cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Business process reengineering: A tutorial on the concept, evolution, method, technology and application

Abstract It is ironical that while much is being discussed about business process reengineering (BPR), most companies are still searching for methods to better manage radical change. Academics are studying the phenomenon but precious little has been published. Many basic questions remain unanswered. What does reengineering involve? Are there methods for effectively accomplishing BPR? Why is it so popular? Is there a logic behind reengineering? Is BPR fundamentally different from old Taylorian approaches to industrial engineering based on task decomposition and specialization? Is BPR the same as TQM, restructuring, etc.? What is the relationship between process redesign and organizational structures? How do we best plan, organize and control BPR efforts? Under what conditions will BPR be most effective? Answers to these questions are neither easy nor direct. However, this tutorial seeks to address them in a systematic, comprehensive and unbiased manner. In doing so, the tutorial will attempt to synthesize a variety of material from both practitioner and academic literature sources into a coherent precis that defines and discusses BPR in a language palatable to both the manager and the academic. A variety of frameworks will be presented to clarify the nature of the phenomenon as prescribed (in theory) and as companies are learning about it (in practice). The objective of this tutorial is to inform rather than provide an academic discourse.
A Possible Way for Removing Instrumental Asymmetries in Spin Resolved Photoemission with Unpolarized Light

Abstract We introduce a new method, a linear subtraction, to eliminate instrumental asymmetries in spin resolved photoemission with excitation by unpolarized light. The new method is applied successfully to analyze the spin polarizations in the valence band and 4d core level photoemission, excited with unpolarized light from a nonmagnetic Pt crystal. It is also tested in the spin analysis of the 2p core level photoemission, generated with circularly polarized X-rays from magnetic Fe. Even though the new method of linear subtraction is applicable for limited cases, it is a very valuable method for removing instrumental asymmetries especially when the helicity flipping, magnetization flipping, and even geometry flipping in spin resolved photoemission experiment are not possible.
Sub-normothermic preservation of donor hearts for transplantation using a novel solution, Somah: A comparative pre-clinical study

Background Hearts preserved ex vivo at extreme hypothermia (4°C) undergo time-dependent irreversible injury. Our studies using a novel solution, Somah, suggest that hearts are viably preserved at 21°C. In this study we evaluate the relative efficacy of Somah for preservation of hearts at 21°C when compared with the clinically used Celsior and University of Wisconsin (UWS) solutions. Methods Porcine hearts arrested by cardioplegia at 21°C using Somah, Celsior or UWS solution were stored in the respective solutions at 21°C ( n = 5) for 5 hours and then reperfused ex vivo for functional assessment. We assessed development of edema, cardiac tissue high-energy phosphate (HEP; ATP + creatine phosphate) levels and release of cardiac enzymes. Alterations in left ventricular wall thicknesses and functional parameters were examined by 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Changes in myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO 2 ) and lactate utilization were assessed at reperfusion. Results Heart weights were unaltered during 5-hour storage in all groups. After storage, HEP levels were 28.33 ± 5.51, 10.20 ± 2.78 and 5.92 ± 1.46 nmol/liter per milligram protein ( p p Conclusions Increased synthesis of HEP, rapid metabolic switch and optimal function together provide evidence that hearts procured for transplantation are preserved in a superior viable condition at 21°C with Somah, but not with other commonly used clinical preservation solutions.
Global warming and avian occupancy of hot deserts: a physiological and behavioral perspective

Los ajustes de las aves a ambientes deserticos se caracterizan por la integracion de la conducta y fisiologia. Estas respuestas permiten mantener la homeostasis y conservar recursos vitales como el agua. El pequeno tamano de las aves las acopla al ambiente termico de un modo estrecho y demanda que ellas muestren respuestas rapidas a los desafios del ambiente. Cuando la temperatura ambiente se aproxima a la temperatura corporal, las respuestas fisiologicas al estres termico incluyen hipertermia, asi como un aumento en el enfriamiento por evaporacion pulmo-cutanea. Conductualmente las aves responden al estres calorico con la reduccion de los patrones de actividad durante la parte mas calurosa del dia, y seleccionando micro-sitios sombrados y mas frescos. Frente al fenomeno de calentamiento global, estas caracteristicas respuestas conductuales presentan problemas potenciales. Si las aves deben forrajear durante las horas mas calidas del dia, la elevada perdida de agua evaporativa podria significar episodios directos de mortalidad en estas regiones. Se presenta un modelo simple que integra fisiologia y conducta para predecir tiempos de sobrevivencia basados en tolerancia a la deshidratacion, seleccion de micrositios y temperatura ambiente
Shadow silhouette maps

The most popular techniques for interactive rendering of hard shadows are shadow maps and shadow volumes. Shadow maps work well in regions that are completely in light or in shadow but result in objectionable artifacts near shadow boundaries. In contrast, shadow volumes generate precise shadow boundaries but require high fill rates. In this paper, we propose the method of silhouette maps, in which a shadow depth map is augmented by storing the location of points on the geometric silhouette. This allows the shader to construct a piecewise linear approximation to the true shadow silhouette, improving the visual quality over the piecewise constant approximation of conventional shadow maps. We demonstrate an implementation of our approach running on programmable graphics hardware in real-time.
Inheritance of synchronization and recovery properties in Avalon/C++

The authors describe their experience adapting inheritance mechanisms to a new application domain, reliable distributed systems. They give an overview of Avalon/C++, a programming language under development that allows programmers to 'customize' the synchronization and fault-tolerance properties of data types by letting them inherit properties such as serializability and crash recovery from a library of basic types. The authors first describe the transaction model used to organize distributed computations and some relevant features of C++, and give an overview of the Avalon/C++ base hierarchy. They then describe in more detail each of the hierarchy's classes and some restrictions on their use that must be obeyed to preserve their semantic intent. An extended example illustrates a directory-type implementation that uses all three of the base classes. Related work is discussed. >
Phase modes circular array superdirective beamforming

Circular arrays are widely used in underwater acoustics array signal processing due to their two dimensional symmetrical characteristics. In this paper a new method to analytically calculate the superdirective mode coefficients of the phase modes circular array beamforming is proposed. The maximum Directivity Index (DI) achievable for phase modes circular array beamforming is also derived. Computer simulation is held for a circular array composed of 12 separate hydrophones mounted on either open sphere or rigid sphere. The calculated DI achieved by the proposed superdirective beamforming corresponds to the theoretical maximum DI for up to the 5th order. The proposed method to calculate the superdirective mode coefficients is also applicable for calculating mode coefficients for arrays of any shape and any kind of expansion, indicating its wide range of applications in superdirectivity beamforming.
Women, work and the imagination of craft in South Asia

The conditions of production in women's handicrafts are related in complex and contradictory ways to discourses about them. The semblance of tradition and authenticity that surrounds women's craftwork masks the alienated production of handicraft commodities for the market. Indeed, commoditisation and commercialisation depend upon such constructions, just as home-based labour and hand-power, while fully consistent with capitalisation processes, tend to strengthen assertions about the survival of traditional practices in handicraft production. This paper focuses initially on the chikan embroidery production of Lucknow, India. Widely portrayed as a leisure-time activity, embroidery production employs poor, Muslim women workers on piece rates. The embroiderers' distinctiveness is used to shore up primarily urban, middle-class ideals about tradition and heritage that are necessary in order to create demand for handicraft products. Similar discrepancies between what is written about crafts and what it means to ...
Parallel and distributed image restoration using a modified Hopfield network

A modified Hopfield network model for parallel and distributed image restoration is presented. The proposed network does not require the zero autoconnection assumption which is one of the major drawbacks of the original Hopfield network. A new number representation scheme is also given for implementation of the network. As a tool for the convergence analysis of parallel and distributed algorithms, the convergence of descent algorithms theorem is presented. According to this theorem, the proposed image restoration algorithm with sequential updates and decoupled parallel updates is shown to converge. The sufficient condition for convergence of n-simultaneous updates is also given. If this condition is satisfied, the algorithm with totally asynchronous updates is guaranteed to converge. When the image restoration problem does not satisfy the convergence condition, a greedy algorithm is used which guarantees convergence at the expense of image quality. The proposed algorithm with sequential updates performs identically to the algorithm using the original Hopfield network, without checking the reduction of the energy function at the update of each neuron.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A study using irreversible electroporation to treat large, irregular tumors in a canine patient

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) has shown promise for the therapeutic treatment of focal disease, including tumors. The effects of treatment are dependent on the electric field distribution, which may be predicted with numerical modeling. In order to improve the effectiveness and scope of IRE therapies, techniques must be developed for designing protocols capable of treating large and irregular tumors. We present the findings of a study designing an IRE treatment plan for a canine patient using medical imaging analysis and reconstruction, numerical modeling, and real-time electrode placement guidance. The executed plan was able to alleviate the patient's clinical symptoms without damaging any of the nearby sensitive tissues in a complex heterogeneous environment.
Modelling of cyclic tidal rhythmites (Carboniferous of Indiana and Kansas, Precambrian of Utah, USA) as a basis for reconstruction of intertidal positioning and palaeotidal regimes

Analyses are presented for a variety of ancient cyclic tidal rhythmites, which exhibit well developed neap-spring tidal periods. Many such rhythmites were formed within the upper intertidal zone and exhibit truncated cycles that contain relatively few discrete lamina per neap-spring cycle. In such cases it can be difficult to determine if the originated palaeotidal system was diurnal or semidiurnal. Based on sedimentological controls observed in modern analogues, the development of cyclic tidal rhythmites can be modelled by use of predicted tidal-height information. The modelling used a 19-year-long series of tidal heights, which were subsequently used to approximate tidal velocities and rhythmite sedimentation. Modelling was based on a range of diurnal to semidiurnal regimes and comparisons were performed at a number of levels within the intertidal zone. This modelling produced a long series of simulated laminae-thickness series which could be cross-correlated with ancient laminae-thickness series measured directly from ancient rhythmites. This approach involved 1.6 × 106 comparisons of each ancient rhythmite series to the series simulated from the predictive tidal-height information. The high correlations derived for such comparisons indicate that reasonable approximations to the palaeotidal systems can be made. In some cases, it is possible to determine the diurnal or semidiurnal nature of the originating palaeotidal system.
Robust optimization in intensity-modulated proton therapy to account for anatomy changes in lung cancer patients

Abstract Background and purpose Robust optimization for IMPT takes setup and range uncertainties into account during plan optimization. However, anatomical changes were not prospectively included. The purpose of this study was to examine robustness and dose variation due to setup uncertainty and anatomical change in IMPT of lung cancer. Material and methods Plans were generated with multi-field optimization based on planning target volume (MFO-PTV) and worst-case robust optimization (MFO-RO) on simulation computed tomography scans (CT0) for nine patients. Robustness was evaluated on the CT0 by computing the standard deviation of DVH (SD-DVH). Dose variations calculated on weekly CTs were compared with SD-DVH. Equivalent uniform dose (EUD) change from the original plan on weekly dose was also calculated for both plans. Results SD-DVH and dose variation on weekly CTs were both significantly lower in the MFO-RO plans than in the MFO-PTV plans for targets, lungs, and the esophagus ( p 5%. Conclusions RO in IMPT reduces the dose variation due to setup uncertainty and anatomy changes during treatment compared with PTV-based planning. However, dose variation could still be substantial; repeated imaging and adaptive planning as needed are highly recommended for IMPT of lung tumors.
Three-dimensional organization of stable microtubules and the Golgi apparatus in the somata of developing chick sensory neurons

Microtubules play a role important in regulating cell shape and in mediating organelle movements. These functions are especially important in elaborately branched neurons, which have many stable microtubules that are resistant to cold and to microtubule depolymerizing drugs. We examined the three-dimensional organization of microtubules in cell bodies of cultured chick embryo sensory neurons, using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Microtubules were visualized with antibodies against alpha-tubulin and post-translationally modified forms of alpha-tubulin that accumulate in older microtubules. Optical sections were collected through neuronal somata, and the images were reconstructed in three dimensions. In neuronal perikarya a dense network of older microtubules is co-localized with the Golgi apparatus. This complex of the Golgi and older microtubules usually lies beneath the cell nucleus and is oriented toward the substratum. From this region, older microtubules extend into each neurite. A cage of older microtubules extends around the nucleus to the top of the perikaryon. The stability of these microtubules was confirmed by their resistance to the depolymerizing drug, nocodazole. This arrangement of stable microtubules in a developing neuron provides a supporting cytoskeleton and a transport pathway for movement of cytoplasmic components between the Golgi apparatus, the perikaryon and developing neurites.
Glutaraldehyde fixation of boar spermatozoa for acrosome evaluation.

Abstract The acrosome morphology, as assessed by phase-contrast microscopy, was not altered by fixing boar spermatozoa with 0.1 to 2% glutaraldehyde in comparison to spermatozoa inhibited with NaF. The acrosome morphology of glutaraldehyde-fixed samples remained unchanged for 14 days. Boar semen diluted and stored in Beltsville L1 (BL1), egg-yolk-glucose-bicarbonate (EGB), and Beltsville F5 (BF5) could be fixed with glutaraldehyde for acrosome evaluation if the supernatant solution containing egg yolk was removed immediately after glutaraldehyde addition. Spermatozoa extended in Beltsville F3 (BF3) extender could not be microscopically evaluated after glutaraldehyde fixation because of casein precipitation. Acrosome morphology of glutaraldehyde-fixed boar spermatozoa remained unchanged for at least 19 days holding at room temperature or shipping by parcel post.
Adding value to live, commercial size soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria L.) in Maine, USA: results from repeated, small-scale, field impoundment trials

Abstract The soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria L.) fishery in the state of Maine, USA, is worth $5–10 million annually and is primarily based on the sale of live individuals. More than 80% of the catch is sold for the “steamer clam” market that is highly seasonal due to supply and demand. Prices paid to harvesters for live clams throughout the year increases by as much as 70% during a 4-month period between early spring and late summer. If clams harvested in the spring could be held until late summer, a value-added product could be developed in this fishery. From April to August 1996, at an intertidal and subtidal location in eastern Maine, I tested whether it was biologically feasible to impound commercially harvested clams (shell length=44–75 mm) at densities between 720 and 850/m2 using cages and nets (1.12 m2) to protect animals from predators. Survival was 91.7% (n=12) and 91.6% (n=6) at the intertidal and subtidal site, respectively. There was no discernible shell growth during this period and there was no difference between initial and final clam weights. The methodology was transferred to commercial harvesters in two Maine communities: Wiscasset (1997 and 1998) and Perry (2000). Impounded clams (x=21.8 kg/cage; n=18) lost, on average, 5 kg/cage in 1997 and 1998, whereas no significant net loss in wet weight occurred in cages deployed in 2000 (x=23.2 kg/cage; n=3). Differing harvesting and handling methods of individual clammers, prior to impounding clams, likely explains the variation in weight lost during the impounding periods. The difference in price per live kilogram between the beginning of the impounding period and the August sale date resulted in an average gain of $13.60/cage for clammers in 1997 and 1998 and $57.73/cage in 2000. Simple culture techniques can be used to increase the value of the live harvest of soft-shell clams along the coast of Maine. Clam impoundments may be a way for communities that co-manage the public clam resource with the state's marine resource agency to generate funds to pay for traditional management schemes, as well as enhancement programs that employ hatchery-reared juveniles. In addition, an indirect benefit of clam impoundments might be to create spawner sanctuaries since animals are impounded during the time when gamete release occurs.
Clustering Analyser For Pattern Recognition

Cluster analysis is a generic name for a variety of mathematical methods that can be used to classify a given data set. By using the cluster analysis the people try to understand a set of data and to reveal the structure of the data. Clustering technologies find very important applications in the disciplining of pattern recognition and image processing. They are very useful for unsupervised pattern classification and image segmentation. This paper presents a VLSI cluster analyser for implementing the squared-error clustering technique using extensive pipelining and parallel computation capabilities. The proposed cluster analyser could perform one pass of the squared-error algorithm (which includes finding the squared distances between every cluster center, assigning each pattern to its closest cluster center and recomputing the cluster centers) in 0(N+M+K) time units, where M is the dimension of the feature vector, N is the number of sample patterns, and K is the desired number of clusters. And it will need 0(N x M xK) time units, if a uniprocessor is used. The algorithm partition problem is also studied in this paper.
The effect of changing sexual activity on HIV prevalence.

In a one-sex preferred mixing model, reductions in the rate of partner change by those with low sexual activity increase the average probability of HIV infection in the remaining pool of available partners. This increases prevalence among people with high activity, and since high activity people disproportionately influence the spread of HIV, may increase long-run prevalence in the population as a whole. Calculations using the model and survey data on sexual activity indicate that in low prevalence populations, many people have low enough activity that reductions in their activity might increase the endemic steady-state prevalence. If these results prove robust in more realistic models, they would support the case for targeting public health messages urging reduced sexual activity to high activity people.
Recent Advances in Ramjet Combustion

The author is project supervisor for hydrocarbon combustor development and research on advanced ramjet engines at Applied Physics Laboratory. After receiving his B.Ch.E. and M.S.E degrees from the University of Florida, he joined the Lewis Laboratory in 1947. Most of his work there was related to fundamental combustion research and particularly to flame velocity and stability. This research resulted in numerous papers and his Ph.D. thesis in 1953 for Case Institute of Technology in chemical engineering. In 1954 Dr. Dugger joined the staff of the International Minerals and Chemical Corp. in Florida, where he worked until coming to APL in 1957.
Interface energetics of polyfluorene and fluorene-arylamine copolymers

The energy level alignment at interfaces between poly(9,9'-dioctylfluorene) (F8), poly(9,9'-dioctylfluorene- co -bis- N , N '-(4-butylphenyl)-diphenylamine) (TFB) and poly(9,9'-dioctylfluorene- co -bis- N , N '-(4-butylphenyl)-bis- N , N '-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine) (PFB) and substrates with work function ranging from 4.3 eV to 5.1 eV is investigated via ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy. Vacuum level alignment with flat bands away from the interface is found when the interface hole barrier is 0.6 eV or larger. Band bending that moves the filled states away from the Fermi level occurs when the hole barrier is smaller than 0.4 eV. This is presumably due to the accumulation of excess interface charges on the polymer side when the interfacial barrier is small. The resulting field shifts the polymer levels in a way that limits charge penetration in the bulk of the film. We also study metal-on-polymer interfaces. Different metals exhibit different growth modes. While Pt shows complete layer-by-layer type of growth, Al shows island type of growth. Current-voltage measurement shows the presence of hole traps in the Au-on top-contact device, suggesting diffusion of small Au clusters into the polymer film. Furthermore, metal-on-polymer interfaces frequently present different interface energetics than their polymer-on-metal counterpart. e.g. a 0.3 - 0.4 eV higher hole injection barrier for Pt-on-TFB than TFB on Pt.
Iterative segmentation using pulse-coupled neural networks

Recent studies of the visual cortices of cats and monkeys has led to the development of a new class of artificial neuron models. Eckhorn and his co-workers have developed one such neuron model. They have demonstrated that the recurrent networks of Eckhorn's neurons are capable of duplicating some of the neuro-physiological phenomena observed in cat's visual cortex. We have modified Eckhorn's neuron model in a way that the resulting neuron, referred to as the pulsed coupled neuron, becomes more suitable for image processing applications than his original model. It has been shown that a single layered laterally connected pulse coupled neural network (PCNN) is capable of smoothing, segmenting digital images. This paper describes an iterative segmentation scheme that utilizes smoothing, segmentation and feature extraction capabilities of PCNN. The knowledge driven iterative segmentation technique is powerful, flexible and has potential in real-time image processing systems.
Comments on "Anisotropic magnetoresistance in ferromagnetic 3d alloys"

It follows from a contour integration along the contour C1 (consist- ing of the arc K1, a portion of the negative x axis, and a portion of the y axis) that the first term in (7) vanishes (e.g., see Duinker and Geurst (3)). The second term in (7) can be evaluated by means of the contour C2 lying in the third quadrant of the z plane and consisting of a portion of the negative x axis, arc K2, contour C (over the left side, top, and right side of the plate), contour c (joining the bottom of the plate to the negative y axis) and a portion of the negative y axis. It can be demonstrated that the contributions from K2 and the portion of the negative y axis also vanish. Equation (7) is thus reduced to integrations over C and c: s =sc+sc (8 )
Slit-less holographic spectrometers with large spectral operating range using multiplexed cylindrical beam volume holograms

Compact slit-less spectrometers using cylindrical beam holograms are presented with several advantages over conventional spectrometers. Large spectral range spectrometers using spatially multiplexed cylindrical beam holograms are demonstrated without adding any moving part in spectroscopic systems.
Lattice Boltzmann pore-scale model for multicomponent reactive transport in porous media

[1] In this work, a multicomponent lattice Boltzmann (LB) model is presented for simulating reactive transport in porous media at the pore scale. In the model, a set of distribution functions is introduced to simulate fluid flow and solute transport. The model takes into account advection, diffusion, homogeneous reactions among multiple aqueous species, and heterogeneous reactions between the aqueous solution and minerals, as well as changes in solid and pore geometry. Homogeneous reactions are described through local equilibrium mass action relations. Mineral reactions are treated kinetically through boundary conditions at the mineral surface. The LB equation for flow recovers the correct pore-scale continuity and Navier-Stokes equations. The LB equations for solute transport are modified to recover advection-diffusion equations for total concentrations at the pore scale. The model is applied to a hypothetical three-component system with two aqueous complexes and two mineral reactions in a simple pore geometry. The effects of advection, diffusion, reaction rate constants, equilibrium constants of both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions, and chemical compositions on mineral alteration of the porous medium and solute concentration are analyzed.
Activation of glassy carbon electrodes by alternating current electrochemical treatment

Abstract Glassy carbon electrodes subjected to “severe” electrochemical treatment is saturated chloride solutions exhibit enhanced electrochemical reversibility compared to untreated electrodes. Apparently faster rates of electron-transfer result in lowering of the overpotential by 110–300 mV for eight electroactive species tested. Systematic alterations in the response in terms of peak potential, sensitivity, background current, and stability are reported. Scanning electron micrographs show the introduction of pits of random size distribution. From the practical point of view, the most significant improvement is observed in differential pulse measurements, that are highly sensitive to small changes in the rate of electron transfer. In amperometric detection for liquid chromatography, the pretreated electrodes are shown to facilitate the quantitation of different eluting species. It appears that the surface and bulk properties of the glassy carbon have profound effects on the observed behavior.
Preparation, in vivo properties and proposed clinical use of polyoxyethylene-modified tissue plasminogen activator and streptokinase

Abstract Fibrinolytic agents such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and streptokinase (SK) are important drugs for the treatment of thromboembolic disease including myocardial infarction. Both agents show short half-lives and, since it is a bacterial protein, SK suffers from the added disadvantage of antigenicity. Genetically engineered forms of tPA which possess longer half-lives are being evaluated as potential second-generation drugs. There are a number of reservations as to whether these constructs will show significantly improved clinical efficacy. A general approach to the problem of short half life, however, is the coupling of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to proteins. Both PEG-tPA and PEG-SK have been prepared and studied in vitro and in vivo. Not only do these conjugates show greatly prolonged circulatory half-lives, but PEG-SK reacts only poorly with anti-SK antibodies. This review considers the potential usefulness of these modified proteins as drugs.
On the eddy viscosity of incompressible turbulent flow

Hinze hat gezeigt, dass die Annahme eines turbulenten Viskositatskoeffizienten in Form eines Tensors zweiter Ordnung auf gewisse ungeklarte Schwierigkeiten fuhrt, welche durch Annahme eines Tensors vierter Ordnung beseitigt werden konnen. Mittels einer systematischen Untersuchung werden diese Schwierigkeiten erklart und die Notwendigkeit dargelegt, den turbulenten Viskositatstensor von vierter Ordnung anzunehmen.
Dust Lofting and Ingestion by Supercell Storms

AbstractRecent research pertaining to aerosol impacts on cloud microphysics has shown a need for understanding mineral dust entrainment into moist convection. The goal of this study is to examine the pathways in which nonmicrophysically active mineral dust is entrained into supercell storms within three commonly observed dust regimes. The Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) with an interactive dust model that allows for surface emission was used to achieve this goal.First, a supercell is simulated within an already dusty environment (EXP-BACKGROUND) to investigate ingestion purely from a background source. Second, the supercell is simulated within a clean background environment and lofts its own dust via the interactive dust model (EXP-STORM) to investigate the regime in which the only source of dust in the atmosphere is due to the storm itself. Finally, the supercell is simulated with a low-level convergence boundary introduced ahead of the supercell to investigate dust lofting by outflow boundar...
The glass temperature of polymer blends

Abstract The entropy theory of glasses is used to derive the glass temperature, Tg, of a binary polymer blend in terms of the glass temperatures of the two substituents. The formula is Tg = B1Tg1 + B2Tg2, where Bi is the fraction of flexible bonds of substituent i. A bond is flexible if rotation about it changes the shape of the molecule. Bonds in side groups as well as in the backbone are to be counted. This formula assumes that the free volume, taken here to be the volume fraction of empty lattice sites, is the same for each of the three materials. It has no parameters. The above equation expressed in weight fractions, Wi, is (T g − T g 1 )W 1 ( γ 1 ω 1 ) + (T g − T g 2 )W 2 ( γ 2 ω 2 ) = 0 , where ωi is the weight of a monomer unit and ggi is the number of flexible bonds per monomer unit. A more general treatment is given. One variation of the more general treatment which expresses the properties of the blend in purely additive terms gives Tg = B1Tg1 + B2Tg2 + KB1B2(Tg1 − Tg2)(V01 − V02), where V0i are the free volume fractions of the homopolymers at their glass temperatures and K is a constant. The added term is usually small. The most general form of the equation requires the energy of interaction between the two unlike molecules, which can be estimated by volume measurements on the blend.
Roles of Callous-Unemotional Traits, Narcissism, and Machiavellianism in Childhood Aggression

This study obtained teacher ratings of impulsivity, callous-unemotional traits, narcissism, and Machiavellianism for a sample of 252 middle school children, and investigated the extent to which these variables were related to reactive versus proactive aggression and physical versus relational aggression. Results showed a main effect for gender, with boys rated highest on all measures of psychopathy and aggression, with the exception of relational aggression. Results of hierarchical multiple regressions showed that whereas impulsivity was associated with all types of aggression, CU traits, narcissism, and Machiavellianism were differentially related to specific forms of childhood aggression. In addition, Machiavellianism mediated the relationship between narcissism and relational aggression. Implications for fine-tuning interventions in ways that account for the motivators underlying subtypes of childhood aggression are discussed.
The Use of Calcium Salts in the Prevention and Management of Verapamil-Induced Hypotension

OBJECTIVE:To review the available literature on the use of intravenous calcium salts for the prevention of hypotension associated with intravenous verapamil.METHODS:A MEDLINE search (1966–June 1999) identified pertinent articles; references from these articles were identified to serve as additional resources.DISCUSSION:Verapamil is effective in inhibiting atrioventricular nodal conduction, thereby controlling ventricular rate in patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter and terminating paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. However, hypotension may be caused by the negative inotropic and vasodilating effects of verapamil. In vitro and animal data suggest that calcium pretreatment may minimize the effects of verapamil on cardiac output and blood pressure. Case reports suggest that intravenous calcium may be useful for both prevention and reversal of the hemodynamic effects of verapamil. A number of small clinical trials have been performed, suggesting that calcium administered prior to intravenous verapa...
Measurement and Modeling of the Indirect Coupling of Lightning Transients into the Sago Mine

This paper describes measurements and analytical modeling of the indirect coupling of electromagnetic fields produced by horizontal and vertical lightning currents into the Sago mine located near Buckhannon, WV. Two coupling mechanisms were measured: direct and indirect drive. Only the results from the indirect drive and the associated analysis shall be covered in this paper. Indirect coupling results from electromagnetic field propagation through the earth as a result of a cloud-to-ground lightning stroke or a long, low-altitude horizontal current channel from a cloud-to-ground stroke. Unlike direct coupling, indirect coupling does not require metallic conductors in a continuous path from the surface to areas internal to the mine. Results from the indirect coupling measurements and our modeling show that vertical lightning currents are not likely to have produced lethal voltages in the Sago mine, but a large, horizontal current above the ground could have created a large voltage on a long, insulated cable. Indirect transfer function measurements compare extremely well with analytical and numerical models developed for the Sago site, which take into account measured soil and rock overburden properties.
Serial Killers with Military Experience: Applying Learning Theory to Serial Murder

Scholars have endeavored to study the motivation and causality behind serial murder by researching biological, psychological, and sociological variables. Some of these studies have provided support for the relationship between these variables and serial murder. However, the study of serial murder continues to be an exploratory rather than explanatory research topic. This article examines the possible link between serial killers and military service. Citing previous research using social learning theory for the study of murder, this article explores how potential serial killers learn to reinforce violence, aggression, and murder in military boot camps. As with other variables considered in serial killer research, military experience alone cannot account for all cases of serial murder. Future research should continue to examine this possible link.
Picosecond/Jet Studies Of Intramolecular Vibrational Energy Redistribution (IVR) In Large Molecules

Studies using picosecond spectroscopy and jet-cooled samples have been performed on anthracene and t-stilbene in an effort to characterize intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution in these molecules. Information pertaining to the time-scale and extent of the dynamics as a function of vibrational energy in the molecules has been obtained.
Consequences for seed distributions of intra-crop variation in wing-loading of wind-dispersed species

We used a computer simulation to quantify how intra-crop variation in wing-loading in a wind-dispersed species affects the seed distribution around a parent plant. We used a data set of seed distributions generated from a previous field study using artificial fruits varying in seed mass or fruit area dispersed from a tower into a tropical forest. For this study, the spatial distribution from each hypothetical parent’s fruit crop of 1000 was calculated by randomly drawing locations of dispersed fruits from the previous data base. Three parents with contrasting fruit crops were used to test two hypotheses: 1) Increasing within-parent variance in wing-loading (= weight/area), while maintaining the mean, will lead to an increase in the area and uniformity of the seed distribution, without changing the mean dispersal distance. 2) Decreasing within-parent mean wing-loading, (which also decreases variance), will lead to an increase in mean dispersal distance, area, and uniformity of the seed distribution. The hypotheses were tested under four wind speeds.
Gene regulation technologies in zebrafish

Achieving the potential of zebrafish models in biomedical research is contingent on the development of reverse-genetic resources. This review describes current technologies for genetic perturbations in zebrafish, including an ecdysone receptor-based system that permits conditional transgene expression. Such methodologies promise to enable new zebrafish models for interrogating human physiology and disease.
Instrumentation for the OAO Experiments

As predicted in early planning for the exploitation of space technology, astronomy stands to benefit greatly from observations made in wavelengths blocked to earthbound view by the earth's atmosphere. The first to be attacked has been the ultraviolet spectral region, where young hot stars have their peak energy emission. The Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO) series of NASA satellites at present includes four major experiment packages, two of which have (April, 1970) completed more than sixteen months of successful astronomical observations from orbit in the ultraviolet,
Prediction of the Apnea-Hypopnea Index From Overnight Pulse Oximetry*

Study objectives To compare the relative usefulness of the different indexes derived from pulse oximetry in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and to determine if a combination of these indexes improves the prediction of the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) measured by polysomnography. Design Prediction model developed from 224 patients, validated prospectively in 101 patients from the same center (group 1) and in 191 patients from a different sleep center (group 2). Setting Two independent sleep clinics run by university sleep specialists. Participants Patients who underwent polysomnography for suspicion of OSA. Interventions The following indexes were calculated from pulse oximetry recordings performed simultaneously during polysomnography: (1) Δ index, the average of the absolute differences of oxygen saturation between successive 12-s intervals; (2) desaturation events per hour to 2%, 3%, and 4% levels; and (3) cumulative time spent below 90%, 88%, 86%, 84%, 82%, and 80% saturation. Measurements and results The best predictor was the Δ index, although desaturation events provided similar levels of diagnostic accuracy. An aggregation of multivariate models using combination of indexes reduced the prediction error ( r 2 = 0.70) significantly (p r 2 = 0.60). The proportion of subjects from the validation groups within 95% confidence interval (CI) of the derivation group was 90% (95% CI, 83 to 95%) and 91% (95% CI, 86 to 95%) for groups 1 and 2, respectively. The overall likelihood ratios for the aggregated model in all patient groups were 4.2 (95% CI, 3.3 to 15.3), 3.4 (95% CI, 2.7 to 4.3), 3.0 (95% CI, 2.2 to 4.1), and 6.7 (95% CI, 4.9 to 9.2) for normal (AHI Conclusions The Δ index and oxygen desaturation indexes provided similar levels of diagnostic accuracy. The combination of indexes improved the precision of the predicted AHI and may offer a potentially simpler alternative to polysomnography.
Cholangiectasis and Duodenal Diverticulosis in a Farm-Raised Elk (Cervus Elaphus):

A 6-year-old male elk presented in August with a 4-month history of weight loss and a 1-day history of being recumbent and unable to rise. The elk's body condition score was 1.5/5. Hematology and blood chemistry showed an inflammatory leukogram, mild electrolyte abnormalities, and elevated liver enzyme activities. Because of poor prognosis, the owner elected euthanasia. On necropsy, 8 diverticula were in the duodenum distal to the common bile duct, which was dilated and filled with feed material. Many intrahepatic bile ducts were dilated up to 5 cm, were filled with ingesta and gritty material, and had walls thickened up to 1.5 mm. On histologic examination, mural thickening of dilated bile ducts was because of increased fibrous connective tissue with inflammatory cell infiltration and hyperplastic and hypertrophic epithelial lining. Portal tracts diffusely contained hyperplastic bile ducts and had increased amounts of fibrous connective tissue. Abscesses that contained bacteria were scattered throughout the liver. Duodenal diverticula lacked the tunica muscularis, and the muscularis mucosa was hypertrophied. Caudal to some diverticula, the duodenal lumen was narrowed. An additional finding was embolic pneumonia with fungi morphologically and immunohistochemically consistent with Aspergillus spp.
Influence of the degradation of the organic matrix on the microscopic fracture behavior of trabecular bone

In recent years, the important role of the organic matrix for the mechanical properties of bone has become increasingly apparent. It is therefore of great interest to understand the interactions between the organic and inorganic constituents of bone and learn the mechanisms by which the organic matrix contributes to the remarkable properties of this complex biomaterial. In this paper, we present a multifaceted view of the changes of bone’s properties due to heat-induced degradation of the organic matrix. We compare the microscopic fracture behavior (scanning electron microscopy; SEM), the topography of the surfaces (atomic force microscopy; AFM), the condition of bone constituents [X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and gel electrophoresis), and the macromechanical properties of healthy bovine trabecular bone with trabecular bone that has a heat-degraded organic matrix. We show that heat treatment changes the microfracture behavior of trabecular bone. The primary failure mode of untreated trabecular bone is fibril-guided delamination, with mineralized collagen filaments bridging the gap of the microcrack. In contrast, bone that has been baked at 2008C fractures nondirectionally like a brittle material, with no fibers spanning the microcracks. Finally, bone that has been boiled for 2 h in PBS solution fractures by delamination with many small filaments spanning the microcracks, so that the edges of the microcracks become difficult to distinguish. Of the methods we used, baking most effectively weakens the mechanical strength of bone, creating the most brittle material. Boiled bone is stronger than baked bone, but weaker than untreated bone. Boiled bone is more elastic than untreated bone, which is in turn more elastic than baked bone. These studies clearly emphasize the importance of the organic matrix in affecting the fracture mechanics of bone.
Computational Characterization of Exogenous MicroRNAs that Can Be Transferred into Human Circulation

MicroRNAs have been long considered synthesized endogenously until very recent discoveries showing that human can absorb dietary microRNAs from animal and plant origins while the mechanism remains unknown. Compelling evidences of microRNAs from rice, milk, and honeysuckle transported to human blood and tissues have created a high volume of interests in the fundamental questions that which and how exogenous microRNAs can be transferred into human circulation and possibly exert functions in humans. Here we present an integrated genomics and computational analysis to study the potential deciding features of transportable microRNAs. Specifically, we analyzed all publicly available microRNAs, a total of 34,612 from 194 species, with 1,102 features derived from the microRNA sequence and structure. Through in-depth bioinformatics analysis, 8 groups of discriminative features have been used to characterize human circulating microRNAs and infer the likelihood that a microRNA will get transferred into human circulation. For example, 345 dietary microRNAs have been predicted as highly transportable candidates where 117 of them have identical sequences with their homologs in human and 73 are known to be associated with exosomes. Through a milk feeding experiment, we have validated 9 cow-milk microRNAs in human plasma using microRNA-sequencing analysis, including the top ranked microRNAs such as bta-miR-487b, miR-181b, and miR-421. The implications in health-related processes have been illustrated in the functional analysis. This work demonstrates the data-driven computational analysis is highly promising to study novel molecular characteristics of transportable microRNAs while bypassing the complex mechanistic details.
Comparative performance of eigenvector rotation and MUSIC algorithms for angle-of-arrival estimation

A simulation study of the statistical properties of two eigenvector-based methods for angle-of-arrival estimation is presented. The two methods investigated are the multiple signal classification (MUSIC) method developed by R.O. Schmidt (1986) and the eigenvector rotation (ER) method developed by G. Vezzosi (1982) and further pursued by Farrier and Jeffries. The results demonstrate (a) that for large sample size both MUSIC and ER estimates approach the normal distribution with zero mean, (b) that the ER method generally performs better than MUSIC with respect to bias and variance at low signal-to-noise ratios and/or small sample size, and (c) that ER (or augmented ER, where pertinent) is more robust than MUSIC with regard to sensor position errors and source correlations. >
Site Percolation on the d -Dimensional Hamming Torus

The d -dimensional Hamming torus is the graph whose vertices are all of the integer points inside an a 1 n × a 2 n × ⋅⋅⋅ × a d n box in $\mathbb{R}^d$ (for constants a 1 , . . ., a d > 0), and whose edges connect all vertices within Hamming distance one. We study the size of the largest connected component of the subgraph generated by independently removing each vertex of the Hamming torus with probability 1 − p . We show that if p = λ/ n , then there exists λ c > 0, which is the positive root of a degree d polynomial whose coefficients depend on a 1 , . . ., a d , such that for λ c the largest component has O (log n ) vertices (w.h.p. as n → ∞), and for λ > λ c the largest component has $(1-q) \lambda \bigl(\prod_i a_i \bigr) n^{d-1} + o (n^{d-1})$ vertices and the second largest component has O (log n ) vertices w.h.p. An implicit formula for q c that we find is distinct from the critical value for the emergence of a giant component in bond percolation on the Hamming torus.