cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Viral Resistance in Hepatitis B: Prevalence and Management

Hepatitis B is a DNA virus affecting hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. As the clinical sequelae of cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer are increasingly recognized to be related to viral levels, the impetus increases to offer treatment to those previously not treated. With the development of more robust antivirals with reasonable safety profiles, long-term treatment is becoming more common. The oral nucleos(t)ide analogs have become the preferred first-line therapies for most genotypes of hepatitis B. Five are now available, all with different potencies and resistance profiles. Long-term data spanning several years are now available for most compounds in this arena. This article focuses on the common natural variants and those secondary to nucleos(t)ide therapy, as well as diagnostic methods to detect resistance.
Quantification of denitrification by strain T1 during anaerobic degradation of toluene.

Strain T1 is a denitrifying bacterium that is capable of toluene degradation under anaerobic conditions. During anaerobic growth on toluene, the specific growth rate of strain T1 was 0.14 h−1. Nitrite accumulated in the medium stoichiometrically with the depletion of nitrate. When nitrate was nearly depleted from the medium nitrite reduction and dinitrogen formation began. A non-kinetic model was formulated that was based on a hypothesis of non-simultaneous nitrate and nitrite reduction, independent of the concentrations of nitrate and nitrite. The model was verified experimentally over a wide range of conditions that included nitrate and nitrite limitation, toluene limitation, and various ratios of nitrate to nitrite. The model and its experimental verification demonstrated that strain T1 reduces nitrate and nitrite non-simultaneously, even if nitrite is initially present in the medium in addition to nitrate.
The Function of Imitation in Child Language

The use and function of imitation were examined for seven children in the early syntactic period of language acquisition. The use of imitation was determined by the percent of syntactic imitation o...
Adolescent Rumination Syndrome

Rumination syndrome is the non-purposeful regurgitation of recently ingested food from the stomach to the mouth, where it is either expelled or reswallowed. Adolescent rumination syndrome (ARS) is a rare condition of which many physicians are unaware. Patients often are misdiagnosed or undergo costly testing, and as a result, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. While ARS is not life-threatening, it does have medical and emotional effects on the patient and the patient’s family. Diagnosis of ARS is based upon the Rome III diagnostic criteria. Antroduodenal manometry, while not required for a diagnosis, can be helpful to confirm the diagnosis. The pathogenesis of this disorder is complex and not well understood. However, because of its behavioral component, treatment of ARS requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes both medical management of symptoms and implementation of strategies that address behavioral, psychological, and general quality-of-life components of the disorder.
Processes for production of high-purity metal powders

Production of high-quality metal powders is becoming important to meet the increasing demand for manufacturing advanced materials. A number of standard powder production techniques have been developed to meet the increasing demand for high-purity metal powders. This paper discusses the different techniques of producing metal powder.
Microtubule bundles in the hindgut epithelium of the woodlouse Oniscus ascellus.

Cytoplasmic microtubules are now recognized as universal components of both plant and animal cells ( 10, 15, 16 ) and have been strongly implicated as intracellular cytoskeletal elements. In addition to supplying asymmetric cells with both structural rigidity and form (e.g., 3, 5, 18 ), roles have been suggested for microtubules as orienting structures with respect to cellular organelles (e.g., 12, 15 ) and as units involved in contractile processes and cell movement (e.g., 7, 14 ). In many cells, systems of microtubules have been observed for which no immediate function could be postulated. The present study describes an unusual system of microtubular bundles in the hindgut epithelial cells of the terrestrial isopod, Oniscus ascellus . These cells, which bear certain resemblances to cells thought to be involved in the movement of water and ions, display considerable intracellular polarization, especially with respect to their mitochondrial populations. The electron micrographs presented here strongly suggest a correlation between the microtubular elements and the oriented structural arrangements of the cell.
Surface waves on water of non-uniform depth

Gravity waves occur on the surface of a liquid such as water, and the manner in which they propagate depends upon its depth. Although this dependence is described in principle by the equations of the ‘exact linear theory’ of surface waves, these equations have not been solved except in some special cases. Therefore, oceanographers have been unable to use the theory to describe surface wave propagation in water whose depth varies in a general way. Instead they have employed a simplified geometrical optics theory for this purpose (see, for example, Sverdrup & Munk (1944)). It has been used very successfully, and consequently various attempts, only partially successful, have been made to deduce it from the exact linear theory. It is the purpose of this article to present a derivation which appears to be satisfactory and which also yields corrections to the geometrical optics theory.
Vision disorders and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors: a review of the evidence to date.

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors (sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil) have been in widespread use for the safe and effective treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) for nearly a decade. During that time, a relatively small number of patients have experienced adverse visual events, including nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION). In this article, post-marketing reports of adverse visual events along with other relevant literature on ocular safety related to PDE-5 inhibitor use are reviewed. Although a relatively small number of cases have been reported with a possible temporal association with PDE-5 inhibitor use, it has not been possible to conclude whether these events are coincidental or whether they are associated with effects of PDE-5 inhibitors on ocular circulation or on other structures of the eye. A careful review of pooled data from clinical trials for all three PDE-5 inhibitors, which contain well documented information about the dose and duration of exposure to the drug for a large number of patients, yields no evidence for an increased risk of NAION or other adverse ocular events associated with PDE-5 inhibitor use. However, the inherent limitations in interpreting results from clinical trials and potentially incomplete information from post-marketing surveillance preclude a definitive declaration that ocular safety will not be a concern for some patients with ED and comorbid disease states. Despite the absence of a proven link between PDE-5 use and serious ocular disorders, physicians should continue to advise patients to stop use of a PDE-5 inhibitor and seek immediate medical attention in the event of a sudden loss of vision as a safety measure.
The incremental commitment spiral model (ICSM): principles and practices for successful systems and software (Abstract Only)

This paper summarizes the Incremental Commitment Spiral Model (ICSM), a process model generator that enables organizations to determine which process model, or combination of models, best fits the needs of each system.
Enhancing the output current of a CdTe solar cell via a CN-free hydrocarbon luminescent down-shifting fluorophore with intramolecular energy transfer and restricted internal rotation characteristics.

A CN-free hydrocarbon fluorophore (Perylene-TPE) was synthesized as a new luminescent down-shifting (LDS) material. Its photophysical properties in both the solution state and the solid state were studied. The unity fluorescence quantum yield of Perylene-TPE observed in its solid state is considered to be from the characteristics of intramolecular energy transfer (IET) and restricted internal rotation (RIR). This is supported by the results from theoretical calculations and spectroscopic measurements. For the photovoltaic application of Perylene-TPE, a theoretical modeling study suggests that using the LDS film of Perylene-TPE may increase the output short circuit current density (Jsc) of a CdTe solar cell by 2.95%, enhance the spectral response of a CdTe solar cell at 400 nm by 41%, and shift the incident solar photon distribution from short-wavelength ( 500 nm). Experimentally, placing a LDS film of Perylene-TPE on a CdTe solar cell can enhance its output Jsc by as high as 3.30 ± 0.31%, which is comparable to the current commercially available LDS material – Y083 (3.28% ± 0.37%).
An action spectrum for 8-methoxypsoralen-sensitized inhibition of DNA synthesis in vivo.

The wavelength dependence for 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP)-sensitized inhibition of scheduled DNA synthesis was investigated in the epidermis of albino hairless mice. Topical (0.1%) applications of 8-MOP followed by exposure to narrow bands from a monochromator in the range of 300-380 nm produced a dose-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis. Prior treatment with 8-MOP did not alter the dose-dependent inhibition of DNA synthesis following exposure to 300 nm and to 310 nm. By contrast, DNA synthesis inhibition following exposure to UVA wavelengths was seen only after treatment with 8-MOP. An action spectrum, constructed from the doseresponse regression lines, showed peak effectiveness at 335 nm. Since the therapeutic usefulness of psoralen photochemotherapy may be related to inhibition of cell proliferation, it is suggested that light sources with peak emission in the 335-nm region would be more efficient than the commonly employed UVA blacklights.
Biologically Defined Soil Organic Matter Pools as Affected by Rotation and Tillage

The importance of soil organic matter is well recognized; however, changes in C and N fractions are inadequately quantified. The objective of this study was to determine tillage and crop rotation effects on soil organic C and N fractions from a long-term (27-year) study in eastern Kansas. Cropping systems included continuous and rotation sequences of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) on a Muir silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Cumulic Haplustolls). Tillage included conventional (CT), reduced (RT), and no-till (NT). Total C and N (CT and NT) were determined on all treatments. Mineralizable C and N (Co and No) and microbial biomass C and N were determined for the NT and CT soybean and sorghum rotations. Cropping systems that included wheat contained the greatest amount of CT and NT. Continuous wheat contained 2910 g C m−2 and 287 g N m−2, compared to 2225 g C m−2 and 222 g N m−2 (0–15 cm) for continuous soybean. No-tillage contained 1128 g C m−2 and 109 g N m−2 at 0–5 cm compared to 918 g C m−2 and 87 g N m−2 for CT. Sorghum contained 51% more Co than soybean, and NT accounted for 59% more Co than CT. More crop residue was produced and retained in rotations that included sorghum. No-tillage increased C 2440 kg ha−1, while CT increased C 340 kg ha−1 across all soybean/sorghum rotations. The highest sequestration rate (122 kg C ha−1 y−1) was observed with NT sorghum and was equivalent to ∼3.2% of the plant material (root and shoot, less gain harvest) remaining in the soil annually.
Optimum actuator placement, gain, and number for a two-dimensional grillage

A technique for determining the best actuator locations, actuator gains, and number of actuators is presented with results obtained for a two-dimensional grillage model. The technique minimizes the sum of the actuator gains and it is shown for the example studied that this minimum is constant for a large variation in the number of actuators. Comparisons are made between force and torque actuators, and system stability is guaranteed throughout the design process.
Economic expectations, fuzzy sets and financial planning

Abstract Expectations are the constructs agents use to incorporate uncertainty into their decision-making problems. Every financial problem of significance is forward-looking, which compels us to include uncertainty into modeling. In this paper we concentrate on corporate financial planning. The high level of detail in conventional planning models has been obtained at the cost of excluding uncertainty, which cripples those models for practical purposes. In contrast, fuzzy sets-based quantitative methodologies are able to incorporate uncertainty into the planning model. The use of such methodology requires a simplification strategy to deal with the complexity of financial planning.
Computational aerodynamics education at the US Air Force Academy

A new undergraduate course in computational aerodynamics was developed several years ago that gives students experience with the modern computational tools of aerodynamics, primarily from an applications perspective. While introducing students to the important computational topics of accuracy and stability, the course stresses the practical tools that computational aerodynamics requires: importance of understanding the physical problem, developing a good grid, checking results for convergence and accuracy, understanding how to accurately simulate flows, and the importance of modern flow visualisation capabilities. A number of ‘lessons learned’ have resulted from teaching the course, which has led to an evolution of the course contents and software used. An updated description of the course contents and improvements to the course are provided, as well as samples of projects and tutorials used in the course. Provided appropriate attention and support is available, undergraduate students can learn computational aerodynamics at a level that will make them intelligent users of modern computational aerodynamics tools.
Vancomycin Use in Patients Discharged From the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

Abstract Background Infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and are typically treated with intravenous vancomycin. Given vancomycin's time-dependent mechanism of action, it is unlikely that vancomycin administration in the emergency department (ED) prior to disposition home could be beneficial. Study Objectives To characterize the indications, dosing, and appropriateness of vancomycin use in patients discharged from the ED. Methods This is a single-center retrospective observational cohort study of patients who received vancomycin in an urban, academic, tertiary care ED. The subjects were consecutive adult patients administered intravenous vancomycin in the ED and then discharged home over an 18-month period. Outcomes were measured 1) to characterize patients receiving vancomycin prior to discharge home from the ED; and 2) to identify patients that did not meet indications for appropriate use based on the 2011 Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for treating MRSA infections. Results There were 526 patients that received vancomycin in the ED prior to discharge during the study period. In this cohort, 368 (70%) patients were diagnosed with skin and soft tissue infections. A MRSA risk factor was present in 396 (75%) patients. Prior to discharge, one dose of vancomycin was administered to 357 (68%) patients. Underdosing of vancomycin occurred in 239 (73%) patients. Conclusions Vancomycin was given frequently to patients discharged home from the ED, most commonly for conditions where vancomycin was not indicated, such as skin and soft tissue infections. The majority of these patients received a vancomycin dosing strategy that is not only unlikely to lead to clinical improvement, but also has the potential to contribute adversely to the development of antibiotic resistance. Further investigation is needed into the impact of vancomycin use, the emergence of vancomycin resistance, and the role of ED-based antibiotic stewardship.
Space, place and movement as aspects of health care in three women's prisons

This paper focuses on prison as a place in which the prisoner seeks health and health services. Drawing on the work of Henri LeFebvre, Edward Casey, Jeffrey Malpas, and Michel Foucault, a spatial analysis examines the constitutive roles of movement, social structure, and power in determining the prisoner's access to health care. The research methodology utilizes quantitative and qualitative analysis of women prisoners' attempts to get treatment for their health problems. The narratives of these often-failed attempts construct prison as a place where health care access is continually thwarted by rules, custodial priorities, poor health care management, incompetence, and indifference. Analysis of spatial practices, representations of space, and spaces of representation demonstrate the imposition of structural ordering, its naturalization, and the role of narrative in questioning the order, thereby creating possibilities for imaginary and real places where the prisoners' health needs can be met. Simultaneously, this analysis illuminates basic ethical questions about the limitations of human connection and medical caring in prison settings, regardless of the personal motivation of the caregiver.
A unique inside look in to the life of a CF patient: from the patient and RRT perspective

As a Cystic Fibrosis patient and an RRT I have a unique perspective Not only do I treat patients for a living I am a patient In this unique article I rsquo ll talk about my life as a CF patient I rsquo ll discuss the struggles that CF patients their spouses and family members face on a daily basis My goal as a CF patient is to give you the reader a back stage pass if you will into my life I hope to provide you with a better understanding of what CF looks like from a patient standpoint I want the healthcare professional to understand the diversity in the way CF patients are affected by the disease I rsquo ll expose and dispel myths about CF talk about ways CFers are labeled the importance of coping with a chronic illness and what it takes to combat the disease My goal as a respiratory therapist and fellow healthcare worker is to inspire you to give the best care you can to your patients I rsquo ll talk about treatment options cost of managing CF share statistics and all sorts of things related to CF Most importantly I will share my testimony of the impact healthcare workers have on their patients
The beetle-mimicking cockroach genera Prosoplecta and Areolaria, with a description of Tomeisneria furthi gen. n., sp. n. (Blattellidae: Pseudophyllodromiinae)

Based on front leg armament, wing venation, and male subgenital plate and genitalia, the buprestid-like cockroach genus Areolaria is synonymized with the coccinellid/chrysomelid/ generalized beetle-like genus Prosoplecta. Tomeisneria furthi, a new genus and species of coccinellidlike cockroach from New Guinea is described. The genera are placed in the Blattellidae: Pseudophyllodromiinae.
Reducing Stress in Long Term Care Facilities: Converting Research Into Practice

My dissertation research, "Stress and Adaptation Among Elders in Life Care Settings" grew out of my experience as a nursing assistant, working for more than eight years in geriatric long term care. When I first approached my undergraduate faculty in physical anthropology about studying the interplay between disabilities, environmental stressors and physiological responses to stress among the institutionalized elderly, I was discouraged. "That's not physical anthropology." As I began digging into the literature, however, I found an emerging field in human physiology and biological anthropology that examines the effects of psychosocial stressors on health. I had observed firsthand some recurrent problems and conflicts in care giving among elderly in long term care. If specific stressors can be identified, it may be possible to modify them and improve the quality of life for elderly residents in long term care. Also, if there are social or medical risk factors that predispose individual residents to stressfu...
Canonical representations of discrete fuzzy numbers

In this paper we obtain two canonical representations of discrete fuzzy numbers. In particular, it is shown that any discrete fuzzy number can be represented by a triangular or a block discrete fuzzy number having the same value, ambiguity and fuzziness as the original number.
Estimation of Variances in Animal Model and Reduced Animal Model for Single Traits and Single Records

Abstract A reduced animal model can be used for best linear unbiased prediction, and this results in a large reduction in number of equations to be solved compared with the animal model. Similarly, the reduced animal model can be used for estimation of variances by minimum variance quadratic unbiased estimation and by restricted maximum likelihood. Generalized inverses of coefficient matrices of mixed model equations are required for these methods of estimation of variances under both the animal and the reduced animal model. Consequently, use of the reduced animal model can markedly reduce the order of such matrices. Simple examples are presented for these methods of estimation under both the animal model and the reduced animal model.
Dining at the Periodic Table: Metals Concentrations as They Relate to Recycling

A correlation between the prices of a variety of substances and their dilutions in their initial matrices was shown in 1959 by T.K. Sherwood. The research presented here shows that the relationship holds for engineering metals today, which we termed the metals-specific Sherwood plot. The concentrations of metals in products (e.g., printed wiring boards and automobiles) and waste streams (e.g., municipal solid waste, and construction and demolition debris) were plotted with this correlation. In addition, for the products and waste streams that undergo disassembly at end-of-life, the metals concentrations of the disassembled components were also plotted. It was found that most of the metals that are currently targeted for recycling have post-disassembly concentrations that lie above the metals-specific Sherwood plot (i.e., have concentrations that are more enriched than minimum profitable ore grades). This suggests that material concentration plays a role in the viability of recycling at end-of-life. As pro...
Effect of freezing and thawing on a moderately halophilic bacterium as a function of Na+, K+, and Mg2+ concentration.

Abstract A moderately halophilic bacterium was studied with respect to its ability to survive freezing and thawing as a function of sodium, potassium, and magnesium concentrations and rates of cooling and warming. Survival varied more strongly as a function of the warming rate than as a function of the cooling rate, and in general survivial increased with increasing molarity. At low overall molarity, sodium and potassium were largely interchangeable, while at high molarity, high potassium to sodium ratios improved survival. Survival at slow wanning rates was very poor, but protection by potassium was more pronounced. Magnesium proved protective, particularly where survival was otherwise poor. The protection provided by magnesium resulted in a decrease in the dependency on the cooling rate and, to a lesser extent, on the warming rate.
Postpartum resolution of hypocalcemia in a lactating hypoparathyroid patient.

A 24 year old woman with post-surgical hypoparathyroidism was studied during pregnancy and lactation. During pregnancy the patient required less vitamin D therapy for control of her hypoparathyroidism and, while lactating, maintained a normal serum calcium without any supplemental vitamin D.The serum parathyroid hormone concentration and plasma 1, 25 (OH)2 vitamin D concentration were undetectable and low normal respectively at a time when the serum calcium concentration was normal and the patient was not on vitamin D therapy. Urinary calcium excretion was low during this period and may explain the normalization of the serum calcium. The mechanism by which the improvement in calcium metabolism occurred is unknown, but may be secondary to a direct effect of prolactin on calcium homeostasis.
Phosphate Analogs Block Adaptation in Hair Cells by Inhibiting Adaptation-Motor Force Production

Abstract To ensure optimal sensitivity for mechanoelectrical transduction, hair cells adapt to prolonged stimuli using active motors. Adaptation motors are thought to employ myosin molecules as their force-producing components. We find that beryllium fluoride, vanadate, and sulfate, phosphate analogs that inhibit the ATPase activity of myosin, inhibit adaptation by abolishing motor force production. Phosphate analogs interact with a 120-kDa bundle protein, most likely myosin Iβ, in a manner that coincides with their effects on adaptation. Features of transduction following inhibition of motor force production suggest that the gating and extent springs of the hair cell orient in parallel at rest and that the negative limit of adaptation arises when force in the stretched extent spring matches the force output of the adaptation motor.
Supporting data quality management in decision-making

In the complex decision-environments that characterize e-business settings, it is important to permit decision-makers to proactively manage data quality. In this paper we propose a decision-support framework that permits decision-makers to gauge quality both in an objective (context-independent) and in a context-dependent manner. The framework is based on the information product approach and uses the Information Product Map (IPMAP). We illustrate its application in evaluating data quality using completeness--a data quality dimension that is acknowledged as important. A decision-support tool (IPView) for managing data quality that incorporates the proposed framework is also described.
A Democritean phenomenology for quantum scattering theory

The basic operational devices in a particle theory are detectors which show that a particle is “here, now” rather than “there, then.” Successful operation of these devices requires a limiting velocity. Given auxiliary devices which can change particle velocities in both magnitude and direction, the Lorentz-invariant mass can be defined. The wave-particle duality operationally required to explain the scattering of particles from a diffraction grating then predicts fluctuations in particle number (the Wick-Yukawa mechanism), if we postulate a smallest mass. We show that this suffices to establish the conventional quantum mechanical scattering formalism without postulating either “interactions” or “analyticity.” By introducing the phase change due to external electromagnetic fields, we can describe the auxiliary devices assumed above to an accuracy ofe2/hc, thus completing the operational definition to that accuracy.
Inhibition of RNA synthesis by acetyl salicylate and actinomycin D during early development in the mouse.

Inhibition of RNA Synthesis by Acetyl Salicylate and Actinomycin D during Early Development in the Mouse
CLINICAL USE OF PULMONARY MECHANICS AND WAVEFORM GRAPHICS

Decades of research have led to the understanding of neonatal pulmonary physiology and have influenced the clinical care that neonatologists provide to the sick newborn. Advances in microprocessor technology have allowed for clinical access of the research-based measurements of neonatal pulmonary functions. These evaluations are not only the integrated evaluation of the three primary vectors of respiration (driving pressure, air flow, and volume measured over time) but also values calculated by known physiologic equations. Clinical use of these data may not only be relevant and helpful in the bedside management, but also provides a uniquely objective and research-oriented data collection for individual newborns.
Threats and biodiversity in the mediterranean biome.

Aim Global conservation assessments recognize the mediterranean biome as a priority for the conservation of the world's biodiversity. To better direct future conservation efforts in the biome, an improved understanding of the location, magnitude and trend of key threats and their relationship with species of conservation importance is needed. Location Mediterranean-climate regions in California-Baja California, Chile, South Africa, Australia and the Mediterranean Basin. Methods We undertook a systematic, pan-regional assessment of threats in the mediterranean biome including human population density, urban area and agriculture. To realize the full implications of these threats on mediterranean biodiversity, we examined their relationship with species of conservation concern: threatened mammals at the global scale and threatened plants at the subecoregional scale in California, USA. Results Across the biome, population density and urban area increased by 13% and agriculture by 1% between 1990 and 2000. Both population density and urban area were greatest in California-Baja California and least in Australia while, in contrast, agriculture was greatest in Australia and least in California-Baja California. In all regions lowlands were most affected by the threats analysed, with the exception of population density in the Chilean matorral. Threatened species richness had a significant positive correlation with population density at global and subecoregional scales, while threatened species were found to increase with the amount of urban area and decrease as the amount of natural area and unfragmented core area increased. Main conclusions Threats to mediterranean biodiversity have increased from 1990 to 2000, although patterns vary both across and within the five regions. The need for future conservation efforts is further underlined by the positive correlation between species of conservation concern and the increase in population density over the last decade. Challenges to reducing threats extend beyond those analysed to include human–environmental interactions and their synergistic effects, such as urbanization and invasive species and wildfires.
Oxidative Degradation of Amine Solvents for CO2 Capture

Abstract The oxidative degradation of diamines was measured in a stirred reactor at 70, 98kPa O2, and 2kPa CO 2 . Amines studied include ethylenediamine (EDA), propylenediamine (PDA), 1,4-diaminobutane (putrescine), hexamethylenediamine (HMDA), propanolamine (MPA), Diglycolamine® (DGA®), and bisaminoethyl ether (Jeffamine EDR-104®). Amine solutions with an initial concentration of 10 m alkalinity, an initial loading of 0.4 mol CO 2 /mol alkalinity, and an initial metals concentration of 0.4 mM Fe, 0.2 mM Mn, 0.1 mM Ni, and 0.05 mM Cr were oxidatively degraded. The purpose of these experiments was to study the structural effect of diamines on their degradation rates. At high metals concentration of 4 mM Fe, 2 mM Mn, 1 mM Ni, and 0.5 mM Cr, PDA does not show signs of significant degradation. This is also true for PDA at the normal metal concentration of 0.4 mM Fe, 0.2 mM Mn, 0.1 mM Ni, and 0.05 mM Cr. PDA was tested with antifoam and it did not show measurable degradation. EDA degradation follows zeroth order kinetics with a rate constant of 9.79 mmol/kg-hr and is likely mass transfer controlled. Putrescine degradation follows first order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.00104 1/hr and is likely kinetically controlled at experimental conditions. The degradation of HMDA follows first order kinetics with rate constant k = 0.01/hr. The degradation of bisaminoethyl ether follows first order kinetics with rate constant k = 0.023/hr. DGA® degradation also follows first order kinetics with rate constant k = 0.008/hr. HMDA, Jeffamine EDR-104®, and DGA® degradation are all kinetically controlled. MPA showed negligible degradation after 260 hours of run time. There was no significant degradation observed for PDA with normal and high metals concentration in previous experiments.
Eddy current sensing of vertical Bridgman semiconductor crystal growth

The need for better control of the vertical Bridgman growth of large diameter Cd1-xZnxTe alloy crystals has stimulated an interest in non-invasive sensor techniques. Since the electrical conductivity of Cd1-xZnxTe alloys decreases by a factor of five upon solidification, in situ eddy current sensing has been explored to detect the onset of solid nucleation and monitor the early stages of crystal growth. An electro-magnetic finite element study was used to predict the sensor's response to the creation and movement of a liquid-solid interface and develop an analysis protocol to track the position of the interface with time. A non-invasive, high temperature eddy current sensor was then constructed and installed in a 17-zone production scale vertical Bridgman furnace. Several growth runs were monitored and the resulting eddy current sensor data was used to characterize the initial metal state, detect the onset of nucleation and determine the interface;'s growth velocity. The data provide the first direct evidence of extensive melt undercooling and spontaneous nucleation from fully melted charges. These results can be used to redesign the growth process and enable sensor-based manufacturing approaches for semiconductor crystal growth.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A scan line algorithm for displaying parametrically defined surfaces

This paper presents a scan line algorithm for drawing picture of parametrically defined surfaces. A scan line algorithm is characterized by the order in which it generates the picture elements of the image. These are generated left to right, top to bottom in much the same was as a picture is scanned out on a TV screen. Parametrically defined surfaces are those generated by a set of bivariate functions defining the X, Y and Z position of points on the surface. The primary driving mechanism behind such an algorithm is the inversion of the functions used to define the surface. To keep the algorithm general enough to apply to a wide variety of functional forms, this inversion is done numerically. It is only required to provide mechanism for evaluating the function and its derivatives at any parametric location.The algorithm proceeds in two phases. First, a numerical search is made to find the local maxima of the Y definition function within the desired parameter ranges. These determine when portions of the surface first become visible as the scan plane progresses down the screen. Secondly, the actual scan conversion process is performed, maintaining a list of segments of the surface intersecting the current scan plane. As the scan plane passes local maxima of the Y function new segments are added to the list. In addition, any existing segments are updated to reflect their intersection with the updated scan plane. All intersection calculations are performed by a bivariate Newton-Raphson solution of the defining equations. If the solution does not converge, it is due to the scan plane passing a local minimum, causing segments to be deleted from the active list. Finally, within one scan line, an X scan must be performed to generate the Z information about the surface for each picture element. This is also performed by a bivariate Newton-Raphson iteration with a different set of defining functions.
Life History Models of Female Offending The Roles of Serious Mental Illness and Trauma in Women’s Pathways to Jail

Our mixed-methods study advances understanding of pathways to offending for jailed women with and without mental illness. Life history interviews with 115 women from five U.S. states examined how o...
TESTING PHOTOELECTRIC SENSOR SYSTEM TO CLASSIFY VEHICLES

This paper describes the 1990 test of an automatic vehicle classification (AVC) system employing an inductance detector loop and photoelectric sensors emitting infrared-spectrum light beams, which were reflected off commonly used raised traffic lane markers. The passing of a vehicle activated the sensors. Signals from the activation go through a special microprocessor into a personal computer for interpretation, display, and recording. Vehicle speed and axle patterns are inferred from the pattern of the photoelectric beam interruptions. The system is tested several times at a high-speed (50–65 mph) Oklahoma turnpike site by comparing the automatic classifications with classifications by a person. The researchers use computer printouts and written field observations to evaluate the number and type of errors. An error is said to occur when the automatic vehicle classification does not agree with the classification by the observer. The evaluation shows that the first-generation AVC system correctly classifies about 95% of 1,736 observed vehicles. Further analysis of the raw data and the errors found therein suggests that, with modifications, the AVC system can correctly classify about 97–98% of the vehicles. Snow or heavy rain does not occur during the tests, so ability to classify in these conditions is not evaluated.
On the convergence of nonlinear optimal control using pseudospectral methods for feedback linearizable systems

SUMMARY We consider the optimal control of feedback linearizable dynamic systems subject to mixed state and control constraints. In contrast to the existing results, the optimal controller addressed in this paper is allowed to be discontinuous. This generalization requires a substantial modification to the existing convergence analysis in terms of both the framework as well as the notion of convergence around points of discontinuity. Although the nonlinear system is assumed to be feedback linearizable, the optimal control does not necessarily linearize the dynamics. Such problems frequently arise in astronautical applications where stringent performance requirements demand optimality over feedback linearizing controls. We prove that a sequence of solutions obtained using the Legendre pseudospectral method converges to the optimal solution of the continuous-time problem under mild conditions. Published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RATE REGULATION, CAPITAL STRUCTURE, AND THE SHARING OF INTEREST RATE RISK IN THE ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY†

AS A CONSEQUENCE of increased volatility in the level of rates, interest rate risk has assumed greater significance as a determinant of the systematic risk associated with holding common stock. The purpose of this paper is to assess the interest rate risk associated with the assets of public utility companies and to analyze the extent to which it is shared between three groups: (a) the consumer;' (b) the firm's stockholders; and (c) the firm's debtholders. The paper attempts to empirically estimate the division of the risk in the recent past, and its relationship to the unique risk characteristics associated with public utility stocks. We shall also discuss the roles played by financial management and regulatory policy in risk allocation. As an aside, the empirical analysis also serves as a limited test of the relationships between financial leverage and risk proposed by Haugen and Wichern in [3]. Section I of this paper provides some descriptive statistics that support the contention that Electric Utility Stocks are indeed unique in their risk characteristics. We then attempt to explain why this is true. Section II sets forth the design of a cross-section regression experiment used to (a) estimate the interest rate risk associated with the assets of an electric utility, and (b) provide results used in measuring the division of this risk among the three groups. Section III sets forth the procedures used to estimate the variables contained in the cross-section regression analysis, and Section IV provides the results of the regression, as well as estimates of the relative risk shares taken by debt and equity. The share shifted to consumers through regulatory policy is estimated independently in Section V. Finally, a discussion of the relationship between risk sharing and financial management and rate regulation is provided in Section VI. I. THE RELATIVE RISK CHARACTERISTICS OF ELECTRIC UTILITY STOCKS In this section, the common stocks of public utilities and of nonregulated firms are compared with respect to the nondiversifiable risk that can be associated with (a) changing interest rates, and (b) other market based factors. In doing so, we assume
Exclusive Distributorship Agreements in French Law

ALTHOUGH exclusive distributorship agreements1 have long been a part of French domestic and international economic activtiy,2 the sui generis commercial relationships arising from these contracts, fashioned by business usage rather than legislative decree,3 have not found a proper place among existing legal norms. As a consequence, they have given rise to legal questions for which there are no immediate or established answers in traditional doctrine.4
Structure and mechanics of nonpiscine control surfaces

Animals display a variety of control surfaces that can be used for propulsion and maneuvering devises. For nonpiscine vertebrates, these control surfaces are primarily evolutionary modifications of the paired appendages (i.e., legs). The diversity of control surfaces can be classified with regard to the forces used for stability and maneuverability. For animals, the pertinent forces are pressure drag, acceleration reaction, and lift. These forces can be generated actively by motion of the control surfaces or passively from flows produced by movements of the body or external flow fields. Drag-based control surfaces are associated with paddling and rowing movements, where the limbs are oriented either in the vertical parasagittal plane or horizontal plane, respectively. The paddle is unstreamlined and has a triangular design with a broad distal end, thereby affecting a large mass of water. Appendages, which are used to generate lift-based forces, are relatively stiff hydrofoils. To maximize lift, the hydrofoil should have a crescent wing-like design with high aspect ratio. This shape provides the hydrofoil with a high lift-to-drag ratio and high propulsive efficiency. The tail flukes of cetaceans are streamlined control surfaces with a wing-like design. The flukes of cetaceans function in the hydrodynamic generation of forces for thrust, stability, and maneuverability. The three-dimensional geometry of flukes is associated with the production of lift and drag. Previous studies of fluke geometry have been limited in the number of species examined and the resolution of measurements.
The osmotic membrane bioreactor: a critical review

The osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR) is a hybrid biological-physical treatment process that has been gaining interest for wastewater treatment and water reuse. The OMBR couples semi-permeable forward osmosis (FO) membranes for physiochemical separation with biological activated sludge process for organic matter and nutrient removal. The driving force for water production in OMBR is the osmotic pressure difference across the FO membrane between the activated sludge and a concentrated draw solution, which is made with inorganic or organic salts that have a high osmotic pressure at relatively low concentrations. The draw solution becomes diluted during OMBR treatment and may be reconcentrated using reverse osmosis, membrane distillation, or thermal distillation processes. The combination of processes in the OMBR presents unique opportunities but also challenges that must be addressed in order to achieve successful commercialization. These challenges include membrane fouling, elevated bioreactor salinity that hinders process performance, degradation of the draw solution by chemicals that diffuse through the FO membrane, and the potential for simultaneous water, mineral, and nutrient recovery. In this article, results from past and most recent OMBR studies are summarized and critically reviewed. Information about similar and more established technologies (e.g., traditional porous membrane bioreactors and FO) is included to help compare and contrast state-of-the-art technologies and the novel OMBR approach, and to elucidate practical configurations that should be considered in future OMBR research and development.
Genetic susceptibility to atherosclerosis: insights from mice.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) frequently clusters in families. Although environmental factors such as diet, exercise, and smoking play a role in ASCVD, genetic factors are a major determinant of ASCVD risk. For example, in a study of Swedish twins, males with a dizygotic twin who died of premature coronary heart disease had a 4.3-fold increased risk of also dying from coronary heart disease, and if the twin was monozygotic, this risk increased to 14.9-fold.1 The genetic risk of ASCVD is conferred in part through known metabolic risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. However, these risk factors alone do not account for the entire genetic contribution to risk of ASCVD, and there remains substantial interest in the identification of additional genetic cardiovascular risk factors. Like humans, mouse strains differ considerably in their genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis.2 Most mouse strains are resistant to atherosclerosis even when fed an atherogenic diet; the C3H strain is a prototypical-resistant mouse strain. In contrast, C57BL/6J mice have been extensively studied as the mouse strain that is most susceptible to atherosclerosis when fed an atherogenic high-fat, high-cholesterol, cholic acid–containing diet.3 Initially, the focus on C57BL/6J mice centered on differences in plasma lipid levels, especially reduced HDL cholesterol levels, in response to the atherogenic diet4 and attempts to map gene loci linked to the phenotype of low HDL cholesterol.5 However, previous studies did not distinguish whether these differences in lipid profiles were restricted to particular dietary challenges or reflect an underlying genetic factor that contributes to atherosclerosis susceptibility. Furthermore, recent studies have suggested that C57BL/6J mice differ from less-susceptible strains in their response to inflammatory stimuli.6 7 Given the interest in atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease,8 this has led to the hypotheses that C57BL/6J mice may be genetically …
Bundle adjustment for 3-D motion and structure estimation from 2-D optical and sonar views

Optical and sonar imaging system are routinely deployed for underwater search, inspection and scientific surveys of manmade and natural structures, etc. We have previously demonstrated that the integration of visual cues in optical and sonar images is an effective strategy to overcome certain shortcomings of each system alone, for 3-D reconstruction from 2-D images. In this work, we deal with the problem of structure from motion, in addressing the recovery of 3-D motion and scene structure from images taken in different poses relative to the scene. In particular, we explore the bundle adjustment formulation, where the estimation of motion and structure is carried out over all the data in a batch process. We analyze the 3-D reconstruction accuracy with computer generated noisy data with various number of points that are tracked and number of views. We also present results from an experiment with real data.
A new AlGaAs/GaAs/InAlGaP npn bulk-barrier optoelectronic switch

Two-terminal switching performance is observed in a new AlGaAs/GaAs/InAlGaP optoelectronic device. The device shows that the switching action takes place from a low current state to a high current state through a region of negative differential resistance (NDR). The transition from either state to the other may be induced by an appropriate optical or electrical input. It is seen that the effect of illumination increases the switching voltage V/sub S/ and decreases the switching current I/sub S/, which is quite different from other results reported. In addition, it possesses obvious NDR even up to 160/spl deg/C. This high-temperature performance provides the studied device with potential high-temperature applications.