ethanol, CTAB and swelling agent have also been studied. The SBA-15 samples were characterized using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), N2 adsorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The spherical SBA-15 after mechanical grinding was used for protein adsorption, and adsorption capacity was compared with that of conventional fibrous SBA-15. The spherical SBA-15 particles with pore diameter of 127 A have a very high capacity of 700 mg/g for lysozyme at pH 7.
Rac1 GTPase regulates cell genomic stability and senescence.

The Rho family small GTPase Rac1 has been shown to play multiple roles in cell regulation, including actin cytoskeleton organization, transcriptional activation, microtubule dynamics, and endocytosis. Here, we report a novel role of Rac1 in regulating genomic stability and cell senescence. We observed in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts that deletion of rac1 by gene targeting, as well as expression of the constitutively active Rac1 mutant L61Rac1, led to decreased cell growth that was associated with altered cell cycle progression at both G1/S and G2/M phases, increased apoptosis, and premature senescence. The senescence induction by either loss or gain of Rac1 activity was due at least in part to an increase in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). rac1 gene deletion caused a compensatory up-regulation of a closely related family member, Rac3, in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, the activity of which induced ROS production independently of Rac1. Furthermore, the Rac1-regulated ROS production and senescence correlated with the extent of DNA damage in the Rac1-/- and L61Rac1 cells. Treatment of these cells with a ROS inhibitor inhibited phospho-H2AX-positive nuclear focus formation. Finally, phospho-Ser15 p53 was significantly increased in L61Rac1 and Rac1-/- cells, and genetic deletion of p53 from these cells readily reversed the senescence phenotype, indicating that Rac1 is functionally dependent on p53 in regulating cell senescence. Taken together, our results show that Rac1 activity serves as a regulator of cell senescence through modulation of cellular ROS, genomic stability, and p53 activity.
URA3 as a selectable marker for disruption and virulence assessment of Candida albicans genes

The ability to generate isogenic sets of strains with mutations in a gene of interest but not in other genes by repeated use of the URA3 marker (Ura-blaster methodology) has advanced our understanding of the relationships between gene structure and function in Candida albicans. Common applications of Ura-blaster technology result in different genomic positions for the URA3 gene in strains complemented for the gene of interest compared with mutant strains. Studies using animal models of systemic candidiasis pointed to possible differences in URA3 gene expression, depending on its genomic location, which confounded interpretation of the role of the gene of interest in lethality. Positional effects on URA3 expression can be avoided by placement at a common locus in all strains used for comparison.
Hebb-type dynamics is sufficient to account for the inverse magnification rule in cortical somatotopy

The inverse magnification rule in cortical somatotopy is the experimentally derived inverse relationship between cortical magnification (area of somatotopic map representing a unit area of skin surface) and receptive field size (area of restricted skin surface driving a cortical neuron). We show by computer simulation of a simple, multilayer model that Hebb-type synaptic modification subject to competitive constraints is sufficient to account for the inverse magnification rule.
Intrathoracic goitre: A cause of the superior vena cava syndrome

Benign lesions of the mediastinum rarely produce obstruction of the innominate vessels. Two patients with intrathoracic goitre are described who presented with the superior vena cava syndrome. Venography in each case demonstrated the extent of obstruction and degree of collateral circulation. Early recognition of the association of intrathoracic goitre and superior vena caval obstruction may lead to clinical improvement with surgical treatment.
Quantum Field Theory and Representation Theory: A Sketch

A sketch is given of a circle of ideas relating quantum field theories with representation theory. The main mathematical ingredients are spinor geometry and the gauge group equivariant K-theory of the space of connections.
Current Controversies in the Formation and Treatment of Alloantibodies to Factor VIII in Congenital Hemophilia A

Hemophilia A is a rare bleeding disorder treated with numerous factor VIII (FVIII)‐containing replacement concentrates. This treatment approach has led to the formation of alloantibodies that neutralize the FVIII activity (inhibitors) conveyed by these commercially available concentrates in 25% of patients with severe hemophilia A (FVIII activity 1% of normal). This phenomenon significantly complicates the treatment of these patients and compromises the effectiveness and efficiency of these products to reverse or prevent bleeding complications. Studying the population with alloantibody inhibitors is imperative but difficult due to the overall small number of individuals affected and the heterogeneity within this limited group. Furthermore, few randomized clinical trials have been conducted to answer pertinent questions so many controversies persist. This article focuses on the conflicting data on the variables associated with alloantibody FVIII inhibitor development with a particular emphasis on age and intensity of first treatment, the role of primary prophylaxis regimens in modulating this phenomenon, and the degree of purity of FVIII product as a potential contributing risk factor. The optimal dosing regimen and type of FVIII replacement product that should be used to achieve the highest success rate in immune tolerance induction (ITI) protocols are also discussed, as well as whether the addition of immunomodulatory agents, especially rituximab, to ITI regimens enhances the durability of ITI and the eradication of alloantibody FVIII inhibitors.
Transport of maternal cholesterol to the fetus is affected by maternal plasma cholesterol concentrations in the Golden Syrian hamster

The fetus has a high requirement for cholesterol and synthesizes cholesterol at elevated rates. Recent studies suggest that fetal cholesterol also can be obtained from exogenous sources. The purpose of the current study was to examine the transport of maternal cholesterol to the fetus and determine the mechanism responsible for any cholesterol-driven changes in transport. Studies were completed in pregnant hamsters with normal and elevated plasma cholesterol concentrations. Cholesterol feeding resulted in a 3.1-fold increase in the amount of LDL-cholesterol taken up by the fetus and a 2.4-fold increase in the amount of HDL-cholesterol taken up. LDL-cholesterol was transported to the fetus primarily by the placenta, and HDL-cholesterol was transported by the yolk sac and placenta. Several proteins associated with sterol transport and efflux, including those induced by activated liver X receptor, were expressed in hamster and human placentas: NPC1, NPC1L1, ABCA2, SCP-x, and ABCG1, but not ABCG8. NPC1L1 was the only protein increased in hypercholesterolemic placentas. Thus, increasing maternal lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations can enhance transport of maternal cholesterol to the fetus, leading to 1) increased movement of cholesterol down a concentration gradient in the placenta, 2) increased lipoprotein secretion from the yolk sac (shown previously), and possibly 3) increased placental NPC1L1 expression.
Motion through a velocity selector analyzed using a galilean transformation

The motion of a charged particle through a velocity selector is an example of a general class of motions through crossed electric and magnetic fields. In this paper particular attention is paid to the relationship between observables of this type of motion measured in two reference frames connected through a galilean transformation: the lab frame and a frame traveling at speed E/B relative to the lab (“selector frame”). The electromagnetic field only has a magnetic component in the selector frame, which makes solution of the equations of motion easier, and also affects conserved quantities such as energy and angular momentum. The electric field in this context breaks the rotational symmetry in one frame affecting angular momentum conservation consistent with Noether’s theorem. Analyzing the motions in this manner is a way to introduce concepts from relativity into discussions of electromagnetism.
Performance evaluation of the Manhattan street network with input buffers

Simulation results for an 8*8 Manhattan street network with input buffers are presented. Performance data are presented for four different routing strategies, with six local traffic rates, and thirteen input buffer sizes. It is shown that a routing strategy based on packet age yields the best performance. The effect of input buffer size on blocking probability is emphasized. >
High-temperature all-optical intersubband terahertz wave switch

We propose an intersubband all-optical THz switch. Adjusting the optical control switch beam even strong THz probe signals with intensities of up to 1 MW/cm2 can be modulated with extinction ratios of -80 dB/mm.
Poly(acrylic acid)–Poly(ethylene oxide) Comb Polymer Effects on BaTiO3 Nanoparticle Suspension Stability

We have studied the effects of poly(acrylic acid)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PAA–PEO) comb polymers on the stability of aqueous BaTiO3 nanoparticle suspensions over a wide pH range in the presence and absence of mono- and divalent salt species. The comb polymer architecture consists of charge-neutral PEO teeth attached at random intervals along an ionizable PAA backbone. Potentiometric titrations, light scattering, and turbidity measurements were conducted on pure PAA and PAA–PEO solutions to assess their degree of ionization, radius of hydration, and stability. Adsorption isotherm and rheological measurements were conducted on BaTiO3 nanoparticle suspensions to determine the effectiveness of both PAA and PAA–PEO dispersants. Our observations indicate that the presence of PEO teeth effectively shield the underlying PAA backbone from ion interactions, e.g., counterion-screening or ion-bridging effects, thereby allowing PAA–PEO dispersants to impart stability to BaTiO3 nanoparticle suspensions over a wide range of pH, ionic strength, and ion valency conditions where pure PAA fails.
A review of literature on manufacturing systems productivity measurement and improvement

Globalisation is posing several challenges to the manufacturing sector. Design and operation of manufacturing systems are of great economic importance. Factory performance remains unpredictable, in spite of the considerable literature on manufacturing productivity improvement and the long history of manufacturing, as there is no widespread agreement on how it can best be performed (Gershwin, 2000). Productivity measurement and improvement goes hand in hand, because one cannot improve what one cannot measure. The review of literature on manufacturing systems productivity measurement and improvement has been summarised under four categories; they are Operations Research- (OR-) based methods, system analysis-based methods, continuous improvement methods and performance metrics-based methods. A survey of commercial tools available to measure manufacturing system performance is also performed. The review indicates that quantitative metrics for measuring factory level productivity and for performing factory level diagnostics (bottleneck detection, hidden capacity identification) are lacking. To address this gap, a factory level effectiveness metrics-based productivity measurement and diagnostic methodology is proposed.
Gender erasures, knightly maidens and (un)knightly knights in Hartmann von Aue's Iwein

This article proposes that in the editing process of Hartmann von Aue’s Iwein, Karl Lachmann and G. F. Benecke suppressed and edited out aspects of the gender system and reduced it to a binary system that in many ways reflects nineteenth-century notions more than medieval ones. The article clarifies that the greater gender ambiguity created by Hartmann becomes more readily apparent through the comparison to contemporary versions of the tale. This gender ambiguity exists on the semantic, syntactic and plot levels, which this article proposes to show along with a more nuanced interpretation of what knightly and unknightly behavior means in Hartmann’s adaptation of Iwein.
Turbulent Reynolds analogy factors of stacked large-eddy breakup devices

Direct measurements are made of turbulent Reynolds analogy factors, referenced to a flat plate, for turbulent boundary layer flows altered by stacked arrays of large eddy breakup devices (LEBUs). These are of interest as drag reducers when inserted into a boundary layer transverse to the flow. The data thus obtained furnish evidence that heat transfer, skin friction drag, and LEBU performance factors in low Reynolds number flows are sensitive to flow history. Attention is given to the apparatus and measurement procedures used.
Morphological, molecular, and chromosomal discrimination of cryptic Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) (Diptera: Culicidae) from South America

Based on similarity of male genitalia, the malaria vector Anop/x males of these 3 species had accessory glands of significantly different sizes. Preliminary isoenzyme screening indicated that 3 of 11 loci were diagnostic for separating An. trinb from An. dunhami. The results indicate that An. dunhami is related more closely to An. nuneztouari than to An. trinkae and illustrate the merits of a multidisciplinary approach to mosquito systematics.
Using explicit congestion notification in stream control transmission protocol in lossy networks

Currently, the new transport protocol, Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), is not ECN-capable. The ECN-capable SCTP is proposed in this paper, which is bandwidth-efficient and robust to non-congestion losses. A SCTP source needs to adjust its congestion window when receiving ECN messages. We find the optimal value of the congestion window for a SCTP source in response to ECN messages, and develop a simple and practical method to achieve this optimal congestion window. Our simplified method in achieving the optimal congestion window is attractive because the total goodput performance of SCTP associations or the bottleneck link utilization is not sensitive to the window reduction policies when the network load is heavy. Using complicated methods to fine-tune SCTP or TCP's congestion window in response to congestion indications may be not worth the increase in complexity of the protocol.
The synthesis of 2,2′,5′,2″– [2′,5′ – 14C2] terthienyl and 1,4–bis (2–thienyl) [1,4–14C2] butadiyne

2,2′,5′,2″– [2′,5′ – 14C2] Terthienyl and 1,4–Bis (2–Thienl) [1,4–14C2] butadiyne were synthesized from [14C] formic acid.
On-Line Failure Detection and Confinement in Caches

Technology scaling leads to burn-in phase out and increasing post-silicon test complexity, which increases in-the-field error rate due to both latent defects and actual errors. As a consequence, there is an increasing need for continuous on-line testing techniques to cope with hard errors in the field. Similarly, those techniques are needed for detecting soft errors in logic, whose error rate is expected to raise in future technologies. Cache memories, which occupy most of the area of the chip, are typically protected with parity or ECC, but most of the wires as well as some combinational blocks remain unprotected against both soft and hard errors. This paper presents a set of techniques to detect and confine hard and soft errors in cache memories in combination with parity/ECC at very low cost. By means of hard signatures in data rows and error tracking, faults can be detected, classified properly and confined for hardware reconfiguration.
A BiCMOS time interval digitizer based on fully-differential, current-steering circuits

A time interval digitizer cell with a 0-16 ns input range and a nominal LSB width of 1.0 ns has been integrated in a 2-/spl mu/m BiCMOS technology, The circuit exhibits both integral and differential nonlinearity below 0.15 LSB and a timing error of 0.32 ns RMS. Logic gate propagation delays are used as time measurement units, and the nominal value of the delays is set by an on-chip phase-locked loop (PLL). Fully-differential, current-steering circuits with low voltage swings are used to implement the time interval digitizer so as to generate minimal switching noise. The cell is to be used in the monolithic, multi-channel realization of a high-sensitivity, mixed-signal data acquisition front-end. By virtue of the time digitization architecture used, the average power dissipation of the cell is only 19.8 mW, despite the use of circuits that dissipate static power, and the layout area is a compact 448 /spl mu/m/spl times/634 /spl mu/m. >
Chemical processing and micromixing in confined impinging jets

Rapid processes such as certain organic reactions or precipitations at high supersaturation require the rapid mixing provided by jet mixers. Micromixing in a confined impinging jets (CIJ) mixer was characterized employing the Damkohler number to correlate processing. A scaling theory for the characteristic micromixing time, proportional to momentum diffusion starting at the Kolmogorov microscale, is shown as sufficient to express the micromixing performance of the CIJ mixer. A recently characterized second-order competitive reaction set is used as a “chemical ruler” to assign an absolute value to the mixing time in the CIJ mixer. A wide range of characteristic time (320 to 5 ms) is evaluated with hydrochloric acid competing for sodium hydroxide neutralization or 2,2-dimethoxypropane acid catalyzed hydrolysis. This reaction set was sensitive enough to detect the onset of a turbulent-like flow at a Re of 90 and was able to demonstrate a decrease in undesired products up to the highest Re tested, 3,800 or a jet velocity of 19 m/s. It represents a significant advancement to the reaction sets and techniques used for previous mixing studies, which are reviewed. Experiments verify the characteristic mixing time in a CIJ mixer scales as the inverse of the jet velocity to the three halves power, and the “mesomixing volume” (the volume over which the majority of flow energy was dissipated) is best approximated as proportional to the internozzle separation cubed. For each of the different jet diameters, chamber diameters and outlet configurations tested, the selectivity of the reaction scaled linearly with the Damkohler number, as determined from the known reaction kinetics and the calculated Kolmogorov diffusion time. The first full characterization is provided of micromixing in impinging jets that allows the prediction of mixing performance, reaction selectivity, and scale-up criteria.
Thermal Contact Resistance and Thermal Conductivity of a Carbon Nanofiber

We have used a microfabricated device to measure the thermal contact resistance between a 152-nm-diameter carbon nanofiber and the measurement device, and found that heat conduction models based on Fourier’s law can underestimate the thermal contact resistance at the nanoscale constriction if a large reduction in the effective thermal conductivity of the constriction is not taken into account. With the thermal contact resistance reduced by the deposition of a platinum layer on the contact, we observed that the thermal conductivity of the carbon nanofiber grown by using a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method is comparable to that of graphite fibers grown by pyrolysis of natural gas prior to high-temperature heat treatment.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
People in Future Factories and Offices: With an Introduction to Some Special Opportunities and Problems for an Aging Workforce

A major difficulty with the topic of future factories or offices is that the mind usually grasps it visually, as a static picture at a specific time—the year 2000 has been popular. This conceptual limitation is significant in debates and planning regarding new technological possibilities and new opportunities and problems for people at work.
COMMENTARY ON THE ROLE OF INSULIN SENSITIZERS ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME: A META-ANALYSIS

Abbreviations: CIMT = carotid intima media thickness CVD = cardiovascular disease LDL = low-density lipoprotein PCOM = polycystic ovarian morphology PCOS = polycystic ovary syndrome TZDs = thiazolidenediones
Predicting Adult Crime Status from the Severity of the Delinquency Career

In the previous chapter we explored the relationships between the type of offenses that had been committed by the offenders in the 1958 cohort and their influence on the probability of adult crime. We first examined the type of offenses (using dichotomous offense measures) committed by the entire pool of delinquents to determine whether the commission of particular offense types was associated with the likelihood that the delinquent would continue into adult crime. Then in an effort to examine the association between delinquency and the familiar concept of specialization, offense switching, or “versatility in offending”—as it is often labeled, or “offense concentration,” as we have chosen to refer to the phenomenon—we restricted our analyses to the subsample who had committed at least three offenses as juveniles.
Universalizing the Right to Water in Brazil: Liberalization, Regulation and Public Policies in Human Rights

This paper proposes a very important discussion: Can trade policy help national governments to realize universal human rights? Specifically, in the context of progressively broader multilateral trade negotiations, how well can governments deal with international pressures for liberalization, and, at the same time, preserve its regulatory freedom and autonomy, in order to implement social policies directed to the realization of a developing country nationals’ human rights? To answer this question, we chose to work with one of the most basic human rights: the right to water. The right to water is fundamental in many dimensions. Just to remember four of them, we can mention (i) the humanitarian and human dignity dimensions, (ii) the economic dimension, (iii) the social dimension, and (iv) the sanitary dimension. In the first place, in what concerns the humanitarian and human dignity dimension, granting the right to water implies creating conditions for citizens to access a natural resource that is essential to their own survival. In the second place, in what refers to the economic development dimension, water is a scarce good, which demands heavy investments in order to be realized. Moreover, it involves building physical infrastructure, sewage systems, water treatment centrals, distribution networks, interconnecting pipes’ networks – all activities related to an intense national effort in terms of mobilizing huge sums of capital, and human resources. In third place, the access to water, viewed from its social dimension, represents a factor of social inclusion, given that the universalization of the supply of clean water has effects over social cohesion and equality amongst the members of a community. In the fourth place, from a sanitary perspective, the right to water is strictly related to public policies in the health sector – reduction of diseases related to extreme poverty, contamination and children mortality. Dirty water is a dissemination vector for endemic, epidemic and parasite diseases – decontamination implies, thus, increased life expectancy, mainly in poor countries. The paper highlights the debate about how to put in practice effective, broad and inclusive policies involving the universalization of the right to water and their relationship with international trade policies. To this end, it studies the case of Brazil. In this sense, regulation, liberalization, trade openness, preservation of the State’ s regulatory capacity, attraction of foreign investments and the choices and needs of Brazilian society are the important variables to be considered.
Structural and Functional Impacts of Novel Mutations in Slow Skeletal Muscle Troponin T Found in Non-Amish TNNT1 Nemaline Myopathies

Troponin T (TnT) is the thin filament anchoring subunit of the troponin complex and has two tropomyosin-binding sites for the incorporation of troponin into the sarcomeric structure. A nonsense mutation in exon 11 of the slow skeletal muscle troponin T (ssTnT) gene (TNNT1) truncating the polypeptide chain at Glu180 was found to cause nemaline myopathy (NM) in the Amish, an autosomal recessive disease with severe lethal phenotype. More NM TNNT1 mutations have recently been reported with similar recessive phenotypes. Here we engineered protein constructs representing the mutant ssTnT to investigate their impact on tropomyosin-binding and integration into the thin filament regulatory system. Like the Glu180X mutation, two novel nonsense mutations in exon 9 and exon 11 truncate the ssTnT polypeptide chain at Ser108 and Leu203, respectively, to delete the C-terminal region tropomyosin-binding site 2. A splicing site mutation causes a deletion of a 39 amino acid segment from the middle region tropomyosin-binding site 1. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying these TNNT1 mutations, we expressed and purified the mutant ssTnT proteins and analyzed their tropomyosin-binding affinity using solid-phase protein binding assays. The results demonstrate that both the Ser108X and exon 8 deletion mutations have similarly decreased tropomyosin-binding as that of Glu180X. We recently showed that the affinity of tropomyosin-binding site 1 is modulated by the isoform-specific N-terminal variable region, with ssTnT having the weakest tropomyosin-binding affinity. Therefore, the N-terminal variable region-based conformational and functional modulation may be a therapeutic target for TNNT1 myopathies. While Leu203X has both tropomyosin-binding sites intact, its recessive phenotype suggests that the incorporation into troponin complex may be required for high affinity binding of TnT to tropomyosin, which may be a protective mechanism against the Leu203X mutation.
A Novel Therapeutic Approach

Since 1988, the National Cholesterol Education Program has identified low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as the target of therapy; the new Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) guidelines continue the tradition of matching the aggressiveness of LDL-lowering therapy according to the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). A significant change in the new guidelines is the definition of.CHD risk equivalents. and the inclusion of a modified Framingham global risk score. These revisions significantly raise the number of patients who qualify for lipid-lowering therapy. ATP III recognizes statins as the drug of first choice for LDL-C lowering. Statins are proven to be safe and effective for LDL-C reduction and are proven to reduce CHD event rates and mortality. Some patients are not candidates for statin therapy, however, and must rely on nonstatin agents that are less effective in reducing LDL-C, less safe, or poorly tolerated. Consequently, new cholesterol-lowering therapies are needed. Ezetimibe, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2002, is the first in a new class of selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors and offers a novel approach to the treatment of dyslipidemia. Phase 2 data demonstrated that ezetimibe lowers LDL-C by 18% and has a tolerability and short-term safety profile similar to placebo. This paper reviews the cholesterol metabolic pathways and the mechanism of action of the currently available lipid-modifying agents and introduces ezetimibe, the first selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor.
Use of a genetic technique for separating the sexes of the stable fly (Diptera: Muscidae).

A field experiment, conducted on St. Croix, Virgin Islands of the United States, has previously demonstrated the feasibility of using the sterile male technique for suppression of Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). However, use of this method has been hampered because both sexes inflict painful bites on several species of animals. This problem has been partially circumvented by development of a genetic method that allows preferential elimination of females. This genetic sexing system utilizes malathion susceptibility as a conditional lethal and a male-linked translocation, T(1;2)5 , to fix a dominant resistance allele in the male sex. A dominant malathion-resistance gene was found in a population from Nebraska. This gene, malR , was linked to the Y chromosome by radiation-induced to produce a strain composed of resistant males and susceptible females. Leakage of undesirable phenotypes occurred at a low, but manageable, level.