cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Irreversible Thermodynamics for Damage Mechanics of Solid Materials

In this paper a thermodynamic framework has been presented for damage mechanics of solids materials. Traditional damage mechanics theory uses damage potential function to trace damage evolution. In this framework entropy production is used as a measure of damage in the system. As a result there is no need for physically meaningless empirical material parameters to define a damage potential function. It is assumed that entropy production is non-negative for solids.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Modeling of infiltration kinetics for liquid metal processing of composites

An equation for modeling the kinetics of liquid-metal infiltration into a porous compact has been developed. The model is based on considering a bundle of capillary tubes as an analog for the porous compact. A solution which describes a limiting form of behavior has been shown to be valid for small extents of infiltration relative to a hypothetical static state. The numerical solutions of the dimensionless infiltration-equation have been used to delineate conditions for which limiting solutions are valid. A dimensionless group λ has been shown to be capable of classifying the behavior into two limiting cases: either “inviscid-flow“, λ 10-2, or “viscous-flow“, λ > 102. It would appear that for capillary-tube (pore) radii less than 100 µ-m and for conditions where the compact is wetted by the liquid metal, A is likely to be >100 and therefore correspond to a “viscous-flow system“. Also, an infiltration-rate parameter, ϕ, has been selected which can be used to assess the effects of alloying additions to the liquid-metal infiltrant. This parameter can therefore provide for the selection of alloy infiltrants, surface preparation modification, and processing parameters such as temperature, time of infiltration, and pore size of compact in regard to the processing of composites. Although the model concept (capillary-tube bundle) is recognized as being deficient in not treating the compact as what it really is (a porous medium), the work presented was intended to quantify the limiting behavior of the capillary-tube-bundle approach which has been used in the past.
Effects of moth size on velocity and steering during upwind flight toward a sex pheromone source byLymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Free-flying male gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar)head upwind in response to sex pheromone. Males typically fly in a zigzag path, with mean ground speeds modulated by pheromone concentration and ambient temperature, but not by wind speed. We studied the effect of male size on ground speeds and additional flight track parameters. Mean net ground speed along the wind line was fastest among large males and was slower in medium and small males. Similarly, mean airspeeds and ground speeds along the flight tracks increased from small to large males. Males from all three size classes steered similar mean course angles. Small males, however, had larger mean track angles than larger males, and mean drift angles were also larger for small males. Turning rates (frequency of turns across the wind line) and interturn distances (net crosswind displacement between turn apices) were not significantly different among the three size classes; however, large males had a trend toward a reduced mean turning rate and increased mean interturn distance. The steering of similar course angles by males from all three size classes and the higher airspeeds among larger males (the two variables males can actively control during free flight) suggest that changes in other flight parameters are a result primarily of increased ground speed among large males.
Interaction between the signaling molecules WNT7a and SHH during vertebrate limb development: Dorsal signals regulate anteroposterior patterning

Abstract Growth and patterning of the vertebrate limb are controlled by the ridge, posterior mesenchyme, and nonridge ectoderm. Fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4) and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) can mediate signaling from the ridge and posterior mesenchyme, respectively. Here we show that dorsal ectoderm is required together with FGF4 to maintain Shh expression. Removal of dorsal ectoderm results in loss of posterior skeletal elements, which can be rescued by exogenous SHH. Wnt7a , which is expressed in dorsal ectoderm, provides the signal required for Shh expression and formation of posterior structures. These results provide evidence that all three axes (dorsoventral, proximodistal, and anteroposterior) are intimately linked by the respective signals WNT7a, FGF4, and SHH during limb outgrowth and patterning.
Thermal instability and convection of a thin fluid layer bounded by a stably stratified region

Results of linear stability calculations and post-stability experimental observations are reported for horizontal fluid layers with upward heat flux bounded below by a stably stratified fluid. Stability calculations were done for several families of continuous and discontinuous temperature distributions, and it was found that as a rule the flow originating in the unstable layer penetrates into the stably stratified region, resulting in increased critical cell size and correspondingly decreased critical Rayleigh number. A notable exception to this occurs for an unstable layer with a linear temperature distribution adjacent to a stable layer of very high stable density gradient. In this case energy pumped from the unstable to the stable region is sufficient to raise the critical Rayleigh number above that of a solid boundary. It is also found that, for density distributions with a more gradual transition between the stable and the unstable regions, the effect of increased cell size upon the critical Rayleigh number is sometimes masked by effects of curvature in the density profile of the unstable region, which tends to increase the critical Rayleigh number. The inadequacy of the usual definition of Rayleigh number to characterize the stability of such complex systems is discussed. Experimentally, such a temperature distribution was produced by radiant energy from above as it was absorbed by the top few centimetres of the fluid. Within an uncertainty of ± 20%, it was found that the critical experimental Rayleigh number agreed with neutral stability calculations. The supercritical convective motion consisted of vertical jets of cool surface fluid which plunged downward into the interior of the fluid. The jets were not arranged in an orderly lattice but were in a constant state of change, each jet having a tendency to merge with a close neighbour. The net loss of jets due to merging was balanced by new jets spontaneously appearing. As Rayleigh number was increased, the mean number of jets and the intermittancy increased proportionally. Temperature scans taken with a movable probe showed that cool surface fluid plunging downward in the jets was confined to a fairly restricted region, the surrounding fluid being quite isothermal.
Weak Drazin inverses

Abstract A new type of generalized inverse is defined which is a weakened form of the Drazin inverse. These new inverses are called ( d )-inverses. Basic properties of ( d )-inverses are developed. It is shown that ( d )-inverses are often easier to compute than Drazin inverses and can frequently be used in place of the Drazin inverse when studying systems of differential equations with singular coefficients or when studying Marcov chains.
Fabrication of Transparent Electrooptic PLZT Ceramics by Atmosphere Sintering

PLZT electrooptic ceramics were fabricated by a unique atmosphere sintering technique. The ceramics produced were significantly more transparent than those obtained by ordinary O2 sintering methods; in fact, they were comparable in transparency to those obtained by hot-pressing. To achieve good transparency, the powder must be batched with excess PbO, which at the sintering temperature is present as a liquid phase at the grain boundaries. Sintering was conducted at 1200°C for 60 h in an atmosphere containing O2 and a relatively high partial pressure of lead oxide.
VIKI: spatial hypertext supporting emergent structure

The emergent nature of structure is a crucial, but often ignored, constraint on authoring hypertexts. VIKI is a spatial hypertext system that supports the emergent qualities of structure and the abstractions that guide its creation. We have found that a visual/spatial metaphor for hypertext allows people to express the nuances of structure, especialy ambiguous, partial, or emerging structure, more easily. VIKI supports interpretation of a collected body of materials, a task that becomes increasingly important with the availability of on-line information sources. The tool's data model includes semi-structured objects, collections that provide the basis for spatial navigation, and object composites, all of which may evolve into types. A spatial parser supports this evolution and enhances user interaction with changing, visually apparent organizations.
ACETOACETATE AND d‐(‐)‐BETA‐HYDROXYBUTYRATE AS PRECURSORS FOR STEROL SYNTHESIS BY CALF OLIGODENDROCYTES IN SUSPENSION CULTURE: EXTRAMITOCHONDRIAL PATHWAY FOR ACETOACETATE METABOLISM

— Oligodendroglia prepared from calf cerebral white matter were incubated with [3-14C]aceto-acetate (AcAc), d-[3-14C](-)-beta-hydroxybutyrate (OHbut) or 3H2O. Addition to the medium of the ATP-rate oxaloacetate lyase inhibitor (-)-hydroxycitrate diminished sterol labelling from OHbut and 3H2O, but caused 4-fold stimulation of sterol labelling from AcAc. The discrepancy between results with the two ketone bodies indicates the existence in oligodendroglia of an extrarnitochondrial pathway for conversion of AcAc but not OHbut to acetyl CoA. Acetoacetyl CoA synthetase, the first enzyme in this pathway, was more than 20-fold enriched in oligodendroglia over whole brain.
Cognitive Styles of Children of Three Ethnic Groups in the United States

Children of three subcultural groups in the United States-Anglos, Blacks, and Mexican-Americans-were tested with the Portable Rod and Frame Test. The results showed that Black and Mexican-American children, and females in all three groups, scored in a significantly more field-dependent direction than Anglo children. The results confirmed previous findings that members of groups which emphasize respect for family and religious authority and group identity and which are characterized by shared-function family and friendship groups tend to be field-dependent in cognitive style. Members of groups which encourage questioning of convention and an individual identity and are characterized by formally organized family and friendship groups, on the other hand, tend to be more field-independent.
Human Rights in History and Contemporary Practice: Source Materials for Philosophy

This chapter begins with two recent, contrasting historical accounts of when human rights were invented. In Inventing Human Rights (2007), Lynn Hunt tells the story of how the psychological foundations for human rights were laid with the rise of the humanitarian sentiment in the revolutionary period of the late eighteenth century. In The Last Utopia (2010), on the other hand, Samuel Moyn goes against the grain of most recent scholarship by focusing on a crisis of political utopianism in the 1970s as the locus for the roots of the contemporary resonance of human rights. Both historians draw our attention, though in different ways, to the relationship between human rights and humanitarianism. These competing stories about the origins of human rights raise two important issues for philosophers of human rights: (1) whether and how to try to connect earlier and later episodes in the history of “human rights,” and (2) how to understand the complex relationship between the politics of humanitarianism and human rights. Drawing on recent work by discourse theorists such as Jurgen Habermas and Rainer Forst, I argue that focusing on social and political struggles for human rights as motivated by violations of human dignity provides a way of connecting a theory of human rights with their meaning in both past and present practice. In this way, human dignity is used not as a philosophical concept for deriving the content of human rights, but as part of a framework for understanding the moral dynamic of human rights in practice. I also argue for the need to distinguish the logic of humanitarianism (viewing others as objects of suffering) from the logic of human rights (viewing others as subjects of rights). Rather than proposing that we try to purify human rights practice of humanitarian motifs, I maintain that we simply keep in mind the potential underside of the latter. The ultimate aim of human rights in practice must be to go beyond viewing others as merely objects of concern to viewing them as subjects of rights.
Characterization of Tissue Microstructure Scatterer Distribution with Spectral Correlation

Characterization of tissue microstructure from the backscattered ultrasound signal using the spectral autocorrelation (SAC) function provides information about the scatterer distribution in biological tissue. This paper demonstrates SAC capabilities in characterizing periodicities in A-scans due to regularity in the scatterer distribution. The A-scan is modelled as a cyclostationary signal, where the statistical parameters of the signal vary in time with single or multiple periodicities. This periodicity manifests itself as spectral peaks both in the power spectral density (PSD) and in the SAC. Periodicity in the PSD will produce a well defined dominant peak in the cepstrum, which has been used to determine the scatterer spacing. The relationship between the scatterer spacing and the spacing of the spectral peaks is established using a stochastic model of the echo-formation process from biological tissue. The distribution of the scatterers within the microstructure is modelled using a Gamma function, which offers a flexible method of simulating parametric regularity in the scatterer spacing. Simulations of the tissue microstructure for lower orders of regularity indicate that the SAC components reveal information about the scatterer spacing that are not seen in the PSD and the cepstrum. The echoformation process is tested by simulating microstructure of varying regularity and analyzing their effect on the SAC, PSD and cepstrum. Experimental validation of the simulation results are provided using in vivo scans of the breast and liver tissue that show the presence of significant spectral correlation components in the SAC.
A wave-pipelined on-chip interconnect structure for networks-on-chips

The paper describes a structured communication link design technique, wave-pipelined interconnect, for networks-on-chip. We achieved 3.45 GHz and 55.2 Gbps throughput on a 10 mm 16 bit interconnection in a 0.25 /spl mu/m technology. It uses 0.079 mm/sup 2/ of area, and it only needs 18.8 pJ to transmit one bit. We reduce crosstalk delay 79% by using two techniques - interleaved lines and misaligned repeaters. This paper shows, in detail, the various techniques we used to save power and area and achieve high performance in a relatively old technology. Wave-pipelined interconnect design is relatively easy, but its many features give a large and flexible design space for high-performance chips.
Moment tensor inversion of complex earthquakes

Summary. Moment tensor inversion methods can be applied with success in the determination of source properties of simple earthquakes. However, these methods utilize the assumption of a point source, which is inadequate for modelling many complicated, shallow earthquakes. For complex earthquakes, an inversion using finite faulting models is desirable but the number of parameters involved requires that a good starting model be found or that independent constraints be placed on some of the parameters. A method is presented for low-pass filtering both the data and Green's functions, passing only signals with wavelengths greater than the dimension of the entire fault. The filter tends to smooth complications in the waveforms and allows application of the point source moment tensor inversion. This method is applied to body waves from the 1978 Thessaloniki, Greece, earthquake, the 1971 San Fernando earthquake and to a multiple-point source synthetic model of the San Fernando event. For the Thessaloniki event, although a multiple-source mechanism has been suggested, inversion results before and after filtering were essentially identical, indicating that a point source mechanism is sufficient in modelling the long-period, teleseismic body waves. In the case of the San Fernando earthquake, the point source Green's functions were incapable of simultaneously modelling the P- and SH-waves. Inversion of P-waves alone resulted in extreme parameter resolution problems, but allowed constraint in one axis of the moment tensor and suggested an overall source time function. Inversion of a synthetic San Fernando data set yielded similar results, but allowed an investigation of the shortcomings of the method under controlled circumstances. Although the results may require substantial interpretation, the method presented represents a simple first step in the analysis of complex earthquakes.
Mucosal tissue invasion by Candida albicans is associated with E-cadherin degradation, mediated by transcription factor Rim101p and protease Sap5p.

The ability of Candida albicans to invade mucosal tissues is a major virulence determinant of this organism; however, the mechanism of invasion is not understood in detail. Proteolytic breakdown of E-cadherin, the major protein in epithelial cell junctions, has been proposed as a mechanism of invasion of certain bacteria in the oral mucosa. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess whether C. albicans degrades E-cadherin expressed by oral epithelial cells in vitro; (ii) to compare the abilities of strains with different invasive potentials to degrade this protein; and (iii) to investigate fungal virulence factors responsible for E-cadherin degradation. We found that while E-cadherin gene expression was not altered, E-cadherin was proteolytically degraded during the interaction of oral epithelial cells with C. albicans. Moreover, C. albicans-mediated degradation of E-cadherin was completely inhibited in the presence of protease inhibitors. Using a three-dimensional model of the human oral mucosa, we found that E-cadherin was degraded in localized areas of tissue invasion by C. albicans. An invasion-deficient rim101−/rim101− strain was deficient in degradation of E-cadherin, and this finding suggested that proteases may depend on Rim101p for expression. Indeed, reverse transcription-PCR data indicated that expression of the SAP4, SAP5, and SAP6 genes is severely reduced in the rim101−/rim101− mutant. These SAP genes are functional Rim101p targets, because engineered expression of SAP5 in the rim101−/rim101− strain restored E-cadherin degradation and invasion in the mucosal model. Our data support the hypothesis that there is a mechanism by which C. albicans invades mucosal tissues by promoting the proteolytic degradation of E-cadherin in epithelial adherens junctions.
Can pretreatment CT predict local control of T2 glottic carcinomas treated with radiation therapy alone

PURPOSE To determine whether pretreatment CT can predict local control of T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx treated with radiation therapy alone. METHODS Pretreatment CT studies were retrospectively evaluated by two head and neck radiologists in 28 patients with T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx treated with definitive radiation therapy. All patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. A tumor score was calculated based on the CT findings of tumor involvement of the following areas: the anterior commissure, the contralateral true vocal cord, the arytenoid face, the interarytenoid region, the laryngeal ventricle, the paraglottic space at the true and false vocal cord levels, and the subglottic region. Tumor volumes based on pretreatment CT were measured in each patient using a computer digitizer. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent sample t test, Wilcoxon9s rank sum test, and Fisher9s Exact Test. RESULTS There was no statistically significant relationship between tumor volume or tumor score and outcome of the T2 glottic tumors treated with definitive radiation therapy in this series. The overall local control rate was 82%. There were no treatment complications that resulted in loss of laryngeal function. CONCLUSIONS Like low-volume supraglottic and T3 glottic carcinomas, T2 glottic squamous cell carcinoma is likely (82%) to be controlled with definitive radiation therapy. Failure to control the primary tumor is attributable to factors other than volume, which may not be detectable on CT, such as tumor-host biological factors. Pretreatment CT, however, is beneficial for detecting submucosal spread across the ventricle and subglottic extension, which might contraindicate vertical hemilaryngectomy and might not be apparent on endoscopic examination.
Novel data processing techniques for dispersive white light interferometer

White light interferometry has been used in the sensing area for many years. A novel data processing method for demodulating the information from the interference spectrum of a white light system is presented. Compared with traditional algorithms, both high-resolution and large dynamic range have been achieved with a relatively low-cost system. Details of this arithmetic are discussed. A compact white light interferometric system employing this algorithm has been developed, combined with fiber Fabry-Perot sensors. A60.5-nm stability over 48 hours with a dynamic range on the order of tens of microns has been achieved with this system. The temperature dependence of this system has been analyzed, and a self-compensating data processing approach is adopted. Experimental results demonstrated a 61.5-nm shift in the temperature range of 10 to 45°C. © 2003 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (DOI: 10.1117/1.1613958)
CEO overconfidence and financial policies of real estate investment trusts (REITs)

This study investigates the effects of CEO overconfidence on real estate investment trust (REIT) financial policies and performance. The unique regulatory environment facing REITs make REIT financial policies less likely affected by agency problems and tax-related reasons, and thus provide a clearer picture of the effect of CEO overconfidence. In addition, the significant amounts of tangible assets of REITs provide performance measures that are relatively unbiased by unrelated elements. We find that REITs with overconfident CEOs use more debt, and in particular, longer term debt. Overconfident CEOs also buy back more shares and pay fewer dividends. CEO overconfidence does not have significant effects on REIT cash holdings. Regarding REIT performance, CEO overconfidence is negatively related to Tobin’s q and return on assets, respectively. We also find that CEO overconfidence motivated leverage decisions and CEO overconfidence motivated share buybacks have significant negative effects on REIT performance. ...
The Effect of Piperonyl Butoxide Concentration on the Formation of Cytochrome P-450 Difference Spectra in Hepatic Microsomes From Mice

A direct relationship is observed between the formation of the piperonyl butoxide-reduced cytochrome P-450 double Soret difference spectrum (type III) and inhibition of the formation of the carbon monoxide—cytochrome P-450 difference spectrum. This relationship appears to involve a single binding site.. The type III piperonyl butoxide—cytochrome P-450 interaction exerts a similar effect on the formation of the carbon monoxide-, pyridine-, n-octylamine-, and ethyl isocyanide— cytochrome P-450 difference spectra. Inhibition of the formation of the spectrum produce by (+)-benzphetamine is greater than that observed with the other ligands. The relationship between the change in absorbance and the change in absorbance divided by substrate concentration is linear for the formation of the type III spectrum produced by piperonyl butoxide, inhibition by the latter of the formation of the spectrum produced by carbon monoxide, and formation of the pyridine type II substrate spectrum at low pyridine concentrations. At high pyridine concentrations and with (+)-benzphetamine this relationship is curvilinear. The piperonyl butoxide type III interaction does not inhibit the formation of the pyridine type II substrate spectrum at low pyridine concentrations. At high pyridine concentrations the inhibition observed is similar to the inhibition of the (+)-benzphetamine type I substrate spectrum. Our observations suggest that piperonyl butoxide binds to one form of cytochrome P-450 at a single site and that an additional form of the cytochrome is present in noninduced hepatic microsomes from mice, which does not bind type I substrates or form a type III interaction with piperonyl butoxide.
How the Construal of Past Socially Responsible Actions Influences Managers' Subsequent Ethical Decisions

Managers prepare corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports by recalling and describing their past socially responsible actions. Using an experiment, we test whether the manner in which managers prepare CSR reports influences their subsequent ethical decisions. CSR reporting guidelines and firm policies can affect whether managers construe their past socially responsible actions abstractly or concretely (i.e., whether they focus on the underlying reason/purpose of the action or focus on the manner in which it was carried out). Drawing on identity theory and construal level theory, we predict and find that managers subsequently act more ethically if they construe their past socially responsible actions abstractly as opposed to concretely. Further, their ethical decisions are similar regardless of whether their past socially responsible action benefitted or harmed their personal welfare. We also find that the effect of construal reverses when managers prepare reports about past self-interested actions (i.e., actions that benefit the manager but harm others). We discuss practical implications of our results for standard setters, regulators, and senior executives responsible for creating external and internal CSR reporting guidelines.
IT affordances and reconciling alternative modes of evidence giving in cyberinfrastructure: the case of Climate Change Research

This qualitative study was conducted to examine how multi-disciplinary environmental science teams utilize cyber-infrastructure to generate and assess evidence as part of their boundary spanning research. We find that this interdisciplinary research is difficult due to the divergent institutional logics of the team members (represented by the tenets of their communities of practices, dominant epistemological frameworks and dispositions towards data) which force researchers to synthesize incommensurate forms of data and warrants into their scientific arguments. We examine how the affordances enacted in the cyber-infrastructure enabled one environmental science team to ameliorate these challenges. This study contributes to the nascent literature on the new forms of evidence giving within scientific fields by building a theoretical framework to account for how affordances enacted within cyber-infrastructure can assist researchers as they negotiate the conflicting institutional logics associated with diverse fields. We conclude by discussing how these issues impact the effectiveness of interdisciplinary inquiry.
Percutaneous Fixation of Proximal Humeral Fractures

[Introduction][1] The percutaneous approach to proximal humeral fixation emphasizes minimum dissection with the goal of preserving vascularity of the articular segments and thereby decreasing the risk of osteonecrosis. [Step 1: Preoperative Planning][2] Perform preoperative imaging to assess fracture displacement and comminution in order to confirm that percutaneous treatment is appropriate. [Step 2: Closed Fracture Reduction][3] Attempt closed fracture reduction prior to incision. [Step 3: Surgical Approach for Humeral Head and Shaft Reduction][4] Obtain anatomic humeral head reduction, insert terminally threaded pins, and check pin placement fluoroscopically. [Step 4: Tuberosity Fracture Reduction and Fixation of the Tuberosity Fragments][5] Fix the tuberosity fracture(s). [Step 5: Wound Closure][6] Cut the pins below the skin and irrigate and close the wounds. [Step 6: Postoperative Rehabilitation][7] Begin passive shoulder motion after pin removal, and initiate active motion at six weeks after pin removal. [Results][8] The results of this technique in twenty-seven patients with an average age of 58.8 years (range, forty-two to seventy-six years) at the time of injury were reported previously[6][9]. [Indications][10] [Contraindications][11] [Pitfalls & Challenges][12] [Introduction][1] The percutaneous approach to proximal humeral fixation emphasizes minimum dissection with the goal of preserving vascularity of the articular segments and thereby decreasing the risk of osteonecrosis. [Step 1: Preoperative Planning][2] Perform preoperative imaging to assess fracture displacement and comminution in order to confirm that percutaneous treatment is appropriate. [Step 2: Closed Fracture Reduction][3] Attempt closed fracture reduction prior to incision. [Step 3: Surgical Approach for Humeral Head and Shaft Reduction][4] Obtain anatomic humeral head reduction, insert terminally threaded pins, and check pin placement fluoroscopically. [Step 4: Tuberosity Fracture Reduction and Fixation of the Tuberosity Fragments][5] Fix the tuberosity fracture(s). [Step 5: Wound Closure][6] Cut the pins below the skin and irrigate and close the wounds. [Step 6: Postoperative Rehabilitation][7] Begin passive shoulder motion after pin removal, and initiate active motion at six weeks after pin removal. [Results][8] The results of this technique in twenty-seven patients with an average age of 58.8 years (range, forty-two to seventy-six years) at the time of injury were reported previously[6][9]. [Indications][10] [Contraindications][11] [Pitfalls & Challenges][12] [1]: #sec-10 [2]: #sec-11 [3]: #sec-12 [4]: #sec-13 [5]: #sec-14 [6]: #sec-15 [7]: #sec-16 [8]: #sec-17 [9]: #ref-6 [10]: #sec-19 [11]: #sec-20 [12]: #sec-21
Multilevel context of depression in two American Indian tribes.

OBJECTIVE Depression is a major debilitating disease. For American Indians living in tribal reservations, who endure disproportionately high levels of stress and poverty often associated with depression, determining the patterns and correlates is key to appropriate clinical assessment and intervention development. Yet little attention has been given to the cultural context of correlates for depression, including the influence of family, cultural traditions or practices, or community conditions. METHOD We used data from a large representative psychiatric epidemiological study among American Indians in 2 reservation communities to estimate nested individual and multilevel models of past-year major depressive episode (MDE) accounting for family, cultural, and community conditions. RESULTS We found that models including culturally informed individual-level measures significantly improved the model fit over demographics alone. We found significant community-level variation in the probability of past-year MDE diagnosis in 1 tribe even after accounting for individual-level characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Accounting for culture, family, and community context will facilitate research, clinician assessment, and treatment of depression in diverse settings.
Curved Ring-Bar Slow-Wave Structure for Wideband MW-Power Traveling Wave Tubes

A coupled transmission line (TL)-based slow-wave structure is presented and characterized. This TL is a modified ring-loop structure referred to as curved ring bar. It inherits the features of the ring-loop structure, but includes elliptic loops to enhance the axial electric field for TM01 mode. The structure demonstrates wideband behavior and is especially designed for high-power traveling wave tube amplifiers. It is characterized using a pair of uniform and identical coupled TLs utilized to achieve desired dispersion characteristics. This characterization explains the dispersion curves and interaction impedance. A simple way to derive dispersion behavior in terms of circuit parameters is also provided. A traveling wave tube (TWT) model is also presented that gives an output power of 1 MW across 1.8–2.4 GHz. It is noted that the designed TWT provides a bandwidth of 20% and delivers an output power of 1 MW, larger than previously reported in S-band.
A Disturbance Evaluation Model of Power Quality Based on Backward Cloud Theory

The boundary value of disturbance classification levels is fuzzy and random. And the cloud model is an uncertain transformation model describing the qualitative concept and quantitative processing. By fully considering these characteristics and combining the advantages of cloud model such as uncertainty reasoning characteristics and matter element analysis theory, a synthetic disturbance evaluation model is proposed based on the theory of backward cloud matter element. The standard model is established with backward cloud generator for synthetic disturbance evaluation of power quality, and the model is constantly updated through real-time data analysis,which makes the disturbance evaluation model more realtime. According to the characteristics of the disturbance evaluation of power quality, the weights of all the indices in power quality synthetic evaluation are obtained by integrating three methods, including the analytic hierarchy process method, the grey cluster method and the entropy method, which makes the disturbance evaluation result more credible.The superiority and effectiveness of the model are demonstrated by using the results of the actual numerical tests in the IF furnace of metal factory and the traction substations.
Anodization: A Promising Nano Modification Technique of Titanium-Based Implants for Orthopedic Applications

Titanium is protected by a thin titanium oxide layer, which spontaneously forms on its surface when exposed to air or other oxygen-containing environments. This oxide passive layer is typically 2–5 nm thick and is responsible for the well-documented corrosion resistance property of titanium and its alloys. Because of this and their excellent mechanical properties, titanium and its alloys are widely used in orthopedic and dental applications. However, the native TiO2 layer is not bioactive enough to form a direct bonding with bone, which means the lack of osseointegration to juxtaposed bone might lead to long-term failure after implantation. Specifically, the 10- to 15-year lifetime of current titanium-based orthopedic implants is not as long as expected by many patients. This chapter reviews many of the current research that is being carried out to extend the life of implants by nano modification techniques.
DENITRIFICATION IN NATURAL WATERS

SUMMARY Denitrification is a bacterial process in which nitrate is used as the terminal electron acceptor and is reduced primarily to nitrogen gas (N 2 ). The bacterial agents, metabolic and environmental requirements and mechanisms for denitrification are described. The long-standing controversy over the role of oxygen in denitrification is summarized. Denitrification is essentially an anaerobic process; it can occur in the presence of low levels of oxygen only if the microorganisms are metabolizing in an anoxic microzone (such as within suspended particles). Chemical formation of gaseous nitrogen from nitrite has been found to occur in acidic soils, and possible mechanisms for this are reviewed. The ecological significance of denitrification relates to the fact that few organisms can use N 2 directly and the reaction thus serves as a sink of fixed nitrogen. The distribution and importance of denitrification in the environment are discussed, and measured rates of the reaction in anoxic marine, lake and sediment systems are summarized. The reaction may act as a significant sink for fertilizer nitrogen applied to soils, and in eutrophic lakes denitrification may eliminate 10 to 50 percent of the annual nitrogen loading. The reaction may also be important in removing nitrate from groundwater as it seeps through marsh or sublacustrine sediments and into a lake, but further studies are need to quantify this hypothesis.
Extraction of total nucleic acids from bacterial isolates using the bioMérieux NucliSENS easyMAG total nucleic acid extractor

The BioMerieux NucliSENS easyMAG total nucleic acid extractor was evaluated for use on bacterial isolates in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Forty eight isolates were extracted, yielding quantifiable amounts of DNA for all isolates. The easyMAG is appropriate for DNA extraction from bacterial isolates and will be incorporated in the clinical laboratory.
Comparison of multiple beam sequences in arterial ARFI imaging, ex vivo

Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) has been demonstrated for differentiating mechanical properties in a variety of tissues. To fully maximize the potential of ARFI imaging in the context of material characterization of atherosclerosis it is important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of various radiation force excitation and tracking methods. We investigated the impact of five excitation methods and two tracking methods of radiation force beam sequences in a pig model of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis. The pigs were either familial hypercholesterolemic (FH) or dietary hypercholesterolemic (DH). First, we compared two methods of A-line receiving: single receive (SRX) and parallel receive (ParRX) in a FH female pig. Second, ARFI excitations with varying F/#'s of F/1, F/1.5, F/2, and F/3, were examined in another FH female. Lastly, to compare the utility of multiple ARFI excitations, both single excitation pulse ARFI (SP) and double excitation pulse ARFI (DP) were compared in a DH female. Comparing A-line receiving methods, SP-ParRX was observed to have lower spatial sensitivity to local variation of mechanical property than SP-SRX. Large excitation pulse F/#'s were observed to yield more variability in measured ARFI parameters in the location of a large calcification and better differentiation of local variations in material content. DP ARFI provided useful insights that were supplemental to those provided by SP ARFI alone.
Chemoradiation in locally advanced cervical carcinoma: An analysis of cisplatin administration and other clinical prognostic factors

e16525 Background: The standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer is combination weekly cisplatin and radiotherapy (RT). Toxicity and compliance issues often result in failure to compl...
Risk factors for extubation failure at a level I trauma center: does the specialty of the intensivist matter?

Introduction Extubation failure in critically ill patients is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Although predictors of failed extubation have been previously determined in intensive care unit (ICU) cohorts, relatively less attention has been directed toward this issue in patients with trauma. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of extubation failure among patients with trauma in a multidisciplinary ICU setting. Methods A prospective observational study of extubation failures (EF) was conducted at an American College of Surgeons level I trauma center over 3 years (2011–2013). Case–control patients (CC) were then compared with the study group (EF) with respect to demographic/clinical characteristics and outcomes. Failure of extubation was defined as reintubation within 72 hours following planned extubation. Results 7830 patients were admitted to the trauma service and 1098 (14%) underwent mechanical ventilation. 63 patients met inclusion criteria for the EF group and 63 comprised the CC group. The overall rate of extubation failure was 5.7% and mean time to reintubation was 13.0 hours. Groups (EF vs CC) were similar for Injury Severity Score (21 vs 21), Glasgow Coma Scale at extubation (11 vs 10), number of comorbidities (1.5 vs 1.7), injury mechanism (blunt 79% vs 74%), and body mass index (27.9 vs 27.2). In addition, groups were similar with respect to weaning protocol compliance (84% vs 89%, p=0.57). EF group had significantly increased ICU length of stay (LOS) (15.7 vs 7.4 days, p 38°C at time of extubation (OR 5.9, 95% CI 1.7 to 20.8), and (2) non-surgeon intensivist consultation (OR 24.2, 95% CI 5.5 to 105.9). Conclusions Extubation failure is associated with increased LOS, ventilator days, and mortality in patients with trauma. Fever at time of extubation is associated with extubation failure, and the presence of such should give pause in the decision to extubate. Non-surgeon intensivist involvement increases risk of extubation failure, and a surgical critical care service may be most appropriate for the management of ventilated patients with trauma. Level of evidence III, Prognostic and epidemiological.
Central Power Plants

Central power plants have the dubious distinction of being third in their contribution to air pollution in the United States, trailing motor vehicles and industry. Power plants emit approximately 25% of the particulates, 46% of the oxides of sulfur, and 25% of the oxides of nitrogen which are released each year into the atmosphere in the United States. They are minor contributors of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.
Treatment of Refractory Status Epilepticus

The literature on the management of refractory status epilepticus is reviewed and a treatment algorithm suggested by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA.
Neural Network Based Fault Detection in Hydroponics

Abstract A fault detection model for hydroponic systems, based on the feedforward Neural Network methodology was developed. Three kinds of faults were considered: mechanical, sensor and biological faults. In this paper, a preliminary detection system is presented, which generally detects the existence of any faulty situations. In the developed network, only the two first kinds of faults were considered. Biological faults, because of their particularities, were treated separately and some of their characteristics are presented at the end.
HITECH Act Drove Large Gains In Hospital Electronic Health Record Adoption

The extent to which recent large increases in hospitals’ adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems can be attributed to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 is uncertain and debated. Because only short-term acute care hospitals were eligible for the act’s meaningful-use incentive program, we used national hospital data to examine the differential effect of HITECH on EHR adoption among eligible and ineligible hospitals in the periods before (2008–10) and after (2011–15) implementation of the program. We found that annual increases in EHR adoption rates among eligible hospitals went from 3.2 percent in the pre period to 14.2 percent in the post period. Ineligible hospitals experienced much smaller annual increases of 0.1 percent in the pre period and 3.3 percent in the post period, a significant difference-in-differences of 7.9 percentage points. Our results support the argument that recent gains in EHR adoption can be attributed specifically to HI...
Medicaid Managed Care Structures and Care Coordination

BACKGROUND: Child enrollment in Medicaid managed care (MMC) has expanded dramatically, primarily through state mandates. Care coordination is a key metric in MMC evaluation because it drives much of the proposed cost savings and may be associated with improved health outcomes and utilization. We evaluated the relationships between enrollment in 2 MMC structures, primary care case management (PCCM) and health maintenance organization (HMO) and access to and receipt of care coordination by children. METHODS: Using data from the 2011/2012 National Survey of Children’s Health and the Medicaid Statistical Information System state data mart, we conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of the relationships between fee-for-service, PCCM or HMO enrollment, and access to and receipt of care coordination. State-level univariate analyses and individual and state multilevel multivariable analyses evaluated correlations between MMC enrollment and care coordination, controlling for demographic characteristics and state financing levels. RESULTS: In univariate and multilevel multivariable analyses, the PCCM penetration rate was significantly associated with increased access to care coordination (adjusted odds ratio: 1.23, P = .034) and receipt of care coordination (adjusted odds ratio: 1.37, P = .02). The HMO penetration rate was significantly associated with lower access to care coordination (adjusted odds ratio: 0.85, P = .05) and receipt of care coordination (adjusted odds ratio: 0.71, P CONCLUSIONS: State utilization of MMC varied widely. These data suggest that care coordination may be more effective in PCCM than HMO structures. States should consider care coordination outcomes when structuring their Medicaid programs.
Clinical implications of de Barsy syndrome.

Background De Barsy syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by cutis laxa, progeroid appearance, ophthalmic opacification, skeletal malformations, growth delays, and intellectual disability. Aims The aim of this case series is to identify the anesthetic considerations in the clinical management of patients with de Barsy syndrome. Methods A retrospective case review from 1968 to 2016 was performed at a single tertiary medical center to identify patients with de Barsy syndrome who underwent anesthesia for diagnostic and surgical procedures. We collected and analyzed the perioperative records and following data: age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, relevant comorbidities, surgical procedures, anesthesia management, and observed complications. Results Three patients underwent 64 unique anesthetics for a diverse collection of diagnostic and surgical procedures. An array of anesthetics and techniques were successfully used. Observations of the perioperative period found 7 episodes of intraoperative hyperthermia (>38.3°), a single difficult airway requiring fiberoptic bronchoscopic-guided intubation, and repeatedly difficult intravenous access. Conclusion This expanded case series suggests that providers caring for patients with de Barsy syndrome should be aware of potential challenges with airway management, vascular access, and temperature monitoring.
A Geochemical Assessment of Surface Water Quality as a Tool for Indication of Geogenic and Man-Made Constituents of Pollution

This article deals with a study of River Hrazdan basin. We studied underlying man-made factors which impact on formation of quality composition of river water. Guided by the proposed approach, we implemented a comparative analysis between – different by character – loads sections of the watershed and background section where man-made factors are either missing or are poorly manifested. On the basis of landscape and geochemical specificity of the study section of the watershed, the article considers natural and man-made associations of heavy metals. The quantity and quality series of the geochemical stream have been studied and collated. Analysis of contents of several heavy metals in underground waters, which are used as a potable water to the city, have been carried out. Assessments of mineral composition in river and underground water have been implemented.
Propagation of Singularities and the Scattering Matrix

In exterior domains in Rn the scattering phase for the laplacian often plays the role like that of the eigenvalue counting function in interior domains. These lectures give an introduction to the scattering matrix, and show how the basic results on propagation of singularities and parametrices for the wave equation apply here to give “spectral asymptotics” for exterior domains and information about the poles of the scattering matrix