cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of mitral valve orifice area in infants and children by two-dimensional echocardiography

Two-dimensional echocardiograms of the mitral valve orifice area were obtained in 50 normal pediatric subjects, 15 patients with congenital mitral stenosis and 7 patients with tricuspid atresia. The mitral area was measured near the tips of the mitral valve leaflets from a diastolic cross-sectional image of the left ventricle. The cardiac images were recorded on videotape and later transferred to video disc for high resolution contour tracing. Contour analysis was performed by a special purpose microcomputer system for calculation of the enclosed calibrated area. In normal patients, there was an excellent correlation (r = 0.95) between mitral valve area (MVA) (in cm2) and body surface area (BSA) (in m2) described by MVA =4.83 x BSA - 0.07. Each patient with mitral stenosis had a mitral valve area that measured less than the third percentile predicted from the normal regression formula. In eight patients in whom the Gorlin formula could be applied, there was excellent correlation (r = 0.95) between echocardiographic and hemodynamic measurements of mitral valve area. Each patient with tricuspid atresia had a very large mitral valve area (> 99th percentile of normal). It is concluded that noninvasive measurement of mitral valve orifice area can be accurately achieved by two-dimensional echocardiography in pediatric patients with congenital mitral stenosis, allowing serial measurement of their mitral valve area.
Recruiting and Selecting New Teachers: The Recruitment Budgeting Cycle.

School boards do not provide generous support to recruitment unless they are convinced of its effectiveness. The recruitment budgeting cycle is intended to place recruitment activities on a more professional plane and to encourage more systematic implementation of recruitment activities.
Improved template representation in cpn60 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product libraries generated from complex templates by application of a specific mixture of PCR primers

Some classes of high G+C content organisms such as the Actinobacteria, which are known through culture-based studies to be present in large numbers in particular microbial communities, are under-represented or even absent from 16S rRNA or cpn60 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product libraries derived from these templates. Using reference cpn60 sequence data from organisms with high G+C content genomes, a pair of PCR primers were designed which, when used in combination with the previously developed degenerate, universal cpn60 primers, improve the representation of templates with high G+C content. The primers were validated using a combination of traditional and quantitative real-time PCR on both manufactured template mixtures and biological samples. The development and optimization of this specific primer mixture represents an improvement of established methods and a significant advance in the ability to generate cpn60 PCR product libraries that more closely represent the sequence diversity in complex templates.
The impact of jump risks on nominal interest rates and foreign exchange rates

This article investigates the relationship between the nominal interest rate and inflation and also the forward exchange rate under a general specification of the underlying processes govering the foreign exchange rate. There are three distinct risks that affect the relation between the real rate of interest and the nominal rate namely, consumption risk, diffusion risk, and the existence of jump risks of inflation. Jump risks lower the nominal interest rate because of jump hedging of a nominal bond. The forward exchange rate depends on the expected depreciation of the domestic currency as well as these three risks. As the domestic jump risks increase, the domestic nominal interest rate decreases and the forward exchange rate decreases.
Studies on the metabolism of amino acids and related compounds in vivo. VIII. Influence of the route of administration of l-arginine.HCl on protecting rats against ammonia toxicity

Purified l-arginine, alone as the hydrochloride, or in combination with other compounds so as to yield a nearly neutral reaction, has been administered to rats by various routes, at various times ranging from that simultaneous with the intraperitoneal injection of an LD99.9 dose of ammonium salt, to that 2 hr. prior to the ammonia injection. The criterion employed for the effectiveness of the protecting agent under these circumstances was the quite severe one of whether the animal did or did not survive the lethal dose of ammonium salt. The most effective routes of administration of arginine, as measured by the proportion of survivors from the ammonia injection, were the intraperitoneal and the intrasplenic, the latter permitting almost complete protection at the lowest dosage levels of arginine in the shortest space of time between arginine and ammonia injections. Subcutaneous and oral routes for the administration of arginine and other agents were the poorest i.e., the lowest proportion of survivors from ammonia injection, whilst the intravenous route was only moderately effective at all levels of arginine dosages studied. It would appear that for maximum protection by arginine in the event of ammonia toxicity, a direct route to the liver should be sought. Of all the agents studied, l-arginine.HCl, the neutral salts l-arginine-l-glutamate and l-arginine-l-aspartate, the neutral peptide l-arginyl-l-glutamate, l-ornithine.HCl, and mixtures of l-arginine.HCl with sodium l-glutamate, sodium α-ketoglutarate, glucose or sodium chloride, none was more effective, and most were less effective, than l-arginine. HCl itself at the tested levels.
Effects of Daily Pituitary Heterotransplants on an Hypophysectomized Puppy.

Recent results obtained by Smith and Engle1 by daily hypophyseal homeo and heterotransplants in mice and rats led to an investigation of the effect of daily injections of fresh rabbit pituitary gland on an hypophysectomized puppy. Aschner2 published striking photographs of hypophysectomized puppies of various ages which had remained infantile in appearance and size until sacrificed.Evans and Long3 found that fresh anterior lobe fluid given intraperitoneally to immature rats produced gigantism. Later, this extract was found to stimulate hypophysectomized rats to normal growth but failed to affect their sex glands. Smith,4 using fresh pituitary glands of rats, was able completely or in large measure to cure the disabilities arising from hypophysectomy in immature rats. Smith and Engle5 were able to induce precocious sexual maturity both in immature and in hypophysectomized rats, in 2 animals within 36 hours, by these fresh daily transplants. By means of the intracranial approach of Dandy and Reichert6 a tot...
An econometric analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court's certiorari decisions

This paper presents a model of the Supreme Court's certiorari behavior. The analysis assumes that the Court accepts or rejects a case according to the individual justice's perceptions of how deciding the case will affect the law. The model generates two testable hypotheses. First, there is a positive relationship, ceteris paribus, between voting to grant certiorari and voting with the majority on the final decision. This hypothesis is somewhat similar to Brenner's and diametrically opposed to Provine's. Second, there is a positive relationship, ceteris paribus, between voting to grant certiorari and voting to reverse the lower court's decision. This hypothesis is similar to those developed by Ulmer, Baum, Brenner, and Provine although their underlying models are quite different. Both the hypotheses presented in this paper are supported by a maximum-likelihood logistic analysis of 512 cases decided by the Court between 1947 and 1956.
Methanol production from CO2 using solar-thermal energy: process development and techno-economic analysis

We describe a novel solar-based process for the production of methanol from carbon dioxide and water. The system utilizes concentrated solar energy in a thermochemical reactor to reenergize CO2 into CO and then water gas shift (WGS) to produce syngas (a mixture of CO and H2) to feed a methanol synthesis reactor. Aside from the thermochemical reactor, which is currently under development, the full system is based on well-established industrial processes and component designs. This work presents an initial assessment of energy efficiency and economic feasibility of this baseline configuration for an industrial-scale methanol plant. Using detailed sensitivity calculations, we determined that a break-even price of the methanol produced using this approach would be 1.22 USD/kg; which while higher than current market prices is comparable to other renewable-resource-based alternatives. We also determined that if solar power is the sole primary energy source, then an overall process energy efficiency (solar-to-fuel) of 7.1% could be achieved, assuming the solar collector, solar thermochemical reactor sub-system operates at 20% sunlight to chemical energy efficiency. This 7.1% system efficiency is significantly higher than can currently be achieved with photosynthesis-based processes, and illustrates the potential for solar thermochemical based strategies to overcome the resource limitations that arise for low-efficiency approaches. Importantly, the analysis here identifies the primary economic drivers as the high capital investment associated with the solar concentrator/reactor sub-system, and the high utility consumption for CO/CO2 separation. The solar concentrator/reactor sub-system accounts for more than 90% of the capital expenditure. A life cycle assessment verifies the opportunity for significant improvements over the conventional process for manufacturing methanol from natural gas in global warming potential, acidification potential and non-renewable primary energy requirement provided balance of plant utilities for the solar thermal process are also from renewable (solar) resources. The analysis indicates that a solar-thermochemical pathway to fuels has significant potential, and points towards future research opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce balance of plant utilities, and reduce cost from this baseline. Particularly, it is evident that there is much room for improvement in the development of a less expensive solar concentrator/reactor sub-system; an opportunity that will benefit from the increasing deployment of concentrated solar power (electricity). In addition, significant advances are achievable through improved separations, combined CO2 and H2O splitting, different end products, and greater process integration and distribution. The baseline investigation here establishes a methodology for identifying opportunities, comparison, and assessment of impact on the efficiency, lifecycle impact, and economics for advanced system designs.
Fast flexible electronics with strained silicon nanomembranes

Fast flexible electronics operating at radio frequencies (>1 GHz) are more attractive than traditional flexible electronics because of their versatile capabilities, dramatic power savings when operating at reduced speed and broader spectrum of applications. Transferrable single-crystalline Si nanomembranes (SiNMs) are preferred to other materials for flexible electronics owing to their unique advantages. Further improvement of Si-based device speed implies significant technical and economic advantages. While the mobility of bulk Si can be enhanced using strain techniques, implementing these techniques into transferrable single-crystalline SiNMs has been challenging and not demonstrated. The past approach presents severe challenges to achieve effective doping and desired material topology. Here we demonstrate the combination of strained- NM-compatible doping techniques with self-sustained-strain sharing by applying a strain-sharing scheme between Si and SiGe multiple epitaxial layers, to create strained print-transferrable SiNMs. We demonstrate a new speed record of Si-based flexible electronics without using aggressively scaled critical device dimensions.
Some properties of regularly realizable gait matrices

Abstract While the number of theoretically possible gaits for animals or legged vehicles is very large, only a few of these are actually employed in natural legged locomotion. This paper presents a condition, called regular realizability , which is advanced as an explanation of the gait preferences exhibited by animals. It is found that this condition accounts for all observed biped gaits and all but two quadruped gaits. Some general theoretical results which should permit comparable studies of insect and arachnid locomotion are also presented.
Erythropoietin Concentration in Amphotericin B-Induced Anemia

Abstract Amphotericin B was given to six patients with systemic fungal infections. A dose averaging 1.78 g, administered from 42 to 144 days, was associated with a fall in hematocrit to a mean value of 25.8%. Despite this degree of anemia, no elevation of erythropoietin concentrations in urine or serum could be detected. Thus, amphotericin appears to cause anemia by inhibiting erythropoietin production rather than by suppressing bone marrow activity directly.
Natural Disturbance and the Activity of Trichoderma-Viride Cellulase Complexes

Abstract The stability of organic matter-cellulase complexes was investigated using the enzymes of Trichoderma viride as a model. Soluble enzyme complexes were produced by reaction of cellulase with water-extractable substances from deciduous and pine litters. Insoluble enzyme complexes were produced by adsorption of cellulase to litter particles. Freeze-thaw and wet-dry events were used to evaluate the stability of the cellulase complexes. Soluble enzyme complexes generally sustained higher activity to repeated freeze-thaw events than uncomplexed enzymes. After 10 events, uncomplexed enzymes retained 42–56% of their initial activity while soluble enzyme complexes retained 60–145%. There were no consistent differences in response among enzyme types or extract sources. Among insoluble enzyme complexes, only β-glucosidase consistently displayed enhanced activity relative to free enzyme. Wet-dry events affected activity more severely than freeze-thaw ones. The stability of adsorbed cellulase varied among enzymes with β-glucosidase retaining 55–105% of its initial activity after 10 events, exocellulase retaining 12–60% after 10 events, and endocellulase 0–5%. The stability patterns of the enzyme complexes are suggested as being the result of two confounded processes: enzyme inactivation and complex dissociation.
The association reaction of collagen model polypeptides (Pro‐Pro‐Gly)n

The characterization of recently synthesized (Pro-Pro-Gly)n, n = 7, 8 is described, along with melting profile studies of its association equilibrium, and thermal quenching studies of the kinetics of its association reaction. The order of the kinetic reaction is about 3, implying that three peptide chains are involved in the activated state of the rate-limiting step. The reaction rate was found to exhibit a negative temperature coefficient. With the (Pro-Pro-Gly)7 peptide, the concentration dependence of the (Pro-Pro-Gly)n association equilibrium was observed for the first time. Detailed thermodynamic analysis for these n = 7, 8 data, together with literature data for n = 10, 15, 20 were carried out for both the simple “all-or-none” binding model and for a series of complex equilibrium models. For the latter, all of the (Pro-Pro-Gly)n data (in 10% acetic acid) are fit best with a maximally cooperative near-neighbor model with a standard enthalpy change ΔH = −650 cal/mole of residues, and a standard entropy change ΔS = −14.63 −10/n cal/deg-mole of residues, wherein the −10 eu represents an end-effect contribution to the binding free energy. With regard to optical rotatory properties and thermodynamic parameters, the data for the new n = 7, 8 peptides match rather well with the literature data for the n = 10, 15, and 20 peptides. The enthalpic stabilization per residue of the triple-helical form of (Pro-Pro-Gly)n was nearly an order of magnitude smaller than the enthalpic stabilization per additional proline obtained from direct calorimetric measurements on native collagens of different (and much lower) proline contents by Privalov and Tiktopulo. [Biopolymers (1970) 9, 127–139.] Possible explanations for this phenomenon are discussed.
Infrared spectroscopic studies of surface oxides

Investigations have recently been performed in our laboratory with the object of developing non-destructive optical techniques for the chemical characterization of non-metallic films on metals. Our initial studies were on oxidized samples of 310 stainless steel with minor titanium additions exposed to low Po2 atmospheres (Po2 ≈ 10−15 atm). As the exposure time was increased from 0.5 to 139 h the oxide scale was observed to contain increasing amounts of complex oxide phases such as MnCr2O4, FeCr2O4 and MnTiO3. Binary oxides of titanium and chromium were observed at all exposure times. A series of reference spectra were also obtained for comparison with corrosion scale spectra. We consider that Fourier transform IR reflection spectroscopy is an extremely useful tool characterizing non-metallic films. It will be quite valuable in supplementing X-ray diffraction for very thin films and will provide complementary information to data obtained by light scattering and electron spectroscopic techniques.
Microfabricated phenol biosensors based on screen printing of tyrosinase containing carbon ink

Abstract Phenol biosensor strips were microfabricated by screen-printing of tyrosinase containing carbon inks. The ability of the enzyme to tolerate the 2-hour firing process (at 110°C) is attributed to its organic phase activity. The resulting strips offer unmediated detection of phenolic compounds down to the 1×10−7M level. Direct assays of untreated drinking-and groundwater samples indicate great promise for field screening of phenolic compounds.
Quantitative electroencephalographic frequencies and relative neuroleptic receptor affinities in schizophrenia

Information is now available about the receptor binding properties of standard and atypical antipsychotic drugs (Kerwin 1994; Lieberman 1993; Pickar 1995). As yet there has been minimal attention to neurophysiological attributes that may correspond to receptor affinities, although Czobor and Volavka (1993) have hypothesized that changes in power spectral density and symmetry may be related to serotonergic and dopaminergic mechanisms. Sloan et al (1992) have shown that the central effects of anticholinergic drugs are reflected in increased electroencephalographic (EEG) slowing and reduced coherence. An opportunity to examine such relationships was afforded by our practice of collecting quantitative EEG data before and during chronic administration of neuroleptics in chronic schizophrenic patients.
Networking: Technologies and Challenges for Network Centric Operations

ABSTRACT This paper examines some of the challenges facing the community in providing radio communications to enable information systems for military operations. We believe that much of th e on-going/completed wo rk is necessary, but not sufficient, to provide the military Network Centric Operations, which integrates militarys network centric enterprise with network centric warfare. Additional issues need to be addressed to better support battle commanders as well as decider-sensor-effector linkages. We discuss a possible way ahead. 1. INTRODUCTION This paper examines some of the challenges facing the community in providing radio communications to enable information systems for military operations. In a companion paper [Reference 1], we discuss the essential differences between Network Centric Operations and network centric warfare, and the critical role of supporting battle commanders, as well as decider-sensor-effector linkages. We are focused on supporting commanders at the operational level of warfare (commanders of carrier task forces, marine expeditionary forces, air wings, army corps/divisions) and the strategic level of warfare (joint force and components commanders). We also are dealing with the tactical level: commanders and leaders of brigades and battalions, squadrons and flights and individual ships. Commanders are rarely inside the command post when crises occur. They may be in a mobile vehicle and have limited communications and computing capabilities. They are not b unched up but spread out over the deployed force, accessible by multiple communications networks. We will focus on the implementati on of radio communications networks for these applications. To limit the scope of the paper, we will not include Information Assurance but this function must be totally integrated into radio communications systems.
Mass spectrometric determination of N-terminal tryptophan and N-terminal histidine in peptides

The successful utilization of Schiff base peptide ester derivatives in sequence elucidation of peptides by mass spectrometry led to the study of N-terminal tryptophyl and histidyl peptides. We had earlier reported the formation of cyclization products when N-prolyl peptide esters had reacted with Schiff base forming reagents. We observed that the reaction of aldehydes with N-terminal tryptophyl peptide esters gave cyclization and subsequent dehydrogenation products which were found to be substituted β-carbolines (9H-pyrido(3,4-b)-indoles) formed by Mannich type condensation. The molecular ion and many of the expected sequence identifying peaks were prominent in the mass spectra. The facile pyrolysis products of these peptide derivatives also indicated the presence of β-carbolines and substituted β-carbolines. In a similar fashion peptides with N-terminal histidine gave 1H-pyrido(4,5-c)imidazoles.
R68-6 Regression Analysis and Parameter Identification

This paper was written in reaction to a body of literature on continious parameter tracking that has by and large ignored the use of continuous regression techniques introduced by A. I. Rubin in an earlier paper.1The case for the use of continuous regression in the parameter tracking problem is presented in a concise and professional manner. A distinction is made between t, the "real world time" employed in the formulation of the model, and in the development of the regression performance measure, and τ, the "data processing time" employed in the steepest descent circuits that are performing the minimization of the performance measure with respect to the parameters. This distinction is an important contribution, both analytically and conceptually, to the parameter identification literature; the authors' belief that other workers in the field might profit from this distinction is well founded.
Statistical non-Gaussian model of sea surface with anisotropic spectrum for wave scattering theory. Part I - Abstract

In part I of this paper we analyzed which statistical properties of a random surface are necessary to describe a wave-scattering cross section from such a surface. We develop amathematical model of a sea surface that allows us to find a scattering cross section. In part II of this paper, we calculate in the Kirchhoff approximation scattering from a perfectly reflecting rough surface, having non-Gaussian PDF of slopes and an anisotropic spectrum (they correspond to experimental data for wind-driven waves on the water's surface). In the Kirchhoff approximation we obtained significant differences between Gaussian and non-Gaussian cases with the same spectrum, especially in the range of small grazing angles. The azimuthal dependence of the radar cross-section highly depends on the wind speed. It was found that the ratio of radar cross sections in upwind and crosswind directions strongly depends on the wind speed and can serve as a method of measuring this value.
Morphometric applications in anatomic pathology

Abstract The components of the cell and tissue changes in many diseases are variable and can therefore be quantified. Characterization of these quantitative changes provides data that is useful not only for making a definitive, cell- and tissue-based diagnosis of disease, but also for predicting the course of disease. The spectrum of changes found in malignant tumors, ie, cell grade, architecture, cellularity, extent of invasion, nature and extent of inflammatory reaction, exemplify this range of quantifiable features. The diagnosis and prognosis of nonneoplastic diseases, ie, myopathy and metabolic bone disease, can also be determined by quantitating tissue changes. Morphometry is the quantification of changes in the “objects” of tissues, ie, cells and organelles, and their organization, using quantitative evaluation tools. The principles of morphometry have been known for a century. With the increasing availability of affordable, powerful computer systems and increasingly flexible and user-friendly software has come easier ability to measure these changes. This article discusses the principles of morphometry with illustrations of types of analysis (ie, area fraction, object counting, shape and size analyses, and multiparametric analyses) using examples of these applications with discussions of error sources and limitations of morphometry.
Agraphia and micrographia: clinical manifestations of motor programming and performance disorders.

Abstract Rigorous studies involving cases of acquired language and memory disorders have contributed substantive information regarding higher cortical functions. Acquired disorders of handwriting, however, have remained a largely untapped resource which could be of great value to students of motor control. In this study, we demonstrate how two such disorders provide specific information regarding the motor control of handwriting. In a case of acquired agraphia due to a cerebrovascular accident there was a problem in programming the proper letter strokes and achieving the correct spatial location of strokes. In contrast, Parkinsonian patients with micrographia produced the appropriate letter strokes but could not maintain adequate force to preserve letter size. It appears that such information will help to dissect the handwriting skill into a number of functionally and anatomically separable subcomponents.
Distribution of volatile halogenated organic compounds between rat blood serum and adipose tissue

A 31-day rat-dosing sequence was used to study some aspects of the physiological distribution, metabolism, storage and rate of elimination of chloroform, trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride and bromodichloromethane from rat adipose tissue and blood serum. Data points were collected nine times during the dosing period and twice after dosing had ceased. Purge/trap/desorb methodology was employed using a liquid sample concentrator, a gas-liquid chromatograph and a Hall electrolytic conductivity detector in series. Compound identities were confirmed using a GC/MS analytical system. For these volatile compounds, tissue levels fluctuated but did not indicate increased storage with time. Adipose tissue to blood serum levels never differed by more than a factor of three. Within 3-6 days after dosing was terminated, practically all of the halogenated compounds had left the examined tissues. Metabolic conversion of trichloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride into chloroform and/or a chloroform precursor was observed; bromodichloromethane-dosed animals did not have serum chloroform levels exceeding those observed for the control animals.
The Gender and Race Composition of Jobs and the Male/Female, White/Black Pay Gaps

Dans un premier temps l'A. passe en revue les explications de l'inegalite sexuelle et raciale des salaires en termes de capital humain, de barriere sociale et de « composition du statut » (sexe, race, profession). A partir de ces theories et d'une enquete menee aupres d'employes de Caroline du Nord en 1989, prenant egalement en compte des mesures en terme de type d'emploi et de composition raciale, il propose un modele empirique du processus de determination des salaires et utilise les resultats de ce modele afin d'estimer les origines raciales et sexuelle des ecarts de salaires.
Energy Corporation Propaganda: A Weapon Against Public Policy

Large corporations have played an important role in the energy decade. In the following article, Maarten de Kadt examines the difference between what corporations say about themselves and what they actually do. Using public statements, advertisements, annual reports, journal articles, profit statistics and production statistics, he shows that corporate statements fit a pattern: while attempting to create for themselves a positive public image, energy companies pursue private, profit-oriented goals which often conflict with the national well being. According to de Kadt, a public policy for controlling corporate activities must be developed if energy is to be affordable and available for human needs.
Mutation of the Cα Subunit of PKA Leads to Growth Retardation and Sperm Dysfunction

The intracellular second messenger cAMP affects cell physiology by directly interacting with effector molecules that include cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels, cAMP-regulated G protein exchange factors, and cAMP-dependent protein kinases (PKA). Two catalytic subunits, Calpha and Cbeta, are expressed in the mouse and mediate the effects of PKA. We generated a null mutation in the major catalytic subunit of PKA, Calpha, and observed early postnatal lethality in the majority of Calpha knockout mice. Surprisingly, a small percentage of Calpha knockout mice, although runted, survived to adulthood. This growth retardation was not due to decreased GH production but did correlate with a reduction in IGF-I mRNA in the liver and diminished production of the major urinary proteins in kidney. The survival of Calpha knockout mice after birth is dependent on the genetic background as well as environmental factors, but sufficient adult animals were obtained to characterize the mutants. In these animals, compensatory increases in Cbeta levels occurred in brain whereas many tissues, including skeletal muscle, heart, and sperm, contained less than 10% of the normal PKA activity. Analysis of sperm in Calpha knockout males revealed that spermatogenesis progressed normally but that mature sperm had defective forward motility.
Evaluation of oxygen as oxidant in coal fired open cycle MHD‐steam power plants

This study compares the thermal efficiency and economics of using oxygen rather than air as the oxidant in large coal-fired MHD-steam energy conversion plants, using a computer model to calculate thermal efficiency. The systems compared are a coal-air system with a thermal input of 2000 MWth and two coal-oxygen systems, one with an input of 2000 MWth and one with 6600 MWth. The paper describes the process; compares flame temperature, electrical conductivity, and specific enthalpy; and presents Mollier diagrams for the two systems. At an oxidant preheat temperature of 1644 K, the net thermal efficiency of the coal-oxygen system is 8 to 9 percentage points lower than that for the coal-air system, if the power required to produce the oxygen is taken into account; however, despite its lower thermal efficiency, the coal-oxygen system has a lower cost of electricity. At a preheat temperature of 1644 K, the cost advantage is small, but at temperatures below 1200 K, the cost advantage is significant.
Computer assistance in discovering formulas and theorems in system engineering. II

We deal with a highly computer assisted method for discovering certain types of theorems. At the beginning of discovering a theorem, an engineering problem is often presented as a large system of matrix equations. The point is to isolate and to minimize what the user must do by running heavy algorithms. Often when viewing the output of the algorithm, one can see what additional hypothesis should be added to produce a useful theorem and what the relevant matrix quantities are. Rather than using the word algorithm, we call our method a strategy since it allows for modest human intervention. We are under the impression that many theorems in engineering systems might be derivable in this way. The approach we use to manipulate large collections of equations is based largely on a noncommutative Grobner basis algorithm (GBA), and the program we use is based upon a GBA, called NCProcess.
A mutational analysis of active site residues in trans-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase

trans-3-Chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (CaaD) catalyzes the hydrolytic dehalogenation of trans-3-haloacrylates to yield malonate semialdehyde by a mechanism utilizing βPro-1, αArg-8, αArg-11, and αGlu-52. These residues are implicated in a promiscuous hydratase activity where 2-oxo-3-pentynoate is processed to acetopyruvate. The roles of three nearby residues (βAsn-39, αPhe-39, and αPhe-50) are unexplored. Mutants were constructed at these positions (βN39A, αF39A, αF39T, αF50A and αF50Y) and kinetic parameters determined along with those of the αR8K and αR11K mutants. Analysis indicates that αArg-8, αArg-11, and βAsn-39 are critical for dehalogenase activity whereas αArg-11 and αPhe-50 are critical for hydratase activity. Docking studies suggest structural bases for these observations.
Spectral characterization of dielectric constant fluctuation in hypersonic wake plasmas

Formal procedure and critical steps leading to the determination of a spectrum function in the Booker scattering formula (first-order Born approximation) for dielectric constant fluctuations in the turbulent wake of hypersonic objects are examined. It is concluded that even though such a spectrum function can always be unambiguously defined, our present knowledge about the statistical properties of chemically reacting turbulent wakes generated by hypersonic objects is still much too inadequate to allow accurate determination of such a function. In particular, it is found that in the presence of rapid electron attachment and negative ion formation, the spectrum function depends not only on autocorrelation of local elec tron density fluctuations, as commonly assumed, but also on cross correlations among electron-, ion-, andmass^d«nsity fluctuations, and on autocorrelation of the latter two fluctuations. The relative magnitudes of these additional correlation terms are estimated. Probable effects of these and other complications on the general problem of spectrum function determination for hypersonic wake plasmas are also discussed.
Modeling and throughput prediction for flexible parts feeders

We illustrate a methodology for modeling and analyzing flexible feeders using generalized semi-Markov process (GSMP) models. Working through the simple case consisting of a single part being fed on a flexible feeder, we show how the throughput of the system may be obtained by both GSMP simulation and analytical techniques for GSMP models. Further, we demonstrate the predictive capability of such models. This is accomplished by generating and validating a model of the system feeding three distinct part types (at the same time) and then modifying the model to allow other feeding scenarios to be predicted. These scenarios include the effect of feeding the parts in a specific order, the effect of using a robot with different speed capabilities, and the effect of using a different-sized presentation conveyor. We validate the predictions with physical testing.
New pathways to pancreatic cancer.

Commentary to: The Genetics of FANCC and FANCG in Familial Pancreatic Cancer Carmelle D. Rogers, Michiel S. van der Heijden, Kieran Brune, Charles J. Yeo, Ralph H. Hruban, Scott E. Kern, and Michael Goggins
A comparison of two gutta-percha obturation techniques to replicate canal irregularities in a split-tooth model

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare a modified injectable gutta-percha (MIGP) obturation technique with continuous wave technique (CWT) for the ability to fill the root canal system (RCS) and replicate artificially created intracanal defects at the apical third, using a split-tooth model. Study design A maxillary canine was use to build a split-tooth model. The root canal was cleaned and shaped using crown-down technique with rotary files to size #40 at the apex. Intracanal defects were created in the dentin of the root canal walls with a half-round bur at the apical third. The canal was obturated 48 times with gutta-percha and sealer. Twenty-four obturations were performed for each technique, MIGP and CWT. After each obturation, the model was separated in 2 halves; buccal and lingual. Each obturation was examined and photographed under operating microscope at ×5 magnification. The images were blindly evaluated by 2 endodontists for the length of gutta-percha fill, ability to fill the RCS, presence of voids, and replication of the canal defects. Results Results were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test and showed statistical difference between the 2 groups in the quality of the obturation ( P Conclusions The MIGP technique appeared to replicate the canal defects at the apical third better than CWT, with fewer voids in between the canal walls and the gutta-percha mass.
THE FILTERING DOWN PROCESS IN GEORGIA: THE THIRD STAGE IN THE PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE

Branch plants have been a major factor in the filtering down process in Georgia. Industrial movement down the urban hierarchy seems in general to describe filtering down prior to about 1960, but metropolitan to nonmetropolitan filtering down has been more characteristic of the past twenty years. High versus low technology industries are differently involved in the filtering down process, with high technology industries dominating new branch plant location in nonmetropolitan areas.
Antiangiogenesis mediates cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy: attenuation or reversal by local vascular endothelial growth factor gene therapy without augmenting tumor growth.

Background— Toxic neuropathies induced by cisplatin and other chemotherapeutic agents are important clinical problems because of their high incidence, their lack of effective treatment, and the fact that neuropathy represents a dose-limiting factor for these therapies. The pathogenic basis for toxic neuropathies induced by chemotherapeutic agents has not been completely elucidated. Methods and Results— We investigated the hypothesis that experimental toxic neuropathy results from an antiangiogenic effect of these drugs, resulting in destruction of the vasa nervorum, and accordingly that the neuropathy could be prevented or reversed by locally administered VEGF gene transfer without augmenting tumor growth. In an animal model of cisplatin-induced neuropathy, nerve blood flow was markedly attenuated, and there was a profound reduction in the number of vasa nervorum associated with marked endothelial cell apoptosis, resulting in a severe peripheral neuropathy with focal axonal degeneration characteristic of ...
Neuritic Deposits of Amyloid-β Peptide in a Subpopulation of Central Nervous System-Derived Neuronal Cells

Our goal is to understand the pathogenesis of amyloid- (A) deposition in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brain. We established a cell culture system where central nervous system-derived neuronal cells (CAD cells) produce and accumulate within their processes large amounts of A peptide, similar to what is believed to occur in brain neurons, in the initial phases of AD. Using this system, we show that accumulation of A begins within neurites, prior to any detectable signs of neurodegeneration or abnormal vesicular transport. Neuritic accumulation of A is restricted to a small population of neighboring cells that express normal levels of amyloid- precursor protein (APP) but show redistribution of BACE1 to the processes, where it colocalizes with A and markers of late endosomes. Consistently, cells that accumulate A appear in isolated islets, suggesting their clonal origin from a few cells that show a propensity to accumulate A. These results suggest that A accumulation is initiated in a small number of neurons by intracellular determinants that alter APP metabolism and lead to A deposition and neurodegeneration. CAD cells appear to recapitulate the biochemical processes leading to A deposition, thus providing an experimental in vitro system for studying the molecular pathobiology of AD. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) belongs to a group of neurodegenerative disorders associated with the formation of large protein aggregates (42). Thus, the neuritic plaques found in AD brains contain at their core deposits of the amyloid- (A) peptide generated by proteolytic processing of the transmembrane protein amyloid- precursor protein (APP) (45).
Deformation of Shape-Memory Materials

We present an overview of a theory of martensitic transformations developed by J. M. Ball and the author, and additional related results by Bhattacharya, Chu and Collins and Luskin and Kinderlehrer. This theory is in a form that is amenable to detailed numerical computations of microstructure. We describe the energy minimizing microstructures of a single crystal under applied displacements and under detailed dead loading. The relation of the theory to the crystallographic theory of martensite is presented. A consequence of the theory is the sensitivity of the patterns of microstructure to the precise lattice parameters. In the case of the wedge-like microstructure studied by Bhattacharya, it is found that this microstructure is only possible as a coherent, energy minimizing microstructure if very restrictive conditions on the lattice parameters are satisfied. Materials that exhibit the wedge satisfy this relation closely. The analysis suggests that optimal shape-memory behavior may be related to relations of this type. The theory has a relation to the work of Khachaturyan, Roitburd and Shatalov. We compare and contrast the two approaches. We present results that suggest that any approach based on the kinematics of linear elasticity will make serious quantitative errors in the prediction of microstructure.
A Supramolecular Polyethylenimine-Cored Carbazole Dendritic Polymer with Dual Applications

A series of supramolecular dendritic multiarm polymers (SDMPs) are fabricated by simply mixing the hyperbranched polyethylenimine (PEI, 10K) and carboxylic acid-terminated carbazole-containing dendrons. Carbazole-containing dendrons with different generations, i.e. generation zero (G0), generation one (G1), and generation two (G2), are employed for the formation of the nanocomplexes. The formation of SDMPs is demonstrated by the use of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and water contact angle (WCA) measurement. The ionic bonding between the PEIs and the surrounding carbazole-containing dendrons is also confirmed by the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. The encapsulation capability of SDMPs is tested by monitoring the phase transfer process of anionic guests by UV–vis spectroscopy. The effect of the dendron generation on the encapsulation capability of SDMPs is evaluated as well. Without any additional reducing agent, the SDMPs are also utilized as the nanorea...
Host-Plant Resistance in Pest Management

Plant resistance to a herbivore results from the expression by the plant of resistance-related traits that interfere with one or more aspects of the herbivore’s complex interaction with the plant. As an integrated pest management tactic, host-plant resistance entails the intentional use of resistant crop varieties, alone or in combination with other tactics, to reduce the impact of herbivores on crop yield or quality. The traditional approach to the development and use of resistant varieties in integrated pest management involves four steps: screening (evaluation of crop germplasm for resistant genotypes), categorization (assignment of resistance phenomena to the categories of antibiosis, antixenosis, and tolerance), breeding (introduction of genes responsible for resistance into agronomically acceptable backgrounds), and implementation (integration of resistant varieties into management programmes). This essentially empirical approach to host-plant resistance has enjoyed some tremendous successes. However, as sophisticated analytical and molecular genetic tools for the study of the causal bases of resistance become more widely available, it is clear an approach based on understanding the mechanisms of plant resistance will be the most efficient path to development of resistant varieties for crop protection in the future. Induced resistance, or resistance triggered by prior herbivore attack, has a number of potential uses in crop protection that are only now beginning to be explored. The use of plant resistance for managing arthropod pests in rice illustrates many aspects of the use of host-plant resistance in pest management.
Early creation of cities

This chapter deals with evolution of cities and discusses how cities in ancient and modern times were created by legislation. Rulers have legislated cities into or out of existence. The creation of new cities became scientific in the Hellenistic period (500 B.C. – 100 A.D.). Rules for colonizing territories were formulated and written so that they could be more widely used. Greek philosophers seriously discussed what a community needed in order to survive. Rulers learned by observation that: (1) capital cities remained powerful as long as they received taxes from other areas; (2) some cities were rebuilt by conquered races after destruction, while others were not; and (3) legislation had to provide a source of income for a newly created city if it were to survive. Greek leaders were forced to learn how to create a city-colony early in their existence because of steady population pressure coupled with barren land. It was believed that in order for cities to survive, three vital elements must exist including: a source of revenue to maintain their population; adequate routes of communication to collect imposts, taxes, etc. to sustain trade; and adequate trade facilities and routes to supplement local civil revenues.
Presurgical language localization with visual naming associated ECoG high- gamma modulation in pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy.

SummaryObjective This prospective study compared presurgical language localization with visual naming–associated high-γ modulation (HGM) and conventional electrical cortical stimulation (ECS) in children with intracranial electrodes. Methods Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who were undergoing intracranial monitoring were included if able to name pictures. Electrocorticography (ECoG) signals were recorded during picture naming (overt and covert) and quiet baseline. For each electrode the likelihood of high-γ (70–116 Hz) power modulation during naming task relative to the baseline was estimated. Electrodes with significant HGM were plotted on a three-dimensional (3D) cortical surface model. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated compared to clinical ECS. Results Seventeen patients with mean age of 11.3 years (range 4–19) were included. In patients with left hemisphere electrodes (n = 10), HGM during overt naming showed high specificity (0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78–0.85), and accuracy (0.71, 95% CI 0.66–0.75, p < 0.001), but modest sensitivity (0.47) when ECS interference with naming (aphasia or paraphasic errors) and/or oral motor function was regarded as the gold standard. Similar results were reproduced by comparing covert naming-associated HGM with ECS naming sites. With right hemisphere electrodes (n = 7), no ECS-naming deficits were seen without interference with oral-motor function. HGM mapping showed a high specificity (0.81, 95% CI 0.78–0.84), and accuracy (0.76, 95% CI 0.71–0.81, p = 0.006), but modest sensitivity (0.44) compared to ECS interference with oral-motor function. Naming-associated ECoG HGM was consistently observed over Broca's area (left posterior inferior-frontal gyrus), bilateral oral/facial motor cortex, and sometimes over the temporal pole. Significance This study supports the use of ECoG HGM mapping in children in whom adverse events preclude ECS, or as a screening method to prioritize electrodes for ECS testing.