cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of swelling of polymers and their gels

The swelling limit or equilibrium swelling of semicrystalline or cross-linked polymers and of their gels upon immersion in liquids has been investigated extensively. Few studies, however, have dealt with the kinetics of swelling. Theoretical considerations, based on diffusion-controlled swelling, show that first-order kinetics do not apply, even though deviations during the initial and even middle stages of the swelling process may be relatively small. Extensive studies of swelling rate and equilibrium swelling of supported and unsupported gelatin films have been published. Diffusion was always fast. After it was completed, the rate of swelling was controlled by stress relaxation in the amorphous portion of the polymer network. The rate equations for this process, which also apply to regenerated cellulose, are shown to represent second-order kinetics with respect to the remaining swelling capacity. The following interpretation for the applicability of second-order kinetics to the swelling of semicrystalline polymers, such as gelatin and cellulose, is given. The rate of swelling is assumed to be directly proportional to the percent swelling capacity still available at a given time and to the total internal specific boundary area enclosing those sites capable of swelling that have not yet become hydrated and swollen at that time. The latter, in turn, is also directly proportional to the percent unrealized swelling capacity.
May-leonard oscillations in ferroelectric thermal lenses

Abstract Ferroelectric ceramic lead magnesium niobate (PMN) exhibits bistability in its thermal focussing (Chen et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 60, 332 (1992)) which is very sensitive to laser power, specimen temperature, ambient pressure and flow rate of air past the specimen (Scott and Chen, Integrated Ferroelectrics 1, 71 (1992)). Under adiabatic switching conditions as many as eight hysteretic multistability loops (transmission versus input power) are observed (Chen and Scott, Integrated Ferroelectrics 3, 69 (1993). In the present work at higher input power densities (ca. 10 MW/m2, c.w.) we observe some period multiplication, in qualitative agreement with earlier work on gases (Nakatsuka et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 50, 109 (1983); Harrison et al., Ibid. 51, 562 (1983); Firth and Al-Saidi, Ibid. 53, 258 (1984). However, our data do not manifest the required symptoms of Feigenbaum bifurcations (a stochastic rather than chaotic power spectrum evolves, and the successive lengths of control parameter between bifurc...
USGS Reference Samples Attapulgite ATT‐1 and Bentonite CSB‐1

The U.S. Geological Survey has prepared an attapulgite and a bentonite as reference samples because of their economic importance. The attapulgite (ATT-1) is from the Meigs-Attapulgite-Quincy fuller's earth district of Georgia and Florida, and the bentonite (CSB-1) is from the Northern Black Hills bentonite district of Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota. The chemical and mineralogical properties of these two samples are quite different. Provisional values calculated from the few analytical data and the X-ray diffraction mineralogy are presented for those who wish to use the clays as reference samples.
über die Prädilektionsstellen der Influenza bei latenter Lungentuberkulose und ihre röntgenologische Darstellung

Der rontgenologische Beweis dos Aufflackerns einer latenten Lungentuberkulose im Anschlus an eine Influenza ist an Hand dreier Falle gelungen. Der Verlauf der akuten Infektion war in allen 3 Fallen ein schwerer. Das darauf einsetzende Tuberkuloserezidiv verlief dagegen leicht. Die latenten tuberkulosen Lungenherde stellen einen Locus minoris resistentiae fur eine Lungeninfektion dar, die nicht als ursachliches sondern als zeitliches, auslosendes Moment einer latenten, wieder aufflackernden Lungentuberkulose anzusprechen ist.
Russian Military Reform and Anatoly Serdyukov

When all else failed, the Kremlin hired an accountant to tame the rampant corruption in the Russian military.
Catheter-Based Therapies for Massive Pulmonary Embolism

Massive pulmonary embolism carries a high mortality rate as a result of right ventricular failure. In addition to anticoagulation, systemic thrombolysis is the standard first line of therapy for patients with life-threatening massive pulmonary embolism. Surgical embolectomy is often considered in patients with contraindications to receiving systemic thrombolysis or when thrombolysis has failed. Surgical embolectomy is not without inherent risk and limitations.Although there is a paucity of large clinical trials, available data suggests catheter-based treatment of massive pulmonary embolism restores hemodynamic stability and thus is an alternative to surgical therapy.
Thermodynamics of complexation of lanthanides by methoxybenzoates

Abstract The thermodynamic parameters of complexation of lanthanide cations by ortho-, meta- and para- methoxybenzoates have been measured using potentiometric and calorimetric techniques at 25 °C and an ionic strength of 0.10 M (NaClO4). The values of logβ101 correlate well with the ligand acid values of pKa, reflecting the strongly ionic nature of the metal-ligand interaction. No evidence is found for extra charge polarization in these aromatic ligands due to the lanthanide complexation.
A numerical and experimental investigation of the flow acceleration region proximal to an orifice

Attempts to quantify valvular regurgitation have recently been focused on the proximal orifice flow field. A complete description of the proximal orifice flow field is provided in this investigation. A steady state in vitro model accessible by both color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) was utilized. Velocities for varying flow rates and orifices were calculated by finite element modeling (FEM), by LDV and by CDU. The steady flow model was composed of circular orifices of 3, 5 and 10 mm diameters at flow rates from 0.7 to 10 L/min. Regurgitant flow rates were calculated from the proximal CDU data by two separate methods. The first approach utilized angle corrected velocities while the second approach utilized only velocities which did not require angle correction (centerline velocities). Both methods correlated well with known flow rates (y = 0.97x − 0.09, r = 0.98, SEE = 0.45, p < 0.0001; and y = 1.0x + 0.07, r = 0.99, SEE = 0.27, p < 0.0001, respectively) and were superior to results obtained by assuming a hemispherical geometry as is done in the aliasing technique. The methodology provides a complete analysis of the proximal flow field and involves fewer geometric assumptions than the aliasing approach. This may prove to be an advantage when analyzing in vivo flow fields with complex, uncertain geometry.
Pseudopotential calculations for (GaAs) 1 -(AlAs) 1 and related monolayer heterostructures

New atomic pseudopotential form factors are found for Ga, Al, and As. These simultaneously fit the energy bands of pure GaAs and AlAs. With these, eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the ${(\mathrm{GaAs})}_{1}$-${(\mathrm{AlAs})}_{1}$ monolayer heterostructure are found and the density of states, the dielectric functions, and the charge density are calculated. With the additional assumption of the virtual-crystal approximation, the composition dependence of the principal valence-band maxima and conduction-band minima is found for ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Al}}_{x}\mathrm{As}$, ${({\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Al}}_{x}\mathrm{As})}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{({\mathrm{Al}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{x}\mathrm{As})}_{1}$, and ${(\mathrm{GaAs})}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{({\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Al}}_{x}\mathrm{As})}_{1}$. It is shown that ${(\mathrm{GaAs})}_{1}$-${(\mathrm{AlAs})}_{1}$ has electronic properties which are quite distinct from GaAs, AlAs, and ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.5}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{0.5}$As. The effects of disorder on the principal band gaps are discussed. The theoretical results are compared to past experiments and several new experiments are suggested.
A follow-up study with oocyte donors exploring their experiences, knowledge, and attitudes about the use of their oocytes and the outcome of the donation.

Abstract Objective: To learn what information oocyte donors were given and wanted to have about the use of their oocytes and the outcome of the donation. Design: In-depth interviews. Setting: Participants recruited through IVF clinics, matching agency, the Internet, word of mouth, and newspaper ads. Participant(s): Thirty-three former oocyte donors and six women preparing to donate. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): None. Result(s): Thirty-three former donors completed 66 donation cycles; 48 donation cycles were anonymous. Only 41% (16 of 39) of all participants were comfortable giving the recipient couple complete dispositional authority over the resulting embryos; the remainder wanted some control. One quarter did not want embryos used for research. Fifty-four percent (21 of 39) thought donation of excess embryos to another couple was acceptable, but one third wanted to be informed. Of the 25 anonymous donors, 6 learned the outcome of the donation; 14 others wanted to know. All hoped the donation was successful. Conclusion(s): Because oocyte donors' need for information varies, clinics should consider being more flexible in their disclosure policies. Disclosure about the possible uses of donor oocytes or embryos should be mandatory. Findings have implications for the informed consent and counseling processes.
An experimental investigation of the optimum geometry for the cold end orifice of a vortex tube

Abstract A vortex tube is a simple mechanical device, which splits a compressed gas stream into a cold and hot stream without any chemical reactions or external energy supply. This paper presents the results of a series of experiments focusing on various geometries of the “cold end side” for different inlet pressures and cold fractions. Specifically, the tests were conducted using different cold end orifice diameters. Energy separation and energy flux separation efficiencies are defined and used to recover characteristic properties of the vortex tube. These are used to show an appropriate scale to non-dimensionalize the energy separation effect. The experimental results indicate that there is an optimum diameter of cold end orifice for achieving maximum energy separation. The results also show that the maximum value of energy separation was always reachable at a 60% cold fraction irrespective of the orifice diameter and the inlet pressure. The results are compared with the previous studies on internal flow structure, and optimal operating parameters are shown to be consistent with a matching of orifice size with the secondary circulation being observed.
Image management and communication in patient care: Perspectives on implementation and impact

Image management and communication (IMAC) systems are automated and integrated systems that capture digital medical images and related patient information and transmit them electronically, display them for interpretation, and store them for future retrieval. The IMAC system concept includes images and relevant information from all clinical sources. The First International Conference on Image Management and Communication in Patient Care (IMAC 89) provides a forum for expert presentations, poster sessions, and discussion and debate among all attendees interested in the implementation and impact of IMAC systems. Plenary sessions provide an international perspective and explore the role of image-based information in patient care, approaches to improved IMAC systems, current technical barriers, quality of care issues, evaluation approaches, and scenarios for the future. Invited participants are from North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and the WHO. Conference organizers are working with numerous professional organizations and representatives of meetings which focus on IMAC-related technology to complement, and not duplicate, the contribution of other groups.
A proposal to enhance the disclosure of potential conflict of interest for continuing medical education events.

Background: Commercial support for continuing medical education (CME) raises questions about potential conflict of interest. Current disclosure methods provide limited, general information about th...
Hormology in Nutrition

Discrepancies in the growth curves for the sodium requirement of the cricket indicate that hormology may play an important role in the response to essential nutrients as well as to toxic compounds. Differentiation between stimulation of growth by a nonnutritive action and support of growth by an essential nutrient is difficult.
Leakage-current-induced hot-carrier degradation of p-channel MOSFETs

Leakage-current-induced hot-carrier effects have been observed during stressing of p-channel MOSFETs in the OFF state with V/sub GS/>0 V and V/sub DS/ >
Mutation analysis of BRAF, MEK1 and MEK2 in 15 ovarian cancer cell lines: implications for therapy.

Background. Among gynecologic cancers, ovarian cancer is the second most common and has the highest death rate. Cancer is a genetic disorder and arises due to the accumulation of somatic mutations in critical genes. An understanding of the genetic basis of ovarian cancer has implications both for early detection and for therapeutic intervention in this population of patients. Methodology/Principal Findings. Fifteen ovarian cancer cell lines, commonly used for in vitro experiments, were screened for mutations using bidirectional direct sequencing in all coding regions of BRAF, MEK1 and MEK2. BRAF mutations were identified in four of the fifteen ovarian cancer cell lines studied. Together, these four cell lines contained four different BRAF mutations, two of which were novel. ES-2 had the common B-Raf p.V600E mutation in exon 15 and Hey contained an exon 11 missense mutation, p.G464E. The two novel B-Raf mutants identified were a 5 amino acid heterozygous deletion p.N486-P490del in OV90, and an exon 4 missense substitution p.Q201H in OVCAR 10. One of the cell lines, ES-2, contained a mutation in MEK1, specifically, a novel heterozygous missense substitution, p.D67N which resulted from a nt 199 GRA transition. None of the cell lines contained coding region mutations in MEK2. Functional characterization of the MEK1 mutant p.D67N by transient transfection with subsequent Western blot analysis demonstrated increased ERK phosphorylation as compared to controls. Conclusions/Significance. In this study, we report novel BRAF mutations in exon 4 and exon 12 and also report the first mutation in MEK1 associated with human cancer. Functional data indicate the MEK1 mutation may confer alteration of activation through the MAPK pathway. The significance of these findings is that BRAF and MEK1/2 mutations may be more common than anticipated in ovarian cancer which could have important implications for treatment of patients with this disease and suggests potential new therapeutic avenues.
Symptom characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity among males with muscle dysmorphia

Objective: Muscle dysmorphia has been described as a disorder in which individuals are pathologically preoccupied with their muscularity. This study was designed to further investigate the symptom characteristics and psychiatric conditions associated with the disorder. Method: Weight lifting males meeting current criteria for muscle dysmorphia (n = 15), past muscle dysmorphia (n = 8), and no history of muscle dysmorphia (n = 28) responded to advertisements placed in gymnasium and nutrition stores. Structured and semistructured interviews were administered, as well as survey measures. Results: Relative to controls, males with current muscle dysmorphia experienced more aversive symptoms related to the appearance of their bodies, including more often thinking about their muscularity, dissatisfaction with appearance, appearance checking, bodybuilding dependence, and functional impairment. Higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders were found among individuals with a history of muscle dysmorphia relative to individuals with no history of muscle dysmorphia. Conclusions: The findings suggest that muscle dysmorphia can be distinguished from normal weight lifting on a number of clinical dimensions. Muscle dysmorphia appears to be comorbid with other psychiatric conditions. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are considered.
Mitochondrial volume densities in the smokeless tobacco-treated hamster cheek pouch epithelium.

DepartmentofOralMedicineandDiagnosticScience,CollegeofDentistry,UniversityofIllinoisatChicago,Chicago,IL,USAOBJECTIVES: To compare the morphological changesand quantitative distribution of mitochondria in thehamster cheek pouch (HCP) epithelium treated withsmokeless tobacco (ST).MATERIALS AND METHODS: Archives of experimentalmaterial from previously published studies (Ashraﬁ et al.,1992) were utilized. Animals in experimental groupreceived moist ST (snuff) in their right pouch, 5 daysweekly for 24 months, while no snuff was given to controlgroup. After 24 months, the epithelial tissues wereprocessed for electron microscopy study. Volume densi-ties of mitochondria were assessed by morphometry.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mitochondrial volumedensities in the two groups, experimental vs control.RESULTS: In both control and experimental groupsmitochondria were concentrated between the nucleusand basal cell plasma membrane. A decrease in the meanmitochondrial volume density (Vvmit) was observedfrom the basal layer to the more superﬁcial layers in bothgroups. The experimental HCP displayed more mito-chondria than control, and the granular epithelial celllayer in experimental group showed signiﬁcantly a highermean Vvmit than the control group (P ¼ 0.03). It wasconcluded that greater numbers of mitochondria wereretained in ST-treated granular cells of the hyperplasticepithelia than in the normal epithelium.Oral Diseases (2003) 9, 138–143Keywords: hamster cheek pouch epithelium; smokeless tobacco;mitochondria; mitochondrial volume density; granular cells
Three-dimensional inverse analyses of a deep excavation in Chicago clays

Numerical models are commonly used to estimate excavation-induced ground movements. Two-dimensional (2D) plain strain assumption is typically used for the simulation of deep excavations which might not be suitable for excavations where three-dimensional (3D) effects dominate the ground response. This paper adapts an inverse analysis algorithm to learn soil behavior from field measurements using a 3D model representation of an excavation. The paper describes numerical issues related to this development including the generation of the 3D model mesh from laser scan images of the excavation. The inverse analysis to extract the soil behavior in 3D is presented. The model captures the measured wall deflections. Although settlements were not sufficiently measured, the predicted settlements around the excavation site reflected strong 3D effects and were consistent with empirical correlations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nutrient gain from wet and dry atmospheric deposition and rainfall acidity in southern California chaparral.

Ionic concentration and annual deposition of NO -3 -N, NH +4 -N, Ca2+, and Mg2+ from bulk precipitation and dry atmospheric deposition were studied for one year in southern California. Data were collected from an inland chaparral site at 1,300 m elevation, 75 km from the coast. The annual depositions of NO -3 -N and NH +4 -N amounted to 96.3 and 56.0 mg m-2 ground area yr-1, respectively. The corresponding values for calcium and magnesium ions were 207.4 and 57.4 mg m-2 yr-1. The average pH of rainwater was 3.74 (range 3.37 to 4.75), thus documenting acid rain for an inland site in California, distant from urban sources of air contamination. An estimate of nitrogen gains and losses indicated that the time between recurrent chaparral fires should be about 60 years in order to maintain a balanced nitrogen budget.
Survival response of asynchronous and synchronous Chinese hamster cells exposed to fluorescent light following 5-bromodeoxyuridine incorporation.

Abstract Flourescent light illumination of 5-bromodeoxyuridine-substituted Chinese hamster cells results in an exponential decrease in survival. The slope of the resulting survival curves is dependent on the percentage of thymine replaced by bromouracil in DNA. The lack of shoulder on the survival curves suggests that the cells are unable to repair sublethal damage. This is further supported by the lack of recovery in split-dose experiments. The age-response pattern of the cells is essentially flat and this is discussed relative to the lack of capacity for sublethal damage. Cysteamine protects 5-bromodeoxyuridine-substituted cells against fluorescent light killing with a dose-modification factor of 2.1.
Forecasting an agricultural system with random walk priors

Abstract The paper explores the use of random walk priors for specifying multiple time series models. An empirical example with the US shrimp market is presented. Out-of-sample forecasting results offer encouragement for further consideration of these models.
Depolarization-induced calcium release from isolated triads measured with impermeant fura-2.

Depolarization-induced Ca2+ release was studied in a mixture of triads and terminal cisternae isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle. The vesicles were actively loaded with known amounts of Ca2+ in the absence of precipitating anions in a solution containing 100 mm K propionate buffer. Changes in extravesicular Ca2+ were monitored with 10 μm Fura-2 (membrane impermeant form). Ca2+ release was initiated by diluting an aliquot of the loaded vesicles into a TEACl release solution designed to maintain a constant [K+] · [Cl−] product. Fast release, defined as the percentage of total Ca2+ loaded which released in less than 10 sec, occurred when extravesicular free Ca2+ was in the submicromolar range and was unaffected by 5 mm caffeine under depolarizing conditions, change in external pH to 6.5, and an increase in external Mg2+ concentration from 0.1 to 0.2 mm. Thus, the Ca2+ release measured in these studies is distinct from Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release. The fast release more than doubled when a greater dilution (1 ∶ 20 versus 1 ∶ 10) of the loaded vesicles into the release solution, which would produce a larger depolarization, was used. The percentage of loaded Ca2+ which released rapidly in a particular triad preparation was similar to the percentage of vesicles structurally coupled as visualized by electron microscopy.
Feedback: Computed tomography and lumbar puncture for the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage: Evidence, action, and error

Abstract [Edlow JA, Wyer PC. Feedback: computed tomography and lumbar puncture for the diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage: evidence, action, and error [response]. Ann Emerg Med. February 2002;39:192-194.]
Role of CD44s and CD44v6 on human breast cancer cell adhesion, migration, and invasion

The interaction between the transmembrane receptor CD44 on epithelial tumor cells and its ligand hyaluronan in the surrounding extracellular matrix is important in tumor progression and metastasis. CD44 is encoded by a single 20-exon gene and expressed in standard form (CD44s), as well as a myriad of CD44 variants (CD44v) generated by alternative splicing of the CD44 mRNA. Previously, we demonstrated that hyaluronan (HA) production is increased at tumor-stroma interface in invasive and metastatic human breast cancers when compared with benign or premalignant lesions. We hypothesize that CD44 expression on breast cancer cells is a major contributing factor to cell adhesion, migration and invasion. To evaluate this hypothesis we examined the effects of 3 distinct anti-CD44s and 2 anti-CD44v6 monoclonal antibodies on breast cancer cell lines that expressed high and low CD44s and CD44v6. Using these antibodies we assessed the role of CD44 in cell adhesion, cell motility, and cell invasion using immobilized HA-coated wells, wound healing assays, and modified Boyden chamber respectively. Our results showed that anti-CD44s could inhibit breast cancer cell adhesion, motility and invasion, while anti-CD44v6 inhibits cell motility. In conclusion, our data suggests that CD44s is involved in breast cancer cell adhesion, motility and invasion through interaction with HA but CD44v6 is involved only in cell motility. Furthermore we concluded that antibodies against different epitopes on CD44 mediate distinct functional effects on breast cancer cells.
Patterns of response of neurons in the cerebral ganglion of Aplysia californica

Abstract The electrical responses of cells in the cerebral ganglion of Aplysia californica were studied in a whole body preparation. Single afferent fibers recorded from nerves innervating the tentacle region responded to a touch with a brief burst of spikes, otherwise showing little activity. Three classes of response to touch were noted in recordings from cells in the ganglion. Type 1 cells showed little spontaneous activity and fired brief bursts of spikes to a touch. Type 2 cells were excited by touches to the front of the animal and strongly inhibited by touches to the rear of the animal. Type 3 cells showed regular spontaneous activity. A touch produced a brief excitation followed by an inhibition lasting several seconds. Both type 2 and type 3 cells appeared to send axons to the periphery.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: review of etiologies and management

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) covers a wide array of related life-threatening conditions featuring ineffective immunity characterized by an uncontrolled hyperinflammatory response. HLH is often triggered by infection. Familial forms result from genetic defects in natural killer cells and cytotoxic T-cells, typically affecting perforin and intracellular vesicles. HLH is likely under-recognized, which contributes to its high morbidity and mortality. Early recognition is crucial for any reasonable attempt at curative therapy to be made. Current treatment regimens include immunosuppression, immune modulation, chemotherapy, and biological response modification, followed by hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (bone marrow transplant). A number of recent studies have contributed to the understanding of HLH pathophysiology, leading to alternate treatment options; however, much work remains to raise awareness and improve the high morbidity and mortality of these complex conditions.
Religious Experience as Doubt Resolution

Inquiries1 about religious experience come in two kinds: a priori examinations about what can possibly be true about religious experiences, and phenomenological studies, which seek to describe and catalogue the experiences. This inquiry is of the latter type, which is already well represented by many excellent works.2 The purpose of this essay is not to attempt to add anything which those others have missed, but rather to take on a minor task which they never intended to undertake, but one that they should have undertaken; that is, to understand religious experience first of all as an epistemic event, and only then to draw metaphysical conclusions from it. For this purpose, the most important facet of religious experience is not the feelings aroused, the psychological state of the subject, or what they came to believe. The most important thing about religious experience is that its subjects do come to believe things, and moreover, that they believe it is a source of knowledge. Not only do people come to believe things because of their religious experiences, but they sometimes behave as if the beliefs acquired this way were more certain than any other opinions. The faithful often compare religious experience to sensory experience and attribute the same degree of certainty to it. That it has become the basis of an argument for the existence of God which has had avid defenders shows the great importance it has taken on. It is certainly in order to study religious experience as a psychological event, and a priori discussions are also legitimate pursuits, but that religious experience is thought by its subjects to be an avenue of knowledge demands that we should also examine it in that light. Whenever events or processes work to form people's opinions, whether the method or process is magic, science, or sense -perception, that method of forming opinions should be subject to epistemological analysis. We should be examining what happens to the belief system of a person who has a religious experience. Religious experiences fall neatly into two categories. The first is well represented by Arjuna and Saul of Tarsus: these experiences are those that come unannounced and unexpected. Let us call them 'type A'. The second type is that which is represented by Buddha's arrival at enlightenment: they come only to those who seek them, and as the result of some technique or discipline. Let us call them 'type B'.
Starch properties, modifications, and applications

Abstract Starch is the second largest biomass produced on earth. Starch consists mainly of amylose and amylopectin. The chemical structures of starch molecules, polymers of α-1-4 linked glucopyranose with α-1-6 branches, render a natural tendency for starch in aqueous systems to crystallize to double helices. Depending on botanical origin and genetic background, starch has different chemical structures, such as branchchain lengths and phosphate derivatives, and different functional properties. This structural and functional diversity makes these starches suitable for different applications. High-amylose starch produces strong films and is suitable for making biodegradable plastics, and smallgranule starch is an appropriate polyethylene film filler. Various physical, chemical, and enzymatic modifications will change and improve functional properties of starch and facilitate its utilization for different purposes. Pregelatinized and cold-water-soluble starches enable users to disperse starch without going t...
C-reactive protein exacerbates renal ischemia-reperfusion injury

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), occurring with hypotension and cardiovascular surgery and inevitably during kidney transplantation. Mortality...
Evaluation of the North Carolina NET program: Dissemination of materials

Abstract A survey was conducted to determine how many of the nutrition education materials distributed through the North Carolina Nutrition Education and Training (NET) Program were in use in a sample of school systems, how each school system received these materials, and what procedures were used to distribute these materials within the system. The study sample consisted of a stratified random sample of eighty-one school systems. The survey instrument, a self-administered questionnaire, was mailed to the person in the school system who was responsible for curriculum development. The following observations were made: the majority of the persons completing the survey held child nutrition/school food service positions and not curriculum specialist positions; only four of the twelve materials asked about were present in three-fourths or more of the systems; the procedure employed to distribute materials to schools within a system was related to the type of nutrition education material being used; and the child nutrition/school food service director was the individual most often involved in materials dissemination.
Large-amplitude Bénard convection in a rotating fluid

Linear stability theory of Benard convection in a rotating fluid (Chandrasekhar 1961) has shown that fluids with large ([ges ] 1) Prandtl number, σ, exhibit behaviour markedly different from that of fluids with σ [les ] 1. This difference in behaviour extends also into the finite-amplitude range (Veronis 1959, 1966I). In this paper we report a numerical study of two-dimensional Be´nard convection in a rotating fluid confined between free boundaries, with σ = 6·8 and σ = 0·2 for the range of Taylor number 0 [les ] [Fscr ]2 [Lt ] 105 and for Rayleigh numbers, R, extending an order of magnitude from the critical value of linear stability theory. The behaviour of water (σ = 6·8) is dominated by the rotational constraint even for relatively moderate values (∼ 103) of [Fscr ]2. A study of the resultant velocity and temperature fields shows how rotation controls the system, with the principal behaviour reflected by the thermal wind balance; i.e. the horizontal temperature gradient is largely balanced by the vertical shear of the velocity component normal to the temperature gradient. A fluid with a small Prandtl number (σ = 0·2) becomes unstable to finite-amplitude disturbances at values of the Rayleigh number significantly below the critical value of linear stability theory. The subsequent steady vorticity and temperature fields exhibit a structure which is quite different from that of fluids with large σ. The rotational constraint is balanced primarily by non-linear processes in a limited range of Taylor number ([Fscr ]2 [les ] 103·6). For larger values of [Fscr ]2 the system first becomes unstable to infinitesimal oscillatory disturbances but a steady, finite-amplitude flow is established at supercritical values of R which are none the less smaller than the values that one would expect from linear theory. The ranges of Taylor number in which the above phenomena occur are different from those which were estimated on the basis of an earlier study (Veronis 1966 I) which made use of a minimal representation of the finite-amplitude velocity and temperature fields. No subcritical, finite-amplitude oscillatory motions were found in the present study. Comparison with some of the experimental features observed and reported by Rossby (1966) is also discussed and it is pointed out that some of the differences between theory and experiment may be traced to the restrictive conditions (two-dimensionality and free boundaries) of the present study.
Learning a complex metabolomic dataset using random forests and support vector machines

Metabolomics is the "omics" science of biochemistry. The associated data include the quantitative measurements of all small molecule metabolites in a biological sample. These datasets provide a window into dynamic biochemical networks and conjointly with other "omic" data, genes and proteins, have great potential to unravel complex human diseases. The dataset used in this study has 63 individuals, normal and diseased, and the diseased are drug treated or not, so there are three classes. The goal is to classify these individuals using the observed metabolite levels for 317 measured metabolites. There are a number of statistical challenges: non-normal data, the number of samples is less than the number of metabolites; there are missing data and the fact that data are missing is informative (assay values below detection limits can point to a specific class); also, there are high correlations among the metabolites. We investigate support vector machines (SVM), and random forest (RF), for outlier detection, variable selection and classification. We use the variables selected with RF in SVM and visa versa. The benefit of this study is insight into interplay of variable selection and classification methods. We link our selected predictors to the biochemistry of the disease.
Development of device fabrication process for strained layer superlattice IR detectors

We report on progress in the development of a device fabrication process for type-II strained layer superlattice IR detectors, composed of InAs/GaSb or InAs/GaInSb. Steps of the process include etching the mesas, cleaning up the surface, and applying a surface passivation treatment. Certain etchants have been evaluated and calibrated. The surface has been studied with single wavelength ellipsometry and results have been compared with modeled ellipsometry values, revealing effects of surface residues and surface roughness. An initial investigation of ammonium sulfide treatment for surface passivation has been made. Initial measurements of the IR transmission of the GaSb substrate have also been made to determine how much thinning is needed for back side illuminated operation of the IR detectors.
Application of a 3D Reservoir Simulator with Biodegradation Capability to Evaluate Reservoir Souring Predictive Models

Abstract Reservoir souring is a process in which a previously sweet oil field starts to produce fluids (oil, gas, or water) that contain H2S. It is costly and difficult to address these problems after a field development plan is already in place. In this article, a new reservoir souring model developed and implemented in a chemical flooding simulator is used to evaluate the capabilities of the previous models on reservoir souring. This study reveals the limitations of the published models in prediction of reservoir souring in oil fields and advantages of the developed model and simulator.
Longitudinal Changes in Religiosity Among Emerging Adult College Students

Issues of religion are important aspects of the identity process, which for many emerging adults may be intensified by the college experience. This study investigated longitudinal changes in the religiosity of 434 emerging adult college students (52% female) of diverse ethnic backgrounds (32% African American, 29% Latino American, and 39% European American) during the first three semesters of university. Results suggest that changes occur throughout this period, but that such changes are not monolithic across dimensions of religiosity. In the aggregate, significant declines in the behavioral aspects of religiosity were observed across semesters. In contrast, importance of religious beliefs remained relatively constant during this time. However, variations in these patterns were observed when considered at the individual-level. Findings further demonstrate that heterogeneity in religiosity is also evident based upon gender and religious affiliation, suggesting that it is fruitful to consider the unique ways in which individuals change during this developmental period.
Dynamic Response of Human Legs due to Horizontal Jump

Jumping is a coordinated extension of the human body through combined strength and agility to perform a leap motion far enough for the feet to land on the ground. However, the repeated reaction forces and the resulting stresses on the ankle, knee and hip joints may cause injuries to a person. A primary mechanism of such injuries is suggested to be the acute high impact loads experienced during the landing in a horizontal jump. The goal of this study is to determine the reaction force distribution at the joints in the lower extremities during the horizontal jump. A detailed biomechanical system was constructed to calculate the reaction forces generated during the horizontal jump. The horizontal jump kinematics of a participant was measured using a three-dimensional motion capture system and the landing forces were measured using two force plates. Biomechanical simulation software was used to calculate the internal joint reaction forces at the ankle, knee, and hip. It was determined that the maximum reaction forces primarily occurred in the proximo/distal direction of the hip, 2,300 N; and ankle, 2,700 N. However, at the knee joint, the maximum reaction force was determined to be in antero/posterior direction, at 2,000 N; and proximo/distal direction, at 2,100 N, respectively.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Hobbits for Haskell: a library for higher-order encodings in functional programming languages

Adequate encodings are a powerful programming tool, which eliminate whole classes of program bugs: they ensure that a program cannot generate ill-formed data, because such data is not part of the representation; and they also ensure that a program is well-defined, meaning that it cannot have different behaviors on different representations of the same piece of data. Unfortunately, it has proven difficult to define adequate encodings of programming languages themselves. Such encodings would be very useful in language processing tools such as interpreters, compilers, model-checking tools, etc., as these systems are often difficult to get correct. The key problem in representing programming languages is in encoding binding constructs; previous approaches have serious limitations in either the operations they allow or the correcness guarantees they make. In this paper, we introduce a new library for Haskell that allows the user to define and use higher-order encodings, a powerful technique for representing bindings. Our library allows straightforward recursion on bindings using pattern-matching, which is not possible in previous approaches. We then demonstrate our library on a medium-sized example, lambda-lifting, showing how our library can be used to make strong correctness guarantees at compile time.
Controller Design for a Non-Redundant Cable Robot Under Input Constraint

Cable-suspended robots are structurally similar to parallel actuated robots but with the fundamental difference that cables can only pull the end-effector but not push it. From a scientific point of view, this feature makes feedback control of cable-suspended robots lot more challenging than their counterpart parallel actuated robot. In this paper, we look into control design for a non-redundant cable-suspended robot under positive input constraints. The design is based on feedback linearization controllers augmented with reference signal management. Reference signal management operates in accordance with the receding horizon strategy, by generating admissible reference signals which makes system not to violate the input constraints. An important issue in implementing predictive horizon algorithm for nonlinear systems is to predict the system behavior in a computationally efficient way. We show that feedback linearization controllers with reference signal management can offer an efficient way to predict the system’s future states, using the error dynamics of inner feedback loop. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated by numerical simulation and laboratory experiments on a six degree-of-freedom suspended cable robot.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Silyl nitronates in carbohydrate chemistry: Chain-extension reactions

Abstract Seebach's silyl nitronate nitroaldol methodology provides a highly efficient variation of the Henry reaction for the chain-extension of aldehydo-sugars to higher nitro sugars under extremely mild conditions.
Composition of Gum Turpentine of Pines XXVII.:A Report on Three Mexican Pines: Pinus pringlei and P. michoacana*

The gum turpentine of Pituts pringlei contained: 73% d- and dl-γ-pineae; 2% l- β-pinene; 11% d-γ-carene; 1% terpinolene; 2.5% methyl chavicol; 6% dl-longi- folene; and 4.5% pot residue and loss. The gum turpentine of P. michoacana contained: 29% d- and dl-γ-pinene; 60% l-β-pinene; 1-2% l- and dl-limonene; 2-3% methyl chavicol; 3% d-longifolene; and 4.5% pot residue and loss. The gum turpentine of P. arizonica contained: 60% d- and dl-γ-pinene; 29% l-β-pinene; 5% d-∆2-carene; 4.2% tails; and 1.8% pot residue and loss.
B74-42 Introduction to Discrete Structures

This book was inspired by course B3 (Introduction to Discrete Structures) of the ACM Curriculum 68. Five major topics are treated: sets and relations; graphs; algebraic structures; lattices; and Boolean Algebras. The particular order of these topics is from general to specific. "We start with the simplest structures, sets, and by adding properties, we reach more complicated structures." The five chapters evincing this scheme are sandwiched between Chapter 0, "Preliminary" (designed to establish some minimum of terminology), and two short chapters representing candidates for additions of this course: 1) combinatorics and 2) algorithms and Turing machines.
A post-Galileo view of Io's interior

Abstract We present a self-consistent model for the interior of Io, taking the recent Galileo data into account. In this model, Io has a completely molten core, substantially molten mantle, and a very cold lithosphere. Heat from magmatic activity can mobilize volatile compounds such as SO 2 in the lithosphere, and the movement of such cryogenic fluids may be important in the formation of surface features including sapping scarps and paterae.
DISTANCE COGNITION IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

Two components of urban route structure, turns and intersections, are shown to influence the estimated traversed length of a route in both laboratory and field settings. Results indicate that an increasing number of turns and intersections lead to an increase in subjective route length, and that it is the retrieval of such structural attributes from memory, rather than the storage of route information per se, that exerts the crucial influence in distance cognition. The data suggest strategies for influencing spatial decision-making, and therefore urban movement patterns, through the manipulation of cognitive distance.
Maximum Link Distance between Strike-slip Faults: Observations and Constraints

—The maximum fault link distance (lateral separation) between two interacting strike-slip faults is studied in relation to fault length (combined length of the two interacting faults). Data collected for laboratory generated strike-slip faults indicate that fault linkage takes place when the lateral separation between two strike-slip faults is less than one tenth of the combined length of the two faults. Strike-slip faults developed in clay models require a smaller link distance than those developed in gouge materials. About 98% of the data collected for natural strike-slip faults and 93% of earthquake rupture data derived from Knuepfer (1989) follow the rule. These observations support a simple scaling relationship for strike-slip faults, i.e.,W≤ 0.1 L where Wis lateral link distance and L the combined fault length (An and Sammis, 1996a). Two possible explanations are discussed. Assuming a fault continues to be dominantly strike-slip after various fault coalescences, the fault link distance for both compressional coalescence (leading to restraining bend) and extensional coalescence (leading to releasing bend) can be constrained within 0.134 L. Assuming fault coalescence is caused by interaction between breakdown zones at fault tips, then the scaling relationship b = 0.1 l between the size of a breakdown zone, b,and the individual fault length, l (Scholz et al.,1993), leads to the scaling relationship W max = 0.1 L where W max is the maximum link distance.¶The above observed relationship between W max and L may not hold if faults coalesce through preexisting faults, if a fault has a mixed mode other than strike-slip, or if a fault bend is caused by cross faulting rather than fault coalescence. Limited exposure of natural fault traces may also lead to errors in link distance measurements.
Telemedicine Security: A Systematic Review

Telemedicine is a technology-based alternative to traditional health care delivery. However, poor security measures in telemedicine services can have an adverse impact on the quality of care provided, regardless of the chronic condition being studied. We undertook a systematic review of 58 journal articles pertaining to telemedicine security. These articles were selected based on a keyword search on 14 relevant journals. The articles were coded to evaluate the methodology and to identify the key areas of research in security that are being reviewed. Seventy-six percent of the articles defined the security problem they were addressing, and only 47% formulated a research question pertaining to security. Sixty-one percent proposed a solution, and 20% of these tested the security solutions that they proposed. Prior research indicates inadequate reporting of methodology in telemedicine research. We found that to be true for security research as well. We also identified other issues such as using outdated security standards.