cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Velocity Estimator for Motion Control Systems

In motion control systems, differentiated position signal is commonly used to estimate velocity, and used for speed feedback control. Position quantization error can result in the amount of noise jamming, which affects system control precision and stability. In this paper, a simple but reliable velocity estimator is proposed to estimate velocity from the measured position. This estimator consists of two parts: a traditional moving-average filter for data smoothing process, and a closed-loop PID controller to compensate the phase lag caused by smoothing process. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the quantization error in the velocity feedback signal can be reduced dramatically when the proposed estimator is used for velocity estimation, the estimated signal has fewer phase lag than the traditional velocity estimation method, and the current noise of motor is reduced as well.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Phonetic skill (sound-mindedness) of stuttering children

Abstract Twenty stuttering children and 20 matched control children were administered a Phonetic Ability task, the Backwards Speech Test (Tiffany 1963a). The mean score for The stutterers was smaller than the mean score for the nonstutterers. This difference in performance was interpreted as support for the hypothesis that “sound-mindedness” is a factor related to stuttering.
Elite Control in State and Nation: Racial Inequalities in Vocational Funding in North Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi, 1918–1936

Federal vocational laws were designed by southern legislators who employed states' rights arguments to serve the economic and political interests of southern elites. Butfederallevel policy formation and state-level policy implementation are shaped by different factors. This article examines whether state-specific political conditions influenced the race-specific manner in which federal vocationalfunding was allocated in Mississippi, Georgia, and North Carolina. Time-series analyses are based on annual data on vocational programs and on information about different forms of political action. Drawing on the concept of the proximate political opportunity structure, I use state capacity and mobilization capacity measures to analyze the determinants of state-level implementation. Federal vocational laws and litigation challenging racial segregation in education serve as state capacity measures; organizational strength (NAACP chapters) and oppositional voting serve as mobilization capacity measures. Findings show that both dimensions shaped policy implementation at the state level but that the strength and consistency of the effects depended on the openness of the proximate opportunity structure.
Snow depth, density, and SWE estimates derived from GPS reflection data: Validation in the western U. S.

Geodetic-quality GPS systems can be used to measure average snow depth in the ∼1000 m2 area around the GPS antenna, a sensing footprint size intermediate between in situ and satellite observations. SWE can be calculated from density estimates modeled on the GPS-based snow depth time series. We assess the accuracy of GPS-based snow depth, density, and SWE data at 18 GPS sites via comparison to manual observations. The manual validation survey was completed around the time of peak accumulation at each site. Daily snow depth derived from GPS reflection data is very similar to the mean snow depth measured manually in the ∼1000 m2 scale area around each antenna. This comparison spans site-averaged depths from 0 to 150 cm. The GPS depth data exhibit a small negative bias (−6 cm) across this range of snow depths. Errors tend to be smaller at sites with more usable GPS ground tracks. Snow bulk density is modeled using the GPS snow depth time series and model parameters are estimated from nearby SNOTEL sites. Modeled density is within 0.02 g cm−3 of the density measured in a single snow pit at the validation sites, for 12 of 18 comparisons. GPS-based depth and modeled density are multiplied to estimate SWE. SWE estimates are very accurate over the range observed at the validation sites, from 0 to 60 cm (R2 = 0.97 and bias = −2 cm). These results show that the near real-time GPS snow products have errors small enough for monitoring water resources in snow-dominated basins.
Isotropic properties of platelet-reinforced media

The effective moduli are derived for a composite material containing platelet-type inclusions. The platelets are taken to be randomly oriented in three-dimensional space and to have so large a diameter-to-thickness ratio that edge effects can be neglected. The effective moduli that are derived reduce to known results in the special case of a dilute suspension. Comparisons are made with the corresponding type of composite medium that involves randomly oriented fibers. For the same volume fraction of reinforcing phase, the platelet case provides a stiffening effect about three times greater than the fiber case.
Sodium vapour laser (372Å) calculations using exploding wire radiation

Abstract Calculations indicate that the radiation from an exploding wire can pump a sodium vapour laser at (372 A) with ample gain.
‘Microalbuminuria’ and Diabetes: A Critique—Assessment of Urinary Albumin Excretion and Its Role in Screening for Diabetic Nephropathy

Abnormal albumin excretion in the range not previously detectable by routine clinical methods can now be readily quantified, and has been shown to predict the development of clinically significant nephropathy in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and to predict excess mortality in non—insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Albuminuria of this degree has been inappropriately called "microalbuminuria," a misleading term which should be abandoned. In IDDM, persistent minimal elevation of albumin excretion predicts the development of more severe proteinuria and clinical diabetic nephropathy, which frequently progresses to renal failure. In NIDDM, the predictive value for renal failure remains to be established, but excess mortality occurs in those with abnormal albumin excretion, suggesting that it is an indicator of generalized vascular disease. However, the normal range of albumin excretion in older subjects is not well established. The relationship of glomerular injury to mildly elevated albumin excretion is uncertain. Several means of reducing the excretion rate have been described, but whether these can halt or prevent progression of glomerular injury is unknown. Thus, at the present time detection of mildly elevated albumin excretion and intervention to reduce the incidence of diabetic nephropathy or other diabetes-related complications fail to meet generally accepted criteria for prescriptive screening. However, such measurements of albumin excretion provide an important tool for research into the natural history and pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. This is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use.
Houston Community College (HCC)–Mobile Go Center Program

The Houston Community College Mobile Go Center brings college enrollment assistance to the doorstep of our community. It operates in a variety of settings, offering college-going material and person-to-person assistance at numerous city events. Services include assistance with academic advising, completing the FAFSA, college application process, scholarship information and other online higher education resources.
Versatile mercury-resistant cloning and expression vectors.

Abstract Cloning vectors have been constructed employing two diverse replicons, IncQ and P15A. Both vectors confer resistance to kanamycin (Km) and mercuric ions (Hg 2+ ). One of these vectors, pDG105, is a broad-host-range, nonconjugative, oligocopy IncQ plasmid, which is capable of transforming Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus , and Pseudomonas putida . The second vector, pDG106, is a narrow-host-range, multicopy cloning vector compatible with pBR322. Both vectors contain unique cloning sites in the Km-resistance gene for Hin dIII, Sma I, and Xho I, as well as unique Eco RI and Sca I sites in the mer operon. Cloning into the Eco RI site in the mer operon results in the mercury “supersensitive” phenotype, easily detectable by replica plating. Insertion of the galK gene into the Eco RI site in the mer operon results in Hg 2+ -inducible galactokinase activity, demonstrating the application of these plasmids as regulated expression vectors.
Smolder‐Resistant Finish for Cotton Upholstery Fabrics

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a smolder-resistant finish for cotton upholstery fabrics. The treatment was found to be effective in controlling the smolder propensity of fabrics weighing up to 610 g/m2. The treated fabrics passed the ASTM-proposed fabric classification test which identifies fabrics which are safe to use over polyurethane foam upholstered constructions. The treatment, consisting of borax, phosphoric acid, and a resin binder, was applied using a pad-dry-cure procedure. A treatment formulation providing a boric oxide level of 3.5 percent was found to provide optimum smolder protection. Performance properties of treated fabrics were examined: abrasion resistance was greatly in creased while tear and breaking strength were somewhat decreased.
The Dielectric Constants of Eight Gases

The dielectric constants of eight gases have been measured by a heterodyne beat frequency method. Special precautions were taken to improve minor defects in the equipment which are believed to have contributed principally to the difference in average values obtained by other observers where these differences were incompatible with the self-consistency of the individuals' data. Data on helium, neon, argon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and air are given and compared with the results of numerous other observers.
Nuclear envelope structure during cell division in Chaetopterus eggs.

Abstract Chaetopterus eggs have been studied during cleavage with cytochemical methods and the electron microscope. When the nucleus breaks down in prophase the nuclear contents show an increased RNA staining, PAS reaction, and a heightened concentration of amorphous and particulate dense material in electron micrographs. The nucleolus remains intact during these changes, which take about two minutes or less. The bilaminar membranous elements of the nuclear envelope pinch off at irregular intervals to produce vesicles in the plane of the nuclear surface. Secondarily the envelope vesicles leave the nuclear surface and wander into both the nuclear and cytoplasmic areas. The vesicles are morphologically indistinguishable from the characteristic general vesicles of the cytoplasm. In telophase, karyomeres fuse to form the daughter nuclei. The newly formed karyomeres show strong RNA staining in their interiors which disappears as the karyomeres “mature”. The reforming nuclear envelope is formed by a collection of general vesicles on the karyomere surface. The vesicles flatten out and fuse to form the usual bilaminar membranous elements. Annulated “pores” can be seen in the reforming envelope, having the characteristic dimensions even at the earliest stages. Arguments are presented for the view that the pore complex structure of the envelope is of nuclear origin; that the overall configuration of the envelope reflects the outline shape of the nuclear structure.
Stand Density Effects on Branching in an Annual Legume (Senna obtusifolia)

Abstract Effects of proximity to nearest neighbours on shoot morphology and branch growth were examined for Senna obtusifolia (L.) I. & B., an annual legume species that displays wide variation in branching. Periodic surveys described location and type of growth at all nodes on plants in regularly spaced monocultures. Stands with interplant distances of 15-50 cm (51-5 plants m-2) formed closed canopies with similar amounts of leaf area and biomass. Number of lower primary branches, their degree of curvature, and location of branch apices relative to the main stem responded to interplant distance relatively early in shoot growth, before canopy closure. The final effects of ten-fold differences in planting density on the formation of these ascending lower branches were only two-fold differences in number of vertical shoot axes within the stand. An additional study examined response of lower branches to an adjacent gap in the stand. Initial number and direction of branch growth were not affected by location of the gap. The first effect of crowding by neighbours was on number of branches initiated by developing shoots. Differences in branching subsequently increased through differentiaI survival and direction of branch growth. Such alterations principally affected lateral expansion of individual shoots, with little effect on radial symmetry or vertical distribution of leaves.
Age and the effects of lactose on calcium and phosphorus uptake by rat small intestine

Abstract Intestinal absorption of Ca and P declines with age. The milk sugar lactose enhances the absorption of Ca in young animals, but its effect on Ca and P absorption in older animals is not known. The purpose of these studies was to systematically study the effect of lactose on intestinal uptake and transport of Ca and P as a function of age. Experiments were performed in male Fischer 344 rats aged 2–3 months (young), 12–14 months (adult), and 22–24 months (old). Ca and P uptake were measured simultaneously by incubating everted duodenal and ileal sacs in a buffered salt solution containing radiolabeled 0.25 mM Ca and 1.0 mM P. Preincubation of intestinal sacs with 160 mM lactose for 45 minutes significantly increased Ca and P uptake in both the duodenal and ileal segments. The effect of lactose was similar in all age groups and was independent of vitamin D status as determined by serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. In separate experiments, lactose was also shown to increase the transepithelial transport of Ca and P in each age group. Under anaerobic conditions, the effect of lactose on P uptake, but not Ca uptake, was inhibited in both young and adult rats. These results suggest that lactose works by different mechanisms to enhance Ca and P uptake. The enhancement of Ca and P uptake by lactose may be important in older mammals, which have decreased capacity to synthesize and respond to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D.
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Lower Extremities Show Distinct Clinical and Pathologic Features

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas mainly affect older, predominantly male patients. Most are due to chronic ultraviolet exposure, and associated with actinic keratoses. On the lower extremities, they occur more commonly in women. However, data on these tumors as a distinct group are scarce. We evaluated 61 squamous cell carcinomas of the lower extremities. Overall, 69% of patients were female. Mean age was 75 years. More than 90% of tumors were well differentiated, 3% showed perineural invasion, and none lymphovascular invasion. In all, 63.9% showed evidence of severe chronic sun damage. Associated actinic keratoses were identified in only 13% of cases. By contrast, 80% were associated with distinctive basal epidermal proliferations with a retiform growth pattern. These proliferations were evaluated immunohistochemically for keratinocyte stem cell markers, p53 and Notch1 in 15 cases. All cases were positive for cytokeratin 14, p53, and Notch1 (with variable intensity in the latter 2), and predominantly negative for cytokeratin 19. Interestingly, basal retiform proliferations were positive for cytokeratin 15 in 66% of cases. Fifteen head and neck squamous cell carcinomas were evaluated in comparison. Those lacked associated basal retiform proliferations except in 1 case. In contrast, 87% were associated with actinic keratoses and 100% with severe chronic sun damage. Actinic keratoses associated with head and neck tumors showed cytokeratin 15 staining only in 7% of cases (P = .003 compared with cytokeratin 15 in basal retiform proliferations associated with leg carcinomas). These findings support the hypothesis that lower extremity squamous cell carcinomas are distinct and may exhibit a pathogenesis less reliant on actinic damage.
Modified Tenoscopic Method for Carpal Flexor Retinaculum Release in a Horse

Objective— To report the use of a proximolateral endoscopic portal with a distolateral instrument portal for carpal retinaculum release in a horse clinically affected with carpal canal syndrome. Study Design— Clinical report. Animals— A 4-year-old Thoroughbred female. Methods— Carpal canal syndrome secondary to traumatic suppurative tenosynovitis was treated by accessory carpal bone debridement and carpal retinaculum release using a tenoscopic approach to the carpal flexor synovial sheath through a proximolateral endoscope portal and a distolateral instrument portal. Results— Resolution of carpal sheath effusion and lameness occurred allowing racing 14 months later. Use of a distolateral instrument portal was not associated with complications or iatrogenic damage to neurovascular structures and reduced endoscope and instrument interference and offered easier access to the distal aspect of the carpal sheath. Conclusions— Carpal retinaculum release may be safely accomplished with a distolateral instrument portal when access to the distal aspect of the carpal sheath is needed. Clinical Relevance— The distolateral instrument portal described may be a useful alternative to a proximolateral portal when distal carpal sheath instrument access is necessary or advantageous.
Childhood Obesity: Effects on Children's Participation, Mental Health, and Psychosocial Development

Obesity and being overweight in a child significantly affects his or her healthy development hence there is an understandable focus in the occupational therapy literature on the physical health and difficulties in motor function related to obesity. However, this emphasis somewhat overshadows the psychosocial issues of growing-up obese or overweight. The objective of this paper is to apprise readers of the salient multiple psychosocial sequelae associated with childhood obesity including weight bias and victimization. A conceptual systems framework that supports a multifaceted approach to the occupational and developmental challenges on a population and/or individual level is discussed.
SourcererDB: An aggregated repository of statically analyzed and cross-linked open source Java projects

Abstract The open source movement has made vast quantities of source code available online for free, providing an extremely large dataset for empirical study and potential resuse. A major difficulty in exploiting this potential fully is that the data are currently scattered between competing source code repositories, none of which are structured for empirical analysis and cross-project comparison. As a result, software researchers and developers are left to compile their own datasets, resulting in duplicated effort and limited results. To address this challenge, we built SourcererDB, an aggregated repository of statically analyzed and cross-linked open source Java projects. SourcererDB contains local snapshots of 2,852 Java projects taken from Sourceforge, Apache and Java.net. These projects are statically analyzed to extract rich structural information, which is then stored in a relational database. References to entities in the 16,058 external jars are resolved and grouped, allowing for cross-project usage information to be accessed easily. This paper describes: (a) the mechanism for resolving and grouping these cross-project references, (b) the structure of and the metamodel for the SourcererDB repository, and (d) end-user dataset access mechanisms. Our goal in building SourcererDB is to provide a rich dataset of source code to facilitate the sharing of extracted data and to encourage reuse and repeatability of experiments.
GERMINATION TIMING INFLUENCES NATURAL SELECTION ON LIFE‐HISTORY CHARACTERS IN ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

An experimental manipulation of germination timing was conducted to test whether germination timing influences the phenotypic expression of postgermination life- history characteristics and whether it alters natural selection on those characters. Seeds collected from five natural populations of Arabidopsis thaliana in Kentucky were forced to germinate in early November, early December, and early March. Life-history characters such as timing of reproduction, size at reproduction, and size at senescence were measured, and fruit production and mortality were monitored. Germination timing significantly altered subsequent life-history characters and reproduction. November germinants were larger than December germinants when they began reproducing, and they commenced reproduction sooner. All spring germinants died before reproducing. Germination timing also influenced natural selection on life-history characters. December germinants were more strongly se- lected to be large at the time of reproduction than November germinants, indicating stronger selection for a faster growth rate in December germinants. Stabilizing selection on timing of reproduction was detected in December germinants but not in November germinants. Therefore, variation in germination timing influenced fitness, modified the phenotypic ex- pression of important life-history characters, and altered the strength and mode of natural selection on them.
Health related quality of life in sickle cell patients: The PiSCES project

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic disease associated with high degrees of morbidity and increased mortality. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among adults with sickle cell disease has not been widely reported. We administered the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form to 308 patients in the Pain in Sickle Cell Epidemiology Study (PiSCES) to assess HRQOL. Scales included physical function, physical and emotional role function, bodily pain, vitality, social function, mental health, and general health. We compared scores with national norms using t-tests, and with three chronic disease cohorts: asthma, cystic fibrosis and hemodialysis patients using analysis of variance and Dunnett's test for comparison with a control. We also assessed whether SCD specific variables (genotype, pain, crisis and utilization) were independently predictive of SF-36 subscales, controlling for socio-demographic variables using regression. Patients with SCD scored significantly worse than national norms on all subscales except mental health. Patients with SCD had lower HRQOL than cystic fibrosis patients except for mental health. Scores were similar for physical function, role function and mental health as compared to asthma patients, but worse for bodily pain, vitality, social function and general health subscales. Compared to dialysis patients, sickle cell disease patients scored similarly on physical role and emotional role function, social functioning and mental health, worse on bodily pain, general health and vitality and better on physical functioning. Surprisingly, genotype did not influence HRQOL except for vitality. However, scores significantly decreased as pain levels increased. SCD patients experience health related quality of life worse than the general population, and in general, their scores were most similar to patients undergoing hemodialysis. Practitioners should regard their HRQOL as severely compromised. Interventions in SCD should consider improvements in health related quality of life as important outcomes.
Simultaneous Aerodynamic and Structural Design Optimization (SASDO) for a 3-D Wing

The formulation and implementation of an optimization method called Simultaneous Aerodynamic and Structural Design Optimization (SASDO) is shown as an extension of the Simultaneous Aerodynamic Analysis and Design Optimization (SAADO) method. It is extended by the inclusion of structure element sizing parameters as design variables and Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis responses as constraints. The method aims to reduce the computational expense. incurred in performing shape and sizing optimization using state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) flow analysis, FEM structural analysis and sensitivity analysis tools. SASDO is applied to a simple. isolated, 3-D wing in inviscid flow. Results show that the method finds the saine local optimum as a conventional optimization method with some reduction in the computational cost and without significant modifications; to the analysis tools.
Influential factors for severe traffic crashes

Transportation safety is of great concerns in our daily life. Both passive safety systems (such as seatbelt) and active safety systems (such as adaptive cruise control, i.e., ACC) have been proposed to reduce traffic accidents, especially in mitigating severity of an accident. As there are a variety of factors that lead to road traffic crashes, this project focuses on analyzing the traffic crash database and discovering the contributing factors for severe crashes, including incapacitating and fatal crashes, induced by speed-related crashes. The General Estimates System (GES) crash database from 1997 to 2005 has been explored. The influential factors, such as different scenarios of lighting environment, weather conditions, and road surface situation are investigated. The effects of ACC, as an example of active safety systems, have also been assessed.
Image matching for translation, rotation and uniform scaling by the Radon transform

A new technique for matching a 2-D or 3-D image to a translated, rotated, and uniformly scaled reference image is proposed. This method comprises three steps: (1) calculating the Radon transform of the reference image and the images to be matched, (2) calculating the Fourier invariant (FI) descriptor for each 1-D projection image, and (3) matching the FI descriptor in the projection space. The theory shows that information about translation, rotation and uniform scaling of a 2-D or 3-D image can be represented in its 1-D projections; thus a 2-D or 3-D matching can be accomplished as a set of 1-D operations. In particular, the presented technique provides a way to address the 3-D recognition problem when rigid motion is assumed.
Efficient Conservative Reformulation Schemes for Lithium Intercalation

Porous electrode theory coupled with transport and reaction mechanisms is a widely used technique to model Li-ion batteries employing an appropriate discretization or approximation for solid phase diffusion with electrode particles. One of the major difficulties in simulating Li-ion battery models is the need to account for solid phase diffusion in a second radial dimension r, which increases the computation time/cost to a great extent. Various methods that reduce the computational cost have been introduced to treat this phenomenon, but most of them do not guarantee mass conservation. The aim of this paper is to introduce an inherently mass conserving yet computationally efficient method for solid phase diffusion based on Lobatto III A quadrature. This paper also presents coupling of the new solid phase reformulation scheme with a macro-homogeneous porous electrode theory based pseudo 20 model for Li-ion battery. (C) The Author(s) 2015. Published by ECS. All rights reserved.
Radio-iodination of neurotrophins and their delivery in vivo: advantages of membrane filtration and the use of disposable syringes

Abstract This paper reports two simple improvements for the radio-iodination of neurotrophins and their delivery in vivo. (1) Neurotrophins can be effectively separated from free iodide by using membrane filtration devices. Seven methods for the separation of free iodide are compared, including dialysis, gel filtration, and membrane filtration. Membrane filtration of the iodinated protein has several important advantages over dialysis or gel filtration. These include the precise control over the final concentration; excellent recovery of the neurotrophin; easy and inexpensive procedure; performance of the entire procedure in a fume hood; and reduced volume of radioactive waste. (2) Disposable, inexpensive syringes are suitable for the delivery of small volumes of radio-iodinated or non-radioactive neurotrophins. Plastic disposable insulin syringes are compared with Hamilton syringes. The ejection volume of the disposable syringes is surprisingly reliable in the dose range 2–15 μ l. Their in vivo performance was tested by injections in the eyes of chick embryos in ovo. The amounts remaining in the eye varied significantly less with the disposable syringes. Leakage into the surrounding eye-muscles after intraocular injection was significantly more frequent with Hamilton syringes than with the disposable syringes. Thus, disposable syringes can be a reliable and cost-effective alternative for drug delivery of 2–15 μ l volumes.
Transformation of glucose to volatile and semi-volatile products in hydrothermal (HT) systems

Abstract This work examined the transformation of glucose in hydrothermal (HT) reaction systems. Isotopic studies and comparative product analysis were used to gain insight on the most prevalent HT reactions. HT in H 2 O 16 and H 2 O 18 showed that transformation of glucose to gaseous and semi-volatile compound mixtures was dominated by hydration/oxidation reactions by water molecules in the reaction medium. Dissolved molecular oxygen and oxygen from the substrate were minimally involved in the observed oxidation reactions. HT of glucose in D 2 O indicated that most of the hydrocarbons, phenolics, and related reduced compounds in the products were from reactions involving unsaturated fragments of the substrate molecules. Except for furans and alkyl furans, there was no evidence of reduction and aromatization reactions acting directly on glucose rings: these molecules first underwent fragmentation and desaturation reactions prior to the formation of semi-volatile products. These reactive fragments underwent further reactions to form semi-volatile products such as Diels–Alder additions. Timed-release of NaBH 4 to the HT system decreased the relative amount of CO 2 generated and increased the yields of hydrocarbon products. This indicated that levels of reducing hydrogen species limit the yields of reduced products such as hydrocarbons and allow hydration/oxidation reactions to “steal” substrate carbon atoms and generate oxidized products, notably CO 2 . Co-reactants entering the HT reaction mixture as a result of containerization (e.g., Ni) also influenced the products of HT reaction. The presence of leached reactor metals in the medium was found to affect both quantities and types of compounds found in both the volatile and semi-volatile phases.
Broiler Chicks Fed Low-Calcium Diets. 2. Increased Sensitivity to Copper Toxicity

Abstract Young broiler chicks were more sensitive to copper toxicity when they were fed diets deficient or marginal in calcium content. Growth rate was depressed and liver copper concentration was increased under these conditions. Chicks fed a casein-gelatin diet were more sensitive to copper toxicity than those fed a corn-soybean meal diet. Addition of phytic acid to the casein-gelatin basal diet enhanced copper toxicity as evidenced by effects on growth rate and liver copper content Measurements of intestinal and biliary copper content suggested that the influence of calcium on copper toxicity was mediated via intestinal absorption rather than through influences on copper excretion.
Phase I and pharmacologic study of sequential topotecan-carboplatin-etoposide in patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer

The inhibition of topoisomerase I by topotecan results in a compensatory increase in topoisomerase II associated with increased in vitro sensitivity of tumors to etoposide. Maximal synergy has been observed for the sequence of topotecan followed by etoposide. Carboplatin has clinical activity when combined with either of these two agents. These interactions were the pharmacologic rationale for topotecan p.o. days 1-5, carboplatin i.v. day 6, and etoposide p.o. days 6-10. Three successive dose levels were explored: (1) topotecan 2mg/day, carboplatin AUC 5, etoposide 150 mg/day; (2) topotecan 3mg/day, carboplatin AUC 5, etoposide 150 mg/day; and (3) topotecan 3mg/day, carboplatin AUC 5, etoposide 200mg/day. Filgrastim 5 microg/kg/day was injected s.c. days 11-18. Up to 6 cycles were administered every 21 days. Eligible patients had measurable or evaluable, extensive disease, small lung cell lung cancer, no prior chemotherapy, ECOG performance status 0-2, and adequate hematologic, renal, and hepatic function. Follow-up was weekly for CBC. Tumor response was assessed after 2 and 6 cycles. Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as any of the following in cycle 1: grade 3 or 4 non-hematologic toxicity other than nausea and vomiting, grade 4 neutropenia lasting more than 3 days, neutropenic fever or sepsis, grade 4 thrombocytopenia, or failure to recover neutrophils >or=1500/microl or platelets >or=100,000/microl by day 28. Ten patients were enrolled: median age 62 (range, 50-79); female/male 4/6; and performance status 0/1/2 in 2/7/1. Three patients each were treated on dose levels 1 and 2 without DLT. The first 2 patients entered on dose level 3 had no DLT. The third patient on dose level 3 developed grade 4 neutropenia lasting more than 3 days, neutropenic fever, and grade 4 thrombocytopenia on day 15 of cycle 1. The fourth patient on dose level 3 developed grade 4 thrombocytopenia on day 18 of cycle 1. One patient received only 1 cycle and was not evaluable for response. Seven patients completed 6 cycles: 1 had a complete response and 6 achieved a partial response. The third patient on dose level 3 received 2 cycles and had stable disease, but had to be removed from protocol treatment because of grade 4 neutropenia despite dose reduction in cycle 2. The fourth patient on dose level 3 achieved a partial response, but had to be removed from protocol therapy after cycle 5 because of recurrent grade 4 thrombocytopenia. In conclusion, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were dose-limiting. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is topotecan 3mg/day p.o. days 1-5, carboplatin AUC 5i.v. day 6, and etoposide 150 mg/day p.o. days 6-10 with filgrastim.
Learning Building Layouts with Non-geometric Visual Information: The Effects of Visual Impairment and Age

Previous studies suggest that humans rely on geometric visual information (hallway structure) rather than non-geometric visual information (eg doors, signs, and lighting) for acquir- ing cognitive maps of novel indoor layouts. In this study we asked whether visual impairment and age affect reliance on non-geometric visual information for layout learning. We tested three groups of participantsyounger (550 years of age) normally sighted; older (50^70 years of age) normally sighted; and low-vision (people with heterogeneous forms of visual impairment ranging in age from 18 to 67 years). Participants learned target locations in building layouts using four presentation modes: a desktop virtual environment (VE) displaying only geometric cues (sparse VE); a VE displaying both geometric and non-geometric cues (photorealistic VE); a map; and a real building. Layout knowledge was assessed by map drawing and by asking participants to walk to specified targets in the real space. Results indicate that low-vision and older normally sighted participants relied on additional non-geometric information to accurately learn layouts. In conclusion, visual impairment and age may result in reduced perceptual and/or memory processing that makes it difficult to learn layouts without non-geometric visual information.
Effects of Changing Housing on Open-Field Behavior of Calves

The open-field behavior of 25 Holstein bull calves maintained in one of four housing treatments was quantified weekly for 8 weeks to investigate the effects of different methods of confinement on motivation for locomotor and other behaviors, and behavioral ontogeny. Data were modeled as a repeated measures design and analyzed as a split plot in which housing treatment was the whole-plot factor and week was the split-plot factor. Treatment effects were found for trotting, cantering and investigating, and week effects were found for cantering and investigating. Standing, walking, grazing and bucking exhibited significant (P <0.05) treatment × week interactions. Motivation for highly active locomotor behavior in general increased with increasing degree and duration of movement restraint, and decreased in response to less restrictive housing. Motivation for locomotor and investigatory behaviors decreased in response to weaning, although all calves were consuming grain and hay prior to weaning. Calves maintained in the most restrictive housing for the majority of the duration of the experiment tended to stumble and fall more frequently than calves housed less restrictively. Results illustrate that the use of only in situ behavior to evaluate animal well-being is inadequate when the in situ environment precludes an animal's performance of one or more fixed (“modal”) action patterns.
Vector control of a synchronous reluctance motor including saturation and iron loss

The application of vector control to a conventional synchronous reluctance motor (VCSynRM) is presented with emphasis on the effects of saturation and iron losses. It is shown experimentally that these parasitic effects can significantly influence the performance of a VCSynRM. A synchronous reference frame steady state model of SynRM including saturation and iron losses is developed. The behavior of a vector-controlled SynRM is analyzed based on the model. It is observed that saturation and iron losses can have a significant effect on the performance of a VCSynRM. To verify the validity of the model for vector control, a digital signal processor (DSP) based vector controller was built for a 7.5 hp SynRM to experimentally evaluate performance. Experimental results concerning optimal torque/ampere and optimal efficiency operation are shown to be in general agreement with the predictions of the model. >
An Investigation of Heuristics of Human Judgment in Detecting Deception and Potential Implications in Countering Social Engineering

Social engineering (as used by the military or law-enforcement) is the emerging technique for obtaining classified information by interacting and deceiving people who can access that information. Rather than using traditional techniques of attacking the technical shields such as firewalls, many sophisticated computer hackers find that social engineering is more effective and difficult to detect by humans. Why can people not effectively detect social engineering, or more specifically, the art of deception? What can be done to augment human abilities for the task? The current findings warrant several possibilities that influence human ability to detect deception. Factors include such things as truth-bias, stereotypical thinking and processing ability. Knowing that human detection ability is limited, we propose a method to automatically detect deception that potentially assists humans. Results show that a system, using discriminant analysis to classify deception performed significantty better than humans in detecting deception. The findings can also be applied to general situations to ensure information authentication scenarios other than social engineering.
Protein polymer hydrogels: effects of endotoxin on biocompatibility.

Protein polymer-based hydrogels have shown potential for tissue engineering applications, but require biocompatibility testing for in vivo use. Enzymatically crosslinked protein polymer-based hydro...
Drug-Induced Acute Pancreatitis: A Review

Background: The majority of drug-induced pancreatitis cases are mild to moderate in severity, but severe and even fatal cases can occur. Management of drug-induced pancreatitis requires withdrawal of the offending agent and supportive care. Methods: This review focuses on differential diagnosis, clinical presentation, drug-mediated effects, treatments, and mechanisms of pancreatitis, with an emphasis on drug-induced pancreatitis. Results: Although only a minority of cases associated with acute pancreatitis are linked to drugs, clinical presentation and mechanisms of injury to the pancreas are not well understood by clinicians in terms of individual drug effects in the mediation or modulation of injury to the pancreas. In recent years, a large number of commonly prescribed medications has been linked to drug-induced pancreatitis pathogenesis. Although mechanisms are proposed, the exact cause of injury is either not well understood or controversial. Conclusion: Future investigation into the mechanisms of pancreatitis and an appreciation by clinicians of the drugs commonly linked to the condition will help establish earlier diagnosis and quicker cessation of offending drugs in the treatment of drug-induced acute pancreatitis.
Unsecured Borrowing: Is Your Balance Sheet Ready?

This paper written to show the corporate treasurer how to determine whether the corporate balance sheet of a middle market bank borrower is ready for unsecured credit arrangements. Normally the company has an established relationship with a commercial bank that requires the firm to specifically pledge certain assets to back normal loan taking. Moving to unsecured status is an important step in the company’s development because it represents a recognition by the bank that the firm has become sufficiently stable and seasoned so that the bank might be willing to lend against the overall structure of the balance sheet rather than against specific assets. Such a status affords bragging rights for the company, but in some instances could facilitate greater amounts of credit from the same balance sheet. Characteristics of an unsecured borrower include a small debt ratio, an enlarged Altman’s Z score, consistent positive retained earnings and profitability, good turnover ratios, abundant working capital, sufficient collateral even though the loan is unsecured. Thirty middle market public companies are examined to illustrate the process of determining borrower status. Finding that your balance sheet resembles that of an unsecured borrower could prompt you to ask your banker whether he or she thinks we are ready.
230Th and 234Th as coupled tracers of particle cycling in the ocean: A maximum likelihood approach

Abstract We applied maximum likelihood estimation to measurements of Th isotopes ( 234, 230 Th) in Mediterranean Sea sediment traps that separated particles according to settling velocity. This study contains two unique aspects. First, it relies on settling velocities that were measured using sediment traps, rather than on measured particle sizes and an assumed relationship between particle size and sinking velocity. Second, because of the labor and expense involved in obtaining these data, they were obtained at only a few depths, and their analysis required constructing a new type of box-like model, which we refer to as a “two-layer” model, that we then analyzed using likelihood techniques. Likelihood techniques were developed in the 1930s by statisticians, and form the computational core of both Bayesian and non-Bayesian statistics. Their use has recently become very popular in ecology, but they are relatively unknown in geochemistry. Our model was formulated by assuming steady state and first-order reaction kinetics for thorium adsorption and desorption, and for particle aggregation, disaggregation, and remineralization. We adopted a cutoff settling velocity (49 m/d) from Armstrong et al. (2009) to separate particles into fast- and slow-sinking classes. A unique set of parameters with no dependence on prior values was obtained. Adsorption rate constants for both slow- and fast-sinking particles are slightly higher in the upper layer than in the lower layer. Slow-sinking particles have higher adsorption rate constants than fast-sinking particles. Desorption rate constants are higher in the lower layer (slow-sinking particles: 13.17 ± 1.61, fast-sinking particles: 13.96 ± 0.48) than in the upper layer (slow-sinking particles: 7.87 ± 0.60 y −1 , fast-sinking particles: 1.81 ± 0.44 y −1 ). Aggregation rate constants were higher, 1.88 ± 0.04, in the upper layer and just 0.07 ± 0.01 y −1 in the lower layer. Disaggregation rate constants were just 0.30 ± 0.10 y −1 in the upper layer and higher, 3.01 ± 0.35 y −1 , in the lower layer. For rapid-sinking particles, adsorption of Th from solution and aggregation of slow-sinking particles are the main source, and particle sinking is the main sink. For slow-sinking particles, adsorption is also the main source, but radioactive decay (for 234 Th) and desorption are the main sinks. Sinking and aggregation are small compared to adsorption and decay, and the contribution of disaggregation is negligible.
Pocket cloudlets

Cloud services accessed through mobile devices suffer from high network access latencies and are constrained by energy budgets dictated by the devices' batteries. Radio and battery technologies will improve over time, but are still expected to be the bottlenecks in future systems. Non-volatile memories (NVM), however, may continue experiencing significant and steady improvements in density for at least ten more years. In this paper, we propose to leverage the abundance in memory capacity of mobile devices to mitigate latency and energy issues when accessing cloud services.We first analyze NVM technology scaling trends, and then propose a cloud service cache architecture that resides on the mobile device's NVM (pocket cloudlet). This architecture utilizes both individual user and community access models to maximize its hit rate, and subsequently reduce overall service latency and energy consumption.As a showcase we present the design, implementation and evaluation of PocketSearch, a search and advertisement pocket cloudlet. We perform mobile search characterization to guide the design of PocketSearch and evaluate it with 200 million mobile queries from the search logs of m.bing.com. We show that PocketSearch can serve, on average, 66% of the web search queries submitted by an individual user without having to use the slow 3G link, leading to 16x service access speedup. Finally, based on experience with PocketSearch we provide additional insight and guidelines on how future pocket cloudlets should be organized, from both an architectural and an operating system perspective.
Time until first significant difference in in vivo tumor growth experiments.

In in vivo tumor growth experiments it is common to report the tumor measurement time at which the volume distributions of the treatment groups become significantly different. This method of analysis, as commonly practiced, is deficient in that its type I error rate exceeds the usual nominal rate of 5%, unless one specifically corrects for multiple comparisons. A second problem is that many investigators evidently interpret the time of first significance as a statistical parameter--i.e., a fixed but unknown property of the model that one can estimate by experimentation. In fact the time until first significance, like the power of the test, depends both on true model parameters (such as mean growth curves and experimental variability) and on features of the experimental design, such as the sample size and the spacing of the measurement times. We argue that investigators would do better to compare treatment groups by modeling tumor growth curves or estimating volume doubling times.