cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of a time-periodic axial shear flow upon the onset of Taylor vortices.

The onset of instability in the presence of an oscillatory axial flow between concentric rotating cylinders to both axisymmetric and nonaxisymmetric disturbances is investigated on a linear basis for a narrow-gap geometry. We consider two types of axial oscillation: one is due to an oscillatory pressure gradient, and the other is due to an oscillation of the inner cylinder. For small Reynolds numbers, the results are obtained for axisymmetric disturbances by expansion in terms of the amplitude of the oscillatory flow. For finite Reynolds numbers (Re\ensuremath{\le}100), the governing equations are solved for general disturbances by a Galerkin expansion with time-dependent coefficients, and the stability boundaries of the system are determined by use of Floquet theory. The time-modulated axial flow, in general, stabilizes significantly axisymmetric disturbances except for some cases of counter-rotation with an oscillation of the inner cylinder. No subharmonic critical solutions appear for Re\ensuremath{\le}100. For Re\ensuremath{\le}100, axisymmetric disturbances are found to be more unstable than nonaxisymmetric ones when the outer cylinder is stationary, in contrast to the steady Poiseuille flow case for Re\ensuremath{\gtrsim}30. Nonaxisymmetric disturbances exhibit phase locking and jumps in the response frequency.
Effect of inhibition of DNA synthesis on histone synthesis, turnover, and deposition in the rat testis☆

Abstract In testicular seminiferous epithelial cells (SEC) of normal and hypophysectomized rats, 1-β- d -arabinofuranosylcytosine and hydroxyurea (at concentrations which inhibited DNA synthesis nearly completely) inhibited histone synthesis only partially, and to a different extent for each histone fraction. In the presence of the inhibitors, the extent of synthesis relative to the corresponding control was TH1-x > H1 > TH2B-x = X 2 = H2A > H2B = H3 > H4, in which synthesis of the H4 fraction was about 50% of control and that of TH1-x was 90–95% of control. The extent of inhibition of synthesis of each histone fraction was similar after hypophysectomy and, therefore, the changing of the relative populations of heterogeneous cells in the SEC did not influence the relative effects of the inhibitors of DNA synthesis on the synthesis of the various histone fractions. After [ 3 H]leucine injection, the molar proportions of labeled histones relative to H4 decreased markedly between 1.5 h and 6–15 days; this finding indicated that there was rapid removal of histones compared to the H4 fraction during this period. When [ 14 C]thymidine was injected 24 h prior to hydroxyurea treatment and [ 3 H]leucine injection, the ratios of specific activities of histone H4 to DNA did not change significantly over an 11-day period. It appears that newly synthesized histone H4 and other somatic histones are associated with existing DNA in the presence of DNA inhibitors.
Democracy, Participatory Politics and Development: Some Comparative Lessons from Brazil, India and South Africa

This article argues that in thinking about the challenges of inclusive democratic development in the global south we need to refocus attention on effective citizenship, that is, the actual capacity of citizens to make use of formal political and civic rights. Empirically this calls for closer analytic attention to the participatory dimensions of democracy and specifically to an examination of the political and institutional conditions under which decentralized participatory governance can be promoted. The essay reviews research findings from ambitious reform projects in participatory governance in Brazil, India (Kerala) and South Africa and draws out some comparative lessons that highlight the complex interplay of political parties and civil society.
The wedge subjected to tractions: a paradox resolved

The classical two-dimensional solution provided by Levy for the stress distribution in an elastic wedge, loaded by a uniform pressure on one face, becomes infinite when the opening angle 2α of the wedge satisfies the equation tan 2α✱ = 2α✱. Such pathological behavior prompted the investigation in this paper of the stresses and displacements that are induced by tractions of O(r−ω) as r→0. The key point is to choose an Airy stress function which generates stresses capable of accommodating unrestricted loading. Fortunately conditions can be derived which pre-determine the form of the necessary Airy stress function. The results show that inhomogeneous boundary conditions can induce stresses of O(r−ω), O(r−ω ln r), or O(r−ω ln2r) as r→0, depending on which conditions are satisfied. The stress function used by Williams is sufficient only if the induced stress and displacement behavior is of the power type. The wedge loaded by uniform antisymmetric shear tractions is shown in this paper to exhibit stresses of O(ln r) as r→0 for the half-plane or crack geometry. At the critical opening angle 2α✱, uniform antisymmetric normal and symmetric shear tractions also induce the above type of stress singularity. No anticipating such stresses, Levy used an insufficiently general Airy stress function that led to the observed pathological behavior at 2α✱.
Memorial Eckert paper for 2007 forensic DNA analysis for the medical examiner.

Abstract: The objective of this manuscript is to provide an overview of the application of forensic DNA analysis as it pertains directly to the medical examiner, namely, in the identification of human remains. For samples yielding a sufficient amount of nondegraded DNA, the analysis of a standardized set of 13 short tandem repeats can provide enough statistical power not only to exclude a potential source but also to essentially attribute or match a source of DNA. Short tandem repeats from the Y chromosome may be analyzed in paternal lineage analysis and to isolate male DNA from a male-female mixture. For samples that are degraded, decomposed, or contain insufficient amounts of nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA may provide sufficient exclusionary potential and may also be used in lineage analysis. The Federal Bureau of Investigation maintains databases of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA profiles against which profiles generated from postmortem examinations may be compared to identify human remains. Medical examiners must have sufficient familiarity with forensic DNA testing to obtain the most appropriate test samples during the postmortem examination and to obtain the most appropriate comparison samples from family members, when available, to maximize the statistical power of DNA analysis for the identification of human remains.
Achieving Congruence between Macro and Micro Generic Strategies: A Framework to Create International Competitive Advantage

In order to achieve the strongest international competitive advantage, there must be cooperation between the public and business sectors. That is, there must be congruence between the macro and micro competitive strategies in a country. It is maintained that nations will optimize their competitive advantage when both government and the firm use competitive advantage or comparative advantages simultaneously. This article expands Porter's generic strategies into areas of macro and micro application. It further suggests that Porter's three generic strategies can be supported by governmental actions, enabling a country to exercise competitive advantage options for maximum results, and articulates how this can be accomplished.
Can the Higgs bosons of the minimal supersymmetric model be detected at a hadron collider via two-photon decays

Detection at a hadron collider of the neutral Higgs bosons of the minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard model is not straightforward. Their decays to WW and ZZ pairs are either phase-space forbidden or are suppressed or absent at the coupling-constant level; thus, detection of these neutral Higgs bosons in such modes will not be possible. Their detection in heavy-quark decay modes is also almost certainly impossible due to large QCD backgrounds. One possible detection mode (that proves useful for a standard-model Higgs boson with mass below 2m/sub W/ and 2m/sub top/) is via decays to two photons. We investigate the branching ratio for such decays as a function of Higgs-boson mass for a selection of neutralino and chargino mass-matrix parameters. Except for a few limited regions of parameter space, we conclude that this mode of detection is probably not viable given the known two-photon continuum backgrounds.
Regional coronary hemodynamic responses to cold stimulation in patients without variant angina

Abstract The responses to cold in patients with exertional chest pain were studied by measuring coronary sinus and great cardiac vein flows, aortic and left ventricular pressure and diameters of epicardial and small (0.4 to 1.0 mm) intramyocardial coronary arteries before and after the left hand of 18 such patients was immersed in ice water. Coronary sinus and great cardiac vein flows were used as indexes of total and anterior left ventricular flows. Coronary sinus flow minus great cardiac vein flow was used as an index of inferior left ventricular flow. Perfusion of left ventricular regions was considered potentially “normal” or “abnormal” according to the presence or absence of 50 percent or greater stenosis of luminal diameter in the coronary artery supplying a given region. With cold stimulation, increases occurred in heart rate (6 beats/min), mean aortic pressure (22 mm Hg) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (8 mm Hg) (all p
Materials science: Polymer crystals downsized

A record has been broken — the smallest-ever polymer crystals have been prepared. Their surprising shape provides crucial evidence that might help explain how polymers crystallize.
Chemical availability and sediment toxicity of pyrethroid insecticides to Hyalella azteca: application to field sediment with unexpectedly low toxicity.

Tenax® extraction is a simple, inexpensive approach to estimate the bioavailability of hydrophobic organic contaminants from sediment. In the present study, a single-point Tenax extraction was evaluated regarding its correlation with the acute toxicity to Hyalella azteca using field-collected sediments in California, USA. Pyrethroids were believed to be the primary contributor to the observed toxicity, and a significant correlation existed between the expected toxicity (given pyrethroid concentrations) and the mortality at most sampling sites. A small subset of sites, however, showed unexpectedly low toxicity to H. azteca despite high concentrations of pyrethroids. These samples were evaluated by Tenax extraction with the expectation that this procedure, which qualifies bioavailable instead of total pyrethroid concentration in sediment, would better explain the anomalously low toxicity. The term bioavailable toxic unit was proposed to link sediment toxicity with chemical availability, and the toxicity in the 17 selected sediments was better explained using Tenax extraction. The r2 value of the regression between sediment toxicity and toxic unit for the 17 sediments increased from 0.24 to 0.60 when the Tenax-extractable concentration was used in place of the total concentration. Results also showed that adsorption to sand particles might play a controlling role in pyrethroid bioavailability and, in turn, sediment toxicity to benthic invertebrates.
Anesthesia for Endoscopy in Small Animals

This article discusses considerations for general anesthesia for various endoscopic procedures in small animals. Specific drug and monitoring recommendations are made. Special physiologic concerns of individual procedures affecting the anesthetized patient are discussed.
Nicotine Dependence, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior among Adult Smokers.

Background: Research has previously demonstrated an inverse association between smoking status and physical activity; however, few studies have examined the association between nicotine dependence and physical activity or sedentary behavior. Aim: This study examined the association between nicotine dependence and accelerometer-determined physical activity and sedentary behavior. Materials and Methods: Data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used. A total of 851 adult (≥20 years) smokers wore an accelerometer for ≥4 days and completed the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence scale. Regression models were used to examine the association between nicotine dependence and physical activity/sedentary behavior. Results: After adjusting for age, gender, race-ethnicity, poverty level, hypertension, emphysema, bronchitis, body mass index (BMI), cotinine, and accelerometer wear time, smokers 50 + years of age with greater nicotine dependence engaged in more sedentary behavior (β = 11.4, P = 0.02) and less light-intensity physical activity (β = −9.6, P = 0.03) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; β = −0.14, P = 0.003) than their less nicotine dependent counterparts. Conclusion: Older adults who are more nicotine dependent engage in less physical activity (both MVPA and light-intensity) and more sedentary behavior than their less nicotine dependent counterparts.
Étude des photoprotons de 93Nb (1)

Un spectrometre magnetique a ete employe avec l'accelerateur lineaire d'electrons de 40 MeV de Stanford, pour etudier des photoprotons de 93Nb. Des distributions d'energie et angulaires et une courbe d'activation sont presentees et discutees.
Synchronous tracking of outputs from multiple OCR systems

The accuracies of OCR systems have increased in recent years due to improvements in pre- processing methods and recognition algorithms. It has been suggested that even higher accuracy can be attained by integrating the results of two or more OCR systems with uncorrelated errors. There are several methods for integrating outputs, some of which had already been published. However, prior to integration, the individual characters or symbols from the various OCR outputs have to be synchronously tracked in order to compare them. Whereas it is simple to determine character correspondence among strings containing only substitution errors, the matching of strings of unequal length, which result when an OCR system generates insertion and deletion errors, is more complicated. Detecting loss of synchronization is made more difficult when consecutive errors occur. The length of the error burst must be determined or upper bounded before the error can be classified or synchronicity restored. This paper focuses on the tracking problem, and uses a dynamic programming search in n dimensions, where n is the number of OCR systems. The algorithm models the error generation process at each of the OCR systems and looks for the most probable combination of synchronized OCR outputs from the beginning to the end of all strings. The final output of the process (which can be the input to an integrator) is a series of n-tuples, each one containing exactly one output character (including nulls or deletions) from an OCR system.
Detection and discrimination using multiple-wavelength differential absorption lidar.

A methodology is presented for generalizing two-wavelength single-material differential absorption lidar to multiple wavelengths for use in simultaneous multimaterial detection and discrimination. A key role in the analysis is played by the concentration path length (CL) product covariance matrix ΛĈL, which generalizes the CL variance. Detection statistics for a multiwavelength alarm system are computed using ΛĈL with a multivariate normal distribution for the estimated CL product values. Off-diagonal elements in ΛĈL are found to affect significantly the predicted performance of two-material detection systems.
Current status of endoscopic simulation in gastroenterology fellowship training programs

Recent guidelines have encouraged gastroenterology and surgical training programs to integrate simulation into their core endoscopic curricula. However, the role that simulation currently has within training programs is unknown. This study aims to assess the current status of simulation among gastroenterology fellowship programs. Design: This questionnaire study consisted of 38 fields divided into two sections. The first section queried program directors’ experience on simulation and assessed the current status of simulation at their institution. The second portion surveyed their opinion on the potential role of simulation on the training curriculum. Setting: The study was conducted at the 2013 American Gastroenterological Association Training Directors’ Workshop in Phoenix, Arizona. Participants: The participants were program directors from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited gastroenterology training programs, who attended the workshop. The questionnaire was returned by 69 of 97 program directors (response rate of 71 %). 42 % of programs had an endoscopic simulator. Computerized simulators (61.5 %) were the most common, followed by mechanical (30.8 %) and animal tissue (7.7 %) simulators, respectively. Eleven programs (15 %) required fellows to use simulation prior to clinical cases. Only one program has a minimum number of hours fellows have to participate in simulation training. Current simulators are deemed as easy to use (76 %) and good educational tools (65 %). Problems are cost (72 %) and accessibility (69 %). The majority of program directors believe that there is a need for endoscopic simulator training, with only 8 % disagreeing. Additionally, a majority believe there is a role for simulation prior to initiation of clinical cases with 15 % disagreeing. Gastroenterology fellowship program directors widely recognize the importance of simulation. Nevertheless, simulation is used by only 42 % of programs and only 15 % of programs require that trainees use simulation prior to clinical cases. No programs currently use simulation as part of the evaluation process.
Establishing Criteria and their Weights for Evaluating Transportation Funding Alternatives Using a Delphi Survey

For more than a decade, transportation officials in the US have been concerned that, at current levels, the fuel tax, which is the primary surface transportation funding source in the US, would not provide enough revenue to satisfy the ever rising transportation needs. Political and public support for raising the fuel tax is lacking, and fuel tax revenue has not kept pace with construction costs because it is not indexed to inflation. Increase in fuel efficiency is expected to reduce the fuel tax revenue. While there are many funding alternatives such as increasing the fuel tax, replacing it with a mileage based tax, increasing sales tax and tolling, officials from transportation agencies and policy makers need to reach a consensus on the best or preferable alternative to be implemented. Due to the differences in their backgrounds as well as their objectives, they may have different priorities. In this research, the authors organize a structured communication among many Texas-based transportation officials and the Texas Legislative Committee members’ staff using the Delphi method to obtain their opinions about the criteria and their weights to be used for evaluating transportation funding alternatives. Through this process, the authors try to build a consensus among the members of this expert panel by feeding back the group response for their review. The result of this survey is a set of criteria and their weights, which can be used to evaluate transportation funding alternatives for the state of Texas. The criteria weights seem to indicate that the panelists recognize the importance of public opinion and its impact on reaching a legislative solution. The panelists appear to be less concerned about criteria that may be addressed through modifications to the funding alternatives and research. This research shows that the funding policy is not seen as a tool for improving user efficiency, which opposes the common view in the literature that encourages replacement of fuel tax with a vehicle mileage tax involving high implementation and operating cost.
Analyses of the putative Crp/Fnr family of transcriptional regulators of a serotype 4b strain of Listeria monocytogenes

A whole-genome sequence analysis of Listeria monocytogenes strain F2365 revealed 15 potential members of the Crp/Fnr family of transcriptional regulatory proteins. Each gene and the flanking regions were cloned, subjected to in vitro transpositional mutagenesis, and recombined into strain F2365. Mutant strains, produced for 14 of the family members, were compared to strain F2365 for differences in carbon utilization, resistance to oxidative stress, and growth under reduced oxygen conditions that would signal an Fnr- or Crp-like function for these proteins. There were no differences among strain F2365 and the 14 mutant strains in the utilization of the carbon sources readily utilized by L. monocytogenes. Although strain KO2 had a reduced growth rate compared to strain F2365 and the other mutant strains at 30 degrees but not at 37 degrees C, there were no differences in growth rates among strain F2365 and the mutant strains when incubated at either 30 or 37 degrees C under reduced oxygen conditions. However, when compared for differences in response to oxidative stress, mutants KO2 and KO5 showed reduced oxidative stress tolerance compared to the wild-type strain F2365. These results suggest that certain members of the putative Crp/Fnr family in L. monocytogenes may function in response to oxidative stress similar to the Fnr-like protein (Flp) of other gram-positive bacteria.
Mothers without borders.

This article describes Mothers Without Borders a nonprofit organization that sponsors a home for vulnerable children ranging from five to eighteen years of age and mostly orphaned because of HIV/AIDS in Zambia. Mothers Without Borders provides shelter food clothing access to healthcare the opportunity to learn English education and vocational training and counseling.
Adaptive Local Refinement with Octree Load Balancing for the Parallel Solution of Three-Dimensional Conservation Laws

Conservation laws are solved by a local Galerkin finite element procedure with adaptive space-time mesh refinement and explicit time integration. The Courant stability condition is used to select smaller time steps on smaller elements of the mesh, thereby greatly increasing efficiency relative to methods having a single global time step. Processor load imbalances, introduced at adaptive enrichment steps, are corrected by using traversals of an octree representing a spatial decomposition of the domain. To accommodate the variable time steps, octree partitioning is extended to use weights derived from element size. Partition boundary smoothing reduces the communications volume of partitioning procedures for a modest cost. Computational results comparing parallel octree and inertial partitioning procedures are presented for the three-dimensional Euler equations of compressible flow solved on an IBM SP2 computer.
Non-Myopic Adaptive Route Planning in Uncertain Congestion Environments

We consider the problem of adaptively routing a fleet of cooperative vehicles within a road network in the presence of uncertain and dynamic congestion conditions. To tackle this problem, we first propose a Gaussian process dynamic congestion model that can effectively characterize both the dynamics and the uncertainty of congestion conditions. Our model is efficient and thus facilitates real-time adaptive routing in the face of uncertainty. Using this congestion model, we develop efficient algorithms for non-myopic adaptive routing to minimize the collective travel time of all vehicles in the system. A key property of our approach is the ability to efficiently reason about the long-term value of exploration, which enables collectively balancing the exploration/exploitation trade-off for entire fleets of vehicles. Our approach is validated by traffic data from two large Asian cities. Our congestion model is shown to be effective in modeling dynamic congestion conditions. Our routing algorithms also generate significantly faster routes compared to standard baselines, and achieve near-optimal performance compared to an omniscient routing algorithm. We also present the results from a preliminary field study, which showcases the efficacy of our approach.
Hyperinsulinemic diseases of civilization: more than just Syndrome X

Compensatory hyperinsulinemia stemming from peripheral insulin resistance is a well-recognized metabolic disturbance that is at the root cause of diseases and maladies of Syndrome X (hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, coronary artery disease, obesity, abnormal glucose tolerance). Abnormalities of fibrinolysis and hyperuricemia also appear to be members of the cluster of illnesses comprising Syndrome X. Insulin is a well-established growth-promoting hormone, and recent evidence indicates that hyperinsulinemia causes a shift in a number of endocrine pathways that may favor unregulated tissue growth leading to additional illnesses. Specifically, hyperinsulinemia elevates serum concentrations of free insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and androgens, while simultaneously reducing insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Since IGFBP-3 is a ligand for the nuclear retinoid X receptor a, insulin-mediated reductions in IGFBP-3 may also influence transcription of anti-proliferative genes normally activated by the body’s endogenous retinoids. These endocrine shifts alter cellular proliferation and growth in a variety of tissues, the clinical course of which may promote acne, early menarche, certain epithelial cell carcinomas, increased stature, myopia, cutaneous papillomas (skin tags), acanthosis nigricans, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and male vertex balding. Consequently, these illnesses and conditions may, in part, have hyperinsulinemia at their root cause and therefore should be classified among the diseases of Syndrome X. 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Ethylene Glycol Poisoning. The Value of Glycolic Acid Determinations for Diagnosis and Treatment

Glycolic acid is the ethylene glycol (EG) metabolite that accumulates in the highest concentrations in the blood and may be the major contributing factor to the acute toxicity of EG. Serum and urine levels of glycolic acid have been found to correlate directly with clinical symptoms and mortality in poisoning cases, making it a valuable diagnostic tool. A high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for quantitation of glycolic acid in serum was used in several cases of EG ingestion presented to the Louisiana Regional Poison Control Center. The data collected in this study support the value of glycolic acid determination for diagnosis and evaluation of patients poisoned by EG.
Dispersal of the fairy shrimp Branchinecta coloradensis (Anostraca) : Effects of hydroperiod and salamanders

The absence of fairy shrimp (Anostraca) from permanent ponds and lakes is hypothesized to be the result of vertebrate predation. However, hatching cues for anostracan diapausing eggs include factors associated with the filling of temporary pond basins, and desiccation often increases the fraction of eggs that hatch. Thus, it is possible that in some species, eggs dispersed to permanent habitats never hatch, and vertebrate predation is not the proximate factor limiting distributions. We experimentally transplanted live egg-bearing females of the fairy shrimp Branchinecta coloradensis into permanent and temporary ponds in small chambers and allowed the chambers to overwinter in situ. There was no discernible effect of pond drying on hatching success (mean success 5 50.9%). We also determined whether metamorphic salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum ) could disperse viable fairy shrimp eggs by feeding on B. coloradensis in one pond and defecating in another. Hatching success for a salamander ‘‘ingested’’ treatment was estimated as 0.9%. Results of a third experimental treatment suggested that the eggs being carried by females were not fully mature, so that ingestion resistance might vary throughout the reproductive period of B. coloradensis. By combining these results with data on salamander movement and diet, we estimated salamander-mediated dispersal rates for fairy shrimp eggs. Metamorphic A. tigrinum nebulosumsp. are likely to be dispersing thousands of B. coloradensis eggs among ponds annually. Because our results demonstrate that dispersal between ponds can occur in large numbers, they support the prevailing hypothesis that vertebrate predators limited to permanent ponds are the proximate mechanism preventing the invasion of fairy shrimp.
VNsnap: Taking snapshots of virtual networked environments with minimal downtime

A virtual networked environment (VNE) consists of virtual machines (VMs) connected by a virtual network. It has been adopted to create “virtual infrastructures” for individual users on a shared cloud computing infrastructure. The ability to take snapshots of an entire VNE — including images of the VMs with their execution, communication and storage states — yields a unique approach to reliability as a snapshot can restore the operation of an entire virtual infrastructure. We present VNsnap, a system that takes distributed snapshots of VNEs. Unlike existing distributed snapshot/checkpointing solutions, VNsnap does not require any modifications to the applications, libraries, or (guest) operating systems running in the VMs. Furthermore, VNsnap incurs only seconds of downtime as much of the snapshot operation takes place concurrently with the VNE's normal operation. We have implemented VNsnap on top of Xen. Our experiments with real-world parallel and distributed applications demonstrate VNsnap's effectiveness and efficiency.
Ultrastructure of early chick embryo tissues after high pressure freezing and freeze substitution.

Early chick embryos (stages 11–29), or parts thereof, were frozen by the high pressure technique and subjected to a variety of freeze substitution protocols. In addition to hexadecene, unincubated albumen was used as a cryoprotectant to surround the specimens during the freezing event. The quality of freeze ranged from poor to very good in these highly aqueous specimens; very good freeze quality was observed minimally to depths of 30–40 μ. Freeze substitution was carried out with a custom-made aluminum chamber, automatic freeze substitution machine, or a combination of the two, in acetone containing (1) uranyl acetate; (2) acrolein and/or tannic acid; or (3) a sequence of (2), osmium, and glutaraldehyde. Excellent quality of morphology was cryopreserved with all solutions, given optimally cryoimmobilized tissue. Mitotic and pericentriolar microtubules and cytoskeletal elements were cryopreserved with all methods; membranous organelles were better preserved with osmium. Outstanding preservation of morphology of the ground substance of very hydrated embryonic cells, though limited in depth, was accomplished by high pressure cryoimmobilization and cryopreservation, demonstrating that the technique can be successfully applied to highly aqueous tissues. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Nature of Crack Tip Fields in Atomic Scale Models of Aluminum

The stresses, displacement gradients, and Eshelby’s F and M integrals are obtained for two crack orientations in an EAM atomic model of aluminum. For a sharp crack, the stresses are shown to agree quite well with the linear elastic prediction, and F is essentially path independent and also in good agreement with the linear elastic prediction. When dislocation emission and blunting ensues, the path independence of F disappears. In addition, for circular contours with origin at the crack tip, the M-integral is linear in contour radius with slope equal to twice the surface energy and zero intercept for a sharp crack, but acquires a nonzero intercept as blunting occurs. The shift in intercept is related to the movement of singularities away from the origin.
The effectiveness of DRL in the management and treatment of severe behaviour disorders following brain injury

Effective management of behaviour disorders following brain injury is essential if individuals are to achieve their rehabilitation potential Best practice dictates that the intrusiveness of any operant approach used be minimal remain in operation for the shortest time possible and emphasize skill building Ideally treatment gains should maintain following its withdrawal Reinforcement methods fulfil these criteria in that they are less intrusive concerned with the establishment of pro social behaviours and encourage positive staff patient interaction While their efficacy has been well docu mented with other clinical populations less is known regarding treatment of behaviour disorders in survivors of brain injury Some existing studies are characterized by methodological weaknesses that limit understanding of any contribution made to observed improvement and little is known regarding maintenance of treatment effects In this paper the effectiveness of a variant of differential reinforce ment DRL will be examin...
An optimum path and posture planning for fixtureless assembly

A strategy is discussed for assembly path planning of parts to be assembled by two assembly robots in a working space. Path modeling based on the use of real and virtual vertices of male and female parts is introduced to represent the relative relationship of parts in assembled position. A new algorithm for assembly path planning of two parts is developed. An algorithm for optimum posture (position and orientation) for a two-arm fixtureless assembly in the working space is proposed. A performance index is introduced to describe both accurate assembly capability and manipulability in the working space. The two strategies are combined, and the two-arm fixtureless assembly is demonstrated graphically for two planar robots. >
Rundell, Bridge and Rundell—An Early Company History

What may well be one of the earliest company histories in English was recently presented to Baker Library by Mrs. Lydia Burgess Brownson, great-granddaughter of George Fox, who compiled the history.
Murine models of airway fungal exposure and allergic sensitization.

Inhalation of common indoor fi lamentous fungi has been associated with the induction or exacerbation of allergic respiratory disease. The understanding of fungal inhalation and allergic sensitization has signifi cantly advanced with the use of small animal models, especially mouse models. Numerous studies have employed different animal exposure and sensitization techniques, each with inherent advantages and disadvantages that are addressed in this review. In addition, most studies involve exposure of animals to fungal spores or spore extracts while neglecting the infl uence of hyphal or subcellular fragment exposures. Recent literature examining the potential for hyphae and fungal fragments to induce or exacerbate allergy is discussed. Innate immune recognition of fungal elements and their contribution to lung allergic infl ammation in animal models are also reviewed. Though physical properties of fungi play an important role following exposure, host immune development is also critical in airway infl ammation and allergy. We discuss the importance of environmental factors that infl uence early immune development and subsequent susceptibility to allergy. Murine studies that examine the role of intestinal microfl ora and prenatal or early life environmental factors that promote allergic sensitization are also evaluated. Future studies will require animal models that accurately refl ect natural fungal exposures and identify environmental factors that infl uence immune development and thus promote respiratory fungal allergy and disease.
The use of data type information in an interactive database environment

Despite the enormous advances that have been made in the specification of data types and data models in the fields of programming languages, databases and artificial intelligence; there remain a number of problems in attempting to unify the various approaches to the formal description of data. The purpose of this brief paper is to examine these problems from the point (or points) of view of those people—designers, administrators, applications programmers, and end-users—whose main interest is with databases. In particular, we hope to display special concern for the tools provided for the end-user, who should be the final beneficiary of whatever advances are made.In order to pin down some of these problems, it is worthwhile to attempt a definition of certain terms used in databases:1. A data model (or database management system if one is describing an implementation) is a set of parameterized or “generic” data types.2. A database schema is a set of data types that result from instantiating the generic types of the data model to produce a set of data types that describe the data to be stored.3. A database is an instantiation of those types defined by a schema.
A hybrid face detection approach for real-time depolyment on mobile devices

Although there are many face detection algorithms in the literature, only a handful of them meet the real-time constraints of a software-based solution without using any dedicated hardware engine. This paper presents a real-time and robust solution for mobile platforms which in general have limited computation and memory resources as compared to PC platforms. This solution involves combining our two previous real-time implementations for mobile platforms to address the shortcoming of each implementation. The first implementation provides an online or on-the-fly light source calibration for the second implementation which is found to be robust to various face poses or orientations. The real-time results obtained on an actual mobile platform indicate both the real-time and robustness capabilities of this hybrid face detection solution.
Asymmetric mechanical properties of porcine aortic sinuses.

Background Aortic sinuses are crucial components of the aortic root and important for aortic valve function. Mathematical modeling of various aortic valve or root replacements requires tissue material properties, and those of the aortic sinuses are unknown. The aim of this study is to compare the biaxial mechanical properties of the individual porcine aortic sinuses. Methods Square specimens, oriented in the longitudinal and circumferential directions, were excised from the left coronary, right coronary, and noncoronary porcine sinuses. Tissue thickness was measured, and specimens were subjected to equibiaxial mechanical testing. Stress-strain data corresponding to a 35% stretch were fitted to a Fung strain energy function. Tissue stiffness and anisotropy were compared at 0.3 strain. Results The circumferential direction was more compliant than the longitudinal one for left coronary (183.03 ± 40.78 kPa versus 231.17 ± 45.38 kPa, respectively; p = 0.04) and right coronary sinuses (321.74 ± 129.68 kPa versus 443.49 ± 143.59 kPa, respectively; p = 0.02) at 30% strain. No such differences were noted for noncoronary sinuses (331.74 ± 129.68 kPa versus 415.98 ± 191.38 kPa; p = 0.19). Left coronary sinus was also significantly more compliant than right and noncoronary sinuses. There were no differences between right coronary and noncoronary sinus tissues. Conclusions We demonstrate that the material properties of the porcine aortic sinuses are not symmetric. The left coronary sinus is significantly more compliant than the remaining sinuses. Realistic modeling of the aortic root must take into account the asymmetric differences in tissue material properties of the aortic sinuses.
Secondary Plant Compounds in Seedling and Mature Aspen (Populus tremuloides) in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Abstract Widespread establishment of seedling aspen (Populus tremuloides) occurred in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) following the extensive1988 fires. Aspen stands occupy ∼2% of YNP and aspen stems are intensively browsed by native ungulates. Chemical composition, especially secondary compounds, may influence levels of herbivory and, hence, survival of aspen, but concentrations of such compounds in aspen in the northern Rocky Mountains are not known. Quantitative profiles of foliar nitrogen and secondary compounds (condensed tannins and the phenolic glycosides, salicortin and tremulacin) in aspen were assessed to address the following questions: (1) Do concentrations of secondary compounds differ between seedling and mature aspen stands? (2) Do concentrations of secondary compounds in seedling aspen differ between unbrowsed and artificially browsed seedlings? (3) Among mature aspen stands, do concentrations of secondary plant compounds differ among, (a) burned and browsed, (b) unburned and browsed and (...
A Concise History of Corporate Mergers and the Antitrust Laws in the United States

American merger control law today is governed primarily by regulators and not courts, focusing on consumer welfare and efficiency. This was not always the case though, and the author traces the development of this area of law from its nascent beginnings with the Sherman Act to the era of private enforcement witnessed today. As the Indian economy continues to expand,mergers and acquisitions have become frequent bringing with them difficult questions of anti-competitive behaviour. A study of the American experience, it is argued, would provide valuable insight in enforcing the rather untested anti-merger provisions in the Competition Act of India.
An unusual presentation of recurring metastatic melanoma.

A 53-year-old non-distressed Caucasian female complains of dyspnea and palpitations for 5 days. Past medical history includes Stage IV melanoma with adequate resection 23 years prior. The patient suddenly became increasingly tachycardic in mild respiratory distress while maintaining hemodynamic stability. TTE depicted 10.5 × 7.5 × 9.5 cm3 mass within her left ventricle and a large volume of pericardial effusion, which progressed to cardiac tamponade. Pericardial window was performed. Metastatic involvement should be ruled out for all symptomatic patients with a history of melanoma.
Challenges in conducting mHealth research with underserved populations: Lessons learned:

Previous studies have recognized the potential of mobile technology to improve health outcomes among underserved populations, but the challenges in conducting research into the use of mobile technology to improve health (mHealth) are not well understood. This manuscript identifies some of the most important challenges in conducting mHealth research with a sample of urban American Indian and Alaska Native mothers. We examined these challenges through an existing partnership with a community health agency. We conducted community consultations and a process monitoring phase for a pilot trial aimed at measuring the effect of a brief counselling session on participants' adherence to use of a mobile app. We identify generalizable challenges in administrative, technological, and logistical domains that will be useful foreknowledge to other investigators planning to conduct mHealth research with underserved populations.
Virilizing para-adrenocortical adenoma associated with idiopathic-acquired generalized anhidrosis in an adolescent girl

Adrenocortical tumors are rare in childhood and adolescence. Virilization, alone or in combination with signs of overproduction of other adrenal hormones, is the most common clinical presentation. Here we report an unusual case of an African-American female adolescent presenting with idiopathic acquired generalized anhidrosis, dysregulation of body temperature, absence of adult body odor and dry skin in the face of a virilizing para-adrenocortical adenoma. Virilization signs regressed soon after removal of the tumor, but normalization of the 3alpha-androstenediol glucuronide (3alpha-AG) took longer compared to other measurable androgens; accompanied by anhidrosis. The association of remitting anhidrosis with normalized levels of 3alpha-AG suggests it might be a possible mechanism for anhidrosis. High 3alpha-AG levels might implicate the increased peripheral conversion of weak pro-androgens with different biochemical structure. We recommend obtaining 3alpha-AG beside other androgens in virilized patients with atypical dermatological symptoms in the face of hyperandrogenism.
Direct Attachment of Oligonucleotides to Quantum Dot Interfaces

A straightforward functionalization strategy for the direct attachment of single-stranded oligonucleotides (ssDNA) to quantum dot (qdot) interfaces is described. The approach takes advantage of a histidine-mediated phase transfer protocol that results in qdots with high colloidal stability in aqueous buffers. The weakly bound histidine encapsulation facilitates monolayer exchanged with both thiolated ssDNA and polyhistidine-tagged proteins. The successful biomodification at the qdot interface was probed by FRET analysis. The modest FRET efficiencies measured suggest the DNA to be in an extended conformation that is the result of high surface coverage that the direct attachment provides.
Developmental versus Functional Explanations for Patterns of Variability and Correlation in the Dentitions of Foxes

Patterns of variability and correlation within mammalian dentitions are often interpreted in terms of the functional demands of occlusion. This study assesses the functional explanation for patterns of variability (as measured by the coefficient of variation, CV) and correlation in dental characters of arctic foxes ( Alopex lagopus ) and red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ). Although measurements of teeth in the carnassial region (P4 and M11) have the lowest CVs, there is no consistent inverse relationship across the dentition of foxes between the occlusal complexity of teeth and the CVs of their measurements. Instead, an inverse relationship between the mean size of the dental measurements and their CVs suggests that the CVs may be inversely related to the morphological complexity of the dental characters. The pattern of correlations within the dentition of arctic foxes further emphasizes the lack of correspondence between character correlation and occlusal complexity that has been previously noted in red foxes, but is consistent with that predicted from models for dental development. Rather than reflecting the functional demands of occlusion, the patterns of variability and correlation probably represent developmental factors that are largely independent of proximate functional considerations.
The Patient Visits Program: a strategy to highlight patient satisfaction and refocus organizational culture.

Article-at-a-Glance Background Seeking patient input may improve patients' perceptions of the quality of care and provide managers with helpful information for strategic decision making. In addition, the involvement of senior hospital leadership is critical to successful implementation of quality improvement initiatives and illustrates an organization's commitment to enhancing quality from the top down. Implementing the PVP Senior management's Patient Visits Program (PVP) at Tufts-New England Medical Center is a structured, ongoing initiative in which senior clinicians are paired with nonclinician administrators. During an initial evaluation period (Aug 1999-Feb 2001), PVP teams visited with patients and their families on a monthly basis to talk to them about their experiences. Patient suggestions were then evaluated and acted on. Discussion The PVP has been beneficial for patients and for the hospital team members—clinicians and nonclinicians alike—who participated in the patient interviews. The PVP may serve as a mechanism to enhance organizational awareness of the importance of patient satisfaction. The program provides opportunities for immediate service recovery, and faster, broader-reaching responses to quality complaints due to the multispecialty nature of the PVP teams. In addition, based on early available data, the PVP shows promise as an interventional strategy to improve patient satisfaction scores. Conclusions A structured, ongoing program such as the PVP is an effective strategy to highlight the value of patient satisfaction, refocus organizational culture, and generate specific suggestions for improving the quality of patient care.