cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The detection of major genes in clinical populations

Abstract Family studies have shown that psychiatric disorders are strongly familial and appear to be transmitted from parents to offspring, often over many generations. Studies of monozygotic co-twins, and adopted-away offspring have led to the conclusion that psychiatric differences between affected and unaffected individuals along with the familial aggregation suggest that there are important specific major genetic factors. New technics are being developed for the detection of major genes in patients and their relatives and these methods will lead to the delineation of new syndromes associated with specific genotypes. In this paper new approaches for detecting major loci will be described. Firstly, methods for refining the phenotype will be given. The goal of this kind of analysis is to integrate clinical, psychosocial, and biological individuals into a single study so that new phenotypes can be defined which are more homogeneous and therefore, more likely to be the consequence of unitary genetic factors. A genetic model which includes both a major locus and a multifactorial model will be described. Second, sampling schemes for selecting sub-populations of particular interest will be given. The goal of these studies is the identification of groups who have a very high risk for developing an illness. Often the study of “high density” families greatly improves the likelyhood of detecting a major gene when the disorder includes a large proportion of phenocopies. Third, the feasibility and power of genetic linkage and association studies will be discussed. This approach is becoming more important because of recent discoveries in molecular biology. Finally, the study of multigenerational, extended pedigrees developed as a method for the detection of major loci will be discussed. Since affected individuals in a single kindred may be assumed to suffer a unitary disorder, problems of heterogeneity are reduced. The utility and limitations of this approach will be reviewed.
Fluid-Structure and Shock-Bubble Interaction Effects During Underwater Explosions Near Composite Structures

There is an increasing interest in the use of composites for marine/naval structures to reduce weight and maintenance cost, and to improve hydrodynamic and/or structural performance. In particular, recent works suggest that the use of a lightweight, soft core layer can significantly reduce the load transfer to the back layer of a sandwich structure when subjected to shock or impulse loads. The objective of this work is to investigate the role of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) and shock-bubble interaction in the transient response of composite structures during underwater explosions (UNDEX). The spatial distribution of UNDEX loads is different from uniform planar shocks due to the spherically propagating pressure front, and the temporal characteristics are also different due to the importance of shock-bubble interactions. Both effects influence the FSI response of the composite structure. A previously validated 2D Eulerian―Lagrangian numerical method is used to investigate fluid-structure and shock-bubble interaction effects during UNDEX near composite structures. Via a series of numerical experiments, the relative importance of different effects, namely, the Taylor's FSI effect (1963, "The Pressure and Impulse of Submarine Explosion Waves on Plates" Scientific Papers of G. I. Taylor, 3, pp. 287―303), the bending/stretching effect, the core compression effect, and the boundary effect, are quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated. Insights for practical modeling, analysis, and design of blast-resistant sandwich structures are also drawn from the analysis.
Demographic and Social Factors Associated with Homophobia and Fear of AIDS in a Community Sample

Examinations of demographic and social factors associated with homophobia and fear of AIDS are limited by the frequent use of homogeneous, college student samples and limited examination of interrelationships among variables. The present study examined community attitudes toward homosexuality and fear of HIV/AIDS as a function of age, education, race/ethnicity, religious affiliation, political party affiliation, and personal contact with homosexual individuals and persons living with HIV/AIDS. A community sample of 463 adults completed standardized measures of homophobia and fear of AIDS as well as demographic and social background items. When examined separately, each demographic and social factor assessed, with the exception of race/ethnicity, was associated with homophobia and all but race/ethnicity and political party affiliation were associated with fear of AIDS. However, when entered into multiple regression analyses, 24% of the variance in homophobia was predicted by a single variable, including only personal contact with homosexual individuals, while 18% of the variance in fear of AIDS was accounted for by five variables, including personal contact with homosexual individuals, religious affiliation, political affiliation, education, and personal contact with someone living with HIV/AIDS. Findings suggest that it is important to consider intercorrelations among social and demographic factors, particularly when considering homophobia.
Group Conformity Influence: A Proposed Measure

Summary Substantial measurement problems are encountered in evaluating group conformity influence. These measurement problems center around the need for a measure which takes into account (a) the relevant range of behavior or attitude alternatives in a given situation, (b) variation in group size, and (c) the probability of occurrence of any particular behavior or attitude pattern in a group, given the empirical distribution of behavior or attitude choices in the total subject-sample involved. This study compares two measures of group conformity influence which take these measurement problems into account; a multinominal based measure and a hypergeometric based measure. The findings of the study suggest that the hypergeometric measure appears to be more conceptually valid, while the multinomial measure may posses more strength statistically. However, these findings are far from conclusive and the present investigation serves to underscore the need for further research in this area if methodologically and ...
Characterization of DDGS Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry

DDGS is one of the main coproducts obtained from corn dry grind ethanol processing. Cake formation/agglomeration in DDGS has been recognized as a major problem in its flowability and long term storage. In our previous studies, the physical and flow properties of DDGS were investigated using the Carr powder tester and Jenike shear testing. In addition to those, the surface characteristics of DDGS are very important, as these properties will impact the resulting flow behavior of DDGS during storage, handling, and transportation. These types of properties, however, have not been determined for DDGS. As a first step toward that, the objective of this study was to characterize the glass transition temperature of various DDGS samples using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DDGS investigated included unmodified DDGS, reduced fat DDGS, de-waxed DDGS, and DDG. The glass transition was observed to occur near 20oC for all the samples. The next step in this research will be to link glass transition temperature with other physical and flow properties.
Managing iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis of pregnancy with a strategy of thrombus removal is safe and avoids post-thrombotic morbidity

Background Extensive deep venous thrombosis (DVT) during pregnancy is usually treated with anticoagulation alone, risking significant post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in young patients. Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and operative venous thrombectomy have been safely and effectively used in nonpregnant patients, demonstrating significant reduction in post-thrombotic morbidity. This report reviews short- and long-term outcomes of 13 patients with extensive DVT of pregnancy treated with a strategy of thrombus removal. Methods From 1999 to 2013, 13 patients with iliofemoral DVT during pregnancy were offered CDT, pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT), and/or venous thrombectomy. Gestational age ranged from 8 to 34 weeks. Fetal monitoring was performed throughout hospitalization. Radiation exposure was minimized with pelvic lead shields, focal fluoroscopy, and limited angiographic runs. Follow-up included objective vein evaluation using venous duplex and PTS assessment using the Villalta scale. Results CDT and/or PMT were used in 11 patients. Two patients underwent venous thrombectomy alone, and one patient had operative thrombectomy as an adjunct to CDT and PMT. Each patient had complete or near-complete thrombus resolution and rapid improvement in clinical symptoms. Eight of 11 having CDT or PMT underwent venoplasty and stenting of the involved iliac veins. Twelve of the 13 delivered healthy infants at term. One patient opted for termination of her pregnancy. Mean patient and gestational ages were 26 years and 26 weeks, respectively. Mean follow-up was 1.3 years, with only one recurrence. Duplex ultrasonography demonstrated patent veins in all but one patient and normal valve function in 10 patients. Eleven patients had Villalta scores Conclusions Extensive DVT of pregnancy can be effectively and safely treated with a strategy of thrombus removal, resulting in a patent venous system, normal valve function in many, prevention of PTS, and reduction in recurrence.
Low-cost fibre fabrication

Fabrication based on the vapour-phase reaction technique has proven to be the most cost-effective method for producing low-loss optical fibres. This is particularly true for silica-based materials and is now being investigated for fluoride-based glasses. The advantages accrue not only from the purity possible but from the flexibility of the process. This enables complex refractive-index structures to be fabricated that allow enhanced system performance. Advances toward low-cost fabrication have been made in all major processing techniques during the past few years. A review of the current status is presented.
Feeling of knowing for names in response to faces

Abstract Participants were asked to recall the names when shown photographs of faces in both a semantic task (Experiment 1) and an episodic task (Experiments 2 and 3). When recall failed, feeling of knowing (FOK) ratings were solicited. In addition, participants reported on the strategies that they used to make their ratings, whether they could recall other pieces of information (the target-accessibility strategy, e.g., Koriat, A. (1993). How do we know that? The accessibility model of the feeling of knowing. Psychological Review, 100, 609–639) or whether the faces simply looked familiar (the cue-familiarity strategy, e.g., Schwartz, B. L., & Metcalfe, J. (1992). Cue familiarity but not target accessibility enhances feeling of knowing ratings. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 18, 1074–1083). In all experiments, FOK ratings were fairly accurate in that participants were successful in predicting their performance on a subsequent recognition test. More importantly, participants reported using the cue-familiarity strategy more often, although they gave higher FOK ratings when they reported using the target-accessibility strategy. The FOK ratings that were given using the two strategies were equally accurate.
Metacarpal Titanium Elastic Nail insertion

Standard Titanium Elastic Nail (TEN; Synthes, Welwyn Garden City, UK) fixation requires a 2.5mm drilled entry point at the base of the metacarpal. This can damage soft tissues including the extensor tendon and also risks breaching the volar cortex. We recommend opening the dorsal metacarpal cortex with a curved artery clip (Fig 1). Initially, point the tip downwards to penetrate the cortex, turning the clip 180° to advance it down the medullary canal (Fig 2). The curve on the clip mimics the profile of a 2.0mm TEN (Fig 3) and its natural entry to the metacarpal. The less traumatic nature of this approach may lead to improved soft tissue protection. Figure 1 Entry point gained using clip to penetrate the near cortex Figure 2 Clip turned 180° to continue along medullary canal Figure 3 Titanium Elastic Nails, showing the curved profile
ELASTIC PROPERTIES OF TETRAGONAL PBTIO3 SINGLE CRYSTALS BY BRILLOUIN SCATTERING

Brillouin light scattering was used to obtain the elastic and piezoelectric constants for tetragonal PbTiO3 single crystals at room temperature. Approximately 170 measurements of longitudinal and transverse acoustic wave velocities were inverted using literature dielectric constant values to obtain the full set of elastic and piezoelectric constants. Our data indicate a greater electromechanical anisotropy in the polar c direction than previously reported, but are otherwise in general agreement with previous studies. We discuss briefly the degree to which individual elastic and piezoelectric constants are resolved.
Rational Hydrograph Method for Small Urban Watersheds

In this study, the rational method is expanded into the rational hydrograph method in which the time of concentration is considered as the system memory and the contributing rainfall depth to the present runoff rate is defined as the accumulated precipitation over the past up to the time of concentration. In doing so, the complete runoff hydrograph can be generated under a continuous nonuniform hyetograph. When the continuous hyetograph is uniform in time, the rational hydrograph method is reduced to the rational method. Using the moving average formulas developed in this study, the event-averaged time of concentration and runoff coefficient can be derived by the least-square method. A new formula for estimating the time of concentration was derived from 25 rainfall/runoff events observed in four urban watersheds. This approach was tested by laboratory observations, and rainfall/runoff events recorded from small watersheds in states of Maryland and Colorado.
Environmental Integrated Assessment via Monte Carlo Simulation with a Case Study of the Mid-Atlantic Region, USA

Environmental integrated assessments are often carried out via the aggregation of a set of environmental indicators. Aggregated indices derived from the same data set can differ substantially depending upon how the indicators are weighted and aggregated, which is often a subjective matter. This article presents a method of generating aggregated environmental indices in an objective manner via Monte Carlo simulation. Rankings derived from the aggregated indices within and between three Monte Carlo simulations were used to evaluate the overall environmental condition of the study area. Other insights, such as the distribution of good or bad values of indicators at a watershed and/or a subregion, were observed in the study.
Hotel/gaming companies and corporate governance

Corporate governance is a common topic for discussion both among public companies and in graduate schools of business. A well-functioning corporate audit committee is an essential part of good corporate governance. This article describes the evolution, duties, and composition of audit committees over the past 35 years. It also provides a comparison of the basic audit committee policies and procedures of the top restaurant companies with those of lodging companies.
Gaze-evoked amaurosis from vitreopapillary traction

Purpose We report four patients with gaze-evoked amaurosis attributable to incomplete posterior vitreous detachment and ensuing vitreopapillary traction. We present these cases to illustrate and extend the spectrum of vitreopapillary syndromes and to draw attention to vitreopapillary traction and its expected manifestations in both optic disk appearance and optic nerve and retinal function. Design This is a retrospective observational case series culled from tertiary neuro-ophthalmology practice. Methods Patients were evaluated with direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, Hruby (precorneal) lens, three-mirror Goldmann contact lens, macular contact lens, formal perimetry, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and orbital ultrasound. Results Four patients with gaze-evoked amaurosis had disk edema associated with a partial posterior vitreous separation. These patients were young and had atypical posterior vitreous detachments characterized by persisting vitreopapillary attachments. Conclusions Gaze-evoked amaurosis is a rare visual obscuration precipitated by changes in volitional gaze, usually associated with an underlying orbital mass. We extend its etiologies to implicate the vitreous through traction expressed at the optic disk. In our cases, vitreopapillary traction elevated the nerve head and eye movements precipitated transient visual phosphenes followed by gaze-evoked amaurosis caused by traction transmitted from the vitreous to superficial nerve fibers of the retina and disk.
Relationship between posterior tibial slope and rotation on axial alignment in total knee arthroplasty

Abstract Posterior tibial slope can help to decrease ligament tension during flexion in total knee arthroplasty. External rotation of the tibial component has also been advocated to facilitate patellar tracking. However, combined anteroposterior inclination and rotation can produce a change in axial alignment. A mathematical model was used to determine the relationship between tibial slope and rotation on axial alignment. Posterior slope of 10° and rotation of the tibial cut of 6° changes axial alignment by slightly > 1°. If a sloped tibial cut is internally rotated, slight valgus will occur. If a sloped tibial cut is externally rotated, slight varus will occur. If the tibial cut is sloped posteriorly and the cut or component is rotated, a change in axial alignment of the limb can occur. Malrotation of a sloped tibial cut should be avoided and when rotational position of the prosthesis is determined by inserting trial components, an assessment of limb alignment should be made before implanting the final components.
Electromagnetic Field Modeling of Appropriate Technology Generators for Rural Electrification Applications

Electrification of rural areas is a serious and continuing challenge in many regions of the world. A potential solution to this problem is to generate electricity within the rural community, using inexpensive, technologically simple, and socially and environmentally appropriate generators. If designs of these generators are open source -- that is, made freely available -- then they can enable micro-enterprises within the rural communities. The design of these generators is challenging due to the constraints that the generators must be manufacturable with common construction materials, tools and skill sets. Further insight is needed to simplify and reduce the costs of existing designs and to spur innovation in alternative designs. This paper contributes in this area by applying state-of-the-art electromagnetic field modeling software to evaluate generator designs for rural electrification applications. Models of two direct drive axial flux permanent magnet synchronous generators are examined. The models are verified by comparing predicted performance with actual performance of prototype generators. From the subsequent analysis, insights are gained for the improvement and simplification of the generator designs.
AIDS PREVENTION: IMPROVING NURSES' COMPLIANCE WITH GLOVE WEARING THROUGH PERFORMANCE FEEDBACK

A performance feedback procedure was used to increase glove wearing by nurses in a hospital emergency room in situations in which contact with body fluids was highly likely. Infection-control nurses provided biweekly performance feedback to staff nurses on an individual private basis to inform them of the percentage of contact opportunities in which they wore gloves. Observations made prior to (baseline) and during feedback in a multiple baseline design across 4 subjects indicated that substantial increases in glove wearing in target situations occurred after implementation of the feedback program and that increases occurred across most of the specific situations in which glove wearing was advised. Percentage increases in glove wearing ranged from 22% to 49% across subjects. The results are discussed in terms of prevention of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) by use of universal precautions.
A Rare Multiple-Gestation Anomaly Thoraco-Omphalopagus

Conjoined twins are a rare anomaly. The classification of twinning that accounts for the majority of conjoined twins is thoraco-omphalopagus. This report discusses a case of female thoraco-omphalop...
A comparison of two group methods of teaching communication skills to high school students

Abstract The effects of two small group methods of teaching communication skills to adolescents were investigated. Significant effects were noted for sex but not for extroversion/introversion.
Mixed κ agonists and μ agonists/Antagonists as potential pharmacotherapeutics for cocaine abuse: synthesis and opioid receptor binding affinity of N-substituted derivatives of morphinan

A series of new N-substituted derivatives of morphinan was synthesized and their binding affinity for the three opioid receptors (mu, delta, and kappa) was determined. A paradoxical effect of N-propargyl (MCL-117) and N-(3-iodoprop-(2E)-enyl) (MCL-118) substituents on the binding affinities for the mu and kappa opioid receptors was observed. All of these novel derivatives showed a preference for the mu and kappa versus delta binding.
Patient vaccine awareness in an ob-gyn setting

Objective: To better understand patient vaccine awareness, a survey was tested in ob-gyn continuity teaching clinics to evaluate patient preferences and their knowledge about their immunization status. Methods: Masked questionnaires were offered to ob-gyn patients attending two geographically distinct clinic sites. The survey contained 12 yes/no or multiple-choice questions exploring demographic, recollection, and preference items concerning vaccine-preventable diseases. Chi-square analysis was used for categoric data, and the Student t test was used for continuous data. Results: A total of 228 surveys were completed (Site 1 = 101; Site 2 = 127). No significant differences were seen between the two clinics for any of the variables tested. The mean (+ SD) patient age for the study population was 27.4 (±10.6) years. Prenatal care was the most frequent clinic visit indication (57.0%). Only 25.6% of the subjects reported having documentation of their childhood vaccine information, and only 15.5% had documentation of adult vaccine information. Of the vaccine-preventable diseases surveyed, fewer than half of the respondents reported adequate protection (either by vaccination or prior exposure) against measles (30.5%), varicella (48.5%), hepatitis B (36.1%), or tetanus (43.1%). Annual vaccination against influenza was uncommon (23.6%). Family medicine/internist office was the most frequently reported site of vaccine administration (28.6%), followed by ob-gyn (21.7%) and health department (10.3%). The remaining 39.4% reported having no designated vaccination site. Of note, the overwhelming majority (84.0%) expressed the desire to use their ob-gyn for such services if they were available. Conclusions: The majority of patients surveyed have no documentation of their vaccination history. By patient recall, most are not adequately immunized against a number of vaccine-preventable diseases. Although most patients do not use their ob-gyn’s office for vaccine administration, they clearly would like this service to be available.
Isolation of nucleoli in a medium containing spermine and magnesium acetate

Abstract Studies are presented on the effects of polycations on the ultrastructure of nucleoli. When tumor cells were homogenized in 0.25 M sucrose lacking divalent ions, polyamines or histones, the nucleolar structure was difficult to identify and nucleolar components appeared to be dispersed. Addition of arginine-rich histones and some slightly lysine-rich histones as well as polyamines to the sucrose medium used for homogenization preserved nucleolar structure with respect to ultrastructural morphology. Addition of protamines, spermine and spermidine to the homogenization medium containing sucrose produced compact and dense nucleoli. These results suggested that a practical procedure for isolation of nucleoli could be developed in which the polyamines were used and a combination of 15 m M Mg 2+ and 0.25 m M spermine was found to provide a satisfactory addition to 0.25 M sucrose for maintenance of nucleolar integrity. Nucleoli isolated from liver cells homogenized in a medium containing this combination were found to be similar in morphology and composition to those obtained with the sucrose medium containing calcium ion. The yields were essentially the same.
A fully atomistic model of an amorphous polybenzoxazine at bulk density

Abstract A recent rotational isomeric state (RIS) model for a polybenzoxazine (PBO) was used for generation of a fully atomistic model for the amorphous material at its bulk density of 1.1 g cm−3. The initial structure was relaxed by a combination of molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics. There is a decrease in the number of hydrogen bonds during this relaxation. The solubility parameter calculated from the model is 8.3±0.7 (cal cm−3)1/2. The distribution of dihedral angles in the bulk state is broader than the distribution in the RIS model. There is a correlation in the orientation of two phenyl rings if they are separated by less than 5 A, but no correlation otherwise. The free volume was evaluated using spherical probes of different radii, and its size and shape were evaluated using the probe of radius 1.0 A. The shape distribution of the voids was characterized in terms of the ratio of the principal moments of the radius of gyration tensor, and was found to be very similar to that of an unperturbed chain. Thus the asymmetry of the large voids can be described by a gaussian distribution. The non-polar side chain methyl groups were enriched around the voids.
Heavy as a Feather: On Agnieszka Woznicka’s Birdy, Object Animation and the Moral Gravity of Things

Digital technology now defines our representational order. Paradoxically, digital hegemony creates new conditions for the representation of materiality through the loss of the photographic index. Object animation is especially well able to stage this emerging conception of materiality. Woznicka’s object animation film Birdy creates an allegory of materiality in addition to representing it. The film foregrounds its main character’s project, the construction of wings, and the ethical implications of treating materials as mere resource for human use. Elements of the narrative structure and the camera work give the materials used in the character’s project a moral standing in the film, which draws audience and filmmaker, as well as the character, into an ethical situation which is significant to our shared moment in the digital era.
Evidence that NMDA-dependent limbic neural plasticity in the right hemisphere mediates pharmacological stressor (FG-7142)-induced lasting increases in anxiety-like behavior: study 3--the effects on amygdala efferent physiology of block of NMDA receptors prior to injection of FG-7142 and its relationship to behavioral change.

The findings of this study support the hypothesis that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors mediate the initiation of long-term potentiation (LTP) and behavioral changes induced by the anxiogenic β-carboline, FG- 7142. Unlike previous work, this study examined the effects of FG-7142 on LTP of amygdala efferents in both hemispheres. 7-amino-phosphono-heptanoic acid (AP7), a competitive NMDA receptor blocker, given prior to administration of FG-7142, prevented LTP in amygdala efferent transmission to the medial hypothalamus and periacqueductal gray (PAG). When given FG-7142 alone, cats showed lasting behavioral changes accompanied by LTP in all pathways studied. Duration of LTP, and its relationship to behavioral change, depended on the pathway and the hemisphere of the pathway Correlation and covariance analyses indicate that LTP in the left amygdalo-ventromedial hypothalamic pathway mediates initiation, but not maintenance, of increased defensiveness. This finding replicates previous work. A new finding ...
The political economy of 'trauma' in Haiti in the democratic era of insecurity.

This article explores the challenges that emerge at the intersection of economies of compassion and terror: local, national, and international forms of humanitarian assistance; security practices in insecure social and institutional environments; questions of victimization and global reparations; and quests for justice, as revealed through an analysis of political violence and humanitarian interventions in Haiti during and after the 1991-94 coup period. Each domain is constrained by politics and history but can engender "occult economies" that challenge the intended consequences of restitution policies at international, national, and local levels of exchange. 'Trauma' and discourses about traumatic suffering are the hinge around which these economies pivot, generating new forms of political sub- jectivity for Haitian activists.
Organic bromine as a source of electrophilic bromine in aqueous chlorination reactions

Abstract Aqueous HOCl displaces p -bromo substituents from phenol and aniline nuclei to produce an electrophilic species capable of brominating some aromatic compounds.
Fourier phase domain steganography: phase bin encoding via interpolation

In recent years there has been an increased interest in audio steganography and watermarking. This is due primarily to two reasons. First, an acute need to improve our national security capabilities in light of terrorist and criminal activity has driven new ideas and experimentation. Secondly, the explosive proliferation of digital media has forced the music industry to rethink how they will protect their intellectual property. Various techniques have been implemented but the phase domain remains a fertile ground for improvement due to the relative robustness to many types of distortion and immunity to the Human Auditory System. A new method for embedding data in the phase domain of the Discrete Fourier Transform of an audio signal is proposed. Focus is given to robustness and low perceptibility, while maintaining a relatively high capacity rate of up to 172 bits/s.
Green's function Monte Carlo method for liquid /sup 3/He

The Green's function Monte Carlo method, which yields an exact ground-state solution to the Schroedinger equation for Bose systems, is applied to liquid /sup 3/He, a fermion system. With use of a technique that projects out states of selected symmetry, strict upper bounds to the ground-state energy of many-fermion systems are constructed. It is found that such an upper bound for liquid /sup 3/He of -2.20 +- 0.05 /sup 0/K at the experimental equilibrium density. This energy is more than 1 /sup 0/K below Jastrow variational results, and much nearer the experimental value of -2.47 +- 0.01 /sup 0/K.
Evolutionary Design of Controlled Structures

Basic physical concepts of structural delay and transmissibility are provided for simple rod and beam structures. Investigations show the sensitivity of these concepts to differing controlled-structures variables, and to rational system modeling effects. An evolutionary controls/structures design method is developed. The basis of the method is an accurate model formulation for dynamic compensator optimization and Genetic Algorithm based updating of sensor/actuator placement and structural attributes. One and three dimensional examples from the literature are used to validate the method. Frequency domain interpretation of these controlled structure systems provide physical insight as to how the objective is optimized and consequently what is important in the objective. Several disturbance rejection type controls-structures systems are optimized for a stellar interferometer spacecraft application. The interferometric designs include closed loop tracking optics. Designs are generated for differing structural aspect ratios, differing disturbance attributes, and differing sensor selections. Physical limitations in achieving performance are given in terms of average system transfer function gains and system phase loss. A spacecraft-like optical interferometry system is investigated experimentally over several different optimized controlled structures configurations. Configurations represent common and not-so-common approaches to mitigating pathlength errors induced by disturbances of two different spectra. Results show that an optimized controlled structure for low frequency broadband disturbances achieves modest performance gains over a mass equivalent regular structure, while an optimized structure for high frequency narrow band disturbances is four times better in terms of root-mean-square pathlength. These results are predictable given the nature of the physical system and the optimization design variables. Fundamental limits on controlled performance are discussed based on the measured and fit average system transfer function gains and system phase loss.
Chemiluminescence in the gas-phase reaction between ozone and allene

Abstract The reaction between ozone and allene is accompanied by chemiluminescence extending from 325–525 nm. The well-resolved spectrum obtained is that of electronically excited formaldehyde (1A2). Unlike the case for mono-olefins studied by Finlayson and Pitts [1] no other emission was seen.
Pareto Optimal Solutions Visualization Techniques for Multiobjective Design and Upgrade of Instrumentation Networks

Instrumentation networks are essential for the proper operation of chemical plants. This paper addresses the problem of designing and upgrading instrumentation networks. A multiobjective approach is selected to solve the optimization problem, instead of the traditional minimum cost formulation. This paper proposes two methodologies for the visualization of Pareto optimal solutions (POSs) for the design and upgrade of sensor networks: one is based on projections of the POS onto specific two-dimensional surfaces, and the second is the representation of the problem in parallel coordinates systems. The proposed network design algorithms enable the decision maker to see several candidate solutions for the network configuration, and at the same time, they allow the number of candidates to be narrowed to satisfy the decision maker’s specifications.
Simultaneous Solution of the Inviscid Flow and Boundary Layers for Compressor Cascades

absence of buoyancy forces, is stable to small disturbances, in contradiction to the experimental results of Block. The cellular instability which he observed perhaps was the result of some small but unknown surface contamination or, possibly, it can only be explained by nonlinear stability theory. It also might be useful to repeat the experiments to determine the range of parameters over which the observed instability occurs.
Elastin stabilization in cardiovascular implants: improved resistance to enzymatic degradation by treatment with tannic acid

The long-term performance of tissue-derived, glutaraldehyde (Glut)-treated cardiovascular implants such as prosthetic heart valves and vascular grafts is limited by the bio-degeneration of tissue components. While collagen is satisfactorily preserved by Glut, elastin is not stabilized and is highly vulnerable to degradation. The aim of our studies was to develop methods for efficient stabilization of elastin and subsequently reduce its vulnerability towards enzymatic degradation. More specifically, we investigated the use of tannic acid (TA)1 as a novel agent that specifically targets elastin stabilization. Basic investigations on in vitro interactions between Glut, TA and pure aortic elastin provided clear evidence that Glut treatment does not protect elastin from enzymatic degradation. TA bound to elastin in a time-dependent pattern and this binding increased the resistance of elastin to enzymatic degradation. In addition, when TA was used in mixture with Glut, the kinetic of TA binding to elastin was enhanced and this was translated into improved elastin stabilization. Our results clearly documented the superiority of TA as an elastin-stabilizing agent by comparison with the commonly utilized Glut-based tissue crosslinking techniques.
Autophagy in Cardiac Plasticity and Disease

The heart is a highly plastic organ. In response to the physiological stress of normal life, as well as the pathological stress of disease, the myocardium manifests robust and rapid changes in mass. In the context of disease-associated stress, this myocardial remodeling response can culminate in ventricular thinning, mechanical dysfunction, and a clinical syndrome of heart failure. Recently, autophagy, a process of cellular cannibalization, has been implicated in many of these remodeling reactions. In some settings, the autophagic response is beneficial and pro-survival; in other contexts, it is maladaptive and promotes disease progression. Together, these observations raise the intriguing prospect of targeting maladaptive autophagy and advancing cell survival-promoting, adaptive autophagy to benefit patients with heart disease.
Costs and Benefits of Head-Up Display Use: A Meta-Analytic Approach

Costs and benefits associated with head-up display (HUD) use were assessed by analyzing data obtained from studies in the aviation domain. 18 studies investigating the use of HUDs, head-down displays, and conformal displays were included in analyses of flight path tracking and event detection performance. HUD and conformality benefits consisted of faster detection responses to changes in symbology and presentation of traffic, as well as increased flight path tracking accuracy.
Malaria resistance: artificial induction with a partially purified plasmodial fraction.

Plasmodium berghei were released from mouse erythrocytes by passage through a French pressure cell. The released organisms were washed and disintegrated; the soluble portion was chromatographed on a Sephadex (G-200) column. The void-volume eluate contained an erythrocyte-free plasmodial fraction which behaved as a vaccine, preventing parasitemia, anemia, and death in mice subsequently challenged with living Plasmodium berghei .
Microwave-Induced Cooling of a Superconducting Qubit

We demonstrated microwave-induced cooling in a superconducting flux qubit. The thermal population in the first-excited state of the qubit is driven to a higher-excited state by way of a sideband transition. Subsequent relaxation into the ground state results in cooling. Effective temperatures as low as ≈3 millikelvin are achieved for bath temperatures of 30 to 400 millikelvin, a cooling factor between 10 and 100. This demonstration provides an analog to optical cooling of trapped ions and atoms and is generalizable to other solid-state quantum systems. Active cooling of qubits, applied to quantum information science, provides a means for qubit-state preparation with improved fidelity and for suppressing decoherence in multi-qubit systems.
Enamel Structure Properties Controlled by Engineered Proteins in Transgenic Mice

Amelogenin protein has regulatory effects on enamel biofabrication in mammalian tooth. Using teeth obtained from transgenic mice that express two separate protein-engineered versions of amelogenins, we made structure-nanomechanical properties correlations and showed 21% hardness and 24% elastic modulus degradation compared with the age-matched wildtype littermates. We attribute the inferior properties to the disorganization of the protein matrix resulting in defective mineral formation. Introduction: Enamel is a bioceramic initiated by the biosynthesis of a complex mixture of proteins that undergoes self-assembly to produce a super molecular ensemble that controls the nucleation and habit of the crystalline mineral phase. Ultimately, the inorganic crystals grow to almost fully replace the organic phase. This biofabrication process occurs at physiologic conditions of pH, temperature, pressure, and ion concentration and results in the hardest tissue in the vertebrate body, with the largest and longest substituted-hydroxyapatite crystals known to biomineralizing systems. The most abundant protein of forming mammalian enamel, amelogenin, has been shown to have a significant regulatory effect on this complex process. Materials and Methods: In this work, we present the effect of protein engineering of amelogenin on the mechanical properties of the resultant mouse enamel. We have produced two types of transgenic animals that express separate versions of amelogenin proteins that lack the required self-assembly domains. The resultant matured enamel was extensively characterized for its mechanical properties at the nanoscale by means of nanoindentation and atomic force microscopy (AFM). These techniques have enabled us to probe the mechanical properties that are representative of a single enamel rod. Results: Our nanoindentation measurements have revealed that the altered amelogenin with dysfunctional self-assembly properties resulted in a degradation by as much as 21% in hardness and 24% in elastic modulus compared with the age-matched wildtype littermates. Furthermore, the enamel formed by these defective proteins is found to display a decrease in indentation surface pile-up volume by up to 32%. Conclusions: We attribute these inferior mechanical properties for the enamel grown by the engineered amelogenins to result from the disorganization of the nanospheres formed in the protein matrix starting at the mineral nucleation stage with a consequential alteration to the fully grown mineral component. By engineering the properties of proteins that contribute to the nanoscale level of hierarchy in enamel biomineralization, it is possible to regulate the properties of the resulting bioceramic at the mesoscale level of the tissue.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Superinfection and Recombination: Current State of Knowledge and Potential Clinical Consequences

Superinfection with multiple strains or subtypes of the human and simian immunodeficiency viruses has been documented. Recent increases in the prevalences of both unprotected anal intercourse and sexually transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men indicate that these men continue to practice unsafe sex and, therefore, are at risk for superinfection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Recurrent exposure to HIV among seropositive individuals who engage in high-risk behaviors can have serious consequences, because superinfection is a necessary first step for viral recombination to occur. Recombination may produce more virulent viruses, drug-resistant viruses, or viruses with altered cell tropism. Additionally, recombinant viruses and superinfection can accelerate disease progression and increase the likelihood of sexual transmission by increasing virus load in the blood and genital tract. The extent of superinfection and recombination in persons living with HIV is unknown. The implications of HIV superinfection and the generation of recombinant viruses are discussed.
The joint asymptotic distribution of multistep prediction errors of estimated vector autoregressions

Abstract The joint asymptotic distribution of multistep prediction errors of an estimated stationary vector autoregressive process is given under the assumption that the order of the underlying process is unknown. This result can, for instance, be used to derive the asymptotic distribution of prediction errors of certain non-stationary processes.
Age-related increase in soluble and cell surface-associated neurite-outgrowth factors from rat muscle.

Abstract While the number of nerve terminals per endplate decreases with age in the rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle, the number of endplates exhibiting ultraterminal sprouting, characteristics of denervation, increases. To determine if these changes associated with aging are accompanied by alterations in the production of muscle-derived neurite-outgrowth factors, we examined the effects of soluble and cell surface-associated components from innervated and denervated 10- and 25-month rat EDL muscles on a motoneuron-enriched fraction of embryonic chick spinal cord cells in vitro. Cells were cultured for 72 h with muscle extract or on muscle cross-sections. While soluble components of the extract affected initiation of neurite outgrowth, muscle cell surface-associated molecules influenced neurite elongation. Both muscle extract and muscle cross-sections from 10-month denervated animals were more effective in promoting neurite outgrowth than 10-month innervated muscle. There was no difference between 25-month innervated and 25-month denervated muscle. However, 25-month innervated and denervated muscles were significantly more effective in promoting neurite outgrowth than 10-month innervated muscle, but not different from 10-month denervated muscle. These results suggest that an age-related increase in muscle-derived soluble and cell surface-associated neurite-outgrowth factors may contribute to denervation-like morphological changes associated with aging at the neuromuscular junction.
Component Reliability Considerations for New Designs and Extended Operation of Boiling Water Reactor (BWRs)

To achieve high reliability for new designs and extended operation of Reactor Pressure Vessels and Internals it is mandatory to apply the technical knowledge gained during operation of the existing Plants to assure that sufficient “Margin” is built into the new design. This paper discusses the importance of four key structural degradation mechanisms that have been shown by operational experience to affect the reliability of the BWR. These are: 1) Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) of Stainless Steel and Nickel-based Alloys; 2) Irradiation Assisted SCC (IASCC) of Stainless Steel and Nickel-based Alloys; 3) Irradiation Embrittlement of RPV low alloy Steel; 4) Corrosion Assisted Fatigue of Carbon and Low Alloy Steel. While the focus of this paper is the BWR, the mechanisms discussed are equally applicable to the PWR, although the water chemistry effects and mitigations will be different.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Stimulus generalization of a positive conditioned reinforcer.

Stimulus generalization has been observed for discriminative, eliciting, and emotional functions of stimuli. In our study, in order to investigate the generalization of the reinforcing function of stimuli, pigeons were trained in a Skinner box to peck at an unlighted key to obtain aperiodic, brief exposures of light at a wavelength of 550 mµ, the positive conditioned reinforcer, which was immediately followed by food reward. Testing in extinction, we obtained generalization gradients for the number of responses and the time the pigeons expended to produce exposures on the unlighted key of 550 mµ, 530 mµ) 510 mµ, or no light. This finding suggests that stimulus generalization occurs with all functions of stimuli.
Lifestyle Is the Medicine, Culture Is the Spoon: The Covariance of Proposition and Preposition*

We have known now for a span of decades that the leading causes of premature death and chronic disease in the United States and increasingly around the world are behavioral factors under our potent...
Probe Length and Filling Material Effects on Thermal Conductivity Determined by a Maximum Slope Data Reduction Method

The influence of probe length to diameter ratio (X) and filling material on the thermal conductivity (k) probe technique was studied using glycerol with probes of four different λs (4.1, 7.5, 13.6, and 54.3) filled with either high k paste or air by applying a maximum slope data reduction method. Statistical analysis showed the highly significant influence of X and significant influence of the filling material. Noncalibrated k values of the smallest X probes were 93% above the published value, whereas those of the largest λ probes were virtually identical to the published value. Separate measurements on chocolate pudding and starch gels showed that 7.5 X k were virtually identical to the largest X probe k when the former probes had been calibrated using glycerol. The use of short air-filled probes is not recommended when the maximum slope method is applied.