cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sparse fuzzy techniques improve machine learning

On the example of diagnosing cancer based on the microarray gene expression data, we show that fuzzy-technique description of imprecise knowledge can improve the efficiency of the existing machine learning algorithms. Specifically, we show that the fuzzy-technique description leads to a formulation of the learning problem as a problem of sparse optimization, and we use l1-techniques to solve the resulting optimization problem.
A Comparative Study on Various Ductile Crack Formation Criteria

Various fracture criteria, based on different assumptions and different mechanical models, have been proposed in the past to predict ductile fracture. The objective of this study is to assess their effectiveness and accuracy in a wide range of process parameters. A series of tests on 2024-T351 aluminum alloy, including upsetting tests and tensile tests is carried out. It is found that none of the existing fracture criteria give consistent results. Two totally different fracture mechanisms are clearly observed from microfractographs of upsetting and tensile specimens. This observation confirms that it is impossible to capture all features of ductile crack formation in different stress states with a single criterion. It is shown that different functions are necessary to predict crack formation for different ranges of stress triaxiality. Weighting functions in a wide range of stress states can be obtained by determining the fracture locus in the space of equivalent strain to fracture and stress triaxiality.
The concentrations and sources of PM2.5 in metropolitan New York City

The concentration time series of chemical species measured in PM2.5 samples from four speciation trend network (STN) sites in the New York City metropolitan area and a upwind background site were explored. PM2.5 concentrations and chemical compositions measured in metropolitan area of New York City are uniform. About 69–82% of PM2.5 mass derives from transport. The most important constituents of the PM2.5 were SO42-, NH4 and NO3- and account 54–67% of PM2.5 mass. More than 93% of SO42- and about 54–65% of NO3- are likely to have been transported into the NYC area based on the concentrations observed at the background site. Backward air parcel trajectories indicate that coal-fired power plants in the border area among West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania are related to typical high PM2.5 events having peak secondary pollutant concentrations in New York City. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to identify the PM2.5 sources and estimate the source contributions. Sources common to all five sites included secondary sulfate, secondary nitrate, soil and aged sea salt. Oil combustion was identified at four of the sites. At the Elizabeth site, the oil combustion source appears to show an influence from ship emissions. Motor vehicles were apportioned into two sources (gasoline and diesel) at three site and three sources at the Elizabeth site, probably because of its proximity to a major interstate highway. At the Queens College site, only a combined motor vehicle factor could be resolved. The source profiles, source contributions and seasonal or weekday variations derived by PMF are compared to source inventories for the area. It appears that there were more vehicle exhausts and less dust and wood smoke than are indicated by the source inventories.
The Response of Chicks, Ducklings, Goslings, Pheasants and Poults to Graded Levels of Aflatoxins

Abstract AFLATOXICOSIS is a poisoning produced by one or more aflatoxins, toxic products of certain strains of the genus Aspergillus (Wilson et al., 1968; Schroeder and Verrett, 1969). The toxins have been cited as the cause of “turkey-X” disease which caused high mortality among turkey poults in England during 1960 (Sargeant et al., 1961a, b). The toxins are also cited as playing a role in outbreaks of “hemorrhagic syndrome” in poultry (Forgacs, 1962; and Schumaier et al., 1961). Aspergillus flavus, a mold commonly found in feedstuffs, is capable of producing aflatoxins. While the exact number of aflatoxins that may be produced remains uncertain, the major aflatoxins comprise two groups referred to as B for those that fluoresce blue under ultraviolet light and G for those that fluoresce a yellowish green under ultraviolet light (Wogan, 1966). The two groups have been further divided into four components known as B1, B2, G1, and…
Shear-enhanced compaction during non-linear viscous creep of porous calcite–quartz aggregates

Abstract In this paper, we extend the previous studies of semi-brittle flow of synthetic calcite–quartz aggregates to a range of temperatures and effective pressures where viscous creep occurs. Triaxial deformation experiments were performed on hot-pressed calcite–quartz aggregates containing 10, 20 and 30 wt% quartz at confining pressure of 300 MPa, pore pressures of 50–290 MPa, temperatures of 673–1073 K and strain rates of 3.0×10−5/s, 8.3×10−5/s and 3.0×10−4/s. Starting porosity varied from 5 to 9%. We made axial and volumetric strain measurements during the mechanical tests. Pore volume change was measured by monitoring the volume of pore fluid that flows out of or into the specimen at constant pore pressure. Yield stress increased with decreasing porosity and showed a dependence on effective pressure. Thus, the yield stress versus effective pressure can be described as a yield surface with negative slope that expands with decreasing porosity and increasing strain hardening, gradually approaching the envelope of strength at 10% strain, which has a positive slope. Creep of porous rock can be modeled to first order as an isolated equivalent void in an incompressible nonlinear viscous matrix. An incremental method is used to calculate the stress–strain curve of the porous material under a constant external strain rate. The numerical simulations reproduce general trends of the deformation behavior of the porous rock, such as the yield stress decreasing with increasing effective pressure and significant strain hardening at high effective pressure. The drop of yield stress with increasing porosity is modeled well, and so is the volumetric strain rate, which increases with increasing porosity.
Utility of Urine, Vaginal, Cervical, and Rectal Specimens for Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium in Women

This study assessed the utility of urine, vaginal, cervical, and rectal specimens for the detection of Mycoplasma genitalium in women by using our laboratory-developed PCR assay. The relative sensitivity was 85.7% for the vaginal swab specimen, 74.3% for the endocervical swab specimen, 61.4% for the urine specimen, and 24.3% for the rectal swab specimen.
Cortical hyperostosis following long-term administration of prostaglandin E1 in infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease

PROSTAGLANDIN Et or E~ has been widely used in infants with ductus dependen t cyanotic congeni ta l hear t diseaseY ~ Recent reports have shown encouraging results with long-term low-dose adminis t ra t ion in selected patients, and there have been no significant side effects? -~ We describe two pat ients with cortical hyperost0sis which occurred following longterm adminis t ra t ion of PGE~ in low doses.
A domain constrained deformable (DoCD) model for co-registration of pre- and post-radiated prostate MRI

External beam radiation treatment (EBRT) is a popular method for treating prostate cancer (CaP) involving destroying tumor cells with ionizing radiation. Following EBRT, biochemical failure has been linked with disease recurrence. However, there is a need for methods for evaluating early treatment related changes to allow for an early intervention in case of incomplete disease response. One method for looking at treatment evaluation is to detect changes in MRI markers on a voxel-by-voxel basis following treatment. Changes in MRI markers may be correlated with disease recurrence and complete or partial response. In order to facilitate voxel-by-voxel imaging related treatment changes, and also to evaluate morphologic changes in the gland post treatment, the pre- and post-radiated MRI must first be brought into spatial alignment via image registration. However, EBRT induces changes in the prostate volume and distortion to the internal anatomy of the prostate following radiation treatment. The internal substructures of the prostate, the central gland (CG) and peripheral zone (PZ), may respond to radiation differently, and their resulting shapes may change drastically. Biomechanical models of the prostate that have been previously proposed tend to focus on how external forces affect the surface of the prostate (not the internals), and assume that the prostate is a volume-preserving entity. In this work we present DoCD, a biomechanical model for automatically registering pre-, post-EBRT MRI with the aim of expressly modeling the (1) changes in volume, and (2) changes to the CG and PZ. DoCD was applied to a cohort of 30 patients and achieved a root mean square error of 2.994mm, which was statistically significantly better a traditional biomechanical model which did not consider changes to the internal anatomy of the prostate (mean of 5.071mm).
Myth and Philosophy: From a Problem in Phaedo

This article investigates the relation between myth and philosophy in Greek philosophy in general and in Plato in particular. Although philosophical thinking and mythical thinking are in general mutually opposed, Greek reason is yet to be separated from its fantastic temperament. The mythic atmosphere of Phaedo is striking, given the well known hostility on the part of Plato against mythopoeic poets such as Homer. By putting the relation between myth and philosophy in a proper perspective, this article argues that myth is not only the source of wisdom for philosophy but also the sole guide for a philosophical person when his or her reason fails. There is an apparent tension between mythologein (mythology, telling stories) and apology (for philosophy) in Phaedo. The two themes stand side by side throughout the dialogue but contradict each other because of the well-known rivalry between myth and philosophy in Socratic philosophy. In order to solve the puzzle, this article will conduct a general inquiry into the nature of myth and philosophy and argue that their true rivalry is not on the issue of wisdom but on that of temperance. Although philosophical thinking and mythical thinking represent, as Cassier writes, the exact opposite of each other, Greek reason is yet to be separated from its fantastic temperament (section 3). In Greek arts of discourse, poetry (myth), philosophy, and rhetoric form a triangular opposition.' In order to gain a clear sight of the dynamics between philosophy and poetry, we will use the opposition of philosophy and rhetoric as a contrasting mirror image and claim that wisdom is the area where poetry and philosophy find their common ground (section 4) because philosophical wisdom abounds in Greek objective poetry (section 5). We will use Phaedo's text as a lead, establish the contradiction between mythologein and apology by dismissing in the first two sections the alternative readings of Phaedo, and conclude our inquiry by offering a solution to the riddle in the last four sections (6-9) along the line of opposition between philo-sophia and eroto-sophia.
Genetic Autonomic Disorders

Genetic disorders affecting the autonomic nervous system can result in abnormal development of the nervous system or they can be caused by neurotransmitter imbalance, an ion-channel disturbance or by storage of deleterious material. The symptoms indicating autonomic dysfunction, however, will depend upon whether the genetic lesion has disrupted peripheral or central autonomic centers or both. Because the autonomic nervous system is pervasive and affects every organ system in the body, autonomic dysfunction will result in impaired homeostasis and symptoms will vary. The possibility of genetic confirmation by molecular testing for specific diagnosis is increasing but treatments tend to remain only supportive and directed toward particular symptoms.
Father-Child Sexual Communication in the United States: A Review and Synthesis

Fathers play an important role in the sexual development of their children. One way fathers may influence their children's sexuality is through verbal sexual communication. In recent years there has been an increase in interest in father-child sexual communication and the research base is large enough now that a review of this literature is needed. This study addresses this need by providing an examination, synthesis, and critique of peer-reviewed father-child sexual communication studies conducted in the United States during the last three decades. Specific conclusions are drawn about the nature, extent, and impact of father-child sexual communication. Although father-child sexual communication is often infrequent and awkward, it can have an impact on children's sexual beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Theoretically driven research directions are provided.
Where Danger Lies: The Spatial Priming of Negative Affect

Conditioning research has found that organisms associate negative affect with the location of a previous negative experience. This investigation sought to determine whether spatial factors would al...
Use of an Optical-Fiber-Based Biosensor to Study the Interaction of Blood Proteins with Solid Surfaces

An optical fiber-based laser biosensor has been used to investigate adsorption of blood lipoproteins and immunoglobulin G to the glass optical-fiber surface. While lipoproteins readily interact (adsorb) with unmodified optical-fiber surface, immunoglobulin G does not bind to the glass surface at a concentration of 5 μg/mL. However, upon glass surface modification with silane, immunoglobulin G binds significantly to the optical fiber. High-density lipoproteins and low-density lipoproteins show a differential interaction with the glass surface, and their interaction was altered upon modification of the glass surface with cholesterol. With these results in mind, the utility of the biosensor for the study of protein interaction with biorelevant surfaces has been outlined.
Analyzing Data From Studies Depicted on Video An Activity for Statistics and Research Courses

We describe an activity that combines the instructional benefits of video with the active and integrative learning inherent in the analysis and interpretation of realistic data. In the activity, students watched a brief video clip that showed how an actual research study was conducted. Students then analyzed raw data from the study, interpreted the results, and compared their work to published results and conclusions. The activity allows students to practice applying their knowledge of statistics and research methodology to realistic situations without having to conduct actual research. Students reported that the activity is engaging and helpful, and a comparison of pretest and posttest quiz scores suggested that it helps students learn to use and interpret statistical procedures.
Tissue Culture of Normal and Cystic Fibrosis Sweat Gland Duct Cells I. Alterations in Dome Formation

ABSTRACT: The elucidation of the underlying defect in fluid secretion by cystic fibrosis (CF) sweat glands is hindered by the unavailability of an experimental model for investigating this disease. As a potential model system, a serum-free growth medium was developed that supports the explant growth of epithelial cells from fragments of human skin. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that these epithelial cell outgrowths originated from the duct of the sweat gland. By electron microscopy, the cells were demonstrated to possess keratinocyte-like morphology as noted by the presence of a multilayered outgrowth of cells containing well-defined keratin bundles. Identical outgrowths from skin biopsies of CF patients were compared to normal outgrowths and alterations were noted to occur in dome formation and in the number of intercellular spaces between cells. Doming alterations were also noted to occur in the CF heterozygous state. No differences in cell fine structure or in growth factor requirements for cell proliferation were noted between normal and CF cells. The potential use of this system as a model for CF research is discussed.
The free compressible viscous vortex

The present study investigates the effects of compressibility on free (unsteady) viscous heat-conducting vortices. Analytical solutions are found in the limit of large but finite Reynolds number and small but finite Mach number. It is shown that the spreading of the vortex causes a radial flow. This flow is given by the solution of an ordinary differential equation, which gives the dependence of the radial velocity on the tangential velocity, density, and temperature profiles of the vortex. Estimates of the radial velocity found by solving this equation are found to be in good agreement with numerical solutions of the full equations. The equations for the viscous evolution are expanded in powers of Mach number to obtain detailed analytical solutions. It is shown that swirling axisymmetric compressible flows generate negative radial velocities far from the vortex core owing to viscous effects, regardless of the initial distributions of vorticity, density, and entropy.
The radiology of the thoracic manifestations of AIDS

The thoracic manifestations of AIDS have undergone a gradual metamorphosis, partly due to more awareness about the disease leading to earlier diagnoses and partly due to the fact that research has produced more effective prophylaxis as well as treatment for these patients. Many patients now demonstrate partial or complete clinical response which prolongs the length and quality of life of individuals positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV+). Also, with the large number of infected individuals coming to medical attention, and the years of experience in diagnosing and treating these AIDS patients, we now recognize not only the usual but also less usual manifestations of thoracic illnesses in AIDS, including infections, non-infectious diseases such as HIV associated Lymphocytic Interstitial Pneumonia and the neoplasms associated with AIDS. A section will be devoted to HIV infection in children. We will finish the article with a discussion of the current role of Nuclear Medicine in the diagnosis of HIV associated thoracic diseases. These topics are the subject of this article.
The cyclic sieving phenomenon

The cyclic sieving phenomenon is defined for generating functions of a set affording a cyclic group action, generalizing Stembridge's q = -1 phenomenon. The phenomenon is shown to appear in various situations, involving q-binomial coefficients, Polya-Redfield theory, polygon dissections, noncrossing partitions, finite reflection groups, and some finite field q-analogues.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2: implications for blood pressure and kidney disease.

Purpose of reviewAngiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2), the main product of which is Ang 1–7, which binds to its receptor, Mas, is an important member of the renin–angiotensin system.Recent findingsA substantial body of research indicates that ACE2 is cardioprotective and renoprotective. ACE2 part
Microbial Oxidation of Naphthalene to cis-1,2-Naphthalene Dihydrodiol Using Naphthalene Dioxygenase in Biphasic Media

The selective oxidation of aryl substrates to chiral cis-1,2-dihydrodiols is an industrially important reaction for the production of intermediates that can be used to produce fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and many other bioactive natural products. More specifically, the oxidation of naphthalene to produce optically pure (+)-cis-(1R,2S)-1,2-napthalene dihydrodiol (NDHD) to be used as a chiral synthon for specialty chemicals has gained much interest. Escherichia coli JM109(DE3) pDTG141 expresses naphthalene dioxygenase which catalyzes this reaction. Poor substrate solubility and substrate toxicity are barriers to using the power of these enzymes in large-scale aqueous whole cell systems. A biphasic reaction system was chosen to overcome these barriers. The optimal biphasic conditions for E. coli JM109(DE3) pDTG141 were determined to be 20% dodecane as the organic solvent containing 40 g/L naphthalene. The productivity of the biotransformation using resting cells was 1.75 g-diol/g-cdw/h for the first 6 h with 20% organic phase, which was increased from 0.59 g-diol/g-cdw/h for growing cells with 40% organic phase. The biocatalytic activity was retained for at least 12 h. The biocatalyst could be recycled for at least four runs in both suspended and immobilized form. The stability of the 12 h recycle was improved by immobilization in calcium alginate beads. The process has been improved both environmentally and economically by reducing the amount of solvent used and by recycling the biocatalyst.
Direct effects of endotoxin on canine gastric mucosal permeability and morphology.

Abstract The effects of endotoxin on gastric mucosal permeability and morphology were studied by intra-arterial infusion of sublethal doses of endotoxin into a single artery perfusing an exteriorized segment of canine stomach. Endotoxin infusion produced a profound change in mucosal appearance from bright, uniform red to mottled, palewhite discoloration when exposed to acid or mannitol. Gross erosions occurred in four of 13 mucosae bathed with 0.15 N HCl within 1 hr of infusion of endotoxin in the absence of arterial hypotension. Histological changes seen in most experiments include release of mucus from surface epithelial cells and elevation of the epithelium from the basement membrane. In more advanced lesions, severe injury extended into the gastric glands and surrounding connective tissue with cellular necrosis. In spite of gross and microscopic gastric mucosal injury, no significant change was seen in hydrogen ion back diffusion or sodium efflux. These observations suggest that gastric mucosal injuries can occur in endotoxemia without systemic arterial hypotension and that anatomical mucosal injuries are not associated with the destruction of the hydrogen-sodium permeability barrier.
Dendritic solidification—II. A model for dendritic growth under an imposed thermal gradient

Abstract A simple model for dendritic growth under an imposed thermal gradient is presented. The model satisfactorily explains the transition from a dendritic interface to a planar interface with increasing values of G L R , where GL is the thermal gradient and R the growth rate. In particular, the dendrite tip radius is shown to be a function of both R and GL. At constant growth rate, the dendrite tip radius increases with increasing GL, becoming infinite as G L R approaches the value given by the simple constitutional supercooling criterion. The tip undercooling and solute buildup also approach the corresponding values for a planar interface as the limit of stability of a planar front is reached. As the growth rate increases, the composition of the solid forming at the dendrite tip approaches the initial alloy composition at a critical growth rate. The critical growth rate is a function of GL and is shown to be intimately related to the growth velocity at which “absolute stability” is predicted by morphological stability theories. The dendrite tip undercooling, at the critical growth rate, is a function of the thermal conditions prevailing during growth and approaches ΔT0 in the limit (where ΔT0), is the equilibrium solidification range) as the interface becomes planar. The nature of the interface, dendritic, cellular or planar, as welt as the composition of the solid forming at large growth rates is determined by the value of a dimensionless length scale λ. The parameter λ is intimately related to another dimensionless quantity σc, which is exactly the tip stability parameter obtained by Langer and Muller-Krumbhaar. The parameter σc is obtained here strictly by considering steady-state behavior of a dendrite. Two estimates of λ have been provided. One of these estimates of λ yields values of σc in remarkable agreement with the results of Langer and Muller-Krumbhaar. A comparison of the results obtained here with the Baker and Cahn analysis for partitionless solidification is also provided.
Cloning of the human monocarboxylate transporter MCT3 gene: localization to chromosome 22q12.3-q13.2.

Lactate transport across cell membranes is mediated by a family of proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) expresses a unique member of this family, MCT3. A portion of the human MCT3 gene was cloned by polymerase chain reaction using primers designed from rat RPE MCT3 cDNA sequence. The human genomic sequence was used to design primers to clone human MCT3 cDNA and to identify a bacterial artificial chromosome clone containing the human MCT3 gene. The human MCT3 cDNA contained a 1512-nucleotide open reading frame with a deduced amino sequence 85% identical to rat MCT3. Comparison of the cDNA and genomic sequences revealed that the MCT3 gene was composed of five exons distributed over 5 kb of DNA. The exon-intron borders were conserved between the human and the chicken MCT3 genes. Using radiation hybrid mapping, the MCT3 gene was mapped to chromosome 22 between markers WI11639 and SGC30687. A search of chromosome 22 in the Sanger Centre database confirmed the location of the human MCT3 gene at 22q12.3-q13.2.
FastPlace 2.0: an efficient analytical placer for mixed-mode designs

In this paper, we present FastPlace 2.0 - an extension to the efficient analytical standard-cell placer - FastPlace, to address the mixed-mode placement problem. The main contributions of our work are: (1) Extensions to the global placement framework of FastPlace to handle mixed-mode designs. (2) An efficient and optimal minimum perturbation macro legalization algorithm that is applied after global placement to resolve overlaps among the macros. (3) An efficient legalization scheme to legalize the standard cells among the placeable segments created after fixing the movable macros. On the ISPD 02 mixed-size placement benchmarks, our algorithm is 16.8/spl times/ and 7.8/spl times/ faster than state-of-the-art academic placers Capo 9.1 and Feng-shui 5.0 respectively. Correspondingly, we are on average, 12% and 3% better in terms of wirelength over the respective placers.
Screening for Traumatic Stress: A Scale for Use in the General Population1

A short screening instrument for detecting the occurrence and impact of traumatic events is presented. It is proposed that a relevant event population for assessing exposure to traumatic events comprises “violent encounters with nature, technology, or humankind” and that loss, scope, threat, blame, familiarity, and post-traumatic stress are the dimensions of the experience that are most critical to assess. It is estimated that 8% of the U.S. adult population will experience one or more of the selected events within a year's time. Potential uses and contributions of the instrument are discussed.
Where Do You Draw the Line? How Our Actions Make a Difference

Carmen M. McCallum shares her story of how deeply an arbitrary boundary line affected her life in order to challenge us to recognize, change, and cross the lines that disrupt our students’ success.
Polystyrene-Based Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposite Thin Films: Dynamics of Structural Instabilities

Thin polystyrene (PS) liquid films supported by oxidized silicon (SiOx/Si) substrates may be unstable or metastable, depending on the film thickness, h. In the metastable thickness regime, holes nucleate throughout the surface of the films and subsequently grow under the action of capillary forces. Recent studies show that the hole growth rate in thin PS films is suppressed with the addition of small concentrations of C60 fullerenes, due to pinning at the line of contact. We examined the hole growth dynamics in thin film polystyrenes with functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (PS-SWNT) supported by SiOx/Si substrates. The hole growth velocities in PS films containing 0.75 wt % functionalized single-walled nanotubes, VPS-SWNT, were appreciably slower than VPS, the hole-growth velocities of holes in polystyrene films of the same thickness. Moreover, VPS-SWNT and VPS decreased with decreasing film thickness, for h < 50 nm, with thickness dependencies which exceed theoretical predictions. In addition,...
A note on the asymptotic distribution of LASSO estimator for correlated data

The asymptotic distribution of the Lasso estimator for regression models with independent errors has been investigated by Knight and Fu (2000). In this note we extend these results to regression models with a general weak dependence structure. We determine the asymptotic distribution of the Lasso estimator when the number of parameters M is fixed and the number of observations, n, converges to infinity. We show that, for an appropriate choice of the tuning parameter of the method, this asymptotic distribution reduces to a multivariate normal distribution. As an illustrative example, the special case of AR(1) is also investigated.
Hereditary factor VII deficiency in the Alaskan Klee Kai dog.

Background: Hereditary factor VII (FVII) deficiency is characterized as a mild bleeding disorder in Beagles, caused by a missense mutation in exon 5 of the FVII gene. An Alaskan Klee Kai dog with severe bleeding after trauma was diagnosed with FVII deficiency based on coagulation testing. Molecular analyses were undertaken to identify the genetic basis of the defect in this breed. Hypothesis: FVII deficiency in Alaskan Klee Kai dogs is caused by a mutation in the FVII gene. Animals: Eighteen client-owned Alaskan Klee Kai. Methods: Coagulation screening tests and factor assays were performed to characterize the coagulopathy. All coding regions of the propositus' FVII gene were sequenced. Amplification of exon 5, sequencing, and Mnl I restriction digest experiments were performed to screen for a point mutation in the remaining 17 dogs. Results: FVII deficiency was diagnosed in 6 dogs with a median FVII activity (FVII:C) of 5% (reference range, 50–150%). All FVII-deficient Alaskan Klee Kai were homozygous for the same mutation as FVII-deficient Beagles (ie, a G to A transition), resulting in substitution of glycine 96 by glutamic acid. An overlap in the FVII: C values obtained from heterozygote and wild-type dogs precluded accurate detection of carriers without genetic screening. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: FVII deficiency may be associated with a bleeding tendency and should be considered in Alaskan Klee Kai dogs with prolonged prothrombin times. Plasma FVII:C accurately identifies affected dogs, but deoxyribonucleic acid testing is required for identification of carriers.
Parasitic Mites of Surinam. XXXVI. a new genus and two new species of Neotropical Macronyssidae (Acari: Mesostigmata)

Mitonyssus , n. gen., is proposed to receive 2 new South American bat parasites (Ornithonyssinae). Described from female, protonymph and egg are the type-species, M. noctilio , n. sp. (off Noctilio labialis , Beni, Bolivia), and M. molossinus , n. sp. (off Molossus molossus , Dist. Fed., Venezuela). Mitonyssus noctilio , n. sp. is also recorded from its type-host and other bats in various localities of Venezuela and Surinam. The male and larva of M. molossinus , n. sp. are described, and additional host and locality records in Venezuela and Surinam are given.
Thin film poly-Si formation for solar cells by Flux method and Cat-CVD method

Abstract Two methods were examined for the formation of poly-Si films. One is flux method and the other is Cat-CVD method. Flux method was used for forming poly-Si seed films on glass substrates covered with rear electrode. Poly-Si films of a few μm grain size and of mainly (1 1 1) crystalline orientation were obtained at less than 600°C. To make the seed films function as BSF layer for solar cell, boron doping was applied and carrier concentration of 2×1019/cm3 was obtained which is suitable for highly efficient solar cells. Cat (catalytic)-CVD method was examined for forming poly-Si photo-active layers on the seed films. The films showed deposition gas pressure-dependent crystalline orientations and there was no amorphous incubation layer in (1 1 1) oriented films by Cat-CVD method when deposited on (1 1 1) oriented seed films prepared by Flux method. The electrical properties of the film are insufficient at present, may be due to high defect density and the film structure which allows impurity contaminations of oxygen and carbon after film deposition. Although the film quality needs to be improved, poly-Si films whose crystal fraction is more than 85% were obtained at deposition rate of up to around 40 A/s. This result indicates high potential of Cat-CVD method for high throughput photo-active formation process necessary for low production cost thin film silicon solar cells.
Note-Participative Design of Strategic Decision Support Systems: An Empirical Assessment

The concept of "participative systems design" should be as applicable to strategic management decision support systems as it is generally believed to be to lower-level systems. This study tests hypotheses concerning participative design using data describing the participation and performance of managers prior to during, and after implementation of a participatively designed system. The study concludes that there is some effect of participation on the attitudes of participants, but no measurable effect on the amount of system usage. The nature of system use was found to be related to inputs provided in the design process by participants. No advantage was found for participants in terms of the "quality" of decision making.
Measurements of Lorentz-broadening coefficients and pressure-induced line shift coefficients in the ν2 band of D216O

Lorentz-broadening and pressure-induced line-shift coefficients are determined experimentally for 126 transitions in the nu2 band of D2(O-16) from laboratory spectra with a Fourier-transform spectrometer. A nonlinear least-squares fitting procedure is employed to measure transitions up to J double-prime = 12 in the buffer gases air, nitrogen, and oxygen. The N2-broadening/O2-broadening coefficient ratio is correlated with the magnitude of the O2-broadening coefficient, and the pressure coefficients are not correlated with line widths.
Lagrangian heuristics for instructor scheduling in executive development programmes

In this paper we present the problem of scheduling instructors in a university management development programme. Problems of similar structure arise in a number of scheduling applications like assigning officials to athletic competitions, inspectors to sites and maintenance crews to jobs. The problem is formulated as a zero-one linear integer programme but is difficult to solve in real life situations because of problem size. The bounds on total assignments for different nested time periods give sub-problems that can be solved as network flow problems. Four Lagrangian relaxation heuristics are developed using different relaxations of the problem. Computational results are reported on 1350 random problems. In over 85% of these problems, the heuristics find solutions within 1% of the optimal. Heuristic performance is also analyzed in terms of average percent deviation from optimal, percent of times optimal solution is found and the cpu time. Computational results on two significantly larger real problems indicate that the heuristics are capable of solving real sized problems with tolerable deviations of around 4% from the optimal. An integrated strategy utilizing the strengths of the optimal and heuristic approaches is described for schedule generation and updating.
Tides and tidal power in Passamaquoddy Bay: a numerical simulation

Abstract A three-dimensional sigma-coordinate numerical model was used to simulate the circulation in Passamaquoddy Bay, located in the eastern Gulf of Maine at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy where the mean tidal range is 5.6 m. The model was forced by tidal height variations at the oceanic boundary, fresh water runoff from rivers, and parameterized fluxes of heat and momentum at the sea surface and sea bottom. Simulations were run for cases approximating the natural system, and also for cases modified to include the gates, dams and powerhouse structures of a tidal power project that was previously under consideration for the region. In the natural system, the results show strong tidal currents (∼2m s −1 ) in the channels and passages, with weaker currents (∼0.2m s −1 ) and essentially zero residual flow in the bay, in good agreement with available observations. In the modified system, the volume of each tidal flood is reduced, but a significant tidal-residual flow passes from Passamaquoddy Bay through the powerhouse into the adjacent Cobscook Bay. During a severe and sudden winter cold event, the extent of surface freezing in the region is increased when the tidal-power structures are present, but this occurs mostly because of reduced heat flux from the bottom rather than from an increase of surface stratification in the presence of reduced vertical tidal mixing. When the cold event follows a long period of near-freezing conditions, so that the heat contributions from the bottom and from rivers are smaller, the tidal structures have a moderating influence in Passamaquoddy Bay and the St Croix river estuary, where surface freezing is slightly reduced compared to the unmodified system because the persistent tidal-residual flow brings warmer ocean water into the bay. However, the areal extent of freezing in the model is much more sensitive to surface wind speed than to the presence of the tidal structures, which suggests that some of the environmental impacts of the tidal-power project might be less severe than previously thought.
When Is a Youth’s Debt to Society Paid? Examining the Long-Term Consequences of Juvenile Incarceration for Adult Functioning

Purpose This study aimed to examine the long-term consequences of juvenile incarceration on functioning in adulthood (ages 27–33).
Plasma Surface Interactions and Surface Properties for Remote H-Plasma Cleaning of Si(100)

Low temperature (50–400°C) and low pressure (10–300 mTorr) processing conditions for remote H-plasma cleaning of Si(100) substrates were investigated. After plasma exposure, ordered surfaces were obtained which displayed 2×1, 3×1 and 1×1 LEED diffraction patterns. The surface phases following the H-plasma clean were dependent on temperature and pressure. The electronic states of the surfaces were explored with angle resolved uv-photoemission spectroscopy (ARUPS) and states due to Si-H bonding were identified. The atomic interactions at the surface were modeled in terms of several processes including Eley-Rideal abstraction, thermally activated desorption and a physisorbed weakly bound state. The kinetic model was able to describe the transitions observed in the processing results. Suitability of the cleaning process for low temperature epitaxy was demonstrated by low temperature MBE epi-growth on an H-terminated 2×1 surface. The initial oxide formation on the H-terminated surfaces were studied by ARUPS.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric Bypass using the porcine model

Background: The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) may be performed using a variety of methods. The purpose of this study was to learn how to perform the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operation laparoscopically, using a porcine model. Materials and Methods: 11 domestic pigs (mean weight 47 kg) underwent LRYGBP. In 8 animals, a completely laparoscopic approach was attempted, while in 3 animals a hand-assist device was used. Techniques for anvil placement, pouch calibration, and limb-length measurement were evaluated. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the procedure, and operative results were recorded. Results: The hand-assist device restored tactile feedback but obscured visualization. The gastroje-junostomy leak rate was 64%, and the jejuno-jejunostomy leak rate was 73%. Anvil placement using transgastric and transoral methods was feasible. Calibrating the pouch with a Baker's tube was more accurate than using anatomical landmarks. Measuring limb-lengths using Babcock clamps was reliable with practice. Conclusion: The frailty of the porcine small intestine may limit one's ability to achieve intact anastomoses. Despite the anatomic limitations, the porcine model was well-suited for skill development and evaluation of techniques for performing the LRYGBP operation.
Using aeroelastic structures with nonlinear switching electronics to increase potential energy yield in airflow: investigating analog control circuitry for automated peak detection

Bending piezoelectric transducers have the ability to harvest energy from aeroelastic vibrations induced by the ambient airflow. Such harvesters can have useful applications in the operation of low power devices, and their relatively small size makes them ideal for use in urban environments over civil infrastructure. One of the areas of focus regarding piezoelectric energy harvesting is the circuit topology used to store the harvested power. This study aims to further investigate the increase in potential energy yield from the piezoelectric harvester by optimizing the circuitry connecting the piezoelectric transducer and the power storage interface. When compared to an optimal resistive load case, it has been shown that certain circuit topologies, specifically synchronized switching and discharging to a storage capacitor through an inductor (SSDCI), can increase the charging power by as much as 400% if the circuit is completely lossless. This paper proposes a strategy for making a self-sufficient SSDCI circuit capable of peak detection for the synchronized switching using analog components. Using circuit simulation software, the performance of this proposed self-sufficient circuit is compared to an ideal case, and the effectiveness of the self-sufficient circuit strategy is discussed based on these simulation results. Further investigation of a physical working model of the new circuit proposal will be developed and experimental results of the circuit’s performance obtained and compared to the estimated performance from the model.
Myotonic dystrophy: Surgical and anesthetic considerations during orthognathic surgery

The surgical and anesthetic considerations of orthognathic surgery for a patient with myotonic dystrophy are discussed. A case report is presented demonstrating how a surgical treatment plan can be modified to avoid the potential postoperative problems associated with this disease.
Group sequential design and analysis of clinical equivalence assessment for generic nonsystematic drug products.

Abstract Clinical trials with therapeutical endpoints are designed with three arms to demonstrate both the efficacy and the equivalence of the test generic treatment and the reference treatment. A generic drug product is determined to be equivalent to the reference drug product if the ratio or difference between the mean responses is bounded within the pre-specified equivalence limits. Often the trials are oversized for the placebo arm. For improvement, we propose a group sequential design with hierarchical testing for the purpose of terminating the placebo arm before testing equivalence between the test and the reference treatments. The hierarchical feature of the proposal will reduce the sample size of the placebo arm and provide treatments to patients in a more efficient manner in a clinical trial setting. After dropping the placebo arm, the option of allocating the planned but unused sample size from the placebo group to the test and reference groups will increase the sample size and power of the equi...
Prolonged QT interval in hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy in children.

When the QT interval is prolonged in a patient with structural heart disease, these is a question of whether the QT interval prolongation is the result of coexistent long QT interval syndrome or ventricular hypertrophy. The purpose of this study was to assess whether QT interval prolongation can be attributed to ventricular hypertrophy/dilation alone. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) of 25 children in each of six echocardiographically proven groups (right ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular hypertrophy, biventricular hypertrophy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and normals) were analyzed. All patients had QRS interval durations < 100 msec, and patients with ventriculotomies were excluded. No patients in the normal group had a QTc interval ≥0.45 sec. Eight (32%) of 25 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy had a QTc interval ≥0.45 sec (p = 0.007 vs normal), 6 (24%) of 25 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy had a QTc interval ≥0.45 sec (p = 0.03 vs normal), and 2 of 25 patients each with right ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular hypertrophy, and biventricular hypertrophy had a QTc interval ≥0.45 sec (p = NS vs normal). There was no relation of the QTc interval to age, QRS duration, T-wave axis, or heart rate in any group. In the dilated cardiomyopathy group, there was no relationship of QTc interval to age, shortening fraction, or left ventricular end diastolic dimension. In conclusion, (1) a significant number of patients (24% to 32%) with dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may have a long QTc interval on the surface ECG, and (2) ventricular hypertrophy/dilation may be additional rare causes of acquired prolongation of the QT interval.
Isolated axial volvulus of a Meckel's diverticulum.

Abstract A 3.5-year-old boy presented twice within 36 hours to an emergency department with worsening abdominal distress. At surgery, an isolated axial volvulus of a Meckel's diverticulum was found. This finding has been reported three times in the last 20 years and has involved only adult patients. Meckel's diverticulum, although uncommon, can be extremely serious. Its presentation andpathophysiology are reviewed.
Accidental Isolated Primary Vaccinia of the Tongue.

Summary Two infants with vaccinia of the tonguehave been described and illustrations shown; in one of them detailed criteria for this rare condition have been met and in the other one the same chain of infection can be inferred.
Forward physics with the ATLAS detector

Abstract Very high energy proton-proton interactions, and collisions of light and heavy ions are foreseen at the LHC. Proton beams will have an energy corresponding to 1017 eV in the restframe of target protons, almost approaching the highest energies observed in cosmic rays. In this range accelerator data may help to answer questions about the primary cosmic ray composition and the cross sections of very high energy cosmic rays on air. Atlas is undertaking a program of elastic and diffractive physics, which overlaps with the interests of the cosmic ray community. The Atlas collaboration invites inquiry, ideas, and collaboration from the cosmic ray community in developing this program.
How Specific Interactions between Acetaminophen and Its Additive 4-Methylacetanilide Affect Growth Morphology: Elucidation Using Etching Patterns

The growth of acetaminophen single crystals in the presence of the structurally similar or “tailor-made” additive, 4-methylacetanilide, showed elongation along the c axis and reduction along the a ...
Communication Profiles of Psychiatric Residents and Attending Physicians in Medication-Management Appointments: A Quantitative Pilot Study

Objective The authors quantitatively examined differences in psychiatric residents’ and attending physicians’ communication profiles and voice tones.