cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Levenstein bound for packings in projective spaces

We study the problem of packing points in real or complex projective space so that the minimum distance is maximized. Existing bounds for this problem include the Welch and orthoplex bounds. This paper discusses the Levenstein bound, which follows from Delsarte's linear programming bound. We highlight the relationship between the Welch and Levenstein bounds.
Carole Maso’s AVA and the Practice of Reading: Selves in Dialogue

Drafted as part of an undergraduate research project, this essay stages an urgent—and earnest—conversation between Halli Beauprey, Robin Silbergleid, and Carole Maso’s Ava Klein, exploring the personal nature of reading and developing a personal literary canon. The traditional abstract included here is merely a content teaser and, we hope, reads ironically against the innovative critical work that follows. If you wish to read more about the process by which this author undertook writing this essay, as well as the critical stakes of its production, please see the introduction to the volume as well as the accompanying anti-abstract at the close of the chapter.
Stated-Lived Value Congruence and Expressive Authenticity

This article develops a new type of value congruence: stated-lived, or the congruence between what organizations say they value and what its members experience in daily organizational life. We pres...
How Primates Invented the Rainforest and Vice Versa

Fruiting trees in tropical forests depend for their existence on the animals that eat their fruit. Seeds falling below the parent plant are less likely to survive than those dispersed at a distance (Janzen, 1970; Clark and Clark, 1984; Howe et al., 1985). Primates, along with birds and bats, are the most important dispersers of seeds in the tropics (Howe, 1980, 1989; Terborgh, 1986; Fleming et al., 1987; Stiles, 1989). Of course, this was not always the case, and the evolutionary history of tropical rainforests and primates are intricately related. In fact, one might say they helped create one another through a long process of diffuse coevolution (Herrera, 1984).
Park-based urban regeneration and tourism evolution in a cityscape: a case for Chattanooga-TN

The United States’ city of Chattanooga is endowed with abundant natural beauty including mountains, ridges and the Tennessee River. Historically the downtown area had little to offer in terms of to...
Effects of Elevated Hydrostatic Pressure against Mesophilic Background Microflora and Habituated Salmonella Serovars in Orange Juice.

With recent improvements in the commercial feasibility of high pressure pasteurization units, the technology is gaining rapid acceptability across various sectors of food manufacturing, thus requiring extensive validation studies for effective adoption. Various times (1 min to 10 min) and intensity levels (0 MPa to 380 MPa) of elevated hydrostatic pressure were investigated for decontamination of mesophilic background microflora and inoculated Salmonella in orange juice. Results were analyzed by GLM procedure of SAS using Tukey- and Dunnett-adjusted ANOVA, additionally the Kmax and D-values were calculated using best-fitted (maximum R2) model obtained by GInaFit software. At 380 MPa, for treatments of 1 min to 10 min, D-value of 1.35, and inactivation Kmax of 3.34 were observed for Salmonella serovars. D-values were 5.90 and 14.68 for treatments of 241 MPa and 103 MPa, respectively. Up to 1.01 and >7.22 log CFU/mL reductions (p < 0.05) of habituated Salmonella serovars at planktonic stages were achieved using application of pressure at 380 MPa for 1 min and 10 min, respectively. Mesophilic background microflora counts were reduced (p < 0.05) by 1.68 to 5.29 log CFU/mL after treatment at 380 MPa for 1 min and 10 min, respectively. Treatments below two minutes were less efficacious (p ≥ 0.05) against the pathogen and background microflora, in vast majority of time and pressure combinations.
The effects of physical activity on serum C-reactive protein and inflammatory markers: a systematic review.

Physical activity is associated with a reduced incidence of coronary disease, but the mechanisms mediating this effect are not defined. There has been considerable recent interest in inflammation in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Some of the beneficial role of physical activity may result from its effects on the inflammatory process. We searched PubMed for articles published between 1975 through May 2004 using the terms exercise, physical activity, or physical fitness combined with C-reactive protein, inflammation, inflammatory markers, or cytokines. The review revealed 19 articles on the acute inflammatory response to exercise, 18 on cross-sectional comparisons of subjects by activity levels, and 5 examining prospectively the effects of exercise training on the inflammatory process. Exercise produces a short-term, inflammatory response, whereas both cross-sectional comparisons and longitudinal exercise training studies demonstrate a long-term “anti-inflammatory” effect. This anti-inflammatory response may contribute to the beneficial effects of habitual physical activity.
Passionate Love, Companionate Love, and Intimacy

In the 1960s and 1970s, experimental social psychologists who began to investigate intimacy soon found that such research was still taboo. Intimacy researchers were denounced by irate politicians, religious leaders, people-on-the-street, and even their own colleagues (Berscheid & Walster, 1978; Wexler, 1979). In the last few years, however, intimacy research has become not only respectable but fashionable. Social psychologists have begun to theorize about intimacy (Berscheid & Walster, 1978; Cook & McHenry, 1979; Hatfield, Traupmann, Spreacher, Utne, & Hay, 1982; Kelley, 1979; Stoller, 1979; Walster & Walster, 1977). Feminists agree that it is a profoundly important concern (Firestone, 1970). Marxists have discovered it (Foucault, 1978; Poster, 1978; Zaretsky, 1976). Even gerontologists have begun to recognize its importance (Huyck, 1977; Reedy & Birren, 1978; Stinnett, Carter, & Montgomery, 1972).
Teilaspekte der Anwendung auch nach jahrzehntelanger praktischer Nutzung ungeklärt

Der ursprungliche Lake-Louise-Score (LLS) wurde auf dem „International Hypoxia Symposium“ in Lake Louise 1991 erarbeitet und 1993 reevaluiert. Er besteht aus den 5 Symptomkomplexen Kopfschmerzen, gastrointestinale Symptome, Mudigkeit/Erschopfung, Benommenheit/Schwindel und Schlafqualitat. Jedem Symptomkomplex kann eine Auspragung von 0 (Normalbefund/keine Probleme) bis 3 (maximale Beschwerden) zugeordnet werden. Ab einer Punktzahl von 3 sind die Kriterien fur die akute Bergkrankheit (Acute Mountain Sickness, AMS) erfullt.
The Gnostic Garden: Kabbalistic Motifs in a Modern Jewish Visionary

After relating a dramatic near-death experience of a Houston woman named Elizabeth Krohn, this essay explores some of the themes of her near-death experience, particularly the invisible presence of a being of unconditional love in a paradisiacal garden and various direct transmissions of some traditional religious convictions. The essay then discusses some of the obvious New Age contexts and features of the visionary event and of the subsequent convictions, after which it calls into question these same assumed modern influences with a simple thought experiment. The essay then addresses some of the metaphysical complexities of the soul and soul-time in modern kabbalah as explicated by the contemporary historian of modern kabbalah Jonathan Garb and ends with another final intervention. The result, overall, is a comparative reflection that affirms and performs the traditional phenomenological and historical methods of the study of religion but also calls into serious question the adequacy of these methods and the limiting, even blinding, nature of their philosophical assumptions.
I Know Something Is Wrong

In this chapter, we will explore a case in which a patient died after his medical team failed to recognize and treat severe sepsis, despite repeated warnings from his wife about his deteriorating condition. At the conclusion of the case discussion, learners will be able to identify factors contributing to poor outcomes and be able to distinguish between known complications and negligence and between human error and systems error; discuss the ethical, legal, and personal impacts that medical mistakes can have on patients and providers; recognize the role and value of disclosing mistakes and begin to be prepared to disclose their own mistakes in the future; and describe common perceptions and misperceptions about medical malpractice.
Important Differences in the Care of Diabetes and Obesity

Disparities in obesity and diabetes foreshadow important differences in health outcomes including long-term disability, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and premature mortality. African Americans have a significantly increased rate of obesity even starting in the school-age populations. In general, African Americans have a higher prevalence of obesity and are at a greater risk for weight management problems. Most research involving African Americans and diabetes points to increased insulin resistance and up-regulated beta cell function when compared to European Americans. HbA1c at diagnosis is generally one point higher in African Americans. “Fatalism” in African Americans with diabetes is common, and this attitude of hopelessness as it relates to diabetes control is “significantly associated with poor medication adherence and self-care.” There are ways to address “fatalism” but the first step is to recognize it. Adequate diabetes education both in small groups and individually has been shown to improve overall diabetes care. Advising patients on food and beverage choices using stepwise recommendations will allow for a graduated, better tolerated and accepted change.
Home Health Rehabilitation Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries Following Critical Illness.

Objectives Medicare beneficiaries recovering from a critical illness are increasingly being discharged home instead of to post-acute care facilities. Rehabilitation services are commonly recommended for intensive care unit (ICU) survivors; however, little is known about the frequency and dose of home-based rehabilitation in this population. Design Retrospective analysis of 2012 Medicare hospital and home health (HH) claims data, linked with assessment data from the Medicare Outcomes and Assessment Information Set. Setting Participant homes. Participants Medicare beneficiaries recovering from an ICU stay longer than 24 hours, who were discharged directly home with HH services within 7 days of discharge and survived without readmission or hospice transfer for at least 30 days (n = 3,176). Measurements Count of rehabilitation visits received during HH care episode. Results A total of 19,564 rehabilitation visits were delivered to ICU survivors over 118,145 person-days in HH settings, a rate of 1.16 visits per week. One-third of ICU survivors received no rehabilitation visits during HH care. In adjusted models, those with the highest baseline disability received 30% more visits (rate ratio [RR] = 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.17-1.45) than those with the least disability. Conversely, an inverse relationship was found between multimorbidity (Elixhauser scores) and count of rehabilitation visits received; those with the highest tertile of Elixhauser scores received 11% fewer visits (RR = .89; 95% CI = .81-.99) than those in the lowest tertile. Participants living in a rural setting (vs urban) received 6% fewer visits (RR = .94; 95% CI = .91-.98); those who lived alone received 11% fewer visits (RR = .89; 95% CI = .82-.96) than those who lived with others. Conclusion On average, Medicare beneficiaries discharged home after a critical illness receive few rehabilitation visits in the early post-hospitalization period. Those who had more comorbidities, who lived alone, or who lived in rural settings received even fewer visits, suggesting a need for their consideration during discharge planning. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1512-1519, 2020.
Potential Increased Risk of Trisomy 18 Observed After a Fertilizer Warehouse Fire in Brazos County and TX.

Background: In this paper, we aimed to investigate the potential impacts of a fire accident in a fertilizer warehouse on chromosomal anomalies, including Trisomy 21 (T21) and Trisomy (T18) among pregnancies in Brazos County, Texas. We conducted an observational study in Brazos County, TX, with all patients of T18 and T21 cases in the live births in Brazos County between 2005–2014. The prevalence of T18 and T21 before, during, and after the accident in Brazos County were calculated and compared. The Standardized Morbidity Ratio (SMR) was applied to compare the prevalence of T18 and T21 in Brazos County to the statewide prevalence in Texas after adjusting for maternal race and age. Compared with statewide risk, the risk of T18 during the impacted years in Brazos county was found to be significantly higher (SMR = 5.0, 95% Confidence Interval(CI): 2.19–9.89), while there was no significant difference before (SMR = 0.77, 0.13–2.54) and after the accident (SMR = 0.71, 0.12–2.36). However, the prevalence of T21 during the impacted years was not significantly different from those before or after the accident. This study conclusively suggests that this fertilizer fire may be related to the increased prevalence of T18 in Brazos County, though the findings warrant further investigation.
Smart Material Hydrogel Transfer Devices Fabricated with Stimuli-Responsive Silk-Elastin-Like Proteins.

Three-dimensional organoid tissue culture models are a promising approach for the study of biological processes including diseases. Advances in these tissue culture technologies improve in vitro analysis compared to standard 2D cellular approaches and are more representative of the physiological environment. However, a major challenge associated with organoid systems stems from the laborious processing involved in the analysis of large numbers of organoids. Here the design, characterization, and application of silk-elastin-like protein-based smart carrier arrays for processing organoids is presented. Fabrication of hydrogel-based carrier systems at room temperature result in organized arrays of organoids that maintain tissue culture plate orientation and could be processed simultaneously for histology. The system works by transfer of the organoids to the hydrogel arrays after which the material is subjected to 65 °C to induce hydrogel contraction to secure the organoids, resulting in multisample constructs and allowing for placement on a microscope slide. Histological processing and immunostaining of these arrayed cerebral organoids analyzed within the contracted silk-elastin-like proteins (SELP) show retention of native organoid features compared to controls without the hydrogel carrier system, thus avoiding any artifacts. These SELP carriers present a useful approach for improving efficiency of scaled organoid screening and processing.
Gender Difference in Organizational Commitment, Job Satisfaction and Job Involvement: Evidence from University Library Staff

The study determined gender difference in Organizational Commitment (OC), Job Satisfaction (JS) and Job Involvement (JI) of library staff in federal university libraries in South-East, Nigeria. Des...
Predictors of rate of cognitive decline in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Objective: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a known risk factor for conversion to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although substantial research has been conducted on the general profile of amn...
Analytical Dual-Charged Surface Model for Permanent Magnet and Its Application in Magnetic Spring

This article presents a new analytical model for a permanent magnet that is particularly useful for calculating the magnetic force between two permanent magnets in a magnetic spring. The new model treats a single magnet as a pair of parallel magnetically charged surfaces, which we call dual-charged surfaces (DCSs). With the model, the force between two magnets is treated as the interaction of four charged surfaces, which can be calculated analytically as a function of magnets’ geometry and magnetization. This new model overcomes a major problem of other commonly used analytical models (dipole and point charge models) that predict infinitely large repulsive force when the separation distance between two magnets approaches zero and allows accurate calculation of the repulsive force in both near and far fields. The model is verified with experiments and finite element method (FEM) simulations through demonstrating correct prediction on the magnetic force versus separation over a wide range of the separation distance. With the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) as a measure of the model accuracy, the DCS model is shown to have better accuracy over the Gilbert model (based on a pair of point charges), the Ampere model (based on a pair of dipoles), and the fitted polynomial method.
Feasibility Assessments of a Hybrid Turboelectric Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Electrified propulsion systems can provide potential environmental and performance benefits for future aircraft. The choice of the right propulsion architecture and the power management strategy depends on a number of factors, the airframe, electrification objectives and metrics of interest being the most critical ones. Therefore, the generic advantages and disadvantages of various electrified propulsion architectures must be quantified to assess feasibility and any possible benefits. Moreover, the objectives and the metrics of interest can be different for military applications than commercial ones. This research investigates the feasibility of turboelectric and hybrid turboelectric propulsion architectures integrated within a medium altitude long endurance surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle. The electrified propulsion system is desired to provide the same endurance and takeoff and landing field length characteristics of the baseline aircraft. This paper presents the results of the first phase of this research where only the electrified propulsion system is sized while the airframe is kept fixed. Physics-based models and a generic mission analysis methodology are used to evaluate the performance of the major subsystems of the propulsion system and to provide a full flight mission history. A state of the art rechargeable battery is employed for the hybrid case. Various power management strategies where the battery is discharged and charged in different flight segments are explored for varying sizes of battery packs. Results indicate that, while none of the architectures can offset the added weight and the efficiency factors of the electrical components as expected, the hybrid turboelectric propulsion architecture can provide fuel burn and performance benefits when sized for, and operated under, a specific set of power management strategies.
How common is fatty infiltration of the teres minor in patients with shoulder pain? A review of 7,367 consecutive MRI scans

Purpose The teres minor is particularly important for activities that require external rotation in abduction in the settings of both rotator cuff tears and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. This study sought to assess the incidence of teres minor fatty infiltration in a large cohort of consecutive patients evaluated with shoulder MRI for shoulder pain and to identify all associated pathologies in an effort to determine the various potential etiologies of teres minor involvement. Methods A retrospective review of 7,376 non-contrast shoulder MRI studies performed between 2010 and 2015 were specifically evaluated for teres minor fatty infiltration. Studies were reviewed by two fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologists. Muscle atrophy was graded on a 3-point scale according to Fuchs and Gerber. The remaining rotator cuff tendons and muscles, biceps tendon, labrum, and joint surfaces were assessed on MRI as well. Results In this series, 209 (2.8%) shoulders were noted to have fatty infiltration of the teres minor. The rate of isolated fatty infiltration of the teres minor was 0.4%. Concomitant deltoid muscle atrophy was common, and occurred in 68% of the shoulders with fatty infiltration of the teres minor. Tearing of the teres minor tendon was extremely rare. Conclusion Fatty infiltration of the teres minor can occur in isolation, be associated with deltoid muscle atrophy only, or occur in the setting of rotator cuff full tears. Thus, fatty infiltration of the teres minor may be related to a neurologic process or disuse. Further long term longitudinal studies are necessary to be elucidate the etiologies. Level of evidence Level IV.
Solution of the Mie Theory Equations

Publisher Summary The Mie theory treats the problem of solving a vector wave equation for the electric and magnetic fields inside and outside a homogeneous isotropic sphere. One solves the wave equation inside and outside the sphere, and applies boundary conditions of continuity of tangential components of the electric and magnetic fields (no currents).The actual method uses the solution of a scalar wave equation in spherical coordinates and transforms the resulting functions into vector fields by a method discovered by Hertz and Debye. The chapter discusses the procedure of deriving solutions through the above-mentioned method.
Functional analysis of the endothelin-1 gene promoter : evidence for an endothelial cell-specific cis-acting sequence

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a peptide synthesized by endothelial cells both in culture and in vivo. ET-1 induces contraction of smooth muscle cells and stimulates growth in a variety of mesenchymal cell types. We have previously characterized the genomic organization of the ET-1 gene and described its chromosomal localization and promoter region sequence. In this report, we describe the use of fusion plasmids containing ET-1 5'-flanking sequence and the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene to identify cis-acting sequences that direct transcription of the ET-1 gene. When transfected into bovine aortic endothelial cells, constructs containing 143 base pairs of ET-1 5'-flanking sequence allowed maximal transcription, whereas constructs containing 129 base pairs of sequence had 40-fold lower rates of transcription. A synthetic DNA fragment encoding the region delineated by these deletion mutants was found to have a positive effect on transcription when placed in either orientation upstream of short inactive ET-1 promoter constructs. However, this increase in transcription was noted only when a second region containing an AP1 consensus sequence was also included in the constructs. In experiments with a heterologous promoter and a 119-base pair DNA fragment containing these two functional regions, this 119-base pair sequence acted in a positive and endothelial cell-specific fashion. Taken together, these data localize cis-acting sequences important in determining the rate and tissue specificity of ET-1 gene transcription and should allow the study of protein-DNA interactions which mediate transcription of this gene in endothelial cells.
Filling up the tree: considering the self-organization of avian roosting behavior

In this paper, models for understanding bird roosting will be considered for purposes of developing better Artificial Life models of complex behavior. Roosting involves multiple flocks of birds picking a single tree limb to rest on for the night, and can be considered an iterative, time-dependent process that unfolds over a 45-minute interval roughly corresponding to twilight. Two models will be used to better understand the main components of this behavior. The constrained dynamics model, which represents continuous random absorption on a one-dimensional lattice, will be used to characterize the dynamics of crowding in the tree structure over time. A second approach involves the relationships between complex networks and roosting behaviors, in particular the evolution of structured networks via rules of incorporation and interaction. Finally, the percolation model will be proposed as a way to bridge behaviors explained by the constrained dynamics and complex network models.
Gesundheitsausgaben im Kindesalter und Gesundheitsversorgung von Kindern im internationalen Vergleich — Eine Analyse der Studien von OECD und UNICEF

Die OECD-Studie kann in ihrer Globalbetrachtung nicht bestatigen, dass Osterreich im internationalen Vergleich wenig fur die Gesundheitsversorgung von Kindern ausgibt, auch wenn dies auf den ersten Blick so erscheinen mag. Fur einen Vergleich der Ausgabenhohe mit anderen Landern sind die dort angefuhrten Altersausgabenprofile nicht geeignet. Die Studie der UNICEF wiederum sagt nicht pauschal aus, dass die Gesundheitsversorgung von Kindern in Osterreich schlecht ist. Sie gibt — nach einer Detailanalyse — Aufschluss uber Problem- und Handlungsfelder in Bezug auf kindermedizinische Fragestellungen in Osterreich. Die Studie dokumentiert insbesondere den gravierenden Datenmangel bezuglich der Kindermedizin und weist somit auf den Forschungsbedarf in diesem Bereich hin.
On dominant integrability

Conditions necessaires et suffisantes d'integrabilite dominante d'une fonction complexe sur (0,1] ou sur I=(0,1]×(0,1]
Improved Architectures for a Fused Floating-Point Add-Subtract Unit

This paper presents improved architectures for a fused floating-point add-subtract unit. The fused floating-point add-subtract unit is useful for digital signal processing (DSP) applications such as fast Fourier transform (FFT) and discrete cosine transform (DCT) butterfly operations. To improve the performance of the fused floating-point add-subtract unit, a dual-path algorithm and pipelining are employed. The proposed designs are implemented for both single and double precision and synthesized with a 45-nm standard-cell library. The fused floating-point add-subtract unit saves 40% of the area and power consumption compared to a discrete floating-point add-subtract unit. The proposed dual-path design reduces the latency by 30% compared to the discrete design with area and power consumption between that of the discrete and fused designs. Based on a data flow analysis, the proposed fused dual-path floating-point add-subtract unit can be split into two pipeline stages. Since the latencies of two pipeline stages are fairly well balanced, the throughput is increased by 80% compared to the nonpipelined dual-path design.
Distributed throughput optimization over P2P mesh networks using diffusion adaptation

This work develops a decentralized adaptive strategy for throughput maximization over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. The adaptive strategy can cope with changing network topologies, is robust to network disruptions, and does not rely on central processors. The algorithm is obtained as a special case of a more general diffusion strategy for the distributed solution of optimization problems with constraints. Simulation results illustrate how the proposed technique is competitive with other methods.
The outcomes of 27,063 women with unstaged endometrioid uterine cancer

Abstract Background Over two-thirds of patients with endometrioid uterine cancer in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program from 1988 to 2001 did not undergo a lymphadenectomy. These patients were compared to those who had a lymphadenectomy. Methods Kaplan–Meier methods and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were employed. Results Of 39,396 women (median age: 65 years) with endometrioid uterine cancers, 12,333 (31.3%) underwent surgical staging procedures including lymphadenectomy. The remainder did not receive a lymphadenectomy. The 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) of stages I–IV women who underwent lymphadenectomy were 95.5%, 90.4%, 73.8%, and 53.3% compared to 96.6%, 82.2%, 63.1%, and 26.9% in those without lymphadenectomy ( p >0.05 for stage I; p p p p =0.0001); however, no benefit for lymphadenectomy was seen for patients with stage I grade 1 ( p =0.26) and grade 2 ( p =0.14) disease. On multivariable analysis, younger age, Caucasian race, early-stage disease, low grade histology, and lymphadenectomy were independent prognostic factors for improved disease-specific survival. Conclusions Our data suggest that lymphadenectomy is associated with an improved survival in stage I grade 3 and more advanced endometrioid uterine cancers.
KNOTS OF TEN OR FEWER CROSSINGS OF ALGEBRAIC ORDER 2

The concordance orders of many algebraic order two knots of ten or fewer crossings have been heretofore unknown. We use Casson-Gordon invariants and twisted Alexander polynomials to find that, in all but one case, these knots do not have concordance order two. We also find that a certain family of algebraic order two twisted doubles of the unknot have infinite concordance order.
ACYL TRANSPEPTIDATION AND HYDROLYTIC REACTIONS CATALYZED BY ENDOTHIA PARASITICA PROTEASE WITH SMALL PEPTIDE SUBSTRATES

Endothia parasitica protease shows hysteretic behavior (a lag phase) when acting upon L-leucyl-L-leucine amide at pH 4.5. Initially, the products are L-leucyl-L-leucine, L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucine and L-leucine amide with little formation of L-leucine and no ammonia. The relative concentration of L-leucyl-L-leucine is about one-fourth that of L-leucine amide. As the reaction continues the relative concentration of L-leucine increases slowly until it is equal to the concentration of L-leucyl-L-leucine near the end of the reaction with each being one-fourth that of L-leucine amide. Formation of these products can only be explained by a combination of transpeptidation and hydrolytic reactions. By itself, L-leucyl-L-leucine is cleaved very slowly but when mixed with L-leucyl-L-leucine amide the rate is several fold greater than the combined rates of the two alone. L-Leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucine and L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucine amide as substrates of E. parasitica protease give normal kinetic behavior with no evidence of formation of higher molecular weight compounds. Addition of as little as 1 μM L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucine (Km= 0.348 mM) to a reaction containing 1 mM L-leucyl-L-leucine amide increases the rate of reaction with a shortening of the lag phase. Addition of 100 μM L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucine to such a reaction eliminates the hysteretic behavior. It is proposed that E. parasitica protease is initially in an inactive form which can be activated by substrates as small as L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucine but not by L-leucyl-L-leucine amide. During the lag phase observed with substrates such as L-leucyl-L-leucine amide, the enzyme produces, via acyl transpeptidation, larger compounds which can rapidly activate the enzyme. While in the activated form, E. parasitica protease cleaves L-leucyl-L-leucine amide via normal kinetic behavior; however, both acyl transpeptidation and hydrolysis still occur as shown by the relative concentrations of L-leucine, L-leucyl-L-leucine and L-leucine amide of 1:1:4 near end of the reaction. E. parasitica protease cannot cleave carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucine indicating that, at least with this substrate, the enzyme cannot perform amino transpeptidation reactions.
Estimation of two ordered bivariate mean residual life functions

Situations occur frequently in which the mean residual life (mrl) functions of two populations must be ordered. For example, if a mechanical device is improved, the mrl function for the improved device should not be less than that of the original device. Also, mrl functions for medical patients should often be ordered depending on the status of concomitant variables. This paper proposes nonparametric estimators of the bivariate mrl function under a mrl ordering. The estimators are shown to be asymptotically unbiased, strongly uniformly consistent and weakly convergent to a bivariate Gaussian process. The estimators are shown to be the projections, in a sense to be made precise, of the empirical mrl function onto an appropriate convex set of mrl functions. In the one-sample problem, the new estimators dominate the empirical mrl function in terms of risk with respect to a wide class of loss functions.
Dismounted human detection at long ranges

This research investigates the automatic detection of a dismounted human from a single image as a function of range. The histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) method provides the feature vector and a support vector machine performs the classification. This work presents, for the first time, an understanding of how HOG for human detection holds up as range increases. The results indicate that HOG remains effective even at long distances; for example, the average miss rate and false alarm rate were both kept to 5% for humans only 12 pixels high and 4-5 pixels wide. The impact of the amount and type of training data needed to achieve this long-range performance is examined.
Theory of electronically non-adiabatic chemical reactions: Quantum mechanical formulation of collinear reactions

An electronically non-adiabatic collinear chemical reaction is investigated theoretically. The problem is formulated quantum mechanically in a close-coupling form by using a curvilinear coordinate system and an expansion in terms of vibrational wave functions. A rigorous expression for the non-adiabatic transition matrix is obtained in terms of the Green's function for the matrix operator. An adiabatic distorted wave approximation with respect to the electronic transition is discussed which incorporates the vibrational coupling and is expected to be a good approximation in low energy collisions. On the basis of this approximation, the mechanism of electronically non-adiabatic reactions is discussed qualitatively.
Gliding resistance and strength of composite sutures in human flexor digitorum profundus tendon repair: an in vitro biomechanical study.

Purpose Although the strength of a tendon repair is clearly important, the friction of the repair is also a relevant consideration. The purpose of this study was to characterize the frictional coefficient, gliding resistance, and breaking strength of suture materials and a suture construct commonly used for flexor tendon repair. Methods We measured the friction coefficients of 3-0 braided nylon enclosed in a smooth nylon outer shell (Supramid, S. Jackson, Alexandria, VA), 3-0 braided polyester coated with polybutilate (Ethibond, Ethicon, Somerville, NJ), and 3-0 braided polyester/monofilament polyethylene composite (FiberWire, Arthrex, Naples, FL) sutures. We also measured the gliding resistance, linear breaking strength, and resistance to gapping of zone 2 modified Pennington tendon repairs with the 2 lowest-friction sutures in 20 human cadaveric flexor digitorum profundus tendons. Results The braided polyester/monofilament polyethylene composite had a significantly lower friction coefficient (0.054) than either the coated polyester (0.076) or nylon (0.130) sutures. The gliding resistances of the repaired tendons with braided/monofilament polyethylene composite suture and those of coated, braided polyester were similar. The strength of the 2 repairs (force to produce a 2 mm gap) and resistance to gap formation were also not significantly different. Conclusions Braided polyester composite is a low-friction suture material. However, when this suture was used for tendon repair with a locking suture technique, it did not show a significant effect on the gliding resistance and repair strength compared with the same repair using a coated polyester suture.
Complexity in Language Learning and Treatment.

Purpose To introduce a Clinical Forum focused on the Complexity Account of Treatment Efficacy (C. K. Thompson, L. P. Shapiro, S. Kiran, & J. Sobecks, 2003), a counterintuitive but effective approac...
5-Fluoro-orotic acid induces chromosome alterations in Candida albicans.

Treatment of a prototrophic laboratory strain of Candida albicans with 5-fluoro-orotic acid (5-FOA) produced two major types of mutants with chromosomal alterations, 5-FOA-resistant (FoaR) and those remaining sensitive (FoaS). Both major types remained Ura+. FoaR mutants, produced after a long exposure, contained either a duplication of chromosome 4b or an inner enlargement of chromosome 5b. The average mutant frequency was approximately 1.0 × 10−5. The reverse mutation of FoaR to FoaS also caused the loss of either the extra chromosome 4b or the enlarged chromosome 5b, revealing a causal relationship between the resistance and the specific chromosome constitution. The cells remained sensitive after a relatively short 24 h exposure to 5-FOA medium, but the treatment induced non-specific changes in lengths of various chromosomes. Furthermore, FoaR type mutants acquired a notable chromosomal and phenotypic instability. Our results indicate the necessity of electrokaryotyping of strains that have been exposed to 5-FOA, especially with studies of gene function and with DNA microarray assays. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Virtual pyeloscopy using volumetric depth peeling.

Rationale and Objectives The aim of the study is to test a new volume-rendering method, volumetric depth peeling (VDP), for use in virtual pyeloscopy. Materials and Methods VDP was applied to axial contrast-enhanced source computed tomographic (CT) images and coronal reformatted maximum intensity projections of three contrast-filled gloves containing objects of varying density. Similar renderings were performed on CT urograms performed to evaluate hematuria (n = 20). Renderings were assessed for anatomic appearance of ureters and specific calyces in comparison with source images. Results Objects of soft-tissue and calcific density ranging in size from 4 to 20 mm were identified by using VDP within the glove phantoms. Normal and deformed renal calyces were well visualized by using VDP; however, two stones were not identified. The minimal ureteral width that could be visualized was 3 mm. Conclusion VDP may be a useful technique for virtual pyeloscopy providing that a robust and user-friendly computer interface can be developed.
Effects of external acoustic excitation on enhanced transport in a resonant incinerator

The research described here focuses on the enhancement of energy transport and waste surrogate destruction in an acoustically resonant dump combustor. While prior studies focused on flow field interrogation and the nature of waste destruction under conditions of natural acoustic excitation, the present study focuses on the device's behavior under externally forced acoustical conditions. External forcing was accomplished here using a loudspeaker situated in the plenum section of the device, allowing strong excitation of acoustic resonances. The effect of this external forcing on waste destruction in the device was found to be significant. Results show that, for specific forcing frequencies (coincident with the system natural modes), marked improvement in destruction and removal efficiencies (DREs) of the waste surrogate SF 6 , by four orders of magnitude and perhaps higher, could be achieved. When the device was forced at frequencies other than natural modes, little improvement over the nonforced combustor performance was achieved. External forcing at very high frequency natural modes yielded some improvement in waste destruction, but to a lesser extent than at lower frequency natural modes. OH 6 chemiluminescence images indicated that the enhancement of waste destruction at certain natural modes coincided with flame shortening and broadening likely arising due to vortex shedding during the acoustical excitation. This alteration in flame structure during excitation of specific natural modes appeared to materially enhance energy transport to the regions in which waste was injected, as evidenced by reduced flame liftoff under such conditions. These observations suggest that acoustically resonant combustor conditions can render this device extremely efficient as well as highly controllable.
Modeling subthreshold capacitances of MOS transistors

Abstract An accurate and computationally efficient charge-based model for the intrinsic capacitances in MOS transistors is developed. The model is valid in the subthreshold regime, and is based on the quasistatic approximation. An interpolation scheme, which guarantees the continuity of the drain current and the capacitances as well as their derivatives is used to provide a smooth transition from subthreshold to strong inversion. The theoretical predictions of the model are compared to the numerically simulated data extracted from MINIMOS 4.0 and found to be in good agreement over a wide range of voltages.
What's wrong with the treadway commission report? Experimental analyses of the effects of personal values and codes of conduct on fraudulent financial reporting

In three studies, factors influencing the incidence of fraudulent financial reporting were assessed. We examined (1) the effects of personal values and (2) codes of corporate conduct, on whether managers misrepresented financial reports. In these studies, executives and controllers were asked to respond to hypothetical situations involving fraudulent financial reporting procedures. The occurrence of fraudulent reporting was found to be high; however, neither personal values, codes of conduct, nor the interaction of the two factors played a significant role in fraudulent financial reporting.
The diurnal and solar cycle variation of the charge exchange induced hydrogen escape flux

On the basis of ion temperature and density data at specific points and times in June 1969 provided by the OGO 6 satellite, and altitude profiles of the ion and electron temperature and concentration provided by the Arecibo radar facility over the period February 1972-April 1974, the diurnal and solar cycle variation of the charge-exchange-induced hydrogen escape flux was investigated. It was calculated that for low to moderate solar activity at Arecibo, the diurnal ratio of the maximum-to-minimum charge-exchange-induced hydrogen escape flux was approximately 6 with a peak around noon and a minimum somewhere between 0100 and 0300 h LT. This study of a limited amount of OGO 6 and Arecibo data seems to indicate that the charge-exchange-induced hydrogen escape flux increases as the F(10.7) flux increases for low to moderate solar activity.
The determination of optimal base‐stock inventory policy when the costs of under‐ and oversupply are uncertain

This article considers the determination of the optimal base-stock inventory policy for the newsboy inventory model when there is uncertainty about either or both of its basic cost inputs: either Cu, the marginal cost of an undersupply mistake, or Co, the marginal cost of an oversupply mistake. Such uncertainties often arise in implementing the newsboy model, especially with respect to Cu, whose value depends mostly on the often-imponderable economic consequences of a lost sale or backorder. Given this uncertainty, we use decision theory to propose and analyze two measures of policy “goodness” and two base-stock selection criteria, which in combination provide four alternative “optimal” base-stock policies. Formulas and/or conditions defining each alternative policy are provided. Our empirical study indicates that the recommended policy can be quite sensitive to the measure/criterion chosen, and that the consequences of the wrong choice can be quite considerable.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ALKYLAMMONIUM HYPONITRITES AND BASE-STABILIZED HYPONITROUS ACID SALTS

A number of alkylammonium and bipyridinium salts of hyponitrous acid, namely, N,N,N‘,N‘-tetraethylethylenediammonium (3 and 4), N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylethylenediammonium (5), triethylenediammonium (6), diquinuclidinium (7), 2,2‘-bipyridinium (8), 4,4‘-bipyridinium (9), 4,4‘-trimethylenebis(1-methylpiperidinium) (10), 4,4‘-trimethylenepiperidinium (11), and bis(triethylammonium) (12) hyponitrite salts, have been synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding amine in either anhydrous diethyl ether or absolute ethanol with hyponitrous acid solution in anhydrous diethyl ether. Single-crystal X-ray crystallographic data were obtained for sodium hyponitrite (1), and the thermal decomposition behavior of the salt was examined. The new salts were characterized by IR and Raman spectroscopic data and elemental analyses. Compounds 4 and 7−9 were also characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The hyponitrite anions in 1 and 7−9 exhibit similar structural features. The anions are planar with average NN a...
Synthesis, Basicity, and Dynamics of a Perfluorocyclohexenyl Anion

Electron transfer to perfluoro-1,3-dimethylcyclohexane in moist THF has yielded two quite different products. Tetrabutylammonium iodide irradiated with ultraviolet light gives a tetrabutylammonium enolate, but potassium fluorenone ketyl affords a cyclohexenyl anion. This allylic anion was isolated as its conjugate acid, a rather strong carbon acid. Ring inversion in the anion, measured by (19)F NMR line shape analysis, is characterized by these activation parameter values: DeltaH(++) = 8.84 +/-0.14 kcal/mol and DeltaS(++) = 0.81 +/- 0.6 cal mol(-1) K(-1).
The Chromosomes of Crepis biennis L., and Crepis ciliata C. Koch

1. Analysis of chromosome types in Crepis biennis reveals the existence of a double basic genom containing 5 distinct types, with 2 representatives of each type which differ in certain details. This indicates that C. biennis may be an allo-octoploid which originated through hybridization between two 5-paired ancestors which differed somewhat in chromosome morphology. Available evidence an the meiotic behavior of biennis chromosomes indicates that the putative parents were subspecies of the same species. The most likely process of origin is through hybridization followed by amphidiploidy and then a second doubling.2. In C. ciliata a similar situation is found, but the differentes between the 2 representatives of each of the 5 different chromosome types are less marked. This species may have had a similar origin to C. biennis or it may be an auto-octoploid in the stritt sense.3. The evidence an origin of these two species adds further proof that 5, not 4, is the original number in Crepis.4. Tetraploidy is the antecedent of autosyndesis and allo-polyploidy in one or both parents is sometimes associated with autosyndesis in species hybrids. By analysis of such Gases it is possible to derive working hypotheses as to the genetic nature of polyploid species which may lead to further knowledge concerning their nature and origin.
Effects of CO2 enrichment on the growth and morphology of a native and an introduced honeysuckle vine

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.), introduced to the United States, and the native coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens L.) were compared to determine how intrinsic differences in their growth characteristics would affect their response to atmospheric carbon dioxide enrichment. Plants of both species grown from cuttings were harvested after 54 days of growth in controlled environment growth chambers at 350, 675, or 1,000 ,ll/liter CO2. The biomass of Japanese honeysuckle was increased 135% at 675 Al/liter CO2 and 76% at 1,000 All/ liter CO2 after 54 days. Morphologically, the main effect of CO2 enrichment was to triple the number of branches and to increase total branch length six times. Enhanced and accelerated branching also increased total leafarea 50% at elevated CO2 concentrations. In coral honeysuckle, total biomass was only 40% greater in the elevated CO2 treatments. Branching was quadrupled but had not proceeded long enough to affect total leaf area. Main stem height was increased 36% at 1,000 Al/liter CO2. The much less significant height response of other woody erect growth forms suggests that vines may increase in importance during competition if atmospheric CO2 concentrations increase as predicted. The impact of Japanese honeysuckle in the United States may become more serious.