cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Turbulent gas flux measurements below the air-water interface of a grid-stirred tank

Abstract Experiments have been conducted in an effort to elucidate the details of the interfacial gas transfer mechanism under liquid-side control. Near-surface liquid turbulence and oxygen concentration fluctuations have been measured in a laboratory grid-stirred tank for a range of turbulent Reynolds number RL from 80 to 660. Our observations show that the thickness of the gas boundary layer closely agrees in trend and magnitude with the Lewis-Whitman's film thickness as determined from the bulk concentration change. Furthermore, the functional dependence on turbulent Reynolds number is consistent with a large eddy domination. Additional simultaneous measurements of turbulent velocity and oxygen concentration fluctuations, including direct flux measurements, give further indication that the large scale eddy motions are more effective in the interfacial mass transfer process.
Parallel processing strategies for chemical process flowsheeting

The potential for using the sequential-modular, simultaneous-modular, and equation-based approaches to process flowsheeting on multiprocessing (parallel processing) computer architectures is assessed. The simultaneous-modular and equation-based problem formulations appear to be the most promising, but the sparse matrix techniques currently used, especially for the latter, do not perform well on parallel machines. We consider two different decomposition schemes for parallelizing the sparse matrix problems that must be solved. These are the bordered-diagonal form and the bordered-block-diagonal form. The latter takes advantage of the inherent block structure of the flowsheeting matrix and represents a promising strategy for solving flowsheeting problems on parallel machines, especially for large problems.
Note on Stress, Anxiety and Related Defenses in a Controlled Situation

4 highly trained, experienced aquanauts were placed in a situation which they knew in advance would be hazardous but presented dangers with which they were familiar. They were accustomed to psychological tests but had never been tested with the particular instrument used in this experiment (IPAT 8-Parallel Form Anxiety Battery). The test was given 15 min. prior to the beginning of the dive, and another form of the test with a high correlation value was given 30 min. after the 48-hr. dive. Anxiety levels prior to the experiment were abnormally low as compared to the general population, indicating presumably the presence of anxiety and the erection of a defense to control it. After the dive, anxiety levels returned to or began to return to, points approximating those of the general population, exceeding them in one case but being still low in another.
Incidence of Persistent Right Oviducts in the Chicken

Abstract STRUCTURAL anomalies involving the persistency of the right ovary, oviduct and/or oviducal orifices in the adult female domestic fowl have been reported many times. Kaupp (1922) photographed the gonads of a hen showing two functional ovaries and oviducts. Schott and Curtis (1928) observed a hen possessing structural doubling, including two ovaries, two oviducts and two orifices; however, only the left ovary, oviduct and orifice were functional. Crew (1931) found a Brown Leghorn hen with a normal left ovary associated with completely differentiated left and right oviducts. Champion (1955) reported one fowl he had examined possessed an exceptionally well-developed right oviduct, along with a fully functional left ovary and oviduct, but was unable to find evidence of actual functional activity in the right oviduct of his specimen. Kirkpatrick and Card (1916), McKenney (1931), Quinn, Burrows and McNally (1939) and Bryant (1944) also made similar observations. In January, 1958, a White Plymouth …
Structural Requirements for the Space Propulsion Engine Systems

In January 2004, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was given a vision for Space Exploration by President Bush, setting our sight on a bold new path to go back to the Moon, then to Mars and beyond. As NASA gets ready to meet the vision set by President Bush, failures are not an option. Reliability of the propulsion engine systems will play an important role in establishing an overall safe and reliable operation of these new space systems. A new standard, NASA-STD-5012, Strength and Life Assessment for Space Propulsion System Engines, has been developed to provide structural requirements for assessment of the propulsion systems engine. This standard is a complement to the current NASA-wide standard NASA-STD-5001, Structural Design and Test Factors of Safety for Spaceflight Hardware, which excluded the requirement for the engine systems (rotatory structures) along with pressure vessels. As developed, this document builds on the heritage of the multiple industrial standards related to strength and life assessment of the structures. For assuring a safe and reliable operation of a product and/or mission, establishing a set of structural assessment requirements is a key ingredient. Hence, a concentrated effort was made to improve the requirements where there are known lessons learned during the design, test, and operation phases of the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) and other engine development programs. Requirements delineated in this standard are also applicable for the reusable and/or human missions. It shall be noted that "reliability of a system cannot be tested and inspected but can only be achieved if it is first designed into a system." Hence, these strength and life assessment requirements for the space propulsion system engines shall be used along with other good engineering practices, requirements, and policies.
Enantioselective approach to the hetisine alkaloids. Synthesis of the 3-methyl-1-aza-tricyclo[5.2.1.0(3,8)]decane core via intramolecular dipolar cycloaddition.

An efficient, enantioselective approach to the hetisine class of the C20-diterpenoid alkaloids is described. The strategy involves an intramolecular oxidopyridinium dipolar cycloaddition as the key transformation, in which simultaneous formation of the C5−C6 and C10−C20 bonds in the 3-methyl-1-aza-tricyclo[5.2.1.03,8]decane core of the hetisine alkaloids is effected.
Emerging as a Scholar Practitioner: A Reflective Essay Review

In this essay, the author interrogated who she is as a scholar practitioner and integrated three texts. Using some salient features from these texts, she framed her identity development around the theme of affirming encounters. These affirming encounters created spaces for personal and professional growth as a scholar practitioner while undertaking her graduate work.
Leakage current consideration of capillary electrophoresis under electroosmotic control

Abstract The leakage current phenomenon at the capillary-solution interface was investigated with the application of high radial electric potential gradients across the capillary wall for the direct control of electroosmosis. The leakage current traveling through the capillary wall gave rise to a different surface potential between the controlled and uncontrolled regions, and resulted in a linear electroosmotic velocity profile from the controlled region to the ends of the capillary. The mismatch between the elctroosmotic velocities was then balanced by the additional laminar flow over the entire length of the capillary. The additional dispersion induced by the laminar flow under the leakage current situation was demonstrated and compared with theoretical prediction.
What Accounts for the Remarkable Difference between Silabenzene and Phosphabenzene in Stability toward Dimerization

B3LYP/6-31G* calculations have been performed in order to understand the tremendous difference between silabenzene and phosphabenzene in stability toward dimerization. The calculations find that di...
Changing trends in the use of seizure prophylaxis after traumatic brain injury: a shift from phenytoin to levetiracetam.

Abstract Purpose Current guidelines for traumatic brain injury (TBI) recommend antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for 7 days after injury to decrease posttraumatic seizure risk. Phenytoin decreases seizure risk 73% vs placebo during this time. Levetiracetam (LEV) is an alternative; however, no published data validate comparable efficacy. Our objective was to evaluate seizure incidence 7 days after TBI in patients treated with phenytoin (PHT) vs LEV and to characterize practice of AED selection. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted using a Trauma Registry (Collector Trauma Registry; Digital Innovation, Inc, Forrest Hill, Md) to evaluate patients with TBI. Patients with an initial Head/Neck Abbreviated Injury Scale score of 3 or higher and a Glasgow Coma Scale of 8 or less were included. Results Of 109 patients, 89 received PHT, and 20, LEV. Two patients experienced posttraumatic seizure, 1 in each group. Sixty-eight patients survived to hospital discharge; 65% received prophylactic AED greater than 7 days. Ninety-eight percent of 81 patients admitted between 2000 and 2007 received PHT, whereas 64% of 28 patients admitted between 2008 and 2010 received LEV. Conclusion Only 2 patients experienced posttraumatic seizure after receiving AED, indicating low incidence. Most surviving to hospital discharge received AED prophylaxis greater than 7 days despite guideline recommendations. After approval of intravenous LEV, a trend favoring LEV was observed.
Iatrogenic heart block during treatment of a patient with Cushing's syndrome: report of a case.

An 83-year-old woman with history of hypertension treated chronically with verapamil 360 mg daily, presented with refractory hypokalemia and hypochloremic alkalosis. Initial physical examination demonstrated mild hypertension with proximal muscle weakness and normal cardiovascular exam. Initial workup revealed an a.m. cortisol level of 70 mcg/ dl (6–23), a 24-h urine-free cortisol of 5,719 lg (10–100), 1 mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test that showed a morning cortisol level of 54.6 lg/dl, and ACTH level of 123 pg/ml (6–58). A diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome, probably of ectopic origin, was made. While undergoing further evaluation, she was administered 300 mg of ketoconazole thrice a day orally, and 2 days later, the dosage was increased to 300 mg every 6 h. Hypokalemia was corrected during the first 24 h after admission with oral potassium. On the third day, the patient developed severe hypotension (79/38 mmHg), bradycardia (38 beats per minute), and altered mental status. Electrocardiogram showed complete heart block with a slow junctional escape rhythm, and electrolyte panel did not show any abnormality. She was not responsive to intravenous atropine, and thus, she was transferred to coronary care unit where a transvenous temporary pacemaker was placed. Verapamil and ketoconazole were discontinued immediately. Of note, medication reconciliation and past medical history were reviewed and no other drug–drug interaction or prior history or any arrhythmia was found. The next day, the patient recovered completely, the ECG normalized, and the pacemaker was removed. Comment: Ketoconazole is an adrenal enzyme inhibitor that blocks the first step of cortisol biosynthesis [1]. It is also a CYP3A4 inhibitor [2]. Hypertension is a presenting feature of Cushing’s syndrome and requires, not infrequently, high doses of antihypertensives to achieve blood pressure control. Verapamil is also a CYP3A4-based inhibitor and is classified as a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor in the FDA guidance [3]. In our patient, ketoconazole might have increased the levels of verapamil in the blood to toxic levels and caused the heart block. To our knowledge, verapamil–ketoconazole interaction has not been reported previously, probably because common uses of ketoconazole, such as to treat fungal infections, require lower doses than those necessary for Cushing’s syndrome. The case strongly suggests a possible interaction between the two drugs.
A method for large-scale, high-yield isolation of canine pancreatic islets of Langerhans

Abstract A modified collagenase digestion method is described for the isolation of large numbers of islets from the canine pancreas (∼3500 islets/g). The islets isolated by this technique remained viable and released insulin in response to secretagogues after one week of maintenance in tissue culture. Islets isolated from a single donor pancreas were re-implanted into the spleen of the same animal made diabetic by subtotal pancreatectomy and two injections of streptozotocin. Hyperglycemia was corrected in two dogs and decreased in a third dog followed for 30 days. The islet isolation method described, therefore, provides a sufficiently large yield of viable islets from one donor pancreas to correct or improve diabetes in a recipient animal.
How Does a Skin Fibroblast Make Type I Collagen Fibers

We now have an impressive amount of information about several steps in the synthesis of type I collagen fibers by skin fibroblasts: (a) the transcription of the genes for pro α 1(I) and pro α 2(I) polypeptide chains; (b) the processing of the initial RNA transcripts of the genes to mature mRNAs; (c) translation of the mRNAs to prepro α 1(I) and prepro α 2(I) chains; (d) processing of the prepro α l(I) and prepro α 2(I) chains to procollagen; and (e) the further processing of procollagen to collagen fibers. The speed with which we are currently developing this information about collagen and comparable information about other constituents of skin suggests that skin may well be the first human organ which we fully understand.
Implementation of automated 3D defect detection for low signal-to noise features in NDE data

The need for robust defect detection in NDE applications requires the identification of subtle, low-contrast changes in measurement signals usually in very noisy data. Most algorithms rarely perform at the level of a human inspector and often, as data sets are now routinely 10+ Gigabytes, require laborious manual inspection. We present two automated defect segmentation methods, simple threshold and a binomial hypothesis test, and compare effectiveness of these approaches in noisy data with signal to noise ratios at 1:1. The defect-detection ability of our algorithm will be demonstrated on a 3D CT volume, UT C-scan data, magnetic particle images, and using simulated data generated by XRSIM. The latter is a physics-based forward model useful in demonstrating the effectiveness of data processing approaches in a simulation which includes complex defect geometry and realistic measurement. These large data sets represent significant demands on compute resources and easily overwhelm typical PC platforms; however...
Effect of contaminated groundwater on tree growth: A tree-ring analysis

A study was conducted of the effect of contaminated groundwater seepage on tree growth downslope from the F- and H-Area seepage basins of the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Trees in wetlands along Four Mile Creek began to show localized stress and mortality in the late 1970s. Extreme winter temperatures and high rainfall were ruled out as potential causal factors of tree stress. Drought was shown to affect trees in both contaminated and uncontaminated zones, but trees in uncontaminated areas exhibited better recovery after drought than trees in contaminated areas. Pollution-mediated alteration of soil acidity and aluminum, sodium, and heavy metal concentrations likely acted to predispose trees to decline, with severe drought acting as the trigger for decline initiation and tree death. Thus, a moderate pollution loading, not sufficient to cause visible damage of itself, may create conditions in which sudden, severe decline could result from natural stresses. This mechanism of forest decline may be common, and should be considered in evaluations of the impact of pollution on wetland forest systems.
g Factor and Donor Spin-Lattice Relaxation for Electrons in Germanium and Silicon

The $g$ factors of electrons in Ge and Si are calculated on the basis of the effective mass approximation. The results are consistent with experimental spin resonance data. The effect is predicted to be anisotropic, with ${g}_{\mathrm{II}}$ less than ${g}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$. This anisotropy introduces a strong interaction between the electron spin and shear waves, for the singlet donor ground state. This interaction can account in order of magnitude for the observed spin-lattice time ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{s}$ for donor electrons in Si at low temperatures, including both a one-phonon process and a two-phonon Raman-type process. The temperature and magnetic-field dependence for the two processes are predicted to be ${{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\propto}T{H}^{4}$ and ${{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\propto}{T}^{7}{H}^{2}$, respectively. The temperature dependence agrees with experiment; however there are discrepancies in the magnetic-field dependence. ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{s}$ is predicted to be anisotropic.
Novice learning curves for laparoscopic virtual reality training: implications for competency

Abstract Current literature suggests that novices reach a plateau after only 2 to 7 trials when training on the MIST VR laparoscopic virtual reality system. We hypothesize that significant benefit may be gained by additional training. As part of a surgical interest group, second-year medical students (n = 12) voluntarily enrolled under an IRB-approved protocol for MIST VR training. Subjects (ages 24–31, 4 women, 8 men) completed pre-training and post-training questionnaires and performed 30 repetitions of all 12 tasks. Performance data were recorded for each trial, including time, errors, economy of motion and diathermy, and overall score. Learning curves for each task were generated by fitting spline curves to the mean overall scores for each repetition. Repeated measurements using mixed models were compared for trials 1–10, 11–20, and 21–30. Plateaus were defined as no statistical difference between clusters of 10 trials. On average, subjects completed training in 7.1 hrs. (range 5.9–9.2). During 30 repetitions, a plateau in performance was detected for all 12 MIST VR tasks. The plateau was reached in the first 10 trials for one task, during the second 10 trials for 4 tasks and during the third 10 trials for 7 of the 12 tasks. All participants noted subjective improvement in their laparoscopic technical skills following training. Laparoscopic self-rating scores improved by 1.6 points according to a 5-point Lickert scale (p
Identification of a 40-kDa Human Protein That Cross-Reacts with Prokaryotic HSP60/Chaperonins

Abstract Cross-reactivity between the immunodominant bacterial hsp60 proteins and heterologous human target proteins has led to numerous hypotheses on the role of hsp60 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. In this work, we describe a novel 40-kDa human protein that crossreacts with bacterial hsp60 proteins. CCP40 (chaperone cross-reacting protein, 40-kDa) was identified in extracts from HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia) cells on Western blots probed with A57-E4, a monoclonal antibody specifying a linear polypeptide epitope common among the bacterial hsp60 proteins (Yuan et. al. (1992) Inf. Immun. 60, 2288-2296). CCP40 was detected in other human hematopoietic cell lines, but could not be detected in mature peripheral blood leukocytes. CCP40 was also expressed in human CD34+ peripheral blood progenitor cells, disappearing with cytokine-induced cellular maturation.
TU‐F‐116‐01: TG132: Image Registration and Fusion

Image registration and fusion has been in use in the clinic for a long time, however, in recent years its role has expanded to include multi‐modality registration for planning, motion assessment, in‐room treatment guidance, dose accumulation, replanning, and adaptive radiotherapy. These advances increase the complexity of the commissioning and quality assurance required. The AAPM formed a Task Group 132, to formalize the use of image registration and fusion in radiotherapy. The task group recommendations will be presented here. A brief summary of image registration and fusion techniques will be provided, however attendees are referred to Therapy Educational Session: Deformable Image Registration, Contour Propagation, and Dose Mapping for in depth details. The focus of this session will be methods for validation and quality assurance, commissioning, and clinical implementation in treatment planning and delivery. Validation of image registration and fusion includes both qualitative and quantitate evaluations of the image registration results. End‐to‐end tests with physical phantoms can ensure that the image registration software integrates into the clinical workflow. In addition, virtual phantoms can allow detailed quantitative evaluation of both rigid and deformable registration. As the end goal is how to use the registration algorithm on clinical images safely, a comprehensive commissioning and QA program should also include evaluation on true clinical image sets. Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the methods for validation and quality assurance of image registration techniques. 2. Understand the importance of acceptance testing, including end‐to‐end tests, phantom tests, and clinical data tests. 3. Describe techniques for patient specific validation. Dr. Brock has financial interest in deformable registration technology through a licensing agreement with Ray Search Laboratories.
Laser Heterodyne Ranging Using A Mode-Locked Local Oscillator For Bandwidth Compression

It is shown that a mode-locked laser can be used as a local oscillator (LO) in heterodyne ranging to bandwidth compress the received signal. The amount of bandwidth compression depends on the difference in the intermode frequencies between the LO laser and the transmitter laser, which can also be a mode-locked laser. Since the heterodyning occurs on the detector, it is only necessary to use a narrow bandwidth receiver that passes the compressed bandwidth to obtain ranging equivalent to that obtained by a wide bandwidth receiver that passes the full transmitter bandwidth. Bandwidth compression of over 500x and 1 ft range resolution was experimentally demonstrated when a 1.5 GHz He-Ne laser mode-locked transmitter signal was reduced to less than 3 MHz at detection.
Use of Specific rRNA Oligonucleotide Probes for Microscopic Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Culture and Tissue Specimens

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections are a major global health problem. Fast and accurate detection of M. tuberculosis is clearly needed at both the clinical level and the research level. We report a rapid and reliable in situ hybridization technique using rRNA oligonucleotide probes for the identification of M. tuberculosis in tissues and cultures.
A theory for the interaction of particles with a solidifying front

Abstract The interaction of inert foreign particles and a solid-liquid interface during solidification is considered in detail. It is first shown that the interface shape near the particle must be a smooth shallow indentation, but that the viscous drag on the particle which produces a force on the interface can be calculated. This has an extreme value near one derived by Carrier for a planar interface, and the advantageous property that the extremum is related to the interface shape itself, a fact that eliminates one disposable parameter. An experimental check which supports the diffusion argument adopted for the solution of the problem works well in detail for smooth spherical particles. When the theory is made more complex by considering the effects of particle roughness and gravity which enter for larger particles, and differing thermal conductivities, the fit with experiment is improved with no further assumptions. It is suggested that the theoretical examination is general, but that further experiments are needed to check its validity.
Smoke From Plastics and Elastomers

Various plastics and elastomers were evaluated for smoke density, using the gravimetric method of the Arapahoe smoke chamber and the optical methods of the Rohm and Haas XP-2 and the NBS-Aminco smoke chambers. Some materials tend to produce dense smoke under any test conditions, while others produce relatively little smoke under any test conditions. The smoke from some materials is strongly affected by the test conditions used.
A Simple Tool to Predict End-Stage Renal Disease within 1 Year in Elderly Adults with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Objectives: To develop and validate a model to predict 1-year risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in elderly subjects with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Design: Retrospective. Setting: Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Participants: Individuals aged 65 and older with CKD with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 30 mL/min per 1.73 m2. Measurements: The outcome was ESRD within 1 year of the index eGFR. Cox regression was used to develop a predictive model (Veterans Affairs (VA) risk score) that was validated in a separate cohort. Results: Of the 1,866 participants in the developmental cohort, 77 developed ESRD. Risk factors for ESRD in the final model were age, congestive heart failure, systolic blood pressure, eGFR, potassium, and albumin. In the validation cohort, the C index for the VA risk score was 0.823. The risk for developing ESRD at 1 year from lowest to highest tertile was 0.08%, 2.7%, and 11.3% (P < .001). The C-index for the recently published Tangri model in the validation cohort was 0.780. Conclusion: A new model using commonly available clinical measures shows excellent ability to predict the onset of ESRD within the next year in elderly adults. The Tangri model also had good predictive ability. Individuals and physicians can use these risk models to inform decisions regarding preparation for renal replacement therapy in individuals with advanced CKD.
A processor-building system for experimental programming languages

Translator-building systems which allow the rapid construction of translators for programming languages have been in existence for a number of years, beginning with pioneering efforts by Irons and Brooker and Morris, and more recently in systems developed by Reynolds, McClure, and Feldman, among others. With such systems it is possible to build a translator for a language relatively easily, although the translator may not be a particularly efficient one. In this paper, an extension of the notion of a translator-building system to the notion of a processor-building system is considered, and an operating example of such a processor-building system is described.
Can core biopsy reliably diagnose mucinous lesions of the breast

Mucinous lesions in the breast are uncommon. They constitute a wide spectrum of lesions ranging from extravasated mucin associated with fibrocystic change to mucinous carcinoma. There are limited data on the reliability of core biopsy in the diagnosis of mucinous lesions of the breast. We reviewed the core biopsy and surgical biopsy diagnoses in 32 mucinous lesions of the breast. We conclude that core biopsy is highly reliable for accurate diagnosis of mucinous lesions of the breast.
A New Approach to Broadband Array Design using Tightly Coupled Elements

A fundamentally different approach to broadband array design has been developed and validated with measured hardware. Traditional array design is based on designing an isolated element with the desired bandwidth and radiation characteristics and does not account for the mutual coupling that occurs when this element is placed in an array environment. It is well known that undesired mutual coupling in an array can cause dramatic changes in antenna element impedance and radiation patterns. Harris' new approach treats the array aperture as a periodic surface so that the performance of elements within the array environment is assured. The approach is similar to that used to design a frequency selective surface, another periodic, highly-coupled structure. The resultant array apertures are inherently low-profile in cross-section, amenable to conformal implementations, and are able to maintain efficient characteristics over large scan volumes with bandwidths approaching a decade. This paper will present an introduction to this design methodology supported by predicted and measured results from several array designs.
Selective review of cognitive aging

Research concerned with relations between adult age and cognitive functioning is briefly reviewed. The coverage is necessarily selective, and is organized in terms of five major questions. These are what abilities are related to age, how many distinct influences are contributing to the relations between age and cognitive functioning, do the differences between people increase with advancing age, what is responsible for the discrepancies between cross-sectional and longitudinal age comparisons of cognitive functioning, and what methods can be used to identify causes of age-related influences on cognition. Although definitive answers are not yet possible, quite a bit of information relevant to the questions is now available. Moreover, the existing information has implications for the design, analysis, and interpretation of cognitive and neuropsychological research concerned with aging.
To Bayes or Not to Bayes? A Comparison of Two Classes of Models of Information Aggregation

We model the aggregation process used by individual decision makers (DMs) who obtain probabilistic information from multiple, possibly nonindependent, sources. We distinguish between two qualitatively different aggregation approaches: compromising, by averaging the advisors' opinions, and combining the forecasts according to a naive implementation of Bayes rule that assumes conditional independence between advisors. The DMs in our studies received forecasts from two or three advisors who had access to multiple diagnostic cues, and made a large number of decisions. Our data are unusually rich in many respects since the studies involve natural sampling of cues with various levels of dependence and various patterns of information overlap. This provides an excellent opportunity to compare the quality of these models. Overall, the DMs' judgments were closest to the averaging model but, clearly, they did not rely exclusively on this model. The DMs' aggregates were more in line with the naive Bayes rule when the advisors provided extreme forecasts were highly consistent with each other, and induced high levels of confidence. On the other hand, when the advisors disagreed with each other, the DMs were less confident and their aggregates were predicted well by a simple averaging rule.
Measured and modeled ionospheric densities, temperatures, and winds during the international polar year

[1] This paper examines the ability of ionospheric models to reproduce measured electron density, winds, and temperatures during the International Polar Year (IPY) in 2007. The models include the field line interhemispheric plasma (FLIP) model, the international reference ionosphere (IRI) model, and the empirical horizontal neutral wind models (HWM) (HWM93, HWM07). For Poker Flat, Alaska, there is exceptionally good agreement between the FLIP model and measured electron density, winds, and temperatures in equinox and winter. This research shows an interesting post sunset peak in Te from late fall through early spring that is reproduced by the FLIP model. In June and July the FLIP model underestimates the measured peak electron density by a factor of 2. Although both the data and model show evidence of an F 1 peak near 150 km in summer, the model F 1 peak electron density tends to be larger than the F 2 peak electron density and that is not seen in the data. The summer discrepancy is most likely due to incorrect atomic to molecular neutral density ratios. The FLIP model reproduces the Millstone Hill data well throughout 2007. The IRI model agrees well with the electron density data during the day but overestimates the peak electron density and the height of the peak at night. The equivalent winds from the FLIP model and the winds from the HWM93 model agree well with the measured winds. The HWM07 winds are different from the earlier HWM93 winds at Poker Flat and do not agree as well with the data.
Platelet activity and phosphoinositide turnover increase with advancing age.

Abstract purpose: Blood platelet activity increases with advancing age. This study was designed to determine if changes in a key signal-transducing mechanism in the platelet, phosphoinositide turnover, are associated with the enhanced platelet activity seen in aging. patients and methods: Platelets were harvested from a total of 40 healthy, non-obese, 22- to 62-year-old individuals, free of any clinical evidence of atherosclerotic vascular disease, and having normal serum laboratory lipid levels. Studies of platelet activity included measurement of in vitro platelet aggregation and plasma β-thrombeglobulin (β-TBG), a marker of in vivo platelet secretion. Basal and thrombin-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover was measured following [ 32 P]-orthophosphate incorporation into the various phospholipids, isolation of the phosphoinositides and phosphatidic acid by thin-layer chromatography and autoradiography, and quantification by liquid scintillation spectroscopy of these radiolabeled phospholipids. results: There was a positive correlation with age for both adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced aggregation (1.25 μM, r=0.464, p 32 P]orthophosphate ( 32 P i ) incorporation into platelet phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP), and isotopic equilibrium was reached by 120 minutes at 37°C. A positive correlation was found between age and basal 32 P-PIP 2 (r = 0.640, p 32 P-PIP (r = 0.676, p 32 P i incorporation into PIP 2 correlated positively with in vitro aggregation (1.25 μM ADP, r=0.795, p 32 P i incorporation into PIP (1.25 μM ADP, r=0.815, p 32 P-PIP 2 (r = 0.768, p 32 P-PIP (r = 0.505, p 32 P-PIP 2 hydrolysis (r = 0.694, p conclusion: Advancing age is associated with an increase in in vitro platelet aggregation, elevated β-TBG levels, and enhanced phosphoinositide turnover. Because phosphoinositide turnover is associated with stimulus-coupled platelet activation, the increased basal and stimulated phosphoinositide turnover may mediate the increase in platelet activity with aging.
Path Integral Quantization of Field Theories with Second Class Constraints

Faddeev's Hamiltonian path integral method for singular Lagrangians is generalized to the case when second-class constraints appear in the theory. The general formalism is then applied to several problems: quantization of the massive Yang-Mills field theory, light-cone quantization of the self-interacting scalar field theory, and quantization of a local field theory of magnetic monopoles.
On the violence of thermal explosion in solid explosives

Abstract Twenty large scale experiments were conducted to determine the levels of violence of thermal explosions produced by various confinement and heat flow conditions. Heavily confined cylinders of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) and triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) were heated at rates varying from 2°C/min to 3.3°C/h. Fourteen of the cylinders were hollow, and inner metallic liners with small heaters attached were used to produce uniform temperatures just prior to explosion. A complex thermocouple pattern was used to measure the temperature history throughout the charge and to determine the approximate location where the runaway exothermic reaction first occurred. The violence of the resulting explosion was measured using velocity pin arrays placed inside and outside of the metal confinement cylinders, flash x-rays, overpressure gauges, and fragment collection techniques. Five cylinders were intentionally detonated for violence comparisons. The measured temperature histories, times to explosion, and the locations of first reaction agreed closely with those calculated by a two-dimensional heat transfer code using multistep chemical decomposition models. The acceleration of the confining metal cylinders by the explosion process was accurately simulated using a two-dimensional pressure dependent deflagration reactive flow hydrodynamic model. The most violent HMX thermal explosions gradually accelerated their outer cases to velocities approaching those of intentional detonations approximately 120 μs after the onset of explosion. The measured inner cylinder collapse velocities from thermal explosions were considerably lower than those produced by detonations. In contrast to the HMX thermal reactions, no violent thermal explosions were produced by the TATB-based explosive LX-17. A heavily confined, slowly heated LX-17 test produced sufficient pressure to cause a 0.1 cm bend in a 2 cm thick steel plate.
FABB: a blackboard development tool and its application to command and control

The Ford Aerospace Blackboard System (FABB) and its application to intelligent command and control are described. FABB is a blackboard development tool built upon Knowledge Craft that combines and extends many of the features found in current university blackboard shells. Extended use is made of Knowledge Craft's context mechanisms, both to isolate multiple blackboards within a single knowledge base and to allow independent knowledge sources to perform alternate world reasoning. Intelligent control of the problem-solving process is obtained by defining control blackboards, control knowledge sources, and control data objects. High-level plans and strategies are predefined before program execution and chosen opportunistically in a manner that best suits the problem situation. FABB is being used as the development tool in the initial stage of building a command and control system that analyzes and combines multiple, and often incomplete and inaccurate, information in an effort to identify enemy plans intelligently. >
Analytical optimization of high-transmission attenuated phase-shifting reticles

For sub-50-nm semiconductor patterning processes, extremely coherent illumination and high-transmission (Hi-T) attenuated background phase-shifting reticles are becoming increasingly important in delivering high-quality aerial images. Here, a Hi-T reticle is defined as any attenuated phase-shifting mask with a background transmission intensity of 12% or higher of incident light. While numerical simulation has served as a powerful tool in reticle design, the analytical relation of image log slope (ILS) and mask error enhancement factor (MEEF) are calculable in concise, exact form to reveal additional insight into reticle optimization. The properties of ILS and MEEF can be derived analytically in predicting the optimal range of mask bias in terms of image contrast and sensitivity for improved critical dimension (CD) control. These derived relations also demonstrate the capability for analysis beyond extensive numerical simulation and can be easily scaled and applied to various pitches and mask CDs. These relations are also verified in this paper with simulation of realistic process parameters and thus prove the applicability in optimization of Hi-T reticles.
A Reduction from Apprenticeship Learning to Classification

We provide new theoretical results for apprenticeship learning, a variant of reinforcement learning in which the true reward function is unknown, and the goal is to perform well relative to an observed expert. We study a common approach to learning from expert demonstrations: using a classification algorithm to learn to imitate the expert's behavior. Although this straightforward learning strategy is widely-used in practice, it has been subject to very little formal analysis. We prove that, if the learned classifier has error rate e, the difference between the value of the apprentice's policy and the expert's policy is O(√e). Further, we prove that this difference is only O(e) when the expert's policy is close to optimal. This latter result has an important practical consequence: Not only does imitating a near-optimal expert result in a better policy, but far fewer demonstrations are required to successfully imitate such an expert. This suggests an opportunity for substantial savings whenever the expert is known to be good, but demonstrations are expensive or difficult to obtain.
Scheduling Networks of Queues: Heavy Traffic Analysis of a Two-Station Closed Network

We consider a multiclass closed queueing network with two single-server stations. Each class requires service at a particular station, and customers change class after service according to specified probabilities. There is a general service time distribution for each class. The problem is to schedule the two servers to maximize the long-run average throughput of the network. By assuming a large customer population and nearly balanced loading of the two stations, the scheduling problem can be approximated by a dynamic control problem involving Brownian motion. A reformulation of this control problem is solved exactly and the solution is interpreted in terms of the queueing network to obtain a scheduling rule. We conjecture, quite naturally, that the resulting scheduling rule is asymptotically optimal under heavy traffic conditions, but no attempt is made to prove that. The scheduling rule is a static priority policy that computes an index for each class and awards higher priority at station 1 respectively, station 2 to classes with the smaller respectively, larger values of this index. An analytical comparison of this rule to any other static policy is also obtained. An example is given that illustrates the procedure and demonstrates its effectiveness.
Covalent Modifications of the Ebola Virus Glycoprotein

The role of covalent modifications of the Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP) and the significance of the sequence identity between filovirus and avian retrovirus GPs were investigated through biochemical and functional analyses of mutant GPs. The expression and processing of mutant GPs with altered N-linked glycosylation, substitutions for conserved cysteine residues, or a deletion in the region of O-linked glycosylation were analyzed, and virus entry capacities were assayed through the use of pseudotyped retroviruses. Cys-53 was the only GP(1) ( approximately 130 kDa) cysteine residue whose replacement resulted in the efficient secretion of GP(1), and it is therefore proposed that it participates in the formation of the only disulfide bond linking GP(1) to GP(2) ( approximately 24 kDa). We propose a complete cystine bridge map for the filovirus GPs based upon our analysis of mutant Ebola virus GPs. The effect of replacement of the conserved cysteines in the membrane-spanning region of GP(2) was found to depend on the nature of the substitution. Mutations in conserved N-linked glycosylation sites proved generally, with a few exceptions, innocuous. Deletion of the O-linked glycosylation region increased GP processing, incorporation into retrovirus particles, and viral transduction. Our data support a common evolutionary origin for the GPs of Ebola virus and avian retroviruses and have implications for gene transfer mediated by Ebola virus GP-pseudotyped retroviruses.
Improved adaptive detection performance via subspace processing

The performance of subspace adaptive detection is examined for the generalized likelihood ratio detector of E.J. Kelly (1986) and Kelly and K.M. Forsythe (1989). The probability of false alarm (PFA) is independent of the subspace transformation, and depends only upon subspace dimension. The probability of detection depends upon the subspace transformation through a non-adaptive signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) parameter. Subspace processing results in an SNR loss that tends to decrease performance and a gain in statistical stability that tends to increase performance. It is shown that the statistical stability effect dominates the SNR loss for short data records and subspace detectors. A method for designing the subspace transformation to minimize the SNR loss is proposed and illustrated via simulations. >
Radiation-induced skin injury after complex endovascular procedures

Background Radiation-induced skin injury is a serious potential complication of fluoroscopically guided interventions. Transient erythema occurs at doses of 2 to 5 Gy, whereas permanent epilation, ulceration, and desquamation are expected at doses above this level. Complex endovascular procedures (CEPs), such as fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (FEVAR), are associated with high radiation doses, yet the prevalence of radiation-induced skin injury is unknown. We hypothesized that skin injury after these exposures is likely to be underrecognized and underreported. This study examined the frequency and severity of deterministic effects and evaluated patient characteristics that might predispose to radiation injury in CEP. Methods CEP was defined as a procedure with a radiation dose ≥5 Gy (National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements threshold for substantial radiation dose level [SRDL]). Radiation dose and operating factors were recorded for all CEPs performed in a hybrid room during a 30-month period. Patient medical records were retrospectively reviewed for evidence of skin injury. Patients were seen in follow-up daily until discharge and then at weeks 2 and 6, months 3 and 6, and 1 year. Phone interviews were conducted to determine the presence of any skin-related complaints. Peak skin dose (PSD) distributions were calculated for FEVARs with custom software employing input data from fluoroscopic machine logs. These calculations were validated against Gafchromic film (Ashland Inc, Covington, Ky) measurements. Dose was summed for the subset of patients with multiple procedures within 6 months of the SRDL event, consistent with Joint Commission recommendations. Results Sixty-one CEPs reached a reference air kerma (RAK) of 5 Gy (50 FEVARs, six embolizations, one thoracic endovascular aortic repair, one endovascular aneurysm repair, one carotid intervention, and two visceral interventions). The patient cohort was 79% male and had a mean body mass index of 31. The average RAK was 8 ± 2 Gy (5.0-15.9 Gy). Sixteen patients had multiple CEPs within 6 months of the SRDL event, with a mean cumulative RAK of 12 ± 3 Gy (7.0-18.4 Gy). The mean FEVAR PSD was 6.6 ± 3.6 Gy (3.7-17.8 Gy), with a mean PSD/RAK ratio of 0.78. Gafchromic film dose measurements were not statistically different from PSD estimations, with a constant of proportionality of 0.99. Three patients were lost to follow-up before their first postoperative visit. No radiation skin injuries were found. Conclusions This study represents the largest analysis of deterministic skin injury after CEPs, and our results suggest that it is less frequent than expected and not increased in CEPs.
Constructing intelligent living-space controlling system with blue-tooth and speech-recognition microprocessor

This study is a creative and initial work focused on designing an intelligent living-space with automatic control system to control all home-appliances in the living-space. First of all, the system was constructed with two parts; one is remote-control mechanism with blue-tooth (BT) module mounting on both master controller module (remote-controller) and slave receiver module (on every home appliance), the other is to design the remote-controller with speech-recognition and function of self-learning human voice so that people could directly give command to control appliances Therefore, the technique of BT communication and speech-recognition microprocessor became the most important in this study. After implementing the finished projects, the whole system was proved to be great successful and the final result of this research has achieved both National patent authorized by Patent Bureau of Taiwan Economy Ministry, and The First Prize of National Award of Practical Projects Design authorized by Taiwan Education Ministry.
The role of silica fume in the direct tensile strength of cement-based materials

The direct tensile strength of silica fume cement paste and mortar were evaluated at various water-cementitious content ratios. Four different water-cementitious content ratios of 0.22, 0.25, 0.28, and 0.31 were used, and three contents of silica fume, 8%, 16%, and 25% by mass of cement. Superplasticizer content was adjusted for each mix to ensure that no segregation would occur.