cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intimate partner violence among female service members and veterans: information and resources available through military and non-military websites.

With the expansion of women’s roles in the military, the number of female service members and veterans has increased. Considerable knowledge about intimate partner violence (IPV) in civilian couples exists but little is known about IPV among female service members and veterans. Prevalence rates of IPV range from 17% to 39% for female service members, and 21.9% to 74% for veterans. Most service members and veterans indicated using the Internet at least occasionally and expressed willingness to seek information about services via the Internet. Informed by data, we conducted a systematic review of military (Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps) and non-military (Veterans Affairs and Google) websites to explore the availability and presentation of information and resources related to IPV. The websites search revealed a variety of resources and information available, and important differences between sites with regard to what and how information is presented. Implications for practice and further research a...
A new genus and species of mealybug with a consideration of morphological convergence in three arboreal species (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)

Descriptions and illustrations are given of male and female instars of the mealybug Plotococcus eugeniae, gen.n. and sp.n. This pseudococcid inhabits the dense hammock vegetation of southern Florida and is found pri­ marily on Eugenia. It has the unusual habit of infesting many microhabitats on leaf undersurfaces rather than limiting its distribution to primary and secondary veins as do most leaf-inhabiting mealybugs. Plotococcus eugeniae has unusually long legs, tarsal claws, antennae, and lateral wax fIlaments. Lepto­ coccus metroxyli Reyne from New Guinea and Macrocepicoccus loranthi Morrison from Guyana also have these features. These species are redescribed and illustrated, and morphological comparisons are given that document the similarity of gross body structure among all three taxa. Evidence is presented suggesting that the unique morphology of these species has evolved in­ dependently through selection for dispersal as adult females.
Painful Papule of the Ear: A Follicular Disorder

Abstract. The etiology of painful papule of the external ear, chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis, has been an enigma for over half a century. I reviewed 84 skin biopsy specimens from 82 patients with this histopathologic diagnosis and found evidence that the infundibular portion of the hair follicle is probably the primary cutaneous structure involved in this condition. This lesion appears to evolve from an acute, suppurative, granulomatous dermatitis into a later-fibrosing dermatitis having the clinical and histologic features of perforating folliculitis and prurigo nodularis.
Recovery of retrograde fast pathway excitability in the atrioventricular node reentrant circuit after concealed anterograde impulse penetration

The recovery of the retrograde fast pathway excitability in atrioventricular (AV) node reentry has been difficult to assess with ventricular extrastimulation because of difficulty in achieving sufficiently short intranodal coupling intervals and the potential interposition of "lower common pathway" nodal tissue. To circumvent these methodologic obstacles in 10 patients with inducible AV node reentrant tachycardia, a fixed atrial extrastimulus (A2) coupled to a basic atrial drive (A1) at a cycle length of 500 ms was utilized to reproducibly initiate AV node reentrant echoes. A ventricular extrastimulus (V3) was then introduced after A2 at progressively shorter coupling intervals (A2V3) in an attempt to pre-excite the retrograde fast pathway after concealed anterograde penetration by A2. In six patients, retrograde fast pathway pre-excitation was achieved at critical A2V3 intervals, as evidenced by the appearance of A3 by up to 28 +/- 6 ms in advance of the expected first AV node reentrant echo. In five of the six cases, the V3A3 interval was virtually unaltered (less than or equal to 5 ms decrease) when A2 was omitted. In seven patients, at a critically short A2V3 coupling interval (195 +/- 27 ms ), V3 abruptly failed to elicit A3 and concomitantly abolished all AV node echoes; yet when A2 was omitted, an A3 response returned, with V3A3 identical to previous values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Neutron-diffraction study of magnetically ordered Er 2 Fe 3 Si 5

The magnetic ordering of ${\mathrm{Er}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Fe}}_{3}$${\mathrm{Si}}_{5}$ has been studied by neutron-diffraction techniques at low temperatures. At 4.3 K, the crystal structure is tetragonal (space group $\frac{P4}{\mathrm{mnc}}$, $a=10.393$ \AA{}, $c=5.428$ \AA{}). The atomic positional parameters were determined by Rietveld refinement of the data. Magnetic scattering peaks at positions incommensurate with the chemical cell are observed below 2.85 K. Below about 2.55 K, a second set of magnetic peaks appears, at positions commensurate with the chemical cell, but with the tetragonal $a$ axis doubled. Between 2.55 and 2.45 K, the two sets of magnetic peaks coexist, and hysteresis of about 0.01 K is observed. In this temperature region, peaks from the incommensurate phase steadily decrease in intensity as temperature is reduced until, below 2.45 K, only commensurate peaks are present. The commensurate peaks increase in intensity as the temperature is reduced down to the lowest temperatures studied. Rietveld refinement of data taken at 1.83 K shows the magnetic intensities to be well accounted for by a noncollinear magnetic structure whose principal features are the following: (1) ordering occurs only at Er-atom sites, the moment being $8.2{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ at 1.83 K, and (2) the moments are ordered in the (001) planes with a noncollinear arrangement along the $〈110〉$ set of directions, the $c$ glide planes of the chemical structure being retained in the magnetic cell (space group ${C}_{p}\mathrm{cc}{m}^{\ensuremath{'}}$)). For the incommensurate model, all elements of the commensurate arrangement are retained, but a sinusoidal modulation along [001] with a wavelength of about $5.7c$ is introduced. This wavelength is independent of temperature to within \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3%. Specific-heat measurements were also performed on the sample. These measurements show three peaks, one at 2.75 K corresponding to the onset of magnetic order and two others at 2.45 and 2.43 K in the coexistence region of the incommensurate and commensurate phases.
Drivers’ psychological and physical reactions after motor vehicle accidents

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate if drivers that reported being in at least one motor vehicle accident (MVA) within the past five years would report greater psychological and physical reactions than drivers not being in an accident. Of particular interest were psychological conditions such as greater fears for personal safety, worries about driving, driver stress, exhaustion, and disproportional negative physical symptoms such as headaches and sleeplessness. A second research goal was to determine the role of gender in drivers’ post-accident reactions. The study was conducted using 124 drivers. The results, using MANOVA, showed the drivers that reported being in a MVA within the past five years reported significantly greater fears for personal safety, worries about driving, exhaustion, and negative physical symptoms than did drivers not being in a MVA. Female MVA victims reported greater personal safety concerns and disproportionate negative physical symptoms than did the male drivers.
A 3-D FPGA wire resource prediction model validated using a 3-D placement and routing tool

The interconnection architecture of FPGAs such as switches dominates performance of FPGAs. Three-dimensional integration of FPGAs overcomes interconnect limitations by allowing instances to be located and signals to be routed in 3-D space. Wire resource prediction is important for fast and accurate interconnection planning in 3-D FPGA. In this paper, we extend the existing analytic model shown in [13] with a new parameter for our 3-D FPGA which has cluster-based logic blocks. The proposed wire resource prediction model is applied to our 3-D FPGA using a Xilinx Virtex2 slice [18] and our 3-D routing architecture. We validate the effectiveness of the extended model by comparing the required number of channel wires predicted by the extended analytic equation with that of the placed and routed results using 3-D placement and routing algorithm designed for our 3-D FPGA for a number of benchmark circuits. The extended 3-D wire resource prediction model predicts the required channel capacity with an average of 11.1% error for 17 large circuits from LGSynth93 and ISPD2001 Verilog benchmarks.
STREAMING POTENTIALS IN A BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANE.

STREAMING potentials, the converse of electro-osmosis and one of the four classical electrokinetic phenomena, are the electrical potential differences frequently observed across charged artificial membranes through which water is being forced. They arise from the fact that if the membrane matrix bears, say, negative fixed charges, the aqueous channels through the membrane will contain more mobile cations than mobile anions. An applied water flow will then sweep out fluid with an excess of cations, and the side of the membrane towards which water is flowing will acquire an electrical potential of a sign opposite to that of the membrane matrix. Recently, streaming potentials were observed across a biological membrane1. This communication describes streaming potentials across the gall-bladder of the rabbit and their significance for the problem of biological water transport.
The State of Special Education Leadership Training and College and University Faculty: What We Know and What We Don't.

Predictions that the field of special education was going to face a shortage of faculty were made in the late 1980s, but no concentrated efforts were made to stave off this supply and demand imbalance. The result is a problem today and the likelihood of an even more substantial problem in the years to come. Simply put, the demand for the product (special education doctoral graduates) is in excess of the supply. Doctoral programs are producing fewer graduates, and more and more of those graduates do not seek careers as faculty members across the nation. There are many identified reasons for this situation, but not all of the factors contributing to this problem have been studied. Regardless, it is critical that the field come to understand the independent and compounding variables contributing to faculty shortages and begin to develop strategies, direct incentives, and initiatives that will solve the problem. This article provides a synthesis of the research conducted to-date, and outlines topics that must...
The Ontogeny of Uterine Pathology and Pathophysiology Following Neonatal Androgen Administration

These experiments show altered uterine cell functions following neonatal androgen treatment in the Holtzman subline of Sprague-Dawley rats. Litter size was limited to 8. Females which were androgenzied (AF) received a single sc dose of 1.25 mg testosterone propionate on Postnatal Day 3 or 4. Control females (NF) received only the sesame oil twice daily. Other females received 2 mcg of EB or vehicle twice daily. Estrogeninduce protein was found to be the same in propubettal normal and AF females. With 1 exception uterine weights were similar in NF controls and AF animals at all ages. Ovariectomy on Day 23 caused similar atrophy estrogen administration given on Day 23 there was a marked difference in the response of NF and AF animals. In weanlings the specific activity of trichloracetic acid (TCA) precipitable proteins was similar in control and in estrogen-stimulated NF and AF animals. At 38 days tissue glycogen levels were higher in NF than in AF animals but at 66 days of age glycogen in NF animals was only 1/3 of that in AF animals. Histological differences in the uteri were 1st detectable at 20 days of age and were progressive. Ovarian tissues showed no differences. At 2 months of age AF animals showed squamous metaplasia of the endometrial lining. At 3 months of age this was more extensive and muscle thickness was increased. The action of testosterone was apparently directly at the level of uterus. The presence of an ovary was needed for the complete expression of the syndrome of androgenization. Data suggest that in the female rat early androgen therapy alters the metabolism of steroid responsive cells and that ovarian hormones are related to the expression of altered uterine function.
RUL Prediction for Individual Units Based on Condition Monitoring Signals With a Change Point

In this article, we propose a method to predict the remaining useful life (RUL) for individual units based on condition monitoring signals with a change point. In this work, we assume the units are subject to hard failure. The existence of a sudden change point in the condition monitoring signal indicates an increase of the probability of system failure. Therefore, this information should be considered in the RUL prediction. In the proposed method, an extended form of the joint prognostic model (JPM) considering a change point (JPM-C) is proposed, and the change point is detected according to the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The advantageous features of the proposed method have been shown through a numerical simulation, and a case study of the battery useful life prediction.
A rapidly-tunable acousto-optic spectrometer for tunable lasers

Summary form only given. As a complement to our work developing rapidly-tunable (/spl sim/10-100 kHz) CO/sub 2/ lasers for differential absorption lidar (DIAL) applications, we have developed a rapidly-tunable spectrometer. A rapid spectral diagnostic is critical for a high speed DIAL system, since analysis of the return signals depends on knowing the spectral purity of the transmitted beam.
Research Advances: Spinach Nutrient Levels; Steering Oil Droplets; Possible Explanation of Left-Handed Preference?

This installment of Research Advances describes investigations of how supermarket storage affects spinach nutrient levels, working on oil droplets that can navigate a maze, and an explanation of nature’s selection for l-amino acids.
Pressure-induced regulation of IL-6 in retinal glial cells: involvement of the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway and NFkappaB.

PURPOSE. To investigate how hydrostatic pressure influences regulation of interleukin (IL)-6 by retinal glia and whether this regulation is associated with the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway (UPP) and activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)B. METHODS. Astrocytes and microglia isolated from rat retina were maintained in vitro, and the IL-6 concentration in the media at ambient and elevated pressure were compared, with and without the proteasome inhibitor MG132 (10 M). Immunocytochemistry was used to correlate translocation of NFB with pressure. RESULTS. Exposure to elevated pressure for 24 hours maximally altered the concentration of media IL-6 of glia cultures, where IL-6 concentrations decreased in astrocyte cultures and increased in microglia cultures. These pressure-induced changes in IL-6 were largely insensitive to MG132 in astrocytes, but were largely MG132-sensitive in microglia. Like IL-6 regulation, pressure-induced activation of NFB also differed between the two glial cell types, where nuclear localization of NFB was transient in astrocytes, but sustained in microglia. Elevated pressure also increased MG132-sensitive expression of IL-6 mRNA by microglia. CONCLUSIONS. Though pressure-induced regulation of IL-6 by astrocytes is preceded by NFB translocation, it is not altered by MG132 and therefore is not likely to be regulated by NFB or the UPP. In contrast, pressure-induced regulation of IL-6 protein and mRNA by microglia is preceded by NFB translocation and is sensitive to MG132. Together with precedence in the literature, these data suggest that pressure-induced activation of the UPP leads to transcription of IL-6 driven by NFB. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006;47:3860‐3869) DOI:10.1167/ iovs.05-1408
Influence of streambed hydraulic conductivity on solute exchange with the hyporheic zone

A conservative solute tracer experiment was conducted in Indian Creek, a small urban stream in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to investigate the role of subsurface properties on the exchange between streamwater and the hyporheic zone (subsurface surrounding the stream). Sodium Bromide (NaBr) was used as a conservative tracer, and it was monitored in the surface water at two stations and in the upper bed sediments (shallow hyporheic zone extending from 7.5 to 10 cm below the streambed). The hydraulic conductivity (K) of the upper bed sediments and the lower bed sediments (10–12.5 cm below the streambed) was measured in situ. High tracer concentrations were observed in the upper layer at locations where the hydraulic conductivity of the upper layer was larger than that of the lower layer. Low concentrations in the upper layer were observed in the converse case. A statistically significant relationship between the mass retained in the upper layer and the difference of K values between layers was observed.
FAST TRACK CHEST PAIN PATHWAY

Many patients present to the emergency department with chest pain. While in most of them chest pain represents a benign complaint, in some patients it underlies a life-threatening illness. We devise an approach for early risk stratification. We implemented an approach to chest pain that utilizes
Low Transition Temperature Liquid Crystalline Amines Incorporating The Biphenyl Ring System

Abstract N-(n-butyl)-4-n-pentyl-4′-biphenylamine has an enantiotropic smectic A phase between 45 and 78°. 4-n-pentyl-4′-biphenylmethanamine has a monotropic smectic phase from 63–56°. These compounds, together with the previously reported phenylcyclohexane analogs, are the first examples of liquid crystalline amines not involving intramolecular hydrogen bonding or extensive conjugative interactions.
Wavenumbers, line strengths, and assignments in the Doppler-limited spectrum of formaldehyde from 2700 to 3000 cm−1

Abstract The spectrum of H2CO from 2700 to 3000 cm−1 has been examined at Doppler-limited resolution using a tunable difference frequency laser spectrometer at Lincoln Laboratory. The wavenumbers and strengths of 4350 absorptions have been determined with an accuracy of 0.001 cm−1 and 5%, respectively. These data have been incorporated into the analysis of lower-resolution data from Florida State University to assign 72% of the observed absorptions to one of seven bands: ν3 +ν4 (a C-type band at 2655 cm−1), ν3 + ν6 (a B-type band at 2719.156 cm−1), ν1 (an A-type band at 2782.457 cm−1), ν5 (a B-type band at 2843.326 cm−1), ν2 + ν4 (a C-type band at 2905 cm−1), 2ν3 (an A-type band at 2999.5 cm−1) and ν2 + ν6 (a B-type band at 3000.066 cm−1). The band ν3 + ν4 has been observed for the first time, and the band center for 2ν3 has been corrected from a value of 2972 cm−1 to the value listed above. The effects of strong Fermi and Coriolis resonances on the spectra are discussed.
Molecular alterations underlying the enhanced disruption of spermatogenesis by 2,5-hexanedione and carbendazim co-exposure

The current study investigated the co-exposure effects of 2,5-hexanedione (HD) and carbendazim (CBZ) on gene expression underlying the enhanced pathology previously observed. Adult male rats were exposed to HD (0.33 or 1%) followed by CBZ (67 or 200 mg/kg), and testis samples were collected after 3 and 24 h. Microarray analysis at 3 h revealed that CBZ and HD interact in an agonistic, or synergistic, way at the gene level. Further analysis of candidate genes by qRT-PCR at both 3 and 24 h after co-exposure, revealed that Loxl1 and Clca2/Clca4l were both decreased in expression. Immunohistochemical analysis of Loxl1 at 24 h revealed that Loxl1 is localized to the seminiferous tubules, with the most intense staining in the basement membrane, blood vessels, and acrosomes, with the relative intensity reflecting the gene level changes at 3 h. These findings provide candidate genes for further investigation of the testicular response to damage.
Fluorescein conjugates of cytochrome c as internal pH probes in submitochondrial particles.

Summary Conjugation of pure cytochrome c with fluorescein isothiocyanate produces derivatives whose fluorescence intensity increases approximately 40 per cent between pH 6 and 7. Preparation of sonic particles from cytochrome c — depleted mitochondria in the presence of the conjugates results in their incorporation behind the membrane barrier, as determined by inaccessibility to removal by KC1 washes or to oxidation by ferricyanide. Energization of the sonic particles with substrates or oxygen causes an acidification of the environment of the probe, which is increased in the presence of valinomycin plus potassium, and abolished by nigericin or uncouplers.
Computer methods for on-line hearing testing with auditory brain stem responses.

On-line computer methods were developed and evaluated for automated hearing testing with auditory brain stem responses (ABR). The system contained (1) a response recognition unit which recognized the presence or absence of an ABR response and (2) a threshold tracking unit which adjusted stimulus intensity and determined the ABR threshold. Two methods, one nontemplate (variance ratio) and one template (cross-correlation), were evaluated for response recognition while three threshold tracking methods were explored: clinical, Bekesy, and PEST (parameter estimation by sequential testing). Both response recognition and threshold tracking units were evaluated by computer simulations for on-line operation using a standard set of experimentally recorded ABRs. The results indicated that while all the response recognition methods were reasonably accurate, their on-line use resulted in significant differences in test efficiency due to differences in tracking methods.
Oral pantoprazole (PANTO) effectively controls gastric acid output (AO) in Zollinger-Ellinson syndrome (ZES) and idiopathic hypersecretion (IH)

Oral pantoprazole (PANTO) effectively controls gastric acid output (AO) in Zollinger-Ellinson syndrome (ZES) and idiopathic hypersecretion (IH)
Human capital and learning as a source of sustainable competitive advantage

This paper seeks to identify the sources of wide and persistent variations in learning performance in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. In the resource-based view of the firm, human capital is frequently assumed to contribute to competitive advantage due to its inimitability based on its intangible, firm-specific, and socially complex nature. Consistent with this view, we find that investments in firm-specific human capital have a significant impact on learning and firm performance. More specifically, human capital selection (education requirements and screening), development through training, and deployment significantly improve learning by doing, which in turn improves performance. However, we find that acquiring human capital with prior industry experience from external sources significantly reduces learning performance. We also find that firms with high turnover significantly underperform their rivals, revealing the time-compression diseconomies that protect firm-specific human capital from imitation. These results provide new empirical evidence of the inimitability of human capital. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Duration–Based Hedging with Treasury Bond Futures

A survey of derivatives textbooks and other documents shows at east four different treatments of duration-based hedging with Treasury bond futures. Most hedging methods also employ an incorrect definition of futures duration, and, in some cases, apply the accrued interest pricing method incorrectly This article develops an alternative model that is mathematically identical to the most frequently advocated hedging formula and helps to reconcile the various approaches to hedging. It also demonstrates a potential maturity mismatch problem that can represent 10% or more of a typical hedging quantity.
Sorption of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and tetrachloroethene within an authigenic soil profile: Changes in Koc with soil depth

Abstract The sorption of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene and tetrachloroethene was investigated in a series of well-controlled batch experiments, using authigenic soil materials from a profile extending to 2.5 m below ground surface. Batch experiment techniques were verified by study with both pulverized and unpulverized soil at different times of equilibration, using two widely different soil:water ratios, and at a wide range of aqueous concentration. Sorption isotherms were approximately linear, with sorption distribution coefficients ( K d ) found to decrease roughly 100-fold down the soil profile. K d decreased with depth to an extent greater than could be predicted on the basis of the only 10-fold decrease in natural solid organic matter (SOM) content and despite significantly higher specific surface area in the lower horizons. All base-extractable SOM in these deeper soil horizons was operationally defined as fulvic acid (FA), although there was also a significant fraction that was not extracted by the standard base technique. The lower K d of the deeper soil horizons is believed to reflect a complex combination of (1) lower SOM content; (2) a more hydrophilic form of SOM; and (3) a more intimate association of the SOM with the mineral fraction, affecting its accessibility, sorptivity, or both. For the deeper horizons, an increase in overall K d by more than 4-fold was observed on solids treated by either base extraction or H 2 O 2 treatment, demonstrating that sorption to remaining soil components could be dramatically increased by fractional SOM removal and/or chemical alteration of the soil. A simple regression model that divides SOM into only two types (shallow and deep SOM) provides a reasonably good explanation of sorption in all seven horizons and suggests an order-of-magnitude variability in K oc among surface soil and deeper horizons.
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS OF JUNIOR FACULTY IN PSYCHOLOGY

Composition and functioning of academics’ professional networks were assessed in a study of 47 women and 43 men holding tenure-track assistant professor positions in psychology at sixty universities. Women's networks had significantly more women colleagues, more higher-status women colleagues, and fewer associates from their previous institutions than men's. Women also consistently rated their networks as less effective at helping them build a professional reputation. However, women were similar to men in terms of the number of “important colleagues” and higher status associates in their networks and ratings of colleagues’ effectiveness at providing professional socialization, friendship, career information, and access to current research. The results suggest that by the third year at the assistant professor level, women in psychology have established a small same-sex support network, but that their larger network functioning may be beginning to diverge from men's in one important area: building a profesional reputation. Implications for women's career strategies are discussed.
Research Spotlight: Reservoirs affect irrigation and river discharge to oceans

[1] Humans have long altered the water cycle by damming rivers to create reservoirs to store water. To examine the effects of large reservoirs on the global water cycle and the availability of water for irrigation, Biemans et al. analyzed reservoir operations with a global-scale hydrology and vegetation model. They found that at continental and global scales, irrigation and reservoir operation affect the timing and amount of water reaching the oceans. For instance, in Europe, reservoir operation increased February river discharge to oceans by 8% but decreased May discharge by 10%. Over a year, irrigation decreases global discharge to oceans by about 2.1%. Furthermore, the researchers found that global surface water extractions for irrigation have increased substantially along with the construction of large reservoirs during the past century. They estimate that around 460 cubic kilometers of water for irrigation is withdrawn from reservoirs annually. The authors note that by storing water and redistributing it, reservoirs significantly increase the amount available for irrigation, but in some regions the current reservoir system might not be enough to meet growing demand for water. (Water Resources Research, doi:10.1029/2009WR008929, 2011)
ESI/ion trap/ion mobility/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for rapid and sensitive analysis of biomolecular mixtures

An ion trap/ion mobility/time-of-flight mass spectrometry technique is shown to be a rapid and sensitive means of analyzing peptide/protein mixtures. In this approach, an ion trap is used to accumulate ions that have been electrosprayed from a mixture into concentrated packets. The ion packets are injected into a drift tube where components of the mixture are separated based on differences in mobility through a buffer gas. Ions that exit the drift tube are dispersed in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for mass-to-charge (m/z) determination. The gas-phase separation strategy reduces congestion in the mass spectrum, and experimental mobilities complement m/z measurements in assigning peaks. Examples of the application of the approach to identification of peptides (from tryptic digests) and to separation of charge-state distributions from electrospray of a mixture containing ubiquitin and myoglobin are presented. Most peptides that are observed from tryptic digests of proteins such as cytochrome c and myog...
A laboratory study of NMR relaxation times and pore coupling in heterogeneous media

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation times of geologic materials are closely related to pore geometry. In heterogeneous media, however, the details of this relationship are poorly understood because of a phenomenon known as pore coupling, which arises when diffusing protons sample multiple pores before relaxing. Laboratory experiments allow us to explore whether surface geochemistry can influence pore coupling and how this process affects the observed relaxation-time distribution. Measurements of the NMR response for microporous silica gel packs, treated with varying amounts of surface-coating iron, demonstrate that samples with less iron exhibit stronger pore coupling than those with abundant iron. When pore coupling is strong, the relaxation-time distribution grossly misrepresents the underlying bimodal pore-size distribution of micropores and macropores. Specifically, the bimodal relaxation-time distribution becomes merged and the relative amplitude of the peaks fails to reflect the true macropore and micropore volume. A reduction in pore coupling, observed with increasing iron content, is attributed to a decrease in the distance protons are able to diffuse before relaxing. Basic parameters describing the shape of the relaxation-time distributions for this range of samples are well-predicted by a 1D analytical model. Experimental results conclusively demonstrate that surface geochemistry is an important factor determining the degree to which pore coupling occurs and illustrate how this phenomenon can affect the interpretation of NMR relaxation measurements in heterogeneous porous media.
Papillary duct hyperplasia of the breast in children and young adults

Papillary duct hyperplasia (papilloma and/or papillomatosis) are relatively common breast lesions in adult women. However, they are rarely seen in women younger than 30 years of age or in children. This report presents the findings in 38 children and young adult women aged 10 to 26 years (average, 17 years). Six (16%) were younger than 14 years of age and 31 (82%) were 20 years or younger. Three types of papillary duct hyperplasia were described as papilloma (9 cases), papillomatosis (9 cases), and sclerosing papillomatosis (20 cases). None of these lesions exhibited the prominent cystic component of juvenile papillomatosis (JP) and most lacked other features of JP such as apocrine metaplasia and stasis. Other than a slightly older average age at diagnosis for sclerosing papillomatosis, no significant clinical differences were found related to the patterns of papillary duct hyperplasia. Thirteen percent reported a positive family history for breast carcinoma. No carcinomas have been detected in the 38 patients (follow-up, 14-307 months) and only one subsequent carcinoma was described after an interval of 22 years among 36 other cases reported in the literature. A family history of breast carcinoma is reported in 28% of JP cases and 5% have associated carcinoma. Further follow-up will be necessary to fully define the natural history of papillary duct hyperplasia in these young patients. There appear to be sufficient morphologic and clinical differences from JP to warrant a separate diagnostic term for this group of lesions. Treatment should be local excision.
Multi-Level Strategic Evaluation of Hospital Plans and Decisions

Strategic decision making in hospitals involves the assessment of linkages between decisions that are typically made in a hierarchical fashion. In hospitals, as in most large organizations, overall system performance is a function of how well the critical decisions are integrated. This paper focuses on the multi-level nature of the decisions and policies that typically need to be evaluated in hospital planning, highlighting that both optimization and simulation approaches may be required. An application involving a large general purpose urban hospital is used to illustrate the interdependency between the levels in the planning hierarchy. An optimization model is formulated to deal with facility layout and capacity allocation while a simulation model is proposed to capture the complexities of hospital operations. The linkages and information feedback between the models are shown to be critical in the design of a system that performs well and facilitates strategic hospital planning.
A critical assessment of UH-60 main rotor blade airfoil data

Many current comprehensive rotorcraft analyses employ lifting-line methods that require main rotor blade airfoil data, typically obtained from wind tunnel tests. In order to effectively evaluate these lifting-line methods, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that the airfoil section data are free of inaccuracies. A critical assessment of the SC1095 and SC1094R8 airfoil data used on the UH-60 main rotor blade was performed for that reason. Nine sources of wind tunnel data were examined, all of which contain SC1095 data and four of which also contain SC1094R8 data. Findings indicate that the most accurate data were generated in 1982 at the 11-Foot Wind Tunnel Facility at NASA Ames Research Center and in 1985 at the 6-inch by 22-inch transonic wind tunnel facility at Ohio State University. It has not been determined if data from these two sources are sufficiently accurate for their use in comprehensive rotorcraft analytical models of the UH-60. It is recommended that new airfoil tables be created for both airfoils using the existing data. Additional wind tunnel experimentation is also recommended to provide high quality data for correlation with these new airfoil tables.
Limitations of quantitative photoacoustic measurements of blood oxygenation in small vessels

We investigate the feasibility of obtaining accurate quantitative information, such as local blood oxygenation level (sO_2), with a spatial resolution of about 50 µm from spectral photoacoustic (PA) measurements. The optical wavelength dependence of the peak values of the PA signals is utilized to obtain the local blood oxygenation level. In our in vitro experimental models, the PA signal amplitude is found to be linearly proportional to the blood optical absorption coefficient when using ultrasonic transducers with central frequencies high enough such that the ultrasonic wavelengths are shorter than the light penetration depth into the blood vessels. For an optical wavelength in the 578–596 nm region, with a transducer central frequency that is above 25 MHz, the sensitivity and accuracy of sO_2 inversion is shown to be better than 4%. The effect of the transducer focal position on the accuracy of quantifying blood oxygenation is found to be negligible. In vivo oxygenation measurements of rat skin microvasculature yield results consistent with those from in vitro studies, although factors specific to in vivo measurements, such as the spectral dependence of tissue optical attenuation, dramatically affect the accuracy of sO_2 quantification in vivo.
Chronic pain following breast surgery

Chronic pain after breast surgery has been known to be a problem for many years. Recent large studies of noncosmetic breast surgery cohorts have found the prevalence to be between 29% and 47%, with up to 13% of those patients reporting their pain as severe. The pain is frequently neuropathic in nature and generally affects the ipsilateral breast, axilla, and arm. A number of risk factors have been found to be associated with the development of pain, including younger age, demographic variables, preoperative pain in the chest/breast, pain in other locations, psychological variables, the surgery performed, acute pain severity, radiation, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, fear of recurrence, and genetic polymorphisms. Few studies include an adequate preoperative assessment along with the appropriate longitudinal assessment, and many studies are underpowered to account for the many variables involved. As such, a clear understanding of high-risk patients is still lacking. Alterations in central pain processing, as seen in fibromyalgia, might explain some of the variation between patients despite similar surgeries, anesthesia, and perioperative pain care. Prospective studies of cohorts of patients having noncosmetic breast surgery are needed to better identify the key risk factors for the development of pain. Such studies should include preoperative and longitudinal assessments of pain, pain descriptors, and other key variables. The present review will discuss the epidemiology and descriptions of chronic pain after breast surgery and the risk factors described. In addition, potential means for prediction and acute pain interventions will be discussed.
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of peracetylated oligosaccharides having 13C-labeled carbonyl groups in lieu of permethylation analysis for establishing linkage substitutions of sugars.

Peracetylation of free hydroxyl groups in model saccharides with [13C-carbonyl]acetic anhydride resulted in additional splittings of sugar ring proton signals in NMR spectra, due to 3-bond J couplings between each acetyl carbonyl carbon and a sugar ring proton at that position. Quantification of 144 of these 3-bond coupling constants in different saccharide structures showed a range between 2.5 and 4.7 Hz, whereas all possible 4-bond couplings between sugar ring protons and acetyl carbonyl carbons were within linewidth (<0.5 Hz). Therefore, further splitting of sugar ring proton signals in the range of 2.5–4.7 Hz upon acetylation with a [13C-carbonyl]acetyl group identifies that position as (formerly) having a free hydroxyl group. This performs the same basic function as permethylation analysis, but does not require hydrolysis of glycosidic linkages. Additionally, proton-detected 2D heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) experiments or proton-detected heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy (hetCOSY) enabled ring proton–carbonyl-13C 3-bond J connectivities to be correlated with high sensitivity. Modified NMR pulse sequences are reported that include frequency selective decoupling schemes to enable coupling constants to be determined from 2D data. The tailored pulse sequences resulted in higher spectral resolution and sensitivity for [13C-carbonyl]–ring proton correlations.
The relationship between knowledge and risk for heart attack and stroke.

Background Stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) represent 2 of the leading causes of death in the United States. The early recognition of risk factors and event symptoms allows for the mitigation of disability or death. We sought to compare subject knowledge of stroke and MI, assess subject risk for cardiovascular disease, and determine if an association exists between knowledge and risk. Methods In this cross-sectional survey, adult, non–health care professionals were presented with a written knowledge test and risk assessment tool. Subjects were classified into 3 categories of cardiovascular risk. Associations were then calculated between knowledge, risk, and population demographics. Results Of 500 subjects approached, 364 were enrolled. The subjects were mostly white, middle-aged, and high school educated. Gender and income were evenly distributed. Forty-eight (14%) subjects were identified as ideal risk, 130 (38%) as low risk, and 168 (49%) as moderate/high risk. MI and stroke knowledge scores decreased as cardiovascular risk increased (85%, 79%, and 73% for ideal, low, and moderate/high risk groups, respectively; P Conclusions Knowledge about stroke and MI was modest, with knowledge of MI exceeding that of stroke at every level of risk. Subjects with higher risk were less knowledgeable about the stroke signs, symptoms, and risk factors than those of MI.
Airline competition and market frequency: A comparison of the s-curve and schedule delay models

Abstract We compare two common ways of incorporating service frequency into models of airline competition. One is based on the so called s-curve, in which, all else equal, market shares are determined by frequency shares. The other is based on schedule delay—the time difference between when travelers wish to travel and when flights are available. We develop competition models that differ only with regard to which of the above approaches is used to capture the effect of frequency. The demand side of both models is an approximation of a nested logit model which yields endogenous travel demand by including not traveling in the choice set. We find symmetric competitive equilibrium for both models analytically, and compare their predictions concerning market frequency with empirical evidence. In contrast to the s-curve model, the schedule delay model depicts a more plausible relationship between market share and frequency share and accurately predicts observed patterns of supply side behavior. Moreover, the predictions from both models are largely the same if we employ numerical versions of the model that capture real-world aspects of competition. We also find that, for either model, the relationship between airline frequency and market traffic is the same whether frequency is determined by competitive equilibrium, social optimality, or social optimality with a break-even constraint.
Small Signal Measurement for Embedded System Applications

A cost-effective multi-channel small signal measurement system for microcontroller-based data acquisition and control applications was presented. The system can be used for sensors with small signal output and operated for industrial applications with high electromagnetic noise. By combination of hardware filter and software data processing the problem of electromagnetic noise effect was addressed. Multichannel inputs capability and its response time were discussed.
The New Insider Trading: Environmental Markets within the Firm

Environmental law scholarship has failed to appreciate fully the significant parallels between public law rules and private environmental governance — the traditionally “governmental” standard-setting functions that private parties, including business firms, non-governmental organizations, and individuals, have adopted to govern behavior respecting the environment. Recognizing these parallels should affect how we think both about what methods are best for setting environmental standards — prescription, markets, property rights, informational governance, or hybrid approaches — and who should be setting those standards — government regulators, private actors, or some combination of the two.This Article examines the use of market approaches (carbon taxes) and hybrid market instruments (emissions trading) in the climate change context. A great deal of legal scholarship has examined both how to design carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems and the merits of these approaches relative to other methods of public regulation, such as prescriptive rules. There has been virtually no legal scholarship, however, analyzing the adoption by business firms of private market and hybrid instruments to address climate change. By closely examining British Petroleum’s use of a private emissions trading scheme and Microsoft’s use of a private carbon fee, this Article illuminates some of the common challenges that decision makers face in designing public and private forms of environmental governance, while acknowledging some of the key distinctions. The Article concludes by arguing that this new “insider trading” has the potential to reap significant benefits in combating climate change. It is important, however, to remain cautious about its limitations.
Verification of safety properties for concurrent assembly code

Concurrency, as a useful feature of many modern programming languages and systems, is generally hard to reason about. Although existing work has explored the verification of concurrent programs using high-level languages and calculi, the verification of concurrent assembly code remains an open problem, largely due to the lack of abstraction at a low-level. Nevertheless, it is sometimes necessary to reason about assembly code or machine executables so as to achieve higher assurance.In this paper, we propose a logic-based "type" system for the static verification of concurrent assembly programs, applying the "invariance proof" technique for verifying general safety properties and the "assume-guarantee" paradigm for decomposition. In particular, we introduce a notion of "local guarantee" for the thread-modular verification in a non-preemptive setting.Our system is fully mechanized. Its soundness has been verified using the Coq proof assistant. A safety proof of a program is semi-automatically constructed with help of Coq, allowing the verification of even undecidable safety properties. We demonstrate the usage of our system using three examples, addressing mutual exclusion, deadlock freedom, and partial correctness respectively.
Low-dose creatine supplementation enhances fatigue resistance in the absence of weight gain

Abstract Objective We examined the effects of 6 wk of low-dose creatine supplementation on body composition, muscle function, and body creatine retention. Methods Twenty healthy men and women (21 ± 2 y old) were randomized to receive creatine (0.03 g · kg −1 · d −1 ; n = 10, 4 women) or placebo ( n = 10, 4 women) for 6 wk in a double-blind placebo-controlled fashion. Participants were tested on two occasions before supplementation to establish a reliable baseline, and then were retested after supplementation. Testing included body composition, maximal strength (three-repetition maximal concentric knee extension at 180 degrees/s), muscle fatigue (five sets of 30 concentric knee extensions at 180 degrees/s), and plasma creatine concentration. Results There were no significant differences in body mass, fat-free mass, fat mass, body fat percentage, total body water, or maximal strength in either group from before to after supplementation (all P > 0.05). After supplementation, plasma creatine increased significantly in the creatine group (+182%, P = 0.03), with no difference in the placebo group. Compared with baseline values, creatine-supplemented volunteers were more resistant to fatigue during sets 2 (7%), 3 (9%), 4 (9%), and 5 (11%) (all P P > 0.05). Conclusion Ingesting a low dose (≈2.3 g/d) of creatine for 6 wk significantly increased plasma creatine concentration and enhanced resistance to fatigue during repeated bouts of high-intensity contractions.