cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A molecular simulations study of the miscibility in binary mixtures of polymers and low molecular weight molecules

Abstract The miscibility behavior of binary mixtures of polymeric and low molecular weight molecules was studied using a combination of modified Flory–Huggins theory and molecular simulation techniques. Three different atomistic approaches were used to investigate the phase behavior and χ parameters of binary mixtures consisting of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and 4- n -pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (5CB). Binary mixtures of methyl methacrylate monomer/5CB and methyl methacrylate oligomer/5CB were also studied. As a first approach, a fast method that calculates the local interaction between a fragment of the polymer and the organic molecule and then extends it to determine the energy of mixing using an estimated coordination number was used. By using modified coordination numbers, we were able to extend this method to include cases where the polymer segment and the small molecules are slightly dissimilar in size. More detailed studies which take into account bulk effects were also carried out where the cohesive energies of the pure compounds were derived from molecular dynamics simulations and the interaction parameters were determined from the differences in the cohesive energies. The concentration and temperature dependence of the χ parameters was evaluated by calculating the energy of mixing from the differences in the cohesive energy densities of the mixed and demixed systems. The present study provides a detailed understanding of the miscibility of PMMA and 5CB as PMMA polymerizes from its monomer, and the results indicate that although methyl methacrylate and 5CB are completely miscible, 5CB is not miscible in PMMA even in small quantities.
Hepatitis and hepatitis A vaccine : a glimpse of history

Human hepatitis has been recognized since the dawn of recorded history, but proof of infectious etiology and delineation of hepatitis A (infectious hepatitis) from hepatitis B (serum hepatitis) were not established until the first half of the present century. Development of the present killed hepatitis A vaccine depended on a series of breakthrough discoveries made during the last 25 years. These were marmoset propagation (1967); definition of virus attributes (1974-1975); development of diagnostic tests and seroepidemiology (1974-1975); and the preparation and proof of efficacy of a prototype killed hepatitis A vaccine (1976). Successful cultivation of hepatitis A virus in cell culture in 1979 quickly led to development of both live and killed hepatitis A vaccines for tests in human beings (1980-1990). The year 1991 marks the initiation of protective efficacy trials of two different killed virus vaccines in human beings. The safety and protective efficacy of the first vaccine (Merck) is reported in this symposium and the findings in tests of a second vaccine (SKB) are awaited. Hepatitis A is clearly a conquerable disease, initially in its elimination as an important disease entity and eventually in its eradication.
Hydrophilic zeolite coatings for improved heat transfer

The evaporation time and wetting limit temperature for a water droplet on the surface of a bare, Zeolite-A-coated, or ZSM-5-coated stainless steel substrate have been experimentally studied. Three stainless steel substrates are prepared with different finishes. The surface finishing of a substrate is shown to cause observable changes in the wettability of a bare or ZSM-5-coated surface. Contact angle measurements reveal that Zeolite-A coatings are the most hydrophilic and that bare stainless steel is the least hydrophilic. The evaporation time and wetting limit temperature of a water droplet placed on the surface of the bare and coated substrates are examined as surface temperature increases. The zeolite coatings decrease the evaporation time and increase the wetting limit temperature on the bare stainless steel substrate, with Zeolite-A coatings offering the best improvement. For the bare substrate and the substrates coated with the same zeolite, as hydrophilicity increases, the evaporation time decrease...
The Politics of Garbage in Oaxaca, Mexico

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) and politics are common themes in environmental justice. However, insights garnered from the experience of the global north cannot be applied directly to the global south since local processes shape unique landscapes of waste. To this end, my fieldwork in Oaxaca de Juarez, a rapidly urbanizing city in southern Mexico, concentrates on the history and politics of MSWM in the area. Here, the livelihood struggles of local neighborhoods are imbricated with the management of the existing official municipal dump. I argue that it is the marginality of these neighborhoods, both physical and social, that makes it possible for them to block the flow of municipal trash and so reveal it to visitors, residents, and politicians. This case presents a reworking of traditional concepts of environmental justice by examining the contradictory processes of abjection and political activism particular to the global south.
The US-DPC, a poloidal coil test insert for the Japanese Demonstration Poloidal Coil Test Facility

A superconducting pulsed poloidal coil being built by MIT will consist of three double pancakes of Nb/sub 3/Sn cable-in-conduit conductor operating at a maximum coil-envelope current density of 50 A/mm/sup 2/ at 4.2 K in a peak field of approximately 10 T. Peak current and peak ramped field will be 30 kA and approximately 10 T/s, respectively. The coil, conductor, proposed experiment, and supporting research and development efforts are discussed. >
Instructional Models for the Acquisition of English as Bridges into School Science: Effects on the Science Achievement of U.S. Hispanic English Language Learners.

Science educators have suggested that, for minority and low-income students, gaps between home and school science cultures necessitate ‘border crossing’ for successful learning in science. Our analysis used National Assessment of Educational Progress 2000 and 2005 data to assess the impact of U.S. state-level policy regarding instructional models for language acquisition for the learning of science. Specifically, we assessed whether policy favouring structured English immersion led to better student outcomes than bilingual education among Hispanic English language learners in 4th and 8th grades in the U.S. We found significantly higher science achievement among 4th grade Hispanic ELLs in states with stronger bilingual emphasis in their policy, suggesting that policy support for bilingual education could provide a better bridge to span the cultural gap between home and school science, at least for younger students.
A cell surface‐localized acetylcholinesterase in the cellular slime mold Polysphondylium violaceum

Abstract The cellular slime mold Polysphondylium violaceum was found to synthesize a plasma membrane-bound acetylcholinesterase that is located on the surface of growing amoebae. Enzyme activity declines as cells approach stationary phase and is undetectable 2h after asexual differentiation has begun. The enzyme has a Km value of approx. 46 μM and a Vmax of 3 pmol · min−1 (107 cells)−1. It shows substrate inhibition by acetylcholine and is inhibited by the true cholinesterase inhibitor BW248c51 but is weakly inhibited by N,N′-diisopropylphosphorodiamidic anhydride (iso-OMPA), a pseudocholinesterase inhibitor. These results expand upon an earlier study which suggested that P. violaceum amoebae are able to respond to acetylcholine and other pharmacologically related compounds. Both studies suggest that an acetylcholine-based sensory system might operate during growth and early stages of P. violaceum differentiation.
VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY

VBG and vertical Silastic ring gastroplasty are simple gastric restriction procedures that have defined technical standards. Two recent improvements in the operation have been the development of the six-row endolinear cutting-stapling instrument that divides the vertical partition without an increase in GI leakage and the application of minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques that have reduced the incidence of incisional hernia to less than 1%. VBG and vertical Silastic ring gastroplasty are procedures that can effectively help select patients to manage their morbid obesity. However, these procedures are critically dependent on patient compliance. It is not possible to know preoperatively whether a candidate will make the lifelong behavior modifications necessary for sustained weight loss. Experience has demonstrated that bariatric surgeons have limited control over a patient's level of motivation for compliance.
The role of hydroxylation in the secretion of collagen by mouse fibroblasts in culture.

Abstract The secretion of collagen may be specifically and quantitatively measured in a cell culture system using mouse fibroblasts, line 3T6. The results of such a study show that inhibition of the hydroxylation of collagen with α,α′-dipyridyl reduces the rate of secretion to 27% of the rate of normally hydroxylated collagen. Dipyridyl does not hinder passage of the normally hydroxylated collagen species to the medium. Therefore its effect on the secretion of under-hydroxylated collagen (protocollagen) is due to its inhibition of hydroxylation and not to an inhibition of the cell's secretory machinery.
Base calling error rates in next-generation DNA sequencing

We study the problem of base calling in next-generation DNA sequencing platforms that rely on reversible terminator chemistry. After reviewing a statistical model of the generated signal and the Viterbi algorithm for finding the maximum-likelihood solution to the base calling problem, we present a closed form expression for the upper bound on the probability of base calling error. Simulation results demonstrate that the derived upper bound provides a useful characterization of the error rate performance of the considered sequencing platform.
Caldera formation at Volcán Colima, Mexico, by a large large holocene volcanic debris avalanche

Abstract About 4,300 years ago, 10 km 3 of the upper cone of ancestral Volcan Colima collapsed to the southwest leaving a horseshoe-shaped caldera 4 km in diameter. The collapse produced a massive volcanic debris avalanche deposit covering over 1550 km 2 on the southern flanks of the volcano and extending at least 70 km from the former summit. The avalanche followed a steep topographic gradient unobstructed by barriers, resulting in an unusually high area/volume ratio for the Colima deposit. The apparent coefficient of friction (fall height/distance traveled) for the Colima avalanche is 0.06, a low value similar to those of other large-volume deposits. The debris avalanche deposit contains 40–75% angular volcanic clasts from the ancestral cone, a small proportion of vesicular blocks that may be juvenile, and in distal exposures, rare carbonate clasts plucked from the underlying surface by the moving avalanche. Clasts range in size to over 20 m in diameter and are brecciated to different degrees, pulverized, and surrounded by a rock-flour matrix. The upper surface of the deposit shows prominent hummocky topography with closed depressions and surface boulders. A thick, coarse-grained, compositionally zoned scoria-fall layer on the upper northeastern slope of the volcano may have erupted at the time of collapse. A fine-grained surge layer is present beneath the avalanche deposit at one locality, apparently representing an initial blast event. Most of the missing volume of the ancestral volcano has since been restored at an average rate of 0.002 km 3 /yr through repeated eruptions from the post-caldera cone. As a result, the southern slope of Volcan Colima may again be susceptible to collapse. Over 200,000 people are now living on primary or secondary deposits of the debris avalanche, and a repetition of this event would constitute a volcanic disaster of great magnitude. Ancestral Volcan Colima grew on the southern, trenchward flank of the earlier and larger volcano Nevado de Colima. Trenchward collapse was favored by the buttressing effect of Nevado, the rapid elevation drop to the south, and the intrusion of magma into the southern flank of the ancestral volcano. Other such trenchward-younging, paired volcanoes are known from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Chile, and Japan. The trenchward slopes of the younger cones are common sites for cone collapse to form avalanche deposits, as occurred at Colima and Popocatepetl in Mexico and at San Pedro Volcano in Chile.
Fatty liver induction: effect of ethionine on polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis.

Abstract Hepatic synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in vivo or in vitro is not directly effected by inclusion of low levels of ethionine in the diet of the rat. Experiments may be designed to produce apparent reproducible increases or decreases in hepatic microsomal linoleie acid desaturase activity in vitro or of [1-14C]acetate incorporation into phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acids in vivo. The effect noted in vitro may be related to a greater susceptibility of the hepatic microsomes to damage during isolation whereas the effect noted in vivo is a by-product of neutral lipid accumulation. Similar results were also obtained in less detailed experiments with rats fed orotic acid. Neither hepatotoxin appeared to enhance lipofuscin or ceroid pigment formation although ethionine did significantly effect the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system.
Induced polarisation methods in mineral exploration

Abstract The basis of the induced polarization method is first described. It is therein demonstrated that the electrical conductivity and dielectric constant of a rock is dispersive, i.e. frequency dependent. The time domain and frequency domain techniques, of measuring the induced polarization phenomena, each commonly utilize the dipole-dipole, pole-dipole, and gradient arrays. It is readily demonstrated that the time-domain and frequency domain techniques are equivalent and that if higher resolution is the criterion of judgement, the dipoledipole array is to be preferred. Practical considerations force other conclusions at times, as will be demonstrated. The application of the induced polarization method in several contrasting geological environments will be reviewed with reference to case histories drawn from various parts of the world. In discussing these case histories, the question of the parameter or parameters most suited to the display of information is discussed in detail.
Thermoplastic Vulcanizates from Isotactic Polypropylene and Ethylene−Propylene−Diene Terpolymer in Supercritical Propane: Synthesis and Morphology

New thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV's) have been synthesized from isotactic polypropylene and ethylene−propylene−diene terpolymer (EPDM) in a supercritical propane solution. The ternary solution of polypropylene and EPDM in supercritical propane exhibited less solubility than the corresponding binary solutions of polypropylene or EPDM separately in propane. Higher pressure in the supercritical polymer solution enhanced the mutual solubility of the two polymers. EPDM was cross-linked with tert-butyl peroxide while in supercritical solution. On lowering the pressure while remaining above the melting temperature of the polymers, the supercritical TPV gel phase separated in a manner consistent with spinodal decomposition. On isobaric cooling of the supercritical TPV gel, the polypropylene crystallized, freezing the morphology. The cross-linking of EPDM in the homogeneous supercritical propane solutions was found to be nearly complete. The final TPV's were phase separated, exhibiting two melting transitions. T...
No heroin or morphine 6β-glucuronide analgesia in μ-opioid receptor knockout mice

Recent reports suggest that heroin and its metabolite morphine 6beta-glucuronide can produce analgesia independent of the morphine-preferring mu-opioid receptor. We have tested heroin and morphine 6beta-glucuronide analgesia in wild-type, homozygous and heterozygous mu-opioid receptor knockout mice. Homozygotes display no heroin or morphine 6beta-glucuronide analgesia. Heterozygous mice with one mu-opioid receptor gene copy reveal reduced heroin and morphine 6beta-glucuronide analgesia. The mu-opioid receptor-dependence of heroin and morphine 6beta-glucuronide fails to support a requirement for a heroin-specific opiate receptor subtype.
Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome: the Cleveland Clinic experience.

Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome is a recently described clinical syndrome caused by a suspected contaminant of L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid that was manufactured and sold as a nutritional supplement. This study reports the clinical and pathological findings of 22 cases of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome evaluated at the Cleveland Clinic and includes data for up to 1 year of follow-up (for the epidemic cases). Nineteen of the 22 cases were evaluated and followed prospectively in the time period from November 1989 to November 1990. Two of the 22 represented nonepidemic forms of the syndrome which occurred prior to the 1989 epidemic. During a review of all cases of biopsy-proven diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia at the Cleveland Clinic since 1978, one of the 22 was retrospectively identified as having an epidemic form of the syndrome, with onset in July 1989. In this study, adverse prognosticating factors in eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome included nerve and muscle involvement, fasciitis, and weight loss. Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome is striking in its severity and diversity, and its features are similar to those of two other unusual illnesses—toxic oil syndrome and diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia. With the recent purification of the suspected contaminant, it is hoped that further clues to the etiology of this syndrome and similar syndromes will be uncovered.
Analysis of Acoustic Signals Produced by the Cicada Platypedia putnami Variety lutea (Homoptera: Tibicinidae)

Most male cicadas produce calling songs to attract females, and most cicadas use a specialized timbal organ to produce sound. However, several cicada genera can produce acoustic signals through stridulation or crepitation either in addition to or in place of the timbal song. We analyzed the acoustic signals produced by a crepitating cicada, Platypedia putnami variety lutea Davis. Peak frequency of the sound pulses produced by crepitation were determined to be 10.18 and 9.66 kHz for males and females, respectively. Individual pulse duration was ≈10 ms. Males produced pulses at a rate of 8.68 Hz and females produced pulses at a rate of 18.76 Hz. We found a delay of ≈40 ms between a male pulse and the response by a female. The mean sound pressure level (89.7 dB) of crepitating P. putnami variety lutea did not differ significantly from the predicted value, based on the regression of call intensity as a function of body mass for cicadas producing timbal songs previously published.
A simple geometric interpretation of increasing associated multiplicity with increasing transverse momentum

A recent exper iment (1) which studies the processes p + p ~ ( M M ) + p for 28.5 GeV incident protons has provided excit ing evidence for an increase in the average multip l ic i ty of produced charged part icles wi th increasing transverse momentum p z to the last (c.m.) proton in the final s tate , for ]ixed large missing masses M. We give a simple physical in terpre ta t ion of this behavior which does not call upon calculations with detai led dynamical models containing many hypotheses concerning consti tuents and interact ions (2). We use the geometr ical pic ture for the collision of two hadrons (a), extended to product ion processes wi th the in tui t ive notion tha t the average number of part icles produced is greater at smaller impac t parameters (4), a not ion which we believe is the most direct in te rpre ta t ion of the exper iment (~). We give simple arguments in a model which suggest t ha t this geometr ic in te rpre ta t ion leads natural ly , over a range of large s and away from kinemat ic boundaries, to an increase of the average associated mul t ip l ic i ty (n(M~,p• wi th increasing p• the momentum conjugate to the impac t parameter b, of the form
Carbon Backbone Topology of the Metabolome of a Cell

The complex metabolic makeup of a biological system, such as a cell, is a key determinant of its biological state providing unique insights into its function. Here we characterize the metabolome of a cell by a novel homonuclear 13C 2D NMR approach applied to a nonfractionated uniformly 13C-enriched lysate of E. coli cells and determine de novo their carbon backbone topologies that constitute the “topolome”. A protocol was developed, which first identifies traces in a constant-time 13C–13C TOCSY NMR spectrum that are unique for individual mixture components and then assembles for each trace the corresponding carbon-bond topology network by consensus clustering. This led to the determination of 112 topologies of unique metabolites from a single sample. The topolome is dominated by carbon topologies of carbohydrates (34.8%) and amino acids (45.5%) that can constitute building blocks of more complex structures.
Research and Development of Microwire Handling Devices

This paper focuses on the research and development of wire handling devices for microdiameter wires of various sizes. Microsized wires and tools are gaining importance in aerospace technology, medical device manufacturing and in the semiconductor industry. Development of microwire handling devices is complicated and difficult due to the size of the wire and the need for high accuracy for its use. The aim of this work was to develop a compact, robust, and highly precise device. This paper presents a systematic methodology for the development of a high-precision microwire handling device. The device can accurately feed wires ranging as low as 0.05 mm in diameter. The wire handling device must satisfy the following three criteria: (1) it must continuously feed wire without slippage and kinking; (2) it must ensure repeatability with great accuracy; (3) and it must handle wire of various sizes. The device was experimentally tested for initial design failures, high precision, and repeatability. A practical example for laser deposition is presented here to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Comparison of Two Continuous Nebulized Albuterol Doses in Critically Ill Children With Status Asthmaticus

Objectives: Continuous nebulized albuterol is frequently used to treat children with status asthmaticus in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) but can have cardiovascular side effects. Limited...
El Salvador: Methods Used to Document Human Rights Violations

This study describes and analyzes the methods used to document human rights abuses in El Salvador, focusing on the methods used by the United States Government through its Embassy in San Salvador, and by Tutela Legal, a nongovernmental monitoring agency in San Salvador. The authors examined Tutela and U.S. records which were relevant and available for 1980 through 1984 and used post-1984 official statements which relate to methods. The focus is on the method used for the documentation of the murder or disappearance of civilians. This paper begins with an examination of the current international human rights standards as they relate to documentation in EI Salvador and the U.S. perspective on the issues. Then the history and methods of data collection on human rights violations, as practiced by Tutela and the U.S. State Department, are discussed. A section follows on factors of reliability and accuracy for data on violations of human rights, data that are often collected under conditions of great hardship and risk. Next, a general picture is drawn of how well the Tutela and U.S. methods take into account reliability and accuracy criteria. Finally, in an Appendix, several possible quantitative indices of human rights violations are discussed.
Trends in the management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Alcohol use among head and neck cancer patients is common. Alcohol withdrawal (especially delirium tremens) poses significant potential morbidity to postsurgical patients. Treatment with newer benzodiazepines (BZDs) such as lorazepam and midazolam has become more widespread, and mortality rates from severe alcohol withdrawal have decreased in recent years. The authors retrospectively studied 102 patients with a diagnosis of alcohol withdrawal, including 20 patients undergoing surgery for cancer of the head and neck. There were 81 men and 21 women, with a mean (+/- standard deviation [SD]) age of 52.3 (+/- 16.1) years. Many of these patients (46%) were treated with more than one BZD or other neuroleptic, while 49% received single agent therapy of either chlordiazepoxide (26%) or lorazepam (23%). Delirium tremens occurred in 12% of all patients undergoing withdrawal and in 10% of head and neck cancer patients, with a mortality rate of 9% and 0%, respectively. Single agent use was successful in greater than 95% when either lorazepam or chlordiazepoxide was used. Instances of combination treatment where older BZDs were used yielded a 69% success rate. The higher complication rate and lower treatment success with combination treatment was multifactorial. Optimal management of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome requires an understanding of its pathophysiology and the principles of its prevention along with a familiarity of BZD pharmacokinetic drug profiles. The authors present a treatment plan which is cost-effective, keeps morbidity low, and should allow a continued decreasing trend in mortality rates from delirium tremens.
Strain variation in antiphagocytic activity of capsular polysaccharides from Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A.

Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans vary in resistance to phagocytosis in vitro. The binding of isolated capsular polysaccharide (CPS) to a capsule-free mutant of C. neoformans confers resistance to phagocytosis. The importance of capsule composition to differences among strains in susceptibility to phagocytosis was evaluated. CPSs from five strains of C. neoformans serotype A, designated 6, 15, 98, 110, and 145, which had previously been isolated and characterized as to molecular size, composition, and binding properties, were evaluated for relative antiphagocytic potencies. In the presence of 5% normal isologous serum, murine thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages phagocytized (i.e., attached to or engulfed) 80% of 51Cr-labeled cells of C. neoformans 602, a capsule-free mutant. Added CPS inhibited the uptake of these yeast cells. CPS from strain 110 was most potent, followed in decreasing order of inhibitory activity by CPSs from strains 6, 145, 98, and 15. The presence of 100 micrograms of strain 110 CPS per ml reduced uptake of cells of strain 602 from 80 to 50%. CPS had no effect on the uptake of 51Cr-labeled Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cells of strain 602 that were preincubated with CPS and then washed were more resistant to phagocytosis than nonpretreated control cells, indicating the importance of bound, not free, CPS. Added CPS did not affect the uptake of wild-type, encapsulated cells of C. neoformans. Addition of endotoxin had no effect on phagocytosis. CPSs from strains of C. neoformans serotype A varied widely in their abilities to inhibit the uptake of capsule-free cells. The antiphagocytic activity of CPS did not correlate with the ability to bind to capsule-free mutant but was somewhat related to the capsule size of the strain from which the CPS was isolated.
Report of having slowed down: evidence for the validity of a new way to inquire about mild disability in elders.

Background. Mild disability in elderly persons may be detected by eliciting reports of modified task performance, even in the absence of reported difficulty. This study provides evidence for the validity of one type of task modification, namely, slowing, as a measure of mild walking disability. Methods. Community-dwelling elders ( N 5 287) were questioned about whether they were walking indoors as quickly as they had 1 year before and 10 years before. Construct validity was assessed by the degree to which responses to these two questions were logically consistent with a general decline in walking speed, and by determining whether reported slowing was associated with concurrent reports of difficulty walking and with measured gait speed. Predictive validity in subjects without reported difficulty walking was gauged by the association of reported slowing with adverse walking outcomes at 1-year follow-up. Results. Reports of slowing over 10- and 1-year periods were almost uniformly consistent with a general decline in speed. Reported slowing was significantly associated with reported difficulty walking and with slower gait speed. In the subgroup of elders initially reporting no difficulty walking, reported slowing significantly predicted incident difficulty walking at follow-up, as well as other adverse walking outcomes. For example, among elders who reported slowing, 7%, 10%, and 19% developed new difficulty walking indoors, new difficulty walking outdoors, or stopped walking for pleasure, compared with 0%, 0%, and 3% for those who had not reported slowing ( p , .05). Conclusions. This study provides evidence for the construct and predictive validity of one type of task modification, namely, slowing in indoor walking. This work contributes to the development of new methods for measuring mild disability, which may in turn form the basis for clinical interventions based on the early identification of functional problems.
Centrifugal force compensation of a two-wheeled balancing robot

Dynamically balancing, two-wheeled robots with high centers of gravity have been researched over the past few years in order to tackle the restrictions of robots in human environments. These robots are designed to have the same dimensions as humans and be able to actively maintain stability. However these systems are only able to compensate in the fore-aft directions and are limited to slow motions when turning in order to prevent tipping due to centrifugal forces. In this paper we present a two-wheeled balancing robot whose body is an actuated four-bar linkage that can be used to lean. This allows it to control the position of its center of mass in the sideways direction. An overview of the robot concept is presented, and controllers are designed to balance, turn, and lean. Results are presented in dynamic simulation.
Universal serendipity elements

Universal serendipity elements (USE) are defined as isoparametric elements having linear, quadratic and cubic node configurations at their edges in an arbitrary manner. Formulation of shape functions and their derivatives for USE is presented. A computer algorithm which allows the efficient application of USE is explained. Only corner nodes are kept transparent to the user. Changing the order of USE is fully automated. It is concluded that the USE concept allows interactive mesh refinement in an efficient manner and eliminates the difficulties encountered in the use of higher order isoparametric serendipity elements.
Video Transport Over Multi Hop Directional Wireless Networks

Exploiting directional antenna technology in wireless networks has become an attractive option because of the potential capacity increase through spatial reuse. Such development apparently has profound impact to wireless multimedia applications. While the advantages of directional transmission in single hop networks (e.g. WLANs and cellular systems) have been evident, it has also been recognized that multi hop directional networks may suffer long transmission delays and frequent link breakages if conventional routing protocols (e.g. AODV and DSR) are used. This is mainly due to the unique feature of directional transmission commonly known as "node deafness". To address this problem, we propose a multi-path routing scheme which focuses more on minimizing per-hop delays instead of traditional route length. We further propose a differentiated service (DiffServ) framework for layered video transport over multi hop directional network using QoS aware multi-path routing as well as class based queuing (CBQ). Both network layer and application layer simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed video transport scheme over directional networks.
Modeling of a foamed emulsion bioreactor: II. model parametric sensitivity.

The sensitivity of a conceptual model of a foam emulsion bioreactor (FEBR) used for the control of toluene vapors in air was examined. Model parametric sensitivity studies showed which parameters affect the removal of toluene (as model pollutant) in the FEBR the most signifi- cantly, and enabled definition of the limits of the process. Detailed examination of the results indicated that the pro- cess is highly complex and that both mass transfer and kinetic limitations can coexist in the bioreactor system. These results will help with the optimization of the design and operation of FEBRs.
Estimation of Mortality Rates for Disease Simulation Models Using Bayesian Evidence Synthesis

Purpose. The authors propose a Bayesian approach for estimating competing risks for inputs to disease simulation models. This approach is suggested when modeling a disease that causes a large propo...
Lord Palmerston's Policy for The Rejuvenation of Turkey, 1839–1841

During the period from 1839 to 1841, when the Concert of Europe intervened in the second Syrian war between Sultan Mahmoud and Mehemet Ali Pasha of Egypt to save the Ottoman Empire from destruction, Lord Palmerston the British Secretary of Foreign Affairs energetically opposed a return to the status quo ante helium in the Levant, risked the development of a serious international crisis in Near Eastern affairs, and played a leading role in the negotiation and execution of an arrangement by which Syria and Crete were restored to the direct rule of the Sultan and by which the authority of Mehemet Ali was confined to Egypt. The story of these developments is a familiar one; yet it is not generally known that at the same time when Palmerston was energetically attempting to exploit events in the East to bring about a settlement of the Turco-Egyptian Question in the interest of the Sultan he was also actively elaborating and extending a policy for the rejuvenation of Turkey which he had outlined in a period of peace in the Levant between 1833 and 1839.
Where do transactions come from? Modularity, transactions, and the boundaries of firms

This article constructs a theory of the location of transactions and the boundaries of firms in a productive system. It proposes that systems of production can be viewed as networks, in which tasks-cum-agents are the nodes and transfers—of material, energy and information—between tasks and agents are the links. Transactions are defined as mutually agreed-upon transfers with compensation and are located within the task network. Placing a transaction in a particular location in turn requires work to define, count (or measure), and pay for the transacted objects. The costs of this work (labeled mundane transaction costs) are generally low at the thin crossing points of the task network, which correspond to module boundaries. Therefore, transactions are more likely to be located at module boundaries than in their interiors. Several implications arise from this theory. Among these: Modularizations create new module boundaries, hence new transaction locations. Areas in the task network where transfers are dense and complex should be located in transaction-free zones, so that the cost of transacting does not overburden the system. The thin crossing points between transaction-free zones constitute breakpoints, where firms and industries may split apart.
The role of sensory preconditioning in memory retrieval by preverbal infants.

Infants’ memories are highly specific to their training stimuli; they rarely transfer learned responding. In two experiments, we asked whether sensory preconditioning facilitates the transfer of deferred imitation. In Experiments 1A and 1B, 6-month-olds were simultaneously preexposed to Puppets A and B and then saw target actions modeled on Puppet A. The infants associated the paired puppets and imitated the actions on Puppet B. In Experiment 2, the preexposure procedure was repeated, but the actions were modeled on Puppet A with a toy train in view. The infants also associated Puppet A and the train: Either object effectively reactivated both forgotten memories; thereafter, the infants again imitated the actions on Puppet B. These findings reveal that infants form specific and enduring associations between stimuli they have merely seen together. These associations facilitate the transfer of deferred imitation, both directly and indirectly, through connections to other associations.
Work hours and wage inequality: Evidence from the 2004 WERS

Abstract This paper uses the 2004 wave of the Workplace Employment Relations Survey to test whether work hours and wage inequality are positively correlated because of financial incentives associated with inequality. Workers may work longer hours in order to increase their expected income through performance pay or promotion, resulting in a positive correlation between inequality and work hours. Contrary to other work, it is found that the relationship between wage inequality and the occupation and firm level and work hours cannot be attributed to the effect of financial incentives. Demand constraints faced by workers explains the positive correlation between occupation inequality and work hours attributed to financial incentives by others.
Tinea corporis in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients: case report and assessment of oral therapy.

Dermatophytosis in immunocompromised hosts is more varied and often more severe than in immunocompetent hosts. Early recognition and treatment with systemic therapy are important in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in order to prevent severe infection. Potential drug resistance can occur due to chronic usage of systemic azole therapy in such patients, or the existence of atypical fungi. Although warnings have been made of possible drug interactions between certain antifungals and antiretroviral medications, only one combination has shown a clinically significant interaction. A case treated aggressively with oral terbinafine at the onset is presented. Background Dermatophytosis in immunocompromised hosts is more varied and often more severe than in immunocompetent hosts. Early recognition and treatment with systemic therapy are important in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in order to prevent severe infection. Objective To analyze potential therapies for dermatophyte infections in immunocompromised patients and risk of drug resistance and interactions with antiretroviral medications. Methods Literature search based on MEDLINE (1966–March 2003) and additional references obtained from cross-referencing retrieved articles. All information deemed relevant by the reviewers was included. A case study was employed to exemplify the usage of this information in patient care. Results Although warnings have been made of possible drug interactions between certain antifungals and antiretroviral medications, only one combination has shown a clinically significant interaction. Conclusions When considering drug interactions and side-effects, there are no clinically significant reasons to avoid any oral antifungal for dermatophytosis in the HIV-positive patient.
journal of visual culture: Notes on Screen Testing

This essay considers screen testing by examining three cinematic and para-cinematic texts. Although quite different in terms of their form, context and application, these screen tests all function as a threshold, a point of relationship between a question and an answer. The authors consider the kinds of questions raised by screen tests and how these questions might be answered.
Unbiased sampling techniques for image synthesis

We examine a class of adaptive sampling techniques employed in image synthesis and show that those commonly used for efficient anti-aliasing are statistically biased. This bias is dependent upon the image function being sampled as well as the strategy for determining the number of samples to use. It is most prominent in areas of high contrast and is attributable to early stages of sampling systematically favoring one extreme or the other. If the expected outcome of the entire adaptive sampling algorithm is considered, we find that the bias of the early decisions is still present in the final estimator. We propose an alternative strategy for performing adaptive sampling that is unbiased but potentially more costly. We conclude that it may not always be practical to mitigate this source of bias, but as a source of error it should be considered when high accuracy and image fidelity are a central concern.
Influence of the boundary conditions on capillary flow dynamics and liquid distribution in a porous medium

After depositing a wetting liquid onto a porous medium surface, and under the influence of the capillary pressure, the liquid is imbibed into the porous medium creating a wetted imprint. The flow within the porous medium does not cease once all the liquid is imbibed but continues as a secondary capillary flow, where the liquid flows from large pores into small pores along the liquid interface. The flow is solved using the capillary network model, and the influence of the boundary condition on the liquid distribution within the porous medium is investigated. The pores at the porous medium boundaries can be defined as open or closed pores, where an open pore is checked for the potential threshold condition for flow to take place. In contrast, the closed pore is defined as a static entity, in which the potential condition for flow to take place is never satisfied. By defining the pores at distinct porous medium boundaries as open or closed, one is able to obtain a very different liquid distribution within the porous medium. The liquid saturation profiles along the principal flow direction, ranging from constant to steadily decreasing, to the profile with a local maximum, are found numerically. It is shown that these saturation profiles are also related to the geometrical dimension that is perpendicular to the flow principal direction, and changing the boundary type from open to closed allows the liquid distribution within the porous medium to be controlled. In addition to the liquid distribution, the influence of the boundary conditions on capillary pressure and relative permeability is investigated, where both parameters are not influenced by variation of the boundary condition types. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
Medical Malpractice Claims Risk in Urology: An Empirical Analysis of Patient Complaint Data

Purpose: Patient complaints are associated with physician risk management experience, including medical malpractice claims risk, and small proportions of physicians account for disproportionate shares of claims. We investigated whether patient complaint experience differs among urologists, and whether urological subspecialists generate distinct quantities and types of complaints.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study examined 1,516 unsolicited patient complaints filed against 268 urologists. Patient complaint and urological subspecialty data were collected from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2007 for 15 geographically diverse health systems. The cohort urologists were assigned medical malpractice claims risk scores and complaint type profiles. A weighted sum algorithm produced risk scores from 4 consecutive years of complaint data and complaint type profiles were generated using a standardized coding system. Statistical analyses tested the associations among risk score, complaint type profi...
QWL Development: Three Trajectories

This paper describes three contrasting trajectories of quality of working life (QWL) development which appear to match contrasting sets of organizational conditions. The trajectories, while made up of similar components, differ in terms of component order. Based on the sequence of organizational climate improvement, individual commitment, and structural change, "planned, " "evolved, " and "induced" QWL patterns are distinguished. These patterns are derived from a comparative, longitudinal analysis of QWL in six established manufacturing facilities in the United States. Three organizations are used to illustrate the different paths: Polaroid Corporation's ABC plant, Corry Jamestown, and Donnelly Mirrors. The paper discusses the fit between trajectory and organizational properties prior to start-up, early on, and over the course of change. A preliminary integration is made in terms of the need for organizational change and management ability to produce change. Common aspects across the change trajectories t...
Human DNA polymerase θ possesses 5′-dRP lyase activity and functions in single-nucleotide base excision repair in vitro

DNA polymerase θ (Pol θ) is a low-fidelity DNA polymerase that belongs to the family A polymerases and has been proposed to play a role in somatic hypermutation. Pol θ has the ability to conduct translesion DNA synthesis opposite an AP site or thymine glycol, and it was recently proposed to be involved in base excision repair (BER) of DNA damage. Here, we show that Pol θ has intrinsic 5′-deoxyribose phosphate (5′-dRP) lyase activity that is involved in single-nucleotide base excision DNA repair (SN-BER). Full-length human Pol θ is a ∼300-kDa polypeptide, but we show here that the 98-kDa C-terminal region of Pol θ possesses both DNA polymerase activity and dRP lyase activity and is sufficient to carry out base excision repair in vitro. The 5′-dRP lyase activity is independent of the polymerase activity, in that a polymerase inactive mutant retained full 5′-dRP lyase activity. Domain mapping of the 98-kDa enzyme by limited proteolysis and NaBH4 cross-linking with a BER intermediate revealed that the dRP lyase active site resides in a 24-kDa domain of Pol θ. These results are consistent with a role of Pol θ in BER.
Rac1 promotes TGF-β-stimulated mesangial cell type I collagen expression through a PI3K/Akt-dependent mechanism

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a central mediator in the progression of glomerulosclerosis, leading to accumulation of aberrant extracellular matrix proteins and inappropriate expression of smooth muscle α-actin in the kidney. Previously, we reported that disrupting the cytoskeleton diminished TGF-β-stimulated type I collagen accumulation in human mesangial cells. As cytoskeletal signaling molecules, including the Rho-family GTPases, have been implicated in fibrogenesis, we sought to determine the respective roles of RhoA and Rac1 in HMC collagen I expression. TGF-β1 activated both RhoA and Rac1 within 5 min of treatment, and this activation was dependent on the kinase activity of the type I TGF-β receptor. TGF-β1-stimulated induction of type I collagen mRNA expression and promoter activity was diminished by inhibiting Rac1 activity and was increased by a constitutively active Rac1 mutant, whereas inhibiting RhoA activity had no such effect. Rac1 activation required phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) activity. Furthermore, the PI3K antagonist, LY294002, reduced TGF-β1-stimulated COL1A2 promoter activity and Rac1 activation. It also partially blocked active Rac1-stimulated collagen promoter activity, suggesting that PI3K activity contributes to both TGF-β activation of Rac1 and signal propagation downstream of Rac1. Thus, while both Rac1 and RhoA are rapidly activated in response to TGF-β1 in human mesangial cells, only Rac1 activation enhances events that contribute to mesangial cell collagen expression, through a positive feedback loop involving PI3K.