cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simplified Calculation of Short-Term Deflection in Prestressed Two-Way Flat Slabs

While the deflection control of reinforced concrete two-way slabs is generally achieved by satisfying code-specified minimum thickness, the ACl Building Code requires the immediate short-term deflection of prestressed concrete slabs to be computed by usual methods or formulas for elastic deflections and compared with the allowable values given in the Code. The calculation of deflections for two-way slabs, however, is complicated even if elastic behavior can be assumed. In this paper, simplified expressions for computing the short term elastic deflection of prestressed two-way flat slabs are proposed; they are based on results from extensive finite element analyses and are applicable to the computation of live load deflections. The proposed equations account for two-way action, support conditions, panel aspect ratio, and loading patterns. Predicted maximum deflections using the proposed equations are compared with results obtained from more exact but less analytically involved procedures proposed by other researchers and by ACI Committee 435. It is found that the proposed equations have the advantage of being relatively simple while significantly reducing computational effort in comparison with other procedures. Furthermore, the predicted results are sufficiently accurate and on the conservative side.
Regional analysis of potential impacts of electric and hybrid vehicles on electric utilities

This paper analyzes the impact of electric and hybrid vehicle (EHV) charging requirements on electric utilities. The impact for the five EHV scenarios examined generally is small, with total EHV electricity consumption in the HIGH scenarios representing approx. 3% of projected US electricity demand in 2000. However, in several areas, EHV electricity consumption in the HIGH scenarios represents a sizable fraction of electricity demand in 2000 and would have to be included in utility planning. Based on 1979 fuel prices, the total marginal cost of electricity (excluding taxes) for off-peak EHV charging ranges from $0.017/kWh (Federal Regions I and X) to $0.051/kWh (Federal Region II).
GHASTLI — Determining Physical Properties of Sediment Containing Natural and Laboratory-Formed Gas Hydrate

Gas-hydrate samples have been recovered at about 16 areas worldwide (Booth et al., 1996). However, gas hydrate is known to occur at about 50 locations on continental margins (Kvenvolden, 1993) and is certainly far more widespread so it may represent a potentially enormous energy resource (Kvenvolden, 1988). But adverse effects related to the presence of hydrate do occur. Gas hydrate appears to have caused slope instabilities along continental margins (Booth et al., 1994; Dillon et al., 1998; Mienert et al., 1998; Paull & Dillon, (Chapter 12; Twichell & Cooper, 2000) and it has also been responsible for drilling accidents (Yakushev and Collett, 1992). Uncontrolled release of methane could affect global climate (Chapter 11), because methane is 15–20 times more effective as a “greenhouse gas” than an equivalent concentration of carbon dioxide. Clearly, a knowledge of gas-hydrate properties is necessary to safely explore the possibility of energy recovery and to understand its past and future impact on the geosphere.
The Dramatic Middle East: Performance as History in Egypt and Beyond

This article highlights a limited but rich literature focusing on the history of theatrical performance in Egypt and surrounding countries. In the 19th and 20th centuries, people throughout the Middle East consciously wrestled with the incoming flow of Western technologies and ideas in relation to their local contexts, experiences, and desires. Performative spaces offer unique vantage points to more carefully examine the changing worldviews of everyday people. I demonstrate here that theatrical texts, performative spaces, and audience responses all provide insight into the imaginings, hopes, and sufferings of diverse people in the region. Theatrical performance offers a unique lens into the process of identity formation not least because it incorporates a broad array of the population as agents in the process. I argue that the subfield of drama in the Middle East is underdeveloped but full of potential for unearthing histories of individuals, ideas, and artistic production largely unheralded by extant studies.
Genome-wide association study of perioperative myocardial infarction after coronary artery bypass surgery

Objectives Identification of patient subpopulations susceptible to develop myocardial infarction (MI) or, conversely, those displaying either intrinsic cardioprotective phenotypes or highly responsive to protective interventions remain high-priority knowledge gaps. We sought to identify novel common genetic variants associated with perioperative MI in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting using genome-wide association methodology. Setting 107 secondary and tertiary cardiac surgery centres across the USA. Participants We conducted a stage I genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 1433 ethnically diverse patients of both genders (112 cases/1321 controls) from the Genetics of Myocardial Adverse Outcomes and Graft Failure (GeneMAGIC) study, and a stage II analysis in an expanded population of 2055 patients (225 cases/1830 controls) combined from the GeneMAGIC and Duke Perioperative Genetics and Safety Outcomes (PEGASUS) studies. Patients undergoing primary non-emergent coronary bypass grafting were included. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome variable was perioperative MI, defined as creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) values ≥10× upper limit of normal during the first postoperative day, and not attributable to preoperative MI. Secondary outcomes included postoperative CK-MB as a quantitative trait, or a dichotomised phenotype based on extreme quartiles of the CK-MB distribution. Results Following quality control and adjustment for clinical covariates, we identified 521 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the stage I GWAS analysis. Among these, 8 common variants in 3 genes or intergenic regions met p −5 in stage II. A secondary analysis using CK-MB as a quantitative trait (minimum p=1.26×10 −3 for rs609418), or a dichotomised phenotype based on extreme CK-MB values (minimum p=7.72×10 −6 for rs4834703) supported these findings. Pathway analysis revealed that genes harbouring top-scoring variants cluster in pathways of biological relevance to extracellular matrix remodelling, endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi transport and inflammation. Conclusions Using a two-stage GWAS and pathway analysis, we identified and prioritised several potential susceptibility loci for perioperative MI.
Relationship of alternative respiratory capacity and alternative oxidase amount during soybean seedling growth

In soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) axis tissue and light- and dark-grown cotyledons 3 to 9 days of age, increasing amount of alternative oxidase corresponded with the increasing alternative pathway capacity of isolated mitochondria from these tissues. From 9 to 12 days of age, however, little or no change in amount of alternative oxidase occurred in cotyledons even though there were substantial changes in capacity. This suggests that, whereas alternative oxidase content may be important in determining the capacity of the alternative pathway in young cotyledons and in axis tissue, other factors regulate capacity in older cotyledons
Do Blind People See Race? Social, Legal, and Theoretical Considerations

Although the meaning, significance, and definition of race have been debated for centuries, one thread of thought unifies almost all of the many diverging perspectives: a largely unquestioned belief that race is self-evident and visually obvious, defined largely by skin color, facial features, and other visual cues. This suggests that ‘‘seeing race’’ is an experience largely unmediated by broader social forces; we simply know it when we see it. It also suggests that those who cannot see are likely to have a diminished understanding of race. But is this empirically accurate? I examine these questions by interviewing people who have been totally blind since birth about race and compare their responses to sighted individuals. I not only find that blind people have as significant an understanding of race as anyone else and that they understand race visually, but that this visual understanding of race stems from interpersonal and institutional socializations that profoundly shape their racial perceptions. These findings highlight how race and racial thinking are encoded into individuals through iterative social practices that train people to think a certain way about the world around them. In short, these practices are so strong that even blind people, in a conceptual sense, ‘‘see’’ race. Rather than being self-evident, these interviews draw attention to how race becomes visually salient through constitutive social practices that give rise to visual understandings of racial difference for blind and sighted people alike. This article concludes with a discussion of these findings’ significance for understanding the role of race in law and society.
FRACTAL INNER CHORDARC DISKS

We introduce a class of fractal inner chordarc domains and characterize them as inner Ahlfors regular John disks. We analyze ‘global’ parametrizations for such regions, describe the associated Riemann maps and exhibit several illustrative examples.
Short vertical falls in infants.

Objective: To define injuries from short vertical falls (SVF) in infants, and to compare those with minor or no injuries to those with significant injury.Design: Descriptive, retrospective chart review.Setting: Pediatric emergency department (PED) of an urban teaching hospital.Subjects: Infants 10 m
WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS FOR CARBONATE AQUIFERS IN GRAZED LAND WATERSHEDS

Water quality indicators of two agriculturally impacted karst areas in southeastern West Virginia were studied to determine the water quality effects of grazing agriculture and water quality trends following initiation of water quality improvement programs. Both areas are tributaries of the Greenbrier River and received funding for best management practices under the President's Initiative for Water Quality and then under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). After 11 years of study there was little evidence to suggest that water quality improved in one area. Three and a half years of study in the other area showed little evidence of consistent water quality improvement under EQIP. Lack of consistent water quality improvement at the catchment scale does not imply that the voluntary programs were failures. Increased livestock numbers as a result of successful changes in forage management practices may have overridden water quality improvements achieved through best management practices. Practices that target well defined contributing areas significantly impacting aquifer water quality might be one way to improve water quality at catchment scales in karst basins. For example, a significant decrease in fecal coliform concentrations was observed in subterranean drainage from one targeted sinkhole after dairy cattle were permanently excluded from the sinkhole.
Do tumor-necrosis-factor inhibitors prevent first cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

Do tumor-necrosis-factor inhibitors prevent first cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?
Prediction of Associations between microRNAs and Gene Expression in Glioma Biology.

Despite progress in the determination of miR interactions, their regulatory role in cancer is only beginning to be unraveled. Utilizing gene expression data from 27 glioblastoma samples we found that the mere knowledge of physical interactions between specific mRNAs and miRs can be used to determine associated regulatory interactions, allowing us to identify 626 associated interactions, involving 128 miRs that putatively modulate the expression of 246 mRNAs. Experimentally determining the expression of miRs, we found an over-representation of over(under)-expressed miRs with various predicted mRNA target sequences. Such significantly associated miRs that putatively bind over-expressed genes strongly tend to have binding sites nearby the 3′UTR of the corresponding mRNAs, suggesting that the presence of the miRs near the translation stop site may be a factor in their regulatory ability. Our analysis predicted a significant association between miR-128 and the protein kinase WEE1, which we subsequently validated experimentally by showing that the over-expression of the naturally under-expressed miR-128 in glioma cells resulted in the inhibition of WEE1 in glioblastoma cells.
Robustness analysis of a pd controller with approximate gravity compensation for robot manipulator control

Asymptotically stable robot manipulator control in both joint space and Cartesian space can be achieved by using a PD controller with gravity torque compensation. However, the stability of this class of control law has not been analyzed with the use of estimated gravity torques. The objective of this article is to present such a stability proof assuming uncertainty in the gravity estimate. The proof is carried out for the Cartesian space controller. The result is supported by computer simulation. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A fatigue crack growth model for spot welds under cyclic loading conditions

Based on the experimental results for spot welds in square-cup, lap-shear and coach-peel specimens of dual phase, low carbon and high strength steels, kinked fatigue crack paths near spot welds are first examined. A fatigue crack growth model is then developed for spot welds based on the local stress intensity factor solutions for kinked cracks. Various global stress intensity factor solutions for spot welds in the three types of specimens are used to obtain the local stress intensity factor solutions with the experimentally determined kink angles. The predicted fatigue lives based on the fatigue crack growth model are then compared with the experimental data. The results indicate that the fatigue crack growth model can predict reasonably well the fatigue lives of spot welds based on the global stress intensity factor solutions and the assumed material constants in the Paris law for fatigue crack growth.
Observations on the morphology of some North American nemertines with consequent taxonomic changes and a reassessment of the architectonics of the phylum

A majority of the nemertine species from the western North Atlantic were originally described from life in the nineteenth century. Many of these were established by A. E. Verrill who had ‘an eye for species’ no matter which phylum he was working with, and thus when living nemertines which he described are encountered, they can usually be recognized. The morphology of most of these species has never been reported; some may prove to be species described earlier from the eastern North Atlantic. Morphological observations on the nemertine species from the North East coast of the Pacific are inadequate and have prevented satisfactory comparison with species from Japan and eastern Russia. The morphology of some species collected in the Gulf of Maine and from Cape Cod, as well as a re-examination of some of the slides of type specimens of species from the west coast of North America, indicates that their generic placement must be re-examined. The architectonic plan of the heteronemertines postulated over 100 years ago can not be substantiated and is redescribed. Three new heteronemertean genera are described: Tenuilineus gen.n. Parvicirrus gen.n., Tarrhomyos gen.n.
Evolutionary Algorithm for Vehicle Driving Cycle Generation

Modeling transit bus emissions and fuel economy requires a large amount of experimental data over wide ranges of operational conditions. Chassis dynamometer tests are typically performed using representative driving cycles defined based on vehicle instantaneous speed as sequences of "microtrips", which are intervals between consecutive vehicle stops. Overall significant parameters of the driving cycle, such as average speed, stops per mile, kinetic intensity, and others, are used as independent variables in the modeling process. Performing tests at all the necessary combinations of parameters is expensive and time consuming. In this paper, a methodology is proposed for building driving cycles at prescribed independent variable values using experimental data through the concatenation of "microtrips" isolated from a limited number of standard chassis dynamometer test cycles. The selection of the adequate "microtrips" is achieved through a customized evolutionary algorithm. The genetic representation uses microtrip definitions as genes. Specific mutation, crossover, and karyotype alteration operators have been defined. The Roulette-Wheel selection technique with elitist strategy drives the optimization process, which consists of minimizing the errors to desired overall cycle parameters. This utility is part of the Integrated Bus Information System developed at West Virginia University.
Pasadena City College holography course structure present and future

The author will discuss the credited holography courses designed as part of the Laser Electro-Optics Technology Program at Pasadena City College. The author will describe the current plans to join the program with the Southern California Space Academy, a magnet high school program that combines academic instruction with advanced technical training.
Cesium fluoride and tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride mediated 1,4-N-->O shift of disubstituted phenyl ring of a bicalutamide derivative.

A novel 1,4-N→O migration of a disubstituted phenyl ring was observed during N-methylation of a bicalutamide derivative, (2S)-2-(tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxy)-N-(4-cyano-3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-(4-fluorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionamide, in the presence of CsF-Celite/acetonitrile and desilylation of (2S)-2-(tert-butyldimethylsilanyloxy)-N-(4-cyano-3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-(4-fluorophenoxy)-2,N-dimethylpropionamide in tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride/THF. Both NMR and X-ray analysis confirmed the structure of the 1,4-N→O disubstituted phenyl ring migrated product.
Hypoxia-induced arterial chemoreceptor stimulation and hydrogen sulfide: too much or too little?

Abstract This brief review presents and discusses some of the important issues surrounding the theory which asserts that endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the mediator of, or at least an important contributor to, hypoxia-induced arterial chemorereceptor stimulation. The view presented here is that before H2S can seriously be considered as a candidate for transducing the O2-signal in the carotid bodies (CB), fundamental contradictions need to be resolved. One of these major contradictions is certainly the discrepancy between the levels of H2S endogenously present in the CB during hypoxia compared to the levels required to stimulate the arterial chemoreceptors in vitro. Very small amounts of H2S are thought to be produced endogenously during a given level of hypoxia, yet the partial pressure of tissue H2S which is needed to produce an effect commensurate with that of hypoxia is thousands to millions of times higher. This review discusses this and other contradictions in light of what is known about H2S concentration and production in various tissues, the lessons we have learnt from the response to exogenous sulfide and the ability of the blood and the mitochondria to oxidize very large amounts of sulfide. These considerations suggest that the increased production of H2S in hypoxia and exogenous sulfide cannot produce the same effect on the carotid bodies and breathing. While the effects of the endogenous H2S on breathing remains to be established, the effects exogenous sulfide can be accounted for by its long established toxicity on cytochrome C oxidase.
Delay of punishment in shock-elicited aggression

Forty restrained rats, given tailshocks to elicit biting on a target, were given a second shock contingent on the biting at different delay times. Comparisons made in different phases among four (0, 3, 6, and 9 sec) and two (0 and 9 sec) conditions showed longer delays of punishment to produce less suppression of the biting, though not significantly so in the former comparison. The results indicated that shock stimuli in elicited aggression have dual functional properties where longer delayed and free shocks serve to elicit, while more immediately contingent shocks serve to suppress biting.
Next steps toward an Arctic human dimensions observing system

The goal of The Arctic Observing Network Social Indicators Project (AON-SIP) was to develop a system of social observations that can answer the question, ‘Is the arctic system moving to a new state?’ Much of the project effort focused on compiling data on human activities in the arctic that might interact with climate change and social indicators of arctic well-being. This paper reviews the adequacy of the data analyzed in the project for three objectives: observing changes in well-being of arctic residents, observing arctic changes relevant to global society, and understanding ongoing social change in the arctic. The review highlights issues of comparability of data across different scales in different nations, as well as key observation gaps. Understanding change in well-being of arctic residents also requires observing additional less-climate-related drivers of change that the AON-SIP did not address, many of which also suffer from the same issues of comparability and data gaps. Two types of recommenda...
Thermal Characteristics Analysis of Liquid Hybrid Bearing on Ultra-High Speed Grinding

The carrying of Liquid hybrid bearing for ultra-high speed grinding is complex. The oil film temperature distribution in different input state is obtained through CFD analysis by FLUENT. On this basis, the temperature characteristics laws of the oil film with the input parameters change were obtained. Analysis shows that the relationships of oil film temperature with spindle speed and eccentricity are directly proportional and super linear, the relationship of oil film temperature with oil supply pressure is inverse ratio and the relationship with oil supply temperature is approximation directly proportional to the linear. Finally the significant of the various input parameters are analyzed through the orthogonal test. The results show that the effect of spindle speed is most significantly.
Enantio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of (R,R)-β-Methoxytyrosine

The nonproteinogenic amino acid (2R,3R)-β-methoxytyrosine, a constituent of several cyclic depsipeptide natural products, was synthesized in protected form (8) from a readily available cinnamate ester in four steps and 62% overall yield with a greater than 28:1 er and 19:1 dr. This method provides a highly efficient, enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of an important amino acid.
Advances in the development of graded injector visible light emitters

Abstract Novel visible light emitters with low turn-on voltages and efficient room temperature operation have been demonstrated in the n-CdSe/p-ZnTe heterojunction separated by a graded MgxCd1−xSe injecting region. The successful p-type doping of ZnTe up to 1 × 1020 cm-3 using a nitrogen plasma source has allowed using higher quality GaSb substrates and growing of p-ZnTe epilayers. Diodes with ideality factors of 1.8 are realized with turn-on voltages near that of the bandgap of ZnTe. This deviation from an ideality of 1 may be due to using too small a peak Mg concentration in the MgnCd1−xSe layer resulting in a barrier for electron injection and increasing recombination at the interface.
Power Losses Due to Pipeline Cathodic Protection (CP) 6-Pulse Rectifier

This paper identifies the current harmonic contents of a 6-pulse pipeline cathodic protection (CP) rectifier, which is commonly used to protect oil, gas and water pipelines against corrosion and fed through medium voltage (MV) O/H line grid. The harmonic current components with orders such as 5th, 7th and higher order harmonic components generated by the CP rectifier and injected back in the medium voltage O/H line grid are identified in this paper together with the resulting real and the reactive power losses. Filed measurements were taken to validate the Matlab-model used in this study. Simple calculations were performed to calculate the cost associated with these harmonic currents being reflected into the MV grid.
Hypoxanthine and thymidine compete for transport in Chinese hamster fibroblasts

Abstract The transport of thymidine and hypoxanthine was investigated in mutant Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts deficient in both thymidine kinase and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase. Kinetic data from rapid uptake experiments (0.5–4.5 s ) indicate that thymidine is transported by a monophasic saturable system ( K m = 0.29 mM, V = 6.7 nmol/min · mg) which is competitively inhibited by hypoxanthine ( K i = 3.3 mM). The cells displayed a single transport system for hypoxanthine ( K m = 2.0 mM, V = 8.9 nmol/min · mg) that is inhibited competitively by thymidine ( K i = 0.43 mM). Both hypoxanthine and thymidine entry were noncompetively inhibited by nitrobenzylthioinosine, but thymidine transport was more sensitive. A kinetic model in which hypoxanthine and thymidine share a common transporter can account for the competitive inhibition and the observation that the inhibition constants are similar to the Michaelis constants.
Placing Dental Composites—A Stressful Experience

Clinical Relevance The inevitable generation of stress in dental composites that undergo polymerization shrinkage continues to mandate a precise and careful placement technique to ensure successful clinical outcomes.
Hospitalizations in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis (HD)

We analyzed causes, duration, and outcomes of hospitalization in patients on HD followed in a dialysis unit. We identified a total of 42 patients (40 men, 2 women), 34–93 (66.3 ± 12.8) years of age. The causes of renal failure included diabetic nephropathy in 23 patients (54.8%), hypertensive nephrosclerosis in 7 (16.7%), primary renal disease in 7 (16.7%), obstructive uropathy in 3 (7.1%) and unknown illness in 2 patients (4.7%). Over a 12-month period, these patients had 96 hospitalizations (2.3 per pt). Duration of hospitalization was 29.9 ± 47.4 days per pt annually. Nine subjects (21.4%, age 71.4 ± 12.5 years, diabetes 66.7%) had no hospitalization, while 8 subjects (19.0%, age 61.0 ± 19.0 years, diabetes 75.5%) had ≥ 4 hospitalizations. Hospitalizations were more frequent (2.8 vs. 2.0 annually) and marginally longer (37.9 ± 51.2 vs. 20.2 ± 29.4 days annually per pt, p = 0.06)) in patients with than those without diabetes. Among the admissions, 30 (31.3%, 8.9 days annually per pt) were due to vascular access complications (clotting, infections − 2 with endocarditis-, etc), 16 (16.7%, 9.0 days annually per pt) were due to leg gangrene (8 amputations), 13 (13.5%, 1.5 days annually per pt) were due to cardiac causes or stroke, 12 (12.5%, 2.3 days annually per pt) were due to hypervolemia or metabolic derangements (hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia), 8 (8.3%, 2.6 days annually per pt) were due to elective surgical procedures, 7 (7.3%, 4.1 days annually per pt) were due to respiratory disease, and 10 (10.4%, 1.6 days annually per pt) were due to miscellaneous causes including psychiatric disease (3 admissions), warfarin overdose (2 admissions), liver abscess, urinary tract infection, enteric polyps, metastatic prostate cancer, and terminal care. Four patients died during hospitalization from cardiac causes (2), respiratory failure (1) and uremia after stopping dialysis (1). Hospitalizations are frequent and prolonged in patients on HD, particularly those with diabetic nephropathy. Vascular access complications and ischemic events in the legs, rather than cardiac causes, are the major causes of hospitalization in HD patients.
Non-azeotropic mixture energy conversion

Abstract The thermodynamic performance of an energy conversion device may be improved potentially by using a non-azeotropic mixture in a vapor cycle. A non-azeotropic mixture has a temperature distribution parallel to that of the surrounding fluid with which heat transfer takes place during the evaporation and condensation processes. The non-azeotropic mixture vapor cycle is investigated theoretically in this paper, and energy savings of such an energy conversion cycle are predicted.
Photoelectroactivity and Raman spectroscopy of anodized titania (TiO2) photoactive water-splitting catalysts as a function of oxygen-annealing temperature

The photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity of untreated (not anodized) and anodized nanotubular TiO2 films (synthesized by the electrochemical anodization of Ti foil) was correlated with the phase composition of the film as a function of O2-annealing temperature at 400, 500 and 600 °C. TiO2 nanotubes have been shown to be more efficient than polycrystalline TiO2 for the photocatalytic splitting of water. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify the amorphous and crystalline TiO2 phases as well as the carbon species. The amorphous TiO2 nanotubular array (unheated) exhibits a Raman spectrum consistent with TiO68− octahedra having the same average structure as those present in the anatase and rutile phases of TiO2. Ratios of integrated Raman peaks were used as a semi-quantitative measure of the degree of crystallinity for rutile and the rutile/anatase weight ratio in the films. Results show that the anatase-to-rutile transformation on Ti metal initiates at much lower temperatures compared to polycrystalline TiO2 and this is attributed to oxygen vacancies located at the metal/oxide interface. For untreated films, the amorphous TiO2 crystallizes directly to rutile, and the photocurrent density increases almost linearly with rutile crystallinity as the O2-annealing temperature is increased; anatase does not form on untreated O2-annealed Ti foil. By comparison, amorphous TiO2 nanotubular arrays are converted to about three times as much anatase as rutile at 400 °C, where the photocurrent density is only slightly greater than the corresponding untreated film. At 500 °C, however, the photocurrent density increases to 2.3× that of the untreated-oxidized film, where ∼83% of the TiO2 nanotubular film is rutile and ∼17% is anatase; this enhancement is attributed to the increase in surface area and photoactive sites of the rutile provided by the TiO2 nanotubular array architecture acting as a support. At 600 °C the rutile transformation continues (∼92% rutile), but this is countered by the significant loss of surface area and surface photoactive sites due to degradation and collapse of the nanotubular structure as seen by SEM.
Use of patient ethnography to support quality improvement in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract Background Patient-centeredness is a primary aim of quality improvement (QI) but optimal strategies to achieve that goal remain elusive. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the commonest urologic diagnoses and significantly affects quality of life. Patient ethnography is an emerging qualitative method of observation and dynamic interviews to understand the context through which the patient experiences care. We implemented patient ethnography to support our QI infrastructure and improve patient-centeredness in BPH. Problem Little is known about how to measure whether processes of care are patient-centered. We did not know whether the care processes our patients experienced provided value from their perspective. Goals We sought to discover previously unrecognized components of care that patients perceived to be of low value. Our primary goal was to develop QI initiatives that targeted low-value themes identified in the ethnography. Our secondary goal was a rapid rollout of three targeted initiatives. Strategy We used a 4-step patient ethnography: (1) created detailed process maps to define phases of care, (2) interviewed patients, (3) synthesized transcript data in focus groups using the Crawford Slip method, and (4) targeted undesirable components of care for QI. Semi-structured interviews with seven representative patients identified low-value themes. Focus groups, comprised of primary care physicians, case coordinators, nurses, and urologists, evaluated the interview transcripts and generated improvement opportunities prioritized based on feasibility, patient value, scalability, and innovation. We used affinity mapping and priority matrix techniques to prioritize QI opportunities. Results We identified five low-value themes from the patient interviews and developed corresponding QI opportunities. These included issues surrounding the referral and consultation process as well as postoperative care, especially home urinary catheter maintenance. Six months after completing the ethnography three of five targeted improvement opportunities had been implemented. Implications • A simple 4-step patient ethnography helped identify previously unknown aspects of care that were of low value to patients with BPH. • Patient ethnography requires few resources but proffers tremendous potential to advance patient-level value in this disease. • Further research is needed to assess ‘scale-up and spread’ to broaden dissemination to other disease processes.
Shock reflection transition in three-dimensional steady flow about interfering bodies

A numerical study of the three-dimensional flowfield produced by the interaction of an axisymmetric shock and a planar wall is presented. These types of flowfields are encountered when a store is in close proximity to an aircraft. The flow is assumed inviscid and everywhere supersonic. This work is based upon the numerical solution of Euler's equations with all shock waves fit as discontinuiti es. The axisymmetric shock reflects from the plate first in a regular fashion, but, ultimately, this reflection becomes a Mach reflection. The transition from regular to Mach reflection and the subsequent development of a cross-sectional Mach disk is computed explicitly and studied in detail. The computational procedure is outlined and numerical results are compared with experimental data.
High sensitivity hydrogen analysis using elastic recoil

Abstract The high sensitivity analysis of H and D in thin foils (25 μm or less) using 4He induced elastic recoils is described. Using 4–6 MeV He ions, background count rates corresponding to hydrogen concentrations of approximately 1 ppm (atomic) are demonstrated for both isotopes.
Rapid calculation procedure to determine the pressurizing period for stored cryogenic fluids

Abstract The pressure of the stored fluid in cryogenic vessels increases if no boil-off gas is vented over long periods of time. From a thermodynamic point of view, an isochoric change of state takes place and the heat flux into the vessel rises the internal energy of the fluid. For the representation of the isochoric change of state, we constructed (Δ u / v ) versus x 1 diagram with 1 × 10 5 Pa reference as a basis for LNG, LPG and R13a. The objective of the present work is to present thermodynamic design charts to facilitate a rapid calculation procedure to determine the pressurizing period of a transport vessel containing LNG or LPG or R134a cryogenic fluids. It is expected that the methodology presented in the paper could serve as a tool in determining the pressure rise due to boil-off phenomena. Specific examples are given for computing the pressurizing period using the charts provided.
The influence of land use on travel behavior: specification and estimation strategies

Abstract While the relationship between urban form and travel behavior is a key element of many current planning initiatives aimed at reducing car travel, the literature faces two major problems. First, this relationship is extremely complex. Second, several specification and estimation issues are poorly addressed in prior work, possibly generating biased results. We argue that many of the latter problems are overcome by systematically isolating the separable influences of urban design characteristics on travel and then properly analyzing individual-level data. We further clarify which results directly follow from alternative land use arrangements and which may or may not, and thus identify the specific hypotheses to be tested against the data. We then develop more-reliable tests of these hypotheses, and explore the implications of alternative behavioral assumptions regarding travel costs. The measured influence of land use on travel behavior is shown to be very sensitive to the form of the empirical strategy.
Studies on the effects of essential fatty acids on growth rate, fatty acid composition, oxidative phosphorylation and respiratory control of HeLa cells in culture

Abstract 1. Mammalian cells in culture provide a simple model to study the function of polyunsaturated fatty acids. 2. HeLa S 3 cells cultured in a lipid-deficient medium showed a pattern of essential fatty acid deficiency represented by an increase in 18:1 and a decrease in 20:4 and 18:2, a lack of growth and impaired mitochondrial function. 3. Addition of albumin-bound linoleic or arachidonic acid partially or totally prevented these changes.
Identification and signature profiles for pro-resolving and inflammatory lipid mediators in human tissue

Resolution of acute inflammation is an active process locally controlled by a novel genus of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM) that orchestrate key resolution responses. Hence, it is of general interest to identify individual bioactive mediators and profile their biosynthetic pathways with related isomers as well as their relation(s) to classic eicosanoids in mammalian tissues. Lipid mediator (LM)-SPM levels and signature profiles of their biosynthetic pathways were investigated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS)-based LM metabololipidomics. LM and SPM were identified using ≥6 diagnostic ions and chromatographic behavior matching with both authentic and synthetic materials. This approach was validated using the composite reference plasma (SRM1950) of 100 healthy individuals. Using targeted LM metabololipidomics, we profiled LM and SPM pathways in human peripheral blood (plasma and serum) and lymphoid organs. In these, we identified endogenous SPM metabolomes, namely, the potent lipoxins (LX), resolvins (Rv), protectins (PD), and maresins (MaR). These included RvD1, RvD2, RvD3, MaR1, and NPD1/PD1, which were identified in amounts within their bioactive ranges. In plasma and serum, principal component analysis (PCA) identified signature profiles of eicosanoids and SPM clusters. Plasma-SPM increased with omega-3 and acetylsalicylic acid intake that correlated with increased phagocytosis of Escherichia coli in whole blood. These findings demonstrate an approach for identification of SPM pathways (e.g., resolvins, protectins, and maresins) in human blood and lymphoid tissues that were in amounts commensurate with their pro-resolving, organ protective, and tissue regeneration functions. LM metabololipidomics coupled with calibration tissues and physiological changes documented herein provide a tool for functional phenotypic profiling.
On the job with three co-ops: Co-op programs give students a chance to try out the “real thing” before graduation. The experience sometimes leads to surprising discoveries

Co-op work gives students a chance to investigate their chosen careers before graduation, and the experience is sometimes very revealing. One co-op student, for example, discovered that his real interests lay in a different area of electrical engineering than he had originally intended. To another student, the co-op experience highlighted the reality gap between the classroom and actual on-site work. Still another discovered that she really liked what she was doing. The overriding common denominator of these students' experiences, however, was the feeling they got that they were being treated like “real engineers.”
Advances in Pattern Recognition Techniques, Devices, and Algorithms

This PDF file contains the editorial “Advances in Pattern Recognition Techniques, Devices, and Algorithms” for OE Vol. 41 Issue 01
Synthesis of a chiral molecular square with two organic corners

Abstract The bipyridyl ligand 5 was readily prepared in enantiomerically-pure form by coupling the appropriate stannanes with the bis-triflate 3 . Mixing this ligand with a palladium ditriflate resulted in the formation of a chiral molecular square, according to spectroscopic analysis.
Regulation of cyclic GMP, cyclic AMP and lactate dehydrogenase by putative neurotransmitters in the C6 rat glioma cell line

Abstract In C6 cells norepinephrine and dopamine caused transient increases in cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP, as well as an induction of lactate dehydrogenase. All of these responses were blocked by l-propranolol, suggesting mediation by a β-receptor. Phentolamine potentiated the NE-increased cAMP levels by 5-fold when NE was used at suboptimal doses, suggesting the presence of α-adrenergic receptors in C6 cells. Carbamylcholine decreased the levels of both cyclic nucleotides, with hexamethonium partially reversing the effect on cyclic GMP. Dibutyryl-cyclic GMP or carbamylcholine reduced catecholamine-induced cyclic AMP levels. Serotonin increased cyclic GMP levels 60% and decreased cyclic AMP levels 36%. Calcium- and magnesium-free media inhibited the norepinephrine-induced levels of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP respectively.
(NHC)Cu^I (NHC = N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Complexes as Efficient Catalysts for the Reduction of Carbonyl Compounds

The hydrosilylation of various ketones is mediated by an imidazolium salt/Cu(I) salt system or by a well-defined (NHC)CuCl (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) catalyst precursor system. Reactions are conducted at room temperature. The synthesis and characterization of well-defined (NHC)CuCl complexes are described.
Reward, Punishment, Privatization, and Moral Suasion in a Commons Dilemma

Strategies such as privatization, counterreinforcers, and moral suasion have been suggested and tested as means of preserving shared, slowly regenerating resources such as whales, clean air, and forests. We hypothesized that reinforcers would preserve a shared simulated resource best when it was shared in a commons dilemma format, and would be relatively ineffective when the resource was divided into private territories. Subjects in groups of three played a game in which they had to harvest resources from a slowly regenerating pool without depleting the resource. Three levels of reinforcement (reward, punishment, or no reinforcement) were crossed with three game structures (territoriality. Golden Rule moral suasion, and basic structure). Results showed that neither reward nor punishment helped the management of the commons when the resource was broken down into private segments, but both reward and punishment helped in the Golden Rule and basic structure conditions. Subjects perceived the territorial condition to be more competitive and more under their control compared to the moral suasion or basic structure conditions. In the moral suasion condition. subjects enjoyed either reinforcement condition (reward or punishment) more than no reinforcement.
The economics of ribosome biosynthesis in yeast.

Abstract In a rapidly growing yeast cell, 60% of total transcription is devoted to ribosomal RNA, and 50% of RNA polymerase II transcription and 90% of mRNA splicing are devoted to ribosomal proteins (RPs). Coordinate regulation of the ∼150 rRNA genes and 137 RP genes that make such prodigious use of resources is essential for the economy of the cell. This is entrusted to a number of signal transduction pathways that can abruptly induce or silence the ribosomal genes, leading to major implications for the expression of other genes as well.
Evaluation of titanium alloy fabricated using electron beam melting system for dental applications

Abstract In recently advanced rapid prototyping and manufacturing methods, one additional process is to use an electron beam to fabricate metal objects by the layer by layer sintering and/or melting metal powder. This method is often called electron beam melting (EBM). This study examined the mechanical properties, the grindability and corrosion resistance of Ti–6Al–4V ELI (extra low interstitial) specimens which were fabricated by the electron beam melting (EBM) process. Dumbbell-shaped specimens and two kinds of plate specimens were prepared using the Ti–6Al–4V ELI powder in the EBM system. The yield strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and percent elongation at a crosshead speed of 0.25 mm/min were tested. The Vickers hardness in interior structures was determined. Grindability was evaluated as volume loss (mm 3 ) when the specimen was abraded using a SiC wheel at 1250 m/min for 1 min. Lastly, corrosion behavior was examined using the dynamic potentiostatic polarization technique in an artificial saliva at 37 °C. As controls, cast and commercial wrought alloys of Ti–6Al–4V ELI and commercially pure titanium (CP Ti) were evaluated. Cast specimens were prepared in a centrifugal casting machine using a MgO based mold. For the cast specimens, all the mechanical properties, grindability and corrosion characteristics were tested. On the other hand, for wrought specimens, only grindability and corrosion properties were tested. The yield and tensile strength of the as-fabricated Ti–6Al–4V ELI specimens without any additional metallurgical treatments were found to be 735 MPa and 775 MPa, respectively. The elongation was 2.3%. These values are well within many of precious and non-precious dental casting alloys.
The value of recourse and cross-default clauses in commercial mortgage contracting

Abstract The traditional commercial mortgage contract is written without recourse to any other borrower assets except the subject property. For credit enhancement purposes, many lenders/ investors are today seeking access to additional collateral through recourse or cross-default clauses. This paper considers the contracting value of such clauses. To measure these values and assess other related risk statistics, we apply a contingent-claims approach in which borrowers rationally default when the value of the mortgage meets or exceeds the value of the collateral, where collateral value includes additional assets provided through the mortgage contract. In the case of recourse to an unencumbered asset, default risk is reduced in part simply because additional collateral is available. In addition, when the subject property and additional collateral are less than perfectly correlated, diversification benefits are apparent. In the case of the cross-default clause — which means that default on one loan constitutes default on all loans covered by the clause — risk management benefits are also found to be substantial. For example, default risk resulting from a two-asset cross-default clause arrangement can be reduced by over 50 percent of non-recourse default risk when asset values are uncorrelated.
Electrophysiological effects of lidocaine on isolated guinea pig Purkinje fibers: comparison with its effects on papillary muscle.

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of lidocaine on action potentials of isolated guinea pig Purkinje fibers were examined and compared with those on the papillary muscle, by use of conventional microelectrode techniques. 2. 2. Lidocaine 2.1 × 10 −4 M significantly depressed the resting membrane potential, amplitude, overshoot, maximum upstroke velocity, and duration of action potential of the Purkinje fibers stimulated at cycle length (CL) 1 sec, while the lower concentration (2.1 × 10 −5 M) produced no significant effect. 3. 3. Various parameters of action potentials from the papillary muscle at CL = 1 sec were also depressed by lidocaine 2.1 × 10 −4 M, but the extent of the depression was less marked than in Purkinje fibers. 4. 4. When the Purkinje fibers were stimulated at various CLs (0.3–10 sec), the shortening of action potential duration induced by lidocaine was more evident at slower stimulus rate.