cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of optimization methods to helicopter rotor blade design

A procedure for the minimum weight design of helicopter rotor blades with constraints on multiple coupled flap-lag natural frequencies, autorotational inertia, and centrifugal stress is presented. Optimum designs are obtained for blades with both rectangular and tapered planforms and are compared within a reference blade. The effects of higher-frequency constraints and stress constraints on the optimum blade designs are assessed. The results indicate that there is an increase in blade weight and a significant change in the design variable distributions with an increase in the number of frequency constraints. The inclusion of stress constraints has different effects on the wall thickness distributions of rectangular and tapered blades, but tends to increase the magnitude of the nonstructural segment weight distributions for both blade types.
Age and Thrombolytic Therapy

Among patients 75 years of age and older, mortality after acute coronary occlusion approaches 30% at 1 month and exceeds 50% at 1 year. However, despite evidence from several randomized trials that thrombolytic therapy has clear net benefits1 and is a cost-effective2 treatment in the elderly, older age is a common reason in the United States for withholding treatment among otherwise eligible patients.3 4 Such a clinical decision is reinforced by the fact that intracranial hemorrhage, a rare but devastating side effect of thrombolytic therapy, is more likely to occur among older patients as well as among those with hypertension or prior central nervous system disease.5 6 Thus, the decision to use thrombolytic therapy among appropriately selected elderly patients must involve a careful assessment of the net benefit-to-risk ratio of a given reperfusion regimen, which should include the fact that available thrombolytic regimens differ in the speed with which they open coronary arteries7 as well as in the rates with which they cause intracranial hemorrhage.8 9 10 In this issue of Circulation , White and colleagues11 provide careful and detailed …
Subthreshold conditioning stimuli prolong human ventricular refractoriness

This study tested whether a subthreshold stimulus (Sc) inserted before a premature stimulus prolonged the right ventricular effective refractory period in humans, and whether the degree of effective refractory period lengthening was influenced by heart rate, Sc current intensity or Sc pulse duration. Sc at current intensity 10 mA and pulse width 2 ms prolonged mean effective refractory period from 255 ms to 277 ms (p less than 0.001, n = 20). The increase in effective refractory period was similar in 6 patients studied at pacing cycle lengths 600 (259 to 289 ms) and 400 ms (236 to 258 ms). When Sc current intensities were varied at 2, 5 or 10 mA at a constant pulse duration of 100 ms the effective refractory period progressively prolonged by 6, 40 and 81 ms respectively (p less than 0.02, n = 6). The pulse duration of Sc at a constant current of 10 mA significantly influenced effective refractory period prolongation. With Sc pulse durations of 2, 10, and 100 ms the effective refractory period prolonged by 16, 33 and 66 ms respectively (p less than 0.01, n = 7). Thus, subthreshold impulses prolong the effective refractory period in human right ventricular myocardium. The prolongation of effective refractory period depended on Sc current intensity and pulse duration but was independent of heart rate at the cycle lengths tested. The use of subthreshold stimuli as antiarrhythmic therapy may be feasible in some patients.
Cytologic findings of hematologic malignancies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Introduction Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is often performed in leukemia and lymphoma patients with pulmonary infiltrates, mainly to rule out infection. However, malignant hematopoietic infiltrates are uncommon and a comprehensive cytologic study has not yet been performed. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed all BAL samples from our institution for the past 22 years (November 1992-October 2014). Results There were 37 cases of hematologic malignancies identified on BAL specimens (21 female patients and 16 male patients, age 22-80 years). Eighteen patients (49%) had pneumonia-like symptoms at the time of initial diagnosis of their malignancy, including fever, dyspnea, respiratory distress/hypoxia, and cough. The biopsy-proven cases were 25 leukemia (12 acute myeloid leukemia, 6 acute promyelocytic leukemia, 2 acute monocytic leukemia, 2 acute myelomonocytic leukemia, 1 chronic myeloid leukemia in blast phase, 1 large granular leukemia, and 1 plasma cell leukemia), 11 lymphoma (8 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 1 mantle cell lymphoma, 1 natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, and 1 T-cell lymphoma), and 1 multiple myeloma. Chest X-ray findings included opacities, consolidation, and interstitial edema. Four patients had BAL specimens with concomitant microorganisms. Eighteen patients subsequently died (2 days to 4 years), 15 were alive (3 weeks to 8 years of follow-up), and 4 were lost to follow-up. Conclusions BAL is especially important in distinguishing inflammatory/infectious processes from neoplastic disorders because many patients with hematologic malignancies can have pneumonia-like symptoms as part of their initial disease presentation. Causative pathogens are identified in only a minority of malignant BAL specimens from these patients. Lung involvement in patients with hematologic malignancies carries a poor prognosis.
The server network generator (SNG): a CASE tool for distributed cooperative processing

The Server Network Generator (SNG) is a CASE tool that employs a problem solver's ability to represent an application as an ordinary block diagram, a graphical specification of its macroscopic structure. This functional decomposition provides a natural mechanism for subdividing the application into processing tasks that can be distributed across a computing network. Each "server" is a software process that assumes the role of one block in the diagram, performing one processing task, employing interprocess communication as indicated graphically. This approach differs from related research in its use of a functional decomposition in the application context, and its use of graphical programming of the application's macroscopic structure. A distributed network of IBM 7437 VM/SP Technical Workstations are shown as a powerful platform for problem solving, using the SNG as a CASE tool. Distributed computing models based upon networks of microprocessors have long been proposed as an alternative to centralized mainframe computing. The 7437 provides a genuine VM/370 computing environment, so that this approach to distributed computing allows large mainframe systems to be the most powerful nodes in the network, rather than attempting to replace them. A recently completed auxiliary processor is presented that was required to support interprocess communication via the shared-variable interface between virtual machines on different hosts.
A usage-based analysis of the allomorphy of the Italian masculine definite article

Within standard generative phonology, the distribution of the allomorphs of the Italian masculine definite article has been related strictly to features of the initial segment/cluster of the lexical item following the article. Two main drawbacks characterize such analysis. First, they crucially depend on abstract principles, which are not applied in a very insightful and empirically convincing fashion. Second, they cannot explain the (inter- and intra-) individual variation in the selection of the allomorphs or the changes in their distributional pattern. Conversely, an analysis based on the usage-based framework proposed by Bybee (2001) allows for a more straightforward and unified account of the distribution of the allomorphs and offers new insight to the issues of change and individual variation.
Teratogenic action of carbaryl in beagle dogs

Abstract Carbaryl (1-naphthyl- N -methyl carbamate; Sevin), a reversible cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticide, was incorporated into the feed of pregnant beagle dogs and fed throughout the gestational period at levels of 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, and 3.125 mg/kg body weight daily. Effects observed included an unexplained number of animals with dystocia (difficult births) due to atonic uterine musculature, an apparent contraceptive effect at the highest dose level, and a teratogenic action of carbaryl seen at all but the lowest dose level. The teratism was seen in 21 of a total of 181 pups born, or 11.6%. The characterization of the fetal abnormalities included abdominalthoracic fissures with varying degrees of intestinal agenesis and displacement, varying degrees of brachygnathia, ecaudate pups, failure of skeletal formation, and superfluous phalanges. Several of the pups exhibited multiple defects that were difficult to categorize. It is concluded that carbaryl produces teratogenic and toxic effects in the pregnant beagle dog.
Classification and natural history of cerebral vascular malformations: Arteriovenous, cavernous, and venous

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) represent the most commonly encountered symptomatic vascular malformations of the central nervous system (CNS) identified at either surgery or necropsy. AVMs are hamartomatous lesions of the brain characterized by elongated and enlarged feeding arteries that directly communicate with draining veins and are without intervening resistance vessels or capillary beds.
Domain structure and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in CoFe/Pd multilayers using off-axis electron holography

Abstract Multilayers of Co90Fe10/Pd with different bilayer thicknesses, have been deposited by dc-magnetron sputtering on thermally oxidized Si wafers. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the highly textured crystalline films had columnar structure, while scanning transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy respectively indicated some layer waviness and surface roughness. The magnetic domain structure and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) of the Co90Fe10/Pd multilayers were investigated by off-axis electron holography and magnetic force microscopy. The Co90Fe10 layer thickness was the primary factor determining the magnetic domain size and the perpendicular magnetization: both decreased as the thickness increased. The strongest PMA was observed in the sample with the thinnest magnetic layer of 0.45 nm.
A Glutamine-Rich Factor Affects Stem Cell Genesis in Leech

Leech embryogenesis is a model for investigating cellular and molecular processes of development. Due to the unusually large size of embryonic stem cells (teloblasts: 50–300 μm) in the glossiphoniid leech, Theromyzon tessulatum, and the presence of identifiable stem cell precursors (proteloblasts), we previously isolated a group of genes upregulated upon stem cell birth. In the current study, we show that one of these genes, designated Theromyzon proliferation (Tpr), is required for normal stem cell genesis; specifically, transient Tpr knockdown experiments conducted with antisense oligonucleotides and monitored by semiquantitative RT-PCR, caused abnormal proteloblast proliferation leading to embryonic death, but did not overtly affect neuroectodermal or mesodermal stem cell development once these cells were born. Tpr encodes a large glutamine-rich (∼34%) domain that shares compositional similarity with strong transcriptional enhancers many of which have been linked with trinucleotide repeat disorders (e.g., Huntington's).
A hybrid approach to nonlinear system theory

A hybrid approach to nonlinear system theory is proposed. It combines input-output and state-space theories. Within this framework the standard notions of dynamic gain and dynamic incremental gain are examined. The concept of dynamic incremental gain over a set is introduced. A theorem is proven that allows the systematic computation of the set-incremental gain of an operator through nonsmooth optimal control theory. Examples are given that elucidate the above issues.
Corrigendum to “Incarceration and Inmates' Self Perceptions about Returning Home” [J. Crim. Justice 40 (5) (2012) 386–393]

Acknowledgments The authors regret having missed to include the below acknowledgement in the original article. The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers, Daniel Mears, Ronet Bachman, ShaddMaruna, Tom LeBel, and John Brent for their thoughtful suggestions, editorial assistance, and help with the final preparation of this paper. The data for this paper were originally collected by the Urban Institute, under the direction of the first author. A synopsis of the Returning Home project, main findings, available publications, and a list of funders is available at www.urban.org/center/ jpc/returning-home.
Casein Kinase 2 Promotes Hedgehog Signaling by Regulating both Smoothened and Cubitus Interruptus

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a typical serine/threonine kinase consisting of α and β subunits and has been implicated in many cellular and developmental processes. In this study, we demonstrate that CK2 is a positive regulator of the Hedgehog (Hh) signal transduction pathway. We found that inactivation of CK2 by CK2β RNAi enhances the loss-of-Hh wing phenotype induced by a dominant negative form of Smoothened (Smo). CK2β RNAi attenuates Hh-induced Smo accumulation and down-regulates Hh target gene expression, whereas increasing CK2 activity by coexpressing CK2α and CK2β increases Smo accumulation and induces ectopic Hh target gene expression. We identified the serine residues in Smo that can be phosphorylated by CK2 in vitro. Mutating these serine residues attenuates the ability of Smo to transduce high level Hh signaling activity in vivo. Furthermore, we found that CK2 plays an additional positive role downstream of Smo by regulating the stability of full-length Cubitus interruptus (Ci). CK2β RNAi promotes Ci degradation whereas coexpressing CK2α and CK2β increases the half-life of Ci. We showed that CK2 prevents Ci ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. Thus, CK2 promotes Hh signaling activity by regulating multiple pathway components.
Universal newborn hearing screening in the NICU: Who do we miss?

Objectives: Recognition of the developmental consequences of unidentified congenital hearing loss has prompted universal hearing screening of newborns. We sought to identify the incidence of infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) without hearing screening and identify factors associated with failure to screen. Study Design: Retrospective case-control study of all infants admitted for >48 hours to a tertiary care NICU in 2005-2006 (N = 958). Methods: Statistical analysis was performed using simple and multiple logistic regression. Results: A total of 644 of 958 (67.2%) infants underwent hearing screening prior to discharge. Gestational age less than 30 weeks (OR 3.91, P 50 days of age in the MLR (multiple logistic regression) (P =0.002, P <0.0001). Conclusions: Failure to perform hearing screening prior to discharge from the NICU was significantly greater for patients transferred to an outside hospital, low birth weight, gestational age < 30 weeks and born at the study hospital. These data suggest that an increased emphasis on hearing screening is needed for these high risk infants in the NICU setting.
Differential limb loading in miniature pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus): a test of chondral modeling theory.

SUMMARY Variation in mechanical loading is known to influence chondrogenesis during joint formation. However, the interaction among chondrocyte behavior and variation in activity patterns is incompletely understood, hindering our knowledge of limb ontogeny and function. Here, the role of endurance exercise in the development of articular and physeal cartilage in the humeral head was examined in 14 miniature swine ( Sus scrofa domesticus ). One group was subjected to graded treadmill running over a period of 17 weeks. A matched sedentary group was confined to individual pens. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for histomorphometry of cartilage zone thickness, chondrocyte count and cell area, with these parameters compared multivariately between exercised and sedentary groups. Comparisons were also made with femora from the same sample, focusing on humerus–femur differences between exercised and sedentary groups, within-cohort comparisons of humerus–femur responses and correlated changes within and across joints. This study shows conflicting support for the chondral modeling theory. The humeral articular cartilage of exercised pigs was thinner than that of sedentary pigs, but their physeal cartilage was thicker. While articular and physeal cartilage demonstrated between-cohort differences, humeral physeal cartilage exhibited load-induced responses of greater magnitude than humeral articular cartilage. Controlling for cohort, the humerus showed increased chondrocyte mitosis and cell area, presumably due to relatively greater loading than the femur. This represents the first known effort to evaluate chondral modeling across multiple joints from the same individuals. Our findings suggest the chondral response to elevated loading is complex, varying within and among joints. This has important implications for understanding joint biomechanics and development.
Effect of Electric Current on Trijunction Equilibrium and Grain Rotation of Lossy Dielectrics

To understand the structural stability of lossy dielectrics under the action of an electric current, the effect of an electric current on the stress evolution, the change of chemical potential, and the electric energy stored in a grain boundary is examined. Analytical forms of the stress, chemical potential, and electric energy are obtained, which depend on the current density. The concept of an apparent grain boundary energy, which is a linear function of the square of the current density, is introduced. One needs to use the apparent grain boundary energy in analyzing the equilibrium state of a trijunction. An expression for the rate of grain rotation is proposed, which includes the contributions of the change of chemical potential and the electric energy in grain boundaries.
An evolutionary perspective on signaling in behavior and immunology

Signaling and communication are important at different levels of biological organization. Signals exchanged between cells of the immune system initiate and coordinate the immune response; signals exchanged between individuals often coordinate social behavior. Behavioral ecologists interested in the evolution and functional design of signals exchanged between individuals have produced a theory of signaling and communication that stresses the importance of cooperation and conflict; if a conflict of interest between signaler and receiver is great enough, signals evolve towards greater reliability. We suggest that the application of signaling system theory to signals exchanged between cells within an individual will allow for a better understanding of immunity and intra-individual communication in general, with potential for novel approaches to the treatment of disease.
Semiconductor device simulation: the hydrodynamic model

VLSI (very large scale integrated) chips incorporate hundreds of millions of semiconductor circuits. To predict the performance of VLSI circuits, the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the semiconductor devices are required. Semiconductor device simulation codes provide a way of predicting I-V curves as device parameters are varied, without having to fabricate the device first. Thus, many different designs for devices and circuits can be explored efficiently using computer simulations. Promising designs then can be selected for actual fabrication and testing. A fundamental approach to modeling the quantum transport of electrons and holes in semiconductor devices is the Wigner-Boltzmann equation, the quantum generalization of the Boltzmann equation. Simulating these kinetic equations is computationally expensive. Thus, a hydrodynamic approximation to the kinetic equations, where the density, velocity and temperature of a charge carrier are functions only of three spatial dimensions plus time, offers enormous computational speedups in simulating devices. The article discusses the use of classical and quantum hydrodynamic models in semiconductor device simulation.
Ultrafast pulse train micromachining

A new micromachining technique using user-defined trains of amplified femtosecond laser pulses is described. In this method, a 2-fold Michelson interferometer is used to split each output pulse of an amplified femtosecond laser system operating at 1 kHz into four different pulses at desired seperations ranging from 1 ps to 1 ns. These quadruple pulses are then focused on metal, semiconductor and dielectric samples and the material removal characteristics are noted. The experimental results show that there is a distinct effect of the pulse separation on the machining characteristics. It is observed that, in some cases, use of the quadruple pulses separated by 1 ns provides better material removal than the original pulses separated by 1 ms. The femtosecond laser-material interaction is also modeled for the case of metal samples using the two-temperature model. Numerical simulations that were carried out show that irradiation with quadruple pulses lead to a reduction in the predicted melting threshold fluence, which agrees with the experimental observation.
Transformed Mouse Cell Lines That Consist Predominantly of Cells Maintaining Bovine Papilloma Virus at High Copy Number

Abstract Rare cells that contain large amounts of bovine papilloma virus (BPV) DNA have been observed in populations of BPV-transformed mouse ID13 cells. The viral DNA molecules in these “jackpot cells” have been thought to have switched from the controlled replication mode typical of latent BPV infection to the uncontrolled “runaway” prelytic replication characteristic of terminal stage infection of bovine epidermal cells. By sequential subcloning of high-BPV derivatives of ID13, we isolated stable cell lines enriched more than 1000-fold for cells showing large amounts of BPV by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. High-BPV subclones contained a variant plasmid as well as wild-type BPV DNA; analysis of the BPV variants in two independently isolated subclones that showed the high-BPV phenotype in 50 to 80% of cells in the population indicated that both variants had undergone tandem duplication of the BPV long control region, which contains the viral origin of replication and transcription enhancer sequences. Transfer of the high-copy-number phenotype by transfection of DNA from high-BPV cells was accompanied by transfer of the variant plasmid. Density gradient analysis of BPV plasmid replication in high-BPV subclones showed the random-choice mode of replication observed in the parental ID13 population, rather than the rapid BPV replication found in epidermal cells destined for lysis and death. Our results indicate that high-BPV cells in actively dividing ID13 populations are not produced by uncontrolled replication of viral DNA and suggest that they may result instead from abnormal plasmid partitioning.
Effects of diazepam and meclizine hydrochloride on emotional upset due to perceptual dissonance and motion.

Within the framework of Hebb's dissonance theory (Hebb, 1949) marked discrepancies between expected and observed perceptual experience result in an unpleasant affective state. This emotional upset is characterized by disorganization and stereotyping of thinking and/or behavior patterns and the organism is motivated to reduce the state. Rats have been shown reliably to display more defecation and less ambulation when exposed to a strange environment and both of these responses may be considered indices of emotional upset in the animal (Hall, 1934, 1936; Broadhurst, 1957). Recent research (Grumpelt, et al., 1969) suggested that intense inter-sense perceprual dissonance was one of the factors responsible for the emotional upset usually contingent upon a new experience with a particular kind of motion. In an attempt to replicate these findings and further explore their implications, 180 female rats (Holtzman strain), approximately 130 days old, were randomly assigned to 12 groups of 15 rats each in a 3 by 4 design. Drug type was one variable (10 mg/kg diazepam, 0.4 mg/kg meclizine hydrochloride or mammalian saline solution, all orally administered 90 min. prior to testing) and motion-dissonance condition was the second. A previously described (Grumpelt, et al., 1969) acetate test cage and surrounding display, which could be rotated independently, allowed design of the following groups: motion-dissonance, M-D, motion alone, M, dissonance alone, D, and no-motion-no-dissonance control, C. It was hypothesized that diazepam, a tranquilizer, might reduce emotional upset effects on D groups while meclizine hydrochloride, an anti-motion sickness agent, might reduce these effects on M groups. Diazepam was chosen because it has no demonstrated peripheral autonomic blocking action or extrapyramidal side effects (Randall, et dl., 1961) while meclizine has no known effects except on the vestibular nuclei. The specific meclizine dosage Level was established after pilot work but it appeared that an appropriate dosage level of diazepam could be estimated from the literature. Measures of ambulation and defecation were used (cf. Grumpelt, et al., 1969) to assess emotional upset. A factorial analysis of variance on ambulation scores yielded a significant main effect of motion-dissonance treatment (P = 6.71, df = 3/168, p < ,005); however, the drug treatment (P = 2.21, df = 21168) and the interaction (F = 0.91, df = 6/168) were nonsignificant. A similar analysis of defecation scores also indicated that motion-disso
The effect of intraovarian injection of benzo(a)pyrene on primordial oocyte number and ovarian aryl hydrocarbon [benzo(a)pyrene] hydroxylase activity.

Abstract The effect of intraovarian (io) injection of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) on primordial oocyte number, ovarian aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH, EC 1.14.14.1) activity, and hepatic AHH activity and P-450 content was investigated in C57BL/6N (B6) and DBA/2N (D2) mice. Ovaries were exteriorized through dorsolumbar incisions under ether anesthesia, and 1.0 μl of corn oil or corn oil containing BP was injected directly into the ovary. Bilateral io injection of BP was ovotoxic in a time and dose dependent manner. Primordial oocyte destruction was maximal 8 days after injection in both B6 and D2 mice. Unilateral io injection of BP destroyed oocytes only in the treated ovary. The threshold dose for primordial oocyte destruction was similar in both strains, approximately 50 ng/ovary. However, ED50's were different; 1.1 μg/ovary in B6 and 8.9 μg/ovary in D2 mice. Intraperitoneal treatment with α-naphthoflavone (80 mg/kg) inhibited the oocyte destruction by io treatment with BP (10 μg/ovary) in both B6 and D2 mice. In B6 mice, ovarian AHH activity was induced by BP in the treated ovary after either bilateral, or unilateral io treatment. However, io BP treatment did not change ovarian AHH activity in D2 mice. Hepatic AHH activity and P-450 content was not altered by io BP treatment in either mouse strain. These results strengthen the hypothesis that the ovary has the capability of metabolizing BP to ovotoxic products.
Climate-based models for West Nile Culex mosquito vectors in the Northeastern US

Climate-based models simulating Culex mosquito population abundance in the Northeastern US were developed. Two West Nile vector species, Culex pipiens and Culex restuans, were included in model simulations. The model was optimized by a parameter-space search within biological bounds. Mosquito population dynamics were driven by major environmental factors including temperature, rainfall, evaporation rate and photoperiod. The results show a strong correlation between the timing of early population increases (as early warning of West Nile virus risk) and decreases in late summer. Simulated abundance was highly correlated with actual mosquito capture in New Jersey light traps and validated with field data. This climate-based model simulates the population dynamics of both the adult and immature mosquito life stage of Culex arbovirus vectors in the Northeastern US. It is expected to have direct and practical application for mosquito control and West Nile prevention programs.
Improvement of left ventricular mass with antihypertensive therapy in children with hypertension

There is paucity of data on the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive children. This study assessed the effects of antihypertensive therapy on left ventricular mass in children with and without LVH. Medical records of hypertensive patients who had a baseline and follow-up echocardiogram (echo 1, echo 2) were reviewed. Fifteen of 22 treated patients had LVH at echo 1. Enalapril alone or combined was used in 21/22 cases. Echo 2 was performed at a mean interval of 15 ± 7 months. The LVH group showed significant decrease in systolic blood pressure z-score (SBPZ) (2.89 ± 1.61 to 1.40 ± 1.19; p = 0.01), diastolic blood pressure z-score (DBPZ) (1.44 ± 0.90 to 0.26 ± 0.82; p < 0.001), and LV mass index (LVMI) (56.2 ± 12.50 to 43.7 ± 8.30; p = 0.001), but no significant change in body mass index z-score (BMIZ) (1.79 ± 0.75 to 1.69 ± 0.69; p = 0.74). In the no-LVH group, SBPZ (3.03 ± 1.68 to 2.27 ± 1.81; p = 0.356), DBPZ (1.00 ± 0.87 to 0.63 ± 0.68; p = 0.409), BMIZ (1.08 ± 0.98 to 1.27 ± 0.89; p = 0.672), and LVMI (29.47 ± 5.51 to 33.89 ± 3.06; p = 0.374) did not change significantly. Simple linear regression demonstrated that the change in LVMI in the combined group had a significant correlation (r = 0.477; p = 0.025) with the percentage change in SBPZ. This study demonstrates that LVH in hypertensive children improves with effective blood pressure control.
Predicting conservation choice: Beyond the cost-minimization assumption

Abstract Models of residential energy conservation choice typically require the assumption that consumers make conservation choices so as to minimize life-cycle costs. Empirical evidence has shown discount rates to vary widely, which has cast doubt on the cost-minimization assumption. We propose an alternative model of conservation choice that does not assume minimized life-cycle costs, and that accounts for non-financial factors influencing choice. Perceived comfort effects, social norm influences, perceived costs and savings, and time required for installation are identified as causal influences on conservation choice, and these factors are measured using a household survey. The resulting model is shown to predict conservation choice correctly in 74.7% of the households. A new statistical technique (CART) is used to show that perceived savings have little predictive power.
Linear stability analysis of two-reactant flames

Abstract The linear stability of two-reactant flames corresponding to cellular structure is considered within the framework of the thermal-diffusive flame model. The effect of both the deficient component and the abundant component is investigated assuming large activation energy of the overall reaction rate. The stability of two-reactant flames is governed by the perturbations of the temperature and the abundant component at the perturbed flame front. The former depends on the departure of the Lewis number of the deficient component from unity. The latter is controlled by the stoichiometry of the mixture, the difference between Lewis numbers of two components, and the reaction orders of each reactant. The perturbation of the abundant component becomes important around the stoichiometric point or for a mixture whose deficient component has a Lewis number very close to unity. The results show that the stability behavior of two-reactant flames can be estimated by a reduced Lewis number and that cellular instability in the flame appears if the reduced Lewis number is sufficiently small.
Diffusion in gas separation membrane materials: A comparison and analysis of experimental characterization techniques

Typically, materials with high-performance transport properties such as zeolites, carbon molecular sieves, or hyper rigid polymers are inherently difficult or impossible to characterize by steady-state membrane permeation experiments used for conventional polymers. Diffusion coefficients determined by transient sorption, a measurement easily performed on brittle media, are analyzed here and compared to those determined by steady-state permeation/sorption and transient permeation for a glassy polymer and a carbon molecular sieve. Average and local diffusion coefficients are extrapolated to zero upstream partial pressure to eliminate effects caused by concentration dependence. Good agreement between the techniques was observed for the glassy polymer. On the other hand, carbon molecular sieves, possessing a more complex morphology, exhibit a greater difference in diffusion coefficients determined by the various techniques. Nevertheless, comparison of the analysis techniques is shown to provide potentially valuable insights into the morphological features of such carbon molecular sieves. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1747–1755, 1998
The effects of growth upon local inflation rates

This paper investigates the impact of regional growth upon the local rate of consumer inflation. To capture both the temporal and spatial aspects in the study, a pooled time-series/cross-section approach was used. The analysis is based upon 1965–82 data for the 22 metropolitan areas for which the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled CPI series. With a model specifying local inflation to be primarily determined by national trends but also influenced by local conditions, both area population and income growth were identified as positively related to local inflation rates. Using disaggregated price series, the effects of population growth were found to work solely through impacts upon the housing sector. The econometric procedures were performed upon the ASU IBM 3000 computer system using the SAS PROC TSCS.
SPECIFIC HEATS OF METALS BELOW ONE DEGREE ABSOLUTE

The heat capacities of a number of metals have been measured in the region below 1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, using the technique of adiabatic demagnetization. Copper, silver, platinum, palladium, tungsten, molybdenum, and sodium have been investigated. Apart from sodium, all exhibit a linear dependence of electronic specific heat on temperature. The values of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ are in agreement with those obtained in the liquid helium region, except in the case of tungsten, which gives $\ensuremath{\gamma}=3.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ cal/mole ${\mathrm{deg}}^{2}$ in contrast to the previous value $\ensuremath{\gamma}=1.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ cal/mole ${\mathrm{deg}}^{2}$ reported in the literature. Sodium exhibits an anomalous peak in its specific heat curve. A low-temperature, martensitic-type transformation is advanced as a likely cause of this behavior.In the course of the experiments, an independent measurement of the heat capacity of copper potassium sulfate has been made. The relation $C=\frac{A}{{T}^{2}}$ appears to be obeyed, the value of the specific heat constant $A$ being $5.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}R$ ${\mathrm{deg}}^{2}$/mole.
Radiative Transfer With Dependent Scattering by Particles: Part 2—Experimental Investigation

Dependent radiative scattering by particles is experimentally investigated using plane-parallel cells containing latex spheres of 11, 2, and 0.08 μm diameter dispersed in an air or water matrix. The dependent scattering efficiencies and the bidirectional transmittance and reflectance were measured and compared with analytical results. The close-packed 2-μm spheres, which were expected to show dependent scattering from the previous criterion, gave results identical to independent scattering. Measured dependent scattering efficiencies of the small particles tested decrease with increasing particle volume fraction and were compared with those predicted by the theoretical investigation. The bidirectional transmittance and reflectance of dependent scattering were compared with those of independent scattering with the same number of spheres within the test cells. Several different patterns of dependent transmittance and reflectance appeared depending on the optical thickness. Finally, a newly proposed regime map bounding independent and dependent scattering is compared with the present and previous experimental data.
Analytical, computational and conceptual modeling in service science and systems

While the service economy is growing very fast, more organizations are reorienting their processes, tools, and products towards service-oriented applications. This service-oriented paradigm is creating new challenges and opportunities for organizations. In this article, we discuss service science and systems, and provide a conceptual view of the service ecosystem in the context of analytical, computational and conceptual modeling. As service scientists, our ultimate goal should be to develop and provide a science-based approach to the dynamic, scalable, secure, and knowledge-driven design and development of service ecosystems, while in the process fostering the development of academic researchers and industry professionals to work in diverse, interdisciplinary teams for engineering adaptable solutions to distributed computing problems.
Structure development and dynamics of vibration welding of poly(ethylene naphthalate) from amorphous and semicrystalline precursors

The influence of process conditions on the structural hierarchy developed in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of polyethylene 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate (PEN) welded both from amorphous, as well as crystalline, precursors was studied using optical microscopy and a matrixing microbeam X-ray diffraction camera developed in our laboratories. The structural gradients developed in the HAZ were found to be highly dependent on welding conditions as well as on the state of crystallinity in the precursor samples. In the amorphous sample, the HAZ is composed of 2 distinct layers. The inner layer (II) (HAZ-II) is formed at the immediate vicinity of the original weld interface, and, within this region, the sample is highly oriented and crystallized. In the outer layer (I) (HAZ I), between this layer and the unaffected region, the polymer exhibit deformed zones, but little or no crystallinity is noticed. In HAZ-I, the polymer chains melt and deform significantly and crystallize upon cooling; and in the HAZ I, the polymer chains located in this region increase their temperature to reach temperatures T > T g , where they are deformed under the dynamic forces generated at the weld interface as well as under the normal forces. Due to the low crystallizability of PEN chains, the material mostly remain amorphous at this location. In the HAZ, a wave-like interface was observed at the bothe HAZ-II and HAZ I boundaries. This was attributed to the presence of 2 regions of deformable bodies of large difference in viscosities which, in the presence of oscillatory stress field, results in wavy interface. The structural analysis revealed that as a result of significant shearing, the naphthalene planes are oriented parallel to the weld interface resembling graphitic structure. This had a detrimental effect on the mechanical performance of the parts, particularly in those samples welded from amorphous precursors. The samples welded from crystalline precursors exhibited more traditional HAZ structure gradient, and the boundary between the heat-affected and unaffected region is rather diffuse reflecting the rather broad nature of the melting temperature range in this polymer due to dynamic temperature gradient developed during and after the vibration stage.
Incidence of some oral-based habits among college students and their correlations with use of oral stimulants.

This study explored the incidence of three personal habits and their correlates with popular tensional outlets. The 108 men and 202 women college students estimated how often they bit their fingernails, picked their noses, chewed on pencils or other objects, used specific tobacco products, used specific caffeine products, chewed gum, and exercised Also, they rated their happiness on a seven-point scale in Likert format. The fingernail-biting incidence observed here was higher than was reported in previous samples of young adults, and more men than women were nail-biters. More men than women admitted to nose-picking; and about 61% of persons of either sex reported being occasional object-chewers. Men were more likely to exercise, use tobacco products, or consume iced tea than were women but were less likely to chew gum. The intercorrelations among the habits were not significant, and they were unrelated to lower self-reports of happiness. Both men and women who were object-chewers reported drinking greater...
Minimal Pati-Salam model from string theory unification

We provide what we believe is the minimal three family $\mathcal{N}=1$ SUSY and conformal Pati-Salam model from type IIB superstring theory. This ${Z}_{3}$ orbifolded $\mathrm{AdS}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}{S}^{5}$ model has long lived protons and has potential phenomenological consequences for LHC (Large Hadron Collider).
Looking for Mr. "Turnkey"

With the challenges of VLSI forever pressing the designer to increase productivity while remaining at a constant resource level, the market place has been inundated with an onslaught of front-end design tools to ease the designer's current burdens. The pervasiveness of these "new" design tools in the engineer's environment has, in actuality, fallen far shy of expectations. This paper will attempt to analyze the reasons why the ideals of a complete turnkey system, as presented at conferences, and the reality of the current systems, as actually seen by the designer, are still divergent.
The Fistula Elevation Procedure: A Valuable Technique for Maximizing Arteriovenous Fistula Utilization

Many patients are not considered candidates for radiocephalic fistula (RCF) or brachiocephalic fistula (BCF) creation or have fistulas that do not mature because the cephalic vein is too deep or tortuous to be accessed. Other patients have not been candidates for the basilic vein transposition (BVT) because limited length of adequate caliber vein precludes subcutaneous tunneling of the vein. In an effort to maximize arteriovenous fistula (AVF) utilization, we developed an adjunctive procedure designed to make the deep or tortuous fistula accessible to needle cannulation. The fistula elevation procedure (FEP) involves mobilization of the fistula, approximation of the subcutaneous tissue beneath the fistula, and subcuticular skin closure over the fistula. The procedure enhances the accessibility of the fistula by placing it in a more superficial position. The overlying cicatrix also acts as a guide for dialysis needle insertion. Between June 1998 and January 2001, 45 patients underwent a natural AVF that could not be accessed secondary to venous depth, tortuosity, or length. In each case, a FEP was performed to salvage the fistula. The FEP was performed as an adjunct to a BCF in 20 patients, a RCF in 7 patients, and a BVT in 8 patients. The FEP is a simple procedure that enhances AVF utilization by making the fistula more accessible to dialysis needle cannulation. The procedure is particularly helpful in obese patients who would not traditionally be considered candidates for natural AVF creation.
Chromatin-dependent E1A Activity Modulates NF-κB RelA-mediated Repression of Glucocorticoid Receptor-dependent Transcription

The role of chromatin-dependent regulatory mechanisms in the repression of glucocorticoid-dependent transcription from the murine mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter by p65 and E1A was investigated by using chromatin and transiently transfected reporters. The p65 RelA subunit of NF-κB represses MMTV expression on either transient or integrated reporters. In contrast, the viral oncoprotein E1A represses a transient but not an integrated MMTV. E1A repression is attenuated by chromatin, suggesting p65 but not E1A manipulates chromatin appropriately to inhibit the GR. Coexpression of p65 and E1A additively represses the transient MMTV but restores the transcriptional activation of the chromatin MMTV in response to glucocorticoids. This indicates that E1A has a dominant chromatin-dependent activity that attenuates repression by p65. E1A, p65, and GR bind the MMTV promoter, and chromatin remodeling enhances binding on both repressed and activated promoters. In addition, p65 requires Brg for repression of the integrated MMTV. This suggests that neither p65 repression nor E1A attenuation of repression results from an inhibition of remodeling that prevents transcription factor binding. Furthermore, p300/CBP is also required for both repression and attenuation by p65 and E1A. E1A and p65 mutants that do not bind p300/CBP are inactive, indicative of a requirement for p300/CBP-dependent complex formation for both repression and attenuation with chromatin. These data suggest that both the p65-dependent repression and the E1A-mediated attenuation of repression require the Brg1-dependent chromatin remodeling function and p300/CBP-dependent complex formation at a promoter assembled within chromatin.
Elevated serum erythropoietin levels in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to polycythemia vera: clinical implications for the role of JAK2 mutation analysis.

Abstract: Purpose: It is widely accepted that an increased serum endogenous erythropoietin (Epo) level in a patient presenting with an elevated red cell mass makes a diagnosis of clonal polycythemia vera (PV) extremely unlikely. However, until the recent description of the constitutively activating V617F point mutation of the Janus 2 tyrosine kinase (JAK2) – a high-frequency molecular marker that is extremely specific for clonal chronic myeloproliferative disorders – distinction of PV from secondary erythrocytosis or other conditions has often been difficult. The purpose of this study was to use JAK2 V617F analysis to re-evaluate the validity of elevated Epo levels as a PV-exclusion criterion in patients with hepatic vein thrombosis [Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS)]. Patients and methods: We reviewed clinical data from 30 patients at our institution who presented with erythrocytosis and BCS. We isolated myeloid cells from fresh or archival bone marrow samples from four patients with BCS and an elevated serum Epo level, and analyzed them for the presence of the JAK2 V617F mutation. Results: All four samples were positive for JAK2 V617F, confirming the presence of a clonal hematopoietic disorder consistent with PV. Conclusion: In the presence of BCS, elevated serum Epo levels do not exclude the diagnosis of PV.
Traversing the Border: Community-Based Planning and Transnational Migrants

Transnational communities transcend national borders in order to act collectively, despite geographic, economic, and political challenges. Oaxacan migrants exemplify how community organizations mob...
D.C. voltammetry of ionic liquid-based capacitors: Effects of Faradaic reactions, electrolyte resistance and voltage scan speed investigated using an electrode of carbon nanotubes in EMIM-EtSO4

Carbon nanotube (CNT) electrodes in combination with ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes are potentially important for energy storage systems. We report electrochemical investigation of such a system involving a paper-electrode of multi-wall CNT (MWCNT) in the IL of 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium ethylsulfate (EMIM-EtSO(4)). Our study concentrates on the analytical aspects of cyclic voltammetry (CV) to probe the double layer capacitance of these relatively unconventional systems (that involve rather large charge-discharge time constants). Both theoretical and experimental aspects of CV for such systems are discussed, focusing in particular, on the effects of Faradaic side-reactions, electrolyte resistance and voltage scan speeds. The results are analyzed using an electrode equivalent circuit (EEC) model, demonstrating a method to account for the typical artifacts expected in CV of CNT-IL interfaces.