cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On estimating the current intensity of failure for the power-law process

Abstract We consider the problem of estimating the current failure intensity for the power-law (Weibull) process. Closed-form optimum estimators under the criteria of minimum risks as well as Pitman-closeness are derived for the failure truncated case. A unique Pitman-closest estimator which is also invariant of the choice of the loss function within a very wide class of loss functions is obtained. In the frequentist setup, no admissible estimator under these criteria are available for the time truncated scheme due to the lack of any pivotal quantity. We present a Bayesian approach, which circumvents this problem and provides a uniform solution. In the Bayesian framework, we provide an algorithm based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique, which facilitates the evaluation of the estimators. The theoretical findings are supplemented by substantial numerical investigation.
Reconsidering Against Medical Advice Discharges

The Author Replies—I appreciate Dr. Meyer’s correction regarding the exclusion for Against Medical Advice (AMA) discharges in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) readmission calculation. I also agree that the current CMS readmission calculations may have an impact on hospital discharge practices. It is both reasonable and prudent to assume that hospitals that choose to reduce their AMA discharges may have a resultant increase in their readmissions as calculated by CMS. Currently however, we don’t have sufficient data to reliably predict that this policy will affect hospital practice in this way. This would be an area deserving of further study. As hospitals institute systems changes to make discharge practices more patient-centered (e.g., reducing AMA discharges), they should consider all the potential impacts on both the hospital and the patient. The CMS exclusion for AMA discharges in the readmission calculation raises a number of other questions. Most importantly, if there are no clear professional standards for how an AMA discharge is determined, there is likely to be significant variability in the clinical use of the term.1 How will this affect the quality and generalizability of CMS readmission data? Also, AMA discharges are associated with higher rates of hospital readmission up to 6 months later, suggesting that they may have persistent effects.2 What potential data related to this effect may be lost when patients discharged AMA are not included in the CMS calculations? Continued research in this area will help to address these and other questions.
Changing sources of impurities to the Greenland ice sheet over the last 250 years

Abstract Because the composition of precipitation reflects the composition of the atmosphere, polar ice cores provide a useful way of investigating past and present atmospheres. We have measured concentrations of major ions in nine sections of a central Greenland ice core and we found that concentrations of both SO 4 2− and NO 3 − have increased dramatically over the last 250 years, up to three to four times the 18th century levels. Large changes have also occurred in the average concentrations of several other chemical species, such as NH 4 + , excess Cl, and Ca 2+ . We used a principal-component analysis to characterize variations of the season of maximum deposition rate of HNO 3 and H 2 SO 4 to the snow. We found that source fluctuations of H 2 SO 4 are faithfully recorded in the Greenland snow and appear to switch their preferential time of deposition in the snow from summer to winter early in the 20th century. On the other hand, HNO 3 is deposited preferentially during summer throughout the core, emphasizing the role of photochemistry in understanding nitrogen cycling in the Arctic. Anthropogenic inputs have clearly modified the behavior of several chemical compounds in the atmosphere.
Neonatal corticosteroid permanently alters brain activity of epinephrine-synthesizing enzyme in stressed rats

(Accepted December 14th, 1978) The enzyme responsible for the conversion of norepinephrine to epinephrine, phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT; E. C. 2.1.1.28), is present in the adrenal medulla 1, other chromaffin tissues, sympathetic ganglia 4, and the central nervous systemlL Immunofluorescence and radioenzymatic assays have localized PNMT in discrete brain regions including the hypothalamus 10,15. Cell bodies contai- ning the enzyme are restricted to two cell groups in the rostral medulla of the brain stem, the ventral C1 region and the dorsal Cz region, areas which have established roles in cardiovascular regulation. The activity of non-specific N-methyltransferase is negligible in the brain stem 14. Epinephrine levels are reported to vary directly with PNMT activity in both adrenal and brainlZ, 19. Glucocorticoids are required for maximal activity of adrenal PNMT. In intact rats the physiological level of circulating corticosteroid appears to be virtually optimally effective, since supernormal levels of exogenous steroid do not result in increased activity of PNMT 3,~0. In perinatal rats, treatment with the potent synthetic glucocorticoid, dexameth- asone, produces a marked rise in PNMT activity in the superior cervical ganglion and other ganglia 8,11. This increased is transitory, with enzyme activity falling rapidly after cessation of treatment. Neonatal dexamethasone administration has also been shown to increase PNMT activity in both hypothalamus and brain stem medullalL In brain, the effect of glucocorticoid on PNMT activity has been examined only acutely, at the termination of steroid treatment. We wished to determine whether the neonatal enhancement of brain PNMT activity by dexamethasone might be a permanent effect. Such a finding would suggest that perinatal stress, with its concomitant rise in circulating glucocorticoids, as well as exposure to exogenous corticoids, can affect the level of synthesis of epinephrine in the adult animal. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats from Charles River were received in mid- gestation. We pooled the pups on the day following parturition, and randomly * To whom all correspondence should be sent at the following address: Departments of Psychology and Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va. 24061, U.S.A.
Validity of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories for measuring language abilities in children with cochlear implants.

Purpose To examine the validity of the MacArthur–Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI) for measuring language abilities in children with profound hearing loss who are using cochlear imp...
Computer Graphics as an Aid to Learning

Departing from the traditional model for teaching and learning, this article deals with the problem of teaching and learning the effective application of knowledge already acquired. To this end, a model for the process of exercising judgment was outlined, and the results of an empirical study of judgmental learning were employed to show the inadequacy of the traditional outcome feedback procedures. Computer graphics techniques were used to provide new forms of information to the learner; the results are promising for the rapid learning of a task that would otherwise be difficult to learn.
Single Motor Random Walks on Microtubule Bundles

Intracellular cargo transport uses a combination of dynein and kinesin motors to traverse along microtubule filaments in cells. It has been demonstrated that the motion of cargo within a complex network of microtubules in live cells can be viewed as a hindered random walk with correlation in the step size and dwell times of successive steps (Tabei 2012). A mean zero random walk is surprising considering that these processes are used for directed, unidirectional transport in cells. Further, the individual microtubules within the network are dynamic and the network is constantly changing. Although recent enlightening models have revealed that the motion in cells can be well-described by a subordinated random walk, the combination of fundamental components for the molecular mechanism are complex and still unknown. In order to better inform these models about the activity of single motors within the network, we perform well-defined systematic experiments of processive motors on anti-parallel or randomly-oriented filament bundles. Antiparallel bundles are created using MAP65 to crosslink microtubules. Randomly-oriented bundles are created using depletion forces from inert poly-ethylene glycol molecules in solution. We find that, kinesin motors can reverse direction and exhibit random-walk like behavior when transitioning between microtubules within in the bundle at long times.
A survey of soil microorganisms, with particular reference to the actinomycetes as sources of substances toxic to Heliothis virescens

Abstract Cultures of microorganisms isolated from cultivated soils were grown in submerged fermentation in test tubes kept on a rotary shaker at 28°C for 5 days using a fermentation medium composed primarily of soybean flour and dextrose. The beers were harvested and centrifuged, and the supernatants were incorporated at a dilution of 1:10 into artificial diets on which neonate larvae of Heliothis virescens were allowed to feed ad libitum for 7 days. If the beer killed or markedly retarded the development of at least 50% of the test larvae, the culture was regrown in shaken cultures in 500-ml Erlenmeyer flasks and assayed again. If a culture produced toxic beers in both fermentations, it was considered active. Over 2100 soil isolates were tested, of which an estimated 95% were actinomycetes. Slightly over 0.4% of the isolates were active, all of which, probably due to our selection procedure, were actinomycetes.
Estimating the attributable risk of residential radon among nonsmoking women: Initial results and methodologic challenges

Abstract A population-based, case-control study of incident lung cancer among women in Missouri (United States) who were lifetime nonsmokers and long-term exsmokers was conducted between 1986 and 1992. The study included 538 lung cancer cases and 1183 population-based, age matched controls. Information on lung cancer risk factors was obtained by interviewing cases, next-of-kin of cases, and controls. Year-long radon measurements were also sought in every dwelling occupied for the previous 5–30 y. The Missouri study was among the first studies specifically-designed to evaluate the effects of residential radon on lung cancer risk. The mean radon level found in homes was 1.6 pCi/L. This level of radon exposure is somewhat higher than that observed in the United States as a whole (mean 1.25 pCi/L). A small nonsignificant risk was found for study subjects exposed to a median domestic radon concentration of 4 pCi/L (25 y time-weight average). Since only a small fraction of the population is exposed at this level, it is estimated that the population attributable risk (PAR) for domestic radon is between 1 and 4% in Missouri. The growing body of residential studies has not clearly shown an elevation in lung cancer risk due to low-level, long-term radon exposure. It may be difficult to demonstrate a statistically significant increase in risk due in part to the inherent methodologic difficulties associated with assessing the potential carcinogenic effect of low-level radon exposure, errors in reconstructing past radon exposures, and population mobility which tends to homogenize exposures. A complementary method of radon exposure measurement, now being used in a second epidemiologic evaluation of lung cancer in Missouri, which uses heirloom glass to assess actual historic cumulative dose, is discussed, and may help strengthen future studies.
Determination of antipyrine in combinations with other drugs

Antipyrine in pharmaceutical preparations is determined by isolation from an ether solution on a Celite–ferric chloride partition column. It is eluted free of ferric ion with chloroform and its concentration in the eluate is measured spectrophotometrically. None of the components of the usual drug combinations interfere. With slight modification, the concurrent determination of components such as caffeine, benzocaine, salicylic acid, and iodopyrine, can be made.
Providing hop-by-hop authentication and source privacy in wireless sensor networks

Message authentication is one of the most effective ways to thwart unauthorized and corrupted traffic from being forwarded in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). To provide this service, a polynomial-based scheme was recently introduced. However, this scheme and its extensions all have the weakness of a built-in threshold determined by the degree of the polynomial: when the number of messages transmitted is larger than this threshold, the adversary can fully recover the polynomial. In this paper, we propose a scalable authentication scheme based on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). While enabling intermediate node authentication, our proposed scheme allows any node to transmit an unlimited number of messages without suffering the threshold problem. In addition, our scheme can also provide message source privacy. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results demonstrate that our proposed scheme is more efficient than the polynomial-based approach in terms of communication and computational overhead under comparable security levels while providing message source privacy.
TH‐C‐301‐03: Utilization of MOSFET Dosimeters for Clinical Measurements in Radiology

Purpose:MOSFETdosimeters are attractive dosimeters for a number of applications in diagnostic radiology due primarily to their small size and the ability to rapidly read the resulting x‐ray dose. It is important to understand the characteristics of these unique dosimeters in order to accurately interpret the output and successful predict patient dose. Methods: The characteristics of MOSFETdosimeters have been evaluated for a variety of diagnostic radiology applications. Specific tests were designed to evaluate important MOSFET responses over the x‐ray energy range of interest (20–150 keV). Responses of these devices have been characterized for energy response, angular dependence, temperature, fading, dose linearity and sensitivity. Results:MOSFETdosimeters are available in configurations having differing physical geometry, sizes, sensitivity and absorbed dose limited usefulness. These dosimeters typically exhibit good angular response around their longitudinal axis and the variation of response as a function of ambient temperature is small. Some of the parameters that need to be carefully considered include the variation in energy response and sensitivity limits inherent to MOSFETdosimeters. These dosimeters require an accurate calibration exposure (or dose) to mV calibration for the energy source corresponding to the intended application. For example, a separate calibration needs to be developed for mammography applications for different accelerating potential and target/filter combinations. The overall sensitivity of these dosimeters can be a limitation for accurate dose assessment at clinical exposure levels. Examples of MOSFET applications for clinical dosimetry, when integrated with anthropomorphic phantoms are presented for mammography,radiography and computed tomography examples. Conclusions : MOSFETdosimeters can provide a convenient dosimetry tool capable of simultaneous measurement for multiple dosimetry points, usually up to twenty individual locations. Careful energy calibration is essential to accurate dosimetry interpretation and care should be exercised to ensure that exposures are large enough to provide consistent radiation measurement.
Sinter-Resistant Catalysts: Supported Iridium Nanoclusters with Intrinsically Limited Sizes

Results from a wide selection of literature sources reviewed here show that treatments of iridium complexes on various supports under harsh reductive conditions (e.g., 873 K in H2) lead to the formation of only uniform iridium clusters limited to a critical diameter of ~1 nm. The observations have been explained by the results of calculations at the level of density functional theory ory showing that cubic structures of this size are resistant to aggregation because coalescence of two such clusters would require energetically unfavorable rearrangements of their surface atoms, and this point has been reinforced by scanning transmission electron microscopy images demonstrating the non-coalescence behavior of iridium clusters of the critical size—which instead bounce off each other. Here we consider supported iridium catalysts in light of the literature, aiming to (1) demonstrate the generality of the sinter-resistant property of iridium nanoclusters (in contrast to those of other noble metals) and (2) summarize information regarding sample synthesis and preparation methods that lead to supported iridium catalyst with sinter-resistant properties.
The cells of human colostrum. II. Synthesis of IgA and Beta1c.

The immune functions of the cells of human colostrum are further explored by testing the ability of cells to synthesize IgG IgA IgM and Blc. Prepartum and postpartum colostrum samples were collected from 8 volunteer patients by means of a breast pump and subjected to centrifugation. The cells were cultured with carbon-14 labeled amino acids. Radioactive amino acids incorporated into the newly synthesized proteins from the cultures were detected by immunoelectrophoresis and autoradiography. Control experiments were also done: 1) human peripheral leukocytes cultured in radioactive amino acid medium served as positive controls for synthesis of immunoglobulins; 2) normal human serum cell-free human colostrum or colostral cells were subjected to immunoelectrophoresis and 3) protein synthesis was inhibited by adding 300 mcg of puromycin or 2 mcg of actinomycin D to cell cultures. The control experiments showed evidence of in vitro production of IgA IgM and less frequently IgG by human peripheral blood leukocytes. Radioactive cultures of human serum cell-free human colostrum or ruptured colostral cells did not show labeling of immunoglobulin of Betalc precipitatin lines. No radiolabeled immunoprecipitin lines were found with antisera to IgG or IgM but radioactive immunoprecipitin lines were found in some of the anti-Betalc/Betala preparations. Al the anti-IgA preparation showed distinct evenly labeled immunoprecipitin line. When anti SP (secretory piece) was used an immunoprecipitin line was shown corresponding to the anodal portion of secretory IgA. Further experiments should be done to determine if either the secretory type of IgA or the SP is synthesized by cells of human colostrum.
Benzylhydrazine--a selective inhibitor of human and rat brain monoamine oxidase.

Abstract Benzylhydrazine (BzNNH2) was shown to inhibit irreversibly human brain type A and type B monoamine oxidase (MAO) as measured by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and phenylethylamine (PEA) deamination, respectively. The concentrations required to inhibit these isoenzymes in vitro were 2.7 × 10−7M and 1.7 × 10−8M, respectively. Inhibition of 5-HT deamination was essentially non-competitive, whereas that for PEA approached uncompetitive kinetics. BzNNH2 also inhibited rat brain MAO in vivo, 50 per cent inhibition of the A and B forms of MAO occurring at injected doses of 0.72 and 0.39 mg/kg respectively. These results indicate that BzNNH2 preferentially inhibits the B form of both human and rat brain MAO.
Electrocardiograms changes in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders on low dose amitriptyline.

Electrocardiograms changes in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders on low dose amitriptyline
CMOS phase shifter for conformal phased array beamformer applications

A vector modulator based phase shifter is developed using 0.18um CMOS process at S-band frequency to be integrated into a conformal phased array antenna to recover the desired radiation pattern in the entire 360° range. The phase shifter has a variable gain amplifier integrated into the circuit in order to vary gain along with phase for precise control to correct the degraded radiation pattern due to the conformal shaping. The design shows the state-of-the-art performances including more than 7dB conversion gain with variable feature and a continuous phase rotation of 360° with steps as low as 11.25° with very low power consumption of 17mW. The chip size including all pads is 1.5mm × 0.75mm.
Bridging a community need: development and sustainability of a crime victim service organisation on a university campus

While most university systems encourage and emphasise community service to faculty, staff and students, few university systems create space on their campuses for local, non-profit community organisations that are not religiously or educationally related (i.e., schools, pre-school, day care, etc.). Resources on university campuses can be instrumental in developing and sustaining local grass roots organisations to address specific community needs. This service can provide numerous benefits to both the community and the university with minimal cost to the university. The specific focus of this paper is to answer these questions: a) Does a partnership between a university system and a small, non-profit organisation hinder or enhance the resiliency of the community organisation?; b) Does the reciprocity of benefits to the university offset the cost of resources? A case study analysis of a private community non-profit organisation established on a mid-size public university campus to meet a grassroots need that has a sustained 30 year history will be featured to explore these questions. A history of the organisation including its raison d’etre for creation will be discussed and its life span analysed via organisational theory. Attention also will be given to the partnership benefits for both the non-profit organisation and the university.
Spectroscopy and orbital periods of the old novae V533 Herculis, V446 Herculis and X Serpentis

We report spectroscopic orbital periods of 0.147 d (=3.53 h) for V533 Her, 0.207 d (=4.97 h) for V446 Her and 1.478 d for X Ser. V533 Her (Nova Herculis 1963) shows absorption features in its He i and Balmer lines which appear only in a limited range of orbital phase, suggesting that it is a low-inclination SW Sextantis star. V446 Her is unusual in that it has started normal dwarf nova eruptions after a nova outburst, but we find nothing else unusual about it – in particular, a distance estimate based on its dwarf nova outbursts agrees nicely with another based on the rate of decline of its nova eruption, both giving d∼1 kpc. In X Ser, unlike in other old novae with long periods, no spectral features of the secondary star are visible. This and its outburst magnitude both suggest that it is quite distant and luminous, and at least 1 kpc from the Galactic plane.
Optimal methods for generating expanded lymphokine activated killer cells capable of reducing established murine tumors in vivo.

The systemic administration of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells and recombinant interleukin-2 (RIL-2) is effective in reducing the number of established pulmonary and hepatic metastases from multiple murine tumors and has recently been shown to be effective in mediating the regression of metastatic cancer in humans as well. The generation of sufficient numbers of LAK cells for the effective therapy of human tumors remains a major obstacle to the widespread application of this immunotherapeutic approach. We have thus studied methods for the in vitro expansion of LAK cells effective in immunotherapy. Our previous studies used LAK cells generated in culture with RIL-2 for 3 days. LAK cells cultured in RIL-2 for 5 or 7 days were not significantly different from cells cultured for 3 days either in the number of cells obtained, their in vivo cytotoxicity or their in vivo therapeutic effectiveness. When day 3 LAK cells were transferred to fresh culture medium containing 1000 U/ml of RIL-2, a highly reproducible expansion of these cells was obtained. By day 5, cell numbers expanded 9.6±0.8-fold (mean ± SEM; n = 36) and by day 8, cells expanded 15.1 ± 1.0-fold (n = 19). In 4 h 51 Cr release assays against fresh tumor target cells, day 3 LAK cells had a mean of 13 lytic units/106 cells in 24 experiments. Day 5 expanded LAK cells had a mean of 30 lytic units/106 cells in 13 experiments (P < 0.05 compared to day 3 LAK cells) and day 8 expanded LAK cells had a mean of 11 lytic units/106 cells in 6 experiments (P = NS compared to day 3 LAK cells). When day 5 and day 8 expanded LAK cells were infused in vivo with RIL-2, they were found to significantly reduce the number of experimentally induced pulmonary metastases as effectively as non-expanded conventional day 3 LAK cells. Similar findings were documented in experiments against hepatic metastases. These experiments demonstrate that LAK cells could expand a mean of 15-fold in vitro in RIL-2 and maintain their anti-tumor therapeutic effectiveness when adoptively transferred. These experiments suggest methods for generating increased numbers of cells for use in the adoptive immunotherapy of human cancers and may substantially reduce the need for repeated leukophereses of cancer patients undergoing this therapy.
Optimal bilinear observers for bilinear state-space models by interaction matrices

This paper formulates optimal bilinear observers for bilinear state-space models. Observers in bilinear form, as opposed to other nonlinear forms, are required to develop an extension of observer/Kalman filter identification for simultaneous identification of a bilinear state-space model and an associated bilinear observer from noisy input–output measurements. The paper establishes the relationship between the bilinear observer gains and the interaction matrices which are used to convert the original bilinear state-space model to a form that simplifies the identification of such a model. Techniques to find the interaction matrices are developed. In the absence of noises, these matrices produce the gains of the fastest converging observer. In the presence of noises, they minimise the state estimation error in the same manner as a standard steady-state Kalman filter. Numerical examples illustrate both the theoretical and computational aspects of the proposed algorithms.
Successful management of a 10‐week cervical pregnancy with a combination of methotrexate and potassium chloride feticide

(1995). Successful management of a 10-week cervical pregnancy with a combination of methotrexate and potassium chloride feticide. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica: Vol. 74, No. 7, pp. 580-582.
Idiopathic sialectasis of the Stensen's duct treated with marsupialisation

Sialectasis is an uncommon medical condition of the salivary glands. Conservative treatments of sialectasis include repeated aspiration, compression, dilation of the papilla and stent placement. This is the first reported case that we know of, using marsupialisation for distal sialectasis. Our case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges posed by sialectasis and demonstrates the efficacy of marsupialisation for distally based sialectasis when conservative treatments fail.
Determination of folate transport pathways in cultured rat proximal tubule cells

Abstract Deficiency of the vitamin folic acid has recently been linked with increased incidence of neural tube defects and of cardiovascular disease, through elevated plasma homocysteine levels. The kidney has an important role in conserving folate to counteract development of deficiency. Urinary folate excretion is regulated by the degree of reabsorption of folate by the proximal tubule cell. To evaluate an in vitro model for studies of the regulation of urinary folate excretion, the present studies examined the transport of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu), the primary form of folate in the glomerular filtrate, by normal rat proximal tubule (RPT) cells in confluent monolayer cultures. Specific binding of 5-CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu to the apical membrane was saturable ( K D =27 nM), but intracellular transport was not saturated up to 100 nM concentrations. 5-CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu transport was decreased 50% by concentrations of folic acid that completely blocked 5-CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu binding by the apical folate receptor. Probenecid (10 mM), an anion exchange (reduced folate carrier) inhibitor, reduced 5CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu transport by 50% without significantly affecting binding. Aspirin (3 mM) did not alter 5-CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu transport, but significantly enhanced the inhibition due to probenecid. Similarly, indomethacin (5 μ M) potentiated the inhibition of 5-CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu transport by probenecid. These data suggest that RPT cells take up 5-CH 3 -H 4 PteGlu by both the folate receptor and the reduced folate carrier, implying a role for both pathways in regulating urinary folate excretion.
263 GHz Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) amplifier for Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy

We present the circuit design of a 263 GHz Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) amplifier for use in Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) enhanced Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The circuit design achieves a linear gain of 36 dB and output power > 50 W. This work describes the design of the interaction circuit for optimal interaction with a 20 kV, 125 mA elliptical beam using 3D electromagnetic Finite Element Method (FEM) and Particle-in-Cell (PIC) solvers.
Purification and characterization of the proton translocating plasma membrane ATPase of red beet storage tissue

Plasma membranes were prepared from red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) storage tissue by partition in an aqueous two-phase system. A highly active proton-translocating ATPase was purified from these membranes by lysophosphatidylcholine extraction and glycerol density gradient centrifugation. The ATPase activity was inhibited by vanadate or dicyclohexyl carbodiimide, but was insensitive to azide, nitrate and molybdate at concentrations which inhibit the F1ATPase, the tonoplast ATPase, and acid phosphatase. Inhibition by vanadate was consistent with a non-competitive mechanism, with Ki = 10 μM. The Km for Mg-ATP was about 1 mM, magnesium ions were required, and the activity was stimulated by KCI and by lysophosphatidylcholine. The optimal pH was 6.5. The molecular mass by gel filtration in the presence of 2 g/liter octyl glucoside was 600 kDa, while dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis gave a polypeptide molecular mass of 100 kDa. After blotting onto nitrocellulose, the purified enzyme did not bind concanavalin A, although a concanavalin A-binding peptide of the plasma membrane runs to nearly the same position on the gel and showed some tendency to co-purify with the ATPase. Phospholipid vesicles into which the purified ATPase had been incorporated by the freeze-thaw technique showed vanadate-sensitive, ATP-dependent proton uptake. When the ATPase was reconstituted into lipid membranes at high protein to lipid ratios and incubated with ATP, two-dimensionally crystalline arrays of protein molecules were formed.
Theory of transition from the dihydride to the monohydride phase on the Si(001) surface

Abstract Recent studies have revealed interesting properties of the dihydride phase coexisting with the monohydride phase on the hydrogenated Si surfaces. In this work, we report self-consistent total-energy calculations within the framework of the local density functional theory, which provide a rigorous basis for understanding the transition between the dihydride and monohydride phases, and the desorption of hydrogen from Si surfaces. We found that the energy associated with the rotation of SiH2 in the plane bisecting the angle between two back bonds is rather small. The equilibrium configuration is not the ideal SiH2 which completes the tetrahedral coordination, and the total energy is lowered when all SiH2 radicals are tilted in the same direction. The forces exerted on the atoms, as well as the results of the geometry optimization indicate that the outermost Si plane relaxes inwards even at full coverage of SiH2. The charge-density analysis shows how the H2 bond is formed from the two adjacent SiH2 radicals approaching each other.
Hydrogen production from glycerol: An update

The production of alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol has increased over the last few years. Such fuels are vital for the reduction of energy dependence on foreign countries and to protect the environmental damage associated with the use of fossil fuels. Due to the increased production of biodiesel, a glut of crude glycerol has resulted in the market and the price has plummeted over the past few years. Therefore, it is imperative to find alternative uses for glycerol. A variety of chemicals and fuels including hydrogen can be produced from glycerol. Hydrogen is produced by using several processes, such as steam reforming, autothermal reforming, aqueous-phase reforming and supercritical water reforming. This paper reviews different generation methods, catalysts and operating conditions used to produce hydrogen using glycerol as a substrate. Most of the studies were focused on hydrogen production via steam reforming process and still less work has been done on producing hydrogen from crude glycerol.
Macrofaunal responses to pit–mound patch dynamics in an intertidal mudflat: local versus patch-type effects

Abstract Biogenic structures created via feeding activities have varying effects on soft sediment communities, altering population dynamics, creating a temporal mosaic of successional patches, and ultimately increasing variation at different spatial scales. This study focused on assessing population responses to pits (P) and mounds (M) in an intertidal mudflat (River Plym, England) in order to determine (a) how these structures (max size 1400 cm 2 ), and their formation, affected infauna and (b) to what extent local variations in ambient communities may have affected infaunal responses. Densities in 0- and 1-week-old pits were significantly lower than in ambient and mound areas for most of the dominant infauna over the study period. Abundances were higher in mounds for some species and responses to both structures differed among juveniles and adults. Recovery to ambient levels in P–M systems took about 3 weeks, although their physical characteristics only lasted about 2 weeks. Correlations among ambient densities and adjacent P–M systems were mixed, but suggested decoupling between local ambient and P–M dynamics for some taxa either in relation to age of the patch and/or size of the individuals. At the community level, local differences appeared to be a significant source of variation in new pits, but differences were swamped out when recruitment was high. Differences were more evident in older P–M systems. These results show that sources of local variation in infaunal dynamics can be attributed to a combination of small-scale disturbance/recovery processes and spatially and temporally changing ambient conditions. Identifying extant spatial and temporal small-scale variation can be a critical component of understanding and interpreting larger-scale dynamics of soft-sediment systems.
Exploring the pattern of coordinated stasis: simulations and extinction scenarios

Abstract Originations and extinctions of lineages were simulated under three different extinction scenarios, time-homogeneous, exponential and episodic, in order to determine whether the patterns of stratigraphic ranges produced are consistent with those described as coordinated stasis by Brett and Baird (1992, 1995) and Brett et al. (1996). Four features of the patterns were evaluated: percentage holdovers — the proportion of taxa from a given unit that also occur in the previous unit; percentage carryovers — the proportion of taxa from a given unit that persist into the subsequent unit; percentage extinctions — the proportion of taxa from a given unit becoming extinct within that unit (excluding those becoming extinct at the end of that unit); percentage originations — the proportion of taxa from a given unit originating within that unit (excluding those originating at the beginning of that unit). Coordinated stasis of the magnitude reported for the Middle Devonian Hamilton-Tully could not be generated under the time-homogeneous and exponential models but was produced in approximately 20% of simulations under the pulsed extinctions (episodic) model; when sampling is random, these results appear relatively insensitive to the sampling intensity. These simulations suggest that coordinated stasis requires an evolutionary/ecological mechanism consistent with long intervals of near-zero extinction and origination punctuated by infrequent intervals of extremely high extinction and origination.
FRACTURE INITIATION BY STRESS WAVE LOADING

Methode d'essai permettant l'evaluation de la tenacite KIC ou JIC sous conditions de chargement dynamique et de deformation plane. On examine la precision de cet essai a l'aide d'une analyse par elements finis
Spontaneous symmetry breaking, gauge theories, the Higgs mechanism and all that

A more or less self-contained introductory review is presented of the so-called Higgs phenomenon. This is the mechanism by which, in a certain class of gauge theories, the "photon" and would-be Goldstone scalar mesons conspire together to produce massive vector mesons via a "spontaneous" breaking of gauge invariance. It is conceivable that this is the way in which nature has chosen to unify weak and electromagnetic interactions. It is hoped that a reader of this review will come to understand the meaning of the first three sentences in this abstract and will then be able to proceed to confront a rapidly growing literature in the subject of gauge theories.
Ethics training: a genuine dilemma for engineering educators.

This is an examination of three main strategies used by engineering educators to integrate ethics into the engineering curriculum. They are: (1) the standalone course, (2) the ethics imperative mandating ethics content for all engineering courses, and (3) outsourcing ethics instruction to an external expert. The expectations from each approach are discussed and their main limitations described. These limitations include the insular status of the stand-alone course, the diffuse and uneven integration with the ethics imperative, and the orphaned status of ethics using the outside expert. A fourth option is proposed — a special modular option. This strategy avoids the limitations of earlier approaches and harmonizes well with curricular objectives and professional values. While some help is provided by a professional ethicist, the headliner for the series of seminars is a high-profile engineer who shares an ethics dilemma encountered in professional practice. Students discuss the case and propose solutions. The goal is to make ethics applicable to real-life problems facing working engineers and to help change behaviors.
The influence of turbidity on larval walleye, Stizostedion vitreum, behavior and development in tank culture

Abstract The behavior and development of larval walleye, Stizostedion vitreum , cultured in clear and turbid water in laboratory aquaria are compared from hatch to 17 days post-hatch. Significant differences ( P ≤ 0.05) in larval distribution and swimming speed were observed. In clear water, larvae showed a strong association with the sides of the aquaria, but in tanks with turbid water, larvae avoided the sides of the aquaria. Larvae in turbid water had greater average swimming speeds, faster growth rates, and improved gas bladder inflation (GBI) than larvae cultured in tanks with clear water. There were no significant differences between the two treatments in larval survival or cannibalism. Larval viability (survival x GBI) was three times greater in turbid water (19.0%) than in clear water (5.7%). The improved performance and viability in turbid water are attributed to the changes in larval distribution as a consequence of larval reaction to diffused light in turbid water.
Disaster risk assessment management – implications to urban development and agriculture – experience from Kosovo

The level of integration of DRAM into spatial planning is limited in Kosovo despite the fact that Kosovo has experienced several floods, earthquakes, landslides, and avalanches. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) through its Municipal Spatial Planning Support Programme (MuSPP) funded by Swedish Government (Sida) is supporting different partner municipalities towards improving the effectiveness of the spatial planning efforts in Kosovo. UN-HABITAT has supported the municipality of Ferizaj, Kosovo for retrofitting DRAM in Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Urban Development Plan (UDP) as such aspect was not incorporated within MDP or UDP. The activities conducted were: discussions between central and local institutions, examination of laws and practices on DRAM in Kosovo; creation of Spatial Information Database for DRAM analysis; providing trainings to municipal counterparts; implementation of disaster surveys; conducting hazard mapping by using geographic information system (GIS) tool and drafting DRAM document for retrofitting MDP and UDP. The project implications of disasters to urban and rural areas are new urban developments, protection of agriculture land from impact of disasters: flooding, storm-hails, erosions and pollution which cause significant implications to agriculture land and food security and environment.
Psychosexual adjustment after penile prothesis surgery

Fifteen patients were intensively evaluated before and after penile prosthesis implantation for erectile failure. Follow-up interviews up to two and a half years post-surgery focused on the effects of penile prosthesis surgery on individual psychological adjustment, marital adjustment, and sexual activity levels. In the patients with organogenic impotence, adverse sequelae were strikingly absent. In two cases of psychogenic impotence, the restoration of erectile capacity exacerbated preexisting relationship problems. The psychological outcome to penile prosthesis implantation appears to be mediated by the nature of the marital relationship.
Effect of ketorolac on renal function after donor nephrectomy

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the safety of ketorolac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, that is being used more frequently for postoperative analgesia, we performed a detailed analysis of healthy patients undergoing open donor nephrectomy. Methods. We conducted a retrospective review of 198 consecutive patients who underwent open living donor nephrectomy between January 1998 and July 2000. We compared patients who were and were not given ketorolac. Regression analysis was used to determine whether any significant interactions were present between ketorolac and donor age, sex, weight, estimated surgical blood loss, or operative time in terms of its effect on renal function. Creatinine clearance was calculated by the Gault-Cockcroft equation. Results. Among the 83 patients given ketorolac, the mean amount received was 200 mg (range 30 to 360, median 210). No differences were found in the preoperative creatinine clearance between patients who did (118 ± 29 mL/min) or did not (118 ± 27 mL/min, P = 0.89) receive ketorolac. Patients who received ketorolac had a slightly lower creatinine clearance on the second postoperative day relative to patients who did not receive ketorolac (66% versus 72% of preoperative calculated creatinine clearance, P = 0.05). However, at a minimum of 3 months postoperatively, the creatinine clearance did not differ between the two groups (70% versus 73%, P = 0.92). Among patients who received ketorolac, no significant association was found between the amount received and renal function at any point tested. In the regression analysis, no significant interactions were found between ketorolac and the clinical variables of age, sex, weight, estimated surgical blood loss, or operative time. Moreover, in an analysis of only the patients who received ketorolac, no significant interactions were found between the amount of ketorolac received and the clinical variables of age, sex, weight, estimated surgical blood loss, or operative time. Conclusions. Ketorolac use was not associated with any long-term impairment in renal function when used during the first 2 postoperative days in healthy patients undergoing open donor nephrectomy. Moreover, in the range administered, no subset of patients or maximal ketorolac dose was identified at which ketorolac use was not safe.
Image-guided surgery of the sinuses: current technology and applications.

Image-guided surgery (IGS) of the paranasal sinuses has steadily grown as an important tool in the rhinologist’s armamentarium. In a relatively short time IGS has evolved from a novelty, with limited use, into a technology with broad applications in the fields of rhinology and minimally invasive skull base surgery. As a result of this rapid advance in technology, many issues have surfaced that present challenges to the universal application of this technology. There remains a learning curve for the user to master, and decreased surgical complications and improved patient outcomes with the use of IGS have yet to be clearly established. Moreover, the large capital investment required makes economic justification illusive, and issues of standard of care remain unresolved and acutely debated. Thus, despite the increasing availability of image-guidance systems, the proper role of this new technology remains to be defined. Nonetheless, IGS of the sinuses and skull base seems have become an important adjunctive tool, and its future growth seems certain. This article reviews these issues as they pertain to the current and future use of IGS in the field of rhinology.
Sensor management in a sensor-rich environment

This paper presents an adaptation of a comprehensive sensor management model, initially developed for C3I applications, to a new class of problems, a data rich, information poor, sensor rich environment. The sensor management model described is a hybrid distributed and hierarchical model in which the sensor scheduling function is distributed across system functional or physical boundaries with global oversight of mission goals and information requests maintained by a centralized Mission Manager. The introduction of a meta-scheduler block is only a n artifact of the opportunity afforded by the large number of sensors to implement a natural subdivision of a single sensor schedule into several spatially distributed sensor schedulers. System performance is enhanced by allowing local autonomy at the sensor, by distributing sensor scheduling among subsystems, and through an interrupt driven process in which local sensor measurements are abstracted to obtain global context. An aircraft health and usage monitoring system, a contemporary example of a sensor rich environment, is used to illustrate the issues involved in extending sensor management beyond C3I environments.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Efficient Spectrum Allocation Using Case-Based Reasoning and Collaborative Filtering Approaches

Cognitive radio environments utilize the scarce resource like spectrum efficiently through the dynamic spectrum access approach. Various models, including economic, game theory, genetic algorithms, and neural network models will become the catalysts to boost the dynamic spectrum access for efficient utilization of the spectrum. Combinations of these models may sometimes help better in allocation of unused spectrum (spectrum holes) for cognitive users (secondary users). In this paper, we introduced the case-base reasoning to identify a channel preferred by the secondary user. We then introduced automatic collaborative filtering for preference between two users which assigns the particular channel to the highest prioritized user. These two approaches were used along with the cooperative game concept to select the preferred channel for a cognitive user at any given time slot. The framework was designed using the CBR-ACF Algorithm and discussed using examples generated through simulations.