cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Where are you from? A case of rural residential identification

This study analyzes the way people identify where they live in a rural midwestern area. This geographic area was chosen because it lacks a single name and includes sections of two states. One year of participant observation and intensive interviews with 45 prominent residents provided the data. Respondents gave a variety of answers to the question, “Where are you from?” These answers utilized (1) governmental district; (2) proximity to a place of concentration; (3) proximity to a famous place or person; (4) mailing address; (5) political location; (6) location of telephone exchange. Different residential identifications are evoked by different activities: negotiating with bureaucracies, traveling, financial transacting, giving directions for residence location, and joining local organizations. This study was conducted in the frameworks of “locating activities” (Psathas and Henslin, 1967) and “cognitive perspectives on community” (Moore and Golledge, 1976). The data suggest that residential identification can be problematic, rather than simple, as has been assumed in previous community research. By examining how people identify their residences, we gain insight into the microdynamics of communities.
Buffered lidocaine for incision and drainage: a prospective, randomized double-blind study.

Abstract Introduction Buffered local anesthetics have not been studied for incision and drainage procedures in dentistry. The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to compare the pain of infiltration and pain of an incision and drainage procedure by using a buffered versus a nonbuffered 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine solution in symptomatic patients with a diagnosis of pulpal necrosis and associated acute swelling. Methods Eighty-one adult patients were randomly divided into 2 treatment groups who received 2 infiltrations (mesial and distal to the swelling of the same formulation) by using either 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine buffered with 0.18 mL 8.4% sodium bicarbonate or 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine. Patients rated pain of needle insertion, placement, and solution deposition for each infiltration on a 170-mm visual analog scale. An incision and drainage procedure was performed, and the pain of incision, drainage, and dissection was recorded. Results No significant differences were found between the 2 anesthetic formulations for pain of solution deposition for either the mesial or distal site infiltrations. Moderate-to-severe pain was experienced in the majority of patients with the incision and drainage procedure. No significant differences were found between the 2 formulations. Conclusions The addition of a sodium bicarbonate buffer to 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine did not result in significantly decreased pain of infiltrations or significantly decreased pain of the incision and drainage procedure when compared with 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine in symptomatic patients with a diagnosis of pulpal necrosis and associated acute swelling.
Short Chain Fatty Acids Potently Induce Latent HIV-1 in T-cells by Activating P-TEFb and Multiple Histone Modifications

HIV patients with severe periodontitis have high levels of residual virus in their saliva and plasma despite effective therapy (HAART). Multiple short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from periodontal pathogens reactivate HIV-1 in both Jurkat and primary T-cell models of latency. SCFAs not only activate positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), which is an essential cellular cofactor for Tat, but can also reverse chromatin blocks by inducing histone modifications. SCFAs simultaneously increase histone acetylation by inhibiting class-1/2 histone deacetylases (HDACs) and decrease repressive histone tri-methylation at the proviral LTR by downregulating expression of the class-3 HDAC sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), and the histone methyltransferases enhancer of Zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and suppressor of variegation 3–9 homolog 1 (SUV39H1). Our findings provide a mechanistic link between periodontal disease and enhanced HIV-1 replication, and suggest that treatment of periodontal disease, or blocking the activities of SCFAs, will have a therapeutic benefit for HIV patients.
Transverse shear effects for through-cracks in an elastic plate

Abstract The state of stress in a thin elastic plate which contains through-cracks is studied with a view toward assessing the influence of transverse shear on the crack tip stress and deformation fields. Based on the assumption that the through-the-thickness extensional strain is uniform in the thickness direction, a crack tip boundary layer solution is obtained for the tensile opening mode of deformation (mode 1). As anticipated, the generalized plane stress solution prevails everywhere in the plane of the plate except near boundaries. Near points on any smooth boundary, including the crack faces away from the tips, the plane stress solution is only slightly perturbed. Near crack tips, however, a complicated boundary layer is developed. A standard separation of variables approach to the analysis of the boundary layer fails, but an exact solution is found in the form of a real integral. When evaluated, the solution shows a finite lateral contraction at the crack tip (in contrast to the generalized plane stress result), and the inner solution merges smoothly with the plane stress solution at distances from the tip of one-half to three-fourths of the plate thickness, depending on the value of Poisson's ratio. The results are consistent with experiments intended to establish the limitations of the plane stress interpretation of shadow spot data.
Methotrexate: Anti-inflammatory or antiproliferative?

Editorial presentant le mecanisme d'action du methotrexate et son utilisation dans le traitement du psoriasis.
The Chicago NAACP and the Rise of Black Professional Leadership, 1910–1966

"...the definitive history not only of the Chicago National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) but of the city's black middle class as well." -Journal of American History "...a candid portrait of the Chicago branch of the NAACP, one of the association's most important chapters...It also offers a revealing window onto a half-century of race relations in Chicago." -Chicago Tribune Evolving through six decades of white resistance, black indifference and internal group struggle, the Chicago NAACP was affected both adversely and positively by two world wars, national depression, the Cold War conflict and growing class differentiation among African Americans.
A survey of techniques to add audio module to embedded systems

In many embedded application systems, it is desirable to incorporate an audio module/functionality to the system such that the system can utter meaningful audio messages in a controlled manner. An audio system in the embedded setting may consist of memory module, Compression/Decompression (CODEC) module, Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) module, filter module, power amplifier module; and also (if the function of voice recording is needed) the signal conditioning module, Automatic Gain Control (AGC), and Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC) module. Depending on the different demands of various application scenarios, different techniques can be used to implement the audio module. If no audio signal processing is required, the approach of using a dedicated, off-the-shelf, voice chip is preferable. In other cases, individual circuits would have to be built for some or all of the peripheral modules required in an audio system. The major advantage of this approach is increased level of flexibility; while the immediate disadvantage is rising development cost and a higher level of system complexity. In this paper, we first outline the general operation principle of a typical audio system module; then, a sample implementation that uses a dedicated voice chip is introduced and explained in great detail so that it can be used by students and application engineers as a functional reference design.
Acute Effects of DDD Pacing in Patients With Pulmonary Infundibular Stenosis

It has been shown that dualchamber pacing of the right heart may decrease the pressure gradient in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy of the left ventricle. However, to our knowledge, no data are available on the effects of left ventricular pacing in patients with dynamic intracavitary obstruction of the right ventricle due to pulmonary infundibular stenosis. This report evaluates acute effects of temporary DDD pacing (right atrium sensed and left ventricle paced) in 3 symptomatic patients with fibromuscular type of pulmonary infundibular stenosis. Informed consent was obtained from each patient before the study.
Role of Echocardiography in the Diagnostic Assessment and Etiology of Heart Failure in the Elderly—Opacify, Quantify, and Rectify

Echocardiography offers comprehensive, noninvasive, and relatively inexpensive tools for diagnosing cardiac pathology in the elderly. With an organized approach using two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler echocardiography, clinicians can determine the systolic and diastolic left ventricular performance; estimate the cardiac output, pulmonary artery, and ventricular filling pressures; and identify surgically correctable valve disease. Meanwhile, real-time three-dimensional echocardiography provides unprecedented volume data to quantify the left ventricular status. Tissue Doppler-derived myocardial velocity and strain imaging data provide extremely fine details about the regional variations in myocardial synchrony and predict responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Thus, echocardiographic tools provide the basis for determining when to attempt to rectify the left ventricular dysfunction with strategically placed, biventricular pacemaker leads.
Unsteady-state evaporation and the measurement of a binary diffusion coefficient

A solution for the isothermal evaporation of a pure volatile liquid that accounts for the moving liquid-vapor interface is presented. This solution is compared with new experimental data for the evaporation of methanol and methyl formate into air at 25.4°C. The resulting diffusion coefficients for these systems are in excellent agreement with reported values (corrected for temperature and pressure).
Optimization of a single effect, multi-stage flash distillation desalination system

Abstract A mathematical and economic model of a single effect multi-stage flash distillation desalination system is developed and used to formulate a method for cost optimization. Within the mathematical model the effects of salinity transitions upon specific heat and boiling point elevation are accounted for. All process flow rates, heat transfer surface areas, flashing temperatures, and the number of stages are allowed to vary in determining the minimum cost of producing water. The optimization technique allows for maximum design flexibility without reverting to an overly simplified model of the system, so that the results provide a reliable basis for decision.
A polarimeter for low-energy protons

Abstract A polarimeter is described for proton beam energies below 100 keV using the 7 Li(p, γ) 8 Be reaction. Measurements indicate an analyzing power near 0.4 with yields that would allow a 10% measurement of beam polarization in 1 h for sources producing beam currents on the order of 30 μA.
Reliable numerical computation in an optimal output-feedback design

A reliable algorithm is presented for the evaluation of a quadratic performance index and its gradients with respect to the controller design parameters. The algorithm is a part of a design algorithm for optimal linear dynamic output-feedback controller that minimizes a finite-time quadratic performance index. The numerical scheme is particularly robust when it is applied to the control-law synthesis for systems with densely packed modes and where there is a high likelihood of encountering degeneracies in the closed-loop eigensystem. This approach through the use of an accurate Pade series approximation does not require the closed-loop system matrix to be diagonalizable. The algorithm was included in a control design package for optimal robust low-order controllers. Usefulness of the proposed numerical algorithm was demonstrated using numerous practical design cases where degeneracies occur frequently in the closed-loop system under an arbitrary controller design initialization and during the numerical search.
A Multidimensional Study of Ideological Preferences and Priorities among the American Public

Political ideology is not always best measured along a uni - dimensional spectrum. With a multidimensional construct, we are better able to understand the complexities of americans' ideological views. This research note presents new survey data from a nationally representative sample of over 2,000 americans. The survey asks respondents to place themselves on distinct ideological scales regarding social and economic issues, then to prioritize the importance of these issues. The first of its kind to include both ideological preferences and attitude importance, this sur - vey contributes new insights into the complex dimensionality of ideology. results reveal a plurality of individuals identifying as conservative on both social and economic issues, and a smaller group that is consistently lib -
A model for intervention research in late-life depression.

Objective To serve as a conceptual map of the role of new interventions designed to reduce the burden of late-life depression. Methods We identified three needs to be addressed by intervention research: (1) the need for novel interventions given that the existing treatments leave many older adults depressed and disabled; (2) the need for procedures enabling community-based agencies to offer interventions of known efficacy with fidelity; and (3) the need to increase access of depressed older adults to care. Results Our model orders novel interventions according to their role in serving depressed older adults and according to their position in the efficacy, effectiveness, implementation, and dissemination testing continuum. We describe three interventions designed by our institute to exemplify intervention research at different level of the model. A common element is that each intervention personalizes care both at the level of the individuals served and the level of community agencies providing care. To this end, each intervention is designed to accommodate the strengths and limitations of both patients and agencies and introduces changes in the patients' environment and community agencies needed in order to assimilate the new intervention. Conclusions We suggest that this model provides conceptual guidance on how to shorten the testing cycle and bring urgently needed novel treatments and implementation approaches to the community. While replication studies are important, propose that most of the support should be directed to those projects that take rational risks, and after adequate preliminary evidence, make the next step along the testing continuum. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Best of the month: a roundup of articles published in recent months.

With the abundant number of articles published in lung cancer, it has become very difficult to stay updated. After a search through variety of medical journal for articles published between March and June 2010, we selected the studies considered to have the greatest relevance for oncologists involved in the treatment of lung cancer. The nine selected studies covered a broad range of topics including possible hormonal role in the development of lung adenocarcinoma, lung cancer in never smokers, stereotactic radiotherapy for early-stage lung cancer, prognostic role of pleural lavage cytology, neoadjuvant chemotherapy for operable lung cancer, maintenance erlotinib, use of erlotinib after gefitinib, comparison of the two epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and risk of central nervous system relapse in patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Runoff and erosion control with conservation tillage and reduced-input practices on cropped watersheds

The North Appalachian Experimental Watershed near Coshocton, OH was established in 1935 to develop, evaluate, and refine conservation practices that reduce runoff and erosion under the hilly, humid conditions of the northeastern United States. Small (0.5 to 1 ha), single-practice, gaged watersheds comprised of sandstone- and shale-derived residual soils are used to evaluate the interaction of management, climate, and soils. In a 28-year, nine-watershed study, 92% of the erosion occurred during the corn (Zea mays L.) years of a 4-year corn/wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/meadow/meadow rotation. These watersheds were moldboard plowed prior to planting corn and cultivation was used for weed control. By tilling and planting on the contour and increasing fertility levels, soil loss was reduced more than 3-fold, but still averaged 4.7 Mg ha−1 during corn years. Thus, annual production of row crops on a sustainable basis was not without risk. A 6-year, six-watershed study indicated that by using reduced tillage (no-till, chisel, or paraplow) and herbicides, corn and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] can be grown in rotation with an average soil loss of 0.5 Mg ha−1 yr−1, well below the stipulated soil loss tolerance of 7.8 Mg ha−1 yr−1, if a winter cover crop of rye (Secale cereale L.) followed soybean. Under these conditions, however, concentrations of surface-applied herbicides and nitrate in runoff frequently exceeded drinking water standards, particularly in the first few runoff events after application, and may be a concern. A reduced-input management practice for corn and soybean production with light disking and cultivation for weed control and manure and a legume (red clover, Trifolium pratense L.) to supply some of the nitrogen was implemented to determine if a balance between losses of soil and purchased chemical inputs could be obtained. In a 6-year comparison, soil losses were similar to those under conservation tillage, but the risk of yield loss increased due to inability to cultivate in a timely manner due to weather conditions. Regardless of tillage practice, infrequent, severe storms during years when row crops were grown caused most of the soil loss from the watersheds. Erosion prediction models must account for the contribution of such events and management practices must limit erosion caused by these storms if long-term sustainability is to be maintained.
The effect of prostaglandins on the cyclic AMP content of limb mesenchymal cells.

Abstract We have been investigating the hypothesis that prostaglandins including prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) produced during the critical condensation phase of limb chondrogenesis are involved in the regulation of cartilage differentiation by acting as local modulators of cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation. The purpose of the present study was to determine directly whether PGE 2 and other prostanoids which had previously been shown to stimulate in vitro chondrogenic differentiation do indeed elevate the cAMP content of limb mesenchymal cells, and to determine whether the ability of various prostanoids to increase cAMP production by these cells directly reflects the potencies of these same molecules in stimulating chondrogenesis. We have found that PGE 2 does indeed elicit a striking elevation in the cAMP content of subridge mesenchymal cells, indicating that the cells possess adenylate cyclase-coupled receptors for this molecule. The effect of PGE 2 on cAMP accumulation is potentiated by a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, thus paralleling the potentiating effect phosphodiesterase inhibitors have on PGE 2 -stimulated in vitro chondrogenesis. The effect of PGE 2 on cAMP content is dose-dependent with a 3-fold increase seen at 10 −8 M, which is the lowest concentration at which PGE 2 effectively stimulates chondrogenesis. PGE 1 , which is just as effective as PGE 2 in stimulating chondrogenesis, is just as effective as PGE 2 in stimulating cAMP accumulation. PGA 1 , which is a much less effective stimulator of chondrogenesis than PGE 2 or PGE 1 , is less than half as potent as these molecules in elevating cAMP levels. PGF 1α , 6-keto PGF 1α , and thromboxane B 2 , which have little or no effect on chrondrogenesis, have little or no effect on cAMP content. Thus, the abilities of various prostanoids to stimulate cAMP accumulation by subridge mesenchymal cells does indeed correlate directly with their abilities to stimulate chondrogenesis. The labile prostaglandin, prostacyclin (PGI 2 ), which is one of the major prostanoids produced by limb mesenchymal cells undergoing chondrogenesis in vitro, is also a potent elevator of cAMP levels. The possibility that prostaglandins and cAMP play interrelated regulatory roles in limb cartilage differentiation is discussed.
The effect of accumulated dose at 6 and 72 K on electron trapping in ethylene glycol-water glass

Abstract In the pulse radiolysis of ethylene glycol-D 2 O glass at 6 K, G (e - IR ) ⋍ 4.9 and G (e - vis )⋍0.3; by contrast pulse radiolysis of pure ethylene glycol glass at 6 K gives very little IR absorption. The effect of previous irradiation at 6 or 72 K on the ethylene glycol-D 2 O glass is to modestly reduce initial yields at 6 K. The results of the pulse experiments do not substantiate a previous report that shallow traps are efficiently consumed during irradiation at 77 K.
Discriminative activation and maintenance of contingent self-reinforcement.

Abstract The present experiment studied the process by which environmental events come to exercise some degree of control over the activation of contingent self-reinforcement. Through differential training, animals learned to impose performance requirements for self-reward in certain environmental contexts but not in others. Both contextual influences and periodic negative consequences for noncontingent self-reward increased adherence to response requisites for self-reinforcement.
Multi-model parallel programming in psyche

Many different parallel programming models, including lightweight processes that communicate with shared memory and heavyweight processes that communicate with messages, have been used to implement parallel applications. Unfortunately, operating systems and languages designed for parallel programming typically support only one model. Multi-model parallel programming is the simultaneous use of several different models, both across programs and within a single program. This paper describes multi-model parallel programming in the Psyche multiprocessor operating system. We explain why multi-model programming is desirable and present an operating system interface designed to support it. Through a series of three examples, we illustrate how the Psyche operating system supports different models of parallelism and how the different models are able to interact.
Development of a Mechanical Damage Classification System for Use in the Post Construction Code for Nonmetallic Repair of Piping and Pressure Vessels

ASME PCC-2, Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping, Article 4.1, addresses the repair of high-pressure systems with nonmetallic composite systems and generally permits the repair of dents and gouges in paragraph 1.2(b) with certain substrate preparation requirements. Research done at The University of Tulsa along with meta-analysis of the work preformed over the last three decades at PRCI, GRI and Battelle has shown that classification of mechanical damage must be further refined and delineated to adequately address all applicable facets of non-metallic repair. This paper covers the author’s work with the Nonmetallic Repair Subgroup (SG NMR) to classify types of mechanical damage and the associated permissible repair methods. These damage classifications are set to be included in future editions of the PCC-2. The types of mechanical damage that were considered for this research were dents, cracks, gouges and certain repairable combinations of the three. Specific definitions are laid forth for the damage types and their subclasses along with geometric nomenclature in an attempt to standardize classification across the differences in the international standards. Other forms of mechanical damage and associated amplifying factors exist and are issues that pipeline and refinery assurance managers are concerned with. Additional examples of mechanical damage that are often considered for non-metallic repair are wrinkles and wrinkle bends, creases, buckling points and seismic folds. A common amplifying factor for mechanical damage is that increased corrosion rates often appear at the site of damage due to breeching of protective coatings or creation of extreme geometries that facilitate crevice corrosion, or the development of residual stresses.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Inactivation of cytochrome P-450 by 2-isopropyl-4-pentenamide and other xenobiotics leads to heme-derived protein adducts.

Summary When cytochrome P -450 in phenobarbital-induced rat liver microsomes was destroyed by 2-isopropyl-4-pentenamide (AIA) in vitro, 50% of the degraded heme was recovered as heme-derived products irreversibly bound to microsomal proteins. In contrast, less than 50% of the degraded heme was accounted for as N-alkylated porphyrins. Furthermore, 64% of the irreversibly bound products was bound specifically to a 54-kD form of cytochrome P -450. Several other compounds which have been reported to destroy cytochrome P -450 by forming N-alkylated porphyrins also pro- duced heme-derived protein adducts. These findings indicate that the formation of heme-derived protein adducts may represent an important pathway for the irreversible degradation of cytochrome P-450 by many xenobiotics.
Is the invisible hadronic axion always harmless

In the Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnitsky (DFSZ) axion model, if the invisible axion is hadronized (i.e. if the axion is made to decouple from leptons at tree level), it will be accompanied by a visible real Goldstone boson which interacts with both leptons and quarks. Consequently, the Higgs field coupled to right-handed leptons must also couple to right-handed d- or u-type quark singlets. Astrophysical bounds on viable hadronic axions are discussed.
Alefacept Is Well Tolerated in Patients with Chronic Plaque Psoriasis

Traditional systemic treatments for moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis are often poorly tolerated and are associated with safety concerns that restrict their long-term use. Alefacept is a fully human fusion protein that selectively targets memory T cells, and it is expected to provide enhanced safety over traditional nonselective agents. The safety and tolerability profile of alefacept is reviewed using data from the clinical development program. The most common adverse events were similar among alefacept and placebo groups. As expected from its mechanism of action, alefacept reduced the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, with selectivity for the memory subsets. This reduction was not associated with an increase in the incidence of infections. Alefacept was not immunogenic. Patients have received up to 6 courses of alefacept therapy and the safety and tolerability profile over multiple courses is similar to that of a single course. Alefacept offers hope for a safer means to provide long-term management of psoriasis.
The Three Myths of France's China Policy

Visiting China for the first time in spring 2013, French President Francois Hollande reaffirmed France's commitment to a policy defined more than 15 years ago by the Jacques Chirac administration. The Paris' unshaken position towards Beijing is nonetheless puzzling. This “global strategic partnership” has incurred significant economic, ideational and political costs for France, while benefits have remained at best meagre and questionable.
Acid rain in the Kilauea Volcano area (Hawaii)

Acid precipitation is present and commonplace in and around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where thousands of hectares of rich and diverse tropical forest flourish. The existence of a strong relationship between rain volume and pH or of a strong correlation between acidity and sulfate content below a pH of approximately 4 has not been confirmed. The discrepancy between sulfate and pH raises serious questions about SO2 from Kilauea as the major source of local acidity. The 1985–1986 samples were relatively unstable at 20°C, again casting doubt on H2SO4 as the sole or major proton donor. Model experiments down to pH 2 withUsnea, a pollution-sensitive lichen, show that the anion associated with the protons is important, but that down to and including pH 3, exposure of up to 16 hr to H2SO4 and HCl does not impair photosynthetic CO2 uptake. We do not dismiss acid rain as an ecological hazard nor do we minimize the role of SO2 as a primary source of acidity, but rather demonstrate that other interpretations and alternatives exist and require more experimentation and analysis.
The state and social change in early modern England, c. 1550-1640

Preface and Acknowledgements Introduction: The State and Local Society Social Change and Public Policy The Provision of Perogative Justice The Keeping of the Public Peace The Execution of Criminal Justice The Enforcement of Social Policy The Reformation of Manners The Governance of the Parish Conclusion: The Making of a Political Culture Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index
Language Socialization in the Second Language Classroom

This paper examines the kinds of cultural messages a second language teacher displays through classroom interaction. The study analyzes teacher/student interaction in two beginning ESL classes in light of the language socialization perspective articulated by Ochs and Schieffelin, (1984; cf., Schieffelin & Ochs, 1986a; 1986b; Ochs 1988). This approach views the acquisition of linguistic and sociocultural knowledge as integral to one another, and points to the pervasive influence of cultural norms and ideologies on various forms of expert-novice communication. The data demonstrate that routine interactional sequences in these classrooms are consistent with a number of Ochs and Schieffelin's interpretations of middle class American caregiver language and suggest that a teacher's language behavior is culturally motivated to an extent not generally acknowledged in most L2 literature. Discussion will focus specifically on how classroom discourse features encode cultural norms and beliefs with respect to (a) expert accommodation of novice incompetence, (b) task accomplishment, and (c) the display of asymmetry.
Potential Vorticity Analysis of Tropical Cyclone Intensification

The interaction of marginal Tropical Storm Danny (1985) with an upper-tropospheric positive potential vorticity anomaly was examined. The intensification mechanism proposed earlier for mature Hurricane Elena appears to be valid for Danny as well, despite significant differences in the synoptic-scale environment and in the stage of the tropical cyclone prior to the interaction. Both storms experienced rapid pressure falls as a relatively smallscale positive upper potential vorticity anomaly began to superpose with the low-level tropical cyclone center. The interaction is described in terms of a complex interplay between vertical wind shear, diabatic heating, and mutual advection among vortices at and below the level of the outflow anticyclone. Despite this complexity, the superposition principle appears to be conceptually useful to describe the intensification of tropical cyclones during such interactions.
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Sporadic ALS

We aimed to investigate oxidative stress biomarkers in a cross-sectional pilot study of 50 participants with sporadic ALS (SALS) compared to 46 control subjects. We measured urinary 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), urinary 15-F(2t)-isoprostane (IsoP), and plasma protein carbonyl by ELISA methods. We also determined if ELISA measurement of 8-oxodG could be validated against measures from high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection, the current standard method. We found that 8-oxodG and IsoP levels adjusted for creatinine were significantly elevated in SALS participants. These differences persisted after age and gender were controlled in regression analyses. These markers are highly and positively correlated with each other. 8-oxodG measured by the two techniques from the same urine sample were positively correlated (p<.0001). Protein carbonyl was not different between SALS participants and controls. In conclusion, using ELISA, we confirmed that certain oxidative stress biomarkers were elevated in SALS participants. ELISA may be reliable and thus useful in epidemiology studies requiring large numbers of samples to determine the significance of increased oxidative stress markers in SALS. Further studies are required.
Cancer Prevention and Treatment with Resveratrol: From Rodent Studies to Clinical Trials

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a dietary polyphenol derived from grapes, berries, peanuts, and other plant sources. During the last decade, resveratrol has been shown to possess a fascinating spectrum of pharmacologic properties. Multiple biochemical and molecular actions seem to contribute to resveratrol effects against precancerous or cancer cells. Resveratrol affects all three discrete stages of carcinogenesis (initiation, promotion, and progression) by modulating signal transduction pathways that control cell division and growth, apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The anticancer property of resveratrol has been supported by its ability to inhibit proliferation of a wide variety of human tumor cells in vitro. These in vitro data have led to numerous preclinical animal studies to evaluate the potential of this drug for cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. This review provides concise, comprehensive data from preclinical in vivo studies in various rodent models of human cancers, highlighting the related mechanisms of action. Bioavailability, pharmacokinetic, and potential toxicity studies of resveratrol in humans and ongoing interventional clinical trials are also presented. The conclusion describes directions for future resveratrol research to establish its activity and utility as a human cancer preventive and therapeutic drug.
The Effect of Phase Jitter on the Performance of a First-Order Phase-Locked Loop

A filterless phase-locked loop is considered with an arbitrary periodic phase comparator. The loop has a jittered input and is perturbed by thermal noise. Under such conditions the loop skips cycles from time to time. A study is made of the statistical behavior of the loop and emphasis is placed on the determination of the average time of skipping cycles. This problem is related to the first passage time problem of mathematical statistics and has been studied by a number of authors [1], [2], [3], [15]. The specific interest in the present paper is the study of the effect of timing jitter on the "spilling" of stores in a digital transmission system. A comparison of the average frequency of "spilling' the stores is made for a sawtooth, sinusoidal, and an "inscribed in" and "circumscribed about" triangular phase comparator. Examples using numbers typical of a digital transmission system show that the average frequency of "spilling" the stores in the time division multiplex should be exceedingly small.
Shared Neuropathological Characteristics of Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease: Impacts on Cognitive Decline

In the past few decades, the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as well as older individuals at risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has increased. While the consumption of diets high in fat (total and saturated) have been linked to increased risk of AD, diets rich in antioxidants, polyunsaturated fats, and omega-3 fatty acids are associated with decreased risk. Additionally, AD patients are at increased risk for developing T2DM. Recent research suggests that there are stronger similarities between AD and T2DM than have previously been considered. Here we review the neurocognitive and inflammatory effects of high-fat diet consumption, its relationship to AD, and the treatment potential of dietary interventions that may decrease risk of cognitive decline and other associated neuropathological changes, such as insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammatory processes.
Micro-Structuring of Silicon by Pulsed-Laser Ablation Under Reactive Atmospheres

Micro-holes hundreds of μm-deep below the initial surface surrounded by 40- μm-tall micro-cones protruding over the initial surface form in silicon as a response to multiple UV pulsed-laser irradiation in an SF6 atmosphere. The micro-holes and micro-cones are arranged in a characteristic ensemble displaying a self-organized pattern. Similarly, deep-holes and micro-column ensembles form when the irradiation is performed in an oxygen-rich atmosphere. The formation mechanism of microcolumns and microcones in these reactive atmospheres has been studied using scanning electron microscopy, profilometry and x-ray diffraction. The growth of cones under SF6 atmospheres was studied in-situ using an ICCD gated camera coupled to a long distance microscope. The images obtained with the ICCD camera show that the fluorescent plume is correlated with the amount of ablated material. There is also a strong correlation between the plume and the growth of the cones. The cones grow in the region where the laser-generated plume is intense. When the flux of silicon-rich material ceases because the holes are very deep the balance between redeposition and ablation is tilted toward the latter and the cones begin to recede. Laser ablation is not only a function of the nominal fluence but also of the surface roughness and microstructure. These results strongly support the growth mechanism whereby laser-ablated silicon-rich molecules and clusters are transported to the tip and side of the cones by the laser- generated plasma.
Evaluation of Mycoplasma gallisepticum K-Strain as a Live Vaccine in Chickens

SUMMARY. We evaluated the pathogenicity of three live Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) vaccine candidates by infection via aerosol of 3-wk-old chickens with log phase broth cultures (trial 1). Two of the candidates (K3020 and K4649A) colonized only 10% and 20% of the chickens, respectively, unlike K2101 (K-strain), which was reisolated from all of the vaccinated chickens tested. K-strain inoculation did not result in significant air sac or tracheal lesions in chickens at 10 and 39 days postinfection (P # 0.05). The efficacy of K-strain as a live vaccine was evaluated in trial 2, by challenge of vaccinated chickens with virulent R-strain via aerosol at 6 wk postvaccination. K-strain vaccination resulted in significant protection from air sac and tracheal lesions (P # 0.05). The K-strain was further investigated to evaluate transmissibility (trial 3), colonization and persistence of infection following aerosol administration (trial 4), genetic and phenotypic stability following back passage through chickens (trial 5), and vertical transmission (trial 6). The K-strain had a low rate of horizontal transmission; it remained primarily in the respiratory system of inoculated birds and persisted in the upper respiratory tract for the duration of the trial 4 (5 mo). There was no increase in virulence of K-strain when it was back passaged five times through chickens, and no vertical transmission of K-strain was detected. K-strain showed great potential as a safe and effective live MG vaccine.
EFFICIENT METHOD FOR RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT UNDER HIGH-CYCLE FATIGUE

Fatigue causes about 90% of service failures in machines. Fatigue analysis involves significant randomness in the loads, material properties and geometry. Designers often use Monte Carlo simulation to estimate fatigue reliability under dynamic, random loads such as those due to ocean waves. Monte Carlo simulation is computationally expensive because it requires calculation of the stresses for thousands of simulated time histories of the loads. This paper presents and demonstrates a method to estimate efficiently the fatigue life of a structure subjected to a dynamic load, which is represented by a stationary, Gaussian random process, for many different spectra of the excitation. The method requires only one Monte Carlo simulation for one power spectral density function of the excitation.
Reliable Network-on-Chip Using a Low Cost Unequal Error Protection Code

The network-on-chip (NoC) paradigm is seen as a way of facilitating the integration of a large number of computational and storage blocks on a chip to meet several performance and power constraints. However due to continued scaling of process technologies, the devices and interconnects have become more susceptible to single event upsets. This paper presents a low cost error correcting code based technique to protect NoC routers against single event upset induced soft errors. An unequal protection error correcting code based methodology is provided for the most commonly used store-and-forward routing strategy. The proposed codes have the same check bit overhead as the conventional single error correcting (SEC) code. The encoding/decoding overhead and latency are also similar to the conventional low cost SEC code. The proposed codes belong to the class of unequal error protection codes as they provide different levels of error correction capability for different portions of the same packet with more protection for the important parts of the data.
Evaluating Bulk-to-Surface Partitioning of Erucamide in LLDPE Films Using FT-IR Microspectroscopy:

The objective of this research is to experimentally characterize the spatial distribution of an additive across the thickness of a singlelayer polymer film. Concentration-distribution data are then used to quantify the amount of additive that diffuses from the bulk of the film to the film surfaces as a function of time. These results are important because a film's surface property, such as coefficient of friction, depends on the additive surface concentration. The concentration profiles of an erucamide slip agent in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films were measured with Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy. This paper describes in detail the procedures used to microtome specimens and map the concentration profiles for the erucamide-LLDPE system. Data show that the additive concentration profile is uniform across the thickness of the film immediately after it has been formed. After aging at 60 C for 4.5 h (not yet to equilibrium), approximately 40% of the additive accumulates at the film surfaces.
The University of Michigan experience with percutaneous nephrostolithotomy for urinary matrix calculi.

Objectives To evaluate commonalities in presentation and long-term efficacy of treatment by percutaneous nephrostolithotomy of matrix stones, a rare form of urinary calculi. Methods The clinical data of 9 consecutive patients with urinary matrix calculi in 11 kidneys treated at our institution between 1995 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Results The matrix component in all 11 kidneys was successfully treated with percutaneous nephrostolithotomy, with few complications. Among 8 patients (9 kidneys) with follow-up, none has had recurrence of matrix stones after a mean follow-up of 3.8 years. Along with previously known risk factors for matrix stones, such as urinary tract infections and renal insufficiency, we identified smoking as another possible risk factor. Long-term antimicrobial prophylaxis was used in only 1 patient and thus does not seem necessary for prevention of recurrence. Conclusions Matrix stone treatment with percutaneous nephrostolithotomy is durable and should remain the treatment modality of choice.
Buffer Design for Data Compression Systems

Design of the output buffer is one of the most important tasks in implementing an adaptive data compression system. Upon proper design of the buffer including such parameters as size, inputoutput data rates, and occupancy control, rests the overall compression efficiency and error performance of the system. The binomial distribution is used to derive an exact model for a synchronous buffer. The Poisson distribution, which provides a reasonable model for a high-speed asynchronous buffer, is shown to yield an error greater than 10 percent in required buffer length for synchronous buffers. Design requirements such as probabilities of overflow and underflow, buffer length, and average buffer fill are derived as functions of compression ratio φ and the ratio of input-output transmission rates C . It is shown that the buffer queuing behavior is a function of the ratio \rho = C/\phi , as well as C and φ independently. The derived results indicate that restricting buffer overflow by increasing the buffer size is inefficient. Control is suggested in which the aperture of the compression algorithm is changed to control the buffer fill. The design requirements are determined for the zero-order predictor and the first-order interpolator with two degrees of freedom. Using the buffer equations derived and the compression ratio-aperture relationship, the design of a buffer is described. It is shown that doubling the aperture with a resultant doubling in rms error reduces the buffer probability of overflow by a factor of 100.
Interactive computer graphics at Ford Motor Company

Over the past fourteen years the Ford Motor Company actively pursued the development and use of interactive computer graphics in the design and manufacture of automobiles. The success of Ford's pioneering efforts in the area of minicomputer graphics led to widespread acceptance and support for graphics within the corporation. This in turn led to a rapid expansion of computer graphics equipment. The advent of numerous Federal regulations in the areas of fuel economy, emissions control, and safety has generated additional Corporate interest in the use of computer graphics to help solve these difficult problems. Use of the Ford Computer Graphics System, as well as various commercially available turnkey computer graphics systems, has contributed substantially to cost reductions, improved productivity, and better documentation and control.This paper describes the on-going computer graphics effort at Ford Motor Company. A brief history of computer graphics is presented along with a detailed description of the Ford Computer Graphics System and the commercial systems. A few applications involving the various graphics systems are discussed. These include design activity at several design and manufacturing areas which are major users of graphics equipment.Next, four computer graphics-related projects presently receiving considerable attention are described. They include communications between graphics systems, a graphics information system and the use of graphics in both structural analysis and numerical control.Finally, some indication of where computer graphics is headed in the future is presented.
Acetoacetate and d-β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in chronic renal insufficiency☆

Abstract Serum concentrations of the ketone bodies, acetoacetate and d -β-hydroxybutyrate, were measured by a specific enzymatic method in normal controls, patients with chronic renal insufficiency, and patients with well controlled diabetes. The concentration of D-β-hydroxybutyrate was significantly and comparably increased in uremics and diabetics when compared to normals. It is postulated that similar abnormalities of carbohydrate metabolism in uremia and diabetes underlie a common mechanism leading to ketone body overproduction in both conditions.