cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical Optical Data Processor

In this paper we will first outline the numerical representation and then describe the proposedphysical implementation.In the past various schemes have used optical techniques to do one or another kind of computation.There are several conference proceedings (SPIE,1975), (SPIE,1974) and at least one reference book (Preston,1972) summarizing major accomplishments. By far the largest number of achievements is based on applicationof the optical spatial Fourier transform capability. One can also use holography to perform decision -makingoperations (Preston,l972). These approaches are very largely analog where one represents the desired infor-mation by light intensity. There is another approach. That is to use the optical quantities to representnumbers directly and do all the desired computations with the numbers. This approach is one of the mainfeatures that has led to the success of the modern electronic digital computer even though the electronicanalog computer came first.In this paper we describe an approach to performing arithmetic calculations using optical apparatus.
Injury of lung alveolar cells by lysolecithin.

Abstract Lysolecithin derived from the dipalmitoyl lecithin of lung surfactant is a potential cytotoxic and mitogenic agent for alveolar epithelial cells. In order to examine this prospect experimentally we introduced lysolecithin into lungs of mature mice in concentrations between 0.02 and 5.0 mg/ml. Electron microscopy demonstrated that lysolecithin at concentrations above 0.1 mg/ml lysed type I cell processes and cell bodies, whereas type II cells were more resistant and were not usually lysed in mice given 1 mg/ml of lysolecithin. Autoradiography based on the incorporation of tritiated thymidine was used to identify proliferating type II cells. With high concentrations of lysolecithin (0.1–1.0 mg/ml), increased labeling of type II cells was observed. Low concentrations (less than 0.1 mg/ml) did not stimulate type II cell labeling. We conclude that the type I cell is not unusually resistant to the lytic effect of lysolecithin, that the type II cell is more resistant than the type I cell, and that levels of lysolecithin which are not grossly injurious are not clearly mitogenic for type II cells.
A rural hospital takes on Lean.

: The Federal government has initiated an executive order to address quality measurements and incentives promoting quality and efficiency. Healthcare organizations are using Toyota Production System's Lean continuous quality improvement to provide a framework for this. Though large healthcare organizations have the resources to embrace Lean, few rural hospitals have been known to use Lean's process improvement philosophy. This paper discusses the journey a 99-bed rural hospital took to integrate Lean into its organization and the outcome.
Attempt to correlate the ionic model with observations in BaBar RPC chambers and R&D tests

The paper presents a model of ionic conduction in the Bakelite-based RPC detectors. This model explains why these detectors need to add water while they operate. To produce the Bakelite polymer, one needs a chemical reaction of the formaldehyde and the phenol molecules. Water is an important byproduct of this chemical reaction. The electrode current, according to the presented model, is formed mainly by the ionic sequence involving the phenol impurities left in the Bakelite and water, both left from the initial production. As long as these two ingredients are present in the original amount, the Bakelite resistance is constant. If either water or phenol impurity are depleted from various reasons, for example due to a large current or presence of a dry gas, the Bakelite resistance increases. According to the presented model, water should be added right from the beginning and not half way through the experiment. Similar ionic process is present in the Linseed oil polymer, where the current is carried by the fatty acid molecular impurities and water. The Bakelite RPC operation requires the entire ionic sequence to operate smoothly to keep the electrode resistance constant.
Further evidence for a continuum-of-impairment encompassing male alcoholic Korsakoff patients and chronic alcoholic men.

A battery of challenging tests was used to assess learning ability and short-term memory in groups of detoxified chronic alcoholics with and without complaints of memory impairment, alcoholic Korsakoff patients, and nonalcoholic controls. While alcoholics without memory complaints did not differ from controls on standardized clinical memory tests, their performance was significantly impaired on our more demanding experimental tests. In contrast, the performance of alcoholics reporting memory complaints was impaired, relative to the other alcoholics, on both clinical and experimental memory tests, overlapping that of the alcoholic Korsakoff patients. These results are consonant with Ryback's continuum-of-impairment hvnothesis.
Lopinavir inhibits meningioma cell proliferation by Akt independent mechanism

Recent studies suggest that HIV-1 protease inhibitors may have anti-neoplastic effects on some malignancies. The anti-neoplastic effects of lopinavir have not been established or studied in brain tumors. Primary cultures of three fetal leptomeninges and 18 meningiomas were treated with lopinavir alone or with PDGF-BB. DNA synthesis was assessed by CyQUANT. Lopinavir effects on basal and PDGF-stimulated phosphorylation of the Akt-mTOR, MEK1/2-MAPK and STAT3 pathways, phosphorylation of Rb, Caspase 3 activation and reductions in survivin were assessed by Western blots. Lopinavir produced a significant reduction in PDGF-BB stimulation of DNA synthesis in a leptomeningeal culture (P = 0.0013) and 1 of 6 WHO grade I and 1 of 4 grade II meningiomas at 24 h and in 3 of 6 WHO grade I, 4 of 4 grade II and 1 of 1 grade III cell cultures (P = 0.0001) at 72 h. Lopinavir reduced PDGF-BB stimulation of phosphorylation/activation of MAPK in the 22 week fetal leptomeningeal cell cultures and in cells from 1 grade I meningioma at 24 h, but in none of 4 grade I and 5 grade II meningiomas at 6 h. Lopinavir had no notable effect on basal or PDGF-stimulated p-mTOR, p-MEK1/2, or p-STAT3, activation of Caspase 3 or survivin levels. Lopinavir treatment for 24 h had no effect on basal Rb phosphorylation but reduced Rb phosphorylation in all four meningioma cultures. These studies suggest that lopinavir may inhibit meningioma growth, and does so in part by cell cycle arrest. Additional evaluation of lopinavir as a potential adjunct chemotherapy is warranted.
Reliability, Theme Issues, and Plagiarism

This column discusses the special issue on reliability, IEEE Micro 's requirement that authors add new material to any previously published work, and issues of plagiarism.
Imaging with noncentrally obscured circular pupils

Imaging systems with noncentrally obscured circular pupils are considered, and expressions for the point-spread function, encircled energy, and the optical transfer function are obtained. It is shown that at image points which lie within the Airy circle, a noncentral obscuration yields higher or equal irradiance compared to a central obscuration, and consequently a higher concentration of energy near the image center. In general, a noncentral obscuration, compared to a central one, increases the transfer function at low intermediate spatial frequencies and decreases it at high intermediate frequencies; at very low and very high frequencies the transfer function is the same in both cases. Numerical results for pupils with linear obscuration ratios of 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 are presented.
Computational challenges of large-scale, long-time, first-principles molecular dynamics

Plane wave density functional calculations have traditionally been able to use the largest available supercomputing resources. We analyze the scalability of modern projector-augmented wave implementations to identify the challenges in performing molecular dynamics calculations of large systems containing many thousands of electrons. Benchmark calculations on the Cray XT4 demonstrate that global linear-algebra operations are the primary reason for limited parallel scalability. Plane-wave related operations can be made sufficiently scalable. Improving parallel linear-algebra performance is an essential step to reaching longer timescales in future large-scale molecular dynamics calculations.
Venous hypertensive myelopathy as a potential mimic of transverse myelitis

Study design: Case report. Objective: We describe a patient who developed a myelopathy associated with a noncompressive herniated cervical intervertebral disc at the same level. We provide clinical and radiological evidence that reveals that even though the disc herniation did not compress the spinal cord, it diminished venous blood flow out of the spinal cord, possibly resulting in a venous hypertensive myelopathy (VHM). Setting: Baltimore, MD, USA. Clinical presentation: A 29-year-old woman developed a cervical radiculopathy, followed by a slowly progressive cervical myelopathy associated with a herniated C5–C6 disc. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a noncompressive disc herniation, a swollen spinal cord with increased T2 signal most prominent at the site of the herniated disc, extending several levels above and below the disc. The patient was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis (ATM) and was started on IV steroids. However, unlike most cases of transverse myelitis, spinal fluid analysis was noninflammatory. In contrast, several features suggested that the patient instead had VHM. We suggest that the disc herniation resulted in impaired drainage of blood from the spinal cord through compression of the venous plexus near the intervertebral foramen. Intervention: Although the patient did not recover function following high-dose steroid administration, she recovered completely following C5–C6 discectomy and fusion. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of likely VHM in the absence of a spinal arteriovenous malformation. We suggest that some patients diagnosed with ATM in the setting of extrinsic spinal column abnormalities may actually have a noninflammatory myelopathy associated with impaired spinal venous drainage.
In vitro hyperdiploidy in a family with nasopharyngeal cancer

Abstract In this in vitro study of 28 members of a family with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) and nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (NPA) in consecutive generations, in vitro hyperdiploidy, (IVH) in dermal fibroblast cultures was associated with NPC in 2 affected members, NPA in 4 affected members, and 4 of 16 members considered to be at increased genetic risk for these tumors. None of the six controls, all spouses, had IVH. As IVH has been shown to be associated with high specificity (≈ 99%) with other heritable single tumors [3], IVH appeared to be a potential biomarker also for genetic predisposition for NPC. As NPC and NPA did not occur in a single affected family member, any association other than with IVH has not been established. IVH may be the in vitro expression of a gene/genes conveying tumor proneness per se, or it may determine tissue specificity of tumor pathology. As cellular hyperdiploidy has been considered to convey genomic instability [15], chromosome instability in numerically normal (diploid) and altered (tetraploidy and hyperdiploid) dermal fibroblasts from two NPC-affected members and two control spouses were evaluated by a parameter of chromosome stability—the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) per cell. Irrespective of donor source, the diploid and tetraploid fibroblasts exhibited little evidence of chromosome instability, whereas there was a statistically significant difference in the mean frequency of SCE/cell between hyperdiploid and diploid cells in cultures derived from NPC-affected members (p
Dynamic probabilistic broadcasting in MANETs

In mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), the efficiency of broadcasting protocol can dramatically affect the performance of the entire network. Appropriate use of a probabilistic method can reduce the number of rebroadcasting, therefore reduce the chance of contention and collision among neighboring nodes. A good probabilistic broadcast protocol can achieve higher throughput and lower energy consumption, without sacrificing the reachability or having any significant degradation. In this paper, we propose a probabilistic approach that dynamically adjusts the rebroadcasting probability as per the node distribution and node movement. This is done based on locally available information and without requiring any assistance of distance measurements or exact location determination devices. We evaluate the performance of our approach by comparing it with the AODV protocol (which is based on simple flooding) as well as a fixed probabilistic approach. Simulation results show our approach performs better than both simple flooding and fixed probabilistic schemes.
An examination of relative trends of atomic detection limits in the inductively coupled plasma

A qualitative model for the relative and periodic trends in atomic detection limits in the ICP is presented. This model utilizes a recent expression for electron number density, the electronic chemical potential, the ionization potential, and the consideration of the relative position of the ionization equilibrium for the neutral atom. A correlation is performed for 39 selected elements and correlation statistics are presented.
Quality‐of‐Life in Patients Receiving Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators At or Before Age 40

As the use of ICDs increases, more young patients will be eligible to receive these devices. Such patients may have different concerns than older patients who more commonly receive ICDs. We investigated quality-of-life issues in patients followed by the Yale electrophysiology service who were < or = 40 years old (mean = 28) at the time of ICD implant. Mean time since ICD placement was 3.3 years. Each patient received a modified SF-36 health questionnaire; 16 (88%) of 18 responded. Nine were women; ten were married. The highest education level attained was high school for 6 (37%), and college or beyond for 10 (63%). Ten patients were employed; eight held the same job before and after ICD placement. Four women conceived after ICD implantation; one experienced ICD discharge during pregnancy. All delivered healthy infants. All patients felt their health was good to excellent, with 6 (38%) reporting an improvement in health since ICD placement. All felt capable of performing the activities of daily living, while 68% engaged freely in moderate physical activities. All patients felt they were average to very attractive. However, 63% worried about how their clothes fit with the ICD. Three quarters of the patients felt the ICD interfered with social interactions, while 50% were concerned about sexual encounters. Thus, even though these young patients have body image concerns and may limit their activities to some degree, they are productive, active members of society who have benefitted from ICD placement.
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIONAL FUND‐RAISING AT AMERICA'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The results of a four month Research Fellowship served at the offices of the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges are reported in this article. Specific details of the article include: Community College success in obtaining corporate and foundation funds; the profile of donors to community colleges; six reasons why community colleges don't begin educational fund raising programs; characteristics and models of successful community college programs; and implications for practice derived from the research.
Two-year clinical outcomes after enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) therapy in patients with refractory angina pectoris and left ventricular dysfunction (report from The International EECP Patient Registry)

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive circulatory assist device that has recently emerged as a treatment option for refractory angina in left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. This 2-year cohort study describes the long-term follow-up of patients who had severe LV dysfunction that was treated with EECP for angina pectoris and reports clinical outcomes, event-free survival rates, and the incidence of repeat EECP. This study included 363 patients who had refractory angina and LV ejection fraction ≤35%. Most patients reported quality of life as poor. After completion of treatment, there was a significant decrease in severity of angina class (p
A Novel Fully Compliant Planar Linear-Motion Mechanism

A new fully compliant linear-motion mechanism, called the XBob, is presented. The mechanism is based on the pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) of a system of Roberts approximate straight-line mechanisms combined in series and parallel. It can be fabricated in a single plane and has a linear force-displacement relationship. Symmetry and compliance compensate for the structural error inherent in the Roberts mechanism, resulting in precise straight-line motion. The device is designed and its motion and force-displacement relations are predicted by the PRBM. The design is validated using finite element analysis and experimental results.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
A gene producing symmelia in the mouse

The inheritance and description of a lethal condition involving sireniform abnormalities in mice are reported. Symmelia was produced by homozygosity for an incomplete recessive gene provisionally called siren (symbol srn). Sirens were apodal, monopodal, or dipodal. with the ischia present as a vestigial structure or missing. Femora, when present, were medially placed and usually fused. Pubes and tibiae were abnormal in some cases, and fibulae usually were. Visceral defects included absent or abnormal kidneys and adrenals, and blind or undeveloped intestines.
Probabilistic versus random-utility models of state dependence: an empirical comparison

Abstract Brand choice models estimated on scanner panel data typically show that a household's brand choice process is characterized by state dependence, i.e. a household's brand choices are serially correlated over time. Two approaches have been employed by marketing researchers to estimate state dependence effects using brand choice data. The first approach is based on probability models—such as Markov Chains and Linear Learning Models—that directly allow a household's brand choice probabilities to be temporally correlated. The second approach is based on random utility models—such as the Multinomial Probit with serially correlated error terms—that allow a household's latent utilities for brands to be temporally correlated, and then derive the household's brand choice probabilities as the first-order conditions for the household's utility-maximization problem. The random utility approach has acquired prominence in recent years given the increasing influence of economic models, and hence a utility-based view of consumer decision-making, in marketing. However, the first approach has served a fruitful role for over four decades in terms of accurately tracking and predicting brand choices. In this study, we explicitly compare a probabilistic model versus a random utility model of state dependence both in terms of their ability to explain and predict observed brand choices of households, and in terms of the marketing mix elasticities that they yield. We estimate both models using scanner panel data on households' purchases in four different categories of packaged goods. Using either model, we quantify significant state dependence effects along two dimensions. Interestingly, despite the differences in their mathematical foundations, we find both models to be remarkably similar in terms of predicting observed brand choices and in terms of the their recovery of marketing-mix elasticities.
Government publications in the medical sciences

Over the past twenty-five years an increasing understanding of the relationship of mental health to the development, course and outcome of physical illness and a heightened awareness of the extent of psychiatric disorder and emotional distress in the population has resulted in a growth in lay-public and professional interest in these areas. The federal government is responsible for publishing a variety of information resources in mental health. The National Mental Health Act of 1946 established the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to provide a focus for research efforts in mental health and psychiatric illness. Although the NIMH is an obvious publisher in these areas, the interdisciplinary nature of mental health assures that materials of interest will be produced by a variety of government sources. Mental health may be broadly described as a multidisciplinary area in which the biomedical, behavioral and social sciences interface in the study of the development and maintenance of “normal” behavior and emotional well-being. Studies of the etiology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and socio-legal implications of psychiatric disorder and the psychosocial aspects of medical illness are also considered under the umbrella term of mental health. The major government producers of mental health information are generally organized under the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education and the Veterans Administration. They include the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA), the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute for Handicapped Research (NIHR), the National Institute of Education (NIE), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the Children’s Bureau, the Head Start Bureau and the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation. However, other less obvious sources are widely scattered throughout the federal system, such as the military, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and the Congress. The federal government’s publishing efforts reflect the broad subject scope of the mental health fields and span clinical, research, educational and administrative interests. In the last decade, materials have been produced on topics such as women’s issues, adoption, mental health service delivery, psychoanalysis, schizophrenia, child abuse, alcoholism, special education, stress, motivation and productivity, mental retardation, aging and forensic psychiatry. Monographs, pamphlets, statistics, proceedings, bibliographies, directories, reviews/ overviews and training manuals are designed to meet the information needs of researchers,
Pulmonary Resection for Metastatic Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma: An Analysis of Prognostic Factors

Background Factors affecting recurrence and survival after pulmonary resection for metastatic malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) are not well known. Methods Records of patients undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy for MFH between January 1976 and January 2000 were analyzed. Results There were 103 patients (46 men and 57 women). Median age was 60 years (range, 20 to 86). Malignant fibrous histiocytoma metastasis was solitary in 29 patients (28%), multiple/unilateral in 33 (32%), and multiple/bilateral in 41 (40%). Median time interval from primary tumor resection to metastasectomy was 11 months (range, 0 to 86). Wedge resection was carried out in 87 patients (84%), segmentectomy in 3 (3%), lobectomy in 3 (3%), pneumonectomy in 2 (2%), and a combination of resections in 8 (8%). Resection was complete in 93 patients (90%). Complications occurred in 11 patients (11%) and included prolonged air leak in 7, and pneumonia, empyema, atelectasis, and sepsis in 1 each. One patient died (operative mortality, 1%). Follow-up ranged from 2 weeks to 153 months (median, 18 months). Five-year survival was 21% (95% confidence interval, 14% to 31%). In the 103 patients, incomplete resection (p Conclusions Pulmonary resection of metastatic MFH is safe. Improved survival was associated with the absence of extrapulmonary disease at time of metastasectomy, with fewer than three pulmonary nodules resected, and with a complete resection.
Statistical assessment of subsampling procedures

Abstract As shown by the examples in this paper, the concentrations in subsamples are not necessarily independently and normally distributed despite vigorous grinding and mixing of the original sample. Studies of the statistical properties of subsample concentrations should test for deviations from independence and normality and, if deviations are found, should model the observed distribution. The tests include an analysis of variance to check for less variation among nearby subsamples than among widely spaced subsamples, as well as the computation of the probability plot correlation coefficient to check for nonnormality. These tests are illustrated with 239 Pu + 240 Pu measurements on subsamples prepared for use as standard reference materials. These materials are used in quality assurance for environmental radioactivity measurements. The material consisting of Human Liver (SRM 4352) exhibits dependence, which may be due to inadequate mixing or to later handling that caused segregation. The material consisting of Human Lung (SRM 4351) and the material consisting of soil from Rocky Flats (SRM 4353) exhibit nonnormality due to the particulate nature of some plutonium-bearing fractions of the material. The lung measurements are modeled with the gamma distribution. The soil measurements are modeled with a combination of the normal distribution and a distribution that models the occurrence of outliers. The use of these models to describe the subsamples involves assessment of the contribution of the measurement error.
Activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to mutagens by singlet oxygen: an enhancing effect of atmospheric pollutants?

Abstract Chrysene and 3-methylcholanthrene are transformed to direct-acting mutagens by photodynamically generated singlet oxygen. In view of the presence of this species of oxygen in the polluted atmosphere, the possible conversion of environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to mutagens and to potential direct-acting (‘ultimate’) carcinogens deserves consideration.
Spectral matrix methods for partitioning power grids: Applications to the Italian and Floridian high-voltage networks

Abstract Intentional islanding is used to limit cascading power failures by isolating highly connected “islands” with local generating capacity. To efficiently isolate an island, one should break as few power lines as possible. This is a graph partitioning problem, and here we give preliminary results on islanding of the Italian and Floridian high-voltage grids by spectral matrix methods.
Utilization of eight algal species by the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians concentricus (Say)

Abstract Equal total volumes (10 mm3) of eight species of 14C labelled algae were fed to the bay scallop Argopecten irradians concentricus (Say) to measure food utilization. Each alga was fed at a suspension density of 2 mm 3 l to five scallops in individual containers. Suspension density was maintained by an automatic turbidimetric feeding device. Assimilation efficiencies for Chlorella autotrophica var. atypica Shihara et Krauss (17.4%), Pavlova lutheri (Droop) Green (78.1 %), and Thalassiosira pseudonana (Hustedt) Hasle et Heimdal (89.9%) were statistically different from other algal food sources tested (mean 83.6%). Qualitative utilization of algae was investigated by measuring 14C distribution in scallop tissues and respired 14CO2, Correlations were found between the distribution of assimilated label and levels of 14C in various biochemical fractions of algae. Correlations provided some insight on possible utilization of particular nutrients; some of the dietary lipids appeared to be stored in the digestive gland, and polysaccharides appeared to be used as a respiratory substrate.
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY GRADIENTS IN SUNSPOTS.

Recently E. H. Schroeter showed that the electrical conductivity of the sunspot umbra, at least in the upper photospheric layers, is about ten-thousand times less than the value used by Cowling. This result implies that electrical conductivity gradients near sunspots may be relatively large. Upon taking such gradients into consideration, we find that the photosphere is current free and that current rings might encircle the sunspot, under suitable conditions, both in the lower photosphere and in the chromosphere. Plasma motions are neglected in the calculation.
Altered glycosylation of mucin glycoproteins in colonic neoplasia

Considerable alteration of cellular carbohydrates such as glycolipids and glycoproteins occurs in colonic neoplasia. Some of these changes are also observed at certain embryonic stages of differentiation and are, therefore, considered onco-developmental changes. In colon cancer cells, many of the phenotypic markers for malignancy have been found on carbohydrate moieties, and some have been found on the peptide portion of mucin glycoproteins. The changes in carbohydrate antigens include altered expression of core region carbohydrates, extension of backbone structures and modification of peripheral carbohydrate structures that may arise due to abnormal glycosylation processes. Altered glycosylation may also result in the exposure of the peptide moiety of the mucin glycoprotein. Therefore, these altered mucin glycoprotein structures may serve as tumor markers. However, it remains to be determined whether they will be useful as intermediate endpoint markers.
Instantaneous and time-averaged flow fields of multiple vortices in the tip region of a ducted propulsor

The instantaneous and time-averaged flow fields in the tip region of a ducted marine propulsor are examined. In this flow, a primary tip-leakage vortex interacts with a secondary, co-rotating trailing edge vortex and other co- and counter-rotating vorticity found in the blade wake. Planar particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) is used to examine the flow in a plane approximately perpendicular to the mean axis of the primary vortex. An identification procedure is used to characterize multiple regions of compact vorticity in the flow fields as series of Gaussian vortices. Significant differences are found between the vortex properties from the time-averaged flow fields and the average vortex properties identified in the instantaneous flow fields. Variability in the vortical flow field results from spatial wandering of the vortices, correlated fluctuations of the vortex strength and core size, and both correlated and uncorrelated fluctuations in the relative positions of the vortices. This variability leads to pseudo-turbulent velocity fluctuations. Corrections for some of this variability are performed on the instantaneous flow fields. The resulting processed flow fields reveal a significant increase in flow variability in a region relatively far downstream of the blade trailing edge, a phenomenon that is masked through the process of simple averaging. This increased flow variability is also accompanied by the inception of discrete vortex cavitation bubbles, which is an unexpected result, since the mean flow pressures in the region of inception are much higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid. This suggests that unresolved fine-scale vortex interactions and stretching may be occurring in the region of increased flow variability.
Basic data related to clinical decision-making in abdominal aortic aneurysms

Reprint requests : M . Taylor, Jr, M D , Division of Vascular Surgery, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97201. Abdomina l ao r t i c aneurysms ( A A A s ) a re commonly encountered lesions in clinical vascular surgery. This section contains, in tabular form, the basic data necessary for informed clinical decision making regarding treatment of these lesions. It is noteworthy that no controlled trials regarding the outcome of treatment of AAAs exist and data regarding the natural history of the lesions is sparse. The figures expressed in the tables which follow were derived by pooling data from each of the references listed with appropriate weighting for patient numbers, length of follow-up, etc.
Lattice Vibration Spectra of Germanium-Silicon Alloys

The infrared lattice absorption spectra of germanium-silicon alloys were determined in the wavelength region from 8-48 \ensuremath{\mu} and have been analyzed to obtain information on the lattice vibrational spectra of the disordered crystals. The evolution of the spectra was followed from pure germanium through the alloys to pure silicon and the major two-phonon combination bands were identified. The optical and acoustical frequencies near the edge of the reduced zone were determined throughout the alloy system by identifying equivalent bands in the alloys with those of pure germanium and silicon which were assigned by using neutron scattering data. The gross features of the spectra revealed a continuous variation of the positions, shapes, and the intensities of the absorption bands as a function of composition; however, the strongest germanium-like summation band ($TA+TO$) approaches but does not merge with the equivalent silicon-like band. It is possible to observe both of these bands simultaneously on samples near the central range of composition. The appearance of new bands, not present in either pure germanium or pure silicon, due to the addition of small amounts of silicon to germanium or vice versa, were identified as vibrational impurity bands. The relative insensitivity of the phonon energies with composition are in agreement with a previous determination of equivalent phonons involved in the indirect transitions of the intrinsic absorption edge. The results of the analyses of the lattice absorption spectra of germanium-silicon alloys are compared with various theoretical models that have been proposed for the vibrational spectra of disordered crystals.
Chronic fatigue syndrome and high allostatic load

Study population: We examined the relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and allostatic load in a population-based, case–control study of 43 CFS patients and 60 nonfatigued, healthy controls from Wichita, KS, USA. Methods: An allostatic load index was computed for all study participants using available laboratory and clinical data, according to a standard algorithm for allostatic load. Logistic regression analysis was used to compute odds ratios (ORs) as estimates of relative risk in models that included adjustment for matching factors and education; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to estimate the precision of the ORs. Results: CFS patients were 1.9-times more likely to have a high allostatic load index than controls (95% CI = 0.75, 4.75) after adjusting for education level, in addition to matching factors. The strength of this association increased in a linear trend across categories of low, medium and high levels of allostatic load (p = 0.06). Conclusion: CFS was associated wit...
Using Games in Software Engineering Education to Teach Risk Management

An innovative board game was developed at Carnegie Mellon University's Master in Software Engineering Program to teach risk management concepts. Piloted in two separate courses dealing with software project risk management, the goal of the game was to enhance practical learning and decision making through simulating a software development project. This activity was then compared to others used in the class, specifically lectures and case discussions, to assess its effectiveness in meeting learning objectives. The results clearly demonstrate the advantages of using a game method in teaching software engineering concepts. Findings will discuss how the game compares to other teaching activities in the classroom in terms of conveying relevant information, help in concept understanding and learning enjoyment.
Information Theoretic Approach for Characterizing Spam Botnets Based on Traffic Properties

In this paper, we present several novel identifying characteristics of spam-sending bots (or spambots) based on traffic statistics. We use the entropy to measure the distribution skewness for a number of traffic features including packet inter-departure time, email per recipients, rate of change in recipient list and destination domains, and inconsistency in email header information of the outgoing email traffic. We also show how we can measure the deviation in these features from benign emails traffic to decisively detect spambots. Our tool is developed to sit anonymously behind the mail server in a network, capturing SMTP data packets and analyzing the traffic while keeping all of the personal email data private and unrecoverable. Unlike content filtering, our technique is hard to evade and used to detect spam email close to the source. In addition, our technique uses on-line light weight calculations and can be efficiently deployed in the end-user or ISP devices as well. We evaluated our technique using about 6 million email records of real spambot traffic collected during June 2007 - June 2008. Our evaluation results show that our tool can detect spambots accurately and efficiently even with high traffic volume.
Silver/polymer nanocomposite as a high-kpolymer matrix for dielectric composites with improved dielectric performance

A silver (Ag)-polymer nanocomposite has been developed by in-situ formation of metal nanoparticles within the polymer matrix and utilized as a high-dielectric constant (k) polymer matrix to enhance the dielectric properties of high-k composite materials. By using an in-situ photochemical reduction method, uniformly dispersed Ag nanoparticles of size of around 10 nm were generated in polymer matrices. Self-passivated aluminium (Al) particles were incorporated into this Ag-epoxy matrix and the dielectric properties of the as-prepared composite materials were investigated. The composites showed more than 50% increase in k values as compared with an Al/neat epoxy composite with the same filler loading of Al. The dielectric loss tangent of the Al/Ag-epoxy composites was below 0.1, which meets the requirement for embedded decoupling capacitors. These results suggest that the Ag-epoxy high-kpolymer matrix effectively enhances the dielectric constant while maintaining the low dielectric loss of the high-k composites. In addition, detailed dielectric property measurements revealed that the dielectric properties and their frequency dispersion as well as the breakdown behaviors of the Al/Ag-epoxy composites were related to the incorporation and concentration of Ag nanoparticles in the high-kpolymer matrix.
On the origin of laser-induced surface activation of ceramics

Pulsed-laser irradiation of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and AlN surfaces promotes Cu deposition when the irradiated substgrates are immersed in an electroless bath. In this paper, the nature of the surface modification is analyzed using Auger emission spectroscopy (AES) and cross sectional transmission electron microscopy. During irradiation, AlN thermaly decomposes, leaving a discontinuous metallic film on the surface. A film of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} is detected at the surface of the irradiated AlN substrate, much thicker when the irradiation is done in an oxidizing atmosphere than in a reducing one. Nanoparticles of metallic Al are generated during laser irradiation of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} in a reducing atmosphere. When the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} irradiation is done in an oxidizing atmosphere, regions containing Al or substoichiometric alumina are detected by AES. It is concluded that the presence of metallic Al is the main reason why electroless deposition can occur in both AlN and Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. Deposition kinetics are consistent with this conclusion. It is likely that also substoichiometric alumina helps to catalyze the electroless deposition.
THE LIMITING MECHANISM IN TARSAL CHEMORECEPTION

Rejection thresholds of eight primary alcohols applied to the tarsal chemoreceptors of the blowfly Phormia regina Meigen and the ovipositor of Gryllus assimilis Fab. have been determined. Three different solvents for the alcohols have been used: water, ethylene glycol, and mineral oil. The comparative stimulating effectiveness of the alcohols assumes a different aspect with each different solvent. In oil the range of thresholds from methanol to octanol extends over less than one log unit as compared with the corresponding thresholds in water which extend over four log units. In glycol the thresholds extend over two and one half log units only. When water is employed as a solvent, the line which describes the relationship between threshold concentration and chain length of the compound exhibits a sharp break at or near butanol. No such discontinuity is evident when glycol or oil is employed as solvent. This is offered as evidence supporting the hypothesis that the limiting mechanism in tarsal chemoreception involves a two phase system whereby highly water-soluble compounds gain access to the receptor through an aqueous phase and the larger lipoid-soluble molecules chiefly through a lipoid phase. Additional facts which support this idea are gained from data which show that the inflection in the curve occurs at different points with different species of insects and is conspicuously absent in the case of man. When thresholds in aqueous solutions are converted from molar concentrations to activities, it is clear that the relation of equal physiological effect at equal thermodynamic activities does not apply here. The lower members of the series stimulate at progressively increasing activities up to pentanol and then at progressively decreasing activities. Furthermore, the ratio of water threshold to oil threshold exhibits no obvious agreement with the water/oil partition coefficients determined experimentally. These results indicate either that the limiting process of chemoreception in these insects does not depend upon the establishment of an equilibrium or that some kinetic effect is obscuring an underlying relationship which does so depend.
Association between outcome and telomere DNA content in prostate cancer.

Purpose: To perform an initial retrospective investigation of the relationship between outcome in patients with organ confined prostate adenocarcinoma and the tumor cells' content of telomere DNA. Materials and Methods: The case-controlled study group was composed of eighteen men diagnosed with prostatic adenocarcinoma prior to 1993. The group was selected so that approximately one half died within ten years of diagnosis and one half survived ten years or longer. Archival, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue was recovered for each patient. DNA was extracted from newly cut sections, fixed to nylon membranes and hybridized with P 32 -labeled centromere- and telomere-specific probes. Telomere DNA contents were quantitated from the hybridized radioactivities. The relationships between telomere DNA content and survival, and telomere DNA content and disease recurrence in men receiving prostatectomies were determined. Results: Death and disease recurrence were associated with reduced telomere DNA content (p Conclusions: Telomere DNA content may differentiate high-risk patients with metastatic prostate cancer from men with indolent disease who can be spared the unnecessary side effects and expense of treatment by management with "watchful waiting."
TWO-EQUATION TURBULENCE MODEL CONSISTENT WITH THE SECOND LAW

THE theory of a two-equation turbulence model that satisfies the second law of thermodynamic s is briefly reviewed. It is shown that the resulting governing equations resemble those of the k-e model with the e equation being different. The TEACH code is altered to account for the required modifications of the new model. Two test cases are considered in this study, a confined coaxial round jet expansion and a backward-facing plane step. The predicted velocity and turbulent kinetic energy profiles are compared with the experimental data and those obtained from the standard k-e model. It is shown that the new model predicts the features of these turbulent flows more accurately in comparison to the standard model. Contents Recently, Ahmadi1 derived the averaged form of the second law of thermodynamic s and discussed its implications in turbulence modeling. Based on thermodynamic al arguments, a two-equation turbulence model was also developed that resembles the k-e model. It was shown that although the k equation is unchanged, the e equation is quite different from the standard one. The purpose of the present study is to test the performance of the new turbulence model in predicting the flow properties in various engineering problems. The particular examples considered here are the flows in the mixing zone of confined coaxial round jets and the backward-facing plane step. The standard e equation in the TEACH code is replaced by the newly derived e equation. The mean velocity and the turbulent kinetic energy profiles are calculated and the results are compared with the experimental data of Johnson and Bennett,2 Kim et al., 3 Eaton and Johnston,4 and the predictions of the standard k-e model.5 It is shown that the new model describes, with reasonable accuracy, the basic features of the experimental data.
Immunostimulants, adjuvants, and vaccine carriers in fish: Applications to aquaculture

Abstract Use of immunostimulants, adjuvants, and vaccine carriers in fish culture offers a wide range of attractive methods for inducing and building up protection against diseases. Immunostimulants and adjuvants can be administered before, with, or after vaccines to amplify the specific immune response generating elevations of circulating antibody titers and numbers of plaque-forming cells. Special applications of immunostimulants include assisting shower or other regimens to increase topical uptake of vaccines. In addition, immunostimulants may be used alone, inducing elevated activities in the nonspecific defense mechanisms such as increased oxidative activity of neutrophils, augmented engulfment activity of phagocytic cells, or potentiating cytotoxic cells. In cases where disease outbreaks are cyclical and can be predicted, losses may be reduced by elevating the nonspecific defense mechanisms, and the immunostimulants may be used in anticipation of events to prevent losses from diseases. Complete Freund's adjuvant was one of the first immunostimulants used in animals to elevate the specific immune response, and it has also been successfully used in conjunction with injection of fish bacterins. Other adjuvants, immunostimulants, and biological response modifiers that have been used in fisheries research include levamisole, salt baths, and bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Vaccines have been adsorbed to inert particles, such as bentonite on latex beads, to carry the immunogens to maximize in vivo uptake for bath immunization and to facilitate in vitro phagocytosis. Each substance presents special problems in timing and method of administration (injection, immersion, oral—by feed—or flush treatments), dosage adjustments for size and fish species, storage stability, and cost. An additional consideration is that the nonspecific defense mechanisms and immune responses in fish are highly variable among individuals and statistical validation requires appropriate sample numbers and carefully controlled experiments. This article reviews the literature and present concepts of use of immunostimulants, adjuvants, and vaccine carriers in fish. Cautions for use are noted, as some of these potent substances can suppress or alter biological pathways if used inappropriately. Recent research, defining pathways of the action of immunostimulants, adjuvants, and vaccine carriers, helps explain how these substances activate the protective mechanisms in fish. In addition, immunostimulants used alone hold tremendous potential for use in fish farms, hatcheries, and aquaculture facilities to reduce losses from infectious diseases. Research on the immunostimulant, levamisole, and the light oil adjuvants for use in food fish is in progress. Applications for use of these immunostimulants are proposed.