cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organization of Software for Multicomputer Process Control Systems

The trend toward multiple computers for process control applications is accompanied by the introduction of line sharing input/output systems and microprocessors for general use. As a result, many different structures for multiple computer process control applications become practical. Software costs are still dominant however, and it is important that any multi-computer structure be supported by software which is compatible with process control objectives and economical to implement. Of particular importance is the need for an integrated data base and graceful degradation in case of failure. The organization of process control software for single computer systems is used as the starting point to evaluate the desirability of various software organizations for several multi-computer ring-connected systems. Compatibility with line-sharing I/0 systems is discussed.
Exploratory Identification of Image-Based Biomarkers for Solid Mass Pulmonary Tumors

If imaging is to serve as a valid biomarker in the assessment of the response of cancer to therapies, a reproducible and predictive radiologic metric is required. A biomarker is an indicator of a biological property that can be used to measure the progress of disease. While current size-based, quantitative techniques provide numerical representations of tumors, they are not necessarily indicative of disease progression for advanced cancers. In this paper, we present an end-to-end process to explore the use of other image-based features especially statistical textural features for cancer change detection. We exploit the earth mover's distance metric for measuring the change in the tumor burden over a period, between the time the baseline scans were taken, and the time the therapy response scans were taken. The time-to-progression (TTP) of the disease is our known patient outcome. We analyze the correlations between TTP and our change measurements and discover that the local texture energy feature is most predictive of disease progression, more so than the tumor burden size on which current quantitative measures are made.
Long-Term Results of Blood and Marrow Transplantation for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term outcome after allogeneic (allo) and autologous (auto) blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the outcome of 157 consecutive patients with relapsed or refractory HL, who underwent BMT between March 1985 and April 1998. Patients ≤ age 55 with HLA-matched siblings were prioritized toward allo BMT. The median age was 28 years (range, 13 to 52 years) for the 53 allo patients and 30.5 years (range, 11 to 62 years) for the 104 auto patients. RESULTS: The median follow-up after BMT for surviving patients was 5.1 years (range, 1 to 13.8 years). For the entire group, the probabilities of event-free survival (EFS) and relapse at 10 years were 26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18% to 33%) and 58% (95% CI, 48% to 69%), respectively. According to multivariate analysis, disease status before BMT (sensitive relapse if responding to conventional-dose therapy or resistant disease if not) (ha...
Altered but persisting circadian fluctuations in plasma corticosterone levels following medial forebrain bundle ablation

Abstract The data presented in the present study indicate that the ascending noradrenergic fibers confined to the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) are not essential for the 24-h periodicity characteristic of non-stress plasma corticosterone levels. However, ablation of the MFB did alter the level of the rhythm. MFB-ablated rats presented an overall average which was significantly less than that of controls.
Some results in memory conflict analysis

The delay of accesses in shared-memory vector multiprocessors is considered. Simple formulae are presented which predict the delays of both scalar and vector accesses with a variety of loads in terms of memory technology and design parameters. Comparisons are made with both simulated and measured results on five CRAY memory systems.
Searches for neutrino oscillations at intense spallation sources

Spallation neutron sources utilizing intense pulsed GeV proton beams on heavy (high Z) targets are ideal for the investigation of neutrino oscillations involving and νμ. The fundamentals of neutrino oscillation theory are reviewed. Detailed descriptions of experiments that can be performed in the vicinity of a pulsed 1 GeV, 2 MW source are given. The parameters of the spallation neutron source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are used as an example. The results anticipated from other proposed sources can be scaled from the results presented here. The detector configuration chosen is a 2000 ton scintillating Cerenkov detector.
Native American Identities Among Women Prisoners

A specially constructed Native American Identity Questionnaire was distributed to women imprisoned in the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) in Marysville, Ohio. More than 40% of the women responding...
Food pilgrimages: Seeking the sacred and the authentic in food

People often travel specifically to partake of a particular food. This travel may involve a range of distances—from local (trying a new restaurant in town) to far away (going to another country). It can also involve a variety of experiences connected to food—touring wineries, observing chefs, assisting farmers or fishermen, attending food-themed festivals, experimenting with new cooking techniques or equipment, and, obviously, tasting and consuming foods. Such traveling can be seen as a form of culinary tourism (“eating out of curiosity”) and perceived as a recreational or educational activity, but it also frequently takes on the character of a ritualistic quest to fully experience a food or cuisine in its “authentic” and original cultural context. Similar to a religious pilgrimage in which individuals visit a shrine, often seeking a spiritual experience, food pilgrimages offer a different experiencing of a food. Such pilgrimages frequently result in individuals feeling a deeper and more personal understanding of that food along with a sense of an “authentic” experience of it. While such journeying has occurred throughout history, it has recently become a fashionable and profitable component of the modern tourist industry. Data from fieldwork in Spain, Ireland, the American Midwest and South, as well as analyses of current advertising and marketing, provide an exploration of the phenomena of food pilgrimages and their cultural, political and personal ramifications.
Optimization, maxent models, and conditional estimation without magic

This tutorial aims to cover the basic ideas and algorithms behind techniques such as maximum entropy modeling, conditional estimation of generative probabilistic models, and issues regarding the use of models more complex than simple Naive Bayes and Hidden Markov Models. In recent years, these sophisticated probabilistic methods have been used with considerable success on most of the core tasks of natural language processing, for speech language models, and for IR tasks such as text filtering and categorization, but the methods and their relationships are often not well understood by practitioners. Our focus is on insight and understanding, using graphical illustrations rather than detailed derivations whenever possible. The goal of the tutorial is that the inner workings of these modeling and estimation techniques be transparent and intuitive, rather than black boxes labeled "magic here".The tutorial decomposes these methods into optimization problems on the one side, and optimization methods on the other. The first hour of the tutorial presents the basics of non-linear optimization, assuming only knowledge of basic calculus. We begin with a discussion of convexity and unconstrained optimization, focusing on gradient methods. We discuss in detail both simple gradient descent and the much more practical conjugate gradient descent. The key ideas are presented, including a comparison/contrast with alternative methods. Next, the case of constrained optimization is presented, highlighting the method of Lagrange multipliers and presenting several ways of translating the abstract ideas into a concrete optimization method. The principal goal, again, is to make Lagrange methods appear as intuitively natural, rather than as mathematical sleight-of-hand.The second part of the tutorial begins with a presentation of maximum entropy models from first principles, showing their equivalence to exponential models (also known as loglinear models, and particular versions of which give logistic regression, and conditional random fields). We present many simple examples to build intuition for what maxent models can and cannot do. Finally, we discuss how to find parameters for maximum entropy models using the previously presented optimization methods. By this point in the tutorial, audience members should have a clear understanding of how to build a system for estimating maxent models. We conclude with a discussion of issues specific to the language technology domain, including conditional estimation of generative models, and the issues involved in choosing model structure (such as independence, label and observation biases, and so on). We also discuss methods of smoothing, focusing on how smoothing works differently for maxent models than for standard relative-frequency-based distributions.The tutorial will run 3 hours, with a break in the middle. Participants will be assumed to know basic calculus and probability theory, and to have some exposure to models such as Naive Bayes and HMMs, but need only have a basic awareness of language technology problems.
Specificity analysis of sera from breast cancer patients vaccinated with MUC1-KLH plus QS-21.

The mucin MUC1 is expressed on breast cancers in an underglycosylated form compared to normal tissues and is therefore a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. MUC1 contains multiple tandem repeats of the 20 amino acid (aa) peptide (VTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPPAHG). The APDTRPA epitope is particularly immunogenic since it is recognized by a variety of murine monoclonal antibodies and by some sera and cytotoxic T-cells from unimmunized patients with epithelial cancers. We have prepared a 30 aa peptide (C)VTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPPAHGVTSAPDTRPA with cysteine at the N-terminal end, and used the cysteine for chemical conjugation to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). Six breast cancer patients immunized with this conjugate plus the immunological adjuvant QS-21 have all produced high titre (by ELISA) IgG and IgM antibodies against the 30 aa MUC1 peptide, but these sera reacted moderately, or not at all, with MUC1-positive tumour cells. To understand this specificity better, we prepared a series of smaller peptides to determine the epitopes recognized by these immune sera in inhibition assays. Only peptides containing APDTRPA at the C-terminal end were able to completely inhibit ELISA reactivity for the full 30 aa peptide. No sera were completely inhibited by APDTR, APDTRP, PDTRPA or any other peptides that did not contain the full APDTRPA epitope. Remarkably, sera from all six patients recognized this same epitope and were completely inhibited by only this epitope. The specificity of these sera (1) primarily for C-terminal APDTRPA, and the absence of this epitope at the C-terminal end of any tumour mucins, and (2) the N-terminal APDTRPA alanine, which is normally buried in the β turn MUC1 assumes in its secondary structure may explain the moderate to weak reactivity of these high titer sera against MUC1-positive tumour cells. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign
Machine Perception and Learning Grand Challenge: Situational Intelligence Using Cross-Sensory Fusion

Humans possess only five senses and very effectively coordinate their cross-sensory perceptions to situate themselves in uncertain operational environments for extracting context relevant actionable intelligence. Machines, on the other hand, may be embodied with a wider variety of electronic sensing devices but lack such situational intelligence in interpreting the sensed information. Despite significant advances in sensing technologies, machine perception remains primitive when compared to human perception. Lack of situational intelligence results in processing of large amounts of irrelevant information, leading to the often cited “curse of dimensionality” and computational explosions. These, in turn, limit the power of datadriven abstract reasoning and problemsolving algorithms, cause a lack of focus for drawing upon relevant past knowledge, and inhibit situational learning. As a consequence, autonomous systems cannot be trusted to adapt their behavior to unanticipated operational conditions. Current behavior-based modeling approaches address these issues by developing world models that modularly decompose the problem space. This requires a very detailed and somewhat complete understanding of the operational environments as a prerequisite. Yet, such models invariably prove inadequate for real world operations due to the rigidness of the decompositions. Autonomous system designs, therefore, are not robust and machine learning methods remain brittle. Situationally aware sensor fusion and machine perception present a new frontier in machine automation, which holds the promise of unprecedented levels of autonomy in executing complex tasks in dynamic operational environments. The goal of such automation is to accomplish these tasks with the perception and adaptation of humans, and often in collaboration with humans. Several technological challenges must be addressed to further the state-of-the-art toward this goal.
In vitro activity and beta-lactamase stability of the new oral cephalosporin Bay v 3522.

The activity of the new oral cephalosporin Bay v 3522 was compared to that of six other beta-lactam agents. Bay v 3522 inhibited methicillin-susceptibleStaphylococcus aureus andStaphylococcus epidermidis at ≤2 µg/ml, compared to MICs of ≥8 µg/ml for the other cephalosporins tested. It was more active againstStreptococcus pyogenes (MIC ≤0.06 µg/ml) than cefuroxime, cefixime, cephalexin and cefaclor. Groups B, C and G streptococci were inhibited at ≤0.12 µg/ml, while the MIC90 forStreptococcus bovis and viridans streptococci was 0.5 and 2 µg/ml, respectively. The MIC90 for enterococci andListeria monocytogenes was 8 µg/ml.Clostridium perfringens was inhibited by 0.12 µg/ml, but mostBacteroides spp. were resistant. The MIC90 for beta-lactamase positiveEscherichia coli (producing primarily TEM-1) was >64 µg/ml and for beta-lactamase negative strains 16 µg/ml. The MIC90 for high-level beta-lactamase producingKlebsiella pneumoniae was >64 µg/ml versus 4 µg/ml for other isolates. The MIC90 forMoraxella catarrhalis was 2 µg/ml, forHaemophilus influenzae 1 µg/ml, and forNeisseria gonorrhoeae 4 µg/ml.Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Providencia spp. andPseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant. Bay v 3522 was destroyed by TEM-1, SHV-1, TEM-3 and P99 beta-lactamases.
Aromatic hydrocarbons in nuclear submarine atmospheres.

Abstract An analytical study has been directed to the identification and determination of individual aromatic hydrocarbons present in nuclear submarine atmospheres in concentrations of parts per million or less. Hydrocarbon oil samples were desorbed from activated carbon which had been exposed in submarine atmospheres. The aromatic hydrocarbon content of these oils was approximately 25 to 30% of the total. The quantitative distributions of individual aromatic hydrocarbons found in submarines were strikingly similar to those of typical petroleum distillates in the same boiling range. Several commercial petroleum products were studied as possible sources of hydrocarbons in submarine atmospheres.
Enantiomeric impurities in chiral synthons, catalysts, and auxiliaries: Part 3

The enantiomeric excess of chiral reagents used in asymmetric syntheses directly affects the reaction selectivity and product purity. In this work, 84 of the more recently available chiral compounds were evaluated to determine their actual enantiomeric composition. These compounds are widely used in asymmetric syntheses as chiral synthons, catalysts, and auxiliaries. These include chiral alcohols, amines, amino alcohols, amides, carboxylic acids, epoxides, esters, ketones, and oxolanes among other classes of compounds. All enantiomeric test results were categorized within five impurity levels (i.e., 10%). The majority of the reagents tested were determined to have enantiomeric impurities over 0.01%, and two of them were found to contain enantiomeric impurities exceeding the 10% level. The most effective enantioselective analysis method was a GC approach using a Chiraldex GTA chiral stationary phase (CSP). This method worked exceedingly well with chiral amines and alcohols.
Experimental determination of the best time and duration for endovenous great saphenous vein electrocoagulation

Objective Endovenous electrocoagulation provokes immediate selective venous wall necrosis. In this study, we aim to determine the best power and time of electrocoagulation necessary to cause intima and media but not adventitia layer damage in great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency treatment. Methods We studied 100 varicose GSV fragments submitted to endovenous electrocoagulation. The power (60, 90, or 120 W) and time (5, 10, or 15 seconds) were randomly assigned. The fragments were submitted to histopathologic examination to analyze the depth of tissue necrosis. Dose-response models for the analysis of binary data were used to identify the best association between power and the time of electrocoagulation necessary to cause intima and media but not adventitia layer necrosis. We also applied a logistic regression model to investigate the impact of body mass index and GSV diameter on the electrocoagulation effects. Results The time (odds ratio [OR], 1.26; P = .0009) was found to be a stronger predictor of the depth of vessel necrosis than the power of electrocoagulation applied (OR, 1.05; P P = .82) and body index mass (median, 24.7 kg/m 2 ; minimum, 15.6 kg/m 2 ; maximum, 36.2 kg/m 2 ; OR, 1.08; P = .26) showed a poor correlation with the depth of histologic vessel destruction. Conclusions The time of electrocoagulation strongly predicts the depth of GSV wall necrosis more than the amount of power applied. Determination of the best time and power of electrocoagulation ratio may help optimize GSV endovenous electrocoagulation closure rates and decrease the complications index. The GSV diameter and body mass index do not influence endovenous electrocoagulation effects.
Effects of prosthetic acetabular replacement on strains in the pelvis

The effects of cemented acetabular components on the strains in the pelvis were determined experimentally. Four components were tested: A plain metal hemisphere: a metal hemisphere with a triflange; a hemisphere with an iliac peg; and a hemisphere with a complete flange and a peg. Loading was carried out in neutral, flexion, and extension directions. The subchondral one was only slightly reamed, and extension directions. The subchondral bone was only slightly reamed, and components were cemented and tested successively. For the intact hip joint, the strains on the superior acetabular rim were much lower than those on the posterior rim. After placement of the components, the tensile strains on the rim decreased by 22–54% while the compressive strains increased by 0–25%. The bone on the medial inferior surface was subjected ot 65% less tensile strain and 48% more compressive strain in neutral and extension loading. There were no great differences between the four styles of acetabular component.
EFFECTIVE INTERDIFFUSION COEFFICIENTS AND PENETRATION DEPTHS

Scripta METALLURGICA Vol. 25, pp. 2187-2191, 1991 Pergamon Press plc et MATERIALIA Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved EFFECTIVE INTERDIFFUSION COEFFICIENTS AND PENETRATION DEPTHS M. A. Dayananda and D. A. Behnke School of Materials Engineering Purdue University W. Lafayette, IN 47907 (Received June
Parallel X pinches and the Affect of Polarity

Summary form only given. X pinches are often arranged in parallel. Parallel X pinches allow one to get point-projection radiograph images of a single object either at different times, different perspectives, or both. Also, when X pinches are in parallel, each one can make a point-projection radiograph of the other. During the formation of the X pinch neck and hot spots, current is divided between the parallel X pinches according to their relative inductance. The self-adjusting nature of the current distribution usually results in the parallel X pinches producing better sources than single X pinches. Parallel X pinches more often develop only one hot spot and generate electron beams of less intensity than single X pinches. These two characteristics are very important for point-projection radiography. Presented here are the results of experiments to characterize the behavior of parallel X pinches. Experimental parameters included wire material, wire diameter, number of wires, and polarity of the radial electric field. Of particular interest was the current measured individually through each X pinch. By keeping the return current path of each X pinch separate, we were able to monitor any changes in or interactions between the individual currents. The relative time between the occurrences of individual pinches on the same shot was observed using PCDs. Also of interest was the effect of polarity on the time evolution of four-wire X pinches. This information was obtained from a series of point-projection radiographs taken at different times on different shots. It was shown that the diameters of the wire cores at the time of the pinch were significantly larger in positive polarity than compared to negative polarity.
23andMe and the FDA

Because of a warning from the FDA, 23andMe has stopped marketing its personal genome service. Now, a dialogue about key issues in genomic testing could result in clear standards for the industry, including requirements for informed consent and disclosure of results.
Low dose computerized tomography for detection of urolithiasis--its effectiveness in the setting of the urology clinic.

Purpose: Low dose noncontrast computerized tomography is becoming a common imaging tool to diagnose urolithiasis. We investigated its usefulness as a diagnostic tool in the outpatient setting.Materials and Methods: A total of 62 patients with suspected urolithiasis underwent standard renal stone protocol computerized tomography with a tube current of 160 mA. Images were modified by adding image noise to simulate tube currents of 70, 100 and 130 mA. Three urologists independently interpreted the original and simulated dose scans for stone number, location and associated signs of obstruction. In addition, the investigators rated the ease of interpreting the scans and their overall level of confidence.Results: There were no statistically significant differences in interobserver and intra-observer variability for stone detection or obstruction signs except significant interobserver variability in hydronephrosis and intra-observer variability in stranding categories. Each 1 mm increase in stone size increased ...
A second generation microcomputer controlled binding system for alpine skiing research

In the study of sports biomechanics, alpine skiing injuries have always demanded significant attention. In order to aid in understanding the loading phenomena associated with alpine skiing, a new research binding system has been designed which enables both the recording of boot loading data and actively controlled release of the skier's boot from the ski. The new research binding system consists of three hardware components, a dynamometer which senses all six load components at the boot/ski interface, an electromechanical device capable of releasing the boot from the ski, and a new general purpose microprocessor-based data acquisition and release control module. Constructed integrally with the dynamometer, the release mechanism is activated by electrical command from the control module. The mechanical and electrical design features of the dynamometer/release mechanism as well as important features of the hardware and software of the data acquisition and control module are briefly discussed. The system has been tested both in the laboratory and on the ski slopes. The emphasis of this paper is on the boot loading data acquired through field testing and observations on the loading environment during common recreational skiing maneuvers. Through analysis of the data, insight into both the style and safety aspects of alpine skiing is gained.
Regime transitions in the viscous catenary

We present studies of the transition between two types of filament evolution in the viscous catenary. In particular we examine the dependence of the observed behavior on the viscosity of the fluid, the initial radius of filament created, and the total length of the fluid. The kinematic viscosity is varied over two orders of magnitude, the filament radius by one order of magnitude, and the filament length by a factor of 3. We observe a clear transition as the so-called catenary number, dependent on the filament radius and length, increases past a certain value, but with no dependence on the viscosity of the fluid. This is a confirmation of theoretical predictions over a significantly greater range of viscosities than previous experiments.
Total internal reflection mirrors fabricated in polymeric optical waveguides via excimer laser ablation

Excimer laser (248 rim) ablation has been used for rapid large area defmition of total internal reflection (TIR) mirrors in thick (50 tim) polymeric optical waveguides. The mitrors are capable of reflecting light into or out of the waveguide plane with a loss of less than 1 dB© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The critical eye, the gendered lens, and “situated”; insights—feminist contributions to professional communication

Increasingly, professional communicators are involved in situations in which social action, and questions of ethical and civic responsibility, are implicated. Arguing that feminist scholarship is a relevant and powerful means of understanding these situations, we position the five contributions to this special issue within theoretical frameworks that explore interconnections of gender with methods and practices in technical and professional communication. After outlining areas for future research, we raise the question of men's relation to gender research and feminism, calling for more scholarship that engages a wider spectrum of feminist thought.
Borderline Disorders of Childhood: An Overview

This selected review considers children classified as "borderline" and focuses on two broad categories: Borderline personality disorder/borderline spectrum and schizotypal personality disorder/autism/schizophrenia spectrum classifications. Clinical descriptions, biological correlated, delimitation from other disorders, outcome, family studies, hypothesized etiologies, therapeutic considerations, and response to treatment are presented for each. Data support the subclassification of the heterogeneous groupings of borderline children into at least the two categories, and their differentiation from each other and from other clinical disorders in the population. Overlap across the borderline categories exists for individual children. The nature and shortcomings of relevant studies are described, the need for scientifically based research championed, and a differential approach to directive treatment of borderline children advocated. Further subclassification of borderline disorders should result in more cost-effective diagnosis and treatment.
Forearm arterial loop as an expedient source for inflow to upper extremity free flaps

Challenging wounds of the upper extremity requiring free tissue transfers are relatively infrequent. As a direct consequence, methods to access recipient vessels or acceptable alternatives may not be as familiar as in the lower extremity. In rare circumstances, creation of an arterial loop by elevation of a portion of either major forearm artery provides an easily accessible, pristine source of inflow for a planned free flap matching vessels of comparable caliber. Such a maneuver may also be important to ensure preservation of optimal hand function by avoiding any dissection in the vicinity of essential musculotendinous and neurovascular structures that might reside within or adjacent to the zone of injury.
The Effectiveness of Hypertonic Glucose in Resuscitation of the Hypothermic Heart Following Potassium Chloride Arrest

Cardiac arrest was produced by coronary perfusion of potassium chloride in hypothermic dogs during sinus rhythm and during ventricular fibrillation. Resuscitation of rhythmic beats was facilitated by injection of hypertonic glucose when the ventricles responded to a light tap (responsive phase).
Excitation mechanisms of multiple Er 3+ sites in Er-implanted GaN

Site-selective photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopies carried out at 6K on the ∼1540 nm 4I13/2→4I15/2 emissions of Er3+ in Er-implanted GaN have revealed the existence of four different Er3+ sites and associated PL spectra in this semiconductor. Three of these four sites are excited by below-gap, impurity- or defect-related absorption bands, with subsequent nonradiative energy transfer to the Er3+ 4f electrons; a fourth site is excited by direct Er3+ 4f shell absorption. PLE spectra obtained by selectively detecting Er3+ PL from each of the three sites pumped by broad below-gap absorption bands are compared with the PLE spectra of broad PL bands attributed to implantation damage-induced defects in the Er-implanted GaN. This comparison enables us to distinguish broad-band, below-gap optical excitation processes for Er3+ emission that are attributable to (1) absorption due to implantation damage-induced defects; (2) absorption due to defects or impurities characteristic of the as-grown GaN film; and (3) an Er-specific absorption band just below the band gap which may involve the formation of an Er-related isoelectronic trap. The two sites excited by impurity-or defect-related absorption bands are also strongly pumped by above-gap excitation, while the sites pumped by the Er-related trap and direct 4f shell absorption are not. This observation indicates that excitation of Er3+ luminescence in crystalline semiconductor hosts by either optical or electrical injection of electron-hole pairs is dominated by trap-mediated carrier capture and energy transfer processes. These trap-mediated processes may also control the thermal quenching of Er3+ emission in semiconductors.
Diffusivity measurements in polymers: III. Quartz crystal microbalance techniques

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) system has been designed and constructed in order to measure the diffusion rates of several different casting solvents in a photoresist film. The QCM employs an oscillating quartz crystal that is coated with a photoresist film. Changes in mass caused by sorption or desorption of the casting solvent are detected as changes in the resonant frequency of the crystal. One advantage of the QCM is the high sensitivity with which this device can make weight measurements. The sensitivity is on the order of nanograms. This accuracy, along with the ease of data analysis, makes the QCM a particularly attractive apparatus for diffusion measurements. The QCM system consists of a piezoelectric crystal, a frequency counter, an oscillator unit, a detector, and a recorder. During the experiment, the shift in resonant frequency of the crystal with time is monitored, and the diffusion coefficient is extracted by using the method described by Crank. A related QCM technique has been used to study the dissolution kinetics of photoresists. The QCM system has been employed to measure the diffusion coefficients of common casting solvents in novolac films as a function of temperature. Acid diffusion in poly(hydroxystyrene) was also studied by this method.
Granulation of cohesive Geldart group C powders in a Mini-Glatt fluidized bed by pre-coating with nanoparticles

Abstract Fluidized beds are widely used for particle coating and granulation in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries because of their excellent mixing properties, high heat and mass transfer rates, and ease of scale-up. However, a conventional fluidized bed cannot be used for handling fine cohesive particles (less than 40 μm) due to their poor fluidizability. In this paper a proprietary technique, which involves the use of nanosized particles to pre-coat the fine particles to be granulated, is developed for improving the fluidization behavior of cohesive powders. Utilizing this technique, experiments on granulation of fine particles (15 μm cornstarch) are performed using a Mini-Glatt fluidized bed unit. After precoating the cohesive cornstarch particles can be stably fluidized in the Mini-Glatt device. By adding a top spray binder solution of PVP in water, granules having desired properties (average size and size distribution, flowability, density, etc.) can be obtained through this novel approach. The effect of various operating variables to control the properties of the final granules is also investigated.
Some experiments in the evaluation of a character recognition scanner

Abstract For character recognition machines in which the design of the logic is time consuming and expensive, a method for evaluating the character recognition scanner prior to designing the recognition logic is desirable. A method for evaluating a character recognition scanner by evaluating the patterns it produces is described. The method, for a given set of parameters, assigns to each pattern a figure of merit that measures the difficulty of recognizing the pattern. A number of experiments show that the evaluation method produced results comparable to results produced by a recognition logic designed by engineers. On a sample of 81,200 patterns, the evaluation method showed in this experiment that 0.20% of the patterns would be difficult to recognize, while for the same patterns, logic designed by engineers failed to recognize or misrecognized 0.24% of the patterns.
Alkane activation via precursor-mediated dissociation on Ir(110)

Abstract Precursor-mediated dissociative adsorption dominates over direct dissociation on Ir(110)-(1 × 2) at low incident kinetic energies for surface temperatures at least up to 1000 K. Direct-unactivated dissociative adsorption is at most a minor contributor to dissociation, even though the top of the barrier for dissociative adsorption lies below the energy zero for the gaseous species. These results suggest that a one-dimensional potential energy surface that combines precursor-mediated adsorption and dissociative adsorption does not even qualitatively represent the reaction pathway, since on this basis direct access to the dissociated state is expected. From the kinetic parameters that represent this range of temperature and kinetic energies and a knowledge of the trapping dynamics, the initial dissociation probability can be predicted from 150 K to 1000 K from simple precursor kinetics.
IBC’s 11th Annual International Symposium: Advances in Anticoagulant, Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Drugs

This is a overview of the proceedings at three different yet related IBC International Symposiums, which have been grouped together for convenience. Remarkable progress in the development of newer anticoagulant, antiplatelet and thrombolytic agents has occurred over the past decade. Understanding of the pathogenesis of thrombotic and vascular disorders has greatly facilitated these developments to target blood vessels, platelets and the protease networks involving the coagulation, thrombolytic, fibrinolytic and the integrin systems. Improved processing from the natural sources, biotechnology and organic chemistry strategies played a major role in these developments. Such drugs as the low molecular weight heparin, oral unfractionated heparin (UFH), synthetic heparin, antithrombin agents, newer antiplatelet agents (clopidogrel, GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors) and several improved thrombolytic agents have been introduced for clinical use. Many of the important drugs, such as the low molecular weight heparin, antithro...
Surface Condensation of CO2 onto Kaolinite

The fundamental adsorption of CO2 onto poorly crystalline kaolinite (KGa-2) under conditions relevant to geologic sequestration has been investigated using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and density functional theory (DFT) methods. The QCM data indicated linear adsorption of CO2 (0–0.3 mmol of CO2/g of KGa-2) onto the kaolinite surface up through the gaseous state (0.186 g/cm3). However, in the supercritical region, the extent of CO2 adsorption increases dramatically, reaching a peak (0.9–1.2 mmol of CO2/g of KGa-2) near 0.40 g/cm3, before declining rapidly. DFT studies of interactions of CO2 with kaolinite surface models confirm that surface adsorption is favored up to ∼0.34 g/cm3 of CO2, showing distorted T-shaped CO2–CO2 clustering, typical of supercritical CO2 aggregation over the surface at higher densities. Beyond this point, the adsorption energy gain for any additional CO2 becomes smaller than the CO2 interaction energy (∼0.2 eV) in the supercritical medium, resulting in the desorption of CO2...
Disulfide relays between and within proteins: the Ero1p structure

The essential flavoenzyme Ero1p both creates de novo disulfide bonds and transfers these disulfides to the folding catalyst protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). The recently solved crystal structure of Ero1p, in combination with previous biochemical, genetic and structural data, provides insight into the mechanism by which Ero1p accomplishes these tasks. A comparison of Ero1p with the smaller flavoenzyme Erv2p highlights important structural elements that are shared by these flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-binding sulfhydryl oxidases and suggests some general themes that might be common to proteins that generate disulfide bonds.
Understanding within-group variability of everyday cognition in aging Black/African American adults: a mimic (multiple indicators, multiple causes) model approach.

Background/Study Context: Everyday cognition represents the ability to solve problems within domains that are representative of issues faced by adults on a daily basis. The current study examined individual differences in everyday cognitive ability among aging Black/African American adults. Methods: Demographic data on age, gender, education, physical functioning, chronic illnesses, self-reported health, and depression were collected from 248 African American adults (mean age = 67.8 years, standard deviation = 8.47 years). A multiple indicators, multiple causes (MIMIC) modeling approach was used to examine the associations of individual characteristics with latent everyday cognitive ability and composite score indicators. Results: Age, depressive symptoms, and number of chronic illnesses were negatively related to latent everyday cognition. The individual characteristics of age, depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and education were directly associated with composite indicators of latent everyday cogn...
Scalable and Robust Demand Response With Mixed-Integer Constraints

A demand response (DR) problem is considered entailing a set of devices/subscribers, whose operating conditions are modeled using mixed-integer constraints. Device operational periods and power consumption levels are optimized in response to dynamic pricing information to balance user satisfaction and energy cost. Renewable energy resources and energy storage systems are also incorporated. Since DR becomes more effective as the number of participants grows, scalability is ensured through a parallel distributed algorithm, in which a DR coordinator and DR subscribers solve individual subproblems, guided by certain coordination signals. As the problem scales, the recovered solution becomes near-optimal. Robustness to random variations in electricity price and renewable generation is effected through robust optimization techniques. Real-time extension is also discussed. Numerical tests validate the proposed approach.
Beyond Lithium in the Treatment of Bipolar Illness

Dramatic changes have recently occurred in the availability of treatment options for bipolar illness. Second generation mood stabilizing anticonvulsants carbamazepine and valproate are now widely used as alternatives or adjuncts to lithium. High potency benzodiazepines are also used as alternatives to typical neuroleptics, and now atypical neuroleptics are demonstrating efficacy and better side-effects profiles than the typicals. Thyroid augmentation strategies and dihydropyridine L-type calcium channel blockers require further clinical trials to define their role. Putative third generation mood stabilizing anticonvulsants lamotrigine, gabapentin, and topiramate have unique mechanisms of action and deserve further systematic study, as does the potential role for nonconvulsive brain stimulation with repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). These and a host of other potential treatment options now require a new generation of clinical trials to help identify clinical and biological markers of response and optimal use alone and in complex combination therapeutic regimens.
Inhibition of complex I by Ca2+ reduces electron transport activity and the rate of superoxide anion production in cardiac submitochondrial particles.

Declines in the rate of mitochondrial electron transport and subsequent increases in the half-life of reduced components of the electron transport chain can stimulate O2•- formation. We have previously shown that, in solubilized cardiac mitochondria, Ca2+ mediates reversible free radical-induced inhibition of complex I. In the study presented here, submitochondrial particles prepared from rat heart were utilized to determine the effects of Ca2+ on specific components of the respiratory chain and on the rates of electron transport and O2•- production. The results indicate that complex I is inactivated when submitochondrial particles are treated with Ca2+. Inactivation was specific to complex I with no alterations in the activities of other electron transport chain complexes. Complex I inactivation by Ca2+ resulted in the reduction of NADH-supported electron transport activity. In contrast to the majority of electron transport chain inhibitors, Ca2+ suppressed the rate of O2•- production. In addition, while...
Ballistic electron microscopy and spectroscopy of metal and semiconductor nanostructures

Ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM) and its spectroscopy utilize ballistic transport of hot carriers as a versatile tool to characterize nanometer-scale structural and electronic properties of metallic and semiconducting materials and their interfaces. In this review, recent progress in experimental and theoretical aspects of the BEEM technique are covered. Emphasis is drawn to the development of BEEM in several emerging fields, including spin-sensitive hot-carrier transport through ferromagnetic thin films and multilayers, hot-electron spectroscopy and imaging of organic thin films and molecules, and hot-electron induced electroluminescence in semiconductor heterostructures. A brief discussion on BEEM of cross-sectional semiconductor heterostructures and advanced insulator films is also included.
The reality of aging viewed from the arterial wall

The main function of central arteries is to transform the pulsatile flow generated by the heart into an almost continuous distal flow. Major changes in the arterial wall ensue with aging, and are characterized by endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle proliferation, elastin fragmentation, fibrosis, amyloid protein deposition, and calcification. These processes are driven by a proinflammatory microenvironment that features increased production of angiotensin II (Ang II) and its downstream signaling cascade. The aforementioned structural changes result in a loss of the dampening function of central arteries, widening of pulse pressure, and subsequent adverse effects on the heart and end-organ systems, i.e. the brain and kidneys.
Orbit types for maps of the interval

Relationships between the permutations associated to periodic orbits of maps of the interval and the topology of the space of these maps are given. These extend the author's previous work on periodic orbits to orbit types.
The Limits of Proxy Decision Making: Undertreatment

With the passage by virtually every state legislature of healthcare proxy laws, the medical profession increasingly can expect to rely on the participation of surrogates in making decisions on behalf of incompetent patients. Several concerns about the legitimacy of proxy decision making have been discussed in the ethical and general medical literature: the lack of concordance between the views of patients and their surrogates have been documented on multiple occasions, and cases of abuse by proxies or potential conflict of interest have been reported. Another dilemma that deserves discussion arises when proxies demand withdrawal of treatment that physicians and nurses regard as essential to the wellbeing of the patient. The following case highlights this dilemma.
Predicting Future Suicide Attempts Among Adolescent and Emerging Adult Psychiatric Emergency Patients

The purpose of this study was to longitudinally examine specific characteristics of suicidal ideation in combination with histories of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) to best evaluate risk for a future attempt among high-risk adolescents and emerging adults. Participants in this retrospective medical record review study were 473 (53% female; 69% Caucasian) consecutive patients, ages 15 to 24 years (M=19.4 years) who presented for psychiatric emergency services during a 9-month period. These patients' medical records, including a clinician-administered Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, were coded at the index visit and at future visits occurring within the next 18 months. Logistic regression models were used to predict suicide attempts during this period. Socioeconomic status, suicidal ideation severity (i.e., intent, method), suicidal ideation intensity (i.e., frequency, controllability), a lifetime history of suicide attempt, and a lifetime history of NSSI were significant independent predictors of a future suicide attempt. Suicidal ideation added incremental validity to the prediction of future suicide attempts above and beyond the influence of a past suicide attempt, whereas a lifetime history of NSSI did not. Sex moderated the relationship between the duration of suicidal thoughts and future attempts (predictive for male patients but not female). Results suggest value in incorporating both past behaviors and current thoughts into suicide risk formulation. Furthermore, suicidal ideation duration warrants additional examination as a potential critical factor for screening assessments evaluating suicide risk among high-risk samples, particularly for male patients.
Egg whites from eggs of chickens infected experimentally with avian hepatitis E virus contain infectious virus, but evidence of complete vertical transmission is lacking

Avian hepatitis E virus (HEV) is genetically and antigenically related to human HEV. Vertical transmission of HEV has been reported in humans, but not in other animals. In this study, we showed that avian HEV could be detected in chicken egg-white samples. Subsequently, avian HEV in egg white was found to be infectious, as evidenced by the appearance of viraemia, faecal virus shedding and seroconversion in chickens inoculated with avian HEV-positive egg white, but not in chickens inoculated with HEV-negative egg white. To further assess the possibility of vertical transmission of avian HEV, batches of embryonated eggs from infected hens were hatched, and hatched chicks were monitored for evidence of avian HEV infection. However, no virus was detected in samples collected from the hatched chicks throughout this study, suggesting that avian HEV could not complete the vertical transmission cycle. The possible implications of our findings are also discussed.