cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How is a grating detected on a narrowband noise masker

Thresholds were measured for detecting 4 cpd gratings added to maskers consisting of nine sinusoidal components spanning 1 octave around the signal frequency. Phases of all mask components were randomized on every presentation. To assess their importance, contrast differences were either rendered unreliable by introducing contrast jitter between-intervals, or eliminated by equating contrast energy within the octave band across intervals and trials. The deleterious effects of contrast jitter and the similarity of grating detection and contrast discrimination thresholds argues that contrast cues are being used. Those cues are not the only ones available, because contrast jitter has less than the expected effect, and equating contrast energy only raises threshold a few dB. Computer simulations reveal that there is sufficient information in several spatial pattern cues to support detection performance.
Angular distribution and recoil effect for 1 MeV Au+ ions through a Si3N4 thin foil

Abstract The Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter (SRIM) code has been widely used to predict nuclear stopping power and angular distribution of ion–solid collisions. However, experimental validation of the predictions is insufficient for slow heavy ions in nonmetallic compounds. In this work, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is applied to determine the angular distribution of 1 MeV Au ions after penetrating a Si 3 N 4 foil with a thickness of ∼100 nm. The exiting Au ions are collected by a Si wafer located ∼14 mm behind the Si 3 N 4 foil, and the resulting 2-dimensional distribution of Au ions on the Si wafer is measured by ToF-SIMS. The SRIM-predicted angular distribution of Au ions through the Si 3 N 4 thin foil is compared with the measured results, indicating that SRIM slightly overestimates the nuclear stopping power by up to 10%. In addition, thickness reduction of the suspended Si 3 N 4 foils induced by 1 MeV Au ion irradiation is observed with an average loss rate of ∼107 atoms/ion.
Determination of the pKa and pH-Solubility Behavior of an Ionizable Cyclic Carbamate, (S)-6-Chloro-4-(cyclopropylethynyl)-1,4-dihydro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-3,1-benzoxazin-2-one (DMP 266)

The solubility of a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, (S)-6-chloro-4-(cyclopropylethynyl)-1,4-dihydro-4-(trifluoromethyl )- 2H-3,1-benzoxazin-2-one (DMP 266), was investigated as a function of pH. A dramatic increase in the aqueous solubility was observed at pH > or = 10, which was consistent with going from a neutral to a charged species. The ionization of the proton positioned on the carbamate functionality was confirmed spectrophotometrically (pKa = 10.1). The spectrophotometric result was in excellent agreement with that obtained from the solubility studies (pKa = 10.2). The ionization behavior of DMP 266 represents a unique case in which the pKa for a carbamate functional group is quite low. The anomalous pKa value may be attributed to stabilization of the negatively charged species through inductive effects, which originate from the surrounding substituents and delocalization of the negative charge via resonance effects.
A Detailed Fluid Mechanics Study of Tilting Disk Mechanical Heart Valve Closure and the Implications to Blood Damage

Hemolysis and thrombosis are among the most detrimental effects associated with mechanical heart valves. The strength and structure of the flows generated by the closure of mechanical heart valves can be correlated with the extent of blood damage. In this in vitro study, a tilting disk mechanical heart valve has been modified to measure the flow created within the valve housing during the closing phase. This is the first study to focus on the region just upstream of the mitral valve occluder during this part of the cardiac cycle, where cavitation is known to occur and blood damage is most severe. Closure of the tilting disk valve was studied in a "single shot" chamber driven by a pneumatic pump. Laser Doppler velocimetry was used to measure all three velocity components over a 30 ms period encompassing the initial valve impact and rebound. An acrylic window placed in the housing enabled us to make flow measurements as close as 200 microm away from the closed occluder. Velocity profiles reveal the development of an atrial vortex on the major orifice side of the valve shed off the tip of the leaflet. The vortex strength makes this region susceptible to cavitation. Mean and maximum axial velocities as high as 7 ms and 20 ms were recorded, respectively. At closure, peak wall shear rates of 80,000 s(-1) were calculated close to the valve tip. The region of the flow examined here has been identified as a likely location of hemolysis and thrombosis in tilting disk valves. The results of this first comprehensive study measuring the flow within the housing of a tilting disk valve may be helpful in minimizing the extent of blood damage through the combined efforts of experimental and computational fluid dynamics to improve mechanical heart valve designs.
Alcohol and the liver.

Purpose of reviewThis review aims to acquaint the reader with advances in 2006 in the epidemiology, genetics, detection, pathogenesis and treatment of alcoholic liver disease.Recent findingsImportant discoveries have been made in pathogenesis and mechanism of disease, with great emphasis on the many
The economic benefits of community health centers in lowering preventable hospitalizations: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Research has suggested that accessible primary healthcare may help control hospitalization for certain conditions that are often considered either preventable or treatable through primary healthcare. However, only limited research has tested this widely accepted hypothesis. We extend research on preventable hospitalization in the framework of cost-effectiveness analysis. Using hospitalization data from South Carolina, we show how access to primary healthcare may affect the volume and cost of hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions. Our statistical models for effectiveness and cost take advantage of spatial methods to adjust for neighborhood characteristics. This adjustment also addresses correlations among variables describing each given area, providing appropriate results despite those correlations. We also use propensity scores to adjust for county level variation in access to primary healthcare. We observe that the mean differential volume and cost of lower extremity amputation associated with diabetes was significantly lower in areas served by community health centers than in other areas. This result provides support for the hypothesis that increasing access to primary healthcare may help to control the volume and cost of preventable hospitalization for some conditions.
Truth cube: establishing physical standards for soft tissue simulation.

Accurate real-time models of soft tissue behavior are key elements in medical simulation systems. The need for fast computation in these simulations, however, often requires simplifications that limit deformation accuracy. Validation of these simplified models remains a challenge. Currently, real-time modeling is at best validated against finite element models that have their own intrinsic limitations. This study develops a physical standard to validate real-time soft tissue deformation models. We took CT images of a cube of silicone rubber with a pattern of embedded Teflon spheres that underwent uniaxial compression and spherical indentation tests. The known material properties, geometry and controlled boundary conditions resulted in a complete set of volumetric displacement data. The results were compared to a finite element model analysis of identical situations. This work has served as a proof of concept for a robust physical standard for use in validating soft tissue models. A web site has been created to provide access to our database: http://biorobotics.harvard.edu/truthcube/ (soon to be http://www.truthcube.org).
Global measures of development and the information society

Purpose – To examine the effects of telecommunications on national development, broadly measured in the areas of economic, social, and political change, and cultural development.Design/methodology/approach – The results of a structural equation model are reported, designed to examine the bi‐directional relationship between telecommunications infrastructure and national development for countries worldwide. The economic, social, and political development, and cultural changes that result from telecommunications infrastructure are investigated.Findings – Telecommunications infrastructure effects extend beyond economic impacts to include social, political, and cultural change.Research limitations/implications – Criteria used to measure development and change, particularly those that examine the effects of telecommunications on culture, are inadequate and do not adequately measure the effects of telecommunications on national development.Practical implications – Alternative methods of assessment or measure are...
REVENUE SHARING AND VERTICAL CONTROL IN THE VIDEO RENTAL INDUSTRY

Revenue sharing contracts, in which retailers pay a royalty on sales to their suppliers, are now widely used in the video rental industry. We show that revenue sharing is valuable in vertically separated industries in which demand is either stochastic (unpredictable) or variable (e.g., systematically declining), downstream inventory is chosen before demand is realized and downstream firms engage in intrabrand competition. Unlike two-part tariffs, revenue sharing achieves the first best outcome by softening retail price competition without distorting retailers’ inventory decisions. Our theories are also consistent with trends in prices and availability following retailers’ adoption of revenue sharing contracts.
Hplc determination of a propofol and remifentanil mixture

Two separate High Performance Liquid Chromatography procedures have been developed for the assay of a remifentanil - propofol mixture. The separation and quantitation of remifentanil were achieved on an ethylsilane column at ambient temperature (23°C) using a mobile phase of 62:38 v/v 0.01 M phosphate buffer pH 2.5-acetonitrile at a flow rate of 2 mL/min with detection at 210 nm. A methylsilane column at 23°C using the same mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0mL/min with detection at 210 nm was used for propofol. The methods showed linearity for remifentanil and propofol in the 1.0–45 and 15–75 μg/mL ranges, respectively. Accuracy and precision were in 0.08 - 2.3% and 0.2 - 1.2% ranges, respectively, for both drugs. The limits of detection for remifentanil and propofol were 200 and 250 ng/mL, respectively, based on a signal to noise ratio of 3 and a 10 μL injection.
Polarimetric glucose sensing in an artificial eye anterior chamber

The application of optical polarimetry to glucose sensing in the anterior chamber of the eye has emerged as a potential technique to noninvasively ascertain blood glucose levels. One of the major limiting factors preventing the realization of such a device is the time varying corneal birefringence due to motion artifact in the eye. The varying birefringence confounds the optical activity of glucose, and thus, needs to be taken into account in order to successfully predict the glucose concentration in the aqueous humor of the eye. Our group has developed a multi-spectral optical polarimetric approach which can minimize the effect of corneal birefringence coupled with motion artifact by treating it as common mode noise to multiple wavelengths. Here, we present the application of a real-time closed-loop dual wavelength polarimeter to ex vivo glucose sensing in excised New Zealand White rabbits' corneas mounted on an artificial anterior chamber. Our PID control system can reach stability in less than 100 ms which is fast enough to overcome motion artifact due to heart beat and respiration. The system can predict the glucose concentration with a standard error of less than 26 mg/dL in the physiologic glucose range of 0 - 500 mg/dL. Our results indicate that dualwavelength polarimetry has the potential to noninvasively probe glucose through the anterior chamber of the eye.
Cost-effectiveness of fully implicit moving mesh adaptation

The cost-effectiveness of moving mesh adaptation is studied in a number of 1D tests. We propose a method that is based on two established modern techniques. First, we use a moving mesh approach based on the classic equidistribution method. Second, we discretize the model equations for grid and physics using a conservative finite volume method and we solve the resulting equations with a preconditioned inexact Newton-Krylov method.Using these state of the art methods, we consider the question of whether a real improvement in performance can be achieved using adaptive grids. We consider rigorous metrics of the accuracy and cost of a numerical solution on uniform and adaptive grids. For a number of classic but challenging problems we demonstrate that indeed adaptive grids can lead to a great improvement in cost-effectiveness.
An efficient algorithm for computing covariance matrices from data with missing values

An algorithm for computing covariance and correlation matrices from data with missing values is presented. In terms of the number of operations performed (hence CPU time used) this algorithm is more efficient than that used by most statistical computing packages. CPU time efficiency is attained without undue increase in the number of input/output operations or memory space requirements.
Nanomedicine and protein misfolding diseases

Misfolding and self assembly of proteins in nano-aggregates of different sizes and morphologies (nano-ensembles, primarily nanofilaments and nano-rings) is a complex phenomenon that can be facilitated, impeded, or prevented, by interactions with various intracellular metabolites, intracellular nanomachines controlling protein folding and interactions with other proteins. A fundamental understanding of molecular processes leading to misfolding and self-aggregation of proteins involved in various neurodegenerative diseases will provide critical information to help identify appropriate therapeutic routes to control these processes. An elevated propensity of misfolded protein conformation in solution to aggregate with the formation of various morphologies impedes the use of traditional physical chemical approaches for studies of misfolded conformations of proteins. In our recent alternative approach, the protein molecules were tethered to surfaces to prevent aggregation and AFM force spectroscopy was used to probe the interaction between protein molecules depending on their conformations. It was shown that formation of filamentous aggregates is facilitated at pH values corresponding to the maximum of rupture forces. In this paper, a novel surface chemistry was developed for anchoring of amyloid beta (Abeta) peptides at their N-terminal moieties. The use of the site specific immobilization procedure allowed to measure the rupture of Abeta-Abeta contacts at single molecule level. The rupture of these contacts is accompanied by the extension of the peptide chain detected by a characteristic elasto-mechanical component of the force-distance curves. Potential applications of the nanomechanical studies to understanding the mechanisms of development of protein misfolding diseases are discussed.
Uranium and Zirconium Mass Transfer Testing of 5.5-CM-DIAM Centrifugal Contactors

Abstract As part of the Consolidated Fuel Reprocessing Program of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, compact centrifugal contactors were designed and prototypes built for the Breeder Reprocessing Engineering Test (BRET) facility with a throughput capacity of 0.1 t/d of heavy metals. While the construction of BRET has been put on hold indefinitely, development of the 5.5-cm-diam centrifugal contactors has advanced due to the contactor's broad applicability in other areas of fuel reprocessing and liquid-liquid extraction. Due to the short residence time of the process fluids in a centrifugal contactor, it was necessary to measure the mass transfer efficiency for a typical process flowsheet. This was done with depleted uranium and 91Zr. The results of mass transfer tests with uranium and zirconiun are reported in this paper.
Enhance efficiency of tetraoctylammonium fluoride applied to ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulfurization (UAOD) process

The ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulfurization (UAOD) process has been applied to a number of diesel fuels containing varying amounts of sulfur content. The transition metal complex and quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) phase transfer agents have been applied with aqueous hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent. High yield of 3-bromobenzothiophene, and 2-bromobenzothiphene sulfone has been found from phase transfer agents containing tetraoctylammonium bromide. No contaminates such as bromo compound derivates had been isolated when the new fluoride phase transfer agent was used. Selectivity was particularly high for this process as demonstrated by selective ions mass spectrometry. The experiment also demonstrated that the catalyst could be recovered for reuse. Furthermore, the hydrogen peroxide provides a good performance, and the oxidation will proceed as low as 0.25%.
High bandwidth rotary fast tool servos and a hybrid rotary/linear electromagnetic actuator

This thesis describes the development of two high bandwidth short-stroke rotary fast tool servos and the hybrid rotary/linear electromagnetic actuator developed for one of them. Design insights, trade-off methodologies, and analytical tools are developed for precision mechanical systems, power and signal electronic systems, control systems, normal-stress electromagnetic actuators, and the dynamics of the combined systems. A fast tool servo (FTS) is a high-speed auxiliary servo axis that is added to a diamond turning machine (ultra-precision lathe) to allow generating free-form nonaxisymmetric or textured surfaces on a workpiece. A rotary fast tool servo produces an in-and-out motion of the tool relative to a workpiece by swinging the tool along an arc having a fixed radius. The rotary fast tool servos developed in this project were designed for diamond turning prescription textured surfaces on small spherical workpieces (diameters in the range of 10 mm or less), and are suitable for generating free-form non-axisymmetric surfaces on similar-sized workpieces. Straightforward modifications would allow them to be used on larger workpieces. These rotary fast tool servos set new benchmarks for demonstrated closed-loop bandwidth (2 kHz and 10 kHz) and tool tip acceleration (400 g). The first machine, referred to as the 2 kHz rotary fast tool servo, uses a commercially available moving-magnet galvanometer as the actuator (Lorentz force), and provides proof-of-principles for a flexure bearing, small diamond tool and mounting method, circuit topology for a high bandwidth current-mode amplifier, and control system design. The following closed-loop performance is demonstrated for the 2 kHz rotary fast tool servo: -3dB bandwidth of 2 kHz, 20 g tool tip acceleration at 2 kHz, maximum tool travel of 50 μm PP, and tool position noise level of 10 nm PP. The 2 kHz FTS is integrated with a diamond turning machine and used to produce optical quality textured surfaces on the face and outside diameter of aluminum workpieces while operating at 2 kHz. The machining tests validate that a rotary-type fast tool servo can be used to produce optical quality surfaces on a spherical workpiece from its pole to its equator. The second machine, referred to as the 10 kHz rotary fast tool servo, incorporates
Religion and Spirituality: Assessment and Intervention

In this article, the author explores the ways that an individual's spirituality influences responses to life-threatening illness and dying. He begins by differentiating between religion and spirituality, and then delineates the spiritual issues that arise in a life-threatening illness including the spiritual needs that arise in the final phases of illness. Recommendations for spiritual assessments and interventions are offered.
Spatial distribution of nitrate and related factors in the High Plains Aquifer, Texas

Utilizing geographic information systems (GIS) and statistics, objectives of this study were to evaluate: (a) the spatial distribution of nitrate concentrations in groundwater, and (b) associations between nitrate concentrations and: proximity to playa lakes, hydraulic conductivity of soil, well depth, and land use in the High Plains Aquifer, Texas. Data were compiled from wells sampled during 2000–2008. Nitrate concentrations in approximately 9% of wells exceeded the maximum contaminant level for drinking water. Concentrations were generally higher beneath urban and agricultural land, under permeable soil, and in shallow wells (especially in the southern part of the study area). However, concentrations were lower near playa lakes. While playas focus recharge to groundwater, denitrification in reducing environments lower nitrate concentrations beneath them. This study identifies areas vulnerable to nitrate contamination that warrant continued monitoring and mitigation efforts.
Pirh2 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Targets DNA Polymerase Eta for 20S Proteasomal Degradation

DNA polymerase eta (PolH), a Y family translesion polymerase, is required for repairing UV-induced DNA damage, and loss of PolH is responsible for early onset of malignant skin cancers in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum variant (XPV), an autosomal recessive disorder. Here, we show that PolH, a target of the p53 tumor suppressor, is a short-half-life protein. We found that PolH is degraded by proteasome, which is enhanced upon UV irradiation. We also found that PolH interacts with Pirh2 E3 ligase, another target of the p53 tumor suppressor, via the polymerase-associated domain in PolH and the RING finger domain in Pirh2. In addition, we show that overexpression of Pirh2 decreases PolH protein stability, whereas knockdown of Pirh2 increases it. Interestingly, we found that PolH is recruited by Pirh2 and degraded by 20S proteasome in a ubiquitin-independent manner. Finally, we observed that Pirh2 knockdown leads to accumulation of PolH and, subsequently, enhances the survival of UV-irradiated cells. We postulate that UV irradiation promotes cancer formation in part by destabilizing PolH via Pirh2-mediated 20S proteasomal degradation.
The Social Point of View in Economics. II

I. "Public point of view" v. "social point of view," 293. — II. Value and the social point of view, 294. — Relativity of value, 296. — Relation to exchange, 297. — Determination of value, 299. — Market v. normal value, 303. — Elasticity of demand, 305. — III. Wealth and the social point of view, 306. — The definition of wealth, 308. — IV. Production and capital from the social point of view, 310. — The individualist's concept of production, 311. — False assumptions concerning society, 312. — The "entrepreneur viewpoint," 314. — The technological basis of production, 316. — V. The scientific character of the social-individual point of view, 319.
Hyperchloremic acidosis: the classic example of strong ion acidosis.

e are undergoing a revolution in the way weclinically assess acid-base status. For almost100 years, the Holy Grail for clinicians hasbeen to accurately determine the mechanism for anacid-base disturbance. Landmark advancements in theclinical diagnosis and treatment of acid-base distur-bances have included the Henderson-Hasselbalchequation (1916) (1), base excess (1960) (2), anion gap(1970s) (3), and the strong ion approach (1983) (4). Inthis issue of
415 EFFECT OF CIMETIDINE ON PANCREATIC REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN THE MALDIGESTION OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS

The aim of this study was to evaluate fat and nitrogen absorption in cystic fibrosis when pancreatic replacement therapy was administered with cimetidine, an H2 receptor antagonist and acid secretory inhibitor. Ten patients (mean age 13.9 yrs.) who had steatorrhea while taking large doses of enzymes were studied. Pancreatic insufficiency was confirmed by poor responses to secretin and CCK stimulation. Celiac sprue as a cause for malabsorption was eliminated by small intestinal biopsy. Calories were supplied as 40% fat, 20% protein, and 40% carbohydrate. Viokase and CotazymR were supplied at the rate of 1 tablet per 15 gms. of dietary fat. Cimetidine was given ½ hour before meals at low (L-50 mg), medium(M-100 mg), and high(H-150 or 200 mg) doses. Fecal fats and nitrogens were quantitated while enzymes alone (E) and enzymes with cimetidine (E&C) were given. Results were as follows: When pancreatic enzymes were administered with the highest dose of cimetidine, steatorrhea was significantly reduced.
Left Internal Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm Following a Cervical Lymph Node Biopsy—A Case Report

Pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid artery are usually due to civilian trauma, but on rare occasions they may be a result of iatrogenic injury during a cervical procedure (diagnostic or therapeutic). Recent reports have, however, demonstrated an increasing incidence of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms, and pseudoaneurysms of the internal carotid artery may, therefore, be seen more often in the future. The authors present a patient who developed a pseu doaneurysm following a left cervical lymph node biopsy, her subsequent "workup" as an outpatient, and then the definitive workup with an arterio gram. Operative treatment of the pseudoaneurysm is also discussed.
Synthesis of 7-R spatial motion generators with prescribed crank rotations and e

The paper presents conditions for avoidance of branching in the synthesis of 7-R spatial mechanisms. These conditions are based on the theory of linearly dependent screws by Hunt (1978) and on the theory about the existence of tangent loci in the so-called stationary configuration of the mechanisms (Sandor and Zhuang 1984a and b). First, the conditions for stationary configuration are obtained on the basis of the above-mentioned theories. Then, since the related branches are at both sides of the special canfiguration, corresponding conditions for avoidance of branching are obtained. Finally, we present a numerical example of the synthesis of a 7-R spatial motion generator with prescribed finitely separated positions, prescribed crank rotations, and with application of branching defect avoidance.
Longitudinal analysis of deciduous tooth emergence: III. Sexual dimorphism in Bangladeshi, Guatemalan, Japanese, and Javanese children.

Previous studies, mostly in European populations, found sex differences in the pattern of deciduous tooth emergence. Most studies find that the anterior dentition in males is precocial relative to the female dentition, and the pattern reverses so that females lead males in the emergence of the posterior deciduous dentition. Less is known about sex differences in the dental development and emergence of non-European populations. Here we examine the pattern of sex differences in deciduous tooth emergence in Japanese, Javanese, Guatemalan, and Bangladeshi children. The data come from four longitudinal or mixed longitudinal studies using similar study protocols. Survival analysis was used to estimate parameters of a log-normal distribution of emergence for each of the 10 teeth of the left dentition, and sexual dimorphism was assessed by sex-specific differences in mean emergence times and by Bennett's index. The results support the pattern of developmental cross-over observed in other populations. We conclude that there is little evidence to support the hypothesis of Tanguay et al. ([1984] J. Dent. Res. 63:65-68) that ethnic factors mediate sex differences in the emergence of deciduous teeth.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents with ADHD

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often persists into adolescence and has the same functional impairments as were present during childhood. Medications lessen ADHD symptoms yet do not reliably affect functioning. Thus, there exists a great need for psychosocial treatments in adolescents with ADHD. Nonetheless, relative to the vast literature that has been reported on children with ADHD, much less data have been reported about psychosocial interventions for adolescents with ADHD. Cognitive behavioral therapy interventions that are being used with adolescents rely more on traditional behavioral principles than cognitive therapy tenets.
Preparation of homogeneous human prostatic acid phosphatase using concanavalin A-sepharose 4-B.

Abstract A simple, rapid and efficient procedure is presented for the purification of human prostatic acid phosphatase (orthophospho ric-monoester phosphohydrolase (acid optimum), EC 3.1.3.2) to homogeneity. The method employs two steps suitable for use with large quantities of material, followed by chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose as its sole column step. The procedure also permits the recovery of purified enzyme in higher yields than earlier methods.
New Integrated Data Management System for Ridge2000 and MARGINS Research

The initiation of dedicated databases for the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported Ridge2000 and MARGINS programs provides the opportunity to develop a data management system capable of handling the primary data types of marine geoscience research. Ridge2000 and MARGINS are broad initiatives focused on fundamental problems of crustal creation, evolution, and destruction along the world’s tectonic plate boundaries.These programs involve the collection of a wide range of geophysical data types, as well as rock, fluid, and biological samples, and time series data. An effective data management scheme is essential for the success of the Ridge2000 and MARGINS programs, to facilitate integration of the broad suite of studies carried out within
Asymptotic performance guarantees in adaptive control

In this paper we address the problem of improving the asymptotic performance guarantees of a class of model reference adaptive controllers under insufficient excitation and in the presence of perturbations such as non-parametric uncertainty and bounded disturbances. We show that for a class of perturbations whose normalized effect is bounded by an a priori known function of time an estimate of the parametric uncertainty set can be obtained on-line via a set membership estimator. Furthermore, by incorporating this estimate as an additional constraint in the adaptive law generating the controller parameters, we show that the resulting adaptive controller offers dead-zone-like performance guarantees in the lim-sup sense while preserving the desirable root-mean-square performance guarantees of gradient-based algorithms.
Dibromodulcitol (DBD), DTIC, and actinomycin-D in disseminated malignant melanoma. A phase I-II clinical trial

Thirty-seven fully assessable patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were administered DTIC, actinomycin-D, and dibromodulcitol (DBD) on a q 3- to 4-week schedule. Doses of actinomycin-D and DTIC were 1.25 mg/m2 and 750 mg/m2, respectively, on day 1. DBD was progressively escalated in five dose levels in succeeding patients from an initial 90 mg/m2 daily, days 3-7, to a dose-limiting 230 mg/m2. Two complete and nine partial responses were observed for an overall response rate of 30%. Median duration of response was 18 weeks. Major toxicities observed were hematologic and gastrointestinal. Median survival of all patients was 30 weeks and did not differ significantly from our earlier trials of DTIC and actinomycin-D +/- chlorozotocin. Although the observed objective response rate was higher than our previous efforts in this disease, the addition of DBD failed to significantly impact on the survival of the entire treatment group. Further investigation of this chemotherapy combination does not appear warranted.
Heating of a fully saturated darcian half-space: Pressure generation, fluid expulsion, and phase change

Abstract Analytical solutions are developed for the pressurization, expansion, and flow of one- and two-phase liquids during heating of fully saturated and hydraulically open Darcian half-spaces subjected to a step rise in temperature at its surface. For silicate materials, advective transfer is commonly unimportant in the liquid region; this is not always the case in the vapor region. Volume change is commonly more important than heat of vaporization in determining the position of the liquid-vapor interface, assuring that the temperatures cannot be determined independently of pressures. Pressure increases reach a maximum near the leading edge of the thermal front and penetrate well into the isothermal region of the body. Mass flux is insensitive to the hydraulic properties of the half-space.
Brevetoxicosis in Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) from the 1996 Epizootic: Gross, Histologic, and Immunohistochemical Features:

In 1996, at least 149 manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) died in an unprecedented epizootic along the southwest coast of Florida. At about the same time, a bloom of the brevetoxin-producing dinoflagellates, Gymnodinium breve, was present in the same area. Grossly, severe nasopharyngeal, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, and cerebral congestion was present in all cases. Nasopharyngeal and pulmonary edema and hemorrhage were also seen. Consistent microscopic lesions consisted of catarrhal rhinitis, pulmonary hemorrhage and edema, multiorgan hemosiderosis, and nonsuppurative leptomeningitis. Immunohistochemical staining using a polyclonal primary antibody to brevetoxin (GAB) showed intense positive staining of lymphocytes and macrophages in the lung, liver, and secondary lymphoid tissues. Additionally, lymphocytes and macrophages associated with the inflammatory lesions of the nasal mucosa and meninges were also positive for brevetoxin. These findings implicate brevetoxicosis as a component of and the likely primary etiology for the epizootic. The data suggest that mortality resulting from brevetoxicosis may not necessarily be acute but may occur after chronic inhalation and/or ingestion. Immunohistochemical staining with interleukin-1-beta-converting enzyme showed positive staining with a cellular tropism similar to GAB. This suggests that brevetoxicosis may initiate apoptosis and/or the release of inflammatory mediators that culminate in fatal toxic shock.
A pilot peer-leader eating disorders prevention program for sororities

Abstract This study assesses a peer-leader intervention for the prevention of eating disorders in sororities. Within a two-group quasi-experimental design, peer leaders were selected from the experimental sororities and trained to advocate no dieting, healthy eating, and exercise and how to make psychotherapy referrals. Three psychotherapy referrals were made. No significant differences were found between experimental and control participants. However, sorority members who participated more fully in the intervention reported better physical condition and trends for less dieting and more exercise self-efficacy.
The Applicability of Concrete Polymer Materials for Use in Geothermal Environments

The feasibility of using concrete polymer composites as materials of construction for handling hot brine was demonstrated in 1972. The results from these tests indicated that the composites had long-term stability in seawater at 177/sup 0/C and in acid solutions. Since then the work has been extended to develop materials for use in geothermal systems. To date, high temperature polymer concrete systems have been formulated, and laboratory and field tests performed in brine, flashing brine, and steam at temperatures up to 240/sup 0/C. Results are available from field exposures of up to 12 months in four geothermal environments. Testing at two other sites is in progress. Good durability is indicated. Based upon these results, potential applications in geothermal processes have been identified.
Checkpointing and rollback recovery in a distributed system using common time base

An approach to checkpointing and rollback recovery in a distributed computing system using a common time base is proposed. First, a common time base is established in the system using a hardware clock synchronization algorithm. This common time base is coupled with a pseudorecovery block approach to develop a checkpointing algorithm that has the following advantages: (i) maximum process autonomy, (ii) no wait for commitment for establishing recovery lines, (iii) fewer messages to be exchanged, and (iv) less memory requirement. >
Increasing two-photon fluorescence signals by coherent control

Two-photon excitation fluorescence of complex solvated molecules (Rhodamine590, Fluorescein, and G5-dendrimer conjugated Fluorescein) was successfully controlled using adaptive pulse shaping. We were able to maximize and minimize the ratio of fluorescent yield to average incident power or second-harmonic generation (SHG) in a thin optical crystal. The optimal excitation pulse shape was found experimentally using a genetic learning algorithm and no a priori knowledge. Pulses were shaped with an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (Dazzler AOPDF) controlling phase and amplitude of 20 individual frequency components. Convergence occurred over the order of 100 generations of experiments from an original set of 50 random individual pulses. Femtosecond laser pulses (~75 fs, 76 MHz repetition, 800 nm center wavelength, 3nJ without shaping) selected to maximize fluorescence yield / SHG were found to be complementary to those minimizing this ratio when visualized with a SHG-frequency resolved optical gating (SHG-FROG) device. At these powers, linear chirp of the pulse was far less significant in establishing coherent control than the more complex pulse shape. Regeneratively amplified pulses (~150 fs, 20 kHz repetition, 795 nm center wavelength, 2 μJ before shaping) were selected for maximum efficiency of fluorescent yield relative to incident power. The peak intensity, as determined by SHG, did not change significantly for optimal pulses when compared to early generations. This indicates that the improved two-photon fluorescent signal was not the result of simple convergence to a transform limited pulse, and suggests that the dye molecule excited state population is being coherently controlled. We are currently investigating the application of this result to enhancing signal in flow-cytometry and improved discrimination for multi-photon microscopy.
A re-conceptualisation of acute spinal care

The emergency care of patients who may have spinal injuries has become highly ritualised. There is little scientific support for many of the recommended interventions and there is evidence that at least some methods now used in the field and emergency department are harmful. Since prospective clinical trials are not likely to resolve these issues I propose a reconceptualisation of spinal trauma to allow a more rational approach to treatment. To do this I analyse the basic physics, biomechanics and physiology involved. I then develop a list of recommended treatment variations that are more in keeping with the actual causes of post impact neurological deterioration than are current methods. Discarding the fundamentally flawed emphasis on decreasing post injury motion and concentrating on efforts to minimise energy deposition to the injured site, while minimising treatment delays, can simplify and streamline care without subjecting patients to procedures that are not useful and potentially harmful. Specific treatments that are irrational and which can be safely discarded include the use of backboards for transportation, cervical collar use except in specific injury types, immobilisation of ambulatory patients on backboards, prolonged attempts to stabilise the spine during extrication, mechanical immobilisation of uncooperative or seizing patients and forceful in line stabilisation during airway management.
Does End-of-Life Planning Help Partners Become Better Surrogates?

Purpose of the Study: This study investigates the role of surrogates’ involvement in their partners’ end-of-life care planning, focusing on the relationship between the extent and type of end-of-life planning in which surrogates have been involved and the accuracy of their substituted judgments. Design and Methods: The data come from an internet survey collected by Knowledge Networks and the National Center for Family and Marriage Research. The national sample is comprised of 1,075 opposite-sex American couples aged 18–64. A series of multilevel negative binomial regression analyses were conducted. Results: Sur rogates’ involvement in multiple types of planning helped them to make accurate substituted judgments, whereas surrogates’ involvement in informal discussions helped them to make accurate estimations primarily when they wanted limited care for themselves. Implications: This study highlights the impor tance of engaging in both advance directives and informal discussion. The findings also suggest that surrogates who want extensive care for themselves may need extra attention when practitioners assist them in making a substituted judgment.
Effect of Nitrogen on Resistance of Sweet Potato to Sweetpotato Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and on Storage Root Chemistry

The effects of nitrogen fertilizer on sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Poir., resistance to the sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers), was studied. Adult weevil feeding and oviposition preference, larval survival, and pupal weight were used as measures of sweet potato resistance. Sweet potato resin glycosides and caffeic acid concentrations in the periderm tissue of storage roots also were measured. Sweet potato genotypes (Beauregard, Excel, W-244, W-250, and Sumor) with varying levels of resistance to sweetpotato weevil were grown in the field under three nitrogen regimes (0, 45, and 135 kg N/ha). Harvested storage roots were evaluated in the laboratory for feeding and oviposition activity of sweetpotato weevil female adults under no-choice and choice test conditions. Larval survival rate and pupal weight were determined by rearing the insects individually on storage root sections. Nitrogen level had a significant effect on the number of eggs deposited, but not on the number of feeding punctures. Sweetpotato weevils laid fewer eggs on plants with the highest level of nitrogen. Nitrogen levels did not significantly affect larval survival and pupal weight. Genotype had a significant effect on feeding, oviposition, and larval survival. Beauregard had higher levels of feeding, oviposition, and larval survival compared with the other genotypes. No interaction effects between nitrogen and genotype were significant. Resin glycosides and caffeic acid concentrations were significantly different among genotypes and between years. Nitrogen levels significantly affected the concentrations of caffeic acid in 1997.
Coordinated Regulation of Platelet Actin Filament Barbed Ends by Gelsolin and Capping Protein

Exposure of cryptic actin filament fast growing ends (barbed ends) initiates actin polymerization in stimulated human and mouse platelets. Gelsolin amplifies platelet actin assembly by severing F-actin and increasing the number of barbed ends. Actin filaments in stimulated platelets from transgenic gelsolin-null mice elongate their actin without severing. F-actin barbed end capping activity persists in human platelet extracts, depleted of gelsolin, and the heterodimeric capping protein (CP) accounts for this residual activity. 35% of the approximately 5 microM CP is associated with the insoluble actin cytoskeleton of the resting platelet. Since resting platelets have an F-actin barbed end concentration of approximately 0.5 microM, sufficient CP is bound to cap these ends. CP is released from OG-permeabilized platelets by treatment with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate or through activation of the thrombin receptor. However, the fraction of CP bound to the actin cytoskeleton of thrombin-stimulated mouse and human platelets increases rapidly to approximately 60% within 30 s. In resting platelets from transgenic mice lacking gelsolin, which have 33% more F-actin than gelsolin-positive cells, there is a corresponding increase in the amount of CP associated with the resting cytoskeleton but no change with stimulation. These findings demonstrate an interaction between the two major F-actin barbed end capping proteins of the platelet: gelsolin-dependent severing produces barbed ends that are capped by CP. Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate release of gelsolin and CP from platelet cytoskeleton provides a mechanism for mediating barbed end exposure. After actin assembly, CP reassociates with the new actin cytoskeleton.
Piecewise linear model for transmission line with capacitive loading and ramp input

Transmission line effects become increasingly significant for on-chip high-speed interconnects. Efficient and accurate transmission line models are required for analysis and synthesis of such interconnects. In this paper, we first present an efficient model for the far-end response of a single transmission line considering ramp input and capacitive loading. Our model divides the time axis into a number of regions according to the time of flight and the input rising time, and then approximates the far-end response by piecewise linear (PWL) waveform in each region. We name the resulting model as the PWL model. Experiments show that the waveform from the PWL model differs from the SPICE simulation result with the average voltage difference less than 0.9% V/sub dd/, and the PWL model is at least 1000/spl times/ faster than SPICE simulation. We further apply the PWL model to calculate the delay, rising time, and oscillation amplitude of the coplanar waveguide structure, and achieve less than 10% average error compared to SPICE simulation. Combining the PWL model and decoupling technique, we analyze the far-end response of bus structures and obtain waveform almost perfectly matching the SPICE simulation result.
Factors Associated With Engagement in a Police-Advocacy Home-Visit Intervention to Prevent Domestic Violence

This study examines factors related to engagement in the services offered by police officer-advocate teams on the basis of police and clinical records for 301 female victims referred to the Domestic Violence Home Visit Intervention (DVHVI) program. The authors find that the severity of intimate partner violence charges and ethnicity of the victim, advocate, and police officer are all significantly related to engagement in the DVHVI, with Hispanic women served by Hispanic advocate-officer teams more engaged in services than African American or Caucasian women. The data suggest that this intervention model may be particularly beneficial for Hispanic victims of intimate partner violence when implemented by a Spanish-speaking officer-advocate team.
Monte Carlo Based Ensemble Forecasting

Ensemble forecasting involves the use of several integrations of a numerical model. Even if this model is assumed to be known, ensembles are needed due to uncertainty in initial conditions. The ideas discussed in this paper incorporate aspects of both analytic model approximations and Monte Carlo arguments to gain some efficiency in the generation and use of ensembles. Efficiency is gained through the use of importance sampling Monte Carlo. Once ensemble members are generated, suggestions for their use, involving both approximation and statistical notions such as kernel density estimation and mixture modeling are discussed. Fully deterministic procedures derived from the Monte Carlo analysis are also described. Examples using the three-dimensional Lorenz system are described.