cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental Analysis of Poiseuille Number in Square Microchannels

The applications involving fluid flow through microchannels in industry and research have increased significantly with the evolution of microfluidic devices such as lab-on-chip systems. Most of the previous studies concerning fluid flow were done using circular microchannels. However, there is an increased usage of noncircular microchannels, especially square microchannels, in microfluidic devices. Thus there is need for experimental studies on the behavior of fluid flow in square microchannels, and the comparison of the results with the results obtained from the conventional fluid flow equations is relevant. In this study the authors are focusing on the analysis of the friction factor associated with square microchannels of rounded edges under laminar flow conditions. Microchannels with hydraulic diameters of 200, 300, 400 and 500 micrometers and length of 10 cm and 5 cm are used in the analysis. DI-water and ethylene glycol at room temperature is used as the liquid for experiments. A constant liquid flow rate is achieved in the channels using a syringe pump that can pump from 50 μl/hr to 7,500 ml/hr using a 60 ml syringe, and a high precision pressure gauge is used to measure the pressure drop across the channel. The Reynolds number of the liquid flow in all the channels is kept constant between 20 and 120 by varying the flow rate. The friction factor at each Reynolds number is calculated and the results are compared with the friction factor of conventional channels. Experiments are conducted to measure the pressure drop across the channels. The pressure drop obtained across the 5 cm channel is subtracted from the pressure drop obtained across the 10 cm channel so that the effect of entrance effect can be eliminated from the results. The fiction factor obtained from the experiments is used to calculate the Poiseuille number. The experimental values of Poiseuille number are showing a median deviation of around 9% from the conventional values for all the different channels. The uncertainty is observed to be ca.9% for all the channels at all values of Reynolds numbers. The major factor contributing towards the total uncertainty is the uncertainty in the measurement of liquid flow rate.© 2009 ASME
Venous pressure, emotions, and congestive heart failure.

Abstract 1. 1. The literature dealing with the epidemiologic aspects of congestive heart failure and with the influences of emotional factors on certain aspects of cardiovascular function, including congestive heart failure (CHF), is reviewed briefly. 2. 2. Examples of central venous pressure (CVP) increases in response to physical stimuli, to “neutral” and “stressful” rhetorical questions, and to repeated emotional stimuli, in 25 studies in 22 patients, and to psychiatric interviews in 10 patients are reported. Emotionally charged questions which can evoke increases in CVP can be predicted from brief “medical” interviews at the 5 per cent level of confidence. Increases in CVP of as much as 45 mm. of water in response to the cumulative effect of successive emotionally charged questions are reported. 3. 3. Psychiatric studies of 30 patients with CHF documenting the direct (63 per cent) and indirect (47 per cent) deleterious influences of emotional reactions on CHF are discussed. 4. 4. Peripheral venous segment pressure (PVSP) changes in response to certain physical and emotional stimuli in 6 healthy subjects are reported. “Difficult” mental arithmetic produced highly significant increases in PVSP when compared to the physical stimuli and to “simple” mental arithmetic. 5. 5. The possible effects of emotional influences on peripheral venous tone as it may modify venous return and the regulation of cardiac output are discussed. The data tend to support Landis' concept of the mechanism by which congestive heart failure may develop insidiously in some patients.
Structural Evaluation and Analyses of Tumor Differentiation Factor

Tumor differentiation factor (TDF) is a protein produced by the pituitary and secreted into the blood stream. The mechanism of its action has still not been elucidated, although the associated protein receptor was identified. Furthermore, the TDF protein does not have any homology with other known proteins, and the crystal structure of TDF also is not available at this time. To gain some insight into the structure of this rather underexplored protein, we have performed a molecular dynamics simulation of a model TDF structure. The structural stability of this protein is evaluated as a function of time. The time dependent structural changes of four cysteine residues present in this structure also are explored.
Effect of tensile strain, time, and temperature on gas transport in biaxially oriented polystyrene

The permeability and diffusion coefficients (P and D) for gases in a biaxially oriented polystyrene film have been found to increase when a specimen is stretched in simple tension and to decrease with time when the strain is held constant. These effects are attributed, respectively, to an increase in free volume with strain and to the continuous volume recovery (densification) at constant strain. The strain dependence, at small strains, of P and D for Ar, Kr, N2, CO2, and Xe at 1 atm pressure and 50°C indicates that the size distribution of free-volume elements is not distorted when a specimen is stretched. At a constant strain of 1.8 percent at 50°C, P and D for xenon decrease about 13.8 and 11.8 percent, respectively, per decade of time—two to threefold faster than for carbon dioxide. These results and those obtained with argon, whose molecular diameter is significantly smaller than that for xenon, suggest that the larger free-volume elements decrease in size faster than the smaller ones as volume recovery progresses.
Regulatory roles for nm23/nucleoside diphosphate kinase-like enzymes in insulin secretion from the pancreatic islet beta cell

Recent studies from multiple laboratories, including our own, provided fresh insights into the contributory roles for GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from the islet β cell. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the activation of this class of signaling proteins by insulin secretagogues remain only partially understood. We recently proposed that nm23/nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) catalyzes an alternate, non-receptor-dependent activation of islet endogenous G-proteins. In further support of this proposal, we report, herein, that overexpression of wild type (WT) nm23-H1 mutant in INS cells markedly potentiated GSIS. However, an inactive mutant of nm23-H1(H118F), which is deficient in histidine kinase and NDPK activities, was considerably less effective in potentiating GSIS from these cells, suggesting that both of these activities may be relevant for the potentiating effects of nm23-H1. Potential significance of these findings in relation to contributory roles for nm23/NDPK-like enzymes in the stimulus-secretion coupling of GSIS is discussed.
How Baccalaureate Nursing Students Value an Interprofessional Patient Safety Course for Professional Development

Nursing students need foundation knowledge and skills to keep patients safe in continuously changing health care environments. A gap exists in our knowledge of the value students place on interprofessional patient safety education. The purpose of this exploratory, mixed methods study was to understand nursing students’ attitudes about the value of an interprofessional patient safety course to their professional development and its role in health professions curricula. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from formative course performance measures, course evaluations, and interviews with six nursing students. The qualitative themes of awareness, ownership, and action emerged and triangulated with the descriptive quantitative results from student performance and course evaluations. Students placed high value on the course and essential nature of interprofessional patient safety content. These findings provide a first step toward integration of interprofessional patient safety education into nursing curricula and in meeting the Institute of Medicine’s goals for the nursing profession.
Perovskite oxide superlattices: Magnetotransport and magnetic properties.

We have fabricated perovskite superlattices consisting of two ferromagnetic metallic oxides: ${\mathrm{La}}_{0.67}$${\mathrm{Ca}}_{0.33}$Mn${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (LCMO) and SrRu${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ (SRO). We have investigated the magnetotransport and magnetic properties of a series of samples, in which the layer thickness of LCMO is fixed and that of SRO varied from 0 to 20 unit cells. The magnetoresistance ratio in a superlattice can be increased by a factor of 3 at low temperatures over the MR ratio in pure LCMO film. This substantial enhancement is most likely caused by the interface spin-dependent scattering. The superlattice structure also increases ${T}_{c}$ of LCMO by introducing a biaxial tension, and induces two consecutive switchings of magnetic easy axis direction with increasing SRO thickness.
Collaborative human robot interactions in combined arms operations

Our militarypsilas current and future forces are operating in a highly distributed, network centric environment which relies heavily on multidisciplinary, mixed-initiative, distributed heterogeneous teams to accomplish missions. This capability requires a high degree of situational awareness and coordination between team members. For combined arms operations, these teams include dismounted and vehicle based soldiers whose platforms can be manned or unmanned (robotic). The robotic entities range from remotely operated to fully autonomous agents. Although there has been much research on human team performance, there still remain many questions for optimizing operational systems with performance support for these ldquomixed-initiativerdquo teams. For instance, the design of todaypsilas human-robot team interfaces focuses on the skills required to operate an unmanned system. However, such designs do not address methods for operating within a distributed, mixed-initiative team. There are critical gaps in understanding the technology and methodologies needed to support the human-robot team as part of a larger, heterogeneous team. This paper will discuss research targeted at these gaps. We present the design of a distributed simulation, a virtual environment, and a human-robot interaction (HRI) team test bed. The HRI test bed includes reconfigurable multimodal interfaces to explore collaborative HRI challenges within combined arms missions. Exemplar scenarios and experimental designs for future planned studies will also be presented.
Movement and band spreading of unsorbed solutes in liquid chromatography

Abstract The different mobile phase velocities which can be measured in liquid chromatography have been described in order to facilitate an unambiguous specification of the velocity frame and the mobile phase hold-up volumes required to relate experimental data to the theory. The interplay of convective and diffusional mixing, which is responsible for band spreading in the mobile phase, has been treated by using the interstitial stagnant fluid model. Plate height equations have been derived for unsorbed tracers, which are totally excluded from the column material, as well as for unsorbed solutes, which permeate the stagnant mobile phase inside the particles. Band spreading was measured over a wide range of the reduced velocity with a single column packed with glass beads. The results show that the equation derived from the interstitial stagnant fluid model describes the velocity dependence of plate height more accurately than those found in the literature. It is suggested that the packing structure of a column be characterized by three dimensionless parameters.
International Multidisciplinary Research and Education: A Mountain Geography Perspective

Abstract Collaborative international research projects represent excellent opportunities for students to obtain unique and life-altering educational experiences. Dynamic interactions with people from a variety of countries, institutions, and departments, in diverse situations, provides students with new perspectives, encourages them to operate in a multidisciplinary environment, and facilitates real-world problem solving. This article discusses important concepts and issues in geographic education that are based upon real-world experiences in the Himalaya Mountains of India and Pakistan, involving undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral research assistants. Multidisciplinary research/education activities reveal the importance of geography in problem solving and scientific inquiry. This work also highlights numerous issues and curriculum challenges required to establish a scientific foundation in geography, as traditional empirical approaches to geographic education and research frequently hide the compl...
Fast atom bombardment and tandem mass spectrometry for determing iso‐ and anteiso‐fatty acids

Branched fatty acids can be distinguished from isomeric straight chain fatty acids by collisionally activating the (M-H)− ions desorbed by using fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry (MS). In particular, an acid with iso- fatty branching can be readily distinguished from one containing anteiso- branching; the latter undergoes loss of the elements of CH4 and C2H6 but not C3H8. These decompositions are another example of remote charge site fragmentation. Mixtures of homologs and isomers can be investigated by using the combination of FAB and tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS).
The differentiation of crayfish muscle fibers during development

As the length (x, mm) of the propodite segment of a crayfish cheliped doubles, the average diameter of the opener muscle fibers also doubles, whereas average fiber length (y, mm) is given by y = 0.16 × + 0.5. Fiber length is increased by the continuous addition of new sarcomeres in propodites 6–22 mm long; in propodites of less than 6 mm, about half the linear growth can be accounted for by increases in sarcomere length. Cable properties of opener muscle fibers differ from those of vertebrate fibers. In a claw of any given size, length constant is not correlated with fiber diameter, muscle input resistance is not proportional to the two-thirds power of the diameter, and mjp amplitude is independent of input resistance. Electrical properties of opener fibers change during growth, but the extent of the change is not predictable from classical cable equations.
Optional processes in similarity judgments.

This research investigates the nature of similarity relations among three pairs of interacting dimensions: (1) the integral dimensions of auditory pitch and loudness, (2) the configurai dimensions of paired parentheses, and (3) the cross-modally corresponding dimensions of visual position and auditory pitch. We evaluated the rules by which information from each dimension combines in similarity judgments. Our claim is that, when judging similarity, processes that are obligatory, or what we call mandatory processes, can commingle with processes of choice, or what we call optional processes. By varying instructions, we found strong evidence of optional processing. Instructions to rate overall similarity encouraged subjects to attend to stimuli as wholes and led to a Euclidean rule in similarity scaling. Instructions to focus on dimensions encouraged subjects to consider each stimulus dimension separately and led to a city-block rule. We argue that optional processes may obscure mandatory ones, and so need to be identifled-beforernandatory processes can be understood.
Analysis of non-fatal and fatal injury rates for mine operator and contractor employees and the influence of work location.

Abstract Introduction Mining injury surveillance data are used as the basis for assessing the severity of injuries among operator and contractor employees in the underground and surface mining of various minerals. Method Injury rates during 1983–2002 derived from Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) database are analyzed using the negative binomial regression model. The logarithmic mean injury rate is expressed as a linear function of seven indicator variables representing Non-Coal Contractor, Metal Operator, Non Metal Operator, Stone Operator, Sand and Gravel Operator, Coal Contractor, and Work Location, and a continuous variable, RelYear, representing the relative year starting with 1983 as the base year. Results Based on the model, the mean injury rate declined at a 1.69% annual rate, and the mean injury rate for work on the surface is 52.53% lower compared to the rate for work in the underground. With reference to the Coal Operator mean injury rate: the Non-Coal Contractor rate is 30.34% lower, the Metal Operator rate is 27.18% lower, the Non-Metal Operator rate is 37.51% lower, the Stone Operator rate is 23.44% lower, the Sand and Gravel Operator rate is 16.45% lower, and the Coal Contractor rate is 1.41% lower. Fatality rates during the same 20 year period are analyzed similarly using Poisson regression model. Based on this model, the mean fatality rate declined at a 3.17% annual rate, and the rate for work on the surface is 64.3% lower compared to the rate for work in the underground. With reference to the Coal Operator mean fatality rate: the Non-Coal Contractor rate is 234.81% higher, the Metal Operator rate is 5.79% lower, the Non-Metal Operator rate is 47.36% lower, the Stone Operator rate is 8.29% higher, the Sand and Gravel Operator rate is 60.32% higher, and the Coal Contractor rate is 129.54% higher.
Beyond decoupling: Rethinking the relationship between the institutional environment and the classroom

The decoupling argument—that schools respond to pressures from the institutional environment by decoupling changes in structures from classroom instruction—has been a central feature of institutional theory since the early 1970s. This study suggests the need to rethink this argument. Drawing on a study of the relationship between changing ideas about reading instruction in California from 1983 to 1999 and teachers' classroom practice, the study provides evidence that messages about instruction in the environment influence classroom practice in a process that is framed by teachers' preexisting beliefs and practices and the nature of the messages themselves. Implications are drawn for theories of teachers' autonomy and methodological approaches to studying macro-micro linkages.
GATMO: A Generalized Approach to Tracking Movable Objects

We present GATMO (Generalized Approach to Tracking Movable Objects), a system for localization and mapping that incorporates the dynamic nature of the environment while maintaining semantic labels. Objects in the environment are broken down into multiple mobility levels, from static (walls) to highly mobile (people), by maintaining a history of object movement. Object classification is accomplished through a multi-layer, multi-hypothesis approach that does not rely on any static features such as shape or size. Maps are stored in an efficient manner that incorporates a history of previous orientations of each object. GATMO is initialized with a static map; it subsequently changes the map over time as objects in the map change position.
Effects of acetaldehyde on fruit quality and target pest mortality for harvested strawberries

Strawberry fruit and western flower thrips were exposed to 1, 2, 3, or 4% acetaldehyde (Aa) for 2 h in air or in 20 kPa CO2. Following treatment, fruit were stored at 0 or 20 8C for 4 or 2 days, respectively. Aa treatment did not significantly impact fruit firmness, color, or soluble solids content; however, calyx damage increased with increasing concentration of Aa. Strawberry fruit tolerated exposure to 1 or 2% Aa with little or no damage to the fruit calyx. Fruit Aa, ethanol, and ethyl acetate concentrations increased initially, but decreased over time; the decrease being greater in fruit stored at 20 8C as compared with 0 8C. Methanol and acetone levels were lower in treated than untreated fruit. Western flower thrips were not completely controlled by any of the treatments, but � /95% mortality was achieved by a 2 h exposure to 3 or 4% Aa. The presence of 20 kPa CO2 enhanced mortality of western flower thrips at lower concentrations of Aa. Strawberry fruit, western flower thrips and two-spotted spider mites were also exposed to multiple applications of Aa over time. Strawberry fruit exposed to low concentrations of Aa in repeated doses showed higher tolerance than fruit exposed to the same dose as a single exposure. While repeated exposure to 1 or 2% Aa resulted in greater pest mortality than a single exposure to 1 or 2% Aa, mortality was significantly lower with repeated applications of low doses as compared with a single application of the accumulated dose (1, 1, 1 Aa vs. 3% Aa). None of the treatments resulted in complete control of either target pest. # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Arabic Tokenization, Part-of-Speech Tagging and Morphological Disambiguation in One Fell Swoop

We present an approach to using a morphological analyzer for tokenizing and morphologically tagging (including part-of-speech tagging) Arabic words in one process. We learn classifiers for individual morphological features, as well as ways of using these classifiers to choose among entries from the output of the analyzer. We obtain accuracy rates on all tasks in the high nineties.
Law and the Economy in Capitalist America: Questions for Mr. Hurst on the Occasion of His Curti Lectures

In Law and Markets in United States History, James Willard Hurst has drawn upon a distinguished lifetime of careful study and reflection to construct a tight, rich historical sketch of some especially important features of legal and economic interaction. Originally prepared as the Curti Lectures at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the three chapters focus, as the subtitle promises, on "different modes of bargaining among interests." A stimulating introduction lays out some basic ideas and assumptions. Chapter 1 discusses "Law and the Constitution of the Market"; chapter 2, "The Market in a Social Context"; chapter 3, "Bargaining Through Law and Through Markets." Whether discussing the response of the courts to economic challenges or their response to legislative and administrative processes, Hurst is always knowledgeable and thoughtful and is often acute. In this book he performs as he always has, in the manner his world of admirers have come to expect. Hurst's influence, probably without peer in the subjects to which he has devoted himself, and his well-earned stature make it unnecessary here to sing his praises or document his virtues. Indeed, respect for his admirable effort requires a frank joining of issues and the kind of respectful criticism that alone can guarantee a future deepening of the studies in which he has pioneered.
On Evaluating Efficiency of a Combined Power and Cooling Cycle

A combined power and cooling cycle is being investigated. The cycle is a combination of the Rankine cycle and an absorption refrigeration cycle. Evaluating the efficiency of this cycle is made difficult by the fact that there are two different simultaneous outputs, namely power and refrigeration. An efficiency expression has to appropriately weigh the cooling component in order to allow comparison of this cycle with other cycles. This paper develops several expressions for the first law, second law and exergy efficiency definitions for the combined cycle based on existing definitions in the literature. Some of the developed equations have been recommended for use over others, depending on the comparison being made. Finally, some of these definitions have been applied to the cycle and the performance of the cycle optimized for maximum efficiency. A Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) method was used to perform the optimization. The results of these optimizations are presented and discussed.
Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) isoform expression is associated with neuroblastoma differentiation status.

Background NCAM is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules. While highly expressed on neuroblastoma cells, the relative contribution of the three major NCAM isoforms (120, 140, and 180 kDa) to neuroblastoma biology has not been investigated. Methods NCAM protein expression was measured in a neuroblastic tumor tissue microarray (N = 185) by immunohistochemistry. Relative expression of NCAM mRNA isoforms was measured in a panel of 24 human neuroblastomas and compared to fetal and adult human brain using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. Associations with clinical and tumor biological co-variates were performed. Results NCAM protein was detected on all neuroblastic tumors and was highly expressed in all but 7/167 cases. The mRNA species predicted to encode the 120 kDa protein species was the most abundant isoform in adult brain, ganglioneuromas and ganglioneuroblastomas (P = 0.0007), but the mRNA predicted to encode the 180 kDa species was predominant in neuroblastomas (P = 0.043). Microdissected ganglion and neuroblast cells from human primary tumors confirmed these findings. Conclusion Ganglioneuromas and ganglioneuroblastomas express the adhesive 120 kDa NCAM isoform, while neuroblastomas preferentially express the 180 kDa isoform classically involved in cell motility. These data suggest a mechanism for the enhanced metastatic potential of undifferentiated neuroblastomas. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:10–16. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The influence of land use and climate change on forest biomass and composition in Massachusetts, USA

Land use and climate change have complex and interacting effects on naturally dynamic forest landscapes. To anticipate and adapt to these changes, it is necessary to understand their individual and aggregate impacts on forest growth and composition. We conducted a simulation experiment to evaluate regional forest change in Massachusetts, USA over the next 50 years (2010–2060). Our objective was to estimate, assuming a linear continuation of recent trends, the relative and interactive influence of continued growth and succession, climate change, forest conversion to developed uses, and timber harvest on live aboveground biomass (AGB) and tree species composition. We examined 20 years of land use records in relation to social and biophysical explanatory variables and used regression trees to create “probability-of-conversion” and “probability-of-harvest” zones. We incorporated this information into a spatially interactive forest landscape simulator to examine forest dynamics as they were affected by land us...
A comparison of mouthrinses containing two concentrations of chlorhexidine

A 3-month clinical trial was conducted to compare the effects of two concentrations of a chlorhexidine mouthrinse on gingivitis and plaque accumulation. Six hundred (600) adults were divided into three treatment groups matched for age, sex, and initial gingivitis severity. Following a thorough examination and prophylaxis at baseline, subjects were given a mouthrinse containing either 0.12% or 0.20% chlorhexidine gluconate or a placebo mouthrinse. Subjects were evaluated after 6 weeks and 3 months of mouthrinse use. After 3 months, both chlorhexidine groups showed significantly less gingivitis and plaque than the placebo group. The group using the 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse demonstrated 27–27 % less gingivitis occurrence and 28–28% less gingivitis severity than the placebo group. The 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate group also had 48–48% less gingival bleeding and 36% less plaque than the placebo group. There were no significant advantages for the 0.20% mouthrinse over the 0.12% mouthrinse. It is therefore concluded that a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse offers the same clinical benefits as a 0.20% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse.
Pencil beam approach for correcting the energy dependence artifact in film dosimetry for IMRT verification.

The higher sensitivity to low-energy scatteredphotons of radiographic film compared to water can lead to significant dosimetric error when the beam quality varies significantly within a field. Correcting for this artifact will provide greater accuracy for intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) verification dosimetry. A procedure is developed for correction of the film energy-dependent response by creating a pencil beam kernel within our treatment planning system to model the film response specifically. Film kernels are obtained from EGSnrc Monte Carlo simulations of the dose distribution from a 1 mm diameter narrow beam in a model of the film placed at six depths from 1.5 to 40 cm in polystyrene and solid water phantoms. Kernels for different area phantoms ( 50 × 50 cm 2 and 25 × 25 cm 2 polystyrene and 30 × 30 cm 2 solid water) are produced. The Monte Carlo calculated kernel is experimentally verified with film, ion chamber and thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) measurements in polystyrene irradiated by a narrow beam. The kernel is then used in convolution calculations to predict the film response in open and IMRT fields. A 6 MV photon beam and Kodak XV2 film in a polystyrene phantom are selected to test the method as they are often used in practice and can result in large energy-dependent artifacts. The difference in dose distributions calculated with the film kernel and the water kernel is subtracted from film measurements to obtain a practically film artifact free IMRTdose distribution for the Kodak XV2 film. For the points with dose exceeding 5 cGy (11% of the peak dose) in a large modulated field and a film measurement inside a large polystyrene phantom at depth of 10 cm , the correction reduces the fraction of pixels for which the film dose deviates from dose to water by more than 5% of the mean film dose from 44% to 6%.
Mechanistic features and structure of the nitrogenase alpha-Gln195 MoFe protein.

EPR signals observed under CO and C2H2 during nitrogenase turnover were investigated for the α-Gln195 MoFe protein, an altered form for which the α-His195 residue has been substituted by glutamine. Under CO, samples show S = 1/2 hi- and lo-CO EPR signals identical to those recognized for the wild-type protein, whereas the S = 3/2 signals generated under high CO/high flux conditions differ. Previous work has revealed that the EPR spectrum generated under C2H2 exhibits a signal (SEPR1) originating from the FeMo-cofactor having two or more bound C2H2 adducts and a second signal (SEPR2) arising from a radical species [Sorlie, M., Christiansen, J., Dean, D. R., and Hales, B. J. (1999) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121, 9457−9458]. Pressure-dependent studies show that the intensity of these signals has a sigmoidal dependency at low pressures and maximized at 0.1 atm C2H2 with a subsequent decrease in steady-state intensity at higher pressures. Analogous signals are not recognized for the wild-type MoFe protein. Analysis of...
Aids to Quality Control in the Manufacture of Aircraft Generators

AIRCRAFT generators are designed for high output, low weight, small size, and wide speed range. These limitations require close designs which do not permit normal allowances for material and manufacturing variations. Small variations in the material and manufacturing processes result in wider variations in output characteristics than in conventional machines.
An inexpensive accelerometer-based sleep-apnea screening technique

This paper presents an inexpensive MEMS accelerometer-based sleep-apnea screening technique. The algorithm presented here is easy to implement on a low-end microprocessor, and also accurate enough to detect both obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea episodes. The results of some preliminary studies are included.
PHYSIOLOGICAL ONTOGENY : A. CHICKEN EMBRYOS. III. WEIGHT AND GROWTH RATE AS FUNCTIONS OF AGE.

1. The average weights of chicken embryos between 5 and 19 days of incubation as found by over 600 weighings may be expressed by a simple exponential equation, W = K t(3.6) where K = 0.668. 2. The velocity of growth (i.e. the percentage increase in mass) is inversely proportional to the incubation age. The product of the two (vt) is a constant (3.6). The negative acceleration of growth likewise decreases with age.
Luminous Transfer in Discrete Spaces

The specification of the transfer function for luminous flux in an enclosure is a necessary component of the lighting design process. Daylight and lamplight excitations are coupled to the luminance and illuminance distributions in space by the luminous reflectances of the surfaces and the geometrical parameters. An idealized representation of this luminous transfer utilizes a postulate of uniform excitation and response over discrete spatial regions. This leads to a matrix equation and an equivalent circuit or network representation of the light distributions. The discrete formulation is particularly adapted to numerical specification of the transfer function for luminous flux and thus to the lighting design process.
Selecting the best system in transient simulations with variances known

Selection of the best system among k different systems is investigated. This selection is based upon the results of finite-horizon simulations. Since the distribution of the output of a transient simulation is typically unknown, it follows that this problem is that of selection of the best population (best according to some measure) among k different populations, where observations within each population are independent, and identically distributed according to some general (unknown) distribution. In this work in progress, it is assumed that the population variances are known. A natural single-stage sampling procedure is presented. Under Bechbofer's indifference zone approach, this procedure is asymptotically valid.
Dichloroacetate accelerates the fall in intracellular PO2 at onset of contractions in Xenopus single muscle fibers.

This study investigated the relationship between intracellular Po 2(Pi O2 ) and dichloroacetate (DCA) administration following a significant step-change increase in oxidative metabolism in intact i...
Smart driver for power reduction in next generation bistable electrophoretic display technology

Microencapsulated electrophoretic displays (EPDs) are quickly emerging as an important technology for use in battery-powered portable computing devices. Thanks to bistability and their efficient reflective nature, these displays offer power savings on the order of 90% over liquid crystal displays (LCDs) commonly found in today's portable devices. EPD technology is also suitable for use in flexible displays opening the door for integrating much larger displays into small form factors for handheld devices. Here we present a method for power reduction in next generation EPD displays with full color and video capability. A "smart driver" for power optimization of next-generation bistable displays is presented which reduces switching power consumption by as much as 50% without affecting quality of service. A more aggressive "lazy driver" capable of achieving significant additional energy savings in exchange for quality of service is also presented. Finally, important challenges engineers face as they work to advance EPD technology for use in future generation hand-held computing devices are explored.
A Graph Based Algorithm for Data Path Optimization in Custom Processors

The rising complexity, customization and short time to market of modern digital systems requires automatic methods for generation of high performance architectures for such systems. This paper presents algorithms to automatically create custom data path for a given application that optimizes both resource utilization and performance. The inputs to the architecture generator include application source code, operation execution frequency obtained by the profile run and a component library (consisting of ALUs, busses, multiplexors etc.). The output is the application specific data path specified as the set of resource instances and their connections. The algorithm starts with a dense architecture and iteratively refines it until an efficient architecture is derived. The key optimization goal is to keep performance within given boundaries while maximizing resource utilization. Our experimental results show that generated architectures are comparable to manual designs, but can be obtained in a matter of few seconds, thereby leading to significant productivity gains.
Performance evaluation of programs related to the real gamma function

Methods are presented for evaluating the performance of programs for the functions G(x), ln G(x), and p(x). Accuracy estimates are based on comparisons using the manipulation theorem. Ideas for checking robustness are also given, and details on specific implementations of test programs are included.
Constitutive Expression of the α4 Integrin Correlates with Tumorigenicity and Lymph Node Metastasis of the B16 Murine Melanoma

The lymphatic system plays a critical role in melanoma metastasis, and yet, virtually no information exists regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that take place between melanoma cells and the lymphatic vasculature. Here, we generated B16-F1 melanoma cells that expressed high (B16α4+) and negligible (B16α4-) levels of α4 integrin to determine how the expression of α4 integrins affects tumor cell interactions with lymphatic endothelial cells in vitro and how it impacts lymphatic metastasis in vivo. We found a direct correlation between α4 integrin expression on B16-F1 melanoma cells and their ability to form adhesive interactions with monolayers of lymphatic endothelial cells. Adhesion of B16-F1 melanoma cells to lymphatic endothelial cells was mediated by the melanoma cell α4 integrin binding to its counterreceptor, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), that was constitutively expressed on the lymphatic endothelial cells. VCAM-1 was also expressed on the tumor-associated lymphatic vessels of B16-F1 and B16α4+ tumors growing in the subcutaneous space of C57BL/6J mice. B16-F1 tumors metastasized to lymph nodes in 30% of mice, whereas B16α4+ tumors generated lymph node metastases in 80% of mice. B16-F1 melanoma cells that were deficient in α4 integrins (B16α4-) were nontumorigenic. Collectively, these data show that the α4 integrin expressed by melanoma cells contributes to tumorigenesis and may also facilitate metastasis to regional lymph nodes by promoting stable adhesion of melanoma cells to the lymphatic vasculature.
Voice/data transmission in packet form: a study of delay performances

Methods corresponding to two types of service discipline are presented for the computation of the probability distribution function of the queue length in a statistical multiplexer in the presence of a mixed voice/data traffic. The model chosen for the description of the speech patterns on the voice lines was a three-state Markov chain model, yielding hyperexponentially distributed silence periods and exponentially distributed active periods. Although the computations involved in these methods were quite important (due to the use of matrices whose numbers of elements were growing as a function of the fourth power of the number of vice sources), they presented no technical difficulties and could be carried out for the desired sets of parameters. The results obtained for different values of the parameters corresponded to what was expected. >
Different modes of resource variation provide a critical test of ideal free distribution models

Ideal free distribution (IFD) models are perhaps the group of mathematical models of behavior that have been the most widely and successfully applied by empiricists. These models can be applied to nearly any situation in which consumers compete—by any mechanism—for resources that are patchily distributed in their environment. Although IFD models have come to be broadly accepted, experiments that simultaneously test more than a single prediction are rare. Instead, investigators normally either test (1) for a relationship between the distribution of consumers and the distribution of resources or (2) whether average fitnesses are equal across resource patches. We conducted experiments with pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) feeding on two patches of fava beans (Vicia faba L.) to fully independently parameterize an IFD model with interference competition and then test quantitative predictions about aphid spatial distributions and the payoffs of patch choice. We found a precise fit between aphids’ predicted and observed reproductive successes. Furthermore, by varying patch “quality” in two ways, we were able to show that aphid distributions vary with the mode of resource variation in the predicted manner: aphids (1) matched resources when patches varied in size but not quality and (2) overmatched the good patch when patches varied in quality but not size (predicted as a consequence of weak interference). The close correspondence between quantitative predictions of the model with observed behaviors suggests that IFD theory is a framework with more explanatory power than is generally appreciated.
Performance of predictive coders over noisy channels with feedback

Predictive coding methods such as DPCM used for lossless coding of images or motion compensated hybrid video coders of the MPEG family are shown to compress the input signal well with a reasonable complexity. The performance of these coders, however, degrades considerably when the transmission channel is not error-free. This is due to the error propagation at the decoder where a single error can have catastrophic consequences. A low-rate feedback channel is shown to improve the overall performance. We consider two such methods, provide an analysis of these methods and investigate their different trade-offs.
Sensitivity analysis of differential-algebraic systems using the GMRES method-application to power systems

This paper outlines a technique which solves the sensitivity as well as the system equations in an efficient manner. Instead of solving the two sets of equations simultaneously, we propose integrating the system equations and then solving the sensitivity equations in a "staggered fashion", using the preconditioned Generalized Minimum Residual (GMRES) method. This reduces the computation time. The method is directly applicable to hybrid systems, of which power systems form an important application area.
Public ecology: an environmental science and policy for global society

Public ecology exists at the interface of science and policy. Public ecology is an approach to environmental inquiry and decision making that does not expect scientific knowledge to be perfect or complete. Rather, public ecology requires that science be produced in collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders in order to construct a body of knowledge that will reflect the pluralist and pragmatic context of its use (decision context), while continuing to maintain the rigor and accountability that earns scientific knowledge its privileged status in contemporary society. As such, public ecology entails both process and content. The process is that of a post-modern scientific method: a process that values the participation of extended peer communities composed of a diversity of research specialists, professional policy-makers, concerned citizens and a variety of other stakeholders. The content of public ecology is a biocultural knowledge of dynamic human ecosystems that directly relates to and results from the participatory, democratic processes that distinguish public ecology as a citizen science. The primary goal of public ecology is to build common ground among competing beliefs and values for the environment. The purpose of this paper is to help unify and establish public ecology as a distinctive approach to environmental science and policy in global society.
Weld defect detection based on Gaussian curve

Develops a weld defect detection methodology based on the assumption that a line profile of a defectless weld image can be approximated by a Gaussian distribution curve. The line profile variations of a weld image caused by defects are classified into three defect patterns, defect-peaks, defect-troughs and defect-slant-concaves. Dark image enhancement is used to control the level of the noises which otherwise would have become worse in normalization. Two kinds of B-spline curve fittings, tight fitting and loose fitting, are performed to facilitate defect identification. The purpose of tight fitting is to reduce the noises but keep the profile variations caused by defects, while that of loose fitting is to restore the bell shape as if no defects would have occurred. The roughness of a line image profile is defined and used to estimate the smoothing factor used for fitting the line profile. The results of preliminary tests showed that more than 90% of defects are successfully detected.
Structural Rearrangement During the Sintering of MgO

MgO compacts were sintered from 900° to 1395°C in dry argon and in argon with 2.3 kPa of water vapor. The surface area and pore size distributions measured by mercury porosimetry showed large changes during the first minute of sintering, indicating that rearrangement instead of coalescence of small particles is the controlling process in the early stage. Rearrangement was found to be temperature-dependent and to extend through the initial stage of sintering.
The Crossroads of Class and Gender

The Crossroads of Class and Gender: Industrial Homework, Subcontracting and Household Dynamics in Mexico City. Lourdes Beneria and Martha Roldan Women In Culture and Society Series. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987. xll. 204 pp. $42.00 (cloth) ISBN 0-226-04231-6; $15.95 (paper) ISBN 0-226-04232-4.
Managing Risks of Consumer Products

Manufacturers manage product risks by identifying, assessing, mitigating, and communicating those risks to consumers, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders. Unforeseen risks may surface after the product has reached the market, and the manufacturer begins to receive information from field returns or customer complaints. Although the primary concern is public safety, manufacturers may also be concerned about financial risks. A product with poor reliability can increase warranty costs, damage the company's reputation, and cause a loss in market share. A safety recall can expose the manufacturer to product liability lawsuits and, for public companies, can significantly affect market valuation. Managing consumer product risk effectively involves collecting and analyzing field performance data, as well as communicating relevant data to regulatory authorities. Risk analysts have developed several semiquantitative and graphical methods to communicate product-related safety risk to regulatory officials and consumers and to assist in determining which actions, if any, are required to protect public safety. Keywords: design safety; injury data; quality control; field performance; recall
Patient-specific decision modeling to guide the use of drotrecogin α (activated) in patients with severe sepsis☆

Abstract Purpose The expected benefit of treating severe sepsis with drotrecogin α (activated) for an individual patient may depend upon several clinical factors including disease severity. Our objective was to create a decision support tool incorporating patient-specific inputs to estimate the balance between treatment risks and benefits for individual patients with severe sepsis. Materials and Methods Logistic regression models were developed to calculate patient-specific mortality risk with and without treatment, which were then used as inputs into a 75-state Markov model. Patient-specific inputs included patient age, sex, and 12 readily available clinical characteristics. Results The expected benefit from drotrecogin α (activated) treatment was most dependent upon the underlying disease severity. For example, for a 56-year-old white man with severe sepsis and a 28-day mortality risk of 29%, the model predicted a treatment-related gain of 1.2 quality-adjusted life years (17.3 vs 16.1). Probabilistic sensitivity analyses demonstrated that this patient would benefit from therapy 85% of the time. Conclusions A customizable decision model using patient-specific inputs can be used to inform the treatment decision when considering the use of drotrecogin α (activated) therapy by weighing the risks vs the benefits of therapy in the treatment of severe sepsis.