cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronopotentiometry with programmed current. II. Response function additivity principles applied to current programming and multicomponent systems

Abstract The principle of additivity of response functions forms the basis of a new method for derivation of theoretical chronopotentiometric transition tune relations for programmed currents and multicomponent systems with diffusion-controlled transport. To use the method it is necessary to have available, for all types of single current impulses used, the characteristic current impulse response functions describing the diffusion gradients and surface depletions for single component systems. These are obtained through solution, of Fick's law. Response function additivity is utilized in multi-component systems by summing the n - and D -weighted surface depletions of all reactants; the resulting surface concentration response function is then at all times equal to the impulse current response function characteristic of the current impulse used for linear diffusion. In current programming , the n and D 12 -weighted surface depletion of the electroactive species is, by the response additivity principle for linear diffusion, equal to the summation of the response functions of all current impulses employed, each current impulse response function being written for the time of usage of the respective current impulse. Solution of Pick's law to obtain the chronopotentiometric transition time relations for such cases is therefore unnecessary. Generalized relations are given for multi-component systems and current programming and for combinations of the two cases. The method of derivation is illustrated using a number of known cases. New equations are derived for the specific cases of (1) single component systems : step-reverse-ramp, step-reverse-square root of time, step-plus-negative ramp and ramp-reverse-ramp current reversal programs, step-wise reactions with any power of time current impulse, square root of time impulse program, staircase, square wave, and sawtooth periodic current programs (linear diffusion), and multi-step and step-reverse-step current programs (spherical and cylindrical diffusion), (2) multicomponent systems: step and square root of time current impulses (spherical and cylindrical diffusion).
Identification of Linear Time Invariant Systems

In this paper, we develop a unified approach for identification of linear time-invariant systems. It is shown that given the experimental frequency response data of the system, the plant can be identified using a simple, numerically reliable algorithm. Further, an error bound is derived for exponentially stable systems when the frequency response data is corrupted by bounded noise. An example is presented to illustrate the proposed algorithm.
Use of Comparative Law in Determining the Customary International Law of Human Rights

Comparative law method is essential to determining the customary international law status of rules of human rights law. Doing the hard, detailed work of comparative law is necessary if we are to give up on the unfortunate tendency to make overly broad, unsupported claims that wide varieties of human rights have passed into customary international law. The traditional use of only interstate practice in determining rules of customary international law is insufficient where the rules concern relationships between states and individuals, especially their own nationals. This, however, is the essence of human rights law. Comparative law techniques allow, and are necessary to, determining the scope and content of human rights guarantees across different states and legal systems. Only through use of these techniques can we determine state practice on human rights, and the reasons that the rights are protected (opinio juris) — i.e., which rights are protected by customary international law. This piece uses one example, the determination that non-retroactivity of crimes and punishments has passed into customary international law, and shows which version of that principle has become the rule of customary international law. This sort of research may sometimes lead to unwelcome conclusions that, in fact, some rights have not yet become customary international law, or have become customary only in weak or incomplete forms.
Opportunistic Osteoporosis Screening: Addition of Quantitative CT Bone Mineral Density Evaluation to CT Colonography

Abstract Purpose For patients undergoing CT colonography (CTC), the screening presents an opportunity for concurrent osteoporosis screening, without increasing radiation exposure or the time involved for the patient, using proximal femur quantitative CT-CT x-ray absorptiometry (QCT-CTXA). Methods This cohort included 129 women and 112 men (mean age: 60.1 ± 8.2 years; range: 50–95 years) who underwent CTC between March 2013 and September 2014. Areal bone mineral density (BMD; g/cm 2 ), and resultant left femoral neck T-score, was prospectively measured on the supine CT series. QCT results were reported with the CTC. Chart review evaluated whether the patients were eligible for BMD screening according to guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force and the National Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines; whether they had undergone prior BMD testing; and whether QCT results changed patient management. Results Overall, 68.0% (164 of 241) of patients from this cohort had not previously undergone BMD screening. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines, 44.0% (106 of 241) of patients were eligible for screening. T-scores within the osteopenic and osteoporotic range were detected in 32.3% (78 of 241) and 5.0% (12 of 241) of patients, respectively. Of these patients with low BMD, 66.7% (60 of 90) either had not previously undergone screening or were eligible for BMD testing. Reporting of QCT-CTXA T-scores altered management in 9 patients (3.7%) who had low BMD. Conclusions Maximizing the pre-existing value from imaging studies is crucial in the current era of health care reform. We demonstrate that colorectal and osteoporosis screening can be combined at CT examination, adding clinical and likely economic value.
Repeatability of radiotracer uptake in normal abdominal organs with 111In-pentetreotide quantitative SPECT/CT

With an increasing emphasis on quantitation of SPECT imaging and its use in dosimetry to guide therapies, it is desirable to understand the repeatability in normal-organ SPECT uptake values (SPECT-UVs). We investigated the variability of normal abdominal organ uptake in repeated 111In-pentetreotide SPECT studies. Methods: Nine patients with multiple 111In-pentetreotide SPECT/CT studies for clinical purposes were evaluated. Volumes of interest were drawn for the abdominal organs and applied to SPECT-UVs. The variability of those values was assessed. Results: The average SPECT-UV for the liver (1.7 ± 0.6) was much lower than for the kidneys (right, 8.0 ± 2.4; left, 7.5 ± 1.7). Interpatient and intrapatient variability was similar (intraclass correlation coefficients, 0.40–0.59) for all organs. The average coefficients of variation for each organ for each patient were obtained and averaged across all patients (0.26 for liver, 0.22 for right kidney, and 0.20 for left kidney). The coefficients of variation for the organs across all scans were 0.33 (liver), 0.30 (right kidney), and 0.22 (left kidney). Conclusion: Variability across all patients and all scans for the liver was higher than reported with 18F-FDG PET, though left kidney variability was similar to PET liver variability and left kidney uptake may be able to serve as an internal metric for determining the quantifiability of an 111In-pentetreotide SPECT study.
The eight classes of positive-curvature graphitic nanocones.

The eight different classes of single-wall positive-curvature graphitic nanocones are emphasized, characterized, and illustrated. Local transformations among different possible apex-region structures within a common class are investigated, it being noted that there is no short sequence of such transformations which convert from any one of these eight classes to another. Attention is directed to class identification and to nanocone codes, especially for “buckycones” comprised solely from pentagonal and hexagonal rings.
Patient Safety Events During Pediatric Hospitalizations

Objective. Our objective was to describe potential patient safety events for hospitalized children, using the patient safety indicators (PSIs), and examine associations with these events. Methods. PSI algorithms, developed by researchers at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to identify potential in-hospital patient safety problems using administrative data, were applied to 3.8 million discharge records for children under 19 years from 22 states in the 1997 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Prevalence of PSI events and associations with patient-level and hospital-level characteristics, length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and total charges were examined. Results. The prevalence of pediatric patient safety events is significant with the highest rate found for birth trauma at 1.5 cases per every 100 births. The majority of these events for birth trauma consist of long bone and skull fractures, excluding the clavicle. Compared with records without PSI events, discharges with PSI events had 2- to 6-fold longer lengths of stay, 2- to 18-fold higher rates of in-hospital mortality, and 2- to 20-fold higher total charges. Bivariate and multivariate analyses found that all PSI events except birth trauma were directly associated with factors related to greater severity of illness and large urban teaching institutions. Birth trauma, however, was directly associated with black and Hispanic ethnicity but was not consistently associated with technologically sophisticated teaching institutions. Conclusions. The prevalence of birth trauma and other potential patient safety events for hospitalized children is high and comparable to hospitalized adults. These events are associated with increased length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and total charges. Associated factors differ significantly for birth trauma compared with other PSI events. Institutional application of the PSIs may be useful to identify processes of care that warrant further evaluation as the health care industry tackles the problem of patient safety, particularly for children.
Gun possession among American youth: a discovery-based approach to understand gun violence.

OBJECTIVE: To apply discovery-based computational methods to nationally representative data from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions' Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System to better understand and visualize the behavioral factors associated with gun possession among adolescent youth. RESULTS: Our study uncovered the multidimensional nature of gun possession across nearly five million unique data points over a ten year period (2001-2011). Specifically, we automated odds ratio calculations for 55 risk behaviors to assemble a comprehensive table of associations for every behavior combination. Downstream analyses included the hierarchical clustering of risk behaviors based on their association "fingerprint" to 1) visualize and assess which behaviors frequently co-occur and 2) evaluate which risk behaviors are consistently found to be associated with gun possession. From these analyses, we identified more than 40 behavioral factors, including heroin use, using snuff on school property, having been injured in a fight, and having been a victim of sexual violence, that have and continue to be strongly associated with gun possession. Additionally, we identified six behavioral clusters based on association similarities: 1) physical activity and nutrition; 2) disordered eating, suicide and sexual violence; 3) weapon carrying and physical safety; 4) alcohol, marijuana and cigarette use; 5) drug use on school property and 6) overall drug use. CONCLUSIONS: Use of computational methodologies identified multiple risk behaviors, beyond more commonly discussed indicators of poor mental health, that are associated with gun possession among youth. Implications for prevention efforts and future interdisciplinary work applying computational methods to behavioral science data are described. Language: en
Isolation of non-myelin plasma membranes unique to white matter

Abstract A procedure is described for isolating two membrane fractions from rabbit spina-cord white matter enriched with 5′-nucleotidase, a nonspecific plasma membrane marker, 2′, 3′-cyclic nucleotide phosphohydrolase, an oligodendroglial plasma membrane marker, and acetylcholinesterase, an axonal plasma membrane marker. While the two membrane fractions exhibited similar enrichments with respect to cyclic nucleotide phosphohydrolase, enrichments of 5′-nucleotidase and acetylcholinesterase were significantly greater in the heavier membranes were not detected. Moreover, gray matter did not yield homologous membrane fractions in the gradient when subjected to the identical procedure, indicating that the two membrane fractions were unique to white matter. While electronmicroscopic examination revealed that both membrane fractions were contaminated with myelin, the heavier fraction was least contaminated and exhibited a fair degree of homogeneity with respect to single membrane vesicular profiles. It was concluded that both membrane fractions were enriched with oligodendroglial and axonal plasma membranes, with the heavier fraction containing significantly more axolemma.
An ultimate tensile strength dependence on processing for consolidated metal matrix composites

The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of metal and intermetallic matrix unidirectional composites can be significantly lower than expected from the rule of mixtures prediction. One possible explanation is that the fibers in the as-processed state are in a residual state of stress and in some cases are broken because of the inhomogeneous nature of the densification during manufacture. Three main results emerge from the effort to include the effect of this processing damage on the composite UTS. First is the development of a simple but accurate analytical version of Curtin's model for predicting the stress-strain response and UTS of this class of composites. Second is the generalization of Curtin's model to include both process induced fiber bending and fracture. Third is that the reduction in strength is a sensitive function of the consolidation conditions; thus a link is established between the quality of the composite and the conditions of its manufacture.
Photoluminescence emissions both in the visible and infrared spectra from thin, uncapped InN deposits

Abstract Thin, uncapped InN deposits on GaN buffer layers are grown and subsequently annealed in a metal organic chemical vapor deposition reactor. Atomic force microscopy imaging of the InN surface reveals a sudden transition from a two- to a three-dimensional structure with increasing growth time. Strong room-temperature photoluminescence is observed from the InN, with peak emissions in the 2.2–3.1 eV and 0.7–0.9 eV ranges. High-energy emissions are shown to be associated with a two-dimensional InN wetting layer, red shifting with increasing growth time and blue shifting with increasing annealing time. Low-energy emissions near the purported bulk energy gap of InN emerge in deposits with well-developed three-dimensional islands, but disappear when these islands are removed during the process of annealing.
Contact Transformations and Hamiltonian Dynamics in Generalized Semigeostrophic Theories

This paper is concerned with the fundamental role played by contact transformations and their corresponding generating functions in determining the structure and dynamical properties of a very general class of semigeostrophic theories possessing a Hamiltonian of the kind discovered by Salmon. It is shown that each member of this class of theories is associated with a self-adjoint tendency equation. To illustrate the utility, of the contact transformation concept, a new vortex theory is constructed by imposing upon the generating function a radial scaling symmetry, equivalent dynamically to the very reasonable constraint that small balanced perturbations about any state of solid-body rotation are simulated accurately. The new theory is a consistent generalization of the existing axisymmetric-vortex form of semigeostrophic dynamics and preserves the important conservation laws of mass, energy, potential vorticity, and angular momentum. In a sensitive idealized test, the new theory is shown to give reasonably accurate simulations of barotropic instability. 36 refs., 5 figs., 2 tabs.
Rapid Evolution in the House Finch ( Carpodacus mexicanus )

House Finches introduced in eastern North America from western California stock in 1940 have become setablished in the east. The new population has developed slightly shorter wings and tails and markedly shorter tarsi and toes, but significantly larger bills than those appendages of the California population from which they were descended. Shorter wings and tails, if indicative of body size, may be correlated with a more moist climate in eastern North America. Shorter legs and toes suggest adaptation by eastern birds to colder climate in accordnace with Allen's rule, or they may indicate adaptation to feeding from perches rather than on the ground. Increase in bill size may be an adaptation to greater size of food items, such as sunflower seeds at feeding stations, required particularly during severe winter weather encountered in the east but not in California. Small weed seeds are the primary winter food of California House Finches while the new eastern population depends heavily in winter on food provided at feeding stations where sunflower seeds, which are much larger than the native foods, are preferred. Adaptation in ability of indiviadual birds to handle the large sunflower seeds may have favored survival of those individuals with larger bills among the founders of the eastern population.
Unemployment and the optimal export-processing zone☆

Abstract In a country with Harris–Todaro unemployment, the formation of an urban export-processing zone reduces national income unless it raises rural wages. In that case, increases in zone wages increase national income by less than dollar-for-dollar. If foreign capital is taxed optimally, then intermediate imports into the zone should be subsidized, while the wage should be at the minimum feasible level. For a given tax policy, either the wage should be at the minimum or the ad valorem tariff on the intermediate should exceed the inverse of the elasticity of supply of labor from the countryside. Existing zone policies depart from these prescriptions.
The zinc requirement of dinucleotide pyrophosphatase in mammalian organs.

Abstract The enzyme in unfractionated rat kidney which cleaves UDPG to yield glucose 1-phosphate is slowly and completely inactivated by polyacetic-acid-chelating agents and may be fully reactivated only by Zn 2+ out of a total of eighteen cations tested. Imidazole also inactivates, but not by removal of a metal, and the effect is reversible by dilution alone. A smilar Zn 2+ requirement was shown for the enzyme activity in eight other rat organs and the kidneys of eight other species. No difference in regard to inactivation and reactivation by Zn 2+ was observed whether the substrate was UDPG, ADPG, CDPG, GDPG (rat kidney, liver, intestine and heart), DPN + or FAD (rat kidney). Kinetic evidence indicates that, at least in rat kidney and liver, a single enzyme is responsible for the major activity toward UDPG and ADPG.
Nonconvex Online Support Vector Machines

In this paper, we propose a nonconvex online Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm (LASVM-NC) based on the Ramp Loss, which has the strong ability of suppressing the influence of outliers. Then, again in the online learning setting, we propose an outlier filtering mechanism (LASVM-I) based on approximating nonconvex behavior in convex optimization. These two algorithms are built upon another novel SVM algorithm (LASVM-G) that is capable of generating accurate intermediate models in its iterative steps by leveraging the duality gap. We present experimental results that demonstrate the merit of our frameworks in achieving significant robustness to outliers in noisy data classification where mislabeled training instances are in abundance. Experimental evaluation shows that the proposed approaches yield a more scalable online SVM algorithm with sparser models and less computational running time, both in the training and recognition phases, without sacrificing generalization performance. We also point out the relation between nonconvex optimization and min-margin active learning.
Up-regulation of Bcl-2 through hyperbaric pressure transfection of TGF-β1 ameliorates ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat cardiac allografts

Background: Oxidative stress after ischemia-reperfusion of cardiac allografts leads to activation of cardiomyocytes and production of cytokines. Bcl-2, an inhibitor of the apoptotic pathway, also has strong antioxidant properties. Ischemia-reperfusion injury after transplantation leads to decreased bcl-2 and increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a levels. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β 1 is known to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury and inhibits apoptosis of myofibroblasts. We hypothesize that TGF-β 1 , prevents bcl-2 cleavage and increased TNF-a production. Methods: Rat PVG donor hearts were heterotopically transplanted into ACI recipients. Donor hearts were procured and assigned to groups: (1) intracoronary TGF-β 1 (200 ng/ml) perfusion and pressure at 78 psi for 45 minutes (n = 4); (2) intracoronary TGF-β 1 perfusion and incubation for 45 minutes without pressure (n = 4), (3) saline perfusion and incubation for 45 minutes without pressure (n = 4). Hearts were procured 4 hours after transplantation and analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for bcl-2 mRNA expression, ELISA for TNF-a, and for myeloperoxidase activity (MPO). Results: Bcl-2 decreased in untreated animals (bcl-2:G3PDH ratio = 0.85 ± 0.73 vs 1.16 ± 0.11, not significant [NS]), whereas TNF-a increased to 669.99 ± 127.09 vs 276.84 ± 73.65 pg/mg total protein in controls (p < 0.003). In TGF-β 1 pressure-treated hearts, bcl-2 was up-regulated (2.49 ± 0.6 vs 1.16 ± 0.11, controls, p < 0.005), whereas TNF-a was unchanged (396.1 ± 100.38 vs 276.84 ± 73.65 pg/mg, NS). Hearts treated with TGF-β 1 and pressure showed significant up-regulation of bcl-2 compared with hearts treated with TGF-β 1 without pressure (2.49 ± 0.6 vs 1.17 ± 0.6, p < 0.02). MPO showed no differences. Conclusions: Bcl-2 is down-regulated and TNF-a up-regulated in this model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Furthermore, TGF-β 1 is linked to this process and ameliorates reperfusion injury by up-regulating bcl-2 and inhibiting TNF-a. Therapeutic overexpression of myocardial TGF-β 1 may be clinically useful to control ischemia-reperfusion injury associated with cardiac transplantation.
Analysis Of Spect Using Monte Carlo Simulation

A Monte Carlo program has been developed to simulate the response of a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system. Phantoms are represented by any number of spheres and cylinders which are placed inside a single, larger cylinder. The phantom, source distribution, and system parameters are specified in an input file. The code permits data acquisition by a stationary or rotating gamma camera. The quality of the images is degraded by scatter and attenuation of radiation by tissue which, in turn, is dependent on object size, shape, composition, and density. The simulation enables control of components which govern the emission and transport of radiation through the source and attenuating medium. Thus, the simulation is useful for analyzing and designing algorithms to compensate for scatter and attenuation. The accuracy of the SPECT simulation is illustrated by measuring the scatter fraction, resolution, ARMS noise, and image contrast. These results are then compared with experimental results to validate the accuracy of the simulation. A method of compensating for the degrading effects of scatter and attenuation is examined.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Functional effects of alar cartilage malposition.

Nasal airway obstruction is frequently synonymous with septal deviation or inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Less readily appreciated is the fact that the mobile lateral nasal wall caudal to the bony arch can obstruct the airway, particularly at the internal or external nasal valves. External valvular incompetence can result from postsurgical or congenital causes, among the most common of which is alar cartilage malposition. Twenty-seven patients with alar cartilage malposition in a series of 61 patients (44%) treated for airway obstruction from external nasal valvular incompetence comprise this report. Rhinomanometric data demonstrate an increase in total nasal airflow from 99 ± 17 ml (mean ± SEM) to 190 ± 37 ml per 14 seconds after valvular correction. Patients in whom additional septal pathology was corrected nevertheless had no significant airflow improvement over patients with external valvular reconstruction alone. Treatment principles of valvular incompetence from alar cartilage malposition are given for primary and secondary rhinoplasty patients, among which is a composite conchal cartilage/skin graft that can reconstruct a functioning lateral crus and replace a vestibular skin deficiency. Interestingly, alar cartilage relocation to correct the malposition also narrows the alar base, even when no alar wedge resection is performed. Constantian MB Functional effects of alar cartilage malposition
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS: TOP-DOWN APPROACHES TO FRACTURE

The utility and robustness of the mechanics of materials is illustrated through a review of several recent applications to fracture phenomena, including adhesive failures, the role of plasticity in enhancing toughness in films and multilayers, and crack growth resistance in ductile structural alloys. The commonalty among the approaches rests in a reliance on experiments to provide calibration of the failure process at the smallest scale.
Effect of physical restraint on oxidative stress in mice fed a selenium and vitamin E deficient diet.

Physical restraint has been associated with increased oxidative damage to lipid, protein, and DNA. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether physical restraint would further exacerbate oxidative stress in mice fed a selenium (Se) and vitamin E (VE) deficient diet. Three-week-old mice were fed a Torula yeast diet containing adequate or deficient Se and VE. Menhaden oil was added to the deficient diet to impose an additional oxidative stress. After 4 wk feeding, half the mice in each group were restrained for 5 d in well-ventilated conical tubes for 8 h daily. Mice fed the Se and VE deficient diets had increased liver thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) levels and decreased liver glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) activity and α-tocopherol levels. Plasma corticosterone levels were elevated in restrained mice fed the deficient diet compared to unrestrained mice fed the adequate diet. Restraint had no effect on liver TBARS or α-tocopherol levels. Liver GPX1 activity, however, was lower in restrained mice fed the adequate diet. In addition, liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was lower in the restrained mice fed the adequate or deficient diet. Thus, under our conditions, Se and VE deficient diet, but not restraint, increased lipid peroxidation in mice. Restraint, however, decreased antioxidant protection in mice due to decreased activities of GPX1 and SOD enzymes.
A strong generic ergodicity property of unitary and self-adjoint operators

Consider the conjugacy action of the unitary group of an infinite-dimensional separable Hilbert space on the unitary operators. A strong generic ergodicity property of this action is established, by showing that any conjugacy invariants assigned in a definable way to unitary operators, and taking as values countable structures up to isomorphism, generically trivialize. Similar results are proved for conjugacy of self-adjoint operators and for measure equivalence. The proofs make use of the theory of turbulence for continuous actions of Polish groups, developed by Hjorth. These methods are also used to give a new solution to a problem of Mauldin in measure theory, by showing that any analytic set of pairwise orthogonal measures on the Cantor space is orthogonal to a product measure.
PFC formation utilizing adoptive transfer of lymphoid cells in embryonic and baby chick hosts

Abstract Embryos and newly hatched chicks appear unresponsive to mouse erythrocyte (MRBC) immunization as measured with the hemagglutinin (HA) and plaque-forming cell (PFC) assays. The competence for PFC formation first detected in the two day chick increased progressively with age. After grafting appropriate lymphoid cells into chick embryos or newly hatched chicks, PFC were observed consistently in the host spleens. Among embryo hosts grafted with blood leucocytes, spleen cells, thymus cells or bone marrow cells from antigen-primed donors, high PFC counts were obtained only in those that received either leucocytes or spleen cells. However, when the hosts were allowed to complete development and immunized with MRBC at hatching, moderate to high splenic PFC counts and HA production occurred in all groups, including those that received thymus or bone marrow cells. The data suggested that the immunologic immaturity may be due not to an inadequacy of the embryonic splenic microenvironment but to the deficiency of immunocompetent cells, particularly the thymus-derived helper cells.
Information handover in time-critical work

Information transfer under time pressure and stress often leads to information loss. This paper studies the characteristics and problems of information handover from the emergency medical services (EMS) crew to the trauma team when a critically injured patient arrives to the trauma bay. We consider the characteristics of the handover process and the subsequent use of transferred information. Our goal is to support the design of technology for information transfer by identifying specific challenges faced by EMS crews and trauma teams during handover. Data were drawn from observation and video recording of 18 trauma resuscitations. The study shows how EMS crews report information from the field and the types of information that they include in their reports. Particular problems occur when reports lack structure, continuity, and complete descriptions of treatments given en route. We also found that trauma team members have problems retaining reported information. They pay attention to the items needed for immediately treating the patient and inquire about other items when needed during the resuscitation. The paper identifies a set of design challenges that arise during information transfer under time pressure and stress, and discusses characteristics of potential technological solutions.
Fast and slow photoresponses in CMR thin films

Summary form only given. As has been known, colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) materials exhibit a sharp insulator-metal transition at room temperature range, which makes them promising in radiation sensor applications. In the work, the photoresponse to the laser pulsed radiation as a change in the resistance in the thin La/sub 0.6/Sr/sub 0.4/MnO/sub 3/ film was studied as a function of temperature.
Spatial and temporal variability in spectral-based surface energy evapotranspiration measured from Landsat 5TM across two mangrove ecotones

Coastal mangroves lose large amounts of water through evapotranspiration (ET) that can be equivalent to the amount of annual rainfall in certain years. Satellite remote sensing can play a crucial role in identifying regional ET trends and surface energy changes after disturbances in isolated and inaccessible areas of coastal mangrove wetlands, like those found in Everglades National Park in southern Florida. Using a combination of long-term datasets acquired from the NASA Landsat 5TM satellite database and the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research project, the present study investigates how ET as well as radiation and other energy balance parameters in the Everglades mangrove ecotone have responded to multiple hurricane events and restoration projects over the past two decades. An energy balance model using satellite data was used to estimate latent heat (λE) in tall and scrub mangrove environments. An eddy-covariance tower and weather tower supplied long-term data of multiple environmental and meteorological parameters that were used in calibrating and testing the modeled results from the Landsat images. Results identified significant differences in λE and soil heat flux measurements between the tall and scrub, and fringe and basin mangrove environments. The scrub mangrove site had the lowest λE rates, highest soil heat flux and lowest biophysical index (i.e., Fractional Vegetation Cover (FVC), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) values. Mangrove damage and mortality associated with two strong hurricanes decreased FVC, NDVI, and SAVI, and increased soil heat flux at the tall mangrove site located in a basin-type environment. Recovery of the spectral characteristics, energy balance parameters and λE following hurricane disturbance was quicker in fringe mangroves than in basin mangroves. Latent heat fluxes (λE) were also relatively high after each storm and may have increased as a result of increasing vapor pressure deficits. Remote sensing of the surface energy balance and λE of mangrove forests can help our understanding of how these environments respond to disturbances to the landscape and the effect that these changes can have on the energy and water budget. Moreover, relationships between energy and water balance components developed for the coastal mangroves of southern Florida could be extrapolated to other mangrove systems in the Caribbean to measure changes caused by natural events and human modifications.
A Framework for Assessing Broad Sense Agreement Between Ordinal and Continuous Measurements.

Conventional agreement studies have been confined to addressing the sense of reproducibility, and therefore are limited to assessing measurements on the same scale. In this work, we propose a new concept, called “broad sense agreement,” which extends the classical framework of agreement to evaluate the capability of interpreting a continuous measurement in an ordinal scale. We present a natural measure for broad sense agreement. Nonparametric estimation and inference procedures are developed for the proposed measure along with theoretical justifications. We also consider longitudinal settings which involve agreement assessments at multiple time points. Simulation studies have demonstrated good performance of the proposed method with small sample sizes. We illustrate our methods via an application to a mental health study.
Aromatic compound degradation by the wood-feeding termite Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki)

Abstract Wood-feeding termites (WFT) have proven to be highly efficient for wood digestion. There is evidence to support the hypothesis that there are ligninolytic enzymes existing in the gut of WFT responsible for wood pretreatment toward cellulose utilization. Elucidating the mechanism of biomass pretreatment through lignin modification in termites will help to develop more efficient lignocellulosic biofuel production processes. The in-vivo degradation of aromatic compounds with different substructures, including dyes, lignin model monomers and dimers, and lignin sulfonate, by Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) was investigated. The degradation of aromatic compounds was determined using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results revealed that WFT were able to metabolize the conjugated aromatic structures and that the degradation efficiency is higher in the foregut and midgut regions than in the hindgut. This is the first time that evidence has been provided to show different aromatic compound degradation in the separate gut segments of a termite. This study provides information on the C. formosanus (Shiraki) lignin modification phenomenon, and it demonstrates that phenomenon’s potential in the breakdown of the plant cell wall. Understanding this lignin modification could contribute to technology that will supplant current harsh pretreatment protocols for plant cell walls and thereby better facilitate the conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose.
Three weak gauge boson production at the SSC

Abstract We calculate the cross sections for three weak gauge boson production in hadronic colliders. We find cross sections ≈ 1 pb for a CM energy of 40 TeV, which may be observable. We find that enhancements in the production of three longitudinal bosons due to strong electroweak breaking effects are not visible because of the dominant production of transverse bosons.
Trade-related intellectual property rights to biological resources: Socioeconomic implications for developing countries

Abstract The Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade proposed conferring trade-related intellectual property rights (TRIPS) to international firms on a variety of life forms and on biotechnology. This proposal has been denounced by developing countries. Many developing countries have relied heavily on indigenous biotechnology from several decades in the area of high-yielding seeds, bio-pesticides and fertilizers, herbal medicines and household consumables. This study analyzes the social, economic, and preservation implications of TRIPS for three types of biological resources: physically nonexhaustible resources, physically exhaustible resources under current use, and physically exhaustible potential future resources. The study concludes that each of these resources may require different degrees of intellectual property right (IPR) protection for their sustained use. Further, establishing IPR to products derived from genetic and biochemical resources is certainly necessary but not sufficient for biodiversity prospecting and the long-term survival of these resources. Along with the IPR protection, developing countries have to develop suitable institutions and policies, governing the use of their open-access biological resources, and enabling local communities to receive partial benefits of biodiversity conservation and prospecting.
Short-term practice effects in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: implications for diagnosis and treatment

Background Practice effects have been widely reported in healthy older adults, but these improvements due to repeat exposure to test materials have been more equivocal in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
The effect of a long-acting recombinant hirudin (PEG-hirudin) on experimental disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in rabbits

Abstract Reproducible disseminated intravascular coagulation in rabbits was provoked by two intravenous injections 24 hours apart of endotoxin from Salmonella enteritidis.There were mild symptoms of DIC before the second injection which considerably increased thereafter. In detail there was a sharp drop of the platelet count and a considerable diminution of Antithrombin III,of Protein C,Plasminogen and Antiplasmin as well as an appearance of fibrin monomer complexes and an increase of the aPTT. When PEG-hirudin in a single dose of 1 mg/kg BW was given simultaneously with the second injection of endotoxin the following alterations were observed: The drop of the platelet count and of the activities of Antithrombin III, Protein C, Plasminogen and Antiplasmin was significantly less pronounced. The fibrin monomer complexes were lower and the aPTT was less prolonged. The thrombin time,however,as a sign of a direct action of hirudin on thrombin was considerably more prolonged than in the controls. The combined effect of these alterations strongly points in the direction of a favourable influence of PEG-hirudin on the course of DIC. It is of special interest that 6 h after the intravenous injection of PEG-hirudin its full effect on the thrombin time was still detectable. This is apparently due to a longer half-life in circulation of PEG-hirudin than of natural hirudin.
An analysis of communication-centered policy alternatives to address the anesthesia drug shortage

Abstract Provision of safe and effective anesthesia relies on an adequate and uninterrupted supply of anesthetic drugs and drugs used to manage complications throughout the perioperative period. The confluence of regulatory and communication barriers impede the ability of the pharmaceutical industry, government and healthcare institutions to effectively respond to anesthetic drug shortages. These impediments directly threaten the health and safety of patients undergoing surgical and diagnostic procedures in the United States. The most common causes of drug shortages are product or quality issues and manufacturing capacity issues. This paper presents 2 policy alternatives directed towards the most common causes of drug shortages; an FDA-operated stakeholder communication center and a public/private partnership communication center. The feasibility of the 2 alternatives was assessed against 5 criteria including population benefit, ethics and equity, cost feasibility, administrative feasibility and political feasibility. Selection of the most favorable alternative was based on the final score from a decision matrix presenting evaluation criteria weighed against each proposed alternative. The final result reveals the public/private communication center as the most feasible alternative. This is consistent with stakeholder agreement that early, accurate communication and coordination will help mitigate and prevent present and future shortages. Specifically, the public/private center will improve the current state of communication, protect proprietary information and provide stakeholders with information regarding manufacturing, supply, distribution, and business issues encouraging coordination of action to attack the root causes of drug shortages.
Childhood sequelae of infant lung disease: exercise and pulmonary function abnormalities after bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

To determine the long-term pulmonary sequelae and effect on exercise tolerance of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), we studied 10 children at a mean age of 10.4 years, who had been born prematurely, survived respiratory distress syndrome, and subsequently developed BPD, and compared them with eight age-matched normal children born at term. Pulmonary function tests and graded exercise stress tests were performed. Residual volume, the ratio between residual volume and total lung capacity, vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity, and maximal expiratory flows at 80%, 70%, and 60% of total lung capacity were all abnormal (P 2 tension was higher (P 2 remained high in patients with BPD compared with control values (P 2 and a rise in tcPco 2 .
Serological properties of porcine trypsin subsequent to inactivation by various methods.

— Porcine trypsin was inactivated by various methods (heat, autolysis, photodynamic action, ultraviolet light, and gamma-radiation) and the inactivated products were tested for their ability to precipitate porcine trypsin antiserum using the capillary fluid precipitin method. It was found that the chemical and structural modifications incurred with irradiation, sufficient to inactivate porcine trypsin, in contrast to heat and autolysis, did not interfere with those parts of the protein surface required for immunochemical reactivity.
Conceptual Analysis of the Thermo-Hydraulic Characteristics of Fission Electric Cell Reactors

The United States Department of Energy, Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) Direct Energy Conversion (DEC) project has as its goal the development of a direct energy conversion process suitable for commercial development. Direct energy conversion is defined as any fission process that returns usable energy without using an intermediate thermal process. This project includes the study of the fission electric cell (FEC). Inherent to the FEC is a cathode insulated from the rest of the cell by a vacuum. This arrangement has the potential to trap energy on the cathode, increasing temperatures and potentially causing structural problems and gas emissions. This paper describes the project efforts to address this and similar thermal issues. This paper describes the development of a Thermal Model that integrates thermodynamic and heat transfer considerations into an overall Design Model. The Thermal Model begins with the basic energy balance. It then applies heat transfer methods to these models to develop a general relationship between temperature and system operating parameters. Finally, the model uses published correlations to relate the general parameters to specific geometric configurations. The Thermal Model demonstrates that the low energy densities typical of fission electric cells result in assemblies whose available heat transfer mechanisms efficiently transport any waste heat the systems generate. This results in a design at this conceptual level with significant opportunities to optimize system operations and economics using operating temperature. The model also demonstrates that for the same reasons, heat buildup has a weak correlation with system operating voltage.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Kinetic studies of the Fe(II) oxidation with human serum ferroxidase-II☆

Abstract A nonceruloplasmin ferroxidase (ferroxidase-II) has recently been identified and purified from whole human serum and from the Cohn IV-1 fraction of human plasma. Ferroxidase-II has been shown to differ greatly from ferroxidase-I (ceruloplasmin) in molecular weight, copper content, absorption spectra, inhibition by anions, Chromatographic behavior, and electrophoretic mobility. A cell designed for the simultaneous measurement of absorbance and oxygen concentration has permitted a detailed study of the kinetics of Fe(II) oxidation by highly purified ferroxidase-II and a comparison of these kinetic properties to those previously determined for ferroxidase-I. Ferroxidase-I has been shown to exhibit two K m values for Fe(II), and a mechanism based on substrate activation has recently been proposed to account for this finding. In contrast, ferroxidase-II has only one K m for Fe(II) and does not appear to be subject to substrate activation. The pH optimum of ferroxidase-II is 7.2 compared to 6.5 for ferroxidase-I. The low K m (4.1 μ m ) for oxygen for ferroxidase-II indicates that it would be capable of catalyzing the oxidation of Fe(II) at oxygen concentrations comparable to or far below those normally present in human blood. Even though the two ferroxidases differ considerably in molecular weight and copper content, the molar activities and activities per Cu atom of the two enzymes are quite similar. These kinetic studies suggest that ferroxidase-II would be capable of functioning as an alternative for ferroxidase-I in human serum and as the major ferroxidase in the sera of several species that contain low ferroxidase-I levels.
Minimization of Transient Emissions from Rotary Kiln Incinerators

Abstract Transient emissions of organics can occur from rotary kiln incinerators when drums containing liquid wastes bound on sorbents are introduced in a batch-wise fashion. Physical processes controlling the release of waste from the sorbent material are greatly affected by the rotation speed of the kiln and the kiln temperature. Local partial pressure of oxygen influences the rate of oxidation of the puff formed inside the kiln. These physical and chemical phenomena can be exploited to effect control of transient emissions by oxygen enrichment, where this is accomplished in either a steady or a dynamic mode. Experimental results from a pilot-scale rotary kiln incinerator simulator were combined with a theoretical model in order to explore the potential of minimizing transient emissions through changes in kiln rotation speed, kiln temperature, steady oxygen enrichment, and oxygen enrichment in a dynamic mode. Results indicated that transient organic emissions could indeed be minimized by changes in thes...