cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pipeline-level control of self-resetting pipelines

In this paper, we present a synchronization approach to support data flow in clockless designs using single-rail encoding. This approach is based on self-resetting stage logic in which a pipeline stage resets itself before starting the next execution cycle. As such, a stage goes through a reset phase when its output is null, and an evaluate phase when its output is the result of the evaluation of its inputs. To insure correct operation, data flow from one stage to another when the preceding stage is in the evaluate phase while the following stage is in the reset phase. To support this data flow, a latch-based synchronization mechanism is proposed. This mechanism yields an efficient and simple uni-directional handshaking scheme emanating from the last stage in the pipeline back towards the remaining stages of the pipeline. This handshaking scheme is extended to handle the join and forks of data flows encountered in non-linear pipelines. A concept design of a four-bit 16-stage pipeline is presented to illustrate the inner workings of self-resetting stage logic and its data-flow synchronization mechanism. The signal timing analysis of this pipeline reveals that the duration of the evaluate and reset phase remains constant in the stages located to the left of the last stage in the pipeline. As a result, the last stage operates as a pulse generator with which the remaining stages of the pipeline synchronize in such a way that neighboring stages operates in opposing phases at each cycle of execution.
Curry induces acid reflux and symptoms in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background There are limited data on the effect of curry on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Our objective was to study the effects of curry on GERD.
Michael G. Hinchey: Biological Inspiration.

Greater understanding of biology in modern times has enabled significant breakthroughs in improving healthcare, quality of life, and eliminating many diseases and congenital illnesses. Simultaneously there is a move towards emulating nature and copying many of the wonders uncovered in biology, resulting in "biologically inspired" systems. Significant results have been reported in a wide range of areas, with systems inspired by nature enabling exploration, communication, and advances that were never dreamed possible just a few years ago. We warn, that as in many other fields of endeavor, we should be inspired by nature and biology, not engage in mimicry. We describe some results of biological inspiration that augur promise in terms of improving the safety and security of systems, and in developing self-managing systems that we hope will ultimately lead to self-governing systems. We concentrate on the concept of swarm-based exploration missions that will enable NASA to explore space more efficiently and collect data never before available to scientists. We discuss several new self-x properties that will make such missions possible and that will also have application in other areas.
A response to BIO 2010: Transforming undergraduate education for future research biologists, from the perspective of the biochemistry and molecular biology major program at Kenyon College

The National Research Council completed a major study of undergraduate biology education, BIO 2010-Transforming Undergraduate Education For Future Research Biologists (BIO 2010), funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Institutes of Health. The BIO 2010 report recommends that biology pedagogy should use an interdisciplinary approach incorporating a strong basis in mathematics and physical sciences. Many of the aims of BIO 2010 can be met by an interdisciplinary major program such as that of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Kenyon College. The Kenyon program effectively encourages students to connect biology with chemistry and mathematics and to develop a sound basis for research in the biological sciences. A continuing challenge is to balance the needs for depth of physical and mathematical understanding and breadth of diversity in biology.
Content-based access to video objects: temporal segmentation, visual summarization, and feature extraction

Abstract The classical approach to content-based video access has been ‘frame-based’, consisting of shot boundary detection, followed by selection of key frames that characterize the visual content of each shot, and then clustering of the camera shots to form story units. However, in an object-based multimedia environment, content-based random access to individual video objects becomes a desirable feature. To this effect, this paper introduces an ‘object-based’ approach to temporal video partitioning and content-based indexing, where the basic indexing unit is ‘lifespan of a video object’, rather than a ‘camera shot’ or a ‘story unit’. We propose to represent each video object by an adaptive 2D triangular mesh. A mesh-based object tracking scheme is then employed to compute the motion trajectories of all mesh node points until the object exits the field of view. A new similarity measure that is based on motion discontinuities and shape changes of the tracked object is defined to detect content changes, resulting in temporal lifespan segments. A set of ‘key snapshots’ which constitute a visual summary of the lifespan of the object is automatically selected. These key snapshots are then used to animate objects of interest using tracked motion trajectories for a moving visual representation. The proposed scheme provides such functionalities as object-based search/browsing for interactive video retrieval, surveillance video analysis, and object-based content manipulation/editing for studio postprocessing and desktop multimedia authoring. The approach is applicable to any video data where the initial appearance of object(s) can be specified, and the object motion can be modeled by a piecewise affine transformation. The system is demonstrated using different types of video: virtual studio productions (composited video), surveillance video, and TV broadcast video.
Identifying the molecular control of T-cell death; on the hunt for killer genes.

Abstract Apoptosis, the series of morphological changes which result from a cell-suicide program, has fascinated biologists in recent years. Identifying apoptosis regulatory and effector genes to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death has been a challenging but successful endeavor. However, our knowledge of this process is far from complete. The discovery of ‘death genes’ has provided insight into the homeostatic mechanisms regulating the immune system including the clonal deletion of self-reactive and activated lymphocytes. Notably, apoptosis induced by T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation is the critical event which drives negative selection of thymocytes and peripheral T cells. Differential display, differential screening and subtractive hybridization have provided the technical backbone for the isolation of genes whose expression is specific for apoptotic cells. However, the genes identified by these techniques only correlate with the apoptotic phenotype and their expression may be the result of non-apoptotic pathways also affected by the death-inducing agent. Here, we review what is known about the molecular mechanisms of TCR-triggered apoptosis and discuss techniques used to isolate and characterize death regulatory molecules. In addition, we present a novel approach utilizing somatic cell genetics to clone genes involved in TCR-triggered apoptosis.
A functional assessment of heterosocial initiation behaviors in adults

The present investigation was designed to assess the relationship between empirically defined behavioral strategies and ratings of social effectiveness, liking, and skill. Female subjects rated audiotapes of dyadic heterosocial interactions. The dyads' verbal behavior was manipulated experimentally such that each male “actor” exhibited one of two strategies, other-enhancement and positive self-presentation, and each female coactor exhibited one of two responses, encourages and discourages. After each audiotaped interaction, subjects rated each male on five questions: liking, continued interaction, effectiveness, social skill, and similarity. The results indicated that subjects distinguished between effective and ineffective strategies. The data obtained from all questions indicated that subjects preferred the male who was encouraged irrespective of what strategy he used. This study analyzed relevant variables within an interactional framework allowing for a functional, rather than topographic, analysis of social behavior. From this functional perspective, topographically different heterosocial initiation strategies may be viewed as appropriate or effective based on the reactions of the other person in the interaction.
Expanded Criteria Donors

The greatest challenge facing liver transplantation today is the shortage of donor livers. Demand far exceeds supply, and this deficit has driven expansion of what is considered an acceptable organ. The evolving standard has not come without costs, however, as each new frontier of expanded donor quality (i.e., advancing donor age, donation after cardiac death, and split liver) may have traded wait-list for post-transplant morbidity and mortality. This article delineates the nature and severity of risk associated with specific deceased donor liver characteristics and recommends strategies to maximally mitigate these risks.
Dynamic exhaust oxygen based biodiesel blend estimation with an Extended Kalman Filter

Biodiesel, an alternative fuel for diesel engines, has the potential to reduce dependence on foreign sources of petroleum, reduce harmful particulate matter (soot), carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbon emissions, and net carbon dioxide emissions. Despite these benefits, biodiesel utilization has the combustion-related challenges of increased fuel consumption and increased nitrogen oxides emissions. These challenges may be mitigated through “fuel-flexible”, closed-loop control of the combustion process, however, that requires a practical means of ascertaining the biodiesel blend fraction. Previous work by the authors developed and demonstrated exhaust oxygen based blend estimation in steady-state. This work presents a method of dynamic blend estimation through the use of an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). Experimental validation demonstrates both fast convergence and steadiness in the presence of uncertainties. This was accomplished using a time-varying measurement covariance matrix. Not only does the proposed approach estimate the biodiesel blend fraction well, but such estimation also does not preclude using exhaust oxygen information to improve the estimate of mixture fraction/air-fuel ratio. For some cases the approach outlined in this work allows for the practical, real-time, onboard biodiesel blend fraction estimation with no additional hardware.
Use of Human Diploid Cell Cultures for Primary Isolation of Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Summary and ConclusionHuman embryo diploid and HEp-2 cell cultures were compared in respect to efficiency in isolating R. S. virus. Although initial manifestations of viral growth were evident somewhat earlier in HEp-2 than in diploid cells, isolation rates in the two types of cell cultures were not significantly different. Comparative infectivity titrations of original patient specimens in HEp-2 and WI-38 cell cultures suggested the possibility of a slight advantage in sensitivity for the latter cell.
Economic Restructuring and Changing Prevalence of Female‐headed Families in America1

Industrial restructuring has altered economic circumstances in the U.S., but the influences of these changes on family structure are not clear. This study examines whether industrial restructuring influences female headship and whether these effects differ in nonmetro and metro counties. Results based on data from the 1980 and 1990 U.S. Census of Population and Housing Summary Tape Files indicate several conclusions. First, female headed households increased more rapidly in nonmetro than metro counties from 1980 to 1990, although there was a great deal of variation across counties. Second, industrial restructuring contributed to change in female headship in nonmetro and metro counties, and changes in various industries had differing effects on female headship. Third, overall gains in women's employment in a county had no influence on formation of female headed households, gains in men's employment deterred female headship, and gains for women in specific industries tended to slow formation of these households. Fourth, controlling for changes in median income and part-time work did little to reduce the industry-specific influences on change in female headship. The results suggest that linkages between industrial restructuring and family structure do exist, although the models are less able to explain changes in female headship in nonmetro than in metro counties.
Reduction of collision-induced timing jitter via periodic-group-delay dispersion-compensating modules in quasi-linear return-to-zero systems

We quantify collision-induced timing jitter (CITJ) in quasi-linear dispersion-managed systems with periodic-group-delay (PGD) dispersion-compensating modules. Significant reductions of CITJ are achieved when even moderate fractions of the total dispersion are compensated by PGDs.
Measuring manufacturing flexibility: An empirical investigation

Abstract Many papers have discussed the measurement of manufacturing flexibility recently; most have been theoretical. This paper approaches the problem by collecting empirical data and applying factor analysis in an attempt to measure three dimensions of flexibility: mix, new product, and modification. The results of that analysis and the implications for future research on manufacturing flexibility are described.
Calorie and Gram Differences between Meals at Fast Food and Table Service Restaurants

Concerns about the calorie content of restaurant food have focused on fast food. However, there is no specific evidence that fast food is worse than other food eaten away from home (FAFH). We use the Continuing Survey of Individual Food Intake to compare fast food and table service meals. We find that both are larger and have more calories than meals prepared at home, with table service exceeding fast food, possibly due to different pricing methods. However, for the full day, both result in similar calorie increases relative to no FAFH, with fast food perhaps somewhat worse.
The next stage in the health care economy: aligning the interests of patients, providers, and third-party payers through consumer-driven health care plans.

This article reviews employers' attempts over the past 25 years to address the cost and accessibility of health care services for their employees and the effect these efforts have had on U.S. health care delivery. The difficulties in aligning the interests of all parties in a third-party health beneficiary contract are examined. Many employers are considering consumer-driven health care plans as an alternative to managed care plans to both control health care costs and improve employee satisfaction. Such plans differ from fee-for-service and managed care models in terms of the economic alignment of the parties. Consumer-driven plans align the employer's economic interest with the employee/patient, and reduce health benefit costs by providing information, tools, and direct economic incentives to employees for self-management of health care dollars. Because these incentives are designed to reduce the consumption of services, providers are the party left out of economic alignment under the consumer-driven model.
Dimethylbenzanthracene Tumorigenesis and Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylase in Mouse Skin: Inhibition by 7,8-Benzoflavone

Mouse skin contains aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase which is highly inducible. The enzyme system is inhibited when 7,8-benzoflavone is added to homogenates of skin epidermis. 7,8-Benzoflavone also inhibits mouse skin tumorigenesis caused by repeated treatment with 9,10-dimethylbenzanthracene or by a single treatment with this chemical followed by weekly treatment with croton oil. These findings suggest that this enzyme system may be responsible for the activation of 9,10-dimethylbenzanthracene to its carcinogenic form.
Sufism – What Is It Exactly?

Sufism is commonly called mysticism, the mysticism of Islam, but is it mysticism and what is its relation to Islam? Despite diverse expressions and modernist and reformist attempts to disassociate it from Islam, Sufism is the spirituality of Islam. Sometimes saint based, sometimes text based, it aims to bring the soul into relation with the sanctity of the other world, thus orienting it to divine truth. Sufism thus sees itself as the completion of Islam, its living embodiment, in contrast to legal formalism and theological scholasticism, but not in opposition to Muslim laws and doctrines. Its goal is sanctity, embodiment of the godly holiness described by the Qur’an. It is thus a path to saintliness not as perfection of human virtue but as extension of the prophecy of Islam, standing in an integral relation to the ethical and theological outlook of Islam, with which, this article argues, Sufism is finely interwoven.
Midpoints in gyrogroups

The obscured Thomas precessionof the special theory of relativity (STR) has been soared into prominence by exposing the mathematical structure, called a gyrogroup,to which it gives rise [A. A. Ungar, Amer. J. Phys.59,824 (1991)], and the role that it plays in the study of Lorentz groups [A. A. Ungar, Amer. J. Phys.60,815 (1992); A. A. Ungar, J. Math. Phys.35,1408 (1994); A. A. Ungar, J. Math. Phys.35,1881 (1994)]. Thomas gyrationresults from the abstraction of Thomas precession.As such, its study sheds light on relativistic velocity spaces and their symmetries which are concealed in Thomas precession. In order to uncover new properties of relativistic gyrogroups, we employ in this article the group theoretic concepts of divisible groupsand two-torsion free groupsto construct midpointsin gyrogroups. Systems of successive midpoints then describe straight gyrolinesand suggest a new, natural distance function that involves a Thomas gyration. These, in turn, reveal a new, interesting geometry that underlies relativistic velocity spaces. In this resulting gyrogeometrythe straight gyrolines form geodesics under a distance function which turns out to be the Poincare hyperbolic distance function relaxed by a Thomas gyration. These geodesics do obey the parallel axiom of Euclidean geometry. Ironically, (i) attempts to understand the parallel postulate of Euclidean geometry gave rise to hyperbolic geometry in which the parallel postulate disappears;(ii) hyperbolic geometry gave rise to Einstein's STR; (iii) Einstein's STR established the bizarre and counterintuitive relativistic effect called Thomas precession, the abstraction of which is called Thomas gyration; and (iv) Thomas gyration now repairs in this article the Poincare distance function of hyperbolic geometry to the point where the parallel postulate reappears.
The effects of immersion and exercise on prolactin during pregnancy.

Prolactin is an important hormone during pregnancy, affecting mother, fetus, and amniotic fluid volume. Immersion is known to affect prolactin levels significantly. To determine the effect of immersion and exercise on the prolactin response during pregnancy, we examined serum prolactin levels at 15, 25, and 35 weeks' gestation and 10 weeks post partum. Twelve women completed 20 min land rest, 20 min immersion in 30° C water to the xiphoid, and 20 min exercise in the water at 60% $$\dot V_{O_2 \max } $$ Resting prolactin levels were 1.91±0.32, 4.55±0.5, and 5.85±0.27 nmol·l−1 ±standard error of the mean at 15, 25, and 35 weeks' gestation, respectively. Postpartum lactating women had a resting mean prolactin level of 3.95±1.6 versus 0.22±0.4 nmol· l−1 in non-lacting women. Prolactin levels declined significantly during immersion even after correction for dilution by plasma volume shifts. The immersion response was inversely related to the duration of pregnancy with 29%, 22%, and 12% drops during 15-, 25- and 35-week trials, respectively. Compared to rest, exercise prolactin levels remained depressed during the 15th and 25th week trials. We hypothesize that immersion in water caused prolactin levels to decline.
The abdominojugular reflux sign.

Abstract PURPOSE: The abdominojugular reflux sign is useful in diagnosing right ventricular failure, but is often performed and interpreted incorrectly. Our objective was to review the history, epidemiology, and pathophysiology of the abdominojugular reflux sign. METHODS: We conducted a MEDLINE search of the English language reports published between 1966 and 1999 and a manual search of bibliographies of relevant papers. RESULTS: A positive abdominojugular reflux sign is defined by an increase in the jugular venous pressure of greater than 3 cm, sustained for greater than 15 seconds. In the absence of left heart failure, a positive abdominojugular reflux sign should prompt consideration of impaired right ventricular preload, a decrease in right ventricular compliance, a decrease in right ventricular systolic function or an elevation in right ventricular afterload. In patients presenting with dyspnea, the abdominojugular reflux is useful in predicting congestive heart failure (LR+ 6.0 (95% CI; 0.8–51); LR− 0.78; (95% CI: 0.62 to 0.98)) and suggests pulmonary capillary wedge pressures of greater than 15 mm Hg (LR+ 6.7 (95% CI: 3.3 to 13.4); LR− 0.08 (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.52)). CONCLUSION: The abdominojugular reflux is not specific to any one disorder, but rather is a reflection of a right ventricle that cannot accommodate augmented venous return. Constrictive pericarditis, right ventricular infarction, and restrictive cardiomyopathy are common causes of a positive finding. Left ventricular failure may also induce the sign, but only when the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure is greater than 15. The one diagnosis not seen with abdominojugular reflux is cardiac tamponade.
Profile of changes in lipid bilayer structure caused by beta-amyloid peptide.

β-Amyloid peptide (Aβ) is the primary constituent of senile plaques, a defining feature of Alzheimer's disease. Aggregated Aβ is toxic to neurons, but the mechanism of toxicity is uncertain. One hypothesis is that interactions between Aβ aggregates and cell membranes mediate Aβ toxicity. Previously, we described a positive correlation between the Aβ aggregation state and surface hydrophobicity, and the ability of the peptide to decrease fluidity in the center of the membrane bilayer [Kremer, J. J., et al. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 10309−10318]. In this work, we report that Aβ aggregates increased the steady-state anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) embedded in the hydrophobic center of the membrane in phospholipids with anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic headgroups, suggesting that specific charge−charge interactions are not required for Aβ−membrane interactions. Aβ did not affect the fluorescence lifetime of DPH, indicating that the increase in anisotropy is due to increased ordering of the ...
Influence of silica fume on diffusivity in cement-based materials: II. Multi-scale modeling of concrete diffusivity

Abstract Based on a set of multi-scale computer models, an equation is developed for predicting the chloride ion diffusivity of concrete as a function of water-to-cement (w/c) ratio, silica fume addition, degree of hydration and aggregate volume fraction. Silica fume influences concrete diffusivity in several ways: (1) densifying the microstructure of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) regions, (2) reducing the overall (bulk and ITZ) capillary porosity for a fixed degree of cement hydration, and (3) producing a pozzolanic C-S-H gel with a relative diffusivity about 25 times less than that of the C-S-H gel produced from conventional cement hydration. According to the equation and in agreement with results from the literature, silica fume is most efficient for reducing diffusivity in lower w/c ratio concretes (w/c
Three-Coordinate β-Diketiminato Nickel Nitrosyl Complexes from Nickel(I)−Lutidine and Nickel(II)−Alkyl Precursors

The nickel(I) β-diketiminates [Me2NN]Ni(2,4-lutidine) and [2,4,6-Me3NN]Ni(2,4-lutidine) react with NO to form diamagnetic, three-coordinate Ni−NO complexes, and [Me2NN]Ni(NO) undergoes insertion with a nitrosobenzene to form the N-aryl-N-nitrosohydroxylaminato species [Me2NN]Ni(η2-O2N2Ar). Addition of 2 equiv of NO to the Ni(II)−monoalkyl species [Me2NN]Ni(Et)(2,4-lutidine) at room temperature provides an alternate route to [Me2NN]Ni(NO), while NO addition at −78 °C favors the formation of [Me2NN]Ni(η2-O2N2Et).
Planning Programs for Members of the Armed Services: A Collaborative Endeavor.

The key issues of quality and program responsibilities are examined as part of the collaborative relationship between continuing educational providers and the military services.
Effect of Different Vestibular Lesions upon body Equilibrium Function in Squirrel Monkeys

By utilizing the squirrel monkey rail test, postoperative compensation status after unilateral saccular macula destruction, unilateral utricular nerve section and unilateral lateral ampullary nerve section, were studied in a quantitative fashion and the results were statistically compared. First, it was confirmed that the preoperative random assignments of subjects were evenly distributed among different experimental categories and therefore inter-categoric statistical comparisons of postoperative status were valid. Minimal effect after the unilateral saccular macula ablation toward the maintenance of body equilibrium was reconfirmed. The utricular input is probably the most important for the maintenance of body equilibrium function, inasmuch as slightly less equilibrium disturbance was found after unilateral lateral ampullary nerve cut even though the difference was not significant.
Imaging of murine liver tumor using microCT with a hepatocyte-selective contrast agent: accuracy is dependent on adequate contrast enhancement.

Abstract Introduction A major limitation in using both spontaneous and implanted murine liver tumor models in cancer research is the inability to accurately detect and monitor tumor volume. Because microCT without contrast enhancement cannot accurately distinguish tumor from normal liver, we sought to determine the accuracy of contrast enhanced microCT for monitoring liver tumors in mice, performed with intravenous (i.v.) injection of ITG, a hepatocyte-selective contrast agent. Methods Twelve female BALB/c mice were injected with 5 × 105 CT26 tumor cells in two sites in the liver on day 0, resulting in 24 liver tumors. On days 3, 5, 7, and 10, three mice per day were injected with ITG (0.1 mL ITG/10 g body weight) by tail vein, followed 4 hours later by imaging with microCT (ImTek, Inc.). ITG is transported selectively to hepatocytes by an apoE receptor-mediated process that results in opacification of normal liver parenchyma after i.v. injection. Contrast enhancement on CT scans was graded as good, fair, or poor. After imaging, mice were euthanized to perform gross and histopathologic correlation of liver tumors with CT images. Results The mean tumor size on microCT and at histopathologic evaluation was 2.2 and 2.3 mm, respectively (P > 0.05). Regression analysis showed no difference between the CT-measured tumor and the actual tumor size (P > 0.05). The overall accuracy for detection of tumor on microCT was 88%, with one false-positive and two false-negative readings. All three erroneous readings on CT scan occurred in mice in which the contrast enhancement of the liver was poor due to inadequate i.v. injection. Although the overall sensitivity and specificity was 90% and 75%, respectively, this was highly dependent on the degree of contrast enhancement. Conclusions MicroCT with ITG contrast is an excellent means to monitor tumor diameter in murine hepatic tumor models. However, adequate contrast enhancement is critical for accurate imaging.
Durable goods monopoly and maintenance

Abstract A durable goods monopolist may often be able to affect consumer maintenance or care decisions by raising or lowering the costs of repair or care. A monopolist can profit by encouraging maintenance when production costs are high or when used products are relatively good substitutes for new items. If enforcement of maintenance contracts is costly or verification of care to an outside party imperfect, and direct provision of maintenance by the monopolist ineffective, then, selling may be a more profitable marketing policy than renting.
High- and ultra-high-energy nucleus-nucleus interactions from the CERN EMU05 and JACEE emulsion experiments☆

Abstract The first results from a high energy accelerator ion experiment (CERN EMU05), and a comparative summary of high and ultra-high energy cosmic ray (JACEE) results, are presented. The EMU05 data on the multiplicity distribution for 200 GeV/amu 16 O+Pb collisions is consistent with a Glauber-scheme calculation and the JACEE results. Close hadronic-pairs observed by EMU05 are as abundant as the JACEE data, suggesting a freeze-out source radius of 2.5–3.0 fm. The central pseudo-rapidity density of typical central collisions (200 GeV, 16 O+Pb) is about 100 per unit, which implies the energy density less than ∼1.5GeV/fm 3 , below that of the highest energy-density JACEE events.
Systemic therapy of melanoma

The systemic treatment of melanoma remains a formidable challenge to oncologists of all disciplines. Recent progress in the molecular biology and immunology of melanoma has greatly increased our level of basic understanding of melanoma. In the past year, the systematic pursuit of agents that may modulate the antitumor activity of dace has yielded important new information, and the hope that the standard of therapy for metastatic melanoma may soon evolve. Advances in the treatment of advanced melanoma have been translated to the adjuvant sphere with promising results from interferon-alpha, and we may expect to witness the application of basic understanding of the biology of melanoma precursors to melanoma prevention in the near future.
Echocardiographic evaluation of porcine bioprosthetic valves: Experience with 309 normal and 59 dysfunctioning valves

Abstract To determine the clinical value of echocardiographic evaluation of porcine bioprosthetic valves, the findings in all patients who had porcine bioprosthetic valve replacement and adequate quality echocardiographic studies from 1978 to 1982 were analyzed. The study includes 309 normal and 59 dysfunctioning valves. Valve dysfunction resulted from spontaneous cusp degeneration in 39 (34 valve regurgitations, 5 stenoses), infective endocarditis in 12, paravalvular regurgitation in 5, regurgitation of redundant cusps, mitral valve thrombi, and aortic stent stenosis in 3 others. Echocardiographic findings were correlated with gross surgical pathologic or autopsy findings in 45 of the 59 dysfunctioning valves. Echocardiographic abnormalities were demonstrated in 41 of 59 (69%) dysfunctioning valves. A systolic mitral or diastolic aortic valve flutter was diagnostic of a regurgitant valve caused by a torn or unsupported cusp margin and was observed in 28 of 34 (82%) regurgitant valves with no false-positive studies. Echocardiographic cusp thickness of ≥ 3 mm correctly identified all regurgitant and stenotic valves with gross anatomic evidence of localized or generalized cusp thickening or calcific deposits. Echocardiographic valve abnormalities were observed in only 4 of 12 patients with infective endocarditis and in 1 of 5 with paravalvular regurgitation. Thus, echocardiography provides important information regarding the function of porcine bioprosthetic valves and is of value in the decision to replace these valves, especially when dysfunction is due to spontaneous cuspal degeneration. Echocardiography is neither sensitive nor specific in patients with infective endocarditis and paravalvular regurgitation.
Electric Equipment for Large Electrochemical Installations

The increased demand for aluminum, magnesium, chlorine, copper, and zinc for war purposes has made the electrolytic processes for these materials the largest consumers of electric energy in this country. The most frequently encountered d-c and voltage requirements of these four principal electrolytic processes are discussed. An illustrative current-time and voltage-time characteristic curve for starting a chlorine cell line is shown, and the requirements that such characteristics impose on the electric equipment are discussed. The current- voltage characteristics of aluminum, magnesium, chlorine, and zinc cell lines are also shown. A typical installation of conversion equipment for an electrolytic process plant is given, and the reasons for selecting the particular types of electric equipment and its physical and electrical arrangement are discussed. As part of this discussion, there are included characteristic curves of rectifiers showing the effect of ignition control on power factor for 6-, 12-, and 36-phase combinations. A table giving a ``rule-of- thumb'' relationship between the number of phases and kilowatt limits which have been found in practice to provide operation reasonably free from telephone interference is included. There is also given a tabulation of phase shifter combinations, by means of which multiphase operation can be obtained with various combinations of standard six- phase rectifier transformers.
Increase in the toxicity of organophosphorus insecticides to house flies due to polychlorinated biphenyl compounds

Abstract The polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) Aroclor ® 1248—although nontoxic by itself to house flies at doses of 10 μg/fly—significantly increased the toxicity of the oxygen analogs of 5 organophosphorus insecticides after simultaneous topical application to houseflies. Both p,p ′-DDT and p,p ′-DDE, applied at sublethal doses, also increased the toxicity of paraoxon, as measured by an increase in the mortality of house flies from 2 to 60 and 73%, respectively. The PCB, applied simultaneously with parathion, however, decreased the toxicity of parathion to house flies, but increased mortalities when applied to flies 0.5 hr after the application of the insecticide. Aroclor® 1248 apparently inhibited the conversion of parathion to its toxic activation product, paraoxon, and the breakdown of paraoxon into non-toxic compounds. This was also indicated by the recovery of larger amounts of 14 C-paraoxon and smaller amounts of water soluble 14 C-products from flies treated simultaneously with Aroclor® 1248 plus paraoxon in comparison to those which had been treated with 14 C-paraoxon only. Utilizing the 10,000 g supernatant from house fly homogenates, the addition of Aroclor® 1248 with 14 C-paraoxon in vitro also resulted—after 2 hr incubation at 30°C—in higher recoveries of 14 C-paraoxon and in a reduction of the appearance of water soluble 14 C-products. Identical results were obtained with subcellular fractions (10,000 g supernatant) from flies treated with Aroclor® 1248 18 hr before homogenate preparation: no difference was observed in the degradation of paraoxon or the appearance of water soluble products with Aroclor® applied to the living flies or to the 10,000 g supernatant of homogenates from untreated flies. Since PCBs are in the environment, their potential effects on biological systems, especially in combination with other synthetic chemicals, should not be disregarded.
Flotation column automation: state of the art

A review of the trends and state of art in automation and control of flotation columns is presented. Besides the large number of columns installed in concentrators world-wide, there are a number of unsolved problems related to lack of instrumentation, lack of process knowledge, odd operating practices, and in general, lack of management and data processing. Process control of local objectives is frequently achieved, however, application of mature and new techniques, are rather slowly included in control and information systems. In the near future, it is expected that intelligent techniques will be incorporated to solve a large variety of problems.
Do Automatic Reactions Elicited by Thoughts of Romantic Partner, Mother, and Self Relate to Adult Romantic Attachment?

Three studies tested the expectation that automatic reactions elicited by the mental representation of one's current romantic partner, mother, and self relate to adult romantic attachment. Adult romantic attachment was assessed using multiple measures, and individual differences in automatic reactions were assessed by the Implicit Association Test (IAT). Studies 1 and 2 showed that automatic reactions elicited by thoughts of current romantic partner, but not by thoughts of self, were related to adult romantic attachment assessed at a specific (i.e., within one's current romantic relationship) and general level (i.e., across all romantic relationships). The pattern of results was stronger among individuals identified as attachment-schematic. Studies 2 and 3 showed that automatic reactions elicited by thoughts of one's mother were related to adult romantic attachment assessed at a general level. In all three studies, results did not differ depending on how adult romantic attachment was conceptualized (four styles vs. two dimensions).
Video coding using image warping within variable size blocks

Current video coding standards use simple translational motion models in predefined blocks to reduce temporal redundancy. Although this approach is quite effective, artifacts are produced by the simplistic motion model used and the fixed motion boundaries. The codec presented in this paper removes the constraint of fixed block size and translational motion to allow more flexibility in the motion field. We derive a new algorithm that directly computes the coefficients for representing a motion field modeled by a set of arbitrary basis functions. The motion field model is then used to predict blocks in the current frame by warping blocks in the previously coded frame. This motion compensation algorithm is incorporated into a transform based coder and compared to an existing H.263 codec. Results show up to 10% savings in bit rate for the same quality.
Evaluation of NaCl, pH, and lactic acid on the growth of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in a liquid Cheddar cheese extract

Abstract A Cheddar cheese model system, Cheddar cheese extract, was used to examine how different levels of known microbial hurdles (NaCl, pH, and lactic acid) in Cheddar cheese contribute to inhibition of bacterial pathogens. This knowledge is critical to evaluate the safety of Cheddar varieties with altered compositions. The range of levels used covered the lowest and highest level of these factors present in low-sodium, low-fat, and traditional Cheddar cheeses. Four pathogens were examined in this model system at 11°C for 6 wk, with the lowest levels of these inhibitory factors that would be encountered in these products. The 4 pathogens examined were Salmonella enterica , Staphylococcus aureus , Listeria monocytogenes , and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). None of these organisms were capable of growth under these conditions. The STEC exhibited the highest survival and hence was used to examine which of these inhibitory factors (NaCl, pH, and lactic acid) was primarily responsible for the observed inhibition. The STEC survival was examined in Cheddar cheese extract varying in NaCl (1.2 vs. 4.8%), lactic acid (2.7 vs. 4.3%), and pH (4.8 vs. 5.3) at 11°C for 6 wk. The microbial hurdle found to have the greatest effect on STEC survival was pH. The interactions between pH and levels of protonated lactic acid and anionic lactic acid with STEC survival was also evaluated; only the concentration of protonated lactic acid was determined to have a significant effect on STEC survival. These results indicate that, of the pathogens examined, STEC is of the greatest concern in Cheddar varieties with altered compositions and that pH is the microbial hurdle primarily responsible for controlling STEC in these products.
Wages and Employment under Uncertain Demand

This paper examines some implications of two postulates for firms' wage and employment policies. The first is that firms, or stockholders, have easier access to capital markets at lower costs or higher returns than do small investors, such as workers. Second, there are important mobility and turnover costs incurred when a worker moves from one firm to another. The existence of mobility costs means that the labour market is not a perfect market. Each firm is not restricted to taking as given some exogenous market wage, period by period, but has some amount of freedom about the wage strategy it sets. The firm cannot choose any wage-employment path it wishes, however, and I shall assume that in the long-run the firm must offer the same (expected) utility as that available elsewhere. In the short-run there is a constraint that the wage offer must never be so bad that all the firm's workers will quit and incur the mobility cost. There are solid grounds for believing that great differences exist between stockholders and workers with regard to capital markets. The majority of stocks are held by very wealthy persons indeed, who also hold almost all the state and local bonds and large proportions of the property and other assets.3 In addition, stockholders are frequently company executives or professionals with greater financial expertise and salaries many times that of the average industrial worker. The worker typically has a rather small net worth. His assets are durable goods and a rather small holding of money. He frequently has consumer credit liabilities outstanding.4 He also has much less knowledge of financial assets and institutions. A principal function of capital markets is to allow wealth-holders to diversify their holdings and so reduce the risk of their total portfolios. Stockholders, through their greater wealth and expertise, are much better able to bear risks than are workers.5 The difference in ability to bear risk between the two groups immediately suggests an opportunity to trade. In deciding what wage-employment strategy to set, the firm will be willing to reduce worker risk. By doing so, the firm is offering a joint product, employment plus an insurance or financial intermediation service. The firm does not do this simply because workers prefer it. Risk-reducing policies are the cheapest and hence most profitable way of attracting any given work-force. The choice of a risk-reducing policy by the firm will have an important impact on both the wage set and on employment variations-and hence the probability of unemployment. The firm will, in general, wish to reduce the uncertainty of the workers' incomes. An important feature of the model presented here is that the tendency of the firm to reduce risk has an asymmetrical effect on the wage strategy and on the employment strategy.
Unbundling ownership and control: international experience of independent system operators

As competition has been introduced into electricity markets around the world, a fundamental challenge has been how to govern the vertical relationship between the monopolistic transmission networks and the potentially competitive activities of generation and supply. An innovative solution is to allow the incumbent to retain ownership of its network but to hand over their operation to an Independent Systems Operator (ISO). In principle, this should remove the opportunity for the owner of the transmission network to discriminate against third-party suppliers. It also allows the integration of transmission networks in separate regions and under separate ownership. This paper considers the lessons of the British and US experience of the ISO model. We conclude that if the British model works, it could be applied within Germany, with the regional networks operated by a single ISO. Ultimately, these types of arrangements could also allow supranational electricity transmission markets in Europe.
Emdogain-gel stimulates proliferation of odontoblasts and osteoblasts.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether a premixed form of enamel matrix derivative (EMD), Emdogain-gel, has the same property as the original formula of EMD in stimulating the proliferation of osteoblasts and odontoblasts. Study design Osteoblast cell line (MC3T3) and odontoblast cell line (MDPC) were cultured in the 6-well culture plates and treated in 4 different groups: (1) culture medium control, (2) 100 μg/mL Emdogain-gel directly added to the culture medium, (3) culture medium with a culture plate insert, and (4) 100 μg/mL Emdogain-gel added onto a culture plate insert. The culture plate insert prevented direct contact between Emdogain-gel and the cells. After 3-day incubation, cell morphology was examined and the total cell number per well was counted. Data were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA. Results Emdogain-gel significantly increased cell number of both osteoblasts and odontoblasts regardless the presence of the culture plate insert. Conclusion Emdogain-gel stimulates cell proliferation of odontoblasts and osteoblasts. The direct contact between Emdogain-gel and cells is not required. Heat treatment of EMD and premix with propylene glycol alginate did not change its property of releasing bioactive molecules for promoting cell proliferation.
The Development of Antarctic Katabatic Winds and Implications for the Coastal Ocean

The influence of katabatic winds on the Antarctic coastal waters is examined by using simple models of the ocean and atmosphere. A katabatic flow model incorporating Coriolis dynamics is solved analytically and another with nonlinear friction is solved numerically to provide wind stress to a two-layer coastal ocean model. The resulting solutions are evidently the first to incorporate Coriolis terms with a thermodynamic equation that includes compressional warming effects. The emphasis in this paper is on delineating the parameters that control the relative adjustment of the katabatic wind into alongshore and offshore components. By including nonlinear friction, it is shown that steeper slopes and weaker stratification tend to direct the wind more toward the ocean. It is further demonstrated that the katabatic forcing supports the strong polar easterlies (winds from the east) along the periphery of the continent and that the offshore extent should be dependent on the atmospheric Rossby deformation radius. The ocean model shows that significant downwelling occurs at the coast, while upwelling is predicted at a distance of the order of the ocean Rossby radius. An alongshore coastal jet from the east is found in the model and is evidently the manifestation of the east wind drift. The upwelling offshore may be a significant aspect of polynya formation and maintenance of the Antarctic divergence zone and contribute to the biological productivity of the region.
Work in progress - incorporating ethics and social responsibility in undergraduate engineering Education

One tactic that has not been effectively evaluated to increase the involvement of women and underrepresented minorities in engineering is the incorporation of a socially and ethically relevant framework in the teaching of engineering at the undergraduate level. In this research, we are characterizing the efforts currently utilized in universities to integrate social relevance and engineering in the curriculum. We are conducting a pilot study to evaluate the effects of these efforts on overall student interest in the field and retention, women and minority student interest and retention, and students' awareness of the overlap between society and technology. This study involves a pre- and post-semester survey of students in engineering courses that incorporate ethics and social responsibility to a greater or lesser degree. We plan to make suggestions for the most effective strategies currently used and to recommend new strategies to incorporate these issues in the engineering curriculum, with a focus on the attitudes of women and underrepresented minorities.