cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The p-group generation algorithm

The theory and implementation of an algorithm used in generating descriptions of p-groups aredescribed. Some applications and details of the performance of the algorithm are provided.
The Current Political World-View, Education and Alienation

ABSTRACT In this article, key components of the prevailing political world-view are identified. Further, the implications of this outlook for education are outlined. Most important is that these fundamental principles are identified as leading to alienation and the destruction of education. And unless this world-view is rejected, educational reform will never be successful. Intervention will consist of piecemeal reforms, while the educational system teeters on the verge of collapse.
Suex flapping wing mechanisms for pico air vehicles

This paper introduces a simple and low cost flapping wing mechanism fabricated monolithically from SUEX dry film, an epoxy based negative photoresist similar to SU-8. The developed process has fewer steps compared to other methods, does not use precious metals, and greatly reduces processing time and cost. It simultaneously defines the PAV airframe, compliant flapping mechanism, and artificial insect wing using photolithography. Rapid prototypes were fabricated with precisely defined features and material properties and geometry that are similar to insects. A linear model with simplified aerodynamics is developed with amplitude dependent damping and validated using experimental results in air and in vacuum. Angles up to 45° at a resonant frequency of 47 Hz are observed that demonstrate applicability of the developed fabrication process for flapping wing air vehicle applications.© 2012 ASME
Anatomical foundations and surgical manoeuvres for precise identification of the prostatovesical junction during robotic radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVE To develop a technique to identify the bladder neck during robotic radical prostatectomy (RRP) using anatomical and patient studies, and to evaluate its efficacy during and after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS The data for this study were from 10 fresh cadaveric dissections and 50 consecutive athermal RRPs performed at our institution. We used a technique we term ‘the bimanual bladder neck pinch’. RESULTS The technique helped us to identify the prostatovesical junction and to decrease the time required to dissect the bladder neck, and the time for urethrovesical anastomosis. Urinary continence requiring 0–1 pads was 29% at 1 week , 62% at 6 weeks, 88% at 12 weeks, and 95% at 16 weeks. No patient in the series had a clinically significant leak or urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS Our technique of the ‘bimanual pinch’ is easy to learn and has reduced the difficulty of bladder neck transection. It improved the outcome both during and after RRP in our series.
Nanocrystalline Diamond-Gated AlGaN/GaN HEMT

Boron-doped p+ nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films are implemented as heat spreading gate contacts to AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors. This device demonstrates a reduced ON-resistance, reduced gate leakage, and significantly increased ON-state current density compared with the reference Ni/Au-gated devices from the same wafer. The NCD gate electrode is thermally stable, chemically stable, optically transparent, and places a heat spreading film in direct contact with the gate edge, which is the hottest part of the device.
Is there truly an oncologic indication for interval appendectomy

Abstract Background The rate of recurrent appendicitis is low following nonoperative management of complicated appendicitis. However, recent data suggest an increased rate of neoplasms in these cases. Methods The study was a retrospective review of patients with acute appendicitis at 2 university-affiliated community hospitals over a 12-year period. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of appendiceal neoplasm following interval appendectomy. Results Six thousand thirty-eight patients presented with acute appendicitis. Appendectomy was performed in 5,851 (97%) patients at the index admission. Of the 188 patients treated with initial nonoperative management, 89 (47%) underwent interval appendectomy. Appendiceal neoplasms were identified in 11 of the 89 (12%) patients. These included mucinous neoplasms (n = 6), carcinoid tumors (n = 4), and adenocarcinoma (n = 1). The rate of neoplasm in patients over age 40 was 16%. Conclusions There is a significant rate of neoplasms identified in patient over age 40 undergoing interval appendectomy. This should be considered following nonoperative management of complicated appendicitis.
Triethylarsenic and arsine as co-reagents: The novel manipulation of in-situ GaAs OMCVD growth chemistry to improve growth efficiency and safety

Abstract A dramatic improvement in the purity of GaAs epilayers grown by organometallic chemical vapor deposition from triethylarsenic (Et 3 As) and trimethylgallium (Me 3 Ga) was found to occur upon the addition of arsine (AsH 3 ) as a co-reagent. The arsine was added to the Et 3 As in a 1:1 molar ratio to alter the in-situ reaction chemistry of the growth by providing active hydride ligands to the growing epilayer surface. These hydrides were expected to promote the elimination of surface-bound alkyl groups which otherwise could serve as carbon contaminant precursors. Good quality, n-type GaAs films were grown from the Et 3 As/AsH 3 /Me 3 Ga co-reagent combination, with purities far superior to those of films grown from Et 3 As and Me 3 Ga, and at V/III ratios and growth temperatures that were lower than those required for the growth of good quality GaAs from AsH 3 and Me 3 Ga. Epilayers with specular surfaces grown from the co-reagent mixture were found to be n-type at V/III ratios of 5–40, and had carrier concentrations as low as 6x10 14 cm −3 with 77K mobilities ranging from 34,000–54,000 cm 2 /V·s. Secondary mass spectroscopy and photoluminescence data confirmed the reduced carbon content in these films.
Genetic effects of the atomic bombs. Rejoinder to Dr. de Bellefeuille.

(1962). Genetic Effects of the Atomic Bombs. Rejoinder to Dr. de Bellefeuille. Acta Radiologica: Vol. 58, No. 5, pp. 385-399.
Spray Penetration into Peanut Canopies with Hydraulic Nozzle Tips

Abstract The spray penetration into peanut canopies with single- and twin-row planting systems at three growth stages was investigated with four different types of hydraulic nozzle tips (flat fan, hollow cone, twin jet and air induction). The nozzles were operated at 276 kPa pressure, 6·4 km h−1 travel speed, and 0·5 m above the top of canopies. The canopy leaf area index (LAI) and height were measured for each test and correlated with spray deposits at the bottom and middle of peanut canopies. Spray deposits at the top, middle and bottom of canopies were determined with a spray mixture containing water and a fluorescent tracer. The concentration of spray samples were corrected with the calibration of the photo degradation of the tracer exposed to direct sunlight, under artificial shade and in a dark room. Plants with single- and twin-row planting systems received significantly different spray deposits within peanut canopies. For all four nozzles during the growth season, the spray deposits decreased dramatically from the top to the bottom of canopies, and also tended to linearly decrease as LAI increased. Compared to the flat fan nozzle at the bottom of canopies at 75 days after planting, the air induction nozzle produced 2·6 times higher spray deposits for single-row plants and 1·6 times higher spray deposits for twin-row plants. During the three growth stages, the air induction nozzle produced the highest mean spray deposit at the bottom of canopies, followed by the twin jet and then hollow cone nozzles. The conventional flat fan nozzle had the lowest spray penetration performance among the four types of nozzles.
Social anxiety across ethnicity: A confirmatory factor analysis of the FNE and SAD

Previous research has established that social anxiety occurs at different rates in African American and European American populations (Grant et al., 2005), while psychometric investigations of widely used measures of psychopathology show differences in factor structure based on ethnic background (Carter, Miller, Sbrocco, Suchday, & Lewis, 1999; Chapman, Williams, Mast, & Woodruff-Borden, 2009). The current study examined response characteristics of 1276 African American and European American undergraduates completing the Fear of Negative Evaluation and Social Avoidance and Distress Scales (Watson & Friend, 1969). Confirmatory factor analyses failed to demonstrate factorial invariance in the two ethnic samples, and Wald tests suggested several items on both measures be dropped for African Americans. Results suggest the FNE and SAD operate differently across ethnic groups. Implications for the cross-cultural measurement of social anxiety and the importance of continued rigorous psychometric inquiry of commonly used measures are discussed.
Mapping of trace hydrocarbon concentrations in two-dimensional flames using single-photon photoionization mass spectrometry

Single-photon photoionization mass spectrometry (SPPI-MS) with a vacuum ultraviolet laser beam at 118 nm has been used to quantify trace hydrocarbons sampled with a quartz microprobe from an axisymmetric nonpremixed methane/air jet flame. More than 20 C3−C12 hydrocarbons were detected, including linear species, single-ring aromatics, and two- or three-ring polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. For each of these species, high-resolution two-dimensional concentration maps were obtained that are suitable for comparison with detailed computer models of aromatic hydrocarbon formation and growth. Preliminary comparison with such a model indicates that the sampling process accurately captures the spatial structure of the flame. In general, the results show that the broad-band sensitivity, part-per-million detection limits, negligible ion fragmentation, and rapid data acquisition rate of SPPI-MS make it an ideal technique for studying the complex hydrocarbon chemistry that occurs in flames.
Wisconsinan Age of the Titusville Till (formerly called "Inner Illinoian"), Northwestern Pennsylvania

Peat discovered below drift near Titusville, Pennsylvania, formerly called "inner Illinoian," has a carbon-14 age of 31,400 +/- 2,100 years. The overlying drift, herein named Titusville Till, is therefore not Illinoian but is "late early Wisconsinan" or late Altonian of the Lake Michigan lobe classification.
Hypercalcemic and hyperphosphatemic actions of dihydrotachysterol, vitamin D2 and hytakerol (AT-10) in rats and in dogs.

The hypercalcemic and hyperphosphatemic effects of equivalent dosages of crystalline dihydrotachysterol (DHT), Hytakerol (AT-10) and vitamin D2 are reported. In rats, DHT at high levels was more toxic than Hytakerol or vitamin D2. It produced marked hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and high serum urea nitrogen levels, the latter probably on the basis of renal damage. In dogs, the onset and decline of hypercalcemia with orally administered DHT was very rapid, requiring only 3 days for maximal effect or for return to control levels upon discontinuance. On a weight basis, Hytakerol was less potent, with a more gradual decline upon cessation of administration, and vitamin D2 produced the least hypercalcemia, which, however, persisted for over 3 weeks after the vitamin was discontinued. The hypercalcemic sterol in Hytakerol (identified physicochemically as dihydrovitamin D2-II in a previous report) is to as potent as its isomer, DHT. The inadequacy of serum calcium levels as a measure of relative potencies of ...
Decisive role of nonrenormalizable terms in the flipped string

Abstract We study the phenomenology of the flipped SU (5) × U (1) superstring model emphasizing the Higgs and fermion mass spectra. Our calculations take into account up to quintic, rigorously derived, nonrenormalizable terms in the superpotential. We also consider the role of the hidden sector on observable sector physics, and find it to be manifold and decisive. We conclude that at low energies a realistic model will only have one pair of Higgs doublets with adequate electroweak mixing, and no exotic particles besides the ones in the supersymmetric standard model. These two results are a direct consequence of the inclusion in the analysis of nonrenormalizable terms, and have been obtained here for the first time. We also deduce an upper bound on the top quark mass of m t ≲180 GeV, and find that the hierarchichal fermion mass spectrum follows naturally in this model.
Prediction of Cooked Rice Texture Quality Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Analysis of Whole-Grain Milled Samples

ABSTRACT Rice quality is based on chemical and physical properties affecting its appearance, flavor, and texture characteristics. Sensory quality can be assessed by a combination of descriptive sensory and physicochemical property evaluations. The purpose of the present study was to assess the potential of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) and NIRS in combination with other physicochemical measurements for the determination of sensory texture attributes in whole-grain milled rice samples. Six rice samples representing combinations of variety and growing locations received treatments of two degrees of milling and five drying conditions to achieve final moisture levels of 12 or 15% (n = 120). Quality measurements of the cooked rice included sensory and instrumental texture analyses. Quality measurements of the uncooked rice included amylose and protein (chemical reference), whiteness, transparency, and degree of milling (appearance units of milled rice), and NIRS analyses. Partial least squares ...
The College Plans of Academically Talented Students

Academically talented students scoring in the 95th and 99th percentiles on the 1986 ACTs were compared to each other and to “high average” students scoring in the 80th percentile in terms of their choices for college majors, extracurricular plans, and desires for services. Academically talented students were found to be narrow in their choices of majors but broad in their extracurricular interests. Although uninterested in personal counseling, they are demanding of career counseling, independent study, and honors opportunities.
Histone acetylation by cell-free preparations from rat uterus: In vitro stimulation by estradiol-17β

Abstract Histone acetylation has been shown to be a normal component of the metabolism of these nuclear proteins. Pogo, Allfrey, and Mirsky (1966) showed that human lymphocytes acetylated their nuclear histones during culture, and that the acetylation was increased during exposure to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Allfrey et al. (1966) have also described the stimulation of histone acetylation in liver by cortisol. Nohara et al. (1966) have demonstrated that partially purified preparations from liver have the ability to acetylate histones. It was of interest to examine the capacity of the uterus of the immature rat to acetylate histones. The results described in this paper demonstrate the presence in the uterus of the immature rat of an enzyme system that acetylates histones. In addition, in vitro stimulation of the cell-free system by the female sex hormone, estradiol-17β, is described.
In vitro and in vivo Antiviral Action of an Interferon-Like Substance Induced by Toxoplasma gondii∗:

SummaryToxoplasma gondii has been shown to induce in vivo an antiviral substance whose action is demonstrable both in tissue culture and in vivo. Characterization of this material has shown it to f...
Personality features of patients with primary affective disorder

personality variables were assessed in outpatients with primary affective disorder by use of the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) and the Marke Nyman Temperament Scale (MNTS). Significant differences between diagnostic groups were initially noted for the extraversion and neuroticism scales of the MPI. However, when mood was more rigorously controlled for, these differences largely disappeared, while interdiagnostic differences for the solidity scale of the MNTS emerged. The findings suggest that these measured aspects of personality may be quite state (mood) dependent even when patients are given test instructions previously reported to minimize mood effects. This was born out in a follow-up study for the N scale, but not the E scale, of the MPI. These data indicate that assessment of neutroticism in affectively ill patients will be contaminated by the presence of even mild depressive symptoms, a finding that has important implications for studies of personality in affective disorder.
Biosynthesis of 3-methoxycarbonylpropylglucosinolate in an Erysimum species☆

Incorporation of DL-2-aminohexanedioic acid, DL-2-amino-5-methoxycarbonyl-pentanoic acid and DL-methionine into 3-methoxycarbonylpropylglucosinolate have been demonstrated using an Erystmum species. The data support the following sequence of biosynthetic reactions: 2-aminohexanedioic acid is methylated by methionine; the resulting 2-amino-5-methoxycarbonyl-pentanoic acid is then converted into the glucosinolate. 2-Amino-5-methoxycarbonyl-pentanoic acid has been tentatively identified as a natural product in the plant.
Health legacy foundations: a new census.

Health care merger and acquisition activity has increased since enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Proceeds from transactions involving nonprofit hospitals, health systems, and health plans will endow philanthropic foundations, collectively known as health legacy foundations. Building on work by Grantmakers In Health, we undertook a systematic search for these foundations and generated a newly updated, comprehensive database. We found 306 organizations in forty-three states that have been endowed with proceeds from the sale, merger, lease, joint venture, or other restructuring of nonprofit health care assets. These health legacy foundations had $26.2 billion in assets in 2010. Concentrated in the southern United States, foundations originating from hospitals and specialty care facilities (86.6 percent) held mean assets of $64.7 million per funder and typically restricted grants to local communities. Foundations formed from health plans (13.4 percent) held higher mean assets ($222 million), usua...
RENIN SECRETION IN RENAL HYPERTENSION

Abstract The response of plasma-renin activity (P.R.A.) to changes in extracellular fluid was studied in fourteen patients with renal hypertension: eight patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (six on intermittent haemodialysis), five with renal-artery stenosis, and one with acute tubular necrosis. Extracellular-volume depletion was induced by ultrafiltration in patients on haemodialysis and volume expansion by excessive sodium intake. Patients not on haemodialysis were given a high-salt diet and desoxycorticosterone acetate to induce volume expansion. Three patients with chronic glomerulonephritis demonstrated no change in plasma-renin with large changes in plasma-volume and there was no postural variation in P.R.A. in patients with parenchymal renal disease. With salt loading, despite a greater weight gain and plasma-volume increase, no patient with renal hypertension suppressed P.R.A. to the undetectable levels seen in controls. Thus, although most patients with renal hypertension vary P.R.A. with changes in extracellular fluid none completely suppresses renin activity with volume expansion. This inappropriate renin secretion during hypervolaemia may be of significance in causing renal hypertension.
Multivariate Generalizability of General Educational Development Ratings.

Educational and psychological measurements often involve multiple scores describing individuals' aptitudes or skills. To assess the reliability of such measures, the vast majority of studies take a univariate approach. The most common procedure is to determine the reliability of each score separately. Another method, sometimes used in generalizability studies which take into account multiple sources of error variation, is to determine the generalizability of a particular composite of the scores. These univariate methods do not, however, allow the investigator to assess sources of error covariation among the multiple scores. Such information is important for designing an optimal D study, and permitting the decision maker to determine the composite with maximum generalizability. For these purposes, a multivariate analysis would be more appropriate.
The chromosomes of schizodactylus monstrosus

In this peculiar Orthopteron the chromosomes are unusual in these respects: the number is low for one of the Saltatoria; there is an x-y idiochromosome pair; all the tetrads are individually distinguishable; the chromosomes are small, relatively and actually, in the very large first spermatocyte. The structural peculiarities of the animal are reflected in those of its germ cells, but as yet no correlation has been established.
Thymidine kinase activity and human chromosome No. 18

Somatic cell hybridization studies have suggested that the locus for human thymidine kinase is on a No. 17 or No. 18 chromosome. To evaluate further this possibility, fibroblast cell cultures from patients with partial monosomy 18 and trisomy 18 were assayed for thymidine kinase activity; the enzyme levels in these cell extracts were normal. If the enzyme activities reflect a simple gene dose effect, these results suggest that the human thymidine kinase locus is not situated on the No. 18 chromosome.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE FINITE-ELEMENT AND FINITE-DIFFERENCE METHODS FOR SIMULATION OF BUOYANCY-INDUCED FLOW AND HEAT TRANSFER IN CLOSED AND OPEN ENDED ANNULAR CAVITIES

The present work consists of comparative evaluation of the finite-element and finite-difference methods for the solution of complex fluid flow and heat transfer problems. The test case considered here is the problem of natural convection in an annular cavity. Both closed and open ended cases are considered. It was found that the finite-difference analysis succeeds in capturing minute details of the solution at high Rayleigh number flows and the finite-element method fails to do so. However, the finite-element method enjoys the advantage of providing sufficiently accurate results even with coarse meshes. This results in significant savings in computational costs without any sacrifice in the accuracy of the solution. Hence, the finite-element method can serve as an optimum tool for most problems of practical interest.
Acute effects of amiodarone on action potentials of isolated guinea-pig ventricular muscle exposed to simulated ischemic solution and metabolic inhibitors.

1. 1. Acute effects of an antiarrhythmic agent, amiodarone (AM), on action potentials from isolated guinea-pig ventricular papillary muscles exposed to simulated ischemic solution and Tyrode's solution containing NaCN or dinitrophenol (DNP) were examined. 2. 2. In the papillary muscles exposed to simulated solution (K+ = 6 mM, glucose = 2.3 mM, pH = 7.1, PO2 < 40 mmHg) or metabolic inhibitors (10−3 M NaCN or 10−4 M DNP), resting membrane potential (RMP) and maximum upstroke velocity (Vmax of action potential were decreased with increasing time to the exposure, and action potential duration (APD) was shortened. In these conditions, addition of 4.4 × 10−5 M AM produced transient and small increase in the APD and V′max, followed progressive APD-shortening and decrease in Vmax and RMP. 3. 3. These results suggest that acute AM's antiarrhythmic effects reported are not due to APD prolonging action (Vaughan Williams Class III) of the drug, but mainly due to its local anesthetic action (Class I).
Co-orientation of replication and transcription preserves genome integrity.

In many bacteria, there is a genome-wide bias towards co-orientation of replication and transcription, with essential and/or highly-expressed genes further enriched co-directionally. We previously found that reversing this bias in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis slows replication elongation, and we proposed that this effect contributes to the evolutionary pressure selecting the transcription-replication co-orientation bias. This selection might have been based purely on selection for speedy replication; alternatively, the slowed replication might actually represent an average of individual replication-disruption events, each of which is counter-selected independently because genome integrity is selected. To differentiate these possibilities and define the precise forces driving this aspect of genome organization, we generated new strains with inversions either over ∼1/4 of the chromosome or at ribosomal RNA (rRNA) operons. Applying mathematical analysis to genomic microarray snapshots, we found that replication rates vary dramatically within the inverted genome. Replication is moderately impeded throughout the inverted region, which results in a small but significant competitive disadvantage in minimal medium. Importantly, replication is strongly obstructed at inverted rRNA loci in rich medium. This obstruction results in disruption of DNA replication, activation of DNA damage responses, loss of genome integrity, and cell death. Our results strongly suggest that preservation of genome integrity drives the evolution of co-orientation of replication and transcription, a conserved feature of genome organization.
VISCOMETRIC FLOWS OF NEUTRALLY BUOYANT SUSPENSIONS IN SECOND-ORDER FLUIDS

The local volume averages of the equations of motion as well as the appropriate boundary conditions for neutrally buoyant suspensions of spheres in second-order fluids (Li and Slattery, 1989a) are employed to analyze both the cone-plate viscometer and the parallel-plate viscometer. The predicted results are compared with measurements of apparent viscosity and of the primary normal stress difference. Predictions of measured apparent viscosities are in excellent agreement with the experimental data up to 20% solids by volume; the average error is no more than 5%. Predictions of apparent viscosities for the limiting case of a very dilute suspension are restricted to less than 10% solids by volume. The primary normal stress difference is predicted to be independent of the volume fraction of solids, in approximate agreement with previously reported data. Both theory and experiment have demonstrated that a neutrally buoyant suspension of uniform spheres in an incompressible second-order fluid behaves like a sin...
Demonstration of brachytherapy boost dose-response relationships in glioblastoma multiforme.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate brachytherapy dose—response relationships in adults with glioblastoma undergoing temporary 125 I implant boost after external beam radiotherapy. Methods and Materials: Since June 1987, orthogonal radiographs using a fiducial marker box have been used to verify brain implant source positions and generate dose—volume histograms at the University of California, San Francisco. For adults who underwent brachytherapy boost for glioblastoma from June 1987 through December 1992, tumor volumes were reoutlined to ensure consistency and dose—volume histograms were recalculated. Univariate and multivariate analyses of various patient and treatment parameters were performed evaluating for influence of dose on freedom from local failure (FFLF) and actuarial survival. Results: Of 102 implant boosts, 5 were excluded because computer plans were unavailable. For the remaining 97 patients, analyses with adjustment for known prognostic factors (age, KPS, extent of initial surgical resection) and prognostic factors identified on univariate testing (adjuvant chemotherapy) showed that higher minimum brachytherapy tumor dose was strongly associated with improved FFLF ( p = 0.001). A quadratic relationship was found between total biological effective dose and survival, with a trend toward optimal survival probability at 47 Gy minimum brachytherapy tumor dose (corresponding to about 65 Gy to 95% of the tumor volume); survival decreased with lower or higher doses. Two patients expired and one requires hospice care because of brain necrosis after brachytherapy doses > 63 Gy to 95% of the tumor volume with 60 Gy to > 18 cm 3 of normal brain. Conclusion: Although higher minimum brachytherapy tumor dose was strongly associated with better local control, a brachytherapy boost dose > 50–60 Gy may result in life-threatening necrosis. We recommend careful conformation of the prescription isodose line to the contrast enhancing tumor volume, delivery of a minimum brachytherapy boost dose of 45–50 Gy in conjunction with convectional external beam radiotherapy, and reoperation for symptomatic necrosis.
Observations on the Pathological Spectrum and Clinical Course of Microsporidiosis in Men Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Follow-Up Study

The purposes of this research were to determine whether microsporidian infection is accompanied by structural alterations of the duodenal mucosa and to characterize the clinical and morphological evolution of intestinal microsporidiosis. In a previous systematic electron microscopic evaluation of mucosal biopsy specimens from patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection, we detected Enterocytozoon bieneusi in the duodenal tissue of 31 men. This report concerns a follow-up study of these 31 men, who underwent repeated clinical and laboratory evaluations, including repeated duodenal biopsies. Eighteen men had chronic diarrhea at enrollment and 13 had no diarrhea. The CD4 + cell counts (per mm 3 ) ranged from 10 to 660 andwere normal for three men. E. bieneusi infection was accompanied by a wide spectrum of histopathology of duodenal tissue; over a mean follow-up of 15 months, no consistent change in duodenal mucosal morphology was observed, and diarrhea did not invariably develop. These observations indicate that diarrhea and severe villus injury do not invariably accompany infection. Further studies are needed to determine the relationship between E. bieneusi infection and clinical illness
Optimal shape description using morphological signature transform via genetic algorithm

A novel method for optimal shape description based on the multiresolution morphological image processing is presented in this paper. The method is optimal in the sense that the optimal structuring element is determined that will enable best discrimination of object shapes. In this method a representation based on the areas of the input binary image successively eroded by multiple rotated structuring elements at different resolutions is used. For a given set of model shapes the optimal structuring element is selected by a means of genetic algorithm. The optimization criteria is formulated to enable a robust shape matching. Experiments have been performed on a set of model shapes. Genetic algorithm was used to create new generations of structuring elements by crossing over the genes which represent structuring elements. The result of the iterative procedure is the optimal structuring element which was used for shape description using the morphological signature transform. The proposed optimal shape representation method is applied to the problem of shape matching which evolves in many object recognition applications. Here, an unknown object from the input image is matched to a set of known objects in order to classify it into one of finite number of possible classes. Experimental results are presented and discussed.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Performance of axially compressed stiffened panels

Abstract The paper reviews the theoretical foundations of a new analytical model developed for the study of nonlinear interaction of local and overall instabilities of axially compressed stiffened plates. It is shown that: the mixed second order field contains within itself all the essential secondary local modes liable to be triggered in the interaction; any such mode having an eigenvalue of the same order of magnitude as the primary local critical stress must be treated as a fundamental mode fully participating in the interaction in order that the analytical procedure is not riddled by singularities in the evaluation of the mixed second order field; and the technique of amplitude modulation is an effective substitute for accounting for a set of local modes of the same transverse description but of slightly differing wave lengths. The computational aspects are briefly touched upon and the form of an explicit potential energy function derived is shown. The results obtained using the present model are then compared with the theoretical results obtained by Koiter and Pignataro and Tvergaard for several cases. The question of optimality is examined. The results confirm the earlier finding of Tvergaard that the optimally designed panels would have the local critical stresses higher than the overall buckling ones. A comparison of the present theory against the experimental results obtained by Thompson et al . for panels with “stocky” and “thin” stiffeners is then presented. In all cases, there is found to be very good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results.
Contrast In Images

The contrast of simple images such as sinusoidal gratings or a single patch of light on a uniform background is well defined, but this is not the case for complex images. When the Michelson definition, used for sinusoidal test patterns, is applied to complex scenes, the contrast of the whole picture may be defined based on only one point in the image. Human contrast sensitivity is known to be a function of the spatial frequency; therefore, the spatial frequency content of an image should also be considered in the definition of contrast. We propose a definition of local band-limited contrast in images that assigns a contrast value to every point in the image as a function of the spatial frequency band. For each frequency band, the contrast is defined as the ratio of the band-pass filtered image at that frequency to the low-pass filtered image filtered to an octave below the same frequency. This definition is useful for understanding the effects of enhancement techniques on image contrast. The definition can be implemented in the design of recognizable, minimal-contrast images, thus enabling optimal use of the available dynamic range of the display, and more efficient coding algorithms.
Dendrimer Templates for Heterogeneous Catalysts: Bimetallic Pt-Au Nanoparticles on Oxide Supports

Abstract Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were used to template Pt, Au, and bimetallic Pt–Au dendrimer encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) in solution. Adjusting the solution pH allowed for slow, spontaneous adsorption of the nanoparticles onto silica, alumina, and titania. After dendrimer removal, the catalysts were characterized with infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed CO and tested with CO oxidation catalysis. Infrared spectroscopy of the monometallic Pt catalysts showed a slight shift in the CO stretching frequency for the different supports. For the bimetallic catalysts, infrared spectra showed CO adsorbed on both Pt and on Au sites. Spectra collected during CO desorption showed substantial interactions between the two bands, confirming the presence of bimetallic particles on all the supports. The bimetallic catalysts were found to be more active than the monometallic catalysts and had lower apparent activation energies. The titania supported Pt–Au catalyst was resistant to deactivation during an extended treatment at 300 °C. Correlations between IR spectra and catalytic activity showed differences between the mono- and bimetallic materials and implicated a bimetallic Pt–Au ensemble at the catalytic active site. This is the first study to show that DENs are appropriate precursors for studying support effects on catalysis by metal nanoparticles, although the magnitude of the effects were small.
Effect of a preferred companion in modulating stress in adult female rhesus monkeys

Using a counterbalanced design, seven adult female rhesus monkeys were removed from their social group and housed in a novel environment both alone and with a companion chosen on the basis of quantitative affiliative behaviors. Blood samples (n = 2) were collected from all study animals before the exposure to the novel environment, then at 2, 24, and 96 h thereafter for cortisol and immunological analyses. During both conditions, subjects showed evidence of stress as indicated by elevated cortisol concentrations and decreases in absolute numbers of lymphocyte subsets. There was no significant interaction between condition (alone vs. companion) and time in cortisol percent change and further planned post hoc analyses showed no significant between-condition differences for any of the postseparation time points. Similarly, no significant interaction was found between conditions and time for the absolute number of CD4+CD8-T cells, CD8+CD4- T cells, or CD20+CD2- B cells. However, planned post hoc comparisons showed that subjects in the companion condition exhibited a significantly smaller percent change from baseline than in the alone condition at the 24 h and 96 h sample periods in absolute numbers of CD4+CD8- and CD8+CD4- T cells. Results showed that adult female rhesus monkeys exhibited a profound stress response when removed from their social group to a novel environment and that recovery time of T cell subsets was significantly enhanced by the presence of a preferred companion.
Event-related potentials to breaks in sequences of alternating pitches or interstimulus intervals.

Fourteen subjects were run in paradigms designed to explore event-related brain potentials (ERPs) elicited by breaks in alternations in pitch or interstimulus interval. In the Pitch paradigm, tones of 500 Hz or 1000 Hz were presented in alternation at regular interstimulus intervals of 800 ms. In the Rhythm paradigm, a single tone, either 500 Hz or 1000 Hz, was presented at interstimulus intervals alternating between 400 ms and 800 ms. Breaks in the Pitch paradigm consisted of a single repetition of a pitch, and in the Rhythm paradigm of a single repetition of the 400-ms interstimulus interval. Breaks occurred with a 10% probability in both cases. Subjects read while stimuli were being presented. A N210 wave of about 3.5 μV was elicited by breaks in pitch pattern but not by breaks in rhythm. That it was largest (most negative) frontally suggests that it was a type of mismatch negativity. Analysis of waveforms constructed by subtracting ERPs to standards from ERPs to breaks confirmed these results. Thus we conclude that the system triggering mismatch negativity can encode the temporal ordering of pitches.
Purification and partial characterization of bovine heart phosphorylase kinase

Bovine heart phosphorylase kinase has been isolated by a procedure involving precipitation with polyethylene glycol, DEAE-Sephacel chromatography and calmodulin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The isolated enzyme had a specific activity of 8.3 IU/mg of protein at pH 8.2 at 30 degrees C in the presence of 1% glycogen. The native enzyme had a sedimentation coefficient of 23 S and the Mr of the alpha', beta, gamma, and delta subunits, were 140,000, 130,000, 46,000, and 18,000, respectively. Activation of the phosphorylase kinase by the catalytic subunit of bovine heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase increases the pH 6.8/8.2 activity ratio from 0.01 to 0.32-0.38. Glycogen (1%) decreased the Km of the activated phosphorylase kinase at pH 6.8 for phosphorylase b from 5.5 to 1.25 mg/ml. Trypsin treatment increased the pH 6.8 activity but decreased the pH 8.2 activity. During this process the alpha' subunit was converted to a Mr 110,000 polypeptide and the enzyme activity was converted essentially to a 5.9 S species having an apparent Mr of 100,000 as determined by gel filtration. On extended trypsin treatment only one major polypeptide corresponding to the beta subunit remained. The same polypeptide was present in the active fractions following gel filtration of the trypsinized kinase.
Transient Thermoelastic Contact of Sliding Rings With Axisymmetric Surface Roughness

Many devices such as seals, clutches, and brakes involve the thermomechanical contact of rough surfaces in sliding motion. The asperity level interactions which are highly localized depend upon the thermal distortion of the interface and possibly the instantaneous overall shape of the sliding components. In this paper we present a boundary element method for the analysis of such problems; simultaneously, from the micro-asperity to the component level. The interdependence of micro-asperity and component level deformations is demonstrated via the transient thermoelastic analysis of sliding rings with axisymmetric roughness.
Can small firms gain relational advantage? Exploring strategic choice and trustworthiness signals in supply chain relationships

Organisational theory explicates that partners who overcome the challenges to developing trust-based interorganisational relationships can gain a vital source of competitive advantage. However, the extant relational research focuses on large, resource-rich entities. We, by contrast and extension, investigate whether small and medium-sized firms can leverage supply chain relationships for competitive advantage. Specifically, power imbalances and resource constraints are additional challenges common to small firms that may diminish their desire and ability to pursue relational advantage. However, we posit that effective, trust-based governance can enable small and medium-sized firms to overcome their unique challenges to enter more collaborative relationships and thereby improve operational and firm performance. Our findings from a survey of manufacturing firms provide evidence that small and medium-sized firms can gain performance benefits when they (1) make the conscious choice to pursue trust-based colla...
Biological Importance and Cooperativity of HIV-1 Regulatory Gene Splice Acceptors

The replication of HIV-1 mutants containing altered splice acceptor sequences was studied. The splice acceptor sites 5' of the essential tat and rev AUG codons were altered to eliminate specifically spliced species from the viral repertoire of mRNAs. All splice site mutants were attenuated or fully defective. Mutation of the tat splice acceptor (exon 4) caused loss of the mRNA species containing exon 4 and resulted in an attenuated but replication-competent phenotype. Mutation of the rev splice acceptor sites resulted in viral genomes that failed to propagate in vitro. Mutation of the more 5' of the two major rev acceptors (exon 4A) caused loss of the mRNA species containing exon 4A together with a compensatory increase in use of the more 3' of the rev acceptors (exon 4B). Mutation of the splice acceptor for exon 4B caused the unexpected loss of both exon 4A- and 4B-containing mRNAs. In addition to these effects on the rev splice acceptors, mutations at the 4A and 4B sites also resulted in decreased use of the tat splice site (exon 4) located 175 nucleotides upstream. These effects on utilization of the tat splice acceptor site may explain the requirement for tat to efficiently complement these mutants. The 4A mutant was complemented by tat but not by rev. The 4B mutant was complemented by rev but required both tat and rev for maximum complementation. These data suggested a cooperativity among these splice sites necessary for efficient viral replication. They also indicated that while viral replication persisted at low levels in the absence of splicing to the known site 5' of the tat AUG, failure to splice to at least one of the two major sites 5' of the rev AUG resulted in insufficient rev activity for replication competence.
Role for Surgical Resection in the Multidisciplinary Treatment of Stage IIIB Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background The role of multimodality therapy in stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains inadequately studied. Although chemoradiation is currently the mainstay of treatment, randomized trials evaluating surgical intervention are lacking, and resection is offered selectively. Methods Data from patients with clinical stage IIIB NSCLC (T4N2 or any N3) undergoing definitive multimodality therapy were obtained from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to evaluate variables influencing overall survival (OS). Results From 1998 to 2010, 7,459 patients with clinical stage IIIB NSCLC were treated with definitive chemoradiation (CR group), whereas 1,714 patients underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical intervention in any sequence (CRS group). CRS patients were more likely to be younger and white and have slightly smaller tumors (all p Conclusions Surgical resection as a part of multimodality therapy may be associated with improved OS in highly selected patients with stage IIIB NSCLC. Multidisciplinary evaluation of these patients is critical.
SU-F-BRE-03: Consideration of a Track-Interaction Model for Radiochromic Film Response

Purpose: Conventional methods for characterizing the energy response of radiochromic film (RCF) typically involve assessing changes in response when exposed to various beam qualities and use Monte Carlo to determine absorbed dose. These methods represent RCF as a dose integrator of a homogeneous energy deposition volume. Apparent film saturation, nonlinearity, and intrinsic energy dependence are unpredicted with conventional methods. Recent work has shown significant RCF intrinsic energy dependence, which limits its use in absolute dosimetry. This work introduces a track-interaction model (TIM) for RCF and assesses its ability to predict total energy response. Methods: A TIM based on Katz single-hit theory was developed to accumulate energy flux along particle tracks within active crystals, represented as (1×1×20)um3 prisms about the Gafchromic™ EBT3 active volume using MCNP5 and Matlab. Energy flux contributed to film response only if near the threshold energy for polymerization in polydiacetylenes (2.5eV/monomer). Energy deposition in excess of maximum efficiency represented crystal saturation and did not contribute to film response. The TIM was applied to RCF exposed in air to various monoenergetic photon beams and Co-60. Geometric distribution of energy flux was found for each beam quality in a (1×1)mm2 RCF area. RCF response relative to Co-60 absorbed dose-to-water (S_TIM) was determined and compared to published values (S_PUB). Results: TIM successfully predicted that lower energy radiation is less effective at inducing polymerization, though the magnitude of the phenomenon was overpredicted. S_TIM was −29% and +20% for 20 and 40 keV, respectively. This agreed qualitatively with S_PUB of −27% and +16%. TIM-generated sensitometric curves contained the non-linearity and saturation apparent in RCF. Conclusion: This work indicates the possibility for TIMs to predict changes in RCF response to various energies. Future work will refine TIM by considering size distributions of active elements, other RCF formulations, and response in complex treatment fields. Acknowledgements: The authors wish to thank Dr. Christopher Soares at NIST (Gaithersburg, MD) for performing film measurements and Dr. David Lewis of Ashland, Inc. (Wayne, NJ) for making the EBT3 film available to us.
The effect of the environment on the tensile strength of fluorozirconate glass fibres

Fluorozirconate glass fibres were drawn from rod preforms without a protective polymer coating and under a nitrogen atmosphere. Fibres which had been subsequently stored and tested under an inert atmosphere had strengths ranging between 0.12 and 0.32GPa. However, the strengths of fibres exposed to the atmosphere and under a relative humidity of 80% deteriorated to a limiting strength of about 0.09GPa after 4 days.