cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new and improved electric fish finder with resources for printed circuit board fabrication

ABSTRACT We describe the circuit design, construction, and operation of a field-portable electric fish finder (an AC-coupled wide-band differential bio-amplifier with loudspeaker output). This device permits detection and monitoring of the electric organ discharges generated by neotropical gymnotiform fishes (as well as the mormyroid fishes of tropical Africa). Our design is modified from earlier versions to optimize detection performance and stability over a wider range of ambient water conductivity, including under conditions of extremely low conductivity (< ca. 10 μScm-1). Our new electric fish finder design also incorporates complete waterproofing and longer battery autonomy. We provide Gerber and Eagle files made with the electronic design automation software ‘Autodesk Eagle’ to allow researchers to order printed circuit boards directly from commercial manufacturers.
A Retrospective Analysis of Intervention for Testicular Torsion: Searching for a Hallmark of High Reliability.

Consistent delivery of high-quality care is a marker of health-care system reliability. Although clinically abstracted outcome databases have revolutionized surgical quality improvement efforts for many high-volume procedures, their utility in aiding the improvement of time-sensitive processes is less clear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether process measures surrounding the delivery of timely surgical care could delineate the variability in the outcome of patients with testicular torsion. Our secondary aim was to use the data to drive quality improvement efforts locally. Methods We performed a retrospective review of encounters for testicular torsion in patients less than 18 years. Characteristics of patients undergoing detorsion/orchiopexy and orchiectomy were compared. We evaluated orchiectomy as a function of age, insurance status, time of presentation, duration of symptoms, time to ultrasound, and time to surgery. Results Over 10 years, we identified 46 patients, of whom 21 met inclusion criteria. Twelve patients (57.1%) underwent detorsion/orchiopexy, whereas 9 patients underwent orchiectomy. After-hours presentation and age were not predictive of orchiectomy, whereas the duration of symptoms was predictive of orchiectomy. Differences in time to surgery for orchiopexy and orchiectomy groups approached but did not reach significance (P = 0.07). Conclusions Significant variability persists in the timely delivery of comprehensive and coordinated care for children suffering from time-sensitive surgical conditions. Pediatric surgical programs would realize significant benefit from a surgical quality improvement program that incorporates validated process metrics, along with outcome measures, to help drive efficiencies and integrate care more effectively.
Polypeptide backbone cleavage on the C-terminal side of asparagine residues of metastable protein ions analyzed by MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS/MS and post-source decay

Abstract The gas phase dissociation of B-subunits of Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) subtypes expressed by pathogenic Escherichia coli have been analyzed using antibiotic induction, MALDI-TOF-TOF tandem mass spectrometry and post-source decay (PSD). Two Stx2 subtypes (a and c) are distinguished by two amino acid substitutions involving aspartic acid (D), asparagine (N) and alanine (A) residues. In addition to polypeptide backbone cleavage (PBC) on the C-terminal side of D and glutamic acid (E) residues by the aspartic acid effect (AAE) fragmentation mechanism, PBC is also observed on the C-terminal side of N-residues. It is estimated that N-residues are at least an order-of-magnitude less efficient than D-residues at PBC. As the side-chains of D and N residues are of equal length, the difference in PBC efficiency is likely due to differences in the gas phase acidities (ΔΔHacid ≈ 0.4 eV) of their respective side-chain functional groups: [−(C O)OH] for D versus [−(C O)NH2] for N. It is proposed that the AAE mechanism for N-residues results in the formation of a b-type fragment with a 2,5-pyrrolidinedione (or succinimide) end-group at its C-terminus similar to previous proposals that predict formation of a b-type fragment with a 2,5-furanedione (or succinic anhydride) end-group for D-residues. As a D ↔ N substitution differs in mass by only 1 Da, the b-fragment would also differ by 1 Da (if there are no other residue substitutions) and the complementary y-type fragment would have exactly the same mass. In consequence, the relative abundance of fragment ions caused by a D versus N residue might be a better indicator as to which residue was responsible for PBC rather than relying solely upon fragment ion m/z for this determination.
Life in a news desert: The perceived impact of a newspaper closure on community members:

This study, utilizing 19 in-depth interviews, offers a systematic qualitative investigation of the perceived impact of a newspaper’s closure on community members’ everyday lives and their sense of ...
Galaxies in a simulated $\Lambda$CDM Universe I: cold mode and hot cores

We study the formation of galaxies in a (50 Mpc/h)^3 cosmological simulation (2x288^3 particles), evolved using the entropy conserving SPH code Gadget-2. Most of the baryonic mass in galaxies of all masses is originally acquired through filamentary "cold mode" accretion of gas that was never shock heated to its halo virial temperature, confirming the key feature of our earlier results obtained with a different SPH code (Keres et al. 2005). Atmospheres of hot, virialized gas develop in halos above ~2.5e11 Msun, a transition mass that is nearly constant from z=3 to z=0. Cold accretion persists in halos above the transition mass, especially at z>=2. It dominates the growth of galaxies in low mass halos at all times, and it is the main driver of the cosmic star formation history. Satellite galaxies have accretion rates similar to central galaxies of the same baryonic mass at high redshifts, but they have less accretion than comparable central galaxies at low redshift. Relative to our earlier results, the Gadget-2 simulations predict much lower rates of "hot mode" accretion from the virialized gas component of massive halos. At z<=1, typical hot accretion rates in halos above 5e12 Msun are below 1 Msun/yr, even though our simulation does not include AGN heating or other forms of "preventive" feedback. The inner density profiles of hot gas in these halos are shallow, with long associated cooling times. The cooling recipes typically used in semi-analytic models can overestimate the accretion rates in these halos by orders of magnitude, so such models may overemphasize the role of preventive feedback in producing observed galaxy masses and colors. A fraction of the massive halos develop cuspy profiles and significant cooling rates between z=1 and z=0, a redshift trend similar to the observed trend in the frequency of cooling flow clusters.
Asymmetry Occurrence Modeling in Electrical Supply Systems

The article discusses the quality of electricity in power supply systems. It is shown that the quality of electric energy in certain cases depends not only on producers and suppliers of electricity, but also on consumers. The occurrence of deviations of the electric power quality indicators from the established values leads to negative impacts on the electrical equipment of both the energy supplying organizations and consumers' electrical receivers, thereby creating conditions for the occurrence of technological and electromagnetic damage, which are the causes of losses and other negative consequences in case of the electric power qualit violations. The results of measurements of the voltage asymmetry coefficients in the reverse and zero sequences obtained by the authors of the article during monitoring the electricity quality are presented. These results show that the asymmetry of voltage in the reverse sequence is expressed in electric networks with a voltage of 0.38 kV less significantly than the asymmetry of voltage in the zero sequence. It is shown on a computer model of the simplest power supply system that approximately the same value of the zero-sequence voltage can be obtained both by different values of the power (resistance) of the three-phase load, and by different values of the phase voltages of the supply network. The use of resistance value control in combination with the determination of the modulus and phase angle of the zero sequence voltage makes it possible to determine with sufficient accuracy the cause of the voltage asymmetry.
A randomized controlled trial of an educational app to improve preschoolers’ emergent literacy skills

Mobile devices are now ubiquitous across communities of all income levels, with very young children spending a great deal of time on smartphones and tablets even before they begin formal schooling....
Inducible Slc4a11 Knockout Triggers Corneal Edema Through Perturbation of Corneal Endothelial Pump.

Purpose The conventional Slc4a11 knockout (KO) shows significant corneal edema at eye opening, a fact that complicates the study of the initial events leading to edema. An inducible KO would provide opportunities to examine early events following loss of Slc4a11 activity. Methods Slc4a11 Flox (SF) mice were crossed with mice expressing the estrogen receptor Cre Recombinase fusion protein and fed tamoxifen (Tm) for two weeks. Corneal thickness (CT) was measured by OCT. At eight weeks endpoint, oxidative damage, tight junction integrity, stromal lactate concentration, endothelial permeability, differentially expressed transporters, and junction proteins were determined. Separately, a keratocyte only inducible Slc4a11 KO was also examined. Results At four weeks post-Tm induction Slc4a11 transcript levels were 2% of control. Corneal thickness increased gradually and was 50% greater than Wild Type (WT) after eight weeks with significantly altered endothelial morphology, increased nitrotyrosine staining, significantly higher stromal lactate, decreased expression of lactate transporters and Na-K ATPase activity, higher ATP, altered expression of tight and adherens junctions, and increased fluorescein permeability. No significant differences in CT were found between WT and keratocyte only Slc4a11 KO. Conclusions The Slc4a11 inducible KO shows development of a similar phenotype as the conventional KO, thereby validating the model and providing a tool for further use in examining the sequence of cellular events by use of noninvasive in vivo physiological probes.
Copper Deficiency in patient with prior diagnosis of AIDP (P6.202)

Objective: To report case of Copper deficiency in setting of prior reported AIDP Background: Copper deficiency (CD) has been recognized to cause myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy and hematological abnormalities. Its known causes are enteropathies, zinc ingestion and gastric surgery, with approximately 20% of cases having no known etiology. Design/Methods: Case Report Results: A 32 year old female with history of AIDP presented with ascending weakness, numbness, pancytopenia, and on arrival loss of bowel and bladder function. Her exam found gross paraplegia and hypoesthesias below T3 level, with unique delayed ascending myotonic response with patellar stimulation. The patient also described rapid loss of tooth enamel in the months prior, gross peripheral ataxia, and labile affect. With a history of AIDP, a 5 days of IV methylprednisolone was started. Towards the end of her course of IV steroids she was found to have multiple nutritional deficiencies namely: thiamine, copper, and folate. Her exam improved, though a cause remained unclear. After the course of steroids was completed, plasmapharesis was started. The issue of low ceruloplasmin in the setting of low copper briefly brought Wilson’s disease into the differential, specifically halting copper supplementation until being ruled out by 24 hour copper excretion. In the interim plasmapheresis -known to reduce circulating copper - was continued for possible CIDP treatment. Once Wilson’s disease was ruled out, copper supplementation was restarted at 8mg daily depicting a mild improvement in symptoms and anemia leading to subsequent discharge. Conclusions: The presentation of CD imitating a Chronic inflammatory demyelinating radiculopathy, particularly in setting of prior AIDP, proved challenging in diagnosis and treatment. Where the initial positive response to steroids and plasmapheresis suggested an inflammatory etiology, the later ebb and flow suggested otherwise. The question remains whether initial episode of AIDP in the year prior was in fact the initial presentation of said CD vs CIDP. Disclosure: Dr. Upadhyaya OMS IV has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ghodsianzadeh DO has nothing to disclose. Dr. Romero has received personal compensation for activities with Medical Journal Club. Dr. Bhavaraju-Sanka MD has nothing to disclose.
'Educator with a capital E': Comparing medical education experiences of student-as-teacher elective participants and peers.

Purpose Student-as-teacher electives are increasingly offered at medical schools, but little is known about how medical education experiences among enrolled students compare with those of their peers. The study's aim was to characterize medical students' education-related experiences, attitudes, knowledge, and skills based on their enrollment status in a student-as-teacher course. Materials/methods We conducted four focus groups at a medical school in the United States: two with graduating students in a student-as-teacher elective (n = 11) and two with unenrolled peers (n = 11). Transcripts were analyzed using the Framework Method to identify themes. Results Four themes emerged: interest in and attitudes towards medical education; medical education skills, knowledge, and frameworks; strategies for giving/receiving feedback; medical education training as part of medical school. Course participants demonstrated higher-level education-related knowledge and skills. Both groups endorsed teaching skills as important and identified opportunities to incorporate medical education training into medical school curricula. Conclusions Medical education knowledge and teaching skills are self-reported as important learning outcomes for medical students, independent of enrollment status in a student-as-teacher course. The structure of such courses, best understood through a deliberate practice-based model, supports students' achievement of key learning outcomes. Certain course elements may warrant inclusion in standard medical school curricula.
Inhibition of SC4MOL and HSD17B7 shifts cellular sterol composition and promotes oligodendrocyte formation

While the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway has been extensively studied, recent work has forged new links between inhibition of specific sterol pathway enzymes, accumulation of their unique sterol substrates, and biological areas as diverse as cancer, immunology, and neurodegenerative disease. We recently reported that dozens of small molecules enhance formation of oligodendrocytes, a glial cell type lost in multiple sclerosis, by inhibiting CYP51, Sterol 14-reductase, or EBP and inducing cellular accumulation of their 8,9-unsaturated sterol substrates. Several adjacent pathway enzymes also have 8,9-unsaturated sterol substrates but have not yet been evaluated as potential targets for oligodendrocyte formation or in many other biological contexts, in part due to a lack of available small-molecule probes. Here, we show that genetic suppression of SC4MOL or HSD17B7 increases the formation of oligodendrocytes. Additionally, we have identified and optimized multiple potent new series of SC4MOL and HSD17B7 inhibitors and shown that these small molecules enhance oligodendrocyte formation. SC4MOL inhibitor CW4142 induced accumulation of SC4MOL's sterol substrates in mouse brain and represents an in vivo probe of SC4MOL activity. Mechanistically, the cellular accumulation of these 8,9-unsaturated sterols represents a central driver of enhanced oligodendrocyte formation, as exogenous addition of purified SC4MOL and HSD17B7 substrates but not their 8,9-saturated analogs promotes OPC differentiation. Our work validates SC4MOL and HSD17B7 as novel targets for promoting oligodendrocyte formation, underlines a broad role for 8,9-unsaturated sterols as enhancers of oligodendrocyte formation, and establishes the first high-quality small molecules targeting SC4MOL and HSD17B7 as novel tools for probing diverse areas of biology.
Further evidence on the effectiveness of community banks in the Paycheck Protection Program

Abstract We analyze the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for small business lending of loans of $150,000 or less. Specifically, how did loans get funded during the critical first week of availability? We find that during the first week of available PPP loans, community banks issued nearly three times as many loans as large non-community banks, companies in nonmetro areas were more likely to borrow during the first week, and the effect is largely driven by community bank lending. Using Google mobility data, we show nonmetro borrowing increases with a reduction in geographic mobility.
A combined weight window and biasing approach based on a subspace importance map in the Monte Carlo simulation of a gamma-gamma lithodensity logging tool response with the revised McLDL code

A combined weight window and biasing approach has been developed to optimize the specific purpose McLDL code for simulating the spectral response of gamma-gamma lithodensity logging tools. The method is based on the use of photon importance maps which are strongly dependent upon the geometric configuration of the logging tool. A subspace in the formation is taken as an importance region and a one-group importance generator is used in conjunction with the current McLDL code. The splitting of a photon only occurs within the important subspace, and direction biasing and the exponential transform are applied to drive photons into that region or the detector. The approach has been tested on a theoretical benchmark problem and the Atlas Wireline Services' commercial gamma-gamma lithodensity logging tool. Compared to the results from the previous McLDL code, this new approach has eliminated the unacceptably large weight fluctuations and substantially improved the code's performance in computational accuracy and efficiency. >
Production of organometallic polymers by the interfacial technique. VIII. A study of some assorted reaction variables in the synthesis of poly(aryloxysilanes)

A correlation exists between hydrocarbon solvent viscosity and/or surface tension such that polymerization rate decreases with increase in hydrocarbon solvent viscosity and/or surface tension. Polymer yield increases as diol solubility decreases. Polymer yield seeks a maximum around a reaction temperature of 60°C and a stirring rate of 8,300 rpm. Zwischen der Viskositat und/oder der Oberflachenspannung des als Losungsmittel verwendeten Kohlenwasserstoffes besteht eine Wechselbeziehung in der Art, das die Polymerisationsgeschwindigkeit mit zunehmender Viskositat und/oder Oberflachenspannung abnimmt. Die Ausbeute an Polymerem nimmt zu, wenn die Loslichkeit des Diols abnimmt. Das Maximum der Ausbeute wird bei einer Reaktionstemperatur von etwa 60°C und bei einer Ruhrgeschwindigkeit von 8300 U/min erzielt.
Distribute computing track chair's message

The Distributed Computing track of ICDCIT 2005 received 181 papers. Based on the review by the members of the Program Committee, 16 full and 9 short papers were selected for inclusion in the proceedings of the conference. The accepted papers cover a wide range of topics in Distributed Computing. Design of MAC protocol, network architecture and routing protocol for Wireless Ad-Hoc Networks seem to attract the attention of many researchers. 5 of the 16 accepted full papers fall in this area. The other popular areas include, Network Security, Sensor Networks, Fault Detection and Recovery and Grid Computing. Each of these areas will have at least 3 papers in the proceedings. The Distributed Computing track will also have papers in the areas of Cellular Networks, Peer-to-Peer Networks, Optical Networks, Information Retrieval, QoS and Mobile IP. We have put together a program that covers many important areas of Distributed Computing. We hope you will find the papers in this track informative, interesting and useful.
Capacity compatible two-level link state routing for mobile ad hoc networks

The throughput of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) has been analysed previously (Kleinrock, L. and Silvester, J., Proc. IEEE, vol.75, no.1, p.156-67, 1987). A possible network traffic pattern is one where communication sessions are between pairs of nodes arbitrarily situated throughout the network. Thus, the lengthy multiple hop paths of such communication sessions constrict network throughput. In fact, the throughput per node scales at a rate that is inversely proportional to the square root of the node count. Therefore, to maintain throughput per node that is constant with increasing node count, transceiver link capacity must grow at a rate that is proportional to the square root of the node count. Not only must link capacity scale appropriately, but so must the control overhead incurred by network communication protocols (i.e., overhead should not grow at a rate that exceeds the growth in link capacity). The paper describes how two-level link state routing can afford such scalability. That is, by adding only a single level of hierarchy to an otherwise flat routing architecture, it is possible to implement communication protocols that enable datagram forwarding while conforming to the network capacity constraints.
White Dwarf Light Curves: Constraining Convection and Mode Identification Using Non-sinusoidal Light Curves

In this paper we show how the formalism of Wu & Goldreich developed for weakly nonlinear white dwarf pulsations can be extended to the fully nonlinear case. Due to the computational simplification this affords over the simulations of Brickhill (1992) and Ising & Koester (2001), we are able to obtain the first ever fits of observed light curves. These fits allow us to obtain not only mode identifications but also to constrain the average depth of the convection zone and its sensitivity to changes in effective temperature. We are thus able to probe the fundamental physics of convection in these objects.
Predictive pattern matching for scalable network intrusion detection

Signature-based network intrusion detection requires fast and reconfigurable pattern matching for deep packet inspection. This paper presents a novel pattern matching engine, which exploits a memory-based programmable state machine to achieve deterministic processing rates that are independent of packet and pattern characteristics. Our engine is a portable predictive pattern matching finite state machine (P3FSM), which combines the properties of hardware-based systems with the portability and programmability of software. Specifically we introduce two methods, “Character Aware” and “SDFA”, for encoding predictive state codes which can forecast the next states of our FSM. The result is software based pattern matching which is fast, reconfigurable, memory-efficient and portable.
Aerobactin and other virulence factor genes among strains of Escherichia coli causing urosepsis: association with patient characteristics.

Abstract To assess the role of aerobactin as a virulence factor among uropathogenic Escherichia coli, we determined the prevalence, location, and phenotypic expression of aerobactin determinants among 58 E. coli strains causing bacteremic urinary tract infections. We correlated the presence of the aerobactin system with antimicrobial-agent resistance, the presence and phenotypic expression of other uropathogenic virulence factor determinants (P fimbriae, hemolysin, and type 1 fimbriae), and characteristics of patients. Colony and Southern hybridization of total and plasmid DNA with DNA probes for each virulence factor showed that aerobactin determinants were present in 78% of the strains and were plasmid associated in 21%, whereas P fimbria, hemolysin, and type 1 fimbria determinants were present in 74, 43, and 98% of the strains, respectively, and were always chromosomal. Chromosomal aerobactin, P fimbria, and hemolysin determinants occurred together on the chromosome more often in strains from patients without predisposing urological or medical conditions (P = 0.04). Strains with plasmid-encoded aerobactin lacked determinants for P fimbriae (P = 0.004) and hemolysin (P = 0.0004), were resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents (P = 0.0001), and were found only in compromised patients. Mating experiments demonstrated that some aerobactin plasmids also encoded antimicrobial-agent resistance. These findings suggest that the determinants for aerobactin, P fimbriae, and hemolysin are conserved on the chromosome of the antimicrobial-agent-susceptible uropathogenic strains of E. coli which invade noncompromised patients. In contrast, these chromosomal virulence factors are often absent from E. coli strains causing urosepsis in compromised hosts; these strains may acquire plasmid aerobactin in conjunction with antimicrobial-agent resistance genes.
Comparison of effects of UVA, UVB and UVC on growth and viability of mitogen-stimulated human peripheral blood cells

— Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were irradiated with UVA, UVB or UVC. The highest exposure dose used in each waveband reduced the number of viable cells to one-third the control cell population after 3 days in culture. Exposure of these cells to half as much UV from each waveband resulted in an equivalent or greater degree of inhibition of their proliferative response to mitogen as measured by lymphoblast transformation, [3H]-thymidine uptake and viable cell number on day 3 in culture. The pattern of inhibition was distinct for each waveband. UVA interfered with blastogenesis on the first 2 days of culture at doses which had considerably less effect on viable cell number. UVA also depressed the first round of DNA synthesis, which was detectable on the second day of culture. By day 3 in culture, however, the UVA-induced reduction in both the number of lymphoblasts and the uptake of [3H]-thymidine was a direct reflection of reduced numbers of viable cells. UVB did not interfere with blastogenesis in mitogen-stimulated cultures to the same degree as did UVA. Only the highest dose of UVB depressed blast transformation more than viable cell number on day 1; by day 2 lower doses were also inhibitory. In contrast UVC had little effect on blastogenesis at any time; a reduced number of lymphoblasts observed on days 2 and 3 in culture was a direct reflection of a reduced number of viable cells rather than a reduced percent of these cells undergoing blast transformation. As with UVA-irradiated, mitogen-stimulated cells, [3H]-thymidine uptake was also depressed in both UVB and UVC irradiated, mitogen-stimulated cells on day 2. However, only UVB continued to depress DNA synthesis more than viable cell number after 3 days of culture. These results suggest that UVA, UVB and UVC may interfere with any one or more of the signals involved in the response to mitogen, be they the recognition of mitogen by T cells or accessory cells, the transformation of lymphocytes into lymphoblasts or the activation of lymphoblasts to synthesize DNA.
Scalable fabrication of efficient organolead trihalide perovskite solar cells with doctor-bladed active layers

Organolead trihalide perovskites (OTPs) are nature abundant materials with prospects as future low-cost renewable energy sources boosted by the solution process capability of these materials. Here we report the fabrication of efficient OTP devices by a simple, high throughput and low-cost doctor-blade coating process which can be compatible with the roll-to-roll fabrication process for the large scale production of perovskite solar cell panels. The formulation of appropriate precursor inks by removing impurities is shown to be critical in the formation of continuous, pin-hole free and phase-pure perovskite films on large area substrates, which is assisted by a high deposition temperature to guide the nucleation and grain growth process. The domain size reached 80–250 μm in 1.5–2 μm thick bladed films. By controlling the stoichiometry and thickness of the OTP films, highest device efficiencies of 12.8% and 15.1% are achieved in the devices fabricated on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate and cross-linked N4,N4′-bis(4-(6-((3-ethyloxetan-3-yl)methoxy)hexyl)phenyl)–N4,N4′-diphenylbiphenyl-4,4′-diamine covered ITO substrates. Interestingly, the carrier diffusion length in doctor-bladed OTP films is beyond 3.5 μm which is significantly larger than in the spin-coated films, due to the formation of crystalline grains with a very large size by the doctor-blade coating method.
Preservice String Teachers' Lesson-Planning Processes An Exploratory Study

This yearlong qualitative study is an examination of 10 undergraduate preservice teachers' lesson planning for the classes and/or individual lessons they taught in a university string project. Data...
Infrared Dispersion of Some Oxide Glasses

The refractive indices of silicate, germanate, calcium aluminate, and tellurite glasses have been determined in the wavelength range from about 0.4 μ to 5.3 μ. The experimental data for the silicate and germanate glasses were fitted to a Sellmeier dispersion equation of the form n2 = 1 + ∑Ajλ2/(λ2 − λj2). Dispersive curves were plotted which indicate the expected dispersion, contribution to chromatic aberration, and resolution of the glasses as a function of wavelength.
Effect of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome on outcome in critically ill trauma patients.

ObjectiveAcute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are known to be associated with increased mortality and costs in trauma patients. We estimated the independent impact of these conditions on mortality and cost, beyond the severity of injury with which they are correlate
Stability Analysis and Network Design of Evaporative Micro-Channels

During the operation of evaporative micro-channels, flow instability could be encountered. This phenomenon usually occurs when the Bond number of the fluid in the micro-channels is less than unity, so that a growing bubble is severely squeezed in the narrow channel and expands towards both upstream and downstream simultaneously. To reduce the flow instability, installation of an inlet orifice at the upstream, or making the micro-channel expanding at the downstream are found to be effective. An instability model for micro-channels was established, which takes into account the effects of both the inlet orifice and the channel expansion. Experiments of evaporating water micro system of 48 parallel micro-channels with 353 μm hydraulic diameter were conducted. The instability criterion of evaporative micro-channels with the effects of inlet orifice and expanding channel area are validated. Furthermore, to assist the general design of complex micro-channel network systems, a computational scheme is developed.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Development of methodology for conducting clinical trials in frontotemporal lobar degeneration

To design clinical trials for the frontotemporal lobar degenerations (FTLD), knowledge about measurement of disease progression is needed to estimate power and enable the choice of optimal outcome measures. The aim here was to conduct a multicentre, 1 year replica of a clinical trial in patients with one of four FTLD syndromes, behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA), progressive logopenic aphasia (PLA) and semantic dementia (SMD). Patients with one of the four FTLD syndromes were recruited from five academic medical centres over a 2 year period. Standard operationalized diagnostic criteria were used. In addition to clinical inclusion and exclusion criteria, patients were required to exhibit focal frontal, temporal or insular brain atrophy or dysfunction by neuroimaging. Patients underwent neuropsychological, functional, behavioural, neurological and MR imaging assessment at baseline and approximately 12 months later. Potential outcome measures were examined for their rates of floor and ceiling values at baseline and end of study, their mean changes and variances. The neuropsychological tests were combined into two cognitive composites—one for language functions and the other for executive functions. There were 107 patients who underwent baseline assessment and 78 who completed a follow-up assessment within 10–16 months. Two global measures, the FTLD-modified Clinical Dementia Rating (FTLD-modified CDR) and the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGIC) demonstrated decline in the majority of patients. Several cognitive measures showed negligible floor or ceiling scores either at baseline or follow-up. Scores declined at follow-up in the majority of patients. The cognitive, executive and combined composites were shown to be sensitive to change across all FTLD syndromes. Patients improved at follow-up on the behavioural scales—the Frontal Behavioural Inventory (22%) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (28%)—suggesting that these instruments may not be ideal for clinical trial use. It was feasible to recruit FTLD patients in a simulated multi-centre trial. There are several candidate outcome measures—including the FTLD-CDR and the cognitive composites— that could be used in clinical trials across the spectrum of FTLD.
The ordering of negative quadrant dependence

A partial ordering is developed among negative quadrant dependent distributions with fixed marginals. Basic properties and closure under certain statistical operations are derived. Applications of the results in statistics and probability are given.
Modelling of undulator sources

Abstract We present a new code capable of realistically modelling the radiation fromideal undulator sources, including explicit electron emittance effects. The code has been developed as part of the SHADOW X-ray optics ray tracing program, in order to predict the performances of undulator-based optical systems. The approach is based on a simplified field distribution that allows an efficient calculation of the trajectory and of the radiation field. We show explicitly that the undulator radiation pattern is shift-invariant with respect to the electron trajectory angles, so that the emittance effects can be included without recomputing the radiation distribution. Furthermore, the time consuming computation of the undulator emission patterns is decoupled from the Monte Carlo sampling of the wavefront, leading to a very fast code. This is achieved by computing the three-dimensional source probability distribution function and by using an inversion algorithm to generate a random variate with the same distribution as the source. The physical basis of the code and the algorithm used are discussed in detail and some results presented.
Evaluation of mathematical models for natural-draft cooling-tower plume dispersion

This paper provides an evaluation of the theory and performance of 16 models commonly used for the prediction of cooling-tower plume rise from natural-draft cooling towers. The performance of the models is determined through model/data comparisons with: (a) field data encompassing visible plume outlines obtained through plume photographs and (b) single-phase laboratory data on plume trajectories and dilutions. The field data used included 39 data sets from single towers (Chalk Point, Lunen, Paradise) and 26 from multiple-towers (Neurath and Amos). From the model/data comparisons carried out, six single-tower NDCT models and two multiple-tower NDCT models provided notably superior predictions than the remaining models. These models represent the current state of the art. For field-data applications, they can predict within a factor of two for visible plume rise and a factor of 212 for visible plume length, but only for 50% of the cases tested. Our review of model assumptions, which included several sensitivity studies, revealed several problem areas which remain unresolved. First, no model is able to achieve correct simultaneous predictions of plume trajectory and dilution. Second, the common treatment of plume thermodynamics affects plume dynamics too strongly when ambient profiles favor plume conditional and/or ambient latent instability. Third, no model correctly represents the rapid bending and additional dilution exhibited by the data under high wind conditions. Fourth, the plume merging logic is oversimplified and does not account for the effects of wind direction on plume dispersion. Fifth, the treatment of the diffusion phase is not developed from data taken at the large heights these plumes attain. The field and laboratory data base are sufficiently strong to support improvement in model theory and performance.
A parallel hybrid web document clustering algorithm and its performance study

Clustering web document is an important procedure in many web information retrieval systems. As the size of the Internet grows rapidly and the amount of information requests increases exponentially, the use of parallel computing techniques in large scale web document retrieval is unavoidable. We propose a parallel hybrid web document clustering algorithm, which combines the Principal Direction Divisive Partitioning (PDDP) algorithm with the K-means algorithm. Computational experiments were conducted to test the performance of the hybrid algorithm using three real life web document datasets, and the results were compared with that of the parallel PDDP algorithm and the parallel K-means algorithm. The experiments show that the quality of the clustering solutions obtained from the hybrid algorithm is better than that from the parallel PDDP or the parallel K-means. The parallel run time of the hybrid algorithm is similar to and sometimes less than that of the widely used K-means algorithm.
Measuring the size of revisions of regional data

Abstract A measure from statistical information theory is proposed for the size of revisions of regional data.
Changes in the levels of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases during the transition of the dimorphic fungus Mucor rouxii from yeast-like to mycelial growth.

Abstract The levels of the three major DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (enzymes I, II and III) present in the dimorphic fungus Mucor rouxii have been investigated during the transition from yeast-like cells to mycelial growth. Increases in the specific activity of crude extracts were observed at 2 h and at 6 h after induction of mycelium formation by aeration of yeast-like cells. These increases could be attributed to changes in the specific activities of enzymes I and II. Alterations were also found in the relative amounts of enzymes I and II: prior to aeration, 31% of the total polymerase activity of crude extracts was present as enzyme I; after 2 h of aeration, the specific activity of this enzyme doubled and the relative amount increased to 64% of the total activity. After 6 h of aeration, the relative amounts of enzymes I and II were 25 and 65%, respectively, and the specific activity of enzyme II had nearly doubled. The amounts and specific activities of enzyme III did not change significantly during the transition.
When is negative emotion positive for relationships? An investigation of married couples and roommates

Three types of negative emotion (hard, soft, and fear based) were believed to be integral to functioning in close interpersonal relationships. Hard emotion includes feeling angry, soft emotion includes feeling sad or hurt, and fear-based emotion includes feeling anxious or threatened. Married persons (studies 1 and 3) and college roommates (study 2) rated the extent to which they would feel different emotions in response to a variety of negative partner behaviors. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the distinction between the three types of emotion. Although hard and soft negative emotions were highly positively correlated, they had opposite effects when used to predict relationship functioning. After controlling for shared variance between the emotions, soft emotion was associated with positive relationship functioning (high satisfaction, low conflict, and low avoidance) and hard emotion was associated with negative relationship functioning (low satisfaction, high conflict, and high avoidance). In contrast, fear-based emotion was strongly, positively, and uniquely associated with relationship anxiety.
Doppler ultrasound evaluation of extracranial cerebrovascular disease.

Carotid Doppler examination was compared with arteriographic findings in 125 patients. The results demonstrated exact correlation in 87% of vessels studied. Clinically significant errors occurred at a rate of 4.5%. Clinically insignificant errors (8.5%) were usually the result of wall disease being mistaken for nonhemo-dynamically significant stenosis.
Differential Regulation of Protein Synthesis and mTOR Signaling in Skeletal Muscle and Visceral Tissues of Neonatal Pigs After a Meal

Protein synthesis (PS) increases after a meal in neonates, but the time course of the changes in PS in different tissues after a meal is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the changes in tissue PS, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activation, and proportion of ribosomal protein (rp) mRNAs in polysomes over 4 h after a bolus meal in neonatal pigs (n = 6/group; 5- to 7-d-old). The results show a more sustained increase in PS in glycolytic compared with mixed fiber type muscles and no changes in oxidative muscles. PS increased in liver, jejunum, and pancreas but not in kidney and heart. Feeding did not affect AMP-activated protein kinase or RAS-related GTP binding B activation. Phosphorylation of tuberous sclerosis complex 2, proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kD, mTOR, eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein, and rp S6 kinase 1 increased in all tissues after feeding. The proportion of mRNAs encoding rp S4 and S8 in liver polysomes increased within 30 min postfeeding. These results suggest that feeding stimulates mTORC1 signaling in muscle and viscera, but mTORC1 activation alone is not sufficient to stimulate PS in all tissues.
An empirical test of presidentialism's effect on party competition

This article argues that party competition in legislative elections is partly a function of presidential elections. Previous research on spatial competition has assumed that parties are competing in parliamentary regimes, where the only election of concern for parties and voters is the legislative election. However, in presidential regimes, presidential elections lead to relatively centrist positioning of candidates, and coattail effects from the presidential elections help shape the legislative elections. Using data from the Comparative Manifestos Project, I show that the major parties of the left and right in legislative elections are ideologically closer to each other in presidential regimes than major parties in parliamentary regimes.
Analysis of natural products by tandem mass spectrometry employing reactive collisions with ethyl vinyl ether

Representative natural products from the diterpene dilactone, psorospermin and quabalactone classes were protonated, mass-selected and reacted with ethyl vinyl ether in a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. Minor differences in the structures of the compounds led to different reactivities toward the reagent, as indicated by the relative abundances of products such as the ethylated and vinylated compounds. Additional information is obtained from the dissociation products formed upon non-reactive, inelastic collisions with the neutral reagent. The daughter spectra have excellent signal: noise ratios and good reproducibility. The results demonstrate that the use of reactive collisions may supplement collision-activated dissociation in chemical analysis of large organic molecules by tandem mass spectrometry.
Identifying risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications

ABSTRACT • POSTOPERATIVE PULMONARY complications are potentially preventable adverse events that are a major source of postoperative morbidity and mortality. Although these events occur more frequently than cardiac complications, less is known about how to predict their occurrence. • THIS REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE identifies significant risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complications. • NURSES CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL in preventing postoperative pulmonary complications by identifying patients at risk for their development.
Surface modification of nitrile rubber by plasma polymerization

Radio frequency plasma polymerization of vinylidene fluoride was used to modify the surface properties of nitrile rubber. The chemistry and frictional properties of the plasma films were characterized. FTIR transmission spectra and EDX analysis of plasma polymer films deposited on NaCl windows showed that the degree of fluorination of the plasma polymers increased as plasma power was increased from 25 to 50 W, and then decreased monotonically at higher powers. An estimation of the actual F/C ratio from EDX data indicated that the plasma polymer films contained approximately one fluorine atom for every 2–5 carbon atoms. Sliding friction tests on a Delrin countersurface showed that the coefficient of friction of the plasma treated rubbers was lower than untreated rubber, but slighly higher than rubber coated with silicone oil. Repetitive sliding friction testing showed that silicone oil treated samples had a longer lubricating lifetime than plasma treated samples. However, cyclic friction tests conducted with nitrile rubber o-rings yielded similar frictional behavior and lubricating lifetimes for silicone oil and plasma treatments. There was no correlation between chemical composition and the frictional and wear properties of the plasma films. Environmental scanning electron micrographs showed that the plasma films were brittle and tended to crack and flake off during wear testing.
Finite Element model updating of a skewed highway bridge using a multi-variable sensitivity-based optimization approach

This paper presents the implementation of the Finite Element (FE) model updating for a skewed highway bridge using real-time sensor data. The bridge under investigation is a I-275 crossing in Wayne County, Michigan. The bridge is instrumented with a wireless sensory system to collect the vibration response of the bridge under ambient vibrations. The dynamic characteristics of the bridge have been studied through the field measurements as well as a high-fidelity FE model of the bridge. The developed finite element model of the bridge is updated with the field measured response of the bridge so that the FE computed and field measured modal characteristics of the bridge match each other closely. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the structural parameters of the FE model which affect the modal frequencies and modal shapes the most. A multivariable sensitivity-based objective function is constructed to minimize the error between the experimentally measured and the FE predicted modal characteristics. The selected objective function includes information about both modal frequencies and mode shapes of the bridge. An iterative approach has been undertaken to find the optimized structural parameters of the FE model which minimizes the selected objective function. Appropriate constraints and boundary conditions are used during the optimization process to prevent non-physical solutions. The final updated FE model of the bridge provides modal results which are very consistent with the experimentally measured modal characteristics.