cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural components of ryanodine responsible for modulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium channel function.

Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was used to analyze the relationship between the structure of a group of ryanoids and the modulation of the calcium channel function of the ryanodine receptor. The conductance properties of ryanodine receptors purified from sheep heart were measured using the planar, lipid bilayer technique. The magnitude of the ryanoid-induced fractional conductance was strongly correlated to specific structural loci on the ligand. Briefly, electrostatic effects were more prominent than steric effects. The 10-position of the ryanoid had the greatest influence on fractional conductance. Different regions of the ligand have opposing effects on fractional conductance. For example, steric bulk at the 10-position is correlated with decreased fractional conductance, whereas steric bulk at the 2-position (isopropyl position) is correlated with increased fractional conductance. In contrast to fractional conductance, the 3-position (the pyrrole locus) had the greatest influence on liga...
Forecasting and Hedging: An Illustration of Risk Reduction in the Hog Industry

Hog producers and first handlers can reduce the risk of unfavorable price fluctuations by combining the information from forecasting models with a selective hedging strategy. Six quarterly price-forecasting approaches (econometric, ARIMA, expert, naive, and two composites) were evaluated over the 1976-82 period using a simple yet pragmatic hedging decision rule. The results indicate that relatively modest improvements in prices received by producers or paid by first-handlers relative to cash marketing were possible. Statistically significant reductions in short-term risk exposure were achieved by both groups through most of the approaches evaluated.
Strategy Support Models

A major challenge in strategy development is to deduce the consequences of the interacting programmes underlying strategy. The paper argues that behavioural simulation models can help meet this challenge by acting out the consequences of strategy proposals in their full organizational setting. However, the real key to effective strategy support is not simply having a model, but using it in a structured dialogue with executives. To illustrate the idea, the paper presents a system dynamics simulation model used to aid executives of an advanced office equipment firm in setting their marketing strategy. The paper describes the process by which the model was created and brought to the attention of executives. Several examples are provided of the dialectical use of the model, showing how differences in management intuition and model-generated opinion led to improved insight into the consequences of strategy.
Chordless cycles in networks

Using closure concepts, we show that within every undirected network, or graph, there is a unique irreducible subgraph. The chordless cycles which comprise this irreducible core effectively characterize the connectivity structure of the network as a whole. By counting the number of cycles of length 3 ≤ k ≤ max_length, we can also create a kind of signature that can be used to identify the network. Its longest chordless cycles can be used to redraw the network and visually reveal its global connectivity patterns. Performance is analyzed, and the concepts we develop are illustrated by means of a relatively small running sample network of about 400 nodes.
The Decline and Fall of the Status Symbol: Some Thoughts on Status in a Post-Industrial Society

One characteristic of so-called post-industrial societies is the decline of material scarcity. Although great inequalities of wealth and income persist in American society, since World War II there has been a secular decline of poverty and an increase in material abundance. If this continues, it will ultimately destroy the customary status symbols of American society because such symbols—to be operative—must be scarce as well as desirable. Paradoxically, as abundance increases, the social importance of material things may diminish; thus, as American society becomes more materialistic, it may very well become less materialistic. Besides affluence, other developments are undermining the strength of conventional status symbols: social-class passing, status disguises, the environmental movement, and more. The usefulness of the concept of status itself in an urban setting must be called into question, as well as the so-called “trickle effect” in fashion. Finally, arguing that status symbols may be altered but never abolished, this analysis offers some hypotheses on the direction such symbols may take in the future.
A Polynomial time Algorithm for Checking the Robust Stability of a Polytope of Polynomials

A efficient algorithm to check the robust stability of a polytope of polynomials is proposed. This problem is equivalent with a zero exclusion condition at each frequency. It is shown that such a condition has to be checked at only a finite number of frequencies. We formulate this problem as a parametric linear program which can be solved by the Simplex procedure with additional computations between steps, consisting of polynomial evaluations and calculation of positive polynomial roots. Our algorithm requires a finite number of steps (corresponding to frequency checks) and in the important case of the polytope of parameters being a hypercube, this number is at most of order O(m3n), where n is the degee of the polynomials in the family and m is the number of parameters.
Towards the conscientious development of ethical nanotechnology

Nanotechnology, the emerging capability of human beings to observe and organize matter at the atomic level, has captured the attention of the federal government, science and engineering communities, and the general public. Some proponents are referring to nanotechnology as “the next technological revolution”. Applications projected for this new evolution in technology span a broad range from the design and fabrication of new membranes, to improved fuel cells, to sophisticated medical prosthesis techniques, to tiny intelligent machines whose impact on humankind is unknowable. As with the appropriation of technological innovation generally, nanotechnology is likely to eventually bring dramatic and unpredictable new capabilities to human material existence, along with resulting ethical challenges and social changes to be reconciled. But as of yet, aside from a few simple new consumer goods, such as paint, rackets and fabric coatings, nanotechnology is undeveloped. Its social and ethical dimensions are not apparent. Even still, given the stated goals of the various nanotechnology initiatives to rearrange matter with increasing atomic precision, the impact of nanotechnology on human life and society is likely be profound. It is very difficult, however, to make accurate predictions about the future impact of nanotechnology development on humanity. At this time, the most important role for ethics analysis is to contribute to a humanitarian, conscientious approach to its development. This paper suggests that such an approach requires that attention be given to the roles of imagination, meaning-making, metaphor, myth and belief.
Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in the morphogenesis of skeletal muscle.

There is a tendency, widespread but by no means universal, to equate developmental biology with the study of cell differentiation. An emphasis on the problem of differentiation is understandable because it has been the area of greatest progress. Recent advances in molecular biology make it likely that an understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for differential gene expression in eukaryotic development will be achieved fairly soon. And yet, as the above quotation reminds us, the ultimate concern of the developmental biologist is to comprehend morphogenesis.
Structure of the expanded state of tomato bushy stunt virus

The full three-dimensional structure determination of tomato bushy stunt virus has shown how its protein subunit can accommodate to different packing environments in the viral coat and how the size of the particle is nonetheless determined without ambiguity. Reversible, cooperative expansion of the virus at pH values above neutrality and in the absence of divalent cation requires further bonding alternatives for the subunit. We report here the structure of the expanded tomato bushy stunt virus particle, determined at 8 A resolution by X-ray crystallography. Subunit conformational changes are localized, and folded domains are essentially invariant. The bonding properties of the subunit can account for controlled polymorphism of the assembly.
Conservative management of acoustic neuroma: an outcome study.

OBJECTIVE : This study analyzed selection criteria, clinical outcome, and tumor growth rates in patients with acoustic neuromas in whom the initial management strategy was observation. METHODS : A retrospective review of patients with conservatively managed unilateral acoustic neuromas was conducted. Minimum follow-up was 6 months. Patients with neurofibromatosis Type II were excluded. Differences in tumor growth rates were analyzed by use of the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS : Sixty-eight patients (31 men and 37 women) with a mean age of 67.1 years were followed for an average of 3.4 years after diagnosis. The reasons for a trial of observation included advanced age (55%), patient preference (21%), minimal symptoms (9%), poor general medical condition (7%), asymptomatic tumor (4%), and tumor in the only hearing ear (4%). Fifty-eight patients (85%) were successfully managed with observation alone. Ten patients (15%) ultimately required treatment (nine received microsurgical treatment and one patient underwent radiosurgical intervention) at a mean time interval of 4.0 years after diagnosis. Forty-eight tumors (71%) showed no growth and 20 (29%) enlarged during the study period. The mean tumor growth rate at the 1-year follow-up was significantly higher in the group requiring treatment (3.0 mm) than in the group not requiring treatment (0.36 mm) (P < 0.0001). Thus, the tumor growth rate at the 1-year follow-up was a strong predictor of the eventual need for treatment. CONCLUSION : Observation is a reasonable management strategy in carefully selected patients with acoustic neuromas. Diligent follow-up with serial magnetic resonance imaging is recommended, because some tumors will enlarge to the point at which active treatment is required.
A universal approach to queuing with distortion control

An efficient buffer-management algorithm is developed for queues that handle distortion-tolerant data under finite memory limitations. We avoid overflows and realize significant performance gains through the use of multiresolution source codes. These codes enable us to reduce the fidelity of signal descriptions in a controlled progressive manner. The proposed approach is universal, i.e., it works without knowledge of queue arrival and departure statistics. More strongly, we show that its performance is sample-path optimal, i.e., it achieves an average distortion equal to the best achievable by any algorithm, including those designed with full noncausal knowledge of queue arrival and service times.
FORCE-FIELD DEPENDENCE OF BOLTZMANN WEIGHTING FACTORS ON PREDICTED PI -PI * CIRCULAR DICHROIC SPECTRA OF CYCLO(GLY-PRO-GLY)2

Semi-empirical energy calculations were performed for published conformations of cyclo (Gly-Pro-Gly)2 using different force fields (DISCOVER cvff and cff91, AMBER, and CHARMM). The resulting potential energies were then used to create Boltzmann weighting factors for an ensemble of cyclo(Gly-Pro-Gly)2 structures. The dipole interaction model was used to predict pi-pi* circular dichroic spectra (CD) for the individual structures of cyclo(Gly-Pro-Gly)2. The Boltzmann weighting factors were applied to the individual spectra so that a composite spectrum was constructed to represent a CD arising from a collection of different structures in solution. Weighting factors determined from different force fields were compared. Boltzmann-weighted spectra better resembled the experimental CD than any calculated spectrum using only a single conformation of cyclo (Gly-Pro-Gly)2. The structures most heavily weighted contained at least one type I beta-turn.
Bayesian nonparametric k -sample tests for censored and uncensored data

Polya tree priors are random probability distributions that are easily centered at standard parametric families, such as the normal. As such, they provide a convenient avenue toward creating a parametric/nonparametric test statistic ''blend'' for the classic problem of testing whether data distributions are the same across several subpopulations. Test-statistics that are (empirical) Bayes factors constructed from independent Polya tree priors are proposed. The Polya tree centering distributions are Gaussian with parameters estimated from the data and the p-values are obtained through the permutation of group membership indicators. Generalizations to censored and multivariate data are provided. The conceptually simple test statistic fares surprisingly well against competitors in simulations.
Weight Loss of Black, White, and Hispanic Men and Women in the Diabetes Prevention Program

Objective: To provide the specific weight loss outcomes for African-American, Hispanic, and white men and women in the lifestyle and metformin treatment arms of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) by race-gender group to facilitate researchers translating similar interventions to minority populations, as well as provide realistic weight loss expectations for clinicians. Methods and Procedures: Secondary analyses of weight loss of 2,921 overweight participants (22% black; 17% Hispanic; 61% white; and 68% women) with impaired glucose tolerance randomized in the DPP to intensive lifestyle modification, metformin or placebo. Data over a 30-month period are examined for comparability across treatment arms by race and gender. Results: Within lifestyle treatment, all race-gender groups lost comparable amounts of weight with the exception of black women who exhibited significantly smaller weight losses (P < 0.01). For example, at 12 months, weight losses for white men (−8.4%), white women (−8.1%), Hispanic men (−7.8%), Hispanic women (−7.1%), and black men (−7.1%) were similar and significantly higher than black women (−4.5%). In contrast, within metformin treatment, all race-gender groups including black women lost similar amounts of weight. Race-gender specific mean weight loss data are provided by treatment arm for each follow-up period. Discussion: Diminished weight losses were apparent among black women in comparison with other race-gender groups in a lifestyle intervention but not metformin, underscoring the critical nature of examining sociocultural and environmental contributors to successful lifestyle intervention for black women.
Characteristics of pregnant vs. non-pregnant women physicians: findings from the women physicians’ health study

Objective: Many young physicians are women, and many are in their childbearing years. Knowing pregnant physicians’ status is useful for epidemiological and workforce reasons, yet no studies have compared pregnant with same-age, non-pregnant physicians, an especially appropriate comparison group. Study design: Data from the Women Physicians’ Health Study, a national questionnaire-based survey. We compare 87 pregnant with 1148 non-pregnant women physicians, ages 30–40. Results: Pregnant physicians ate more fat, fruits and vegetables, and cheese, but not more dairy than non-pregnant women physicians. While nearly half consumed alcohol, they reported drinking an average of only 0.4 drinks/week, and none smoked. Nearly all took vitamin supplements. Pregnant physicians exercised as much as non-pregnant physicians, and pregnant physicians’ self-reported health status was better. Work amount, desire to work less, perceived work control, career satisfaction, and work stress did not significantly differ by pregnancy status. Conclusion: The prenatal period may be a time of especially healthy habits and considerable productivity for female physicians.
Survival in children on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at the time of lung transplantation.

Limited data exist on ECMO at the time of LTx in children. The UNOS database was queried from 2000 to 2013 for pediatric lung transplant recipients (<18 yr) to assess post-transplant survival of patients on ECMO at the time of LTx. Of 587 pediatric recipients with 17 on ECMO, 585 were used for univariate and Kaplan–Meier function analysis, 535 for multivariate Cox models, and 24 for propensity score matching. Univariate Cox (HR = 1.777; 95% CI: 0.658, 4.803; p = 0.257) and Kaplan–Meier function (log-rank test: chi-square (df = 1): 1.32, p = 0.250) analyses did not identify a survival difference between ECMO and non-ECMO, while multivariate Cox models (HR = 1.821; 95% CI: 0.654, 5.065; p = 0.251) did not demonstrate an increased risk for death. Propensity score matching analysis (HR = 1.500; 95% CI: 0.251, 8.977; p = 0.657) also failed to demonstrate a significantly increased hazard ratio. Using a contemporary cohort of pediatric lung transplant recipients, the use of ECMO at the time of lung transplantation did not negatively impact survival.
The Effect of Lutein and Zeaxanthin on Premature Infant Eye Development

Infant eye development is a complex process highly impacted by premature birth. Current prevention and treatment options for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), one of the significant comorbities of ...
Is natural background or radiation from nuclear power plants leukemogenic

The objective in this review is to provide some facts about normal hemopoietic cell proliferation relevant to leukemogenesis, physical, chemical, and biological facts about radiation effects with the hope that each person will be able to decide for themselves whether background radiation or emissions from nuclear power plants and facilities significantly add to the spontaneous leukemia incidence. 23 refs., 1 tab.
A size-corrected Wald test for Slutsky symmetry in systems of demand equations

Abstract Use of an unbiased estimate for the inverse covariance matrix results in a size correction to the Wald Test. Monte Carlo results indicate the resulting size-corrected test leads to fewer rejections of null hypothesis than theoretically expected.
Molecular beam photoionization spectrometry (1) photoionization studies of high temperature vapors (2) state-selected and state-to-state studies of electron transfer reactions

7 Introduction 7 Experimental 8 Results and Discussion ' 10 References 22 SECTION II. MOLECULAR BEAM PHOTOIONIZATION STUDY OF Hĝ 24 Abstract 24 Introduction 24 Experimental 26 Results and Discussion 2724 Introduction 24 Experimental 26 Results and Discussion 27 References 35 SECTION III. MOLECULAR BEAM PHOTOIONIZATION STUDY OF HgKr AND HgXe 39 Abstract 39 Introduction 39 Experimental 40 Results and Discussion 41
An implementation of interleaved microstrip motherboard routing in Multi-Gbps I/O channel margin improvement

This paper presents an interleaved routing method for motherboard microstrip routing in Multi-Gbps interfaces. The proposed method yields improved channel performance in terms of Eye Height(mV) and Eye Width(ps) margins. Of note is the more prominent improvement in topologies with longer transmission lines. This method enables greater routing flexibility using full microstrip transmission lines with the benefit of improved channel margins at 20 mils inter-pair spacing. More importantly, it allows for the more tightly spaced 15 mils interpair spacing to be utilized without jeopardizing overall channel margins. Ultimately, this translates into a cost saving benefit in line with recent platforms' sleek and thin form factor.
FAMILY EXPERIENCE AND PUBLIC SUPPORT OF THE DEATH PENALTY

Integration of data on the characteristics of death penalty supporters with data on violence within the family suggests that experience with violence in the family, and the meaning and moral evaluation of punishment and violence learned thereby, lead to support for the death penalty. This paper concludes that the high level of public support for the death penalty may be accounted for in part by the high level of violence within the family and by parental use of retributive physical punishment.
Improving carrier mobility and reliability characteristics of high-k NMOSFET by using stacked Y2O3/HfO2 gate dielectric

To overcome the issues of mobility degradation and charge trapping in the high-k MOSFET, a stacked Y2O3 (top)/HfO2 (bottom) multi-metal gate dielectric with TaN gate has been developed. Compared to the HfO2 reference, the new dielectric shows similar scalability, but superior device performance and reliability characteristics. Channel mobility, fast transient charge trapping, bias temperature instability, and stress induced leakage current have been improved for Y2O3/HfO2 device
Towards circadian computing: "early to bed and early to rise" makes some of us unhealthy and sleep deprived

We often think of ourselves as individuals with steady capabilities. However, converging strands of research indicate that this is not the case. Our biochemistry varies significantly over the course of a 24 hour period. Consequently our levels of alertness, productivity, physical activity, and even sensitivity to pain fluctuate throughout the day. This offers a considerable opportunity for the UbiComp community to identify novel measurements and interventions that can leverage these daily variations. To illustrate this potential, we present results from an empirical study with 9 participants over 97 days investigating whether such variations manifest in low-level smartphone use, focusing on daily rhythms related to sleep. Our findings demonstrate that phone usage patterns can be used to detect and predict individual daily variations indicative of temporal preference, sleep duration, and deprivation. We also identify opportunities and challenges for measuring and enhancing well-being using these simple and effective markers of circadian rhythms.
Novel cellulose derivatives. III. Thermal analysis of mixed esters with butyric and hexanoic acid

Cellulose derivatives with low degrees of substitution (i.e., DS C 6 ), and they have T g s within 5-20°C of their T m s. This proximity is unusual for a semicrystalline material, and it interferes with the crystallization process that occurs between T m and T g . Triesters of cellulose with mixed acyl substituents (one smaller and one larger) allow not only unambiguous observation of T g s and T m s but also an adjustable Δ(T m - T g ) window that depends upon the size and the DS of the larger substituent. The materials studied including cellulose acetate butyrate triesters (DS bu 0.8-2.6), cellulose acetate hexanoate triesters (DS hex 0-3.0), and cellulose acetate (DS ac 2.44), revealed that only the mixed esters, in which the bulkier acyl group is in the range of DS 0.3-1.0, had a Δ(T m - T g ) value in excess of 40°C. Although the T m of cellulose acetate hexanoate declined by ca. 150°C per unit of DS hex as DS hex rose from 0 to 1, this was only ca. 25°C between DS hex of 1 and 3. Frequently observed dual-melt endotherms were attributed to two separate crystal morphologies. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE NEHALEM QUAD-CORE PROCESSOR FOR SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING

In this work we present an initial performance evaluation of Intel's latest, second- generation quad-core processor, Nehalem, and provide a comparison to first-generat ion AMD and Intel quad-core processors Barcelona and Tigerton. Nehalem is the first In­ tel processor to implement a NUMA architecture incorporating QuickPath Interconnect for interconnecting processors within a node, and the first to incorporate an integrated memory controller. We evaluate the suitability of these processors in quad-socket com­ pute nodes as building blocks for large-scale scientific computing clusters. Our analysis of intra-processor and intra-node scalability of microbenchmarks, and a range of large-scale scientific applications, indicates that quad-core processors can deliver an improvement in performance of up to 4x over a single core depending on the workload being processed. However, scalability can be less when considering a full node. We show that Nehalem outperforms Barcelona on memory-intens ive codes by a factor of two for a Nehalem node with 8 cores and a Barcelona node containing 16 cores. Further optimizations are pos­ sible with Nehalem, including the use of Simultaneous Multithreading, which improves the performance of some applications by up to 50%.
Mechanical interactions and their effects on chemical mechanical polishing

Mechanical interactions, such as contact stress and fluid pressure are of extreme importance in silicon wafer polishing, especially for the wafer-scale planarity of the finished surfaces. In this paper, the measurements of interfacial fluid pressure and friction, as well as their dependence on some major process variables, are presented. A nonuniform subambient fluid pressure was measured, and the resulting wafer/pad contact stress, obtained by combining the effects of both applied normal load and interfacial fluid pressure, is determined. An analytical model was developed to predict the magnitude and distribution of the interfacial fluid pressure. The results of polishing experiments show good evidence of the effects of this subambient fluid pressure on with in-wafer nonuniformity (WIWNU). By properly designing the polishing process variables, the fluid pressure may be tailored, and a relatively uniform material removal can be achieved.
Population-Based Assessment of Currently Proposed Ideals of Nasal Tip Projection and Rotation in Young Women

ImportanceThere is no universally accepted quantitative metric that defines the ideal nasal tip rotation and projection. ObjectiveTo identify the ideal nasal tip projection (NTP) and rotation by us...
Managed Care and the Judicial System: Another Avenue for Reform?

Over the past several years the judiciary has become a major venue for challenging managed care. This article examines the present and potential effect of such litigation, focusing on the recent Supreme Court decision in Pegram v. Herdrich and class action litigation-filed under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The author concludes that although court-based reforms are a necessary and pragmatic response to managed care, they can result in only incremental changes. Litigation also cannot resolve the larger conflicts that result when a social welfare service such as health care is provided through a corporate model. Social workers need to look beyond the "next best" reform of managed care and advocate for more fundamental solutions to the inequities and inefficiencies in the provision of health care.
Constrained and aggregated half space volume decomposition: generating cutting patches with "internal" and "external" extending

Volume decomposition is a fundamental issue that draws attention from researchers in different disciplines. In many contexts, a solid model that contains shape information needs to be partitioned into smaller simpler or more meaningful sub-models in order to facilitate efficient or effective analysis. Much progress has been made so far on convex decomposition of polyhedra and relatively difficult geometries; general decomposition on a CAD model with arbitrary shapes to produce intelligent partitions is still highly challenging. The constrained and aggregated half-space volume decomposition approach is aimed at improving the efficiency and intelligence of decomposition by trimming and aggregating cutting surfaces. In this paper, two kinds of extending strategies ("internal" extending and "external" extending) are identified and the algorithms for them are demonstrated.
Preliminary trial of symmetry-based resistance in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis

We tested a novel control strategy for robotic rehabilitation devices used by individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis. Symmetry-based resistance increases resistance when limb forces become more asymmetric during bilateral exercise. The underlying rationales for the control mode are that it will guide patients to increase paretic limb activation while teaching them to accurately gauge paretic limb force production relative to the non-paretic limb. During a one day training session, seven subjects post-stroke performed lower limb extensions in symmetry-based resistance mode on a robotic exercise machine. Subjects improved lower limb symmetry from 28.6%±3.9% to 36.2%±4.3% while under symmetry-based resistance training (ANOVA, P = 3D0.03), but did not maintain the improved lower limb symmetry during a constant resistance post-test. Two subjects that showed the large improvements in symmetry during the one day session performed additional days of training. Those results suggest that some patients demonstrate long lasting benefits with symmetry-based resistance training.
Abject Economics The Effects of Battering and Violence on Women’s Work and Employability

Research on the effects of battering on women’s lives has focused on poverty, homelessness, and welfare receipt, often centering on women who are uneducated or undereducated. The authors analyze how battering impacts the work and employability of women from various employment levels and backgrounds. Data were obtained through qualitative interviews with 19 residents of a domestic violence shelter, some of whom had obtained substantial education and built solid and lucrative careers prior to being abused. The women described instances in which battering had obstructed their ability to find work, maintain employment, and use their wages to establish greater economic independence and safety.
Design and implementation of a 100 MHz reorder buffer

A reorder buffer is an important part of a superscalar microprocessor architecture. It allows out-of-order issue and completion of instructions, which contribute to overall performance enhancement. A custom layout of a 32-entry reorder buffer was implemented using a 1.0 /spl mu/m (drawn) triple-metal CMOS technology. It measures 2 mm by 2.85 mm. The design was verified using several benchmark programs.
Development, democracy and dependency in Latin America: A post‐imperialist view

(1984). Development, democracy and dependency in Latin America: A post‐imperialist view. Third World Quarterly: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 411-431.
Peppermint response to nitrogen fertilizer in an arid climate

Abstract A nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate study was conducted for two‐years to determine optimal response of irrigated peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) ‘Murray Mitcham’ in an arid climate. The first year, 1993, had a wetter‐than‐normal spring, while the second, 1994, had above‐average temperature. Optimum dry matter yield occurred at N fertilizer rates of 245 and 188 lb/A, and optimum oil yield rates of 245 and 252 lb/A, for 1993 and 1994, respectively. Fertilizer rates agree with previous unpublished studies on peppermint at various locations. Oil constituents indicated a more mature oil for the N‐stressed peppermint.
A level-set approach to image blending

This paper presents a novel method for blending images. Image blending refers to the process of creating a set of discrete samples of a continuous, one-parameter family of images that connects a pair of input images. Image blending has uses in a variety of computer graphics and image processing applications. In particular, it ran be used for image morphing, which is a method for creating video streams that depict transformations of objects in scenes based solely on pairs of images and sets of user-defined fiducial points. Image blending also has applications for video compression and image-based rendering. The proposed method for image blending relies on the progressive minimization of a difference metric which compares the level sets between two images. This strategy results in an image blend which is the solution of a pair of coupled, nonlinear, first-order partial differential equations that model multidimensional level-set propagations. When compared to interpolation this method produces more natural appearances of motion because it manipulates the shapes of image contours rather than simply interpolating intensity values. This strategy results in a process that has the qualitative property of deforming greyscale objects in images rather than producing a simple fade from one object to another. This paper presents the mathematics that underlie this new method, a numerical implementation, and results on real images that demonstrate its effectiveness.
Inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activity results in down-regulation of Survivin following irradiation

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and Survivin are constitutively up-regulated in various human tumor cells. We previously found Survivin to be significantly reduced in response to radiation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) but not in tumor cell lines. In this study, we examined the effect of Stat3 on Survivin expression in irradiated HUVECs and breast cancer cells. We also studied how inhibition of Stat3 and Survivin activity affects cell survival and angiogenesis following irradiation. We determined that Survivin was significantly increased by overexpression of an active Stat3 (Stat3-C). Following irradiation, the level of phospho-Stat3 Tyr705, but not phospho-Stat3 Ser727, was reduced in HUVECs, whereas it remained unchanged in irradiated breast cancer cells. Correspondingly, Stat3 DNA-binding activity following irradiation was specifically down-regulated in HUVECs but not in breast cancer cells. Mutation of Tyr705 abolished radiation-induced down-regulation of Survivin. Clonogenic and endothelial cell morphogenesis assays suggested that DN-Stat3 and DN-Survivin together resulted in the greatest radiosensitization of MDA-MB-231, decreasing angiogenesis and cell survival. In summary, Stat3 modulates Survivin, and both are potential therapeutic targets for radiation sensitization in breast cancer. [Mol Cancer Ther 2006;5(11):2659–65]
High Heat Flux Subcooled Flow Boiling of Methanol in Microtubes

As the proper cooling of the electronic devices leads to significant increase in the performance, two-phase heat transfer to dielectric liquids can be of an interest especially for thermal management solutions for high power density devices with extremely high heat fluxes. In this paper, the pressure drop and critical heat flux (CHF) for subcooled flow boiling of methanol at high heat fluxes exceeding 1 kW/cm2 is investigated. Methanol was propelled into microtubes (ID = 265 and 150 μm) at flow rates up to 40 ml/min (mass fluxes approaching 10000 kg/m2-s), boiled in a portion of the microtube by passing DC current through the walls, and the two-phase pressure drop and CHF were measured for a range of operating parameters. The two-phase pressure drop for subcooled flow boiling was found to be significantly lower than the saturated flow boiling case, which can lead to lower pumping powers and more stability in the cooling systems. CHF was found to be increasing almost linearly with Re and inverse of inner diameter (1/ID), while for a given inner diameter, it decreases with increasing heated length.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The fetal-maternal circulation of the placenta: II. An x-ray cinematographic study of pregnant rhesus monkeys

Abstract Serial angiographs and x-ray cinematographic studies in rhesus monkeys give support to the findings of an intracotyledonary space. Evidence is accumulating that one spiral arteriole for each cotyledon discharges the maternal blood into the intracotyledonary space; from there it enters the intervillous capillary spaces before returning to the maternal circulation. Observations of motion pictures lent support to the hemodynamic flow pattern within the intervillous space which is postulated in Part I of our report.
Studies on the electron transport system: XV. Coenzyme Q (Q275) and the succinoxidase activity of the electron transport particle

Coenzyme Q can be extracted from the electron transport particle and other particles with isooctane. Such extracted particles lose the capacity to oxidize succinate, and this capacity can be restored by addition of coenzyme Q and other lipid supplements. The coenzyme role of Q275 is highly specific. A large number of quinones including vitamin K1 and tocopherol quinone were unable to replace coenzyme Q. No evidence could be found that coenzyme Q is a component of the DPNH chain. On the other hand, cytochrome c is also released in an insoluble form ETP by isooctane, and the addition of cytochrome c fully restores succinoxidase activity of the isooctane-extracted particle. A requirement for both cytochrome c and coenzyme Q in oxidation of succinate can be demonstrated by treating ETP with deoxycholate and isooctane.
Delirium Is Associate with Worse Functional Outcomes and Quality of Life after Intracranial Hemorrhage (S47.002)

Objective: To determine how often delirium in Neuro-ICU patients with intracranial hemorrhage can be assessed, its prevalence, and its impact (if any) on functional and quality of life outcomes after discharge. Background Delirium is common in the medical and surgical ICU and is associated with cognitive dysfunction and increased mortality. There are few data in Neuro-ICU patients. Design/Methods: We prospectively identified 87 patients with intracerebral (ICH) or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Delirium screening was routinely attempted twice daily with the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM), a validated screening tool, and documented in the electronic medical record for later automated retrieval. Delirium was defined as any positive CAM, and no delirium as at least one negative CAM. Patients were prospectively followed up at one and three months with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), a validated functional scale. Patients with follow-up scheduled in 2011 also had web-based multi-dimensional QOL outcomes assessed with the validated NIH Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and Neuro-QOL (reported as T scores normalized at 50 ± 10). Results: There were 58 (67%) not delirious, 20 (23%) delirious, and 9 (10%) patients who were never assessable due to coma. In assessable patients, delirium was associated with worse mRS at one month (P=0.008) and three months (P=0.055). In QOL assessment, patients with delirium had lower cognitive QOL, mobility, physical function, satisfaction with social roles and activities (overall -6.1, 95%CI -16.12 to -8.3, P Conclusions: Delirium is common after intracranial hemorrhage and associated with worse functional and QOL outcomes. Future research should clarify the risk factors for delirium in Neuro-ICU patients and determine if they can be modified. Preventing delirium may potentially improve outcomes. Disclosure: Dr. Rosenberg has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cella has received personal compensation for activities with Moffitt Cancer Center Advisory Board as a scientific consultant. Dr. Naidech has received research support from Gaymar Inc.
Theoretical Study of a “Surface Explosion”: Decomposition of Acetic Acid on Rh Surfaces

The “surface explosion” associated with decomposition of acetic acid on Rh surfaces is studied by density functional theory. The surface configuration of adsorbed acetate and the reaction paths available to the adsorbed species are determined. The reactivity of adsorbed acetate is found to be dependent on the local surface coverage, which allows a model explaining the experimentally observed surface explosion to be developed. Comparison of the reactivity of different surfaces shows that Rh(111) is more active than the Rh(110) surface for both clean and oxygen precovered surfaces, and the oxygen precovered surfaces are less active than the clean surfaces.
Modeling Broadband Rotor Interaction Noise

A linearized Euler theory is developed for a fan modeled as a rotating annular cascade. The model fully accounts for three-dimensional efiects as well as the additional centrifugal and Coriolis forces. Computations are carried out for a typical fan geometry in nonuniform in∞ow conditions. The aerodynamic and acoustic results are compared with those of guide vanes with the same relative ∞ow conditions and geometry, as well as a linear cascade using the strip theory. Results show signiflcant difierences for the blade unsteady pressure and acoustic mode intensity with the rotor having stronger responses. Results are also extended to broadband calculations and compare with experiments. In a previous paper, 1 the authors developed a model for the scattering of incident disturbances by a rotor. The rotor is modeled as an annular cascade which accounts for the three-dimensional efiects of the rotor geometry and the radial variation of the incident disturbances. In addition, the model accounts for the centrifugal and Coriolis forces which become signiflcant as the angular velocity of the rotor is comparable to the axial ∞ow velocity. A signiflcant difierence between guide vanes and rotor scattering is that the rotor scatters the incident disturbances and produces acoustic modes of difierent frequencies. The results show that the aerodynamic response of a rotor is afiected by its angular rotation primarily near the tip of the blades. In the present paper, we flrst examine the aerodynamic and acoustic response of a rotor for a typical fan geometry and we compare the results with that of guide vanes with the same relative ∞ow conditions. This comparison will determine the efiects of the centrifugal and Coriolis forces on the rotor response. In addition, we compare the results with those of the popular linear cascade model. As a flrst step, we consider only unloaded cascades. We have also extended the model to calculate the response to incoming turbulence using 2 for isotropic and anisotropic turbulence. As the in∞ow turbulence interacts with the fan blades, it generates tonal and broadband noise. In addition, the ∞ow accelerates in the contracting fan inlet and the turbulent eddies are stretched in the streamwise direction and ∞attened in the lateral directions. This causes the turbulence structure to become anisotropic. It is well known that streamwise eddy stretching reduces the streamwise component of the turbulence velocity and may amplify its lateral components. 3,4 This suggests the need for accurate representation of the turbulence energy spectrum for anisotropic turbulence. A similar approach using asymptotic analysis was developed in. 5 The results in the current work are compared with the Boeing 18 inch fan experiments. 6
Study of tribological properties of the seal considering the change of lip temperature

Considering lip deformation and lubricating oil thermo-viscosity effect for radial lip seal,the expression of oil film thickness related to seal lip temperature is derived.And then the two-dimensional axisymmetric numerical model of seal lip temperature is built.Tribological properties of the seal with the change of lip temperature are gotten by theoretical analysis and numerical simulation.The results show that the speed has little impact on friction coefficient,oil film thickness and friction torque between seal lip and shaft.Moreover,the maximum temperature of the seal lip increases linearly with the increase of shaft speed.With the increase of circumferential load,the friction coefficient decreases,and the friction torque and lip maximum temperature increase.The viscosity of engine oil decreases with the increase of lip maximum temperature,which makes the thickness of oil film decrease. When the lubrication failure decided by the critical film thickness appears,the selection range of parameters related to the design of oil seal such as circumferential load is obtained.
Optimization of Injection Protocol for Spiral CT Portography and its Clinical Application

Objective To optimize the injection protocol of spiral CT portography(SCTP) and to evaluate its diagnostic value.Methods 48 normal individuals were randomly divided into three groups with different injection rates of contrast material:4 ml/s,3 ml/s and 2 ml/s.Single-level dynamic CT was performed through the trunk of portal vein.In each scan,time-attenuation curves of the portal vein,liver and P-L(the difference between portal vein and liver)were obtained.And SCTP was prospectively performed in 30 cases.The SCTP findings in a variety of disease were analyzed and the quality of SCTP images was assessed.Results ①The groups of 4 ml/s and 3 ml/s had greater peak enhancement of the portal vein and P-L than the group of 2 ml/s(Ρ0.05).The peak enhancement of P-L was 110.6 HU,101.7 HU and 73.3 HU respectively.And there was no significant difference regarding the peak enhancement of the liver. ②The time to peak enhancement of the portal vein,the liver and P-L had significant difference at variable rates(Ρ0.001).The time to peak P-L enhancement was 39 s,48 s and 61 s respectively.③SCTP could distinctly display the disease of the portal venous system and exactly locate the hepatic lesion.Conclusion SCTP is noninvasive and reliable method for assessment of portal venous system.When the volume of contrast material is 1.5 ml/kg,both 4 ml/s and 3 ml/s are suitable for SCTP and the corresponding delay time is 30 s and 36 s.
Major U.S. disability and compensation systems graphically compared.

This article offers the reader a "bullet" overview of the principal systems of disability determination. The reader is referred to other sources for more in-depth coverage and a detailed historical background and overview of these systems.
Cardiovascular risk reduction in African Americans: Current concepts and controversies.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and in the United States (US). Health, life expectancy, and medical care have improved dramatically in the US over the last century. However, the distribution of benefits arising from the decreases in heart disease and stroke has not occurred equitably. The current mortality gap between blacks and whites in the US, although decreasing, has been persistent since 1960 . Black men and women are more likely to die of heart disease and stroke than white men and women. This population remains at higher risk for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity (especially in females), myocardial infarction, stroke morbidity and mortality, chronic kidney disease (CKD), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and cardiovascular mortality .
Treatment response and outcomes of grade 3 (G3) pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas (HGNEC) based on pathologic differentiation.

e15185 Background: World Health Organization criteria define HGNEC as neuroendocrine tumors with Ki-67 index > 20%. However, it is unknown if treatment response and/or outcomes vary based on cellul...
Spontaneous Collective Action: Peripheral Mobilization During the Arab Spring

Who is responsible for protest mobilization? Models of disease and information diffusion suggest that those central to a social network (the core) should have a greater ability to mobilize others than those who are less well-connected. To the contrary, this article argues that those not central to a network (the periphery) can generate collective action, especially in the context of large-scale protests in authoritarian regimes. To show that those in the core of a social network have no effect on levels of protest, this article develops a dataset of daily protests across 16 countries in the Middle East and North Africa over 14 months from 2010 through 2011. It combines that dataset with geocoded, individual-level communication from the same period and measures the number of connections of each person. Those on the periphery are shown to be responsible for changing levels of protest, with some evidence suggesting that the core’s mobilization efforts lead to fewer protests. These results have implications for a wide range of social choices that rely on interdependent decision making.