cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of Ethanol and Butanol as Oxygenates Using a Direct-Injection, Spark-Ignition (DISI) Engine

This study was designed to evaluate a ‘what-if’ scenario in terms of using butanol as an oxygenate, in place of ethanol in an engine calibrated for gasoline operation. No changes to the stock engine calibration were performed for this study. Combustion analysis, efficiency and emissions of pure gasoline, 10% ethanol and 10% butanol blends in a modern, direct-injection four-cylinder, spark ignition engine were analyzed. Data was taken at engine speeds of 1000 RPM up to 4000 RPM with load varying from 0 Nm (idle) to 150 Nm. Relatively minor differences existed between the three fuels for the combustion characteristics such as heat release rate, 50% mass fraction burned, and coefficient of variation of indicated mean effective pressure at low and medium engine loads. However at high engine loads the reduced knock resistance of the butanol blend forced the engine control unit to retard the ignition timing substantially, compared to the gasoline baseline and even more pronounced compared to the ethanol blend. Brake specific volumetric fuel consumption which represented a normalized volumetric fuel flow rate, was lowest for the gasoline baseline fuel, due to the higher energy density. The 10% butanol blend had a lower volumetric fuel consumption compared to the ethanol blend, as expected based on energy density differences. Results showed little difference in regulated emissions between 10% ethanol and 10% butanol. The ethanol blend produced the highest peak specific NOx due to the high octane rating of ethanol and effective anti-knock characteristics. Overall, the ability of butanol to perform equally as well as ethanol from an emissions and combustion standpoint, with a decrease in fuel consumption, initially appears promising. Further experiments are planned to explore the full operating range of the engine and the potential benefits of higher blend ratios of butanol.Copyright © 2008 by UChicago Argonne LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory
Successful contraceptive behavior among adolescent mothers: are there predictors?

Abstract Of 43 adolescent mothers who had been enrolled in a specialized program of prenatal care, 20 reported no subsequent unplanned pregnancy lor 2 years. Descriptive statistics were used to identify differences between these nonrepeaters and 23 repeaters. The locus-of-control framework provided the theoretical basis for the study. The two study groups and those lost to follow-up were similar in demographic characteristics. School attendance, contraceptive knowledge, use of contraception, locus of control, and maternal support did not effectively differentiate the two groups. Program activities, including attendance at prenatal groups and nurse/social worker visits, also did not explain recidivism. Implications of these findings for health care providers and for further research are discussed.
Synthesis of supported Ni catalysts by atomic layer deposition

Abstract Nickel nanoparticles grown on an Al2O3 support by atomic layer deposition (ALD) had higher selectivity for propylene hydrogenolysis. The Ni was deposited in a fluidized bed reactor with bis(cyclopentyldienyl)Ni and H2 reactants. Varying the number of ALD cycles varied the Ni loading between 4.7–16.8 wt.% and the average Ni particle diameters between 2.4 and 3.3 nm. The number of surface sites per gram of Ni, determined from CO TPD, was at least five times higher on ALD-prepared catalysts than typical Ni/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The fraction of CO desorbed from steps and kinks on the ALD-prepared catalysts was at least three times higher. Correspondingly, the selectivity for propylene hydrogenolysis, instead of hydrogenation, was above 10% on an ALD-prepared catalyst but below 0.4% on the incipient wetness catalyst. Preparing catalysts by ALD appeared to increase the step and kink site density and thus increase hydrogenolysis selectivity.
Relation of aerobiosis and ionic strength to the uptake of dihydrostreptomycin in Escherichia coli

Abstract Aminoglycoside antibiotics exhibit a markedly reduced antibacterial activity under anaerobic conditions. Anaerobiosis or inhibitors of electron transport produced an extensive decrease in the uptake of dihydrostreptomycin in Escherichia coli K-12. Uptake of proline or putrescine were only slightly impaired under anaerobic conditions in the presence of glucose. Both the susceptibility to and the uptake of dihydrostreptomycin under anaerobic conditions were partially restored by addition of the alternative electron acceptor, nitrate. This stimulation required functional nitrate reductase activity. Abolition of uptake by 2,4-dinitrophenol under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions indicates that streptomycin uptake requires electron transport as well as a sufficient membrane potential. In addition, the initial rate of dihydrostreptomycin uptake was competitively and reversibly inhibited by added salts. The inhibition was relatively nonspecific with respect to the identity of salt added, being approximately dependent on the ionic strength. Although dihydrostreptomycin and polyamines mutually inhibited each other's uptake, several conditions (polyamine limitation, streptomycin uptake-deficient mutants) were found in which uptake of these two substrates was oppositely affected. Aminoglycosides thus do not appear to enter on one of the usual cellular transport systems, but perhaps utilize a component of the electron transport system.
Cold microwave chemistry: synthesis using pre-cooled reagents

Abstract A novel experimental procedure for chemical reactions has been devised that involves mixing and then freezing the reagents (organic solvent-free) to a sub-zero temperature such as −30 °C. This frozen mixture is exposed to microwave irradiation for a brief period of time. The use of pre-cooled reagents may give a single product not obtained by traditional microwave irradiation at room temperature. Interestingly, such a product may provide information about mechanisms by identifying the first step of a multiple step reaction.
Minimal Change Disease

y Dis. 1999;33(3):E1 Fig 1. Glomeruli are normal by light microscopy in minimal change disease, as shown in this biopsy. The glomerular basement membrane is thin and delicate, and mesangial cellularity and matrix are within normal limits. There was no interstitial fibrosis and no segmental sclerosis in any of the glomeruli sampled. However, the possibility of unsampled focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) cannot be completely excluded when only a small number of glomeruli (less than 250) are examined. (Jones’ silver stain, 3200).
Standard errors of Tucker equating

Large sample standard errors are derived for the Tucker linear test score equating method under the common item nonequivalent populations design. Stan dard errors are derived without the normality assump tion that is commonly made in the derivation of stan dard errors of linear equating. The behavior of the standard errors is studied using a computer simulation and a real data example. In the simulation, the derived standard errors were reasonably accurate. In the real data example, the derived standard errors agreed closely with standard errors estimated using Efron's (1982) bootstrap.
Ergodic averages with vector-valued Besicovitch weights

For a von Neumann algebra \({\mathcal M}\) , we introduce \({\mathcal M}\) -valued Besicovitch sequences and study the norm and individual convergences of the corresponding weighted ergodic averages. The limits of the averages are examined under the condition that the contraction in question is weakly mixing.
Redistricting principles and incumbency protection in the U.S. Congress

Abstract Critics of congressional redistricting have argued that recent legislative gerrymandering severely undermines electoral competitiveness to the point of violating constitutional equal protection standards. In this paper, we assess how states' redistricting plans vary in incumbency protection. Particularly, we evaluate whether redistricting principles and processes had any measurable consequence in incumbency protection in the 2000 redistricting cycle. We first report substantial regional variation across states in the principles formally noted in state redistricting laws. We then report results showing that some traditional, “politically neutral” redistricting principles and less politicized processes significantly diminish incumbency protection. Our results indicate significant incumbency gerrymandering across states in the recent cycle; however, states have significantly less incumbency protection when they specify specific population- and politically-based principles while suppressing elected officials' agenda setting influence in the districting process.
Sulfur dioxide insertion. VII. Rearrangement reactions of 2-alkenylmanganese and -rhenium pentacarbonyls

Abstract The reaction of M(CO)5R (MMn, RCH2CHCH2, CH2CHCHCH3, CH2CHC(CH3)2, CH2CHC6H5, and CH2C(Cl)CH2; MRe, RCH2CHC(CH3)2) with refluxing sulfur dioxide affords S-sulfinatopentacarbonyl complexes whose structures have been elucidated by infrared and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. When MMn and RCH2CHCHCH3 or CH2CHC(CH3)2 and when MRe and RCH2CHC(CH3)2, allylic rearrangement accompanies the insertion. However, no rearrangement is observed with Mn(CO)5CH2CHCHC6H5, both at −10° and at ca. −70°. The reaction Mn(CO)5CH2CHCHCl with liquid sulfur dioxide or with SO2 in pentane yields Mn(CO)5Cl as the only carbonyl-containing product. Possible mechanisms of all of these reactions are discussed; it is suggested that the most likely path involves a cyclic activated complex in which sulfur interacts both with the metal and with carbon (3) of the allylic chain.
Human Keratinocytes Adhere to and Spread on Synthetic Peptide FN-C/H-V Derived from Fibronectin

In a previous study, we reported that two synthetic peptides derived from the 33-kD carboxyl terminal cell/heparin- binding fragment of fibronectin A chain promoted keratinocyte adhesion but not spreading. Because keratinocytes are capable of spreading on the 33/66-kD fragments, we focused on identifying additional chemically synthesized peptides from the cell/heparin-binding fragments of fibronectin that might promote cell spreading. When plastic substrata were coated with peptide FN-C/H-V (WQPPRARI), which is derived from the carboxyl-terminal heparin-binding domain of all plasma fibronectin isoforms, keratinocytes adhered and displayed a spread morphology. In solution, soluble peptide FN-C/H-V inhibited cell spreading on intact fibronectin and on the 33/66-kD fragments. Furthermore, polyclonal antibodies raised against peptide FN-C/H-V also inhibited keratinocyte spreading on fibronectin and the 33/66-kD fragments. These data support the hypothesis that keratinocyte cell adhesion and cell spreading on fibronectin are mediated by multiple distinct domains and different regulatory processes.
In vivo transcription of baseplate genes 9, 10 and 11 of bacteriophage T4

Abstract Transcription of genes 9, 10 and 11 of bacteriophage T4 was studied in Escherichia coli B infected with T4Dam+ and certain amber-defective viruses. A genetic (“transformation”) assay was used to study gene-specific transcription. The principle results are outlined below. 1. 1. Genes 9, 10, and 11 were transcribed exclusively from the r- strand of T4 DNA. 2. 2. When E. coli B was infected with T4Dam+, transcription of genes 9, 10, and 11 began at 10 min. Viral DNA synthesis began at 5 min. These data suggest that the onset of late gene transcription is not coincident with the onset of viral DNA replication. 3. 3. The effect of chloramphenicol added at various times indicated that T4-coded proteins required for the onset of late gene transcription did not appear, in abundance, until 9–12 min after infection. 4. 4. No transcription of genes 9, 10, and 11 occurred when E. coli B (su°) was infected with either T4DamN122amB22 (42−, 43−; “DNA-negative” phenotype) or T4DamN134amBL292(33−, 55−; “maturation defective” phenotype). Transcription was normal when E. coli CR63 (su+) was infected with the amber-defective viruses.
Bacterial interactions and the microevolution of cytochrome bd: implications for pathogenesis.

In their article, “Microevolution of Cytochrome bd Oxidase in Staphylococci and Its Implication in Resistance to Respiratory Toxins Released by Pseudomonas ,” Voggu et al. describe one mechanism whereby Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocyanin and hydrogen cyanide act to reduce the viability of
Bootstrap based tests for generalized negative binomial distribution

Goodness of fit test statistics based on the empirical distribution function (EDF) are considered for the generalized negative binomial distribution. The small sample levels of the tests are found to be very close to the nominal significance levels. For small sample sizes, the tests are compared with respect to their simulated power of detecting some alternative hypotheses against a null hypothesis of generalized negative binomial distribution. The discrete Anderson—Darling test is the most powerful among the EDF tests. Two numerical examples are used to illustrate the application of the goodness of fit tests.
BreakDancer: An algorithm for high resolution mapping of genomic structural variation

This software package provides genome-wide detection of structural variants (insertions, deletions, inversions and inter- and intrachromosomal translocations) from 50-base-pair paired-end reads. The sizes of the detected variants vary from 10 base pairs to 1 megabase pair.
A resonated coil driver for rapid scan EPR

A resonated coil driver designed for rapid scan electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is described. Rapid scan EPR requires larger magnetic field coils and a more powerful magnetic field modulation than those designed for conventional continuous wave EPR. There are two advantages of a resonated coil driver: i) by resonating the scan coils the reactive components are removed, which allows the coils to be driven with much lower voltages, and ii) by resonating the coils a near-perfect sinusoidal scan is ensured. Performance of the coil driver is improved when Litz wire coils are used. With coil diameters between 3 and 3.5 inches, sweeps can be generated with widths up to about 80 G peak-to-peak and frequencies up to about 150 kHz, which permits sweep rates of more than 8 MG/s. The magnetic field is uniform over the sample length of a Bruker dielectric resonator. Enough detail has been presented for other laboratories toimplement this design to perform rapid scan EPR. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 41B: 95–110, 2012
Trends in the suspended-sediment yields of coastal rivers of northern California, 1955–2010

Time-dependencies of suspended-sediment discharge from six coastal watersheds of northern California – Smith River, Klamath River, Trinity River, Redwood Creek, Mad River, and Eel River – were evaluated using monitoring data from 1955 to 2010. Suspended-sediment concentrations revealed time-dependent hysteresis and multi-year trends. The multi-year trends had two primary patterns relative to river discharge: (i) increases in concentration resulting from both land clearing from logging and the flood of record during December 1964 (water year 1965), and (ii) continual decreases in concentration during the decades following this flood. Data from the Eel River revealed that changes in suspended-sediment concentrations occurred for all grain-size fractions, but were most pronounced for the sand fraction. Because of these changes, the use of bulk discharge-concentration relationships (i.e., “sediment rating curves”) without time-dependencies in these relationships resulted in substantial errors in sediment load estimates, including 2.5-fold over-prediction of Eel River sediment loads since 1979. We conclude that sediment discharge and sediment discharge relationships (such as sediment rating curves) from these coastal rivers have varied substantially with time in response to land use and climate. Thus, the use of historical river sediment data and sediment rating curves without considerations for time-dependent trends may result in significant errors in sediment yield estimates from the globally-important steep, small watersheds.
Effect of freeze temperature on ice formation and long-term survival of the woolly bear caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella)

Abstract Tissue ice content and post-freeze survival were documented for caterpillars of the arctiid moth Pyrrharctia isabella. Tissue ice content was inversely dependent on freeze temperature (−3 °C=24.4%, −6 °C=40.2%, −10 °C=48.7%) but values were substantially less than expected given hemolymph osmolality. Accumulation of glycerol (200–300 mM) in the hemolymph helped to colligatively reduce the amount of freezable water. Caterpillars engaged in locomotion within minutes after thawing but mortality occurred over the ensuing weeks, with the highest level (52.2%) occurring in the −10 °C fast thaw group. Pupation rates ranged between 45.7 to 52.4% of caterpillars in a test group. Adult emergence exceeded 60% of the pupae in the –3 and –6 °C test groups. Hence, P. isabella caterpillars survived ecologically relevant freezes and continued their life cycles to adulthood.
Coping Strategies of African American Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 African American head and neck cancer survivors. Common coping strategies were identified and examined in relation with quality of life and relationship well-being. Coping through support from God, seeking emotional support from family and friends, and helping others were the most commonly used strategies. Having emotional support, being strong and self-reliant, and engaging in distracting activities with family and friends had strongest associations with quality of life. Coping through emotional support, help from God, assistance from one's church family to maintain religious practices, helping others, and engaging in distracting activities with others was more strongly associated with relationship well-being. Future intervention studies should consider these strategies and their possible impact on the physical, psychological, and relationship well-being of this population.
The nature and control of morphology and the formation of defects in InGaAs epilayers and InAs/GaAs superlattices grown via MBE on GaAs(100)

Initial stages of molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) growth of highly mismatched InxGa1-xAs/GaAs(100) have been studied by planar and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. For In0.5Ga0.5As growth, we find drastic differences in morphology obtained by reducing the growth temperature form 475 to 420°C. We also observe differences in morphology between alloy growth and short period superlattice ((InAs)n/(GaAs)m (m = 1 monolayer, n = 2 monolayers) growth of equivalent effective composition. In the case of growth by formation of large islands, we present direct evidence of strain relief at the island edges and discuss defect formation in these islands.
“It's Us Against the World”: How Distrust in Americans versus People-In-General Shapes Competitive Foreign Policy Preferences

Previous research has uncovered links between generalized distrust and preferences for competitive (vs. cooperative) action. However, based on individuals' tendency to hold consistent attitudes and to believe that their own political preferences are morally legitimate, it was hypothesized that the direction of the relationship between distrust and competitive foreign policy preferences would depend on which category individuals had in mind: Americans or people. Two correlational studies with American participants were consistent with this hypothesis. Study 1 showed that distrust in Americans versus people had qualitatively different relationships with support for competitive policy preferences (i.e., immigration control, militaristic action). Study 2 found that when the covariance between distrust in Americans and people was controlled, distrust in Americans predicted opposition to torture of suspected terrorists, whereas distrust in people predicted support for torture of suspected terrorists. Moreover, individual discrepancies between distrust in Americans versus people uniquely predicted support for torture. Finally, mediational analyses in both studies indicated that political conservatism explained the effects between distrust in Americans versus people and competitive policy preferences. It is argued that distrust in Americans and distrust in people are distinct but complementary bases of Americans' moral-political reasoning.
The E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch regulates expression of transcription factor Foxp3 and airway inflammation by enhancing the function of transcription factor TIEG1

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in naive T cells induces expression of the transcription factor Foxp3, a 'master' regulator of regulatory T cells (Treg cells). However, the molecular mechanisms leading to Foxp3 induction remain unclear. Here we show that Itch−/− T cells were resistant to TGF-β treatment and had less Foxp3 expression. The E3 ubiquitin ligase Itch associated with and promoted conjugation of ubiquitin to the transcription factor TIEG1. Itch cooperated with TIEG1 to induce Foxp3 expression, which was reversed by TIEG1 deficiency. Functionally, 'TGF-β-converted' Treg cells generated from TIEG1-deficient mice were unable to suppress airway inflammation in vivo. These results suggest TIEG and Itch contribute to a ubiquitin-dependent nonproteolytic pathway that regulates inducible Foxp3 expression and the control of allergic responses.
Microstructure and strengthening mechanisms in Cu/Fe multilayers

Abstract Nanostructured Cu/Fe multilayers on Si (1 1 0) and Si (1 0 0) substrates were prepared by magnetron sputtering, with individual layer thicknesses h varying from 0.75 to 200 nm. The growth orientation relationships between Cu and Fe at the interfaces were determined to be of the Kurdjumov–Sachs and Nishiyama–Wasserman type. Nanoscale columnar grains in Fe, with an average grain size of 11–23 nm, played a dominant role in the strengthening mechanism when h ⩾ 50 nm. At smaller h the hardness of Cu/Fe multilayers with (1 0 0) texture approached a peak value, followed by softening due to the formation of fully coherent interfaces. However, abundant twins were observed in Cu/Fe films with (1 1 1) texture when h = 0.75 nm, which led to the retention of high hardness in the multilayers.
Monte Carlo study of the optimal non-linear estimator: linear systems with non-gaussian initial states †

The optimal, in the mean-square sense, estimate of state vector of a linear discrete system that is excited by white zero mean gaussian noise and that has non-gaussian initial state vector is presented. Both the optimal estimate and the corresponding error covariance matrix are given. It is shown that the optimal estimator consists of two parts : a linear estimator which is a Kalman filter and a non-linear part which is a parameter estimator. In addition, the a posteriori probability density function, p(x(k)λk), is also given. Finally, a suboptimal procedure that reduces the computational requirements is presented. The results of extensive digital computer simulations including Monte Carlo study have been presented to establish that the non-linear filter presented here is far superior to the best linear Kalman filter. A practical filter design criterion for utilizing this non-linear filter with reduced data processing requirements is also given.
Business ethics and social responsibility in finance instruction: An abdication of responsibility

The shareholder wealth maximization objective for corporate management can be a very effective tool for decision making. However, it can also be used to rationalize the commission of unethical or socially irresponsible actions. Overemphasis on the SWM objective by some companies can lead to dangerous or disastrous consequences for consumers, employees, or the general population. Even so, issues of business ethics and social responsibility (BE-SR) are almost totally ignored in corporate finance textbooks. If the typical coverage of corporate finance courses is represented by these textbooks, then financial educators are abdicating their responsibility to help prepare future corporate managers to recognize and deal with BE-SR issues effectively.
Interview with Anthony Ferguson, Columbia University Libraries

Outlines the interviewee’s role in the libraries, how collection development is organized, the collection development policy, how materials are acquired, cooperative arrangements with other libraries and the impact of electronic resources.
Genotypic variation and population structure of Sclerotinia trifoliorum infecting chickpea in California

Sclerotinia trifoliorum, an important pathogen of cool season legumes, displays both homothallism and heterothallism in its life cycle, unique among members of the genus Sclerotinia. Very little is known about its genetic diversity and population structure. A sample of 129 isolates of S. trifoliorum from diseased chickpea in California was investigated for genetic diversity, population differentiation and reproductive mode. Genetic diversity was estimated using mycelial compatibility (MCG) phenotypes, rDNA intron variation, and allelic diversity at seven microsatellite loci. Genetic analysis revealed high levels of genotypic diversity demonstrated by high genotypic richness (0·88). Similarly, high levels of gene diversity (mean expected heterozygosity HE = 0·68) were observed at the microsatellite loci. Geographic populations of S. trifoliorum were highly admixed as evident from low FST values (0–0·11), suggesting high contemporary or historical gene flow. Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance showed that more than 92% of the genetic variation occurred among isolates within populations. Bayesian clustering analysis identified four cryptic genetic populations that were not correlated to geographic location, and index of multilocus association was non-significant in each of the four genetic populations. However, the presence of identical haplotypes within and among populations indicates clonal reproduction. The high levels of haplotype diversity and population heterogeneity, a lack of correspondence between MCG and microsatellite haplotype, and low levels of population differentiation suggest that populations of S. trifoliorum in chickpea have been undergoing extensive outcrossing and migration events probably shaped by human-mediated dissemination, the underlying diverse cropping systems, and chickpea disease management practices.
Network Coding Capacity With a Constrained Number of Coding Nodes

We study network coding capacity under a constraint on the total number of network nodes that can perform coding. That is, only a certain number of network nodes can produce coded outputs, whereas the remaining nodes are limited to performing routing. We prove that every nonnegative, monotonically nondecreasing, eventually constant, rational-valued function on the nonnegative integers is equal to the capacity as a function of the number of allowable coding nodes of some directed acyclic network.
Lift force control of a flapping-wing microrobot

This paper introduces a methodology for designing real-time controllers capable of enforcing desired trajectories on microrobotic insects in vertical flight and hovering. The main idea considered in this work is that altitude control can be translated into a problem of lift force control. Through analyses and experiments, we describe the proposed control strategy, which is fundamentally adaptive with some elements of model-based control. In order to test and explain the method for controller synthesis and tuning, a static single-wing flapping mechanism is employed in the collection of experimental data. The empirical results validate the suitability of the chosen approach.
Is the arterial switch operation as good over the long term as we thought it would be

Surgical intervention for hearts with transposition, defined as concordant atrioventricular and discordant ventriculo-arterial connections, has been one of the landmark achievements in the field of paediatric cardiac surgery. In the early 1950s, pioneer surgeons attempted to palliate patients with transposed arterial trunks with an early form of the arterial switch operation. As a result of initially dismal outcomes secondary to difficulties with coronary arterial transfer, the unprepared nature of the morphologically left ventricle, and primitive methods for cardiopulmonary bypass, the arterial switch was abandoned in favour of several procedures achieving correction at atrial and venous levels, culminating in the Mustard and Senning operations.1,2 These innovative procedures produced the earliest surviving children with transposition. Although the atrial switch procedures achieved widespread acceptance and success during the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s, the search for an operation to return the great arteries to their normal anatomic positions continued. This pursuit was stimulated primarily by the accumulating observations in mid-to-late term follow up studies of: an increasing frequency of important arrhythmic complications, including sinus nodal dysfunction, atrial arrhythmias, and sudden, unexplained death, by the development of late right ventricular dysfunction and significant tricuspid regurgitation in a ventricle potentially unsuited for a lifetime of systemic function by a small but important prevalence of obstruction of the systemic and/or pulmonary venous pathways, and by dissatisfaction with the operative mortality in the subgroup of infants complicated by additional presence of a large ventricular septal defect.3–6 As we have already discussed, a number of novel procedures to achieve anatomic correction had been described as early as 1954, but clinical success was not accomplished until 1975, when Jatene and co-workers7 astounded the world of paediatric cardiology with their initial description.
Prison Warden Attitudes Toward Prison Rape and Sexual Assault: Findings Since the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)

This study examines the attitudes and beliefs of U.S. state prison wardens toward prison rape since the implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), signed into law in 2003. PREA mandates a zero-tolerance policy for sexual assaults within correctional systems and requires comprehensive collection of national data on prison rape and sexual assault. Prison wardens play a key role in the implementation and enforcement of prison policies and it is important to assess their attitudes and beliefs toward prison rape. To date, there has been only one study conducted that examines wardens' attitudes toward prison sexual assault, and it was completed before the implementation of PREA. It found that a majority of the wardens surveyed reported that their prison rape and sexual assault policies were considerably less effective than staff training and increased inmate supervision. The current study replicates the prior study in a post-PREA environment.
Migration, Social Change, Health, and the Realm of the Possible: Women's Stories between Nepal and New York

SUMMARY This article uses narrative ethnography centered on two individuals from Mustang, Nepal—their embodied experiences and subjectivities, including their understandings of birth and disability—to explore the ways that migration can alter senses of self and home, body and family, and what I call the realm of the possible. Although these stories emerge primarily through the voices of women, their narratives point toward a broader analysis about the relationship between place and well being, medicine and social change.
Series Approximation for Optimum ZNL Filters

The zero-memory nonlinear (ZNL) filter is of fundamental importance in the analysis and optimization of more complex nonlinear systems. In this paper an inverse problem to the ZNL prefiltering problem is treated. The general solution is simplified for a particular form of the filters. The method is illustrated by numerical examples to demonstrate the improvement in minimum-mean-squared error and to show the resulting filters' characteristics.
Can relative strength between the back and knees differentiate lifting strategy

Objective: This study investigated whether relative strength between the back and knees can differentiate and predict lifting strategy and the effects of gender, load magnitude, and knowledge of strength on the strategy. Background: Although muscular strength is thought to play a vital role in the mechanics of lifting, how localized joint strengths and their relations influence lifting strategy remains unclear. Method: Thirty-two participants (16 men and 16 women) underwent isokinetic strength tests and were then divided into two groups: one provided with the knowledge of their strength test results and the other not. They subsequently performed the same set of simulated lifting tasks while their lifting kinematics were being recorded. Postural indices to quantify the lifting strategies were derived from the kinematic data. Results: The ratio of back strength versus total knee strength and gender had significant effects on measures quantifying the lifting strategy. A statistical model incorporating gender, strength, and anthropometry achieved an R 2 value of .64 and predicted correctly 76% of lifting strategies used by individual participants. Conclusion: Individuals with back strength greater than their total knee strength tended to use a back-preferred lift strategy, and vice versa, suggesting that muscular strength is a determining factor of lifting strategy. Application: An emphasis on additional knee strengthening in a training program may change the tendency of using and overstressing the back. Application of modeling and simulation technology for ergonomics design can be enhanced by more individually and accurately specified lifting strategies based on anthropometry and strength profiles.
Robust clustering in high dimensional data using statistical depths

Background Mean-based clustering algorithms such as bisecting k-means generally lack robustness. Although componentwise median is a more robust alternative, it can be a poor center representative for high dimensional data. We need a new algorithm that is robust and works well in high dimensional data sets e.g. gene expression data.
Excess Ventilation during Exercise and Prognosis in Chronic Heart Failure

Excess ventilation during exercise with accompanying dyspnea is characteristic of chronic heart failure (CHF), and these patients often exhibit increased Ve relative to the Vco(2) compared with normal subjects. This can be measured in several ways, including using such variables as the slope of Ve versus Vco(2), the lowest ratio of Ve/Vco(2), and the ratio of Ve/Vco(2) at the lactic acidosis threshold or peak exercise. There is now considerable evidence that the degree of excess ventilation during exercise in patients with CHF is a robust predictor of outcome and identifies higher-risk patients requiring aggressive treatment, including heart transplantation. The mechanism of excess ventilation in patients with CHF during exercise is not completely understood. It may be related to enhanced output of chemoreceptors or peripheral muscle ergoreceptors, increased dead space/Vt ratio due to increased contribution of high ventilation-perfusion lung regions or rapid shallow breathing caused by earlier onset of lactic acidosis, or likely resulting from a combination of these causes.
TCDD‐Like activity of 2,3,6,7‐tetrachloroxanthene in rainbow trout early life stages and in a rainbow trout gonadal cell line (RTG‐2)

Fish in many areas are contaminated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD), dibenzofuran (PCDF), and biphenyl (PCB) congeners. Other chemicals may also be present that act through the same mechanism. 2,3,6,7-Tetrachloroxanthene (TCX) has been found to be an interference in PCDD and PCDF analyses and may occur in sediments near pulp and paper mills. However, the toxicology of TCX has not been studied in any species. This study sought to determine whether TCX causes TCDD-like effects in two fish systems, rainbow trout early life stages and rainbow trout gonadal cells (RTG-2) in culture. 2,3,6,7-Tetrachloroxanthene caused rainbow trout sac fry mortality secondary to blue sac syndrome, identical to that caused by TCDD, and was similar in potency to TCDD for causing cytochrome P4501A mRNA induction in RTG-2 cells and sac fry mortality in rainbow trout, with toxic equivalency factors of 1.09 to 2.29. These results suggest that TCX may pose a risk to feral fish in contaminated areas even at low concentrations.
Septic arthritis caused by an unusual type of Haemophilus influenzae

A healthy 3.5-month-old infant developed septic arthritis with Haemophilus influenzae type f isolated from the knee aspirate and blood. The patient had no obvious risk factors and immunological evaluation revealed no abnormalities. To our knowledge, there are only two reported childhood cases of septic arthritis caused by non-type b H. influenzae , but this is the first one to be reported in a child without an underlying disorder. The importance of serotyping H. influenzae isolates in the H. influenzae type b vaccine era, and the need to look for predisposing factors in paediatric patients with invasive disease caused by non-type b H. influenzae are discussed.
Bacterial translocation in a large-animal model of small-bowel transplantation. Portal vs systemic venous drainage and the effect of tacrolimus immunosuppression.

Objective: To study whether bacterial translocation is more prevalent after small-bowel transplantation with systemic venous drainage (SVD) vs portal venous drainage (PVD) and whether it is influenced by immunosuppression. Design: We performed 15 small-bowel transplantations in pigs. Group 1 (n=5) had SVD and no immunosuppression; group 2 (n=6), PVD and no immunosuppression; and group 3 (n=4), PVD and immunosuppression with tacrolimus and methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Portal and systemic blood, portal and mesenteric lymph nodes, and liver were cultured in donors and recipients on postoperative day 0 (POD 0) and in recipients on postoperative day 3 (POD 3). Jejunal and ileal contents were also sampled at these times. Subjects: Outbred male Yorkshire-Landrace pigs. Main Outcome Measures: (1) Blood and tissue bacterial cultures, (2) blood endotoxin levels, and (3) histopathologic examination. Results: Cultures were positive for bacteria in 32% (16/ 50) of samples on POD 0 and 88% (22/25) on POD 3 in group 1, in 18% (11/60) of samples on POD 0 and 97% (29/30) on POD 3 in group 2, and in 8% (3/40) of samples on POD 0 and 95% (19/20) on POD 3 in group 3. Systemic blood cultures were positive for bacteria on POD 3 in 60% (3/5) of pigs in group 1, 83% (5/6) in group 2, and 100% (4/4) in group 3. Significantly more bacteria were present in the ileum than in the jejunum on POD 0 in group 2; this difference approached significance in groups 1 and 3. Bacterial numbers were identical in the ileum and jejunum by POD 3 in all groups. Circulating endotoxin levels were significantly elevated on POD 3 vs POD 0 only in group 1. Endotoxin levels were not significantly different between the SVD group (group 1) and either PVD group (groups 2 and 3). Conclusions: Bacterial translocation is prevalent after small-bowel transplantation in pigs whether PVD or SVD is used. Immunosuppression with tacrolimus does not prevent bacterial translocation but may reduce systemic endotoxemia. (Arch Surg. 1996;131:77-84)
Local ex vivo gene therapy with bone marrow stromal cells expressing human BMP4 promotes endosteal bone formation in mice

Background Bone loss in osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance between resorption and formation on endosteal surfaces of trabecular and cortical bone. We investigated the feasibility of increasing endosteal bone formation in mice by ex vivo gene therapy with bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) transduced with a MLV-based retroviral vector to express human bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4). Methods We assessed two approaches for administering transduced MSCs. β-Galactosidase (β-Gal) transduced C57BL/6J mouse MSCs were injected intravenously via tail vein or directly injected into the femoral bone marrow cavity of non-marrow-ablated syngenic recipient mice and bone marrow cavity engraftment was assessed. BMP4- or β-Gal-transduced cells were injected into the femoral bone marrow cavity and effects on bone were evaluated by X-ray, peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), and histology. Results After tail-vein injection less than 20% of recipient mice contained β-Gal-positive donor cells in femur, humerus or vertebra marrow cavities combined, and in these mice only 0.02–0.29% of injected cells were present in the bone marrow. In contrast, direct intramedullary injection was always successful and an average of 2% of injected cells were present in the injected femur marrow cavity 24 hours after injection. Numbers of donor cells decreased over the next 14 days. Intramedullary injection of BMP4-transduced MSCs induced bone formation. Trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) determined by pQCT increased 20.5% at 14 days and total BMD increased 6.5% at 14 days and 10.4% at 56 days. Conclusions The present findings support the feasibility of using ex vivo MSC-based retroviral gene therapy to induce relatively sustained new bone formation, with normal histological appearance, at endosteal bone sites. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Remarks on the possible existence of a neutral muon

The arguments for and against the existence of a neutral muon are discussed. The weak interactions in which a neutral muon might replace the neutrino are enumerated. It is concluded that the most favorable experimental circumstances, for the detection of the neutral muon would obtain if one searches for the reaction K+→μ++μ0.
Large time behavior and homogenization of solutions of two-dimensional conservation laws

We study the large time behavior of solutions of scalar conservation laws in one and two space dimensions with periodic initial data. Under a very weak nonlinearity condition, we prove that the solutions converge to constants as time goes to infinity. Even in one space dimension our results improve the earlier ones since we only require the fluxes to be nonlinear in a neighborhood of the mean value of the initial data. We then use these results to study the homogenization problem for scalar conservation laws with oscillatory initial data.
Designing inhibitors against fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase: Exploring natural products for novel inhibitor scaffolds

Natural products often contain unusual scaffold structures that may be elaborated by combinatorial methods to develop new drug-like molecules. Visual inspection of more than 128 natural products with some type of anti-diabetic activity suggested that a subset might provide novel scaffolds for designing potent inhibitors against fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), an enzyme critical in the control of gluconeogenesis. Using in silico docking methodology, these were evaluated to determine those that exhibited affinity for the AMP binding site. Achyrofuran from the South American plant Achyrocline satureoides, was selected for further investigation. Using the achyrofuran scaffold, inhibitors against FBPase were developed. Compounds 15 and 16 inhibited human liver and pig kidney FBPases at IC50 values comparable to that of AMP, the natural allosteric inhibitor.
Power-aware epidemics

Epidemic protocols have been heralded as appropriate for wireless sensor networks. The nodes in such networks have limited battery resources. In this paper we investigate the use of power in three styles of epidemic protocols: basic epidemics, neighborhood flooding epidemics, and hierarchical epidemics. Basic epidemics turn out to be highly power hungry, and are not appropriate for power-aware applications. Both neighborhood and hierarchical epidemics can be made to use power judiciously, but a trade-off exists between scalability and latency.
A multimodal approach to the prevention of postoperative stroke in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

Abstract Background Stroke is known to be multifactorial in origin. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a multimodal approach to preventing this complication in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass. Methods One thousand five hundred thirty consecutive coronary artery bypass patients operated on by a single surgeon from July 1994 to April 2008 were studied. Group 1 patients (n = 1,214) were operated on before 2004. Group 2 patients (n = 316) were operated on after 2004. In group 2 patients, epiaortic scanning, selective use of proximal anastomotic devices, and alternative cannulation were used. Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) was used in 730 patients. On-pump coronary artery bypass (ONCAB) was used in 800 patients. Preoperative risk factors including age, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes were examined in all patients. The incidence of postoperative stroke was determined for group 1 and 2 patients and the individual cohorts of OPCAB and ONCAB patients. Results The overall incidence of stroke was 1.6% (25/1,530). The postoperative incidence of stroke was 1.7% (21/1,214) in group 1 patients as compared with 1.3% (4/316) in group 2 patients. The incidence of postoperative stroke was 2.4% (19/800) in ONCAB patients as compared with 0.8% (6/730) in OPCAB patients ( P Conclusions OPCAB is an important tool for the prevention of postoperative stroke. Adjunctive techniques for the prevention of emboli from the ascending aorta may also reduce the risk of stroke in OPCAB and ONCAB patients.
Impact of endothelial cell seeding on long-term patency and subendothelial proliferation in a small-caliber highly porous polytetrafluoroethylene graft * **

Abstract Previous reports have demonstrated that endothelial cell seeding of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts enhances short-term patency. This experiment was undertaken to study its impact on the long-term patency of a highly porous, experimental PTFE graft and to determine whether increasing the internodal distance of the graft material resulted in increased proliferation of the subendothelium. Ten centimeter long, 4 mm internal diameter segments of an unreinforced, experimental PTFE graft were implanted into 36 mongrel dogs as carotid interpositions. In each animal, one graft was seeded with autologous endothelial cells, enzymatically derived from the external jugular veins, whereas the contralateral graft was treated in identical fashion except that endothelial cells were not added to the preclot mixture. Nineteen animals were killed at 12 weeks; six at 22 weeks; eight at 26 weeks; and three at 52 weeks. The mean follow-up period was 20.1 weeks. The overall patency rate was 58.3% (21 of 36 grafts) for seeded grafts vs. 27.8% (10 of 36 grafts) for control grafts (p
Harmonic analysis of resonant converters

A systematic method for the harmonic analysis of resonant DC-to-DC converters is presented. This method provides a steady-state analysis of the harmonic content of the voltages and currents. The solution procedure is outlined, and results are given in numerical and graphical form. The calculated results are compared with those obtained using the program PSPICE. >
Using 3D animation programming in a core engineering course seminar

A core engineering course plays a vital role in the curricula of school of engineering. At Bucknell University, Exploring Engineering (ENGR 100) is the core engineering course where first year students are introduced in the study and practice of engineering disciplines. In this paper, we describe an innovative approach for the 3-week programming seminar component of ENGR 100. This approach makes use of a 3D animation tool for program visualization. Program visualization is used to introduce traditional programming concepts in a short time frame. The primary goal of this approach is to provide: a firm foundation for the novice programmer, a challenge for the experienced student, and a collaborative project experience for all student. A description of the first trial results of this innovative approach is included in the paper.