cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Embedded sensor node deployment to monitor telescope drive system components

This paper presents the deployment of an embedded active sensing platform for real-time condition monitoring of telescopes in the RAPid Telescopes for Optical Response (RAPTOR) observatory network. The RAPTOR network consists of several ground-based autonomous astronomical observatories primarily designed to search for astrophysical transients such as gamma-ray bursts. In order to capture astrophysical transients of interest, the telescopes must remain in peak operating condition to move swiftly from one potential transient to the next throughout the night. However, certain components of these telescopes have until recently been maintained in an ad hoc manner, often being permitted to run to failure, resulting in the inability to drive the telescope. In a recent study, a damage classifier was developed using the statistical pattern recognition paradigm of structural health monitoring (SHM) to identify the onset of damage in critical telescope drive components. In this work, a prototype embedded active sensing platform is deployed to the telescope structure in order to record data for use in detecting the onset of telescope drive component damage and alert system administrators prior to system failure.
Diaphragm pacing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A literature review

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains a rapidly progressive fatal degenerative disease of motor neurons for which there are few interventions to slow disease progression or improve quality of life. A diaphragm pacing system was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September 2011 for ALS under a Humanitarian Device Exemption. News of this approval has been met with a combination of excitement and uncertainty by members of the ALS community. We review the currently available data on the diaphragm pacing system and its use in ALS. Diaphragm pacing appears to be reasonably safe in carefully selected patients, but flaws in the reporting on it thus far preclude conclusions regarding efficacy. Further study is needed.
Planning project costs

Abstract Setting realistic plans for the expenditure on a project can cause much guessing to be done in the initial stages. These guesses are more vague if only a little is known about the projects being studied. The resource smoothing method as it can be applied to cost aspects of project planning is described.
Using drug combinations to assess potential contributions of non-GABAA receptors in the discriminative stimulus effects of the neuroactive steroid pregnanolone in rats☆

Neuroactive steroids are increasingly implicated in the development of depression and anxiety and have been suggested as possible treatments for these disorders. While neuroactive steroids, such as pregnanolone, act primarily at γ-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors, other mechanisms might contribute to their behavioral effects and could increase their clinical effectiveness, as compared with drugs acting exclusively at GABAA receptors (e.g., benzodiazepines). The current study examined the role of non-GABAA receptors, including N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and serotonin3 (5-HT3) receptors, in the discriminative stimulus effects of pregnanolone. Separate groups of rats discriminated either 3.2mg/kg pregnanolone from vehicle or 0.32mg/kg of the benzodiazepine midazolam from vehicle while responding under a fixed-ratio 10 schedule for food pellets. When administered alone in both groups, pregnanolone and midazolam produced ≥80% drug-lever responding, the NMDA receptor antagonists dizocilpine and phencyclidine produced ≥60 and ≥30% drug-lever responding, respectively, and the 5-HT3 receptor agonist 1-(m-chlorophenyl)-biguanide (CPBG) and morphine produced <20% drug-lever responding up to doses that markedly decreased response rates. When studied together, neither dizocilpine, phencyclidine, CPBG nor morphine significantly altered the midazolam dose-effect curve in either group. Given that CPBG is without effect, it is unlikely that 5-HT3 receptors contribute substantially to the discriminative stimulus effects of pregnanolone. Similarities across groups in effects of dizocilpine and phencyclidine suggest that NMDA receptors do not differentially contribute to the effects of pregnanolone. Thus, NMDA and 5-HT3 receptors are not involved in the discriminative stimulus effects of pregnanolone.
Fatty acid imaging of the heart.

Imaging metabolic processes in the human heart yields valuable insights into the mechanisms contributing to myocardial pathology and allows assessment of the efficacy of therapies designed to treat cardiac disease. Recent advances in fatty acid (FA) imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) include the development of a method to assess endogenous triglyceride metabolism and the design of new fluorine-18 labeled tracers. Studies of patients with diabetes have shown that the heart is resistant to insulin-mediated glucose uptake and that metabolism of nonesterified FA is upregulated. Cardiac PET imaging has also recently shown the increase in myocardial FA uptake seen in obese patients can be reversed with weight loss. And a pilot study of patients with chronic kidney disease demonstrated that PET imaging can reveal myocardial metabolic alterations that parallel the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate. Recent advances in FA imaging using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have been accomplished with the tracer β-methyl-p-[123I]-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP). Two meta-analyses showed this imaging technique has a diagnostic accuracy for the detection of obstructive coronary artery disease that compares favorably with SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging and that BMIPP imaging yields excellent prognostic data in patients across the spectrum of coronary artery disease. A recent multicenter study of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes found BMIPP SPECT imaging has greater diagnostic sensitivity than, and enhances the negative predictive value of, clinical assessment alone. Because of their exquisite sensitivity, nuclear imaging techniques facilitate the study of physiologic processes that are the key to our understanding of cardiac metabolism in health and disease.
Early Paleozoic alkalic plutonism in east-central Idaho

U-Th-Pb analyses of zircon suites document the presence of three lower Paleozoic alkalic plutons in east-central Idaho. The igneous bodies range in composition from alkali-feldspar syenite to alkali-feldspar granite. The epizonal Arnett Creek pluton contains a morphologically bimodal suite of anhedral and euhedral zircon, which combined gives an upper intercept age on a concordia diagram of 492 ± 39 m.y. Zircon analyses from the Deep Creek pluton plot near the 500-m.y. locus on concordia, but the pattern suggests the presence of a small component of inherited radiogenic lead. Limited Rb-Sr whole-rock data for the Arnett Creek and Deep Creek plutons are compatible with an Early Ordovician age but are too imprecise to refine interpretations. Zircon from the epizonal Beaverhead pluton, for which the enigmatic Ordovician-Silurian K-Ar and Rb-Sr mineral ages have long been debated, yields an approximate age of 483 m.y. The tectonic setting of these intrusions is poorly known. The coincidence of early Paleozoic plutonism and independently documented syndepositional faulting with the coeval topographic high, known variously as the "Lemhi" or "Salmon River Arch," tentatively suggests a mutual tectonic control. Further geochronologic, stratigraphic, and especially petrogenetic studies, however, are required to evaluate this possibility.
A model for Chagas disease with controlled spraying

Chagas disease is a vector-borne parasitic disease that infects mammals, including humans, through much of Latin America. This work presents a mathematical model for the dynamics of domestic transmission in the form of four coupled nonlinear differential equations. The four equations model the number of domiciliary vectors, the number of infected domiciliary vectors, the number of infected humans, and the number of infected domestic animals. The main interest of this work lies in its study of the effects of insecticide spraying and of the recovery of vector populations with cessation of spraying. A novel aspect in the model is that yearly spraying, which is currently used to prevent transmission, is taken into account. The model's predictions for a representative village are discussed. In particular, the model predicts that if pesticide use is discontinued, the vector population and the disease can return to their pre-spraying levels in approximately 5–8 years.
Einstein Lagrangian as the translational Yang-Mills Lagrangian

The gauge theory of translation with a Yang-Mills-type Lagrangian quadratic in the field strengths is shown to be precisely Einstein's theory of gravitation and the corresponding gauge transformation is identified as the general coordinate transformation. The gauge potentials of the translation group are interpreted as the nontrivial part of the vierbein fields and the gauge field strengths are given in terms of the anholonomity of the local orthonormal basis one starts with.
Overexpression of survivin initiates hematologic malignancies in vivo

Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein family member that has an essential role in cellular proliferation as a component of the chromosome passenger complex. Survivin is highly expressed in embryos and in proliferating adult tissues, but it is not expressed in most differentiated cells. During tumorigenesis, however, survivin expression is dramatically upregulated. Although many studies have shown that survivin is required for cancer cells, the extent to which survivin contributes to the initiation of tumors is unknown. Here we show that transgenic mice that overexpress survivin in hematopoietic cells are at an increased risk of hematologic tumors. In examining how survivin might contribute to tumorigenesis, we observed that hematopoietic cells engineered to overexpress survivin are less susceptible to apoptosis. We conclude that survivin may promote tumorigenesis by imparting a survival advantage to cells that acquire additional genetic lesions.
Aggregate estimation over a microblog platform

Microblogging platforms such as Twitter have experienced a phenomenal growth of popularity in recent years, making them attractive platforms for research in diverse fields from computer science to sociology. However, most microblogging platforms impose strict access restrictions (e.g., API rate limits) that prevent scientists with limited resources - e.g., who cannot afford microblog-data-access subscriptions offered by GNIP et al. - to leverage the wealth of microblogs for analytics. For example, Twitter allows only 180 queries per 15 minutes, and its search API only returns tweets posted within the last week. In this paper, we consider a novel problem of estimating aggregate queries over microblogs, e.g., "how many users mentioned the word 'privacy' in 2013?". We propose novel solutions exploiting the user-timeline information that is publicly available in most microblogging platforms. Theoretical analysis and extensive real-world experiments over Twitter, Google+ and Tumblr confirm the effectiveness of our proposed techniques.
UDDER INFECTION WITH STREPTOCOCCI OF THE SCARLET FEVER TYPE : I. SPONTANEOUS AND EXPERIMENTAL UDDER INFECTION.

The clinical and bacteriological findings in two cows the udders of which became infected under natural conditions with hemolytic streptococci of the scarlet fever type are discussed. One of the cows was found in a herd supplying raw milk to a small town where a milkborne outbreak of scarlet fever had occurred a short time before. When small numbers of the streptococcus obtained from this case were injected into the udder of a normal cow severe mastitis accompanied by a well marked general reaction resulted. Evidence leads to the conclusion that a severe attack of mastitis due to this organism in one quarter does not sufficiently immunize the other quarters to protect them completely since the streptococcus can be readily implanted in them. The secondary infections were much milder than the original process.
A new tinman-related gene, nkx2.7, anticipates the expression of nkx2.5 and nkx2.3 in zebrafish heart and pharyngeal endoderm.

TheDrosophilahomeobox genetinmanand its vertebrate homologsNkx-2.5andNkx-2.3are critical determinants of cardiac development. We report here the identification of a newtinman-related gene,nkx2.7,as well as orthologs ofNkx-2.5andNkx-2.3in the zebrafish. Analysis of their expression in the developing zebrafish embryo reveals thatnkx2.7transcripts are the first to appear in cardiac mesodermal and pharyngeal endodermal precursors of the anterior hypoblast, anticipating both temporally and spatially the later expression ofnkx2.5andnkx2.3in these lineages. The preeminence ofnkx2.7in these embryonic lineages is consistent with a key role in cell fate determination, perhaps in part through the induction ofnkx2.5andnkx2.3.The findings provide the first molecular clues as to the spatial organization of endodermal and cardiac mesodermal precursors in the zebrafish hypoblast immediately following gastrulation. They suggest a coordinate role for these threetinman-related genes in the development of the heart and pharyngeal arches, and reinforce the paradigm of gene duplication and subspecialization betweenDrosophilaand vertebrate species. The results provide a framework in which to analyze potential changes intinman-related gene expression during abnormal zebrafish development.
Yb8Ge3Sb5, a Metallic Mixed-Valent Zintl Phase Containing the Polymeric 1∞[Ge34-] Anions

Yb8Ge3Sb5 is a nonclassical Zintl phase with metallic properties arising from the electropositive “spectator” cations of Yb. This compound contains the new Zintl anion 1∞(Ge3)4- and is stabilized via a combination of Yb2+ and Yb3+ ions.
Shaheen Ballpoints: a project of the Shaheen Group[1]

Subject area Strategic Management, Strategic Marketing Management. Study level/applicability Bachelors, Masters. Case overview Shaheen Ballpoints is a project of Shaheen Group of Industries who, apart from manufacturing and marketing writing instruments, are engaged in diversified businesses of sanitary fittings, sanitary tiles, baby diapers and plastic films. Launched in 2001-2002, Shaheen Ballpoints had to compete against established ballpoint pen brands in a growing market. Shaheen Ballpoints believed that by setting out new standards for technology and packaging being used in the writing instruments industry, they would be able to compete with these giants. Shaheen Ballpoints experienced a mega launch of its ballpoint pens range in 2002. The wholesale market of Pakistan welcomed Shaheen Ballpoints quite generously and they paid in advance for their stocks which, generally, was not a norm of the writing instruments industry of Pakistan. However, soon after its launching, Shaheen Ballpoints realized some of the technical and marketing issues in its systems and had to pull all its stock back from the market just after six months of its launch. All the major resellers avoided Shaheen's stocks which was a major setback for the Shaheen Group. They re-launched the ballpoints in early 2004. Expected learning outcomes It is expected that the students will be able to understand the: issues associated with using the diversification strategy to grow the business; strategic implications of challenging the established industry norms and practices; and channel relationships within the industry and the need to tune-up the channel relationship strategy according to the varied nature of diversified businesses. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Mini gas-core propulsion concept

A propulsion concept is presented that can achieve specific impulses of 1000 to 2000 seconds for thrust levels on the order of 100 pounds (445 N) and maintain a small (1.22 m) reactor diameter for a total power-plant weight of approximately 10,000 kg. The concept combines a small (0.61 m) diameter spherical gas core centrally located, followed by a moderator (BeO-15 cm), surrounded by a driver fuel region and contained in a pressure vessel (ID of 1.22 m). Best results (i.e., highest ratio of cavity power to total power) occur with U-233 isotope as the fuel in both the cavity and the driver, although U-235 can also be used. Concept may also have application in the testing of a gas-core reactor and MHD devices and in high temperature-pressure materials research.
Vibration Localization in Near-Periodic Coupled Two-Dimensional Resonator Arrays

The effects of small deviations from periodicity on the vibration behavior of coupled arrays of mechanical resonators are investigated, and the consequences for energy propagation across such arrays are described. Existing localization theory is applied to demonstrate that one-dimensional arrays designed as bandpass filters are particularly sensitive to aperiodicity when narrow passband requirements dictate weak inter-resonator coupling. A novel two-dimensional array of resonators is proposed that is less sensitive to disorder than one-dimensional arrays, improving filter performance without the need for improved manufacturing tolerances. Numerical simulations of a simple model are employed to demonstrate the effects of disorder on one- and two-dimensional arrays, and a case study design is discussed that includes statistical investigation using finite-element analysis and experimental measurements of a prototype two-dimensional array.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Energy spectra of ions sputtered from elements by O+2: A comprehensive study

Abstract The results of a comprehensive study of the energy distributions of ions sputtered from 31 pure elements and two compounds by a 5.5 keV O+2 beam are presented. The spectra were determined under three different ambient conditions: residual vacuum or low argon pressure backfill, oxygen backfill, and nitrogen backfill. The energy spectra of polyatomic ions are narrower and peaked at lower energies than the atomic ion spectra and decrease in width and average energy with greater ion complexity. The statistical model of polyatomic ion formation does not correctly describe the shape of the energy distributions. The atomic ion energy spectra reveal that more than one ionization mechanism is responsible for the formation of ions from the various elements and that the dominant mechanism is frequently different in the presence of a reactive gas than in a vacuum. Periodic trends of the parameters describing the energy distributions are dependent on the electronic structure of the ions. The average energies of the distributions correlate with the sublimation energies of the pure elements, but the most probable energies do not. Apparent surface binding energies calculated from the energy distributions are presented.
Confidence Bounds When the Estimated ROC Area is 1.0

Abstract Rationale and Objectives In studies with small samples, the authors often encounter data sets in which the estimated area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is 1.0. In such cases, neither asymptotic nor resampling methods provide a means of estimating the standard error or constructing a lower confidence bound. The purpose of this study was to develop tables for determining the approximate 95% lower confidence bound when the estimated ROC area is 1.0. Materials and Methods Using Monte Carlo simulation, the authors generated 10,000 data sets for each specification of sample sizes, ROC curve shape, and data format (continuous and ordinal scale). For each of these combinations the authors determined the 95% lower confidence bound. Results When the estimated ROC area is 1.0, the 95% lower confidence bounds differ dramatically depending on the shape of the ROC curve and on whether the test results are ordinal or continuous. Four tables of 95% lower confidence bounds are provided, along with guidelines for their use. Conclusion Given the different shapes of ROC curves and the different formats in which ROC data are collected, it is not feasible to offer one simple method of constructing confidence bounds that works for all ROC curves. The tables provided in this article are useful for interpreting studies with estimated ROC areas of 1.0.
The regulation of ATF3 gene expression by mitogen-activated protein kinases

ATF3 (activating transcription factor 3) gene encodes a member of the ATF/CREB (cAMP-response-element-binding protein) family of transcription factors. Its expression is induced by a wide range of signals, including stress signals and signals that promote cell proliferation and motility. Thus the ATF3 gene can be characterized as an 'adaptive response' gene for the cells to cope with extra- and/or intra-cellular changes. In the present study, we demonstrate that the p38 signalling pathway is involved in the induction of ATF3 by stress signals. Ectopic expression of CA (constitutively active) MKK6 [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinase 6], a kinase upstream of p38, indicated that activation of the p38 pathway is sufficient to induce the expression of the ATF3 gene. Inhibition of the pathway indicated that the p38 pathway is necessary for various signals to induce ATF3, including anisomycin, IL-1beta (interleukin 1beta), TNFalpha (tumour necrosis factor alpha) and H2O2. Analysis of the endogenous ATF3 gene indicates that the regulation is at least in part at the transcription level. Specifically, CREB, a transcription factor known to be phosphorylated by p38, plays a role in this induction. Interestingly, the ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase)/SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase) signalling pathways are neither necessary nor sufficient to induce ATF3 in the anisomycin stress paradigm. Furthermore, analysis of caspase 3 activation indicated that knocking down ATF3 reduced the ability of MKK6(CA) to exert its pro-apoptotic effect. Taken together, our results indicate that a major signalling pathway, the p38 pathway, plays a critical role in the induction of ATF3 by stress signals, and that ATF3 is functionally important to mediate the pro-apoptotic effects of p38.
The ADA perspective.

Background The American Dental Association (ADA) has long relied on available scientific evidence in its commitment to use credible scientific data and analyses in policy-making, and its communications with the dental profession and the public. Overview The evidence-based dentistry (EBD) process is a systematic approach that reviews and publishes the evidence relevant to specific clinical questions. The goal of this process is to help practitioners provide patients with quality oral health care. The ADA has developed a strategic plan of EBD initiatives and activities in order to increase the knowledge base and improve educational programs; to encourage significant collaboration on EBD-related issues from interested organizations, specialty groups, and various outside agencies; and to increasingly derive the best scientific evidence for use in clinical practice in concert with professional judgment and patient treatment preferences. Conclusion The ADA endeavors to provide relevant information that can assist dentists in translating systematic-review findings and implementing an evidence-based approach in everyday clinical practice. This supports the Association's goal to continue supporting the best available evidence to assist health care teams in the provision of quality patient care and preventive techniques that improve oral health care outcomes.
The Theatre of Competing Globally: Disguising Racial Achievement Patterns with Test-Driven Accountabilities

A discourse placing schools in the service of the economy has become ubiquitous in the United States (US), and current educational policies, including No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and movements, such as the Common Core Learning Standards, have been positioned as necessary in an account of global competitiveness. In this hegemonic script, implementing standardization and test-driven accountabilities across schools become not only the means, but also the goals of reform. This, we argue, undermines policy aims to reduce the persistent racial achievement gap. Here, we reconsider NCLB’s accountabilities within “political spectacle,” a framework we use to highlight the purposeful and public enactment of the worldwide educational-economic crisis. We demonstrate that this spectacle, when performed by politicians, city officials, school district administrators, educational support businesspersons, and the media, draws attention away from the ways in which NCLB negatively impacts poor, Black, and Latino youth who disproportionately attend “failing” public schools. Drawing upon data ethnographically collected in New York City (NYC) between June 2005 and October 2010, we reveal education officials and politicians justifying accountability in terms of global competiveness—often to reap personal benefit and political support—while minimizing the ways in which racial disparities continue even a decade after the implementation of NCLB mandates.
Investigation of a Vapor-Deposited Thin Silica Film : Morphological and Spectral Characterization

Surface modification reactions by organosilicon compounds have demonstrated great success in a wide variety of applications. However, they are of limited usefulness in that they only proceed appreciably on surfaces that have an abundance of reactive hydroxyl groups, thus preventing their application to some materials of technological relevance, such as plastics and polymers. A process capable of depositing a surface rich in reactive hydroxyl groups onto a wide variety of substrates could potentially enable the extension of organosilane surface modification reactions to new materials, but conventional processes for depositing oxide layers require temperatures that are too high for most polymers and plastics. It has been shown that silica layers can be deposited from the vapor-phase hydrolysis of tetrachlorosilane at room temperature, but little if any work has been done to characterize the resulting films. In this work, ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are employed to study the characteristics of films formed from this process. Interestingly, very different film morphologies can be obtained by changing key processing parameters. Furthermore, isotopic exchange experiments and dehydration studies show that the surfaces of the silica films obtained by this method are composed entirely of hydrogen-bonded silanol groups and do not exhibit any freely vibrating surface silanol groups, a result that is in contrast with conventionally prepared silica materials. Still, this layer has been shown to behave very similarly to conventional silica materials with respect to surface reactions. Finally, infrared spectral data and contact angle data demonstrate that this method can be employed to deposit silica layers onto poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene surfaces.
A comprehensive project utilizing spatial visualization skills

It has been shown that spatial visualization skills are a critical part of engineering education. Methods to improve these skills are varied, but in general contain activities that have students attempt to visualize objects when translated or rotated from their original orientation. At Michigan Technological University, students take a two-semester engineering course sequence (ENG1101 and ENG1102) during their first year. Both courses have activities that help develop spatial visualization skills through hand sketching and 3D modeling. This paper describes two culminating spatial visualization activities that combine all the skills learned by the students in their engineering coursework. In one case, students are provided with an object that has four or more distinct parts. Students measure, sketch, dimension, and model a single component and then combine their object with their team member's objects into a completed assembly in NX. A more advanced boot dryer project allows students flexibility in their final design. Students are provided with several components to the dryer, but not all. Based on their measurements and models of the given parts, they can design and model unique boot dryer systems.
Heat balance humors and ghosts: postpartum in Cambodia.

In Cambodia, where postpartum maternal mortality and morbidity is high, cultural views about causation of postpartum complications are different from biomedical views. This ethnographic study used focus groups and in-depth interviews to explore the postpartum beliefs and practices of Khmer women. Specific emic taxonomies (those used by cultural insiders, i.e., Khmer women) used to describe postpartum conditions and practices used to prevent mortality and morbidity are described. Beneficial and harmful practices are detailed. Recommendations are made regarding strengthening beneficial cultural practices as well as use of emic taxonomies in developing health education and communication messages and in the preservice education and in-service training of providers who care for postpartum women.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Girls’ Sentencing in the Juvenile Justice System

This article examines how gender-role ideology may affect racial/ethnic disparities, using data on the population of Black, White and Hispanic female juvenile offenders in Florida. As expected, Black girls received harsher dispositions than White girls, but contrary to predictions, Hispanic girls’ dispositions were no harsher than White girls’. Interaction models revealed that the effects of race/ethnicity depend on legal variables; up to a certain threshold, White girls appear to be granted leniency. As their offending severity and prior records increase, however, the juvenile justice system becomes increasingly intolerant, and sentencing decisions become harsher for White girls than for Black girls.
On error-saturation nonlinearities in LMS adaptation

The effect of a saturation-type error nonlinearity in the weight update equation in least-mean-squares (LMS) adaptation is investigated for a white Gaussian data model. Nonlinear difference equations are derived for the eight first and second moments, which include the effect of an error function (erf) saturation-type nonlinearity on the error sequence driving the algorithm. A nonlinear difference equation for the mean norm is explicitly solved using a differential equation approximation and integration by quadratures. The steady-state second-moment weight behavior is evaluated exactly for the erf nonlinearity. Using the above results, the tradeoff between the extent of error saturation, steady-state excess mean-square error, and rate of algorithm convergence is studied. The tradeoff shows that (1) starting with a sign detector, the convergence rate is increased by nearly a factor of two for each additional bit, and (2) as the number of bits is increased further, the additional bit by very little in convergence speed, asymptotically approaching the behavior of the linear algorithm. >
Fabrication of ICF reactor targets based on symmetrization of solid fuel

Tritium self-heats at a rate of 0.97 W/mole because of its ..beta.. activity. This energy drives preferential sublimation of solid T/sub 2/ or DT from regions where a layer is thicker and warmer to regions where the layer is thinner and colder. A frozen tritium layer inside an isothermal container approaches isotropy exponentially with a time constant as short as 14.4 minutes. Targets Isotropized by Radioactively Induced Sublimation (IRIS) and sized for an ICF reactor demonstrate high gain and offer real fabrication advantages. 9 refs., 2 figs.
Direct transfer of transforming growth factor beta 1 gene into arteries stimulates fibrocellular hyperplasia

The arterial wall responds to thrombosis or mechanical injury through the induction of specific gene products that increase cellular proliferation and connective tissue formation. These changes result in intimal hyperplasia that is observed in restenosis and the early phases of atherosclerosis. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a secreted multi-functional protein that plays an important role in embryonal development and in repair following tissue injury. However, the function of TGF-beta 1 in vascular cell growth in vivo has not been defined. In this report, we have evaluated the role of TGF-beta 1 in the pathophysiology of intimal and medial hyperplasia by gene transfer of an expression plasmid encoding active TGF-beta 1 into porcine arteries. Expression of TGF-beta 1 in normal arteries resulted in substantial extracellular matrix production accompanied by intimal and medial hyperplasia. Increased procollagen, collagen, and proteoglycan synthesis in the neointima was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry relative to control transfected arteries. Expression of TGF-beta 1 induced a distinctly different program of gene expression and biologic response from the platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF B) gene: procollagen synthesis induced by TGF-beta 1 was greater, and cellular proliferation was less prominent. These findings show that TGF-beta 1 differentially modulates extracellular matrix production and cellular proliferation in the arterial wall in vivo and could play a reparative role in the response to arterial injury.
The Role of Task and Context in Preference Measurement

The present studies show that preferences change systematically depending on the global context and the measurement task Subjects evaluated apartments described by monthly rent and distance to campus using two different tasks (choices and attractiveness ratings) in two different global contexts (one with a narrow range of rents and a wide range of distances, and the other with a wide range of rents and a narrow range of distances) With the task held constant, preference orders for the same pair of apartments reversed in the two different contexts Similarly, with the context held constant, preference orders for the same pair of apartments reversed in the two tasks Taken together, the effects are startling Out of 25 apartments common to all four conditions, the preference rank of the apartment that was most expensive and closest to campus ranged from the 28th percentile to the 80th percentile We argue that, in the present experiments, the global context influences the scale values (or the perceptions of the...
Chemical Analysis of Soda-Lime-Silica Glasses for Trace Quantities of Several Colorants

Methods for the analysis of soda-lime-silica glasses for trace amounts of CrzO3, COO, NiO, CuO, and selenium are described; the determination of sulfide sulfur in amber glass bottles is also described. The applicable range of these methods is as follows: for Cr2O3, 2 to 600 pgm.; for COO, 2 to 20 pgm.; for NiO, 5 to 100 pgm.; for CuO, 5 to 80 pgrn.; for selenium, 5 pgm. (approximate minimum); for sulfide sulfur, 0.005 to 0.10%.
Distinct Functions of Two RNA Ligases in Active Trypanosoma brucei RNA Editing Complexes

Trypanosome RNA editing is a unique U insertion and U deletion process that involves cycles of pre-mRNA cleavage, terminal U addition or U removal, and religation. This editing can occur at massive levels and is directed by base pairing of trans-acting guide RNAs. Both U insertion and U deletion cycles are catalyzed by a single protein complex that contains only seven major proteins, band I through band VII. However, little is known about their catalytic functions, except that band IV and band V are RNA ligases and genetic analysis indicates that the former is important in U deletion. Here we establish biochemical approaches to distinguish the individual roles of these ligases, based on their distinctive ATP and pyrophosphate utilization. These in vitro analyses revealed that both ligases serve in RNA editing. Band V is the RNA editing ligase that functions very selectively to seal in U insertion (IREL), while band IV is the RNA editing ligase needed to seal in U deletion (DREL). In combination with our earlier findings about the cleavage and the U-addition/U-removal steps of U deletion and U insertion, these results show that all three steps of these editing pathways exhibit major differences and suggest that the editing complex could have physically separate regions for U deletion and U insertion.
Thermodynamic Basis for the Constancy of the Speed of Light

It is shown that the laws of thermodynamics require the Einstein postulate on the constancy of the speed of light.
Multiple forms of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenases

Chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose to obtain fractions containing predominantly single bands of malate dehydrogenases
Non-Reactive HMX Shock Hugoniot Data

Modified wedge tests and in situ pressure gauges have been used to measure the shock Hugoniot of HMX/water(1) mixtures. Making the assumption that the mixture is macroscopically homogeneous and isotropic, these data, and literature values for the equation of state of water, are used to deduce the Hugoniot of pure HMX. Shock strengths below 6.0 GPa produced no significant reaction near the shock front. Radiometric observation of the shocked mixture supports this conclusion. The new HMX shock velocity versus particle velocity curve is significantly below that published for solvent pressed HMX. Reactive flow hydrodynamic calculations indicate that as much as 3% – 7% HMX may have reacted in the experiments with solvent pressed material.
Is there an advantage for preterm infants to feed orally in an upright or sidelying position

Over the last decade, nursing staff and feeding therapists have promoted the upright and sidelying bottle feeding positions as 'optimal' for preterm infants. To verify such benefits, very low birth weight infants were randomized to being fed in the customary semi-reclined (control), upright, or side-lying position. The primary outcome was days from start to independent oral feeding. Secondary outcomes included infants' oral feeding skill levels monitored when taking 1,2, 3-5, and 6-8 oral feedings per day. Infants fed in the upright and sidelying groups attained independent oral feeding within the same number of days as control counterparts. There was no difference in the maturation of their oral feeding skills.
Broadband optical limiter using carbon-black suspensions in CS/sub 2/

Summary form only given. We have recently shown that the dynamic range of an f/5 optical limiter can be extended by orders of magnitude by using the cascaded-focus geometry. We have tried both reverse saturable absorber (RSA) and carbon black suspension (CBS) materials at a wavelength of 532 nm and found that both can be made to clamp the transmitted energy below eye damage levels for inputs of up to 60 mJ with linear transmittances of 58% and 28%, respectively, and no damage had occurred to the limiter. To determine the wavelength dependence of the CBS, we tested it in the cascaded optical limiter at several wavelengths across the visible. It is obvious that this combination of materials and optical geometry, indeed limits the transmittance near 1 /spl mu/J, for nanosecond pulses of any wavelength, at least within the visible.
Study of New Configurations of Hybrid $X$ Pinches

A hybrid X -pinch (HXP) configuration consisting of solid conical electrodes connected by a wire as the load of a pulsed power generator has been tested on four different generators with currents varying from 200 kA to 1.2 MA and with rise times ranging from 50 to 170 ns. Wires of different materials, diameters ranging from 25 to 200 μm, and lengths from 0.5 to 3 mm were loaded through holes in the cone. It was possible to optimize the wire length and diameter for most materials tested so that the HXP would generate an intense single burst of soft X-rays with energy yield comparable with that obtained using standard X pinches. Furthermore, this soft X-ray source permits a greater variety of materials to be used, including combinations of different materials (e.g., parallel, twisted, or braided wires) or thin tubes with powders inside. Here, we report results obtained with one, two, or three parallel, twisted, or braided wires as well as with fine metal or plastic tubes with a wire inside or filled with melted metal with the goal of extending the spectral bands of HXP radiation and optimizing the energy yield in the soft X-ray burst.
GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN DAIRY SIRE EVALUATION. II. USES AND LIMITATIONS OF DEVIATION RECORDS AND THE ROLE OF DAMS.

Abstract Deviation records now constitute the basic data used by the USDA in compiling sire summaries. Such a record consists of the difference between a mature-equivalent (ME) lactation record of a daughter and what is termed the regressed adjusted contemporary herd-mate average. The latter is derived from the simple herd-mate average by two adjustments designed to correct the herd-mate average for (a) unequal numbers of herd-mates included in the various deviation records in a proof and (b) differences in the average breeding values of the herds in which the bulls were used. Adjustment (a) is based on the ratio of the variance among records within herd-year-season groups to the component of variance between such groups. In the present data, this adjustment is approximately n /( n +2) for milk and fat yields and n /( n +4) for test, where n is the number of herd-mates included. The second adjustment (b) is the linear regression of a daughter's record on her contemporary adjusted herd-mate average, or approximately .95 for milk and milk fat yields and .80 for test, in the present data. The variances among herd-year-seasons were only 21, 26, and 47% as large for milk, milk fat, and test, respectively, with deviation records as they were with nondeviated ME lactation records. With deviation records, the extra genetic gains that might be expected by including the records of the dams in sire proofs were only .7, 2.5, and 2.0% for milk, milk fat, and test, respectively.
The relationship between nucleated red blood cell counts and early-onset neonatal seizures

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to better define the timing of neurologic insult in neonates with early-onset seizures through evaluation of neonatal nucleated red blood cell levels. Study Design: Medical records and the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes were used to identify all term neonates with neonatal convulsions who were delivered at our institution (January 1, 1990–December 31, 1995). Each neonate with early-onset seizures was matched to the next 3 neonates who met the following criteria: gestational age ≥37 weeks, no early-onset seizures, birth weight ≥2800 g, umbilical artery pH ≥7.25, and a 5-minute Apgar score >7. Demographic characteristics, clinical factors, and mean initial nucleated red blood cell counts were compared between groups. Results: During the 6-year study period, there were a total of 36,490 singleton term deliveries of infants who were alive at birth. Forty-five (0.1%) of these neonates had early-onset seizures. Thirty neonates with early-onset seizures met the inclusion criteria. Mean nucleated red blood cell counts (number of nucleated red blood cells per 100 white blood cells) for neonates with early-onset seizures were significantly increased compared with those of control neonates (18.4 ± 22.0 vs 4.6 ± 4.5; P Conclusions: Our findings are suggestive of the hypothesis that neurologic injury leading to early-onset seizures often occurs before the intrapartum period. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:1452-7.)
Sterile Technique and the Prevention of Wound Infection in Office Surgery—Part II

Abstract. Surgical infection and associated complications are minimized by a combination of appropriate sterile technique and careful surgical technique. This review covers the essential elements of infection control for the office-based surgical practice. Recommendations are made concerning operating room facilities, instrument sterilization, and tray set-up (Part I, J Dermatol Surg Oncol 14:1364–1371, 1988). Part II addresses surgical prepping, surgical technique, and prophylactic antibiotics.
Controlled invariant singular foliations-additional results

Presents results, some of which are new, on the problem of finding a feedback law which will cause an affine nonlinear controlled invariant system to leave an involutive, singular distribution invariant. Most of the techniques can also be extended to fully nonlinear systems, This is because the resolution of the problem relies heavily on the solvability of degenerate, overdetermined systems of first order partial differential equations; and the methods presented here generalise easily to systems whose equations are quasilinear. However, the statements leading to a control theoretic interpretation of the sufficient conditions for the solvability of these systems tend to get too verbose. Therefore, the authors only consider affine nonlinear systems. >
An Overview of Glycemic Control in the Coronary Care Unit with Recommendations for Clinical Management

The observation that elevated glucose occurs frequently in the setting of acute myocardial infarction was made decades ago. Since then numerous studies have documented that hyperglycemia is a powerful risk factor for increased mortality and in-hospital complications in patients with acute coronary syndromes. While some questions in this field have been answered in prior investigations, many critical gaps in knowledge continue to exist and remain subjects of intense debate. This review summarizes what is known about the relationship between hyperglycemia, glucose control, and outcomes in critically ill patients with acute coronary syndromes, addresses the gaps in knowledge and controversies, and offers general recommendations regarding glucose management in the coronary care unit.
A diagnosis based intrusion detection approach

We describe preliminary work on a novel detection approach, which we call diagnosis-enabled intrusion detection (DEID), which takes a stream of evidence from multiple sources, aggregates the evidence and uses it to arrive at the “best” explanation for the observed activity. This approach requires the solution of four key scientific challenges: (i) a theory and algorithms for monitor placement that covers all system layers to prevent attackers from evading detection even when launching zero-day attacks; (ii) evidence collection for producing useful aggregated evidence from system actions in real-time without adversely affecting the mission; (iii) a theory of diagnosis detection for filtering and correlating evidence to test hypotheses regarding mission impact, producing both diagnoses and explanations of their causes; and (iv) diagnosis presentation for conveying explanations to domain experts to produce new knowledge to act on previously-unknown attacks effectively and to respond effectively to identified attacks that preserve mission requirements.
Direct estimation of the mean outcome on treatment when treatment assignment and discontinuation compete

Several authors have investigated the challenges of statistical analyses and inference in the presence of early treatment termination, including a loss of efficiency in randomized controlled trials and a connection to dynamic regimes in observational studies. Popular estimation strategies for causal estimands in dynamic regimes lend themselves to studies where treatment is assigned at a finite number of points and the extension to continuous treatment assignment is nontrivial. We re-examine this from a different perspective and propose a new estimator for the mean outcome of a target treatment length policy that does not involve a treatment model. Because this strategy avoids modelling the treatment assignment mechanism, the estimator works for both discrete and continuous treatment length data and eschews bias and imprecision that arise as a result of coarsening continuous time data into intervals. We show how the competition of treatment length assignment and terminating event lead to a competing risks problem. We exemplify the direct estimator through numerical studies and the analysis of two real datasets. When all modelling assumptions for both the direct and inverse weighted estimators are correct, our simulation studies suggest that the direct estimator is more precise.