cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
1994-1996 U.S. Singleton Birth Weight Percentiles for Gestational Age by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Gender

Objectives: Establishing and comparing race, ethnic, and gender-specific birth weight percentiles for gestational age is requisite for investigating the determinants of variations in fetal growth. In this study, we calculate percentiles of birth weight for gestational age for the total 1994–1996 U.S. population and contrast these percentiles by racial/ethnic and gender groups. Methods: Single live births to U.S. resident mothers were selected from the 1994–1996 U.S. Natality Files. After exclusions, 5,973,440 non-Hispanic Whites, 1,393,908 non-Hispanic African Americans, 1,683,333 Hispanics, 80,187 Native Americans, and 510,021 other racial/ethnic groups were used to calculate distribution percentiles of birth weight for each gestational age for which there were at least 50 cases to calculate the 50th percentile and 100 cases to calculate the 10th percentile. Results: Fetal growth patterns among the four U.S. racial/ethnic groups varied markedly and, across the gestational age range, there was considerable oscillation in the relative ranking of any one group's birth weight percentile value in comparison to the others. Males had relatively higher birth weight percentile values than females. The proportion of infants with a birth weight value less than 1994–1996 U.S. population's 10th percentile value of birth weight for their corresponding gestational age was 7.87 for non-Hispanic Whites, 15.43 for non-Hispanic African Americans, 9.30 for Hispanics, and 8.81 for Native Americans. Conclusions: While the factors underlying trends and population subgroup differences in fetal growth are unclear, nutrition, smoking habits, health status, and maternal morbidity are possible precursors for part of the variations in patterns of fetal growth. As prenatal care has been touted as a means to reduce the risk of fetal growth restriction at term, assuring the availability and accessibility of comprehensive prenatal care services is viewed as an essential corollary in the effort to improve fetal growth patterns in the United States.
Children's Housing and Physical Environments

Children live in a world dense with actions, objects, people, and events. Through time these phenomena provide the structure for development and the ingredients that help determine its course. In this chapter attention will be given to various aspects of the houses children live in and the natural and built environments surrounding them, with a view to explicating how each is implicated in children's behavior and development. The chapter begins with a consideration of several conceptual frameworks that bear upon how children might experience the structures, objects, and sensory stimuli in places where they spend time and what those experiences might mean for their health, competence, and adaptive functioning. Thereafter is a review of what is known about various aspects of housing conditions, the materials and facilities within the house, and the nearby physical environment, with attention to how each may affect children's behavior and well-being. The third section moves beyond a consideration of particular aspects of the environment to a consideration of overall environmental chaos (i.e., how the structure of events and conditions in space and time affect health and behavioral tendencies). The chapter concludes with an effort to put issues pertaining to the physical environment in historic context, with a view to the future. Keywords: adaptive behavior; competence; construction materials; contaminants; crowding; dampness and mold electricity and refrigeration; esthetics; family relationships; health; household facilities; indoor plants; learning materials; lifestyle; lighting; noise; outdoor environment; systems theory; toys; ventilation and cooking; water and sanitation
Transformative Education: Using Ignatian Pedagogy to Teach Business Ethics

Many have suggested that a Jesuit education can be transformative. This result is not surprising, as the conventional elements of Transformational Learning (TL) all can be found in the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP). This paper reports a case study of applying the IPP to the teaching of Business Ethics. Included are a review of the similarities between TL and the IPP, and a description of the application of the IPP to the specific class in Business Ethics. Finally the transformational changes that occur with the use of the IPP are addressed.
SPLIT-THICKNESS SKIN GRAFT TECHNIQUE IN THE CORRECTION OF CONGENITAL OR ACQUIRED VAGINAL ATRESIA.

Abstract Vaginal absence is rarely an isolated anomaly and demands detailed morphologic study and classification before correction is attempted. Such nonsurgical factors as the domestic and social environment, the upbringing, maturity, attitudes, and behavior patterns are all elements that in addition to age, bear upon the decision to create an artificial vagina. Four case reports of reconstructive vaginal surgery are given, including one which was a re-establishment procedure which was performed to correct injury from gamma radiation.
Modeling dynamic economic systems

This book explores the dynamic processes in economic systems, concentrating on the extraction and use of the natural resources required to meet economic needs. Sections cover methods for dynamic modeling in economics, microeconomic models of firms, modeling optimal use of both nonrenewable and renewable resources, and chaos in economic models. This book does not require a substantial background in mathematics or computer science.
Digital spur mitigation in high-speed block-parallel digital filter realizations

An intuitive procedure for determining the location as well as reducing the effect of digital spurs in block-parallel digital filter realizations is proposed. The method is based on modeling voltage/current waveforms generated by the switching activity of digital clocks in each polyphase component of a blockparallel digital filter as electromagnetic waves travelling over a linear medium. Using superposition, frequency analysis as well as information regarding the area (size) and layout (placement) of the synthesized polyphase filter, the spurs generated at the output of the overall system are modeled as a weighted sum of voltage/current interference waveforms. Digital spur mitigation is achieved by calculating a strategic clock phasing scheme based on the contribution of these weighting coefficients. The technique and examples presented are intended to serve as a high-speed filter realization reference for Digital and DSP ASIC developers.
Inhibition of AAC(6′)-Ib-Mediated Resistance to Amikacin in Acinetobacter baumannii by an Antisense Peptide-Conjugated 2′,4′-Bridged Nucleic Acid-NC-DNA Hybrid Oligomer

Multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii, a common etiologic agent of severe nosocomial infections in compromised hosts, usually harbors aac(6')-Ib. This gene specifies resistance to amikacin and other aminoglycosides, seriously limiting the effectiveness of these antibiotics. An antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN4) that binds to a duplicated sequence on the aac(6')-Ib mRNA, one of the copies overlapping the initiation codon, efficiently inhibited translation in vitro. An isosequential nuclease-resistant hybrid oligomer composed of 2',4'-bridged nucleic acid-NC (BNA(NC)) residues and deoxynucleotides (BNA(NC)-DNA) conjugated to the permeabilizing peptide (RXR)4XB ("X" and "B" stand for 6-aminohexanoic acid and β-alanine, respectively) (CPPBD4) inhibited translation in vitro at the same levels observed in testing ODN4. Furthermore, CPPBD4 in combination with amikacin inhibited growth of a clinical A. baumannii strain harboring aac(6')-Ib in liquid cultures, and when both compounds were used as combination therapy to treat infected Galleria mellonella organisms, survival was comparable to that seen with uninfected controls.
Methane production in Minnesota peatlands.

Rates of methane production in Minnesota peats were studied. Surface (10- to 25-cm) peats produced an average of 228 nmol of CH4 per g (dry weight) per h at 25°C and ambient pH. Methanogenesis rates generally decreased with depth in ombrotrophic peats, but on occasion were observed to rise within deeper layers of certain fen peats. Methane production was temperature dependent, increasing with increasing temperature (4 to 30°C), except in peats from deeper layers. Maximal methanogenesis from these deeper regions occurred at 12°C. Methane production rates were also pH dependent. Two peats with pHs of 3.8 and 4.3 had an optimum rate of methane production at pH 6.0. The addition to peat of glucose and H2-CO2 stimulated methanogenesis, whereas the addition of acetate inhibited methanogenesis. Cysteine-sulfide, nitrogen-phosphorus-trace metals, and vitamins-yeast extract affected methane production very little. Various gases were found to be trapped or dissolved (or both) within peatland waters. Dissolved methane increased linearly to a depth of 210 cm. The accumulation of metabolic end products produced within peat bogs appears to be an important mechanism limiting carbon turnover in peatland environments.
A web that senses and responds

A sense and respond application detects changes in the state of the world relevant to a user and responds proactively on the user’s behalf. A response may issue an alert or carry out a sequence of actions. Sense and respond applications (abbreviated to S&R apps) are used in many areas including defense, homeland security, finance, logistics, and manufacturing. Some personal applications, such as location-based services on mobile phones, are S&R apps since they sense a phone’s location and respond by offering appropriate services.
On-line diagnostics of a variable displacement pump of a flight actuation system

An on-line diagnostic system for a variable displacement pump, serving as a part of a self-contained flight actuator, is presented. A mathematical model describing dynamics of the pump, driving a control surface of an aircraft, is established. Typical pump failures are defined through the model parameters in the form of a failure pattern library. A diagnostic model, intentionally sensitive to particular failures, is defined. A diagnostic procedure, featuring on-line parameter estimation of the mathematical model, failure detection and identification is developed. A failure prediction procedure, detecting and utilizing trends exhibited by parameter estimates is formulated. The results are verified by computer simulation.
What is a grid

Precision of language is often thought to contribute to precision of thought, and certainly helps to communicate ideas unambiguously. A countervailing tendency, however, causes people to adopt terms developed in one field to stand for analogous concepts that may relate only incidentally to the original. Eventually the meaning of the original term becomes so broad and heterogeneous that we recognize its imprecise use as an impediment to communication, and the community adopts more precise language to clarify meaning. I argue that it is time to apply this corrective process to the term “grid.” This suggestion arises from my own …
Steps Toward Deep Lexical Acquisition

I describe steps toward "deep lexical acquisition" based on naive theories, motivated by modern results of developmental psychology. I argue that today's machine learning paradigm is inappropriate to take these steps. Instead we must develop computational accounts of naive theory representations, mechanisms of theory acquisition, and the mapping of naive theories to lexicalizable concepts. This will enable our theories to describe the flexibility of the human conceptual apparatus.
Effects of dietary transition metals on oxidative DNA lesions in neonatal rats.

Abstract Bulky endogenous oxidative lesions (type II I-compounds) reflect DNA damage associated with oxidative stress. As shown by 32 P -postlabeling, their levels are enhanced by pro-oxidant genotoxins and also shortly after normal birth in several rat tissues as a function of time and the maternal diet. In order to elucidate which dietary components contribute to postnatal DNA damage, we have focused, herein, on the possible role of transition metals (iron, copper, and nickel). Pregnant Fischer 344 (F344) rats were fed AIN-93G purified diet containing different amounts of iron, copper, and nickel, or Purina-5001 natural-ingredient diet (which contains relatively high concentrations of these metals). Type II I-compounds were estimated by nuclease P1-enhanced 32 P -postlabeling in liver and lung DNA of fetuses and at 24 h and day 9 post-partum. Increased postnatal oxidative damage was detected in liver but not lung DNA of neonates exposed to higher amounts of dietary transition metals. There were significant positive linear correlations between maternal transition metal intake and neonatal, but not fetal and maternal type II I-compound levels. The results show that transition metals in the maternal diet affect perinatal oxidative DNA damage, presumably via a Fenton-type reaction. They also provide evidence for optimal levels in the maternal diet of transition metals, which on one hand, are essential for life, but on the other, can cause potentially deleterious DNA alterations in the offspring.
Application of a new selection algorithm to the development of a wide-range equation of state for refrigerant R134a

Refrigerant R134a (1,1.1,2-tetrafuoroethane) is a leading substitute for refrigerant R12. As such, there has been worldwide activity to develop accurate wide-range equations of state for this fluid. In this study. we have developed a new selection algorithm for determining high-accuracy equations of state in the Helmholtz representation. This method combines least-squares regression analysis with simulated annealing optimization. Simulated annealing, unlike stepwise regression, allows for the controlled acceptance of random increases in the objective function. Thus, this procedure produces a computationally efficient selection algorithm which is not susceptible to the function-space local-minima problems present in a purely stepwise regression approach. Two equations are presented in this work and compared against experimental data and other high-accuracy equations of state for R134a. One equation was produced strictly by using stepwise a regression algorithm, while the other was produced using the simulated-annealing selection algorithm. In both cases the temperature dependence of the equations was restricted to have no terms whose exponents were greater than live.
Crystal structures of bR(D85S) favor a model of bacteriorhodopsin as a hydroxyl-ion pump

Structural features on the extracellular side of the D85S mutant of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) suggest that wild-type bR could be a hydroxyl-ion pump. A position between the protonated Schiff base and residue 85 serves as an anion-binding site in the mutant protein, and hydroxyl ions should have access to this site during the O-intermediate of the wild-type bR photocycle. The guanidinium group of R82 is proposed (1) to serve as a shuttle that eliminates the Born energy penalty for entry of an anion into this binding pocket, and conversely, (2) to block the exit of a proton or a related proton carrier.
Samuel T. Gladding: A Sense of Self in the Group.

Abstract This interview with Samuel T. Gladding highlights his contributions and focuses specifically on his interests in group work and creative approaches to counseling including use of humor, poetry, and metaphors. The interview explores Gladding's entry into the profession, his personal and professional experiences that influenced his work, and his vision for the future.
A Magnetic Study of the Metallic State and the Fermi-Dirac Statistics

IT was a signal contribution to the chance of an experimental test of the Fermi-Dirac statistics when Bloch1 included the interaction of the electrons and the lattice in the representation of a metal. This representation is much nearer to actual metals than an abstraction such as a free electron gas. Fortunately, the theory leads to a paramagnetism of the metal electrons, which does not differ radically from the paramagnetism of free electrons, approximating the latter as the binding between the positive ions and electrons becomes weaker.
Unusually high zinc concentrations in snake plasma, with observations on plasma zinc concentrations in lizards, turtles and alligators

We provide evidence that normal plasma zinc levels in snakes are in the same range as the elevated zinc levels associated with haemolytic anaemia and fatal zinc toxicosis in dogs, and with weight loss and anorexia in crocodiles that had ingested coins with high zinc content. Blood plasma samples from large representative groups of snakes, lizards, turtles and alligators were analysed for zinc content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Plasma zinc levels in all snake species were five to 50-fold greater than levels reported in mammals. Plasma zinc levels in lizards and turtles were also higher than those of mammals, but significantly lower than those of snakes. Plasma zinc levels in alligators were in the same range as mammals and birds. After prolonged dialysis of snake plasma, 76% of the zinc remains in the retentate, suggesting the presence of a plasma protein with a strong affinity for the metal. Zinc levels vary significantly among the taxonomic groups, emphasizing the common evolutionary origin of crocodiles and birds and their divergence from the other reptiles.
MAGUK SH3 Domains—Swapped and Stranded by Their Kinases?

Excitement in protein science comes from unexpected structural findings that shed new light on functional mechanisms. Just such a series of insights is now beginning to emerge from two recently published structures of the scaffolding protein PSD-95.
GPU-based 3D wavelet reconstruction with tileboarding

In this paper, we present a GPU-based algorithm for reconstructing 3D wavelets using fragment programs. To minimize the data transfer and fragment processing overhead, we propose a novel scheme that uses tileboards as a primary layout to organize 3D wavelet coefficients. By accessing the tileboards with correct texture coordinates, Haar and Daubechies wavelets can be evaluated by the GPU in real time. The tileboard also serves as input to the rendering programs. We demonstrate how the tileboards allow us to efficiently cull unnecessary data, and we extend our work to render large volumes with multiple resolution levels.
The role of prey availability in aggregative behaviour of the orb weaving spider Tetragnatha elongata

Abstract Like many spider species, Tetragnatha elongata exhibits considerable flexibility in its spacing pattern as a response to variable levels of prey abundance. This study examines the extent and form of spider aggregation at high prey density. In experiments in which their respective densities were manipulated, when spider density was high, excess prey allowed individuals (1) a significant reduction in web building, and (2) indiscriminate use of pre-laid silk. These effects were not observed at low spider density. These results are discussed in the context of ‘risk-sensitive’ foraging theory, which shows how this type of behaviour in an aggregation might be adopted as a means for reducing resource variance. Such an approach indicates a possible means through which sociality might be initiated.
Signal transduction by basic fibroblast growth factor in rat osteoblastic Py1a cells

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogen for bone. In this study, we utilized the clonal rat osteoblastic cell line, Py1a, to examine signal transduction by bFGF and to determine the role of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) and induction of c-fos mRNA in the mitogenic response to bFGF. Stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation (TDR) into DNA by bFGF was determined in the presence of phorbol myristate acetate of (PMA) to down-regulate the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway, genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase and H-7, a PKC inhibitor, bFGF 10(-8) M and PMA 10(-7) M increased TDR by 242 and 245%, respectively. Treatment with bFGF or PMA for 5 or 30 minutes increased tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple proteins, and immunoblotting with MAPK-specific antibody revealed that two of these bands were the 42 and 44 kD isoforms of MAPK. PMA and bFGF induced c-fos mRNA expression at 30 minutes. Genistein at 10 micrograms/ml blocked the mitogenic effect of bFGF and partially inhibited the mitogenic effect of PMA. Genistein at 100 micrograms/ml also blocked both bFGF- and PMA-induced increases in c-fos mRNA. A 24 h pretreatment with PMA at 10(-7) M inhibited the mitogenic response, tyrosine phosphorylation of MAPK, and induction of c-fos mRNA subsequent to the addition of PMA, but not bFGF. H-7 at 50 microM blocked bFGF-induced mitogenesis and c-fos induction, but did not inhibit bFGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of MAPK. In this study, we show that the signaling pathway of bFGF and PMA are similar in that they both induce tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinases and activate c-fos. However, the signaling pathways ultimately diverge in that once the PKC pathway is down-regulated by PMA pretreatment or blocked by the PKC inhibitor H-7, tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase, c-fos induction, and the mitogenic effect of PMA is blocked. In contrast, down-regulation of the PKC pathway inhibits c-fos and the mitogenic response to bFGF, but not bFGF's effects on tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase.
Preliminary observations on the occurrence of cholesterol sulfate in man

Abstract In the course of studies on the incorporation of sodium [ 35 S]sulfate into sulfatide in patients with neurological disorders, a metabolically active substance was found which resembles sulfatide both in solubility and behavior on column chromatography but is separable from it on thin-layer chromatography, A method was devised for the isolation of larger quantities of this material. It was found to have the same melting point and Chromatographie properties as authentic cholesterol sulfate and strongly resembles it in its infrared spectrum, Mild acid hydrolysis yielded a substance identical to cholesterol in its melting point, and infrared and nuclear magnetic spectra. A survey of human tissues revealed the presence of small amounts of cholesterol sulfate in plasma, bile, urine, liver, kidney, and larger quantities in feces. It was also found in the brain of a 4-day-old infant. Intravenously administered sodium [ 35 S]sulfate was rapidly incorporated into cholesterol sulfate. Until recently, cholesterol sulfate had not been isolated from any biological material. This study demonstrates that it is metabolically active and that it is present in a variety of human tissues and body fluids.
convexity of reflective submanifolds in special unitary groups

A submanifold of a Riemannian manifold is called reflective, if it is a connected component of an involutive isometry. If every shortest geodesic arc of a complete submanifold is still shortest in the ambient space, we say that the submanifold is convex. In this note we show that reflective submanifolds in special unitary groups are convex.
Early range of motion of the scorpio non-restrictive geometry cruciate-retaining total knee system.

Abstract Flexion following total knee arthroplasty in the US population generally falls between 100° and 120°. Because of these relatively low flexion arcs, total knee arthroplasty prosthetic designs emerged allowing “high flexion” (≥125°). We hypothesized that a high-flexion implant design, Scorpio Non-Restrictive Geometry cruciate-retaining knee prosthesis, would allow clinical early maximum flexion of at least 125°. A prospective observational cohort study enrolled 87 unselected patients (94 knees) evaluated preoperation and 3 months and 1 year postoperation for clinical flexion, arc of motion, and Knee Society scores. At 1 year, 67% of knees had improved flexion and 23% achieved flexion of at least 125°. Clinically, flexion improved by 6.9° and total arc of motion improved by 10.6° from preoperation to 1-year postoperation. Although this high-flexion design allows increased flexion, many patients fail to achieve flexion of at least 125°.
Mesodermal adenosarcoma of the testis.

Abstract:Biphasic neoplasms with a benign to atypical epithelial component and a usually low-grade malignant stromal component have been reported in various sites, probably being best known for their occurrence in the uterine corpus (mullerian adenosarcoma). We report a tumor of this type that occur
Synthesis of 3- and 4-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-s-triazolo[2,3-a] pyrimid-7-one, isomers of inosine containing a bridgehead nitrogen atom

The first synthesis of a purine nucleoside analog containing a bridgehead nitrogen atom is here reported. The direct glycosylation of the trimethylsilyl derivative of s-triazolo[2,3-a] pyrimid-7-one has been shown to give 3-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-s-triazolo[2,3-a]pyrimid-7-one (V) and 4-(β-D-ribof'uranosyl)-s-lriazolo[2,3-α]pyrimid-7-one (VII). The nueleoside V may he considered a close analog of inosine in which the nitrogen N1 and C5 of inosine have been interchanged. Bro-minalion of the tri-O-acelyl derivative IV gave, after deblocking, 6-bromo-3-(β-D-ribofurnaosyl)-s-triazolo[2,3-a] pyrimid-7-one (IX). Structural assignments of the nucleosides were made on the basis of comparison of the ultraviolet absorption spectral characteristics with 3-methyl-s-triazolo-[2,3-a]pyrimid-7-one (XI) and 4-methyl-s-lriazolo[2,3-a Jpyrimid-7-one (XII) prepared by a standard procedure from 7-methoxy-s-triazolo(2,3-a] pyrimidine (X).
In India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Quality of Life Weighs Heavily

D espite all the advances India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have madeespecially in the realms of food production and technology-all three are still developing nations with a significant maldistribution of health care delivery. All three countries offer two major types of health care delivery: private practice by an individual practitioner and private hospital care, on a fee-for-service basis; and clinics and hospitals run by the government where most care is publicly subsidized or free. Three levels of health care are
Expression of cell death regulatory genes and limited apoptosis induction in avian blastodermal cells.

Apoptosis is a well-established cellular mechanism for selective cell deletion during development. However, little is known about the expression of an apoptotic pathway and its role in determining the relative sensitivity of the early, pre-gastrula, avian embryo to stress-induced cell death. We examined the sensitivity of avian blastodermal cells to engage in apoptosis upon exposure to etoposide, a topoisomerase II-inhibitor that rapidly and efficiently induces apoptosis in many cell types. We found that while the blastodermal cells are capable of engaging in apoptosis, they are highly resistant to such induction with respect to both concentration of drug required and length of exposure, even when compared to a tumor cell line with a known multi-drug resistant phenotype. Additionally, we assessed the expression of several candidate regulatory genes in blastodiscs from infertile eggs (i.e., maternal RNA transcripts), blastodermal cells immediately following oviposition, and various stages of early development up to gastrulation. This analysis revealed that several genes whose products have anti-apoptotic activity, including bcl-2, bcl-x L , hsp70, grp78 and the glutathione S-transferases, are expressed as early as the stage 1 embryo in the newly oviposited egg. These transcripts are also found in the infertile blastodisc, suggesting a role for maternally derived transcripts in the protection of the oocyte and zygote. Significantly, constitutive levels of hsp70 mRNA exceeded those of the other anti-apoptotic genes in the blastodermal cells. These results contribute to an emerging picture of stress resistance at the earliest stages of avian embryo development which involves multiple anti-apoptotic genes that act at different regulatory points in the apoptotic cascade.
High resolution infrared spectrum and structure of diborane

Abstract The two infrared active terminal B-H stretching bands, ν 8 and ν 16 , of 10 B 2 H 6 and 11 B 2 H 6 were studied with a resolution of 0.04–0.05 cm −1 . The following ground state rotational constants were obtained: for 10 B 2 H 6 , A 0 = 2.65550 ± 0.00056 cm −1 , B 0 = 0.642190 ± 0.000080 cm −1 , and C 0 = 0.587372 ± 0.000066 cm −1 ; for 11 B 2 H 6 , A 0 = 2.65569 ± 0.00026 cm −1 , B 0 = 0.606463 ± 0.000068 cm −1 and C 0 = 0.557279 ± 0.000056 cm −1 . These constants were used to derive the following structural parameters: B⋯B = 1.762 8 ± 0.0026 A, B-H t = 1.200 5 ± 0.0036 A, B-H b = 1.320 4 ± 0.0010 A, ∠H t BH t = 121.0 ± 0.6° and ∠H b BH b = 96.2 ± 0.2°. (All errors cited are twice standard deviations.) Upper state constants are reported.
Water Quality Modeling by Monte Carlo Simulation

: The applicability of the Monte Carlo simulation technique to water quality modeling is demonstrated with the aid of a simple Streeter-Phelps model. The model accounts for the stochasticity of the input parameters. Triangular probability density functions are shown to be useful in case insufficient information is available to define meaningful frequency distributions of input parameters. The model output is presented as probability distributions of stream quality parameters.
Bolus contaminant dispersion for oscillatory flow in a curved tube.

The dispersion of a bolus of soluble contaminant in a curved tube during volume-cycled oscillatory flows is studied. Assuming a small value of delta (the ratio of tube radius to radius of curvature), the Navier-Stokes equations are solved by using a perturbation method. The convection-diffusion equation is then solved by expanding the local concentration in terms of the cross-sectionally averaged concentration and its axial derivatives. The time-averaged dimensionless effective diffusivity, , is calculated for a range of Womersley number alpha and different values of stroke amplitude A and Schmidt number Sc, where D is the molecular diffusivity of contaminant. For the parameter values considered, the results show that axial dispersion in a curved tube is greater than that in a straight tube, and that it has a local maximum near alpha = 5 for given fixed values of Sc = 1, A = 5 and delta = 0.3. Finally, it is demonstrated how the time history of concentration at a fixed axial position can be used to determine the effective diffusivity.
Extracting local stretching from left ventricle angiography data

This paper presents a new method for extracting local surface stretching from the left ventricle (LV) cineangiography data. The algorithm is based on Gaussian curvature for surface stretching recovery under more realistic conformal motion assumption. During conformal motion surface stretching can vary over the surface patch. In particular, surface stretching can be approximated using linear or quadratic (or higher order) functions. Then, coefficients of the approximating function can be calculated and surface stretching computed from changes in surface curvature at corresponding points. For example, linear approximation requires three point correspondences (between consecutive time frames) within small surface patch. The authors demonstrate the higher precision of the new approach (as compared to homothetic assumption in the authors' earlier work) on simulated and real data of the left ventricle of the human heart. The data set was provided by Dr. Alistair Young of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and consists of the tracked locations of eleven bifurcation points of the left coronary artery and the tracked locations of 292 vessel points for one cardiac cycle (60 frames/cycle).
Effect of microstructure on abrasion wear behavior of austempered ductile cast iron (ADI) processed by a novel two-step austempering process

Abstract An investigation was carried out to examine the influence of a novel two-step austempering process on microstructural parameters and the abrasion wear resistance of austempered ductile cast iron (ADI). Two batches of cylindrical pin specimens were prepared from an alloyed nodular ductile cast iron and were initially austenitized at 927 °C (1700 °F) for 2 h. The first batch of samples was austempered by the conventional single-step austempering process at five different temperatures, e.g., 288 °C (550 °F), 316 °C (600 °F), 343 °C (650 °F), 371 °C (700 °F), and 385 °C (725 °F) for 2 h, whereas the second batch of samples were processed by the two-step austempering process. These samples were initially quenched in a salt bath maintained at 260 °C (500 °F) and then the temperature of the salt bath was raised to interfacial austempering temperatures316 °C, 343 °C, 371 °C and 385 °C. These samples were austempered at these temperatures for 2 h. The test results show that this two-step austempering process has resulted in significant improvement in microstructural parameters (such as higher volume fraction of austenite, X γ , higher carbon content in austenite, C γ , finer ferritic cell size, d , as well as higher total carbon in the matrix, X γ C γ ). Two-step process has also resulted in significant improvement in abrasion wear resistance in ADI, compared to the conventional single-step austempering process.
Current-Based Mechanical Fault Detection for Direct-Drive Wind Turbines via Synchronous Sampling and Impulse Detection

Online fault detection is an effective means to improve wind turbine reliability and performance and reduce wind turbine downtime and operating and maintenance costs. Current-based wind turbine fault detection techniques have received more and more attention in academia and industry due to their nonintrusive character and economic advantages. This paper presents a novel computationally efficient high-resolution wideband synchronous sampling algorithm for the mechanical fault detection of variable-speed direct-drive wind turbines (i.e., no gearbox) only using nonstationary generator stator current measurements. The proposed algorithm synchronously resamples the current signals such that the varying characteristic frequencies of the excitations generated by wind turbine faults in the current signals become constant values. An impulse detection algorithm is then proposed to detect the faults by identifying the excitations from the frequency spectra of the synchronously sampled stator current signals. Experimental studies are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms for the detection of rotor eccentricity and bearing faults of a direct-drive wind turbine operating in variable-speed conditions.
The characterization of CVD single-crystal silicon on insulators: Heteroepitaxy and epitaxial lateral overgrowth

Abstract In the development of the heteroepitaxial silicon technology, progress had been impeled because of the labor and time involved in the evaluation of the crystalline quality of the deposits by transmission electron microscopy and device performance. Therefore an important part of our program has been directed toward the development of rapid and non-destructive methods for the characterization of the silicon crystallinity. It is essential that the results of such methods relate to device performance. In this paper, we update earlier reports on this effort. Emphasis has been placed on the use of UV reflectometry for probing the near-surface silicon quality, photovoltage spectroscopy for probing the “bulk” of the film, interference photovoltage spectroscopy for probing the near-substrate portion of the silicon, and infrared multiple reflectometry to assess the crystalline quality of the substrate surface. The silicon-on-insulator effort has recently been extended on the growth of dielectrically isolated silicon by CVD epitaxial lateral overgrowth. The evaluation of these deposits by transmission electron microscopy is described.
STING-dependent signaling

The sensing of pathogen-associated DNA in the cytoplasm is an important trigger of host-defense responses that include the production of type I interferon. A new study suggests that the DExDc helicase DDX41 may function in dendritic cells as a DNA sensor to activate STING-dependent innate immune responses.
Microinjection of kainic acid into the rat hippocampus

The effects of unilateral injection of kainic acid into the rate hippocampus have been examined in terms of morphologic, neurochemical and behavioral sequelae. Infusion of 10 nmoles if kainate causes a rapid and complete degeneration of neuronal perikarya in the entire hippocampal formation followed by gliosis and atrophy of the region. This unilateral neuronal loss is accompanied by a 50% decrease in the specific activity of the biochemical markers for GABAergic neurons including glutamic acid decarboxylase, endogenous GABA and synaptosomal uptake of [3H]GABA. The extrinsic hippocampal cholinergic and noradrenergic afferents also exhibit significant alteration. Although the specific activity of choline acetyltransferase is unaffected and the specific activity of tyrosine hydroxylase is significantly increased in the injected hippocampus, the synaptosomal high affinity uptake process for [3H]choline and [3H]norepinephrine are significantly reduced at 10 days after injection. Whereas the level of endogenous acetylcholine is elevated in the lesioned hippocampus at 2 days after injection, the level of endogenous norepinephrine is reduced. For several hours after intrahippocampal injections of 5 nmoles or more of kainate, rats exhibit epileptiform behavior. Intrahippocampal injection of kainate may be a useful rodent model for temporal lobe seizure disorders.
Effect of ordered overlayer on field emission from a substrate

Abstract For adsorbate covered metallic surface, Field Emission Energy Distributions (FEED) have been used primarily to study the properties of the adsorbate. In the case of intrinsic surface states/resonances for the substrate, it may be important to investigate the effect of chemisorption on the field emission from substrate. In this paper, we develop a formalism to treat the case of field emission from an ordered overlayer covered surface, from which the effects of surface states/resonances can be explicitly demonstrated. An application to a practical case of (1 × 1) gold covered tungsten (100) face is shown to give reasonable results.
High-temperature superconductivity space experiment: passive millimeter wave devices

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is exploring the feasibility of deploying high temperature superconductivity (HTS) devices and components in space. A variety of devices, primarily passive microwave and millimeter wave components, have been procured and will be integrated with a cryogenic refrigerator system and data acquisition system to form the space package, which will be launched late in 1992. This Space Experiment will demonstrate that this technology is sufficiently robust to survive the space environment and has the potential to significantly improved space communications systems. The devices for the initial launch (HTSSE-I) have been received by NRL and evaluated electrically, thermally and mechanically and will be integrated into the final space package early in 199 1 . The performance of the devices will be summarized and some potential applications of HTS technology in space system will be outlined.
Noninvasive measurement of iron: report of an NIDDK workshop

An international workshop on the noninvasive measurement of iron was conducted by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) on April 17, 2001, to assess the current state of the science and to identify areas needing further investigation. The workshop concluded that a clear clinical need is evident for quantitative, noninvasive, safe, accurate, and readily available means of measuring body storage iron to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with iron overload from such disorders as hereditary hemochromatosis, thalassemia major, sickle cell disease, aplastic anemia, and myelodysplasia, among others. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) potentially provides the best available technique for examining the 3-dimensional distribution of excess iron in the body, but further research is needed to develop means of making measurements quantitative. Biomagnetic susceptometry provides the only noninvasive method to measure tissue iron stores that has been calibrated, validated, and used in clinical studies, but the complexity, cost, and technical demands of the liquid-helium-cooled superconducting instruments required at present have restricted clinical access to the method. The workshop identified basic and clinical research opportunities for deepening our understanding of the physical properties of iron and iron toxicity, for further investigation of MRI as a method for quantitative determinations of tissue iron, especially in liver, heart and brain, and for development of improved methods and more widely available instrumentation for biomagnetic susceptometry.
The Molecular Chaperone, Atp12p, from Homo sapiens IN VITRO STUDIES WITH PURIFIED WILD TYPE AND MUTANT (E240K) PROTEINS

Abstract Work in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has shown that Atp12p binds to unassembled α subunits of F1 and in so doing prevents the α subunit from associating with itself in non-productive complexes during assembly of the F1 moiety of the mitochondrial ATP synthase. We have developed a method to prepare recombinant Atp12p after expression of its human cDNA in bacterial cells. The molecular chaperone activity of HuAtp12p was studied using citrate synthase as a model substrate. Wild type HuAtp12p suppresses the aggregation of thermally inactivated citrate synthase. In contrast, the mutant protein HuAtp12pE240K, which harbors a lysine at the position of the highly conserved Glu-240, fails to prevent citrate synthase aggregation at 43 °C. No significant differences were observed between the wild type and the mutant proteins as judged by sedimentation analysis, cysteine titration, tryptophan emission spectra, or limited proteolysis, which suggests that the E240K mutation alters the activity of HuAtp12p with minimal effects on the physical integrity of the protein. An additional important finding of this work is that the equilibrium chemical denaturation curve of HuAtp12p shows two components, the first of which is associated with protein aggregation. This result is consistent with a model for Atp12p structure in which there is a hydrophobic chaperone domain that is buried within the protein interior.
Integrated research program endorsed for prediction of atmospheric, hydrologic change

More than 60 oceanographic, atmospheric, and hydrologic scientists from academia and the government have endorsed the creation of an integrated U.S. research program forseasonal-to-interannual prediction over North America. The endorsement came at a workshop whose primary focus was on modeling studies of mutual interest to the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment Continental- Scale International Project (GCIP) and the Pan-American Climate Study (PACS). However, workshop participants recognized that developing the ability to improve seasonal-tointerannual predictions within the North American continent requires a coordinated U.S. research program. In such a program, PACS will focus primarily on improving the understanding of interactions between the atmosphere and oceans in the Pan-American region, while GCIP will focus primarily on improving the understanding of interactions between the atmosphere and the land-surface hydrologic system within North America.
Why Are Fewer Women than Men Elected? Gender and the Dynamics of Candidate Selection

Why are fewer women than men elected? Research suggests that this is the combined result of: (1) the supply of female aspirants, or the qualifications of women as a group to run for political offic...
Decay of 149Erg+m by positron and delayed proton emission and by electron capture.

In this study the decay of $^{149}\mathrm{Er}^{\mathrm{g}+\mathrm{m}}$ by positron emission, electron capture, and \ensuremath{\beta}-delayed proton emission was investigated. Gamma rays associated with $^{149}\mathrm{Er}^{\mathrm{m}}$ decay were placed in a decay scheme on the basis of \ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma} and x\ensuremath{\gamma} coincidences and half-life. We assigned 120 \ensuremath{\gamma} rays deexciting 91 levels in $^{149}\mathrm{Ho}$ to 8.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 s $^{149}\mathrm{Er}^{\mathrm{m}}$ decay. The \ensuremath{\pi}${s}_{1/2}$ single-particle state in $^{149}\mathrm{Ho}$ was observed to occur at 49.0 keV above the \ensuremath{\pi}${h}_{11/2}$ ground state. A (3.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7) % isomeric transition decay branch and a (0.18\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07) % \ensuremath{\beta}-delayed proton decay branch were determined for $^{149}\mathrm{Er}^{\mathrm{m}}$ decay. Three additional \ensuremath{\gamma} rays were assigned to 4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2 s $^{149}\mathrm{Er}^{\mathrm{g}}$ decay and a (7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2) % \ensuremath{\beta}-delayed proton decay branch was determined. Measured EC/${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}$ ratios to proton emitting states in $^{149}\mathrm{Ho}$ resulted in a (${\mathit{Q}}_{\mathit{EC}}$-${\mathit{S}}_{\mathit{p}}$)=7.${0}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}0.4}^{+5.0}$ MeV for $^{149}\mathrm{ER}^{8}$ decay and a ${\mathit{S}}_{\mathit{p}}$=1.${4}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}0.6}^{+10}$ MeV for Ho. The \ensuremath{\beta}-delayed proton spectrum from $^{149}\mathrm{Er}^{\mathrm{g}}$ consisted of a highly structured component corresponding to the deexcitation of levels between 4 and 5 MeV in $^{149}\mathrm{Ho}$ and a structureless component corresponding to decay from higher levels. The \ensuremath{\beta}-strength function for $^{149}\mathrm{Er}^{\mathrm{g}+\mathrm{m}}$ decay is discussed in terms of single-particle shell-model structure, weak coupling to the $^{148}\mathrm{Dy}$ core, and decay of \ensuremath{\pi}${h}_{11/2}$ protons across the shell closure to the \ensuremath{\nu}${h}_{9/2}$ neutron orbital.
Intracranial pressure response to stable xenon inhalation in patients with head injury.

Abstract Cerebral blood flow measured by xenon-enhanced computed tomography may provide useful information in victims of severe head injury. To assess the effect of stable xenon inhalation on intracranial pressure, intracranial pressure was measured in 17 mechanically ventilated patients with severe head injury undergoing cerebral blood flow studies with xenon-enhanced computed tomography. Under hypocapnic conditions, mean intracranial pressure increased by less than 1 mm Hg ( p
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Older Adults: Prevalence and Possible Connections to Mild Cognitive Impairment

Attentional deficits are frequently seen in isolation as the presenting sign and symptom of neurodegenerative disease, manifest as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Persistent ADHD in the geriatric population could well be misconstrued as MCI, leading to the incorrect assumption that such persons are succumbing to a neurodegenerative disease process. Alternatively, the molecular, neuroanatomic, or neurochemical abnormalities seen in ADHD may contribute to the development of de novo late life neurodegenerative disease. The present review examines the issue of causality vs confound regarding the association of ADHD with MCI, suggesting that both are tenable hypotheses.