cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New approach to determine the critical capacitance for self-excited induction generators

This paper presents a new simple approach for computing the minimum value of capacitance necessary to initiate the self-excitation process in three-phase isolated induction generators. The method proposed in this paper is based on the analysis of the complex impedance matrix of the induction generator when loaded with a general inductive load. The advantage of this method is its simplicity since it involves simple algebraic equations and only one equation is solved iteratively to get the value of minimum capacitance. A simple computer algorithm has been developed to predict the minimum value of capacitance necessary for the onset of self-excitation. Using the same approach, the algorithm is modified to predict the minimum value of capacitance necessary to maintain the generator terminal voltage at a preset value under specific load and speed conditions. Computer simulations obtained using the proposed method are compared with those obtained experimentally to confirm the validity and accuracy of the proposed method.
Aspirin and congenital malformations.

In a cohort of 50 282 gravidas and their offspring in the U.S.A., malformation rates were similar in the children of 35 418 women not exposed to aspirin, 9736 with intermediate exposure, and 5128 women heavily exposed during the first four lunar months of pregnancy. After controlling a wide range of potential confounding factors using multi-variate analysis, the observed and expected numbers for a variety of malformation categories were similar in all three comparison groups. The data suggest that aspirin is not teratogenic.
Steroid hormone metabolism in osteoporosis and the response to adrenocorticotropin.

ABSTRACT. Urinary metabolites of adrenocortical hormones were studied in 8 women with osteoporosis before treatment and on the 3rd day of stimulation with adrenocorticotropic hormone. With one exception the control level of the metabolites was within normal limits; the increase in hydrocortisone metabolites with adrenocorticotropin was 7–12 times the basal level; the increase of “androgen” metabolites was 1.4–7.5 times the basal level. The ability of the adrenals to respond to maximal stimulus appeared to increase with age in these patients.
Analysis of the efficacy, predictability, and safety of LASEK for myopia and myopic astigmatism using the Technolas 217 excimer laser

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) for the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism. Setting: Stanford University Eye Laser Center, Stanford, California, USA. Methods: This retrospective analysis comprised 102 eyes that had LASEK for myopia using the Bausch & Lomb Technolas® 217 excimer laser. Primary outcome variables including uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle- corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest refraction, and complications were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months. Vector analysis was performed on eyes that received astigmatic correction. Results: The mean spherical equivalent was −7.03 diopters (D) ± 2.61 (SD) preoperatively, +0.19 ± 0.64 D at 3 months, +0.23 ± 0.82 D at 6 months, and +0.03 ± 0.63 D at 12 months ( P Conclusions: Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy was an effective, predictable, and safe procedure for the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism. Further studies are needed to determine the role of LASEK in the refractive surgery spectrum.
Calculation of the τ dependence of the vibration–internal rotation–overall rotation interactions in CH3OH from molecular structure and molecular dynamics

The Guan and Quade theory for vibration–large-amplitude internal-motion-rotation interactions has been applied to the internal rotation problem in CH3OH. Through the molecular dynamics, the cos3τ and sin3τ dependence of the torsional–rotational coefficients in the effective Hamiltonian have been calculated from molecular structure. The internal rotation coordinate τ′ for the vibrationally distorted molecule is shown to have the necessary threefold symmetry for all values of τ′. For the methyl deformation modes, the vibrational dependence of the internal rotation potential energy is shown to have a threefold symmetry. The St and StSt dependence of the inertia tensor and Coriolis coupling coefficients has been developed in terms of curvilinear internal coordinates. The T transformation separating rotation from vibrations in zeroth order is then applied, the kinetic-energy tensor inverted to momentum space, and finally the effective torsion–rotation coefficients are calculated by Van Vleck perturbation theor...
Industry Strength and Immigrant Policy in the American States

Despite the negative rhetoric surrounding the immigration issue, recent policy in many states has provided significant benefits to both legal and undocumented immigrants. Previous scholarship on state-level immigrant policy suggests that differences in the degree of public animosity toward this group may help to explain variation in state policy, but that work largely neglects the influence that industries that employ immigrants may have on state policy decisions. This essay develops the argument that industries that employ immigrants have a substantial impact on policy decisions in some states. It also suggests that the response of state policy makers to public pressure for more restrictive immigrant policy may be moderated by the political and economic importance of those industries. The authors test specific assertions drawn from this argument in an analysis of immigrant policy making in the American states between 2005 and 2007.
Efficient Cable Shovel Excavation in Surface Mines

The cable shovel is widely used in surface mining. High operating and ownership costs necessitate efficient use of the cable shovel. Operator practices have long been suspected to contribute towards the inefficient use of the shovel. Crowd arm and hoist rope speeds are key measures of operator practices. The objective of this work is to find the crowd arm and hoist rope speeds for optimal shovel performance for given initial conditions and material properties. Shovel kinematics and dynamic modeling, using shovel geometry and the simultaneous constraint method, respectively, have been employed to build models of the excavation process. Dynamic models of the shovel payload and the material cutting resistance have also been developed using geometric simulation and passive soil pressures techniques, respectively. These models are solved numerically by combining Runge–Kutta and Gaussian elimination algorithms to compute the work done and the resistive forces during shovel excavation. The algorithms have been combined into a shovel simulator. The simulator has been used to simulate the P&H 2100BL shovel. The simulation results indicate that input energy and digging time increase with increasing crowd arm and decreasing hoist rope speeds. The input energy per unit loading rate is proposed as an appropriate measure of shovel performance. High energy per unit loading rate occurs for high crowd speeds and low hoist rope speeds. For the simulated conditions and crowd arm and hoist rope speeds ranging from 0.25 to 0.5 ms−1 and 0.5 to 0.7 ms−1, respectively, the optimal crowd arm and hoist rope speeds were found to be 0.25 ms−1 and 0.7 ms−1, respectively, and the objective function value was 0.21 KJs/kg. This work establishes, theoretically, the fact that operator practices have an effect on shovel performance and is useful in establishing optimum practices. The results are the initial steps towards full automation of the excavation process.
Evaluation of Verticillium Wilt Resistance in Mentha arvensis and M. longifolia Genotypes.

ABSTRACT Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae, is a major constraint to mint (Mentha spp.) production in the United States, and the use of resistant cultivars is an important component of Verticillium wilt management. Two Mentha arvensis and four M. longifolia genotypes were evaluated for resistance to Verticillium wilt in the greenhouse using V. dahliae isolates obtained from different hosts and belonging to different vegetative compatibility groups. Isolates of V. dahliae obtained from peppermint (M. × piperita) caused significantly higher disease severity, plant mortality, and yield reduction than isolates obtained from other hosts. Disease severity, plant mortality, and pathogen incidence in aboveground stems were higher and yields lower in peppermint, the susceptible standard, compared with the resistant standard, native spearmint (M. spicata). Root-dip inoculations of M. arvensis and M. longifolia with isolates of V. dahliae obtained from peppermint produced severe symptoms; however, bo...
Computation of grain boundary stiffness and mobility from boundary fluctuations

Grain boundary stiffness and mobility determine the kinetics of curvature-driven grain growth. Here the stiffness and mobility are computed using an analysis of fluctuations in the grain boundary position during molecular dynamics simulations. This work represents the first determination of grain boundary stiffness for a realistic three-dimensional system. The results indicate that the boundary stiffness for a given boundary plane has a strong dependence on the direction of the boundary distortion. The mobility deduced is comparable with that determined in previous computer simulation studies. The advantages and limitations of the fluctuation approach are discussed.
Urinary vanilmandelic acid (VMA) excretion in children: use of a simple semiquantitative test.

A simplified colorimetric method is described for use in detecting excessive excretion of urinary VMA in children with suspected neurogenic tumors. Elevated levels are demonstrated in patients with neuroblastomas (13), ganglioneuroblastomas (3), ganglioneuromas (7), a pheochromocytoma (1), and a chemodectoma (1). Other patients studied included those with chronic diarrhea (15), hypertension (7), various tumors (10), cystic fibrosis of the pancreas (12), hypoxia (10), familial dysautonomia (2), and glycogen storage disease (1). In this miscellaneous group values were usually within the normal range with the exception of a few cases which are discussed in more detail.
Scientized politics and global governance in the cotton trade: Evaluating divergent theories of scientization

ABSTRACT Science has been institutionalized as a legitimate basis for decision-making at the World Trade Organization (WTO). This raises a critical question: how does the scientization of decision-making shape the construction of new governance arrangements? Using the case of negotiations between the Chinese state and the US state over the harmonization of cotton quality classification, I consider three approaches to scientization in world politics: the world polity approach, the world-systems approach and the political sociology of science. Evidence from the case demonstrates the need to largely reject the world polity approach while integrating the world-systems approach with the finer-grained analyses of the political sociology of science. This analysis yields two key arguments regarding the implications of science-based decision-making as an institutionalized global norm. First, scientization can formalize existing power inequalities given the uneven historical terrain of research legacies. Second, as...
$\ell_1$ Trend Filtering

The problem of estimating underlying trends in time series data arises in a variety of disciplines. In this paper we propose a variation on Hodrick-Prescott (H-P) filtering, a widely used method for trend estimation. The proposed $\ell_1$ trend filtering method substitutes a sum of absolute values (i.e., $\ell_1$ norm) for the sum of squares used in H-P filtering to penalize variations in the estimated trend. The $\ell_1$ trend filtering method produces trend estimates that are piecewise linear, and therefore it is well suited to analyzing time series with an underlying piecewise linear trend. The kinks, knots, or changes in slope of the estimated trend can be interpreted as abrupt changes or events in the underlying dynamics of the time series. Using specialized interior-point methods, $\ell_1$ trend filtering can be carried out with not much more effort than H-P filtering; in particular, the number of arithmetic operations required grows linearly with the number of data points. We describe the method and some of its basic properties and give some illustrative examples. We show how the method is related to $\ell_1$ regularization-based methods in sparse signal recovery and feature selection, and we list some extensions of the basic method.
Web-based Instruction on Substance Abuse and Drug Diversion

Objectives. To develop a pilot study to assess the effectiveness of a Web-based educational module on enhancing understanding of substance abuse and drug diversion, and to assess students' abilities and confidence in applying the information. Design. A Web-based instructional module was presented to students enrolled in their second pre-professional year, and students were informed that it was part of a research study. Knowledge was tested using 10 pre- and post-module questions. Students were also presented with 5 survey questions assessing abilities related to the learning objectives. Assessment. The median percentage of correct responses increased from 60% (Interquartile range [IQR] 20%) for the pre-module questions to 90% (IQR = 10%) for the post-module questions. The median percent gain in knowledge was 20% (IQR = 20%) which was significant (p < 0.0001). Conclusions. Web-based instruction is an alternative method for engaging students in course content. We found that 59% of our pilot study group work...
Synthesis of hydroxyl-terminated polycarbonates of controlled number-average molecular weight

Hydroxyl-terminated polycarbonates are important starting materials for the synthesis of multiblock copolymers. Earlier papers from our laboratory and elsewhere have demonstrated their utility in siloxane, aryl ether, and ester systems. One synthesis problem that must be addressed is the control of the number-average molecular weight and hence block size of the polycarbonate oligomeric precursor. The facile phosgene-hydroxyl reaction is often difficult to monitor precisely. The present article describes a novel, simple, and convenient technique for the synthesis of hydroxyl-terminated polycarbonates of well-controlled number-average molecular weight. The approach involves an in situ blocking of some of the phenolic groups either prior to or during phosgenation. The protecting groups are easily removed after the polymerization is complete. In a practical laboratory experiment the technique does not require any additional step beyond that necessary for the preparation of nonfunctional polycarbonates of controlled molecular weight. The method is demonstrated in this article with the polycarbonate of bisphenol-A via the use of trimethylchlorosilane, trifluoroacetic anhydride, and trifluoroacetic acid as blocking groups. Ultraviolet, 19F-NMR, and 1H-NMR measurements as well as vapor-pressure osmometry were used to characterize the oligomers.
The locus coeruleus: a key nucleus where stress and opioids intersect to mediate vulnerability to opiate abuse

The interaction between the stress axis and endogenous opioid systems has gained substantial clinical attention as it is increasingly recognized that stress predisposes to opiate abuse. For example, stress has been implicated as a risk factor in vulnerability to the initiation and maintenance of opiate abuse and is thought to play an important role in relapse in subjects with a history of abuse. Numerous reports indicating that stress alters individual sensitivity to opiates suggest that prior stress can influence the pharmacodynamics of opiates that are used in clinical settings. Conversely, the effects of opiates on different components of the stress axis can impact on individual responsivity to stressors and potentially predispose individuals to stress-related psychiatric disorders. One site at which opiates and stress substrates may interact to have global effects on behavior is within the locus coeruleus (LC), the major brain norepinephrine (NE)-containing nucleus. This review summarizes our current knowledge regarding the anatomical and neurochemical afferent regulation of the LC. It then presents physiological studies demonstrating opposing interactions between opioids and stress-related neuropeptides in the LC and summarizes results showing that chronic morphine exposure sensitizes the LC-NE system to corticotropin releasing factor and stress. Finally, new evidence for novel presynaptic actions of kappa-opioids on LC afferents is provided that adds another dimension to our model of how this central NE system is co-regulated by opioids and stress-related peptides.
Cardiorespiratory simulation for the evaluation of recovery following coronary artery bypass surgery

Abstract The interpretation of a patient's status and recovery after coronary artery bypass surgery are difficult because of the complex interaction of many factors and because only relatively limited, non-specific measurements can be made. The objective of this study was to develop a simulation model of basic cardiorespiratory functions which would be useful as a clinical tool to obtain a refined characterization of a patient's cardiopulmonary interactions based on clinical measurements. The simulation was used to generate the same types of measurements obtained on patients. The basic approach was to adjust the simulation parameters so that the simulated measurements agreed with the patient's data. Thirty-five patients who had multiple coronary bypass surgery were simulated. The measurements agreed within clinical significance for a wide range of physiologic states. The resulting values of the simulation parameters provide functional indices of ventilation/perfusion disparity, diffusion gradients, venous-arterial pulmonary shunt, and respiratory dead space. The simulation model also offered a technique for estimating the efficacy of cardiorespiratory support maneuvers in changing blood gas and pH values in the critically ill post-coronary-bypass patient with an acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Pelvic ring fractures are an independent risk factor for death after blunt trauma

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether pelvic ring fracture is an independent predictor of death after blunt trauma. Few previous studies have attempted to analyze whether the high death rate observed in association with pelvic ring injury is secondary to the pelvic ring injury or merely related to many other injuries that typically are sustained in such cases. Our hypothesis was that pelvic ring fracture is an independent risk factor for death, even after accounting for the risk of death from other associated injuries. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 31,550 patients who presented with blunt trauma at our Level I trauma center from 1995 to 2002. We analyzed our prospectively collected database and excluded any patient who was missing more than one demographic parameter (n = 414, 1.3% of the data set). Our study group consisted of 1,017 patients with pelvic ring fractures and 30,119 patients with blunt trauma without pelvic ring fractures. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to account for the relative contribution of associated clinical criteria to mortality. A mortality model was then designed by using the regression analysis, allowing us to compare a calculated chance of death for each patient in the study group. We then compared the expected number of deaths of patients with pelvic injury with the actual number of observed deaths in that data set. Additionally, we conducted a second statistical analysis with which we compared the death rate of our pelvic ring fracture population (n = 1,017) with a matched subgroup (n = 1,017) from our patient population without pelvic ring fractures (n = 30,119). RESULTS: The presence of pelvic ring fracture was found to be an independent risk factor for mortality in the blunt trauma population based on both statistical methods (odds ratios, 1.9 [p Language: en
Euclidean Distance Matrix Analysis (EDMA): Estimation of mean form and mean form difference

Euclidean Distance Matrix Analysis (EDMA) of form is a coordinate free approach to the analysis of form using landmark data. In this paper, the problem of estimation of mean form, variance-covariance matrix, and mean form difference under the Gaussian perturbation model is considered using EDMA. The suggested estimators are based on the method of moments. They are shown to be consistent, that is as the sample size increases these estimators approach the true parameters. They are also shown to be computationally very simple. A method to improve their efficiency is suggested. Estimation in the presence of missing data is studied. In addition, it is shown that the superimposition method of estimation leads to incorrect mean form and variance-covariance structure.
Pilot trial of oral rapamycin for recalcitrant restenosis.

Methods and Results—Patients were treated with an oral sirolimus-loading dose of 6 mg after coronary angioplasty, followed by 2 mg/d for 4 weeks. Serum electrolytes, lipid profile, renal panel, and complete blood cell count were measured at 1, 3, and 5 weeks after drug initiation. Oral sirolimus was prescribed to 22 patients who had a total of 28 lesions and were at high risk for restenosis. Of the 22 study patients, 11 (50%) discontinued oral sirolimus early because of side effects or laboratory abnormalities. Hypertriglyceridemia and leukopenia were the most frequent adverse events, occurring in 3 patients each. All adverse drug effects were reversible after discontinuation. Follow-up was obtained in 100% of patients at a mean of 9.91.8 months, ranging from 6.5 to 11.8 months. Target lesion revascularization (TLR) occurred in 15 of 28 lesions (53.6%) and 13 of 22 patients (59.1%). There was no difference in TLR for patients receiving a complete course of sirolimus (n8; 72.7%) compared with patients who terminated treatment prematurely (n5; 45.5%; PNS). Clinically driven repeat cardiac catheterization was obtained in 15 (68.2%) patients; restenosis (50% diameter stenosis at follow-up) was present in 13 (86.7%). Conclusion—Oral sirolimus does not appear to provide benefit to patients with recalcitrant restenosis. Adverse drug effects are frequent, underscoring the importance of local drug delivery to achieve high tissue concentrations without systemic adverse drug effects. (Circulation. 2003;107:1722-1724.)
What went where [motion segmentation]

We present a framework for motion segmentation that combines the concepts of layer-based methods and feature-based motion estimation. We estimate the initial correspondences by comparing vectors of filter outputs at interest points, from which we compute candidate scene relations via random sampling of minimal subsets of correspondences. We achieve a dense, piecewise smooth assignment of pixels to motion layers using a fast approximate graph-cut algorithm based on a Markov random field formulation. We demonstrate our approach on image pairs containing large inter-frame motion and partial occlusion. The approach is efficient and it successfully segments scenes with inter-frame disparities previously beyond the scope of layer-based motion segmentation methods.
A Method for Measuring Organizational Functioning in Juvenile Justice Facilities Using Resident Ratings

Institutional care is an enduring component of the continuum of care in the juvenile justice system, yet youth perceptions of the placement experience are often overlooked as a source of information about this practice. Little attention is paid to how institutional placements are received by youth as opposed to how they are conceived by the justice system. This article offers an empirically based framework for assessing organizational climate in facilities housing serious young offenders based on youth self-reports. The authors provide evidence that juvenile offenders can provide reliable and internally consistent ratings regarding several dimensions of an institution’s environment, using straightforward and relatively easily administered instruments. This work lays the foundation for the development of methods for ongoing monitoring of juvenile justice facilities and the testing of whether aspects of the environments of these facilities affect the subsequent community adjustment of their residents.
Family Resemblances, Relationalism, and the Meaning of ‘Art’

Peter Kivy has maintained that the Wittgensteinian account of ‘art’ ‘is not a going concern’ and that ‘the traditional task of defining the work of art is back in fashion, with a vengeance’. This is true, in large part, because of the turn towards relational definitions of ‘art’ taken by philosophers in the 1960s; a move that is widely believed to have countered the Wittgensteinian charge that ‘art’ is an open concept and which gave rise to a ‘New Wave’ in aesthetic theorizing. So successful has this New Wave been that today the philosophy of art is awash with relational definitions, which are increasingly characterized by their technical sophistication and logical complexity. The aim of this essay is to oppose this trend; to demonstrate that relationalist definitions cannot avoid the problems which provided the impetus for the Wittgensteinian view and to show that the New Wavers cannot explain why anyone would want the definitions which they are offering, irrespective of their success or failure. I will also explore, in detail, the uses, as well as the limitations, of the Wittgensteinian approach to the concept of art.
Ring D Chromosome: A Second Case Associated with Anomalous Haptoglobin Inheritance

A second child with a ring D chromosome and anomalous inheritance of haptoglobin has been identified. Autoradiographic studies of peripheral lymphocytes from this child and of those from the previously described patient indicate that the ring in each is derived from chromosome No. 13. These findings are evidence that the locus for the haptoglobin alpha-chain is situated on one end of chromosome No. 13.
Nonlinear optical and electro-optic properties of hybrid sol gels doped with organic chromophores

This paper reports a systematic investigation on the nonlinear and electro-optic properties of hybrid sol–gel doped with azo-type chromophores. The host is based on photosensitive sol–gel prepared from 3-(methacryloxy)propyl trimethoxysilane-zirconium (or aluminum) oxide (MAPTMS-Zr(Al)) hybrid system. The chromophores are incorporated into the hybrid sol–gel as both guest and side-chain. Second harmonic generation experiment is conducted to optimize the poling parameters for the active sol–gel films. The stability of the second-order nonlinear optical coefficients is investigated by temporal decay test and heat-cool cycling experiment at elevated temperature. Electro-optic channel waveguides have been fabricated by direct ultra-violet exposure, direct blue laser writing, and reverse-mesa methods. Electro-optic effect of the waveguides is measured at 1550 nm and optical intensity modulation has been demonstrated. All the results show that the hybrid sol–gels are promising media for electro-optic devices for integrated optics in both performance and fabrication flexibility.
DP-Bind: a web server for sequence-based prediction of DNA-binding residues in DNA-binding proteins

Summary: This article describes DP-Bind, a web server for predicting DNA-binding sites in a DNA-binding protein from its amino acid sequence. The web server implements three machine learning methods: support vector machine, kernel logistic regression and penalized logistic regression. Prediction can be performed using either the input sequence alone or an automatically generated profile of evolutionary conservation of the input sequence in the form of PSI-BLAST position-specific scoring matrix (PSSM). PSSM-based kernel logistic regression achieves the accuracy of 77.2%, sensitivity of 76.4% and specificity of 76.6%. The outputs of all three individual methods are combined into a consensus prediction to help identify positions predicted with high level of confidence. Availability: Freely available at http://lcg.rit.albany.edu/dp-bind Contact: IKuznetsov@albany.edu Supplementry information: http://lcg.rit.albany.edu/dp-bind/dpbind_supplement.html
Asymptotic Analysis of a Mode I Crack Propagating Steadily in a Deformation Theory Material

Abstract : The asymptotic stress and defromation fields of a crack propagating steadily and quasi-statically into and elastic-plastic material are present. The material is characterised by J2 deformation theory suitably modified to account for unloading and reloading together with linear strain-hardening. The cases of plane-strain and mode I are considered. The associated governing equations are integrated analytically, and the boundary conditions lead to algeraic nonlinear equations which are solved numerically. Results are givwen for the strength of the singularity, and for the distribution of streess in the plastic loading, elastic unloading and plastic reloading regions, as functions of the strain-hardening parameter.
Efficient Shape Modeling: ⋮-Entropy, Adaptive Coding, and Boundary Curves -vs- Blum's Medial Axis

We propose efficiency of representation as a criterion for evaluating shape models, then apply this criterion to compare the boundary curve representation with the medial axis. We estimate the ⋮-entropy of two compact classes of curves. We then construct two adaptive encodings for non-compact classes of shapes, one using the boundary curve and the other using the medial axis, and determine precise conditions for when the medial axis is more efficient. Finally, we apply our results to databases of naturally occurring shapes, determining whether the boundary or medial axis is more efficient. Along the way we construct explicit near-optimal boundary-based approximations for compact classes of shapes, construct an explicit compression scheme for non-compact classes of shapes based on the medial axis, and derive some new results about the medial axis.
NFuSA - Neuro-Fuzzy Algorithm for Sparing in RAID Systems

Sparing, the process of rebuilding data in case of disk failure, has been a target of research since early 1990's. The problem that these specific hardware/software control systems typically face in sparing is the tradeoff between serving requests - user's versus internal. If the algorithm favors user requests, in the presence of heavy workloads, the internal data recovery gets preempted resulting in risky delay of the data sparing. On the other hand, favoring internal data recovery requests over the user requests can result in high response times per transaction that are unacceptable for the users of the RAID system. Intelligent, neuro-fuzzy controllers (NFCs) offer a way to improve the control process and enhance the ability of a system to achieve faster system response, while serving the internal requests at the same time. This paper presents the neuro-fuzzy enhancement of the traditional data recovery of a RAID system modeled with a queue system with vacations (QSV). Experimental results demonstrated better balancing between an acceptable response time for the user requests and the time for the data to be redundant again, resulting in both higher user satisfaction and better system reliability.
Comparison of joint level impact fatigue resistance and board level drop test

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the behavior of solder joints under high strain rate repeated loading during micro-impact testing. SAC 105 and SAC 305 solder alloys on electrolytic nickel-gold and copper-OSP pads were used in this study. In doing so, the dependency on factors such as impact energy and solder alloy was studied.
Combined antihypertensive and lipid-lowering therapy in experimental glomerulonephritis.

We examined the interrelation between systemic hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and progressive renal injury in experimental glomerulonephritis. Induction of nephrotoxic serum nephritis in Sprague-Dawley rats led to systemic hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Four groups of rats were studied over a 16-week period: (1) untreated nephritic rats; (2) nephritic rats treated with hydralazine, reserpine, and lasix (AH); (3) nephritic rats treated with lovastatin (4 mg/kg) (Lova); and (4) nephritic rats treated with combined antihypertensive/lipid-lowering therapy (AH/Lova). Systolic blood pressure rose progressively in untreated rats (152 +/- 4 mm Hg at 16 weeks). Blood pressure was reduced by antihypertensive therapy (P .05) (156 +/- 3 mm Hg in the Lova group). Serum cholesterol rose progressively in untreated rats (3.70 +/- 0.85 mmol/L [143 +/- 33 mg/dL] at 16 weeks). The rise in serum cholesterol was prevented by lovastatin therapy (P .05) (2.92 +/- 0.65 mmol/L [113 +/- 25 mg/dL] in the AH group). Proteinuria was reduced by antihypertensive therapy (P < .001) and lipid-lowering therapy (P < .05) (16-week values: 1.069 +/- 0.167 g/d in untreated rats, 0.663 +/- 0.164 g/d in the Lova group, 0.392 +/- 0.051 g/d in the AH group, and 0.176 +/- 0.035 g/d in the AH/Lova group).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Vascular anatomy relevant to distal biceps tendon repair

Background Avoiding bleeding and vascular complications in open repair of distal biceps tendon rupture requires knowledge of the local vascular anatomy. This study examined the vascular anatomy relevant to distal biceps tendon repair. Methods The antecubital regions of 17 cadaveric upper extremities were dissected using ×2.5 loupe magnification to identify the brachial artery, the radial artery and its recurrent branches, and venous branches crossing the distal biceps tendon. With the elbow in full extension and supination, the position of each vascular structure was measured relative to the most proximal aspect of the bicipital tuberosity. Results The most common pattern (13 of 17 specimens) was a single radial recurrent artery (RRA) crossing volar to the tendon at a mean of 4 mm proximal to the tuberosity and positioned 15.4 mm volar to the tuberosity. The RRA bifurcated 2 to 9 mm from its origin in 6 arms and demonstrated a single bifurcation. In 8 of 17 specimens, an additional recurrent branch off the brachial artery traveled dorsal to the intact biceps tendon 16 mm proximal to the RRA. Two arms demonstrated a high brachial artery bifurcation. The crossing veins were venae comitantes of the RRAs and radial and ulnar arteries. They connected to the superficial veins by way of a perforating branch. Most often, 3 transverse veins positioned on average 0.2 mm proximal and 16 mm volar to the tuberosity were seen. Conclusions The vascular anatomy encountered during distal biceps repair is variable, and RRAs occasionally travel dorsal to the biceps tendon. Most often, a single RRA on average 4 mm proximal to the tuberosity will branch once.
Three Types of Cortical Layer 5 Neurons That Differ in Brain-wide Connectivity and Function

Cortical layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons integrate inputs from many sources and distribute outputs to cortical and subcortical structures. Previous studies demonstrate two L5 pyramid types: cortico-cortical (CC) and cortico-subcortical (CS). We characterize connectivity and function of these cell types in mouse primary visual cortex and reveal a new subtype. Unlike previously described L5 CC and CS neurons, this new subtype does not project to striatum [cortico-cortical, non-striatal (CC-NS)] and has distinct morphology, physiology, and visual responses. Monosynaptic rabies tracing reveals that CC neurons preferentially receive input from higher visual areas, while CS neurons receive more input from structures implicated in top-down modulation of brain states. CS neurons are also more direction-selective and prefer faster stimuli than CC neurons. These differences suggest distinct roles as specialized output channels, with CS neurons integrating information and generating responses more relevant to movement control and CC neurons being more important in visual perception.
Mining libraries: Lessons learned from 20 years of massive computing on the world’s information

Over the course of the last two decades I have explored the informational undercurrents of the world’s information and the potential of mass data mining of libraries through a myriad of lenses, both technical and methodological. From founding my first Internet startup twenty years ago as an eighth grade middle school student, to running one of the world’s largest global monitoring platforms today, my work has debuted a myriad of new datasets, methodologies, and scales to the study of how we understand our global world. A central theme of that work has been around how creative “reimagining” of information through the emerging world of massive computing power can offer powerful and unexpected new lenses onto the world around us, and the incredible future that awaits as libraries transition from being museums of artifacts to becoming conveners of information and innovation that empower a new era of access and understanding of our world. This paper offers a unique detailed view of what it looks like deep in the trenches of the data revolution, surveying a selection of my projects over the last two decades and the lessons they offer libraries and publishers moving forward into our data-driven future.
Meritocracy or Plutocracy? Finding Explanations for the Educational Disadvantages of Moroccan Immigrants Living in the Netherlands

Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands have, throughout the last decades, been relatively unsuccessful in both schooling and job attainment. Although later generations of immigrants are doing better than those of their parents (and grandparents), young Moroccan men tend to do worse than both native Dutch and other immigrant groups (especially those from Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles). Educational failure and high (youth) unemployment rates are seen as explanatory variables for their disproportionate dominance in the Netherlands’s crime statistics. This fact especially underlines the importance of an empirical investigation in the causes of, and policy resolutions for, Moroccan immigrants’ position within the Dutch educational system. In this paper a theoretical approach is formulated which integrates elements of the competing traditions of Human Capital Theory and Cultural Reproduction Theory into one theoretical framework. It is shown how social locations account for initial differences in educational opportunity, which tend to be reinforced through peer pressure in schools and neighborhoods, and through specific institutional characteristics of the Dutch educational system, namely, tracking and school segregation. It is only by taking into account these three factors that we can come to a comprehensive understanding of immigrants’ educational disadvantages. Furthermore, it is argued that such an understanding has profound consequences for questions of meritocracy and plutocracy relating to the educational system and to how we perceive the Moroccan immigrant position in Dutch society.
Maternal deaths account for a small proportion of the total deaths among reproductive age women.

Abstract Background: For more than 30 years, the focus for women's health in low- and middle-income countries has been on reductions in maternal mortality. This perception was reinforced by the choice of the maternal mortality ratio as the primary indicator for women's health in the Millennium Development Goals. This analysis provides a more objective view by comparing the relative magnitudes of mortality among reproductive age women during pregnancy and the 6-week postpartum period versus other periods during this age range. Materials and Methods: Data were aggregated from 38 countries in three regions with Demographic and Health Surveys that contained a maternal mortality module and were conducted in the prior 10 years to derive the proportion of total mortality ascribed to maternal mortality (proportion maternal [PM]) among women 15–49 years of age in 5-year age groups by country, region, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence. Estimates of maternal and nonmaternal deaths were based on the s...
Salt Zenker, a stable, nonhemolytic, formaldehyde-free fixative: the addition of salt to other acetic acid fixatives.

The need for an aldehyde-free fixative which does not hemolyze or dissolve various water-, alcohol-, and acid-soluble cell granules has become apparent in current histochemical studies on protein endgroup reactions. Azure eosin staining of erythrocytes, eosinophilic leukocytes, and other structures is less brilliant than staining with formaldehyde-containing fluids. Studies with various human and animal tissues showed that when fixatives containing acetic acid are used, the addition of an equimolar amount of NaCl or other similar salt will serve to protect erythrocytes and acid-soluble cell granules from lysis during fixation.
ACHLYA BISPORA: A TAXONOMIC REASSESSMENT OF BREVILEGNIA BISPORA

Two isolates of Brevilegnia bispora were examined under a variety of culture conditions. Achlyoid spore discharge was characteristic of the primary sporangia and minisporangia of both isolates. Accordingly, B. bispora is transferred to the genus Achlya. A simplified method for the induction of minisporangia is described.
PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS PRECIPITATED BY TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION

Like many procedures, Transcendental Meditation (TM) proves extremely effective when applied to properly selected cases by informed practitioners. It is not a panacea. In fact, when used indiscriminately, there are clinical indications that the procedure can precipitate serious psychiatric problems such as depression, agitation, and even schizophrenic decompensation.
Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) infestation on medium-sized mammals and blue jays in northwestern Illinois.

High prevalence of infestation of five species of medium-sized mammals and blue jays, Cyanocitta cristata (L.), by immature Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman and Corwin was found in Castle Rock State Park in northwestern Illinois during May–August 1991. Raccoons, Procyon lotor L., and opossums, Didelphis virginiana Kerr, were infested with the highest larval densities and were trapped primarily in bottomland forest and ecotone habitats. All species had similar nymphal densities, except the eastern cottontails, Sylvilagus floridanus Allen, which were infested with fewer nymphs. Infestation by I. dammini is reported for the first time for fox squirrels, Sciurus niger E. G. St. Hilaire, and for the first time in the midwestern United States for blue jays, C. cristata. These two species were hosts for nymphs in upland forest habitat. Molting rates varied among ticks that fed on different host species and among larvae that fed on individuals of the same species. Molting rate is proposed as an important factor in determining the relative importance of a host species to I. dammini population dynamics.
Deferoxamine and sweat iron.

ConclusionsIron excretion in sweat from the forearm of normal subjects and patients with iron overload is similar, with values in the lower range of normal. Deferoxamine has no appreciable effect on sweat iron concentration.The author wishes to express his appreciation to Dr. Elmer B. Brown for encouragement and valuable criticism during this work, and to Mrs. Barbara Chipman for excellent technical assistance.
Utilization of Free and Esterified Gholesterol-4-G14 for Corticoid Biosynthesis by Hog Adrenal Homogenates.

SummaryTracer amounts of cholesterol-4-C14 added to hog adrenal homogenates and incubated under conditions favorable for steroid synthesis were rapidly and efficiently converted to labeled steroids. Addition of cholesterol-4-C14 esters, prepared enzymatically and incubated under the same conditions, did not give C14-activity in the steroids produced. Conversion of free cholesterol to cholesterol esters or of esters to free cholesterol as measured by C14-activity of the sterol digitonides did not occur in this system.
Breast cancer highlights.

Number of Control High-dose DFS OS number Group women entered arm arm Control High dose Control High dose
Refining the utility and role of Frozen section in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma resection.

Objectives/Hypothesis Previous studies report high-accuracy rates for intraoperative frozen sections, but reliability of frozen sections in predicting the ultimate final margin status is unknown. We compared frozen and permanent reads to identify risk factors for overall discrepancies between intraoperative and final margin status. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods Pathology reports of 437 surgical resections between 2010 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 253 cases, generating 1,109 individual specimens, met inclusion criteria. Patient demographics, treatment, recurrence, and survival, as well as pathology data pertaining to the specimen, were recorded. Results Frozen read accuracy was 96.7% (83.1% sensitivity, 97.9% specificity) relative to permanent evaluation. However, 4.3% of cases had a final positive margin not detected by frozen section; 17.8% had a close margin not detected by frozen section. In eight of 11 cases with missed positive margins, the involved margin was never sampled intraoperatively. Cases where intraoperative margins were only taken from surrounding tissue had a higher risk of missing a close or positive final margin when compared to cases where some or all margins were taken from the specimen (odds ratio = 5.05, 95% confidence interval [2.31, 11.07], P <0.0001). Disease subsite, risk score, prior radiation, staging, and p16 expression were not significantly associated with the likelihood of missing a close or positive final margin. Conclusion Individual frozen section reads are highly accurate. However, negative intraoperative margins do not guarantee margin-negative resections. The process of selecting representative margins for intraoperative analysis, specifically the practice of sampling the resection bed, should be refined. Level of Evidence N/A. Laryngoscope, 2015