cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies of low-porosity concretes designed for bridge deck applications: 1. Introductory remarks, mix designs, strength development, and rheological characteristics

Abstract A major concrete problem in recent years has been premature deterioration of concrete bridge decks due to corrosion of reinforcing steel. The research reported here was designed to explore the possibility of eliminating the problem by the use of low porosity concrete. A brief review of low porosity cement systems is provided. Mix design considerations for low porosity concretes are explored. The results of laboratory trials on rheological and other features of fresh low porosity concretes are reported, and compressive strength data are provided for several different low porosity concrete systems.
A phase-field model for systems with coupled large deformation and mass transport

Abstract Phase-field model is a powerful tool for studying the microstructure evolution of materials. This paper seeks to introduce phase-field modeling to the field of soft materials, especially for studying polymeric gels. A general framework for the field theory of coupled large deformation and mass transport is established, and two specific models of diffuse interface are proposed. The ideal liquid-like interface has a deformation-independent energy and gives rise to a constant surface tension, and a non-ideal interface would result in a strain-dependent surface stress. Either model gives a stress field consistent with the effect of interface line force. The field theory is implemented into a finite-element code, and several numerical examples are calculated with representative material models in which deformation is weakly or strongly coupled with mass transport. The numerical models demonstrate the versatility of the phase-field methodology, and reveal some interesting phenomena due to the coupling. For example, the composition of a separated phase is significantly affected by the kinematic constraint, and varies during coarsening.
Classification of CD4+ T helper cell clones in human melanoma.

We have previously described the generation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) clones from renal cell cancer by solid-phase anti-CD3 antibody activation and expansion in 100 IU/ml IL-2 plus irradiated allogeneic B cells. These culture conditions did not select for a particular T cell subset. Using these culture conditions, we report here the generation of 66 CD4+ and 36 CD8+ TIL clones from five patients with melanoma. Eighty-five percent of the CD4+ TIL clones were not cytolytic ( 30% lysis). Clones were further tested for production of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ after activation for 48 hr by solid-phase anti-CD3. CD8+ clones produced significant amounts of IFN-γ little IL-2, and no IL-4. CD4+ clones were classified as Th0, Th1, or Th2, analogous to the classification of T helper cells in the mouse. Sixty-six percent existed as Th0, producing IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ. Only 15% existed as Th1, producing IL-2 and IFN-γ, and 19% as Th2, producing IL-4 but no IL-2 or IFN-γ. In all cases, unstimulated clones or clones stimulated with the allogeneic B cell line did not produce detectable amounts of cytokines. Solid-phase anti-CD3 activation was compared to activation with autologous melanoma cells. Five of nine CD8+ clones produced low amounts of IL-2 (<200 pg/ml/106 cells) in response to autologous tumor, but none of the CD8 clones produced IFN-γ or IL-4. Also, 5/7 Th0 clones from one patient produced similar amounts of IL-2 after stimulation with anti-CD3 or autologous tumor. The other two clones produced only 10% or less of the amount produced in response to anti-CD3. No IL-4 or IFN-γ could be detected in response to autologous tumor. In contrast, none of the 12 T helper clones from two other patients produced any cytokines after stimulation with autologous tumor cells. Together these data suggest that the T cell infiltrate in melanoma consists primarily of IL-2-producing Th0 cells, but few of those are triggered by autologous tumor cells.
Aging Related Functional Changes in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury

Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) now have an increased life expectancy. However, they are more susceptible to earlier age-related functional declines when compared to their nondisabled counterparts. Symptoms of new fatigue, pain, or weakness often precede new losses in function. The consequences of decline in function include increasing needs for personal assistance, equipment, and medical services. Underlying medical conditions are explored as potential contributing factors to the loss of function. Continued investigations of the etiology of pain, fatigue, and weakness along with enhanced clinical and support services are necessary to meet the changing needs of the aging SCI population.
Physiological–Emotional Reactivity to Nightmare-Related Imagery in Trauma-Exposed Persons With Chronic Nightmares

Script-driven imagery was used to assess nightmare imagery-evoked physiological–emotional reactivity (heart rate, skin conductance, facial electromyogram, subjective ratings) in trauma-exposed persons suffering from chronic nightmares. Goals were to determine the efficacy of nightmare imagery to evoke physiological–emotional reactivity, correlates (mental health, nightmare characteristics) of reactivity, and consequences (sleep and health problems) of reactivity. Nightmare imagery resulted in significant reactivity relative to control imagery. No mental health variable (posttraumatic stress disorder status, depressive symptoms, dissociation) or nightmare characteristic (months experienced, frequency, similarity to trauma) was associated with reactivity level. However, nightmare imagery-evoked autonomic responses were associated with greater sleep disturbance and reported health symptoms, even when nightmare frequency was controlled. These results suggest nightmare-related autonomic reactions may contribut...
Multilayer inkjet printing of materials

Inkjet printing is familiar as a method for printing ink on absorbent paper. In principle the method can be used to print multilayer devices, but we will then need to be able to control the structure of material deposited onto hard surfaces and to overprint different materials on one another. This paper deals addresses the approaches available to form materials by reaction between successive ink layers. The short diffusion distances allow uniform structures to form instead of interfacial barriers or precipitates that would result on a larger scale. Many aspects of these processes can be compared to those that occur during growth of biological tissues. Thus, biology may be a fruitful source of ideas on how to exploit this technology.
Relationships Among Meal Patterns, Dietary Intake, and Work Schedule in Women.

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To describe the relationships among dietary intake, meal patterns, and work schedule in women. Shiftwork has been associated with sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal disorders, psychological stress, substance use, and changes in eating behavior. This study was conducted to assess the effect of shiftwork on the nutritional status of women. This included an examination of the relationship between meal patterns and dietary intake. Study participants were women who worked five eight-hour shifts each week with consistent work schedules for the previous 30 days. Dietary intake was estimated using the Willett Food Frequency questionnaire and personal interviews were conducted to characterize meal patterns. Using the Bureau of Labor shift definitions, participants were assigned to one of three groups: day (n=49), evening (n=O3), or night (n=21). Results indicated that women working the evening or night shift ate lunch less frequently, compared to day workers (p
Relationships Between Somatic Cell Counts and Milk Production

The relationship between Dairy Herd Improvement program test-day milk yield and somatic cell counts in milk was analyzed in 34 dairy herds over 3 yr. Estimates of this relationship were more accurate when somatic cell counts were transformed to natural logarithms rather than actual. For 67,707 observations, test-day milk yield decreased with increasing somatic cell count. The decrease of milk yield for second and later lactations, as somatic cell count increased, was greater than for first lactations. When herds were partitioned according to herd milk production (greater than 7700, 6500 to 7700, and less than 6500 kg/yr), decrease of milk yield was linear with increasing somatic cell counts for herds averaging below 7700 kg milk. Regressions were linear, quadratic, and cubic for both parity groups in herds with high production, over 7700 kg/yr. Quarter samples were composited for each cow and cultured. Percentage of infected cows increased as somatic cell counts increased with greater infection rates above 400 X 10(3).
Evaporation-Induced Crumpling of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets in Aerosolized Droplets: Confinement Force Relationship

A possible solution to solve the restacking issue of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets during large-scale production is to turn the two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets into three-dimensional (3D) crumpled balls that have excellent compressive properties but still maintain high free volumes. An aerosol-based process has been proven to be a rational method for this purpose, in which, the crumpling phenomenon, however, has hitherto remained unclear. Here we present a detailed understanding of the crumpling of GO nanosheets by a systematic investigation conducted in aerosolized droplets by means of in-line (e.g., scanning mobility particle sizer) and off-line (e.g., electron microscopy) measurements. Correlations between the confinement force and various parameters, such as evaporation rate and precursor concentration were established to derive a universally applicable equation. Both calculation and experimental results revealed that the evaporation rate plays an important role in controlling the crumpling process.
Angular Distribution of Fragments in Fission Induced by Mev Neutrons

A multiangle gas-filled counter has been used to measure the fragment angular distribution in fission induced by neutrons in the energy range $0.5\ensuremath{\le}{E}_{N}\ensuremath{\le}9$ Mev. The target nuclei used were: ${\mathrm{Th}}^{230}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{233}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{234}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{236}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{238}$, ${\mathrm{Np}}^{237}$, and ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$. In the cases of ${\mathrm{U}}^{233}$ and ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$ the neutron energy range was extended to include energies between 14.8 and 23 Mev. The general features of these data are the following: The anisotropy ---($\frac{0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}{90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}$) intensity ratio---has values between 1.1 and 1.2 depending on the target and is roughly independent of energy for ${E}_{N}$ between 2 and 5.5 Mev. At higher energies a rise is observed such that at 7 Mev even-odd targets give values of anisotropy in the range 1.2 to 1.3 while even-even targets show greater values in the range 1.6 to 2.2. The anisotropy decreases somewhat by 9 Mev. Near thresholds for the even-even target nuclides considerable fluctuations of anisotropy are observed. The example of ${\mathrm{U}}^{236}$ at 0.85 Mev shows a new case of minimum intensity at 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, the anisotropy being 0.64. In the energy region 2-4 Mev, the anisotropy of ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$, ${\mathrm{U}}^{233}$, and ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$ increases by a few percent from one to the next as the spin increases. This is contrary to simple theoretical expectations. These data have been compared to recent theoretical developments of the Bohr model as given by Griffin and by Halpern and Strutinski. The theory provides a satisfactory account of many features of the data.
Neoliberal exploitation in reality television: youth, health and the spectacle of celebrity ‘concern’

Discourses about risk and responsibility are evident in the recent social panics surrounding childhood obesity that construct youth as necessary targets for saving. The public is not only asked to accept the problem of obesity but, often we are also asked to believe that only a highly sensationalized intervention can counter it. In this essay we argue that the obesity industry uses media to represent the ‘problem’ of obesity in ways that ultimately serve corporate interests and in ways that are antithetical to the well-being of youth. This phenomenon is made possible by the colonization of neoliberal ideologies in the social and cultural milieu of the USA. We argue that neoliberalism is a system of cruelty that gets theatrically enacted through reality television – a television subgenre that increasingly casts youth as its subjects. This paper analyzes the show Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution in an attempt to capture one manifestation of the exploitative damages of neoliberalism as well as to highlight its...
Modulation of alkylating agents by etanidazole and Fluosol-DA/carbogen in the FSaIIC fibrosarcoma and EMT6 mammary carcinoma.

Abstract Tumor cell survival assay in the FSaIIC murine fibrosarcoma demonstrated that when the modulator Fluosol-DA (0.3 ml; 12 ml/kg i.v.) was administered just prior to an alkylating agent plus carbogen breathing for 6 h or the modulator etanidazole (1 g/kg i.p.) was administered just prior to an alkylating agent, the combination treatment produced significantly more tumor cell killing across the dosage range of each alkylating agent tested compared with the alkylating agent alone. Each alkylating agent produced a dose-dependent log-linear tumor cell survival curve. There was an increase in tumor cell killing of 5–10-fold when either Fluosol-DA/carbogen or etanidazole was added to treatment with the alkylating agent. For cis -diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) and N,N′,N″ -triethylenethiophosphoramide, the modulators used in combination increased tumor cell killing by only 2–3-fold over that obtained with a single modulator, but for the other alkylating agents, tumor cell killing was increased by 10–50-fold when the combination of modulators was used. Bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit survival assays showed that the combination of modulators with the alkylating agents resulted in only small increases in bone marrow toxicity of the alkylating agents except for N,N′,N″ -triethylenethiophosphoramide and l-phenylalanine mustard (L-PAM), for which the toxicity to the bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit was increased by 5–10-fold compared with the alkylating agents alone. The Hoechst 33342 dye diffusion defined tumor cell subpopulation assay, also in the FSaIIC tumor, demonstrated that the combination of modulators increased the toxicity of CDDP, cyclophosphamide, L-PAM, and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea by 9–55-fold compared with the alkylating agent alone in both the bright (euxoic-enriched) and dim (hypoxicenriched) cells. For each alkylating agent except 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, the increase in tumor cell killing was greater in the dim cells than in the bright cells. Finally, tumor growth delay studies in both the FSaIIC tumor and the EMT-6 murine mammary adenocarcinoma confirmed that the combination of modulators significantly increased the tumor growth delay caused by CDDP, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, N,N′,N″ -triethylenethiophosphoramide, l-PAM, and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. The greatest increases (4–5-fold were observed for carboplatin and L-PAM in the FSaIIC tumor and CDDP and cyclophosphamide in the EMT-6 tumor. These results suggest that Fluosol-DA/carbogen together with etanidazole may be an effective modulator combination of alkylating agents in the clinic.
Island embryo regression driven by a beam of self-ions in the linear regime.

The kinetics of island growth and regression are discussed under the approximation of linear response, including the Gibbs?Thompson potential, for a reacting assembly of adatoms and advacancies (thermal defects) on a surface irradiated with a beam of self-ions. First the quasistatic growth or shrinkage rate, for islands of size n less than the critical size , is calculated for the driven system, exactly, for linear response. This result is employed to determine successively: (i)?the regression rate of driven embryo islands with ; and (ii)?the structure of the steady state decay chain established when embryos of a particular size are created by ion beam impacts. The changed embryo distribution caused by irradiation differs markedly from the populations of the embryos at equilibrium.
Universal fuzzy system to Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy system compiler

In the paper a compiler that transforms a universal fuzzy system into a Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy system is presented. A universal fuzzy system is defined as a fuzzy system with generic membership functions, T-norm, T-conorm, propagation operator, aggregation operator and defuzzification algorithm. The Takagi-Sugeno system obtained is an approximation of the original fuzzy system based on keeping the certainty of the designer. This means that the inputs for which the designer had a complete certainty will be approximated without error.
Lethal and sublethal effects of imidacloprid on hemlock woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) and two introduced predator species.

ABSTRACT Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriere, branchlets were systemically treated with imidacloprid and bioassayed with hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Annand) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), and predators. After 10 d, two hemlock woolly adelgid predators, Laricobius nigrinus Fender (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) and Sasajiscymnus tsugae Sasaji & McClure (Coleoptera: Coc-cinellidae), were allowed to feed on remaining hemlock woolly adelgid for 20 d on branches systemically treated with 1, 10. or 100 ppm imidacloprid. Every 5 d, mortality, mobility (measured as flip time), number of hemlock woolly adelgid consumed, and degree of intoxication of each individual beetle were recorded. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to quantify imidacloprid and some of its major metabolites in hemlock wood tissues and in the predator beetles postmortem. Probit analysis of hemlock woolly adelgid mortality and imidacloprid concentrations recovered from branch wood tissues determined the 30 d LC50 to be...
An information theoretic approach to the automatic determination of phonemic baseforms

We present a method for predicting the phonemic baseform of a word given its spelling and a sample utterance. We have developed a procedure, based on information theoretic principles, for discovering a set of spelling-to-sound rules automatically. We have also constructed a simple phoneme recognizer. The spelling-to-sound rules predict the correct phoneme 93.7% of the time. When coupled with the phoneme recognizer, we are able to predict the correct phoneme 97.1% of the time.
Cancer and Reproductive Risks Among Chemists and Laboratory Workers: A Review

Abstract The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that approximately one million persons work in 74,000 United States laboratories. Personnel who work in biomedical and chemical laboratories have potential exposures to numerous occupational hazards. Available epidemiologic data suggest that chemists and other laboratory workers are at increased mortality risk for certain cancers such as malignant lymphoma, leukemia, and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, data suggest an association between laboratory work and adverse pregnancy outcome. Occupational health surveillance of laboratory workers requires a comprehensive approach, addressing all major organ systems, due to mixed exposures experienced by laboratory workers and the constantly changing work environment. Control strategies for laboratory exposures must rely heavily on the use of engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation, good work practices, and appropriate personal protective equipment.
Mechanochemically synthesized NbC cermets: Part I. Synthesis and structural development

The mechanochemical synthesis of NbC-based cermets is described. Nanocrystalline NbC is synthesized by room-temperature milling of Nb and graphite (or hexane) mixtures. While some structural coarsening occurs during powder consolidation to full density, a nanoscale structure is maintained. Grinding media wear occurs during milling, and milled powders contain Fe from this abrasion. This phase, homogeneously distributed in milled powders, segregates during consolidation and heat treatment, and a cermetlike microstructure results. Copper added to the powder charge yields NbC–Cu or NbC–Cu-Fe cermets. Copper-containing materials have different phase morphologies. In particular, relatively large NbC particles are dispersed in a matrix containing finer NbC and metal particles. Higher Cu-content materials also develop a pure Cu constituent on heat treatment. A companion paper, “Mechanochemically synthesized NbC cermets: Part II. Mechanical properties,” addresses aspects of the mechanical behavior of these materials.
Structural and functional effects of developmental exposure to ethanol on the zebrafish heart.

Background: Fetal alcohol exposure during development results in a host of cardiac abnormalities including atrial and ventricular septal defects, teratology of Fallot, d-transposition of the great arteries, truncus arteriosus communis, and aortico-pulmonary window. The mechanisms behind these ethanol-induced deficits are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the zebrafish, a simple model in which heart development and the sequence of gene expression is well elucidated and comparable to that in higher vertebrates, is sensitive to developmental exposure of pharmacologically relevant concentrations of ethanol. Methods: Zebrafish eggs of the AB strain were raised in egg water or in 0.5% (v/v) ethanol solution for either 54 hpf (hours postfertilization) or 72 hpf. Heart pathology and volumes were evaluated on the latter group at 5 dpf (days postfertilization) on tissue sections from fixed larvae embedded in glycolmethacrylate. Heart rates were determined in embryos of 54 hpf and larvae of 5 dpf. The functional maturity of the heart’s conducting system was measured by determining the response of ethanol-treated and control embryos and larvae to the adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, and the cholinergic agonist, carbachol. Results: Ethanol-induced alterations occurred in heart morphology and heart volume. A developmental lag in the isoproterenol response and the absence of carbachol-mediated bradycardia were also observed following ethanol treatment. Conclusions: These results show that exposure of the zebrafish to ethanol during development results in structural and functional changes in the heart that mimic malformations that occur in patients with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). These findings promote the zebrafish heart as a future model for investigating the mechanisms responsible for ethanol’s adverse effects on vertebrate heart development.
Nociceptors as chronic drivers of pain and hyperreflexia after spinal cord injury: an adaptive-maladaptive hyperfunctional state hypothesis

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes chronic peripheral sensitization of nociceptors and persistent generation of spontaneous action potentials (SA) in peripheral branches and the somata of hyperexcitable nociceptors within dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Here it is proposed that SCI triggers in numerous nociceptors a persistent hyperfunctional state (peripheral, synaptic, and somal) that originally evolved as an adaptive response to compensate for loss of sensory terminals after severe but survivable peripheral injury. In this hypothesis, nociceptor somata monitor the status of their own receptive field and the rest of the body by integrating signals received by their peripheral and central branches and the soma itself. A nociceptor switches into a potentially permanent hyperfunctional state when central neural, glial, and inflammatory signal combinations are detected that indicate extensive peripheral injury. Similar signal combinations are produced by SCI and disseminated widely to uninjured as well as injured nociceptors. This paper focuses on the uninjured nociceptors that are altered by SCI. Enhanced activity generated in below-level nociceptors promotes below-level central sensitization, somatic and autonomic hyperreflexia, and visceral dysfunction. If sufficient ascending fibers survive, enhanced activity in below-level nociceptors contributes to below-level pain. Nociceptor activity generated above the injury level contributes to at- and above-level sensitization and pain (evoked and spontaneous). Thus, SCI triggers a potent nociceptor state that may have been adaptive (from an evolutionary perspective) after severe peripheral injury but is maladaptive after SCI. Evidence that hyperfunctional nociceptors make large contributions to behavioral hypersensitivity after SCI suggests that nociceptor-specific ion channels required for nociceptor SA and hypersensitivity offer promising targets for treating chronic pain and hyperreflexia after SCI.
Therapy for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Who Present Late or Are Ineligible for Reperfusion Therapy

Despite the wide contemporary availability of pharmacological and mechanical means of reperfusion, a very significant proportion of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are still not offered any reperfusion therapy, and some of them are considered "ineligible for reperfusion." Spontaneous reperfusion and contraindications to the use of fibrinolytics and/or mechanical reperfusion methods account only for a small part of these clinical situations. The boundary between "timely" and "late" presentation in STEMI, the appropriateness of percutaneous intervention in patients presenting late after onset of symptoms, and the impact of sex and age on the eligibility and/or choice of reperfusion therapy continue to be challenged by the most recent published data. In the current invasive-driven reperfusion era, if scientific evidence and clinical guidelines are applied diligently, the vast majority of eligible STEMI patients should receive reperfusion therapy. Pharmacological nonlytic therapy of patients with STEMI, regardless of the choice of reperfusion strategy or the absence of it, is clearly defined by the current practice guidelines. Available data suggest that for patients who do not receive any form of reperfusion, anticoagulation therapy with low molecular weight heparin provides a clear additional mortality benefit versus placebo. Fondaparinux as compared with usual care (unfractionated heparin infusion or placebo) significantly reduces the composite of death or myocardial reinfarction without increasing severe bleeding or number of strokes. In the treatment of late-presenting patients with STEMI (beyond the first 12 h after onset of symptoms), clinical evaluation and risk stratification represent the crucial elements helping in decision making between therapeutic interventions.
An energy efficient cache design using spin torque transfer (STT) RAM

The on-chip memory is a dominant source of power and energy consumption in modern and future processors. This paper explores the use of a new emerging non-volatile memory technology as a replacement for SRAM based lower level caches - Spin Torque Transfer(STT) RAM. While STTRAM achieves a reduction in leakage energy of 90% compared to SRAM, the dynamic energy for a write operation is 2X that of SRAM. Consequently, we propose additional microarchitectural optimizations to reduce overall dynamic energy which achieve an average reduction in dynamic energy over the base case of 30% with a range of 16% to 60% across 10 benchmarks.
The Nature and Predictors of the Trajectory of Change in Marital Quality Over the First 4 Years of Marriage for First-Married Husbands and Wives

Both spouses from 198 first-married newlywed couples provided information regarding marital quality and depressive symptoms for at least 2 of 4 annual assessments. Husbands and wives showed equal rates of linear decline in marital quality. For both husbands and wives, decreases in marital quality were accompanied by increases in the severity of depressive symptoms, even with controls for the severity of symptoms not linked to depression. In contrast to previous evidence, plausible longitudinal causal paths between depressive symptoms and marital quality were generally nonsignificant and did not differ between husbands and wives. It is proposed that future studies of marital quality adopt a doubly developmental perspective in which attention is directed to die trajectory of change in "risk factors" for marital distress, the trajectory of change in marital quality, and the link between these 2 trajectories.
Left ventricular assist devices for destination therapy in end-stage heart failure: the REMATCH trial

Patients in end-stage heart failure who were not eligible for heart transplantation were randomized in the REMATCH study (Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance in the Treatment of Congestive Heart failure) to receive either the Heartmate VE left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or optimal medical management (OMM) over a two year period. Only 25% of patients who received OMM were alive after one year, confirming the advanced nature of their heart failure. With LVAD therapy, there was a doubling of survival at one year and improved quality of life. The Heartmate left ventricular assist system provides an acceptable alternative therapy with a meaningful survival benefit in selected patients who are not candidates for heart transplantation.
Time‐integrated pointers for enabling the analysis of detailed reaction mechanisms

A procedure for deriving time-integrated pointers to capture element transformations during numerical integration runs, on complex chemical mechanisms, is introduced. The principal advantage is that the resulting temporally integrated pointers allow derivation of importance criteria; and these weight the contribution of all species and reactions during the reaction interval. This approach quantifies the sources and sinks of reactions active over a period of time in terms of element flux. It provides identification of key reaction pathways and the derivation of a reduced skeletal representation at minimum computational cost, in the elementary mechanism analysis. We extend the analysis to more complex systems, such as burner-stabilized flames, that are governed by both reaction and diffusion. Here, we illustrate how some reaction pathways are altered in the presence of diffusion. Finally a new coupling of mechanism generation and mechanism reduction, which significantly reduces the computational burden associated with automated kinetic mechanism generation, is presented. The concepts are demonstrated with examples involving high- and low-temperature oxidation of hydrocarbons. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 50: 2956 –2970, 2004
Lazy Rule Refinement by Knowledge-Based Agents

This paper presents recent results on developing learning agents that can be taught by subject matter experts how to solve problems, through examples and explanations. It introduces the lazy rule refinement method where the expert modifies an example generated by a learned rule. In this case the agent has to decide whether to modify the rule (if the modification applies to all the previous positive examples) or to learn a new rule. However, checking the previous examples would be disruptive or even impossible. The lazy rule refinement method provides an elegant solution to this problem, in which the agent delays the decision whether to modify the rule or to learn a new rule until it accumulated enough examples during the follow-on problem solving process. This method has been incorporated into the Disciple learning agent shell and used in the complex application areas of center of gravity analysis and intelligence analysis.
Heparin-coated cBypass circuits

Abstract The indications for heparin-coated extracorporeal circuits cannot be defined or limited at present. Clinical investigation remains at an early stage of development. In situations where the risk of systemic anticoagulation is high, this technology would seem to hold great promise. Examples include extracorporeal lung assist and resuscitation from accidental hypothermia. Some have also suggested the use of heparin-coated circuits for percutaneous bypass in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A significant advantage might also accrue in noncardiac surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass, such as complex cerebral an eurysm or arteriovenous malformation resections, resections of the tracheal carina, or bilateral lung transplantations. Its role in routine cardiac surgical procedures remains uncertain, but the work of von Segesser et al suggests a need for continued investigation in that setting using reduced levels of systemic anticoagulation. That endeavor will be greatly assisted by the recent development of heparin-coated cardiotomy reservoirs. Although heparincoated circuits have been safely used for extracorporeal lung assist with little or no systemic anticoagulation, prospective studies are clearly needed to determine if this approach is advantageous, and it would seem appropriate to develop heparin coating for silicone-based membrane oxygenators.
Morphable messaging: efficient support for evolution in distributed applications

All but the most briefly used systems must evolve as their mission and roles change over time. Evolution in the context of large distributed systems is extraordinarily complex because of the difficulty of upgrading all components simultaneously, and the fact that such systems are often very sensitive to changes in the message formats that underlay their communication. Prior approaches to the problem of implementing changes in a deployed system have relied upon ad-hoc solutions or protocol negotiation to avoid message format mismatches. We present a novel approach that combines message meta-data and dynamic code generation to create a robust messaging system that naturally supports application evolution.
Some Thoughts about Conservative Evaluations of Replications

It is suggested that an unduly conservative research tradition operates in social psychology to heighten the perception of inconsistency in research replications. In large part, this tradition, producing a bias in favor of the null hypothesis, stems from a belief in "the law of small numbers" and a failure to appreciate the probabilistic nature of research results so that each replication or dependent measure is expected to be significant at better than the .05 level by itself: The legacy of R. A. Fisher's approach to inferential statistics, with its emphasis on avoiding Type I errors and neglect of the possibility of Type II errors, is also considered. It is also noted that social psychological tests of hypothesized relationships are typically low in power. he argument in favor of combining probabilities over the series of replications is supported. It may also be, however; that a good many social psychologists are also greatly risk averse, so that the possibility of a negative outcome (making a mistake)...
Laparoscopic Nephrectomy: Initial Report of Pelviscopic Organ Ablation in the Pig

In seven female pigs, a laparoscopic nephrectomy was attempted. The procedure was successful in six: extraction of the intact kidney via a 4.5-cm incision (two animals) and complete mor cell at ion and evacuation of the kidney via a 1-cm incision (four animals). In one animal, the entrapment bag tore, and only 40% of the kidney could be extracted. The average procedure time was 2 hours 48 minutes. The combination of laparoscopy, an efficient tissue morcellator, and an effective means of entrapment of the dissected organ have made laparoscopic nephrectomy a realizable and reproducible technique.
The State-of-the-Art in Sealing Technology for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

One of the keys to developing viable solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems is to first develop reliable and inexpensive stack sealing technology. Three general approaches are currently being pursued: rigid bonded sealing, compressive sealing, and compliant bonded sealing. This review highlights the advantages and limitations of each option, discusses some of the leading concepts, and out-lines the future steps that need to be taken in their development.
A general, uniform double wedge diffraction coefficient

The uniform theory of diffraction (UTD) is extended to include double diffraction by an arbitrary configuration of two wedges. A scalar double diffraction coefficient is defined which is uniform throughout space while reducing to the product of single diffraction coefficients outside overlapping transition regions. The result is formulated in terms of double Fresnel integrals which can be rapidly evaluated. >
Temporal Aspects of Rabbit Uterine Vascular and Decidual Responses to Blastocyst Stimulation

Measurements were made of the permeability of rabbit uterine blood vessels to protein-bound Evans blue (EB) dye at implantation sites relative to nonimplant regions of the uterus. Results, expressed as a permeability ratio (implant EB/nonimplant EB), showed that a vascular response was present at some implant sites as early as 6.5 days after mating, while higher permeability ratios (>3.0) were obtained at 7 and 8 days. Assay of tissue water (edema) in implantation sites correlated well with changes in the degree of bluing. On Day 6.5 or 7, several intact blastocysts from sites exhibiting bluing were flushed from the uterus. Light microscopic analysis of the blastocysts revealed intact blastocyst coatings suggesting that the vascular response was initiated prior to direct attachment of trophoblast to uterine epithelium in rabbits. In another experiment, the duration of blastocyst-uterine contact required for maximal stimulation of decidual development was assessed by destruction of blastocysts at 6.5, 6.75, 7, 7.5, or 8 days after mating. Maximal decidual development, measured on Day 14, was obtained only in uteri of females where blastocysts were destroyed at, or after, 7.5 days. Thus, for most females a period of blastocyst-uterine contact approaching 24 h is required for full commitment to decidual development.
Role-Playing and Real-Time Strategy Games Associated with Greater Probability of Internet Gaming Disorder

Research indicates that a small subset of those who routinely play video games show signs of pathological habits, with side effects ranging from mild (e.g., being late) to quite severe (e.g., losing a job). However, it is still not clear whether individual types, or genres, of games are most strongly associated with Internet gaming disorder (IGD). A sample of 4,744 University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduates (Mage=18.9 years; SD=1.9 years; 60.5% female) completed questionnaires on general video game playing habits and on symptoms of IGD. Consistent with previous reports: 5.9-10.8% (depending on classification criteria) of individuals who played video games show signs of pathological play. Furthermore, real-time strategy and role-playing video games were more strongly associated with pathological play, compared with action and other games (e.g., phone games). The current investigation adds support to the idea that not all video games are equal. Instead, certain genres of video games, specifically real-time strategy and role-playing/fantasy games, are disproportionately associated with IGD symptoms.
Fully magnetic printing by generation of magnetic droplets on demand with a coilgun

In this paper, we exhibit a coilgun-based approach to drop-on-demand printing of liquids laden with magnetic particles. In contrast to other drop-on-demand technologies designed to print droplets only in gaseous environments, this methodology allows one to print magnetic droplets inside any gaseous or liquid media using the same coilgun. Furthermore, we demonstrate the basic principles of magnetic drop-on-demand generation and show the physico-chemical parameters controlling the process.
Aging and Oral Function

The impact of oral status on the clinical management of geriatric patients by the physician can seriously compromise progress and alter prognosis. Thus, poor masticatory function may thwart efforts to provide nutritional support for the victim of a stroke, while noncompliance with recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis of the cardiac patient has been identified as the chief etiologic factor in subacute bacterial endocarditis following dental intervention. Because the vast majority of geriatric patients have at least one major chronic disorder, the medical-dental interactions in their care by both physicians and dentists demand scrupulous attention to the effects of aging on oral function. As ever-increasing numbers of elderly are integrated into dental practice, the physician should also expect that he will be called on more frequently for advice on such diverse aspects of care as the drug profile of the patient and possible contraindications for certain dental procedures; the use of sedative agents to minimize stress or manage the patient with depression or dementia; and management of the patient with iatrogenic oral manifestations. This chapter will focus on critical issues of mutual concern to dentists and allied professionals, and it is our hope that upon completion the reader will be able to 1. identify the effects of aging on the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, 2. perform a regional evaluation of the mouth and its adnexae, 3. appreciate the oral manifestations of systemic disorders in the medically compromised older patient. 4. understand the role of the dental professional in a rehabilitation program for the geriatric patient with physical and mental limitations, 5. participate appropriately in the consultative process for antibiotic prophylaxis, sedation, and other aspects of dental management of the high-risk older patient, 6. implement standards for oral health care of the institutionalized frail elderly in the long-term care facility, 7. counsel the geriatric patient on methods of preventing oral disorders such as caries and periodontal disease.
Abstract 144: High Intake of Caffeine use in Protective in Survivors of Stroke and Myocardial Infarction: the results of Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Mortality Follow-up Study.

BACKGROUND: Caffeine competitively inhibits different adenosine receptors and their associated G protein to relax smooth muscle, and stimulate the central nervous system and cardiac contractility. ...
Foundations of Marketing Course

Marketing is an important course and I am making it available to the world for free. Needless to say, online learning has generated a great deal of interest. Here I share on the SSRN website course materials for the standard foundations of marketing course. This material may be used as-is or topic-by-topic. Instructors using this material will prefer using it for a one-semester course. The course materials include course notes, key terms used in marketing, some articles that may be of interest, and a sample final. Even those of you who are not students will be able to use these notes to teach yourselves the principles of marketing. Marketing is very useful to those working for all kinds of organizations, including non-profits.
Familial skin cancer syndromes: Increased melanoma risk

Phenotypic traits, such as red hair and freckling, increase melanoma risk by 2- to 3-fold. In addition, approximately 10% of melanomas are caused by inherited germline mutations that increase melanoma risk from 4- to >1000-fold. This review highlights the key genes responsible for inherited melanoma, with an emphasis on when a patient should undergo genetic testing. Many genetic syndromes associated with increased melanoma risk are also associated with an increased risk of other cancers. Identification of these high-risk patients is essential for preventive behavior reinforcement, genetic counseling, and ensuring other required cancer screenings.
Metepa as a Chemosterilant for Adult Female Pink Bollworms

The sterilizing dose per adult female, pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) was 60 µg of technical metepa applied topically. In laboratory tests, females treated (T) with 30-60 µg/female compared equally with untreated (U) females in mating with males when the ratio of females was 4 T:1 U. In field-cage tests, females treated with 45 µg of metepa (10 T:1 U) controlled only 58% of the population, an indication that they were not fully competitive. Sterile males were fully competitive and reduced the population 90%. However, when the ratio in the field cages of females treated with 30 or 60 µg was 20 T:1 U, populations decreased an estimated 80 and 86%, respectively.
Exciton dynamics of CdS thin films produced by chemical bath deposition and DC pulse sputtering.

Exciton dynamics of CdS films have been investigated using ultrafast laser spectroscopy with an emphasis on understanding defect-related recombination. Two types of CdS films were deposited on glass substrates via direct current pulse sputtering (DCPS) and chemical bath deposition (CBD) techniques. The films displayed distinct morphological, optical, and structural properties. Their exciton and charge carrier dynamics within the first 1 ns following photoexcitation were characterized by femotosecond pump probe spectroscopy. A singular value decomposition (SVD) global fitting technique was employed to extract the lifetime and wavelength dependence of transient species. The excited electrons of the DCPS sample decays through 1.8, 8, 65, and 450 ps time constants which were attributed to donor level electron trapping, valence band (VB) → conduction band (CB) recombination, shallow donor recombination, and deep donor recombination, respectively. The CBD sample shows time constants of 6, 65, and 450 ps which w...
Crystallization of Amorphous Si In Al/Si Multilayers

The crystallization of amorphous Si in a Al/Si multilayer (with a modulation length of about 120A) was investigated using transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. Amorphous Si was found to crystallize at about 175 °C with the heat of reaction of 11±2(kJ/mol). Al grains grow prior to the nucleation of crystalline Si. The crystalline Si was found to nucleate within the grown Al layers. The incipient crystalline Si initially grows within the Al layer and then spreads through the amorphous Si and other Al layers. Because of extensive intermixing, the original layered structure is destroyed. The Al(111) texture is also enhanced.
Tests of constituent-quark generation methods which maintain both the nucleon center of mass and the desired radial distribution in Monte Carlo Glauber models

Here, several methods of generating three constituent quarks in a nucleon are evaluated which explicitly maintain the nucleon's center of mass and desired radial distribution and can be used within Monte Carlo Glauber frameworks. The geometric models provided by each method are used to generate distributions over the number of constituent quark participants (Nqp) in p+p,d+Au, and Au+Au collisions. The results are compared with each other and to a previous result of Nqp calculations, without this explicit constraint, used in measurements of √SNN = 200 GeV p+p,d+Au, and Au+Au collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.
An efficient architecture for energy recovery in hydraulic elevators

This study introduces an efficient architecture for hydraulically counter-weighting an elevator system while controlling for cab speed. A physical model of the architecture is developed and posed as a single-input single-output system in which the ratio of two hydraulic pump/motor swash plate angles serve as the control input for regulating the output cab speed. Heuristic control rules based on efficiency considerations and elevator operation are posed for the swash plate angles. A high-fidelity simulation tool is then employed to assess the new architecture and control approach. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the devised control strategy and the overall satisfactory operation of the elevator system. Simulations also provide comparisons of the new architecture’s efficiency vs. an electrohydraulic elevator architecture employing a motor/generator for energy capture and return. It’s shown that the introduced architecture yields up to a 13% increase in actuation efficiency over the electrohydra...