cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Computational Fluid Dynamicist's View of CWE

Publisher Summary In their desire to develop computational methods as design tools, people forget that no design method is perfect and that the errors inherent in any method need to be estimated. This chapter discusses the numerical errors and their estimation. Problems to be solved in computational wind engineering (CWE) are posed as a set of partial differential equations and boundary conditions. These might not represent the physics with sufficient precision because of modeling approximations but they have exact solutions; numerical errors are differences from these. Any quality numerical method, given enough resources, will produce this solution. To argue that one numerical method is always better than another because it gives a better solution to a particular problem is a waste of time. The important difference between methods is the issue of which method gives a more accurate solution for a given cost. Without estimates of numerical errors, designers could be in danger of believing inaccurate results and using them as the basis for a design. This is important when users are not sophisticated in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques.
The Paideia Proposal: A Thankless Child Replies

(1986). The Paideia Proposal: A Thankless Child Replies. Curriculum Inquiry: Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 335-344.
The urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycolin acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), noradrenaline, adrenaline and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) was studied in 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The excretion of MHPG was higher in Patients with myocardial infarction than in the control group, with no difference between uncomplicated and complicated courses of the disease. The excretion of MHPG showed a negative although not significant correlation with noradrenaline and VMA during the first days of infarction and a statistically significant positive correlation on the 5th day of the disease. The possible causes of the changes observed are discussed.
Imaging-Based Multiscale Models of the Respiratory System That Account for Regional Heterogeneity in Health and Disease

Multiscale computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models are fast gaining importance in the field of respiratory systems modeling due to recent advancements in experimental and computational techniques. These models couple imaging-based, physiologically realistic, three-dimensional (3D) geometries to lower-dimensional ordinary differential equations (ODE) or partial differential equations (PDE) that represent the unseen lung. Local deviations from nominal heterogeneity and compliance in disease states such as emphysema and fibrosis have both important clinical and pathological implications. Hence, it is important to incorporate regional heterogeneity in the CFD models while modeling airflow characteristics, aerosol deposition, drug delivery, and risk assessment.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The impact of covariance misspecification in multivariate Gaussian mixtures on estimation and inference: an application to longitudinal modeling

Multivariate Gaussian mixtures are a class of models that provide a flexible parametric approach for the representation of heterogeneous multivariate outcomes. When the outcome is a vector of repeated measurements taken on the same subject, there is often inherent dependence between observations. However, a common covariance assumption is conditional independence—that is, given the mixture component label, the outcomes for subjects are independent. In this paper, we study, through asymptotic bias calculations and simulation, the impact of covariance misspecification in multivariate Gaussian mixtures. Although maximum likelihood estimators of regression and mixing probability parameters are not consistent under misspecification, they have little asymptotic bias when mixture components are well separated or if the assumed correlation is close to the truth even when the covariance is misspecified. We also present a robust standard error estimator and show that it outperforms conventional estimators in simulations and can indicate that the model is misspecified. Body mass index data from a national longitudinal study are used to demonstrate the effects of misspecification on potential inferences made in practice. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variation in the molecular size of the DNA from closely related strains of type I herpes simplex virus.

Abstract We have investigated the comparative genome size of five strains of HSV type 1 (HSV-1). Two of these strains have a common origin and differ in their plaque morphology on HeLa cells, one strain is a wild type isolate, and two others are established laboratory strains. All strains show high sequence homology based on the melting behavior of heteroduplexes. The greatest sequence divergence between any two strains was found to be no more than 10%. There are real differences in the size of the genomes of these strains of HSV-1 as measured by electron microscopy. The shortest and largest genomes measured differ in size by 10%, however, the size of the genomes of all strains are within 5% of a median valve of 87–88 × 10 6 .
A Topical Analysis of Mechanical Engineering Curricula

This study has dissected the current curriculum in mechanical engineering into a list of required topics. The list indicates what material is currently considered to be the essential body of knowledge for graduating mechanical engineering students. It also provides a measure of the extent to which curricula differ from institution to institution. There is similarity in core material required among the institutions which we considered, but each one adds distinct requirements which give it an individual flavor or emphasis. The list reveals some of the differences among degree programs. While institutions have adjusted curricula to conform to the ABET engineering criteria, how they fulfill the “technical skill” outcomes is clearer than how they fulfill the “professional skill” outcomes. This survey shows that dissecting a degree program into required topics is useful for curriculum reform, as it provides a baseline to study the curriculum at a level more finely grained than a course.
Mechatronics instruction in the Mechanical Engineering curriculum at Georgia Tech

The increasing use of microcontrollers and microprocessors in a wide variety of consumer and commercial products, laboratory test instruments and equipment, and industrial applications has created a need for Mechatronics education in all engineering disciplines. The subject of Mechatronics is broad, encompassing, and interdisciplinary. How to teach Mechatronics in the various Engineering disciplines is still an open area for discussion. This presentation focuses on the way Mechatronics is taught in George Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. The courses are structured to teach students design at the micro-chip level, and to teach them how to write assembly language programs for measurement and control. They learn by hands-on experience with interfacing sensors, actuators, and passive and active devices with microprocessors and microcomputers in laboratory exercises. The class includes a final group project and a group class lecture. Each group of three students is required to complete a design project that integrates hardware and software design with electronic interfacing design and mechanical systems analysis. Several such projects and all the laboratory exercises are presented.
The problem of the ‘guasto legnaggio’ in Leopardi’s ‘Sopra il monumento di Dante’:

Amid shallower reactions to the cenotaph to Dante in Florence, Giacomo Leopardi’s ‘Sopra il monumento di Dante’ presents a symptomatic reading of how the empty tomb is emblematic of the weakened cu...
The effect of chlorine on the kinetics of oxidation of cobalt in environments containing 0.5 atmosphere of oxygen between 900 K and 1200 K

The corrosion of cobalt metal in gas mixtures containing argon, chlorine, and 0.5 atmosphere of oxygen has been studied by measuring the kinetics of the reaction using thermogravimetric techniques and by examination of the corrosion products using scanning electron microscopy. The corrosion products include both oxides and chlorides. The formation of volatile cobalt chloride plays a critical role in the corrosion process by attacking and penetrating the condensed oxide scale. At 1200 K, the Tedmon equation describes the kinetics of the corrosion process. At lower temperatures the corrosion behavior is more complex, and under some conditions the formation of a porous, nonprotective oxide scale can lead to rapid consumption of the metal.
Global CD uniformity improvement in mask manufacturing for advanced lithography

The control of global critical dimension uniformity (GCDU) across the entire mask becomes an important factor for the high-end masks quality. Three major proceses induce GCDU error before after-developing inspection (ADI) including the E-Beam writing, baking, and developing processes. Due to the charging effect, the fogging effect, the vacuum effect and other not-well-known effects, the E-Beam writing process suffers from some consistent GCDU errors. Specifically, the chemical amplified resist (CAR) induces the GCDU error from improper baking. This phenomenon becomes worse with negative CARs. The developing process is also a source of the GCDU error usually appears radially. This paper reports the results of the study of the impact of the global CD uniformity on mask to wafer images. It also proposes solutions to achieve better masks.
Selection for Body Weight at Eight Weeks of Age 18. Comparisons Between Mature and Immature Pullets at the Same Live Weight and Age

Abstract Body component and compositional traits were measured at the same age and live body weight in sexually mature and immature pullets from several genetic stocks. Populations included parental lines of White Plymouth Rocks selected for 25 generations for high and low juvenile body weight, their reciprocal F1 crosses, and an F2, as well as dwarfs from the parental lines. Although matched for age and body weight, percent liver weight and percent breast weight were greater for mature than immature pullets. Population by physiological stage interactions for percentages of abdominal fat and carcass lipid resulted from differences between mature and immature pullets, which were greater in the parental than in the cross and dwarf populations. Moreover, the pattern was reversed in the parental populations. The data supported the hypothesis that compositional requirements, independent of age and body weight, are necessary for the onset of egg production, and that these requirements vary among populations. They also demonstrated physiological buffering properties of heterozygosity and of the sex-linked dwarfing allele.
Benefitting From Underutilized Task Specific Resources for Industrial Robotic Systems

The 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) industrial manipulator has become a commodity with nominal design variation among brands. Functional differentiation is often achieved through motion planning and task integration software. This paper leverages past research in redundant systems and their control using performance criteria to manage under-utilized resources to improve the task performance of industrial robotic applications. These extra resources are then utilized to improve manipulator performance for existing trajectories such as a trajectory developed with a teach pendant, or to create new motion trajectories. A palletizing simulation is used as a simple example to illustrate the resource identification and optimization procedure.
Identifying fit of mission and environment: Applying the American community college model internationally

This chapter discusses the exporting of the American community college model and the importance of identifying a good “fit” with local partners.
Hydrodynamic theory of plasma oscillations in quasi-two-dimensional systems

Abstract We show that a hydrodynamic theory can be applied to calculate the dispersion relation of plasma oscillations in a quasi-two-dimensional system. It also leads to the conclusion that additional “multipole” modes may exist in the system.
Development of actin polygonal arrays in rabbit lens epithelial cells.

In searching for a clue to the role of actin filament bundles organized into polygonal arrays, or geodomes, in lens epithelial cells, we examined several physical events occurring in the young rabbit lens which may initiate their formation. We used NZW rabbits between the ages of 24 days gestation and 50 days postnatal. Data were obtained from TEM, SEM and fluorescence microscopy. Parameters measured were lens weights, apical surface areas of cells in epithelial whole mounts, epithelial cell thickness, and timing of eyelid opening, breakdown of the tunica vasculosa lentis (TVL) and formation of the ciliary zonules; these findings were correlated with the first signs of development of the arrays.Polygonal arrays formed slowly beginning at one to two days after birth, and with advancing time these thickened and made more numerous connections with the lateral plasma membranes. Development of the arrays was not correlated with onset of vision or disappearance of the TVL or a sudden increase in cell area, sinc...
ORGANOGRAPHY, BRANCHING, AND THE PROBLEM OF LEAF VERSUS BUD DIFFERENTIATION IN THE VINING EPIPHYTIC FERN GENUS MICROGRAMMA'

A B S T R A C T Investigation of the development and organography of the shoot systems of Microgramma vacciniifolia and M. squamulosa was undertaken for the purpose of determining: (1) the features of shoot growth that are responsible for the distinctive vining character of these epiphytic ferns; and (2) the mode of origin of branches and their contrast with leaf initiation. Shoots of both species are dorsiventral and plagiotropic (i.e., parallel to the substrate) in habit. Since the shoot apical meristem is radial in transectional symmetry, shoot dorsiventrality in Microgramma is a postgenital or secondary developmental event, and its inception is related to the initiation of lateral appendages. Leaves and buds arise in a distichous phyllotaxis and occupy opposite and alternating positions on the dorsal surfaces and flanks of the rhizome. Endogenous roots are initiated in two rows from the ventral surface of the stem, in the vicinity of the rhizome meristem; however, they do not emerge from the rhizome until some distance behind the tip and do not elongate until the region of substrate contact. We conclude that the vining nature of this fern rhizome is a result of precocious internodal elongation and the concomitant delay of leaf and bud expansion in the region of stem elongation. In addition, observation of branch origin confirms previous suggestions that branching in Microgramma is strictly lateral and extra-axillary and not a dichotomous derivative as proposed by some workers. Leaf and bud primordia differ not only in the nature of their respective vascular supplies but also in their actual course of initiation. In the case of the leaf, the primordium is precociously emergent and exhibits a lenticular apical cell at its summit when it is only one plastochron removed from the flanks of the apical meristem. By contrast, initials of the bud primordium divide less actively and remain in a sunken position for at least 5-6 plastochrons; only when the bud apex becomes expanded and emergent does a tetrahedral apical cell become recognizable at the tip of the bud promeristem. Because of the distinctive pattern of branch and leaf origin, as well as the lack of adventitious and phyllogenous origin of branch primordia, we suggest that the shoot of Microgramma is a useful test organism for the re-examination of the problem of leaf and bud determination in the ferns.
The Association of the Vanin-1 N131S Variant with Blood Pressure Is Mediated by Endoplasmic Reticulum- Associated Degradation and Loss of Function

High blood pressure (BP) is the most common cardiovascular risk factor worldwide and a major contributor to heart disease and stroke. We previously discovered a BP-associated missense SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism)-rs2272996-in the gene encoding vanin-1, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane pantetheinase. In the present study, we first replicated the association of rs2272996 and BP traits with a total sample size of nearly 30,000 individuals from the Continental Origins and Genetic Epidemiology Network (COGENT) of African Americans (P=0.01). This association was further validated using patient plasma samples; we observed that the N131S mutation is associated with significantly lower plasma vanin-1 protein levels. We observed that the N131S vanin-1 is subjected to rapid endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) as the underlying mechanism for its reduction. Using HEK293 cells stably expressing vanin-1 variants, we showed that N131S vanin-1 was degraded significantly faster than wild type (WT) vanin-1. Consequently, there were only minimal quantities of variant vanin-1 present on the plasma membrane and greatly reduced pantetheinase activity. Application of MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, resulted in accumulation of ubiquitinated variant protein. A further experiment demonstrated that atenolol and diltiazem, two current drugs for treating hypertension, reduce the vanin-1 protein level. Our study provides strong biological evidence for the association of the identified SNP with BP and suggests that vanin-1 misfolding and degradation are the underlying molecular mechanism.
Deliberation in the Midst of Crisis

This essay considers the challenges of responding to the Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal while in the midst of said crisis. It discusses how the authors chose to respond as scholars and teachers of rhetoric concerned with deliberation.
Studies on two glutaminase systems from rat kidney.

Abstract An enzyme, glutamohydroxamase, that accomplishes the hydrolysis of γ-glutamohydroxamate and the deamidation of glutamine at similar rates has been described. This enzyme is predominantly present in rat kidney, is absent from liver, and is bound to the microsomal fraction of the cell. It is activated by SO42− and inhibited by HgCl2 and reduced glutathione in a similar manner as is glutaminase, which it resembles in several other ways as well. However, the failure of glutaminase to hydrolyze γ-glutamohydroxamate serves to distinguish the two enzymes. The products of the glutamohydroxamase reaction were shown to be glutamic acid and hydroxylamine and the reaction was found not to be reversible.
No effect of age and estrogen on aromatic L- amino acid decarboxylase activity in rhesus monkey brain.

Abstract A variety of studies have shown an effect of estrogen on dopamine function and suggest that estrogen may modulate central dopaminergic activity. Positron emission tomography (PET) and the dopamine metabolism tracer, [18F]6-fluoro- l -m-tyrosine (FMT) were used to evaluate dopaminergic function in the frontal cortex and striatum in six aged, but pre-menopausal, female monkeys before and after ovariectomy (OVX). Dynamic PET brain uptake data and metabolite-corrected blood input functions were fit to a three-compartment model for FMT uptake. Prior to OVX, all animals showed preferential accumulation of the tracer bilaterally in the striatum and less but measurable activity in the frontal cortex. Paired comparisons showed that there were no significant differences in FMT uptake (Ki) in either brain region before and after OVX. In addition, FMT uptake did not differ from a group of young adult female monkeys at either time point. These findings may represent a compensatory up-regulation of aromatic L- amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) activity.
Numerical modeling of the performance of differential mobility analyzers for nanometer aerosol measurements

Abstract A numerical model was developed to predict the performance of differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) for nanometer aerosol measurements. The model consists of three parts: flow field, electric field, and aerosol transport formulations. In order for the model to be applicable for all the existing DMAs, the swirling flow effect due to tangential aerosol injection is included. The tangential inlet design was used in several recently designed DMAs, e.g. Hauke, SMEC and RDMA. The swirling is incorporated in the model by introducing the assumption of negligible variation of the circumferential flow component. Mixed Galerkin and SUPG finite-element formulations with a nine-node velocity, three-node pressure flow elements and bilinear element are proposed. For the electric field, the space charge effect is neglected and the equation is solved by Galerkin finite element method with the second-order isoparametric element. The aerosol transport is modeled by the convective aerosol transport equation with external electrical force. The equation is further simplified by using the same assumption made for the flow field in the circumferential flow component. A modified adaptive characteristic Petrov-Galerkin finite-element method is proposed to overcome the difficulty involved in numerically solving the simplified equation. The model was used to calculate the transfer functions of TSI-short DMA for particle sizes between 5 and 50 nm. They were then validated by comparing the numerical and experimental results for simulated scans from two DMAs operating in series. The numerical transfer functions are compared with the available experimental data from two sources, namely, Hummes et al. (1996) Part. Part. System Charact. 13, 327–332 and Kousaka et al. (1986) J. Chem. Engng Japan 19, 401–407. A good agreement between them is obtained.
Classifying Proximity Soundings with Self-Organizing Maps toward Improving Supercell and Tornado Forecasting

AbstractThe self-organizing map (SOM) statistical technique is applied to vertical profiles of thermodynamic and kinematic parameters from a Rapid Update Cycle-2 (RUC-2) proximity sounding dataset with the goal of better distinguishing and predicting supercell and tornadic environments. An SOM is a topologically ordered mapping of input data onto a two-dimensional array of nodes that can be used to classify large datasets into meaningful clusters. The relative ability of SOMs derived from each parameter to separate soundings in a way that is useful in discriminating between storm type, location, and time of year is discussed. Sensitivity to SOM configuration is also explored. Simple skill scores are computed for each SOM to evaluate the relative potential of each variable for future development as a method of probabilistic forecasting. It is found that variance in SOM nodes is reduced compared to the overall dataset, indicating that this is a viable classification method. SOMs of profiles of wind-derived ...
Absence of changes in airway responsiveness during the menstrual cycle.

The effect of sex hormones on airway function has not been well studied in spite of much evidence to suggest that they are important. We asked if the normal physiologic variation in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle resulted in changes in airway responsiveness and pulmonary function that were not clinically apparent. Nine women with asthma and with normal menstrual cycles but not taking systemic asthma medication were asked to chart temperatures, asthma attacks, and use of asthma medication for four menstrual cycles. We measured baseline spirograms, skin and airway responsiveness to histamine, and serum levels for estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone on approximately day 7 and day 24 of two consecutive cycles. None of the women reported cyclic asthma symptoms, and review of subjects' charts demonstrated no menstrual variation in asthma attacks or use of asthma medications. We found no differences in forced vital capacity or FEV 1 early compared to late in the menstrual cycle. Neither did we find a change in airway responsiveness as indicated by the histamine dose causing a 15% fall in FEV 1 , or a 35% fall in specific airway conductance. Skin responsiveness as indicated by the wheal response to intradermal histamine was also unchanged. We conclude that physiologic changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle are not in themselves associated with changes in airway or skin responsiveness to histamine.
The spherical tensor formalism applied to relaxation in magnetic resonance

Spherical tensor operators are used to simplify the relaxation terms of the Redfield equation. A method for treating relaxation is developed using trace-normalized spherical tensor operators. The Redfield equation is recast as a set of coupled linear differential equations for the expectation values of a complete set of spherical tensor operators. A single spin-1/2 particle is treated, and the correspondence of the equation of motion with the Bloch equation is demonstrated. The advantage of the spherical tensor approach is that both the coherent and relaxation terms of the equation of motion are written as matrices that operate on a common vector consisting of the expectation values of spin variables. The process used to construct the equation of motion helps to organize the various contributions to spin relaxation and can be applied uniformly regardless of spin system size. As an example, the relaxation of a two-spin system by the chemical shift anisotropy and dipolar Hamiltonians is developed using the spherical tensor formalism. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 28A: 270–290, 2006
Synthesis of D-galactosamine derivatives and binding studies using isolated rat hepatocytes.

Abstract Derivatives of glycosides of D -galactosamine were prepared in order to study further the binding requirement of the Gal/GalNAc receptor in mammalian hepatocytes. These structures included N -propanoyl, N -benzoyl, and N,N -phthaloyl derivatives of 2-hydroxyethyl-2-amino-2-deoxy-β- D -galactopyranoside, 6-amino-hex-1-yl 2-deoxy-2-(trifluoroacetamido)-β- D -galactopyranoside, the mono- and di- O -methyl derivatives of allyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β- D -galactopyranoside, and allyl 2-acetamido-2,4-dideoxy-4-fluoro-α- D -galactopyranoside. The inhibition results confirmed some of our previous findings on the involvement of the hydroxyl groups, and provided new information on the involvement of the N -substituent, as well as on the requirement of hydrogen bonding of the 4-hydroxyl group in binding.
Electron Microscopic Analysis of Airborne Asbestos Fibers

Scanning and transmission electron microscopic (SEM and TEM) methods for airborne asbestos analysis are reviewed. Electron microscopy has been used since the 1950s to evaluate airborne asbestos siz...
'WFD' ― What is it and what's 'LOV' got to do with it?

Abstract Fatigue cracking of any kind can significantly reduce the load carrying capability of a structure. Because of this it is considered to be a major threat to structural integrity. Chapter 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) includes specific requirements intended to preclude catastrophic failures due to fatigue. Fatigue cracking may be symptomatic or incidental, localized or at multiple locations. The 14 CFR requirements make no distinction. They are intended to mitigate the strength reducing effects of fatigue regardless of why or how it manifests itself. The Aloha Airlines incident of 1988 was caused by fatigue cracking at multiple locations that could be considered symptomatic. This incident precipitated an avalanche of activities related to symptomatic fatigue cracking at multiple locations. This included research, development and even new rulemaking. In many respects, this cracking was treated like a new phenomena. For many it was seen as a new and singular threat that needed special attention. Consistent with this a new term, “widespread fatigue damage” (WFD), was coined. Is WFD really something new? Does it need special treatment and maybe even its own rule? These questions are considered and it is concluded that WFD is not something new. It is also argued that WFD is and always has been within the scope of existing rules. However, one thing that is missing in the rules is the concept of a “limit of validity” (LOV) of an airplane’s fatigue management program (FMP). The LOV is the cumulative amount of operation beyond which it has not been validated that the FMP will keep the threat of catastrophic failure due to fatigue sufficiently low. The LOV is very much dependent on the fatigue knowledge base that has been acquired at any given time. The lack of an LOV is a deficiency relative to fatigue management in general and not just for what has been labeled WFD. It is concluded that rulemaking is needed to require the establishment of an LOV for certain existing airplane models and future certified ones. Additionally, the existing requirement to provide full-scale fatigue test evidence should not be limited to addressing the threat of WFD but should be required to characterize the fatigue performance of all primary structure in support of establishing an LOV for the FMP.
Vitamin Supplementation in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

This article reviews the current literature addressing the treatment of schizophrenia with vitamin supplementation. It describes the important roles that vitamins play in normal metabolism, and reviews the evidence pertaining to vitamin deficiency and supplementation in patients with schizophrenia. There is mounting evidence suggesting that vitamin supplementation, in particular with folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin D, may be important in treatment within certain subgroups of patients. There is a need for larger randomized controlled trials, and further studies examining the incidence of schizophrenia in countries with poor prenatal care and malnutrition, as well as in countries that have adopted mandatory folic acid fortification of grain products, are recommended.
Prospective evaluation of patients readmitted after cardiac surgery: Analysis of outcomes and identification of risk factors

Objective Reducing hospital readmissions after adult cardiac surgery is necessary as part of the solution to achieving improved efficiency in health care. Patients who had undergone cardiac surgery were studied to develop strategies that may diminish the need for hospital readmission. Methods Over a 25-month period, 2096 patients underwent cardiac surgical procedures; 102 of these patients required readmission within 30 days of discharge. Time-matched patients (n = 249), not readmitted, served as a control group. Patient demographics and perioperative variables were analyzed by univariate analyses. Logistic regression analysis identified independent risk factors for readmission. Results The most common diagnoses given for readmission were congestive heart failure (26 of 102, 25%), infection (23 of 102, 23%), and arrhythmias (15 of 102, 15%). The comorbidities more prevalent among readmitted patients were diminished ejection fraction (44% ± 17% vs 56% ± 13%; P P = .0008) and chronic renal insufficiency (26 of 102, 26% vs 24 of 249, 10%; P = .0001). Multivariate logistic regression identified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; P = .05), diminished ejection fraction (OR, 0.8; P P = .0001), and a prolonged length of stay (OR, 1.6; P = .009) as predictive of readmission. Failure to see a physician early in the postoperative period was associated with a 6-fold increase in the risk of readmission ( P Conclusions Patients readmitted after cardiac surgery have specific comorbidities and are of lower socioeconomic status. They are admitted most commonly for exacerbation of congestive heart failure or infectious reasons. This study suggests that seeing a physician early after discharge may have an impact on reducing readmissions after cardiac surgery.
αII Spectrin Stabilizes Stress Fibers and Actin–Membrane Interactions

The structure and function of spectrins and spectrin networks have been well-studied in erythrocytes, but the role of spectrins in the cytoskeleton of non-erythroid cells remains unclear. Recent studies with RNAi of αII-spectrin in cells showed reduction in focal adhesion proteins and altered stress fibers. Here, we show mechanistic, structural changes in the cytoskeleton in cells with reduced αII-spectrin by shRNAmir expression. Cells with reduced αII-spectrin show loss of stress fibers, spreading, shear stress-induced retraction and vesiculation, and decreased cell motility. GFP-paxillin expression in αII-spectrin-reduced cells can partially rescue some phenotypes including preservation of actin stress fibers and resistance to shear stress. However, expression of GFP-paxillin does not reduce cell spreading and apical membrane vesiculation under shear. We suggest αII-spectrin helps stabilize actin–membrane interactions and balances forces in the plane of the membrane between focal adhesions. Thus, when αII-spectrin is lost there is a significant reduction in membrane tension which is compensated for by reorganization of the cytoskeleton including loss of stress fibers leading to a radically-symmetric phenotype. The cellular changes associated with loss of αII-spectrin reveal the important role of spectrin in membrane integrity, cytoskeleton organization and force distribution at the membrane of nucleated cells.
DEVELOPMENT ZONES AND URBAN LAND REFORM IN CHINA

Abstract Development zones boomed all over China in early 1990s and continue to operate today. This paper examines its economic rationale and impact on Chinese cities. Many existing studies treat development zones like enterprise zones or science parks and of ten blame them for land speculation and farmland loss. I argue that development zone may be better understood as a feasible transitory tool in urban land reform due to dynamic urban growth and its particular institutional form. However, development zones may have problematic impact on urban spatial structure in the long term. In this sense, it demonstrates the cost of partial reform in urban land use.
Dependency systems and phrase-structure systems

A language is considered here as a finite set of symbols (words of the language) together with a set of strings (finite sequences) of these symbols (sentences of the language). A grammar is a system of rules by means of which those strings which belong to the language (i.e., are sentences) are defined. Two types of grammars are dealt with-those based on dependency rules and those based on phrase-structure rules. Both of these supply the sentences that they analyze with additional structure; there is a very close relationship between these structures. Different notions of equivalence between grammars of the two types, based on structure similarities, are defined. Every dependency system has a “naturally corresponding≓ phrase-structure system but not vice versa. An effective necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a “naturally corresponding≓ dependency system for a given phrase-structure system is given, and an effective way to construct it when it exists. Nevertheless, every set of strings defined by means of a grammar of one type is also defined by means of a grammar of the other type, which can be found effectively. However, the result above implies that there will be cases in which the second system will not be “naturally correlated≓ with the given one from a structural point of view.
Circus movement atrial flutter in canine sterile pericarditis model. Activation patterns during entrainment and termination of single-loop reentry in vivo.

BACKGROUNDRecently, we used a custom designed "jacket" electrode with 127 bipolar electrodes in a flexible nylon matrix to map the total atrial epicardial surface in the in situ canine heart. Atrial flutter in dogs with sterile pericarditis was shown to be due to a single wave front circulating around a combined functional/anatomic obstacle, with the arc of functional conduction block contiguous with one or more of the atrial vessels.METHODS AND RESULTSIn the present study, this model was used to analyze the activation pattern during pacing-induced entrainment and termination of single reentrant loops in a syncytium without anatomically predetermined pathways. Sustained atrial flutter was induced in five dogs with 3-5-day-old sterile pericarditis. Atrial pacing at a cycle length 5-30 msec shorter than the spontaneous cycle length entrained the arrhythmia and could result in a "classical" activation pattern, characterized by an antidromic stimulated wave that collided with the reentrant orthodromic wave fr...
Acoustic sensing with a single coiled monomode fiber

A single monomode fiber-optic acoustic sensor is proposed. The acoustic wave differentially changes the phase velocities of the polarization eigenmodes in a tension-coiled fiber, leading to a polarization rotation of the transmitted light. Sensitivities exceeding those of multimode fiber-optic hydrophones and ~40 times less than those of the two-fiber interferometric sensor should be realizable while environmental instability problems and the sensor complexity are significantly reduced.
Reproductive versus extra-reproductive nectaries—historical perspective and terminological recommendations

Discussion focuses on various terms for “nectary,” “nectar,” and related phenomena (e.g., “nectar-holder”) and on the morphological circumscription of nectaries. “Nectarial” is the general term pertaining to nectaries. The very explicit “nectar-secreting” should be used instead of “nectariferous” to stress clearly the secretory function of cells (not all nectarial cells are nectar-secreting). “Nectary” is defined anatomically as a more or less localized, often multicellular glandular structure (some nectaries are unicellular hairs) that occurs on vegetative or reproductive organs and that regularly secretes nectar, a sweet solution containing mainly sugars and generally serving as a reward for pollinators or for protectors (e.g., ants) against herbivores, or, in carnivorous plants, as a lure for animal prey.
Nitrogenous cations as probes of permeation channels.

Nitrogenous cations may provide information-rich probes of cation-selective channels. Hence, for 52 nitrogenous cations we have used dilution potentials and biionic potentials to measure relative permeability coefficients (P's) across gallbladder epithelia of frog and rabbit, and have also determined the free-solution mobilities. MeasuredP's of most cations are uninfluenced by the presence of the neutral form. The main permeation pathway for most hydrophilic cations is across the tight junctions.P's decrease with molecular size and increase with number of donor protons available for hydrogen-bond formation. Selectivity isotherms have been constructed from variation inP's due to pH or due to differences among individual animals. Both types of variation are consistent with the pattern expected from variation in electrostatic field strength of cation-binding sites. The isotherms permitP's to be re-expressed in a way that largely eliminates effects of species differences in field strength. Remaining species differences inP's are well fitted by a model of steric restriction, provided that one takes into account the effect of hydrogen bonding on molecular size. Rabbit gallbladder behaves as if it has narrower permeation channels than frog gallbladder. After correction for these steric effects,P is found to increase with number of donor protonsn H up to four protons, with a steeper slope in rabbit than in frog gallbladder, but is independent ofn H from four to at least nine. Two groups of cations appear to permeate significantly via pathways other than tight junctions: oxycations, via polar pathways in epithelial cell membranes of rabbit but not frog gallbladder; and lipid-soluble cations, via membrane lipid. The results suggest that the cation-binding sites of gallbladder tight junction are acidic proton-acceptors that discriminate more sharply among proton donors than does water. Proton-rich solutes tend to be more permeant for two reasons: stronger binding energies to membrane proton-acceptor sites, and smaller effective size in a proton-acceptor environment. As deduced from comparisons of nitrogenous cation selectivity patterns, the permeation channel through gallbladder tight junction differs from nerve's sodium channel and artificial carriers and channels in its higher hydration and lower range of selectivity. Based on the steric analysis of nitrogenous cation permeation, one can correct alkali cation permeability coefficients for the effect of steric restriction.
Improving Software Performance for Peptide Electron Transfer Dissociation Data Analysis by Implementation of Charge State- and Sequence-Dependent Scoring

The use of electron transfer dissociation (ETD) fragmentation for analysis of peptides eluting in liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry experiments is increasingly common and can allow identification of many peptides and proteins in complex mixtures. Peptide identification is performed through the use of search engines that attempt to match spectra to peptides from proteins in a database. However, software for the analysis of ETD fragmentation data is currently less developed than equivalent algorithms for the analysis of the more ubiquitous collision-induced dissociation fragmentation spectra. In this study, a new scoring system was developed for analysis of peptide ETD fragmentation data that varies the ion type weighting depending on the precursor ion charge state and peptide sequence. This new scoring regime was applied to the analysis of data from previously published results where four search engines (Mascot, Open Mass Spectrometry Search Algorithm (OMSSA), Spectrum Mill, and X!Tandem) were compared (Kandasamy, K., Pandey, A., and Molina, H. (2009) Evaluation of several MS/MS search algorithms for analysis of spectra derived from electron transfer dissociation experiments. Anal. Chem. 81, 7170–7180). Protein Prospector identified 80% more spectra at a 1% false discovery rate than the most successful alternative searching engine in this previous publication. These results suggest that other search engines would benefit from the application of similar rules.
Physiological effects of Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) on resistant and susceptible barley

A resistant barley ( Hordeum vulgare L., PI 366450) was used to compare physiological responses of a susceptible barley (‘Morex’) to the recently introduced pest, Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko). As measured by chlorosis, leaf rolling, and streaking, damage by Russian wheat aphid was greater in ‘Morex’ than in PI 366450. The inhibition of growth, as measured by plant height, shoot dry weight, and number of leaves, also was greater in ‘Morex’ than in PI 366450. Relative water contents of leaves or stems showed no differences between ‘Morex’ and PI 366450 as a result of infestation. Well-watered PI 366450 showed greater stomatal closure in response to aphid infestation than ‘Morex’. However, the stomatal resistance responses of water-deprived PI 366450 and ‘Morex’ to Russian wheat aphids could not be distinguished. The two-dimensional SDS-PAGE protein profiles of uninfested ‘Morex’ and PI 366450 leaves were virtually identical. Upon infestation, a complex of proteins (≈23 kD) was altered in the PI 366450 profile and had decreased levels in ‘Morex’. Chlorophyll measurements indicated a greater relative loss of chlorophyll during infestation in ‘Morex’ than in PI 366450 when deprived of water; no differences could be distinguished when well watered. Measurements of the effectiveness of photosystem II to transfer electrons also showed no differences between well-watered resistant and susceptible barleys as a result of aphid infestation. However, the ability of the quinone pool in ‘Morex’ to recover after illumination was reduced greatly relative to that of PI 366450.
Experimental Transition Probabilities for the Ar i 4s–4p Array

Thermal-arc measurements of transition probabilities are reported for the entire 4s–4p transition array of argon i. Except for a few very weak lines, the experimental values agree closely with the recent intermediate-coupling calculations of Garstang and Van Blerkom.
In vivo genotoxicity of furan in F344 rats at cancer bioassay doses

article i nfo Furan, a potent rodent liver carcinogen, is found in many cooked food items and thus represents a human cancer risk. Mechanisms for furan carcinogenicity were investigated in male F344 rats using the in vivo Comet and micronucleus assays, combined with analysis of histopathological and gene expression changes. In addition, formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg) and endonuclease III (EndoIII)-sensitive DNA damage was monitored as a measure of oxidative DNA damage. Rats were treated by gavage on four consecutive days with 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg bw furan, doses that were tumorigenic in 2-year cancer bioassays, and with two higher doses, 12 and 16 mg/kg. Rats were killed 3 h after the last dose, a time established as producing maximum levels of DNA damage in livers of furan-treated rats. Liver Comet assays indicated that both DNA strand breaks and oxidized purines and pyrimidines increased in a near-linear dose-responsive fashion, with statistically significant increases detected at cancer bioassay doses. No DNA damage was detected in bone marrow, a non-target tissue for cancer, and peripheral blood micronucleus assays were negative. Histopathological evaluation of liver from furan-exposed animals produced evidence of inflammation, single-cell necrosis, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. In addition, genes related to apoptosis, cell-cycle checkpoints, and DNA-repair were expressed at a slightly lower level in the furan-treated livers. Although a mixed mode of action involving direct DNA binding cannot be ruled out, the data suggest that furan induces cancer in rat livers mainly through a secondary genotoxic mechanism involving oxidative stress, accompanied by inflammation, cell proliferation, and toxicity.
THE AGENCY COST RATIONALE FOR REFUNDING DISCOUNTED BONDS

The purpose of this paper is to enhance the understanding of management's motivation for engaging in debt-for-debt exchange offers where new long-term debt with a higher coupon rate is substituted for outstanding debt that is trading at a substantial discount. Some previously advanced arguments that imply a positive effect of such refunding of debt are examined, and their weaknesses are discussed. Then an alternative argument utilizing agency cost theory is advanced, and empirical results are presented to support this alternative argument.
Malaysian sitting anthropometry for seat fit parameters

This article presents sitting anthropometry data for Malaysians focusing on seat fit parameters. It offers additional data regarding seat design requirements as there have been only a few efforts made to establish anthropometry data in Malaysia. An analysis using a measurement composed of 16 common and important dimensions in seat design was done with 216 subjects. Data collection was done by using direct measuring methods with standard equipment. Malaysian automobile seat fit parameters, namely backrest width, backrest height, cushion width, and cushion length were established from collected anthropometric dimensions: interscye breadth (5th percentile female and 95th percentile male), sitting shoulder height (5th percentile female), hip breadth (95th percentile female), and buttock–popliteal length (5th percentile female), respectively. From the data collected, this study finds that the fit parameter dimensions are bigger than other Asians' 95th percentile values but smaller than the Filipino and the Thai data being compared in this study. The female 5th percentile values for cushion length and cushion width are the smallest. In addition, two local automobile seats were measured and compared with the data. It was observed that the cushion lengths of both seats were too long for the 5th percentile female of the current data. This study provides seat fit parameters—the most fundamental part of automotive seat design, especially for the Malaysian population. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.