cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the gas dynamics of HVOF thermal sprays

An experimental study of the gas-dynamic aspects of the high-velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) thermal spray process has been performed using commercially available HVOF equipment (Hobart-Tafa JP-5000, Ho-bart-Tafa Technologies, Inc., Concord, NH). Optical diagnostic techniques, including microsecond-expo-sure schlieren and shadowgraph imaging, were applied to visualize the hot supersonic jet produced by this equipment without particle injection. Rapid turbulent mixing of the jet with the surrounding atmos-phere was observed, which is an issue of concern in coating quality due to the possibility of oxidation of sprayed particles. This mixing appears to be a function of the ratio of densities of the hot jet and the cold atmosphere as well as a function of the velocity of the jet, rather than one of combustion-chamber pres-sure or barrel length. The supersonic core of the HVOF jet dissipates rapidly due to the mixing, so that the jet is no longer supersonic when it impinges on the target surface being sprayed. Secondary issues also observed in this study include strong jet-noise radiation from the HVOF plume and the entrainment and induced bulk motion of the surrounding air.
Total-dose hardness assurance issues for SOI MOSFETs

The top-gate, back-gate, and sidewall responses of SIMOX and ZMR SOI/MOS transistors to 10-keV X-ray and Co-60 irradiation are compared. For top-gate and sidewall insulators, Co-60 and 10-keV X-ray irradiations at matched dose rates lead to nearly identical responses. Back-gate response, on the other hand, depends strongly on radiation energy and buried insulator thickness. Different X-ray to Co-60 correlation factors can be observed for other technologies with different sidewall and buried insulator materials and thicknesses. It is demonstrated that it is not possible to define a generic set of worst-case radiation bias conditions for all SOI technologies, as back-gate radiation response can be a strong function of transistor drain bias during exposure. However, the magnitude of this effect can vary with material and device processing, and the detailed changes in Si island potential and insulator electric fields that cause this behavior are not yet understood. Postirradiation effects are also addressed briefly. >
On the design of a finite-capacity queue with phase-type service times and hysteretic control

Abstract We consider the design of a single-server queue with finite buffer capacity. Arrivals follow a Poisson distribution and service times have phase-type distributions. It is possible to switch the service rate between the normal and higher rates. A bi-level hysteretic control policy is considered where two trigger points, say u and l, are used for changes in service rate. When the number in the system exceeds u, the service rate is increased and it returns to the normal level only when the number in the system drops to l (0
Optical Design And Performance Of A Dual-Grating, Direct-Reading Spectrograph For Spectrochemical Analyses

An all-mirror optical system is used to direct the light from a variety of spectroscopic sources to two 2-m spectrographs that are placed on either side of a sturdy vertical mounting plate. The gratings were chosen so that the first spectrograph covers the ultraviolet spectral region, and the second spectrograph covers the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions. With the over 2.5 m of focal curves, each ultraviolet line is available at more than one place. Thus, problems with close lines can be overcome. The signals from a possible maximum of 256 photoelectric detectors go to a small computer for reading and calculation of the element abundances. To our knowledge, no other direct-reading spectrograph has more than about 100 fixed detectors. With an inductively-coupled-plasma source, our calibration curves, and detection limits, are similar to those of other workers using a direct-reading spectrograph.
Cancer atlases: Uses and limitations

Atlases of cancer mortality have recently appeared in many nations. This paper cautions environmental professionals against using them to draw cause-and-effect conclusions because of limitations of the map as a conveyor of information, and limitations of the data used in cancer atlases. Appropriate uses include, finding clues for detailed epidemiological and environmental research, places with poor data, regions requiring special equipment and personnel, and as tools for persuading the public to be less fatalistic about cancer and more supportive of public health protection and education programs.
Identification of a prenylation site in delta virus large antigen

During replication, hepatitis delta virus (HDV) switches from production of small to large delta antigen. Both antigen isoforms have an HDV genome binding domain and are packaged into hepatitis B virus (HBV)-derived envelopes but differ at their carboxy termini. The large antigen was shown to contain a terminal CXXX box and undergo prenylation. The large, but not the small, antigen formed secreted particles when expressed singly with HBV surface antigen. Mutation of Cys211 in the CXXX box of the large antigen abolished both prenylation and particle formation, suggesting that this site is important for virion morphogenesis.
The influence of texture, strain rate, temperature, and chemistry on the mechanical behavior of hafnium

The compressive mechanical behavior of highly textured, polycrystalline hafnium has been examined as a function of texture, strain rate, temperature, and material chemistry. The microstructural and substructural evolution in Hf was also examined as a function of texture. Decreasing temperature, increasing strain rate, and increasing impurity concentrations were found to increase the yield-stress and work-hardening rates, as well as increase the amount of twinning in Hf. Crystallographic texture was found to exhibit the most marked effect on the mechanical behavior of Hf. Differences in the orientation of the c-axis with respect to the loading direction were found to affect the yield stress, work-hardening behavior, and anisotropy of the tested specimen, with the highest yield stresses and rates of work hardening and the lowest anisotropies in specimens compressed along the c-axis. The amount of deformation twinning and the slip systems activated during deformation were seen to vary based on texture and are shown to correlate well with the observed yield stresses and work-hardening behaviors.
The value of a gerontology certificate: a survey of Frank J Manning alumni, 1980-2001.

Abstract The Frank J. Manning Certificate Program in Gerontology at the University of Massachusetts Boston was established in 1979 as part of an Administration on Aging (AoA) grant to develop and expand services to the elderly citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The program was designed to implement concepts associated with productive aging theory and traditionally has targeted learners age 60 and older. Alumni representing classes from 1980 to 2001 were surveyed by phone to learn if the original program objectives still have relevance today and to document how alumni have utilized knowledge and skills attained in the program. Almost 80% (364) of surviving alumni completed interviews. Specifically, alumni were asked about their volunteer experiences, employment, and advocacy efforts within the aging network of programs and services, as well as the impact of their training on their own aging. About 3/4 of the alumni had volunteered with elders since completing the program, while 1/4 worked in th...
Numerical modeling of stress-dependent permeability

In this paper, conceptual models are presented to identify the effects of solid deformation on the changes in rock permeabilities for (a) fractured media, (b) intact media, and (c) fractured porous media subjected to external loads, all in steady state conditions. Finite element schemes are then developed with embedded correlations between induced strain and modified permeability to simulate the coupled flow-deformation behavior of reservior rocks tested in the laboratory. Rock specimen permeability is evaluated through comparison between analytical solution and numerical calculation using 'geometric factors'; the latter simulates the actual laboratory experiment where fluid flow and mechanical loading are applied simultaneously on rock samples. Numerical analyses reveal that physical properties of the porous media, including permeability, are significantly altered by mechanical effects, particularly if the media is naturally fractured.
Theoretical and experimental study of dielectrophoretic force controlled nanowires assembly

Because of their appealing characteristics, quasi one-dimensional nanostructures like semiconducting nanowires have drawn much attention in the past decade. They can be utilized in a variety of applications such as field-effect transistors, chemical sensors, and photodectors. These devices are expected to deliver unprecedented performance because of the quantum confinement and the large surface-to-volume ratio. To fabricate these practical devices, nanowires need to be manipulated towards pre-defined electrodes in a controllable fashion. Enlightened by Pohl's pioneering contribution in dielectrophoresis (DEP), many researchers have utilized an electric field to align the nanowires. However, assembly of nanowires by DEP are studied mainly through experimental observations so far, very little theoretical studies have been reported, which could provide useful guidance in real application. In this paper, we aim to theoretically analyze the assembly of nanowires by DEP under real conditions. In a non-uniform electric field, the nanowire is polarized and can be treated as an effective dipole, thereby receiving dielectrophoretic (DEP) force and torque, while the motion of the nanowire is hampered by the hydrodynamic drag force and drag torque, which increases the difficulty and complexity in theoretical analysis on nanowire trajectory. In our previous work, a model involving different forces and torques is constructed to simulate the nanowire trajectory. However, the Brownian motion of nanowires, which could be significant, is ignored. In this paper, a more comprehensive model considering DEP force, DEP torque, drag force, drag torque, and Brownian motion is constructed to predict the nanowire trajectory by simulation. Depending on the attaching point of the nanowire on the electrode and the length of the nanowire, the nanowire is predicted to either align with the direction of the electric field or bridge the electrodes ultimately. We also fabricated a pair of microelectrodes and implemented experiments to dielectrophoretically assemble nanowires. The experimental results agree with the simulation results. Such agreement validated our theoretical analysis.
Future Directions in Nutrition Research

Although nutrition is generally regarded as important for human health, it is rarely utilized as a key solution for the chronic diseases that have become a global burden. Is nutrition an ineffective strategy for disease management, or is it that we have yet to demonstrate the practical use of nutrition? To date, the persuasiveness of nutrition research has been hindered by inconsistent findings, contradictory messages, and unproven effectiveness. As a result, nutrition is still not taken quite seriously by the public, and its applications have not been sufficiently implemented in clinical settings. In order to change the mainstream perception of nutrition, we must reconsider our research approach as we move forward in the field. Let us ask ourselves: what can nutrition do for today’s health epidemics? The main challenge of nutrition research lies in its complexity and confounding factors. Unlike pharmaceutical research and drug trials, many factors in our diet and lifestyle can affect the outcomes of nutritional studies, making it difficult to interpret the findings. Large, long-term studies in humans are usually viewed as the gold standard in medical research, and their results often attract media attention and have a greater influence on regulatory policies. However, these types of nutritional studies are especially prone to the confounding factors introduced by the difficulties of long-term compliance and the unavoidable changes in lifestyle over time, such as dietary and behavioral choices. In addition, current nutritional studies inherently suffer from variations in the standards for test materials (e.g., nutritional supplement ingredients), as well as in methodology, reporting, baseline evaluation, and outcome measures. Many studies have also failed to take genetic variation in study subjects into account, even though it is now well-known that this significantly affects individuals’ response to dietary factors. From a translational research standpoint, nutritional findings cannot be readily implemented in clinical settings due to the lack of established biomarkers for evaluating the efficacy of nutritional interventions. In this context, it is essential that we develop new research approaches to demonstrate the potential of nutrition in healthcare. It is my opinion that nutrition research should devote greater effort towards interventional nutrition, in addition to its traditional emphasis on epidemiological and population nutrition. In other words, we should develop nutritional interventions as solutions for the health problems we are facing worldwide. I propose the use of a pathway-based, biomarkerguided, and personalized approach to create integrated metabolic interventions. Published online: January 16, 2014
The “pure-study” learning curve: The learning curve without cumulative testing

The customary assumption in the study of human learning using alternating study and test trials is that learning occurs during study trials and that test trials are useful only to measure learning. In fact, tests seem to play little role in the development of learning, because the learning curve is similar even when the number of test trials varies widely (Tulving, Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 6:175–184, 1967). However, this outcome seems odd, because other research has shown that testing fosters greater long-term learning than does studying. We report three experiments addressing whether tests affect the shape of the learning curve. In two of the experiments, we examined this issue by varying the number of spaced study trials in a sequence and examining performance on only a single test trial at the end of the series (a “pure-study” learning curve). We compared these pure-study learning curves to standard learning curves and found that the standard curves increase more rapidly and reach a higher level in both free recall (Exp. 1) and paired-associate learning (Exp. 2). In Experiment 3, we provided additional study trials in the “pure-study” condition to determine whether the standard (study–test) condition would prove superior to a study–study condition. The standard condition still produced better retention on both immediate and delayed tests. Our experiments show that test trials play an important role in the development of learning using both free-recall (Exps. 1 and 3) and paired-associate (Exp. 2) procedures. Theories of learning have emphasized processes that occur during study, but our results show that processes engaged during tests are also critical.
Cyclotron resonance and the free-carrier magneto-optical properties of a semiconductor

The high frequency conductivity tensor σij is calculated for a semiconductor with a quadratic band structure in a magnetic field. The existence of an energy-dependent relaxation time τ(E) is assumed. For both an isotropic band and a band with a many-valley structure, σij can be expressed in terms of three similar functions, σ± and σ. For an isotropic band, σ ± is the conductivity for a circularly polarized electric field and σ is the conductivity for zero magnetic field. It is shown that these coefficients satisfy certain sum rules. When τ ∼ Ep, they are given by tabulated integrals. The results are applied to cyclotron resonance and compared with experimental measurements on n-CdTe. The assumption that p = 3/2 (ionized impurity scattering) gives the best agreement with experiment. The free carrier magneto-optical properties can be calculated if σij is known, and under low loss conditions the Faraday rotation and ellipticity, and the Voigt effect, may be expressed fairly simply in terms of σ± and σ. The Faraday rotation in n-Ge is calculated as a function of magnetic field, and the results are compared with experiment.
CT Bone Density Measurements in Infants with Temporary Brittle Bone Disease (TBBD) Associated with Decreased Fetal Movement (DFM)/Intrauterine Confinement (IUC) and Controls

CT Bone Density Measurements in Infants with Temporary Brittle Bone Disease(TBBD) Associated with Decreased Fetal Movement (DFM)/Intrauterine Confinement(IUC) and Controls. † 560
Generation of green light and microwave subcarrier with a Nd:YVO4/KTiOPO4 dual-mode microchip laser

In this paper, we presented an effective and low-cost approach of generating green light and microwave subcarrier with a Nd:YVO4/KTiOPO4 dual-mode microchip laser. 1064 nm infrared signal generated by the Nd:YVO4 crystal is frequency doubled by the KTiOPO4 (KTP) crystal to generated 532 nm green light. Microwave subcarrier is generated by electro-optic mode locking through the KTP crystal. Efficient green light and microwave subcarrier with good spectra quality are obtained.
A dileucine motif in HIV-1 Nef acts as an internalization signal for CD4 downregulation and binds the AP-1 clathrin adaptor

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) Nef downregulates surface expression of CD4, an integral component of the functional HIV receptor complex, through accelerated endocytosis of surface receptors and diminished transport of CD4 from the Golgi network to the plasma membrane [1–3]. HIV-1 Nef also diminishes surface expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens [4]. In the case of HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus 1 (SIV-1) Nef, aminoterminal tyrosine-based motifs mediate the binding of Nef to the AP-1 and AP-2 adaptors and this interaction appears to be required for CD4 downregulation [5,6]. As these tyrosine motifs are not present in the HIV-1 Nef protein, the molecular basis for the presumed interaction of Nef with components of the endocytic machinery is unknown. Here, we identify a highly conserved dileucine motif in HIV-1 Nef that is required for downregulation of CD4. This motif acts as an internalization signal in the context of a CD8-Nef chimera or in a fusion of the interleukin-2 receptor α with an 11-amino-acid region from Nef containing the dileucine motif. Finally, HIV-1 Nef binds to the AP-1 adaptor, both in vitro and in vivo , in a dileucine-dependent manner. We conclude that this conserved dileucine motif in HIV-1 Nef serves as a key interface for interaction with components of the host protein trafficking machinery. Our findings also reveal an evolutionary difference between HIV-1 and HIV-2/SIV in which the Nef proteins utilize structurally distinct motifs for binding cellular adaptors.
The spectrophotometric assay for polyethoxy nonionic detergents in membrane extracts: a critique.

Abstract Reaction of Lubrol-PX with ammonium cobaltothiocyanate yielded a colored product, soluble in organic solvents, which had an absorption spectrum in the visible range identical with that yielded by Triton X-100 and other nonionic detergents containing polyethoxy groups; color development was proportional to the amount of Lubrol-PX from 10 μg to at least 200 μg, and appeared also to be a function of the number of polyethoxy groups in the detergent molecules. This assay may be, however, unsuitable for detergent extracts of biological membranes or in lipoproteins derived from these extracts, since membrane lipids, particularly phosphatides, were seen to react with ammonium cobaltothiocyanate to yield products, soluble in organic solvents, with spectra identical to those obtained with polyethoxy detergents.
Genetic and non-genetic effects on the growth and mortality of Alpine, Nubian and crossbred kids

Birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), market weight (MW), preweaning (ADG1) and postweaning (ADG2) rates of gain, and kid mortality from birth to 15 d of age (KM-15) and from 16 d to weaning age (KM-90) of 395 purebred and crossbred kids born between 1987 to 1992 were studied. Breed and regression models were used in the analysis of the data. Fixed effects included in the breed model were the genetic group of kid, year, age of dam, type of birth, sex, and type of birth and rearing. Genetic group of kid was partitioned to direct genetic, breed maternal, direct heterosis and maternal heterosis in the regression model. Estimates for direct genetic effect were small (P > 0.05) and negative, indicative of the nonsignificant superiority of Nubian over Alpine. The maternal superiority of the Alpine breed over the Nubian was 0.26 ± 0.12, 1.4 ± 0.6 and 2.2 ± 0.9 kg for BW, WW, and MW, respectively, and 14.4 ± 6 g/d for ADG1. Direct heterosis estimates were significant and positive for BW (0.24 ± 0.09 kg), WW (1.9 ± 0.5 kg) and ADG1 (19.8 ± 5 g/d) and significant, but negative, for KM-15 (−10 ± 5%). Heterotic effects observed were primarily due to dominance. Favorable maternal heterosis was evident for WW and KM-90. Year effect was evident in all traits. Age of dam had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on BW, WW, ADG1 and ADG2. Sex of kid was an important source of variation in all traits except WW and KM-90. Single or multiple born kids, reared as singles were heavier (P < 0.05) at weaning and marketing and grew faster in ADG1 than multiple born and reared kids.
Organic functional group transformations in water at elevated temperature and pressure: Reversibility, reactivity, and mechanisms

Abstract Many transformation reactions involving hydrocarbons occur in the presence of H 2 O in hydrothermal systems and deep sedimentary systems. We investigate these reactions using laboratory-based organic chemistry experiments at high temperature and pressure (300 °C and 100 MPa). Organic functional group transformation reactions using model organic compounds based on cyclohexane with one or two methyl groups provided regio- and stereochemical markers that yield information about reversibility and reaction mechanisms. We found rapidly reversible interconversion between alkanes, alkenes, dienes, alcohols, ketones, and enones. The alkane-to-ketone reactions were not only completely reversible, but also exhibited such extensive reversibility that any of the functional groups along the reaction path (alcohol, ketone, and even the diene) could be used as the reactant and form all the other groups as products. There was also a propensity for these ring-based structures to dehydrogenate; presumably from the alkene, through a diene, to an aromatic ring. The product suites provide strong evidence that water behaved as a reactant and the various functional groups showed differing degrees of reactivity. Mechanistically-revealing products indicated reaction mechanisms that involve carbon-centered cation intermediates. This work therefore demonstrates that a wide range of organic compound types can be generated by abiotic reactions at hydrothermal conditions.
Electronic structure and bonding of C60 to metals

Abstract The electron distribution and orbital interactions of C 60 with metals coordinated at different sites on the outside of the fullerene are evaluated with the Fenske-Hall molecular orbital method. The characters and nodal properties of the frontier orbitals of C 60 are first evaluated in terms of basis transformations to the C 2 units that join the pentagons and to the C 5 units of the pentagons in the C 60 molecule. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO, h u symmetry) of C 60 is largely π bonding between the carbon atom pairs that join adjacent pentagons. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO, t 1u symmetry) is predominantly π antibonding between these carbon atom pairs. These orbital characters and energies are well situated for synergistic bonding of a metal atom to the carbon-carbon pair between the pentagons, in which the HOMO of C 60 donates σ electron density to the metal, and the LUMO of C 60 accepts π electron density from the metal. The electron donation and acceptance between the individual molecular orbitals of the C 60 molecule and the orbitals of a metal at different possible bonding sites of C 60 are probed with a Ag + ion. It is found that the bonding is favored at the site between the pentagons and that many different orbitals of C 60 are involved in the interaction. The net bonding of Ag + to C 60 is weaker than to ethylene. Calculations are also carried out on the organometallic complexes C 60 Pt(PH 3 ) 2 and (C 2 H 4 )Pt(PH 3 ) 2 . The net bonding of ethylene and C 60 to platinum is found to be very similar in these cases. A significant difference in this case is that the net negative charge on C 60 is more delocalized in the carbon cluster in contrast to the localized charge on ethylene.
Development of centrifuged Limnaea stagnalis eggs with giant polar bodies

Abstract When eggs of Limnaea stagnalis were centrifuged before the appearance of the first or second polar body, a giant polar body 30–116 μ in diameter appeared at the animal pole of the egg. The remainder of the egg or antipolar fragment could develop into a normal larval snail only if the giant polar body contained less than 25 per cent of the egg's volume. Neither the animal pole region of the cortex nor the substances in the gray cap of the stratified egg were essential for normal development. The normal development of the antipolar fragment is discussed with respect to the amount and kind of egg cortex, cytoplasmic inclusions and hyaloplasm removed from the egg via a giant polar body.
Transit Simulation Analysis for the Pressure Infiltration of Aluminum Melts Into Metal Matrix Composites

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) possess superior modulus and strength due to the presence of the reinforce phase in the matrix metal in the form of short or long fibers and particles. Pressure infiltration can produce metal matrix composites containing much high volume fractions of reinforcement in the matrix. This process was recognized as one of the competitive routes to produce near-net shape MMC structures and has achieved successful commercial applications. A transit numerical simulation study is presented for tracking interfaces of two phases for the analysis of pressure infiltrating high-conductivity reinforcement carbon fibers by a molten metal under high-applied pressure conditions. The interface tracking method uses piecewise linear (PLIC) volume-of-fluid (VOF) methods with two-dimensional mesh. The method is coupled with the continuum surface force (CSF) algorithm for surface force modeling, a multi-grid solver support the resolution of large density ratio between the fluid and air. A fine scale infiltration filling flow phenomena between the fibers was solved so that the process parameters can be optimized to cast fibrous MMC engineering structures with fine and pore-free microstructure as well as satisfaction mechanical properties.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Long-lasting depletions of striatal dopamine and loss of dopamine uptake sites following repeated administration of methamphetamine

Repeated administration of high doses of methamphetamine produced long-term decreases in dopamine (DA) levels and in the number of DA uptake sites in the rat striatum. These two effects were dose-related and did not appear to be due to the continued presence of drug in striatal tissue. Long-lasting depletions induced by methamphetamine were selective for striatal DA neurons since norepinephrine (NE) levels in all of the rat brain regions examined were not changed on a long-term basis by methamphetamine treatments. Supersensitivity of DA receptors did not accompany the loss of striatal DA and its uptake sites.
Dynamics of the aurora—IV: Polar magnetic substorms and westward traveling surges

Abstract Polar magnetic substorms associated with the westward traveling surge are examined in detail, using an extensive all-sky and magnetic networks in Canada-Alaska-Siberia. Since the surge is accompanied by an intense negative bay and since it advances into the polar cap along the auroral oval during the auroral substorm, the region in which a negative bay is observed expands along the path of the surge. Thus, as Akasofu , Chapman and Meng (1965) have recently suggested, the so-called westward electrojet extends into the polar cap, rather than being terminated in the midnight sector of the auroral zone.
New information on China's remote past

Wu Rukang and John W. Olsen, eds. Palaeo‐anthropology and Palaeolithic Archaeology in the People's Republic of China. Orlando, Florida: Academic Press, 1985. xxviii + 293 pp. including figures, map...
Algal Stimulation of the Berkeley PIT Lake System

This study was conducted to evaluate four species of algae (Chromulina freiburgensis Dofl., Chlorella ellipsoidea Gerneck, C. vulgaris Beijerinck, and Chlamydomonas acidophila Negoro) isolated from an acid pit lake for their bioremediative potential. The Berkeley Pit Lake system, located in Butte, MT, USA is an abandoned open-pit mine. As a result of acid rock drainage the water in this pit is very acidic and contains high concentrations of dissolved metals. First, optimal nutrient levels for each species of algae were determined. Levels of nutrients tested include: 5, 10, 15 mg N/L, and 0, 3, 6 mg P/L. The experiment was conducted with sterile filtered Berkeley Pit water. Next, each species of algae were grown under optimal nutrient levels and dissolved metal removal potentials were examined, using Inductively-Coupled Plasma–Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP–AES). In addition, field sampling was preformed to gain a better understanding of the microbial community within the pit. Finally, field parameters including, light, temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, redox potential, and turbidity were examined to determine the actual conditions for microbial growth within the Berkeley pit.
Adaptive realization of desired constraint stabilization dynamics in the control of multibody systems

This paper presents a novel way of stabilizing the constraint drift dynamics in the numerical simulation of multibody systems. This formulation is applicable for a large class of uncertain mechanical systems described by nonlinear differential algebraic equations that are subject to holonomic constraints. In the absence of uncertainty in the system inertia parameters, it is possible to develop stabilization relationships that suppress the accumulation of error in the constraint equations during the time integration process. In order to account for ignorance in the parameters, we propose a model reference adaptive control scheme that ensures the asymptotic realization of the desired (reference) constraint violation dynamics. Special attention is given to the case of redundantly actuated systems, as is typical for robotics. For this class of problems, we direct special attention to optimization criteria that achieve any desired manoeuvre using minimum control effort and coordination between the redundant set of actuators. An example application demonstrates the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed adaptive control formulation.
Cardiac catheterization in patients with end-stage liver disease: safety and outcomes.

Introduction: Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) awaiting transplant are at increased risk of bleeding. Nevertheless, these patients routinely undergo cardiac catheterization for various indications. Safety and outcomes of cardiac catheterization in these patients are not well reported. Methods: In a case–control study 43 patients with ESLD who underwent angiography for liver transplant work-up were compared to 43 age and gender-matched controls with no liver dysfunction. In-hospital outcomes and procedural variables were compared. Results: Patients with ESLD had a lower baseline hemoglobin (12.1 ± 2.1 vs. 13.7 ± 1.8, P 1.6 received fresh frozen plasma (FFP) compared with none in the control group. Smaller size (four French) vascular sheaths were used more frequently in the group with ESLD (16% vs. 4%, P = 0.04). There were no significant vascular or bleeding complications in either group. Conclusions: Elective cardiac catheterization can be safely performed in patients with ESLD with outcomes (vascular and bleeding complications, length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality) similar to patients without liver disease despite significant thrombocytopenia and elevated INR in patients with ESLD. Practices such as platelet transfusion for platelets <60,000 μL, prophylactic FFP transfusion for INR ≥≥ 1.6, less frequent use of antiplatelet therapy and more frequent use of smaller vascular sheaths may have contributed to the safety of cardiac catheterization in ESLD patients. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
SOME ASPECTS OF THE ORGANIC CHEMISTRY SURROUNDING PLATINUM

Unsaturated hydrocarbons, un, are activated on coordination to organoplatinum(2+) cations and lead to a variety of products depending on (i) the nature of un, (ii) the ligands on platinum, (iii) the nature and availability of a nucleophile, and (iv) the solvent and reaction conditions. These reactions are interpreted in terms of a carbonium ion model in which the unsaturated hydrocarbon gains carbonium ion character as a result of delocalization of the positive charge from platinum over un. Platinum vinyl carbonium ions, formed from (i) cationic acetylenic platinum complexes, (ii) protonation of platinum acetylides, and (iii) α-chlorovinylplatinum compounds, act as carbene ligand precursors in alcohols. The role of organoplatinum cations in promoting Pt-H and Pt-C insertion reactions is discussed in the light of recent kinetic studies.
Sumoylation Inhibits Cleavage of Sp1 N-terminal Negative Regulatory Domain and Inhibits Sp1-dependent Transcription

Sp1 is a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor that binds GC-rich cis elements. Many posttranslational modifications have been implicated in the regulation of Sp1 activity. We now provide evidence for a novel mechanism of Sp1 regulation involving the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO-1). Western blot analysis revealed a high molecular mass Sp1 of 125 kDa that is stabilized by a selective SUMO hydrolase inhibitor and destabilized by a specific SUMO-1 hydrolase. The covalent modification of Sp1 by endogenous SUMO-1 and SUMO-1 that has been fused to green fluorescent protein was demonstrated using transient transfection assays. A high probability sumoylation consensus motif, VK(16)IE(18), is located within the N-terminal negative regulatory domain of Sp1. Either arginine substitution for lysine 16 (Sp1(K16R)) or alanine substitution for glutamic acid 18 (Sp1(E18A)), abrogated Sp1 sumoylation. In vitro SUMO-1 covalently bound affinity-purified GST-Sp1, but not GST-Sp1(K16R). In vivo Sp1 was determined to be N-terminally cleaved, while Sp1(K16R) could not be cleaved indicating that sumoylation and cleavage are coupled through the key regulatory lysine 16. This coupling was evident by the demonstration of an inverse relationship between cellular SUMO-modified Sp1 and N-terminally cleaved Sp1. Compared with Sp1, sumoylation-deficient Sp1(E18A) exhibited enhanced cleavage and was a better transcriptional activator, while constitutively SUMO-1-modified Sp1 was deficient in proteolytic processing and repressed Sp1 transcriptional activity. The repressive effect of sumoylation on Sp1 activity is emphasized through the use of a GAL4 based transactivation assay. A model is proposed defining a mechanism by which sumoylation preserves the integrity of a negative regulatory domain thereby allowing for the inhibition of Sp-dependent transcription.
Henry, Barbara. Walt Whitman's Faces: A Typographic Reading [review]

Ba rBar a Henry. Walt Whitman's Faces: A Typographic Reading. Jersey City: Harsimus Press, 2012. 35 pp.This beautiful book object is a playful, wise, illuminating printing and analysis of the Whitman poem most familiarly known as "Faces" (originally published in the 1855 Leaves of Grass as the sixth poem, titled "Leaves of Grass," then called "Poem of Faces" in 1856, "Leaf of Faces" in 1860, "A Leaf of Faces" in 1867, and "Faces" starting in 1871). It is offered in a limited edition of eighty copies by the New Jersey typographer, printer, and graphic artist Barbara Henry. On the striking rough, heavy orange paper cover (fifty of the copies were prepared with paper covers; the other thirty are in quarter-leather and printed paper-over-boards), we are confronted initially by two faces-linoleum cuts of a young W hitman on the front cover and an elderly Whitman on the back-but as we think about it, we realize the cover actually presents us with three faces, since on the spine appears "Walt Whitman's Faces" in Bulmer typeface. That play on the word face-as referring both to human faces and to type faces-is the key to the "typographic reading" of "Faces" that Henry offers. "In this poem," Henry writes, "Whitman plays out a central metaphor of printshop vocabulary, that the sort, or individual piece of type, is a man."Henry includes two striking photographs in the book, the first an 1865 pho- tograph of Hudson Street in New York, in which we see at least thirty human faces and every bit as many typefaces, as the humans looking into the camera and the multiple signs on the various stores vie equally for our attention. The second photo, by Henry herself, captures a 2012 New York urban scene, where two human faces are surrounded by a cacophony of typefaces appearing on a vast array of signs. The photos make us keenly aware of how, in urban space, we are confronted continually by not only a diversity of human faces but an equal diversity of typefaces. W hen juxtaposed to Whitman's "Faces," these photos help us suddenly hear in the opening line-"Sauntering the pavement or riding the country by-road, lo, such faces! "-the double meaning of the "faces and faces and faces" that Whitman's speaker encounters as he passes by people surrounded by the city's welter of signs, broadsides, notices, and advertisements.In their illuminating introductory essays, Karen Karbiener and Henry remind us of W hitman's training as a typesetter and his intimate familiarity with both type itself and with the printer's idiosyncratic lingo, what Karbie- ner calls "the humanistic terminology of the print industry: bodies, bellies and beards, shoulders and feet join faces as words with possible double entendres in Whitman's oeuvre. …
Adenosine and Cyclic AMP in Rat Cerebral Cortical Slices: Effects of Adenosine Uptake Inhibitors and Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors

The endogenous levels of adenosine functionally linked to cyclic AMP systems in rat cerebral cortical slices are regulated by both adenosine deaminase and adenosine uptake systems. 2'-Deoxycoformycin (2'-DCF), an adenosine deaminase inhibitor, slightly increased basal, adenosine, and norepinephrine-elicited accumulations of cyclic AMP, whereas dipyridamole, an uptake inhibitor, had an even greater effect on cyclic AMP accumulations under the same conditions. Combinations of 2'-DCF and dipyridamole elicited a greater effect than either compound alone. Neither 2'-DCF nor dipyridamole significantly augmented accumulations of cyclic AP elicited by a depolarizing agent, veratridine, suggesting that the adenosine "released" during neuronal depolarization of brain slices is not as subject to inactivation by uptake or deamination as endogenous adenosine in control brain slices. The accumulation of cyclic AMP elicited by a combination of norepinephrine and veratridine was greater than additive. The response to a pure beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, was not potentiated by 2'-DCF, dipyridamole, or veratridine, consonant with minimal interaction of endogenous adenosine with beta-adrenergic systems.
Computer packages for construction data acquisition and processing

Problems of construction site data collection are reviewed and their impact on the planning of construction projects and job productivity discussed. It is believed that utilizing current computer packages for data acquisition will provide sufficient data to justify statistical analysis and stochastic processing of construction planning and control systems. A brief history of stochastic modelling in construction management is given and the difficulties involved in stochastic analysis of construction operations discussed. Well-known computer packages for statistical analysis are presented and their limitations for construction applications identified. A special-purpose computer package for construction duration data acquisition and processing is described and possible future extensions recommended. It is believed that without such a data reduction system, a large number of construction scheduling and simulation models cannot be used stochastically.
Heparin-induced platelet aggregation: Dose/response relationships for a low molecular weight heparin derivative (pk 10169) and its subfractions

Addition of heparin or heparin derivatives to citrate anticoagulated platelet-rich plasma caused platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. Utilizing heparin, a low molecular weight heparin derivative (PK 10169) and its various subfractions, we determined dose/response relationships for platelet aggregation and found that the ability of these agents to cause platelet aggregation was dependent upon the molecular weight of the individual subfraction used. In comparison to unmodified porcine mucosal heparin, the lower molecular weight derivative (PK 10169) yielded a dose/response curve that was shifted down and to the right, and indicated that this agent was less potent in causing platelet aggregation. In addition, as the molecular weight of PK 10169 subfractions decreased, their dose/response curves were progressively shifted down and to the right. The lowest molecular weight subfraction was essentially without platelet aggregating activity. We also measured the anti IIa and anti Xa activities of these agents and concluded that these activities did not appear to correlate with platelet aggregating activity. Platelet aggregation studies with PK 10169 subfractions of high and low affinity for antithrombin III (AT III) indicated that the platelet aggregating activity of these compounds may not be related to their affinity for AT III, but results were not definitive.
Two New Theoretical Approaches to Measuring Industry and Firm Performance

This article discusses two leading theoretical approaches to understanding how firms operate in markets and the functioning of their internal organizations. Game theory is a microanalytic approach that offers a useful framework for organizing thinking about the factors that influence firm strategic conduct vis-a-vis its competitors. Agency theory is mainly concerned with market mechanisms, such as an executive labor market or market for corporate control, that may discipline firm management in the absence of ownership control. Both approaches can yield useful hypotheses for empirical testing of factors affecting industry and firm performance.
Biochemical Failure after Radical Prostatectomy in Men with Pathologic Organ-Confined Disease: pT2a versus pT2b

BACKGROUND The 1997 TNM staging system for prostate carcinoma defines a pT2a disease as a tumor histologically involving one lobe of the prostate and pT2b disease as a tumor histologically involving both prostatic lobes. Whether this distinction provides prognostic significance is unclear. The authors evaluated biochemical outcomes between men with pT2aN0 and pT2bN0 disease. METHODS The authors identified 1606 men with organ-confined disease (pT2N0) who were treated with radical prostatectomy between 1982 and 2003 by one surgeon. Clinical characteristics were compared between men with pT2a and pT2b tumors using rank-sum analysis, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence data were compared using log-rank analysis. The significant independent predictors of PSA recurrence were determined using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS There were no significant differences between men with pT2a and pT2b tumors at the time of surgery in terms of clinicopathologic characteristics (biopsy and pathologic Gleason score, serum PSA level, clinical stage, and age). Log-rank analysis revealed no significant differences in time to PSA recurrence between men with pT2a and pT2b tumors (P = 0.755). The 10-year PSA progression-free survival rate was 95% (confidence interval [CI], 92–97%) for men with pT2a tumors and 93% (CI, 90–95%) for men with pT2b tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that the significant predictors of PSA recurrence included serum PSA level, biopsy and pathologic Gleason score, and clinical stage. In the current cohort of men with organ-confined disease, pathologic stage (pT2a vs. pT2b) was not a significant predictor of PSA recurrence on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS There was no difference in PSA recurrence rates between men with pT2aN0 versus pT2bN0 tumors. In men with organ-confined disease, radical prostatectomy provided excellent 10-year PSA progression-free survival regardless of tumor burden (pT2a vs. pT2b). Consideration should be given to modifying the TNM staging system to eliminate substratification of pT2 tumors. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Shame and Blame: The Self through Time and Change

Do our customary notions of shame, blame and guilt require us to adopt a particular view of the self's singularity and invariance through time? Consider the intriguing case of John Demjanjuk, tried in Israel during 1987 and 1988 for the crimes of “Ivan the Terrible,” a concentration camp guard at Treblinka in Poland, during 1942–43. John Demjanjuk, a retired factory worker living in Cleveland, Ohio, appeared banal at his trial—old, quiet, ordinary and helpless; descriptions from survivors of Treblinka cast Ivan as monstrous in his vigorous brutality. Should John be found guilty and punished for Ivan's crimes? This question takes us beyond any answers sought at the trial. Even if the spatio-temporal identity of the later John and earlier Ivan had been established conclusively, still the justice of punishing the later man for the earlier one's crimes may be questioned. For a philosophical puzzle of personal identity lingers: is the later John the same person as the earlier Ivan? In cases such as this the passage of time and radical changes of character and personality seem to invite the notion that one self or person has succeeded another in the same body. If this were so, would—or should—culpability transfer undiminished from one self to another?
Disseminating Tobacco Control Information to Asians and Pacific Islanders

The Asian Grocery Store-Based Cancer Education Program (the Program) is a proven strategy for promoting early breast cancer detection among Asian American women. The authors sought to test whether the same public health model can become an effective strategy for increasing the Asian community’s awareness of the California Smokers’ Helpline (the Helpline) and thereby, potentially decreasing this community’s use of tobacco products. The new module, mainly staffed by four well-trained, volunteer undergraduates, explained the risks of first- and second-hand tobacco exposure and how to access the Helpline’s services. A brochure, provided in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese (the Helpline’s available Asian languages), was used to guide the bicultural, bilingual students’ tobacco-related discussions with shoppers. The students’ repeated presence at the nine partnering Asian grocery stores served as reminders of the Helpline’s availability. In its first year of operation, the student trainers reached 1,052 men and 1,419 women with tobacco cessation messages. Equally important, the participating grocery stores’ managers did not object to students telling their customers to quit using the tobacco products sold in their stores. The results suggest that the Program’s tobacco cessation module is a viable, community-specific, public health strategy. It is also a strategy with the potential for applications to reduce other health threats.