cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of a bioabsorbable barrier for regenerative management of marginal tissue recession. I. Report of 100 consecutively treated teeth.

Background: Periodontal plastic surgical procedures aimed at coverage of exposed root surfaces have evolved into routine treatment modalities. The present study was designed to assess the effectiveness and the predictability of a bioabsorbable barrier in the treatment of human recession defects utilizing a single-step surgical procedure. Methods: One hundred consecutive single and multiple adjacent Miller Class I, II, and III buccal recession defects in 41 patients were treated with a combination of a bioabsorbable barrier and coronally advanced flap technique. Clinical parameters were recorded immediately prior to surgery, at 3 months, and after a minimum of 6 months. Results: A highly significant reduction in recession depth from a mean value of 3.2 ± 0.9 mm preoperatively to 0.3 ± 0.5 mm postoperatively, corresponding to a mean root coverage of 92.7% ± 14.1%, was obtained. Complete (100%) root coverage was obtained in 75% of the sites. Factors adversely affecting root coverage were membrane exposure po...
Comparative analysis of absorbance calculations for integrated optical waveguide configurations by use of the ray optics model and the electromagnetic wave theory.

Focusing on the use of planar waveguides as platforms for highly sensitive attenuated total reflection spectroscopy of organic thin films, we extend the ray optics model to provide absorbance expressions for the case of dichroic layers immobilized on the waveguide surface. Straightforward expressions are derived for the limiting case of weakly absorbing, anisotropically oriented molecules in the waveguide–cladding region. The second major focus is on the accuracy of the ray optics model. This model assumes that the introduction of absorbing species, either in the bulk cladding or as an adlayer on the waveguide surface, only causes a small perturbation to the original waveguide-mode profile. We investigate the accuracy of this assumption and the conditions under which it is valid. A comparison to an exact calculation by use of the electromagnetic wave theory is implemented, and the discrepancy of the ray optics model is determined for various waveguide configurations. We find that in typical situations in which waveguide-absorbance measurements are used to study organic thin films (kl/nl ≤ 10-1, h/λ ≈ 10-2) the discrepancy between the ray optics and the exact calculations is only a few percent (2–3%).
Fat and nitrogen absorption after folic acid administration in dogs deprived of external pancreatic secretion.

SummaryData on the absorption of fat and nitrogen following folic acid therapy in dogs deprived of external pancreatic secretion have been presented. Folic acid was shown to be of no value as far as absorption of these substances was concerned.The importance of employing a standard diet of known composition and of determining the amount of fat lost in the stools and not relying on the percentage of fat present in the dried stool is emphasized.
A simple method to monitor the dose of hemodialysis

A practical and inexpensive method to measure the dose of dialysis without any laboratory tests is described. A prospective study was performed that suggested that the volume of blood treated during hemodialysis, corrected for postdialysis body weight (CBVpost), can be used as a simple method to measure dose of dialysis. In this study the dose of dialysis, measured as Kt/Vurea, and the volume of blood dialyzed, were compared for 195 hemodialysis treatments. There was a strong positive correlation between Kt/Vurea and CBVpost in the entire group of patients (r = 0.78). However, this correlation was strongest for traditional dialysis using dialyzers with a urea clearance of 170-180 ml/min (r = 0.82) than for other dialyzers.
Power allocation in relay channels under a global power constraint using virtual nodes

Relay channels have been extensively studied in the literature since the seminal paper by Cover and El Gamal. Nevertheless, characterizing the capacity of relay channels still presents open issues. While numerous works addressed this problem with constant powers or targeted the sum-rate optimization, computing the capacity in the case of a global power constraint was less studied. In this paper, we introduce the concept of virtual nodes to derive analytical expressions of the relay channel capacity as a function of the total power. This transformation leads to simple closed-form expressions of the upper bound and decode-and-forward (DF) lower bound on the capacity of the full- and half-duplex relay channels. The half-duplex study is separated into low and high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) cases. The impact of these approximations is evaluated and found to achieve a large part of the maximal capacity in the worst case where the equivalent received SNR is neither low nor high, typically between 0-10dB.
Subcellular Distribution and Composition of Lipids in Muscle and Adipose Tissues

Subcellular distribution of fatty acids in the membranes and cytoplasm of muscle and adipose tissues from USDA Select beef carcasses was determined. Cholesterol in subcellular fractions of intramuscular adipose tissue also was quantified. There was a greater percentage of saturated fatty acids in cytoplasmic, than in membrane, fractions of muscle. With the exception of intramuscular adipose tissue, monounsaturated fatty acids constituted a greater percentage of the total lipid in the cytoplasm than in membranes. There was a greater percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the membrane, than in the cytoplasmic, fraction. Cholesterol averaged 118 mg per 100 g intramuscular adipose tissue with 54% in the cytoplasm and 46% in the membranes.
CYCLOHEXIMIDE AS A MEDIA AMENDMENT FOR ENUMERATING BACTERIAL POPULATIONS IN ANIMAL FEEDS

The present study was designed to evaluate cycloheximide as a potential media amendment for differential bacterial and fungal enumeration of animal feeds. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of cycloheximide on bacterial growth rates and to evaluate its efficacy for the reduction of indigenous spreading fungi when enumerating bacterial populations in three types of feeds and after short or long-term storage. Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens were grown in tryptic soy broth containing cycloheximide to determine its effect on bacterial specific growth rates. Growth rates of B. cereus and S. aureus were significantly decreased by the addition of 600 and 1000 mg/L cycloheximide respectively, but other pure cultures were not significantly influenced by cycloheximide addition. Intrinsic bacterial populations from feed were not significantly affected by cycloheximide additions at concentrations from 10 to 300 mg/L, but the indigenous spreading molds from feeds were significantly decreased by these cycloheximide concentrations and were decreased below detection levels by 300 mg/L of cycloheximide. The addition of 300 mg/L of cycloheximide effectively eliminates fungal growth for accurate enumeration of bacterial populations in feeds.
Exploratory Investigation of Geometry Effects on Gurney Flap Performance

T HE simplicity and ease of application of Gurney flaps has resulted in numerous studies to characterize their performance [1–3]. The flap itself is typically a small-scale modification consisting of a thin plate that is attached to the airfoil trailing edge on the pressure side. Its vertical height is configured to remainwithin the boundary layer; height to chord ratios are usually less then 1.5%. The effects of the flap are analogous to a conventional trailing edge device, that is, the angle of attack (AOA) for zero lift is shifted in the negative direction with a concomitant negative increase in the zero lift pitching moment coefficient. In essence the flap works by violating the Kutta condition; loading is carried to the trailing edge such that the upper and lower surface pressure distributions are effectively displaced farther apart. These effects may be interpreted as equivalent to lengthening the airfoil and increasing flow turning (aft camber) near the trailing edge. In most studies [4,5] theflap increases the profile’sminimumdrag coefficient such the sections maximum lift-to-drag ratio (L=Dmax) is reduced. At higher lift coefficients the Gurney flap equipped profile may show an increase in L=Dmax compared to the clean wing. Jeffrey et al. [6] showed experimentally the presence of periodic separation in the form of a von Karman vortex street propagating from the flap. As shown by von Karman’s analysis [7], the drag associated with a vortex street is reduced as the eddy spacing and the velocity of the vortex system diminishes. Recent studies [8,9] have shown a reduction in the drag penalty associated with Gurney addition by introducing irregularities into the Gurney surface consisting of notches, V-shaped cutouts, etc. Although thesemodifications show a lift reduction compared to a solid Gurney the associated reduction in the minimum drag coefficient yields improved L=D performance. According toMeyer et al. [9] the cutouts have the effect of producing a three-dimensional wake that diminishes the absolute instability, that is, a shedding frequency is no longer clearly discernible (the formation of the vortex street is disrupted). Any effective lift modulation device should achieve themaximum lift augmentationwith as small a drag penalty as possible. If theflap is to be used for lateral or longitudinal control (the flap may be rotated into position to alter lift), lift should bemaximizedwith respect to the projected height of the flap (as the flap height when deployed is usually fixed). Thus a modification that improves the L=D performance of the flap but reduces its lift increment may be deleterious from a control perspective. Consequently, a study has been undertaken to evaluate twoGurney flap configurations thatmay show a reduction in the minimum drag penalty with only a small decrement in lift compared to a solid flap. The flaps, shown in Fig. 1, have discontinuous forms, but when viewed in a streamwise direction appear solid. It is suggested that the configurations may generate streamwise vorticity that would serve to disrupt vortex street formation.
Nutrition and colorectal cancer

Environmental and genetic factors play an important role in the cause and pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. In addition to nutritional aspects, other environmental factors include physical exercise, energy intake, obesity, and parity. Dietary components currently under study are dietary fiber, fat, fruits, vegetables, and calcium. Intermediate markers of colonic proliferation, including bromodeoxyuridine and proliferating cell nuclear antigen incorporation, are being used to evaluate the response of the colonic epithelium to putative chemopreventative agents
Multiplication/division/square root module for massively parallel computers

We present algorithms for n-bit multiplication, division and square root suitable for execution in k < n-bit wide processing elements in massively parallel computers. A combined implementation is proposed and its performance in terms of the number of instructions required is evaluated.
Correlations and droplet growth.

This Letter discusses the time development of a system in which small spheres of a stable phase grow out of a supersaturated melt. A study of the growth of pairs of particles in an effective background accounts for two-particle correlations. These correlations broaden the distribution of particle sizes, even for relatively dilute systems, in accord with experiment.
Community Attachment, Religious Participation, and Quality of Life Satisfaction among Adults Involved in Civic Participation

Civic participation constitutes a range of activities that strengthen participatory democracy, such as voting, volunteerism, association membership, or political and community activism. Factors associated with civic participation are community attachment, religious participation, and quality of life satisfaction. Using a sample of 55 adults, ages 18 to 92 years, the results indicate that this is an engaged sample group in the volunteer arena with high religious attendance, attachment to their communities, and average satisfaction with their quality of life as outcomes of their civic participation.
Privacy and the System Life Cycle

Engineering long-lived systems is hard, and adding privacy considerations to such systems makes the work harder.The system life cycle and privacy implications of user-created code are beyond the current state of the art and merit significant attention in their own right. But experienced software engineers know very well that test datasets are generally way too clean and don't exercise the worst of the system.
Early generation screening of navy bean breeding lines by canning quality assessment and pasting characteristics of bean flour

Two methods (direct and indirect) were developed to screen small samples of bean seeds for their canning potential. Both methods were determined to be suitable for early generation breeding line testing. The direct small size can (202 × 214) approach required a minimum of 28.5 g bean solids which was nearly 1/4 of the sample size needed in conventional canning quality testing with a 303 × 406 can. High correlation (R2= 0.97) was found between canned bean shear texture and pasting torque values of whole bean flour (6%), w/w) at selected times/temperatures using a temperature programmed Brookfield Viscometer. The relationship between pasting torque and shear quality was promising as a basis for establishing selection criteria. The pasting test, which requires only 2 g dry bean solids, is suggested as an indirect method for screening bean breeding lines.
Forecasting the distribution of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in Wisconsin tributaries to Lake Michigan

The Laurentian Great Lakes host more than 180 non-native species, including several that have resulted in major economic and ecological effects. This list includes the round goby (Neogobius melanos...
Applicability of the Slope Parameter Method to the Design of Cathodic Protection Systems for Marine Pipelines

Abstract This paper reviews the generalized approach to marine cathodic protection design, as applied to petroleum production jackets and to pipelines. It is demonstrated that the existing method in the case of pipelines can be interfaced with a newly proposed attenuation equation for evaluation of the range of applicability and calculation error. Accordingly, a modification to the existing protocol for galvanic cathodic protection system design is presented that quantitatively interrelates design life; anode size, weight, and properties; pipe size, current demand, and coating quality; seawater resistivity; magnitude of polarization; and anode spacing. An example cathodic protection (CP) system design is presented, and the utility of the method is discussed.
LYN-activating mutations mediate antiestrogen resistance in estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer

Estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancers adapt to hormone deprivation and become resistant to antiestrogen therapy. Here, we performed deep sequencing on ER+ tumors that remained highly proliferative after treatment with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole and identified a D189Y mutation in the inhibitory SH2 domain of the SRC family kinase (SFK) LYN. Evaluation of 463 breast tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed four LYN mutations, two of which affected the SH2 domain. In addition, LYN was upregulated in multiple ER+ breast cancer lines resistant to long-term estrogen deprivation (LTED). An RNAi-based kinome screen revealed that LYN is required for growth of ER+ LTED breast cancer cells. Kinase assays and immunoblot analyses of SRC substrates in transfected cells indicated that LYND189Y has higher catalytic activity than WT protein. Further, LYND189Y exhibited reduced phosphorylation at the inhibitory Y507 site compared with LYNWT. Other SH2 domain LYN mutants, E159K and K209N, also exhibited higher catalytic activity and reduced inhibitory site phosphorylation. LYND189Y overexpression abrogated growth inhibition by fulvestrant and/or the PI3K inhibitor BKM120 in 3 ER+ breast cancer cell lines. The SFK inhibitor dasatinib enhanced the antitumor effect of BKM120 and fulvestrant against estrogen-deprived ER+ xenografts but not LYND189Y-expressing xenografts. These results suggest that LYN mutations mediate escape from antiestrogens in a subset of ER+ breast cancers.
The Semantics of "Semantics"

Outside of computer science, semantics is the providence of philosophy, where we talk about what we mean when we talk, as well as ontology (what there is to know) and epistemology (how we know it). The nice thing about computer science is that, in contrast to philosophy, we can establish whether different representations make a computational difference. That's what makes what we do engineering/science. In this paper, the author distinguished the meaning of semantics (in programming) from ontologies and logics.
Soil properties and growth of swamp white oak and pin oak on bedded soils in the lower Missouri River floodplain

Restoring bottomland hardwood ecosystems is of great interest along the lower Missouri River and within the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. However, bottomland hardwood plantings commonly have a high failure rate. Among reasons cited for failures are frequent flooding and poorly drained site conditions. Soil bedding is a commonly used site preparation method shown to increase the survival and growth of both conifer and hardwood seedlings. However, soil bedding has not always proven beneficial to seedling survival or growth and there are few published evaluations of the effects of bedding on bottomland hardwood seedlings. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of bedding on soil properties and on the early survival and growth of different stock types of pin oak and swamp white oak seedlings in the lower Missouri River floodplain. Soil bedding hada minor effect on soil texture, organiccarbon, cation exchangecapacity, base cations, and pH. Bedding reduced soil bulkdensityby7‐16%,reducedgravimetricsoilwatercontentby2‐5%,andincreasedsoiltemperatureby1‐2 8C.Whengrown with a cover crop of redtop grass, foliar N of trees in bedded soil was about 10% greater than that of trees in soil that was not bedded. There were no differences in survival, diameter growth, or height growth between seedlings grown on bedded and nonbedded soils. Despite beneficial changes to soils caused by bedding, it does not appear to enhance the survival or early growth of planted pin oak and swamp white oak seedlings on our study areas in the Missouri River floodplain. # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A rising paradigm of appropriateness.

Medical imaging overuse has been pinpointed as a key driver behind the overall escalating health care costs in the United States. Across widely separated and unmanaged populations, up to 50% of tests are for cardiovascular imaging studies, of which approximately 25% have been previously estimated as inappropriate or, at best, noncontributory. To establish mechanisms that will ensure more efficient use of cardiac imaging techniques, the American College of Cardiology Foundation developed a task force to examine the use of appropriateness criteria (AC) for cardiac imaging in clinical practice. In 2008, the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Society of Echocardiography Appropriateness Criteria for Stress Echocardiography were released. However, little was known about the direct applicability of the stress echocardiography AC in clinical practice. An investigation by Mansour and colleagues featured in this issue of the Journal explored the clinical application of published AC for stress echocardiography at a single-center university hospital. By using a prospective methodology, two independent physicians reviewed the indications and test results of 289 patients undergoing stress echocardiography. The authors found that 88% of stress echo studies could be classified using the published AC; of these studies, 71% were deemed ‘‘appropriate’’ and 9% were rated ‘‘uncertain.’’ The study confirmed previous work done in this field, suggesting that approximately 20% of stress echocardiography tests performed in academic centers might be inappropriate. The authors also established for the first time the potential use of AC in improving the yield of stress echo, because a higher number of abnormal results were seen in patients whose tests were done for appropriate indications in comparison with those with uncertain or inappropriate indications. The use of stress echocardiography for optimal patient care requires prudence for discerning the pre-test probability of coronary artery disease (CAD) because use of stress tests determines subsequent treatment and may lead to further diagnostic testing or other procedures. Therefore, if test results are not needed for proper clinical care, the inappropriate use of tests could lead to increasing cost of care without obvious clinical benefit. Not surprisingly, more than half of the inappropriate studies in the investigation by Mansour and colleagueswere performed to screen for CAD in patients with low pre-test probability or in asymptomatic patients who had only low or moderate risk for CAD. The remaining inappropriate stress echo studies were performed for preoperative risk stratification either in the absence of cardiac risk predictors or before low-risk non-cardiac surgery. Efforts aimed at minimizing the overuse of stress imaging could focus on these clinical situations. One possible approach could be ordering a test through computerized data entry that mandates test
Robust current controller design using mu-synthesis for grid-connected three phase inverter

In this paper a robust current control strategy is proposed for a grid connected three phase inverter. Current controllers based on proportional-integral (PI) control may not always offer the superior tracking performance and harmonic rejection ability of robust controllers. Robust control design offers the ability to design a controller that is robust to modeled uncertainties in the plant. A typical inverter may experience fluctuations in its input DC voltage due to uncertainties in the DC power source. In the case of a solar-inverter, large fluctuations in the input DC voltage typically occur due to varying irradiance levels, and phase and ground faults. An inverter is usually designed to disconnect from service in case its DC voltage strays outside a pre-defined operating range. With a current controller that's robust with respect to fluctuations in the input DC voltage, the inverter's operating range could be widened, giving the user more flexibility when designing their system. A common step in the PI based current controller operation is the transformation of three phase signals to their direct-quadrature equivalent. With the use of the repetitive control strategy, the transformation step is no longer required. The repetitive control strategy is chosen because it can reject a large number of harmonics simultaneously, while providing a clean sinusoidal current waveform to the grid, even in the presence of grid load and/or voltage distortions. The repetitive control strategy is implemented via the internal model principle (IMP). By applying mu-synthesis principles, a feedback controller that simultaneously achieves robust stability and robust tracking performance is obtained. To test the proposed inverter controller, the inverter is interconnected to a 500kW solar system. The solar-inverter system model is subject to a host of test scenarios. Simulation performance is compared to an H∞ based optimal current controller, and a PI based current controller.
Finite Element Analysis of Buckling of Arteries With Aneurysms

Tortuosity of arteries occurs when a normally straight artery starts to take on a twisted path. This is often referred to as tortuosity and kinking of arteries. This phenomenon occurs in arteries throughout the body including the aorta and cerebral [1, 2]. Arterial tortuosity is a potentially dangerous condition that can lead to cerebrovascular symptoms, ischemia, and stroke [3].© 2009 ASME
Hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (FIZZ1/RELMα) induces endothelial cell apoptosis and subsequent interleukin-4-dependent pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure that leads to progressive right heart failure and ultimately death. Injury to endothelium and consequent wound repair cascades have been suggested to trigger pulmonary vascular remodeling, such as that observed during PH. The relationship between injury to endothelium and disease pathogenesis in this disorder remains poorly understood. We and others have shown that, in mice, hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF, also known as FIZZ1 or RELMα) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of lung inflammation and the development of PH. In this study, we dissected the mechanism by which HIMF and its human homolog resistin (hRETN) induce pulmonary endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis and subsequent lung inflammation-mediated PH, which exhibits many of the hallmarks of the human disease. Systemic administration of HIMF caused increases in EC apoptosis and interleukin (IL)-4-dependent vascular inflammatory marker expression in mouse lung during the early inflammation phase. In vitro, HIMF, hRETN, and IL-4 activated pulmonary microvascular ECs (PMVECs) by increasing angiopoietin-2 expression and induced PMVEC apoptosis. In addition, the conditioned medium from hRETN-treated ECs had elevated levels of endothelin-1 and caused significant increases in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Last, HIMF treatment caused development of PH that was characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and right heart failure in wild-type mice but not in IL-4 knockout mice. These data suggest that HIMF contributes to activation of vascular inflammation at least in part by inducing EC apoptosis in the lung. These events lead to subsequent PH.
Cytomegalovirus in the Setting of Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) has several possible roles in the pathogenesis of AIDS. CMV causes a number of clinical syndromes, including retinitis, pneumonitis, and gastroenteritis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). In addition, CMV may potentiate the cellular immunodeficiency observed in patients with HIV infection either directly or through enhancement of HIV replication. Finally, CMV may predispose the host to bacterial or fungal infection by compromising the integrity of mucosal barriers to infection. Therapy with ganciclovir for CMV infection may result in a decrease in morbidity related to the virus, but problems with drug toxicity and resistance to the agent mandate the development of additional therapeutic approaches.
Comparison of calcium and magnesium absorption: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Transport characteristics of Ca and Mg were compared at three different levels of the absorptive process in male (120-170 g) Wistar rats. Balance studies in intact rats revealed that fractional Ca absorption decreased with increased Ca intake so that net Ca absorption remained constant. Fractional Mg absorption decreased modestly with increased Mg intake so that net Mg absorption increased proportionately with increased dietary Mg. Everted duodenal sacs demonstrated the presence of active Ca absorption with serosal-to-mucosal (S/M) ratio of 2.65 +/- 0.20 (n = 6), which was greater than unity (P less than 0.001). In contrast, the S/M for Mg did not exceed unity. Mucosal duodenal Ca uptake exhibited a large saturable (Michaelis constant of 4.80 +/- 0.34 mM, maximal velocity of 4.71 +/- 0.13 nmol.min-1.mg-1) and a small nonsaturable component (0.12 +/- 0.01 nmol.min-1.mg-1) in 5-wk-old rats (120 g). In 72-wk-old rats (600 g) the diffusional component of Ca uptake became predominant, and the slope increased significantly to 0.32 +/- 0.01 (P less than 0.05). Duodenal Mg uptake was completely concentration dependent and exhibited no age-related changes.
Detection of Drug Interactions Involving Radiopharmaceuticals: A Professional Responsibility of the Clinical Pharmacist

Radiopharmaceuticals are radioactive drugs used in nuclear medicine for diagnosis and, to some degree, for the treatment of disease. Considerable evidence exists in regard to the potential for altered biorouting of radiopharmaceuticals resulting from the coadministration of therapeutic drugs, as well as from certain disease states, nutritional conditions, and other factors. Altered biorouting may reduce the usefulness of the diagnostic test or provide misleading information. While retrospective identification of an altered biodistribution problem can be helpful, prospective detection is more desirable and can be achieved by a hospital-based pharmacist. Although most drug-radiopharmaceutical interactions are not beneficial, some nuclear medicine procedures are conducted using drug intervention to enhance the diagnostic efficacy of the test. Also, nuclear medicine procedures may be used to monitor the outcome of a therapeutic regimen or to aid in determining the pharmacologic effect of an investigation drug...
An interactive approach to determining complex contact states

The information of topological contact states is needed for a wide range of tasks, especially high-precision robotic assembly tasks, where contact states are inevitable. Often an assembly motion plan involves a sequence of contact state transitions between the part held by a robot and another part to form the assembly or subassembly. Except for the simplest cases, obtaining the information of all possible geometrically valid contact states is far from trivial. There is considerable research on how to obtain all valid contact states and their adjacency graph automatically between polyhedral objects, given certain seed contact states (J. Xiao and X. Ji, 2001). More recently, how to obtain such information between general curved objects is also considered (P. Tang and J. Xiao, 2005). However, one open problem is how to obtain the seed contact states in the first place, which are preferred to be locally most constrained contact states involving multiple contact regions. This is especially challenging between general curved objects with boundaries of high-order algebraic surfaces. In this paper, we describe how a fast interactive approach based on accurate real-time distance computation and taking advantage of haptic rendering is particularly suitable for determining complex contact states between general curved objects accurately, which can be used as a handy and accurate tool to find seed contact states for subsequent automatic generation of other possible contact states. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this tool with implemented examples
Effect of moisture stress at different growth stages of tomato plant ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) on yield and quality of fruits

There is a need to utilize the water efficiently and effectively because water availability is scarce in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. An experiment was conducted to determine the changes in fruit quality of tomato cv. KC-1 with moisture stress viz., determine the vitamin C, total soluble solids (TSS) and acid contents of tomato fruits during fruit ripening stage. Also, investigated in the present study was to find out the most critical stage/s of the plant growth to moisture stress in order to sustain the yield by efficient water management. Experiment was conducted at the agronomy farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. The experimental design was randomized complete block design with five treatments and four replications. Moisture stress was imposed during vegetative, flowering, early fruiting and fruit ripening stages of tomato for a period of four days in each growth stages. The control plants were watered daily to the field capacity. The stress cycle was single in which water was withheld completely at once. The result showed that moisture stress at fruit ripening stage reduced the vitamin C contents of fruits. The TSS and acid contents of the fruits were slightly affected by moisture stress when the stress was imposed during the fruit ripening stage but they were not significant. Vitamin C, TSS and acid contents of fruits were unaffected by moisture stress given during vegetative, flowering and early fruiting stages. Moisture stress reduced the yield of tomato and the stress during the flowering stage showed the highest yield reduction compared to the other growth stages. Hence, the flowering stage is the most critical stage of growth of tomato to moisture stress for the fruit yield. Keywords: Tomato, Growth stages, Moisture stress, Fruit quality, Yield. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/josuk.v5i0.4086 J Sci.Univ.Kelaniya 5 (2010): 1-11
Captures of deer mice in small and large Sherman live traps

Success in capturing small mammals can be influenced by the size and type of live traps in some cases (Slade et al. 1993; O'Farrell et al. 1994), but not others (Kiesel 1972). When Sherman live traps are used to sample small mammals, several sizes and types are available (e.g., Kiesel 1972; Slade et al. 1993). Of these, we have used both the standard non-folding small (5.1 x 6.3 x 16.5 cm) and both folding and non-folding large models (7.6 x 8.9 x 22.9 cm) to sample populations of the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Herein, we report tests of capture success for deer mice in small and large non-folding live traps and in small non folding and large folding live traps, when both traps are available at a sampling station.
Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms for scheduling the James Webb Space Telescope

Effective scheduling of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) requires managing the trade-off between multiple scheduling criteria including minimizing unscheduled time, angular momentum build-up, and the number of observations that miss their last opportunity to schedule. Previous studies examined momentum management and wasted space and showed that effective JWST scheduling requires modeling momentum as a resource that is three-dimensional, where activities can either produce or consume resources depending on when they are scheduled. We enrich the scheduling model by adding the ability to schedule JWST at different spacecraft roll angles and show that this ability has a strong impact on managing momentum. A series of multi-objective evolutionary algorithms are developed which incorporate different techniques to search the enriched domain. The algorithms are empirically evaluated showing that the best solutions are generated by the approach that evaluates the least number of candidate solutions.
Prediction of the solubility of H2S in NaCl aqueous solution: an equation of state approach

Abstract A model is developed for the prediction of H 2 S solubility in NaCl-bearing aqueous solutions up to about 300 bar, 320°C and 6 m NaCl. Although many HzS solubility measurements have been published, most of them are limited to low pressures (just above water saturation pressure). In order to predict solubilities to higher pressures, we have developed an equation of state (EOS) for the H 2 SH 2 O binary, which allows us to calculate chemical potentials of both H 2 S and H 2 O in liquid or in vapor phase. Below 350°C NaCl has negligible effect on the vapor phase but has substantial effect on the activities of H 2 S in the liquid phase. This salt effect is accounted for by specific ion interactions. Comparison of this model with all the available data indicates that predictions are within experimental uncertainty, even for pressures well above that covered by the data used for parameterization.
The correlation of early flow disturbances with the development of infrainguinal graft stenosis: A 10-year study of 341 autogenous vein grafts

Abstract Purpose: Although duplex surveillance of infrainguinal bypass grafts is widely accepted, the optimal frequency and intensity of graft surveillance remains controversial. Earlier reports have suggested that grafts can be stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the presence or absence of early graft flow disturbances. The purpose of this study was to provide long-term data in determining whether early graft flow disturbances detected by means of duplex scanning can predict the development of intrinsic vein graft stenosis. Methods: We reviewed a series of patients undergoing prospective duplex graft surveillance after autogenous infrainguinal bypass grafting procedures from 1987 to 1997. Patients included in the study underwent at least one duplex scan within 3 months of graft implantation and were observed for a minimum of 6 months. Grafts were categorized as abnormal when a focal flow disturbance with a peak systolic velocity greater than 150 cm/s was identified within 3 months of graft implantation. Results: Of 341 vein grafts in 296 patients who met inclusion criteria, 89 grafts (26%) required revision for intrinsic stenosis; the mean follow-up period was 35 months (range, 6 months to 10 years). Early flow disturbances were detected in 84 (25%) grafts. Grafts with early flow disturbances were more likely to ultimately require revision (43% vs 21%; P = .0001) and required initial revision earlier (8 months vs 16 months; P = .019). Eighty-two percent of initial graft revisions occurred in the first 2 postoperative years; 69% occurred in the first year. However, an annual 2% to 4% incidence of late-appearing graft stenosis persisted during long-term follow-up. An additional 24 patients (7% of grafts) required an inflow or outflow reconstruction. Conclusion: Grafts with early postoperative flow disturbances detected by means of duplex scanning have nearly three times the incidence of graft-threatening stenosis and an earlier requirement for revision, when compared with normal grafts. This suggests that the biology and etiology of these lesions may differ. These data support not only aggressive efforts to detect early graft lesions to stratify grafts at highest risk, but also continued lifelong graft surveillance to detect late-appearing lesions, inflow and outflow disease progression, and maximize graft patency. (J Vasc Surg 1999;30:8-15.)
Sustainability of the Communities That Care Prevention System by Coalitions Participating in the Community Youth Development Study

Abstract Purpose Community prevention coalitions are a common strategy to mobilize stakeholders to implement tested and effective prevention programs to promote adolescent health and well-being. This article examines the sustainability of Communities That Care (CTC) coalitions approximately 20 months after study support for the intervention ended. Methods The Community Youth Development Study is a community-randomized trial of the CTC prevention system. Using data from 2007 and 2009 coalition leader interviews, this study reports changes in coalition activities from a period of study support for CTC (2007) to 20 months following the end of study support for CTC (2009), measured by the extent to which coalitions continued to meet specific benchmarks. Results Twenty months after study support for CTC implementation ended, 11 of 12 CTC coalitions in the Community Youth Development Study still existed. The 11 remaining coalitions continued to report significantly higher scores on the benchmarks of phases 2 through 5 of the CTC system than did prevention coalitions in the control communities. At the 20-month follow-up, two-thirds of the CTC coalitions reported having a paid staff person. Conclusions This study found that the CTC coalitions maintained a relatively high level of implementation fidelity to the CTC system 20 months after the study support for the intervention ended. However, the downward trend in some of the measured benchmarks indicates that continued high-quality training and technical assistance may be important to ensure that CTC coalitions maintain a science-based approach to prevention, and continue to achieve public health impacts on adolescent health and behavior outcomes.
Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

We studied the use of self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and its effect on management in 13 patients with diabetes who were receiving treatment with diet alone, and 53 patients who were receiving oral therapy with hypoglycaemic agents. In the latter group of patients, 40% ceased oral therapy, 17% continued at reduced dosage and 11% at increased dosage, and 11% required insulin therapy. Blood glucose levels improved in virtually all patients. Weight loss occurred in 23 (79%) of the overweight patients. The self-monitoring of blood glucose levels increased motivation and dietary compliance, and allowed the accurate assessment and adjustment of therapy, including the initiation of insulin administration, without the need for an expensive stay in hospital. Self-monitoring is indicated in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus for overweight patients, for the assessment of blood glucose control, for suspected hypoglycaemia in patients taking hypoglycaemic agents, and in patients with an altered renal threshold.
Encephalopathic Susac Syndrome

Investigators from Tubingen and Munster, Germany, report the case of a 32-year-old woman who at 32 weeks of pregnancy developed a change in personality, disorientation, ataxia, dysarthria, and hemispasticity.
Swimming Robots Have Scaling Laws, Too

Aquatic animals of vastly different size show a simple relationship between swimming speed and body kinematics. Swimming robots, whose morphology and gaits are inspired by those animals, are not an exception.
Interpreting Reading Assessment Data: Moving From Parts to Whole in a Testing Era.

This article is designed to help teachers interpret reading assessment data from DIBELS beyond individual subtests to better support their students’ needs. While it is important to understand the i...
A systems approach to natural disaster resilience

The frequency, social, and economic impacts of natural disasters show exponential increases in recent decades. Cities and countries around the world have begun to realize that these events are no longer “hundred year” storms, but repeat within a few years. As urbanisation continues throughout this century, more and more people and more economic activity will be concentrated in at-risk areas; especially as new arrivals in cities throughout Asia and Africa are likely to be concentrated in the highest risk districts, much as they often are in North America and Europe today. This article reviews recent growth of natural disasters and considers how a systems approach can improve approaches to mitigation and adaptation of these risks and to recovery from such events.
Optimizing Airport Surface Operations Using Datalink and the Taxiway Navigation and Situation Awareness (T-NASA) Display Suite:

Aircraft taxi operations have been shown to be inefficient and prone to high workload, radio frequency congestion, and communication errors (Kelley & Adam, 1997). Further, in low-visibility or night taxi conditions, taxi speeds decrease by approximately 20% and navigation errors increase leaving aircraft prone to traffic incursions (McCann, et al., 1998). To increase the efficiency and safety of surface operations, the Taxiway Navigation and Situation Awareness (T-NASA) cockpit display suite, comprised of an electronic moving map, a scene-linked head-up display, and 3-D audio alerts, was proposed (Foyle, et al., 1996). The T-NASA display suite has been subject to an extensive design and evaluation process (Andre, Hooey, Foyle, & McCann, 1998; McCann et al, 1998;), however, less is known about issues associated with the implementation of these displays into current and future taxi operations. This study set out to address several operational issues that were identified by pilots and controllers in a series of scenario-based focus groups (Hooey et al., 1999). These issues included the modality, timing, and presentation of taxi clearances and other surface related communications, and the ability for such a system to support time-sensitive and dynamic taxi operations.
Attribution Theory Implications for Advertisement Claim Credibility

In an advertising experiment investigating message claim credibility, realistically the researcher probably is not dealing with naive respondents. Thus, the respondents’ past experiences with adver...
Impulses, vibrations and random disturbances - Consequences for convective diffusive transport and fluid interfaces in low gravity experiments

Although designed for performing experiments in zero gravity, low Earth orbit laboratories have residual accelerations (or 'g-jitter') arising from sources such as atmospheric drag, spacecraft attitude, solar pressure, gravity gradient, tidal forces, crew activity, and experiment activity. A growing body of literature has been spawned that deals with the theoretical estimation of g-jitter effects on experiments. Three approaches have been taken to analyze experiment sensitivity: order-of-magnitude estimates, analytical models, and numerical simulation. This paper refers the reader to literature which deals with experiment sensitivity issues due to g-jitter and points to upcoming discussions on the USMP-3 MEPHISTO furnace experiment, which involved the directional solidification of a tin-bismuth alloy in microgravity under residual acceleration effects. (AIAA).
Worth more than the paper it’s written on

Many health diagnostic and monitoring methods make use of complex engineered devices familiar only to trained users. Although these toolkits, such as flow cytometry and ELISA systems, have enabled breakthroughs in health care, their complexity largely precludes use in point-of-care settings, as well
Changes and clinical significance of platelet parameters and coagulation indicators of patients with gestational hypertension

Objective To discuss the correlation between the changes of platelet parameters and coagulation indicators and the occurrence of thrombophilia through detecting and analyzing the platelet parameters and coagulation indicators of patients with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy(HDCP) and healthy pregnant women in late pregnancy.Methods The platelet count(PLT),platelet-pressure product(PCT),mean platelet volume(MPV),platelet distribution width(PDW),prothrombin time(PT),activated partial thromboplastin thromboplastin time(APTT),thrombin condensa tion time(TT) and fibrinogen content(FIB) of 42 patients with HDCP(HDCP group),98 healthy pregnant women in late pregnancy(late pregnancy group) and 110 health non-pregnant women(control group) were detected and analyzed statistically using the Beckman 5 diff AL whole blood cell analyzer and Sysmex CA7000 automated coagulation ana lyzer.Results The PT,FIB,PLT,MPV,PCT and PDW of the HDCP group were(11.7 ±1.40)s,(4.2±0.84)g/L,(197.7± 71.8)×109/L,(11.0±1.9)fL,(0.11±0.45)% and(20.7±1.3)% respectively,which were significantly different from the(13.0±0.92)s,(2.7±0.65)g/L,(208±69.4)×109/L,(10.0±1.8)fL,(0.14±0.29)% and(18.5±1.2)% of the control group(P 0.05 or 0.01);The PT,APTT,FIB and PLT of the late pregnancy group were(12.0 ±0.95)s,(25.5±4.4)s,(3.6±0.71)g/L and(198.4±70.1)×109/L,which were significantly different from those of the control group(P 0.05 or 0.01);The PT,APTT,FIB,MPV and PDW of the HDCP group were(11.7±1.40)s,(26.0±4.3)s,(4.2±0.84)g/L,(11.0±1.9)fL and(20.7± 1.3)%,which were significantly different from the(12.0 ±0.95)s,(25.5 ±4.4)s,(3.6 ±0.71)g/L,(10.1 ±1.6)fL and(19.4 ± 1.5)% of the late pregnancy group(P 0.05 or 0.01).Conclusion The platelet parameters and coagulation markers of patients with gestational hypertension should be monitored dynamically in order to detect the prothrombotic state time ly,prevent the occurrence of thrombophilia effectively,improve the obstetric security and guarantee the maternal and child health.