cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rotorcraft Flight Control Design using Quantitative Feedback Theory and Dynamic Crossfeeds

A multi-input, multi-output controls design with robust crossfeeds is presented for a rotorcraft in near-hovering flight using quantitative feedback theory (QFT). Decoupling criteria are developed for dynamic crossfeed design and implementation. Frequency dependent performance metrics focusing on piloted flight are developed and tested on 23 flight configurations. The metrics show that the resulting design is superior to alternative control system designs using conventional fixed-gain crossfeeds and to feedback-only designs which rely on high gains to suppress undesired off-axis responses. The use of dynamic, robust crossfeeds prior to the QFT design reduces the magnitude of required feedback gain and results in performance that meets current handling qualities specifications relative to the decoupling of off-axis responses. The combined effect of the QFT feedback design following the implementation of low-order, dynamic crossfeed compensator successfully decouples ten of twelve off-axis channels. For the other two channels it was not possible to find a single, low-order crossfeed that was effective.
Longitudinal changes in plasma sex hormone concentrations correlate with changes in CT‐measured regional adiposity among Japanese American men over 10 years

OBJECTIVE Ageing in male adults is typically accompanied by adiposity accumulation and changes in circulating sex hormone concentrations. We hypothesized that an ageing-associated increase in oestrogens and decrease in androgens would correlate with an increase in adiposity. DESIGN 10-year prospective, observational study. STUDY SUBJECTS A total of 190, community-dwelling men in the Japanese American Community Diabetes Study. MEASUREMENTS At 0 and 10 years, CT scanning quantified intra-abdominal fat (IAF) and subcutaneous fat (SCF) areas while plasma concentrations of oestradiol, oestrone, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem-mass spectrometry at each time point. Multivariate linear regression analyses assessed correlations between 10-year changes in hormone concentrations and IAF or SCF, adjusting for age and baseline fat depot area. RESULTS Participants were middle-aged [median 54.8 years, interquartile range (IQR) 39.9-62.8] men and mostly overweight by Asian criterion (median BMI 24.9, IQR 23.3-27.1) and with few exceptions had normal sex-steroid concentrations. Median oestradiol and dihydrotestosterone did not change significantly between 0 and 10 years (P = .084 and P = .596, respectively) while median oestrone increased (P < .001) and testosterone decreased (P < .001). Median IAF and SCF increased from 0 to 10 years (both P < .001). In multivariate analyses, change in oestrone positively correlated (P = .019) while change in testosterone (P = .003) and dihydrotestosterone (P = .014) negatively correlated with change in IAF. Plasma oestradiol and oestrone positively correlated with change in SCF (P = .041 and P = .030, respectively) while testosterone (P = .031) negatively correlated in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION Among 190 community-dwelling, Japanese American men, increases in IAF were associated with decreases in plasma androgens and increases in plasma oestrone, but not oestradiol, at 10 years. Further research is necessary to understand whether changing hormone concentrations are causally related to changes in regional adiposity or whether the reverse is true.
Soft-tissue spectral subtraction improves transcutaneous Raman estimates of murine bone strength in vivo

Transcutaneous determination of a bone's Raman spectrum is challenging because the type I collagen in the overlying soft tissue is spectroscopically identical to that in bone. In a previous transcutaneous study of murine tibiae, we developed a library-based model called SOLD to unmix spatially offset Raman measurements into three spectra: a bone estimate, a soft tissue estimate, and a residual. Here, we demonstrate the value of combining the bone estimate and the residual to produce a "top layer subtracted" (tls) spectrum. We report superior prediction of two standard bone metrics (volumetric bone mineralization density and maximum torque) using partial least squares regression models based upon tls spectra rather than SOLD bone estimates, implying that the spectral residuals contain useful information. Simulations reinforce experimental in vivo findings. This chemometric approach, which we denote as SOLD/TLS, could have broad applicability in situations where comprehensive spectral libraries are difficult to acquire.
Modulation Schemes and Connectivity in Wireless Underground Channel

In this chapter, a thorough treatment of the modulation schemes for UG Wireless is presented. The effects of soil texture and water content on the capacity of multi-carrier modulation in WUC are discussed. The multi-carrier capacity model results are analyzed. Moreover, the underground MIMO design for underground communications is explained thoroughly. An analysis of medium access in wireless underground is done as well. Furthermore, the soil properties are considered for cross-layer communications of UG wireless. The performance analysis of traditional modulation schemes is also considered. The soil moisture-based modulation approach is also explored in this chapter. The connectivity and diversity reception approaches are discussed for wireless underground communications. The connectivity and interference models are studied for Ad-Hoc and Hybrid Networks. The topology control mechanisms for maintaining network connectivity are explored for maximizing network capacity under the physical models (e.g., the protocol interference model and physical interference model). Moreover, the underground diversity is examined for 3W-Rake receiver and coherent detection along with experimental evaluation and comprehensive analysis of performance of equalization techniques.
Variation in Employment of Therapy Assistants in Skilled Nursing Facilities Based on Organizational Factors.

Employment of therapy assistants enables skilled nursing facilities to provide more therapy services at lower costs. Yet little is known about employment of therapy assistants relative to organizat...
Differentiating low and high grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands using CT radiomics.

Background The purpose of this study is to determine if Haralick texture analysis on CT imaging of mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MEC) can differentiate low-grade and high-grade tumors. Methods A retrospective review of 18 patients with MEC of the salivary glands, corresponding CT imaging and pathology report was performed. Tumors were manually segmented and image analysis was performed to calculate radiomic features. Radiomic features were compared between low-grade and high-grade MEC. A multivariable logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed. Results A total of 18 patients (mean age, 51, range 9-83 years, 8 men and 10 women) were included. Nine patients had low-grade pathology and nine patients had high-grade pathology. Of the 18 cases, 7 (39%) occurred in the parotid gland and 11 (61%) occurred in minor salivary glands. No individual feature was significantly different between low-grade and high-grade MEC. A logistic regression model including surface regularity, energy and information measure II of correlation was performed and was able to predict high-grade MEC accurately (sensitivity 89%, specificity 68%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.802. Conclusions High-grade MEC tend to have a low energy, high correlation texture as well as surface irregularity. Together, these three features may comprise a tumor phenotype that is able to predict high-grade pathology in MECs.
Energy balance and temperature regime of different materials used in urban landscaping

Abstract In an effort to conserve water, conversion of irrigated lawns to “water-saving” landscape designs are being promoted in urban areas. Different materials, with different radiative and thermal properties, are used to accomplish this. We conducted a field study where we measured reflected spectral irradiance, albedo, energy balance, and soil and surface temperatures of grass (GR), artificial turf (AT), decomposed granite (DG), and hardwood mulch (MU) to better understand how surface temperature is controlled in landscapes composed of these materials. DG had the highest albedo and a large fraction of the reflected solar energy was in the visible band. AT had the lowest albedo and highest net radiation of the materials we tested. DG was the most efficient material in conducting energy into the subsurface, whereas MU was the least. Both AT and MU concentrated most of their thermal energy in the surface, indicating poor ability to diffuse thermal energy into the subsurface. Latent heat flux was the major component of the energy balance of GR, as expected. After GR, DG maintained the lowest surface temperature due to a combination of high albedo and high heat flux into the subsurface.
Reflecting on Responsible Conduct of Research: A Self Study of a Research-Oriented University Community

Research-oriented universities are known for prolific research activity that is often supported by students in faculty-guided research. To maintain ethical standards, universities require on-going training of both faculty and students to ensure Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). However, previous research has indicated RCR-based training is insufficient to address the ethical dilemmas that are prevalent within academic settings: navigating issues of authorship, modeling relationships between faculty and students, minimization of risk, and adequate informed consent. U.S. universities must explore ways to identify and improve RCR concerns for current (faculty) and future researchers (students). This article reports the findings of a self-study (N = 50) of research stakeholders (students and faculty) at a top tier research institution. First, we report on their perceived importance of applying RCR principles. Second, we explore relationships between stakeholder backgrounds (e.g., prior training, field, and position) and how they ranked the degree of ethical concerns in fictitious vignettes that presented different unethical issues university students could encounter when conducting research. Vignette rankings suggested concerns of inappropriate relationships, predatory authorship and IRB violations which were judged as most unethical, which was dissimilar to what sampled researchers reported in practice as the most important RCR elements to understand and adhere to for successful research. Regression models indicated there was no significant relationship between individuals’ vignette ethics scores and backgrounds, affirming previous literature suggesting that training can be ineffectual in shifting researcher judgments of ethical dilemmas. Recommendations for training are discussed.
Point-of-care antimicrobial coating protects orthopaedic implants from bacterial challenge.

Implant related infections are the most common cause of joint arthroplasty failure, requiring revision surgeries and a new implant, resulting in a cost of $8.6 billion annually. To address this problem, we created a class of coating technology that is applied in the operating room, in a procedure that takes less than 10 min, and can incorporate any desired antibiotic. Our coating technology uses an in situ coupling reaction of branched poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(allyl mercaptan) (PEG-PAM) polymers to generate an amphiphilic polymeric coating. We show in vivo efficacy in preventing implant infection in both post-arthroplasty infection and post-spinal surgery infection mouse models. Our technology displays efficacy with or without systemic antibiotics, the standard of care. Our coating technology is applied in a clinically relevant time frame, does not require modification of implant manufacturing process, and does not change the implant shelf life.
Jaws of Life

EVELYN TAKES A REST from putting the Christmas tree back in its box. She sits at her dinette by the front window of her 14 x 60 Mariette Expando. She's sitting in her swivel high-backed chair which faces the Mediterranean style console television that angles across one corner of the room. Her back is to the refrigerator, sink, stove, and cupboards. She's gotten most of the ornaments wrapped and back in their own box. She's having a hot chocolate and a piece of homemade cheesecake left over from last night when she and Harold, her boyfriend, celebrated New Year's Eve.
A Review of “The Theory and Practice of Item Response Theory”

De Ayala's The Theory and Practice of Item Response Theory is the first general survey of item response theory (IRT) to be published in about 10 years. As such, it provides some needed updates in t...
Enhancing Chondrogenic Phenotype for Cartilage Tissue Engineering: Monoculture and Coculture of Articular Chondrocytes and Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Articular cartilage exhibits an inherently low rate of regeneration. Consequently, damage to articular cartilage often requires surgical intervention. However, existing treatments generally result in the formation of fibrocartilage tissue, which is inferior to native articular cartilage. As a result, cartilage engineering strategies seek to repair or replace damaged cartilage with an engineered tissue that restores full functionality to the impaired joint. These strategies often involve the use of chondrocytes, yet in vitro expansion and culture can lead to undesirable changes in chondrocyte phenotype. This review focuses on the use of articular chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in either monoculture or coculture for the enhancement of chondrogenesis. Coculture strategies increasingly outperform their monoculture counterparts with regard to chondrogenesis and present unique opportunities to attain chondrocyte phenotype stability in vitro. Methods to prevent chondrocyte dedifferentiation and p...
Advanced Forensic Format: An Open, Extensible Format for Disk Imaging

This paper describes the Advanced Forensic Format (AFF), which is designed as an alternative to current proprietary disk image formats. AFF offers two significant benefits. First, it is more flexible because it allows extensive metadata to be stored with images. Second, AFF images consume less disk space than images in other formats (e.g., EnCase images). This paper also describes the Advanced Disk Imager, a new program for acquiring disk images that compares favorably with existing alternatives.
Towards Transparent Throughput Elasticity for IaaS Cloud Storage: Exploring the Benefits of Adaptive Block-Level Caching

Storage elasticity on IaaS clouds is a crucial feature in the age of data-intensive computing, especially when considering fluctuations of I/O throughput. This paper provides a transparent solution that automatically boosts I/O bandwidth during peaks for underlying virtual disks, effectively avoiding over-provisioning without performance loss. The authors' proposal relies on the idea of leveraging short-lived virtual disks of better performance characteristics and thus more expensive to act during peaks as a caching layer for the persistent virtual disks where the application data is stored. Furthermore, they introduce a performance and cost prediction methodology that can be used both independently to estimate in advance what trade-off between performance and cost is possible, as well as an optimization technique that enables better cache size selection to meet the desired performance level with minimal cost. The authors demonstrate the benefits of their proposal both for microbenchmarks and for two real-life applications using large-scale experiments.
Tumours: Targeting of Monoclonal Antibodies for Imaging and Potential for Therapy

Antibodies by virtue of their unmatched specificity and diverse modes of action are the central components of the immune system to detect and combat pathogenic and nonpathogenic diseases. From the era of polyclonal antibodies to fully humanised monoclonal antibodies, a lot has been understood regarding their causal generation, molecular buildup, varied functioning and clearance from the biological system. This information has led to their widespread use in various arenas of pathogenesis including parasitic, bacterial and viral infections, heart diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Since cancer derives from self, it is both difficult to diagnose as well as treat. With over 20 antibody-based drugs now in use and over 100 in clinical trials for cancer, antibodies form the basis of several diagnostic as well as therapeutic modalities for some lethal malignancies. Further, antibody engineering to improve their characteristics, such as pharmacokinetics, has made them a major attraction for the biopharmaceutical industry. Key Concepts: The efficacy of murine monoclonal antibodies is limited by the inefficient action of the murine-derived constant region and human anti-mouse antibody response, resulting in their rapid clearance from the blood. The success of an antibody-based biopharmaceutical depends upon target antigen (location, distribution and density), targeted site (solid or haematological malignancy, tumour microenvironment) and targeting antibody (specificity, affinity, avidity, mode of action, origin and isotype). Antitumour antibodies mediate their effector functions by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. Antigenic heterogeneity, lack of tumour specificity, immunogenicity and nonuniform distribution of antibodies to the targeted site are major hurdles in successful use of antibody-based therapeutics for solid tumours. Antibodies against molecules inhibiting effector functions of helper and cytotoxic T cells improve the efficacy of an antitumour immune response. Antibodies directed against co-stimulatory receptors act as surrogate ligands and boost weak, ineffectual and endogenous antitumour immune responses. Keywords: tumour targeting; antibodies; imaging; monoclonal; immunoscintigraphy
Low cost quartz rate sensors applied to tactical guidance IMUs

The military has shifted its emphasis from strategic weapons to tactical weapons. The challenge in meeting the needs of this shift is to develop a small, low-cost inertial measurement unit (IMU) with sufficient accuracy to meet the needs of modern precision tactical weapons. New instruments, new digital signal processing techniques and the Global Positioning System (GPS) have redefined the cost and performance capability achievable with tactical IMUs. Rockwell International is developing a Digital Quartz IMU (DQI) to meet the needs of this new generation of IMU requirements. The DQI is being designed around an inertial sensor assembly (ISA) being jointly developed by Rockwell International and the Systron Donner Inertial Division of BEI. The ISA utilizes small, batch-fabricated quartz inertial sensors to achieve low cost and small volume. Traditional analog processing of the output of this class of sensor has been replaced with digital processing based on sigma delta analog-to-digital converters to achieve improved performance. This combination of low-cost batch processed sensors with the stability of high-speed digital signal processing produces an IMU that meets the needs of a wide variety of tactical weapons with attractive performance/cost ratios. Prototypes of the DQI design will be completed and evaluated in early 1994. The paper provides an overview of the DQI design and status. A description of the performance objectives and design approach used for the inertial sensor assembly, digital signal processing and mechanical packaging of the DQI are presented. >
Quantitative high-performance affinity chromatography: evaluation of use for analyzing peptide and protein interactions.

To examine analytical high-performance affinity chromatography as a microscale method for characterizing macromolecular interactions, the chromatographic behavior was evaluated of Arg8-vasopressin on bovine neurophysin II covalently immobilized in its monomer form on several new high-flow and pressure-resisting affinity supports. Zonal elution of both tritiated and unlabeled peptide hormone and an extension of theoretical treatment of analytical affinity chromatography allowed determination of equilibrium dissociation constants of hormone binding to immobilized bovine neurophysin II. Microamounts of hormone, ranging from 0.05 to 15 μg, were eluted within 20–30 min, with a quantitative recovery of the amount injected. For zones containing more than 5 μg, continuous elution monitoring was possible by ultraviolet absorbance, providing greater speed and accuracy in data analysis. The values obtained for the equilibrium dissociation constants were in good agreement with those previously measured in solution. The above hormone—protein evaluation system has led to identification of several pressure-resistant affinity supports, including silica-, agarose- and glass-based matrices, which are appropriate for use with high-performance liquid chromatographic instrumentation for affinity chromatographic analysis of macromolecular interactions.
HYBRID NOISE CONTROL IN DUCTS

Abstract Presented in this paper is a hybrid noise control system used to attenuate multi-tonal noise in ducts. The hybrid system is built by integrating active feedback noise control with adaptive–passive noise control. The adaptive–passive part of the hybrid noise control system attenuates the dominant tonal noise within the duct while the active noise control system attenuates the noise at other frequencies. To achieve such a hybrid system, the constituent technology for each noise control solution is extended. In particular, an algorithm is described for tuning adaptive–passive noise control devices in the presence of multi-tone noise sources. Also, a feedback controller design methodology is presented. This methodology, adapted from the robust control literature, is easily applied to uncertain acoustic duct systems possessing significant time delays. In the system studied, the time delay arises from the non-collocation of the microphone and the control speaker. The uncertain dynamics of the duct are due to the on-line tuning of the adaptive–passive element. The extended adaptive–passive and robust noise control technologies are combined into a hybrid system. Experimental results are included as are extensions to broadband noise sources.
Natural genetic variations in bovine leukemia virus envelope gene: Possible effects of selection and escape ☆

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is an oncogenic virus widespread in cattle. It belongs to the genus Deltaretrovirus of the family Retroviridae along with human and simian T-lymphotropic viruses. Here we report the addition of 28 new sequences to the current literature of 16 full-length BLV envelope gene sequences. The phylogenetic clustering, genotyping, and geographic distribution of BLV env variations corresponded in most cases. Most natural variations are mapped to the surface of the proposed conformational models of BLV gp51 N-terminus and gp30 external domain, overlapping with or adjacent to immunogenic epitopes. Analyses for evidence of possible selection pressures suggest the BLV env is under stringent negative selection overall, while strong positive selection is indicated for immunogenic epitope G. Natural env deletions bounded by similar flanking sequences were observed in multiple isolates and would result in truncated signal peptides, missing gp51, and aberrant coding frames for other proteins.
Food colloid, emulsion, gel and foam/Dynamic aspects of colloids and interfaces

A selection of World Wide Web sites relevant to papers published in this issue of Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science
Drift‐Diffusion Past an Ellipse: Singular Perturbation Analysis of the Illuminated Region

We consider steady-state drift-diffusion of some substance past an elliptical obstacle. We apply singular perturbation methods to the governing PDE to obtain asymptotic representations of the concentration profile of the substance exterior to the obstacle. We assume that the drift (which represents gravity or EM fields in some applications) is stronger than the diffusion and obtain various asymptotic expansions in the “illuminated” spatial region. This region is the portion of the plane which is exterior to the ellipse and is not shielded from the drifting substance by the obstacle. It includes the face of the obstacle, where an expected build-up of the substance is seen.
A Generalized Pivotal Quantity Approach to the Parametric Tolerance Interval Test for Dose Content Uniformity Batch Testing

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a parametric tolerance interval test (PTIT) for batch-release testing of inhalation devices. The proposed test examines dose uniformity based on several inhalation units from a batch, with two observations per unit. An underlying assumption is that the observations are a random sample from a univariate normal distribution. Because there are two observations per unit, it may be more appropriate to model the data as stemming from a bivariate normal distribution. We take a bivariate approach and use generalized confidence interval methodology to derive a parametric tolerance interval for the distribution of doses within a batch. We then use Monte Carlo simulation to compare results based on this bivariate approach with those based on the FDA-proposed PTIT.
Analysis of the structure and expression of the chicken gene encoding a homolog of the human RREB-1 transcription factor

Ras proteins are involved in a number of signal transduction pathways including the mitogen-activated kinase cascade. Activated MAPKs translocate to the nucleus and phosphorylate transcription factors such as c-myc, TCF and AP-1. Recently, a Ras-responsive element binding transcription factor, RREB-1, was cloned from a human medullary thyroid carcinoma cell line. RREB-1 is a zinc finger protein that binds to a Ras-responsive element in the promoter of the human calcitonin gene. We report the cloning of the chicken homologue to human RREB-1. Amino-acid alignment demonstrates that chicken and human RREB-1 are 53% identical and 69% similar. Genomic southern analysis indicates that chicken rreb-1 is a single-copy gene in the chicken genome. We demonstrate that chicken and human rreb-1 display the same tissue distribution, being expressed in all tissues examined except the brain. Interestingly, chicken RREB-1 has an extended N-terminus and contains 16 zinc fingers of the TFIIIA subclass, in comparison to human RREB-1 which was reported to contain only four zinc fingers. The size discrepancy between the two predicted gene products is further discussed. An unusual structural feature of RREB-1 is the widely spaced arrangement of the zinc fingers.
Ancient viral protein enrages astrocytes in multiple sclerosis

Syncytin is a viral envelope protein encoded in the human genome. New work in this issue indicates that it is activated in multiple sclerosis astrocytes and microglia, contributing to the inflammation-induced myelin destruction that causes disease symptoms.
Drag-Cup A-C tachometer with constant-current excitation

AS A consequence of recent publication of a general analysis of the drag-cup a-c tachometer,1 numerous inquiries have been received relative to the desirability of operating such a device from a current source. Hence, a brief examination of the possibilities of such operation seems worth while. In these communications the ideas expressed about constant-current operation have been to the effect that with fixed exciting flux extreme linearity of output voltage with respect to speed should be achieved, and that troubles caused by change of winding resistance with change of temperature should be eliminated. Mathematical examination shows that extreme linearity indeed is theoretically possible. However, design difficulties in the tachometer itself, temperature effects other than change in winding resistance, and the difficulties of designing and constructing an adequate current source make doubtful the practical realization of the theoretical advantages of operation from a current source to a sufficient extent to show superiority over operation from a voltage source.
Stigmatization of Hispanic children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents with mental illness: exploration using a national database.

This paper examines descriptive statistics for the primary payer, length of stay, and admission source of an acute care hospitalization of Hispanic children—pre-adolescents, and adolescents with a primary psychiatric Diagnostic Related Group (DRG)—and relates these variables to the concept of stigma. This paper was a secondary analysis that used data from the National Inpatient Sample database. Psychosis was the most frequent diagnosis of Hispanic youth who were hospitalized. More Hispanic pre-adolescents had a psychiatric DRG than any other ethnic group but fewer Hispanic adolescents were diagnosed with a psychiatric DRG than any other ethnic group. For Hispanic pre-adolescents and adolescents, the primary payer was Medicaid versus private insurance for White pre-adolescents and adolescents. The length of stay was approximately the same for all ethnic groups. The admission source differed for Hispanic pre-adolescents and adolescents with the majority of pre-adolescents being admitted routinely and the majority of Hispanic adolescents being admitted through emergency departments. Recommendations are made for future research, clinical practice, and public policy related to the stigmatization of Hispanic children and adolescents with mental illness.
A Novel Family of Putative Pheromone Receptors in Mammals with a Topographically Organized and Sexually Dimorphic Distribution

Abstract Mammals have retained two functionally and anatomically independent collections of olfactory neurons located in the main olfactory epithelium and in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Pheromones activate the VNO in order to elicit fixed action behaviors and neuroendocrine changes involved in animal reproduction and aggression. Differential screening of cDNA libraries constructed from individual rat VNO neurons has led to the isolation of a novel family of ∼100 genes encoding seven transmembrane receptors with sequence similarity with Ca 2+ -sensing and metabotropic glutamate receptors. These genes are likely to encode a novel family of pheromone receptors. Patterns of receptor gene expression suggest that the VNO is organized into discrete and sexually dimorphic functional units that may permit segregation of pheromone signals leading to specific arrays of behaviors and neuroendocrine responses.
Consistency of nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation of a distribution function based on doubly interval-censored failure time data

We study the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation of a failure time distribution function based on doubly interval-censored data. A self-consistent equation is derived for the estimator. Furthermore, the strong consistency of the estimator is established.
Production of cell mass and pertussis toxin by Bordetella pertussis

The cultivation of Bordetella pertussis affects production of pertussis toxin and biomass. Comparison of batch mode, chemostat operation and pHstat-turbidostatic control showed that productivities for the continuous process were greater than that for the batch operation. Continuous operation in balanced growth at the maximum specific growth rate, provided by the pHstat, resulted in the maximum specific production rate. Because of the strong association of pertussis toxin synthesis and cell growth, the concentration of toxin in the effluent of the continuous processes was greater than the maximum obtained in the batch bioprocess. An expanded Luedeking-Piret model of product formation kinetics fits the observed chemostat data and demonstrates that the production of pertussis toxin from the culture of B. pertussis is predominantly growth associated.
Stress-transfer micromechanics for fiber length with a photocure vinyl ester composite

The objective was to test how increasing fiber length above the critical length would influence mechanical properties and fracture crack propagation. Micromechanics considering fiber/matrix stress-transfer was used to evaluate the results in addition to a shear debonding volume percent correction term necessary for the final analysis. Fiber lengths of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 6.0 mm with 9 μm diameters were added into a photocure vinyl ester particulate-filled composite at a uniform 28.2 vol%. Mechanical flexural testing was performed using four-point fully articulated fixtures for samples measuring 2 × 2 × 50 mm3 across a 40 mm span. Fiber length correlated with improved mechanical properties for flexural strength, modulus, yield strength, strain, work of fracture, and strain energy release, p < 0.001. In addition, sample fracture depth significantly decreased with increasing fiber lengths, p < 0.00001. All mechanical properties correlated significantly as predictors for fracture failure, p < 0.000001, and as estimators for each other, p < 0.0001. The stress-transfer micromechanics for fiber length were improved upon for strength by including a simple correction factor to account for loss of fiber volume percent related to cracks deflecting around debonded fiber ends. In turn, the elastic property of modulus was shown to exhibit a tendency to follow stress-transfer micromechanics.
Lignified papilla formation as a mechanism for protection in reed canarygrass

Abstract When reed canarygrass leaf discs were floated on water and inoculated with Helminthosporium avenae or Botrytis cinerea, lignified papillae formed at the sites of attempted penetration, and the fungi did not penetrate. When discs inoculated with H. avenae were floated on cycloheximide solutions (25 μg/ml) no papillae formed, and the fungus readily penetrated epidermal cells and proliferated through leaf tissue as a result of the artificially induced susceptibility. Once the resistance response was induced by inoculating the centers of leaf discs on water with B. cinerea, the resistance response persisted when the discs were transferred to cycloheximide and challenge inoculated with H. avenae. In the areas preinoculated with B. cinerea, H. avenae induced formation of lignified papillae, and did not penetrate. However, H. avenae readily penetrated areas of the same discs 0·5 to 1 mm outside the preinoculated area. Intact leaves of whole plants were partly protected against a pathogen, H. catenarium, by preinoculation with B. cinerea. Activity of three enzymes involved in lignification (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, tyrosine ammonia lyase and peroxidase) was higher in B. cinerea-inoculated tissue on water, and remained higher after challenge inoculation with H. avenae on cycloheximide, than activity in non-inoculated tissue on water, or inoculated, non-protected tissue on cycloheximide. No induced antifungal compounds could be detected in water or methanol extracts of protected tissue. The results suggest that reed canarygrass has an inducible, localized protection mechanism which involves continued ability to form lignified cell wall material in protected cells.
Effective heat transfer coefficient measurement during air impingement thawing using an inverse method

Convective heat transfer coefficient is a critical parameter in analyzing heating systems. When air impingement technology is applied to the thawing of frozen foods, the resulting effective heat transfer coefficient becomes quite complicated. The airflow from impingement jets result in heat transfer coefficient that varies with position. In addition, transient thawing results in effective heat transfer coefficient that varies with time and surface temperature. Effective heat transfer coefficients as a function of position and surface temperature were determined using an inverse method for thawing from a single impingement jet. Regularization parameters used in this inverse method were determined using simulated data. Effective heat transfer coefficients tended to increase with time as thawing progressed. Heat transfer coefficients decreased radially, but exhibited secondary maxima at radial distances approximately equal to the nozzle diameter. This inverse method enables estimation of heat transfer coefficient as a function of both time and position.
Value of contrast enhanced CT scanning in the non-trauma emergency room patient.

To determine the value of performing contrast CT in addition to non-contrast CT in the evaluation of acute non-traumatic central nervous system disorders, we retrospectively reviewed 322 cases originating from the emergency room at our institution. The most common indication for scanning was seizure activity (34% of total), followed by headache (30%), focal neurological deficit (10%), and altered mental status (8%). 75% of the noncontrast scans were normal. The contrast-enhanced scan revealed abnormalities not evident on the non-contrast scan in only three of these cases, and the information did not alter patient management. We concluded that in the acute setting, if a non-contrast CT is normal, a contrast study is usually unnecessary. Therefore, given the additional risks of contrast infusion, the contrast study, if needed, is generally best obtained at a later date, after more careful evaluation of the patient's history and medical records. If the non-contrast CT scan is abnormal, a contrast enhanced CT scan may be beneficial, but, again, is often not needed to direct acute patient management.
New Treatments and Strategies in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Despite considerable progress in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in the past several decades, the prognosis of the majority of patients with this disease remains guarded. Advances in supportive care and better characterization of disease subsets through cytogenetics and molecular analysis have led to significant success in treating specific subsets of patients, such as those with acute promyelocytic leukemia and core binding factor leukemias, particularly among the younger patients who are able to better tolerate the effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, overall, only about 40% of younger patients and <10% of older patients with this disease are alive at 5 years. Current research is focusing on the identification of new cellular targets amenable to specific inhibitors, designing the best strategies for combining these novel agents with traditional chemotherapy regimens, and determining prognostic indicators that may allow us to better stratify therapy.
Accelerometer-based on-body sensor localization for health and medical monitoring applications

In this paper, we present a technique to recognize the position of sensors on the human body. Automatic on-body device localization ensures correctness and accuracy of measurements in health and medical monitoring systems. In addition, it provides opportunities to improve the performance and usability of ubiquitous devices. Our technique uses accelerometers to capture motion data to estimate the location of the device on the user's body, using mixed supervised and unsupervised time series analysis methods. We have evaluated our technique with extensive experiments on 25 subjects. On average, our technique achieves 89% accuracy in estimating the location of devices on the body. In order to study the feasibility of classification of left limbs from right limbs (e.g., left arm vs. right arm), we performed an analysis, based on which no meaningful classification was observed. Personalized ultraviolet monitoring and wireless transmission power control comprise two immediate applications of our on-body device localization approach. Such applications, along with their corresponding feasibility studies, are discussed.
Circuit performance of CMOS technologies with silicon dioxide and reoxidized nitrided oxide gate dielectrics

The circuit performance of CMOS technologies with silicon dioxide (SiO/sub 2/) and reoxidized nitrided oxide (RONO) gate dielectrics over the normal regime of digital circuit operation, i.e. V/sub GS/ >
Unconjugated estrone, estradiol and FSH and LH in prepubertal and pubertal males and females.

ABSTRACT Thirty normal males and 30 normal females who were between the ages 10–14 yr inclusive, who on careful physical examination ranged from prepubertal to adult sexual development (Tanner Stages I–V) were each studied by measuring serum FSH, LH, estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2). Prepubertal females (Stage I) had higher values for estradiol, 10 pg/ml than males, 5 pg/ml (p < 0.005). Estrone was not significantly higher in prepubertal females. At each subsequent stage of puberty, both E1 and E2 were significantly higher in the girls (p < 0.05). Both estrogens correlated significantly with stage of puberty, osseous maturation, and with chronologic age in males and females. A significant association (p < 0.05) was observed between levels of both gonadotropins and levels of both estrogens in males, and between both gonadotropins and E1 in females; E2 correlated significantly with LH (rs = 0.7), but poorly with FSH (rs = 0.13).
685 IMMUNOGLOBULIN SECRETING CELLS IN THE BLOOD AND TONSIL OF NORMALS AND PATIENTS WITH IMMUNODEFICIENCY

Using a new assay to detect lymphoid cells actively secreting immunoglobulin (Ig), we have evaluated blood and tonsil from normals and blood from patients with immunodeficiency for the presence of lymphocytes secreting IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE. Ig secreting lymphocytes (IgSL) were enumerated using a “reverse plaque” assay which detects cells secreting Ig by the lysis of sensitized indicator erythrocytes in the presence of developing antisera specific for each Ig class. Normal blood contained a mean (N=20) of 179 IgG-SL, 148 IgA-SL and 159 IgM-SL per 106 lymphocytes. Tonsils were found to contain significantly more IgSL with a mear (N=11) of 3311 IgG-SL, 571 IgA-SL, 642 IgM-SL, and 19 IgE-SL per 106 lymphocytes. Five patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome had normal numbers of IgSL for each class despite abnormal serum Ig levels. Four patients with selective IgA deficiency had normal IgG and IgM-SL but no detectable IgA-SL either fresh from the blood or after 6 days of culture with pokeweed. 14 patients with hypogammaglobulinemia had essentially no Ig-SL for any class. However, several of these patients developed a normal Ig-SL response following culture with pokeweed. Measurement of Ig-SL provides a useful tool to study the differentiation of B lymphocytes and their disorders in human disease.
Morphologic and neurochemical target selectivity of regenerating adult photoreceptors in vitro

Regenerating adult central nervous system (CNS) neurons must re-establish synaptic circuits in an environment very different from that present during development. However, the complexity of CNS circuitry has made it extremely difficult to assess the selectivity and mechanisms of synaptic regeneration at the cellular level in vivo. The synaptic preferences of adult photoreceptors were examined by using a defined cell culture system known to support regenerative process growth, presynaptic varicosity formation, and establishment of functional synapses. Immunolabeling for synaptic vesicle protein 2 and ultrastructural analysis demonstrated that cell-cell contacts made by photoreceptors were synaptic in nature. Target selectivity was determined by quantitative analysis of contacts onto normal and novel target cell types in cultures in which opportunities to contact all retinal cell types were present. Target cells were identified by morphology and immunolabeling for the amino acid neurotransmitters glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glycine. Regenerating photoreceptors showed a strong preference for novel multipolar cell targets (amacrine and ganglion cells) over normal photoreceptor, horizontal, and bipolar cell targets. Additionally, photoreceptors were selective for targets containing the transmitter GABA. These results indicate first, that the normal synaptic partners for photoreceptors are not intrinsically the optimal targets for regenerative synapse formation, and second, that GABA may modulate synaptic targeting by adult photoreceptors.
Phenomenological and experimental study of the thermal response of low density silica ablators to high enthalpy plasma flows

A complete analysis of the melting-ablator governing equations is carried out for porous ablators with the purpose of establishing an approximate analytical model capable of determining surface recession, temperature, and heat flux as well as in-depth temperature profiles. A detailed dimensional analysis of the melt-flow governing equations is performed for parameters applicable to high-enthalpy flows. Results of arc-jet flow experiments performed on NASA Reusable Surface Insulation materials of different densities and over a range of stagnation pressures and heat fluxes are discussed. A dimensionless correlation for melt run-offs is derived in terms of material and flow parameters; however, it is pointed out that the accuracy of the current data is sufficient to conclude the compliance with the model.
Thermally induced abrupt collapse of a shallow donor state in a ferromagnetic semiconductor.

We calculate the free energy of a donor interacting with spin waves and atomic displacements of a ferromagnetic semiconductor. With increasing temperature the free-energy minimum associated with a severely localized state is lowered below that of a large-radius donor. Concomitantly, large-radius donors suddenly severely localize.
On the Coattails of a Contract: RNC Activities and Republican Gains in the 1994 State Legislative Elections

In 1994, the Republican party initiated an unprecedented effort by a modem American political party to coordinate issues in subnational cam paigns. They made a concerted effort to persuade state Republican party leaders to adopt electoral contracts similar to the "Republican Contract with America," reflecting basic Republican values, but tailored to the par ticular needs of each state. About half of the states holding elections in 1994 responded by developing such documents. The purpose of this study is to determine if these contracts had coattails in the midterm state legis lative elections similar to those generally provided by popular presiden tial or gubernatorial candidates during their elections. The results indicate that many Republican state legislative candidates may indeed have rid den their electoral contracts to historic seat gains, even controlling for such traditional predictors as presidential popularity, economic evalua tion, variations in voter turnout and partisan financial support. Thes...
The Effect of Institutional Constraints on the SuccessOf Universal Service Policies: A Comparison between Latin America and the World

The purpose of this paper is to determine the effectiveness of universal service programs. The statistical results, which compare the world with Latin America, indicate that universal service funds have not led to increases in the number of fixed telephone lines but they show a positive relationship with the number of public phones. Of the institutional variables that were included, the presence of the regulator as well as its number of employees has a positive relationship with the payphone infrastructure. Overall the research suggests that these programs have positive effects for universal access and governments are encouraged to continue them.
Values of critical energy for superconducting composites

Abstract Values of critical energy of superconducting composites are calculated by a one-dimensional approximation for various stability parameters, normalized critical temperatures and normalized temperature dependent thermal conductivities of the matrix material. The critical energy is calculated by finding a temperature profile that gives the minimum quench energy. The results are presented in tabular form for ease of use.