cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Entropy production in a non‐conservative gravitational theory

The production of entropy is calculated in a Friedman Universe governed by a non-conservative gravitational theory permitting the creation of matter. The calculation has two motivations, the first is that it represents a mechanism to generate the large entropy per baryon observed, and secondly, it simulates the ten dimensional mechanism for entropy production by the out-of-equilibrium condition between massive string modes and massless modes with the added condition of energy non-conservative gravitation. Fur eine nichtkonservative Gravitationstheorie mit Materieerzeugung wird die Entropieproduktion im Friedman-Universum berechnet. Die Rechnung hat zwei Motive. Erstens stellt sie einen Mechanismus zur Erzeugung des beobachteten gro$sZen Entropie-pro-Baryon-Verhaltnisses dar. Zweitens simuliert sie den 10-dimensionalen Mechanismus der Entropieproduktion durch die nicht-Gleichgewichtsbedingung zwischen den massiven Stringmoden und den masselosen Moden des nichtkonservativen Anteils der Gravitation.
The i-δ relations on the Cayley tree for S > 1

Abstract It is shown that the i-δ relations for the Ising model on the Cayley tree, exact for spin 1 2 and spin 1, are not in general exact for spin S. The discrepancy is found, for several Cayley trees, to be less than 2×10−3 for all temperatures.
Jaw Muscle Silent Periods: The Effect of Acrylic Splints

Jaw muscle silent periods were recorded in response to a chin tap during maximal clench in asymptomatic subjects. The insertion of a palatal splint did not change the silent period duration. However, an occlusal splint, or part of it, caused a significant increase in the duration of the silent period.
Arsenic polyps on contacts to GaAs

Features resembling polyps composed of As/sub 2/O/sub 3/ observed on GaAs devices under two conditions are discussed. In one case they appear on top of multilayer metal contacts on GaAs and are related to the presence of Au in the contact materials that reacts with underlying GaAs. In the other case, they appear both on metal and exposed GaAs surfaces and are related to the presence of humidity acting under the influence of metal-semiconductor contact potentials. >
Publication of Nonsignificant Results: A Survey of Psychologists' Opinions:

A total of 236 Ph.D. and 1 M.A. faculty completed an e-mail survey regarding their opinions about publication of nonsignificant results. Tenured faculty were significantly less likely than nontenured faculty to write manuscripts for studies with nonsignificant results. Reasons for not writing a manuscript included a perceived inability to publish the manuscript, time concerns, flawed methods or design, inability to interpret results, and the belief that the results are unimportant. The presence of the file drawer problem is supported, and possible solutions are discussed.
Securing and utilizing social dynamics

Considering the popularity and wide adoption of social network systems and the competitive edge these systems provide, there has been a rapid growth in use of these systems to access, store, and exchange personal attribute information in distributed and/or federated environments and this trend is expected to continue. Efficient, secure, and user-centric techniques are important for the successful deployment of such systems. The vision of dynamic social networks is a complex and highly sophisticated one that requiring ongoing research and analysis to continue concurrent with the changing role and face of digital information creation and usage including personal information and contents in social networks. This talk presents ongoing research results and findings related to (a) security mechanisms for securing social networks and (b) analytic intelligence for understanding and discovering social dynamics.
Neurogenesis in adult canary telencephalon is independent of gonadal hormone levels

Neurons generated in adulthood are found throughout the canary telencephalon. We are interested in the factors that control the rate of proliferation of stem cells that give rise to these new neurons. The rate of incorporation of newly generated neurons into vocal-control regions varies seasonally. This difference could reflect a higher rate of neurogenesis, a lower rate of cell death, or an altered migration. We examined the incidence of thymidine-labeled cells in the telencephalic ventricular zone of adult canaries as a function of variations in gonadal hormone levels. Adult female canaries maintained on a short-day photoperiod were anesthetized and gonadectomized. Four separate groups of birds received systemic exposure to either testosterone, estradiol, a combination of an anti-androgen and an inhibitor of estrogen synthesis, or nothing. All birds were also implanted with an osmotic minipump that released 3H-thymidine for 3 d and were killed 4 or 7 d following the onset of treatment. Analysis of autoradiograms revealed no differences between groups in the incidence of labeling within the ventricular zone either at the level of the anterior commissure or directly adjacent to the vocal-control nucleus HVC (higher vocal center). These results suggest that sex steroids do not regulate the rate of cell division in the ventricular zone. Seasonal differences in the incorporation of labeled cells into HVC may therefore be due to regulation of neurogenesis by photoperiodic factors other than gonadal steroids or to some other cellular mechanism, such as differential migration or survival of neurons.
Identification of the in vivo casein kinase II phosphorylation site within the homeodomain of the cardiac tisue-specifying homeobox gene product Csx/Nkx2.5.

Csx/Nkx2.5, a member of the homeodomain-containing transcription factors, serves critical developmental functions in heart formation in vertebrates and nonvertebrates. In this study the putative nuclear localization signal (NLS) of Csx/Nkx2.5 was identified by site-directed mutagenesis to the amino terminus of the homeodomain, which is conserved in almost all homeodomain proteins. When the putative NLS of Csx/Nkx2.5 was mutated a significant amount of the cytoplasmically localized Csx/Nkx2.5 was unphosphorylated, in contrast to the nuclearly localized Csx/Nkx2.5, which is serine- and threonine-phosphorylated, suggesting that Csx/Nkx2.5 phosphorylation is regulated, at least in part, by intracellular localization. Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping indicated that Csx/Nkx2.5 has at least five phosphorylation sites. Using in-gel kinase assays, we detected a Csx/Nkx2.5 kinase whose molecular mass is approximately 40 kDa in both cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts. Mutational analysis and in vitro kinase assays suggested that this 40-kDa Csx/Nkx2.5 kinase is a catalytic subunit of casein kinase II (CKII) that phosphorylates the serine residue between the first and second helix of the homeodomain. This CKII site is phosphorylated in vivo. CKII-dependent phosphorylation of the homeodomain increased Csx/Nkx2.5 DNA binding. Serine-to-alanine mutation at the CKII phosphorylation site reduced transcriptional activity when the carboxyl-terminal repressor domain was deleted. Although the precise biological function of Csx/Nkx2.5 phosphorylation by CKII remains to be determined, it may play an important role, as this CKII phosphorylation site within the homeodomain is fully conserved in all known members of the NK2 family of the homeobox genes.
A data‐driven approach to patient blood management

BACKGROUND: Patient blood management (PBM) has become a topic of intense interest; however, implementing a robust PBM system in a large academic hospital can be a challenge. In a joint effort between transfusion medicine and information technology, we have developed three overlapping databases that allow for a comprehensive, semiautomated approach to monitoring up-to-date red blood cell (RBC) usage in our hospital. Data derived from this work have allowed us to target our PBM efforts. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Information on transfusions is collected using three databases: daily report, discharge database, and denominator database. The daily report collects data on all transfusions in the past 24 hours. The discharge database integrates transfusion data and diagnostic billing codes. The denominator database allows for rate calculations by tracking all patients with a hemoglobin test ordered. A set of algorithms is applied to automatically audit RBC transfusions. The transfusions that do not fit the algorithms’ rules are manually reviewed. Data from audits are compiled into reports and distributed to medical directors. Data are also used to target education efforts. RESULTS: Since our PBM program began, the percentage of appropriate RBC orders increased from an initial 70%-80% to 90%-95%, and the overall RBC transfusions/1000 patient-days has decreased by 67% in targeted areas of the hospital. Our PBM program has shaved approximately 3% from our hospital’s blood budget. CONCLUSION: Our semiautomated auditing system allows us to quickly and comprehensively analyze and track blood usage throughout our hospital. Using this technology, we have seen improvements in our hospital’s PBM.
Experimental Study of Twisting First Generation BSCCO Tapes

The use of high temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes in a flexible cryostat has been shown to provide great opportunities for the US Navy. The HTS tapes need to be fixed at the ends to provide an electrical connection. Since the ends are rigid but the tapes are contained in a changing environment there is a possibility that the tapes may become twisted and therefore damaged. Twisting is defined in this paper as the rotation of the tape along the length of the tape while the end has no attack-angle. The twisting length and angle of first generation (1G) BSCCO tapes is studied by measuring the voltage drop across the tapes in a liquid nitrogen bath when current is applied.
Computational clock drawing analysis for cognitive impairment screening

This paper presents computational support for the Clock Drawing Test (CDT), a simple cognitive dysfunction diagnosis tool. Despite its popularity of current use, the CDT has been administered the same way for the past three decades as a pencil-and-paper test. By making a computerized drawing test, we can understand the process of clock drawing construction rather than simply analyzing the final drawing. In this paper, we will first introduce our computerized Clock Drawing Test, the ClockReader. Then, we will describe two automated data-capturing methods with specific data examples. The automated data analysis can provide neuropsychologists with useful qualitative information, such as the process of drawing, as well as patients' planning strategies.
Gigabit-density magnetic recording

A tutorial on the principles of magnetic recording is given. The enormous rate of areal density increase for the past thirty years as well as the principal technological changes behind such sustained progress are outlined. The general issues involved in gigabit-density recording and the features that are common to both IBM'S and Hitachi's gigabit efforts are explored. The principal recording components, namely, the recording head and the medium, are considered, focusing on the problems encountered in designing, optimizing, and realizing them for gigabit-density applications. The performance of gigabit recording configurations from both IBM and Hitachi is reviewed. The performance limitations of these gigabit configurations and the prospects for further areal density extensions in magnetic recording are discussed. >
The Effect of Low‐Skilled Immigration on U.S. Prices: Evidence from CPI Data

I exploit the large variation across U.S. cities and through time in the relative size of the low‐skilled immigrant population to estimate the causal effect of immigration on prices of nontraded goods and services. Using an instrumental variables strategy, I find that, at current immigration levels, a 10 percent increase in the share of low‐skilled immigrants in the labor force decreases the price of immigrant‐intensive services, such as housekeeping and gardening, by 2 percent. Wage equations suggest that lower wages are a likely channel through which these effects take place. However, wage effects are significantly larger for low‐skilled immigrants than for low‐skilled natives, implying that the two are imperfect substitutes.
Managing Climate Change Risk: Insurers Can Lead the Way

Abstract Rapid climate change has been occurring for the past few decades (IPCC 2012). These climate changes are predicted to continue and possibly accelerate for many decades to come (IPCC 2012). One of the industries most affected by climate change is the insurance industry; for instance, changing weather patterns could lead to increases in damages from events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods (Mufson 2007). Fortunately, however, the insurance industry is uniquely positioned to lead the way with regard to climate change mitigation and risk management. Insurers can promote a more sustainable future through better risk-based modeling and product pricing; through innovative green products; through partnering with businesses for better environmental governance; through alliances with policy-makers and regulators to ensure voluntary market adjustments for risk; and by championing the enforcement of building code efforts (Lloyd's 2006; Liedtke, Schanz, and Stahel 2009). Finally, while insurers can potentially have a major influence over the management of climate change risk in society, they must first model sustainability in order to be credible advisors to customers and other constituents.
Significant Human β-Cell Turnover Is Limited to the First Three Decades of Life as Determined by in Vivo Thymidine Analog Incorporation and Radiocarbon Dating

Aims: Diabetes mellitus results from an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. The turnover rate of adult human β-cells remains unknown. We employed two techniques to examine adult human islet β-cell turnover and longevity in vivo. Methods: Subjects enrolled in National Institutes of Health clinical trials received thymidine analogs [iododeoxyuridine (IdU) or bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)] 8 d to 4 yr prior to death. Archival autopsy samples from 10 patients (aged 17–74 yr) were employed to assess β-cell turnover by scoring nuclear analog labeling within insulin-staining cells. Human adult β-cell longevity was determined by estimating the cells’ genomic DNA integration of atmospheric 14C. DNA was purified from pancreatic islets isolated from cadaveric donors; whole islet prep DNA was obtained from a 15-yr-old donor, and purified β-cell DNA was obtained from two donors (ages 48 and 80 yr). 14C levels were then determined using accelerator mass spectrometry. Cellular “birth date...
Using SQL to Develop Database Query Proficiency: A Follow‐Up Note to Borthick, Jones, and Kim (2001)

In the Spring 2001 issue of Journal of Information Systems (JIS), Borthick et al. (2001) presented a case in which students were to query a Microsoft Access database in order to determine the mutual assurance concerning customer service for an automobile manufacturer and its local dealer network. I follow‐up this case by presenting an additional teaching note to the case that develops query strategies and solutions for the case using Oracle and its SQL application, SQL‐Plus.
Logistics of Massive Transfusions

Care of the patient with massive bleeding involves more than aggressive surgery and infusion of large amounts of blood products. The proper management of massive transfusions-whether they are in trauma patients or other bleeding patients-requires coordination of the personnel in the surgical suite or the emergency department, the blood bank, and laboratory.
Trade‐offs between supportive and provisioning ecosystem services of forage species in marine food webs

Ecosystem-based management of natural resources involves an explicit consideration of trade-offs among ecosystem services. In marine fisheries, there is the potential for a trade-off between the supporting role of small pelagic fish and cephalopods in food webs, and the provisioning service they play as a major target of fisheries. Because these species play central roles in food webs by providing a conduit of energy from small prey to upper trophic level predators, we hypothesized that trade-offs between these two ecosystem services could be predicted based on energetic properties of predator–prey linkages and food-web structure. We compiled information from 27 marine food-web models (all within the Ecopath framework) that included either small pelagic fish or cephalopods, described predator–prey linkages involving these species, and developed a novel analytical framework to estimate how changes in yields of forage species would propagate through food webs and other fisheries. Consistent with expectations, diet overlap between predators and prey was generally low, and predator–prey linkages tended to be asymmetric; contribution of these species to predator diets was, on average, larger than the contribution of individual predator stocks to prey mortality. The estimated trade-offs between yields of forage fish and predator species were highly variable when we assumed joint bottom-up and top-down control on predation. Roughly one-third of this variance was related to an interactive effect of fishing and predation intensity; strong trade-offs were predicted when fishing intensity on forage species is high and when predators account for a high proportion of total forage mortality. When trophic connections were presumed to be driven by bottom-up processes, trade-offs were more predictable, but generally very small. Contrary to our expectations, trade-offs were not easily predicted from energetic properties, largely because predators of forage species exhibited a high degree of intra-guild predation, and also consumed many of the same prey as forage species. Given the limited ability to a priori predict the food-web implications of forage fisheries, we suggest that a precautionary risk-based approach be applied to decisions about acceptable biological removals of forage fish and biological targets used for their management.
Low biodiversity state persists two decades after cessation of nutrient enrichment

Although nutrient enrichment frequently decreases biodiversity, it remains unclear whether such biodiversity losses are readily reversible, or are critical transitions between alternative low- and high-diversity stable states that could be difficult to reverse. Our 30-year grassland experiment shows that plant diversity decreased well below control levels after 10 years of chronic high rates (95-270 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)) of nitrogen addition, and did not recover to control levels 20 years after nitrogen addition ceased. Furthermore, we found a hysteretic response of plant diversity to increases and subsequent decreases in soil nitrate concentrations. Our results suggest that chronic nutrient enrichment created an alternative low-diversity state that persisted despite decreases in soil nitrate after cessation of nitrogen addition, and despite supply of propagules from nearby high-diversity plots. Thus, the regime shifts between alternative stable states that have been reported for some nutrient-enriched aquatic ecosystems may also occur in grasslands.
Effect of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on Nasopharyngeal Colonization among Immunized and Unimmunized Children in a Community-Randomized Trial

Background Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) prevent vaccine serotype (VT) invasive disease; nonvaccine serotype (NVT) disease increases modestly. The impact of PCV on nasopharyngeal (NP) colonization is essential to understanding disease effects. Methods We conducted a community-randomized controlled trial with catch-up vaccination through age 2 years investigating the effect of 7-valent PCV (PnCRM7) on NP colonization among American Indian infants and their unvaccinated contacts. Infants receiving blinded vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age had NP cultures obtained at age 7, 12, and 18 months. Serotype-specific colonization was detected by immunoblot. Results We enrolled 566 vaccinated and 286 unvaccinated children from 511 households and collected 5157 specimens, of which 3525 (68.4%) had pneumococcus. PnCRM7 vaccinees were less likely to be colonized with VT (odds ratio [OR], 0.40 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.23-0.67]) but were more likely to be colonized with NVT pneumococci (OR, 1.67 [95% CI, 1.02-2.78]). PnCRM7 vaccinees were less densely colonized with VT strains than control vaccinees (OR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.38-0.99]). Day care-attending unvaccinated children in PnCRM7 communities were less likely to have VT colonization than those in control communities (OR, 0.27 [95% CI, 0.07-1.07]). Conclusions PnCRM7 reduces the risk of VT acquisition and colonization density but increases the risk of NVT acquisition among vaccinees and their household contacts.
Decreased serum somatomedin C concentrations during sleep: temporal relationship to the nocturnal surges of growth hormone and prolactin.

Serum concentrations of immunoreactive so-matomedin C, GH, and PRL were determined on samples obtained from 16 adult subjects throughout the day. Samples were collected by a portable continuous flow, blood withdrawal pump. Somatomedin C concentrations were stable during waking hours [1.13 ± 0.09 U/ml (mean ± SE)] but fell after the onset of sleep o t a minimum value of 0.85 ± 0.08 U/ml. After awakening, the concentration rose progressively to a mean of 1.26 ± 0.10 U/ml between 1100–1200 h. These changes were statistically significant. There were no sex differences in the sleep-related decrement. The secretion of GH showed the expected surge in the first hours of sleep, and PRL concentrations were higher in the late phases of sleep or immediately after awakening. In sleep reversal experiments, three subjects who were deprived of sleep had a modest, slightly delayed fall in somatomedin C but no secretory peaks of GH or PRL. After the delayed onset of sleep, somatomedin C declined sharply as human GH concent...
Aqueous mercuric ion detection with microsphere optical ring resonator sensors

We have developed a novel optical sensor for mercuric ion Hg(II) detection in an aqueous environment by utilizing a fused silica microsphere ring resonator. Due to the high Q-factor associated with the whispering gallery modes (WGM) (>10 5 ) at the surface of the microsphere, the light interaction with the analytes on the sphere surface is significantly increased, resulting in enhanced sensitivity. The spectral position of the WGM of a microsphere shifts in response to the binding of Hg(II) to the surface of the microsphere, which is activated by the thiol group. Our experimental results show that the Hg(II) detection limit of the microsphere sensor is approximately 50 ppb (w/w) and that mercuric ions bind to thiol groups with 1:3 stoichiometry. Control experiments with zinc ions and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (2-MBT) were also performed to ensure that Hg(II) binds selectively to thiol groups.
The Oracle Story: 1984-2001

This article tells the story of Oracle from 1984 through 2001, primarily through the author's experiences during those years. Andrew Mendelsohn worked on the software development team that built the Oracle relational database management system (RDBMS). During this time, Oracle went from being a small niche software company to becoming one of the giants in the software industry. Although many observers believe Oracle's strong marketing and sales organizations were the primary reasons for its success during this time, Mendelsohn argues that Oracle's success was also due to its highly innovative RDBMS product that was strongly differentiated from its competitors. This article traces the development of the Oracle RDBMS through the mainframe, minicomputer, client-server, and Internet computing eras. It calls out the key competitors at each stage and the key product innovations that allowed Oracle to compete so successfully in the market. Finally, this article also provides insight into the workings of the overall Oracle business and culture.
The Diameter of Melanomas

Background. The mnemonic ABCD, which stands for asymmetry, border irregularity, color variation, and diameter greater than 6 mm alerts physicians to features that suggest melanoma. Although the ABCD criteria are guidelines for diagnosis, clinicians may overlook many melanomas that do not follow the ABCD rule. Objective. We examined the sensitivity of the diameter portion of the ABCD rule. Methods. Retrospective study examining the pathology reports of 383 melanomas. Data were compiled for each melanoma regarding its diameter, depth, body location, patient age, and sex. A 95% confidence interval (p=0.05) was used to identify the proportion of melanomas less than or equal to 6 mm in diameter. A two-tailed p value approach (p value =0.05, degrees of freedom=28) was used when evaluating two independent populations, lesions less than or equal to 6 mm and lesions greater than 6 mm in diameter. Results. A total of 38.21% of melanomas were less than or equal to 6 mm in diameter after processing. Melanomas greater than 6 mm in diameter occurred in significantly older patients and at a greater Breslow's thickness than smaller melanomas. Conclusions. We demonstrated that a significant proportion of melanomas may be smaller than 6 mm. The ABCD criteria are not absolute; melanomas have many different appearances and start as small lesions.
Native Chemical Ligation in Covalent Caspase Inhibition by p35

Wide-spectrum caspase inhibition by the baculoviral p35 protein was previously shown to be a consequence of covalent inhibition in which a thioester bond is stably formed between the cleavage residue Asp87 of p35 and the active site Cys360' of caspase-8. Here we show that the N-terminal fragment of cleaved p35 (p35-N) is a circular peptide when dissociated from the caspase. Biochemical and crystallographic data suggest that p35-N circularization results from the trapping of a native chemical ligation intermediate in the p35/caspase complex, in which the N-terminal Cys2 of p35 attacks the Asp87-Cys360' thioester to form an equilibrium between Asp87-Cys2 and Asp87-Cys360'. This provides a crucial covalent interaction for keeping the N terminus of p35 bound in the caspase active site, which explains the absolute requirement of Cys2 for caspase inhibition. Participation of native chemical ligation in caspase inhibition by p35 illustrates an unusual mechanism of protease inhibition.
Stability Of Rubble Mound Breakwaters

Numerous investigators have shown that wave steepness, and consequently wave period, is a factor in the stability of rubble mound breakwaters. Some present design methods do not explicitly consider wave period. A modified wave steepness dependent stability number, accounting for inertia effects is presented herein. The following derivation of an equation for armor stone weight at incipient instability (motion) generally parallels an earlier derivation by Raichlen, but retains lift and inertia terms in the final analysis. As a result, a stability equation similar to that of Iribarren and Nogales is found, but which includes an inertial parameter dependent on wave steepness.
Addressing Heterogeneity in the Networked Information Environment

Several ongoing Stanford University Digital Library projects address the issue of heterogeneity in networked information environments. A networked information environment has the following components: users, information repositories, information services, and payment mechanisms. This paper describes three of the heterogeneity-focused Stanford projects-InfoBus, REACH, and DLITE. The InfoBus project is at the protocol level, while the REACH and DLITE projects are both at the conceptual model level. The InfoBus project provides the infrastructure necessary for accessing heterogeneous services and utilizing heterogeneous payment mechanisms. The REACH project sets forth a uniform conceptual model for finding information in networked information repositories. The DLITE project presents a general task-based strategy for building user interfaces to heterogeneous networked information services.
Longer Ambulatory ECG Monitoring Increases Identification of Clinically Significant Ectopy.

BACKGROUND Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) can cause a reversible reduction in systolic function. Most studies use 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms (AECGs) to assess PVC burden; however, PVC counts vary across 24-hour periods. We hypothesized that extended AECG monitoring would better identify clinically significant ectopy. METHODS All 14-day AECGs performed at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 2012 and 2015 (N = 694) were reviewed, and individuals with PVC counts ≥1.0% of total heartbeats were included (N = 101). Daily PVC counts and the range of these values across 24-hour periods were assessed. Median time for these ranges to cross clinically significant thresholds (PVCs ≥ 10%, 15%, or 20% of total heartbeats) was determined. RESULTS Median PVC burden was 2.6% of total heartbeats (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.6-5.4%) and the median range across 24-hour periods was 3.6% (IQR: 2.0-9.1%). Individual ranges of daily PVC burden crossed thresholds of 10%, 15%, and 20% of total heartbeats in 26.7%, 16.8%, and 6.9% of patients, respectively. Median time to detecting an individual's maximum PVC burden was 6 days (IQR: 2-11 days). While 75% of those who reached the 20% threshold did so on day one of monitoring, only 53% of those reaching the 10% threshold did similarly, with a continually increasing yield throughout the 14-day monitoring period. CONCLUSIONS PVC burden varies widely from day-to-day. While most patients with PVC burdens ≥20% were detected with 24 hours of monitoring, extended monitoring nearly doubled the identification of those reaching the 10% threshold.
OPTIMAL DESIGN OF A SWASHPLATELESS MAIN ROTOR FEATURING ACTIVE CONTROL OF BLADE TWIST

An analytic model was developed for the response and trim of a swashplateless main rotor system featuring active control of blade twist. The torsional actuator consisted of a piezoelectric induced-shear tube. A parametric study was conducted to determine the sensitivity of blade structural design parameters to the actuation requirements for primary rotor control. The study indicated that tailoring the blade torsional frequency can result in up to 80% reduction in actuation power requirements.
The Genus Curreya: An Example of Taxonomic Confusion in the Ascomycetes

The great majority of species of Ascomycetes having ascospores with both transverse and longitudinal septa belong in the Loculoascomycetes. These species are currently arranged in relatively few, heterogeneous genera. The recognition of additional families within the Loculoascomycetes (Barr, 1979) demands, in turn, clarification of the limits of each genus and its position in a revised classification. A study of generic types is in progress. The genus Curreya was erected by Saccardo (1883) in the Dothideaceae for species with brown muriform ascospores in octosporous asci borne in stromata. Two species were included, C. conorum (Fckl.) Sacc. and C. excavata (Cke. & Ell.) Sacc.; the first of these, C. conorum, has been accepted by later authors as the type species of the genus. Between 1883 and 1915, at least 13 additional species were described in Curreya, but Theissen and Sydow (1915) included only three: C. conorum, C. pusilla Karst. & Malbranch, and C. shepherdiae Ell. & Ev. They arranged Curreya in the Montagnellaceen 1. Eu-Montagnelleae, and for several species of Curreya erected new genera: Epibotyrs for Curreya ? bambusicola Speg. (Montagnellaceen), Dictyodothis for Curreya berberidis Rehm and C. excavata (Dothideen), Hyalocurreya for Curreya sandicensis Ell. & Ev. and C. palmincola Rehm (Eu-Montagnelleen). Additionally, Theissen and Sydow (1915) excluded from the genus C. ulmicola Pass. which has "true" beaked perithecia, purple-red peridium and lacks stroma, and considered C. (Curreyella) larigna (Lamb. & Fautr.) v. Hohnel as a doubtful species.
Peritoneal Dialysis for In-Hospital Patients

To facilitate peritoneal dialysis for acute renal failure a procedure of continuous peritoneal dialysis using the Lasker cycler has been evaluated for 4 years in 140 patients. There were only five episodes of peritonitis. Individualized dialysis prescriptions were achieved and a closed system was maintained. The system, however, was bulky. Dialysis personnel and hospital staff shared responsibility for the conduct of the dialysis.
Study on the Primary Immunization Work Quality Assessment Indicators and Methods

OBJECTIVE In order to provide a reference for the establishment of scientific assessment standard system, this paper investigates primary immunization work quality assessment indicators and methods. METHODS Through the literature review combined with work experience. RESULTS The currently applied primary immunization program quality assessment indicators and methods are still under development stage, and some evaluation indicators and methods in use have been lack of scientific and rational justification, which have resulted in the failure in achieving the correct and effective evaluation results. CONCLUSION As the immunization information management develops rapidly, grass-roots EPI quality comprehensive evaluation indexes and methods of work should be improved to a more scientific, more standardized and more informational level.
Determining canine myocardial area at risk with manganese-enhanced MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To test whether manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can safely depict the myocardial area at risk both during coronary artery occlusion and for at least 2 hours after reperfusion in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All procedures were performed in accordance with the animal care and use committee of the National Institutes of Health. In eight dogs, the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was occluded for 90 minutes, and 15 μmol of MnCl2 per kilogram of body weight was intravenously infused for 12 minutes. Phase-sensitive inversion-recovery MR imaging of the LAD arterial territory was performed before occlusion, during MnCl2 infusion, and for at least 2 hours after reperfusion. Hemodynamic responses were monitored continuously. Fluorescent microsphere enhancement was used as the reference standard for determining the area at risk ex vivo. Results are reported as percentages of left ventricular area. Correlation, Bland-Altman, and t test analyses were performed. RESULTS: Signi...
Overview on the Single Raw Material Health Foods Approved in China and the Revelations for Their Registration and Administration

Objective To investigate the current status of single raw material health foods registration in China. Method The registration of 419 single raw material health foods from the State Food and Drug Administration ( SFDA) in the period of 2003-2007 were studied and analyzed,including the registration number,function claims,material categories and active ingredients,etc. Results The number of single raw material health foods accounted for 13. 1% of total registered functional foods in this period. Half of the function claims were enhancing immune function. The active ingredients were nonspecific. The most common ingredients were polysaccharide,total saponins and total flavonoid. The chief categories of component were traditional Chinese material,foodstuff,edible fungi and algae. Conclusion The use of extracted materials might bring potential quality and safety issues because of no unified standards and processing technique. It is necessary to standardize management for extracted materials urgently. Take the single raw material products as a trial to seek a simplified mode for the registration and management of health foods.
Steps Towards the Development of a Written Culture in Oral Culture Communities: The Role Played by a University of Hawaii Bilingual Project for Micronesians

It is only recently that the governments and peoples of the United Nations Trust Territory have come to realize the crucial role native Micronesian cultures and languages must play in the lives of Micronesians. In one way the people of Truk, Ponape, Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Carolinian Islands, Yap and Kusaie--the seven districts of Micronesia-are like the people of medieval England, Germany, and France. Their languages are spoken but rarely written down. Not until recently were there grammars, dictionaries, and systems of standardized spelling. Portions of the Bible, prayers, and hymns were translated quite some time ago, but these were few in number and they varied in details of the writing system, depending on the missionaries who translated them. English has served a function not unlike that of medieval Latin. Since the end of World War II it has been the language of reading and writing. In Micronesian schools teaching for literacy has been the teaching of skills in English. These skills have been and will continue to be necessary to those who want college degrees or careers in trade or tourism. Similar arguments could be presented for another major language, Japanese. But, as of now, English is not normally used for business and political affairs within island groups. For news broadcasts, religious services, commerce, and for almost all communication with the exception of secondary teaching, vernacular languages are used. For many Micronesians their command of English will never be adequate to express fully what they want to say, yet for purposes of reading and writing, English has been the only available language. Most Micronesians need command of a writing system for their vernacular for those times when a record of words is important--for wills, letters, and business transactions--and for creative purposes where writing is an aid to shaping an art form, exploring and evaluating ideas, and recording human experience. Tape recorders are useful adjuncts, especially for preserving the oral quality of stories but are less efficient than writing for distribution and storage. In schools there are specific needs for stories and materials written in the vernacular language. Without such materials it is difficult to teach young children the decoding strategies required for reading. Since all reading matter has traditionally been printed in English, children have had to wait until they knew a fair amount of English before they
Intestinal epithelia (T84) possess basolateral ligands for CD11b/CD18- mediated neutrophil adherence

The process of active intestinal inflammation can be modeled by the migration of neutrophils [polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN)] across monolayers of the human intestinal cell line T84. We now evaluate the polarity of early adhesive events occurring between human PMN and ligands on intact T84 monolayers. Transient Ca2+ depletion (tr-Ca-depl) of confluent monolayers grown on permeable supports (2 mM EDTA, 12 min, 37 degrees C) resulted in disruption of tight junctions separating apical and basolateral domains (resistance fell from 973 +/- 35 to 57.4 +/- 3.8 omega.cm2 after 12 min). The columnar T84 phenotype was not grossly altered by tr-Ca-depl. Access to basolateral membrane proteins from the apical surface after tr-Ca-depl was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay and immunofluorescence, using antibodies to the basolateral proteins E-Cadherin and beta 1-integrin. The effects of tr-Ca-depl on early events in PMN adhesion were next assessed. Neutrophils (2 x 10(6)) were applied to the apical surface of monolayers followed by stimulation with the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (100 nM, 5 min, 37 degrees C) and quantitation. In comparison with control monolayers, tr-Ca-depl increased subsequent PMN adhesion (1.7 +/- 0.24 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.28 x 10(4) adherent PMN/monolayer; P < 0.005), which was inhibited 80% by anti-CD11b/CD18 antibodies. These experiments suggest that PMN adhere to subjunctional ligands on T84 cells in a CD11b/CD18-dependent fashion.
Nematocide residues in plants.

Although one nematocidal chemical was in use before 1900, widespread use of chemicals for the control of plant-parasitic nematodes in soil is a development of the past 16 years. The most popular and useful of these are volatile materials popularly known as “soil fumigants”. These are usually applied by placement 15 or 20 cm. beneath the soil surface in lines about 30 cm. apart. This application method is known as “area treatment”. A popular alternative method is placement of the nematocide beneath the planting rows only, leaving the intervals between rows untreated. This is known as “row treatment”. The fumigants diffuse from the application points through the upper 45 to 60 cm. of the soil. Other soil nematocides are applied in water solution or emulsion or are in granular form to be mixed with the soil. All are more or less toxic to plants and are usually applied to the soil several days or weeks before planting; a few are sufficiently non-toxic to certain kinds of plants so that they can be applied at planting time or even around the roots of growing plants. In any case, there is ample opportunity for crop plants growing in soil treated with nematocides to take up the undecomposed nematocides or the products of their decomposition.
Left-Handers and the Right Mind

According to the popular belief, the intellectual activity of left-handers is dominated by the right hemisphere that controls the movements of the left hand. Left-handers contend this anatomical arrangement gives them a creative edge and a cognitive style that differs from that of left-hemisphere dominated right-handers. There is little evidence to support either creativity or cognitive style differences between right- and left-handers. Cognitive ability varies as a function of lateralization but the crucial factor seems to be whether handuse patterns are mixed or consistent rather than whether one is right- or left-handed. The brains of right- and left-handers are more alike than different. Virtually, all right-handers and most left-handers have language lateralized to the left hemisphere although left-handers are more likely to have right hemisphere or bilateral language function. Hemispheric activity during cognitive tasks is also more symmetrical in the brains of left-handers. Researchers agree that the left hemisphere is specialized for language functions, while the right hemisphere takes the lead in visual–spatial tasks. However, this functional asymmetry does not translate into differences in the thinking patterns of right- and left-handers as both hemispheres are involved in most cognitive tasks.
Use of sacrificial embankments to minimize bridge damage from scour during extreme flow events

The leading cause of bridge failure has often been identified as bridge scour, which is generally defined as the erosion or removal of streambed and/or bank material around bridge foundations due to flowing water. These scour critical bridges are particularly vulnerable during extreme flood events, and pose a major risk to human life, transportation infrastructure, and economic sustainability. Retrofitting the thousands of undersized and scour critical bridges to more rigorous standards is prohibitively expensive requiring effective yet economical countermeasures. This research tested the efficacy of using approach embankments as intentional sacrificial “fuses” to protect the bridge integrity and minimize damage during large flow events by allowing the streams to access their natural floodplain and reduce channel velocities. This countermeasure concept was evaluated using the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System models. Steady flow models were developed for three specific bridges on two river reaches. Streamflow return period estimators for both river reaches were developed using Bayesian analysis and available United States Geological Survey stream gauge data to evaluate sacrificial embankments under non-stationary climatic conditions. The use of sacrificial embankments was determined to be a cost-effective scour mitigation strategy for bridges with suboptimal hydraulic capacity and unknown or shallow foundations. Additional benefits of sacrificial embankments include reductions in upstream flood stage and velocity.
Nonadiabatic tunneling via conical intersections and the role of the geometric phase

As a ubiquitous quantum effect, tunneling has attracted attention ever since the dawn of quantum mechanics. However, recent evidence suggests that nonadiabatic atomic tunneling near a conical intersection (CI) behaves differently from its adiabatic counterpart, producing lifetime differences of up to two orders of magnitude. Using two-dimensional models, we demonstrate here that the failure of the adiabatic model in describing tunneling near a CI can be attributed largely to the neglect of the geometric phase, which is associated with the adiabatic electronic wave function transported around a CI. The geometric phase--induced destructive interference among wave functions following different paths around the CI, manifested as a node in the adiabatic wave function, retards tunneling.
2,3-Butanediol production using Klebsiella oxytoca ATCC 8724: Evaluation of biomass derived sugars and fed-batch fermentation process

Abstract For this study, 2,3-butanediol (BD) fermentation from pure and biomass-derived sugar were optimized in shake-flask and 5-L bioreactor levels using Klebsiella oxytoca ATCC 8724. The results showed that 70 g/L of single sugar (glucose or xylose) and 90 g/L of mixed-sugar (glucose:xylose = 2:1) were optimum concentrations for efficient 2,3-BD fermentation. At optimum sugar concentrations, 2,3-BD productivities were 1.03, 0.64 and 0.50 gL −1 h −1 , and yields were 0.43, 0.36 and 0.35 g/g in glucose, xylose and mixed-sugar medium, respectively. The lack of simultaneous utilization of glucose and xylose led to the lowest productivity in the mixed-sugar medium. Detoxification of biomass hydrolyzates was necessary for efficient 2,3-BD fermentation when sugar concentrations in the medium was 90 g/L or higher, but not with sugar concentrations of 30 g/L or less. A fed-batch fermentation using glucose medium led to an increase 2,3-BD titer to 79.4 g/L and yields 0.47 g/g, while productivity decreased to 0.79 gL −1 h −1 . However, the fed-batch process was inefficient using mixed-sugar and biomass hydrolyzates because of poor xylose utilization. These results indicated that appropriate biomass processing technologies must be developed to generate separate glucose and xylose streams to produce high 2,3-BD titer from biomass-derived sugar using a fed-batch process.
Assessing the thrombotic risk of patients with essential thrombocythemia in the genomic Era

The molecular characterization of myeloproliferative neoplasms, including essential thrombocythemia (ET), has enabled deeper understanding of their pathogenesis. A driver lesion, namely, Janus kinase (JAK)2V617F, calreticulin (CALR) or myeloproliferative leukemia (MPL) gene mutation can be identified in the vast majority of patients. Each of these mutations is associated with distinct clinical features and may modulate the patients’ clinical course, risk of complications, including vascular events, and survival. JAK2V617F appears to be a risk-modifying mutation and has been shown to increase the likelihood of thrombotic events in patients with ET across studies. As such, it has been included in prognostic models and its presence may influence treatment decisions. The association of CALR and MPL mutations with the incidence of vascular events has been less clear. Even more limited information is available on the contribution of additional non-driver lesions to the thrombotic risk. In this review we discuss the available evidence on the role of recurrent mutations in the risk of thrombotic complications in patients with ET and how these mutations weigh into modern prognostic scores.
Increasing viability of nonlinear energy harvesters by adding an excited dynamic magnifier

Dynamic magnifiers and coupled harvester arrays are two strategies that have been developed over the past decade to improve the peak power and bandwidth of energy harvesters. However, both of these...