cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fatigue Failure Evaluation of Boron/Epoxy Patches Using Thermal Wave Imaging

Mechanical fastening or riveting of metallic doublers is traditionally used for repairing cracked structures, multi-site or wide-spread damage and any other common flaws detected during inspection of aging aircraft. This method of repair can severely reduce the initiation fatigue lifetime and the damage tolerance of the structure [1]. Several researchers for example [2–6] have demonstrated the effectiveness of bonded composite doublers as a method of repairing aircraft structures. Bonded boron/epoxy repair patches for aging aircraft appear to offer many advantages over traditional methods of repair. They are thin and light weight and can be aerodynamically tailored to reduce drag force. They are conformable to contoured surfaces, access is needed only from one side of the repair area, and they can be used in some areas where riveting is difficult. Structural reinforcement without the addition of rivets provides for a more uniform stress distribution and eliminates ancillary damage which can be caused by rivets. In addition they provide excellent corrosion resistance and are easier to inspect using NDE techniques [7].
Squeak and Rattle CAE Simulation Using FEA

This chapter describes the advanced methods and recent technology to simulate squeak and rattle using the numerical method FEA. It explains the difficulties of direct CAE simulation due to the nonlinear behavior of squeak and rattle. A hybrid nonlinear rattle simulation and a quasi-linear approach to rattle simulation are introduced. The hybrid nonlinear simulation is elaborated with a detailed example of glove box rattle. The quasi-linear method, Rattle HotSpot Check (RHSC), is based on both modal and forced frequency response analysis. It provides comparison among explicit and implicit nonlinear dynamic methods and the linear modal method. The criterion to identify the relative motion velocity of two contact surfaces is established, which can be used to identify potential rattles in systems/components through global excitation. Many implementation examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of this tool. Rattle HotSpot Check is a US Patent owned by the Ford Motor Company since the year 1999.
Difference Models and Solutions for Discrete Structural Systems

As a simple object problem for dealing with systems in the title category, consider the beam continuous over spring supports (see Fig. 2) whose span properties (excluding loads) are cyclic and symmetric with respect to the midpoint; i.e., in Eq. 5b, Δr (l/B)r = 0, = αr = αr′ = α and βr = β (for a prismatic beam α = 1/3 and β = 1/6). The governing equation, derived via the “three moment” or flexibility approach is (43) in which the terms are as defined for Eqs. 3 and 5 and γ = 1 + α/β or one plus the reciprocal of the carry over factor. The governing equation derived via the “slope-deflection” or stiffness approach is
Deformation of polycrystalline Ni3Al at high strain rates and elevated temperatures

Abstract The mechanical response of Ni3Al to deformation at high temperatures has long been known to exhibit a flow stress/temperature anomaly. The variations in the yield and flow stress/temperature in Ni3Al have been widely studied at quasi-static strain rates, e dot s −1 . In this study polycrystalline Ni3Al with 0.095 at.% boron was deformed over a wide range of strain rates (0.001–8000 s−1) and temperatures (77–1273 K). Dynamic strain rate tests were conducted over the entire temperature range using a split Hopkinson bar. At 300 K the yield stress remains constant with increasing strain rate. The anomalous yield behavior is observed at e dot = 3000 s −1 . The yield stress was found to be strain rate sensitive at temperatures >823 K. In all cases the work hardening exhibited a rate sensitivity, increasing with increasing strain rate and decreasing with increasing temperature. In Ni3Al deformed at all rates and at temperatures below 473 K the microstructure observed with TEM was mostly {111} dislocations with coarse planar slip bands forming at the highest strain rates. As the temperature increased more {100} dislocations were observed but the overall density of the dislocations decreased.
Second-Order Memory Based LT Encoder Design

Increasing communication reliability and decreasing latency is an increasing demand in wireless multihop networks. In this regards, fountain codes have been widely adopted in cooperative transmissions. The Luby transform (LT) code is considered as a fundamental fountain code that is used to improve the performance of the fountain code family. Previous work on LT code design has focused mainly on the degree distribution of the output symbols, leaving the input symbols as being Poisson distributed. It has been proved that by introducing memory to the encoder, the degree distribution of the input symbols can be designed to improve the code performance. However, existing work focuses only on first- order memory based LT encoders (MBLTEs); the performance with higher memory orders is not investigated. Therefore, in this paper we study the second-order MBLTE with the belief propagation (BP) decoder over the binary erasure channel (BEC) and show that it outperforms the first-order MBLTE in terms of the decoder convergence speed, the bit error rate (BER) and the error floor.
Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism

The chapter begins with an examination of some general trends and data on suicide terrorism. It highlights US foreign policy after the events of September 11, 2001. The chapter examines the major differences between the Bush and Obama administrations with regard to combatting terrorism and violent extremism. Next, the chapter focuses on the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). This work concludes with an examination of the Obama administration’s strategy for combatting violent extremism and highlights the discourse of leading politicians regarding this issue.
John Donne and the New Science

When considering the impact of the new science on early modern literature, I suspect that most scholars would consider Edmund Spenser and John Donne to be at opposite ends of a spectrum, with Spenser representing a writer who embraces traditional, if not archaic forms, and ignores new ideas in natural philosophy, and Donne well known as one of the earliest poets to refer explicitly to Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and their novel theories about the shape of the cosmos. However, as I have shown elsewhere, Spenser deals very seriously, albeit indirectly, with problems in contemporary astronomy in Book 5 of the Faerie Queene and again in the Cantos of Mutabilitie.1 And, although Donne refers to the new astronomy more explicitly than Spenser, many scholars have questioned the nature and seriousness of his engagement with it.2 Other scholars have argued that Donne does show serious interest in some aspects of new philosophy.3 Howard Marchitello is surely correct to argue that Donne was both ‘keenly interested in early modern science’ and also ‘deeply conflicted about the science’ especially as it ‘seems so profoundly to have complicated his understanding of the world.’4
A METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF LIPOID PHOSPHORUS IN BLOOD AND PLASMA

When work was undertaken in this laboratory on the lipoid phosphorus of blood plasma it was hoped that the admirable method of phosphorus determination devised by Bell and Daisy,’ which had been found so useful for inorganic phosphates, could be utilized for this purpose. But the digestion procedure de- scribed by them under the subtitle “Total acid-soluble phos- phorus” failed in our hands to give satisfactory results with potassium acid phosphate solutions of known phosphorus con- tent. Since it appeared probable that the inaccuracies arose from the variable acidity of the digestion product, the writer resorted to the procedure of Randles and Knudson,2 which pro- vides somewhat more precise control of this factor. The results were then as a rule quite satisfactory. But occasional errors, usually negative, rarely positive, on known phosphate solutions, have shaken the writer’s confidence in this procedure and led him to devise a method not quite so simple but which is believed to be more reliable and which it is the purpose of the present paper to describe. The chief difficulty in carrying out the procedure of Randles and Knudson has been encountered in the control of the diges- tion process. If the heating is not vigorous enough to drive off all the nitric acid, full color development in subsequent stages is prevented. On the other hand, too vigorous heating may also produce errors, usually negative, rarely positive. The negative errors are attributable to local overheating, since the small volume of fluid present at the end of digestion is insufficient to
Discriminative stimulus and locomotor effects of para-substituted and benzofuran analogs of amphetamine.

Abstract Novel psychoactive substances have maintained a prominent role in the global drug culture, despite increased regulation by governing bodies. Novel compounds continue to become available on the market, often in “Ecstasy” or “Molly” formulations in lieu of MDMA, at a much faster rate than they can be properly characterized. The current study aimed to investigate the discriminative stimulus and locomotor effects of three putatively entactogenic compounds that have become increasingly prevalent on the drug market: 5-(2-aminopropyl)-benzofuran (5-APB), 6-(2-aminopropryl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (6-APDB), and 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA). Locomotor stimulant effects were assessed in an open-field assay for locomotor activity using Swiss-Webster mice. Discriminative stimulus effects were assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats trained to discriminate either cocaine, methamphetamine, DOM, or MDMA from vehicle. The benzofuran compounds produced locomotor stimulation whereas 4-FA depressed locomotor activity. The benzofurans substituted for the discriminative stimulus effects of MDMA, but only partially or not at all for methamphetamine, cocaine, and DOM, whereas 4-FA fully substituted for MDMA, methamphetamine and cocaine, but not DOM. These results indicate an MDMA-like pattern of abuse might be expected for the benzofurans, whereas 4-FA may be substituted for psychostimulants and MDMA.
The Role of Nonfarm Activities in the Rural Economy

Until quite recently it has been conventional to equate, in a rough way, the rural economy with the agricultural economy. Rural households, containing anywhere from 30 to 70 per cent of the nation’s population, were envisaged as having as their primary function the production of food and fibre for the home market and one or more crops for the export market. In addition to farm production, household members might as secondary activities be engaged in a certain amount of agricultural processing, transporting and marketing.
Chemiluminescent Biosensors for Detection of Second Messenger Cyclic di-GMP

Bacteria colonize highly diverse and complex environments, from gastrointestinal tracts to soil and plant surfaces. This colonization process is controlled in part by the intracellular signal cyclic di-GMP, which regulates bacterial motility and biofilm formation. To interrogate cyclic di-GMP signaling networks, a variety of fluorescent biosensors for live cell imaging of cyclic di-GMP have been developed. However, the need for external illumination precludes the use of these tools for imaging bacteria in their natural environments, including in deep tissues of whole organisms and in samples that are highly autofluorescent or photosensitive. The need for genetic encoding also complicates the analysis of clinical isolates and environmental samples. Toward expanding the study of bacterial signaling to these systems, we have developed the first chemiluminescent biosensors for cyclic di-GMP. The biosensor design combines the complementation of split luciferase (CSL) and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) approaches. Furthermore, we developed a lysate-based assay for biosensor activity that enabled reliable high-throughput screening of a phylogenetic library of 92 biosensor variants. The screen identified biosensors with very large signal changes (∼40- and 90-fold) as well as biosensors with high affinities for cyclic di-GMP ( KD < 50 nM). These chemiluminescent biosensors then were applied to measure cyclic di-GMP levels in E. coli. The cellular experiments revealed an unexpected challenge for chemiluminescent imaging in Gram negative bacteria but showed promising application in lysates. Taken together, this work establishes the first chemiluminescent biosensors for studying cyclic di-GMP signaling and provides a foundation for using these biosensors in more complex systems.
Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) via extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and ventricular assist devices (VADs) has evolved as a therapeutic treatment option for the care of children with severe ventricular dysfunction, refractory to medical and/or surgical therapy. The American Heart Association currently includes ECLS in both the pediatric and the adult algorithms for refractory shock. In this chapter, we review indications for ECLS initiation, history, basic principles and management strategies, complications, and outcomes.
Performance of retaining wall backfilled with tire aggregate under static and dynamic loading conditions: conventional designs and finite element simulations

The static and dynamic behaviours of a retaining wall backfilled with tire aggregate are investigated in this paper through conventional designs as well as coupled finite element simulations. First...
Big Data Analytics on Twitter

As the amount of digital data is growing at an exponential rate, the emphasis is on forming an insight from the data. Although the new fields of research, including Twitter data analytics, are proven to be fruitful, there is a lack of literature review and classification of the research. Therefore, after segregating 1,025 research papers, we reviewed 29 papers from 20 journals on Twitter data analytics published from 2011 to 2017, and then classified them based on year of publication, the title of journals, data mining methods, and their application. This paper is written with the intent of understanding the trend of research in this field.
Influence of magnesium depletion on matrix-induced endochondral bone formation.

The effect of magnesium deficiency on bone cell differentiation and bone formation was investigated using in vivo matrix-induced endochondral ossification as a test system. Demineralized bone matrix was implanted subcutaneously in young (35-day-old) male Long-Evans rats that had been fed a semisynthetic Mg-deficient diet (50 ppm Mg) for 7 days. Plasma Mg levels were reduced to 25–30% of control values at that time. Control rats were pairfed the same diet, supplemented to contain 1000 ppm Mg. The implants were harvested 7, 9, 11, 15, and 20 days after implantation and analyzed for Mg and Ca content,45Ca incorporation, and alkaline phosphatase levels. At each stage, plaques (implants) removed from Mg-deficient rats showed retardation in cartilage and bone differentiation and matrix calcification. Magnesium content was markedly reduced when compared to the control plaques. Histological appearance of the matrix-induced plaques confirmed the retardation in bone development and mineralization suggested by the chemical indicators. Most marked was the virtual absence of bone marrow in 20-day-old plaques in Mg-depleted rats. These data show that bone cell differentiation can occur in a severely Mg-depleted environment, although the onset of mineralization and bone remodeling was delayed and bone marrow differentiation was impaired.
Nationalism vs. Internationalism: Fears, Uncertainties and Geopolitics in Europe

Current events have created fears and uncertainties about peace in Europe and in the world as a whole. These concerns are a response to the rise of Vladimir Putin and the Russian-nationalist policies he has pursued vis-a-vis the former Soviet republics of Georgia, Ukraine, and elsewhere; Brexit—the British referendum calling for U.K. withdrawal from the European Union (EU); the emergence of an America-first, nationalist rhetoric in the Trump administration in the United States; and rising nationalist sentiments in other European countries. Do these events mark the beginning of the end of the multilateralist, liberal order that has avoided general war and sustained the European peace? More specifically, are we returning to the kind of realist geopolitics among states that prevailed prior to the two world wars and, for that matter, in previous centuries? Given the rise of this nationalism, how durable are the liberal institutions and norms of the post-World War II and post-Cold War orders?
Generalized Principal Component Analysis

Generalized principal component analysis (GLM-PCA) facilitates dimension reduction of non-normally distributed data. We provide a detailed derivation of GLM-PCA with a focus on optimization. We also demonstrate how to incorporate covariates, and suggest post-processing transformations to improve interpretability of latent factors.
Southern Ocean Phytoplankton Blooms Observed by Biogeochemical Floats

The spring bloom in the Southern Ocean is the rapid-growth phase of the seasonal cycle in phytoplankton. Many previous studies have characterized the spring bloom using chlorophyll estimates from satellite ocean color observations. Assumptions regarding the chlorophyll-to-carbon ratio within phytoplankton and vertical structure of biogeochemical variables lead to uncertainty in satellite-based estimates of phytoplankton carbon biomass. Here, we revisit the characterizations of the bloom using optical backscatter from biogeochemical floats deployed by the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modelling (SOCCOM) and Southern Ocean and Climate Field Studies with Innovative Tools (SOCLIM) projects. In particular, by providing a three-dimensional view of the seasonal cycle, we are able to identify basin-wide bloom characteristics corresponding to physical features; biomass is low in Ekman downwelling regions north of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) region, and high within and south of the ACC.
Do herpesviruses play a role in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis?

Recent studies have brought renewed interest to the hypothesis that infection plays a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In particular, herpesviruses such as herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) have had an extensive history of association with AD. The interplay between viral infection and a variety of neurological diseases has long been an area of interest but proving causality has been elusive. Two recent studies, Readhead et al. (2018) and Eimer et al. (2018) have again renewed the debate concerning the role of pathogens (herpesviruses) in AD. In this review, we will briefly discuss the literature in support of a herpesvirus role in AD pathogenesis and try to bridge two main observations in AD research; the ability of Aβ to aggregate with pathogens, and the detection of herpesviruses in AD brain material compared to non-AD controls. While the data linking AD and human herpesviruses suggest that these pathogens may contribute to disease progression, further work is needed to determine the significance of these observations, if any, to the etiology of the disease.
Early Stroke Recognition and Time-based Emergency Care Performance Metrics for Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Abstract Background and Aim: Performance measures have been extensively studied for acute ischemic stroke, leading to guideline-established benchmarks. Factors influencing care efficiency for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are not well delineated. We sought to identify factors associated with early recognition of ICH and to assess the association between early recognition and completion of emergency care tasks. Methods: Consecutive patients with spontaneous ICH were enrolled in an observational cohort study conducted from 2009 to 2017 at an urban comprehensive stroke center, excluding patient transferred from other hospitals. We used stroke team activation as the indicator of early recognition and measured completion times for multiple ICH-relevant performance metrics including door to computed tomography (CT) acquisition and door to hemostatic medication initiation. Results: We studied 204 cases. All stroke-related performance times were faster in patients managed with stroke team activation compared to no activation, including quicker door to CT acquisition (median 24 versus 48 minutes, P
Racial Microaggressions and Racial Battle Fatigue: Work-Life Experiences of Black School Principals

In this study, quantitative descriptive and qualitative phenomenological design are used to interpret survey data from the lived experiences of Black school principals (n = 39) who have self-identi...
Learning What You Need: Modifying Treatment Programs for LGBTQ Perpetrators of IPV

Batterer intervention programs (BIPs) are the predominant form of treatment for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the U.S. because these programs tend to be the go-to treatment option mandated by U.S. courts. Recent scholarship has begun to take seriously that LGBTQ folks use violence to mediate their intimate relationships in comparable or increased rates as opposite-sex relationships. As LGBTQ people are increasingly accepted into society as equal rightsholders, and as such are increasingly arrested at similar rates to perpetrators in opposite-sex relationships, we can expect that LGBTQ people will also similarly be mandated to BIPs for treatment of IPV perpetration. But are BIPs prepared to treat LGBTQ perpetrators of IPV? This chapter will assess current treatment programs for LGBTQ perpetrators of IPV, identify necessary modifications to treatment programs for LGBTQ populations, and discuss important avenues for future research.
Predicting Public Transit Arrival Times: A Hybrid Deep Neural Network Approach

Accurately predicting arrival times in public transit operations can be difficult due to the inherent variability. We propose a deep learning tool to address this problem. The methodology combines an artificial neural network approach that makes predictions based on static features and a recurrent neural network which captures time series patterns. We use a New Orleans Regional Transit Authority dataset collected by automatic passenger counter devices to calibrate and test our method of forecasting for both buses and streetcars. The results of our experiments show modest improvement in terms of mean absolute percentage of error compared to existing models.
Severe Persistent Pain and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Sickle Cell Disease: An Exploratory Study

Background:Severe pain is among the most common and deleterious symptoms experienced by individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD), of whom more than 50% report chronic pain. Despite this, the unde...
Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen Partial Pressure in Expiratory Water Condensate Are Equivalent to Mixed Expired Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen

This study was to determine whether the PconCO2 and PconO, which collect in the expiratory trap of a ventilator circuit are equivalent to PĒCO2 and PĒO2. Fifty studies were performed in 34 mechanically ventilated male patients. Five milliliters of condensate fluid were collected and PĒCO2 and PĒO2 were measured. Exhaled gases were collected simultaneously with condensate fluid for 5 min in a meteorologic balloon and FĒCO2 and FĒO2 were measured; PĒCO2 and PĒO2 were then calculated. The mean PĒCO2 was not significantly different from PconCO2 nor was the PconO2 significantly different from the condensate PconO2. There was a high correlation between mixed expired PĒCO2 and PconCO2 as well as PĒO2 and PconO2. These data indicate expiratory PconCO2 and PconO2 provide a valid reflection of PĒCO2 and PEO2. The PconCO2 and PconO, measured in a clinical blood gas analyzer are accurate and may be used in calculation of Vd/Vt and in metabolic assessments.
Primary care psychology

The interface between professional psychology and primary care medicine has begun to burgeon. This specialty area has challenged psychologists to rethink their roles, functions, and modalities of professional practice. Primary care psychology, as a model for integrating psychology and medicine, is at the forefront of the health care reform movement, rooted in the interest to deliver more efficient and effective health care. As specialty areas, in light of patient needs, primary care medicine and primary care psychology are interdependent and intertwined. The primary care medicine model is distinctively characterized as being a patient-centered approach. Primary care physicians (PCPs) confront problems on a daily basis for which 8 of the top 10 leading gauges of health are essentially behavioral in nature. Moreover, mental health problems are highly prevalent in primary care. The missing link has been the lack of primary care psychology to attend to these ongoing challenges and to shore up the breadth of services provided by the PCP. This chapter provides a historical overview of primary care medicine and psychology and reviews critical tasks confronting psychologists in attempting to meet this important challenge. Five common behavioral health problems and five medical problems seen in primary care settings are reviewed with a focus on clinical manifestation and prevalence, assessment and diagnostic issues, potential treatments, and points of collaboration between primary care psychologists and PCPs. Future directions are also addressed. Keywords: primary care psychology; interprofessional collaboration; integrated health care; biopsychosocial model
Coping across the Lifespan

Coping is a process integral to adaptation and development. As an organizational construct, coping includes ‘all those efforts to deal with environmental pressures that [can] not be handled by reflexes or organized skills, but [involve] struggles, trials, persistent focused energy directed toward a goal’ (Murphy 1974, p. 71). Coping is considered to unfold over time and to incorporate processes from many levels, including evolutionary, physiological, psychological, and social features. How individuals deal with stress and how its affects their physical and mental functioning have been examined across the life span and in many domains, including health, work, family, parenting, school, peers, unemployment, aging, and nonnormative life events, like accidents, crime victimization, cultural upheaval, economic downturns, war, and relocation. Mainstream research, focusing on the measurement and correlates of coping, has been criticized for lack of consensus about a taxonomy of coping, for overreliance on self-reports, and for use of cross-sectional designs. Process-oriented studies in both naturalistic and lab settings, using a variety of assessments (interviews, narratives, daily reports, observations) and examining intra-individual relations and change over time, promise to reinvigorate the area. Closely related terms include stress, stressor, stressful life events, defense, challenge, threat, adversity, risk, resilience, mastery, vulnerability, thriving, hardiness, and social support.
Escape and migration of nucleic acids between chloroplasts, mitochondria, and the nucleus

The escape and migration of genetic information between mitochondria, chloroplasts, and nuclei have been an integral part of evolution and has a continuing impact on the biology of cells. The evolutionary transfer of functional genes and fragments of genes from chloroplasts to mitochondria, from chloroplasts to nuclei, and from mitochondria to nuclei has been documented for numerous organisms. Most documented instances of genetic material transfer have involved the transfer of information from mitochondria and chloroplasts to the nucleus. The pathways for the escape of DNA from organelles may include transient breaches in organellar membranes during fusion and/or budding processes, terminal degradation of organelles by autophagy coupled with the subsequent release of nucleic acids to the cytoplasm, illicit use of nucleic acid or protein import machinery, or fusion between heterotypic membranes. Some or all of these pathways may lead to the escape of DNA or RNA from organellar compartments with subsequent uptake of nucleic acids from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. Investigations into the escape of DNA from mitochondria in yeast have shown the rate of escape for gene-sized fragments of DNA from mitochondria and its subsequent migration to the nucleus to be roughly equivalent to the rate of spontaneous mutation of nuclear genes. Smaller fragments of mitochondrial DNA may appear in the nucleus even more frequently. Mutations of nuclear genes that define gene products important in controlling the rate of DNA escape from mitochondria in yeast also have been described. The escape of genetic material from mitochondria and chloroplasts has clearly had an impact on nuclear genetic organization throughout evolution and may also affect cellular metabolic processes.
The Strong Equivalence Principle and its Violation

In this paper, we discuss theoretical and observational aspects of an SEP violation. We present a two-times theory as a possible framework to handle an SEP violation and summarize the tests performed to check the compatibility of such violation with a host of data ranging from nucleosynthesis to geophysics. We also discuss the dynamical equations needed to analyze radar ranging data to reveal an SEP violation and in particular the method employed by Shapiro and Reasenberg.
CMS Silicon Strips Operations and Performance

The CMS silicon strip tracker is the largest silicon detector ever built with almost 10 million readout channels and an active area of close to 200 m2. With more than 15,000 individual microstrip silicon modules are powered by almost 1000 power supply modules and produce more than 60 kW of power while operating at low temperatures. Results from the successful operation of the tracker at the first LHC collisions at 0.9, 2.4, and 7 TeV, including environmental control, calibration, detector performance, and monitoring, are discussed. The detector performance is excellent manifested in a nearly 100 % functional tracker with high single hit efficiency, good S/N performance, and high quality track resolution. This is made possible by a fine-grained calibration process and a monitoring of all important quantities for the detector performance during different stages of the operation.
The impact of a home-based computerized cognitive training intervention on fall risk measure performance in community dwelling older adults, a pilot study

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive intervention studies have reported improvements in various domains of cognition as well as a transfer effect of improved function post training. Despite the availability of web based cognitive training programs, most intervention studies have been performed under the supervision of researchers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to first, examine the feasibility of a six week home based computerized cognitive training (CCT) program in a group of community dwelling older adults and, second, to determine if a CCT program which focused on set shifting, attention, and visual spatial ability impacted fall risk measure performance. DESIGN: This pilot study used a pretest/posttest experimental design with randomization by testing site to an intervention or control group. PARTICIPANTS: Community dwelling older adults (mean age = 74.6 years) participated in either the control (N=25) or the intervention group (N=19). INTERVENTION: Intervention group subjects participated in 6 weeks of home based CCT 3x/week for an average of 23 minutes/session, using an online CCT program. MEASUREMENTS: Comparisons of mean scores on three measures of physical function (usual gait speed, five times sit to stand, timed up and go) were completed at baseline and week 7. RESULTS: Following the completion of an average of 18 sessions of CCT at home with good adherence (86%) and retention (92%) rates, a statistically significant difference in gait speed was found between groups with an average improvement of 0.14m/s in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: A home based CCT program is a feasible approach to targeting cognitive impairments known to influence fall risk and changes in gait in older adults. Language: en
BaNi 2 V 2 O 8 : A two-dimensional honeycomb antiferromagnet

The magnetic properties of ${\mathrm{BaNi}}_{2}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ are reported. The magnetic Ni ions are arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb net. Susceptibility, specific heat, and neutron diffraction measurements reveal the onset of antiferromagnetic long-range ordering (LRO) close to 50 K. Diffuse scattering that is characteristic of strong 2D magnetic correlations are observed up to 100 K. $\ensuremath{\chi}(T)$ of $\mathrm{Ba}({\mathrm{Ni}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mg}}_{x}{)}_{2}{\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ $(0l~xl~0.2)$ shows the gradual disappearance of LRO with doping.
A Meta-Study of Merger Retrospectives in the United States

Over the last decade, merger retrospectives have become increasingly popular. However, it is far from clear what implications can be drawn from these analyses, because the results suffer from a sample selection problem. This paper uses models of the Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement activity to estimate challenge probabilities and address the selection issue. Although the small size of the meta-study panel limits the statistical interpretation of the results, general observations are possible. First, significant price effects appear in the matters with very high challenge probabilities. When challenge probabilities are moderate, roughly 30-60 percent, retrospective results generate price effects in half the studies. For low challenge probabilities, no price effects are observed in the retrospectives related to collusion theories. Positive effects are noted for retrospectives in some consumer goods markets, but theoretical analysis implies these results are questionable. Although retrospectives, interpreted in light of the likely competitive concern, can serve as a test for merger policy, policy predictions also serve as a test of the credibility of the retrospectives.
Orthogonal measurement of thoracic aorta luminal diameter using ECG-gated high-resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography.

Purpose To compare orthogonal measurements of the thoracic aortic luminal diameter to standard axial measurements within the same patient population using ECG-gated high-resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA). Materials and Methods In all, 45 consecutive patients who had undergone CE-MRA for suspected disease of the thoracic aorta were evaluated retrospectively. Two diameter measurement techniques were performed for each patient's thoracic aorta: standard axial and orthogonal to the aorta. Seven anatomic locations along the thoracic aorta were used for measurement. The data obtained were compared using a paired, two-tailed t-test. Results We found that the aorta diameter measurements acquired from axial MRA images were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than those acquired from images orthogonal to the course of the aorta at six of seven anatomic sites. Overall, standard axial measurements were found to overestimate luminal diameter of the thoracic aorta by 0.24 cm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.14, 0.33) compared to orthogonal measurements. 13.3% of the patients were placed into a greater aorta size classification based on the axial versus the orthogonal measurements. Conclusion Standard axial measurements can overestimate vessel size of the thoracic aorta. ECG-gated high-resolution CE-MRA can be used to measure orthogonal diameters of the thoracic aorta. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Winning Behavior: What the Smartest, Most Successful Companies Do Differently

This article presents a review of the book “Winning Behavior: What the Smartest, Most Successful Companies Do Differently,” by Terry R. Bacon and David G. Pugh.
Purification and properties of a nuclear DNA endonuclease from HeLa S3 cells.

Abstract An endonuclease that can act on calf thymus DNA and circular double-stranded phage PM2 DNA has been isolated from HeLa S3 cell chromatin. Approximately 200-fold purification was achieved by a sequence of subcellular fractionation, differential NaCl solubility and chromatography on CM-Sephadex, DEAE-cellulose and hydroxyapatite, and isoelectric focusing. The pH optimum of the enzyme is 7.0 ± 0.5 and the isoelectric point is pH 5.1 ± 0.2 . Divalent cations are necessary for its activity and the enzyme is heat inactivated at 60°C. The enzyme activity is sensitive to caffene and sulfhydryl reacting compounds. The molecular weight, determined by gel filtration and SDS gel electrophoresis, is approx. 22 000.
An analytical description of employment according to race, sex, prestige, and Holland type of work

Abstract The composition of employment was examined using 1970 census data for employed civilians, Holland's occupational typology, and a prestige scale. The present report extends earlier examinations of the labor force using these dimensions by studying the sex and race composition of types of work at several levels of prestige, and by examining the extent of government employment among men and women in different jobs. Results indicate areas where women and blacks are under- and over-represented. In addition, because of the association between type of work and prestige level, aspirations or interest in a type of work may have implications for the level of work that is available. Counseling and research implications of the results are discussed.
Variant and invariant characteristics of speech movements

Upper lip, lower lip, and jaw kinematics during select speech behaviors were studied in an attempt to identify potential invariant characteristics associated with this highly skilled motor behavior. Data indicated that speech motor actions are executed and planned presumably in terms of relatively invariant combined multimovement gestures. In contrast, the individual upper lip, lower lip, and jaw movements and their moment-to-moment coordination were executed in a variable manner, demonstrating substantial motor equivalence. Based on the trial-to-trial variability in the movement amplitudes, absolute positions, and velocities of the upper lip, lower lip, and jaw, it appears that speech motor planning is not formulated in terms of spatial coordinates. Seemingly, object-level planning for speech may be encoded in relation to the acoustic consequences of the movements and ultimately with regard to listener's auditory perceptions. In addition, certain temporal parameters among the three movements (relative times of movement onsets and velocity peaks) were related stereotypically, reflecting invariances characteristic of more automatic motor behaviors such as chewing and locomotion. These data thus appear to provide some additional insights into the hierarchy of multimovement control. At the top of the motor control hierarchy, the overall plan appears to be generated with explicit specification of certain temporal parameters. Subsequently, based upon the plan and within that stereotypic temporal framework, covariable adjustments among the individual movements are implemented. Given the results of previous perturbation studies, it is hypothesized that these covariable velocity and amplitude adjustments reflect the action of sensorimptor mechanisms.
A cost analysis of autologous and allogeneic transfusions in hip-replacement surgery.

Purpose To analyze the cost consequences of autologous versus allogeneic transfusions. Methods Costs were determined when allogeneic transfusions were given in addition to, or instead of, autologous transfusions. Hospital charges were used to estimate costs for hip-replacement surgery. The main outcome measure was estimated incremental hospital costs per unit transfused. Results Among donors of autologous blood, mean total charges were $7,200 greater for recipients of both autologous and allogeneic transfusions than for recipients of autologous transfusion only (P = 0.0001). Each allogeneic transfusion was associated with additional costs of $1,480. In a second cohort of patients receiving identical amounts of either allogeneic or autologous blood (mean = 2.3 units), total hospital charges were a mean of $4,800 greater (P = 0.0001) for allogeneic recipients. The perunit excess costs associated with each unit of allogeneic blood in this cohort were $1,043. Conclusions Allogeneic transfusions are associated with incremental hospital costs of about $1,000 to $1,500 per unit transfused when compared with costs for similar patients receiving no transfusions or 1 to 5 units of autologous blood.
Quasi-one-dimensional model of pretransitional soft mode behavior

Pretransitional effects at displacive phase transitions are temperature dependent responses to fluctuations of the order parameter; these give rise to 1-D correlations in martensitic transformations when lattice dynamical constraints divide the “hard mode” 3-D correlation of the Bain distortion in order to maintain the mean field on a macroscopic scale. The quasi-one-dimensional (QOD) soft mode model of the latttice-variant-shear-theory (LVST) is described and its relevance to pretransitional nucleation and soft mode behavior, discussed. The 1-D correlations give rise to localized soft modes aboveTm, which nucleate microdomains of an intermediate phase at dissociated dislocations; these grow with second order kinetics and maintain the mean field when microdomains of opposite displacement vector cancel each other. Pretransitional behavior, predicted by LVST, are compared with experimental data in a wide range of materials and show why materials with different order parameters show similar transformation behavior.
Effect of pencil diameter on the graphomotor skill of preschoolers

Abstract The primary objective of the study was to examine whether pencil diameter affects preschoolers' pencil management and performance. The sample consisted of 48 preschoolers who ranged in age from 48 through 65 months. Each child was observed as he or she used both a large and a regular diameter pencil to perform selected graphomotor tasks. An observer recorded information regarding pencil management and preference. Specific performance criteria were used to rate the products of the tasks. Findings were consistent with previous research. There did not appear to be differences in pencil management and performance related to pencil diameter. However, there was some evidence to support the existence of a positive relationship between management and performance. Therefore, the recommendation to preschool caregivers and teachers is that both large and small diameter pencils be provided for preschool graphomotor activities.
Interpreting magic-number and evaporation effects in cluster size distributions

The Smoluchowski equations describe the coalescence of clusters to form larger clusters. If the kernels or rate constants in these equations are homogeneous, meaning thatKλj, λk =λ2ωKjk (wherej andk are cluster sizes), it can be shown that the populationsnk approachAkae -bk for largek and large time, where the constantsa andb depend on the homogeneity parameterω. Deviations of observed populations from this formula may be ascribed to magic-number and/or evaporation effects on the kernels. By integrating the Smoluchowski equations numerically for various choices of the kernels, we derive population distributions and show the effects of magic-number clusters and evaporation on the population distribution. Various methods are used to extract the value ofω, in order to determine the best way to extract the underlying value ofω from experimental data. Experimental populations for sodium metal clusters are then analyzed according to the same procedure, to extract the homogeneity parameter and explain the patterns in the population distribution.
AQUEOUS DISPERSION RHEOLOGY OF EXTRUSION COOKED MAIZE

The effects of twin screw extrusion cooking of maize grits at different high moisture contents are described. Starch granules survive in the extrudate at high extrusion moisture or with a low shear screw configuration. The aqueous dispersion rheology of the milled extrudate and its dependence on shear rate and heat treatment is explained in terms of the starch swelling behaviour and solubility. These data resemble that of raw maize most closely for the low shear screw configuration. For the high shear configuration under similar conditions of moisture, temperature and mechanical energy dissipation, starch granules are not seen and the dispersion rheology is markedly different from that of raw maize.
Can one learn history from the allelic spectrum

It is well known that the neutral allelic frequency spectrum of a population is affected by the history of population size. A number of authors have used this fact to infer history given observed allele frequency data. We ask whether perfect information concerning the spectrum allows precise recovery of the history, and with an explicit example show that the answer is in the negative. This implies some limitations on how informative allelic spectra can be.
Pycnogenol® and cardiovascular health

A vast number of pharmacological and clinical studies indicate that Pycnogenol®, a standardised extract of French maritime pine bark (Pinus pinaster), bears various favourable health benefits for the cardiovascular system. Pycnogenol is primarily composed of phenolic acids, derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acid, and procyanidins. The latter are biopolymers of catechin and epicatechin subunits, which are recognised as important constituents in human nutrition. Bioavailability studies in humans show that Pycnogenol® constituents enter the blood stream as early as 2 hours after consumption and significantly increase the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). In addition to the antioxidant activity, Pycnogenol enhances production of vasodilatory endothelial nitric oxide and prostacyclin. In contrast, serum concentration of vasoconstrictory mediators endothelin-1 and thromboxane are lowered in response to supplementation with Pycnogenol. This review gives an overview of clinical studies demonstrating that supplementation with Pycnogenol reduces platelet activity, lowers high blood pressure, relaxes artery constriction and improves blood circulation. Moreover, Pycnogenol reduces serum levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol and increases high-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol. We conclude that Pycnogenol has the potential to counteract all important cardiovascular risk factors simultaneously.
Radial velocity studies of HeII and H β emission from cataclysmic variables

Abstract Radial velocity (RV) plots of HeII and H β emission lines from non-magnetic Cataclysmic Variable (CV) systems are frequently fit with a sin curve but sometimes contain outlying data points around phase ϕ ∼ 1.0 . A lack of consensus exists on the origin of these outlying points. In this work, we develop an analytical model that is based upon our 3D Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic (SPH) numerical model to simulate these RV curves. Our chosen targets are CV SW Sextanis-like systems UX Uma and RW Tri as well as SU UMa dwarf novae systems H α 0242–28 and 1RXSJ1808+10, which have secondary-to-primary mass ratios of q = (0.43, 0.86, 0.27, 0.18), respectively. In our model, we include disk eccentricity, inclination angle, degree of disk-tilt, bright spot (s), and/or gas stream overflow. Our model provides good non-sinusoidal fits to the observed RV data, including outlying data points near ϕ ∼ 1.0 , suggesting these excess points may be caused by gas-stream overflow.
Love the one you're with: the HIV, B cell and TFH cell triangle.

Many HIV-infected people show impaired humoral immune responses, but it is unclear why. A new view into this conundrum may be provided with the recent discovery of altered interactions between follicular helper T (TFH) cells and germinal center B cells from HIV-infected individuals. This leads to inadequate TFH cell help for germinal center B cells and decreased B cell antibody responses (pages 494–499).