cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retrospective study of dasatinib for recurrent glioblastoma after bevacizumab failure.

There is no effective treatment for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) after bevacizumab failure. Putative mechanisms of resistance to bevacizumab include increased pericyte coverage, mediated partly by platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling, and an infiltrative tumor growth pattern potentially dependent on SRC. We explored the efficacy of dasatinib, a SRC, BCR-ABL, c-KIT, EPHA2, and PDGFRβ inhibitor, in patients with recurrent GBM after bevacizumab failure. Adult patients with histologically confirmed GBM who failed bevacizumab therapy were treated with dasatinib 70–100 mg twice daily in combination with bevacizumab (n = 14), until tumor progression or unacceptable toxicity. Fourteen patients were treated. Median age was 55 years (range 32–66) and median KPS was 80 (range 50–90). All patients (100%) had glioblastomas. The median number of prior regimens was 4 (range from 2 to 6). Of the thirteen evaluable patients, none had a complete or partial response. Only one patient had stable disease after an 8 week interval. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 28 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 26–35 days). Six month progression-free survival (PFS6) was 0%. Median overall survival (OS) was 78 days (95% CI 41–137 days). Treatment was moderately well-tolerated, although one patient sustained a grade 4 intracerebral hemorrhage. Dasatinib in conjunction with bevacizumab does not appear to have activity in patients with recurrent, heavily pretreated GBM.
Temporal stability of multiple-cell vortices

The temporal stability of multiple cell vortices is studied with a staggered Chebyshev spectral collocation technique. It is shown that cell multiplicity in the vortex core has a drastic effect on the stability characteristics. While validating the spectral collocation algorithm, two new viscous modes of instability for Batchelor's (1964) vortex were found. These modes are discussed in detail.
Role Stressors, Mood Spillover, and Perceptions of Work-Family Conflict in Employed Parents

Several unsettled issues related to the day-to-day experience of work and family roles were investigated through the daily reports of 41 employed parents. Multiple role juggling, task demands, pers...
Potyviral proteins share amino acid sequence homology with picorna-, como-, and caulimoviral proteins

The predicted amino acid sequences of the polyproteins of two potyviruses, tobacco vein mottling virus (TVMV) and tobacco etch virus (TEV), were compared to each other, to proteins of other viruses, and to the National Biomedical Research Foundation protein sequence bank. Three potyviral proteins, the cylindrical inclusion and the two nuclear inclusion proteins, were found to be homologous to proteins considered to be involved in the replication and expression of picorna- and comovirus RNA. A lower, but also significant, level of homology was observed between a putative N-terminal 28-kDa protein of TVMV, the 30-kDa protein of tobacco mosaic virus, and the 29-kDa protein of tobacco rattle virus, the latter two of which are thought to be involved in cell-to-cell movement of virus or viral RNA. The aphid transmission helper component of TVMV was homologous to the aphid transmission factors of two strains of cauliflower mosaic virus. A region of the putative TEV polyprotein, located between the helper component and the cylindrical inclusion protein, contained a sequence that was homologous to the conserved region of the 2A protease of picornaviruses. These results suggest functions for all of the potyviral proteins and also indicate that poty-, como-, and picornaviruses may share a similar replication strategy and genome organization.
Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II Parent/Primary Caregiver Form: Ages 0-5--Its Factor Structure and Other Implications for Practice.

A child's acquisition of adaptive behavior and skills may constitute his or her most important goal during infancy and early childhood. In addition, adaptive behavior data often are required when making decisions under Part C of the 2004 Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act. This study reports the results of a factor analysis of date on 1,350 young children, ages 0–5 years, who constitute the standardization sample of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II (Harrison & Oakland, 2003). The results indicate that the constructs measured by the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II for boys and girls are similar, that the skill areas function similarly on corresponding domains for the boys and girls, and that the intercepts are equal for boys and girls for the functions relating skill areas to the factors. Support was found for a one-factor model. The authors discuss the possible uses of Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II data in reference to diagnostic, classification, intervention...
The Effects of Fraud and Lawsuit Revelation on U.S. Executive Turnover and Compensation

This study investigates the impact of fraud/lawsuit revelation on U.S. top executive turnover and compensation. It also examines potential explanatory variables affecting the executive turnover and compensation among U.S. fraud/lawsuit firms. Four important findings are documented. First, there was significantly higher executive turnover among U.S. firms with fraud/lawsuit revelation in the Wall Street Journal than matched firms without such revelation. Second, although on average, U.S. top executives received an increase in cash compensation after fraud/lawsuit revelation, this increase is smaller than that of matched non-fraud/lawsuit firms. Third, fraud/lawsuit firms were more likely to change top executive when chief executive officer (CEO) was not the board chairman and CEO had been on the board for a short time. Fourth, fraud/lawsuit firms were more likely to reduce their executive cash compensation when profitability was low, firms were involved in fraud, the compensation committee size was small, and the board met more often. These findings indicate that although, in general, U.S. fraud/lawsuits firms did not reduce their executive cash compensation, those involved in fraud were more likely to reduce their executive cash compensation than to change their top executives. The finding, that ethical standards is not a significant factor for U.S. executive turnover nor compensation reduction, suggests that ethics appears to play no part in the board’s decisions, and that U.S. firms may have ethical standards in writing but they do not implement nor enforce the standards.
The Hilbert–Kunz multiplicity of an irreducible trinomial

Abstract The Hilbert–Kunz multiplicity, in characteristic p, of the homogeneous co-ordinate ring of the plane curve x 4 + y 4 + z 4 is known to be 3 + 1 p 2 if p ≡ ± 3 ( 8 ) and 3 if p ≡ ± 1 ( 8 ) . We derive similar results for arbitrary irreducible trinomial plane curves, using the fact that these curves have Fermat curves as branched coverings.
Antigenic analysis of H2 influenza virus haemagglutinin with monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract Antigenic analysis of human and avian H2 influenza virus was carried out with monoclonal antibodies to the HA molecules of H2 influenza viruses isolated in the early stage of an H2 pandemic. The study revealed antigenic differences between inhibitor sensitive (Japan + /57, RI + 57) and inhibitor resistant strains (Japan − /57, Ri − /57). This indicates that the receptor-binding specificity of the haemagglutinin can markedly influence the antigenic analysis obtained with monoclonal antibodies in HI test. Minor antigenic differences (microheterogeneity) could be detected between different H2 influenza viruses isolated in 1957. Minor antigenic variation continued in the H2 viruses until 1961, but significant antigenic drift occurred in 1962 so that viruses isolated after that date reacted with few monoclonal antibodies. Analysis of avian H2 influenza viruses suggested antigenic differences between the different avian H2 haemagglutinin but no correlation between the year of isolation and the progressive antigenic drift similar to that seen in the human strains was found.
Where ignorance is bliss: the “dark corner” of risk classification

Purpose – The paper aims to explore a risk‐finance context in which less information may be preferable to more information.Design/methodology/approach – Insurance companies collect a variety of information on potential policyholders to support two fundamental components of risk classification: underwriting (the determination of whether or not to offer an insurance contract to a particular individual or firm) and rating (the calculation of a policyholder's premium level once a contract has been offered). Although risk classification is necessary in voluntary markets to ensure that most individuals or firms will be able to purchase insurance, it is not necessary when the purchase of insurance is required by government. The paper explores the usefulness of risk‐classification‐related information in the context of government‐mandated insurance.Findings – In the case of government‐mandated insurance, it is shown that risk classification may be more or less useful, depending upon the degree to which policyholde...
mRNA Secondary Structures Fold Sequentially But Exchange Rapidly In Vivo

RNAs adopt defined structures to perform biological activities, and conformational transitions among alternative structures are critical to virtually all RNA-mediated processes ranging from metabolite-activation of bacterial riboswitches to pre-mRNA splicing and viral replication in eukaryotes. Mechanistic analysis of an RNA folding reaction in a biological context is challenging because many steps usually intervene between assembly of a functional RNA structure and execution of a biological function. We developed a system to probe mechanisms of secondary structure folding and exchange directly in vivo using self-cleavage to monitor competition between mutually exclusive structures that promote or inhibit ribozyme assembly. In previous work, upstream structures were more effective than downstream structures in blocking ribozyme assembly during transcription in vitro, consistent with a sequential folding mechanism. However, upstream and downstream structures blocked ribozyme assembly equally well in vivo, suggesting that intracellular folding outcomes reflect thermodynamic equilibration or that annealing of contiguous sequences is favored kinetically. We have extended these studies to learn when, if ever, thermodynamic stability becomes an impediment to rapid equilibration among alternative RNA structures in vivo. We find that a narrow thermodynamic threshold determines whether kinetics or thermodynamics govern RNA folding outcomes in vivo. mRNA secondary structures fold sequentially in vivo, but exchange between adjacent secondary structures is much faster in vivo than it is in vitro. Previous work showed that simple base-paired RNA helices dissociate at similar rates in vivo and in vitro so exchange between adjacent structures must occur through a different mechanism, one that likely involves facilitation of branch migration by proteins associated with nascent transcripts.
The opponent process theory and affective reactions

Solomon (1980) proposed an opponent process theory to account for motivational and affective dynamics. This theory asserts that the brain avoids extremes of emotional experience by countering the stimulation it receives with an opposite or “opponent” reaction. Opponent processes are thought to be responsible for the characteristic changes in affective experience that occur over time, and to account for the dynamics of affective response to such stimuli as skydiving and sauna bathing, which have heretofore been difficult to explain. However, the relevance of this theory for affective experiences in general (beyond physical stimuli and addictions) has yet to be demonstrated. The present paper examines opponent process theory predictions in two settings, involving affective responses to situation-scenarios and emotion-provoking slides. In each study, significant habituation to both positive and negative affective stimuli was found, as the opponent process theory would predict. Subjects also showed a reversal of affect when the stimuli were reversed from positive to negative or vice versa. However, contrary to opponent process theory predictions, there was no evidence that withdrawal responses were greater after habituation to the affective stimulus. The only instance of a significant difference in withdrawal responses was actually in a direction opposite to that which the opponent process theory predicts. All other predicted differences were not significant. The opponent process theory, therefore, was not supported in these data and appears to need revision or qualification as to its domains of application.
Perspectives on ritual

de Coppet, Daniel, ed. Understanding Rituals. London: Routledge, 1992. viii + 120 including chapter references and index. $59.95 cloth, $14.95 paper. Bell, Catherine. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. x + 270 including references and index. $35.00 cloth, $15.95 paper. Drewal, Margaret Thompson. Yoruba Ritual: Performers, Play, Agency. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1992. xxii + 241 including notes, glossary, references, and index. $35.00 cloth, $14.95 paper. Schechner, Richard. The Future of Ritual: Writings on Culture and Performance. London: Routledge, 1993. x + 283 including chapter notes, reference, and index. $27.50 cloth.
Light-scattering anomaly in the vicinity of liquid–vapor critical point of multicomponent mixtures

Abstract Experimental data of light-scattering intensity in the vicinity of liquid–vapor critical point in a methane–propane–pentane ternary mixture have been obtained and analyzed on the basis of our approach proposed previously. It has been demonstrated that the light-scattering intensity for different isochores can be described with an accuracy better than 1.5–2% in the framework of a previously developed equation of state. It is shown also that all experimental data correspond to the temperature interval that characterizes the transition from purely isomorphic to completely renormalized behavior of the mixture.
Structural changes in the neck linker of kinesin explain the load dependence of the motor's mechanical cycle.

The two-headed motor protein kinesin hydrolyzes ATP and moves on microtubule tracks towards the plus end. The motor develops speeds and forces of the order of hundreds of nanometers per second and piconewtons, respectively. Recently, the dependence of the velocity, the dissociation rate and the displacement variance on the load and the ATP concentration were measured in vitro for individual kinesin molecules (Coppin et al., 1997; Visscher et al., 1999) over a wide range of forces. The structural changes in the kinesin motor that drive motility were discovered by Rice et al. (1999). Here we present a phenomenological model for force generation in kinesin based on the bi-stable, nucleotide-dependent behavior of the neck linker. We demonstrate that the model explains the mechanical, kinetic and statistical (experimental) data of Coppin et al. (1997). We also discuss the relationship between the model results and experimental data of Visscher et al. (1999).
Red Waters of Myrionecta rubra are Biogeochemical Hotspots for the Columbia River Estuary with Impacts on Primary/Secondary Productions and Nutrient Cycles

The localized impact of blooms of the mixotrophic ciliate Myrionecta rubra in the Columbia River estuary during 2007–2010 was evaluated with biogeochemical, light microscopy, physiological, and molecular data. M. rubra affected surrounding estuarine nutrient cycles, as indicated by high and low concentrations of organic nutrients and inorganic nitrogen, respectively, associated with red waters. M. rubra blooms also altered the energy transfer pattern in patches of the estuarine water that contain the ciliate by creating areas characterized by high primary production and elevated levels of fresh autochthonous particulate organic matter, therefore shifting the trophic status in emergent red water areas of the estuary from net heterotrophy towards autotrophy. The pelagic estuarine bacterial community structure was unaffected by M. rubra abundance, but red waters of the ciliate do offer a possible link between autotrophic and heterotrophic processes since they were associated with elevated dissolved organic matter and showed a tendency for enhanced microbial secondary production. Taken together, these findings suggest that M. rubra red waters are biogeochemical hotspots of the Columbia River estuary.
Identification of the Inositol Isomers Present in Tetrahymena

The inositol isomer composition of phosphoinositides, polyphosphoinositols, phosphatidylinositol-linked glycans, and glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins of logarithmic phase Tetrahymena vorax was determined by GC-MS analysis of trimethylsilylimadazole derivatives. The most abundant inositol found was the myo-isomer; however, appreciable percentages of scylloinositol were present in the free inositol pool, phosphatidylinositol-linked glycan fraction, and glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored protein fraction. Trace quantities of chiro- and neo-inositols also were present.
What properties of culture should we measure

Abstract This paper argues that current challenges for the sociology of culture are more conceptual and the theoretical than methodological in nature. It discusses persistent issues in the conceptualization of culture, the quasi-hierarchic linkages between different cultural elements, and the importance of attention to levels of analysis for the measurement of cultural properties.
Advances and Unsolved Issues in Pulsating Heat Pipes

Pulsating (or oscillating) heat pipes (PHP or OHP) are new two-phase heat transfer devices that rely on the oscillatory flow of liquid slug and vapor plug in a long miniature tube bent into many turns. The unique feature of PHPs, compared with conventional heat pipes, is that there is no wick structure to return the condensate to the heating section; thus, there is no countercurrent flow between the liquid and vapor. Significant experimental and theoretical efforts have been made related to PHPs in the last decade. While experimental studies have focused on either visualizing the flow pattern in PHPs or characterizing the heat transfer capability of PHPs, theoretical examinations attempt to analytically and numerically model the fluid dynamics and/or heat transfer associated with the oscillating two-phase flow. The existing experimental and theoretical research, including important features and parameters, is summarized in tabular form. Progresses in flow visualization, heat transfer characteristics, and ...
An Exact Discount Factor Restriction for Period-Three Cycles in Dynamic Optimization Models

Consider a standard aggregative dynamic optimization framework (Ω, u, δ), where Ω is the transition possibility (technology) set, u is a (reduced form) utility function defined on this set, and 0 < δ < 1 a discount factor. Can an optimal program in this framework exhibit a period-three cycle?
Visualising menisci-femur contact using deformable knee models

Computational simulation can help improve our understanding of the knee biomechanics and orthopedic practice. However few computational knee models include a patient specific deformable menisci model. We present two new methods for simulating and visualising menisci-femur contact area during gait cycles, using patient specific knee models and motion data. Specifically we propose a template based 3D model reconstruction method that generates patient specific knee models. We also propose a new deformable menisci model for real-time applications. Our deformable model combines physics-based deformation and spatial deformation, making it easier for users to balance the physical realism and performance needs.
On the Efficiency of Dislocation Climb in Gold

The climb rate of the three-dimensional dislocation network in gold is investigated experimentally under the following non-equilibrium vacancy conditions: 1) supersaturation at elevated temperatures during rapid down-quenching; 2) supersaturation at lower temperatures following a rapid down-quench from an elevated temperature; 3) subsaturation during uppulsing and holding at an elevated temperature. It is found that the network climbs with a quite high efficiency under all the above conditions; that is, at a rate which is within a factor of one-tenth to one of the maximum possible rate calculated on the assumption that vacancy equilibrium is maintained evergwhere along the dislocation cores and that the climb rate is therefore vacancy diffusion limited. Die Klettergeschwindigkeit eines dreidimensionalen Versetzungsnetzwerks in Gold wird unter folgenden Nichtgleichgewichtsbindungen fur Leerstellen experimentell untersucht: 1) Ubersattigung bei erhohten Temperaturen wahrend schnellen Abschreckens; 2) Ubersattigung bei niedrigeren Temperaturen infolge schnellen Abschreckens von hohen Temperaturen; 3) Untersattigung wahrend des Aufheizens und des Haltens auf erhohter Temperatur. Es wird gefunden, das das Netzwerk unter allen oben angegebenen Bedingungen sehr schnell klettert, namlich mit einer Geschwindigkeit, die bis auf einen Faktor, der zwischen einem zehntel und eins liegt, gleich der maximal moglichen ist die unter der Annahme berechnet wurde, das in den Versetzungskernen Leerstellengleichgewicht erhalten bleibt und das die Klettergeschwindigkeit daher durch die Leerstellendiffusion begrenzt ist.
Elastic matching of diffusion tensor images

In this paper, we discuss matching of magnetic resonance, diffusion tensor (DT) images of the human brain. Issues concerned with matching and transforming these complex images are discussed. In particular, we outline a method for preserving the intrinsic orientation of the data during nonrigid warps of the image and a number of similarity measures are proposed, based on the DT itself, on the DT deviatoric, and on indices derived from the DT. Each measure is used to drive an elastic matching algorithm applied to the task of registration of 3D images of the human brain. The performance of the various similarity measures is compared empirically by the use of several quality of match measures computed over a pair of matched images. Results indicate that the best matches are obtained from a Euclidean difference measure using the full DT.
Isolation of phosvitin: Retention of small molecular weight species and staining characteristics on electrophoretic gels

Phosvitin was prepared from chicken yolk by a variety of published methods, including a new procedure modified from our own original method. Yolk granules and all phosvitin preparations were found to contain a cluster of phosphoproteins ranging in size from Mr 28,000 to 43,000 when electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gradient gels and stained with Stains-all. However, only the current preparation contained three additional phosphoproteins (Mr 13,000, 15,000, and 18,000) that are also present in yolk granules. None of these components could be demonstrated with Coomassie blue.
TQM – Lessons to Be Learned from Failure

Describes a survey of staff attitudes to TQM undertaken within the IT department of a well‐known UK company. Discusses the findings and concludes that other companies can learn from the company’s unsuccessful implementation.
Superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−x materials prepared at low temperature by sol-gel process

Abstract Superconducting YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x materials were prepared by sol-gel process. The hydrolysis and polymerization of yttrium, barium and copper isopropoxide-isopropanol solutions yield dark blue amorphous gels. The materials fired at 780°C for 1 h form the nearly phase-pure and dense YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x materials with surface area of 0.32 m 2 /g. The electrical resistance measurements show that the T c of the sample fired at 780°C is 90 K (onset) and 57 K (zero resistance).
Energy transfer between incident laser and elastically backscattered waves in nonlinear absorption media

A model of energy transfer by nearly degenerate two-beam coupling in media exhibiting two-photon and excited state absorption is presented and discussed. The two beams include an incident laser, which has a nonlinear time dependent phase, and an elastically backscattered wave derived from the incident laser. Superposition of these two waves creates an index modulation, arising from a spatially modulated, two-photon-created excited-state population, which couples the forward and backward propagating waves. Reflectance of the stimulated wave and transmittance of the incident laser are computed, including the effects of two-photon absorption andexcited state absorption as well as energy transfer between the two beams, and the relevance of the results to experimental measurements is discussed. The backscattered wave has a frequency that is unshifted with respect to that of the incident laser, and the small signal gain is proportional to the square of the incident laser intensity. The different effects due tomultimode and chirped waves are also discussed.
Lecture notes on shear viscosity in heavy ion collisions

Abstract These notes are a summary of a lecture delivered at the 30th Erice School in Nuclear Physics and provide an elementary introduction to shear viscosity as it is applied to heavy ion collisions. After a qualitative review of the ideal and viscous space–time evolutions, I calculate the elliptic flow and discuss how viscosity affects the results.
Repair of the transected spinal cord at different stages of development in the North American opossum, Didelphis virginiana

When the thoracic spinal cord is transected on postnatal day (PD) 5 in the North American opossum, descending and ascending axons grow through the lesion site. When the lesion is made on PD20, comparable growth is limited to a subset of descending axons. To better understand the mechanisms underlying these differences, we analyzed the transection site at different times after lesioning at both ages. Axons which crossed the lesion site could be identified using silver impregnation and immunostaining for neurofilament. Nissl stains revealed that abnormal appearing grey matter was also present in some of the PD5 cases. In many PD5 cases, however, and in all of the animals transected at PD20, grey matter was not present at the lesion site. Immunostaining with a neuron specific antibody supported that conclusion. However, immunostaining with phenotypic specific antibodies revealed that glial cells were present in all cases. Immunostaining for Schwann cells was negative. Fibronectin-positive cells were also present at the lesion site after transection of the thoracic cord at PD20, but their identity was uncertain. When injections of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a thymidine analog, were made at different times after lesioning and the pups were sacrificed for BrdU immunohistochemistry up to 40 days later, labeled cells were found in the tissue which bridged the lesion site indicating that cell proliferation contributed to reconstruction at the lesion site.
Investigation of Low-Temperature Combustion in an Optical Engine Fueled with Low Cetane Sasol JP-8 Fuel Using OH-PLIF and HCHO Chemiluminescence Imaging

ABSTRACT Low cetane JP-8 fuels have been identified as being difficult to use under conventional diesel operation. However, recent focus on low-temperature combustion (LTC) modes has led to an interest in distillate hydrocarbon fuels having high volatility and low autoignition tendency. An experimental study is performed to evaluate low-temperature combustion processes in a small-bore optically-accessible diesel engine operated in a partially-premixed combustion mode using low-cetane Sasol JP-8 fuel. This particular fuel has a cetane number of 25. Both single and dual injection strategies are tested. Since long ignition delay is a consequence of strong autoignition resistance, under the conditions examined, low cetane Sasol JP-8 combustion can only take place with a double injection strategy: one pilot injection event in the vicinity of exhaust TDC and one main injection event near firing TDC. In this work, the effects of autoignition properties are examined by comparing the behavior of a high cetane number JP-8 fuel with that of a low CN Sasol JP-8. The double injection strategy also served to reduce pressure rise rates during operation at light load (2 bar IMEP) conditions. Dual injection timing is optimized for peak IMEP, at which point simultaneous OH Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (OH-PLIF) and high-speed crank-angle-resolved HCHO chemiluminescence imaging are performed to analyze the partially-premixed combustion process. Fuel efficiency and engine-out emissions performance are also presented. In terms of IMEP, low CN Sasol JP-8 fuel is shown to be a satisfactory fuel for low-temperature combustion under light-load condition using the proper dual injection strategy. However, partially-premixed combustion operation in this work results in higher UHC emissions and lower fuel efficiency when compared with the high cetane JP-8 fuel.
Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Essential Oil Components from Lemon-Scented Botanicals

Abstract Essential oils were extracted from four different varieties of lemon-scented plants utilizing supercritical fluid extraction. The plants used included: lemon eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus citriodora ), lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ), lemon bergamot ( Monarda citriodora ), and lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus ). Extracts from three plants of each species were analysed using gas chromatography and confirmed with GC–MS. The compounds identified for each plant species were: lemon balm (citronellal, neral, geranial, neral acetate, caryophyllene, and caryophyllene oxide), lemon bergamont (thymol, thymol methylester, and α -terpine), lemon eucalyptus (citronellal, neral, caryophyllene, and caryophyllene oxide), and lemongrass (neral, geranial, and caryophyllene). Supercritical fluid extractions were performed at three pressures (13,790, 27,580, and 41,370 kPa) and two extraction temperatures (40 and 60 °C). The results indicated that the mass percent extracted increased with increasing temperature and pressure, as was the ratio of the compounds in the different samples. The effect of particle size reduction on the extraction yield was also investigated. The extraction yield did not increase due to the increase in surface area as would be expected, but decreased. This has been attributed to the fact that the compounds of interest are extremely volatile and were lost to the atmosphere during the grinding process.
Hypergeometric family and item overlap rates in computerized adaptive testing

A computerized adaptive test (CAT) is usually administered to small groups of examinees at frequent time intervals. It is often the case that examinees who take the test earlier share information with examinees who will take the test later, thus increasing the risk that many items may become known. Item overlap rate for a group of examinees refers to the number of overlapping items encountered by these examinees divided by the test length. For a specific item pool, different item selection algorithms may yield different item overlap rates. An important issue in designing a good CAT item selection algorithm is to keep item overlap rate below a preset level. In doing so, it is important to investigate what the lowest rate could be for all possible item selection algorithms. In this paper we rigorously prove that if every item has an equal possibility to be selected from the pool in a fixed-length CAT, the number of overlapping items among any α randomly sampled examinees follows the hypergeometric distribution family for α ≥ 1. Thus, the expected values of the number of overlapping items among any randomly sampled α examinees can be calculated precisely. These values may serve as benchmarks in controlling item overlap rates for fixed-length adaptive tests.
The Effects of Nickel/Tin Ratio on Cu Induced Surface Hot Shortness in Fe

Surface hot shortness is of concern in scrap-based electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking. The excessive amount of residual copper (Cu) in the steel scrap enriches during the oxidation of the solid steel, and as a result a Cu-rich layer could form which causes inter-granular grain boundary cracking. Other residuals can also influence hot-shortness. Ni is known to improve the resistance to hot shortness whereas Sn is known to worsen it. In this paper, the mechanism through which nickel (Ni) counters the detrimental effects of tin (Sn) on surface hot shortness are investigated in detail. A series of Fe–0.3 wt%Cu-x wt%Ni–0.03 wt%Sn alloys with x content ranging from 0.03 to 0.45 wt% was oxidized in air at 1,423 K (1,150 °C) for 60, 300 and 600 seconds using thermogravimety (TG). The microstructure investigation under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that, significant grain boundary cracking was suppressed by eliminating the highly embrittling Sn containing Cu-rich liquid, through increasing Cu solubility and/or solidifying the liquid phase by the presence of sufficient amount of Ni. Occlusion and decreased oxidation kinetics caused by Ni were shown not to play a significant role. A previous proposed diffusion numerical model was applied to the Fe–Cu–Ni–Sn system to quantitatively support experimental results and provide insight to the enrichment kinetics at the oxide/metal interface.
Satisfying timing constraints of real-time databases

Abstract A real-time database has deadlines for processing transactions. Approximate query processing (AQP) has been presented as a strategy to satisfy these timing constraints by providing approximate answers to queries at the deadline instead of missing deadlines. In order to produce approximate answers, semantic information is maintained about the database and a computational overhead is required. In this paper the performance of AQP is examined to determine its effect on satisfying the timing constraints of real-time databases. Query and update transactions are modeled as periodic tasks with hard deadlines. A lock-based concurrency control is used and the effect of workload characteristics, such as the scheduling algorithm, the number of transactions and the percentage of update transactions, are examined. We compare the number of missed deadlines and approximate answers produced during AQP to the number of missed deadlines occurring during traditional query processing (TQP). Results demonstrate that despite the overhead, fewer deadlines are missed during approximate query processing than during TQP.
Design of an Extra-Tall Wind Resource Assessment for the Complex Terrain of the Western Appalachian Ohio Foothills

Wind resource assessments are an essential part of successful wind energy development. Currently, wind energy resource predictions for Appalachian Ohio are based on large-scale meteorological models with sparse, low-lying validation data that poorly characterize the wind given southeastern Ohio’s complex terrain. State and federal policies, today’s energy economics, and current and future wind energy and transmission technology suggest that a meso-scale assessment to identify the best of the Appalachian Ohio wind resource is worthwhile. The Wind Energy and Assessment Visualization (WEAV) is a meso-scale assessment strategy that combines three components: tall tower wind measurements, regional terrain and surface roughness GIS mapping and a computational fluid dynamics wind simulator designed for complex terrain. The wind measurement component is described here. Up to and above top current blade heights wind characteristics, including wind speed and direction at six heights, temperature at three heights, and barometric pressure and relative humidity at hub height, are being acquired every 10 minutes on the WOUB 262-meter (800-ft) communications tower for two years. This data, together with regional terrain characteristics will be top quality inputs into a wind simulator and enable modeling of the wind resource across a 2000 square mile (5,200 km2 ) complex terrain region. Advantages of the WEAV strategy include improved measurement of wind shear and velocities, long-term characterization of the free stream velocity field, and much broader domains of assessment. The following is a description of the motivation for and advantages of this type of study, details of the design, installation, and challenges of an extra-tall tower wind characterization, and preliminary results documenting the boom design’s tower shadow minimization.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Virtual reality simulation in carotid stenting: a new paradigm for procedural training.

In recent years, virtual reality simulation has become recommended for training in complex endovascular procedures. Here, Christopher Cates discusses the benefits of this emerging paradigm in medical education, highlighting the applications of the state-of-the-art Vascular Interventional System Trainer (VIST®) for carotid artery stenting.
A Hydrogel Wound Dressing with Gradient Crosslinking and Silver/Copper Ions for Treatment of Severe Burns

The proposed design aims to improve upon the moisture balance and antibacterial efficacy of current burn wound dressings. Commercially available wound dressings do not allow for the control of moisture during the healing process. In this design, we introduced a gradient in cross-linking density, with increasing swelling tendency further from the wound surface, so that wound exudate can be wicked away in a controlled manner. This design is expected to prevent both overhydration (maceration) and drying of the wound surface. In addition, the antibacterial potential of the dressings was improved through the addition of silver and copper ions. Release of these metal ions from these hydrogels was controlled through hydrogel crosslinking density. The combination of silver (Ag+) and copper (Cu2+) is expected to inhibit the growth of a broader range of bacteria at a lower cost than silver alone.
Effective stratification for low selectivity queries on deep web data sources

We study the problem of estimating the result of an aggregation query with low selectivity when a data source only supports limited data accesses. Existing stratified sampling techniques cannot be applied to such a problem since either it is very hard, if not impossible, to gather certain critical statistics from such a data source, or more importantly, the selective attribute of the query may not be queriable on the data source. In such cases, we need an effective mechanism to stratify the data and form homogeneous strata with respect to the selective attribute of the query, despite not being able to query the data source with the selective attribute.This paper presents and evaluates a stratification method for this problem utilizing a queriable auxiliary attribute. The breaking points for the stratification are computed based on a novel Bayesian Adaptive Harmony Search algorithm. This method derives from the existing Harmony search method, but includes novel objective function, and introduces a technique for dynamically adapting key parameters of this method. Our experiments show that the estimation accuracy achieved using our method is consistently higher than 95% even for 0.01% selectivity query, even when there is only a low correlation between the auxiliary attribute and the selective attribute. Furthermore, our method achieves at least a five fold reduction in estimation error over three other methods, for the same sampling cost.
Computational biologist in profile: Ruth Nussinov

I first met Ruth during my graduate studies, when she was invited to give a seminar on her decade-long research in computational biology. I sat through her inspiring (and what has been etched on my memory as gentle) delivery of her work on macromolecular structure and interactions. Her informal meeting with graduate students after the talk left a deep impression on me of someone highly dedicated to providing students with guidance on what was important in biological research. Many years later, ending up near the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where one can find Ruth mostly these days as head of the Computational Structural Biology Group of the Center for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program at NCI, I simply could not give up the opportunity of obtaining a closer look at her journey as a scientist.
What's new in SAC2000? Enhanced Processing and Database Access

FOREWORD What seismologist is not familiar with SAC? The venerable “Seismic Analysis Code” has been around almost as long as some of us grey beards. It was one of the first general purpose analysis programs to be made available to a fairly wide community of users during the transition from mostly batch processing to interactive computing during the 1970s. It still is a very popular analysis program even though there are now other, more “modern” programs with some similar capabilities, ease of use, and efficiency. SAC has evolved over the years but has retained both its basic look and feel and its data file format. In fact, this stability is one of the attributes of SAC which is often under appreciated. While most can find fault with the SAC data format, its constancy has often had a calming effect on the Electronic Seismologist (ES) whose feeble brain is overloaded with...
A methodology for the experimental extraction of indicial functions for streamlined and bluff deck sections

Abstract This paper addresses the experimental derivation of step-response non-stationary forces in the time domain (indicial functions), to be used in iterative numerical simulations (convolution techniques) for flutter instability analyses of suspension bridges, as an alternative to aeroelastic derivatives evaluated in the frequency domain. In particular a system, conceived for the direct extraction of these coefficients, has been designed, built and tested in wind tunnel. The study has investigated the experimental procedure of measurement and the statistical analysis of the recorded data. Both airfoil-type models (NACA) and a bluff section, simulating the behavior of bridge section, have been considered.
Organization and reorganization of immunoglobulin genes in A-MuLV-transformed cells: Rearrangement of heavy but not light chain genes

The structure of immunoglobulin-related gene was analyzed in individual Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV)-transformed lymphoid cell lines. Essentially all of these lines, whether immunoglobulin-containing or null, had DNA rearrangements in the vicinity of the JH regions on both chromosomes as well as deletions of at least 5 kb of DNA 5' to JH. None of these lines, however, except rare light chain producers, had detectable rearrangement at either their kappa or lambda light chain loci. In contrast to A-MuLV-transformants derived from bone marrow. Those from early fetal liver frequently contained more than two and sometimes 12 or more distinct, rearranged JH-containing fragments. Cellular subclones derived from these lines had a subset, usually two, of the fragments found in the parent line. Therefore, heavy chain gene rearrangement appears to precede that of light chain gene rearrangement and is still continuing in certain cultured A-MuLV transformants.
Increased Antibodies to IgG Fragments: Correlation with Infection due to Gram-Positive Bacteria

The clinical and laboratory findings in 35 patients with severe infections and 102 patients who were selected for hyperglobulinemia were carefully reviewed and correlated with levels of serum agglutinators (antibodies to IgG Fab fragments) and rheumatoid factors (antibodies to IgG Fc fragments). Suppurative infections due to gram-positive cocci were found to be associated with high titers of serum agglutinators, whereas infections due to gram-negative bacilli, viruses, fungi, or mycoplasmas were not. Positive slide tests for rheumatoid factors were associated with hyperglobulinemia but not with severe infection.
Electrocaloric refrigeration at cryogenic temperatures

Abstract Refrigeration utilizing the electrocaloric effect can be produced with no moving parts and thus, promises to be highly reliable. This paper reviews the principles and experimental results on electrocaloric refrigeration, particularly in the 4–15K temperature range. Many electrocaloric materials were studied but none was found with a sufficiently large reversible electrocaloric effect for a practical refrigerator. The largest effects were seen in a SrTiO3 ceramic, followed by a KTaO3 single crystal. Temperature reductions of about 0.3K at 10K were observed during depolarization from fields of 20 kV/cm. A theoretical model based on the lattice dynamics of displacive dielectrics is postulated to explain the observed temperature changes in such materials.
Sesquiterpenes—identification of dehydrogenation products

Abstract Highly reproducible GLC retention data for common sesquiterpene dehydrogenation products are presented. The composition of the sesquiterpene portions of ginger oil, cade oil, celery seed oil, vetiver oil, technical guaiene, and the leaf oil of Chamaecyparis nootkatensis has been studied by small-scale dehydrogenation coupled with GLC analysis. The absence of eudalene from the mixture obtained from C. nootkatensis confirms our contention that the leaf oil contains (in contrast to the wood oil 3 ) no selinenes or nootkatenes 4 .
Population Dynamics of a Philippine Rain Forest People: The San Ildefonso Agta

Population Dynamics of. Philippine Rain Forest People: The San Ildefonso Agta. John D. Early and Thomas N. Headland. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1998.208 pp.
Preschools Reduce Early Academic-Achievement Gaps: A Longitudinal Twin Approach

Preschools may reduce inequalities in early academic achievement by providing children from disadvantaged families with higher-quality learning environments than they would otherwise receive. In this study, longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of more than 600 twin pairs were used to estimate the contributions of genes, the shared environment, and the nonshared environment to cognition and achievement scores in children enrolled versus not enrolled in preschool. Attending preschool at age 4 was associated with reductions in shared environmental influences on reading and math skills at age 5, but was not associated with the magnitude of shared environmental influences on cognition at age 2. These prospective effects were mediated by reductions in achievement gaps associated with minority status, socioeconomic status, and ratings of parental stimulation of cognitive development. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with lower rates of preschool enrollment, which suggests that the very children who would benefit most from preschools are the least likely to be enrolled in them.