cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flexibility-Based Finite Element Analysis for Structures With Random Material Properties

In this paper, we propose a flexibility-based finite element formulation for beams with stochastic bending stiffness. We formulate the element-level finite element equilibrium equation in terms of the element flexibility, so that the stochasticity appears on the right side of the equilibrium equation as the random flexibility. As a result, the unknown internal forces, which are dependent on the stochastic bending stiffness for statically indeterminate beams, appear explicitly in the global finite element equilibrium equations. The internal forces associated with the mean stiffness are used to approximate the unknown internal forces in the process of computation. With the new formulation, the mean and covariance of the displacement for stochastic beams can be directly calculated in terms of mean and covariance function of the flexibility, which can be evaluated from one-dimensional probability density function and the correlation function of the stiffness by the Monte Carlo simulation. The numerical example is given to illustrate the advantages of the new formulation over the conventional perturbation solution.
A randomized trial of inhaled versus intravenous steroids in ventilator-dependent preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: Intravenous steroids improve the respiratory course in ventilator-dependent preterm infants but have adverse effects. We hypothesized that inhaled steroids would be as effective, but with less systemic effects. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a randomized, prospective trial comparing inhaled beclomethasone, either 400 or 800 μg/d, to intravenous dexamethasone in preterm infants dependent on conventional mechanical ventilation and supplemental oxygen at 2 weeks of age. RESULTS: Seventy-eight infants were randomized. By day three of therapy, the intravenous steroid group had significantly decreased ventilator and oxygen requirements compared to either inhaled group. The inhaled 800-μg/d group trended toward more rapid decreases in ventilator and oxygen requirements than the 400-μg/d group. By day 14, all groups had similar reductions in ventilator and oxygen requirements. The incidence of adverse effects did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this small, randomized study, inhaled steroids conferred no advantages to intravenous steroids in the management of ventilator-dependent preterm infants.
Links, pictures and the homology of nilpotent groups

We give a geometric slice-like characterization for the vanishing of Milnor's link invariants by proving the k-slice conjecture. This conjecture states that a linkhas vanishing Milnor -invariants of length )2k if and only ifbounds disjoint surfaces in a four disk in such a way that the fundamental group of the complement admits free nilpotent quotients of class k. In the course of our proof, we compute the dimension )3 homology groups of "nitely generated free nilpotent Lie rings and groups. We develop a new algorithm for constructing a weighted chain resolution for a nilpotent group with torsion free lower central series quotients, and with the property that its associated graded complex is the Koszul complex of the associated graded Lie ring. This give a new derivation of the May spectral sequence relating the group homology of the nilpotent group to the Lie ring homology of its associated graded Lie ring. Finally, we de"ne -invariants of `picturesa and use these to describe a generating set of cocycles in the cohomology of the free nilpotent groups. Some sample computations follow. 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Determination of losartan and its degradates in COZAAR® tablets by reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography

Losartan potassium is an angiotensin II receptor blocker. It has been formulated and marketed as a tablet dosage from (COZAAR). A reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography method has been validated and shown to be sensitive, efficient, and reliable, and can be used as an excellent alternative to the HPLC stability testing of losartan potassium in COZAAR tablets.
Nondeterministic dynamic programming on a parallel coprocessing system

We describe how nondeterministic dynamic programming (DP) algorithms can be designed for a new class of parallel coprocessing systems using ''functional memory'', an architecture based upon dataflow computer principles. We also show how Petri nets can be used to model and express such parallel DP algorithms. Finally, we discuss architectural improvements that would facilitate the processing of Petri net models of nondeterministic DP algorithms on functional memory computers (FMC).
Effect of prism generated discreet wavelengths of light on germination and post-germination development of Colletotrichum dematium var circinans (Berk.) v. Arx

Spores, harvested from 8 da old colonies ofColletotrichum dematium varcircinans (Berk.) v. Arx, were placed on slides under shimmed coverslips and subjected to 10 min irradiation with wavelengths of light ranging from 400 to 750 nm. Controls consisted of spores exposed to 10 min of fluorescent or tungsten light, or to continuous dark. Germination, and production of sessile and non-sessile appressoria, and germ-tubes was monitored. In addition position of germ-tubes on spores was noted and germination types were classified by numbers of germ-tubes and sessile and non-sessile appressoria produced. When compared to dark controls certain wavelengths, 400, 450, 600 and 650 nm, appeared to be inhibitory to germination and post-germination development, while others, 500, 550 and 750 nm, appeared to be stimulatory. Spores irradiated with some of the wavelengths (550, 700, 750 nm) that affected other responses produced the smallest percentage of sessile appressoria (approx. 10%). Placement of germ-tubes was not affected by treatment. More germ-tubes were produced from spore bottoms (53%) than tops (32%), and tips (15%). The fewest number of germ-tubes was produced from spore centers and from one tip. Thirteen germination types were noted. About 53% of spores germinated with one germ-tube, one non-sessile appressoria, and no sessile appressoria. The remaining 47% were distributed throughout the remaining 12 types, and ranged from 21% to less than 1% of the total. Treatments did not affect this distribution.
Activation of class I HLA expression by TNF-alpha and gamma-interferon is mediated through protein kinase C-dependent pathway in CML cell lines.

Summary. The combination of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and gamma-interferon induced transcription of class I HLA genes in chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) cell lines through the formation of a complex between nuclear proteins and the transcriptional enhancers associated with these genes. Although gamma-interferon or TNF-alpha stimulated expression of class I HLA antigens in the EM2 and K562 CML cell lines when used alone, the effect of the combination of TNF-alpha and gamma-interferon was greater than that observed with either agent alone. The induction of class I HLA expression by gamma-interferon and TNF-alpha was inhibited completely by the isoquinoline sulfonamide H7, an inhibitor of protein kinase C. We conclude that the enhancement of the gamma-interferon induced transcriptional activation of class I HLA gene expression by TNF-alpha involves a protein kinase C-dependent pathway.
The Winning of the West: The Expansion of the Western Sioux in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

HE mounted warrior of the Great Plains has proved to be the most enduring stereotype of the American Indian, but like most stereotypes this one conceals more than it reveals. Both popularizers and scholars have been fascinated with the individual warrior to the neglect of plains warfare itself. Harry Turney-High, in his classic Primitive Warfare, provided the most cogent justification of this neglect. The plains tribes, he contended, were so loosely organized that they remained below the "military horizon"; there really was no warfare on the plains, only battles that were little more than "a mildly dangerous game" fought for largely individual reasons. In much of the literature, intertribal warfare has remained just this: an individual enterprise fought for individualistic reasons-glory, revenge, prestige, and booty. Robert Lowie's statement on warfare, in what is still the standard work on the Plains Indians, can be taken as typical of much anthropological thought: "The objective was never to acquire new lands. Revenge, horse lifting, and lust for glory were the chief motives.... . ' There is, however, a second group of anthropologists, W. W. Newcomb, Oscar Lewis, Frank Secoy, and more recently Symmes Oliver, who have found this explanation of intertribal warfare unconvincing. These scholars, making much more thorough use of historical sources than is common among anthropologists, have examined warfare in light of economic and technological change. They have presented intertribal warfare as dynamic, changing over time; wars
Measurement of elastic and anelastic properties of reaction-formed silicon carbide-based materials

The dynamic Young's modulus and the strain amplitude dependence of damping, at room temperature as well as at elevated temperatures, were determined for reaction-formed SiC (RFSC) ceramics, and the results are compared with those for other SiC materials. The method used was the piezoelectric ultrasonic composite oscillator technique (PUCOT). Five specimens were studied: NC 203 (a commercially produced SiC by Norton, Co.); RFSC No. 1 and RFSC No. 2 (each containing residual Si); RFSC No. 3 and RFSC No. 4 (both containing residual Si and MoSi2). Metallographie observations showed that the microstructure of the RFSC is essentially isotropic with a uniform distribution of phases. The “rule of mixtures” calculations cannot be used to predict accurately the elastic modulus of the RFSC, but they can be used to predict the density to within 5%. It was determined that for the RFSC, the dynamic Young's modulus decreases as temperature increases, in a manner similar to that for other SiC materials. It was also found that the damping of the RFSC is generally independent of strain amplitude and is weakly affected by temperature. The activation energy was determined for the change in damping with change in temperature of RFSC No. 2 and RFSC No. 3.
Anxiety-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for paranoid beliefs

Seven patients with chronic paranoid schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, in remission from substance dependence, received 8 sessions of cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) aimed at reducing their conviction in paranoid beliefs and associated anxiety (both measured on a 0% to 100% scale). Treatment was modeled on established CBT treatments for anxiety and included psychoeducation, relaxation training, and cognitive restructuring. Starting with neutral situations and gradually addressing paranoid situations, participants were taught to generate and evaluate alternative explanations for events. Participants were assigned diagnoses using the SCID-IV. They were assessed at baseline, posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up using interview, self-report, and cognitive measures. A multiple-baseline-across-subjects design was used. Results indicated clinically significant improvement by 3, mixed results for 1, and no change for 3.
Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration: Clinical‐immunological correlations

Four different antineuronal autoantibodies have been identified in 23 of 47 patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD). The most common, an antibody against 34- to 38-kDa and 62- to 64-kDa protein antigens in the cytoplasm of Purkinje cells, was found in 18 patients. It is a highly specific marker for a severe stereotypical subacute pancerebellar syndrome of truncal and appendicular ataxia, dysarthria, and nystagmus in women with cancer (usually ovarian or breast carcinoma). Different anti-Purkinje cell antibodies (APCA) were found in 2 other patients with PCD. With two possible exceptions, an APCA was not found in patients with other neurological diseases, with cancer not associated with neurological symptoms, or in normal subjects. Antibodies reactive with neuronal nucleoproteins were identified in 3 other patients with PCD: an antibody that recognized 35- to 40-kDa neuronal antigens was found in 2 women with small-cell lung carcinoma, while an antibody in a woman with breast carcinoma identified 53- to 61-kDa and 79- to 84-kDa antigens. Detection of an antineuronal antibody in a patient without known cancer should prompt a careful search for a tumor at a site appropriate to the antibody type.
LYGUS HESPERUS FIELD LIFE TABLE STUDIES IN COTTON AND ALFALFA (HETEROPTERA: MHUDAE)

Lygus bugs ( Lygus hesperus Knight) were reared in the field on cotton and alfalfa to estimate their longevity, fecundity, and survivorship. In some tests, individuals were switched from one host plant to the other at the beginning of the adult stage. Net reproductive rates ( R o ) and innate capacities for increase ( r m ) were calculated for each of the three test populations and used as indices of host suitability. Females reared on alfalfa had greater R o and r m values than those on cotton, while those switched from alfalfa to cotton at the adult molt had the lowest R o value and an intermediate value of R m .
Carcinogenicity of diethylnitrosamine in newborn, infant, and adult mice.

Modifying effects of age, sex, and mouse strain on diethylnitrosamine (DEN) carcinogenesis have been investigated in C57BL/6Jx C3HeB/FeJ F1 (B6C3F1) and C3HeB/FeJxA/J F1 (C3AF1) hybrid mice. Animals each received four IP injections of 1.5 or 3.0 μg DEN/g body weight. The first injections were administered on days 1, 15, or 42 of life. Subsequent treatments were delivered at 3-, 6-, and 6-day intervals, respectively. Mice were kept under observation for the remaining life-span. DEN treatment induced tumors in liver, lungs, and forestomach in descending order of frequency. The majority of the induced liver tumors were hepatocellular carcinomas. Animals treated as newborns and infants developed significantly more liver tumors than animals that were treated as young adults. Newborn and infant females developed liver tumors at a later age (B6C3F1) and with a lower incidence (C3AF1) than similarly treated males. The B6C3F1 mice developed more hepatocellular carcinomas and a higher rate of pulmonary metastases than the C3AF1 mice. In contrast, C3AF1 mice developed lung tumors with a higher incidence and multiplicity than B6C3F1 hybrids. Forestomach tumors were observed also with a slightly but significantly higher incidence in C3AF1 mice.
Improved power of one-sided tests

Abstract For the classical least-squares model it is often the case that shape or order restrictions are appropriate for the regression function, in the form of a set of linear inequality constraints imposed on the parameters. It is generally understood that the hypothesis test using the constrained alternative will provide higher power than the corresponding test using the unconstrained alternative. We present a formal proof that this is the case. Code for constrained estimation and testing is posted at www.stat.colostate.edu/~meyer/constrparam.htm .
High-level synthesis techniques for functional test pattern execution

Functional debugging often dominates the time and cost of the ASIC system development, mainly due to the limited controllability and observability of the storage elements in designs, and therefore the intermediate variables in functional specifications. We propose a new divide-and-conquer approach for maximizing the simultaneous controllability of an arbitrary set of the user-selected variables in the design at the debugging time for facilitating the functional test pattern execution while minimizing the hardware overhead. The approach imposes minimal restriction on register sharing so that the synthesized designs will have the desired characteristic while minimizing the additional hardware overhead and minimizing the disruption of the optimization potential when scheduling, allocation and binding tasks in high-level synthesis are performed. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated on a number of designs.
Immigration policy, foreign agricultural labor, and exit intentions in the United States dairy industry

United States agriculture is dependent on foreign labor. Current US immigration policies have been alleged to disrupt agricultural labor availability, particularly that of hired foreign labor. A national survey of dairy farmers across herd sizes and regions of the United States was conducted and the results were used to estimate the extent to which hired foreign labor dependency will affect exit intentions in dairy farming. This study found that the expected probability of exit from dairy farming increased as the use of hired foreign labor intensified. But the expected probability of exit also decreased rapidly as herd sizes got larger. Given the immigration policy currently in place, farmers expecting labor shortages in the future are expected to experience greater tendency to exit the industry.
Combat casualty care research: from bench to the battlefield.

Hemorrhagic shock is the leading cause of death in civilian and combat trauma. Effective hemorrhage control and better resuscitation strategies have the potential of saving lives. The Trauma Readiness and Research Institute for Surgery (TRRI-Surg) was established to address the core mission of the Uniformed Services University, “Learning to Care for Those in Harm’s Way,” by conducting research to improve the outcome of combat casualties. This article highlights the salient achievements of this research effort in the areas of hemorrhage control, resuscitation, design and testing of devices, and some novel concepts such as the use of profound hypothermia. The impact of these basic science research findings on changes in military medical care and outcome of injured soldiers is also described.
A study of insulator materials used in ISFET gates

Abstract Experiments with aqueous electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor structures showed that Si 3 N 4 is a satisfactory insulator on silicon whereas thermally grown SiO 2 is not. The results can be explained in terms of microcrack formation in SiO 2 . The breakdown voltage was found to be relatively independent of the SiO 2 thickness and crack sizes were estimated to be of the order of a few tens of angstroms. No electrically significant bulk hydration effects were found to occur in either insulator in mildly acidic solutions.
Spatial Equity and Transportation Hazard Along Cross-Border Trade Corridors: The Case of Ambos Nogales

Abstract Using a spatial perspective, this article explores the equity dimension of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in Nogales, Sonora and Nogales, Arizona, two of the U.S.‐Mexico border communities most impacted by trade after the implementation of the agreement in 1994. Ambos Nogales (Both Nogales) is a major hub within the cross‐border transportation corridor connecting northwestern Mexico with the United States and Canada and both cities are subject to intense trade‐related traffic, including the movement of hazardous materials and toxic waste generated by export‐oriented industries in Mexico. As a first step in this analysis, we classify and map residential areas in Ambos Nogales applying an index of socio‐environmental vulnerability. We then define the boundaries of existing hazard zones and their overlay with these areas in both cities. Finally, we contrast residential areas within the hazard zones with those outside to probe for patterns of social inequity both locally and across t...
Tectonically controlled sedimentation in marginal basins

Abstract Recent sedimentary facies in marginal basins which are isolated from terrigenous sedimentation have been analysed in relation to their tectonic environment to generate a general evolutionary model for sedimentation in marginal basins of this type. Marginal basins are assumed to open symmetrically, while the sedimentation pattern is asymmetric. A volcaniclastic apron forms as a large submarine fan complex adjacent to the volcanic chain; beyond the distal end of the apron pelagic brown clay with a high content of montmorillonite, glass and phenocrysts accumulates. Pelagic oozes with high contents of CaCO3 are deposited in distal parts of the basin. The volcaniclastic apron migrates toward the remnant arc, prograding over older pelagic sediments. Cessation of spreading has little effect on the sedimentation pattern if volcanism is still active. When volcanic activity ceases, the dominant sediment sources are biogenous and wind-blown pelagics. Most basins by this time have subsided below the carbonate compensation depth (CCD) and these brown clays accumulate at rates near 2.5 m/m.y. No simple pattern of sedimentation emerges from the available data in marginal basins adjacent to continents or to major sources of terrigenous material.
Zn buffering capacity and Zn accumulation in Swiss chard for some sludge-amended soils

Zinc sorption by soils can greatly affect its availability to plants. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the Zn sorption capacity and plant Zn accumulation in five sludge-amended soils using Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) as an indicator plant. Zinc sorption as a function of Zn concentration and pH was determined for the soils which received no sludge amendment; also DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) extractable Zn was determined in all soils. Whereas the responses of DTPA-Zn and plant Zn to pH and the quantities of Zn sorbed were similar, the logarithm of DTPA-Zn accounted for only 82% of the variability in the logarithm of Zn accumulation by the plants. The variability was better explained when pH was included with DTPA-Zn in stepwise multiple regressions. The Zn buffering capacity, defined as the ratio of the change in quantity of Zn sorbed (Δ Zns) to the change in Zn solution concentration (ΔZn1) (or ΔZns/ΔZn1), and the estimated quantity of Zn sorbed were used as a basis to measure Zn intensity. Zinc intensity, which reflects Zn solution concentration, was the predominant factor controlling Zn accumulation by Swiss chard, judging from the good fit of the values of both parameters to the Michaelis-Menten equation. The maximum Zn accumulation was approximately 9 mmol kg−1.
Enzymatic quantification of sphingosine in the picomole range in cultured cells.

Abstract An enzymatic method to quantify the mass levels of free sphingosine in cellular lipid extracts was developed. The assay is based upon the observation that ceramide is phosphorylated by Escherichia coli diacylglycerol kinase. Although sphingosine is not recognized by the enzyme, it can be converted to a substrate by acylation with hexanoic anhydride. Using a mixed micellar assay, previously reported for the mass quantification of diacylglycerol, the short-chain ceramide (N-C6-sphingosine), generated by acylation, is quantitatively phosphorylated to N-C6-[32P]sphingosine phosphate. This assay allows quantification of sphingosine over a broad range from 25 to 5000 pmol. When this assay was applied to standard compounds, reverse-phase thinlayer chromatography of the reaction products was adequate to separate the phosphorylated derivatives of long-chain ceramide and N-C6-sphingosine. However, the presence of other lipids in extracts from biological samples (mainly monoalkylglycerols which are also a substrate for the diacylglycerol kinase) interfered and necessitated an additional purification step. The most efficient purification step devised was a combination of anion- and cation-exchange chromatography. The mass levels of free sphingoid bases in different cultured cells were quantified using this assay. Levels varied between 8 to 20 pmol/106 cells. When normalized to phospholipids, sphingosine levels varied between 0.01 and 0.04 mol%. The lowest levels were found in L929 cells, while Schwann cells derived from Twitcher mice contained the highest levels. These levels were significantly higher than those of Schwann cells derived from normal mice.
Insulin Resistance Syndrome in Women with Prior History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) and the risk factors for developing IRS among women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), compared with controls over 11 postdelivery years. Assessments of 106 women with a prior history of GDM and 101 controls were done on six occasions from 4-11 yr after delivery. Tests included glucose, insulin, lipids, blood pressure, and body measurements. The risk of IRS was analyzed by Cox regression. The results were that 27.2% of GDM and 8.2% of controls developed IRS by 11 yr after delivery. The hazard of developing IRS was 5.6 times (95% confidence interval = 2.6-12.3) among women with prepregnant obesity (body mass index >27.3 kg/m(2)), compared with women without prepregnant obesity and 4.4 times (95% confidence interval = 1.7-11.1) in women with a history of GDM, compared with controls. At 11 yr after delivery, the cumulative hazard for developing IRS in the next 2 yr was 26 times higher among GDM with prepregnant obesity, compared with controls without prepregnant obesity. We concluded that obesity and GDM in a prior pregnancy are significant risk factors for developing IRS over time. Early detection of markers of IRS is vital for possible prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular adverse events in women.
Preventive strategies and research for ultraviolet-associated cancer.

Ultraviolet (UV)-associated cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Approximately 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancer and 65% of melanoma are attributable to UV exposure and theoretically...
Tinnitus as a plastic phenomenon and its possible neural underpinnings in the dorsal cochlear nucleus

Tinnitus displays many features suggestive of plastic changes in the nervous system. These can be categorized based on the types of manipulations that induce them. We have categorized the various forms of plasticity that characterize tinnitus and searched for their neural underpinnings in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN). This structure has been implicated as a possible site for the generation of tinnitus-producing signals owing to its tendency to become hyperactive following exposure to tinnitus inducing agents such as intense sound and cisplatin. In this paper, we review the many forms of plasticity that have been uncovered in anatomical, physiological and neurochemical studies of the DCN. Some of these plastic changes have been observed as consequences of peripheral injury or as fluctuations in the behavior and chemical activities of DCN neurons, while others can be induced by stimulation of auditory or even non-auditory structures. We show that many parallels can be drawn between the various forms of plasticity displayed by tinnitus and the various forms of neural plasticity which have been defined in the DCN. These parallels lend further support to the hypothesis that the DCN is an important site for the generation and modulation of tinnitus-producing signals.
Effects of Atmospheric Dynamics on CO2 Seepage at Mammoth Mountain, California USA:

In the past few decades, atmospheric effects on the variation of seepage from soil have been studied in disciplines such as volcanology, environmental protection, safety and health hazard avoidance. Recently, monitoring of potential leakage from the geologic sequestration of carbon has been added to this list. Throughout these diverse fields, barometric pumping and presence of steady winds are the two most commonly investigated atmospheric factors. These two factors have the effect of pumping gas into and out of the unsaturated zone, and sweeping the gas in the porous medium. This study focuses on two new factors related to atmosphere in order to explain the CO2 seepage anomalies observed at the Horseshoe Lake tree kill near Mammoth Mountain, CA, where the temporal variation of seepage due to a storm event could not be explained by the two commonly studied effects. First, the interaction of the lower atmospheric dynamics and the ground topography is considered for its effect on the seepage variation over ...
Comment on ``Mesoplates: Resolving a Decades-Old Controversy''

Plate tectonics is primarily a geokinematic theory Additional new concepts or components are needed to provide insights and constraints for geodynamic modeling. Recently, in Eos (23 December 2003), Pilger has developed a new concept regarding the kinematics of the lithospheric plates and the underlying mesosphere. He proposed that three mesoplates under the lithosphere can provide a framework for resolving a decades-old controversy on hot spots and mantle plumes. Geodynamic modelers are forced to establish the existence of these three mesoplates. We have attempted to verify the mesoplate hypothesis using satellite gravity signals for remote sensing the stresses in the mesosphere [Liu et al., 2003]. Our stress patterns of the mesosphere at 100 km depth as inferred from satellite gravity signals show that global stress concentrations are mainly restricted to the boundaries of the Hawaiian, Tristan, and Icelandic Mesoplate as defined by Pilger. From a mechanical perspective, mesoplates are more likely to behave plastically at the pressure and temperature at which they exist because they are subjected to sufficient mantle convection-generated stresses. Therefore, the boundaries of the three mesoplates have also provided a framework to explain the stress concentrations as the origin of historically large earthquakes. Furthermore, we have found that the mantle convection-generated stress concentrations also occur within the interior of the mesoplates. This finding could be applied to resolving another decades-old controversy on intraplate seismicity.
Abel dynamic equations of first and second kind

This paper gives the definition and analysis of Abel dynamic equations on a general time scale. As such, the results contain as special cases results for classical Abel differential equations and results for new Abel difference equations. By using appropriate transformations, expressions of Abel dynamic equations of second kind are derived on the general time scale. This also leads to a specific class of Abel dynamic equations of first kind. Finally, the canonical Abel dynamic equation is defined and examined.
Dosimetric calculations and measurements of gold plaque ophthalmic irradiators using iridium-192 and iodine-125 seeds

The dosimetry of ophthalmic plaques designed to hold iridium-192 or iodine-125 seeds is investigated experimentally and by means of a computer model. A phantom for thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) which permits measurements to within 2 mm of the plaque surface is described. TLD data are compared with model calculations that take into account the active length of the seeds, anisotropy of dose distribution from single seeds, and scatter within the phantom. An isotropic point source calculational model is accurate for clinical calculations, particularly at depths greater than 5 mm. Relative central axis dose measurements for 125I in a gold plaque are also in agreement with the model. Comparisons of 192Ir, 125I and 60Co plaques are presented. The relative advantages of using these isotopes in eye plaques are discussed.
Mechanochemical Synthesis of (Sm,Pr) $_{2}$ (Co,Fe) $_{17}$ Anisotropic Hard Magnetic Powders

Anisotropic Sm0.85Pr0.15(Co1-xFex)z alloy powders with x = 0.2-0.5, consisting mostly of the rhombohedral (Sm,Pr)2(Co,Fe)17 compound, were prepared from a mixture of cobalt, ferric oxide and rare earth oxides subjected to high-energy ball-milling in the presence of calcium reducing agent and calcium oxide dispersant. The milling was followed by a short-time annealing and multi-step washing. The resulting powders were polydispersed, but their average particle size could be tuned from 80 to 300 nm by controlling the excess Ca metal and the annealing temperature. A nanometer-thin oxide shell was observed on a surface of the particles, and it may be, at least in part, responsible for their excellent stability to air. The significant effect of the excess Ca on the particle size, anisotropy and chemical/structural homogeneity is discussed based on the supposed solution-precipitation mechanism of particle growth. Intrinsic coercivity Hc up to 14 kOe was obtained; powders with x = 0.4 and an average particle size of 121 nm exhibited a remanence of 106 emu/g and Hc of 8.3 kOe.
The Ottoman Monetary Crisis of 1585 Revisited

In 1585-8, the Ottoman silver currency, the akce , was officially devalued by 100% against the Venetian gold ducat and foreign silver currencies, and its silver content was reduced by 44%. Some scholars have interpreted this devaluation and debasement as a consequence of the silver influx from the Americas, whereas others have referred to the difficulties that the Ottoman state had to face in financing its war effort against the Safavids in Persia. This study suggests that the unification of a number of distinct regional monetary zones in an interregional imperial economy by the second half of the sixteenth century must be regarded as an important factor that contributed to the monetary crisis of 1585. En 1585-88, l'akce , la monnaie d'argent ottomane, fut devaluee officiellement de 100% par rapport au ducat d'or venitien et les monnaies d'argent etrangeres, et le pourcentage d'argent en fut reduit de 44%. Certains chercheurs interpretent cette devaluation et cette depreciation comme etant la consequence de l'influx d'argent venant des Ameriques, tandisque d'autres attribuent les problemes de l'etat ottoman au financement des guerres contre les Safavides d'Iran. Cette contribution suggere que l'unification d'un bon nombre de zones monetaires regionales qui differaient entre elles en une seule economie imperiale interregionale dans la seconde moitie du XVI e siecle doit etre regardee comme un facteur important ayant contribue a la crise monetaire de 1585.
Contributions of individual layer 2-5 spiny neurons to local circuits in macaque primary visual cortex.

We studied excitatory local circuits in the macaque primary visual cortex (V1) to investigate their relationships to the magnocellular (M) and parvocellular (P) streams. Sixty-two intracellularly labeled spiny neurons in layers 2–5 were analyzed. We made detailed observations of the laminar and columnar specificity of axonal arbors and noted correlations with dendritic arbors. We find evidence for considerable mixing of M and P streams by the local circuitry in V1. Such mixing is provided by neurons in the primary geniculate recipient layer 4C, as well as by neurons in both the supragranular and infragranular layers. We were also interested in possible differences in the axonal projections of neurons with different dendritic morphologies. We found that layer 4B spiny stellate and pyramidal neurons have similar axonal arbors. However, we identified two types of layer 5 pyramidal neuron. The majority have a conventional pyramidal dendritic morphology, a dense axonal arbor in layers 2–4B, and do not project to the white matter. Layer 5 projection neurons have an unusual “backbranching” dendritic morphology (apical dendritic branches arc downward rather than upward) and weak or no axonal arborization in layers 2–4B, but have long horizontal axonal projections in layer 5B. We find no strong projection from layer 5 pyramidal neurons to layer 6. In macaque V1 there appears to be no single source of strong local input to layer 6; only a minority of cells in layers 2–5 have axonal branches in layer 6 and these are sparse. Our results suggest that local circuits in V1 mediate interactions between M and P input that are complex and not easily incorporated into a simple framework.
Prospects of electric-dipole forbidden transitions for qubit logic

Many approaches have been proposed towards the realization of practical quantum information processing. They include laser manipulation of the energy states in atomic or ion traps, nuclear magnetic resonance in molecules, quantum computation in optical lattices, and in Bose-Einstein condensates. For any of these system to be viable quantum computation, it should have stable and long-lived internal states. In addition it should be possible to quantum- mechanically entangle two or more qubits and the entangled states should be capable of non-local realism phenomena. The ground state and metastable states of low Z atoms especially the single and two-electron atoms and their ions are the most commonly used qubits for quantum information processing systems. Efforts to exhibit these phenomena in high Z elements has been much more challenging. In part because of the high energy needed to ionize the high Z elements into effective one- or two-electron system suitable for quantum information processing. Furthermore the energy difference between two stable states of the High Z elements that are possible qubits states turn to be very high. Preferably the energy difference of two qubits levels should be in the meV to a few tens of electron volts for practical realization of a quantum computing system. In general any two stable terms of an atomic or molecular system with low to moderate energy separation, that do not violate term rules for selection and symmetry, may be viable qubits states.
Miniature magnetic resonance machines

Inventive redesign of smaller RF coils and magnets is the key to down-sized magnetic resonance imagers and spectrometers.
A quantum approach to visual consciousness

Abstract A theoretical approach relying on quantum computation in microtubules within neurons can potentially resolve the enigmatic features of visual consciousness, but raises other questions. For example, how can delicate quantum states, which in the technological realm demand extreme cold and isolation to avoid environmental ‘decoherence', manage to survive in the warm, wet brain? And if such states could survive within neuronal cell interiors, how could quantum states grow to encompass the whole brain? We present a physiological model for visual consciousness that can accommodate brain-wide quantum computation according to the Penrose–Hameroff ‘Orch OR' model. In this view, visual consciousness occurs as a series of several-hundred-millisecond epochs, each comprising ‘crescendo sequences' of quantum computations occurring at ∼40 Hz.
Índice ecocardiográfico de Tei durante cirugía no cardiaca como predictor de complicaciones cardiovasculares postoperatorias

Resumen Objetivos El indice de funcion miocardica (indice de Tei) es un parametro obtenido con ecocardiografia mediante Doppler, que estudia en forma conjunta e integrada la sistole y la diastole. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar si el indice de Tei medido con ecocardiografia transesofagica (ETE) durante cirugia no cardiaca se correlaciona con una mayor incidencia de eventos cardiovasculares postoperatorios. Material Y Metodos Se estudiaron pacientes con riesgo cardiovascular. El indice de Tei se midio con ETE desde la curva de Doppler pulsado de llenado transmitral y de flujo aortico, dividiendo la suma del tiempo de contraccion y relajacion isovolumetrica por el tiempo de eyeccion en milisegundos. Resultados Se incluyeron 73 pacientes, el 58% varones, con una edad promedio de 68 ± 12 anos. Se determino dos grupos segun el indice de funcion miocardica. Un indice de funcion miocardica mayor de 0,35 (grupo 2, n = 25 pacientes) se correlaciono con un mayor numero de eventos cardiovasculares postoperatorios. El grupo 1 (n = 48 pacientes) con indice de funcion miocardica Conclusiones En este estudio preliminar se observo que pacientes con un indice de Tei patologico podrian tener una mayor incidencia de complicaciones cardiovasculares postoperatorias. Este indice podria ser un factor mas a considerar en el tratamiento hemodinamico de pacientes con antecedentes de patologia cardiovascular.
Low-loss lens-array for wide-scan millimeter-wave beam-steering

This paper presents an improved design based on stepped-impedance slots and stripline resonators that can overcome the size limitation and produce dense arrays with wide-scan capability. Measurements of a Ku-band array based on this type of element show a low loss scanning capability in both E- and H-planes (< 4.3 dB for the beam scanned to plusmn45deg) with an efficiency of more than 45%.
Paced QRS morphology for confirming septal pacemaker lead implantation: correction of a misconception.

This editorial refers to ‘Radiological and electrocardiographic characterization of right ventricular outflow tract pacing’ by J.C. Balt et al ., on page 1739 In keeping with Hippocrates' oath of ‘primum non nocere', physicians involved in pacing have been exploring alternatives to the right ventricular apex, because this site adversely affects ventricular pump function and increases events such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation. A description of the ideal pacing site may include the following characteristics: (i) it results in a physiological electrical and mechanical activation of the heart, (ii) it provides adequate electrical parameters (sensing, thresholds) to ensure proper device function, (iii) it is associated with a low risk of complications (lead dislodgment, perforation, etc.), and (iv) it is technically easy to target using standard tools and imaging techniques. The existence of such a pacing site is probably wishful thinking. His bundle pacing is conceptually attractive, but technical challenges and high capture thresholds have limited its use. Cardiac resynchronization therapy or left univentricular pacing is a promising option, but there are few data up to now regarding their use outside the setting of heart failure. Right ventricular septal pacing, either from the mid-septum or from the right … *Corresponding author. Tel: +41 22 372 72 00, fax: +41 22 372 72 29, Email: haran.burri{at}hcuge.ch
THE ACTION OF RENIN ON RABBITS WITH RENAL HYPERTENSION

Our results lead us to believe that renin in the form in which it is extracted from the kidney cannot be the agent causing chronic renal hypertension. The reasons against accepting renin as the pressor substance responsible for the hypertension of renal ischemia may be summed up as follows:— 1. The high blood pressure levels of renal ischemia cannot be approximated by any constant injection of renin that will maintain a sustained increase in normal animals. 2. The ratio of size of response to size of dose becomes progressively less as the amount of the dose is increased. If the hypertension of renal ischemia were due to a large elaboration of renin in the body, a small dose injected would be expected to have much less effect than in a normal individual. This is not the case; the response of the hypertensive animal to a given dose of renin is the same. Also animals with increased blood pressure due to a constant infusion of renin respond differently qualitatively and quantitatively to renin than do animals hypertensive from renal ischemia. 3. Since renin exhibits the phenomenon of tachyphylaxis one cannot explain the sustained hypertension of renal ischemia as due to a substance toward which the body becomes refractory as more and more of it is given. If tolerance results from the presence in the renin preparation of an antagonistic contaminant which persists longer in the body than the pressor agent, renal hypertension is definitely not caused by renin. This follows from our observations that rabbits hypertensive from renal ischemia, and in which tolerance is produced, maintain the blood pressure they had before injection of any renin.
Metabolic Aspects of Renal Stone Disease

The problems of diagnosis and treatment of renal stone disease remain much the same as they have for the past several years. The most important of these is the question of basic pathogenetic mechanisms in stone formation and growth, particularly in the so-called “idiopathic stone-formers.” Solutions to this problem are slowly emerging and are essential for the development of rational and effective treatment programs. The causes of the common idiopathic hypercalciuria syndrome continue to be debated throughout the world, and some consensus is beginning to develop. The importance of urate in the nucleation of calcium oxalate stones and the role of relatively minor changes in urinary oxalate excretion in the development of these stones also remain as key issues in our understanding of recurrent nephrolithiasis.
An Investigation into the Spatial Variability of Near-Surface Air Temperatures in the Detroit, Michigan, Metropolitan Region

AbstractOn an annual basis, heat is the chief cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. Therefore, understanding the temperature structure where people live is important for reducing the health burden imposed by hot weather. This study focused on the air temperatures in the Detroit, Michigan, metropolitan region during the summer of 2009. An observational network was established that included 1) monitors sited in the backyards of residential participants, 2) National Weather Service standard observations, and 3) a network of monitors operated by the State of Michigan. Daily high and low temperatures were analyzed for spatial pattern, magnitude of spatial variability, and relationships with weather conditions. The existence of spatial variability was confirmed specifically during weather that was considered to be dangerous to public health. The relationships between temperature observations and distance to water, distance to city center, and local percent of impervious surface were investigated...
A class of surfaces for computer display

This paper describes the mathematical formulation of a class of three-dimensional surfaces parametrically represented for efficient computer display. The degrees of freedom in the representation are such as to provide a rich variety of surfaces with convenient parameters for manipulation and constraint satisfaction. Historically this work began as an investigation of the properties of rational parametric cubics, a class of curves well-suited to the Harvard three-dimensional display. The desire to represent curvilinear surfaces in terms of these curves and an introduction to the Coons' surface formulation were sufficient to suggest the approach discussed here.
Finding the Thou in the I: Countertransference and Parallel Process Analysis in Organizational Research and Consultation

Countertransference and parallel processes have become a newly appreciated facet of organizational research and consultation. These phenomena arise as the consultant and client relate and tend to complement or reflect dynamics that exist within the organization under study. In this article, the author provides an examination of countertransference and parallel processes, a historical review of their theoretical and methodological evolution, and an application to three cases according to an embedded intergroup relations perspective.
The Influence of Crystal Orientation and Processing Conditions on the Energy Distribution of Traps at the Si-SiO2 Interface

We have studied the local atomic strain as a function of crystal orientation and processing conditions, and its relationship to the energy distribution of interface traps in the Si bandgap. For a given oxidation temperature (up to 1050°C), the strain in SiO2 films grown on (100), (110), and (111) Si was reduced by a rapid thermal anneal, RTA, at 1100°C. This was accompanied by a reduction in the midgap interface state density at midgap. Moreover, for oxides grown on Si(100) surfaces, an increase in oxidation temperature promotes strain relaxation and reduction of interface states at energies above 0.4 eV in the Si bandgap, but not at energies between 0.2 and 0.4 eV.