cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Covariant soliton dynamics: Structure of the nucleon

We present a model of nucleon structure that is fully covariant. We begin with a Lagrangian that describes quarks coupled to various mesonic fields (\ensuremath{\sigma},\ensuremath{\pi},\ensuremath{\rho},\ensuremath{\omega}) and an additional field, \ensuremath{\chi}, which is required to bind the quarks into a nucleon. The couplings of the \ensuremath{\sigma}, \ensuremath{\pi}, \ensuremath{\rho}, and \ensuremath{\omega} fields to the quarks are fixed so as to reproduce the empirically determined coupling of these mesons to the nucleon. The latter couplings are taken from fits to nucleon-nucleon scattering data made using one-boson-exchange models. Therefore the free parameters of the model are the mass and coupling constant of the \ensuremath{\chi} field and the quark mass, ${m}_{q}$. In order to simplify the problem, the nucleon is assumed to virtually decay into a quark and a diquark. Equations which specify this amplitude are found by using the equations for the quark and meson field operators obtained from our Lagrangian. The equations which we solve are fully covariant and nonlinear and are solved by iteration. In this model the quark dynamics is governed by the mesonic fields whose source is the nucleon itself. The amplitudes for the emission of these fields by the nucleon depend upon the (nucleon)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}(quark + diquark) amplitudes whose structures we are attempting to determine. This model therefore requires a self-consistent solution and leads to the nonlinear equations noted above. At this point we have not calculated mesonic corrections to the nucleon observables such as the magnetic moments, form factors, and ${g}_{A}$, although we have included the effects of all the mesonic fields in the calculation of the nucleon mass. However, the calculation of nucleon observables, using current operators which contain only quark fields, yields a surprisingly good fit to electromagnetic form factors, magnetic moments, ${g}_{A}$, etc. (It is possible that some aspects of these results will be less satisfactory when mesonic corrections are calculated.) The model has the further virtue of generalizing the SU(6) quark model of the nucleon so as to be consistent with the covariance requirements of the theory of special relativity. It is clear that the major limitation of the model, other than the use of the diquark approximation, is the lack of a satisfactory description of the confinement mechanism as the \ensuremath{\chi} field serves to bind the system but does not actually confine the quarks.
Sugar: an expensive source of calories

Abstract Sugar is often thought of as an inexpensive source of calories. This is not true, however, when the energy to refine the sugar is added to the agricultural energy. In fact, substitution of less than half of our sugar calories by those from a grain product such as wheat flour would result in a noticeable energy saving in the US food system.
Morphological properties and projections of electrophysiologically characterized neurons in the guinea-pig submucosal plexus

Intracellular recordings were made from 73 guinea-pig submucosal neurons using neurobiotin-filled microelectrodes; subsequently, neuropeptide immunoreactivity, morphology and nerve fibre projections were determined. Five distinct groups of cells could be distinguished: S cells with inhibitory input (61%), S cells without inhibitory input (19%), AH cells (8%), S-AH cells (5%), and glial networks. S cells with inhibitory input were immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and showed Dogiel Type III morphology with the axon branching and coursing through two to 12 ganglia; varicosities and tufts of varicosities were observed surrounding other cell bodies as well as over blood vessels. S cells without inhibitory input primarily were immunoreactive for neuropeptide Y; they also showed Dogiel Type III morphology and similar, though shorter, axonal projections and varicose features surrounding other neurons. AH cells, which most likely contained substance P, lacked synaptic input and exhibited Dogiel Type II morphology; they branched more extensively than S cells and also formed varicose tufts within other ganglia. S-AH cells combined electrophysiological properties of S cells with inhibitory input and AH cells and did not show consistent morphological or histochemical characteristics. Typical glial networks were observed; in addition, on two occasions unusual networks of dye and electrical coupling between S cells without inhibitory input and a glial complex were observed. These results suggest that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing S cells may act as interneurons which mediate a slow excitatory synaptic potential; that neuropeptide Y-containing S cells, which are known to be cholinergic, may play a role as cholinergic interneurons mediating the nicotinic fast excitatory synaptic potential; and that AH neurons also may provide cholinergic innervation to other submucosal neurons in addition to their previously described dual projections into mucosa and myenteric plexus.
SOME PROPERTIES OF THE ENCEPHALOPATHIC AGENT IN PRIMATE BONE MARROW (THE GORDON AGENT).

The nature of the encephalopathic agent present in monkey bone marrow has been investigated. It is readily soluble at a pH of 7.4, as well as at the low pH of 2.0 and 3.0. The point of minimal solubility is pH 4.2. Heat inactivation is produced by a temperature of 75°C., acting for 15 minutes. The agent is digested by pepsin. It exhibits a slight degree of sedimentation with the air-driven centrifuge. It is non-dialyzable. It is precipitated from solution (pH 7.4) by ammonium sulfate, over a range of 0.4 to 0.8 saturation. These findings all suggest that the agent is a protein. No immunological reactions could be elicited.
A Metallurgical Basis for the Non-Destructive Wire-Bond Pull-Test

Non-destructive wire-bond pull tests are often specified by high-reliability electronic device users in order to eliminate weak, poorly made wire bonds. The main problem with the test has been in establishing a pull-force level which will assure that the bonds are adequately strong but will not damage them during the test. In the present work, factors affecting the non-destructive wire-bond pull-test are examined. The variables, such as wire and bond-loop elongation, bond geometry, bond deformation, and the mean and standard deviation of the destructive bond pull test are studied to determine theit influence on the non-destructive test. Different pull-force criteria are derived for wire with high elongation, such as is used in power devices, and for wire with low elongation, typically used for bonding integrated circuits.
Design Relationships for D-C Generators for Use in Aircraft

The paper sets forth the different operating conditions met with in aircraft generators as compared with standard types of industrial generators. It discusses certain features inherent in applications to aircraft, such as reliability and light weight. Certain requirements in both electrical and mechanical design are imposed by the fact that a plane is flying through varying altitudes resulting in changing atmospheric conditions, such as rarefication, low temperature, and ionization. Other unusual conditions are created from the motion of the plane setting up accelerating forces on the generator, as well as mechanical forces caused by engine vibrations. Because of important features such as commutation, voltage regulation, cooling, driving means, and light weight, special and unusual methods must be employed. In solving these problems the most perfect methods known in the art of building d-c machines must be resorted to, and the paper lays particular stress on the use of compensation.
The effect of casting temperature on the fatigue properties of cast nickel aluminide alloys

Abstract The results of high cycle fatigue tests at 650 °C on several cast Ni 3 Al alloys are reported and compared with cast IN-713C. These alloys include IC-221M and several variations to the IC-221M composition. The effect of casting temperature is investigated using castings poured at three different temperatures spanning a 56 °C range. The results show that IC-221M cast at the highest temperature has the best fatigue strength, exceeding that for IN-713C. In these alloys, crack initiation occurs at shrinkage microporosity and the effect of casting temperature on porosity is related to the observed differences in fatigue lives.
Prospective clinical evaluation of mandibular implant overdentures: Part I—retention, stability, and tissue response

Seventeen subjects with preexisting conventional complete dentures were evaluatedin this prospective clinical study. Two implants were placed bilaterally in the anterior mandible. In a crossover experimental design, the conventional dentures were modified, and the retention, stability, and tissue response for conventional dentures were compared with implant overdentures that had O-ring and magnet overdenture attachments for all subjects. The study indicated statistical superiority of the implant overdenture to the conventional denture. The O-ring attachment proved significantly better than the magnet attachment for retention and stability. The soft tissue response showed a slight but significant improvement with implant overdenture therapy.
Will social media kill branding

Abstract The traditional branding paradigm involved heavy upfront investment and tightly managing the image via controlled communications in hopes of creating dominant brands that could be leveraged to cultivate loyalty and a long-term, steady stream of profits. However, social media can drastically alter consumers’ behavior and their brand preferences. This rapidly evolving landscape has left managers at a loss, and what they are experiencing is likely the beginning of a tectonic shift in the way brands are managed. In this article, we take a close look at the building blocks of branding and also examine the core of social media. After careful analysis of the two, we discuss the likely impact social media will have on the practice of brand management. We conclude that it will extend beyond the narrow confines of the use of social media as a message platform, to the core of how markets are targeted and products are delivered. We make recommendations regarding how companies can manage various facets of branding in this new marketplace.
Long-term high-resolution imaging and culture of C. elegans in chip-gel hybrid microfluidic device for developmental studies

Developmental studies in multicellular model organisms such as Caernohabditis elegans rely extensively on the ability to cultivate and image animals repeatedly at the cell or subcellular level. However, standard high-resolution imaging techniques require the use of anaesthetics for immobilization, and may have undesirable side effects on development. Thus such techniques are not ideal in allowing the same animals to grow and be imaged throughout development to observe specific developmental processes. In this paper, we present a microfluidic system designed to overcome these difficulties. The system allows for long-term culture of C. elegans starting at L1 larval stage and repeated high-resolution imaging at physiological temperatures without using anaesthetics. We use a commercially available biocompatible polymer, Pluronic F127 for immobilization; this polymer is capable of a reversible thermo-sensitive sol–gel transition within ∼2 °C, which is well-controlled in the microfluidic chip. The gel phase is sufficient to immobilize the animals. While animals are not imaged, they are cultured in individual chambers in media containing nutrients required for development. We show here that this method facilitates time-lapse studies of single animals at high-resolution and lends itself to live imaging experiments on developmental processes and dynamic events.
Interferometric resolution boosting for spectrographs

Externally dispersed interferometry (EDI) is a technique for enhancing the performance of spectrographs for wide bandwidth high resolution spectroscopy and Doppler radial velocimetry. By placing a small angle-independent interferometer near the slit of a spectrograph, periodic fiducials are embedded on the recorded spectrum. The multiplication of the stellar spectrum times the sinusoidal fiducial net creates a moire pattern, which manifests high detailed spectral information heterodyned down to detectably low spatial frequencies. The latter can more accurately survive the blurring, distortions and CCD Nyquist limitations of the spectrograph. Hence lower resolution spectrographs can be used to perform high resolution spectroscopy and radial velocimetry. Previous demonstrations of ~2.5x resolution boost used an interferometer having a single fixed delay. We report new data indicating ~6x Gaussian resolution boost (140,000 from a spectrograph with 25,000 native resolving power), taken by using multiple exposures at widely different interferometer delays.
Eclipse measurements near 1.2 cm wavelength on September 11, 1969

Measurements performed at wavelength 1.18 cm during the September, 11, 1969, partial solar eclipse are described. No significant limb-brightening was detected. However, a high coronal contribution to the emission at this wavelength was observed. Separation between the emission from the center of a unipolar spot of diameter ≈ 1/2 to 1 arc min and its plage region of diameter ≈ 3 to 4 arc min was possible.
Imperfections and resonant tunneling in quantum-well heterostructures

Abstract We discuss effects of structural imperfections on the I-V characteristics and local density-of-states of semiconductor double-barrier heterostructures. Using a linear-chain model for GaAs/AlGaAs structures, we simulate fluctuations in layer thicknesses, defects at the heterointerfaces, and disorder.
Copper-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Methyl 13-Iodo-O-methylpodocarpate and Amides

Copper iodide was utilized as a relatively inexpensive catalyst for the synthesis of podocarpic acid ether derivatives in excellent yields through the one-step cross-coupling reaction of methyl 13-iodo-O-methylpodocarpate with alcohols.
Short-Term Estrogen Replacement Increases β-Preprotachykinin mRNA Levels in Uninjured Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons, but Not in Axotomized Neurons

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons that mediate nociception express the high affinity NGF receptor (trkA) gene and the preprotachykinin (PPT) gene. NGF has been shown to regulate both of these DRG neuronal genes. Our laboratory has shown that these genes are also regulated by estrogen. Long-term daily estrogen replacement, in adult ovariectomized (OVX) rats, causes a coordinate decline in trkA and β-PPT mRNA levels in lumbar DRG neurons, while short-term estrogen replacement increases trkA mRNA levels in uninjured as well as in axotomized lumbar DRG neurons. The purpose of the current study was to test the hypothesis that short-term estrogen replacement increases DRG β-PPT mRNA levels in lumbar DRG neurons of OVX rats and that the increase is dependent on target-derived NGF. Sciatic nerve transection (SNT) was used to eliminate target-derived NGF in L4 and L5 DRGs in adult OVX rats. Seven days later, one-half of the SNT and one-half of the animals that had received sham sciatic nerve transactions (SHAM) received two daily injections of estradiol benzoate (EB). The remaining rats received two daily injections of vehicle alone. Quantitative in situ hybridization analyses of sections from L4 and L5 DRGs showed that two daily injections of EB significantly increased β-PPT mRNA levels in DRGs of SHAM animals, but had no effect on β-PPT mRNA levels in DRGs from SNT animals. These data coupled with our earlier observations of the effect of short-term estrogen replacement on DRG trkA mRNA levels, indicate that the regulation of DRG β-PPT mRNA levels by estrogen requires target-derived NGF.
Becoming and remaining community health workers: perspectives from Ethiopia and Mozambique.

Many global health practitioners are currently reaffirming the importance of recruiting and retaining effective community health workers (CHWs) in order to achieve major public health goals. This raises policy-relevant questions about why people become and remain CHWs. This paper addresses these questions, drawing on ethnographic work in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, between 2006 and 2009, and in Chimoio, a provincial town in central Mozambique, between 2003 and 2010. Participant observation and in-depth interviews were used to understand the life histories that lead people to become CHWs, their relationships with intended beneficiaries after becoming CHWs, and their social and economic aspirations. People in Ethiopia and Mozambique have faced similar political and economic challenges in the last few decades, involving war, structural adjustment, and food price inflation. Results suggest that these challenges, as well as the socio-moral values that people come to uphold through the example of parents and religious communities, influence why and how men and women become CHWs. Relationships with intended beneficiaries strongly influence why people remain CHWs, and why some may come to experience frustration and distress. There are complex reasons why CHWs come to seek greater compensation, including desires to escape poverty and to materially support families and other community members, a sense of deservingness given the emotional and social work involved in maintaining relationships with beneficiaries, and inequity vis-a-vis higher-salaried elites. Ethnographic work is needed to engage CHWs in the policy process, help shape new standards for CHW programs based on rooting out social and economic inequities, and develop appropriate solutions to complex CHW policy problems.
Evolution of Cretaceous phytogeoprovinces, continents and climates

Abstract A phytogeoprovince is defined as an isolated landmass with its characteristic flora. Modern pollen depositional patterns indicate that pollen produced on a landmass are transported mostly by water and deposited on landmass edges under various ecological conditions. Preserved pollen assemblages can be recovered and used to recognize past phytogeoprovinces, continents, and their climates. Such a model is used here to interpret the evolution of Cretaceous phytogeoprovinces and their climates. Jurassic continents remained in close proximity, devoid of major elevations and inland seas, until the Neocomian. Jurassic flora, fauna, and climates were cosmopolitan globally. Fretaceous phytogeoprovinces evolved from the two Jurassic ones, namely a boreal Cerebropollenites and an austral Microcachryidites phytogeoprovince separated by the Tethys. The creation of a third phytogeoprovince during the Neocomian, by the appearance of Dicheiropollis in the equatorial region, coincided with the initial rift of South America and Africa and the opening of the Labrador Sea. An extensive Neocomian marine regression exposed large landmasses. Except for a warm temperate climate in the boreal-most province, a subtropical to tropical climate prevailed globally during the Neocomian. The opening og the South Atlantic separated South America and Africa completely by the end of the Albian. Except in northern Siberia, the Aptian-Albian interval was a transgressive marine phase which inundated landmasses and created inland seas. A progressive cooling trend had set in the Aptian climate. After reaching a minimum in the late Aptian, the climate started warming up in the Albian. An elater-bearing flora replaced the equatorial Dicheiropollis flora in the Aptian-Albian. The Cenomanian was a cool phase in the Cretaceous, the Coniacian-Santonian a little warmer, and the Maastrichtian a little cooler again. During the Late Cretaceous, active continental movement displaced landmasses whereas marine transgressions created new inland seas separating the land areas. Climates were differentiated latitudinally. The early Cenomanian appearance of Normapolles pollen in the Urals area initiated the development of one of the boreal provinces which became discrete in the Senonian. Similarly, the other boreal Aquilapollenites phytogeoprovince was established during Turonian-early Maastrichtian time. These two boreal provinces were separated longitudinally by N-S epeiric seas in North America and the Urals area. A palmate Constantinisporis flora replaced the elater-bearing flora of the equatorial phytogeoprovince in the Senonian. An austral province was established by the appearance of Nothofagus flora in the Coniancian. The integrity of the Late Cretaceous boreal and equatorial phytogeoprovinces was destroyed by the late Maastrichtian marine regression by exposing land connections across provinces and allowing land-plant migration interprovincially. The austral phytogeoprovince remained isolated and its proteaceous and Nothofagus floras of the Late Cretaceous have survived up to the present.
Processing structure declarations with APL

APL is sometimes used for processing data that have been created as a structure defined by a Declare-statement in PL/I-related languages; particularly when the data are obtained from a file. When the structure of the data is complex, it is time-consuming manually to create APL code to break up the data into its constituent parts. This article describes a method for converting structure declarations into a form usable by APL functions.
Measuring Lipid Membrane Viscosity using Rotational and Translational Particle Diffusion

The two-dimensional fluidity of lipid bilayers enables the motion of membrane-bound macromolecules and is therefore crucial to biological function. However, lipid bilayer viscosity remains poorly quantified, largely due to the difficulty of relating the diffusion coefficients of membrane-associated tracer particles to the viscosity of the underlying membrane. We address this with a new technique for measuring lipid bilayer viscosity, in which determination of both the rotational and translational diffusion coefficients of tracer particles enables quantification of viscosity as well as the effective size of the tracers. Surprisingly, we find a wide distribution of effective tracer sizes, due presumably to a wide variety of couplings to the membrane. We provide viscosity measurements for lipid bilayers with various compositions in the gel and liquid crystalline phases.
Killing of Sarcoma Cells by Proapoptotic Bcl-XS: Role of the BH3 Domain and Regulation by Bcl-XL

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common tumor affecting AIDS patients with over 20% of these patients afflicted by this disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that KS tumor cells predominantly express the prosurvival protein Bcl-XL compared with Bcl-2. In the current study, we have used an adenoviral vector that expresses Bcl-XS, a functional inhibitor of Bcl-XL, to study the significance of Bcl-XL expression in the KS cell line (SLK) or KS primary cultures. The results demonstrate that 75% to 80% of SLK or KS primary cells were killed by the Bcl-XS containing adenovirus whereas KS cells infected with control adenovirus showed no significant cell death or growth inhibition. Overexpression of Bcl-XL, but not Bcl-2, in SLK cells attenuated apoptosis induced by adenovirus Bcl-XS. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that adenoviral Bcl-XS associated with Bcl-XL, but not with Bcl-2. Mutational analysis showed that the α2 helical region of Bcl-XS containing the BH3 motif was critical for killing activity and interaction with Bcl-XL. These results suggest that Bcl-XS is a direct killer and Bcl-XL may act by interacting with and sequestering Bcl-XS. These studies also suggest that targeting Bcl-XL may be of therapeutic benefit for the treatment of tumors that are characterized by inappropriate expression of Bcl-XL.
MEMORIAL TO DORIS L. LOW (1920–2008)

Doris Low died of heart failure on 26 July 2008 on Martha’s Vineyard. Island, Massachusetts. She was the last surviving member of the Cushman Laboratory at Sharon, Massachusetts. She joined the Laboratory in the early 50’s after Cushman’s death (1949) to work with Cushman’s long time assistant Ruth Todd. Doris was a trained secretary who had completed a two-year course in a Boston secretarial school. This training was very useful because Ruth Todd was preparing the enormous Cushman Foraminifera Collection for transfer to the U. S. National Museum in Washington, D. C. Both …
Brief paper: Design of input shapers using modal cost for multi-mode systems

This paper presents two techniques for the determination of modal weights for the design of robust input shapers for multi-mode systems. The weights for the first technique are derived based on the scaling factor for the potential energy in each mode, such that the modal displacement is the same. The second technique exploits the modal cost analysis which uses the angle between the right eigenvectors and the row vectors of the output matrix to determine the contribution of each mode to the output. Two examples are used to illustrate the improvement in performance of the modal weighted minimax shapers compared to the traditional minimax shaper which equally weights all the modes.
Characterization of polymeric films subjected to lithium ion beam irradiation

Abstract Two different polymeric materials that are candidate materials for use as binders for mixed uranium–plutonium oxide nuclear fuel pellets were subjected to Li ion beam irradiation, in order to simulate intense alpha irradiation. The materials (a polyethylene glycol 8000 and a microcrystalline wax) were then analyzed using a combination of mass spectrometry (MS) approaches and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Samples of the irradiated PEG materials were dissolved in H 2 O and then analyzed using electrospray ionization-MS, which showed the formation of a series of small oligomers in addition to intact large PEG oligomers. The small oligomers were likely formed by radiation-induced homolytic scissions of the C–O and C–C bonds, which furnish radical intermediates that react by radical recombination with H and OH . Surface analysis using SIMS revealed a heterogeneous surface that contained not only PEG-derived polymers, but also hydrocarbon-based entities that are likely surface contaminants. XPS of the irradiated PEG samples indicated the emergence of different carbon species, with peak shifts suggesting the presence of sp 2 carbon atoms. Analysis of the paraffinic film using XPS showed the emergence of oxygen on the surface of the sample, and also a broadening and shifting of the C1s peak, demonstrating a change in the chemistry on the surface. The paraffinic film did not dissolve in either H 2 O or a H 2 O–methanol solution, and hence the bulk of the material could not be analyzed using electrospray. However a series of oligomers was leached from the bulk material that produced ion series in the ESI-MS analyses that were identified octylphenyl ethoxylate oligomers. Upon Li ion bombardment, these shifted to a lower average molecular weight, but more importantly showed the emergence of three new ion series that are being formed as a result of radiation damage. Surface analysis of the paraffinic polymers using SIMS produced spectra that were wholly dominated by hydrocarbon ion series, and no difference was observed between unirradiated and irradiated samples. The studies demonstrate that for the PEG-based polymers, direct evidence for radiolytic scission can be observed using ESI-MS, and suggests that both radiolytic pathways and efficiencies as a function of dose should be measurable by calibrating instrument response to the small oligomeric degradation products.
Th1 and Th17 cells

Autoreactive effector CD4+ T cells have been associated with the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Early studies implicated the interferon (IFN)-γ-producing T helper (Th)1 subset of CD4+ cells as the causal agents in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. However, further studies have suggested a more complex story. In models thought to be driven by Th1 cells, mice lacking the hallmark Th1 cytokine IFN-γ were not protected but tended to have enhanced susceptibility to disease. Identification of the IL-17-producing CD4+ effector cell lineage (Th17) has helped shed light on this issue. Th17 effector cells are induced in parallel to Th1, and, like Th1, polarized Th17 cells have the capacity to cause inflammation and autoimmune disease. This, together with the finding that deficiency of the Th17-related cytokine IL-23 but not the Th1-related cytokine IL-12 causes resistance, led to the notion that Th17 cells are the chief contributors to autoimmune tissue inflammation. Nevertheless, mice lacking IL-17 are not protected from disease and display elevated numbers of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cells, and, in some cases, lack of IFN-γ does confer resistance. Recent studies report overlapping as well as differential roles of these cells in tissue inflammation, which suggests the existence of a more complex relationship between these two effector T-cell subsets than has hitherto been suspected. This review will attempt to bring together current information regarding interaction, balance, and collaborative potential between the Th1 and Th17 effector lineages.
Primary malignant cerebellar astrocytomas in children: A signal for postoperative craniospinal irradiation☆

Malignant astrocytomas of the cerebellum are rare tumors which can occur in children. During the last 20 years, 13 patients with this diagnostic received postoperative irradiation at the University of Rochester Cancer Center. The median age of patients was 9.8 years, the male-to-female ratio was 1.6, and the median survival was 20 months. Six patients treated with cranial irradiation (CI) had a median survival of 10 months and 5/6 developed spinal subarachnoid metastases. Seven patients treated with craniospinal irradiation (CSI) had a median survival of 48 months; none has developed spinal metastases. The recommended treatment with CSI resembles that of medulloblastoma, as it is tailored to the spread and behaviorial patterns of these rare neoplasms.
Analytical modeling and analysis of flexible manufacturing systems considering system component failure/repair rates

Abstract An effective analytical model is developed to investigate the performance of an FMS with given system component failure/repair rates. System performance is measured analytically by projecting average part flow time, which is achieved by first conceptually transforming the FMS into multiple nonhomogeneous transfer lines. The efficiency and average part flow time of each transfer line are approximated by disaggregation and homogenization transformations and the decomposition technique. An aggregation of performance of all transfer lines predicts FMS performance. The small percentage difference between the average part flow time derived from an analytical model and from a simulation model indicates that the analytical model is an effective tool.
Theoretical implication of ζ, the ratio of f − to f + form factor in K ℓ3 decay, equal to minus one

Most theories (L2) based on chiral invariance find ~ ~ ]_(0)/]+(0) to be small and negative. However, the experimental situation seems to be far from clear, and new results from polarization data (3) favour the value of minus one. If we accept this value, then a simple analysis shows that the matrix element of the divergence of the vector current between a state of K-meson and ~-meson has a zero in the momentum transfer at about the K-meson mass. To see this, we define the Kt~ form factors as
Cycloaddition Reactions of Phenylazide and Benzylazide on a Si(100)-2 × 1 Surface

The reaction of phenylazide (C6H5−N3) with a Si(100)-2 × 1 surface is analyzed with multiple internal reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (MIR-FTIR), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and density functional theory (DFT). After examining multiple possible structures, it was found that phenylazide undergoes 1,3-cycloaddition through the −N3 functionality. The 1,2-cycloaddition observed previously for other azides does not contribute substantially to the reaction of phenylazide with this substrate. A kinetic argument is established for why 1,2-addition is observed with the reaction of benzylazide (C6H5−CH2−N3) but not with the reaction of phenylazide with this surface. The 1,2-adduct of benzylazide converts to the 1,3-adduct below room temperature. In addition, the last step in the reactions of both azides, that of nitrogen elimination, is found to occur above room temperature where it is predicted and observed that nitrogen is released at a higher temperature for benzylazide than for p...
Amperometric Titration of Sulfhydryl and Disulfide Groups in Milk Proteins

Abstract Sulfhydryl (-SH) and disulfide (-SS-) groups in milk proteins were estimated amperometrically with silver nitrate. Cysteine, β -lactoglobulin, milk, and whey were titrated at different pH levels in sodium acetate, ammonium nitrate, and tris buffer solutions. This was done to study the fate of -SH and -SS- groups in some fluid milk products heated at high temperatures and their possible relationship to flavor and physical defects that appear during storage. Cysteine yielded results 5 to 50% higher than the theoretical values, depending on the titrating conditions. The cysteine content of β -lactoglobulin in sodium acetate buffer at pH 10.25 was 95.7% of the theoretical amount. Adding 1% sodium lauryl sulfate to the titrating medium made more -SH groups available, whereas 8 m urea decreased them. Decreased titers of -SH groups in heated milk coincided with the denaturation of serum proteins and they were oxidized to -SS- groups. Disulfide was stable at 95C for 30min. During sterilization of concentrated milk, titratable -SH decreased and -SS- increased.
Axes of differentiation in the bower-building cichlids of Lake Malawi.

The 500–1000 cichlid species endemic to Lake Malawi constitute one of the most rapid and extensive radiations of vertebrates known. There is a growing debate over the role natural and sexual selection have played in creating this remarkable assemblage of species. Phylogenetic analysis of the Lake Malawi species flock has been confounded by the lack of appropriate morphological characters and an exceptional rate of speciation, which has allowed ancestral molecular polymorphisms to persist within species. To overcome this problem we used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to reconstruct the evolution of species within three genera of Lake Malawi sand-dwelling cichlids that construct elaborate male display platforms, or bowers. Sister taxa with distinct bower morphologies, and that exist in discrete leks separated by only 1–2 m of depth, are divergent in both sexually selected and ecological traits. Our phylogeny suggests that the forces of sexual and ecological selection are intertwined during the speciation of this group and that specific bower characteristics and trophic morphologies have evolved repeatedly. These results suggest that trophic morphology and bower form may be inappropriate characters for delineating taxonomic lineages. Specifically the morphological characters used to describe the genera Lethrinops and Tramitichromis do not define monophyletic clades. Using a combination of behavioural and genetic characters, we were able to identify several cryptic cichlid species on a single beach, which suggests that sand dweller species richness has been severely underestimated.
Corals escape bleaching in regions that recently and historically experienced frequent thermal stress

The response of coral-reef ecosystems to contemporary thermal stress may be in part a consequence of recent or historical sea-surface temperature (SST) variability. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether: (i) there was a relationship between the historical frequency of SST variability and stress experienced during the most recent thermal-stress events (in 1998 and 2005–2006) and (ii) coral reefs that historically experienced frequent thermal anomalies were less likely to experience coral bleaching during these recent thermal-stress events. Examination of nine detrended coral δ18O and Sr/Ca anomaly records revealed a high- (5.7-year) and low-frequency (>54-year) mode of SST variability. There was a positive relationship between the historical frequency of SST anomalies and recent thermal stress; sites historically dominated by the high-frequency mode experienced greater thermal stress than other sites during both events, and showed extensive coral bleaching in 1998. Nonetheless, in 2005–2006, corals at sites dominated by high-frequency variability showed reduced bleaching, despite experiencing high thermal stress. This bleaching resistance was most likely a consequence of rapid directional selection that followed the extreme thermal event of 1998. However, the benefits of regional resistance could come at the considerable cost of shifts in coral species composition.
Bounds on the a priori channel transition probabilities for trellis-based channel codes

This paper derives union bounds on the a priori transition probabilities p(j|i) resulting when n-bit message index i is coded with a trellis-based channel code, transmitted over a noisy channel, and then decoded with the Viterbi algorithm.
Unique gas and hydrocarbon adsorption in a highly porous metal-organic framework made of extended aliphatic ligands

High and unique gas and hydrocarbon adsorption in a highly stable guest-free microporous metal-organic framework constructed on rigid aliphatic ligands, H2bodc and ted, is reported in this work.
Carolingian Debates over Nihil and Tenebrae: A Study in Theological Method

In the De ordine, one of his early dialogues, St. Augustine makes the first of several assertions about the positive value of the liberal arts in the education of the theologian. Having argued that the principle of order applies to all things, he spells out a particular order for the study of the arts, which, he says, supply skills and information useful to the theologian. Even if a man lives a virtuous life, he observes,
Torus Knot in a Dissipative Fifth-Order System

In order to show that some periodic orbits of a fifth-order system of magnetoconvection are embedded in a three-dimensional subspace, main projections onto a three-dimensional subspace from the five-dimensional space are numerically investigated. It is found that the periodic orbits are topologically equivalent to a (p, q)-torus knot, where its curve closes after rotating q times in the meridional direction and p times in the longitudinal direction. In terms of a braid word for the torus knot, a (2, 7)-torus knot is finally obtained in the fifth-order system through the complicated bifurcations under parameter variation. This suggests that topological invariants embedded in a three-manifold can be extracted from realistic dissipative higher dimensional dynamical systems.
Neighborhood socioeconomic status in relation to 10-year weight gain in the Black Women’s Health Study

We prospectively assessed the association of neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) with 10-year weight change and with incident obesity among 48,359 women in the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS). Lower neighborhood SES was significantly associated with 10-year weight gain after adjustment for individual SES and behavioral variables, such as physical activity and caloric intake. Low neighborhood SES was also associated with increased incidence of obesity during 10 years of follow-up among women of normal weight at baseline (BMI <25 kg/m2). The associations were most evident among BWHS participants who had graduated from college. These prospective data suggest that lower neighborhood SES contributes to overweight and obesity in African-American women.
Some design considerations for a document sorting machine

A document reader-sorter is analytically studied to determine the effect of document velocity on the number of documents that can be sorted reliably in a given interval of time, and a formula is derived that relates the effect of various design parameters to the throughput of a document sorting machine. One of these parameters, selector response time (i.e., indexing time), is investigated in detail. Both analytical and graphical design techniques are developed to minimize the response time of the selector. These techniques, which are explained by simple examples, are quite general and can therefore be applied to many other incrementing devices.
Optimization of a 45nm CMOS voltage controlled oscillator using design of experiments

We present a design of experiments (DOE) approach to nanometer design of an analog voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) using CMOS technology. The functional specifications of the VCO optimized in this design are the center frequency and minimization of overall power consumption as well as minimization of power due to gate tunneling current leakage, a component that was not important in previous generations of CMOS technologies but is dominant at 45nm. Due to the large number of available design parameter (gate oxide thickness and transistor sizes), the concurrent achievement of all optimization goals is difficult. A DOE approach is shown to be very effective and a viable alternative to standard design exploration in the nanometer regime.
Creep of nearly lamellar TiAl alloy containing W

Effects of W on the creep resistance of two nearly fully lamellar TiAl alloys with 1.0 and 2.0 at.%W have been investigated. In the low stress regime (LS) a nearly quadratic (1.5<n<2) creep behavior was observed. It is found that the addition of W can improve the creep resistance; however, the addition of excess W can result in the formation of {beta} phase, which produces an adverse effect on the creep strength.
Benchmark study for energy deposition by energetic electrons in thick elemental slabs: Monte Carlo results and experiments

The energy deposition profiles when electrons with 0.5 MeV to 2 MeV kinetic energies impinge on a slab of elemental targets are presented in this paper. The target materials studied were single elements with atomic numbers between 6 and 73, thus covering representative low to high Z materials. The energy deposition profiles were computed using TIGER, the 1-D module of the Integrated Tiger Series (ITS) version 3.0, and MCNP4C. The targets were divided into the scoring subzones of 0.025r/sub 0/ thickness in all Monte Carlo simulations, where r/sub 0/ is the continuous slowing down approximation (CSDA) range of the incident electrons. Then, the computed profiles were compared to available experimental values. The comparison showed that the MCNP4C results followed the experimental data more closely than TIGER, especially in the broad peak regions. In general, however, the agreement of the energy deposition profiles computed by either code with the measured data was acceptable within the combined uncertainties of experiments and calculations. The observed discrepancies between the MCNP and TIGER results were due to different energy-indexing algorithms employed in the two codes. However, it was also found that the MCNP results were dependent on the user selection of the scoring subzone thickness, thus the MCNP simulations are subjected to some arbitrariness.
Replication of basal bodies and centrioles

During the past year, studies on the centrioles and basal bodies of animal and algal cells, and the spindle pole bodies of yeast and other fungi, have added significantly to our knowledge of how these cell organelles form and how they function in initiating microtubule assembly throughout the cell cycle. Most of these studies have used antibodies to identify proteins within and around these organelles and, in some cases, to disrupt their ability to nucleate microtubules. Genetic methods have been used to identify specific proteins, including a new member of the tubulin superfamily, involved in the function and replication of spindle pole bodies and centrioles.
Oocyte Structure and the Design and Function of the Sperm Head in Eutherian Mammals

Spermatozoa of eutherian mammals display novel features of form and function whose biological significance is not understood. They express a need for capacitation in the female before they can fertilize, the sperm head has become stabilized to an unusual degree, and is incorporated by the oocyte in a unique manner. These developments may be responses to functional and structural change in the vestments of the oocyte during evolution of the Eutheria.
Estimate the loss and tail probabilities for multimedia communication systems

In this paper, we study the performance of integrated services ATM multiplexers in terms of their loss performance. We model voice sources as ON-OFF processes, video sources with uniform activity level as a birth-death process and the arrival process from the aggregation of data sources as a Poisson process with a general bulk size distribution. We show that the integration of these processes belongs to the family of batch Markovian arrival processes (BMAP). We investigate an approximation which matches the original model to a two-state batch arrival Markov modulated Poisson process (BMMPP). We investigate the queue length distribution with particular emphasis on tail probabilities. We develop a fast solution for the asymptotic tail based on the Z-transform which is a very good approximation. The work also provides a simple way to calculate the loss probability for correlated arrivals. The results show that the proposed model has greatly reduced complexity while retaining reasonably accurate performance prediction.
On-body device localization for health and medical monitoring applications

We present a technique to discover the position of sensors on the human body. Automatic on-body device localization ensures correctness and accuracy of measurements in health and medical monitoring systems. In addition, it provides opportunities to improve the performance and usability of ubiquitous devices. Our technique uses accelerometers to capture motion data to estimate the location of the device on the user's body, using mixed supervised and unsupervised time series analysis methods. We have evaluated our technique with extensive experiments on 25 subjects. On average, our technique achieves 89% accuracy in estimating the location of devices on the body.
Potentially infectious agents associated with shearling bedpads. I. Effect of laundering with detergent-disinfectant combinations on polio and vaccinia viruses.

Glutaraldehyde-tanned woolskin pads which are used for the prevention of decubitus ulcers in bed patients were experimentally contaminated with polio or vaccinia viruses. Two methods of exposure, direct contact and aerosol, were used in separate experiments. Attempts were made to remove or inactivate these virus contaminants by laundering the woolskins in a quaternary ammonium disinfectant, a phenolic disinfectant, or alkalinized glutaraldehyde, in combination with an anionic detergent or a nonionic detergent. The effect of a commercial detergent-sanitizer was also studied. The virus titers were significantly reduced in all experiments, but only laundering in glutaraldehyde in combination with either detergent lowered the vaccinia virus titers to below detectable limits. High concentrations of glutaraldehyde altered the texture of the wool and leather apparently by precipitating a component of the detergent onto the fibers. In all the poliovirus experiments, the virus was still detectable on either or both the wool and the leather of the pads after laundering. The rinse water from each experiment was tested for the presence of virus. No vaccinia virus was recovered, but poliovirus was demonstrated in titers up to 103 cell culture 50% infectious doses.