cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of stochastic gradient-free algorithms for system optimization

Stochastic approximation (SA) algorithms can be used in system optimization problems for which only noisy measurements of the system are available and the gradient of the loss function is not. This paper studies three types of SA algorithms in a multivariate Kiefer-Wolfowitz setting, which uses only noisy measurements of the loss function (i.e., no loss function gradient measurements). The algorithms considered are: the standard finite-difference SA (FDSA) and two accelerated algorithms, the random-directions SA (RDSA) and the simultaneous-perturbation SA (SPSA). RDSA and SPSA use randomized gradient approximations based on (generally) far fewer function measurements than FDSA in each iteration. This paper describes the asymptotic error distribution for a class of RDSA algorithms, and compares the RDSA, SPSA, and FDSA algorithms theoretically and numerically. Based on the theoretical and numerical results, SPSA is the preferable algorithm to use.
Induction of lymphoid hyperplasia and lymphoma-like disease in rabbits by Herpesvirus sylvilagus.

Herpesvirus sylvilagus, a recently recognized virus indigenous to cottontail rabbits, was examined for its ability to produce experimental disease in its natural host. Infection led to the establishment of a persisting low-grade viremia in which virus was found in the cellular portion of the blood for the entire observation period. Pathologic changes seen in infected animals were related exclusively to stimulation of the lymphoid organs which varied in intensity from mild to apparently malignant. The response in all cotton tails was a generalized lymphoid hyperplasia with a corresponding lymphocytosis and the appearance of large numbers of abnormal mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood. In addition, 27% of immature cottontails (juveniles) and 10% of adult animals showed a loss of normal lymph-node structure and massive mononuclear cell infiltration of other organs which was unrelated to destruction of parenchymal cells by the virus and which resembled, in some respects, the histologic picture seen in malignant lymphoma. Le virus herpetique sylvilagus, un virus recemment decouvert dont l'hǒte naturel est le lapin de garenne, a ěte etudie sous l'angle de son aptitude a provoquer chez son hǒte une maladie experimentale. L'infection entraǐne l'etablissement d'une viremie faible mais persistante; pendant toute la periode d'observation, on a constate que le virus se trouvait dans la partie cellulaire du sang. Les modifications pathologiques observees chez les animaux infectes sont liees exclusivement a la stimulation des organes lymphoides qui varie d'intensite entre un stade benin et un stade apparemment malin. Chez tous les lapins de garenne, la reponse se traduit par une hyperplasie lymphoide generalisee et par une lymphocytose correspondante, ainsi que par l'apparition de grands nombres de cellules mononucleaires anormales dans le sang peripherique. En outre, 27% de lapins de garenne immatures (lapereaux) et 10% de lapins adultes ont subi une degradation de la structure normale des ganglions lymphatiques et une infiltration massive de cellules mononucleaires d'autres organes qui n'avaient aucun lien avec la destruction des cellules parenchymateuses par le virus et qui ressemblaient, a certains egards, au tableau histologique du lymphone malin.
Gender, Critical Mass, and Judicial Decision Making

We examine the role of gender in legal decision making by applying critical mass theory to the U.S. federal district courts. We analyze whether behavioral differences manifest themselves in the decision-making proclivities of male and female judges, contingent on the existence of a critical mass of female judges at a court point (i.e., each city in which a district court is located). Our results indicate that women jurists exhibit distinctive behavior in certain cases when there is a critical mass of women at a court point. These differences are most significant in criminal justice cases; modest differences between men and women are also identified in civil rights and liberties cases. Gender is not significant in labor and economic regulation cases. These findings suggest that the increasing presence of women on the federal bench could have substantial policy ramifications in the American polity.
Level of Internet Use Among Science Teachers Involved in a Professional Development Project

This study examined the level of instructional use of Internet among science teachers involved with an in-service professional development project. An instrument on Level of Use of innovation was modified for the study. A criterion sample of teachers to be interviewed via telephone was randomly selected from a pool of 347 K–12 teachers. Somers' d and contingency coefficients were determined to see whether any relationship exists between a teacher's Level of Use and the following categories: (a) amount of experience with the Internet; (b) availability of resources support and access to the Internet in classroom and at home; (c) number of teacher and student users at school, (d) gender; and (e) type of school. Results of step-wise multiple regression indicate that classroom access, instructional experience of using Internet with students, availability of resource support and number of teacher users at school are the best predictors of teacher's Level of Use. Chi square test for comparisons between groups of completers and noncompleters of On-Line West Virginia K–12 RuralNet courses also revealed that a lack of classroom access to Internet and lack of resource/technical support at school contributed significantly to lower level of use among noncompleters.
Reactor Physics Methods and Analysis Capabilities in SCALE

The TRITON sequence of the SCALE code system provides a powerful, robust, and rigorous approach for performing reactor physics analysis. This paper presents a detailed description of TRITON in terms of its key components used in reactor calculations. The ability to accurately predict the nuclide composition of depleted reactor fuel is important in a wide variety of applications. These applications include, but are not limited to, the design, licensing, and operation of commercial/research reactors and spent-fuel transport/storage systems. New complex design projects such as next-generation power reactors and space reactors require new high-fidelity physics methods, such as those available in SCALE/TRITON, that accurately represent the physics associated with both evolutionary and revolutionary reactor concepts as they depart from traditional and well-understood light water reactor designs.
EL BAÑO DEL MINISTRO Y EL EMBAJADOR: FRAGA Y DUKE EN PALOMARES, 1966

This essayʼs thesis concerns the transformation of Franco’s regime from the beginnings of the 1960ʼs towards a form of governmentality premised on contemporary biopolitics. This transformation finds its most precise articulation in the emerging importance of the Ministry of Information and Tourism under Manuel Fraga Iribarne, and its partial substitution and relegation of the General Secretary of the Movement. The Palomares episode is crucial to understand the biopolitical function of the new ministry. This essays pays suitable attention to one of its protagonists, US Ambassador Duke.
Interconnect and cell redundancy tradeoffs for WSI: an FFT case study

The authors describe the results of an investigation into the relationship between cell redundancy, yield, and interconnect area for WSI (wafer scale integration) designs. A general analysis framework is presented which allows algorithmic computation of the optimum amount of redundancy from an area efficiency standpoint. The results of this theoretical study were applied to the case study of an 8-point FFT (fast Fourier transform) WSI design which uses a novel architecture requiring only two functional cell types. The optimum design point and predicted cell yield are identified for this case study. >
Modeling of reaction-induced flow maldistributions in packed beds

This work examines reaction-induced flow maldistributions in adiabatic, downflow packed beds. Using linear stability analysis it is shown that for the case of a constant heat source, the uniform flow loses stability when a certain dimensionless group, the Darcy buoyancy number, exceeds a critical value. Center manifold theory is used to analyze the local bifurcation picture for the case of a simple and double zero eigenvalue. It is found that for large Peclet numbers, all the bifurcations from the uniform solution are subcritical in nature and are unstable locally. Orthogonal collocation and continuation techniques are combined with the local theory to determine the various branches of bifurcating solutions. The temperature and flow distributions of stable and unstable solution branches are presented for several aspect ratios and Peclet numbers. Numerical simulations predict direct transitions from uniform flow to periodic or chaotic flows. It is also found that there is a wide range of the Darcy buoyancy number in which the uniform and maldistributed flows are stable and coexist.
Differential Regulation of the Myosin Heavy Chain Genes α and β in Rat Atria and Ventricles: Role of Antisense RNA

Background: The myosin heavy chain (MHC) genes are regulated by triiodothyronine (T3) in a reciprocal and chamber-specific manner. To further our understanding of the potential mechanisms involved, we determined the T3 responsiveness of the MHC genes, α and β, and the β-MHC antisense (AS) gene in the rat ventricles and atria. Methods: Hypothyroid rats were administered a single physiologic (1 μg) or pharmacologic (20 μg) dose of T3, and sequential measurements of β-MHC hn- and AS RNA and α-MHC heterogeneous nuclear RNA from rat ventricular and atrial myocardium were performed with reverse transcription PCR. Results: We have demonstrated that T3 treatment increases the myocyte content of an AS β-MHC RNA in atria and ventricles that includes sequences complementary to both the first 5′ and last 3′ introns of the β-MHC sense transcript. In the hypothyroid rat ventricle, β-MHC sense RNA expression is maximal, while in the euthyroid rat ventricle, β-MHC AS RNA is maximal. β-MHC AS expression increased by 52 ± ...
RTP and TCP based MIDI over IP protocols

In this paper we introduce a relatively large number of RTP and TCP based MIDI over IP protocols and perform statistically significant quantitative experiments on these protocols. We used two baseline simple and naive TCP protocols, one with the Nagle algorithm disabled and one with the Nagle algorithm enabled. We want to determine which of the protocols would be best for performing a musical duet and which protocol would be satisfactory for the network transmission of a MIDI sequence. The MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) specification was created in 1983 and efforts to exploit this musical gesture language in networking protocols began in earnest in the 1990s. A unique design feature of the JMF (Java Media Framework) makes the utilization of reliable transport protocols such as TCP or SCTP possible for either the control channel or data channel or both channels of RTP.
Cytokine Signals Are Sufficient for HIV-1 Infection of Resting Human T Lymphocytes

Lentiviral vectors have been advocated to be effective vehicles for the delivery and stable expression of genes in nondividing primary cells. However, certain cell types, such as resting T lymphocytes, are resistant to infection with HIV-1. Establishing parameters for stable gene delivery into primary human lymphocytes and approaches to overcome the resistance of resting T cells to HIV infection may permit potential gene therapy applications, genetic studies of primary cells in vitro, and a better understanding of the stages of the lentiviral life cycle. Here we demonstrate that an HIV-1–derived vector can be used for stable delivery of genes into activated human T cells as well as natural killer and dendritic cells. Remarkably, a sizeable fraction of resting T cells was stably transduced with the HIV-1 vector when cultured with the cytokine interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-7, or IL-15, or, at a lower level, with IL-6, in the absence of any other stimuli. Resting T cells stimulated with these cytokines could also be infected with replication-competent HIV-1. To test the utility of this system for performing structure–function analysis in primary T cells, we introduced wild-type as well as a mutant form of murine CD28 into human T cells and showed a requirement for the CD28 cytoplasmic domain in costimulatory signaling. The ability to stably express genes of interest in primary T cells will be a valuable tool for genetic and structure–function studies that previously have been limited to transformed cell lines. In addition, the finding that cytokine signals are sufficient to permit transduction of resting T cells with HIV may be relevant for understanding mechanism of HIV-1 transmission and pathogenesis.
Drinking games, tailgating, and pregaming: precollege predictors of risky college drinking.

AbstractBackground: The transition from high school to college is a critical period for developing college drinking habits. Hazardous alcohol consumption increases during this period, as well as participation in drinking games, pregaming, and tailgating. All of these risky drinking practices are associated with higher levels of intoxication as well as an increased risk of alcohol-related problems. Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate pre-college predictors (personality, social norms, and beliefs reflecting the internalization of the college drinking culture [ICDC]) of estimated peak BAC (pBAC) reached during drinking games, pregaming, and tailgating, as well as pBAC and alcohol-related problems during the first 30 days of college. Methods: Participants (n = 936) were incoming freshmen at a large university who completed a baseline assessment prior to college matriculation and a follow-up assessment after they had been on campus for 30 days. Results: Using path analysis, ICDC was significantly as...
The Diffusion of Collaborative Technologies into a College Classroom

What elements are required for successful diffusion of a collaborative technology in a classroom-based educational environment? In this paper, we explore criteria for successful adoption of a collaborative technology in a graduate class. Results of several qualitative focus groups and surveys demonstrated that the classic diffusion of innovation dimensions could be applied to an educational situation if implemented correctly. The adoption and implementation of a new technology was not successful in this class for the following reasons. First, the students involved did not perceive relative advantage over existing technologies with which they were comfortable with. Second, the new technology was not perceived as compatible with their normal work routines and learning patterns. Third, the students did not feel that their initial training was extensive enough to overcome continued resistance to developing new use patterns and overcoming a culture of traditional learning processes. Finally, a system of incentives to incorporate this new technology was not successfully implemented. The implications of our findings for educational learning processes using technology are discussed with suggestions for future research.
Crohn's disease and adenocarcinoma of the bowel

We present six cases of cancer associated with Crohn's disease and stress the importance of the earlier age of onset than spontaneously arising small-bowel carcinoma, the long period of latency from the time of diagnosis of Crohn's disease to that of carcinoma, and the generally poor prognosis. We emphasize, furthermore, the frequent association with fistulas and the predisposition of bypassed or excluded segments of bowel to undergo malignant transformation. The occurrence of carcinoma in an excluded rectal stump has not previously been reported and stresses the necessity of resecting, rather than excluding, segments of bowel involved with Crohn's disease. These tumors are often not readily apparent by radiographic or endoscopic examination and in fact, may be discovered only after microscopic examination of resected or biopsied tissue.
A Tobit type estimator for the censored Poisson regression model

Abstract The Poisson counterpart to the Tobit model is presented. Formulae for the gradient and Hessian of the relevant log-likelihood function are given and incorporated into a Newton-Raphson optimization algorithm. The asymptotic covariance matrix of the estimator is detailed. As an illustration, the NR algorithm is applied to a model of individual shopping behavior.
Immunity to plasmodium chabaudi adami in the b-cell-deficient mouse.

Immunity to malaria has a multicomponent basis which requires the participation of both T- and B-lymphocyte systems1. Previous studies have suggested that the T-lymphocyte system has an essential role in ‘re-infection immunity’ to malaria, but that B cells and/or their products are necessary for the host to survive acute infection and to clear the blood of parasites during chronic malaria2–4. Thus, B-cell-deficient mice and chickens died of fulminant malaria when infected with Plasmodium yoelii and Plasmodium gallinaceum, respectively2,3,5, but when their acute infections were controlled with subcurative chemotherapy, B-cell-deficient hosts developed chronic low-grade infections and resisted challenge with homologous parasites2,4. In contrast, athymic nude mice failed to control their endogenous P. yoelii infection after the termination of drug therapy unless they had been thymus grafted before initiation of acute infection3. We now report that Plasmodium chabaudi adami (556KA) infection in B-cell-deficient mice results in an activation of a T-cell-dependent immune mechanism which terminates acute malaria in a similar way to that seen in immunologically intact mice. Furthermore, these immunized B-cell-deficient mice were resistant to homologous challenge infection as well as infections initiated with Plasmodium vinckei, but not with P. yoelii and Plasmodium berghei.
On diode thermometers

Abstract Forward voltage vs. temperature characteristics are presented for 3 groups of silicon planar p-n junction diodes for the 4–300°K temperature range. Group ‘intrinsic’ characteristics are obtained at temperatures above about 40°K and existing diode theory appropriate for high level injection is successfully applied. Comparison of experimental results with theory permits the determinations of the zero temperature energy gaps of silicon (as well as germanium and gallium arsenide). The values thus obtained are in good agreement with values obtained by other methods. At temperatures below about 40°K, the forward voltage increases more rapidly with decreasing temperature. Deviations are noted among diodes within the same group as well as between groups. This low temperature ‘extrinsic’ characteristic is attributed to carrier freezeout effects at impurities which by increasing the junction width, convert the p-n junction to a p-i-n junction. Confirmation of this hypothesis is found by the current dependence as a function of temperature as well as by the decrease of capacitance with temperature. The role of the impurities in the semiconductor in controlling the slope in the intrinsic range and the sensitivity and deviation from linearity in the extrinsic range is discussed.
Expanding the Temperature Range of Biomimetic Synthesis Using a Ferritin from the Hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus

Biological macromolecules, such as protein cages and viruses, have been shown to serve as excellent templates for the synthesis of nanoscale particles of inorganic materials that give rise to homogeneous properties. However, a limitation in using these molecules in these synthetic reactions has been the temperature stability of the biological template. It is hypothesized that the use of thermally stable proteins isolated from hyperthermophilic bacteria and archaea will overcome this limitation and expand the list of materials with interesting properties that are amenable to biomimetic synthesis. This study reports the synthesis of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) at elevated temperatures using a ferritin with extraordinary temperature stability from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. Protein−mineral composites were characterized by dynamic light scattering, size exclusion chromatography, and transmission electron microscopy, which confirmed the successful encapsulation of the iron oxide particle in th...
Influence of Ca/Na exchange and diamide on membrane partitioning of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in dog red cells.

Abstract 1. 1. Ca/Na exchange in dog red cells is greatly stimulated by pretreatment of the cells with diamide, but only if the diamide preincubation is carried out in a Na-free, Ca-containing medium. 2. 2. Membranes prepared from dog red cells that had been pre-exposed to diamide in solutions containing various combinations of Ca and Na were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. 3. 3. The band representing glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was selectively increased under the very same ionic conditions that result in a diamide-induced stimulation of Ca/Na exchange. 4. 4. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase may participate in the modulation by diamide of Ca/Na exchange in dog red cells.
The dimidiatus species group of the genus Macrocheles Latreille, 1829 (Acari: Macrochelidae): introduction, origins, infragroup relationships, and redescription of Macrocheles dimidiatus Berlese

Abstract The dimidiatus species group of the genus Macrocheles is morphologically defined and the ecology and origins of its phoretic associations with scarabaeid dung beetles in the New World are discussed. Species complexes and selected clusters of the dimidiatus group are keyed, and an expanded description of Macrocheles dimidiatus Berlese, based in part on examination of Berlese's type material, is presented. This paper will provide the basis for an upcoming taxonomic review of the dimidiatus species group.
How well can renewable resources mimic commodity monomers and polymers

This highlight discusses the recent progress aimed at maximizing the potential of biomass for commodity monomers and polymers. These efforts are no longer solely academic issues. In recent years, a variety of alkene, diene, aromatic, and condensation type monomers have utilized renewable resources, such as cellulose, lignin, plant oils, starches, and monoterpenes in commercial polymers. Generally, these multifaceted efforts involve pretreatment of biomass with thermal, chemical, or physical methods followed by a catalyst sequence that entails a combination of acid-catalysis, bio-catalysis, or metal-based catalysis. In this regard, synthesis strategies for ethylene, propylene, α-olefins, methylmethacrylate, 1,3-butadiene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, isoprene, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, and terephthalic acid are discussed as well as opportunities for other renewable-based monomers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Controlling Emissions from Gas Turbines—the Importance of Chemical Kinetics and Turbulent Mixing

Abstract An ideal combustor composed of a fuel-air mixing zone followed by a perfectly stirred reactor (PSR) and a series of plug-flow reactors is studied to determine emission levels of NOx CO, unburned hydrocarbons and soot. It is concluded that these emissions can be reduced to negligible levels provided the stirred reactor is operated at high mass loading rates (Q = [mdot]/P2V) and mixing is perfectly controlled. Fuel and air must be premixed before entering the PSR and local φ must be less than 1.2. Perfect stirring in the PSR is necessary. A controlled amount of dilution air is instantaneously added at the PSR exit to quench NO formation but not CO and hydrocarbon oxidation. The turbulent mixing process required to obtain this ideal is discussed. Mixing times are related to the time scale for large scale eddy breakup (τ1, ∼ l/u) which in turn can be related to the rate of viscous energy dissipation (∊∼u3/l). It is shown that to obtain PSR conditions, l must approach LC , the characteristic chamber d...
Ascorbic acid interaction with metallothionein.

Abstract Analysis of metal binding by metallothionein demonstrated that ascorbic acid decreases binding of cadmium, copper and zinc by metallothionein from both bovine duodenum and liver. Spectral analysis of metallothionein following addition of ascorbic acid indicated that ascorbic acid interacts with metallothionein. These results suggest that ascorbic acid alters the metabolism of cadmium, copper and zinc by competing for sulfhydryl bindings sites on metallothionein.
Effects of MDMA ("ecstasy") during adolescence on place conditioning and hippocampal neurogenesis.

Abstract The use of 3,4,methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), the active agent in ecstasy, during adolescence is widespread yet the effects on adolescent behavior and brain development are unknown. The aim of the present study was 1) to evaluate effects of MDMA in adolescent rats using the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm to measure MDMA-induced reward and 2) assess effects of MDMA administration on cellular proliferation, survival and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. During the adolescent period, MDMA CPP was measured in adolescents [postnatal day (PND) 28–39] by training rats to associate 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 mg/kg MDMA or saline administration with environmental cues. After CPP ended, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was injected and rats were euthanized either 24 h (to evaluate cell proliferation) or 2 weeks (to assess neurogenesis) after the last MDMA injection. Adolescents expressed a CPP for 2.5 mg/kg MDMA. Repeated exposure to 5.0 mg/kg MDMA during adolescence increased cell proliferation, yet diminished neurogenesis, an effect that was replicated using flow cytometry. These findings suggest differential dose effects of adolescent MDMA exposure on reward related behaviors and hippocampal neurogenesis.
Local Imbalance of Turbulent Kinetic Energy in the Surface Layer

We utilize experimental data collected in 2002 over an open field in Hanford, Washington, USA, to investigate the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget in the atmospheric surface layer. The von Karman constant was determined from the near-neutral wind profiles to be 0.36 ± 0.02 rather than the classical value of 0.4. The TKE budget was normalized and all terms were parameterized as functions of a stability parameter z/L, where z is the distance from the ground and L is the Obukhov length. The shear production followed the Businger–Dyer relation for −2 < z/L < 1. Contrary to the traditional Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST), the shear, buoyancy and dissipation terms were found to be imbalanced due to a non-zero vertical transport over all stabilities. Motivated by this local imbalance, modified parameterizations of the dissipation and the turbulent transport were attempted and generated good agreement with the experimental data. Assuming stationarity and horizontal homogeneity, the pressure transport was estimated from the residual of the TKE budget.
Miniaturized sensor module for a mechatronic bearing

To assess the working condition of a rolling element bearing, the condition monitoring system should be located as close as possible to the bearing to take advantage of shorter signal transmission path, increased signal-to-noise ratio, and reduced complexity of the signal processing electronics. The advantages of integrated sensing are presented in this paper, with a focus on the design and analysis of a miniaturized sensor module. Mechatronic principles have been applied to treat the various subjects in a synergistic way. To complement analytical studies, experiments have been conducted on a scaled-up version of the sensor module to analyze the system dynamic response. The result obtained provided insight into the electromechanical interaction within the module as well as input for the system implementation using miniaturization technologies.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Independent synthesis of small and large subunits of myosin in vivo.

The relative rates of completion of small and large subunits of myosin were determined by comparisons of 3H/14C ratios of subunits from a mixture of partially (3H) and uniformly (14C) labeled myosin. Small and large sub-units were separated by isoelectric focusing (9 M urea) and SDS electrophoresis in dilute polyacrylamide gels. In all cases the 3H/14C ratio of small subunits was significantly higher than that of the large subunits. We interpret these data to indicate that the small subunits were synthesized independently and thus completed and released from polyribosomes more rapidly than the large subunits.
Measurement of temperatures in fibrous insulators subjected to concentrated solar radiation

Etude des moyens de mesure de la temperature de surface dans la cavite d'un recepteur solaire a sel fondu. On installe plusieurs thermocouples de type K (Chromel-alumel) sur le materiau isolant couvrant la paroi de la cavite du recepteur. Comparaison des performances des thermocouples protege et non protege et influence de la position du thermocouple. Comparaison des mesures avec les valeurs calculees a l'aide du programme TOTAL
Multimedia in the radiology environment: Current concept

Multimedia has different meanings according to its context. Here, multimedia in the radiology environment is defined as the integration of multiple radiology and medical information systems to facilitate the practice of radiology. These information systems include the hospital information system, radiology information system, picture archiving and communication systems, voice reporting, library information systems, and electronic mail and file systems. The concept of multimedia within the context of integration of these database systems will be presented. An example is given on how to access these information systems by a radiologist's desktop personal computer.
Characterization of organic crystal products

The characterization of organic crystal products, based on internal structure using powder X-ray diffraction, was investigated with two substances. In the case of L-histidine α-ketoisocaproic acid complex ethanolate, the de-ethanolation rate increases when the crystal shows stronger intensities of (002) reflection. The difference of the intensities of the (002) reflection was found to be caused by the internal structure (i.e. degrees of crystallinity and preferred orientation). The layer structure of L-histidine α-ketoisocaproic acid complex ethanolate [1] could explain the crystal structure having the tendency to take a structure with preferred orientation. In the case of the α-form of L-aspartic acid, the degree of preferred orientation varies according to the crystallizing rates. Different crystal habits are noted among these samples. As a result of the simulation of a powder X-ray diffraction pattern from the crystal structure, the difference of the degree of preferred orientation is shown to reflect the global anisotropic displacement of molecules.
Asthma randomized trial of indoor wood smoke (ARTIS): rationale and methods.

Background Particulate matter (PM) exposures have been linked with poor respiratory health outcomes, especially among susceptible populations such as asthmatic children. Smoke from biomass combustion for residential home heating is an important source of PM in many rural or peri-urban areas in the United States.
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Infection in an Urban Primary Care Clinic

PURPOSE: STDs are a major health problem for young adults. While frequently asymptomatic, they can cause serious complications if not detected and treated. To measure the local prevalence of Chlamydia (Ch) and Gonorrhea (GC), and to determine factors predictive of positive Ch and GC tests, we screened patients attending a multi-disciplinary primary care clinic (Pediatrics, Ob/Gyn, General and Specialty Medicine, Podiatry, General Surgery) serving a primarily minority, low-income population in Hartford CT. METHODS: Patients aged 13 to 30 were enrolled from the clinic waiting area. After providing informed consent, they completed a questionnaire (symptoms, risk behaviors, demographics) and provided a urine specimen for Ch and GC Ligase Chain Reaction testing. RESULTS: During 1998 and 1999, 732 patients (64% of eligible patients contacted) were enrolled. 46 failed to provide a urine specimen, leaving a final sample of 550 females (F) and 136 males (M), including 234 adolescents (age 13–19) (184 F, 50 M) and 166 pregnant F. Overall prevalence of Ch or GC was 10.8%, and was similar by gender (F 10.9%, M 10.3%), and age group (adolescent 12.0%, adult 10.2%). 9.6% of pregnant F were infected. Infections were most prevalent among adolescent F (13.0%), and adult M (11.6%). Among patients who reported symptoms (discharge, pain, dysuria, spotting or genital lesions in the past month) prevalence was 20.7% in M, and 12.3% in F. 57.1% of M cases and 56.6% of F cases occurred without reported symptoms. Among adolescents who reported previous sexual intercourse, prevalence was 16% (F 16.9%, M 11.5%). Among adults who reported one or more risky behaviors (new or multiple partners in last 3 months, inconsistent use of barrier contraception) prevalence was 13.7% (F 13.5%; M 15%). Variables associated with positive test results included having a new partner in the last 90 days, and being single. Composite variables combining several risk behaviors also predicted positive results, but these were more sensitive for females. Other individual variables such as inconsistent condom use, number of partners, and previous STD diagnosis were not reliable predictors of positive test results. CONCLUSION: STD prevalence is high in this population. Most individual risk behaviors were not reliable predictors of positive test results. Variables combining several risk factors were better predictors, but still missed many cases. In this high prevalence population, universal screening may be a better strategy than risk stratification.
Etiology and therapy of thrombocytopenia associated with sarcoidosis.

Moderate to severe thrombocytopenia as a complication of sarcoidosis occurs with sufficient frequency to indicate that sarcoidosis may predispose to the development of thrombocytopenia. This report describes the clinical course and laboratory findings of two black adolescent boys with sarcoidosis who developed severe thrombocytopenia. An analysis of the findings in these patients, together with a review of an additional 37 reported cases, indicates that patients with sarcoidosis and thrombocytopenia can be divided into three groups: In Group A a moderate reduction of platelets is part of a generalized suppression of peripheral blood elements in association with proved or suspected portal hypertension; in Groups B and C moderate to severe thrombocytopenia is probably secondary to a platelet destructive phenomenon. The bleeding in Group B patients is mild and of long duration, and in Group C patients, bleeding is fulminant and associated with a high mortality rate unless treated with corticosteroids and/or splenectomy. Although the evidence is indirect, the occurrence of severe thrombocytopenia in patients with sarcoidosis may be an expression of a generalized autoimmune phenomenon.
Regenerative design: the LENSES Framework for buildings and communities

Sustainability advocates see an immediate, pressing need to move beyond incremental improvements toward profound transformations on pressing economic, social and environmental issues. A framework called LENSES (Living Environments in Natural, Social, and Economic Systems) is presented that can address the type and scale of change necessary. This framework outlines a process to help communities and project teams create places where natural, social and economic systems can mutually thrive and prosper. LENSES is both a process and a metrics tool designed to help teams establish goals and to explore effectively relationships and interconnections in order to create restorative and regenerative places. The strength of LENSES lies in its ability to help groups consider concepts and elements often missing in other frameworks and tools such as inclusivity, financial sourcing, cultural resources, regional context, education, shared authority and governance, and on-going prosperity. LENSES provides a clear path to f...
Density–velocity equations with bulk modulus for computational hydro-acoustics

This paper reports a new set of model equations for Computational Hydro Acoustics (CHA). The governing equations include the continuity and the momentum equations. The definition of bulk modulus is used to relate density with pressure. For 3D flow fields, there are four equations with density and velocity components as the unknowns. The inviscid equations are proved to be hyperbolic because an arbitrary linear combination of the three Jacobian matrices is diagonalizable and has a real spectrum. The left and right eigenvector matrices are explicitly derived. Moreover, an analytical form of the Riemann invariants are derived. The model equations are indeed suitable for modeling wave propagation in low-speed, nearly incompressible air and water flows. To demonstrate the capability of the new formulation, we use the CESE method to solve the 2D equations for aeolian tones generated by air flows passing a circular cylinder at Re = 89,000, 46,000, and 22,000. Numerical results compare well with previously published data. By simply changing the value of the bulk modulus, the same code is then used to calculate three cases of water flows passing a cylinder at Re = 89,000, 67,000, and 44,000.
A UAU test and development environment based on dynamic system reconfiguration

This paper describes ongoing research to develop a framework for implementing dynamically reconfiguring avionics and control systems for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and a test and development environment for experimental UAVs. The framework supports graceful degradation, where hardware and software failures cause a reduction in the quality or capability of the control system but does not result in total system failure. The approach uses a graphical specification representing modular software interdependencies and a runtime system manager that reconfigures the system. The techniques are currently being applied to the design of UAV control systems as part of the BIG BLUE Mars airplane testbed project at the University of Kentucky.
A mass spectrometric study of the thermal pyrolysis of S4N4

Mass spectrometric techniques have been used to identify the pyrolysis products of S4N4 vapors passed over quartz wool at 80 to 400°C. S4N4 decomposes to form S4N2, S3N3, S2N2, and SN at temperatures of less than 250°C.
The Rhetorical Construction of Institutional Authority in a Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Wilderness Legislation.

This essay explores rhetorical strategies that construct institutional authority by analyzing discourse from a Senate subcommittee hearing. The analysis reveals three major strategies hearing participants used to reproduce authority relationships: position markers, pseudo‐requests, and images of order. Participants enacted these strategies through several tactics that enabled them constantly to restructure the institution and adapt it to their individual agendas. The essay argues that, although domination is basic to human organization, all structures are vulnerable to strategic alteration through effective participation.
Adaptive Study Design Through Semantic Association Rule Analysis

Association mining aims to find valid correlations among data attributes, and has been widely applied to many areas of data analysis. This paper presents a semantic network-based association analysis model including three spreading activation methods. It applies this model to assess the quality of a dataset, and generate semantically valid new hypotheses for adaptive study design especially useful in medical studies. The approach is evaluated on a real public health dataset, the Heartfelt study, and the experiment shows promising results.
A closer look at rituximab induction on HLA antibody rebound following HLA-incompatible kidney transplantation

Rituximab has been used to increase the efficacy of desensitization protocols for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-incompatible kidney transplantation; however, controlled comparisons have not been reported. Here we examined 256 post-transplant HLA antibody levels in 25 recipients desensitized with and 25 without rituximab induction, to determine the impact of B-cell depletion. We found significantly less HLA antibody rebound in the rituximab-treated patients (7% of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) and 33% of non-DSAs) compared with a control cohort desensitized and transplanted without rituximab (32% DSAs and 55% non-DSAs). The magnitude of the increase was significantly larger among patients who did not receive rituximab. Interestingly, in rituximab-treated patients, of the 39 HLA antibodies that increased post transplant, 34 were specific for HLA mismatches present in previous allografts or pregnancies, implying limited efficacy in memory B-cell depletion. Compared with controls, rituximab-treated patients had a significantly greater mean reduction in DSA (-2505 vs. -292 mean fluorescence intensity), but a similar rate of DSA persistence (52% in rituximab treated-and 40% in non-treated recipients). Thus, rituximab induction in HLA-incompatible recipients reduced the incidence and magnitude of HLA antibody rebound, but did not affect DSA elimination, antibody-mediated rejection, or 5-year allograft survival when compared with recipients desensitized and transplanted without rituximab.
Influence of a combination of herbs on appetite suppression and weight loss in rats.

SUMMARY Aim We evaluated the ability of a Chinese herbal formulation previously associated with weight loss to influence appetite and weight loss in a carefully controlled laboratory study performed on rats. As a secondary gain, results with this herbal formulation were compared with those from a commonly available phenylpropanolamine (PPA) compound. Design Eight rats were placed in each arm of a three-arm study, a total of 24 rats. All rats were gavaged with a 2-ml fluid volume containing no addition (control) or the two test substances (combined herbs or PPA) for the first 4 days of the week over 6 consecutive weeks; no gavages were given over weekends. Rats in the two-test groups were given a relatively low dose of the test substance for 3 weeks, followed by a higher dose over the next 3-week periods. Food and water intake were measured for 24-h periods over the ensuing week days. The average daily values for food and water intake for an individual rat were calculated on the basis of collected data over each 3-week period. The mean values for each rat obtained over the low- and high-dose periods comprised results from averaging at least 10 measurements. Results Average daily food intake was decreased only with the herbal formulation, not the PPA compound at the low and high doses. Both the PPA compound and the herbal formulation lowered water intake significantly at the low and high doses. Rats ingesting the herbal formulation at the lower dose had statistically significant lower daily body weight changes over the 3 weeks than those ingesting the PPA compound. At the higher dose, body weight changes for both agents were significantly less than the control, but not significantly different from each other. No evidence of toxicity was seen in the blood chemistries or after histopathological examination. Conclusions Data collected on rats suggest that the herbal formulation examined might be a useful and safe combination to overcome the overweight state and obesity.
Thin-film differential scanning calorimetry: A new probe for assignment of the glass transition of ultrathin polymer films

Glass transition in ultrathin polymer films is the subject of intense interest due to theoretical and experimental issues regarding size-dependent effects in finite systems.1,2 The small sample size presents unique challenges to experimentalists, and subsequently a variety of techniques have been utilized1-5 with varying results. The standard technique for glass transition studies6,7 is differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which is of special interest in this field because it yields absolute thermodynamic properties such as heat capacity. However, it is difficult to use conventional DSC systems on ultrathin samples because of the insufficient sensitivity. In this paper we demonstrate a recently developed MEMS-based thin-film differential scanning calorimetry (TDSC) device (also referred to as nanocalorimetry) which shows potential for studies of glass transition for films with nanometer-range thickness. In our previous work in polyethylene8 and metals9-11 we have measured the heat capacity, heat of fusion, and melting temperature for discontinued films with average thickness of less than 1 nm. TheTDSCtechniqueisdescribedindetailelsewhere.8-11 In brief, TDSC uses a microfabricated sensor shown in Figure 1 as a calorimetric cell. The sensor consists of a Si3Nx membrane supported at the perimeter by a Si substrate. A 500 μm wide metal strip is deposited on the membrane and functions both as a heater and as a thermometer/RTD. Platinum is used as a material of choice for the metal strip due to its enhanced time stability of electrical resistance. The Pt heater/thermometer, the Si3Nx membrane directly beneath it, and a sample film deposited on either the Pt or Si3Nx surface form a sample calorimetric cell. The extremely low thickness of the Pt strip (50 nm) and Si3Nx membrane (30 nm) provides a mass addenda, which is small enough to measure the heat capacity (Cp) of nanometerthick films. The high-sensitivity differential mode is achieved by using the second reference sensor which is identical to the polymer-coated sample sensor but has no material on it.11 Before the experiment, the resistance of both sensors is calibrated against the temperature in a three-zone tube vacuum furnace. The measurement is initiated by supplying a short pulse of electric current to the Pt strip. This rapidly increases the temperature of the cell by Joule heating. The vacuum environment (10-7-10-8 Torr) and high * Corresponding author. E-mail: L-ALLEN9@uiuc.edu. Figure 1. MEMS-based calorimetric sensor for TDSC (not to scale). Volume 35, Number 5 February 26, 2002