cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bridging the simulator gap: Measuring motivational bias in digital nuclear power plant environments

Abstract Using digital NPP simulator facilities for research in Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) and nuclear power research is increasingly popular. We propose a method for characterizing and quantifying the gap between data collected in a simulator and data that reflect NPP operations. Using novice operators, we demonstrate how to manipulate and measure the impact of the simulator environment on operator actions. A set of biases are proposed to characterize factors introduced by the simulator environment. There are two categories of simulator bias: Environmental Biases (physical differences between the simulator and the control room), and Motivational Biases (cognitive differences between training in a simulator and operating a NPP). This study examines Motivational Bias. A preliminary causal model of Motivational Biases is introduced and tested in a demonstration experiment using 30 student operators. Data from 41 simulator sessions are analyzed. Data include crew characteristics, operator surveys, and time to recognize and diagnose the accident in the scenario. Quantitative models of the Motivational Biases using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) are proposed. With these models, we estimate how the effects of the scenario conditions are mediated by simulator bias, and we demonstrate how to quantify the strength of these effects.
Nursing Unit Design, Nursing Staff Communication Networks, and Patient Falls: Are They Related?

Purpose:The purpose of this research is to (1) investigate the impact of nursing unit design on nursing staff communication patterns and, ultimately, on patient falls in acute care nursing units; a...
Immune response to synthetic herpes simplex virus peptides: the feasibility of a synthetic vaccine.

Synthetic peptides which are selected from immunogenic proteins offer an approach to the development of a Vaccine with optimal properties. The strategy used for the design of such a synthetic Vaccine includes:(1) the identification of regions in the protein molecule which act as determinants for B cells as well as for T cells; (2) the chemical synthesis of identified antigenic determinants; and (3) the attachment of the synthetic peptides to suitable carriers which allow optimal presentation of the peptide antigen. For our studies we have chosen glycoprotein D(gD) of the herpes simplex virus (HSV). This antigen appears to be the major target of the immune response to HSV (PAOLETTI et al. 1984; CHAN 1983; LASKY et al. 1984; LONG et al. 1984; SPEAR 1984) and therefore represents a logical choice for a subunit Vaccine against an HSV infection. We will describe the localization and chemical synthesis as well as the physicochemical and immunological characterizaton of a major antigenic site of HSV gD. Synthetic peptides comprising this antigenic site are recognized by HSV type-common and type-specific antibodies, as well as by HSV-primed T cells, and immunization with these molecules induces both a B cell and a T cell response. Most important is the finding that a Single injection of these peptides can confer long-term protection against a lethal HSV infection, but only when the peptides are incorporated into liposomes. The exact nature of this immune and protective response will be the subject of this paper.
A Search for Possible “Universal-Application” Gas Mixtures

In an effort to respond to the recent concerns over the possible impact of SF6 on global warming, we have searched for an SF6 substitute gas that could be used in high voltage equipment instead of pure SF6, with minimal changes in practice, operation, and ratings of the existing pure SF6-insulated apparatus. of the many unitary, binary, and tertiary gases/mixtures that have been tested to date, SF6-N2 mixtures seem to be the most promising and most thoroughly characterized gaseous dielectric media besides pure SF6. Based upon research conducted world-wide over the last few decades, it appears that the optimum composition of an SF6-N2 mixture for use as a gaseous dielectric in place of pure SF6 for both high voltage insulation (such as in gas-insulated transmission lines and gas-insulated transformers) and possibly also for arc and current interruption purposes may be in the range 40% to 50% SF6in N2 (by volume). Most of the existing data support the use of such mixtures for gas-insulated transmission lines and gas-insulated transformers, but their use for circuit breakers is still in question requiring further exploration.
The Upper Airway Muscles: Their Role in Sleep-Related Respiratory Dysrhythmias

The upper airways are a convoluted set of channels which air from the atmosphere must traverse to contact the gas-exchanging surfaces of the lungs. The upper airways contain muscular structures which participate not only in breathing, but in speech, chewing and swallowing as well. In part on account of their complex anatomy, the upper airways make up 40% to 70% of the total resistance to air flow even during resting breathing in the awake state. In addition, there are sectors of narrowing in the nasal, oral, and laryngopharynx where even minor anomalies in configuration can substantially affect resistance to air flow (Lunteren and Strohl, 1986; Widdicombe, 1986; Cherniack, 1984).
Simulations of the Behavior of Helium in a Thermal Conductivity Cell

We have performed numerical simulations of the behavior in a one-dimensional thermal conductivity cell of helium as it is ramped through the superfluid transition from below. The goal of the simulations is to be able to at least qualitatively, if not quantitatively, predict the behavior of helium in a reduced gravitational environment. These numerical simulations can model helium cells with effective gravitational fields of |a/g| > 0 by changing the distribution of local transition temperatures to match the desired gravitational environment. The numerical results for the simulated behavior show excellent qualitative agreement with the observed experimental data under a variety of effective gravity values.
The comparison process as an account of variation in the attraction, compromise, and similarity effects

Context effects are changes in preference that occur when alternatives are added to a choice set. Models that account for context effects typically assume a within-dimension comparison process; however, the presentation format of a choice set can influence comparison strategies. The present study jointly tests the influence of presentation format on the attraction, compromise, and similarity effects in a within-subjects design. Participants completed a series of choices designed to elicit each of the three context effects, with either a by-alternative or by-dimension format. Whereas the by-alternative format elicited a standard similarity effect, but null attraction and reverse compromise effects, the by-dimension format elicited standard attraction and compromise effects, but a reverse similarity effect. These novel results are supported by a re-analysis of the eye-tracking data collected by Noguchi and Stewart (Cognition, 132(1), 44-56, 2014) and demonstrate that flexibility in the comparison process should be incorporated into theories of preferential choice.
An Investigation into the Effects of Cure and Post-Cure Process Parameters on Out-Of-Autoclave Bismaleimide Composite Fabrication by Design of Experiments

One of the widely used matrices for manufacturing high service-temperature composites are Bismaleimides (BMI). Due to its superior mechanical properties such as high temperature strength, it has been used widely in aerospace applications. In this research paper, the effects of cure and post-cure parameters on the mechanical property of Out-Of-Autoclave (OOA) fabricated composites were investigated by the aid of Design of Experiments (DOE) techniques. Short Beam Shear (SBS) test and ultrasonic guided waves were used to characterize the laminate properties under different curing settings. A mathematical model was developed relating the SBS strength to cure and post-cure conditions. Response Surface Methodology was unitized to achieve the optimized curing settings. The Ultrasound based non-destructive material characterization was employed to verify the effects of curing conditions on material strength. It was also concluded that the optimized mechanical strength depended on both curing and post-curing conditions and could not be optimized independently.
Guiding Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction toward Carbonyls Using Copper Silver Thin Films with Interphase Miscibility

Steering the selectivity of Cu-based electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R) catalysts toward targeted products will serve to improve the technoeconomic outlook of technologies based on this process. Using physical vapor deposition as a tool to overcome thermodynamic miscibility limitations, CuAg thin films with nonequilibrium Cu/Ag alloying were prepared for CO2R performance evaluation. In comparison to pure Cu, the CuAg thin films showed significantly higher activity and selectivity toward liquid carbonyl products, including acetaldehyde and acetate. Suppressed activity and selectivity toward hydrocarbons and the competing hydrogen evolution were also demonstrated on CuAg thin films, with a greater degree of suppression observed at increasing nominal Ag compositions. Compositional-dependent CO2R trends coupled with physical characterization and density functional theory suggest that significant miscibility of Ag into the Cu-rich phase of the catalyst underpinned the observed CO2R trends through tuning of a...
Study on clearance optimisation and altitude correction of 750 kV AC side for UHVDC converter transformer

AC system which ±800 kV converter station access to commonly used 500 kV voltage level. With the construction of the Northwest Energy Base, a large number of ultra-high-voltage direct current (UHVDC) project are constructing. The backbone voltage in the northwest region is 750 kV. Phase or phase-to-ground clearance the converter transformer 750 kV AC side required will affect the length of the valve hall and the highest altitude of the project close to 3000 m. In order to optimise the 750 kV AC side and meet the engineering requirements in high altitude areas, this paper carried out the true phase-to-ground and phase–phase discharge characteristics test in the gap of 750 kV AC side in Beijing and Tibet, and the gap discharge voltage was then corrected for altitude. At last, the distance at different altitudes of 3000 m and below between the phase-ground and the phase-to-phase at the AC side of converter transformer is obtained. The results provide the design of UHV converter station in Northwest China with technical support.
Set bit enumeration is hard

The polynomial-time function hierarchy is a function analog to the polynomial hierarchy and contains many interesting natural functions. Given the difficulties encountered so far in trying to develop feasible algorithms for these functions, the author seeks instead to construct feasible approximations. The author describes one such notion of approximation, set bit enumeration, which seems to be, by definition, a very weak information source. It is shown that this information is hard in the sense that if one could feasibly compute it, then one could compute, in polynomial time, the value of any function in the polynomial-time function hierarchy. In proving these hardness results, the author uses a novel method of pruning nondeterminism out of deterministic computation, together with combinatorial counting. >
Performance Analysis of XOR-Inverter based Ring Oscillator PUF for Hardware Security

Ring Oscillator Physical Unclonable Function (ROPUF) has been the preferred choice for embedding hardware-oriented security and trust in FPGA based systems. Parameters such as uniformity, uniqueness, bit-aliasing, and reliability have been used to measure the performance of PUFs. In this paper, we present an XOR-Inverter based ROPUF which has improved uniformity, uniqueness, and bit-aliasing when compared with other designs. From the results, it is observed that the proposed 3 stage XOR-Inverter based design can produce Challenge Response Pairs (CRPs) with 47.64% uniqueness (50% ideal value), 49.8% uniformity (50% ideal value), and 50% bit-aliasing (50% ideal value) when compared to the best results from other similar ROPUF structures which yield uniqueness, uniformity, and bit-aliasing of 45%–47%, 50.53% and 47–50.5%, respectively. The reliability of our proposed PUF is better than most existing designs; however, it is fractionally less than that of the design presented in [6].
The representation of women as authors of submissions to ecology journals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Observations made from papers submitted to preprint servers, and the speculation of editors on social media platforms, suggest that women are submitting fewer papers to scholarly journals than are men during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here I examine whether submissions by men and women to six ecology journals (all published by the British Ecological Society) have changed since the start of COVID disruptions. At these six ecology journals there is no evidence of a decline in the proportion of submissions that are authored by women (as either first or submitting author) since the start of the COVID-19 disruptions; the proportion of papers authored by women in the post-COVID period of 2020 has increased relative to the same period in 2019, and is higher than in the period pre-COVID in 2020. There is also no evidence of a change in the geographic pattern of submissions from across the globe.
Social Media Message Designs to Educate Adolescents About E-Cigarettes.

Abstract Purpose E-cigarette use is increasing among adolescents, despite potential harms. Social media messages are a promising way to educate youth about e-cigarettes, yet little is known about what message topics and formats will have beneficial impacts for message reception, reach, e-cigarette knowledge, and beliefs about harms. Methods A national convenience sample of adolescents (n = 928, aged 15–18 years) in high school was recruited for an online experiment. In October 2019, participants were randomized to view one of three social media formats (visual based, quiz, and text only) or a no-message control. Participants in format conditions viewed six unique topics in a random order. Outcomes were e-cigarette knowledge and beliefs. Message reactions and sharing preferences were also assessed among youth who saw social media messages. Results Social media messages led to greater knowledge (Cohen's f = .19; p Conclusions Social media messages can educate about e-cigarette harms. Social media campaigns are a promising e-cigarette education strategy to reach youth, directly and potentially through peer-to-peer sharing.
Machine Learning Approach to Forecast Work Zone Mobility using Probe Vehicle Data

The aim of deploying intelligent transportation systems (ITS) is often to help engineers and operators identify traffic congestion. The future of ITS-based traffic management is the prediction of t...
Pre-operative Predictors of Weight Loss and Weight Regain Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: a Prospective Human Study

There are currently few pre-operative predictors of initial and long-term weight loss following bariatric surgery. We evaluated the role of pre-operative patient characteristics and baseline gut and adipose-derived hormones in predicting maximal total body weight loss (WLmax) and risk of weight regain (WR) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. One hundred five adult patients undergoing primary RYGB were prospectively recruited. Baseline demographics were recorded and fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C), insulin, glucagon, leptin, active ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) levels were measured on day of surgery. Our cohort had a mean age of 44.4 ± 13.0 years, and initial BMI (body mass index) of 45.1 ± 6.7 kg/m2 with mean post-operative follow-up of 40 months. Eighty patients were female and 26 had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Average WLmax was 35.3 ± 7.4%. On univariate analysis, higher baseline fasting ghrelin, lower age, lower CRP (C-reactive protein), lower A1C, and negative T2D status were associated with greater WLmax (p < 0.05). Controlling for these variables using stepwise multivariate regression, only higher fasting ghrelin and younger age were associated significantly with greater WLmax (p < 0.05). In subgroup multivariate regression analysis of T2D patients, higher ghrelin and glucagon were significantly associated with greater WLmax. Following stepwise multivariate regression, lower initial BMI and lower glucagon were associated with greater WR (p < 0.05). Incorporation of baseline biological and hormonal markers may help in developing more accurate predictive models for weight loss following bariatric surgery that help inform patient counseling and decision-making.
Toward Nonbinary Nuance in Research and Care: Mapping Differences in Gender Affirmation and Transgender Congruence in an Online National U.S. Survey

Purpose: To close gaps in transgender health research, we mapped trends in gender affirmation processes (i.e., social, legal, and psychological transitions) that are unique among nonbinary (NB) transgender adults when compared with transgender women (TW) and transgender men (TM). Methods: Data were drawn from the Columbia Trans Empowerment Survey (N=707), an online national study conducted between 2014 and 2015 in the United States. We used one-way analysis of variance tests, chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and post hoc analyses to estimate differences in gender affirmation processes and transgender congruence between: (1) NB adults, n=271, 38%; (2) TW, n=291, 41%; and (3) TM, n=145, 21%. We then identified bivariate correlations between variables of interest. Results: In the full sample (n=707), we found significant positive bivariate correlations between pursuing gender affirmation and transgender congruence. In terms of demographics, NB participants were significantly more likely to be queer (42.1%), polyamorous (25.5%), unemployed (44.8%), and younger (median=22) than TW and TM. They also reported taking significantly fewer gender affirmation processes, with significant differences between the three groups in terms of particular experiences. The NB participants also reported significantly lower rates of transgender congruence, specifically lower appearance congruence though similar gender identity acceptance. Conclusion: The NB transgender adults in this sample report unique identity-related characteristics, including significantly lower rates of medical/social transition as well as decreased transgender congruence. These data are among the first to describe unique pathways by which NB adults, TW, and TM may pursue gender affirmation and interact with providers as they navigate congruence, transition, and well-being.
Comments on Structure-based design of antiviral drug candidates targeting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease by Dai et al (2020)

Chiappelli argues that the article by Dai and colleagues is an informative piece of writing on the main protease (Mpro, i e , 3C-like protease, 3-CLpro;E C 3 4 22 69) of SARS-CoV2, the virus responsible for CoViD-19 Mpro is a cysteine protease enzyme key for the replication and transcription of SARS Corona viral genome The X-ray structures of the unliganded protease and its complex with an a-ketoamide inhibitor, were the basis for design of a-ketoamide inhibitors for a treatment of SARS-CoV infection a decade ago He said that it is an experimental study, with a small Phase 0 trial component on a laboratory-manufactured compound that blocks the replication of SARS-CoV2, the virus responsible for the CoViD-19 pandemic The study is important because it is foundational for the development of specific anti-SARS-CoV2 drugs It has limited immediate value due to lack thereof, on human cells in vitro
Factors associated with driver injury severity of lane changing crashes involving younger and older drivers.

Abstract Lane change maneuvers can be a difficult driving task for many drivers, particularly, younger and inexperienced drivers and older drivers. Frequent and improper lane changing has a substantial effect on both traffic operations and safety. This study investigates the factors that contribute to the injury severity of crashes resulting from improper lane change maneuvers involving younger and older drivers in Alabama. Crash data for the study was obtained from the Critical Analysis Reporting Environment (CARE) system developed by the Center for Advanced Public Safety at the University of Alabama. Preliminary data analysis showed that younger drivers were responsible for about 63.1 % of the crashes. Random logit with heterogeneity in means models were developed to identify significant crash factors that were associated with the crash outcomes. The results show that younger male drivers were more likely to be severely injured in lane changing crashes whereas older male drivers were less likely to be severely injured. The results further show that younger drivers were more likely to sustain a major injury on six-lane highways whereas older drivers sustained major injuries from overtaking maneuvers on two-lane highways. It was further found that while younger drivers got into major injury crashes under daylight conditions, older drivers were more likely to be involved in major injury crashes under dark/unlit lighting conditions. Improper lane changing constitutes some form of aggressive driving which needs to be addressed considering that many lives are lost annually from the practice. The findings from this study may be used by road safety advocates and practitioners to identify what and how to target crash countermeasures to the younger and older driver population groups in the state.
Constitutional Newspeak: Learning to Love the Affordable Care Act Decision

In his classic dystopian novel, 1984, George Orwell imagines a world in which language is regularly contorted to mean its opposite as in the waging of war by the Ministry of Peace and infliction of torture by the Ministry of Love. A core claim of Orwell's was that such abuse of language which in his novel he labeled "Newspeak"-would ultimately channel thought. Whatever the merits of this claim as a theory of linguistics, constitutional developments too recent to be called history demonstrate that as a practical matter Orwell was on to something. The Court's June 28 decision both upholding and invalidating the Affordable Care Act ("ACA" or "the Act") is both a product and an example of constitutional Newspeak. For the last two years, the question of the constitutionality of the ACA deeply divided public opinion, the legal profession, the lower federal courts, and ultimately the Supreme Court of the United States. Throughout all the exhaustive and exhausting debates, editorials, discussions, arguments, and opinions, however, one legal proposition commanded complete accord: that Congress'sCommerce Clause powers were subject to judicially enforceable limits. It is no small irony, then, that this universally recognized legal proposition happens to be false. Indeed, it has not been true for almost a century, is not true today, and will not be true for the indefinite future. Moreover, the falsity of this proposition cannot be news to anyone. Time and again, throughout the twentieth century and so far as we have come in the next, the Court has demonstrated that it is either unwilling or unable to impose meaningful constraints on Congress's power under the Commerce Clause. To be sure, the Court has assiduously avoided acknowledging this reality. It has, instead, reliably carried forward in its opinions sententious declarations to the contrary proclamations of its somber but inalienable duty to prevent Congress from straying past its bounds. Patently false, these claims nonetheless shaped and ultimately governed the Commerce Clause controversy generated by the ACA. At every turn in the ACA litigation, the Act's defenders were hindered * Professor, University of Cincinnati College of Law. For their comments and suggestions, I thank Lou Bilionis, Emily Houh, Tom McAffee, Darrell Miller, and Verna Williams. Thanks also to Sarah Topy, Chris Kunz, and Brian Daniels for excellent research assistance, and the University of Cincinnati College of Law and the Harold C. Schott Foundation for financial support. Of course remaining errors are mine alone.
Parallel logic/fault simulation of VLSI array logic

Current techniques in logic/fault simulation treat the problem as a nonnumeric one in which the basic primitives involved are Boolean operations, string matching/manipulation operations, bitwise or wordwise comparison operations, etc. A technique for reformulating the problem in terms of standard vector and matrix operation primitives which are well supported on all scientific machines is described. The overall computing environment is assumed to be a scientific/engineering one, with Fortran as the primary coding medium and the hardware biased toward numerically intensive applications. Attention is restricted to VLSI array logic. >
Studies on the Energy Metabolism of Human Leukocytes

Glycolysis control by respiration in human leukocytes with and without Pasteur effect conditions
Hepatic Scintiangiographic Patterns

Additional information can be obtained by imaging the liver repeatedly during the first two minutes after intravenous injection of a bolus of 99mTc-sulfur colloid. This study is referred to as hepatic scintiangiography and depicts arterial and venous blood flow in the liver in a manner analogous to contrast angiography. In normal patients, radioactivity within the hepatic bed is greatly reduced during the arterial phase and increased during the venous phase. In patients with hepatic neoplasms, arterialization or “tumor stain” is seen at the site of the lesion. The scintiangiogram is normal in fatty metamorphosis but reveals diffuse arterialization in cirrhosis. Patients with amoebic abscess, cyst, or hematoma demonstrate decreased blood flow at the site of the lesion.
Overexpression of Apaf-1 Promotes Apoptosis of Untreated and Paclitaxel- or Etoposide-treated HL-60 Cells

Recent studies have demonstrated that Apaf-1 is the adaptor molecule which in the presence of cytosolic cytochrome c (cyt c) and dATP interacts with procaspase-9, resulting in the sequential cleavage and activity of caspase-9 and caspase-3, followed by apoptosis. In the present studies, we determined the effect of enforced overexpression of Apaf-1 on the apoptotic threshold in the human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells. Our findings demonstrate that both transient and stable transfections resulted in a 2.5-fold higher expression of Apaf-1, which was associated with approximately a 5-fold increase in the percentage of apoptosis in the transfectants (HL-60/Apaf-1) as compared with the control HL-60/neo cells. In cells overexpressing either Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL, transient overexpression of Apaf-1 did not induce apoptosis. Stably overexpressing Apaf-1 levels significantly sensitized HL-60/Apaf-1 cells to apoptosis induced by clinically achievable concentrations of paclitaxel or etoposide (P < 0.01). This increase in paclitaxel- or etoposide-induced apoptosis of HL-60/Apaf-1 cells was not associated with any significant alterations in Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, Fas, or Fas ligand expression. It was, however, clearly associated with caspase-9 cleavage, as well as the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and DFF45 cleavage activity of caspase-3. Coexpression of the catalytically inactive, dominant-negative, mutant caspase-9, XIAP, or treatment with the caspase inhibitor, zVAD, significantly inhibited the increase in apoptosis of HL-60/Apaf-1 cells (P < 0.01). These data indicate that the intracellular levels of Apaf-1 is an important molecular determinant of the threshold for apoptosis induced by paclitaxel and etoposide.
The influence of smoker status, smoking history, sex, and situational variables on smokers' self-efficacy☆

Recent work in smoking cessation has focused on cognitive factors related to relapse and maintenance. The present investigation utilized an established self-efficacy-based questionnaire to determine whether sex, length of smoking history, successful quitting attempts, and environmental events affected subjects' perceived confidence of resisting smoking urges. It was hypothesized that: (a) subjects with fewer years smoking would have higher self-efficacy than those smoking for longer periods; (b) reported self-efficacy would be lowest for those situations involving negative moods; and (c) successful quitters would report higher self-efficacy than unsuccessful quitters. The second and third hypotheses were strongly confirmed, and a nonsignificant tendency in the expected direction was found for the first hypothesis. The results were generally consistent with the self-efficacy and the Abstinence Violation Effect (AVE) models.
Olfactory-mediated stream-finding behavior of migratory adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

Stream-finding behavior of adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), an anadromous fish that relies on pheromones to locate spawning streams, was documented in the vicinity of an important spawning river in the Great Lakes. Untreated and anosmic migrating sea lampreys were implanted with acoustic transmitters and then released outside the Ocqueoc River. Lampreys swam only at night and then actively. When outside of the river plume, lampreys pursued relatively straight bearings parallel to the shoreline while making frequent vertical excursions. In contrast, when within the plume, lampreys made large turns and exhibited a weak bias towards the river mouth, which one-third of them entered. The behavior of anosmic lampreys resembled that of untreated lampreys outside of the plume, except they pursued a more northerly compass bearing. To locate streams, sea lampreys appear to employ a three-phase odor-mediated strategy that involves an initial search along shorelines while casting vertically, followed by river-...
Fracture toughness of poly(butylene terephthalate)

Abstract The overall fracture toughness of poly(butylene terephthalate) as well as plane stress and plane strain contributions have been measured as a function of rate from 5 × 10 −2 to 5 × 10 3 in/min. A pronounced sample thickness dependence in K c is observed over this range. Poly(butylene terephthalate) appears to exhibit excellent resistance to low speed crack propagation with internal voiding providing an effective crack blunting mechanism.
High Mobility Ions in Cycloalkanes. Transient Dc Conductivity

Transient dc conductivity is used to observe high-mobility ions in laser photolysis and pulse radiolysis of cyclohexane and decalins. While in decalins the scavenging of the dc conductivity signal from these ions by solutes is a pseudo-first-order reaction, in cyclohexane the behavior is more complex and is indicative of the involvement of two species. This bimodality is rationalized in terms of a dynamic equilibrium between the conformers of the solvent radical cation. A similar equilibrium between the isomer radical cations of decalin is needed to account for the results on photoinduced conductivity in the mixtures of cis- and trans-decalin. In both of these cases, the mechanism of the equilibrium is the reversible charge transfer.
Longitudinal renal function in pediatric heart transplant recipients: 20-years experience.

This study was initiated to assess the temporal trends of renal function, and define risk factors associated with worsening renal function in pediatric heart transplant recipients in the immediate post-operative period. We performed a single-center retrospective study in children ≤18 yr receiving OHT (1993–2012). The AKIN's validated, three-tiered AKI staging system was used to categorize the degree of WRF. One hundred sixty-four patients qualified for inclusion. Forty-seven patients (28%) were classified as having WRF after OHT. Nineteen patients (11%) required dialysis after heart transplantation. There was a sustained and steady improvement in renal function in children following heart transplantation in all age groups, irrespective of underlying disease process. The significant factors associated with risk of WRF included body surface area (OR: 1.89 for 0.5 unit increase, 95% CI: 1.29–2.76, p = 0.001) and use of ECMO prior to and/or after heart transplantation (OR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.51–8.13, p = 0.004). Use of VAD prior to heart transplantation was not associated with WRF (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.17–1.51, p = 0.22). On the basis of these data, we demonstrate that worsening renal function improves early after orthotopic heart transplantation.
Coping with Noise in E. coli Chemotaxis

In this work, we use theoretical tools to study the effects of noise on the ability of a cell to chemotax and, more specifically, how bacteria cope. We first use simulations to show that adaptation time (filter cutoff frequency) affects the chemotactic performance of the cell and that mere exists an optimal adaptation time that allows cells to chemotax tire furthest. Having shown that the adaptation time can make a difference to chemotactic efficiency we conjecture that this effect is predicated on the ability of the cell to estimate its environment accurately in the presence of noise.
Effect of rotation on sloshing in low-gravity

The theory of sloshing in low-gravity is extended to include rotation of the spacecraft. In low-gravity without rotation, surface tension is the only force that constrains the free surface. The Coreolis and centrifugal forces are added to the force balance when a spacecraft rotates. The equations of motion with the accompanying boundary conditions are solved in the linear approximation with the three relevant forces included. A geometry with circular symmetry is assumed. The analysis is analytic and the resulting formulas are evaluated by computation. The damping of the resonant modes is determined using boundary layer theory. The pressure field is integrated over the walls of the container to find the forces and torques due to sloshing. The results are expressed as transfer functions in the frequency domain from the motion of the container to the forces and torques on the spacecraft. These transfer functions are also stated in the Laplace transform s-domain. Then, they can be combined with the models of the controls and dynamics to form an overall transfer function for the motion of the spacecraft. A new type of resonance is found that results from the frequency dependence of the waveform. The method is applied to the NASA mission Gravity Probe-B and some results are presented.
The Effects of Changes in Corporate Governance and Restructurings on Operating Performance: Evidence from Privatizations

Using a sample of 161 firms (privatized from 1961-1999), our study offers evidence regarding how restructurings and corporate governance changes affect the firm's post-privatization performance. Prior to privatization, governments may choose to restructure firms through governance changes (i.e., establish relation with strategic foreign investors, implement employee share ownership plans) and/or restructurings (i.e., acquisitions, divestitures, re-capitalizations). We first extend the existing privatization research by documenting and describing these restructurings. We then conduct preliminary tests to examine whether such restructurings/governance changes have contributed to improvements in post-privatization operating performance. Our results suggest that both restructuring and changes in corporate governance are important determinants of post-privatization performance. We feel that our multi-national, multi-industry sample provides a broad perspective of share-issue privatizations and offers opportunities to identify potential sources of efficiency improvements in newly privatized firms.
Outcomes of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator for acute ischaemic stroke in HIV-infected adults.

Background and purpose To our knowledge there are no studies reporting the use and short-term outcomes of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-TPA) for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) in people living with HIV. Methods The US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) (2006–2010) was searched for HIV-infected AIS patients treated with IV-TPA. Results In the NIS, 2.2% (62/2877) of HIV-infected AIS cases were thrombolyzed with IV-TPA (median age 52 years, range 27–78, 32% female, 22% Caucasian) vs. 2.1% (19 335/937 896) of HIV-uninfected cases (median age 72 years, range 17–102 years, 50% female, 74% Caucasian; P = 0.77). There were more deaths in HIV-infected versus uninfected patients with stroke (220/2877, 7.6% vs. 49 089/937 547, 5.2%, P < 0.001) but no difference in the proportion of deaths amongst IV-TPA-treated patients. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio for death following IV-TPA administration in HIV-infected versus uninfected patients was 2.26 (95% CI 1.12, 4.58), but the interaction on mortality between HIV and IV-TPA use was not statistically significant, indicating no difference in risk of in-hospital death by HIV serostatus with IV-TPA use. A higher number of HIV-infected patients remained in hospital versus died or were discharged at both 10 and 30 days (P < 0.01 at 10 and 30 days). No difference in the proportion of intracerebral hemorrhage in the two groups was found (P = 0.362). Conclusions The in-hospital mortality is higher amongst HIV-infected AIS patients than HIV-uninfected patients. However, the risk of death amongst HIV-infected patients treated with IV-TPA is similar to HIV-uninfected groups.
Dual rotating compensator ellipsometry: Theory and simulations

Abstract Systematic methods for data reduction have been developed for the dual rotating-compensator ellipsometer in the PC 1r (ω 1 )SC 2r (ω 2 )A configuration, where P, C 1r (ω 1 ), S, C 2r (ω 2 ), and A represent the polarizer, first rotating compensator, reflecting sample, second rotating compensator, and analyzer, respectively. The approach used here is more general than previous treatments in that it incorporates dichroic compensators that rotate synchronously at a frequency ratio ω 1 :ω 2 of p : q , where p and q are integers. For specific frequency ratios, the 24 ac Fourier coefficients of the irradiance waveform at the detector over-determine the 15 real elements of the (1,1)-normalized Mueller matrix and the 3 complex elements of the (2,2)-normalized Jones matrix. Alternative data reduction approaches resulting from this capability of over-determination are shown through numerical simulations to have different performance characteristics under non-ideal experimental conditions. Finally, the importance of using an achromatic retarder design in the dual rotating-compensator ellipsometer is emphasized through these simulations.
Treatment of Ventricular Assist Device Driveline Infection With Vacuum-Assisted Closure System

Deep driveline infection is a serious complication after left ventricular assist device implantation. Current treatment strategies are associated with significant morbidity related to healing or relocation of the driveline tract. We present a case of deep driveline infection successfully treated with a vacuum-assisted closure system as a potentially improved alternative therapy.
The effects of foliar application of cytokinins on potato yields in southeastern Idaho

The “Cytex” product, a commercial seaweed extract containing natural cytokinins, was tested as a foliar spray for seven years, using several potato clones and several rates and dates of application. Throughout seven years, the Russet Burbank cultivar showed no measurable response to the “Cytex” product. Application of kinetin in a single season also produced no response.
Mechanical properties of a corn starch product during the post-frying period

The mechanical properties of the crust and core regions of an immersion-fried corn starch patty containing different amounts of gluten, amylose, and amylopectin were studied after various storage times. Moisture and oil profiles for the different gluten contents were also determined during post-frying storage. The addition of gluten did not affect the hardness of the crust region of the fried samples during storage, but the addition of amylose and amylopectin significantly increased the hardness of the crust. Samples with 5% added amylopectin showed a similar behavior, but in this case the puncture force significantly increased during the first hour of storage and remained constant thereafter. The range of linear viscoelastic behavior for fried corn starch patties in compression was for strains up to 4%. Stress relaxation curves showed that the elasticity of corn starch patties increased with time of storage, but decreased with the addition of gluten. The addition of 5% amylose caused a significant increase in elasticity, whereas with 5% amylopectin, the increase in this variable was less noticeable.
Designing an intelligent user interface for instructional video indexing and browsing

Instructional videos are used intensively in universities for remote education and e-learning, and a typical university course consists of videos of more than two thousand minutes in total length. This paper presents a novel graphics user interface for indexing and browsing such extensive but thematically related content. We present how the interface automatically extracts semantic indices from the visual content, and then presents both high- and low-level cues from five different conceptual viewpoints. We detail each of these novel UI units, and show how they are integrated into a user-adjustable main framework, and interconnected and navigated through user mouse events.
Cholesterol‐lowering effect of dextro‐thyroxine in patients with hypercholesterolemia and coronary diseasel

Sixty-three patients with hypercholesterolemia and coronary disease were treated with d-thyroxine for an average period of 16 months. D-thyroxine decreased serum cholesterol without increasing the metabolic rate significantly when amt ranging from 4–8 mg/day were used. In 56 patients with essential hypercholesterolemia d-thyroxine lowered the serum cholesterol in a little over half of the patients. In five patients with hypothyroidism and hypercholesterolemia treated with thyroid extract, the addition of d-thyroxine resulted in marked and sustained lowering of serum cholesterol without causing hypermetabolism. In two patients with diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia d-thyroxine lowered the serum cholesterol without significantly affecting the diabetic state and the insulin requirement. Increase in angina was seen in 13% of the patients. In man, d-thyroxine lowers the serum cholesterol by increasing the degradation and excretion of cholesterol.
A simplified algorithm for computing stationary cost variances of optimally controlled stochastic systems

Although procedures exist for finding the cost variance of an optimally controlled stochastic, jump parameter system, the computational complexity inherent in these procedures impedes their general use. An algorithm is provided here that will provide the stationary cost variance with significantly less effort. An example illustrating the mechanics of the algorithm is presented.
Conformational studies of dibenzo-16-crown-5 lariat ethers

Abstract Conformations of sym-(R)(OR′)dibenzo-16-crown-5 compounds with R = decyl and R′ = H, CH3, CH2CO2H, and CH2CO2CH3, as well as R = alkyl, fluoroalkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl and R′ = CH2CO2H, in solution have been probed by NMR spectroscopy. The difference in chemical shifts of the diastereotopic hydrogens for the methylene groups adjacent to the geminally substituted ring carbon is utilized to assess the ease of inversion of the three-carbon bridges. For lariat ethers with R = C10H21, the chemical shift difference is much larger when R′ = CH2CO2H and CH2CO2CH3 than H and CH3. In non-hydrogen bonding solvents, the chemical shift difference for lariat ethers with R = C10H21 is much larger when R′ = CH2CO2H than CH2CO2CH3 which demonstrates intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the carboxylic acid-containing side arm with a crown ether oxygen.
Indoor air VOC concentrations in suburban and rural New Jersey.

Indoor VOC air concentrations of many compounds are higher than outdoor concentrations due to indoor sources. However, most studies have measured residential indoor air in urban centers so the typical indoor air levels in suburban and rural regions have not been well characterized. Indoor VOC air concentrations were measured in 100 homes in suburban and rural areas in NJ to provide background levels for investigations of the impact from subsurface contamination sources. Of the 57 target compounds, 23 were not detected in any of the homes, and 14 compounds were detected in at least 50% of the homes with detection limits of ∼1 μg/m3. The common compounds identified included aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons from mobile sources, halogenated hydrocarbons commonly used in consumer products or from chlorinated drinking water, acetone and 2-butanone emitted from cosmetic products, and Freons. Typical concentrations were in the low μg/m3 range, though values of tens, hundreds or even thousands of μg/m3 were mea...
Is there really very rapid forgetting from primary memory? The role of expectancy and item importance in short-term recall

In two experiments, subjects recalled one of two letter segments following a digit-filled reten­ tion interval. In Experiment 1, recall expectancy was manipulated by using precues that cor­ rectly informed or misinformed subjects concerning which letter segment would be tested for re­ call. In Experiment 2, item importance was varied by precuing one segment as important but requiring that the uncued segment be recalled first. Recall performance was very low under con­ ditions of low expectancy and low segment importance, but the slopes of the retention functions did not demonstrate more rapid forgetting than under standard conditions. The previous obser­ vations of very rapid forgetting from primary memory may be a function of an elevated initial recall level in the earlier studies. Our retention functions were compared with predictions of the Estes perturbation model. The findings suggested that when secondary memory processes were reduced, forgetting order information from primary memory occurred at the same rate as that estimated on the basis of previous studies using the standard distractor task.
Characterization of the functional muscarinic receptors in the rat urinary bladder

1. Muscarinic receptors mediating contraction of the rat urinary bladder were characterized functionally in vitro by use of atropine, 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP methiodide), 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-(2-chloroethyl)-piperidine hydrochloride (4-DAMP mustard), hexahydro-sila-diphenidol hydrochloride (HHSiD), the p-fluoro analogue of hexahydro-sila-diphenidol hydrochloride (p-F-HHSiD), methoctramine, and pirenzepine. 2. (+)-cis-Dioxolane contracted bladder strips in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC50 of 0.169 +/- 0.018 microM and an Emax of 7.84 +/- 0.67 g. 3. Concentration-effect curves to (+)-cis-dioxolane were shifted to the right in the presence of the antagonists in a concentration-dependent manner. The rank order of antagonist affinities against the (+)-cis-dioxolane response was (pA2 values in the parentheses) atropine (9.28) > or = 4-DAMP methiodide (9.04) > HHSiD (8.01) > p-F-HHSiD (7.28) = pirenzepine (7.12) > or = methoctramine (6.77, 7.25). The profile resembles that associated with the M3 receptor subtype. 4. Atropine, 4-DAMP methiodide, pirenzepine, and methoctramine had no effects on the contractile response to 120 mM KCl. However, HHSiD and p-F-HHSiD decreased the response to KCl, and 4-DAMP mustard increased it. 5. Contractile responses to electrical field stimulation (1-32 Hz, 0.05 ms pulse duration) were biphasic in nature. The tonic response was suppressed more than the phasic response by all antagonists except methoctramine. The suppression was not always concentration-dependent, and did not seem to be related to antagonism of any one receptor subtype. 6. Our findings are consistent with the minority M3 receptors mediating the contractile response to muscarinic stimulation by (+)-cis-dioxolane in the rat bladder.