cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solutions for multi-dimensional transient heat conduction with solid body motion

Abstract The analytical solution for the problem of transient thermal conduction with solid body movement is developed for an orthotropic parallelepiped. Transformations are used to eliminate the flow terms and the orthotropic dependence. The solution uses two types of Green's functions: one coming from the Laplace transform method and the other from the method of separation of variables. The solution method is powerful because it incorporates internal verification of the numerical results by varying the partition time between the short and long components. An example is given for a multi-dimensional case involving both prescribed heat flux and temperature boundary conditions.
The response properties of retinula cells in the flyCalliphora erythrocephala as a function of the wavelength and polarization properties of visible and ultraviolet light

Detailed functional response properties of the class (1---6) retinula cells in the insectCalliphora erythrocephela have been determined as a function of the wavelength of monochromatic light and polarization conditions over a six log unit range of light adaptation levels. These stimuli were produced as a small parallel beam that could combine various wavelengths in both the ultraviolet and visible regions whose polarization planes could be individually controlled. The wild type and white-eyed mutant were studied and shown to have no significant differences in their response properties. It was shown that previous tests using transient stimuli, large compared to the adaptation levels produced responses of high orders of nonlinearity and rapidly changing transient properties. In contrast, the use of white-noise tests did not cause changes in the basic cell properties as established by a given light adaptation condition. These tests accurately model the visual conditions of a wide and representative range of normal behavioral conditions and the model response data thus obtained can be directly correlated to important physiological tests for the same stabilized adaptation conditions. The simultaneous application of both visible and ultraviolet monochromatic light revealed a complex response interaction which changed the self response contribution of the ultraviolet light from that due only to ultraviolet light but had no effect on the visible light response. It also produced a mutual interaction. This effect was found to be the same for all members of the (1---6) class of cells when the light was unpolarized but varied for different members of the class for polarized light depending upon the relative angles of theE-vectors for the two types of light which in turn vary for different members of the six cell classes.
Rational engineering of highly sensitive SERS substrate based on nanocone structures

At last meeting, we reported a new type of surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) substrates based on metal (Au or Ag) coated Si nanocones fabricated by a Bosch etching process. The substrate showed reliable SERS performance with an analytical enhancement factor greater than 6 × 107 for trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)-ethylene (BPE) molecules. However, the process is limited to single crystalline silicon material, also silicon can absorb both incident and scattered light, making it difficult to investigate the SERS enhancement mechanism. To further improve the sensitivity of the SERS substrate, we have recently developed a process to duplicate the Si nanocones by a cross-linked polymer using 3-D nanoimprint lithography (NIL). The SERS substrate made by NIL demonstrated better enhancement factors for both 633 nm excitation and 785 nm excitation with analytical enhancement factors of over 1011 demonstrated. We will report the rational engineering of the nanocone based SERS substrate and the fundamental understanding of the enhancement mechanism.
N:P ratios, light limitation, and cyanobacterial dominance in a subtropical lake impacted by non-point source nutrient pollution

A long-term (28-year) data set was used to investigate historical changes in concentrations of phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), N:P ratios, and Secchi disk transparency in a shallow subtropical lake (Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA). The aim was to evaluate changes in the risk of N2-fixing cyanobacterial blooms, which have infrequently occurred in the lake's pelagic zone. Predictions regarding bloom risk were based on previously published N:P ratio models. Temporal trends in the biomass of cyanobacteria were evaluated using phytoplankton data collected in 1974, 1989-1992, and 1997-2000. Concentrations of pelagic total P increased from near 50 microg l-1 in the mid-1970s to over 100 microg l-1 in the late 1990s. Coincidentally, the total N:P (mass) ratio decreased from 30:1 to below 15:1, and soluble N:P ratio decreased from 15:1 to near 6:1, in the lake water. Published empirical models predict that current conditions favor cyanobacteria. The observations confirm this prediction: cyanobacteria presently account for 50-80% of total phytoplankton biovolume. The historical decrease in TN:TP ratio in the lake can be attributed to a decreased TN:TP ratio in the inflow water and to a decline in the lake's assimilation of P, relative to N. Coincident with these declines in total and soluble N:P ratios, Secchi disk transparency declined from 0.6 m to near 0.3 m, possibly due to increased mineral turbidity in the lake water. Empirical models predict that under the turbid, low irradiance conditions that prevail in this lake, non-heterocystous cyanobacteria should dominate the phytoplankton. Our observations confirmed this prediction: non-N2-fixing taxa (primarily Oscillatoria and Lyngbya spp.) typically dominated the cyanobacteria community during the last decade. The only exception was a year with very low water levels, when heterocystous N2-fixing Anabaena became dominant. In the near-shore regions of this shallow lake, low N:P ratios potentially favor blooms of N2-fixing cyanobacteria, but their occurrence in the pelagic zone is restricted by low irradiance and lack of stable stratification.
Parametric excitation stability via Hamilton's action principle

A Hamilton's principle based direct variational method for the asymptotic determination of the well-known stability/instability boundaries of Mathieu's equation is presented. The presence of time-dependent parameters in the system of the Lagrangian necessitates a generalization of the conventional Hamilton's principle: this consists in treating these variable system parameters as additional generalized co-ordinates, and subjecting them to similar variations. The interpretation of the resulting energetic expressions leads to the formulation of a “new” time-integral-of-energy stability criterion, and a “parametric invariance” theorem. Its relation/equivalence with existing non-conservative system energy tests is pointed out. The historical roots of the method are finally traced.
Two- and three-dimensional inversions of magnetic anomalies in the MARK area (Mid-Atlantic Ridge 23° N)

Magnetic data collected in conjunction with a Sea Beam bathymetric survey of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge south of the Kane Fracture Zone are used to constrain the spreading history of this area over the past 3 Ma. Two-dimensional forward modeling and inversion techniques are carried out, as well as a full three-dimensional inversion of the anomaly field along a 90-km-long section of the rift valley. Our results indicate that this portion of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, known as the MARK area, consists of two distinct spreading cells separated by a small, zero-offset transform or discordant zone near 23°10′ N, The youngest crust in the median valley is characterized by a series of distinct magnetization highs which coalesce to form two NNE-trending bands of high magnetization, one on the northern ridge segment which coincides with a large constructional volcanic ridge, and one along the southern ridge segment that is associated with a string of small axial volcanos. These two magnetization highs overlap between 23° N and 23°10° N forming a non-transform offset that may be a slow spreading ridge analogue of the small ridge axis discontinuities found on the East Pacific Rise. The crustal magnetizations in this overlap zone are generally low, although an anomalous, ESE-trending magnetization high of unknown origin is also present in this area. The present-day segmentation of spreading in the MARK area was inherited from an earlier ridge-transform-ridge geometry through a series of small (∼ 10 km) eastward ridge jumps. These small ridge jumps were caused by a relocation of the neovolcanic zone within the median valley and have resulted in an overall pattern of asymmetric spreading with faster rates to the west (14 mm yr−1) than to the east (11 mm yr−1). Although the detailed magnetic survey described in this paper extends out to only 3 Ma old crust, a regional compilation of magnetic data from this area by Schoutenet al. (1985) indicates that the relative positions and dimensions of the spreading cells, and the pattern of asymmetric spreading seen in the MARK area during the past 3 Ma, have characterized this part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge for at least the past 36 Ma.
69 THE HPRT PROMOTER

The human HPRT promoter, like that of other “house keeping” genes, lacks the TATA box transcriptional signal which is commonly found 20-30 nucleotides 5′ to the RNA start sites of most other characterized genes. Since several viral genes contain regions upstream from the TATA box that can be inverted without impairing transcription, we decided to study the effect of orientation on HPRT promoter activity. Recombinant plasmids containing the human HPRT promoter in either orientation upstream from the firefly luciferase (lux) reporter gene were transfected into HeLa cells and luciferase activity was assayed after 48 hours. Efficient expression of luciferase was detected, independent of the orientation of the HPRT promoter. Studies with other plasmids containing the HPRT promoter flanked by both the luciferase and the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) genes demonstrated that the HPRT promoter could function bidirectionally, and drive expression of two reporter genes simultaneously. We are currently examining bidirectional activity of other promoters and determining the degree of bidirectional expression from the HPRT promoter in vivo.
R-matrix theory for the Dirac equation

Abstract R-matrix techniques are shown to be applicable to the Dirac equation. The Bloch operator is derived and the resulting R-matrix equations are developed for a calculable theory. An example is presented in which the results of the R-matrix procedure agree with those of standard numerical integration techniques.
An experimental study of expressive voting

In this paper we report results of an initial attempt to test the theory of expressive voting. Our experiment involves requiring subjects to vote between receiving $A in cash or having $B donated to charity on their behalf. Across subjects we vary the probability that their vote will decide which disbursement is made. As the probability of being decisive is lowered, the opportunity cost of giving expression to charitable sentiment decreases; hence, the likelihood of voting in accordance with such sentiment is expected to increase. We find weak support for the hypothesis, but the results do not replicate when we alter the parameter settings. Limitations of our design are discussed.
Preparation of a model Ziegler-Natta catalyst. Surface science studies of magnesium chloride thin film deposited on gold and its interaction with titanium chloride

Abstract The preparation and surface science study of a magnesium chloride/titanium chloride system, grown in the form of a thin film on an inert substrate under ultra-high vacuum conditions is reported. The aim of the authors is to build a model catalyst for the Ziegler-Natta polymerization of ethylene and propylene. Magnesium chloride and titanium chloride are deposited on a gold polycrystalline foil from the gas phase. The deposited films are characterized by AES, TPD of n -C 6 H 14 and film sublimation. Auger uptake experiments show that the MgCl 2 film grows by a layer-by-layer mechanism on the polycrystalline substrate. The deposition of MgCl 2 on the Au substrate can be followed by TPD of n -C 6 H 14 up to the completion of the first monolayer. It is not possible to grow TiCl 4 films on a MgCl 2 film at room temperature, because of its high vapor pressure. The chemical interaction of TiCl 4 with an ordered MgCl 2 surface is too weak to allow the growth of a TiCl 4 monolayer around 300 K. The bombardment of the MgCl 2 thin film with Ar ions did not produce a surface capable to adsorb TiCl 4 at room temperature.
Impact of Self-Hypnosis in Women on Select Physiologic and Psychological Parameters

ABSTRACT Objective To examine physiologic and psychologic effects of hypnosis in healthy women. Design Quasi-experimental, within-subject, repeated measures. Setting Private laboratory setting in an urban Midwestern College of Nursing. Participants Convenience sample of 30 healthy, female volunteers who were nonpregnant, predominantly White, college students. Method Participants listened to a 30-minute recording of relaxing, affirming hypnotic suggestions while sitting comfortably in a recliner. Hypnotizability and trait anxiety were measured at baseline. Tension-anxiety was measured at baseline and following the hypnotic induction. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and heart rate variability were collected before, during, and following the hypnotic experience. Results Paired t tests revealed significantly reduced heart rate ( p p p p p Conclusions Hypnosis is an innovative, low-technology, self-modulated approach that may contribute to stress reduction and health promotion. Parameters demonstrated increased parasympathetic nervous system activity associated with relaxation during and immediately after the hypnosis experience. Findings from this study suggest that nurses can include hypnosis information when advising healthy women about available stress reduction approaches, as well as tailor their nursing care for women who present using this alternative approach.
Screening young adults for prevalent chlamydial infection in community settings.

Purpose Community-based testing may identify young adults in the general population with sexually transmitted chlamydial infection. To develop selective screening guidelines appropriate for community settings, the authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health Wave III (April 2, 2001, to May 9, 2002). Methods Separately for women and men, we developed three predictive models by using unconditional multiple logistic regression for survey data. To account for racial/ethnic disparity in prevalence, initial models included identical predictor characteristics plus information on 1) respondent's race/ethnicity; or 2) respondent's most recent partner's race/ethnicity; or 3) no information on race/ethnicity. Results Chlamydia trachomatis diagnosis was available for 10,928 (88.6%) of the sexually experienced respondents. A combination of five characteristics for women and six characteristics for men identified approximately 80% of infections when testing ≤50% of the population. Information regarding race/ethnicity dramatically affected algorithm performance. Conclusion The use of race/ethnicity in any screening algorithm is problematic and controversial, but the model without race information missed many diagnoses in the minority groups. Universal screening in high-prevalence regions and selective screening in low-prevalence regions may be one method of reaching the affected populations while avoiding the stigma of guidelines incorporating race/ethnicity.
Bacteriology of Human Gingivitis

The subgingival bacterial floras of naturally occurring gingivitis in adults and children were characterized and compared with the floras of other periodontal conditions previously studied. The composition of the gingivitis floras was found to be distinct from that of floras associated with health or with moderate, severe, or juvenile periodontitis. There were no major differences between the floras of naturally-occurring gingivitis and the floras of the human experimental gingivitis model. Data indicated that the flora of healthy sites within a mouth is influenced by the number of inflamed sites, which argues against independence of sites bacteriologically. Proportions of ten bacterial species increased in both gingivitis and periodontitis, as compared with health, in both adults and children. These species were found in both affected and unaffected sites of people with gingivitis. The numbers of five other cultivable species and the "large treponeme", which was not cultivated, increased in gingivitis and periodontitis of adults only. Significant differences in non-spirochetal floras between children and adults were not found, although they were in the experimental gingivitis model studied previously. Cultivable spirochetes did differ between children and adults. Children had fewer samples positive for spirochetes, and children's positive samples contained greater proportions of T. socranskii subsp. paredis. Some species that predominate in periodontitis, but which are absent from healthy gingivae, were found as a small percentage of the flora in gingivitis. This suggests that increased serum and blood in the gingival crevice encourage species that relate to periodontitis.
Regulatory role of IL-10 in experimental obliterative bronchiolitis in rats.

Abstract Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) affects over half of all chronic human survivors following lung or heart–lung transplantation. Respiratory epithelial cell injury, peribronchial inflammation, and proliferation of fibrovascular connective tissue causing airway occlusion characterize this lesion. Using a rat model of experimental OB, tracheas and mainstem bronchi from Brown–Norway or Lewis (LEW) rats were transplanted subcutaneously into LEW recipients. At 7 days, airway lumens of allografts showed minimal luminal obstruction but significant respiratory epithelial loss. By 14 days, allografts demonstrated marked peribronchial inflammation, nearly complete loss of respiratory epithelium, and extensive intraluminal proliferation of fibrovascular connective tissue, with a mean 58% reduction in airway cross-sectional diameter. However, isografts showed only limited peribronchial inflammation and no loss of airway lumen. When recipients of allotransplants were treated with anti-IL-10, OB developed more rapidly. As early as 7 days, there was marked histologic evidence of OB and a 43% reduction in mean cross-sectional area. Allograft animals that received 5 μg/day of recombinant IL-10 as a constant infusion on day 14 showed almost complete preservation of respiratory epithelium and only mild peribronchial inflammation with only a 15% reduction in airway cross-sectional area. These findings suggest that endogenous IL-10 plays a regulatory role in the development of experimental OB.
Timeframes and Absence Frameworks: A Test of Steers and Rhodes' (1978) Model of Attendance

Steers and Rhodes' (1978) model of employee attendance encompasses a variety of absence-predictor types (e.g., attitudes, personal factors, etc.). Recent conceptual frameworks suggest that the inconsistent findings on this model may be attributable, in part, to the use of absence timeframes that are incompatible with individual model components. Using data from 580 federal employees, a predictive analysis evaluated exogenous model predictors against absence criteria representing four different cumulation periods. Supplemental analysis explored the possibility of incremental endogenous-variable (i.e., Ability to Attend, Motivation to Attend) contributions. Results of both tests were consistent with a conclusion of partial model support.
Reactions of XeF2 with thermally grown SiO2

Abstract The reactions of XeF2 on thermally grown SiO2 have been studied. XeF2 does not readily undergo a dissociative chemisorption on these surfaces. Damaging the oxide with 500 eV argon ions enhances this process significantly through the creation of active sites. XPS analysis of the resulting adlayer, together with molecular-orbital model calculations, reveal the presence of fluorine bound to both silicon and oxygen. The oxyfluoride species can be removed from the surface by annealing the crystal to 200°C.
Concerns and beliefs about medicines and inappropriate medications: An Internet-based survey on risk factors for self-reported adverse drug events among older adults.

Abstract Background: Adverse drug events (ADEs), which can be especially problematic in older adults, often can be prevented by detecting potential risk factors. Sociopsychological factors such as concerns and beliefs about medicines (patients' anxieties about the harmful effects of prescribed medications) may also be risk factors related to self-reported ADEs, even when considering clinical variables such as receiving an inappropriate medication. Objectives: This study was designed to quantify the use of inappropriate medications among older adult outpatients and to determine whether an association exists between the use of inappropriate medications, concerns and beliefs about medicines, and self-reported ADEs. Methods: This cross-sectional, Internet-based survey of Medicare beneficiaries was conducted in 2007. Harris Interactive®, a New York-based marketing research firm, invited participants from their online panel who were ≥65 years of age, residents of the United States, and enrolled in the Medicare health plan to participate in the survey. The updated Beers criteria and a modified version of the Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders quality indicators were used to determine the appropriateness of medications. Respondents' concerns about their medicines were assessed using items from a validated scale such as “Having to take medicines worries me” and “I sometimes worry about the long-term effects of my medicines.” To establish self-reported ADEs, respondents were asked, “Did you see a doctor about any side effects, unwanted reactions, or other problems from medicines you were taking in the past year?” Results: Of the 1024 panelists who responded to the survey, 874 provided all of the information required for analysis. The respondents who were included in the analyses ranged in age from 65 to 94 years; 56.6% were female, 94.4% were white, and 20.3% self-reported an ADE. The frequency of patients receiving either an inappropriate medication or a medication that failed a quality indicator was 45.8%. Stronger concerns and beliefs about medicines (odds ratio [OR] = 1.57; 95% CI, 1.02–2.39; P = 0.04) and having more symptoms (OR = 2.26; 95% CI, 1.22–4.22; P = 0.01) were significantly related to self-reporting of ADEs, whereas receiving an inappropriate medication (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.65–1.64) and the number of medications received (OR = 1.28; 95% CI, 0.52–3.13) were not. Conclusions: Stronger concerns and beliefs about medicines and having more symptoms were significantly related to self-reporting of ADEs. Receiving an inappropriate medication and the number of medicines received were not significantly related.
Survival Rates of Adult Lake Trout in Northwestern Lake Michigan, 1983–1993

Abstract The restoration of lake trout Salvelinus namaycush in Lake Michigan has been an elusive goal of resource management agencies in the Great Lakes region. In this study, we estimated annual survival rates of adult lake trout from an area in northwestern Lake Michigan known as the Clay Banks refuge. We tagged and recaptured fish with gill nets during the fall spawning season (N = 12,175; 1983–1989 and 1991–1993) and with pound nets in the spring (N = 52,035; 1984–1990 and 1992–1993). We fit Cormack–Jolly–Seber models to the two sets of data. We had insufficient data to analyze annual differences in survival rates of fall-tagged fish, but we were able to estimate an overall annual survival rate of 0.67. Annual survival rates of spring-tagged fish varied between 0.53 and 0.88 and increased after 1987–1988. In addition to the mark–recapture studies, we analyzed catch rates of lake trout from gill-net and pound-net surveys to estimate survival rates using catch curve analyses; these annual rates were gen...
Proton irradiation damage of an annealed Alloy 718 beam window

Abstract Mechanical testing and microstructural analysis was performed on an Alloy 718 window that was in use at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) Isotope Production Facility (IPF) for approximately 5 years. It was replaced as part of the IPF preventive maintenance program. The window was transported to the Wing 9 hot cells at the Chemical and Metallurgical Research (CMR) LANL facility, visually inspected and 3-mm diameter samples were trepanned from the window for mechanical testing and microstructural analysis. Shear punch testing and optical metallography was performed at the CMR hot cells. The 1-mm diameter shear punch disks were cut into smaller samples to further reduce radiation exposure dose rate using Focus Ion Beam (FIB) and microstructure changes were analyzed using a Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Irradiation doses were determined to be ∼0.2–0.7 dpa (edge) to 11.3 dpa (peak of beam intensity) using autoradiography and MCNPX calculations. The corresponding irradiation temperatures were calculated to be ∼34–120 °C with short excursion to be ∼47–220 °C using ANSYS. Mechanical properties and microstructure analysis results with respect to calculated dpa and temperatures show that significant work hardening occurs but useful ductility still remains. The hardening in the lowest dose region (∼0.2–0.7 dpa) was the highest and attributed to the formation of γ ″ precipitates and irradiation defect clusters/bubbles whereas the hardening in the highest dose region (∼11.3 dpa) was lower and attributed mainly to irradiation defect clusters and some thermal annealing.
Parametric Decay of Lower-Hybrid Waves in the ACT-1 Toroidal Device

Nonresonant parametric decay of lower-hybrid waves, observed in a number of high-power tokamak rf-heating experiments, is positively identified as a decay into ion-cyclotron quasimodes. The decay-wave spectrum, wavelength, and amplitude profile are measured inside a toroidal plasma with pump frequency ${f}_{0}\ensuremath{\sim}3.5{f}_{\mathrm{pi}}\ensuremath{\sim}25{f}_{\mathrm{ci}}$.
Resonant frequency of electrically thick rectangular microstrip antennas

An algebraic formulation for the resonant frequency of a rectangular microstrip antenna has been derived which is valid for electrically thick substrates. Predicted values of resonance are compared with previous theories, as well as actual experimental measurements, for radiators approaching one-quarter wavelength in thickness.
Clock-gated harmonic rejection mixers

In this paper, harmonic-rejection mixers (HRM) in which incoming radio frequency (RF) signal is multiplied by square-wave local-oscillator (LO) output, are described. Starting with the generalization of the conventional HRM concept, a technique to reject higher order harmonics, above the third and fifth, is presented. After a brief description of the conventional HRM and its limitations, an improved HRM that achieves a higher level of harmonic rejection (HR) for higher order harmonics as well, is described. By using a clock N times the desired LO frequency, this scheme rejects the (N-1)th LO harmonic only by an amount of 20log(N − 1) dB. A new technique is presented that achieves 19 dB better HR for the (N − 1)th harmonic while preserving the level of rejection for other harmonics. Mixer embodying this technique is fabricated in 55 nm standard CMOS process and measured results are discussed. Flicker noise cancelation and HR performance achieved are examined for this new topology. This mixer rejects the (N − 1)th harmonic in excess of 39 dB for N = 4 while achieving greater than 52 dB of rejection for other harmonics.
Continuous culture of pig tissue-derived macrophages

Normal tissue macrophages from fetal and adult pig tissues can be continuously cultured by growing simple explant cultures on feeder layers of STO mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Macrophage cultures initiated from fetal and newborn pig testicle and liver explants grew from eight to 30 population doublings. The macrophages grew on top of the STO feeder cells in two forms: either a semi-attached round refractile morphology, or a closely attached ameboid morphology with several extended pseudopods. Cultured macrophages had large lobed nuclei, numerous complex vacuoles, and filopodia by transmission electron microscopic examination. The macrophages rapidly took up and sequestered acetylated-LDL in their vacuoles. They were highly phagocytic and expressed CD14 on their surface. Macrophage cultures were also initiated from tissues of the turkey, rat, mouse, cow, and sheep (data not shown). This simple method of isolating and propagating tissue macrophages could routinely provide macrophages for general research, adoptive immunotherapy, and somatic gene therapy.
Efficacy of biphasic waveform compared to monophasic waveform for cardioversion of atrial flutter in pediatric patients.

The efficacy of biphasic waveform cardioversion of atrial flutter in pediatric patients has not previously been demonstrated. Cardioversion outcomes were compared in two sequential groups of patients with atrial flutter undergoing transthoracic cardioversion using monophasic and biphasic waveforms at a single pediatric institution. The mean energy required for procedural success was 1.7 ± 1.2 J/kg in the monophasic group compared to 0.9 ± 0.6 J/kg in the biphasic group (p = 0.002). The mean number of attempts before achieving procedural success was 1.9 ± 1.2 for the monophasic group and 1.3 ± 1.0 for the biphasic group (p = 0.019). Procedure success rate was 89.5% (33/38) in the monophasic group compared to 100% (27/27) in the biphasic group (p = 0.13). Success rate for biphasic waveform cardioversion was 83% (5/6) when using energy less than 0.5 J/kg. These findings provide the impetus for lower starting energies and more widespread use of devices utilizing biphasic waveforms in pediatric patients.
The beta distribution – a physically consistent model for human exposure to airborne contaminants

This brief note examines the beta distribution as a statistical model for airborne contaminant concentrations, and in particular as a tool to describe occupational exposures. The beta distribution is bounded on both tails and has the flexibility to accommodate skewed data. This is a requirement for any physically consistent model of concentration data. The method described here admits the maximum possible concentration as an upper bound to improve the statistical description. A comparison with the standard lognormal model is illustrated with a data set of naphthalene exposures.
Can Anticoagulated Patients be Discharged Home Safely from the Emergency Department after Minor Head Injury

Abstract Background Anticoagulated patients have increased risk for bleeding, and serious outcomes could occur after head injury. Controversy exists regarding the utility of head computed tomography (CT) in allowing safe discharge dispositions for anticoagulated patients suffering minor head injury. Clinical Question What is the risk of delayed intracranial hemorrhage in anticoagulated patients with minor head injury and a normal initial head CT scan? Evidence Review Four observational studies were reviewed that investigated the outcomes of anticoagulated patients who presented after minor head injury. Results Overall incidence of death or neurosurgical intervention ranged from 0 to 1.1% among the patients investigated. The studies did not clarify which patients were at highest risk. Conclusion The literature does not support mandatory admission for all anticoagulated patients after minor head injury, but further studies are needed to identify the higher-risk patients for delayed bleeding to determine appropriate management.
A multilocus phylogeny of archiheterodont bivalves (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Archiheterodonta)

The bivalve clade Heterodonta encompasses more than half of the extant bivalve species and is presently considered a derived group of the modern bivalves (Newell 1965; Waller 1998). Heterodonta is subdivided into two major lineages, the hyperdiverse Euheterodonta and Archiheterodonta. The latter comprises four relatively small extant families: Astartidae, Carditidae, Condylocardiidae and Crassatellidae, whose relationships and internal phylogeny are poorly understood. We assessed the phylogeny of archiheterodont bivalves using a multilocus data set comprised of molecular sequence data from six loci (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, cytochrome b, internal transcribed spacer 2 and histone H3). Resultant data sets of ~4 Kb of concatenated molecular sequence data were analysed using probabilistic approaches (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) and parsimony direct optimization. We recovered strong support for the monophyly of Archiheterodonta, within which Astartidae is the sister group of Crassatellidae, and these two constitute the sister clade of Carditidae, which is paraphyletic with respect to Condylocardiidae. The relationships among the constituent species groups were evaluated in the context of the archiheterodont fossil record through the estimation of divergence times. Diversification times of archiheterodont families were congruent with bounded estimates of origins based on palaeontological data: Archiheterodonta diversified during the Devonian, 373.1 Ma (95% highest posterior density interval [HPD] 325.8–428.2); Crassatelloidea around the Carboniferous, 330.1 Ma (95% HPD 291.0–372.7); Crassatellidae around the Triassic, 224.0 (95% HPD 140.6–320.2); Astartidae around the Permian, 288.2 Ma (95% HPD 269.2–307.3); and Carditoidea around the Jurassic, 178.8 Ma (95% HPD 120.9–228.3).
Serum response factor regulates a muscle-specific microRNA that targets Hand2 during cardiogenesis

Gradients of signalling and transcription factors govern many aspects of embryogenesis, highlighting the need for spatiotemporal control of regulatory protein levels. MicroRNAs are phylogenetically conserved small RNAs that regulate the translation of target messenger RNAs, providing a mechanism for protein dose regulation. Here we show that microRNA-1-1 (miR-1-1) and miR-1-2 are specifically expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle precursor cells. We found that the miR-1 genes are direct transcriptional targets of muscle differentiation regulators including serum response factor, MyoD and Mef2. Correspondingly, excess miR-1 in the developing heart leads to a decreased pool of proliferating ventricular cardiomyocytes. Using a new algorithm for microRNA target identification that incorporates features of RNA structure and target accessibility, we show that Hand2, a transcription factor that promotes ventricular cardiomyocyte expansion, is a target of miR-1. This work suggests that miR-1 genes titrate the effects of critical cardiac regulatory proteins to control the balance between differentiation and proliferation during cardiogenesis.
Dual frequency millimeter wave monopulse antenna

A novel, dual frequency, monopulse antenna system capable of simultaneous reception and location of signals at 34 \pm2 GHz and 94 \pm2 GHz using monopulse techniques has been developed. The state-of-the-art components necessary to implement this concept include a dichroic cassegrain subreflector, 34 and 94 GHz monopulse comparators, and low noise mixers. This paper traces the procedures and theory used in the development of the antenna system and presents experimental data.
Complex shaped detachable platinum coil system for the treatment of cerebral aneurysms: The Codman Trufill DCS and Trufill DCS Orbit Detachable Coil System COMPLEX Registry final results

Objective To report on an electronic database with longitudinal information on the use of bare platinum coils for the endovascular occlusion of cerebral aneurysms. We report here the final analysis of the data. Methods From 1 May 2004 to 10 July 2007, a global registry was conducted at 36 centers in the USA, Europe and Latin America. 303 patients were enrolled, of whom 299 patients were treated with bare detachable platinum coils (mostly Trufill Detachable Coil System (DCS) Orbit coils). Short and long term anatomical and clinical data were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association of selected patient characteristics to outcomes of recanalization and retreatment. Results 313 aneurysms, ruptured and unruptured, were treated in the 299 patients. Follow-up data were available on 185 patients: 150 (81%) had a 3–6 month follow-up, 63 (34%) had a 1 year follow-up and five (3%) had a 2 year follow-up. This paper reviews the status of 185 patients with follow-up data available at this time. Immediately postprocedure, 114 (58%) aneurysms were completely obliterated, 40 (20%) residual neck, 23 (12%) residual aneurysm and 19 (10%) dog ear. Of 174 aneurysms in 167 patients with angiographic follow-up, 137 (79%) remained stable or improved, nine (5%) showed aneurysm regrowth, 26 (15%) showed compaction and two (1%) had migrated. At 3–6 months, 11 of the 174 (6%) aneurysms were re-treated. Conclusion These results confirm previous outcome data of endovascular occlusion of cerebral aneurysms with Trufill DCS Orbit complex shaped detachable platinum coils. Complications related to the device were rare.
Design of a mega-sub-controlled building system under stochastic wind loads

Abstract Vibration control of high-rise buildings under wind loads with application of the mega-sub-control method is studied in this paper. A building with a megasub-configuration consists of two major structural components - a megastructure as the main structural frame and several sub-structures for residential and/or commercial usage. The authors have previously proposed a ‘megasub-control method’ in which the sub-structures are designed to serve as vibration control dampers. The control objective is to suppress certain critical building responses such as inter-story drifts of the mega-structure for the purpose of structural safety and acceleration response of the sub-structures for the purpose of protecting contents and improving human comfort. The feasibility of this method has been explored by the authors in previous publications. In this study, the procedure of optimally designing dynamic parameters of a megasub-controlled building under stochastic wind loads is developed, together with two possible structural configurations which provide a mega-sub-control mechanism. The mega-structure of a mega-sub-building is modeled as a cantilever beam to retain the dominant bending mode characteristics of highrise buildings, and the sub-structure as a shear building to retain the shear mode. The fluctuating wind speed is modeled as a non-white random process in both time and space domains. The power spectral density (PSD) of critical building responses is obtained using the random vibration theory. The mean square value (MSV) of those responses, as functions of the dynamic parameters including the stiffness and damping ratio of the sub-structures, are evaluated from their PSD by numerical integration in the frequency domain. The optimal values of the dynamic parameters are determined by minimizing the MSV of certain critical building responses. An example building is used to demonstrate the design procedure and the numerical simulation of the response quantities in the time domain is carried out to verify the MSV of the building responses obtained from the random vibration theory in the frequency domain. The results show that the proposed design procedure is suitable to apply to a mega-sub-building with different sub-structural configurations. The MSV obtained from the random vibration theory in the frequency domain and from the numerical simulation in the time domain exhibit an excellent agreement. It is also found that the megasub-control method is robust in the sense that slight change in the dynamic parameters affects the building's performance very little. With the design procedure developed, and the corresponding favorable building response demonstrated, this paper has enhanced the feasibility of application of the mega-sub-control method to actual high-rise buildings for wind vibration suppression.
Automated repair of binary and assembly programs for cooperating embedded devices

We present a method for automatically repairing arbitrary software defects in embedded systems, which have limited memory, disk and CPU capacities, but exist in great numbers. We extend evolutionary computation (EC) algorithms that search for valid repairs at the source code level to assembly and ELF format binaries, compensating for limited system resources with several algorithmic innovations. Our method does not require access to the source code or build toolchain of the software under repair, does not require program instrumentation, specialized execution environments, or virtual machines, or prior knowledge of the bug type.We repair defects in ARM and x86 assembly as well as ELF binaries, observing decreases of 86% in memory and 95% in disk requirements, with 62% decrease in repair time, compared to similar source-level techniques. These advances allow repairs previously possible only with C source code to be applied to any ARM or x86 assembly or ELF executable. Efficiency gains are achieved by introducing stochastic fault localization, with much lower overhead than comparable deterministic methods, and low-level program representations.When distributed over multiple devices, our algorithm finds repairs faster than predicted by naive parallelism. Four devices using our approach are five times more efficient than a single device because of our collaboration model. The algorithm is implemented on Nokia N900 smartphones, with inter-phone communication fitting in 900 bytes sent in 7 SMS text messages per device per repair on average.
The Respective Racial and Ethnic Diversity of US Pediatricians and American Children

Background. Much effort has been directed toward increasing the training of physicians from underrepresented minority groups, yet few direct comparisons have examined the diversity of the racial/ethnic backgrounds of the physicians relative to the patient populations they serve, either currently or into the future. This has been particularly true in the case of pediatrics, in which little information has emerged regarding the racial/ethnic backgrounds of pediatricians, yet evidence points to ever-growing diversity in the US child population. Objective. We embarked on a comparative analysis to examine trends in the racial and ethnic composition of pediatricians vis-a-vis the patient population they serve, America9s infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Methods. Data on US pediatricians sorted by racial/ethnic group came from Association of American Medical Colleges distribution data and is based on the cohort of pediatricians graduating from US medical schools between 1983 and 1989 extrapolated to the total number of pediatricians actively practicing in 1996. Data on the demographic diversity of the US child population came from the US Census Bureau. We derived pediatrician-to-child population ratios (PCPRs) specific to racial/ethnic groups to measure comparative diversity between and among groups. Results. Our results show that the black PCPR, currently less than one third of the white PCPR, will fall from 14.3 pediatricians per 100 000 children in 1996 to 12 by 2025. The Hispanic PCPR will fall from 16.9 in 1996 to 9.2 in 2025. The American Indian/Alaska Native PCPR will drop from 7.8 in 1996 to 6.5 by the year 2025. The PCPR specific to the Asian/Pacific Islander group will decline from 52.9 in 1996 to 26.1 in 2025. For whites, the PCPR will increase from 47.8 to 54.2 during this period. For 1996, each of the 5 PCPRs is significantly different from the comparison ratio. The same is true for 2025. For the time trend comparison (between 1996 and 2025), there is a significant difference for each ratio except for American Indian/Alaska Native. Conclusion. The racial and ethnic makeup of the US child population is currently far more diverse than that of the pediatricians who provide their health care services. If child population demographic projections hold true, and no substantial shifts transpire in the composition of the pediatric workforce, the disparities will increase substantially by the year 2025.
Oracle-guided component-based program synthesis

We present a novel approach to automatic synthesis of loop-free programs. The approach is based on a combination of oracle-guided learning from examples, and constraint-based synthesis from components using satisfiability modulo theories (SMT) solvers. Our approach is suitable for many applications, including as an aid to program understanding tasks such as deobfuscating malware. We demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of our approach by synthesizing bit-manipulating programs and by deobfuscating programs.
When Parrots Learn to Talk, and Why They Can't: Domination, Deception, and Self-Deception in Indian-White Relations

If the expansion and consolidation of state power simply undermined, homogenized, and ultimately destroyed the distinctive societies and ethnic groups in its grasp, as various acculturation or melting-pot theories would have it, the world would long ago have run out of its supply of diverse ways of life, a supply presumably created in the dawn of human time. To the contrary, state power must not only destroy but also generate cultural differentiation—and do so not only between different nation states, and between states and their political and economic colonies, but in the center of its grasp as well. The historical career of ethnic peoples can thus best be understood in the context of forces that both give a people birth and simultaneously seek to take their lives.
A Neural Network Approach to Sensitivity Analysis of AVIRIS Spectral Bands

The purpose of the project described in this paper was to perform sensitivity analysis on the 224 bands collected by the Advanced Very High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) sensor. The sensitivity analysis was conducted utilizing artificial neural network technology. A baseline was established by performing partial training of a neural network using the equivalent six non-thermal TM bands as input. The remaining AVIRIS data was divided into nine groups of contiguous bands. The first, last and middle bands of each group were added to the baseline inputs and used to partially train a separate neural network using parameters identical to the baseline network. While several of the groups demonstrated a small (or even negative) impact on pixel classification, the presence of other groups improved the performance of the neural network. The results obtained support the viability of the neural network approach in ascertaining the sensitivity of band groups within the AVIRIS data.
Human Cytochrome P450 Family 4 Enzymes: Function, Genetic Variation and Regulation

The microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) family 4 monooxygenases are the major fatty acid ω-hydroxylases. These enzymes remove excess free fatty acids to prevent lipotoxicity, catabolize leukotrienes and prostanoids, and also produce bioactive metabolites from arachidonic acid ω-hydroxylation. In addition to endogenous substrates, recent evidence indicates that CYP4 monooxygenases can also metabolize xenobiotics, including therapeutic drugs. This review focuses on human CYP4 enzymes and updates current knowledge concerning catalytic activity profiles, genetic variation and regulation of expression. Comparative differences between the human and rodent CYP4 enzymes regarding catalytic function and conditional expression are also discussed.