cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reliability and lifetime modeling of wireless sensor nodes

Abstract The accuracy of system reliability analysis depends not only on system-level model construction, but also on realistic estimation of failure parameters at the component-level. In this paper, we model and evaluate the reliability and lifetime of a wireless sensor node under three typical working scenarios, contributing toward the accurate reliability analysis of wireless sensor network systems. According to the medium access control (MAC) protocols, the three working scenarios are defined based on the sensor node modes (sleep and active) and the mechanism of alternating between the modes. Reliability and lifetime of wireless sensor nodes under these three scenarios are illustrated and compared through numerical examples.
How do integrated delivery systems adopt and implement clinical information systems

We examined how five integrated delivery systems make decisions about and implement clinical information systems. Using case study methods, we identified general themes and explored how organizational context factors and information technology characteristics affect adoption and implementation processes.
Design and performance considerations for benthic microbial fuel cells

Benthic Microbial Fuel Cells (BMFCs) ability to provide long-lasting power is an attractive trait for powering oceanographic equipment requiring long duration deployments. Recent work to scale up BMFC power output with large surface areas (greater than 1 meter squared) has revealed a need to improve power output to make BMFCs viable power sources for a wider breadth of undersea equipment. To improve power output of large surface area BMFCs, experiments were conducted to (1) evaluate different carbon based electrodes; (2) examine alternative materials as current collectors; and (3) determine effects of sediment chemistry and grain size on BMFC power production by testing various mixtures of sand and silt laden sediments. Experiments showed that (1) despite more specific surface area, carbon felt did not generate more power; (2) gold plated copper and titanium current collectors were most capable of reliable connections; and (3) achieving the highest power appears to be a balanced mixture of both fine and coarse sediment. This research provides several important design considerations that demonstrating the importance of the sediment quality at deployment sites for sustaining power output levels capable of powering oceanographic instruments.
Maintenance of equatorial superrotation in the atmospheres of Venus and Titan

Abstract This paper extends Leovy's theory on Venus’ equatorial superrotation by analytically examining additional terms in the mean zonal momentum equation that stably balances the momentum source of pumping by thermal tides. The general analytical solution is applied to the atmospheres of both Venus and Saturn's moon Titan. The main results are: (i) Venus’ equatorial superrotation of 118 m s −1 results primarily from a balance between the momentum source of pumping by thermal tides and the momentum sink of meridional advection of wind shear by horizontal branches of the Hadley circulation; (ii) no solution is found for Titan's stratospheric equatorial superrotation centered at the 1-hPa level; (iii) however, if the main solar radiation absorption layer in Titan's stratosphere is lifted from 1 hPa (∼185 km) to 0.1 hPa (∼288 km), an equatorial superrotation of ∼110 m s −1 centered at 0.1-hPa could be maintained. Titan's equatorial superrotation results mainly from a balance between the momentum source of tidal pumping and the momentum sink of frictional drag.
Postlaunch calibration of the NOAA‐19 Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit‐A

[1] The Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A) on the NOAA-19 was successfully launched on 6 February 2009. The AMSU-A Instruments are a generation of total-power microwave radiometers which have been flown on the NOAA-15 to NOAA-18 satellites since May 1998. A systematic postlaunch calibration and validation of the instrument performance was conducted with on-orbit data. A brief report of the postlaunch assessment of the instrument performance is presented in this study. Scan-by-scan examination of the radiometric calibration counts is employed to confirm nominal functioning of the instrument and to detect any anomalous events, such as lunar contamination in the space radiometric counts. The long-term trends of the space and warm calibration counts, channel gains, and housekeeping temperature sensors are monitored. The noise equivalent delta temperature (NEΔT) values of individual channels are also examined. The monthly mean angular distributions of brightness temperatures from the NOAA-18 and NOAA-19 AMSU-A over the tropical ocean region of 20°S to 20°N are obtained and compared to demonstrate the close similarity between the two measurements. Similarly, the monthly mean angular distributions of brightness temperatures over the Amazon Rain Forest are also compared and theoretically modeled. The results in this study will provide a useful guide for future calibration and validation of microwave instruments.
The effect of soil gas‐phase CO2 concentration on Fe‐deficiency chlorosis of soybean and sorghum grown in calcareous soils

Abstract Environmental conditions such as high soil‐moisture content and/or high soil gas‐phase CO2 concentration have been implicated in the enhancement of Fe‐deficiency chlorosis. Also, the influence of HCO3‐ in the incidence of Fe chlorosis of susceptible plants has been confirmed in past studies in solution culture. The objectives of this study were to observe the effects of CO2 concentration of the soil gas phase on: (1) the equilibrium relations of the soil solution, and (2) the growth of Fe‐chlorosis susceptible sorghum and soybean cultivars. Plants were grown in specially designed chambers to enable the control of soil gas‐phase composition. There were decreases in pH and increases in soil gas‐phase HCO3‐ concentration. However, increases in CO2 concentration of the soil gas phase up to 11.0 cmol mol‐1 had no significant effect on chlorosis of either sorghum or soybean. The favorable influence of decreasing soil‐solution pH had probably offset the detrimental influence of increasing soil solution ...
Hair Dye Use and Risk of Fatal Cancers in U.S. Women

Background Permanent hair dyes are used by about one third of adult American women. Several epidemiologic studies associate hair dye use with increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In one study, risk increased with more prolonged exposure to darker, more concentrated, permanent dyes. Purpose The purpose of our study was to examine the relationship between hair dye use and development of certain cancers associated with hair dye use in previous studies. Methods We examined prospectively the relationship between the use of permanent hair dyes and selected fatal cancers in 573,369 women. The participants provided information in 1982 on the frequency and duration of hair dye use and the color of hair dye used. Death rates were measured through 1989. Relative risks (RRs) were computed with subjects who had not used hair dyes serving as the referent group, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated on the basis of approximate-variance formulas. Results Women who had ever used permanent hair dyes showed decreased risk of all fatal cancers combined (RR = 0.93; 95% CI = 0.89-0.98) and of urinary system cancers (RR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.49-0.87) and no increase in risk of any type of hematopoietic cancer. Women who had used black hair dyes for 20 years (0.6% of women hair dyers) or more had increased risk of fatal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (RR = 4.37; 95% CI = 1.3-15.2) and multiple myeloma (RR = 4.39; 95% CI = 1.1-18.3). These positive findings are based on three cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and two cases of multiple myeloma. We found no relationship between use of permanent hair dyes and fatal cancers of the mouth, breast, lung, bladder, or cervix, areas that were of interest as the result of earlier studies. Conclusions Women using permanent hair dyes are not generally at increased risk of fatal cancer. Women with prolonged use of dark, particularly black, hair dyes may have increased risk of fatal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma, but these women are a small fraction of hair dye users. Nonetheless, the removal of carcinogens from hair dyes and appropriate labeling of hair-coloring products would help reduce this potential risk.
Prosocial organizational behaviors: The roles of workplace justice, achievement striving, and pay satisfaction

In this research, the roles of workplace justice, achievement striving behavior and pay satisfaction were used to predict prosocial behaviors. A total of 354 individuals from a consumer products company provided data for this research. Results suggest that achievement striving accounted for unique variance in in-role behavior. Perceived fairness in skill-based pay's certification process showed positive associations with extra-role and in-role behaviors. In support of previous research, pay satisfaction also provided unique contribution to both extra-role and in-role behaviors.
Metal Oxide/Metal pH Sensor: Effect of Anions on pH Measurements

Abstract The electrochemical growth of iridium oxide on iridium (IrOx/ Ir) electrodes for use as pH sensors was examined. Usefulness of the electrodes was evaluated in a variety of solutions with a...
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to assess respiratory syncytial virus concentration and correlate results with inflammatory mediators in tracheal secretions.

Objective. We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantitation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in respiratory secretions in intubated patients infected with RSV. Methods. We compared the quantitative ELISA and a standardized plaque assay in intubated children <2 years of age who were mechanically ventilated for severe RSV disease and enrolled in a randomized double blind placebo-controlled treatment trial of a monoclonal antibody to the F protein of RSV (palivizumab; Synagis). We also examined the relationship between the concentrations of virus as measured by ELISA and of three inflammatory indices in respiratory secretions (white blood cell count, myeloperoxidase and eosinophilic cationic protein). Results. Quantitative ELISA and plaque assay were highly correlated for both tracheal aspirates (r = 0.67, P = 0.001) and nasal wash specimens (r = 0.75, P = 0.001). Treatment with palivizumab significantly neutralized RSV in tracheal aspirates as measured by plaque assay. In contrast quantitation of RSV by ELISA was not affected by palivizumab treatment. This finding is consistent with results that were obtained in preliminary studies of RSV-containing media treated with monoclonal antibody, where we found that the ELISA measured virus whether antibody-bound or not. The inflammatory indices were not correlated with RSV concentration measured by ELISA or plaque assay. Conclusions. We conclude that this quantitative ELISA is a potentially useful tool for measurement of RSV concentration in respiratory secretions that may help elucidate the pathophysiology of acute RSV infection. Specific antiviral strategies for the treatment of RSV disease could be evaluated by this method.
Studies on whitening phenomena induced by some non‐solvents on highly oriented glassy polymers

Whitening phenomena, characterized by optically opaque regions when a highly oriented glassy polymer is immersed in some liquids, were investigated as a function of temperature, extent of molecular orientation, different solvent and molecular weight, using oriented polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) obtained by hot-stretching and cold drawn polycarbonate (PC). Whitened PMMA is highly porous resembling foamed plastics and shows the same Tg as in unwhitened PMMA, while whitened PC is denser with much smaller pores and exhibits melting behavior characteristic of solvent-induced crystallinity. Whitening progresses with a sharp boundary between whitened and unwhitened layers, which advanced at a constant velocity. This feature is similar to Case II transport. However, whitening differs from Case II sorption in that it only occurs in highly oriented polymers in contact with liquids of negligible sorption. Activation enthalpy of 44.1 and 39.7 kcal/mol has been found in a certain temperature range for PMMA/N-methyl formamide (N-MF) and PC/di-isopropyl amine (DIPA) respectively. At a given temperature, a higher extent of orientation leads to faster whitening process. Entropy correlation theory, in which the decrease in the configurational entropy (ΔSc) due to orientation is assumed to approximate an inerease in the activation entropy, was employed to correlate the dependency of the whitening rate on orientation. For hotstretched PMMA, where ΔSc is proportionl to since affine deformation applies, a good correlation is observed. For cold drawn PC, correlation was poor, probably because ΔSc cannot be expressed to be proportational to . In PMMA, when the molecular weight is in the same order as the average molecular weight between entanglements, the orientation and the whitening rate are both lower than higher molecular weight speciments. This may be due to a smaller number of chain entanglements and consequent chain slippage. In PMMA, whitening induced liquids seem to have a solubility parameter somewhat greater (2.5 ∼ 5.0) than that of PMMA. For PC, no consistent tendency is found.
Fuzzy multicriteria integer programming via fuzzy generalized networks

Recent advances in network based mathematical programming methods have given rise to practical, economical, and computationally efficient solution methodologies for truly large-scale problems. Today, a wide variety of real world problems have been solved in such a manner even though, on the surface, they do not have an apparent network structure. One type of network, the generalized network, has been successfully applied to solve large-scale zero-one or mixed integer mathematical programming models. However, one drawback to such approaches is their typical focus on but a single objective. The purpose of this paper then is to document the results of an ongoing research effort which combines the generalized network concept with the technique of fuzzy programming. The resultant, hybrid approach has been found to provide a computationally efficient approach to multi-objective zero-one (or integer) programming problems.
Hollow Fiber-Encapsulated Pituitary Cells for the Study of Adenohypophyseal Regulation of Growth in Poultry: 2. Recipient Growth Responses

Abstract A technique for the encapsulation and transplantation of viable, functionally active adenohypophyseal cells to pituitary-intact poultry by means of hollow fiber units has been developed. Endogenous pituitary glands of broiler pullets that received high density capsules (1.2 × 106 cells) were observed 30 days after fiber implantation at 2 weeks of age. Glands were reduced in size and immunoreactive growth hormone (I-GH) concentration in comparison to sham and low density (.3 × 106 cells) groups. Although these changes were not significant, the combined reduction in mass and I-GH concentration equates to a 25 to 35% reduction in total pituitary I-GH content for the high density group, in comparison with sham and low density group birds, respectively. These changes suggest a feedback effect of high density cell implants on endogenous pituitary function. Relative gains of each group reflect apparent differences in pituitary I-GH content: high density group birds gained less than shams (P>.05) and significantly less than low density group birds. In a second study of older birds, cell implants (.73 × 106 cells) resulted in a significantly greater average relative gain (52%) in comparison with shams (33%) over the 6 week implantation period. Mixed adenohypophyseal cell populations transplanted to the hypophysiotropic region of pituitary-intact broiler pullets resulted in changes in endogenous pituitary function and growth of recipient birds. These studies suggest that dosage administered (e.g., cell density) may interact with age at application in determining the ultimate response of birds to exogenous manipulation of endocrine regulation of growth.
Ventricular arrhythmias parallel cardiac histamine efflux after coronary artery occlusion in the dog.

Release of cardiac histamine by immunologic and pharmacologic stimuli is known to provoke ventricular arrhythmias. Augmented histamine efflux from ischemic myocardium has been proposed but remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine whether cardiac histamine efflux is precipitated by coronary artery occlusion and if so, whether histamine efflux is associated with the development of early ischemic ventricular arrhythmias. The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded while recording a continuous electrocardiogram and coronary sinus blood was sampled frequently during the first 30 min of coronary artery occlusion in pentobarbital-anesthetized, openchest dogs. Coronary sinus histamine concentration rose from a mean baseline of 0.06±0.10 ng/ml (±SD) before coronary artery occlusion to a mean peak of 0.61±0.40 ng/ml after coronary artery occlusion (p<0.0001;n=14). The median peak coronary sinus histamine concentration was significantly greater in dogs that suffered ventricular fibrillation after coronary artery occlusion (n=4) than in those that did not (n=10) (0.86 ng/ml vs. 0.37 ng/ml;p=0.05). The area under the coronary sinus histamine concentration-vs.-time curve (“total cardiac histamine efflux”) correlated directly with the total number of ventricular premature contractions during the first 30 min after coronary artery occlusion (r=0.81;p<0.005;n=10), and with infarct size (r=0.91;p<0.01;n=6). Thus, during acute myocardial ischemia, the coronary sinus histamine concentration increases simultaneously with the development of early ischemic ventricular arrhythmias and in proportion to their severity.
Mechanisms in the quantum yield of Cypridina bioluminescence.

— –The influence of temperature, pH, salts, and reactant concentrations on the biolumin-escent oxidation of Cypridina luciferin catalyzed by Cypridina luciferase indicates a highest quantum yield φ (einsteins per mole of luciferin oxidized) of 0.31 in H2O, or 0.33 in 99% D2O. With the aid of data on fluorescence of the light-emitting oxyluciferin-luciferase complex, and of oxyluciferin in diglyme, partial explanations are suggested for the observed variations in φ, including the relatively low φ, of 0.03 for chemiluminescence of luciferin in organic solvents, wherein a different pathway of luciferin degradation, as indicated by chromatographic evidence, results in much less population of the excited state.
PARTISANSHIP AND THE PURSE: THE MONEY COMMITTEES AND PROCEDURES IN THE POST‐REFORM CONGRESS

We analyze floor decision making on taxing and spending legislation during the 96th, 100th, and 104th Congresses in order to assess how electoral forces, fiscal pressures, and institutional change have affected the role of the money committees. Examination of decision making on legislation from these committees provides insight into how different committees and different institutions responded to this volatile post-reform environment. We find that partisanship on floor decision making increased considerably over time across committee legislation in both chambers. Still, partisan conflict tended to be greater on taxing legislation than on appropriating legislation. This reflects the differential impact of partisanship across the different types of policies under the jurisdiction of the money committees. By the 104th, patterns of differences were particularly pronounced across committees, rather than across chambers, suggesting the common exogenous forces at work affecting both institutions similarly. In addition, we find that members adapted procedural devices in both chambers for partisan purposes in order to limit amending activity on legislation from the money committees. Together, these changes reflect both the dramatically altered decision making process and the increasing tendency toward a party-dominated role for the money committees.
Analytical solutions for the response of laminated composites with piezoelectric laminae

ABSTRACT A refined theory of laminated composite plates with piezoelectric laminae is presented. The formula-tion is based on linear piezoelectricity, and includes the coupling between mechanical deformations and thecharge equations of electrostatics. The theory developed herein is hybrid in the sense that an equivalentsingle layer theory is used for the mechanical displacement field whereas the potential function for piezo-electric laminae is modeled using a layerwise discretization in the thickness direction. For the equivalentsingle layer, the third—order shear deformation theory of Reddy is used. This hybrid feature is good inthat it demonstrates a way in which multilayered smart skin piezolectric structures may be analyzed toaccommodate multiple voltage inputs and/or sensor outputs.Keywords: analytical solutions, hybrid theory, composite laminates, piezoelectric laminae, shear defor-mation laminate theory, layerwise laminate theory. 1. INTRODUCTION The study of embedded or surface mounted piezoelectric materials in structures has received consid-erable attention in recent years. One reason for this is that it may be possible to create certain types ofstructures and systems capable of adapting to or correcting for changing operating conditions. The advan-tage of incorporating these special types of materials into the structure is that the sensing and actuatingmechanism becomes part of the structure by sensing and actuating strains directly.In order to utilize the strain sensing and actuating (SSA) properties of piezoelectric materials, theinteraction between the structure and the SSA material must be well understood. Mechanical models forstudying the interaction of piezoelectric patches surface mounted to beams have been developed by Crawleyand de Luis (1987) and Chandra and Chopra (1993). The study presented here is different from these in thatwe study laminated plates containing piezoelectric laminae. The SSA lamina can offer both a discrete effectsimilar to patches as well as a distributed effect. Lee (1990) derived a theory for laminated piezoelectricplates based upon classical plate theory where the linear piezoelectric constitutive equations were the onlysource of coupling between the electric field and the mechanical displacement field. Tiersten (1969) modeledsingle—layer piezoelectric plates, including the charge equations, but did not study laminates. Tzou andZhong (1993) derived governing equations for piezoelectric shells using the first—order shear deformationtheory and included the charge equations of electrostatics. From these equations, classical, and first—ordershear deformation plate theories were derived for single layer piezoelectric laminae.
A nitroenolate approach to the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted-2-aminoimidazoles. Pilot library assembly and screening for antibiotic and antibiofilm activity

A library of 4,5-disubstituted-2-aminoimidazoles was synthesized using a nitroenolate route and then screened for antibiofilm and antimicrobial activity. These compounds displayed notable biofilm dispersal and planktonic microbicidal activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Confinement of thermonuclear microexplosions in imploding vortices

PRESENT efforts towards laser induced fusion envision spherical pellets consisting of the thermonuclear material in the centre, surrounded by a shell of some inert pusher material and an outer ablator shell. The same principles for the pellet design can be used if the implosion process is induced by a relativistic electron beam or intense ion beam (ref. 1, papers presented to Fifth IAEA Conference, Tokyo, 1974 and J. W. Shearer, unpublished). At least one other design of a non-spherical fuel pellet has been published2. This is non-symmetric and would have the advantage of using just one laser beam for target bombardment. But in all of these designs there remains one principal difficulty: laser, electron or ion beams with a sufficiently large total energy output for high density pellet compression and efficient thermonuclear burn have a comparatively long pulse length. Therefore, in order to use these beams for the required high density pellet compression rather large aspect ratios r/Δr (r=pellet radius, Δr=thickness of pusher and ablator material) are dictated. These may result in rapidly growing Taylor-type instabilities. The growth rate for these instabilities could in principle be reduced below dangerous levels by making the pellet and implosion process highly symmetrical. But, since the symmetry requirements are extreme this may be difficult to achieve. The growth rate for the Taylor instabilities could also be reduced by smaller aspect ratios, but smaller aspect ratios need shorter and precisely shaped pulses, which again are difficult to achieve.
Formation of CO in the Reaction of Oxygen Atoms with CH3: Reaction over a Barrier but Not through a Saddle Point

A type of chemical reaction characterized by a reaction path proceeding over an energy barrier (a ridge of the potential energy surface) but not through a saddle point is described. A method of computation of rate constants for such “over-the-ridge” reactions is developed on the basis of RRKM and transition state theories. Formulas and computational procedures are presented for the cases of microscopic energy-dependent rates of unimolecular reactions and the thermally averaged rates of unimolecular or bimolecular reactions. This method is applied to compute the branching fraction of the CO-producing channel (channel 1c) of the reaction of O atoms with CH3 radicals. A quantum chemical computational study of the potential energy surface (PES) of the decomposition of CH3O was performed using UHF, UMP2, QCISD, and B3LYP methods as well as single-point G2 and CBS-Q energy calculations. The results demonstrate that the products of the reaction channel 1c are formed in a process characterized by trajectories in ...
Inequality as a determinant of child labor

Abstract This paper analyzes the relationship between the phenomenon of child labor and public education under majority voting. It shows that under unequal income distribution, public schooling is not supported by the majority, and the amount of child labor becomes enormous.
An examination of grain boundary migration during high temperature fatigue of aluminum—II. Measurements of migration

Abstract Under conditions of low cycle fatigue at high temperatures, experiments on polycrystalline Al show that, for strain amplitudes less than ~ ± 0.4%, the average amount of grain boundary migration, in, is given by the empirical relationship m = Af −0.35 N 0.5 Δϵ 0.66 exp (−62.0/RT) where f is the frequency, N is the number of loading cycles, Δϵ is the strain amplitude, R is the gas constant in kJ mol−1 K−1, T is the absolute temperature and A ∼- 3.2 × 107 μms0.35. This relationship was obtained from tests conducted up to a total of 11 loading cycles, but it is demonstrated that it is in excellent agreement with published data up to ~ 104 cycles. The measured activation energy for migration during fatigue of Al is significantly lower than the value anticipated for grain boundary diffusion. It is suggested that this discrepancy, and similar differences in published investigations, arises because the various tests are not conducted under conditions of constant maximum stress.
“Committed as Near Neighbors”: The Halifax Explosion and Border-Crossing People and Ideas

Popular accounts of the Halifax Explosion of 1917 have placed it in a resolutely nationalist context. But starting from the international ownerships and destinations of the ships that sparked it, the explosion was a transnational event. This article explores how people, money, and ideas crossed and recrossed the border. First, in-kind and monetary relief flowed quickly from the United States, Britain, and Newfoundland. Second, Halifax became a destination for a growing international community of experts in disaster response, as relief experts from New York, Boston, Winnipeg, and elsewhere in North America converged on the city. Finally, survivors used their transnational community of friends and relatives to build political power over the relief process. Migrants living in “the Boston States” created a transnational polity that pressured relief authorities to give more money to their kin still in Halifax. These transnational communities—of international experts and migrant families—helped create a Canada–...
Membrane-dependent signal integration by the Ras activator Son of sevenless

The kinetics of Ras activation by Son of sevenless (SOS) changes profoundly when Ras is tethered to membranes, instead of being in solution. SOS has two binding sites for Ras, one of which is an allosteric site that is distal to the active site. The activity of the SOS catalytic unit (SOS(cat)) is up to 500-fold higher when Ras is on membranes compared to rates in solution, because the allosteric Ras site anchors SOS(cat) to the membrane. This effect is blocked by the N-terminal segment of SOS, which occludes the allosteric site. We show that SOS responds to the membrane density of Ras molecules, to their state of GTP loading and to the membrane concentration of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), and that the integration of these signals potentiates the release of autoinhibition.
Implicit-OR tiling of deoxyribozymes: Construction of molecular scale OR, NAND, and four-input logic gates *

We recently reported the first complete set of molecular-scale logic gates based on deoxyribozymes. Here we report how we tile these logic gates and construct new logic elements: OR, NAND, and the first element with four inputs (i 1 Λi 5 )V(i 2 Λi 6 ). Tiling of logic gates was achieved through a common substrate used for core deoxyribozyme; degradation of this substrate defines the output. This kind of connection between logic gates is an implicit-OR tiling, because it suffices that one componenet of the network is active for the whole network to give an output of 1.
Enhance light efficiency for slim light-strip array backlight on autostereoscopic display

A backlight with light-coupling-strip array was proposed for 2D/3D switchable display. To enhance the light efficiency of the light coupling structure, several cases of different structure shape were simulated. According to the simulation result, we choosed and made a backlight with inverted-trapezoid light coupling strips. The light efficiency is 6 times larger than that of diffuser strips made by laser scribing.
Higher Branched-Chain Amino Acid Intake Is Associated with a Lower Prevalence of Being Overweight or Obese in Middle-Aged East Asian and Western Adults

Beneficial effects on body weight of supplementation with BCAA, including leucine, isoleucine, and valine, have been observed in animal and human studies. However, population-based studies on dietary BCAA intake and body weight are lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the association between dietary BCAA intake and risk of overweight status/obesity among multi-ethnic populations. The International Study of Macro-/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure is a cross-sectional epidemiological investigation in China, Japan, the UK, and the US. The study cohort included 4429 men and women ages 40-59 y who were free of diabetes. Diet was assessed by 4 multi-pass 24-h recalls; data on nutrients including BCAA were derived from country-specific food tables. Overweight status and obesity were defined as BMI ≥ 25 and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2), respectively. Multivariable-adjusted OR of overweight status/obesity and 95% CI by quartiles of BCAA intake were estimated by logistic regression. Mean BCAA intake was 2.6 ± 0.6% energy; intake was significantly lower among Chinese participants and similar among participants from the other 3 countries. Compared with those in the first quartile, the multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI) of overweight status from the 2nd to 4th quartiles of BCAA intake were 0.97 (0.80-1.17), 0.91 (0.75-1.11), and 0.70 (0.57-0.86), respectively (P-trend < 0.01). BCAA intake and obesity were also inversely associated (P-trend = 0.03). In conclusion, higher dietary BCAA intake is associated with lower prevalence of overweight status/obesity among apparently healthy middle-aged adults from East Asian and Western countries.
Abnormal dissolution of octacalcium phosphate crystals at constant undersaturation

The dissolution of octacalcium phosphate (OCP), a possible important precursor phase in the in vivo mineralization of hard tissue, has been studied at 37°C over a range of undersaturations using a constant composition method (CC). The rate decreases markedly with time despite the sustained driving force, and eventually it approaches zero even though crystals remain in the undersaturated solutions. These OCP crystals will not dissolve when exposed to calcium phosphate solutions of the same undersaturations. However, the dissolution reaction resumes if the undersaturations are changed. Furthermore, at low undersaturation, the CC OCP dissolution curves show characteristic stepwise profiles. These interesting unpredicted phenomena persuade us to examine in more detail current crystal growth/dissolution models.
Generalized displacement of the nucleate boiling heat-flux curve, with pressure change

Abstract A rational generalized correlation for the displacement of the nucleate boiling heat-flux curve with pressure, as a function of reduced pressure, is formulated. Comparison of the correlation with experimental data shows that it is successful. A hypothesis that the wall superheat at any pressure is proportional to maximum theoretical superheat at that pressure is advanced. The hypothesis appears valid insofar as it can be checked experimentally.
Emergency Dentures and Esthetics

Accidents occur in life and when they affect the dentition, whether natural, artificial, or a combination, they can result in a feeling of dread and despair in the patient. The thought of appearing not only in public with business and social acquaintances, but also in private with family members can be reprehensible. This article discusses the use of visible light-cured denture base materials that can be used to alleviate the fear these patients display in being exposed to socio-esthetic intercourse when becoming suddenly partially edentate. The method of use and three patients' photographic essay presentations are discussed.
A Dual-Identity Framework for Understanding Lesbian Experience

The diverse life experiences of contemporary lesbians are shaped by women's differing ties to two social worlds, the majority heterosexual society and the minority subculture of the lesbian or sexual-minority world. This article presents a detailed conceptual analysis of a dual-identity framework that emphasizes lesbians' simultaneous affiliations with both lesbian and mainstream/heterosexual communities. The usefulness of this approach is discussed, with emphasis on implications for understanding individual differences in exposure to gay-related stress and mental health. Results from a survey of 116 lesbians showed that scores on measures of Lesbian Identity and Mainstream Identity were not significantly correlated with each other. Both lesbian and mainstream identities were significantly related to lesbians' reported experiences of discrimination, feelings of internalized homophobia, and life satisfaction. Limitations of the dual-identity framework and suggestions for future research are considered.
Efficient Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Designed to Facilitate the Specific Incorporation of Labeled Amino Acids

A cost-efficient, time-reducing solid-phase synthesis of the amyloidogenic, 37 residue islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is developed using two pseudoprolines (highlighted blue in sequence) in combination with microwave technology. A yield twice that obtained with conventional syntheses is realized. The utility of this protocol is demonstrated by the synthesis of a 13C18O-labeled Ser-20 IAPP variant, a prohibitively expensive and chemically challenging site to label via other protocols. TEM analysis shows the peptide forms normal amyloid (abstract image).
Application of parameter management to roll rate control in the ballistic missile target system.

Achievement of an analytically determined roll rate with fin incidence requires good matching of the analytical model with flight hardware. The assumption of a flat, symmetrical fin was shown to be unacceptable for application to insulated second-stage fins of a ballistic missile target configuration. It was recognized that tightening specifications on the final hardware would result in higher costs and higher rejection rates. Each step of fin fabrication and vehicle assembly was examined to identify realistic bounds of parameter variability by determining which parameters could be subjected to engineering control and what degree of control could be achieved. The resulting procedure established acceptable specifications on insulation fabrication and bonding, fin assembly, and fin-incidence setting. Each finished surface is surveyed at 51 points, a "best-fit" plane is analytically determined, and the true aerodynamic profile of the fin is established. Variation of the centerline of each fin from the physical center of the bare metal fin core is accounted for in the clinometer reading used in setting the fin. Flight performance has substantiated this approach on two flights; the maximum roll rate deviations from nominal were 0.3 cps from missile launch to second-stage
Age at childbearing over two generations and grandchildren's cognitive achievement

We examine whether grandparents' and parents' ages at birth are associated with grandchildren's early cognitive achievement, and whether grandparents' or parents' socioeconomic status, health, and marital status mediate those associations. Our analysis is based on data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and its Child Development Supplement. A grandparent's age at the birth of their own children is robustly and positively associated with grandchildren's verbal achievement, but not with grandchildren's applied mathematics achievement, after controlling for parents' age at the grandchild's birth. The associations are similar in magnitude for grandmothers and grandfathers. A variety of indicators of social class in the grandparent and parent generations did not mediate this age effect. However, many of those indicators of grandparents' social class were directly or indirectly related to grandchildren's achievement.
Steelmaking-Hot Rolling Scheduling Model and Method for Integrated Management in Iron and Steel Enterprises

Iron and steel production scheduling problems are different from general production scheduling in machine industry. They have to meet special demands of steel production process. The CCR production manner dramatically promotes the revolution in technology and management, especially to planning and scheduling. In this paper, a scheduling model is presented to integrate the three working procedures and the lagrangian relaxation technology is proposed to get the optimal solution of the scheduling model. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the integrated model and method.
Effects of lipid rafts on dynamics of retroviral entry and trafficking: Quantitative analysis

The association of cell surface receptors with sterol-sphingolipid-enriched microdomains of the plasma membrane, so-called lipid rafts, may affect the receptor-mediated entry and trafficking dynamics of viruses. A model retrovirus, subgroup A avian sarcoma and leukosis virus (ASLV-A), can initiate infection by binding to either of two forms of the tumor virus subgroup A (TVA) receptor, a lipid-raft-associated glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored receptor (TVA800) or a transmembrane receptor (TVA950). Narayan et al. previously found that virus particles bound to TVA950 were more rapidly internalized than virions bound to TVA800, and the internalization via TVA950 exhibited biphasic kinetics. To explore potential molecular mechanisms for these results we developed a mathematical model that accounts for internalization of viruses through cellular pits, trafficking to an endosomal compartment where fusion occurs, and viral DNA synthesis. By fitting the model to experimental data we found that viruses bound to TVA950 were internalized up to 2.6-fold more rapidly than viruses bound to TVA800. Two- to threefold greater lateral diffusivities of transmembrane proteins, relative to GPI-anchored proteins, observed in other systems, suggest that the internalization rate of ASLV-A is diffusion-limited. Furthermore, by allowing for recycling of internalized TVA950-bound viruses back to the cell surface, we can account for the observed biphasic internalization kinetics. This mechanism is also consistent with the observed slower rate of DNA synthesis for viruses that enter via TVA950. Overall, the model provides a means to generate new experimentally testable hypotheses and sets a foundation for building a quantitative and integrated understanding of viral entry, trafficking, and intracellular dynamics.
ATP-dependent Efflux of 2,4-Dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione PROPERTIES OF TWO DISTINCT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS IN INSIDE-OUT VESICLES FROM L1210 CELLS AND A VARIANT SUBLINE WITH ALTERED EFFLUX OF METHOTREXATE AND CHOLATE

The transport of 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione (DNP-SG) into inside-out vesicles from L1210 cells was employed to identify and characterize ATP-dependent efflux routes for DNP-SG. Measurements of ATP-dependent uptake at varying concentrations of [3H]DNP-SG revealed the presence of two distinct transport systems. Transport at low substrate concentrations occurred predominantly via a high affinity system (Km = 0.63 μM), whereas a low affinity system (Km = 450 μM) predominated at high concentrations of substrate. The high affinity system was characterized by a potent inhibition by the glutathione conjugates of bromosulfophthalein (Ki = 0.09 μM) and ethacrynic acid (Ki = 0.44 μM), leukotriene C4 (Ki = 0.20 μM), and the taurate diconjugate of bilirubin (Ki = 0.10 μM). The low affinity transport system for DNP-SG exhibited a high affinity for bilirubin ditaurate (Ki = 1.8 μM), indoprofen (Ki = 3.0 μM), and biphenylacetic acid (Ki = 5.9 μM). Different results were obtained with an L1210/C7 variant which has a defect in the efflux of methotrexate and cholate. Vesicles from the latter cells contain the same low affinity transport activity as parental cells, but the high affinity route is absent and has been replaced by a system with an intermediate affinity for DNP-SG (Km = 4.5 μM). These results indicate that L1210 cells contain two unidirectional efflux pumps for DNP-SG with substantial differences in inhibitor sensitivity. The high affinity system shows a binding preference for glutathione conjugates but can also accommodate large anionic conjugates, whereas the low affinity system has a binding preference for large organic anions. Results with the variant cells support the hypothesis that the high affinity transport system for DNP-SG also mediates the unidirectional efflux of methotrexate and cholate in intact L1210 cells.
Statistical Models in SEDIMENTOLOGY1

SUMMARY Three stages of statistical development can be recognized in sedimentology. The first is descriptive statistics, in which the sample is the object of interest, and the second is analytical statistics, in which the population assumes major importance. A very large variety of statistical techniques is available for estimating mean values, degrees of variability, tests of differences among population means, linear relations (correlations) among the variables, and ways of evaluating areal variations (trends) in sedimentary phenomena. The third stage of statistical development is the application of stochastic process models to sedimentology, in which the objective is to discern the probabilistic elements in sedimentary processes, in part by simulation with the high-speed computer. Stochastic process models thus provide one way of examining sedimentary processes through time or over an area. In conjunction with deterministic models they provide a framework for exploring the underlying physical, chemical, and biological controls on sedimentary processes and deposits, with superimposed random fluctuations introduced by the “built–in” probabilistic mechanism.
Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in the Course of Lead-Induced Hypertension

We recently showed elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced urinary excretion of NO metabolites (NOx), and increased NO sequestration as nitrotyrosine in various tissues in rats with lead-induced hypertension. This study was designed to discern whether the reduction in urinary NOx in lead-induced hypertension is, in part, due to depressed NO synthase (NOS) expression. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a lead-treated group (given lead acetate, 100 ppm, in drinking water and regular rat chow), a group given lead and vitamin E-fortified chow, or a normal control group given either regular food and water or vitamin E-fortified food for 12 weeks. Tail blood pressure, urinary NOx excretion, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), and endothelial and inducible NOS (eNOS and iNOS) isotypes in the aorta and kidney were measured. The lead-treated group exhibited a rise in blood pressure and plasma MDA concentration, a fall in urinary NOx excretion, and a paradoxical rise in vascular and renal tissue eNOS and iNOS expression. Vitamin E supplementation ameliorated hypertension, lowered plasma MDA concentration, and raised urinary NOx excretion while significantly lowering vascular, but not renal, tissue eNOS and iNOS expression. Vitamin E supplementation had no effect on either blood pressure, plasma MDA, or NOS expression in the control group. The study also revealed significant inhibition of NOS enzymatic activity by lead in cell-free preparations. In conclusion, lead-induced hypertension in this model was associated with a compensatory upregulation of renal and vascular eNOS and iNOS expression. This is, in part, due to ROS-mediated NO inactivation, lead-associated inhibition of NOS activity, and perhaps stimulatory actions of increased shear stress associated with hypertension.
The Contrast-Enhanced CT Scan and the Radionuclide Brain Scan: Parallel Mechanisms of Action in the Detection of Supratentorial Astrocytomas

The preoperative contrast-enhanced CT scan and the radionuclide brain scan of 70 patients with surgically verified supratentorial astrocytomaswereevaluated and compared. The results indicate parallel mechanisms of action of contrast enhancement and radionuclide uptake. These diagnostic modalities apparently mirror the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and therefore are useful in assessing the degree of malignancy of supratentorial gliomas. However, lesions with an intact BBB will be missed with RN imaging. These lesions and/or the associated mass effect will be detected with contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Our findings firmly establish contrast-enhanced CT as the primary investigative tool in the suspected brain tumor.