cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for syllable structure, stress and juncture from segmental durations

This report examines the informational content of segmental durations with respect to three abstract suprasegmental aspects: stress, juncture and syllable structure. Tokens of the template C-V-Sibilant-Stop-V-C were embedded in 112 different sentences read by four male speakers of English. Average durations and standard deviations show that these data are comparable to those found in continuously read speech. Discriminant analysis was used to classify tokens into phonologically motivated categories on the basis of segmental durations. We find that lexical stress is predicted accurately if word boundary locations are already known. However, word boundaries cannot be reliably predicted from timing measures. A comparison of three different syllable models indicates that segmental durations convey more information about autosegmental and hierarchical syllable models than they do about traditional linear segmental models of the syllable.
Using Visual Supports to Facilitate Audiological Testing for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Purpose One in 59 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Due to overlapping symptoms between hearing loss and ASD, children who are suspected of having ASD require an audiological evaluation to determine their hearing status for the purpose of differential diagnosis. The purpose of this article is twofold: (a) to increase audiologists' knowledge of ASD by discussing the challenges associated with testing and interpreting clinical data for children with ASD or suspected ASD and (b) to provide visual supports that can be used to facilitate audiological assessment. Method Eight children (ages 4-12 years) were recruited as video model participants. Videos were filmed using scripts that used concise and concrete language while portraying common clinical procedures. Using the video models, corresponding visual schedules were also created. Conclusion Although obtaining reliable hearing data from children with ASD is challenging, incorporating visual supports may facilitate testing. Video models and visual schedules have been created and made freely available for download online under a Creative Commons License (Creative Commons-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License). Incorporating visual supports during clinical testing has the potential to reduce the child's and family's stress, as well as to increase the probability of obtaining a reliable and comprehensive audiological evaluation. Future research is warranted to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of implementing these tools in audiology clinics. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.10086434.
CRT-100.87 What Is the Most Effective Therapy of Recurrent In-Stent Restenosis Treated With Brachytherapy?

Studies have shown that intravascular brachytherapy (VBT) is an effective treatment option for recurrent in-stent restenosis (ISR). However, there are no studies to date evaluating the different treatment strategies after an initial failed VBT. The aim of this study is to compare treatment options
Secondary Voltage and Droop Control Strategy of Parallel Converters based Cell-Level Battery Applications

Cell-level power processing in battery packs can provide better efficiency, reliability and safety benefits. As part of a broader investigation of how dual-active bridges can be used for such processing, a secondary voltage control and droop control strategy have been examined for the distributed power processing based battery (DPPB) energy storage system. The control strategy is divided into primary cell-level control with high gain droop and secondary voltage control and stability analysis. The performance of proposed control strategy is validated under different loading conditions by MATLAB®, SIMULINK®. The control strategy improves the power sharing of each cell in a DPPB, and voltage regulation of DPPB output.
Another Look at Location Affordability: Understanding the Detailed Effects of Income and Urban Form on Housing and Transportation Expenditures

Findings from a study using the Panel Survey of Income Dynamics (PSID) and detailed urban environment and transit data support the location affordability hypothesis. Households in location-efficien...
Enhancing nanomaterial dispersion and performance of parts printed via FFF by a solution casting method

Nanocomposites represent an important way to expand the boundaries of material-property space. To advance their use in printing by fused filament fabrication (FFF), we develop a method based on colloidal solution mixing to improve dispersion of various nanofiller additives in printed parts. Printed nanocomposites exhibit increases in Young’s modulus of up to 41%, decreases in part-to-part variation, and the ability to reach higher nanofiller loading levels. Optical microscopy shows a reduction in nanofiller aggregates in parts created using this solution casting method. Improvements in printability, quality, and performance of FFF-printed parts may accelerate the utility of nanocomposites in FFF.
Biological Activity of a Thiobarbituric Acid Compound in Neuroblastomas.

Background/aim We have previously reported the identification of the cytotoxic chemotype compound-I (CC-I) from a chemical library screening against glioblastoma. Materials and methods The biological activity of CC-I on drug-resistant neuroblastomas [e.g., HFE gene variant C282Y stably transfected human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells (C282Y HFE/SH-SY5Y), SK-N-AS] was characterized using cell culture models and in vivo mouse tumor models. Results CC-I had potent cytotoxicity on therapy-resistant neuroblastoma cells and limited cytotoxicity on human primary dermal fibroblast cells. In addition, CC-I showed a robust anti-tumor effect on therapy-resistant human neuroblastoma C282Y HFE/SH-SY5Y cells but not on SK-N-AS cells in a subcutaneous tumor model. CC-I induced phosphorylation of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), protein kinase B (Akt), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in C282Y HFE/SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Conclusion CC-I may be an effective therapeutic option for therapy-resistant neuroblastomas, especially if they express the C282Y HFE gene variant. Its anti-tumor effects are possibly through HSP27-Akt-JNK activation.
Replacement of microglia by brain-engrafted macrophages provide long term protection against brain irradiation and concussive injury

Brain resident microglia have a distinct origin compared to macrophages in other organs. Under physiological conditions, microglia are maintained by self-renewal from the local pool, independent of hematopoietic progenitors. Pharmacological depletion of microglia during therapeutic whole-brain irradiation prevents synaptic loss and long-term recognition memory deficits but the mechanisms behind these protective effects are unknown. Here we demonstrate that after a combination of therapeutic whole-brain irradiation and microglia depletion, macrophages originating from circulating monocytes engraft into the brain and replace the microglia pool. Comparisons of transcriptomes reveal that brain-engrafted macrophages have an intermediate phenotype that resembles both monocytes and embryonic microglia. Brain-engrafted macrophages display reduced phagocytic activity for synaptic compartments compared to microglia from normal brains in response to a secondary concussive brain injury. In addition to sparing mice from brain radiotherapy-induced long-term cognitive deficits, replacement of microglia by brain-engrafted macrophages can prevent concussive injury-induced memory loss. These results demonstrate the long-term functional role of brain-engrafted macrophages as a possible therapeutic tool against radiation-induced cognitive deficits.
Presidents and Terminal Logic Behavior: Examining the Use of Emergency Power Decrees in the United States, Argentina and Brazil

This study examines the behavior of individual presidents from the United States, Argentina and Brazil in their issuance of emergency power decrees over the course of their tenure. The results of the event count models and the data collected in the two Brazilian cases (Presidents Fernando Cardoso and Luiz Lula da Silva) and the two Argentine cases (Presidents Carlos Menem and Nestor Kirchner) all reveal a peculiar pattern of decree use – one that is best explained not by the occurrence of relevant or urgent events, but instead by a behavioral idiosyncrasy that occurs in presidents’ decision-making. Specifically, this study provides evidence showing that presidents increase their issuance of emergency power decrees depending not only on political context, but also on whether or not they understand themselves to be terminal. Among other things, the findings here show that term limits channel the preferences and choices of executive leaders in such a way that their behavioral tendencies become more predictable. More importantly, the findings show a certain level of predictability with the use of emergency power, undermining the assumption that the concept of emergency is what it once may have been – a concern for the security of the state.
Culture-free biphasic approach for sensitive detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from beef samples.

Foodborne illnesses are a major threat to public health also leading to significant mortality and financial and reputational damage to industry. It is very important to detect pathogen presence in food products early, rapidly, and accurately to avoid potential outbreaks and economic loss. However, "gold standard" culture methods, including enrichment of pathogens, can take up to several days. Moreover, the food matrix often interferes with nucleic acid amplification methods of detection, requiring DNA extraction from the sample for successful molecular detection of pathogens. Here, we introduce a "biphasic" amplification method that can achieve high sensitivity detection with background noise from ground beef food samples without culture or other extraction methods in 2.5 h. Homogenized ground beef is dried resulting in an increase in porosity of the dried food matrix to allowing amplification enzymes and primers to access the target DNA and initiate the reaction within the dried food matrix. Using Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification, we demonstrate the detection of 1-3 cfu of Escherichia coli bacteria in 30 mg of dried food matrix. Our approach significantly lowers the time to result to less than a few hours and have a pronounced impact on reduction of instrumentation complexity and costs.
Collusion in VCG path procurement auctions

We consider collusion in path procurement auctions, where payments are determined using the VCG mechanism. We show that collusion can increase the utility of the agents, and in some cases they can extract any amount the procurer is willing to offer. We show that computing how much a coalition can gain by colluding is NP-complete in general, but that in certain interesting restricted cases, the optimal collusion scheme can be computed in polynomial time.We examine the ways in which the colluders might share their payments, using the core and Shapley value from cooperative game theory. We show that in some cases the collusion game has an empty core, so although beneficial manipulations exist, the colluders would find it hard to form a stable coalition due to inability to decide how to split the rewards. On the other hand, we show that in several common restricted cases the collusion game is convex, so it has a non-empty core, which contains the Shapley value. We also show that in these cases colluders can compute core imputations and the Shapley value in polynomial time.
Abstract 13921: Head-to-head Comparison of Real-Time Myocardial Perfusion Echocardiography vs Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Patients with Revascularized ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Prognostic Implications

Objectives: To compare real-time myocardial perfusion echocardiography (RTMPE) with myocardial-delayed enhancement imaging on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for prediction of cardiac events (CE) in revascularized STEMI patients (pts). Methods: Consecutive acute STEMI pts with acute reperfusion by PCI and/or thrombolysis were studied. RTMPE (Definity) and CMR were performed within 1.04± .8 days & 1.7±1.2 days from PCI, respectively. Visual assessments of perfusion by RTMPE and transmural necrosis extent by CMR in 17-segments were graded independently as:0=normal/no scar;1=hypoperfused/non transmural scar;2=absent perfusion/transmural scar. Perfusion score indices PSI RTMPE & PSI CMR were calculated [sum of segmental perfusion scores / segments]. CMR infarct mass (g) and RTMPE myocardial blood flow [MBF dB/sec] were quantified. Pts were followed for CE [death, nonfatal MI, revascularization, angina, and heart failure]. Cox regression analysis was done. Results: All 27 pts [age 62 ±14; follow-up 3.5±2.6 yrs] had TIMI grade 3 flow of revascularized infarct vessel. CE occurred in 17 (63%) (death=5,STEMI=1, angina=4,CABG=1,PCI=2,HF=4). CE pts had higher PSIRTMPE , PSICMR , infarct mass, and lower MBF Figures A,B . PSIRTMPE cutoff .3 had AUC .856 [82% sensitivity,70% specificity], while PSICMR cutoff .2 had AUC .765 [76 % sensitivity, 60% specificity]. Pts with PSICMR ≥ .2; infarct mass ≥ 14; PSIRTMPE≥ .3 and MBF ≤.557 had increased CE [log-rank X2 1.6, P=.21; 5.7, P=.02; 4.3, P=.04,and 5.1, P=.02 respectively]. Infarct mass and MBF were independent predictors of CE after adjusting for risk factors [hazard ratios: 20.9 (95% CI 1.8-256) P=.02 and 8.1 (95% CI 1.5-78) P =.01, respectively].No pts had side-effects reported. Conclusions: RTMPE performed comparably to CMR in excellent prediction of subsequent cardiac events in revascularized STEMI pts. These findings support a prognostic role for this novel, readily available, noninvasive, bedside imaging method. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Inhibition of Etoposide (VP-16)-induced DNA Recombination and Mutant Frequency by Bcl-2 Protein Overexpression

Bcl-2 has been shown to inhibit apoptosis induced by several anticancer agents and to cause a dissociation between etoposide (VP-16)-induced protein-cross-linked DNA strand breaks and VP-16-induced cell death. We suggested previously that VP-16-induced cytotoxicity is mediated by a series of events leading from cleavable complex formation to aberrant DNA recombination, as measured by sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and Southern blot analysis of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) gene mutations. To further evaluate this hypothesis and to determine whether Bcl-2 could affect any steps leading to the aberrant DNA recombination process, we stably transfected an expression vector containing human Bcl-2 cDNA into V79 Chinese hamster cells. This transfection resulted in overexpression of the Bcl-2 gene product. We subsequently quantitated the relationship between VP-16-induced cytotoxicity, DNA strand breaks, SCE, and mutant frequency at the hprt locus in these Bcl-2-overexpressing cells. Two independent Bcl-2-overexpressing cell lines, BCL2/2 and BCL2/4, showed 3-5 times higher survival at 15 microM VP-16 compared with parental V79 cells or control NeoR cells that were obtained by transfecting V79 cells with the expression vector containing the G-418 resistance gene only. DNA single-strand breaks induced by VP-16 were similar in parental V79, control NeoR, BCL2/2, and BCL2/4 cells. In contrast, VP-16 induced significantly less SCE in Bcl-2-overexpressing cell lines compared with parental V79 and control NeoR cells. The SCE/chromosome induced by 15 microM VP-16 were 0.65, 0.42, 0.09, and 0.10, respectively, in V79, NeoR, BCL2/2, and BCL2/4. In addition, there was an excellent correlation between VP-16-induced SCE and cytotoxicity in all cell lines. Furthermore, VP-16-induced mutant frequencies at the hprt locus were 5-10 times less in BCL-2/2 and BCL-2/4 cells than those observed in the V79 or NeoR control cells. These results indicate that overexpression of Bcl-2 is associated with reduction in VP-16-induced genetic recombination, mutation, and cytotoxicity. Moreover, they suggest that Bcl-2 modulates cytotoxicity of VP-16 between cleavable complex formation and subsequent induction of DNA recombination events. Thus, our results provide important support for the hypothesis that VP-16-induced cytotoxicity is associated with aberrant recombination events, including gene deletions and rearrangements.
Efficient Frame Systems

Frame systems occupy an important place among formalisms for computer-based knowledge representation. A common concern about frame systems is that they are not efficient enough. We argue that this is not necessarily true of all possible systems, and that the trade-off between representational power and efficiency has not been fully explored. It is possible, in particular, to design frame systems that retain much of the flexibility while providing excellent performance. Such systems are well suited for applications that need flexible knowledge representation but cannot afford the high performance price.
Traffic Pattern of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator through the Early Exocytic Pathway

The pathway of transport of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) through the early exocytic pathway has not been examined. In contrast to most membrane proteins that are concentrated during export from the ER and therefore readily detectable at elevated levels in pre-Golgi intermediates and Golgi compartments, wild-type CFTR could not be detected in these compartments using deconvolution immunofluorescence microscopy. To determine the basis for this unusual feature, we analyzed CFTR localization using quantitative immunoelectron microscopy (IEM). We found that wild-type CFTR is present in pre-Golgi compartments and peripheral tubular elements associated with the cis and trans faces of the Golgi stack, albeit at a concentration 2-fold lower than that found in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). delta F508 CFTR, a mutant form that is not efficiently delivered to the cell surface and the most common mutation in cystic fibrosis, could also be detected at a reduced concentration in pre-Golgi intermediates and peripheral cis Golgi elements, but not in post-Golgi compartments. Our results suggest that the low level of wild-type CFTR in the Golgi region reflects a limiting step in selective recruitment by the ER export machinery, an event that is largely deficient in delta F508. We raise the possibility that novel modes of selective anterograde and retrograde traffic between the ER and the Golgi may serve to regulate CFTR function in the early secretory compartments.
Robust optimal control of uncertain nonaffine MIMO nonlinear discrete-time systems with application to HCCI engines

SUMMARY MIMO optimal control of unknown nonaffine nonlinear discrete-time systems is a challenging problem owing to the presence of control inputs inside the unknown nonlinearity. In this paper, the nonaffine nonlinear discrete-time system is transformed to an affine-like equivalent nonlinear discrete-time system in the input–output form. Next, a forward-in-time Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation-based optimal approach, without using value and policy iterations, is developed to control the affine-like nonlinear discrete-time system by using both NN as an online approximator and output measurements alone. To overcome the need to know the control gain matrix in the optimal controller, a new online discrete-time NN identifier is introduced. The robustness of the overall closed-loop system is shown via singular perturbation analysis by using an additional auxiliary term to mitigate the higher-order terms. Lyapunov stability of the overall system, which includes the online identifier and robust control term, demonstrates that the closed-loop signals are bounded and the approximate control input approaches the optimal control signal with a bounded error. The proposed optimal control approach is applied to a cycle-by-cycle discrete-time representation of an experimentally validated homogeneous charge compression ignition fuel-flexible engine whose dynamics are modeled as uncertain nonlinear, nonaffine, and MIMO discrete-time system. Simulation results are included to demonstrate the efficacy of the approach in presence of actuator disturbances. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Suppression of Radiation Sensitivity and Capsular Polysaccharide Synthesis in Escherichia coli K-12 by Ochre Suppressors

A class of suppressors effective on nonsense polarity mutations suppresses several independent mutations in a gene (capR) that controls ultraviolet-radiation sensitivity and capsular polysaccharide synthesis. Since these ochre suppressors function at the level of translation of messenger ribonucleic acid into protein, the results provide evidence that the product of the capR gene is a protein.
Laser detection of latent fingerprints: ninhydrin.

Ninhydrin-treated latent fingerprints not discernible in the conventional way can show fluorescence in the red and near-infrared spectral regions when subjected to continuous-wave dye laser illumination at about 580 nm, thus becoming amenable to development.
Europe is a State of Mind: Identity and Europeanization in the Balkans

Why does Europeanization—the process of adopting European rules—advance in some countries, while it stalls in others? What explains different European trajectories of otherwise similar candidate states? This article explains foreign policy choices of EU candidate states with an identity-based theoretical framework. In states where European identity is a widely shared social value, the inevitable short-term costs of Europeanization—economic, social, and political—will still be worth the price of admission because becoming “European” trumps other domestic political concerns. In contrast, in countries where the European idea is not broadly shared, pro-European groups will find it hard to forge crosscutting coalitions needed to successfully promote Europeanization with all its associated costs. To illustrate these theoretical insights, I compare Europeanization in Croatia and Serbia, the two Balkan states with similar regional status, shared legacies of communism, and ethnic war, yet quite different European trajectories. I argue that the process of identity convergence explains Croatia's rapid compliance with controversial EU requirements, while in neighboring Serbia, identity divergence has derailed Serbia's EU candidacy.
Further Evidence of Linkage with Crossing over in Oenothera

Page 165, line 11, for "1922" read "1923." Page 165, line 20, for "1919" read "1909." Page 167, line 14, for "190" read "1909
The effects of slope and branch structure on the locomotion of a specialized arboreal colubrid snake (Boiga irregularis)

The surfaces in arboreal habitats have variable diameters, slopes, and branching structure that pose functional challenges for animal locomotion. Nevertheless, many lineages of snakes have independently evolved arboreality. We tested the effects of arboreal habitat structure on the locomotion of a highly arboreal species, the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), moving on seven diameters (0.6–21 cm) of cylinders oriented at three slopes (0°, 45°, 90°) and with or without pegs. Intermediate diameters of horizontal cylinders maximized speed, and some of the large-diameter cylinders without pegs were impassable when they were inclined. With increased slope the snakes were slower, and they changed from using lateral undulation with sliding contact and balancing to concertina locomotion with periodic static gripping. The presence of pegs increased the speeds of the brown tree snakes and resulted in them only using lateral undulation. Surface diameter, slope, and the occurrence of pegs also had widespread significant effects on the kinematics of the brown tree snakes. Overall, compared to anatomically less specialized corn snakes, brown tree snakes use more lateral undulation, are usually much faster, and are able to move on a wider variety of surfaces. Unlike some of the trade-offs found previously between two less specialized species of snakes with different stoutness when they used modes of arboreal locomotion that involved either balancing or gripping, the slender-bodied brown tree snakes excel at both. Hence, this species may not only be a “jack of all trades” but also a master of many. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 309–321, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Native-exotic species richness relationships across spatial scales and biotic homogenization in wetland plant communities of Illinois, USA

Aim To examine native-exotic species richness relationships across spatial scales and corresponding biotic homogenization in wetland plant communities. Location Illinois, USA. Methods We analysed the native-exotic species richness relationship for vascular plants at three spatial scales (small, 0.25 m2 of sample area; medium, 1 m2 of sample area; large, 5 m2 of sample area) in 103 wetlands across Illinois. At each scale, Spearman’s correlation coefficient between native and exotic richness was calculated. We also investigated the potential for biotic homogenization by comparing all species surveyed in a wetland community (from the large sample area) with the species composition in all other wetlands using paired comparisons of their Jaccard’s and Simpson’s similarity indices. Results At large and medium scales, native richness was positively correlated with exotic richness, with the strength of the correlation decreasing from the large to the medium scale; at the smallest scale, the native-exotic richness correlation was negative. The average value for homogenization indices was 0.096 and 0.168, using Jaccard’s and Simpson’s indices, respectively, indicating that these wetland plant communities have been homogenized because of invasion by exotic species. Main Conclusions Our study demonstrated a clear shift from a positive to a negative native-exotic species richness relationship from larger to smaller spatial scales. The negative native-exotic richness relationship that we found is suggested to result from direct biotic interactions (competitive exclusion) between native and exotic species, whereas positive correlations likely reflect the more prominent influence of habitat heterogeneity on richness at larger scales. Our finding of homogenization at the community level extends conclusions from previous studies having found this pattern at much larger spatial scales. Furthermore, these results suggest that even while exhibiting a positive native-exotic richness relationship, community level biotas can/are still being homogenized because of exotic species invasion.
Comparison of continuous and discrete mixed-integrator processors

Two mixed-integration processors for processing coherent imaging radar data are analyzed and compared. These two optical processors reduce the deleterious speckle effects associated with a fully coherent imaging system. However, the mixed-integration process reduces the achievable resolution. The discrete frequency-plane mixed-integration processor subdivides the frequency plane into M × N cells, processes each cell coherently, and incoherently sums the individual outputs. The scanning frequency plane mixed-integration processor continuously scans the frequency plane with an aperture that is 1/M × 1/N times the size of the signal spectrum. It is shown that the scanning processor is much more effective at reducing the effects of speckle while achieving comparable resolution.
Holmium laser assisted 'anatomical' enucleation of adenoma of benign hyperplasia of prostate

Aims: To present our technique of Holmium Laser assisted ANATOMICAL enucleation of the benign prostatic adenoma (HoLEP) in 219 patients. Procedure is based on the principle of digital enucleation of the adenoma from its surgical capsule, but performed entirely by perurethral endoscopic technique assisted by Holmium Laser. Materials and Methods: From March 2001 to November 2004, 219 patients under went HoLEP. After the initial cuts from bladder neck to verumontanum at 5 and 7 o'clock position, capsule is identified. The beak of the resectoscope sheath was inserted in the plane between the capsule and the adenoma and the adenoma was physically pushed away towards the urethra from the capsule. Laser was used to coagulate the bleeders, to cut the mucosal attachments and tough stromal tissue. Procedure was repeated for median and two lateral lobes. There was minimal bleeding and fluid absorption. Complications were few. Results: In 206 cases successful enucleation of the adenoma was carried out. First 13 cases formed part of the learning curve and were completed by standard transurethral resection of prostate (TURP). IPSS score dropped from average of 23 to 8 and peak flow improved from 20. No patient had postoperative urinary incontinence or stricture. Conclusions: HoLEP is an effective alternative to TURP. Ultimate end results replicate the end results of open enucleation of BPH without its morbidity and have all the advantages of endoscopic surgery. It offers distinct advantages over standard TURP as the incidence of blood transfusion and fluid absorption are greatly minimized.
Numerical Method For Cassegrain Telescope Baffle Design

An efficient method for calculating optimum dimensions of Cassegrain telescope baffles will be dis-cussed. The baffles are designed to prevent light which has bypassed the optical system or which is outside the field of view from reaching the final image plane. It is also desired to minimize the baffle size to maximize the effective aperture. Graphical methods have been used, but they are time consuming and have limited accuracy. Previous analytical techniques have been cumbersome and difficult to implement. The new technique presented here is an iterative algorithm suitable for implementation on a small computer. The authors have written such a program and have found it to give fast, reliable design information.
Design of Generator Spline Retaining Ring With Low Windage Loss

Retaining rings in a generator are used to constrain the centrifugal force of the field winding end turns. A conventional retaining ring may cause a high pressure drop at the stator-rotor gap entrance and thus result in a large windage loss. The present work relates to the design of a retaining ring with a spline profile near its inboard end to thereby improve the axial cooling flow fluidity and enhance generator cooling efficiency. By altering the outer profile of the retaining ring, it has been found that approximately 30–60% of the pressure drop across the stator-rotor gap entrance can be reduced. As a result, the overall generator efficiency may increase about 0.005–0.01%.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The Roles and Ethics of Journalism: How Chinese Students and American Students Perceive Them Similarly and Differently

This study compares how American and Chinese journalism students view the importance of various journalistic roles and the difficulties of ethical dilemmas faced by journalists. Chinese students pe...
Surgical management of melanoma of the gallbladder: a report of 13 cases and review of the literature.

Abstract Background Melanoma has the potential to spread to virtually any organ, including the gallbladder. The role of intervention in this rare entity must be based on a thorough appreciation of the underlying disease biology. Methods We present a review of all patients treated for gallbladder melanoma at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) between 1991 and 2003. Results The study group consisted of 13 patients with melanoma metastatic to the gallbladder. The median survival was 12 months following the diagnosis, and only 1 patient survived more than 42 months. Factors associated with improved outcome included symptomatic metastases and metastatic disease confined to the gallbladder (P Conclusions In patients with melanoma metastatic to the gallbladder, overall survival is determined more by the biology of the disease than treatment. In the presence of symptoms, cholecystectomy is often effective palliation in carefully selected patients.
Permeability of concrete containing large amounts of fly ash

Abstract This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of addition of a Class C fly ash on concrete permeability. An air entrained reference concrete mixture without fly ash was proportioned to have a 28-day strength of 41 MPa. Concrete mixtures were also proportioned to have cement replacement with fly ash in the range of 0–70% by weight. For each concrete mixture, compressive strength, chloride permeability, air permeability, and water permeability were determined. Air and water permeability were evaluated by using the Figg method. Chloride permeability of the concrete was measured in accordance with the ASTM C 1202. At ages up to 28-day, no-fly ash concrete attained lower air permeability compared to high-volume fly ash concretes. At 91 days, the mixture having 50% cement replacement exhibited the lowest air permeability. The same was true for water permeability also. In general, addition of fly ash caused a decrease in chloride permeability of concrete up to 50% cement replacement.
Adaptive double self-organizing maps for clustering gene expression profiles

This paper introduces a new model of self-organizing map (SOM) known as adaptive double self-organizing map (ADSOM). ADSOM has a flexible topology and performs data partitioning and cluster visualization simultaneously without requiring a priori knowledge about the number of clusters. It combines features of the popular SOM with two-dimensional position vectors, which serve as a visualization tool to detect the number of clusters present in the data. ADSOM updates its free parameters and allows convergence of its position vectors to a fairly consistent number of clusters provided its initial number of nodes is greater than the expected number of clusters. A novel index is introduced based on hierarchical clustering of the final locations of position vectors. The index allows automated detection of the number of clusters, thereby reducing human error that could be incurred from counting clusters visually. To test ADSOM's consistency in data partitioning, we examine the number of common profiles found in the clusters that were obtained by varying the initial number of nodes. This provides a confidence measure for the clusters formed by ADSOM and illustrates the effect of different initial number of nodes on data partitioning. The reliance of ADSOM in identifying number of clusters is demonstrated by applying it to publicly available yeast gene expression data.
A deadtime model for the calibration of impact sensors with an application to a modified miniphone sensor

Abstract Due to deadtime effects, undercounting by aeolian impact sensors is present at all sediment flux levels. During a short time interval following an impact (the deadtime), an impact sensor is unable to detect new impacts. The degree of undercounting increases with increasing flux so that the sensor eventually becomes saturated. We develop an undercounting model for aeolian impact sensors that accounts for deadtime. This model was applied to field data obtained using a miniphone sensor modified from Ellis et al. (2009) . The modified miniphone is inexpensive ($75.00 USD per pair, including datalogging) and easy to assemble. A protective layer of foil increases longevity at the probable expense of sensitivity. Modified Wilson and Cooke (MWAC) sand traps were paired with modified miniphones (MM) for intervals of up to 50 min during two winter storms along the coast of Lake Michigan. Sand from each MWAC was sieved, and the masses were fit to a continuous density function to estimate grain counts. MM deployed for cumulative periods of up to 200 showed no evidence of signal degradation. Fitting a deadtime model to the MM/MWAC data yielded a R 2 value of 0.9766. While short segments of the response curve can be approximated by a linear fit, linear models will fail if applied much beyond the experimental conditions at which they were calibrated. The deadtime curve is based on a more realistic model of how impact sensors work and should give a better approximation of aeolian sand flux over a broader range of impact rates.
Novel H1N1 virus infection and pregnancy.

AbstractHuman infection with the novel H1N1 influenza virus, initially popularly termed “swine flu,” was first reported in April 2009 and has since prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise its pandemic alert to the highest level. During pregnancy both mother and baby are at increased risk when infected with either pandemic or seasonal influenza. Because of concerns about the severity of the disease during pregnancy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has implemented enhanced surveillance for infection with this novel virus in pregnant women and has placed them in a group that merits priority vaccine administration. The benefit of treatment with the antiviral medication oseltamivir outweighs its theoretical risk, as pregnant women are at increased risk of severe complications from H1N1 virus infection. In addition to confirmed H1N1 cases, the associated symptoms, particularly fever, merit immediate attention. Moreover, precautions must be taken by both patients and health car...
Optical Interference Coatings for Inhibiting of Counterfeiting

Counterfeiting of valuable papers and identification documents made of paper or plastics, such as banknotes, credit cards, passports, etc., is presently inhibited through the use of inks of many colours, intricate engraved designs on special papers which sometimes contain watermarks or embedded coloured paper platelets or metal threads. These methods have not always offered adequate protection. It is proposed to use optical multilayer coatings to validate such documents. One property of such coatings is that their spectral characteristics vary with the angle of incidence of the light. For most applications this variation is a decided disadvantage and efforts are often made to minimize it. But by this property optical multilayers differ essentially from all known types of dyes, inks, pigments and paints used in printing, photography and colour-copying machines. This angular variation can be made use of to enable the man in the street to distinguish at a glance an authentic document bearing such a coating f...
Modeling Carrier-Phonon Nonequilibrium Due to Pulsed Laser Interaction With Nanoscale Silicon Films

Ultrashort-pulsed laser irradiation on semiconductors creates a thermal nonequilibrium between carriers and phonons. Previous computational studies used the "two-temperature" model and its variants to model this nonequilibrium. However, when the laser pulse duration is smaller than the relaxation time of the carriers or phonons or when the carriers' or phonons' mean free path is larger than the material dimension, these macroscopic models fail to capture the physics accurately. In this article, the nonequilibrium between carriers and phonons in silicon films is modeled via numerical solution of the Boltzmann transport model (BTM), which is applicable over a wide range of length and time scales. The BTM is solved using the discontinuous Galerkin finite element method for spatial discretization and the three-stage Runge―Kutta temporal discretization. The BTM results are compared with previous computational studies on laser heating of macroscale silicon films. The model is then used to study laser heating of nanometer size silicon films, by varying parameters such as the laser fiuence and pulse duration. From the laser pulse duration study, it is observed that the peak carrier number density and maximum carrier and phonon temperatures are the highest for the shortest pulse duration of 0.05 ps and decreases with increasing pulse duration. From the laser fiuence study, it is observed that for fluences equal to or higher than 1000 J/m 2 , due to the Auger recombination, a second peak in carrier temperature is observed. The use of carrier-acoustic phonon coupling leads to equilibrium phonon temperatures, which are approximately 400 K higher than that of carrier-optical phonon-acoustic phonon coupling. Both the laser pulse duration and fluence are found to strongly affect the equilibrium time and temperature in Si films.
Crystalline liquids: the blue phases

The blue phases of cholesteric liquid crystals are liquids that exhibit orientational order characterized by crystallographic space-group symmetries. We present here a pedagogical introduction to the current understanding of the equilibrium structure of these phases accompanied by a general overview of major experimental results. Using the Ginzburg-Landau free energy appropriate to the system, we first discuss in detail the character and stability of the usual helical phase of cholesterics, showing that for certain parameter ranges the helical phase is unstable to the appearance of one or more blue phases. The two principal models for the blue phases are two limiting cases of the Ginzburg-Landau theory. We explore each limit and conclude with some general considerations of defects in both models and an exact minimization of the free energy in a curved three-dimensional space.
Salvage of pyrimidine nucleosides by Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis is incapable of de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis because it cannot incorporate bicarbonate, aspartate or orotate into its pyrimidine nucleotides or nucleic acids. The organism can salvage exogenous cytidine greater than uridine greater than uracil and thymidine, and incorporate them into the nucleotide pool. A portion of cytidine is converted to CMP, CDP and CTP by cytidine phosphotransferase and nucleotide kinases. Some cytidine and most of uracil are, however, converted first to uridine by cytidine deaminase and uridine phosphorylase respectively; uridine is then incorporated into UMP, UDP and UTP by uridine phosphotransferase and nucleotide kinases. The two phosphotransferases, found mainly in the non-sedimentable fraction of T. vaginalis, provide the main avenue of pyrimidine salvage. No significant levels of pyrimidine phosphoribosyl transferase or nucleoside kinases can be detected in the extract. T. vaginalis has no appreciable dihydrofolate reductase or thymidylate synthetase; it grows normally in millimolar concentrations of methotrexate, pyrimethamine, or trimethoprim, and cannot incorporate labels from exogenous uracil or uridine into DNA. It has an enzyme thymidine phosphotransferase in the sedimentable fraction which converts thymidine to TMP. Thymidine salvage in T. vaginalis is thus totally isolated from the rest of the pyrimidine salvage.
The use of a single daily theophylline dose and metered-dose albuterol in asthma treatment

Abstract Sustained-release, 24-hour theophylline preparations have been formulated and may provide for convenient once-a-day dosing, although the use of such products in clinical asthma has yet to be fully established. This study compared single daily versus twice daily dosing with a 24-hour theophylline, Uniphyl, in asthma and further evaluated for the additional effect of metered-dose albuterol on each theophylline regimen. Twenty-eight patients with asthma were enrolled in this randomized crossover trial. Before enrollment, all demonstrated at least a 15% improvement in FEV 1 , after a β-adrenergic aerosol and had serum theophylline levels ranging from 5 to 20 μg/ml with a predetermined 800 mg daily dose of Uniphyl. The patients were then randomly entered into four treatment regimens for one week each: (1) Uniphyl, 800 mg four times a day (qd); metered-dose albuterol, active, 180 μg four times a day (qid): (2) Uniphyl, 400 mg twice daily; metered-dose albuterol, active, 180 μg qid; (3) Uniphyl, 800 mg qd; placebo, two puffs qid; and (4) Uniphyl, 400 mg twice daily; placebo, two puffs qid. On the morning of the seventh day of each treatment regimen, pulmonary functions and a trough serum theophylline level were measured. The patient then received the same medication that he had taken for the preceding week. Spirometry was measured hourly, and a serum theophylline level was measured 6 hours later. The daily symptom scores, peak flow values, and pulmonary functions on the test day were similar with either single or twice daily Uniphyl dosing. Routine administration of albuterol by metered dose did not enhance asthma control in an unequivocal fashion. Interestingly, however, the concomitant use of albuterol did significantly reduce the fluctuation between the trough and the 6-hour postdosing serum theophylline value. Thus, we found that dosing once a day with a 24-hour theophylline preparation provides effective asthma control without an increase in side effects and, furthermore, metered-dose albuterol may alter theophylline metabolism.
Update on the Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes

At present there is debate as to whether an invasive or a conservative strategy should form the basis of an optimal management strategy for unstable angina/non-Q wave myocardial infarction (UA/NQMI). However, these approaches are complementary, not necessarily mutually exclusive. On the basis of current evidence, all patients should receive optimized medical therapy, with surgical interventions targeted at high-risk patients, to improve both clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness. While standard antithrombotic combinations have improved short-term outcomes, they do not fully eliminate the risk of recurrent ischemic episodes. The recent introduction of direct thrombin inhibitors, platelet fibrinogen receptor antagonists and low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) has offered an opportunity to develop more aggressive antithrombotic regimens. Enoxaparin, an LMWH, has demonstrated improved efficacy compared with standard heparin in both the acute and chronic phases of UA/NQMI, without an increase in major complications caused by bleeding. Further studies are justified to investigate the potential of combined antithrombotic regimens containing enoxaparin as an alternative to heparin in conservative strategies and as adjuncts to interventional procedures. Recommendations for the management of UA/NQMI should be continually reviewed in response to the impact of novel treatment modalities.