cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Computer Simulation to Study Impact of Increasing Routine Test Volume on Turnaround Times of STAT Samples on ci8200 Integrated Chemistry and Immunoassay Analyzer

Automated clinical chemistry analyzers were first introduced as single- and multichannel continuous flow analyzers in the 1960s (1)(2). Ongoing evolution of analyzers has been driven by two factors: ( a ) increased demand by clinicians for rapid turnaround times (TATs); and ( b ) a need to decrease the cost of producing laboratory results and to consolidate laboratory testing into fewer workstations. The diagnostic industry has responded to this need by developing analyzers that have high throughput and expanded test menus, and perform both clinical chemistry assays and immunoassays on a single platform. As a result of these technical innovations, analyzer throughput and assay TAT are now dependent on such factors as ( a ) tests ordered on samples, ( b ) the number of samples loaded on a analyzer, and ( c ) the STAT-vs-routine ratio. Selection of the most appropriate analyzer to meet laboratory TAT consistently is no longer a trivial exercise of dividing the total number of daily tests by an analyzer’s hourly throughput to determine whether it will meet laboratory needs. The goals of this study were to determine the feasibility of using MedModel 2001 (Promodel Corporation) software to develop a simulation model of the ci8200 integrated chemistry and immunoassay analyzer manufactured by Abbott Diagnostics, to estimate the percentage error in the model’s predictions of test TAT, and finally, to use the validated model to evaluate the impact of increased routine test volumes on the TAT of STAT samples. A simulation model of a clinical analyzer uses computer software specifically designed to imitate and capture an analyzer’s dynamic behavior to study its performance under different conditions. Researchers in Europe and the United States have used computer simulations to study various aspects of clinical laboratory operation, including staff assignments, evaluating the queue length, and priority handling and processing TAT for different sample types (3) …
Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Nephropathy: East Is East and West Is West?

[ill] a time it appeared that the kidney was an organ [ill] from any clinically important involvement [ill] atients with the acquired immunodeficiency syn[ill]me (AIDS). Then in 1984, the first reports of [ill] disease in patients with AIDS were pub[ill] 1-3 and, although a variety of renal lesions have [ill] described, attention has focused on a particu[ill] alignant syndrome characterized clinically by elde[ill]ic-range proteinuria and rapidly advancing ure [ill]and histologically by focal and segmental [ill] (FSGS). 4-6 Indeed, in the centers [ill]this syndrome, it has been observed in as [ill] of patients with AIDS. 4,6 Most of the [ill]been observed in blacks with intravenous [ill] as the AIDS risk factor, suggesting [ill]human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)– [ill]nephropathy could be a variant of so[ill] nephropathy, also characterized by [ill]confined largely to black IV drug users. 7,8 [ill] the clinical course of HIV-associated ne[ill] seems to differ from that of heroin ne[ i
Analysis of Turbulence Collapse in the Stably Stratified Surface Layer Using Direct Numerical Simulation

The nocturnal atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) poses several challenges to standardturbulenceanddispersionmodels,sincethestablestratificationimposedbytheradi- ative cooling of the ground modifies the flow turbulence in ways that are not yet completely understood. In the present work we perform direct numerical simulation of a turbulent open channel flow with a constant (cooling) heat flux imposed at the ground. This configuration provides a very simplified model for the surface layer at night. As a result of the ground cool- ing, the Reynolds stresses and the turbulent fluctuations near the ground re-adjust on times of the order of L/uτ ,w hereL is the Obukhov length scale and uτ is the friction velocity. For relatively weak cooling turbulence survives, but when ReL = Luτ /ν 100 turbulence collapses, a situation that is also observed in the ABL. This criterion, which can be locally measured in the field, is justified in terms of the scale separation between the largest and smallest structures of the dynamic sublayer.
Mirror Training in Three Dimensions for Dental Students

Dental students have significantly improved skills of indirect vision following mirror exercises in two dimensions. The objective of this study was to assess whether freshmen improved these skills after mirror training in three dimensions. A pretest was given to 60 subjects, maneuvering a handpiece-shaped probe through a brass block maze. Total time, error time, and total errors were recorded for each of three perceptually different mirror positions. Subjects were then randomly divided into two groups. Group A participated in 2 training sessions; Group B (a control) received no training. Both groups then performed a posttest. Transformed time scores examined by analysis of variance indicated a significant difference for total time between Groups A and B at posttest at each mirror position. For error time, Groups A and B were significantly different at posttest at Positions 2 and 3. For total errors, groups were significantly different at posttest at Mirror Position 3 only. Indirect vision skills improved significantly with training in three dimensions.
Mechanisms of Temperature Cycle Failure in Encapsulated Optoelectronic Devices

One of the key reliability limitations of low cost encapsulated optoelectronic devices has been temperature cycling. This is because the clear polymers used to encapsulate the devices have expansion coefficients significantly greater than the devices to be encapsulated. This mismatch causes thermal stresses and cyclical stress causes low cycle fatigue failure.1 In this paper we show how the use of log-normal plots of the failure rate allows ready comparison of different device types and structures, extrapolation to different stress conditions and the examination of the statistical significance of the results. Two types of stress condition are distinguished, polymer motion and polymer force. In the polymer motion mode, the polymer portion is large and stiff compared to the rest of the device. In the polymer force mode, the polymer is small and/or soft compared to the device. In terms of device design, the two things that affect the mode and the temperature cycle reliability are structure and materials. In the structures area, a series of comparisons between elastic stress theory and observed failure rates is done for different device geometries. Stress concentrations around ceramic substrates, bending forces on ceramic substrates, stress concentrations around stiff lead frames, stress in wire loops and kink formation in gold wire are all examined. An integrated model for certain failure modes is proposed. In the materials area, the benefits of soft silicones and so-called magic epoxes are presented.
Comparative toxicity study of Ag, Au, and Ag–Au bimetallic nanoparticles on Daphnia magna

A comparative assessment of the 48-h acute toxicity of aqueous nanoparticles synthesized using the same methodology, including Au, Ag, and Ag–Au bimetallic nanoparticles, was conducted to determine their ecological effect in freshwater environments through the use of Daphnia magna, using their mortality as a toxicological endpoint. D. magna are one of the standard organisms used for ecotoxicity studies due to their sensitivity to chemical toxicants. Particle suspensions used in toxicity testing were well-characterized through a combination of absorbance measurements, atomic force or electron microscopy, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and dynamic light scattering to determine composition, aggregation state, and particle size. The toxicity of all nanoparticles tested was found to be dose and composition dependent. The concentration of Au nanoparticles that killed 50% of the test organisms (LC50) ranged from 65–75 mg/L. In addition, three different sized Ag nanoparticles (diameters = 36, 52, and 66 nm) were studied to analyze the toxicological effects of particle size on D. magna; however, it was found that toxicity was not a function of size and ranged from 3–4 μg/L for all three sets of Ag nanoparticles tested. This was possibly due to the large degree of aggregation when these nanoparticles were suspended in standard synthetic freshwater. Moreover, the LC50 values for Ag–Au bimetallic nanoparticles were found to be between that of Ag and Au but much closer to that of Ag. The bimetallic particles containing 80% Ag and 20% Au were found to have a significantly lower toxicity to Daphnia (LC50 of 15 μg/L) compared to Ag nanoparticles, while the toxicity of the nanoparticles containing 20% Ag and 80% Au was greater than expected at 12 μg/L. The comparison results confirm that Ag nanoparticles were much more toxic than Au nanoparticles, and that the introduction of gold into silver nanoparticles may lower their environmental impact by lowering the amount of Ag which is bioavailable.
p53 Monitors Replication Fork Regression by Binding to “Chickenfoot” Intermediates

The tumor suppressor protein, p53, utilizes multiple mechanisms to ensure faithful transmission of the genome including regulation of DNA replication, repair, and recombination. Monitoring these pathways may involve direct binding of p53 to the DNA intermediates of these processes. In this study, we generated templates resembling stalled replication forks and utilized electron microscopy to examine p53 interactions with these substrates. Our results show that p53 bound with high affinity to the junction of stalled forks, whereas two cancer-derived p53 mutants showed weak binding. Additionally, some of the templates were rearranged to form "chickenfoot" structures in the presence of p53. These were mostly formed due to p53 trapping intermediates of spontaneous fork regression; however, in a small population, the protein appeared to be promoting their formation. Collectively, these results demonstrate the importance of sequence-independent binding in p53-mediated maintenance of genomic integrity.
Interaction of tribochemistry and microfracture in the friction and wear of silicon nitride

Friction and wear of Si3N4 sliding on itself were measured at room temperature in different gaseous and liquid environments. At low sliding speed the friction coefficient ƒ is 0.85 in dry argon and nitrogen and 0.8 in laboratory air and oxygen. In dry gases, wear occurs by two fracture mechanisms: within 1 μm of the surface, asperity contact produces very large local stresses and cracking on a very fine scale; 3–5 μm deeper the fracture follows weaknesses of the material and is intergranular fracture with some transgranular cleavage. No evidence of plastic deformation was obtained. In water- and humidity-saturated gases wear is predominantly by a tribochemical reaction which produces an amorphous protective layer in humid gas and dissolution in liquid water. In intermediate humidity, wear is a combination of fracture and tribochemistry; the latter increases adhesion between wear particles to form a layer of compacted wear particles on the wear track. The fact that humidity decreases wear in Si3N4 and increases it in A12O3 is explained by the differences in chemical reactivity and susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking between the two materials.
Characterization of spatial and temporal expression pattern of SCG10 during zebrafish development

SCG10 (Superior Cervical Ganglia 10, STMN2) is a member of the stathmin family of proteins. Stathmins regulate microtubule dynamics by inhibiting polymerization and promoting their depolymerization. SCG10 is believed to be a neuronal-specific stathmin that is enriched in the growth cones of developing neurons and plays a role in regulating neurite outgrowth. In all species examined so far, SCG10 is expressed in both the CNS and PNS. We have cloned two zebrafish SCG10 homologues and have determined the temporal and spatial expression pattern of both of these genes by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. RT-PCR shows that both transcripts are expressed maternally and zygotically through at least 5 days. In situ hybridization analysis reveals that both SCG10 orthologues have dynamic, spatial expression patterns that are nearly identical to each other. Initially, these orthologues are expressed in discrete areas of the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain, as well as in the anterior and posterior lateral line ganglia and transiently in the spinal cord Rohon-Beard neurons. From 48hpf onwards, the level of expression of both genes increases and becomes mainly restricted to the anterior CNS (the forebrain region, retina, optic tectum, and hindbrain), and to the cranial ganglia. From 72 to 96hpf, SCG10 genes are also expressed in the developing neurons in the gut and in the surrounding intestinal mesenchyme. Our results provide a starting point for future studies that will investigate the in vivo function of SCG10 orthologues in zebrafish neural development.
Cardiac ischemia-reperfusion regulates sympathetic neuropeptide expression through gp130-dependent and independent mechanisms

Cardiac function is regulated by a balance of sympathetic and parasympathetic transmission. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (GAL) released from cardiac sympathetic neurons inhibits parasympathetic transmission in the heart. Sympathetic peptides may contribute to autonomic imbalance, which is characterized by increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic transmission and contributes to life threatening cardiovascular pathologies. Several gp130 cytokines are increased in the heart after myocardial infarction (MI), and these cytokines stimulate neuropeptide expression in sympathetic neurons. We used mice whose sympathetic neurons lack the gp130 receptor (gp130(DBH-Cre/lox) mice) to ask if cytokine activation of gp130 regulated neuropeptide expression in cardiac sympathetic nerves after MI. Myocardial infarction decreased NPY mRNA through a gp130 independent mechanism and increased VIP and PACAP mRNA via gp130, while GAL mRNA was unchanged. Immunohistochemistry revealed a gp130-dependent increase in PACAP38 in cells of the stellate ganglion after MI, and PACAP was detected in pre-ganglionic fibers of all genotypes and surgical groups. VIP was identified in a few sympathetic nerve fibers in all genotypes and surgical groups. GAL and PACAP38 were not detected in sham hearts, but peptide immunoreactivity was high in the infarct three days after MI. Surprisingly, peptides were abundant in cells that co-labeled with macrophage markers F4/80 and MAC2, but were not detected in sympathetic axons. PACAP protects cardiac myocytes from apoptosis, and GAL stimulates axon regeneration in addition to inhibiting parasympathetic transmission. Thus, these peptides may play an important role in cardiac and neuronal remodeling after ischemia-reperfusion.
Into the Wilderness: Ronald Reagan, Bob Jones University, and the Political Education of the Christian Right

(2005). Into the Wilderness: Ronald Reagan, Bob Jones University, and the Political Education of the Christian Right. The Historian: Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 234-253.
Efficient and Language Independent News Story Segmentation for Telecast News Videos

A TV news program comprises a continuous video stream containing a number of news stories, interspersed with commercials and headlines. This paper presents a method to detect the story boundaries and to separate out the stories from the other components and from each other. The method is based on movement of ticker text bands and repetition of ticker texts during different parts of a news program. The method does not use any language processing tool and is independent of language of telecast. It uses some simple features to distinguish news from the advertisements and can be used for large scale news indexing. We produce some test results on channels telecasting in English and few other Indian languages.
CROSS-LINKING OF HUMAN PLACENTA PI CLASS GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE DIMER BY CHLORAMBUCIL

Interaction of chlorambucil and the glutathione-depleted human placenta pi class glutathione S-transferase (pi GST) results in the formation of a complex between the drug and the protein at physiological pH. This complex is not formed in the presence of glutathione or S-hexylglutathione. Molecular mass measurement of the reaction product using matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry indicates that one molecule of chlorambucil cross-links two subunits of the homodimeric protein. A combination of enzymic proteolysis, high performance liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry reveals that chlorambucil alkylation occurs at cysteine 47 of one subunit and cysteine 101 of the second subunit. This result supports the idea that conformational changes occur in glutathione-depleted pi GST, which allow the bifunctional tether of chlorambucil to cross-link the two subunits of the protein.
Embracing Race: Deconstructing Mestiçagem in Rio de Janeiro

Baseado num trabalho de campo realizado numa favela do Rio de Janeiro, este artigo propoe a necessidade de uma reavaliac´o do entendimento convencional das categorias de raca no Brasil. Pesquisadores anteriores haviam assumido que afrobrasileiros se identificam usando multiplas categorias racias. Atraves de uma an´lise do uso di´rio de varios termos e das conceptualizacoes locais de significacao argumento e feito que os residentes da favela usam termos de rac,a-cor numa variedade de contextos discursivos que expressam funcoes linguisticas distintas. Termos intermedi´ries como moreno podem ser usados para descrever um grupo espeefficx) de caracteristicas (em vez de uma "categoria racial") ou, alternamente, podem ser usados como termos de cortesia ou como eufemismos. E significante notar que os residentes da favela conceptualizam raca como uma noc´ bipolar. Assim, apesar de usarem termos de raca—cor, os residentes da favela insistem que todos afro-brasileiros sao membros da "raca negra". Este fato influencia significativamente os debates sobre as caracten'sticas de consciencia racial e democracia racial no Brasil contemporâneo.
A concept inventory for an Electric Circuits course : Rationale and fundamental topics

The first Electric Circuits course is a core component of all engineering undergraduate curricula that include not only Electrical but other engineering disciplines such as Computer, Mechanical and Civil Engineering programs worldwide. The Electric Circuits Concept Inventory (ECCI) is a set of multiple choice questions that measures students' understanding of DC Circuit analysis. The topics include (i) fundamental conceptual circuit topics (ii) Circuit laws and (iii) Circuit analysis techniques. In this paper, we develop a rationale for developing a repertoire of classic and representative set of problems that test the major concepts taught in a typical Electric Circuits course. We also present a set of multiple-choice questions suggested for inclusion in the ECCI focusing on the fundamental topics part of DC circuits analysis only. We examine the various concepts tested in each question and relate its importance to an overall course in Electric Circuits. We welcome more additions to this growing repertoire of questions that we plan to build and use in finalizing the ECCI test, especially in AC Circuit analysis topics.
Properties of narrow-range ampholytes isolated from wide-range ampholyte preparations

A simple procedure for obtaining useful narrow-pH-range ampholytes from inexpensive laboratory-synthesized ampholytes by preparative isoelectric focusing in Pevikon is described. The narrow-range ampholytes prepared in this way are comparable to commercial ampholyte preparations as judged by conductivity, buffer capacity, pH gradient formation, and resolving power. These inexpensive narrow-range ampholytes are particularly well suited to preparative isoelectric focusing applications requiring large quantities of ampholytes.
An American Perspective on the EU's Constitutional Treaty

This article argues that the American experience can help illuminate some of the tensions surrounding the European Union's embattled Constitutional Treaty. I want to emphasise, however, that I am not trying to make any rigorous comparative statement here. I am not arguing that the United States and the EU are similar. They have developed in very different historical periods: the 13 colonies were certainly not equivalent to the old and well-established nation states which form the EU. Nonetheless, I am saying that some aspects of the American experience may be useful in thinking about the current state of tension which surrounds the process of European integration. In this article, therefore, I shall very schematically contrast the American and the European experience of integration and use that contrast to help illuminate the tensions which are now at work in the EU.
Time-to-market: Put speed in product development

Abstract Time-to-market is becoming a highly competitive issue for manufacturing companies, and in the 1990s it may be the single most critical factor for success across all markets. A new group of accelerating competitors is emerging that thinks in terms of “speed”-to-market. These business units use shorter product life cycles and a propensity for change to win market share and increase profits. Key to their success is concurrent engineering, which gives manufacturing managers a say in designing the product and ensuring that flexibility and efficiency are available in the product phase of product development. Technological advances in information processing provide the tools used in concurrent engineering.
Protest Cycles and Political Process: American Peace Movements in the Nuclear Age:

Since the dawn of the nuclear age small groups of activists have consistently protested both the content of United States national security policy, and the process by which it is made. Only occasio...
How the misincorporation of ribonucleotides into genomic DNA can be both harmful and helpful to cells

Ribonucleotides are misincorporated into replicating DNA due to the similarity of deoxyribonucleotides and ribonucleotides, the high concentration of ribonucleotides in the nucleus and the imperfect accuracy of replicative DNA polymerases in choosing the base with the correct sugar. Embedded ribonucleotides change certain properties of the DNA and can interfere with normal DNA transactions. Therefore, misincorporated ribonucleotides are targeted by the cell for removal. Failure to remove ribonucleotides from DNA results in an increase in genome instability, a phenomenon that has been characterized in various systems using multiple assays. Recently, however, another side to ribonucleotide misincorporation has emerged, where there is evidence for a functional role of misinserted ribonucleotides in DNA, leading to beneficial consequences for the cell. This review examines examples of both positive and negative effects of genomic ribonucleotide misincorporation in various organisms, aiming to highlight the diversity and the utility of this common replication variation.
Adjusting for Attrition in School-Based Samples: Bias, Precision, and Cost Trade-Offs of Three Methods.

Attrition in longitudinal studies can introduce nonresponse bias when estimating parameters. Methods to correct for nonresponse include survey-based approaches (tracking) as well as analytically based methods (weighting, sample selection modeling). Using data from a multi- wave school-based study of adolescents, substance use estimates are compared across methods. Methods are validated by simulating effects of attrition at baseline, and the relative efficiency of each approach with respect to a known "gold standard" is calculated. Results indicate that weighting may provide sufficient adjustment for nonresponse in other, similar studies. Sample selection modeling requires assumptions that are not met in this setting, and severe bias results. The high costs associated with full tracking efforts may be avoidable, as here we find that tracking was an inefficient approach for bias reduction.
Energy decomposition analysis of metal silicide nanowires from first principles

We investigate the structure, stability, and electronic properties of yttrium silicide nanowires with $\mathrm{Al}{\mathrm{B}}_{2}$-type structure, using ab initio calculations. The results confirm experimental findings that yttrium silicide nanowires are robust and conductive. In particular, the dependencies on nanowire thickness are analyzed. Furthermore, calculations show that the vacancy formation in stoichiometric nanowires is energetically favorable. The total energy of the nanowires is decomposed into the bulk, surface, and edge contributions. An equation is proposed for the cohesive energy ${E}_{\mathrm{c}}(n,m)$ of an arbitrary wire as a function of its cross-section dimensions $n$ and $m$, which can be further reduced to the nearly linear relationship between the cohesive energy and composition. A comparison with recent epitaxial growth experiments is given.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome with intact atrial septum: Utilization of a hybrid catheterization facility for cesarean section delivery and prompt neonatal intervention

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with intact atrial septum (IAS) is a severe congenital cardiac malformation with little possibility of postnatal survival, unless an intra-atrial connection is created promptly after delivery. The timing of that intervention is often dictated by logistic restrictions, such as the proximity of the delivery room to the cardiac catheterization laboratory. This report details the use of a hybrid cardiac catheterization suite to expedite the delivery, transfer, and initial treatment of a fetus with HLHS/IAS. The mother underwent cesarean delivery in one hybrid room, and the newborn infant was transferred directly into an adjoining room where successful atrial septal stenting was performed without delay via a percutaneous, transhepatic approach. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Performance of a High Efficiency Position Sensitive 30° Parallel Plate Electron Spectrometer

A position sensitive parallel plate analyser (PSPPA) for the angle resolved study of electrons produced in ion-atom collisions has recently been built and tested. This new spectrograph consists of a 30° parallel plate analyser (PPA) equipped with a Chevron microchannel plate assembly with resistive anode encoding for one dimensional position analysis of electrons incident on the second order focal plane. Our PSPPA has an electron detection efficiency of over 100 times that of conventional PPA's.
Cross-scale variation in top-down and bottom-up control of algal abundance

Abstract Previous studies of top-down and bottom-up effects in Oregon rocky intertidal communities suggested that, unlike sea star–mussel dominated food chains, grazer-alga food chains deviated from simple food web predictions. However, this conclusion lacked generality due to limited replication at the site level. We explored how grazing and algal colonization and growth in different zones and multiple sites in intertidal communities varied in relation to processes varying on local to mesoscales, including oceanographic variation. Our approach employed the comparative-experimental method, in which identically-designed and replicated experiments are performed at multiple sites spanning the environmental gradient of interest. In a limpet–algae–barnacle interaction web, we tested the hypothesis that top-down and bottom-up effects were inversely related along the Oregon coast. To distinguish between the alternatives of large-scale oceanographic forcing vs. local control, our experiments spanned scales of meters (between mid and low zones), kilometers (seven sites), 10's to 100's of km (three regions), and ∼ 260 km (central and southern coasts). Identically designed and executed experiments on effects and rates of grazing were conducted in a southern coast region of persistent upwelling and two central coast regions, one with intermittent upwelling in an area of weak offshore currents, and another with intermittent upwelling in an area of strong offshore currents. Grazer effects and grazing rates varied on all scales, indicating a complex interplay of processes operating at zone, site, regional, and coastal scales. Grazing was generally highest in all mid zones and in the low zone at the middle region (Cape Perpetua) on the central coast. Growth of early successional colonists tended to be higher at the northern and southern regions (Capes Foulweather and Blanco). Grazers had no effect on barnacle cover, but their foraging was inhibited by high densities of barnacles. Differences in grazing appear to be a complex consequence of direct and indirect effects of variable oceanographic conditions, limpet recruitment, and barnacle abundance. In contrast to positive associations between predation strength and the magnitude of prey subsidies, higher grazing strength was generally associated with lower magnitude of bottom-up effects and vice versa. Hence in this system predator–prey (sea star–filter feeder) and herbivore–plant (limpet–microalgae) interactions evidently respond differently to ecological subsidies.
Influence of the Amlia fracture zone on the evolution of the Aleutian Terrace forearc basin, central Aleutian subduction zone

During Pliocene to Quaternary time, the central Aleutian forearc basin evolved in response to a combination of tectonic and climatic factors. Initially, along-trench transport of sediment and accretion of a frontal prism created the accommodation space to allow forearc basin deposition. Transport of sufficient sediment to overtop the bathymetrically high Amlia fracture zone and reach the central Aleutian arc began with glaciation of continental Alaska in the Pliocene. As the obliquely subducting Amlia fracture zone swept along the central Aleutian arc, it further affected the structural evolution of the forearc basins. The subduction of the Amlia fracture zone resulted in basin inversion and loss of accommodation space east of the migrating fracture zone. Conversely, west of Amlia fracture zone, accommodation space increased arcward of a large outer-arc high that formed, in part, by a thickening of arc basement. This difference in deformation is interpreted to be the result of a variation in interplate coupling across the Amlia fracture zone that was facilitated by increasing subduction obliquity, a change in orientation of the subducting Amlia fracture zone, and late Quaternary intensification of glaciation. The change in coupling is manifested by a possible tear in the subducting slab along the Amlia fracture zone. Differences in coupling across the Amlia fracture zone have important implications for the location of maximum slip during future great earthquakes. In addition, shaking during a great earthquake could trigger large mass failures of the summit platform, as evidenced by the presence of thick mass transport deposits of primarily Quaternary age that are found in the forearc basin west of the Amlia fracture zone.
Economic incentives: theater and cultural programming.

Not so long ago it was thought that the advent of television, in particular cable television, would create a growth of actor employment, performance income, and serve as a great boon to the dissemination of the arts to the masses. Like so many myths concerning technological advances, the jublilee came not. Cable companies have come and gone; cultural channels have come and gone and with a few notable exceptions, the wishing did not make it so. If frogs had wings, they would not bump their bottoms on the rocks; likewise, if the producers of live arts were also producers of television, the live arts would have indeed grown through the medium of cable television. But these people are for the most part different people with different aims functioning in different markets with little enough appreciation of each other. Even so it seems strange that live performance and the combining of it with television has not been more prominent as cable television has developed. But this conference has shown many reasons why the marriage has not often taken place and where it has, that it often ends in divorce (ARTS, CBS Cable etc.) The aims of the various participants in the two industries do differ and one cannot expect the television people to come running to the arts when popular entertainment is more profitable, but why do the arts people not come running to television? To address this question is the primary purpose of this closing paper of this volume. The argument made is an economic one but deals not at the business level of the arts, but with the rather simple question of economic incentives and opportunities for investment in television by those who direct the arts. We do not address the television side of the market directly as that has been ably pursued by the Baumols, Kirsten Beck and others. The discussion which follows is limited to the arts side and specifically to "legitimate theater", a term that has always piqued my curiosity. I wonder about illegitimate theater and just
Utility of automated counting to determine absolute neutrophil counts and absolute phagocyte counts for pediatric cancer treatment protocols

BACKGROUND Absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) and absolute phagocyte counts (APCs) are used to guide cancer treatment. Although automated counting could replace manual counting, data showing correlations are lacking. By analyzing blood samples from children undergoing cancer treatment, the authors determined whether ANCs and APCs obtained by automated methods correlated positively with ANCs and APCs obtained manually. METHODS The authors analyzed 3640 consecutive peripheral blood samples. Leukocyte counts determined by Beckman-Coulter Gen-S or HmX analyzers (Beckman-Coulter, Miami, FL) were used to calculate counts obtained by automated or manual methods. Automated differential counts were obtained by automated analyzers and manual differential counts were performed by medical technologists. Counts underwent linear regression analysis. The authors evaluated 5 cutoff values for ANCs and APCs commonly used in decision-making related to cancer treatment: 300/μL, 500/μL, 750/μL, 1000/μL, and 1500/μL. Manually determined ANCs and APCs served as standards to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and kappa coefficient for automated counting. RESULTS R2 values were 0.81 for ANCs determined by manual and automated methods and 0.84 for APCs determined by both methods. The specificity of the automated method was > 90% for all ranges of ANCs and APCs, except one (APCs 0.9) between ANCs determined by manual and automated methods and APCs calculated by both methods. CONCLUSIONS Automated methods of determining ANCs and APCs for children undergoing cancer treatment were reliable and can replace manual counting. Blood smear examination to validate ANCs and APCs determined by automated methods was needed only in selected cases. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Linear light bullets based on Airy-Bessel wave packets

We demonstrate three-dimensional Airy-Bessel optical wave packets that propagate without broadening in time or space. We also demonstrate the non-dispersive and the self-healing nature of the Airy pulse. Since the propagation of an Airy- Bessel wave packet does not critically depend on the material properties, we believe the Airy-Bessel wave packet will find its usage in applications as practical devices.
On Successful Research

This paper discusses what I believe a researcher ought to keep in mind when he/she tries to find a research topic and assesses the probability of success. In this context I think of success as a paper that becomes known over time and, generally, extensively cited. My discussion will lay out some useful ‘pointers’. I will also try to provide something resembling a ‘proof in the pudding’ by listing a number of specific research topics, each of which can be spelled out in a few sentences. My aim is to persuade the reader that research topics can rely on straightforward ideas as opposed to a specific set of antecedent papers. In this respect, I argue that the best research questions derive from an acute sense of how the world works as opposed to more or less stylized ‘theories’ originating in academia.
Glucagon and the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism.

THERE is considerable experimental evidence that glucagon (hyperglycaemic factor of the pancreas) is a true hormone which originates in the α-cells of the islets of Langerhans1. Its isolation and crystallization were reported in 19532. The crystalline material appears to be a simple protein with a molecular weight of approximately 4,200 and an amino-acid content which differs significantly from that of insulin3. Minute doses of crystalline glucagon (0.1γ in the cat) cause a significant rise in blood sugar3. This effect is probably brought about by a stimulation of liver glycogenolysis, since glucagon has been shown to increase the net synthesis of liver phosphorylase4. Further than this, little is known about the action or physiological role of glucagon. Current speculation revolves about three possibilities: (a) that glucagon is an anti-insulin hormone1, (b) that it is an insulin synergist5, or (c) that it has no significant function in the control of carbohydrate metabolism6.
Chandra Observations of Galaxy Cluster A2218

We present results from two observations (combined exposure of ~17 ks) of galaxy cluster A2218 using the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer on board the Chandra X-Ray Observatory that were taken on 1999 October 19. Using a Raymond-Smith single-temperature plasma model corrected for galactic absorption, we find a mean cluster temperature of kT = 6.9 ± 0.5 keV, metallicity of 0.20 ± 0.13 (errors are 90% CL), and a rest-frame luminosity in the 2-10 keV energy band of 6.2 × 1044 ergs s-1 within a 51 aperture in a Λ cold dark matter cosmology (ΛCDM) with H0 = 65 km s-1 Mpc-1. The brightness distribution within 42 of the cluster center is well fitted by a simple spherical beta model with core radius of 664 and β = 0.705. High-resolution Chandra data of the inner 2' of the cluster show the X-ray brightness centroid displaced ~22'' from the dominant cD galaxy and the presence of azimuthally asymmetric temperature variations along the direction of the cluster mass elongation. X-ray and weak lensing mass estimates are in good agreement for the outer parts (r > 200 h-1) of the cluster; however, in the core the observed temperature distribution cannot reconcile the X-ray and strong lensing mass estimates in any model in which the intracluster gas is in thermal hydrostatic equilibrium. Our X-ray data are consistent with a scenario in which A2218 is not in hydrostatic equilibrium because of recent merger activity that has produced significant nonthermal pressure in the core and substructure along the line of sight; each of these phenomena probably contributes to the difference between lensing and X-ray core mass estimates.
Complications of pedicle screws in children 10 years or younger: a case control study.

STUDY DESIGN Case control study. OBJECTIVE To determine complications associated with pedicle screw use and screw accuracy in children 10 years or younger. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Pedicle screws are frequently used for the treatment of spine deformity in children, but, for young patients, this is only by physician-directed use. Thus, we sought to determine the rates of screw-related complications and screw malposition in patients 10 years or younger compared with a series of matched controls greater than 10 years of age. METHODS From 2000-2011, 265 screws were placed in 33 consecutive patients undergoing a total of 35 procedures for a variety of spine deformities. Mean age at surgery was 7 years (range, 2-10) with a mean time to follow-up of 3.3 ± 2.4 years. Congenital spine deformity was the most common surgical indication. Primary outcome measures were screw-related complication or return to surgery for screw malposition. Patients were matched by diagnosis/fusion level to 66 control patients greater than 10 years of age. Available computed tomographic scans in young children were reviewed to assess screw accuracy. RESULTS In patients 10 years or younger, 2 out of 265 screws (0.75%) resulted in a screw-related complication. No patient required revision surgery due to screw malposition. No patients older than 10 years in the matched controls had a screw-related complication or revision surgery due to screw malposition. Computed tomograpic data was available for 10 young patients, which was compared with data from the larger cohort of 81 older children. No difference was found in the rates of severe asymptomatic screw malposition, but moderate screw malposition was more common in the younger cohort. CONCLUSION In this limited series, 265 pedicle screws were placed in 33 patients 10 years or younger with 0.75% of pedicle screws resulting in a complication. The rates of screw malposition revealed on computed tomographic scan were similar to those of adolescent children. These data support the use of pedicle screws in children 10 years or younger for the treatment of complex spinal deformity.
On the Dynamic Response of Actuation Devices in Open and Closed-Loop Mechanisms With Nonlinear Dynamics

This paper presents a study of the dynamic response of actuation devices used in mechanical systems with open and closed-loop linkage mechanisms and highly nonlinear dynamics such as robot manipulators. The study shows that the actuation forces/torques provided by actuation devices can be divided into two basic groups. The first group corresponds to the components of each actuator force/torque that is “actuator motion independent”. The dynamic response of this group is relatively high and limited only by the dynamic response limitations — for the case of electrically driven actuation systems — of the driving power amplifiers, electronics, computational and signal processing devices and components. The second group corresponds to those components of the actuator forces/torques that is “actuator motion dependent”. The dynamic response of this group is relatively low and dependent on the actuator effective inertial load and actuation speed. In all mechanical systems that are properly designed, the dynamic response of the first group is significantly higher than those of the second group. By separating the required actuating forces/torques into the above two groups, the dynamic response of such nonlinear dynamics systems may be determined for a given synthesized trajectory. The information can also be used to significantly increase the performance of mechanical systems. When a feed-forward control signal is used, the performance of the system is shown to be significantly improved by generating each one of the group of actuation components separately considering the dynamic response of the actuation system to each group of components. A method for separating the actuation forces/torques into the said “actuator motion independent” and “actuator motion dependent” groups for mechanical systems with open-loop and closed-loop linkage mechanisms is provided. Provided examples include an open-loop manipulators with feed-forward trajectory control and a closed-loop mechanism, both with highly nonlinear dynamics. Practical methods for implementing the proposed feed-forward control for nonlinear dynamics systems are discussed.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Pathogenesis of “rheumatic” heart disease: Critique and theory

Abstract Intense clinical and experimental investigation over many years has not clarified the role of the streptococcus in the pathogenesis of “rheumatic heart disease”. This failure may have been due to an inadequate definition of the problem and repeated experimental attempts to prove that the streptococcus is the sole agent responsible for the development of “rheumatic heart disease”. To stimulate another approach to this important problem, the possible role of viruses in the pathogenesis of “rheumatic heart disease” is introduced. There is much evidence to indicate an active role of viruses in the production of heart disease, resembling “rheumatic heart disease”, in man and animals. Also, there is considerable data, both experimental and clinical, to support a viral-streptococcal relationship in the production of disease. Thus, the concept of the streptococcus acting as a conditioning factor for viruses in the production of heart disease in man is suggested. This concept is discussed in relation to some aspects of “rheumatic heart disease”, which, in the past, have been hard to explain. Finally, it is suggested that an earnest attempt be made to provide facilities for viral isolation on a more routine basis in hospitals and medical centers so that progress in this area can be accelerated.
Frequency stabilization of a single mode terahertz quantum cascade laser to the kilohertz level

A simple analog locking circuit was shown to stabilize the beat signal between a 2.408 THz quantum cascade laser and a CH2DOH THz CO2 optically pumped molecular laser to 3–4 kHz (FWHM). This is approximately a tenth of the observed long-term (t ~ sec) linewidth of the optically pumped laser showing that the feedback loop corrects for much of the mechanical and acoustic-induced frequency jitter of the gas laser. The achieved stability should be sufficient to enable the use of THz quantum cascade lasers as transmitters in short-range coherent transceivers.
Children's Compliance with Progressive Relaxation Procedures for Improving Headache Control

Compliance has been an overlooked area in occupational therapy practice and research. Compliance with progressive relaxation training for recurrent headache relief was determined for 10 children. A multiple baseline across subjects design was used. Baseline periods were assigned randomly and ranged from 7 to 25 days with treatment introduced in a time-staggered fashion. Subjects received a 6-week program that included weekly training sessions supplemented with daily home practice. Compliance was determined by the subject's correct recording of a password randomly placed on a cassette relaxation tape. Mean compliance across subjects was 84% (range: 36% to 100%). Noncompliance occurred 74% of the time when subjects reported being headache-free for that day. Eight of the subjects had a 2% to 30% (mean: 15%) increase in headache-free days. This study indicated that compliance with relaxation training does not result consistently in headache relief. Guidelines for the occupational therapist's assessment of pat...
Plant scale in entry decisions: a comparison of start-ups and established firm entrants

This paper examines the competitive advantage enjoyed by established firms over start-up firms in their choice of plant scale when entering industries. We hypothesize that established firms will enter at smaller scale because they have the opportunity to substitute other resources and advantages for the cost disadvantages that result from small scale. We find that established firms enter with lower scale plants which suggests that they have access to resources that allow them to be competitive at lower scales. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DISENTANGLING THE ROLE OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADES, SAT® SCORES, AND SES IN PREDICTING COLLEGE ACHIEVEMENT

Focusing on high school grade-point average (HSGPA) in college admissions may foster ethnic diversity and communicate the importance of high school performance. It has further been claimed that HSGPA is the best single predictor of college grades and that it is more equitable than test scores because of a smaller association with socioeconomic status (SES). Recent findings, however, suggest that HSPGA's seemingly smaller correlation with SES is a methodological artifact. In addition, it tends to produce systematic errors in the prediction of college grades. Although supplementing HSGPA with a high-school resource index can mitigate these errors, determining whether to include such an index in admissions decisions must take into account the institutional mission and the potential diversity impact.