cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DeepWave: Non-contact Acoustic Receiver Powered by Deep Learning to Detect Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea impacts one billion people worldwide and if left untreated, increases risk for stroke by two times, and risk for cardiovascular mortality by five times. Traditional sleep measurement approaches are either too subjective due to relying on patients’ retrospective report, or too expensive and inconvenient due to the bulky equipment like Polysomnography that requires an overnight stay in a sleep lab different from the patients’ home sleep environment. To enable robust, long-term at-home daily sleep apnea monitoring, in this study we propose a non-contact acoustic receiver powered by artificial intelligence (AI) innovations named DeepWave. More specifically, we have customized an environmental acoustic receiver for remote, off-bed breath sound capturing, avoiding the need to wear devices on the body and the sensitivity of on-bed devices to posture variances. We have further developed a novel convolutional neural network to detect and discriminate even subtle changes in respiratory events even when the acoustic signal is weak. Evaluated through human experiments, DeepWave, powered by the customized acoustic receiver and deep learning, shows promising potential for reliable, long-term at-home sleep apnea measurement. DeepWave is expected to greatly advance big data-driven precision sleep medicine.
Should We Be Afraid of Artificial Intelligence? Consumer Willingness to Share Personal Information with Fashion Sales Robots

Recent research on the use of robots in retail settings presents a wide-spread concern among consumers regarding privacy risks and malfunctions in service experiences. This research speculates that such apprehensions likely prevent consumers from sharing information with AI robots, which negatively affects fashion retailers’ abilities to gauge their consumers’ desires. Consumers’ willingness to share (WTS) information helps fashion businesses make strategic marketing decisions. This study identifies seven factors that may lead to high and low WTS information with AI robots through a literature review and implementing interviews. We then build a decision tree predictive model to identify important motivational factors of WTS with AI fashion robots. Our findings indicate that the service quality, enjoyment, usefulness, and trust predict the WTS information with AI robots. Thus, ensuring that consumers understand the benefits AI robot use, including easier and more enjoyable shopping experiences, will increase their interactions with robots.
On the Error of Naive Rare-Event Monte Carlo Estimator

We consider the estimation of rare-event probabilities using sample proportions output by naive Monte Carlo. Unlike using variance reduction techniques, this naive estimator does not have a priori relative efficiency guarantee. On the other hand, due to the recent surge of sophisticated rare-event problems arising in safety evaluations of intelligent systems, efficiency-guaranteed variance reduction may face implementation challenges, which motivate one to look at naive estimators. In this paper we investigate this naive rare-event estimator, particularly its conservativeness level and the guarantees in using it to construct confidence bounds for the target probability. We show that the half-width of a valid confidence interval is typically scaled proportional to the magnitude of the target probability and inverse square-root with the number of positive outcomes in the Monte Carlo. We also derive and compare several valid confidence bounds constructed from various techniques.
Studying the effect of the upper internal structure design on thermal stratification in sodium fast reactors

Abstract Thermal stratification and mixing in large reactor pools can pose significant issues with regard to operation and safety of nuclear plants. While significant work has been done in this area on light water reactors it is more critical for sodium reactors and there is far less data with regard to low Prandtl number fluids. This paper focuses on the effect of the upper internal structure on the formation of thermal stratification in a scaled sodium fast reactor upper plenum. Six different upper internal structure configurations were tested to observe the effect on thermal stratification. The degree of stratification was quantified using the stratification number. Each configuration was tested from low to high flow rates at a temperature difference of 50 and 100 °C. Over this broad array of testing, it was observed that higher flow rates, more porosity in the upper internal structure design, and a smaller temperature difference yielded a lower degree of stratification. This information can be used to aid in the design of the upper internal structure in a sodium fast reactor. Furthermore, this high resolved temperature data can be used to verify models under prototypic low Prandtl numbers.
Legitimizing Academic Research in Design: Lessons from Research on New Product Development and Innovation

This article traces how academic research in the domain of new product development and innovation has become “legitimized” over the last several decades and makes three suggestions for how academics in the research domain of design can pursue a similar legitimization process. Specifically, academics researching design issues should: (1) partner with a professional design association; (2) develop a high-quality peer-reviewed journal focusing on design issues; and (3) organize an A-level association design special-interest group.
Dust‐Acoustic Waves: Visible Sound Waves

A historical overview of some of the early theoretical and experimental work on dust acoustic waves is given. The basic physics of the dust acoustic wave and some of the theoretical refinements that have been made, including the effects of collisions, plasma absorption, dust charge fluctuations, particle drifts and strong coupling effects are discussed. Some recent experimental findings and outstanding problems are also presented.
Single coronary artery; case report of an absent right coronary artery.

Abstract A case of absent right coronary artery is reported in which post-mortem injection and roentgenography of the coronary arteries were performed.
Carbohydrate Metabolism in Streptomyces hygroscopicus: I. ENZYMATIC SYNTHESIS OF TREHALOSE PHOSPHATE FROM GUANOSINE DIPHOSPHATE d · GLUCOSE-14C

Abstract An enzyme system has been isolated from Streptomyces hygroscopicus that catalyzes the transfer of glucose from guanosine diphosphate d-glucose-14C to glucose 6-phosphate to form trehalose phosphate. The reaction appears to be specific for GDP-glucose; relatively little activity was found in trehalose phosphate when other 14C-glucose nucleotides were used in place of GDP-d-glucose. Glucose-6-P, mannose-6-P, and fructose-6-P all served as acceptors because of the presence of phosphohexose isomerase, but other phosphorylated sugars were inactive. The product formed in the presence of GDP-d-glucose-14C and glucose-6-P was characterized as trehalose phosphate by chemical, enzymatic, and chromatographic methods.
Development of objective‐oriented groundwater models: 2. Robust experimental design

[1] This paper continues the discussion in part 1 by considering the data collection strategy problem when the existing data are judged to be insufficient for constructing a reliable model. Designing an experiment for identifying a distributed parameter is very difficult because the identification of a more complex parameter structure requires more data. Moreover, without knowing the sufficiency of a design, finding an optimal design becomes meaningless. These difficulties can be avoided if we turn to the construction of objective-oriented models. The identifiability of a distributed parameter, as defined in this paper, contains the reducibility of parameter structure. Sufficient conditions for this kind of identifiability are given. When the structure error associated with a structure reduction is too large, these conditions may not be satisfied no matter how much data are collected. In this paper we formulate a new experimental design problem that consists of two objectives: minimizing the cost and maximizing the information content, with robustness and feasibility as constraints. We develop an algorithm that can find a cost-effective robust design for objective-oriented parameter identification. We also present a heuristic algorithm that can find a suboptimal design with less computational effort for real case studies. The proposed methodology is used to design a pumping test for identifying a distributed hydraulic conductivity. We verify the robustness of the obtained design by assuming that the true parameter may have continuous, discrete, random, and fractured structures. Finally, the presented procedure of constructing objective-oriented models is described step by step.
High-Q mechanical tuning of MEMS resonators using a metal deposition -annealing technique

A method for coarse and fine mechanical frequency tuning of MEMS resonators is presented in this paper. Controlled material deposition onto microresonator top surfaces enables resonance frequency shifts toward higher or lower frequency, depending on the resonator structural materials. An analytical derivation is presented and experimental testing on single-crystal silicon resonator beams coated with gold demonstrates the viability of the method. Resonance frequency shifts over 11% with a tuning resolution of 90 Hz/nm of deposited metal are recorded. The performances of the tuned resonators are investigated and modeled. Metal deposition on SCS resonators revealed large Q-decreases, from 25,000 to 5,000. A post-tuning annealing step, at temperature <300/spl deg/C, is utilized to restore the initial high-Q of the resonators.
Dynamics of Fructan and Sucrose Biosynthesis in Crested Wheatgrass

Description des variations saisonnieres des glucides non structuraux chez Agropyron sp. et discussion du role du fructane dans le metabolisme des graminees en raison froide
New System for Rapid, High-Resolution Automated Mapping in Patients with Macroreentrant Atrial Tachycardia

Introduction: We tested a new mapping system (Rhythmia Medical) for high resolution automated electro-anatomical mapping (HRAM) in patients with macroreentrant atrial tachycardia (Macro-AT). Methods: The system uses an 8F deflectable catheter with basket array (1.6 cm diam) of 8 splines of 8 electrodes (2.5 mm spacing), totaling 64 electrodes. The system automatically generates chamber geometry and a HR activation map using all electrograms (EGMs) recorded within 5 mm of the chamber surface. The system automatically acquires EGM and location information based on EGM stability and respiration phase. In 10 patients with LA Macro-AT (4 pts), RA Macro-AT (1 pt), Typical AFL (4 pts) or AF (1 pt), HRAM were obtained during Macro-AT or AFL (6 pts) or CS pacing (4 pts). Conventional point-by-point 3D maps were also obtained in 7 pts during Macro-AT or CS pacing. Results: The new system produced very HR maps from 6026±3506 EGMs, obtained in only 11.5±4.5 min. Compared to conventional point-by-point maps in 7 pts, HRAM included more EGM sites (6525±1739 vs 378±58), had higher resolution and required less time (11±3 min vs 30±3 min). HRAM successfully identified the channel in AT circuit and confirmed isthmus block in AFL pts. Conclusions: The new HRAM system accurately and quickly identified the RA or LA macroreentrant circuit.
The Persistent Homology of Distance Functions under Random Projection

Given n points P in a Euclidean space, the Johnson-Lindenstrauss lemma guarantees that the distances between pairs of points is preserved up to a small constant factor with high probability by random projection into O(log n) dimensions. In this paper, we show that the persistent homology of the distance function to P is also preserved up to a comparable constant factor. One could never hope to preserve the distance function to P pointwise, but we show that it is preserved sufficiently at the critical points of the distance function to guarantee similar persistent homology. We prove these results in the more general setting of weighted kth nearest neighbor distances, for which k = 1 and all weights equal to zero gives the usual distance to P.
Measuring Political Knowledge: Putting First Things First

Research in political behavior has increasingly turned to the cognitions underlying attitudes. The simplest of these cognitions are political facts-the bits of information about politics that citizens hold. While other key concepts in political science-partisanship, trust, tolerance-have widely used (if still controversial) measures that facilitate comparisons across time and among studies, the discipline has no generally accepted measure of the public's level of political information. This paper describes the development and testing of survey-based measures of political knowledge, with special attention to the existing items on the National Election Study surveys. In so doing, it illustrates the use of a variety of techniques for item analysis and scale construction. We also present a recommended fiveitem knowledge index.
Propane ammoxidation on bulk, diluted and supported VSb oxides

VSb oxides diluted with Mg, Al and Zr displayed substantially higher selectivity for propane ammoxidation to acrylonitrile than their bulk and supported analogues. Diluted catalysts were found to consist of oxide compounds of antimony with diluent element, such as AlSbO4 or MgSb2O6, and small amounts of individual oxides of antimony and diluent element. No VSbO4 phase was detected in their body in contrast with bulk and supported catalysts. It appears that better isolation of vanadium and antimony entities in the structure of diluted oxides was responsible for their enhanced catalytic behavior. Tungsten loaded to the surface of diluted catalysts further improved their selectivity through tuning the surface acidity.
Adult Education and Learning Disabilities Why are we still seeing them as children? Using what we know about adult education to improve outcomes for adults with learning disabilities

Almost two generations have now reached adulthood since they were originally diagnosed with learning disabilities in the 1960's. This population continues to grow at a rapid pace as others are diagnosed after adolescence. The collective knowledge base concerning the complex issues of adults with learning disabilities, however, is still in its infancy. As a result, this article applies theories of adult education, as conceptualized by Malcolm Knowles, to best practices for adults with learning disabilities in vocational and academic settings. These concepts also are examined within the context of the lives of three adults with learning disabilities. These examples, including suggestions for transition, secondary, or postsecondary education, and career development, underscore the theme that learning disabilities are not just a "school-based" disorder. Instead, learning disabilities are a cluster of unique strengths and challenges that require on-going support and management from many professionals in many a...
Assessing business performance: two models for environmental information

External stakeholders must consider four public responsibility areas of organisational behaviour that contribute to long-run financial viability: 1. environmental responsibility; 2. social responsibility; 3. employee health and safety; 4. ethics. Failure in any one of these areas could be the downfall of an organisation. This paper develops the Performance Scorecard Model to address reporting relative to performance on these nonmonetary issues of concern to organisational stakeholders. Another model, the Stakeholder Model of Public Responsibility Assessment, is also developed for all types of nonfinancial reporting. However, this paper focuses solely on the use of this model for environmental and sustainable development activities assessment. The models provide a basis from which companies can: articulate policies; report on and assess activities; tie policies to organisational strategy. These models should assist stakeholders in assessing whether particular firms are going beyond minimal expectations and pursuing substantive public responsibility policies.
Bundling or unbundling frequently purchased products: a mixed method approach

Purpose – This paper aims to use a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) approach to exploring the effectiveness of price bundling.Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on a concurrent, two‐studies design where quantitative and qualitative data are both collected (concurrently or sequentially) and analyzed separately. The first study is based on a nested experimental design, and the second study is based on in‐depth interviews. The setting for the study is frequently purchased products, specifically teeth‐whitening products. The bundled items are: teeth whitener, toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrush and dental floss. Various forms of discounts are tested to assess the effectiveness of bundles. While bundling has been investigated in marketing settings, the focus has been limited to consumer durables using quantitative scales. The experimental study is followed by a qualitative investigation in order to add further insight into the consumer's choice of a bundle. This mixed method approach pro...
Ion-molecule reactions in sooting acetyleneoxygen flames☆

Abstract Ion concentration profiles up to mass 557 amu were measured in a sooting acetyleneoxygen flame at an equivalence ratio of 3.0, a total pressure of 2.67 kPa, and an unburned gas velocity of 50 cm s −1 . The mass spectrometer was calibrated for mass by seeding flames with isotopes of several metals and by using deuterated acetylene, which also allowed us to measure the number of hydrogen atoms in each hydrocarbon ion. The ion concentration sensitivity of the mass spectrometer was calibrated by comparing the individual ion currents with the ion current obtained in operation as a high-pass mass filter (that is, transmitting only those ions whose masses were greater than a specific mass) and by relating these currents to the total ion concentrations determined using a Langmuir probe. Ion-molecule reactions, including those with large ions, were demonstrated to be rapid under these flame conditions. The question of whether the large ions are produced by reactions of small ions with large neutral molecules or by reactions of large ions with small molecules was resolved in favor of the latter reactions. From the sequential changes in the number of carbon and hydrogen atoms and the carbon-to-hydrogen ratio in ions of increasing mass, we deduced that the types of ion-molecule reactions occurring included not only acetylene addition to growing ions, but also polyacetylene addition (with or without acetylene elimination) and the addition of allene and propyne. From reaction rate considerations, using literature values for neutral species concentrations in the same flame, we concluded that many of the small hydrocarbon molecules observed in this flame, up to and including benzene, could add to large ions to increase the ion mass. This accounts for the extremely rapid growth observed from small ions to very large ions, that is, from 39 amu to about 4500 amu (3 to about 370 carbon atoms) in 1 ms.
Photonic applications in wireless terminal networks

Wireless communications are rapidly becoming the means of data and information transfer for a broad range of applications. As wireless communication applications continue to expand, the information transfer rates are evolving toward the Gigabit per second data rate and, for some applications, there is even a need for terabit per second data rate transfer in the wireless network. In addition, wireless terminals often require instantaneous switching and communications between network members. For most applications directional antennas are needed to support the high data throughput requirements, and phased array antennas are the only high gain, directional antennas that can be rapidly switched to provide instantaneous communications among network members scattered geographically. Wireless terminal equipment is currently designed to operate in the 1 to 60 GHz frequency range and, traditionally, these equipment are designed with RF hardware. More recently, optics technology has been demonstrated to play an important role in RF systems as the True-Time-Delay in the phased array antenna, and, for some systems operating at high data rates, optical interconnects at the baseband level require E-O and O-E conversions. This paper discusses the considerations in using optics technology in the design of the wireless terminal network including optical signal processing, optical backplanes, optical networking, optical interconnects, and optical components. This paper also describes the architecture of an RF wireless communications network using a range of optical technologies.
Circulating thymulin and thymosin-α1 activity in pediatric acquired immune deficiency syndrome: In vivo and in vitro studies

Twenty-five children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex had a characteristic pattern of T cell deficiency. Abnormally low plasma thymulin levels preceded the development of peripheral blood T cell abnormalities. In contrast to patients with congenital T cell deficiencies, our patients had elevated serum levels of thymosin-α 1 . Treatment with thymosin fraction 5 in three children with AIDS resulted in only transient clinical and immunologic improvement.
A content analysis of fingerprint literature for educational curricula

Forensic science is being required to justify and elucidate its scientific foundations. One way of doing this is through academic curricula. For many native forensic sciences, these curricula do not exist. A content analysis of nine major books in fingerprints was conducted to develop a structure for curricula in that field. The results of this study can be used to organize course content and serve as a model for other disciplines with published materials but no coherent or standard curricula.
Use of Continuous Exponential Families to Link Forms via Anchor Tests

Continuous exponential families are applied to linking test forms via an internal anchor. This application combines work on continuous exponential families for single-group designs and work on continuous exponential families for equivalent-group designs. Results are compared to those for kernel and equipercentile equating in the case of chained equating. The conversions produced by all methods are quite similar.
Financial impact of pulmonary artery catheterization in severe sepsis

Purpose: An economic evaluation of the treatment of severe sepsis, utilizing pulmonary artery catheterization. Subjects and methods: Retrospective cohort analysis conducted in a multidisciplinary tertiary care, intensive care unit directed by full-time intensivists. One hundred and thirty two patients with severe sepsis receiving care in the intensive care unit (ICU) were evaluated for survival, ICU and hospital length of stay, and resource expenditures associated with pulmonary artery catheterization. Results: Pulmonary artery catheters (PAC) were inserted in approximately two-thirds (85 of 132, 64.4%) of patients. No differences in severity adjusted comparisons of mortality based on PAC use were observed: OR=0.83 for PAC use: 95% CI (0.38,1.83), p=0.646. Patients with pulmonary artery catheters had a significantly longer ICU length of stay (11.9 vs. 5.1 days, p=0.002) and greater charges ($23,646 vs. $5709, p<0.001) than patients without PAC. Hospital length of stay (33.9 vs. 17.8 days, p<0.001) a...
CSF-1 and Its Receptor in Ovarian, Endometrial and Breast Cancer

The aim of this report is to review the role of CSF-1 and its receptor in neoplasms of the breast and female reproductive tract. Expression and function of CSF-1 and its receptor were studied in tumours of the human breast, ovary and endometrium. CSF-1 and its receptor, initially implicated as essential to normal monocyte development and trophoblastic implantation, have been more recently shown to be expressed by carcinomas of the breast, ovary and endometrium where activation of the receptor by ligand produced either by the tumour cells or by stromal elements stimulates tumour cell invasion by a urokinase-dependent mechanism. Breast carcinomas express wild-type CSF-1 receptors at levels comparable to those observed in trophoblast and monocytes. Ovarian and endometrial carcinomas express significantly lower levels of wild-type, functional CSF-1Rs while ovarian carcinomas also express unusual transcripts which diverge from the wild-type CSF-1R transcript in their 5' extracellular and other sequences. Tumour cell expression of CSF-1R is under the control of several steroid hormones (glucocorticoids and progestins) and tumour cell CSF-1 expression appears to be regulated by other hormones, some of which are involved in normal lactogenic differentiation. In addition, tumour cells often produce CSF-1 at such high levels that CSF-1 spills into the extracellular fluid and circulation. Measurements of circulating levels of CSF-1 have proved useful in patients with ovarian, endometrial and breast carcinoma patients both for disease detection and monitoring of response to breast carcinoma patients both for disease detection and monitoring of response to therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hemolysis in the newborn infant resulting from deficiencies of red blood cell enzymes: Diagnosis and management*

Inherited deficiencies of red cell enzymes are recognized causes of hemolysis in newborn infants. Neonatal manifestations include erythroblastosis fetalis, anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, or a combination of these. Some infants with enzyme deficiencies demonstrate no neonatal manifestations; in others death may result from hydrops fetalis or kernicterus. In cases of suspected hemolysis, simple diagnostic measures will identify the most common causes of the anemia and/or the hyperbilirubinemia; these are not inherited deficiencies of enzymes but are red cell sensitization and congenital and acquired infections. Persistent hemolysis and abnormalities in the G-6-PD screening test, in the Heinz body preparation, or in an autohemolysis test support a tentative diagnosis of enzyme deficiency. The diagnosis is confirmed by specific enzyme assay. Appropriate therapy depends on the severity of anemia and/or hyperbilirubinemia and may include transfusion of packed red cells or an exchange transfusion. Careful follow-up is essential to determine the chronicity and severity of hemolysis.
An explicit description of the dennis trace map

For any split exact category C, we give an explicit description of the Dennis trace map, from a split model of the algebraic K-theory of C to the additive cyclic nerve of C.
Optimal clustering of fuzzy data via fuzzy dynamic programming

Abstract The problem of clustering fuzzy data occurs in a variety of scenarios and numerous algorithms for their treatment abound in classical and fuzzy systems literature. We consider an extension of the conventional dynamic programming model introduced by Bellman to the fuzzy case. Two fuzzy dynamic programming models are developed and converted into algo r performance of these algorithms is compared to two others based on heuristics. Application to the evaluation of fuzzy data generated in connection with non-point source water pollution control strategies is reported.
Relationship between thermally forced surface wind and sea surface temperature gradient

An important part of the influence of the oceans on the atmosphere is through direct radiation, sensible heat flux and release of latent heat of evaporation, whereby all of these processes are directly related to the surface temperature of the oceans. A main effect of the atmosphere on the oceans is through momentum exchange at the air-ocean interface, and this process is directly related to the surface wind stress. The sea surface temperature (SST) and the surface wind stress are the two important components in the air-ocean system. If SST is given, a thermally forced boundary layer atmospheric circulation can be simulated. On the other hand, if the surface wind stress is given, the wind-driven ocean waves and ocean currents can be computed. The relationship between SST and surface wind is a coupling of the atmosphere and the oceans. It changes a one-way effect (ocean mechanically driven by atmosphere, or atmosphere thermally forced by oceans) into two-way air-sea interactions. Through this coupling the SST distribution, being an output from an ocean model, leads to the thermally forced surface winds, which feeds back into the ocean model as an additional forcing. Based on Kuo's planetary boundary layer model a linear algebraic equation is established to link the SST gradient with the thermally forced surface wind. The surface wind blows across the isotherms from cold to warm region with some deflection angle α to the right (left) in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere. Results from this study show that the atmospheric stratification reduces both the speed and the deflection angle of the thermally forced wind, however, the Coriolis' effect increases the wind speed in stable atmosphere (Ri>10−4) and increases the deflection angle.
Effect of nonionic surfactants on the oxidation of carbaryl by anodic Fenton treatment.

Abstract As a potentially promising technology, anodic Fenton treatment (AFT) has been shown to be very successful in pesticide removal. However, the influence of other constituents in the pesticide formulation, such as nonionic surfactants, has not been addressed. In this study, the effect of Triton X (TX) on the degradation kinetics and pathways of carbaryl undergoing AFT was investigated in an effort to facilitate its practical application. The presence of Triton X-100 was found to slow down the carbaryl degradation rate. This result can be attributed to the consumption of hydroxyl radicals ( OH) by surfactants and the formation of a carbaryl⋯TX⋯Fe3+ complex, resulting in the unavailability of carbaryl to OH attack. The modified AFT kinetic model previously developed in this laboratory shows an excellent fit to the carbaryl degradation profile (R2>0.998), supporting the formation of a carbaryl⋯TX⋯Fe3+ complex. The carbaryl degradation rate decreased as Triton X-100 concentration increased from 20 to 1000 mg L−1. Both OH consumption by surfactants and complex formation are responsible for the degradation rate reduction below the critical micelle concentration (CMC), whereas the complex and micelle formation becomes a more dominant factor above the CMC. The effect of ethylene oxide (EO) numbers of a given nonionic surfactant mainly lies in the consumption of hydroxyl radicals, which increases with the length of the EO chain, but does not significantly affect the formation of the carbaryl⋯TX⋯Fe3+ complex. Based on the GC–MS and LC–ESI–MS results, no evidence was found that the carbaryl degradation pathway was affected. Carbaryl was typically oxidized to 1-naphthol and 1,4-naphthoquinone similar to what is observed in the absence of surfactants. Triton X-100 was degraded via the breakdown of EO chains and ω-oxidation of the terminal methyl group, which resulted in the production of a series of ethoxylate oligomers.
The Radioactivities of Some High Mass Isotopes of Cobalt

By neutron bombardments of samples of Ni enriched in isotopes 61, 62, and 64, respectively, the following radioactivities have been identified: ${\mathrm{Co}}^{61}$, ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ 1.3 Mev, no $\ensuremath{\gamma}$, half-life 1.75 hours, ${\mathrm{Co}}^{62}$, ${\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ 2.3 Mev, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ 1.3 Mev, half-life 13.9 min.Evidence is also presented for a 1.6-minute $\ensuremath{\beta}$- and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-activity associated with ${\mathrm{Co}}^{62}$, and for a 4- to 5-minute activity possibly of ${\mathrm{Co}}^{64}$.
Construction of recombinant cDNA via a ribosubstituted hairpin.

Abstract A new technique for recombinant cDNA construction is presented in which ribonucleotides are added to the 3′ end of cDNA via ribosubstitution prior to synthesis of the second DNA strand. The hairpin floppy loop is then opened by alkaline hydrolysis. This method eliminates the requirement for S1 nuclease and thus shows promise as a means for preservation of mRNA 5′-end sequences in recombinant cDNAs and for eliminating a potential source of error in those sequences.
Thickness distribution of superplastic formed titanium-based domes

Superplastic forming is an appealing and affordable technique for manufacturing titanium-based structural parts. In this work, circular samples with uniform initial thickness were formed superplastically using finite element modeling (FEM) and the formed domes are analyzed to investigate their thickness distributions. The results indicate that the dome thickness is not uniform and decreases from the apex to the periphery for each formed dome. The increase of the formed dome height results in the increased thinning of the samples, and the increase of the ratio between the thickness at the dome apex and that at the dome periphery. The predicted thickness distribution based on the Enikeev and Kruglov (E-K) model has a good agreement with the FEM result for the formed domes with a large apex height, while it deviates from the FEM result for the formed domes with a small apex height. A possible reason is the neglecting of the body force from the sample weight in the analytical E-K model. The obtained knowledge will help guide the initial thickness design for the plate samples to realize the expected final thickness distributions.
Respirable concrete dust--silicosis hazard in the construction industry.

Concrete is an extremely important part of the infrastructure of modern life and must be replaced as it ages. Many of the methods of removing, repairing, or altering existing concrete structures have the potential for producing vast quantities of respirable dust. Since crystalline silica in the form of quartz is a major component of concrete, airborne respirable quartz dust may be produced during construction work involving the disturbance of concrete, thereby producing a silicosis hazard for exposed workers. Silicosis is a debilitating and sometimes fatal lung disease resulting from breathing microscopic particles of crystalline silica. Between 1992 and 1998, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) made visits to construction projects where concrete was being mechanically disturbed in order to obtain data concerning respirable crystalline silica dust exposures. The construction activities studied included: abrasive blasting, concrete pavement sawing and drilling, and asphalt/con...
WLC21-4: Weak-Group Unitary Space-Time Codes

We propose a construction technique for unitary space-time codes that use Givens rotation matrices. These constellations have a desirable weak group property that leads to reduced construction and decoding complexity. The newly constructed constellations have the best known diversity product and diversity sum for a wide range of constellation sizes and number of transmit antennas.
Generalized inverse solutions of multiattribute accounting problems

A triangular (LU) factorization of generalized inverse methods is used to derive explicitly solutions to the problem of computing the number of elements in any collection of intersecting sets. This approach reconciles recently proposed methods by Hellerman and Cavallo2 and Schinnar,(6) with applications to a wide range of problems in social accounting and information systems theory.
Designing and managing a flexible and dynamic biorepository system: a 15-year perspective from the CPCRA, ESPRIT, and INSIGHT clinical trial networks.

Purpose of review We provide a long-term perspective of our experience with designing and managing a successful biorepository system. We include a brief history, a description of our current process, and lessons learned. Recent findings Biologic specimens, collected and stored as part of HIV-related research for years, are now being used for biomarker analyses that have important implications for both AIDS and non-AIDS events. If appropriately collected, documented, and stored, biospecimens are a valuable resource that can help answer current and future scientific questions. International networks must be able to monitor and adhere to country-specific specimen use regulations. Specimens for human DNA research need increased levels of privacy protection. Issues to consider when designing a biorepository system include expertise, communication, data management, technology, standardized methods and procedures, shipping, and specimen use policies. Summary As biorepositories are an integral part of research their design should not be an afterthought. Good designs consider all stages of research, and the most critical components are expertise and planning. Successful biorepository systems must have a balance of flexibility and standardization. The need for adaptable data management systems, whether commercial products or systems developed specifically for the network, should not be underestimated. Investment in appropriate technology, including a barcoding system with high-quality labels and printers, will pay off in the long term. To meet the needs of emerging technologies, it is becoming increasingly important to document the conditions at the time of specimen collection and processing. Regular communication between all components of the biorepository system is critical.
A damage model for degradation in the electrodes of solid oxide fuel cells: Modeling the effects of sulfur and antimony in the anode

Abstract Over their designed lifetime, high-temperature electrochemical devices, such as solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), can experience degradation in their electrochemical performance due to environmental conditions, operating conditions, contaminants, and other factors. Understanding the different degradation mechanisms in SOFCs and other electrochemical devices is essential to reducing performance degradation and increasing the lifetimes of these devices. In this paper, SOFC degradation mechanisms are evaluated, and a damage model is presented that describes performance degradation in SOFCs due to damage or degradation in the SOFC electrodes. A degradation classification scheme is presented, dividing the various SOFC electrode degradation mechanisms into categories based on their physical effects on the SOFC. The damage model and classification method are applied both to sulfur poisoning and antimony poisoning, which occur in the SOFC anode. For sulfur poisoning, the model can calculate degradation in SOFC performance based on the operating temperature of the fuel cell and the concentration of gaseous sulfur species in the anode. For antimony poisoning, the effects of nickel consumption from the anode matrix are investigated.
Acoustic wave gas sensors

Abstract An overview of acoustic wave sensors for gas sensing is presented from both a fundamental and a practical point of view. The main interaction mechanisms between the acoustic wave and gaseous species are briefly reviewed, followed by a descriptive survey of the different types of sensors. Detailed results for the sensitivity of different acoustic modes are presented with numerical examples for realistic cases. A critical discussion is given of several approaches to chemical selectivity and the many practical issues of importance for environmental sensing. Anticipated future trends are presented in the conclusion.
LOW-ECHO SPHERE PHANTOMS AND METHODS FOR ASSESSING IMAGING PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL ULTRASOUND SCANNERS

Tissue-mimicking phantoms and software for quantifying the ability of human observers to detect small low-echo spheres as a function of depth have been developed. Detectability is related to the imager's ability to delineate the boundary of a 3-D object such as a spiculated tumor. The phantoms accommodate a broad range of transducer shapes and sizes. Three phantoms are described: one with 2-mm-diameter spheres (for higher frequencies), one with 3.2-mm-diameter spheres (for lower frequencies) and one with 4-mm-diameter spheres (for lower frequencies). The spheres are randomly distributed in each phantom. The attenuation coefficients of spheres and surroundings are nearly identical; thus, compromising shadowing or enhancement distal to spheres does not occur. Reproducibility results are given for pairs of independent data sets involving eight different combinations of scanner, transducer and console settings. The following comparison results are also reported: (i) only the selected frequency differs; (ii) transducers and scan parameters are nearly the same but manufacturers differ; (iii) ordinary B-scanning, spatial compounding and tissue harmonic imaging are addressed. The phantoms and software promise to be valuable tools for scanning system and setup comparisons and for acceptance testing.
Recipe for cancer education: a novel integrated cooking and nutrition education curriculum for medical students and physicians in dietary preventive and supplemental treatment for pancreatic cancer

The poor outcomes surrounding pancreatic cancer (5 % 5-year survival) are rooted in the advanced nature of the cancer at diagnosis, aggressiveness of the tumor, technical challenges for surgical treatment, and the limitations of systemic therapies. Research on pancreatic cancer and diet has focused on the effects of bioactive food compounds upon major pathways in cancerous cell development, particularly with the active components of flavonoids, proteins, and vitamins. Such bioactive components, particularly found in fruits and vegetables, have been associated with increased sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs for treating pancreatic cancer and inhibiting angiogenesis and cancerous cell growth. Diet-based approaches to prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer may thus offer clinical efficacious and cost-effective opportunities to optimize existing modes of treatment (surgery, systemic therapies, radiotherapies, and palliative care), offset rising medical costs for patients, and improve quality of life for patients undergoing treatment. Integration of these findings at the clinical level may require a national, scalable model such as that of Tulane University School of Medicine’s Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine (GCCM) to meaningfully improve the care of health care providers for pancreatic cancer patients.
Thermomechanical fatigue of a directionally-solidified Ni-base superalloy: Smooth and cylindrically-notched specimens

Abstract Directionally-solidified (DS) Ni-base superalloys are used in high temperature gas turbines because of their excellent properties in the most aggressive mechanical, thermal, and environmental operating conditions. Fatigue life prediction approaches need to account for the presence of cooling holes and other geometric stress concentrations, time-dependent dwells, thermomechanical cycling, and anisotropic material properties. In working towards such a life model, this paper describes the cyclic deformation response and damage mechanisms resulting from thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) of directionally-solidified CM247LC DS. Linear in-phase (IP) and out-of-phase (OP) TMF cycles were performed on both smooth and cylindrically-notched round-bar specimens in both longitudinal and transverse grain orientations. Results take into consideration anisotropy, time-dependent deformation, and the severity of the notch in addition to the waveform and temperature cycle characteristics. The active damage mechanisms are identified as a function of these parameters. Conclusions are drawn in light of fractography, microscopy, and finite element analysis conducted to evaluate geometric and microstructural influences on the time-dependent deformation and fatigue behavior.
Vitamin D Deficiency Is Prevalent in Morbidly Obese Adolescents Prior to Bariatric Surgery

Background. Obese adults are frequently vitamin D deficient before bariatric surgery; whether similar abnormalities exist in morbidly obese adolescents is unknown. Objective. To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in morbidly obese adolescents. Methods. Cross-sectional study of preoperative laboratory measures from 236 adolescents evaluated for bariatric surgery. Results. The group ( with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels; 76 boys, 143 girls; years; 43% Caucasian, 35% Hispanic, and 15% African American) had mean BMI of kg/m2. 25OHD levels were deficient ( 30 ng/mL). 25OHD levels were inversely associated with BMI (, ) and PTH levels (, ). Race was the strongest predictor of 25OHD (); 82% of African Americans, 59% of Hispanics, and 37% of Caucasians were deficient. African American race, BMI, and PTH explained 21% of the variance in 25OHD (). Conclusions. Most adolescents presenting for bariatric surgery have suboptimal vitamin D levels, with African Americans and those with higher BMIs at greatest risk for vitamin D deficiency. All morbidly obese adolescents should be screened for vitamin D deficiency before bariatric procedures.
The application of reactive metal seals to the design of a high performance metal-ceramic R.F. amplifier tube

The new techniques and applications of materials as described by J. E. Beggs in a preceding paper enable a high performance metal-ceramic tube to be designed with structural simplicity and ease of assembly. The utilization of these methods poses new tube design problems, not only those of an electrical nature but also mechanical configuration, parts fabrication, assembly, and processing techniques. A coplanar triode has been developed for grounded-grid r.f. amplifier service in the UHF TV band. It is constructed of alternate rings of ceramic and metal, sealed together through the use of a simple type of butt-seal. This construction is not only mechanically rugged, but the small size and the mechanical configuration provides low inductance connections between the active tube elements and the circuit proper. Although providing these obvious electrical advantages, the small size intensifies the problems of parts tolerances, assembly techniques, and thermal isolation. A discussion of these problems as resolved during the development of the 6BY4 is presented. The use of Beggs reactive metal seals is shown and the operating characteristics of the tube are reviewed.
Case-based reasoning: A planning tool for intelligent transportation systems

Abstract This paper develops a Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) methodology for PLANiTS (Planning and Analysis Integration for Intelligent Transportation Systems). To address a current transportation planning situation, CBR presents similar historical cases. Specifically, it estimates the impacts of proposed transportation improvement actions, including Intelligent Transportation Systems, based on previous experiences with similar actions. In this paper, a hierarchical structure for representing historical cases is developed. All historical cases consist of transportation improvement actions, performance measures and environments defined in terms of their spatial, temporal and user/traveler dimensions. In addition, cases contain information about lessons learnt such as inferences regarding their success or failure, prescriptions and case quality. Information about historical cases can be synthesized. Specifically, the reasoner contains mechanisms for 1. (a) matching at various levels of stringency, 2. (b) ranking with alternative distance and weight measures 3. (c) analyzing similar past cases with statistical operations. Also discussed are the limitations of CBR applications to transportation planning. Overall, the structure for the CBR is flexible and incorporates different stakeholder preferences for alternative transportation improvement actions and evaluation criteria. Further, the application of CBR to transportation planning, discussed in this paper, formalizes the use of case knowledge in transportation. This can lead to improving the transportation planning process.